The next few years are critical for the Amateur Radio Service. How many amateur radio magazines will there be in future? I am not sure of the situation in other countries, but here in the UK, there is just one independent amateur radio monthly magazine. I think this is struggling.
For about 30 minutes I have been on 8m FT8. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1829z: No spots. It look like the Es fairies are on strike.
UPDATE 2100z: Two late spots from Poland of my QRP on 8m FT8. I was not expecting this. Not a single day has passed this summer without my 8m QRP FT8 being spotted somewhere in Europe by Es.
Many people prefer to chat with people and FT8 is definitely not a chatting mode! There is a variation called JS8CALL that allows keyboard chats.
Neither of these can compete with actual SSB, FM or AM conversations. FT8 seems to be like a certain yeast spread in that people either love it or hate it. In my case (with a poor voice) FT8 has been my saviour. I appreciate this is not the case for many.
What FT8 is really good for is working DXCC stations and sniffing out brief openings. The actual space taken up by an FT8 signal is narrow at about 50 Hz. It also works with signals weaker than CW. It occupies just a few kilohertz of spectrum and it is well monitored. Software is free. Transmissions last just 15 seconds, so very brief openings are unlikely to be missed. This is especially useful on bands like 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m and 2m especially at times of low sunspot activity. Especially on N-S paths it is my view that the higher HF bands are open far more frequently than we think. The main issue is a lack of activity.
In summary, FT8 has its uses. It is no substitute for voice modes, but definitely has its place.
Things are getting better, but the Es is mostly in Eastern Europe.
See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .
Today, I have decided to concentrate on 4m FT8 with about 10W to my 8m wire dipole matched via the auto ATU in my FT-710. It is now 0814z and, so far, just 1 G near Brighton has been spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me.
UPDATE 0823z: Unchanged. Es does not look good so far.
UPDATE 0837z: Spotted by G0TSM (186km).
UPDATE 1050z: I have been spotted by 3 stations with the furthermost 9A3TN (1481km) and I have spotted 6 stations. There is Es about.
UPDATE 1524z: After 11 spots (some Es) I am QRT on 4m and back on 8m FT8.
Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. Spots so far from a local and Italy.
UPDATE 0922z: 10 stations have spotted me, mostly Es.
UPDATE 1044z: 19 spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR.
This came today. Whatever is "a property"? They mention this elsewhere.
" You can now link your new Google Analytics 4 properties to AdSense to get a holistic view of your monetisation...."
Haven't clue what they are talking about (again) but so pleased I can now get a holistic view!! 😉
Starting tomorrow, I intend to concentrate on 4m FT8. Even with my compromised antenna, matched using the auto ATU in the FT-710, much of Europe should be in range by Es. It could be fun. I shall probably run 10W, maybe less.
Since 1970 I have lived happily in Cambridgeshire. I like where I live. We have a nice house and good friends.
Yet a part of me still yearns for where I come from in South Devon. If I ever moved back I know it would not be the same. People have moved on or died and my memories of the place could not be replaced.
It is extremely unlikely that I would move back. Instead I go back for a boost most years. Perhaps this is for the best: happy memories.
In the latest SPRAT (205) Chris Page (page 38) reported my QRPP FT8 experiments as using the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) whereas for FT8 I ...
