My gear has been on most of the day.
UPDATE 1908z: So far, spotted by 176 stations, mainly Es in Europe. I think I need to try re-installing WSJT-X or get a new PC. It seems to fail to upload spots I make and cannot access certain memory locations as if my hard drive is failing. Never seen this before. Seems to work fine unless the program tries to use these memory locations.
My gear was turned on at about 0851z.
UPDATE 0856z: So far, 5 spots with some Es.
My gear was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1333z: 37 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 2129z: By chance I went back on 6m FT8 this evening. My 1W FT8 was spotted across the Atlantic by VO1SIX (3931km) and VO1NC (3755km). Now QRT on 6m.
My gear was turned on at about 0600z.
UPDATE 0625z: Just UK spots so far.
UPDATE 0803z: Plenty of Es stations from southern Europe. Power set at 1W (was 5W).
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| Stations spotting my 3W 6m FT8 today at 0810z |
UPDATE 0810z: 66 stations have spotted me. I see Europeans (better equipped than me!) are working the Far East on 6m FT8.
Stations spotted here today on 6m FT8
UPDATE 1813z: Spotted by 357 stations with the best UN0GY (5528km). Yet again 6m was open to the USA and Caribbean. Although I could spot stations, my 1W was not enough.
Still plenty of Es on 6m.
UPDATE 1923z: So far today, my 500mW 6m FT8 has been spotted by 201 stations.
It was late afternoon before I went on.
UPDATE 1845z: Spotted by 27 stations in Europe.
Yesterday was another good 6m day.
My 500mW FT8 was spotted widely by 358 stations in the last day including KP4AA (6905km) in the Caribbean. So my 500mW 6m FT8 has now been spotted across the Atlantic twice in 2 days!
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.
There were lots of USA stations spotted on RX and 80 stations spotted overall after a mid-afternoon start.
500mW seems quite enough!
My gear was turned on at about 1415z.
UPDATE 1428z: Spotted by F6BNX (1099km) and EA8JF (2831km).
My shack PC is playing up again.
When I try to enter my PIN, it thinks I am offline. Apparently this is a common issue with Windows. Last time it just fixed itself, so I shall try again later with fingers crossed.
My intention was to try 500mW FT8 today on 6m.
My gear was turned on at about 0620z.
UPDATE 1924z: Spotted by 241 stations today. Tomorrow I shall probably try 500mW FT8. QRT soon.
My gear was turned on about 0900z.
UPDATE 1817z: So far spotted by 152 stations today. Mostly European Es.
My gear was turned on at teatime.
UPDATE 2010z: Spotted by 78 stations this evening.
My gear has been on since 0815z.
UPDATE 1425z: 11 stations spotting me so far. Most are English with, perhaps, one by Es. It would seem there is less Es today on 6m.
My gear was turned on at about 1133z.
UPDATE 1942z: 336 stations have spotted me today.
Yesterday was brilliant on 6m.
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| Stations spotted yesterday on 6m FT8 RX |
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| Stations spotting my 3W 6m FT8 yesterday |
I have been on 6m FT8 since just before breakfast.
UPDATE 0845z: So far 103 stations have spotted me with the furthest TF2CT (1927km).
These days, with Es, I seem to get better success with 3W FT8 on 6m than 200mW WSPR on 10m.
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| Stations spotting me at 1637z |
UPDATE 1637z: Back on 6m FT8. Spotted by 23 stations. Es I presume for many.
DX Explorer appeals to me. He is a real experimenter and learns through doing. One of his videos shows his experiments with an ATU for his...
