Stations spotting my 160m 2.5W FT8 |
Using my 2.5W 160m FT8 and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I was widely spotted across Europe by 113 stations. On 160m FT8 RX the furthermost was K1ZM (5238km).
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
Stations spotting my 160m 2.5W FT8 |
For a change, I am on 160m QRP FT8 (2.5W) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
UPDATE 1750z: 8 spots of my 2.5W FT8 160m TX already including Germany and Switzerland.Stations spotting my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on 160m FT8 overnight |
In all, I was spotted by 55 stations as the maps shows. 73 stations were spotted on RX. The furthermost on TX was OH6BG (1716km).
My theory is this works as a loop in the ground, so that the efficiency should decrease as the skin depth goes down, so I would expect it to be poorer on 160m than 630m. Also, I was using FT8 which is some 10dB poorer than WSPR. Overall, very pleasing.
This begs the question - what is it like on 80m FT8? If the match is OK, I shall probably try this tonight!
This is experimentation I can still do! At some point I must try my 2200m (136 kHz) beacon on QRSS. I think it can do QRSS. It is over 10 years since I last used QRSS.
As a change from 630m WSPR, I might try the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with QRP 160m FT8 as long as I can get a match that is low enough.
I cannot recall trying this at this QTH. Mind you, it it is more than a month ago I probably cannot remember it!
UPDATE 1450z: I turned on my 160m QRP FT8 to the earth-electrode using the same 3C90 matching transformer. With the same taps as used on 630m the SWR is pretty low.
UPDATE 1704z: 2 stations have spotted me on QRP TX (2.5W and the earth electrode "antenna" in the ground) with the furthermost ON7KEC (293km.). On 160m RX stations spotted all over Europe with the furthermost nearly 3000km away. It has just got dark here! The antenna works well even on 160m FT8. The map shows the stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX.
With SSB bandwidths my noise level on 160m is around S9. On FT8 (50 Hz bandwidth) I have no trouble getting across Europe with 2.5W and my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Last night my CQ calls were answered by stations in France and Germany.
If you have noise issues try FT8 (50 Hz) or WSPR (6 Hz).
UPDATE 2116z: 12 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP 160m FT8. (see map).
160m FT8 QRP TX |
160m FT8 RX |
Spots of my QRP FT8 on 160m with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground last evening |
It is not dark here for about 90 minutes, but my 2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted on 2 SDR's in the west country the furthermost WESSEXSDR (265km).
Last evening and overnight I was on 160m QRP FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Even my XYL cannot see it!
6 hours 160m FT8 TX at 3W using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground |
As my earth-electrode "antenna" is now matched, I am currently using it on 160m FT8 with 10W from the FT-710. No spots, although I am not surprised in daylight. I must double check on the 160m FT8 frequency in Europe. I have never tried FT8 on topband. I have used WSPR in the past. Currently I am on 1840 kHz FT8, which seems right.
UPDATE 1120z: This looks a useful resource for digital modes in Europe. See https://www.pa8s.nl/knowledge-base/frequencies-for-digital-modes/
Spots of me at 1814z |
Many people suffer with high local noise on 160m. Even here in a rural village it is close to S9 on SSB.
FT8 can be quite an effective mode as it only needs 50 Hz of bandwidth and works with very weak signals. For this reason, it can be very good with high noise levels as the effective bandwidth is so much narrower than SSB.
As the (free) software effectively creates the 50 Hz bandwidth, narrow filters are not needed in the rig. SSB filters are fine.
WSPR needs even less bandwidth (about 6 Hz) but is not a QSO mode really, and takes nearly 120 seconds to send a message whereas FT8 needs 15 seconds to send a message burst. It take a few minutes to complete a QSO. Contacts are very basic. JT8 supports free form messages, but I have not used this. Most prefer FT8 to WSPR.
Even though 10m is still wide open, I have QSYed to 160m FT8 RX with the untuned 10m antenna. So far this evening 30 stations have been spotted.
UPDATE 2136z: 133 stations spotted. I think I shall remain on overnight.
Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX with the untuned 10m antenna. Plenty of European stations spotted. I shall see if there were any from the USA if PSKreporter returns to normal later.
UPDATE 2040z: Nothing from "across the pond" last night. 112 stations spotted.
No transatlantic signals. Is this just a blip or is it the end of the season for me?
About 5 minutes ago, I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX using the untuned 10m antenna. So far, 6 stations already spotted.
UPDATE 1925z: 15 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX so far.
UPDATE 2240z: 93 stations spotted.
As it is now dark, I have QSYed to 160m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna untuned. So far, at 1835z, 16 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1920z: 58 stations spotted with the furthermost RV0AR (5577km).
UPDATE 2037z: 117 stations spotted.
UPDATE 2049z: 121 stations spotted including the first USA station - KD2UHD (5377km).
At the moment I am on 160m FT8 RX using the untuned 10m antenna. So far, 67 stations spotted.
UPDATE 2232z: 89 stations spotted with the furthermost EX0QR (5642km) in Kyrgystan.
This evening I am on 160m FT8 RX with the untuned 10m antenna. So far, 161 stations spotted on RX.
This morning, I am again on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W to the vertical V2000 omni antenna, Mostly UK with some Scandinavian spots on 6m FT8 yeste...