Is Digital The New King Of Ham Radio?

As we begin a new year, it is customary to look ahead and reflect on the past year. I have a forthcoming article about the year past and my station plan for the new year, but in this one, I'd like to take a broader view. In particular, the spectacular migration to digital modes on HF is reshaping amateur radio as we know it.

Let's consider factors that are contributing to this digital revolution:

• No code licensing: CW is a vanishing art. Since Industry Canada (now Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) removed the Morse code requirement in 2004, the number of operators proficient in CW has steadily declined. Except for contest weekends and DXpeditions, there is little activity on the bands. When you do find stations to work on, they are the same ones you worked on yesterday, which brings us to the next point.
• Less interest in communication: I rarely use the radio to communicate anymore. If I want to talk to someone, I text, email or call them on the phone. Years ago, friends would arrange schedules or use nets to talk. Bell Canada's long-distance services were expensive decades ago! Quick QSOs that stick to the minimum exchange are becoming the norm, inside and outside of contests.
• Stations are smaller: New and young hams are less likely to install towers and yagis. Indeed, many mainly operate on portable devices, leading to the explosive popularity of Parks on the Air (POTA) across Canada's provincial and national parks. Unable to do CW, many find that SSB is challenging with small stations (up to 100 watts plus wire antennas). Concurrently, elderly hams are downsizing and need to operate with smaller stations as well.
• Convenience: Digital modes are easy. Connect a USB cable between your rig and PC, download free software like WSJT-X, spend a few minutes on configuration, and you're ready to go. Watch the signals decode, click on one and work them. The QSO can be automatically uploaded to LOTW and similar services. If you want to know more about the person on the other end of the QSO, the software will take you to their web page (usually QRZ.com).
• Easier DX: From smaller stations, DX can be reliably worked using digital modes. From all indications, hams young and old, new licensees and old timers, continue to enjoy DXing. Listen to the popular FT8 frequencies, and you will be amazed at the DX available that is rarely heard on the traditional modes. Work VK or ZL from Atlantic Canada on 80 meters? Sure! Try that on CW in 2026, and you will be disappointed.

The Crown Has Been Passed

Whatever your opinions about digital modes, the migration is undeniable. If you're active on the bands, you already know the difference. The FT8 frequencies are packed with signals, while the traditional CW and SSB segments often sound empty. The picture is a little better when compared to SSB rather than CW, but the magnitude of the difference remains huge.

The ratio of digital to conventional mode QSOs is at least 5:1 (noted by several QSO matching services), contest weekends excepted. DXpeditions are spending an increasing portion of their limited time on digital modes since that's what people want. They say so when they donate their money.

The people have spoken: digital is the new king of ham radio!

The Old Guard Adapts or Fades Away

Many of my generation, along with older hams and some younger ones, are not happy with the change. Griping from the curmudgeon crowd is frequent but growing quieter. They are aging out of the hobby (dying, to be blunt about it) or joining the migration by embracing digital. They know where the activity is , and they are attracted to it like everybody else.

The call signs of many older Canadian hams—VE1s, VE2s, VE3s and beyond—are frequently seen on FT8, where they find the DX pickings to be good and the computer-assisted mode easy on aging bodies and senses. Like me, they may first try CW when they walk into the shack each day and then, perhaps reluctantly, check out what's happening on FT8. We're in a technical hobby, so it is no surprise that we have little difficulty adapting to the technology.

With a big signal, I can usually get answers to my CQs on CW and SSB when there is propagation. I work many new stations, though it's primarily those I've worked before, whether on that band or another. The calls are always familiar. Listen every day, and you'll notice that the same few stations are CQing on CW, and when they're answered, it's the same stations. Routines like this foster friendships, but we can too easily dig ourselves into a repetitive rut. Where's the fun in that?

Those of my generation you see on FT8 typically fall into one of the following categories, at least based on my experience and observation:

• Award chasers filling band-slots for the DXCC Challenge award, FFMA (on 6 meters), DXCC Honour Roll, 5B WAC, 5B DXCC, and similar difficult and therefore prestigious awards.
• Low-band DXers are increasing their success rate for working long path on the low bands into Asia and other points on the other side of the globe. Signals are often weak but workable for more extended periods on digital modes. This is most common on 80 and 160 meters.
• Robot operators running automated stations day in and day out, flipping from one band to another, working everything that moves. The ethics of robots are debatable. I strongly dislike them because they pester me, and they occupy valuable spectrum in the narrow 3 kHz windows currently in wide use.

