Why I hate FT-8
22/04/26 09:49
WHY I HATE FT8…
(…and why I’m also kind of in awe of it)
By Greg N5XO
Let me just say it right up front so nobody accuses me of dancing around the issue:
I hate FT8.
There… I said it.
Now before the pitchforks come out and someone fires up a 1.5 kW legal-limit keyboard response, let me follow that up with something equally true:
FT8 is one of the most brilliant things ever created in Amateur Radio.
And that, my friends, is the problem.
First — Credit Where It’s Due
The software behind FT8, developed by Joe Taylor (yes, a literal Nobel Prize-winning physicist… not your average weekend code hacker), is nothing short of astonishing.
FT8 can:
👉 Signals you cannot hear… FT8 casually logs for you like it’s ordering lunch.
From a technical standpoint, it’s jaw-dropping.
The Part Where I Start Grumbling Like an Old Guy
Now here’s where I probably sound like those guys back in the day saying:
“When they dropped the CW requirement, the hobby was doomed!”
…and I used to laugh at them.
Well guess what…
I’ve become that guy.
“The Band Is Wide Open!”
…and nobody’s there
I cannot tell you how many times this has happened:
Crickets.
Dead silence.
Meanwhile, you slide over to FT8…
…and it looks like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
The Contest Problem (This One Hurts)
During VHF/UHF contests, something has shifted — and not in a subtle way.
But FT8?
Packed. Wall-to-wall signals.
It’s like everyone showed up to the party… but they’re all texting each other from different corners of the room.
What FT8 Gets Absolutely Right
Let’s be fair — because this matters.
FT8 has:
👉 FT8 is a massive win for Amateur Radio.
No argument.
What It Gets… Questionable
Here’s my issue — and it’s not technical.
It’s cultural.
FT8 contacts are:
👉 You’re not really communicating.
You’re exchanging:
No personality. No conversation. No “Hey, what antenna are you running?” No “Where are you located?” No “Man, the band is on fire tonight!”
Just:
Beep… decode… log… done.
The “Texting” Effect on Radio
This is where I get myself into trouble…
FT8 is doing to Amateur Radio what texting did to society.
We used to:
We send:
Efficient? Yes. Impressive? Absolutely. Satisfying?
…eh.
My Unpopular Opinion
I would love FT8 if it stayed in its lane:
The Reality Check (Because I Have One)
Here’s the part where I have to be honest with myself:
FT8 isn’t destroying the hobby.
It’s evolving it.
And whether I like it or not:
👉 A lot of operators love it 👉 A lot of new hams start with it 👉 A lot of stations depend on it
And that matters.
Final Thoughts from a Grumpy Weak Signal Guy
So where do I land?
This hobby isn’t just about making contacts.
It’s about:
The Challenge
Next time the band opens:
👉 Slide up to 144.200 👉 Or 50.125 👉 Or wherever your weak signal calling frequency is
And instead of clicking “Enable TX”…
Pick up the mic.
You might be surprised who answers.
— Greg N5XO
(…and why I’m also kind of in awe of it)
By Greg N5XO
Let me just say it right up front so nobody accuses me of dancing around the issue:
I hate FT8.
There… I said it.
Now before the pitchforks come out and someone fires up a 1.5 kW legal-limit keyboard response, let me follow that up with something equally true:
FT8 is one of the most brilliant things ever created in Amateur Radio.
And that, my friends, is the problem.
First — Credit Where It’s Due
The software behind FT8, developed by Joe Taylor (yes, a literal Nobel Prize-winning physicist… not your average weekend code hacker), is nothing short of astonishing.
FT8 can:
- Decode signals 20–24 dB below the noise floor
- Complete contacts in about 15 seconds per exchange
- Allow stations with modest antennas and low power to work the world
- Perform reliably under conditions where SSB just throws its hands up and goes home
👉 Signals you cannot hear… FT8 casually logs for you like it’s ordering lunch.
From a technical standpoint, it’s jaw-dropping.
The Part Where I Start Grumbling Like an Old Guy
Now here’s where I probably sound like those guys back in the day saying:
“When they dropped the CW requirement, the hobby was doomed!”
…and I used to laugh at them.
Well guess what…
I’ve become that guy.
“The Band Is Wide Open!”
…and nobody’s there
I cannot tell you how many times this has happened:
- 6 meters is wide open
- 2 meters is rolling with propagation
- Conditions are screaming “GET ON THE AIR!”
Crickets.
Dead silence.
Meanwhile, you slide over to FT8…
…and it looks like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
The Contest Problem (This One Hurts)
During VHF/UHF contests, something has shifted — and not in a subtle way.
- SSB activity? Thin
- CW activity? Even thinner
- Actual conversation? Practically endangered
- a rover
- a die-hard weak signal operator
- or one of us stubborn holdouts
But FT8?
Packed. Wall-to-wall signals.
It’s like everyone showed up to the party… but they’re all texting each other from different corners of the room.
What FT8 Gets Absolutely Right
Let’s be fair — because this matters.
FT8 has:
- Opened the hobby to people with limited space, HOA restrictions, or modest stations
- Made DX accessible to folks who otherwise wouldn’t have a chance
- Provided a powerful tool for propagation testing
- Enabled scientific-level weak signal experimentation
👉 FT8 is a massive win for Amateur Radio.
No argument.
What It Gets… Questionable
Here’s my issue — and it’s not technical.
It’s cultural.
FT8 contacts are:
- Automated
- Structured
- Efficient
- Predictable
👉 You’re not really communicating.
You’re exchanging:
- callsigns
- grid squares
- signal reports
No personality. No conversation. No “Hey, what antenna are you running?” No “Where are you located?” No “Man, the band is on fire tonight!”
Just:
Beep… decode… log… done.
The “Texting” Effect on Radio
This is where I get myself into trouble…
FT8 is doing to Amateur Radio what texting did to society.
We used to:
- call people
- talk
- laugh
- share ideas
We send:
- 👍
- “k”
- “ok”
Efficient? Yes. Impressive? Absolutely. Satisfying?
…eh.
My Unpopular Opinion
I would love FT8 if it stayed in its lane:
- Bad band conditions? YES
- Testing antennas? YES
- Pushing weak signal limits? ABSOLUTELY
- the band is open
- conditions are good
- and people still choose automation over interaction
The Reality Check (Because I Have One)
Here’s the part where I have to be honest with myself:
FT8 isn’t destroying the hobby.
It’s evolving it.
And whether I like it or not:
👉 A lot of operators love it 👉 A lot of new hams start with it 👉 A lot of stations depend on it
And that matters.
Final Thoughts from a Grumpy Weak Signal Guy
So where do I land?
- I hate FT8 for what it’s doing to conversation
- I respect it deeply for what it can do technically
- I use it occasionally (don’t tell anyone)
- I wish more people would get back on SSB and actually talk
This hobby isn’t just about making contacts.
It’s about:
- sharing knowledge
- experimenting
- learning
- and yes… actually communicating
The Challenge
Next time the band opens:
👉 Slide up to 144.200 👉 Or 50.125 👉 Or wherever your weak signal calling frequency is
And instead of clicking “Enable TX”…
Pick up the mic.
You might be surprised who answers.
— Greg N5XO