Activity

I have been away from ham radio including VarAC for a bit over a year. I recently returned expecting (hoping) for more activity. While the number of beacons has increased, the number of QSOs has not. Based on VarAC propagation reports from PSK Reporter and also WSPR reports, seem to me the activity level is not limited by bad propagation but rather by too few active engaged users. By comparison, FT continues to thrive. Why?

Before VarAC, I also played with Olivia, Contestia, PSK, and other conversational digital modes. I am not sure why but many of my PSK QSOs were a few macro exchanges and 73. For me, that type of QSO is not particularly rewarding. I am lot looking to bulk up my logbook. I like to have substantive exchanges.

After watching all of this now for several years, my belief is that the limitation for conservational digital modes like VarAC is the same limitatation as CW. Most hams these days are not proficient with either a key or keyboard.

Considering all of my nearly 20 years of education, that half year of high-school typing is probably my most valuable. I use a computer keyboard a lot and even as I approach my 80th birthday, I can still type close 100 WPM. Not every ham was lucky to have my high school typing training.

Sorry for the long setup, but it seems to me that expanding the pool of users for VarAC requires attracting bored FT8 users - particularly those who can't type very well.

Attracting those users requires mechanisms that enable them to communicate without great typing skill. BTW, I am not suggesting a better macro (canned messages) approach. Canned messages are great for simplifying basic info exchange but not for a real conversation. Rather, other mechanisms need to be developed that facilitate information entry. I am sure there are more, but here are two ideas. I hope other VarAC enthusiasts will contribute more.

PHONE as a KEYBOARD - The younger generations are facile with their thumbs on a phone like I am with my fingers on a full size keyboard. How about a phone app that turns your phone into a thumb keyboard with a Bluetooth connection to the computer/VarAC?

Speech-to-Text - This is actually a solution that I have seen work pretty well. Although speech-to-text is generally not 100% accurate, a conversation doesn't require 100% accuracy. God knows my 80 year old ears are not 100% accurate. Like VarAC partners with VARA, how about a VarAC partnership with a speech-to-text solution this is closely integrated with VarAC?

Larry

W6LVP