10m FT8 RX

Apart from OK1KT (1104km), all spots so far have been Russians. I have been on 10m FT8 RX since 0646z. Best DX is currently R9WJ (3662km).

UPDATE 1106: Twelve 10m FT8 spots so far. Some spots are quite near in Europe, so probably not F2. Ranges vary from France, Germany, Turkey, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark to Russia.

UPDATE 1215z: Now 13 spots - all Europe, Russia and Turkey. No "real" DX as yet on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1405z: 14 spots on 10m FT8 so far, but still no "real" DX.

UPDATE 1515z: Still no "real" DX on 10m FT8 today.  At 1539z EA8GF (2973km) was spotted in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1630z: I am getting the feeling that there will be no South Americans today on 10m FT8. I'll leave things running, but I am not too hopeful.

UPDATE 1810z: Still no South Americans on 10m FT8. Soon be time to QSY to 630m WSPR - I'll maybe give it another hour?

Don't QSY yet!

So, I was about to QSY from 10m FT8 to 630m WSPR, but I see very recent South American spots, so left 10m running. In another hour or so, I shall QSY to MF.

UPDATE 1847z: Best DX today on 10m FT8 RX was LU8XAF (13413km). As there has been now DX for over an hour, I think it is time to QSY to 630m.

10m FT8 RX

So far, and I have been on since breakfast, more spotted than yesterday with quite a few South Americans spotted already on 10m FT8: it seems these are coming through earlier. I guess this is to do with the seasons.

4 continents spotted so far today on 10m FT8.

10m FT8 RX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. A few Europeans spotted with the best DX being UN7AB (3825km) near the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan, presumably by F2.

UPDATE 1938z: For the first time in many weeks, 10m FT8 resulted in just Europeans and Russians - no ""real" DX. Shortly, I shall QSY to 630m WSPR.

Lack of 10m DX?

Today, there has been a distinct lack of real DX on 10m FT8. Although I saw plenty of Russians and Israelis this morning, I have not (yet) seen any Africans or South Americans on 10m FT8. There is still time for this to change.

UPDATE 1640z:  Just one South American, so far: LU6HWT (11346km) in Cordoba, Argentina.

UPDATE 1652z: Maybe conditions or post CQWW blues, but definitely less activity on 10m FT8 today.

10m FT8 RX

As usual, I am on 10m FT8 RX for the day. So far, 8 Russians with best DX R9CU (3878km). I presume these were F2 propagation. In addition some Gs and a PA which were either tropo or aircraft reflection. I am using the latest released version of WSPR-X V1.8.

10m FT8 RX

I have been using the latest formal release of WSJT-X (v1.8) in the last few minutes. Best DX is EA3KU (1265km).

UPDATE 1254z: VK6XN (14463km) is currently the best 10m FT8 RX DX. So far, 4 continents spotted on 10m FT8 today.

UPDATE 1605z: 5 South Americans now spotted on 10m FT8. 5 continents spotted on 10m FT8 today so far.

10m FT8 RX

Although I am on 10m FT8 RX at present with best DX RA6HN (3245km), I intend to go on 10m SSB later in the CQWW contest. As my voice is poor, this will probably just be short periods today and tomorrow.

UPDATE 1348z:  Best DX on 10m FT8 RX today is ZS2I (9845km) in South Africa. A 5 minute TX period by me at 2.5W got no spots!

QSY to 10m FT8 RX

After a day on 6m, I have switched to 10m FT8 and will be on overnight. If there is any early 10m FT8 DX, I have a chance of spotting it.

6m produced just a single DX spot from northern Spain, although several Gs were spotted on 6m FT8 at quite decent ranges.

10m FT8 RX - Thursday, October 26th 2017

Well, there is little doubt that FT8 has transformed 10m. Looking at the map of spots for today on 10m, you could be excused for thinking this was sunspot maximum rather than way on the downward slope to the next minimum. Best DX today was VK8NSB (13800km) in Northern Territory, Australia.

10m FT8

Amazing again!  Already loads of Europeans copied and 5 continents spotted on 10m FT8 RX when the sunspot count is low. FT8 - pure magic! This proves it is often a lack of activity rather than conditions on 10m. With FT8 all users are in a narrow slot, which helps.

UPDATE 1746z: 65 countries spotted in the last week on 10m FT8. No North Americans today so far.

10m FT8 RX today - dead?

UPDATE 2138z:  I've been on 630m WSPR for some hours now. When I left 10m FT8, there were still loads of South Americans coming through. And to think 10m is meant to be "dead".

