6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna was turned on at about 0830z.  So far, spotted just by Gs. 1 G spotted on RX.

UPDATE 0955z: My signal has been received in Portugal. Es? 10 stations have been spotted here as far away as the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1104z: 13 stations have spotted me as far as Portugal and Spain and 23 stations have been spotted here so far.

UPDATE 1740z:  30 stations have spotted me (see photo).

UPDATE  1925z: 88 stations spotted. Furthermost ZS6WN (8931km). I really hope this is genuine. Does anyone know? QRT soon.

UPDATE 2107z:   ZS6WN had lots of spots in Europe and none in South Africa. He looks like a pirate in Europe? I may be wrong, but am naturally suspicious.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W to the vertical omni V2000 was turned on about 0850z. So far, (at 0905z) just 3 UK spots of me and nobody on RX.

UPDATE 1030z:  8 stations spotted on RX and 13 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP. There is some Es.

UPDATE 1310z:  67 stations across Europe have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 today.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) was turned on about 0700z. So far, I have been spotted by 13 stations across Europe at 0738z.

Spots of my QRP 6m
FT8 TX at 1608z

UPDATE 1608z:  72 unique stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8.  On RX, 46 stations have been spotted. 

UPDATE 2015z:  QRT soon. 77 unique stations have spotted my QRP today. 

6m FT8 yesterday

 As well as the usual crop of 6m FT8 European stations received via Es yesterday I spotted D2UY (6525km) . Call me suspicious, but I suspect this was a pirate in Europe. Does anyone know if this is genuine?

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

So far, 6 Gs have spotted me using 2.5W to the omni V2000 vertical antenna.

UPDATE 1855z:  Late Es opening with 56 stations spotting my QRP (see photo). 

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the omni V2000 vertical has been on for about 30 minutes. So far, spotted by 8 G stations with no Es.

UPDATE 1325z:  56 stations have spotted me today so far. 

Stations on 6m FT8 RX until 1412z

UPDATE 1412z:  A good day on 6m FT8 with my QRP being spotted by 63 stations around Europe with 73 stations spotted on RX including the USA and Canada.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since mid-morning, I have been om 6m QRP FT8 with 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni. At 1425z 21 stations have spotted me.

Stations spotting
me at 1700z

UPDATE 1702z:   53 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8.

Saturday plans

Later, I shall be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 6m QRP FT8. I have not yet checked Es conditions in Europe. 

I might have a go at mending my 8m dipole and coax.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Since I got home about an hour ago, I have been on 6m QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. 32 unique spots so far. These look like FT8 in the main.

UPDATE 2044z:  45 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8 QRP. See photo. These look like Es.

JAs again on 6m

 Many Japanese stations are being worked (again) on 6m FT8. This is a case where ERP really does matter. Although I am being spotted by Es around Europe, I think high power and big, high beams are getting the DX contacts! 

At the moment, I am RX only on 6m FT8. I shall let the "grown-ups" have the fun, HI.

UPDATE 1003z: 107 stations spotted on 6m FT8 with the furthermost HL4GAV (8944km) in South Korea. Looking at his/her spots this looks genuine.

UPDATE 1212z: 150 stations spotted on 6m VHF FT8 today. I wonder who is chasing 6m DXCC 😆? In another month there will be almost nobody on 6m! Sorry, but I reckon the Amateur Radio Service, as we know it, will be gone by 2040.

Sunday plans

Later this morning I expect to be on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX. Sadly the SWR on my loop makes 8m TX tests unlikely, although I might try 8m FT8 RX later.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Switched on the 6m QRP FT8 gear just after breakfast. Looks like there is Es, but no JAs spotted here although I see them being worked from Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1130z:  64 stations have spotted my 2.5W 6m FT8 today.

JA spotted on 6m FT8 (again)

At this time of year Japan is regularly worked from Europe on 6m. This year was no exception. Even with my V2000 vertical, JA7QVI (9273km) was spotted here. I suspect my V2000 and 2.5W is not enough! So far, all my six 6m spots are of G stations working JAs. 

These openings are linked to the formation of noctilucent clouds in the mesosphere.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/super-dx .

UPDATE 0951z:   8 spots of me so far, all Gs.

Stations spotted today
on 6m FT8 RX

UPDATE 2117z:   QRT soon.  25 stations spotted here.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna) was turned on at about 1324z. So far just spotted by 7 G stations with no Es.

Stations spotting my 6m QRP FT8 today

UPDATE 1923z:  What a pathetic day!  In the end I was just spotted by 8 G stations with no Es.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

As my 8m system is currently out of action, I am again on 6m FT8. So far today  14 stations have spotted using my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna with the furthermost US2YW (1864km) in Ukraine. On 6m FT8 RX 4 stations spotted. There would appear to be far more people monitoring 6m than actually TXing.

UPDATE 2007z:   25 stations spotted my 2.5W QRP FT8 today.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear (2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni) was turned on at 0741z. So far (at 0757z) just spots by 5 Gs and no Es. On 6m FT8 RX 3 Gs near Birmingham spotted.

UPDATE 0816z:  Spotted a station in Ukraine on RX. He has also spotted me on QRP TX.  Must be some Es about ,even though it did not look too great.  See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.

UPDATE 1126z: 24 spots of my 6m QRP FT8 and 21 stations have been spotted here on RX. Plenty of Es.

UPDATE 1230z: Spotted by 56 stations today on 6m QRP FT8. Plenty of Es.

Stations spotting
me at 1306z

UPDATE 1306z:   A very good Es day on 6m QRP FT8 with 66 stations spotting me. I proves that with Es, not much ERP is needed.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My system (2.5W and a vertical omni V2000) has been on since 0726z.  So far spotted by 2 stations in East Anglia on TX and I have spotted 1 station in Devon on RX. No Es.

UPDATE 1008z:  8 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP (including Portugal and Italy) and 2 stations have been spotted on RX (one by Es).

UPDATE 1212z:  23 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today.

Stations spotting
me at 1253z

UPDATE 1304z: 25 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 with the furthermost EA8BFK (2881km) and I have spotted 11 stations on RX. The Es seems pretty widespread today.

UPDATE 1722z:  29 stations have spotted me today on 6m QRP  FT8.

Plans for Monday

Later, I expect to go on 6m QRP FT8 again. On recent days, there has been some good Es on 6m . I have yet to see how European Es is shaping up.

UPDATE 0712z:  It is quite early, but early indications are that European Es is not as great as yesterday. Things may well change.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

It is now 1105z and I have been on for about an hour.  So far, my 2.5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted by  26 stations.

UPDATE 1340z: 29 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 28 stations with the furthermost EA8DBM (3016km). The Es would seem to be in the direction of Iberia (Spain and Portugal).

UPDATE 1600z: My signal has been spotted by 30 stations and I have spotted 33 here on RX.

European Es yesterday

Much of yesterday I was on 6m FT8. There was plenty of Es from all parts of the continent. 

The peak months are May, June and July, although Es can occur at any time of the year. 

With FT8, I suspect we will find out that many more openings occur than we were expecting.  Only a 15 second TX burst is needed for the station to appear on PSKreporter. Also FT8 works with signals weaker  than CW, so much weaker signals can be decoded. This alone is a good reason to stick with 6m outside the Es season.