20m FT8 RX

This morning, I am on 20m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the tiny loop on the shack windowsill. It is now 0952z and so far 29 stations have been spotted. At 0947z, I had been active for about 15 minutes. The furthermost spotted is RX3LK (4017km) in Asiatic Russia.

UPDATE 1822z:  381 stations spotted with the furthermost being W4UKC (6679km). 

UPDATE 1855z:  QRT.   

20m FT8 RX (Friday)

At about 0905z I turned on my 20m FT8 RX with the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop antenna. As the internet is off, these will not be uploaded to PSKreporter. Plenty of stations spotted. 

UPDATE 0920z:  As the internet is back on, hopefully some spots will get through now.

UPDATE 1235z: 246 spots here so far on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1920z: 452 stations spotted here today on 20m FT8 RX. Quite amazing with just the loop on the windowsill.

UPDATE 2210z:  QRT. 

20m FT8 (2.5W and the indoor loop)

A few moments ago I turned on 20m FT8 QRP using 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. It is 0840z. 

Yet again, I had a problem with decoding signals and the waterfall being smeary. After turning WSJT-X and the SignaLink interface off and on, it is now decoding. I am running Windows 10.

No spots of me yet and 4 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1258z:  So far today, 3 stations have spotted my QRP 20m FT8 signal. On RX 84 stations have been spotted in 3 continents.

UPDATE 1412z:  5 stations have spotted me so far and I have spotted 108 stations in 4 continents.

UPDATE 1710z:  5 stations have spotted me today on 20m FT8 QRP and I have spotted 157.

20m FT8.

Most of the day, I have been on 20m FT8 RX with the indoor loop and the FT817ND. For the last few minutes (it is now 1542z) I have been on TX with about 2.5W to the indoor loop. 196 spots on RX and nothing yet of me on TX. 

UPDATE 1645: Just a single spot of me so far EA5HVW (1548km). 208 stations spotted. Disappointed than more. stations have not spotted me yet. 

UPDATE 2212z: QRT. 

20m FT8 Saturday (4W to indoor loop)

As an experiment I left 20m FT8 RX on overnight. Best DX was 5Z4VJ (6858km) in Nairobi. As usual, I am using the indoor loop. 

UPDATE 0825z: On RX 150 stations spotted in the last 3 hours with best DX ZD7MY (7606km) on St Helena.  4W TX switched on at 0747z. No spots of me yet.

UPDATE 1040z: 248 stations in 4 continents spotted here this morning and 11 stations spotting me.

Return to 20m FT8

At about 1345z, I returned to 20m FT8 using 4W and the indoor loop. So far, in about 12 minutes, 47 stations have been spotted, although no-one yet has spotted me and no QSOs.

UPDATE 1425z: Plenty of DX being spotted with the best being LU4EFC (11336km). 4 continents spotted so far in this session. 88 stations so far spotted this afternoon. 179 stations spotted on 20m FT8 today.

Stations spotted

Stations spotting me

UPDATE 2020z:  437 stations spotted here in the last day in 5 continents on 20m FT8 RX.  20 stations including 3 in the USA have spotted my 4W 20m FT8 TX to the tiny indoor loop. I remain amazed that this tiny antenna works so well.

20m FT8 Thursday (4W to the indoor loop)

At about 0700z, I turned on my 4W 20m FT8 to the tiny indoor loop. The loop is about 0.5m across, made of thin wire (1mm diameter?) and sits on the shack windowsill. It is hardly a great 20m antenna!! So far, after 15 minutes, 14 stations have been spotted and 1 station has spotted me.

UPDATE 0925z:  So far, 97 stations spotted with the loop on 20m FT8 RX with the best DX being RV0AR (5577km) in Asiatic Russia.  On TX, 6 stations have spotted my 4W (see map).

20m FT8 (4W and the indoor loop)

As 15m FT8 here was dreadful here, I QSYed to 20m FT8. 

Although I did a total reboot of the PC and reset the clock to internet time just now, still nothing on PSKreporter.  Locally I am spotting loads of stations. 

