For a change, I am on 70cm FT8, outside of a contest. It is now 1630z and I have been on the band for about 30 minutes. Already I have spotted PA3EOU (337km) and my 2.5W to the vertical V2000 omni has been spotted by G0KTN (211km). I must try 70cm FT8 more often.
UPDATE 1827z: 6 stations in 3 countries spotted.
UPDATE 2235z: 24 stations spotted on RX. My brief transmission resulted in 1 QSO and 5 people spotting me.
Since about 0850z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far today (at 0908z) 2 stations have been spotted with the furthermost OZ5JLH (865km).
UPDATE 1535z: 45 stations spotted with the furthermost VK6EI (14494km).
At 1900z, for 2 hours, is the RSGB organised 70cm FT8 contest.
I shall be on with the V2000 vertical and 2.5W TX. On 70cm the FT8 frequency in Europe is 432.174MHz USB.
There are often quite a few stations in the Netherlands on vertical FT8.
Rules may be found on the RSGB site. This is designed to coincide with contests in continental Europe. Activity should be good. If you enjoy FT8, give it a go this evening. Standard FT8 exchanges are expected (no serial numbers required). ADIF files may be uploaded.
UPDATE 1918z: 29 stations spotted including 5 in the Netherlands. 1 QSO. Not bad with a vertical omni!
I am on 6m FT8 QRP. Apart from a very brief 2.5W TX period (no spots) I am RX only. As usual, the antenna is the V2000 vertical omni. So far (at 1016z) no spots.
UPDATE 1447z: 6 stations spotted with the furthermost LB6D (1030km).
Since about 0900z I have been on 6m FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. After a very brief period on TX with 2.5W, I am now on RX only.
UPDATE 0940z: One spot on TX by G0PQO (50km) and 2 Gs only on RX.
After breakfast I hope to be on 6m FT8 using 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. There is an outside chance of some winter Es.
UPDATE 0912z: No spots yet. I have been on since 0844z.
The 10m FT8 gear was turned on at 0920z. So far nobody has spotted my 2.5W QRP and just one station has been spotted on RX - DO1DU (533km) at 0940z.
UPDATE 1520z: With just 17 stations spotted, I was beginning to suspect something was wrong at my end. A quick check indicated all here was well. On RX the furthermost is ZS4JAN (9393km). I did a brief TX with 2.5W at about 1510z, but nobody spotted me.
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.
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).
At the moment, I am on 10m FT8 RX. So far (at 1032z) 11 stations spotted with the furthermost 4X1SK (3566km).
UPDATE 1343z: 14 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost K1CP (4997km). So far, pretty poor.
UPDATE 1625z: With still just 14 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today, this must be one of the worst days for some time. Shortly I shall QSY, probably to 40m FT8 TX with the active loop.
It was so busy that I am now RX only. So far, my QRP (2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna) has been spotted by 6 stations. On RX, I have spotted 66 stations in 6 countries.
UPDATE 1955z: 87 stations in 7 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX.
At 0945z, I turned on my 10m FT8 RX gear. At 1005z,10 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1047z: 16 stations spotted with the furthermost 5B4AIF (3197km).
UPDATE 1212z: Just 22 spots so far. Pretty poor.
UPDATE 1825z: 33 spots on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost LU9VIC (12074km).
As 10m was dead, I am again on 70cm FT8 QRP with the V2000 vertical omni antenna mainly RX. After about an hour, no spots.
A reminder that there is a 2m digital contest tomorrow evening. I need to check times and rules.
UPDATE 2149z: No spots on RX and TX.
At the moment I am on 10m FT8 RX. A brief TX period (2.5W QRP) with just G3UEG (55km) spotting me, I am now RX only. Just one spot of EA4DUA (1423km) so far.
UPDATE 0958z: 10 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost ZS6AF (9156km).
UPDATE 1245z: 32 stations spotted today so far.
UPDATE 1630z: Just 35 stations spotted today. QRT soon.
Outside of a contest, I have not tried 70cm FT8 that I can recall. As 10m seems dead now, I have QSYed to 70cm FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni antenna.
Although I am not really expecting to spot anything, it is worth a try. On 70cm the FT8 dial frequency is 432.174MHz USB. I shall try until bedtime.
UPDATE 2130z: Nobody spotted. I am not surprised.
After breakfast, I hope to be on 10m FT8. This will be mostly RX with the occasional 2.5W TX.
UPDATE 1011z: It has been on RX for just over an hour with 46 unique stations spotted with the furthermost FR4OM (9763km).
UPDATE 1122z: 116 stations spotted.
After breakfast I hope to go on 10m FT8. This will be mostly RX. From time to time I shall try TX.
UPDATE 1106z: I turned on my 10m FT8 system at 1050z. So far 59 stations spotted with the furthermost ZS4JAN (9393km).
UPDATE 1208z: 167 stations spotted.
Later, I hope to be on 6m FT8 QRP hoping for some winter Es.
UPDATE 1152z: On 6m FT8 QRP TX briefly with 2.5W with 2 spots of me with the furthermost M1ABK (70km) and the V2000 vertical omni. Now RX only with no spots.
UPDATE 1437z: 5 G stations spotted on RX today. No great DX. Disappointing.
Once again, I was briefly on 6m FT8 using 2.5W TX to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. After the brief TX period (no spots!), I am RX only (no spots!). OK, it is early. Maybe things will get better.
