HF QRP FT8

It is some months since I have given HF FT8 a try. I have a QDX which can give 5W FT8 from 20m to 10m. My end-fed Par antenna has a lowish SWR from 17m to 10m. 

Assuming I can get it working, one thing to try as the sunspots decline (not yet we hope!) will be to send FT8 in sequence on all bands from 17m to 10m.  I have no idea of the antenna pattern on various bands, but it might give me some indications of band openings. 

One of the things I have noticed in the past is people leave the higher HF bands. Maybe with FT8 now, some may stay around. Often it is a lack of activity and not poor conditions. On SSB an isolated call may be missed. Not so with FT8 with lots of people monitoring. 

Incidentally, I can highly recommend the QDX. It is tiny (about the size of a pack of cards) and can run all the modes on WSJT-X.

A very nice addition would be a QDX covering 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m and 2m. Even 10m-4m would be very useful.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

QDX digital QRP transceiver

This is a tiny 5W digital transceiver from QRP Labs. It is available in 2 versions covering the HF bands. I have had the 20-10m version for several months now, but used it little recently as 5W seems like high power! It really is small. It is about the size of a fist mic only.

If digital modes are your "thing" then this low cost transceiver is probably all you need. It is available as a kit or ready built.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/qdx

QDX QRP digital transceiver

 This tiny 5W digital transceiver is available from QRP labs. I was amazed how small it is. It is available in 2 versions covering the lower HF bands or the higher ones. Mine is the higher one. With WSJT-X and FT8, it has got me all over the world despite a low Par end-fed antenna. If you only want digital modes like FT8 and WSPR this really is all you need.

QDX reviews

The place to look for reviews of amateur gear is eham.net. I was quite surprised to see that the QRP labs QDX, which is a tiny 5W digital transceiver was only 4.2 out of 5. In my estimation, it is a 5 out of 5. It is truly tiny and if FT8 or WSPR are your "thing", you really need nothing else. I must write a review.

Some people have had trouble with PAs blowing. In my case I have 5 3A diodes to drop the voltage and always use it with an antenna with a low SWR.  I can see a problem with auto-ATUs which may present a bad match during tuning.

A 6m, 8m and 10m version would be good.

See https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=15155 .

UPDATE 0615z Monday:  Review written. 

Tomorrow 10m FT8 QRP

In view of the (low) activity levels on 8m this Es season, I propose to concentrate instead on 10m QRP FT8 using my little QDX transceiver.

QDX-M 630m - not yet!

Following a recent email from Hans it is clear they are concentrating on the 160m version first. The 630m version could be some time, as the toroids on the LPF will need lots of turns! Judging by the results of the higher band versions of the QDX, I have no doubt the 160m and 630m single band versions will be very good.

QDX transceiver

This is a tiny, digital only, HF transceiver that may be used with free software like WSJT-X or JTDX.  It is available in a version for the lower HF bands or 20-10m. Most people buy it as a kit, but I bought mine ready-made as my soldering skills are poor these days. Years ago my fine motor skills were very good. My wife once said that I could write the Lord's Prayer on a postage stamp. She was probably right!

It produces 5W and is very small.

With the popularity of digital modes, this is all most people really need. It works extremely well. Hans makes some excellent pieces of kit.

Mine is regularly copied all across the world on a very basic antenna.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

New page on website

For the last month or so, I have been having great fun using my tiny QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs.  I am amazed that something this tiny works so well. If is so much smaller than my other rigs!  A webpage has been created. 

Mine is the version covering 20m to 10m. Other versions are available.

Just imagine a good multi-band transceiver with case with change for less than $100. Every amateur home should have one! If your soldering skills are normal this should be a straightforward build.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/qdx

10m QRP FT8 with the QDX

Since breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 with the QDX QRP rig. 16 spots of me so far with the furthermost H44MS (14814km) in the Soloman Is in the Pacific. I think this genuine too.

UPDATE 1824z:  65 stations have spotted me so far today (see map).

QDX

Just would like to put on record how amazing the tiny 20-10m QDX digital transceiver is from QRP Labs. 

It works extremely well on TX and, as I have found out in the last day, works extremely well on RX down to at least 40m. It will probably go even lower! 

If you have no other rig, this tiny transceiver is a real winner. It can be used with WSJT-X on all modes I think. So far, I have used FT8 and WSPR. It is nominally a 5W rig, but my QRP signal is daily copied all over the world.

It is incredible how something this tiny works so very well.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

10m FT8 QRP with the QDX (Thursday)

Shortly, I intend to try 10m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver.