I wonder if there is a problem, albeit probably temporary, with PSKreporter? My RX and TX spots were fine on 2m FT8 earlier. I am pretty sure the internet connection is fine as I was able to do a time sync.

UPDATE 1506z:  1 spot on TX and 41 on RX now, so all is now fine.

20m FT8

Overnight I left the 20m FT8 RX on. There were no spots during the night. Since breakfast there had been 10 spots of eastern European stations at 0648z. Still using the indoor loop antenna. 

UPDATE 1245z:  So far today, 110 stations spotted with 2 in the USA.

20m FT8

At the moment (1337z) I am on 20m FT8 with 2.5W to the indoor loop, using the FT817ND. Several Europeans spotted on RX, but no spots of me yet and no QSOs.

UPDATE 2023z: RX only on 20m FT8.  258 stations spotted with best DX spotted being PY2KP (9578km). 5 continents spotted today on 20m FT8 with the indoor loop (see photo). The loop is about 0.5m across with quite thin wire.  20m still seems to be open with plenty of Europeans spotted in the last 15 minutes.

UPDATE 2144z: Now 292 stations spotted with the loop and FT817ND on 20m FT8 RX today with the best DX spotted being LU9DCB (11212km). As an experiment I am going to leave the RX on overnight.

20m FT8 again

Once again I am on 20m FT8 using 10W to the 45cm diameter indoor loop. Already I have been spotted strongly in southern Italy and I have spotted 16 stations on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1103z: So far today, my 10W has been spotted by 15 stations (1 QSO) and I have spotted 196 stations.

Spots of my 20m 10W 

FT8 TX to 1410z

UPDATE 1440z: 50 stations have spotted me today on 20m FT8 with the 10W FT8. On 20m FT8 RX 426 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1618z: 54 stations have spotted me so far and 512 stations have been spotted here today so far on 20m FT8.

20m FT8

Once again, I am on 20m FT8 (10W with the indoor loop). So far today 11 stations have spotted me with the best DX being KI8JP (3916 miles). On 20m FT8 RX 125 stations spotted with best DX being K7SCX (7505km).

Stations spotting me to 1730z

UPDATE 1617z: 55 stations have now spotted my 10W FT8 and I have spotted 224 stations so far.

Stations spotted today here to 1730z

UPDATE 1730z:  287 stations spotted so far today. 58 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1915z:  75 spots of me today. A few QSOs.

UPDATE 1946z: 77 stations spotting me today so far. Activity now dropping off. On 20m FT8 RX 455 stations spotted her.

UPDATE 2011z: The last map shows the stations spotting me on 20m FT8 TX.

20m FT8

For about 15 minutes, I have been on 20m FT8 with 10W to the tiny indoor loop.

Already over 40 stations have been spotted, but no spots yet on TX. Although I thought that I chose a clear frequency, I must be swamped by a big station that I cannot see. If this persists, I might try a QSY.

UPDATE 1047z: Now QSYed.  70 stations spotted and I have been spotted by 3 Europeans so far.

UPDATE 1345z: So far today, 31 stations have spotted my 10W 20m FT8 including 4 in the USA.

UPDATE 1505z: Now 36 stations spotting me today so far.

UPDATE 1703z: Now 77 stations spotting my 10W FT8 on 20m. On 20m FT8 RX 442 stations spotted with best DX E20EHQ (9459km).

20m FT8 (10W) again

At about 1250z I turned on 20m FT8. No spots yet on TX, although the usual clutch on RX. I must be on the same frequency as a "big" station that is not visible here.

UPDATE 1330z :  On RX 46 stations spotted so far and just one station spotting me today.

UPDATE 1626z: 28 stations have spotted me so far today. On 20m FT8 RX 223 spots of other stations in 4 continents so far today with the indoor 45cm diameter loop antenna.

UPDATE 2130z: 53 spots of my 10W FT8 today including 12 in the USA. On RX 470 stations spotted. A few QSOs were had too.

20m FT8 (again!)