Late night on 10m FT8 RX

For a change, I decided not to switch to 630m WSPR, but stick instead on 10m FT8 RX. I shall be on overnight, so that I am on very early in the morning. XE1XJB (8919km) in Mexico was spotted quite late.

10m FT8

So far today only 3 continents on 10m FT8. Best 10m FT8 DX, so far, is F5MYK/MM (9767km) near Mauritius.

UPDATE 1712z: With 16 unique stations spotted in North America today and loads in South America, today is again a great day on 10m FT8, proving that a lack of activity on 10m is often the problem rather than poor conditions.

10m FT8 RX - Monday Oct 23rd 2017

I have been on 10m FT8 RX most of the morning and, yet again, it is good with best DX being VK9VKL (11970km) on Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean. Other spots this morning include all over Europe and 3B8CW (9751km) on Mauritius. I expect we will see South Africa and South America later.

UPDATE 1044z: ZS2ZA (9895km) now being spotted here. FT8 really is magic.

UPDATE 1625z: Yet again, 6 continents spotted on 10m FT8 today, with hardly any sunspots.

UPDATE 1658z: About 5 minutes ago, I went QRT on 10m. Now I am on 630m WSPR transceive (10mW ERP, 20% TX).

10m conditions - don't believe what others say!

Someone once said, "10m is absolutely dead!", to which I reply, "really?" These were the stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 today. The sunspot count is 11. Previous days have been even better and the sunspot number zero. Never give up on 10m. My recommendation is try FT8 instead.

UPDATE 2046z:  Quite a few hours ago I switched to 630m WSPR transceive (10mW ERP, 20% TX) but after another very successful day on 10m FT8 RX.  Another day with 6 continents spotted including loads of South Americas, but just one 1 North American. I  am convinced FT8 is doing great things: many stations are active in a small window, so chances of being spotted go up.

10m FT8 (late!)

Rather later than usual, I have switched to 10m FT8 RX. My first impression is that there is a lot of activity on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1036z: Lots of activity again on 10m FT8. Best DX so far on 10m FT8 RX is YB0MWM (11711km) in Western Java, Indonesia.

UPDATE 1100z: Best 10m FT8 RX DX spotted now VK9VKL (11970km) on Christmas Island.

UPDATE 1508z: Several stations in South Africa and South America and one in Canada this afternoon. Best DX spotted her this afternoon on 10m FT8 is LU3HTS (11258km) to the west of Cordoba.

10m FT8 RX

Well I thought yesterday was good on 10m FT8 RX, but today has started even better. Already, Indonesia, Namibia, Thailand and lots besides copied. Amazing. Again the sunspot number is zero.

UPDATE 0948z:  Best 10m FT8 RX DX today is VK6HV (13600km) in Australia. No sunspots!

UPDATE 1152z: Yes today 10m FT8 is even better than yesterday! PV8DC (7830km) in the north of Brazil was spotted at 1132z.

10m FT8 RX

After overnight on 630m WSPR transceive, I am again on 10m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted is 4Z5ML (3571km) in Israel. I assume this is F2 propagation. F1DLZ (362km) also copied in northern France which might be aircraft reflection.

I am still using WSJT-X V1.8.0 rc2. I really must upgrade later.

UPDATE 1105z: Lots of 10m Europeans and lots of DX on 10m FT8 today, despite a sunspot count of zero again. As they say, "FT8 cuts the mustard". Very impressive.

UPDATE 1312z:  Now spotting Mauritius - 3B8CW (9751km). Today has been a very good day on 10m FT8. I expect South Africa next, then South America.

UPDATE 1428z: There is no doubt that today is the very best day on 10m FT8 this autumn. So far, 9 North Americans spotted here as well as every continent except Antarctica.

UPDATE 1716z: Best DX today on 10m FT8 was LU8XAF (13413km) in southern Argentina.

10m FT8 today

Already, I have spotted stations in 5 continents on 10m FT8 today: Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. This with a low end-fed wire antenna - no big towers and beams here, HI.  I suspect there will be a few more South Americans in the next few hours. And all this is on a day with zero sunspots and when 10m is supposed to be "dead".

At the moment I am still using WSJT-X V1.8.0 rc2. There is a later version (rc3) too that I must download and use.

Many desert 10m. Stick with it, as you may be very surprised.

This autumn, 6 continents have been spotted on 10m FT8. A great band and FT8 is proving to be a great mode.

10m FT8

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8. As yet, no spots.

UPDATE 1124z: Several DX stations to the east spotted on 10m FT8 including VK9VKL (11970km) on Christmas Island. He appears to have been widely spotted, so he looks genuine. This is my first VK this autumn.