2m FT8

At the moment, I am on 2m FT8 RX using the FT817ND and the big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 8 stations in 4 countries spotted today, with the best being DF7IW (612km).

UPDATE 0858z: A brief CQ call (2.5W to the big-wheel) was spotted by G4RRA (334km) in Devon amongst others.

UPDATE 1400z: A recent 2m FT8 CQ (about 10W to the big-wheel omni)) was spotted by 6 stations in 3 countries. At +3dB S/N I think the spot by F4HRD (182km) must have been aircraft reflection.

Sunspots - Monday August 19th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0.  A=6 and K =1.

Back to 2m FT8

A few minutes ago, I switched to 2m FT8 QRP (2.5W to the big-wheel omni). My best report on TX is G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX the best DX is DJ6AG (689km).

The impression I am getting is that there are fewer stations now on 2m FT8. This may just be a "time of day" thing, but it could be people now know what is possible on this mode and band and are moving on.

Stations spotted this evening 

on 2m FT8 RX to 2118z

UPDATE 1925z: So far this evening, 7 stations spotted including 3 Germans.

UPDATE 2052z: Now 14 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening. Judging by previous occasions, I think this is normal "flat band" tropo although I guess it could be some aircraft reflections and MS.

UPDATE 2123z: Now 17 stations spotted on 2m FT8 this evening.

Yaesu FT991A

The dealer, MLS, has been contacted (web form) and I am awaiting a phone call tomorrow. This has been a good radio, but certainly in its current state, it is not fit for its intended purpose. If a software upgrade can fix this fine.

Oscar 100 - never seen it so busy!

As you know, I periodically check the Goonhilly SDR that monitors the narrowband transponder on this geosynchronous satellite. I have never seen it so busy! When I looked a few moments ago there were 10 SSB signals at once. I get the feeling that people are realising this is up and works and is a reliable route to DX.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

QRP again on 6m FT8

Well, I decided to go back on 6m FT8 using the FT817ND at 2.5W. Almost immediately my CQ call was spotted by 4 stations with the best being SM7CAD (1140km). On 6m FT8 RX the most distant station spotted so far this morning is EA5BRE (1548km).

UPDATE 1330z: 79 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX so far today and a QSO with an HA7 earlier (I was using 2.5W to the V2000 vertical). Most of the time I have been on FT8 RX. We had an internet outage, so I may have spotted more that did not get uploaded to PSKreporter. Best FT8 RX DX is SV3BSF (2275km).

UPDATE 1342z: A recent 6m FT8 QRP CQ call was only copied by G8VR/P (69km).

UPDATE 1553z:  A recent 6m FT8 QRP CQ was copied by M1BXF only. So far today, 85 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX, many Es.

2m FT8

As reported in an earlier post, I am currently on 2m FT8 using the FT817ND (2.5W) and the big-wheel omni antenna. Best DX on TX is G4HGI (244km) and on 2m FT8 RX PD1BHZ (366km).

6m FT8 and FT991A bugs?

I think my FT991A has some bugs.

Yesterday I mentioned that I could not adjust the bandwidth to 3000Hz on 2m FT8 using USB digital. Now, the power on 6m FT8 is far lower and it looks like the audio to the PC is "different". On a different rig (my FT817ND) all seems fine. The antenna is the same.

Unless I can prove this is "finger trouble", I am afraid the rig is going back. This is a pity as the rig suits me well.

UPDATE 0845z: Back to the FT817ND. On 2m FT8 I have been spotted by 3 stations in 2 countries using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. On 2m FT8 RX the best DX so far is ON3ML (236km).

15m Pipit QRP CW transceiver

It is amazing to think this was first designed and made in the 1980s! It worked some impressive DX in its day and worked very well with just a low wire dipole. At one time I used a borrowed trap dipole from G3TFX for 10m and 15m and even this worked well.

With just this rig on the bench, it looked quite empty! I am pretty sure this has been on the blog before, but it may give some people some ideas. You definitely don't have to spend much or have high power to have good fun! This rig was 800mW output. If you bought all parts new you'd probably get change from a £20 note.

The USB position just chose a VXO frequency in the SSB part of the band so I could have cross mode QSOs. Most QSOs were CW around 21.060MHz.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit

2023 WRC threat to 23cm band?

Southgate News reports that the 23cm band could be threatened at the 2023 WRC (World Radio Conference). The main issue is possible interference to Galileo satellite systems.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/august/threat-to-amateur-radio-23cm-band.htm