2 Sept 2018

WSPR or FT8?

As you know, I usually go on 10m WSPR TX, but today I am on 10m FT8 instead. OK, on 10m WSPR I usually TX with my WSPR beacon at 500mW. On FT8, I am mostly RX, but CQs go out at 2.5W. In both cases I use the same antenna, which could be several dBs better.

My impression is there is far more activity on 10m FT8 than 10m WSPR, although I have not really done a fair test. In theory WSPR should be better than FT8, but I am sure the 15 second TX periods in FT8 help to "smoke out" some brief openings. In WSPR the TX periods are 2 minutes.

If today is anything to go by, 10m FT8 is keeping 10m going for longer than many expected with good Es still into September.

No comments:

Post a Comment