UPDATE 1110z:  80 reports of my QRP 10m FT8 TX. Now RX only.  Panic at first when my SWR bridge showed no power and a high SWR. It turned out it was the lead to the SWR bridge, not the QDX!  Stations across the planet spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE  1248z:  220 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1319z: Briefly on 10m QRP FT8 TX with 13 stations spotting me in the last.15 minutes.  Now back on 10m FT8 RX only with 261 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1544z:  376 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. 106 stations have spotted my QRP 10m FT8  today. I am operating as a beacon and not really after QSOs.

10m QRP FT8

Just now I looked on 4m FT8 spots in the last 12 hours and decided it was not worth the effort. Instead, I am on 10m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver.

So far, on RX spots from all over the world and 11 spots of me on TX with the furthermost 3C3CA (5482km) in Equatorial Guinea. At the moment 10m really is good.

UPDATE 1502z: As we had hail and thunder, I went QRT. Up to then (about 20 minutes ago) I have had reports from 35 stations despite the QRP.

Stations spotting my
10m QRP FT8 so far today

UPDATE 1744z:  Storms have passed and the QDX turned on again. 57 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 so far. It seems amazing that such a tiny, multi-band, QRP transceiver works so very well.

UPDATE  1754z:  Although no USA stations have spotted me yet, I hope they do so before the propagation closes. This was quite late on 12m yesterday. On 10m, we can expect the band to close earlier. Currently 58 spots of me today. 

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Since before breakfast I have been on 10m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX rig. So far at 0808z, I have been spotted by 17 stations, mostly in the Middle East.  The tiny QDX never fails to amaze me.

See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .

UPDATE 0830z:  95 stations have been spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 20 stations.

UPDATE 1737z:  So far today, 107 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today (see map).

UPDATE 1747z:  QRT.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 10m FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver was turned on at 0835z.

UPDATE 1140z: 149 stations spotted and 42 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 QRP today with the QDX.

UPDATE 1520z: 80 spots today of my QRP 10m FT8 from the tiny QDX transceiver.

Stations that spotted my QRP
today with the tiny QDX

UPDATE 1909z: 216 spots of my 10m FT8 QRP today with the QDX.

QDX on 10m FT8

This runs at less than 5W, but has been widely spotted again this afternoon. It would seem the tiny QDX is all that is needed to get around the world. Since the photo was taken, many more stations have spotted me today on 10m FT8.

Stations spotting my
QRP 10m FT8 TX today

UPDATE 1955z:  64 stations spotted my QRP 10m FT8 today with the QDX transceiver.

10m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Apart from a brief QRP 10m FT8 TX session (11 spots of me) I am on 10m FT8 RX with the QDX. It is now 0930z and 96 stations were spotted after about 20 minutes. We are out for the morning, so just on 10m FT8 RX. After lunch I may try TX.

Stations spotting me on
10m QRP FT8 today

Stations spotted today
on 10m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1430z: 1025 stations spotted on RX and 86 stations have spotted me with the tiny QDX.

UPDATE 1445z: 1066 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX with the QDX and 98 stations have spotted me. I reckon the QDX is about size of a pack of cards. Amazing. It is just too easy!

20m FT8 RX with the QDX

Stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX
with the QDX and 10m antenna

Overnight, I left my QDX on 20m FT8 RX using my totally non-resonant 10m antenna. In all, 841 stations spotted as the map shows. Too easy!! I guess I was on for about 15 hours.

QDX 20m FT8 RX (Saturday)

My QDX and PC have been restarted and a Windows update carried out. It will be interesting to see if RX spots start.

UPDATE 2031z:   165 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX. I suspect a delay at PSKreporter was the main issue.

UPDATE 2104z:  259 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX with the furthermost VK7XX (17241km).

Stations spotted with the QDX
on 20m FT8 RX this evening

UPDATE 2321z:  425 stations spotted.

QDX on 15m FT8 (Saturday)

A few minutes ago I QSYed to 15m FT8 with the little QDX transceiver. 10 stations have spotted me, but (according to PSKreporter) I have spotted zero stations, whereas locally there are plenty shown! Either this means I am not uploading spots to PSKreporter or there is a delay with RX spots.

UPDATE 1932z:   Plenty of spots now appearing, so looks like there was a delay reporting RX spots.

UPDATE 1941z: Windows was updating, which may have had some effect.

QDX on 10m FT8 TX

My tiny QDX has been on 10m FT8 today. In the last hour 59 stations have spotted me. On RX, I have lost count of the stations spotted.