FT8 versus JT65

In the last few months the usage of FT8 is phenomenal. It uses about a third the bandwidth (about 50Hz) of JT65 and a much shorter TX period. In many ways it is an ideal QRP mode, especially in Es conditions.

I think FT8 is not as good as JT65 in terms of very weak signals, but I am no expert. So far, I have not spotted what I would call real DX on 6m, whereas last season I copied lots on 6m JT65. Now, this may be just conditions, so I need a few more months to decide.

It would be interesting to know how serious DXers find FT8. I only use a V2000 vertical, so others probably do better than me. As you know I'm a fair weather DXer. I do not chase DX, but I observe 6m FT8 most days.

FT8 is not a mode for chats. Without auto-sequencing enabled there is very little reaction time. It is a good mode for quick, formulaic exchanges.

See http://www.dx.nl/?p=860
This seems to show FT8 is some 6dB worse than JT65 on weak signals. Maybe this accounts for why I am spotting less real DX? Now, since then FT8 has been improved. Certainly, I shall stick with 6m FT8 this season to see what is spotted.

10m JT65

From Facebook, I see that I was copying LUs on 10m JT65 last year at this time. I was speculating the propagation was Es linking with F layer nearer the equator. I guess the mode to try now is FT8? With good propagation, I guess this is still possible.

6m JT65

The value of 6m JT65 was again witnessed this morning. Monitoring PSK Reporter Maps you can see who you are spotting and where others are receiving you, if on TX. As the JT65 allocation is quite small, all users tend to be in a similar place making activity concentrated. In fleeting Es openings it is quite easy to miss stations. This is far less likely with digital modes. They work with very weak signals and PSK Reporter Maps can give you a picture of activities and openings well after the event too. Although I have not tried it, I am told many 6m JT65 users have already switched to FT8 mode which is available in a beta release of WSJT-X. I am waiting until the official version comes out.

This morning, I was copied well over Europe with 6m JT65 (1W ERP). At the moment I am on 6m JT65 RX only.

UPDATE 1203z:   Lots of Es spots today on 6m JT65 RX from all over Europe.

UPDATE 1307z: Best DX on 6m JT65 RX is currently OH6GKW (1839km).

6m JT65 again

Yet again, I am on 6m JT65. Yesterday brought 3 USA stations in on RX, but it is anyone's guess what today will be like. I started on transceive (1W ERP) but no spots at all so far on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1452z: In the last few hours there seems to have been an Es opening to Central and Eastern Europe on 6m JT65. As it was quiet, I stayed on beacon mode (1W ERP) sending "B G3XBM JO02" which has been widely spotted.

6m JT65

Since breakfast I have been on 6m JT65. Initially I was transceive (1W ERP) but I have switched to RX only. Already spotted Norway and Sweden by Es.

UPDATE 1456z: In the last few minutes I just spotted K4PI (6800km) on 6m JT65. As he was widely spotted in Europe and the USA, I am pretty sure this is genuine. This spot was quickly followed by 2 others in Georgia, USA.

6m JT65

Things seem to be getting harder on 6m Es. I have spotted a station in the Czech Republic, but no-one else today so far on 6m.

UPDATE 1110z: With just 2 Es spots and 1 G (tropo or aircraft reflection?), this has been a disappointing day on 6m JT65 so far. Up to now I have been transceive (1W ERP), but just about to go RX only on 6m. There was at least 1 EI station who was spotted but not uploaded to the PSK Reporter database. Maybe the shack PC lost internet connectivity?

UPDATE 1120z: Now RX only on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1525z: Widespread Es on 6m JT65 this afternoon to South and Eastern Europe. Best DX is 4X4DK (3582km).

UPDATE 1836z: Still plenty of Es about on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1934z: UB7K (2733km) was recently spotted.

6m JT65

Until now, since before breakfast, I have been on 6m JT65 transceive (1W ERP), but I have just switched to RX only.

So far, spots have just been G stations either by tropo or aircraft reflection. It is now 0814z.

UPDATE 1402z: 4O6AH (1788km) is the best DX on 6m JT65 RX today so far.

6m JT65

So far this morning I have only spotted G stations on JT65, with no Es yet. I suspect the Gs are by aircraft reflection. At the moment, I am RX only on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 0840z: SM5CEU (1170km) copied by Es.