I notice many stations I remember from past contests—including the RAC Canada Day and Winter contests—but no longer see them contesting today. I guess that as we grow older, contests become more of a physical challenge, and many choose to "retire" to digital. Older hams who downsize may be disappointed by their relatively poor contest performance and find solace in a mode that is friendly to small stations.

The Digital Natives

Of course, many newly licensed hams have primarily operated digitally. As noted above, they are unfamiliar with the code, and SSB is challenging due to a wire in a tree. Unlike when I was young, new hams typically don't have towers, nor do they want them. This is particularly true in urban centres like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax, where lot sizes are small and antenna restrictions are common. Amplifiers are less common than small QRP rigs, so they can be taken for POTA outings to places like Fundy National Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, or Banff National Park.

As to why I use FT8 and other digital modes is straightforward and practical:

Across all HF bands, from 80 through 10 meters, digital modes reveal propagation that would otherwise go unnoticed. On 80 meters, long DX paths can be short and marginal, which favours digital modes. Gray line openings at sunrise and sunset offer spectacular opportunities. Working VK or ZL from the Maritimes on 80 meters with digital modes is entirely achievable. In contrast, duplicating contacts on CW or SSB would be extremely difficult or impossible for modest stations.

On the upper HF bands—40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 meters—digital modes shine during periods of marginal conditions. FT8 can pull through when SSB fails. The mode's sensitivity advantage is particularly noticeable during the current phase of the solar cycle when every dB matters.

Insurance QSOs with rare countries: If I can only make one QSO with a rare DX entity, I would prefer it to be a traditional QSO. My preference is CW first and SSB second. If the DX shows up on FT8 before I've worked them, I'll go ahead and work them if I can. That's my insurance contact, just in case I fail to work them on CW or SSB.

Curiosity and technology: Technology is a great attraction. Digital modes require sophisticated algorithms to perform as well as they do. I have experimented with FT4 and FT8, simply for the enjoyment of seeing how they work and what can be done with them. In time, I may use other digital modes, simply out of curiosity. The technology underlying digital modes is truly a marvel—quite fitting for a nation like Canada, which has made significant contributions to communications technology over the decades.

Will Digital Dethrone Traditional Contesting?

What about contests? There are digital mode contests, just as there are for other modes. To date, they have had only modest success compared to the primary CW and SSB contests. I may not speak for others, but I can share my thoughts.

Contest success (high score) is determined by the operator's skill, the station's capability, and location. The latter two are common across all modes. It is a skill where the difference between modes is significant. Digital modes are synchronous, which constrains operator agility. Furthermore, algorithmic decoding eliminates the operator's ability to copy (whether via CW or phone) from consideration.

Where does that leave operator skill? Even when I use FT8, it is often quite dull. The challenge is frequently just trying to scan the long list of decoded messages to find a station to call. Of course, I can auto-respond (and override if I'm quick enough) or program a robot to do it for me, but it is not at all like contesting with conventional modes. It leaves me cold.

It can be better, look at RTTY. That is also a digital mode. The differences are that it is asynchronous, and operator skill is required in manually selecting and collating information from two or more decoders. The SO2R and 2BSIQ challenges are similar to those for CW and SSB. Although I have no interest in RTTY, I can understand why other contesters take to it.

There is no fundamental reason why FTx modes must be synchronous. I can easily conceive of ways to make it asynchronous, thereby making it more interesting for contests. But if that's done, are we merely reinventing RTTY? Perhaps it would be an improvement over RTTY, but only of a degree, not in kind.

It will be a while yet until digital displaces conventional modes for contesting. Indeed, it may be that CW will become primarily a radiosport mode. For milder forms of radiosport, such as POTA, both digital and CW are popular. This is expected, as both are friendly to the low power and small antennas typical of these lightweight, portable operations that are so popular across Canada's vast wilderness.

My Personal Digital Journey and Evolution

My journey into ham radio started at CFB Shilo, where my buddy Mike and I would spend hours in the shack—sometimes pulling all-nighters working countries around the world on SSB. We also ran the CFARS (Canadian Forces Affiliate Radio System) station, linking our troops overseas with their families here in Canada.

A few years ago, I returned to the hobby after a long hiatus. I rediscovered contesting and DX chasing, but also encountered new frontiers—Parks On The Air (POTA) and the digital modes FT8 and FT4.

My introduction to FT8 came through Gord Cotton, VE9GC, at a meeting of the Moncton Amateur Radio Club. Gord mentioned this new digital mode that was taking the bands by storm, and I was intrigued enough to go home and learn more about it. Like many hams, I was initially skeptical. Another digital mode? What could it possibly offer that the traditional modes didn't?

