Change of plan - 40m 2W FT8

 Earlier in the evening I can go on 40m FT8 TX at 2W via my coax to the 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU.

UPDATE 1831z:  No spots of me although I have spotted a couple of stations in Germany with this ad hoc set-up.

UPDATE 1853z:  Swapped to my 10m EFHW antenna via the ATU. Lots more stations spotted on RX, but nobody has spotted my 2W.

UPDATE 1858z:  I have come to the reluctant conclusion that 2W is below the noise floor for most stations in Europe. I shall stick with it for a while longer, then go back to 474.2kHz WSPR RX only.

Pititico 1 transistor transceiver

You may be interested in this (and other) videos on the Pititico transceiver on DX Explorer. 

As there is no amplification of the audio on RX I imagine it is not very sensitive so probably safer to call stations you can hear. Putting out a call you might squash another station already there that you cannot hear!

40m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 After the immediate success on 80m FT8, I have now QSYed to 40m FT8 using the coax to my2m big-wheel antenna via the ATU.

It would seem any band within the ATU range would be workable with this setup.

40m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

Just tried loading up the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via my z-match on 40m (7.074MHz). 18 spots of me already after about 10 minutes.

UPDATE 1612z:  24 stations have spotted my 40m QRP FT8 so far.

40m FT8 RX (Friday)

It is intriguing to see how low I can RX on my tiny 20-10m QDX transceiver. At the moment I am on 40m FT8 RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, which seems to work better at 40m than my end-fed 10m antenna. It would probably work on TX too but the low pass filter is probably ineffective.

Nothing has appeared on PSKreporter, although I can see many stations locally on my screen. Perhaps there is a delay or a reset is needed?

UPDATE 1310z:  WSJT-X reset. Still no PSKreporter spots on 40m FT8 RX.  Just looked on the "all bands" view and I can see my 40m RX spots - odd.

UPDATE 1401z: 51 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX on the 20-10m QDX RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

40m FT8 RX

Just for a change, I went on 40m FT8 RX using my 8m dipole which of course is very non-resonant. 

After 50 minutes, 104 stations spotted (see map).

Simple SSB

Steve G1KQH just pointed me to this inspiring video. Thinking about simple, low cost SSB rigs for 10m, there must be some great ideas here!

40m FT8 in the last day

 

578 stations spotted in the last day on 40m FT8 RX as the map shows using the untuned 10m antenna.

UPDATE 1407z:  1005 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX in the last day. 

40m FT8 RX (Saturday)

At about 1900z I QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the 10m endfed antenna untuned. So far (at 1957z) 221 stations spotted. At the moment 40m seems to be the best all round band day and night. I shall probably leave it on overnight.

UPDATE 2020z:  264 stations spotted.

40m FT8 RX

 

Since yesterday afternoon, 1018 stations have been spotted on 40m FT8 RX. I am still on 40m FT8 RX today.

40m FT8 RX

It is now 1648z.  About an hour ago I QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the untuned 10m antenna. I guess the untuned 10m antenna is just like sticking an attenuator in, which is no bad thing on 40m. So far, 206 stations already spotted on 40m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2202z:  684 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX with the furthermost WP3R (6851km).

40m FT8 RX in the last day

In all, 792 stations were spotted including 3 in the USA, all with the indoor active loop antenna on the shack window. All day (Friday) I have remained on 40m FT8 RX.

40m FT8 RX (Thursday)

As 10m was so poor, I have QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the indoor active loop. I switched about 1630z. So far today, 35 stations spotted at 1637z.

UPDATE 1813z:  83 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2026z:  126 stations spotted with the furthermost 9K2HN (4567km).

UPDATE 2204z:  250 stations with the furthermost W6IBU (8605km).

40m FT8 RX

 As it is dark, I have QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the indoor Wellgood active loop antenna.  It is now 1730z and I have been on for about 10 minutes and already 69 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2002z:   344 stations spotted. Soon to QSY to 2m FT8.

40m FT8 RX overnight

Since last evening I have been on 40m FT8 RX with the indoor Wellgood active loop. 186 stations spotted including 3 in the USA.

I may remain on 40m FT8 RX this morning. At 1104z, 64 stations had been spotted this morning.

40m FT8 RX

This evening (and hopefully overnight) I am on 40m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop. 104 stations spotted by 2300z.

40m FT8 overnight

Gradually yesterday I went to lower bands ending up on 40m FT8.  In all cases I was using the Wellgood active antenna on the shack window.

In all, 389 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX with the furthermost YC9FZ (12452km) on Java.

40m FT8 RX (Monday)

Since 1844z, I have been on 40m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop. At 1931z, 12 stations had been spotted.

UPDATE 2158z:  62 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX this evening.

40m FT8 RX

Until I went on 20m at about 0900z, I was on 40m FT8 RX. Overall, the furthermost was FS4WBS (6632km). Once again, I was using the Wellgood active RX loop on the shack window.

40m FT8 RX (Thursday)

As 15m is getting pretty quiet here, I have QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop antenna.  I QSYed at 1933z.  At 1945z, 26 stations spotted. Furthermost is CU3AK (2586km) in the Azores.