FT8 is amazing when you first see all the DX activity and you realize that DXCC is within your grasp even with a compromised antenna system (much to the chagrin of some hams at least in my local club!). But why do we continue to spend time working domestic contacts and continue to get enjoyment from it? The answer, I believe, is found in slot machines.
If you enjoy playing the slots, there's a bit of an dopamine hit every time the lights and bells go off. You get a somewhat higher hit if you win a bit more and a lesser hit if you win less. The expectation of getting that "good feeling" keeps you pulling the lever. There are a couple keys:
1. Visual and audio feedback from the spinning wheels, lights and the sounds
2. The anticipation that builds as the wheels spin to a stop
3. When you win, you get a bit of a money reward which gives you that dopamine hit which is reinforced by more lights and sounds.
When the bands are dead for DX, you have to work more contacts to get the same dopamine?load but after about an hour and 15 contacts or so, I'm feeling pretty happy even if they are all from California!
creates a sound when it logs contacts. I have that turned off at the moment but I've found myself creating it in my head. All of the other visual experience such as drawing a line to the station I'm contacting on the map or showing that I just logged a contact to LOTW and my local log enhances the experience. When I make a contact, GridTracker also pops up a screen about the person I'm in QSO with which adds to the visual experience.
I would suggest that the reason FT4 isn't as popular is that contacts are over too quickly and the time to build anticipation isn't there so you don't get the same dopamine?hit. It's like a slot machine without the spinning wheels that just says "win" or "lose" -- and asks for more money.
For those of us that think we're very rational, FT8 also allows us to easily calculate our cost per contact. In the last year, I worked about 4,500 contacts and I put about $2,500 into building the station so I'm at about $0.55 per contact. If I was just doing CW or SSB, my cost per contact would be huge in comparison. QDX is really interesting because it has the potential to really drive down the cost per contact which I think is crucial to recruiting and retaining people in ham radio.?
FWIW,
73 Mark KB0US