But curiosity got the better of me, and I set up WSJT-X to give it a try. The first time I saw the waterfall display fill up with decoded signals, I immediately understood why it was gaining popularity. Here was DX that I couldn't even hear on SSB, yet the software was pulling it out of the noise with remarkable efficiency.

The landscape of amateur radio has undergone a dramatic transformation since those early SSB days at Shilo. The question isn't whether digital modes have taken over—the statistics make that clear—but rather what this means for the future of our hobby and how we adapt to it.

I've spent considerable time exploring what FT8 offers—not just logging new countries but truly immersing myself in the mode to understand its appeal and limitations. The results have been impressive from a technical standpoint. I've worked Europeans, stations in South America, Oceania, and Asia—many during gray line periods at sunrise and sunset. These are prime propagation windows that have always been golden for DXers, but the difference now is the certainty and ease of execution. What once required exceptional operating skills, good ears, and a bit of luck can now be accomplished with a few mouse clicks.

I've noted quite a few call signs I recognize from my contesting days and from the traditional modes. We're all migrating to where the activity is. Many serious DXers flip between CW and FT8 during the same openings—we may prefer CW, but we're not shy about filling those band-slots any way we can. When rare DX only appears on FT8, you must go there to work them. DXpeditions have also adapted, often choosing digital modes when traditional ones don't generate sufficient QSOs. It's pragmatic and reflects the current state of the operators.

The Mixed Feelings of a Traditional Operator

I'll admit to having mixed feelings about this digital revolution. There's something deeply satisfying about a CW QSO—the rhythm, the skill, the artistry of good sending and copying. SSB has its own rewards too: the human voice, the accents from around the world, the occasional ragchew that becomes a genuine conversation. These experiences feel more "real" to me than clicking through decoded messages on a screen.

Yet I cannot deny the appeal of FT8. When propagation is marginal and the bands sound dead on SSB, firing up WSJT-X reveals a world of activity. That first decode from a new country or a needed multiplier provides its own thrill. The technology is genuinely impressive—Joe Taylor, K1JT, and his team deserve enormous credit for developing protocols that extract signals from well below the noise floor.

The convenience factor is undeniable. After a long day, I sometimes want to sit in the shack with a cup of coffee and casually work a few stations without the mental intensity that CW or SSB requires. FT8 allows that. Click, wait, click again. It's almost meditative in its simplicity, though some might say mindless.

What Are We Losing?

But there are losses too, and we should acknowledge them honestly. The operating skill that defined amateur radio for over a century is becoming optional. A new ham can earn DXCC without ever learning to copy CW or work a pile-up on SSB. They can achieve Honour Roll without developing the knowledge of propagation and operating intuition that traditional modes demand.

The personal connection is diminished. FT8 QSOs are transactional: callsign, signal report, 73. There's no opportunity for a brief chat, no sense of the person on the other end. We become call signs in a database rather than operators having a shared experience. The community aspect of amateur radio—the friendships formed, the mentoring, the storytelling—doesn't flourish in a mode limited to structured exchanges.

Spectrum efficiency is another concern, though perhaps counterintuitive. Yes, FT8 uses only 50 Hz of bandwidth per signal. However, the mode's popularity means that the narrow digital sub-bands are packed to capacity, while traditional segments sit nearly empty. We've concentrated activity rather than spreading it out. During major DXpeditions, the FT8 pileups can be as chaotic as any SSB pile, just in a different way.

And what about the robots? Automated stations running FT8 24/7 without a human operator present trouble me deeply. Are they really amateur radio? The regulations in Canada require control, but a computer script calling CQ and working stations without human intervention seems to violate the spirit if not the letter of the rules. These robots crowd the already-narrow digital frequencies and work you repeatedly, oblivious to the fact that you're already in their log. It's annoying at best, potentially harmful to the hobby at worst.

What Are We Gaining?

Fair is fair—we need to consider the other side. Digital modes have attracted new people to amateur radio and kept older operators active who might have otherwise quit. A ham who can no longer hear well enough for CW or SSB can still enjoy working DX on FT8. Someone in an antenna-restricted location can be competitive with just a wire antenna and 100 watts. These are real benefits that expand participation in our hobby.

The technology itself is fascinating and very much in the spirit of amateur radio experimentation. Understanding how weak signal propagation works, optimizing antenna systems for digital modes, exploring the various FT8 variants—these are legitimate technical pursuits. We are, after all, supposed to be advancing the art of radio.

