10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 at 6W has been on since just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1445z:  126 stations have spotted me.  Furthermost is Argentina. See map.

10m QRP FT8 ( Saturday)

 My FT8 at 6W from the IC-705 was turned on just before midday. Judging by the absence of signals on RX, it looks like there is a solar storm.

UPDATE 1130z: Just one English station south of Birmingham spotting me and nobody spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1335z:   Now being spotted in the Canary Is.. See logbook.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 

After returning mid-afternoon from a few days with my son and family in Kent, I have turned on my IC-705 ar 6W FT8. So far, spotted by 41 stations with the furthermost VK8NSB (13781km) in Australia.

10m 6W FT8 (Monday)

My IC-705 at reduced power was turned on at about 0820z.

UPDATE  0953z: Spotted by 40 stations with the furthermost South Africa. See map.

UPDATE 1040z: 50 spots of me with the furthermost VP8LP (12773km).

UPDATE 2133z: 775 stations have spotted me. Best spot of me was by DP0GVN (13687km) in Antarctica. Now QRT.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 As I was having no success on WSPR I QSYed to FT8 with 6W from the IC-705.

UPDATE 2222z: 527 stations have spotted me. The map shown was hours earlier, shortly after switching on.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 set at 6W was turned on just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1258z:  13 UK stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since about 1410z, I have been on 6m FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W.

UPDATE 1453z:  6 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1912z:  16 stations have spotted me including one in Germany. QRT soon.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0930z. So far, mostly eastern Europe and Middle East stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1413z:  67 stations have spotted me on 4 continents.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0925z.

UPDATE 1541z:  93 spots of me. 

UPDATE 1940z:  Spotted by 164 stations. See map.

6m 6W FT8 (Thursday)

My IC-705 at 6W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on shortly after 1000z.

UPDATE 2214z: 41 stations including two Germans, one Portuguese and one Swede have spotted me. QRT.

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

At about 1546z, I decided to stop my WSPR beacon and turn on the IC-705 at 6W FT8.

UPDATE 2034z:  Spotted by 339 stations with the furthermost YE4LWU (11246km) in Indonesia. See map. QRT now.

10m as the sunspot count declines

It is probably the case that I am rare in quite looking forward to the quieter solar years when propagation on 10m becomes more difficult. 

At the moment a few watts of 10m FT8 seems to get all over the planet. It is quite easy at the moment. 

At sunspot minimum it will be far harder, but it will be interesting to see how 10m FT8 QRP behaves then. It is my view that as long as monitors continue to look at 10m FT8 we will find paths open far more than we thought. 

As I have said many times before, people move to lower bands as it is easier. Sticking with 10m we will be doing real research. It would not surprise me to see N-S paths possible right at sunspot minimum with FT8.

10m 6W FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on just before breakfast on FT8.

UPDATE 2000z: 844 stations have spotted my 6W 10m FT8 today with the furthermost Antarctica. See map for spots.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

I went on 10m QRP FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W at about 0650z.

UPDATE 1405z:  290 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 QRP. See map.

UPDATE 1413z: Just for fun I have reduced my IC-705 to 500mW FT8.  It will be interesting to see how this goes.

UPDATE  1502z: Already 37 spots of my 500mW 10m FT8 with the furthermost N4LR (7277km).

Stations spotting my
500mW 10m FT8

UPDATE 1817z: 104 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW FT8. Furthermost is HK4R (8498km). See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 at 6W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on mid-morning. 

18 British Isles stations have spotted me so far. 

UPDATE 2155z: 24 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8. This includes some in mainland Europe. See map of stations spotting me up to teatime.  QRT soon.

2m QRP FT8

 

Yesterday late I decided to go on 2m QRP FT8. I was on the vertical V2000 omni antenna. Quite amazing.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My IC-705 was turned on at 6W just before 0800z.  At 0920z spotted by 9 stations in the UK and Eire.

UPDATE 2112z:  18 stations have spotted me. No continental Europe and no exotic DX. In fact, a pretty lousy day. QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0900z. So far, 7 stations have spotted me, all UK.

UPDATE 1200z:  21 stations have spotted my QRP. 

UPDATE 1600z:  41 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8 QRP.  See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My IC-705 was turned on at 6W at about 0900z. So far,  5 spots including one in Poland.

UPDATE 1713z:  20 stations have spotted me, all in Europe. See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at 0900z.  

UPDATE 1009z:  9 stations including 1 in Portugal have spotted me.