Already 7 stations in the USA have received experimental permits to operate at 8m. Come the next main Es season we could see even more approved and on the air.
I do hope they all operate FT8 and within a single RX window for them all. This will make monitoring so much easier.
In the last Es season the first USA station approved was copied in the UK. With 7 operational, things (and chances) can only get better. All that would be needed is a wire dipole and WSJT-X tuned so all the USA stations come in on FT8. Just leave the RX on and see what pops up. Of course, FT8 with a shared allocation would be good for all beacons, not just at 8m. This way, all beacons within the particular FT8 "window" could be monitored 24/7.
It is just possible that the F2 MUF limit could peak briefly such that distant stations on 8m could be copied. All this is new and exciting. We just do not know.
All the USA stations have been given permits in the ISM band. In the future, this could be a most interesting amateur allocation. Never mind transatlantic: they are going to have great fun in the next main Es season. There is a small Es peak around New Year. I wonder if there will be some Es within the USA at the turn of the year?
See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/ . On John's blog there are more details about these USA stations.
UPDATE 0650z: I gather the first experimental licence has been issued in Canada to a VE7.
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