As usual, I have gone on 20m FT8 again with the tiny indoor loop and 10W. At 1545z 34 reports of my 10W, all from Europe with best DX being a spot be OH60KSA (1862km). I guess this must be a special prefix. No QSOs yet, but I was late getting on today. Nothing from the USA yet today.

UPDATE 1734z: Now 63 stations spotting me with best DX a spot by OH6GZD (1998km).today

UPDATE 1950z:  67 stations have spotted my 10W 20m FT8 today so far.

20m FT8 with the tiny (45cm diameter) indoor loop

After sorting out the WSJT-X issue, 35 stations have spotted me so far. Best DX was a spot by N4DJT (4213 miles). 312 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1424z: 451 stations have now spotted my 10W with UA9MA (4630km) being the furthermost to the east. On 20m FT8 RX 420 stations spotted so far.

Stations spotting my 10W FT8
to the tiny loop on 20m today

UPDATE 1904z: Now 103 stations in 4 continents have spotted my 10W today. See map to see who spotted me. On 20m FT8 RX 701 stations have been spotted on FT8 today.

20m FT8

A few moments ago I went on 20m FT8 with 10W to the tiny indoor loop.

It is now 1426z and 36 stations spotted on RX and just 1 spot on TX by II0IDR (1442km).

UPDATE 1450z: No other spots of me on TX. When a strong signal appears I can get swamped. I have just moved about 100Hz LF to see if that makes a difference. I always check I am on a clear spot, but this does not always work!

UPDATE 1725z:  Now spotted by 18 stations across Europe.

20m FT8

In a short while, I shall go on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna. Results previously have exceeded expectations.

UPDATE 1118z: I have turned on the 20m FT8 (10W). Already 39 stations spotted, but no-one has spotted my yet. I maybe am (unknowingly) co-channel with a strong signal inaudible here. I checked the frequency before TXing.

UPDATE 1230z: Since moving about 200Hz HF I have been spotted by 18 stations! Best DX is a spot of my 10W by N4PSK (4374 miles). On 20m FT8 RX 145 stations have been spotted so far.

UPDATE 1920z:  Still being spotted! 111 spots of me today and 7 in the USA.

UPDATE 2129z: 121 spots of me today on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop and 10W as the map shows. Several 2-way QSOs too. Now QRT.

20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop

If you have no access to outside antennas I can thoroughly recommend loops. As you know from earlier posts I like FT8 as frequency changes are very small, so once on frequency there is little need to retune. For their size, these work far better than expected.

I have not been on 20m FT8 very long, but my 10W has already been spotted in 2 countries and I have spotted 13 stations. One issue I find is a lack of reports if I am on the same frequency as a much stronger station. A small change of frequency (100-200Hz) normally solves the problem.

UPDATE 1020z:  Now 31 stations (all European) copied so far today on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1147z:  Now 48 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 with the best being a spot by J69DS (6840km). On 20m FT8 RX now 119 spots including Japan, the Caribbean and the USA.

UPDATE 1352z:  Now 69 stations have spotted my tiny signal today on 20m FT8. On 20m FT8 RX 230 stations spotted so far today.

Stations spotting my 10W 20m FT8 TX today 

UPDATE 1620z: 108 spots of my 10W so far today on 20m FT8 TX with the tiny indoor loop. On RX 327 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1910z: 110 stations have spotted me today and 500 stations were spotted me today on 20m FT8.

UPDATE 2116z: QRT now after my best outing yet on 20m FT8 with the tiny loop. Quite remarkable!

20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop

Just before breakfast I decided to go on 20m FT8. Lots of RX spots and 1 spot on TX (10W) by YO9BXE (2005km). As I noticed I was co-channel with a station who probably did not know I was there, I have QSYed about 200Hz LF.

UPDATE 1012z : 11 spots on TX so far today.

UPDATE 1212z: Now 36 spots received of my 10W with 5 in the USA. On 20m FT8 RX 106 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1650z:  50 stations, including 9 in the USA, have spotted my 10W to the tiny indoor loop today on 20m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1710z: The map shows the stations spotting my 10W 20m FT8 to 1710z today. I am still totally amazed how well this tiny loop works! On 20m FT8 RX 265 stations spotted so far.