20 Jul 2026

6m 500mW FT8 (Monday)

 My gear was turned on mid-morning.

UPDATE 1026z:  Spotted by 69 stations with the best D4L (4517km) in Cape Verde Islands. Good Es again today with 500mW.

UPDATE 1533z:  Spotted by 281 stations today. On 6m FT8 RX quite a few stations in the USA and Caribbean have been spotted.

This is far from scientific, but the impression I get with Es is that 6m QRP FT8 TX is more productive than 10m QRP WSPR. I know this is like comparing apples with pears, but it seems easier with 6m FT8 than 10m WSPR. On 10m I run 200mW whereas on 6m 500mW.  I would guess ERPs are similar. WSPR can decode far weaker signals, but needs far longer. I guess Es conditions often are fleeting and less suited to WSPR.

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