At about 1300z my 8m QRP FT8 was turned on. So far spots by 9 stations (see map). Good F2 conditions. Probably my best day ever on the band with both Europe and the Caribbean stations spotting me.
25 Nov 2023
24 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8
After a few days not on 8m, I am back on with 2.5W and the dipole. Already spotted by G4WSZ (12km). I see an ON was spotted across the Atlantic yesterday.
UPDATE 1148z: Also spotted by EI9KP (649km) on 8m FT8.
UPDATE 1430z: Spotted by 3 stations today. Furthermost was HI0SDR/3 (7008km) in the Caribbean. On RX 2 S.Africans spotted here.
18 Nov 2023
New challenge needed
HF bands present no real challenge. Recent microwatt tests on 10m WSPR have been fun, but I need a new challenge.
My 2.5W 8m FT8 signal has been received in most of the places I had hoped for, and this is not likely to change until there are a few new countries on the band. At the moment I am inclined to ask for a new 8m permit from April 2024 - April 2025 even though I have to pay to do research, which I find utterly stupid!
Later today, I may QSY to a VHF band FT8 as this is "different" and not something I have tried for a while.
8m going "off the boil"?
In recent days, 8m seems to have lost its attraction a bit.
The FCC does not want to renew access to the band to USA stations and F2 has probably peaked for now. The main Es season in the northern hemisphere is long over and even 6m has been good for F2 DX. At the moment, I have moved down to 10m FT8, although this is really no challenge.
We could definitely do with more countries legally TXing on the 8m band. Even just CW, FT8 and WSPR only at low power 40.680 - 40.685 MHz would be a start. As this would be within the ISM band I cannot see this should be a problem.
17 Nov 2023
16 Nov 2023
15 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8
My 8m QRP (2.5W) was turned on about 0920z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1442z: An Irish station called me, but we were unable to complete the contact.
UPDATE 1725z: No spots of me today on PSKreporter. Shortly QSYing to 630m WSPR.
14 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
Once again, I am on 8m WSPR with my 2.5W and dipole. Of course, my PL259 plug failed and a high VSWR resulted. After resoldering (hard these days), I am back on the air. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1015z: Just local spots of me by G4WSZ (12km).
UPDATE 1647z: 3 stations have spotted me: 2 UK and 1 Caribbean.
12 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 1140z. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1347z: 3 stations have spotted me today including WP4G (6804km) in Puerto Rico, Caribbean. At the moment, I am getting "across the pond" spots almost every day on 8m FT8 despite my 2.5W.
UPDATE 1425z: ZR1ADI (9777km) spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1500z: 4 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 today, including 2 in the Caribbean.
11 Nov 2023
8m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at about 1025z. So far, just local spots by G4WSZ (12km).
UPDATE 1720z: WW1L (4976km) spotted me on 8m QRP FT8. My QRP 8m FT8 signal is spotted "across the pond" quite often this month.
10 Nov 2023
8m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)
It is now 1132z. I have been on 8m since about 1000z, and spotted by local G4WSZ (12km) and SR4BBX (1217km) so far today.
UPDATE 1410z: 4 stations have now spotted me including 2 in the Caribbean. This sort of F2 DX is almost every day at the moment.
9 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
My 8m 2.5W FT8 was turned on at about 0905z. Just local G4WSZ (12km) spotting me.
UPDATE 1420z: Lots of Caribbean stations spotting my 2.5W 8m FT8.
UPDATE 1642z: I was called by a CT2 on 8m FT8. Is this station legal? 7 stations have spotted me today on 8m Ft8
8 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
So far today, at 1205z, just local G4WSZ (12km) spottting me.
UPDATE 1406z: 3 stations spotting my 2.5W 8m FT8 today, including 2 in the Caribbean.
7 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
My 2.5W 40.680 MHz FT8 was turned on at about 0919z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1008z: Spotted by SR4BBX (1217km).
UPDATE 1129z: 4 spots of me on 8m FT8 by Europeans. Es?
6 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
My 2.5W FT8 TX to a dipole has been on for about 20 minutes. Already spotted by HI0SDR(7062km) and other stations.
I was puzzled why my SWR had gone up to over 3:1. I removed the SWR bridge completely and the SWR shown on the rig was very low. It was the SWR bridge!!
5 Nov 2023
Justification for a small 8m amateur allocation
When conditions are good, DX may be possible even as high as 6m. When conditions are more marginal, the MUF may go as high as 41 MHz, but no higher. This is true of F2 and Es.
A tiny (narrow digital only) allocation at 8m would enable us to see how often the MUF reached 8m. This is especially valuable research around sunspot maximum.
It seems odd to me that some administrations seem dead set against such a tiny allocation. Just 5 kHz of spectrum at low ERP would be all that is necessary.
If you can persuade your administration to consider this, this would be a step in the right direction.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
4 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
My 2.5W FT8 was turned on about 1005z. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1350z: WW1L (4976km) has spotted me.
UPDATE 1538z: 3 transatlantic stations have spotted my 2.5W 8m FT8 today. I guess we must be at the peak of F2 conditions at the moment.
3 Nov 2023
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My 2.5W FT8 has been spotted in South Africa and the Caribbean . ZR1ADI called me, but we were unable to make it 2-way.
UPDATE 1354z: 3 stations have spotted my QRP 8m FT8 today. Good F2 conditions. Also now spotted in the USA.
2 Nov 2023
8m 2.5W FT8 (Thursday)
Since lunchtime, I have been on 8m FT8. So far, spotted by G4WSZ (12km).
UPDATE 1608z: There are lots of people monitoring.