8 Jan 2020

70cm FT8 activity contest tonight

Starting at 1700z tonight (until 2000z) is a 70cm FT8 activity contest. Check 432.174MHz USB dial. I can only receive, but I am already monitoring.

See http://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/

UPDATE 1830z: So far, 5 stations in 4 countries spotted with best DX DG1KDD (472km). I am only using my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. A recent 70cm FT8 CQ to the 2m big-wheel was spotted by no-one.
Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 RX to 1921z
UPDATE 1956z: My 70cm FT8 CQ was answered by G3YDY (64km). No other reports of my TX CQs (10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna). The DG station spotted earlier is my furthermost on 70cm FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2011z: Well it seems to me that this 70cm activity "contest" was a success with FT8 activity on the band. I think these stations spotted were flat band tropo and not aircraft reflections as most were weakly on the screen lots of the time.

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