I¡¯ve looked into FT-8 and a few other weak signal modes and they just don¡¯t appeal to me. I want to talk to a human being not just add up more contacts or counties or countries or whatever.
The only attraction for me of PSK over CW is that I can get through with less power consumption and general strain.
Of course I¡¯m completely out of sympathy with most of the hams around me. Why should I fool around with VHF now that I have a cell phone? As far as emergency operation, as soon as the cell towers go off of the air, the ham repeaters go down as well. I¡¯ve tried to get the RACES/ARES group to at least sort out any problems with operating simplex but to no avail. They just drag their sorry old carcasses to the VHF rig once a week to let the rest of the group know that they are still alive. We have one NCS who regularly forgets to release his PTT between each roll call.
Some year ago I tried to set up a Field Day operation where they had to actually get out of their trucks and walk 200 yards. The reaction? ¡°How to we get the picnic tables and barbecue there?¡± Sad.
Sorry. Off topic. I¡¯ll go quietly.
Mike K7ITL
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I've been wanting to try the X5105 for FT8.
And I would like a way to set up the X5105's frequency channel memories using a PC instead of using the rotary dial to slowly select each detail.
Since Xiegu says its communication uses the Icom CAT CI-V protocol, I tried some of the software available.? But I just started and don't have many details yet - I'm posting this now in hopes of other users also trying out programs and posting results.
I'm using the CAT USB cable that came with the CE-19 adapter.? And that was included with my "Outdoor Version" of the X5105, from Radioddity.? (The 'outdoor' version is identified by the clear cover shield over the LCD screen.? And I've read something that implied that the screen is one made for good visibility outdoors, in sunlight.)
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The program "Icom Explorer" works with the X5105.
It's not quite 'simple' to use, though.
"Icom Memories Manager - v.1.-.14 (VK4ADC) [Mems.exe] also seems to work.
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This might work - needs testing.
https://arachnoid.com/IcomProgrammer/index.html
and they have JRX: Virtual Ham Radio, which looks promising
CHIRP works with IC-7000
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PLEASE - Feel free to try any or all, and find more!? Report your results and opinions here, in detail
I know that PC control of a 'handheld portable' radio is sort of a contradiction, but what I'm more interested in is the memory programming.
I do also think it would be fun to use the radio for portable FT8, but with Android rather than Windows.? A whole different issue!
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Doug, K8RFT