UPDATE 2115z: More Es earlier from E and SE Europe.

6m JT65 RX

At the moment I am on 6m JT65 RX. Although there is some Es about, it is nothing like yesterday.

UPDATE 1450z:  So far, the only 6m JT65 spots have been G stations with no Es this afternoon, although  there was some Es this morning.

6m JT65

There has been plenty of European Es on 6m this morning. At one point I got excited about a USA spot, but as I was the only one to spot him, I assume this was a false decode sadly.

6m JT65

As it was busy with Es from all across Europe, I decided to stay RX only on 6m JT65 for now. Already I have spotted stations from all over Europe by Es. At the moment, this is the best day this year for 6m Es. At the moment I have not spotted any stations beyond Europe on 6m.

UPDATE 0924z:  XT3TCD (4423km) in West Africa has been spotted. This station has been spotted by others so is not a false decode. Of course, it could be a pirate! It is possible by Es.

6m JT65 RX

I stayed on 6m JT65 overnight. In the last 12 hours just Gs and near continent, possibly by aircraft reflection or tropo. No Es seen here yet on 6m.

UPDATE 0930z: Another station in Puerto Rico was spotted here late last evening. WP4G (6800km) was spotted on 6m JT65. So, a couple of Caribbean stations spotted.

UPDATE 1112z: I keep getting what I assume are false decodes which appear as a station in Algeria in the middle of the Sahara Desert!  As he was spotted by no-one else, I am ignoring these.

UPDATE 1840z: As it seemed very quiet I went on 6m JT65 TX (1W ERP) and was spotted in Southern Europe. There is (at last) some Es on 6m here.

6m JT65

Since breakfast I have been on 6m JT65. At first I was transceive but for the last hour or so I have been RX only. Plenty of 6m Es.

UPDATE 1332z: Most of the 6m spots have been Southern and Eastern Europe, presumably by Es.

UPDATE 1638z: UT8IO (2720km) in Ukraine is the best DX today so far.

UPDATE 2138z: KP4EIT (6830km) in the Caribbean has just been spotted on 6m JT65.

QRT and disconnected

As I had received no new reports on 10m WSPR TX for nearly 2 hours and 6m JT65 looks like the best DX on RX was the Azores and Canary Is, I decided to go QRT. 

No storms are forecast here but you never know. I should be back on tomorrow at breakfast time.

I noticed that ONs were calling KP4 earlier on 6m JT65, so there was some real DX around.

6m JT65 - now RX only

For a while now, I have been on 6m JT65 but RX only. Earlier, I was also on TX and reached Austria and the UK.

6m JT65

Quite a bit of Es this morning on 6m. This is early, so bodes well for the day. 2 hours ago I was briefly on 6m JT65 TX and was copied in southern Europe. Most of the time I am RX only on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 0904z: Best DX on RX (ignoring my pirate supposedly in "Indonesia") is UN6T (5211km) in Kazakhstan. I am pretty sure this is genuine as he was widely spotted in Western Europe and the Middle East.

UPDATE 1734z:  I was out this afternoon, so went QRT and disconnected the rigs and antennas in case there were storms. These now look unlikely until later, so everything is on again (10m WSPR TX and 6m JT65 RX). There seems to be a lot of Es about.

QRT on all bands

At about 2122z I went QRT on all bands and turned off the PC. Storms permitting, I intend to be back on around breakfast time tomorrow. I shall probably be active again on 10m WSPR TX (500mW) and 6m JT65 (mostly RX, but occasional TX with 1W ERP).

Puerto Rico on 6m JT65

A few hours ago KP4EIT (6830km) was spotted here and by a few others in the UK and Europe. I am pretty sure this was genuine. Otherwise it has been a very quiet day on 6m JT65 with just one station in Sweden spotted this morning. The Caribbean station was spotted calling CQ just once.

10m WSPR TX and 6m JT65 RX

Apart from a spot on 10m WSPR in the middle of the night, no evidence of Es today on either 10m or 6m. Yet more evidence of a UK pirate or false decode on 6m JT65 as I was (yet again) supposed to have received an Indonesian station on 6m.

6m JT65

I was briefly on RX and TX, but I am now just on RX. Plenty of EU Es in evidence with stations in southern Europe being copied.

Last night briefly I was also JT65 TX (1W ERP) and was copied in southern Spain and the UK.