The drawback of FT8 is the very "rubber stamp" nature of the QSOs, with just the bare essentials exchanged. As specialist software is needed (free), newcomers cannot just chance upon it.
The advantages are it only takes 50Hz of bandwidth and is far more sensitive than SSB or CW. A second advantage is most activity is concentrated in a few kHz, making DX easier to spot. In my case, not having to use my poor voice is another benefit.
Even with 2.5W and an omni antenna, I get reports from over 500km away every day. I suspect this is some sort of scatter. 2m FT8 has been transformative, although I can see why some do not like it.
4 comments:
As there are more FM rigs about nowadays than SSB ( Baofeng come at 2 a penny )
How about 2m FM FT8 or another Weak Signal mode experiment?
Maybe it has been already tried, but there is very little reference out there to it?
73's Steve
FT8 works because of its modulation system and very narrow bandwidth. I am not sure if it would give any advantage using an audio subcarrier on an FM signal or if a weak signal mode could be created around an FM mode.
Thought for thought though..
Maybe we could generate a white paper ?
The nearest I got to FM propagation reporting many moons ago, was using UI-VIEW unconnected AX25 frames over AX25 FM, using a TNC. This then plotted you on a map at the receiving end, or vice versa if you received someone else..
Software still available free here: http://www.ui-view.net/
Of course WSPR and it's associated nest of programs, can go down much further beyond the noise floor these days, with its clever algorithms. So why not use a version over FM?
73's Steve
Interesting. It would be good if some sort of weak signal mode could be created that would run on FM rigs. Maybe an email to Joe Taylor K1JT is called for Steve?
Post a Comment