Digital modes also provide valuable propagation data. PSK Reporter and similar services aggregate FT8 spots to display real-time propagation conditions worldwide. This information benefits all operators regardless of mode preference. Understanding when the band is open, even if marginal, helps with operating strategy.

For DXpeditions, digital modes have been transformative. Rare locations can now work thousands of stations in conditions that would have yielded only a handful of QSOs on CW or SSB. More operators get the contact, more funding is generated for future expeditions, and activity from rare entities increases. From a purely practical standpoint, this is good for the DXing community.

Finding a Balance

So where does this leave us? I don't think it's productive to be dogmatic about modes. The "real radio" gatekeeping that some engage in—declaring that only CW counts, or only phone, or only this or that—serves no useful purpose. Amateur radio is broad enough to encompass a wide range of interests and approaches.

My personal approach has been to maintain proficiency in multiple modes while acknowledging that digital has its place. I still contest primarily on CW and SSB because that's where the challenge and satisfaction lie for me. I still chase DX on traditional modes when possible because I prefer the experience. But I'm not above using FT8 when it's the right tool for the job—a needed multiplier, a rare country that only appears on digital, a band that's marginal for other modes.

I would encourage newer operators to learn CW and SSB even if they start with digital. The skills you develop will enhance your overall performance as an operator. Understanding propagation by hearing it, working a pile-up manually, copying weak CW by ear—these experiences enrich your understanding of radio in ways that clicking through FT8 contacts cannot.

At the same time, I encourage traditional operators not to dismiss digital modes entirely. Try them. Understand them. You might find aspects you appreciate. And even if you don't, understanding what's driving the change in our hobby is valuable in itself.

The Future of Amateur Radio

What does the future hold? Barring any regulatory changes or major technological shifts, I anticipate that digital modes will continue to dominate in terms of sheer QSO numbers. The trend lines are clear, and the factors driving adoption aren't going away. Licensing will remain code-free. Stations will continue to get smaller. Convenience and ease of use will continue to be attractive.

But I don't think traditional modes will disappear. Contests will keep CW and SSB alive and active, at least on weekends. There will always be operators who prefer the human elements of voice or the elegance of CW. These modes may become more niche, more specialized, but they'll persist. Look at how CW survived the removal of the code requirement—predictions of its demise were greatly exaggerated.

Perhaps we'll see new hybrid approaches. Some contests are experimenting with mixed-mode categories. Software could potentially make CW more accessible while retaining its character. New digital protocols might emerge that require more operator skill and are better suited to contesting. The technology continues to evolve.

The bigger question is whether amateur radio itself remains relevant in an era of ubiquitous internet connectivity and instant global communication. Cellular networks and satellite systems challenge our traditional role in emergency communications. Our experimental mandate competes with commercial developments that dwarf amateur efforts in scale and funding.

Yet I remain optimistic. There's something fundamental about radio—electromagnetic waves propagating through space, ionospheric reflections, the challenge of making contacts when conditions are poor—that continues to fascinate people. The educational value persists. And when disasters strike, and modern infrastructure fails, amateur radio proves its worth again and again, whether using FT8, SSB, or CW.

Conclusion

Is digital the new king of ham radio? By the numbers, undeniably yes. FT8 and its variants dominate the bands in terms of activity and QSO counts. The migration has happened, and it's not reversing.

But kingdoms can have multiple rulers, and room exists for different approaches within our hobby. Digital modes have brought benefits along with their drawbacks. Traditional modes retain advantages that digital cannot replicate. The healthiest future for amateur radio is one where multiple modes coexist, allowing operators to use whichever mode best suits their interests and circumstances.

As for me, I'll continue to explore all the modes my license permits. I'll continue to contest on CW because I love the challenge. I'll work DX on SSB when I can because I enjoy the voice contact. And yes, I'll use FT8 when it makes sense, grateful for the technology that lets me work stations I could never reach otherwise.

The hobby is changing, as it always has. From spark gaps to AM to SSB to digital—each generation witnesses transformations that older operators view with suspicion, while newer ones embrace them. What matters is that we're all on the air, making contacts, experimenting, learning, and keeping amateur radio alive for the next generation.

Whether you're clicking through FT8 contacts or pounding brass on a straight key, I hope to work you on the bands. After all, regardless of mode, we're all hams pursuing the same fundamental goal: making that next contact and seeing how far our signals can reach.

73 and good DX!