N0UN about ZS8W operation

[4L5A]

Rebel DX Group Versus ZS8W
ZS8W versus ZS8DX – Misery Loves Company. A race to the bottom of the hobby:
The Big Money Grab in play

According to DXNews.com, “Yuris, YL2GM will be active as ZS8W from Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands, IOTA AF – 021, 21 April – 16 May 2025. He will operate on 160 – 6m, CW, SSB, Digital modes.”

Normally I’d be excited at the chance to work ZS8W but there’s a couple items that have tempered my enthusiasm on this specific activation.

First of all Yuris/YL2GM doesn’t work much CW and he barely works SSB, if at all. This DXpedition has all the signs of being just another lazy computer scripted text messaging activation. Secondly he’s a solo DXpeditioner. There’s no “team” here – it’s a one man operation.

Here’s data I pulled from a few of YL2GM’s latest DXpeditions. The percentages:

ZD9W: 11% CW, 4% Phone & 85% FT8
K8K: 4% CW, 0% Phone, 96% FT8
VK9LA: 2.5% CW, 0% Phone, 97.5% FT8
VK9CY: 26% CW, 0% Phone, 74% FT8
VU7W: 10% CW, 1% Phone, 88% FT8

I seriously doubt much will change with his upcoming Marion Island activation as ZS8W. My guess they’ll be a little CW, almost no SSB and over 85 to 90% lazy computer scripted text messaging. Anybody that thinks different would you like to place a bet (or two)?

For all the real Ham Radio Operators left in the hobby we’ll have to take our chances his computer will lock up and become useless forcing him into actually communicate via the “human modes”. For the lesser non-communicating Text Messengers best hope his computer virus software is up-to-date so you can pretend you (and not your computer) actually worked Marion Island.

On the off-chance there’s a CW or SSB pile-up I hope to see you real Hams in the mix!

N0UN

[4L5A]

Wayne, I read your message and I think it's quite relevant, but at the same time, it's probably not right to place all the responsibility on the expeditioners and Yuris.
Activity in FT8 is off the charts.
A huge number of radio amateurs are actively involved in FT8, and some like it, some don't, but they're all active there anyway.
I think we need to acknowledge that our hobby is changing.
At the same time, it is a hobby, and if more people like FT8, then expeditions will work in FT8, thereby promoting this type of communication.
If a person does not like FT8, then he will not work in FT8, but that does not give him the right to demand that expeditions work in the modes he wants.
Amateur radio organizations are obviously satisfied with the current situation.
I am not a fan of digital modes, let alone FT8, and I am unlikely to ever get into this mode, but I have many friends who work in this mode, and some of them only work in this mode.

[N0UN]

Al,

FT8 is lazy computer scripted text messaging. No computer = no contact. In many cases it's automated, there's no operator at the helm - on either side.

In my opinion it's Fake Ham Radio at best.

It has cheapened DXCC. Anybody can gain DXCC in a couple days, even hours.

For TXTpeditioners it's a money maker. An easy way to fill the bank account. For TXTers it's an easy way to DXCC. A lazy way to pad the numbers.

I call it as I see it.

You'll find me with the real DXers working real DX in the human modes.

Take care my friend, hope to HEAR you in the real DX pileups!

73, N0UN

https://www.n0un.net/zs8w-marion-island-by-yl2gm/

[4L5A]

Dear Wayne!
We all see our hobby from different angles.
I have been involved in this hobby for over 50 years, and I understand that the real pileups I remember from my youth do not exist and will never exist again.
Clusters, online logs, and many other things have radically changed the rules of the game, both in DXing and contesting.
There are a huge number of FT8 fans and a large number of haters, with the former outnumbering the latter, judging by their activity in FT8.
The amateur radio organizations responsible for the hobby support all of this.
The only way forward is probably to be more active on the air yourself, doing the kind of thing you personally enjoy.
In the end, it's still a hobby, and you can't forbid someone from doing one thing or another, let alone condemn them if they enjoy it, even if others don't understand what's so enjoyable about it.
DX expeditions operate according to the circumstances: where there are more people and where it's easier for them, that's where they are.
Working mainly in FT8, they certainly popularize this type of communication and involve more people in it, while at the same time not giving CW, SSB, RTTY enthusiasts a chance to communicate with them.
That's their decision.

[N0UN]

Al,

I am also a Ham for over 50 years - since I was 12. Like you back when a Ham Radio Operator had to actually know electrical theory and also Morse Code.

And yes, Ham Radio has changed. And just as they are allowed to like their fake ham radio, others like me are also allowed to not like it.

TXTers can have their waterfalls but I choose to actually hear and communicate with DX in the human modes.

Have a great day my friend!

RR73 (haha)

Wayne, N0UN

[4L5A]

Dear Wayne!
I also started at the age of 12.
Of course, we have our own opinions and we have the right to express them, and we should express them, if only so that people understand that there are other opinions.

[4L5A]

Many read but remain silent.
My friend called me and said that the main advantage of FT8 is that there is no DQRM.

[4L5A]

Yuris, YL2GM/ZS8W start activity in CW.
Thats Great.
ZS8 is very rare in CW.
Yuris is good CW operator.

[N0UN]

Sure he is a great CW operator! That is WHEN he operates CW. I have worked him on CW from many places. By his past expeditions he runs almost no SSB and very, very little percentage of CW anymore.

Too bad, he could be a great expeditioner, perhaps a Hall Of Fame Operator, but the last few years he chooses the lazy way to $$$. Maybe a few contacts in CW, no SSB and almost all FT8.

N0UN

[4L5A]

Not only him Wayne look on others.
About ZS8 highest demand I think is CW because previous activities was SSB, Digital.