17m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

Since about 0830z I have been on 17m FT8 QRP with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill.  It is now 0842z.  So far today, according to PSKreporter, I have spotted 8 stations and nobody has yet spotted my QRP.

UPDATE 1226z:  76 stations spotted so far, but nobody has spotted me yet today on TX. 

UPDATE 1505z:  So far today 155 stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX, But just 1 spot of me by CU2GI (2575km) on QRP TX in the Azores.

17m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Since about 1100z I have been on 17m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W. Already spotted by 4 stations at 1125z

UPDATE 1343z: 17 stations have spotted my QRP and 171 stations in 5 continents have been spotted here today on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny loop. The furthermost spotted here is VK2QV (1698km).

UPDATE 1922z: 18 stations have spotted me today on QRP TX and 237 stations spotted on RX today (see map).  QRT soon. 

17m FT8

As 10m FT8 was poor here, I QSYed to 17m FT8. Immediately stations were spotted.  It is now 1328z and 4 stations have spotted my 2.5W to the indoor loop on TX. On 17m FT8 RX 72 stations so far spotted.

UPDATE 1356z:  7 stations have spotted me so far.  On 17m FT8 RX 110 stations spotted here so far today (see map). At the moment, 17m seems far more lively than 10m despite the loop being far less efficient on that band compared with 10m.

UPDATE 1504z:  138 stations spotted on RX and 11 spots of me on TX (see 2nd map).

17m FT8

For about 20 minutes I have been on 17m FT8 (it is now 1020z) with the poorer indoor loop and 2.5W. For some reason (I have to investigate) the better loop is not tuning: something has fallen off or is broken.

So far today, 20 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost being R4PU (3262km) and nothing yet on TX.

UPDATE 1121z: 48 stations spotted so far today. Nobody has yet spotted me on TX and no QSOs.

UPDATE 1417z: 136 spots on RX and 16 spots of me on TX with the tiny indoor loop including N1NK (5327km).

UPDATE 1552z:  23 spots of me so far on 17m FT8 RX with 2.5W and the indoor loop. 192 stations spotted on RX today.

UPDATE 1845z:  28 spots of me so far on 17m FT8 TX.  On RX 241 stations spotted.

17m FT8 RX

At the moment (0812z) I am on 17m FT8 RX using the small indoor loop antenna. One spot of a station in European Russia so far RA9DZ (3795km).

UPDATE 0952z:  13 stations spotted so far with RW0CR (8024km) in the Far East as best DX.

UPDATE 1837z:  42 stations in 4 continents spotted today on 17m FT8 RX so far.

UPDATE 2052z: 50 stations in 4 continents spotted on 17m FT8 RX in the last day. QRT soon.

17m FT8 (10W and the tiny indoor loop)

As I think I have been spotted by most of the stations who would get me on 2m FT8, I may now try 17m FT8 until later this afternoon.

UPDATE 1104z:  Now on 17m FT8 (10W) with the tiny indoor loop. Just one station in southern Spain spotted so far and no-one has yet spotted my signal.

UPDATE 1122z:  Now 3 stations in Europe have spotted me. 4 stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX so far today (3 Europe and 1 Africa).

UPDATE 1235z: 18 stations have now spotted me with PY5EG (9891km) being the best so far. On RX, 16 stations spotted so far today on 17m FT8.

UPDATE 1408z: 35 spots by me of others and 35 spots of my 10W from North and South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe! Not bad for 10W and the tiny indoor loop.

Stations spotting me to
1546z today on 17m FT8

UPDATE 1546z: 46 stations have spotted me so far on 17m FT8.

UPDATE 1638z: Now 48 stations on 4 continents have spotted my 10W 17m FT8 to the tiny indoor loop. The loop should be even better on 10m.

UPDATE 1910z:  Now QSYed to 2m after being spotted by 51 stations on 2m FT8.

17m FT8

At about 0905z I went on 17m FT8  with about 8W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Although no spots on RX, I have already been spotted by 2 stations on TX!!

UPDATE 1025z:  4 spots of me so far with best DX 5B60ALJ (3185km). 2 RX spots so far on 17m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1040z:  6 spots of me so far this morning on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop.

UPDATE 1132z: My tiny indoor loop continues to amaze me! So far this morning with 8-10W 17m FT8 this has been spotted by 8 stations right across the compass. On 17m FT8 RX 6 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1207z: 11 stations has so far today spotted my signal on 17m FT8 TX. Quite amazing.

UPDATE 1415z: 24 spots of me on 17m FT8 TX (10W) with best DX being a spot by KC5LT (4058 miles). All on the tiny indoor loop!

UPDATE 1534z: 35 spots of my 10W 17m FT8 today so far and 63 stations in 5 continents spotted here with the loop on 17m FT8 RX.

17m FT8 TX today

UPDATE 1810z: 40 spots of my 17m FT8 TX today. I am running 10W. Now QSYed to 2m FT8.

17m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop

As 15m was not great, I have QSYed down to 17m FT8. So far just a single spot of my 10W from G4FTC (124km). On 17m FT8 RX 3 spots so far.

The photo shows the loop antenna on the windowsill. The ruler is to indicate the scale. It is tiny!

UPDATE 1225z: So far today, 12 stations have spotted my 10W 17m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1507z: So far today, my little 10W FT8 TX signal from the tiny loop on the windowsill of the shack has been spotted by 17 stations with the best DX being KV4T (4361miles) in Alabama, USA. 2 stateside stations have spotted me so far today on 17m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1630z:  Now 18 stations have spotted me today on 17m FT8 TX. This includes 3 Stateside stations. 62 stations in 5 continents spotted so far on 17m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1818z: With 39 stations spotting my 10W, this is the best day so far on 17m FT8 TX. The map shows the spots so far today.

Stations spotting my 10W
17m FT8 TX today

UPDATE 2205z: Now QRT, but after an incredible day with my best DX being a spot by PY2XAT (9565km). In all, 39 spots of my 10W in 5 continents. All with a tiny indoor loop!!

17m FT8

Today I am on 17m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna. 27 spots on RX and plenty of stations spotting my 10W TX.

UPDATE 1110z:  11 spots of my 10W so far today with the tiny indoor loop antenna.

People that have spotted 
my 10W on 17m FT8 TX today 
with the tiny indoor loop antenna

UPDATE 1345z:  13 spots of my signal and 1 QSO so far today.  On 17m FT8 RX 98 stations spotted so far. 5 continents spotted so far on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop today.

UPDATE 1806z: With 20 stations spotting me with the best DX being N4PYI (4171 miles) today has been good. I shall be going QRT shortly.

UPDATE 1912z: Now QRT on all bands.

17m FT8

Last night I decided not to go on any band although this morning I am on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna.

UPDATE 1032z: 21 stations spotted so far today on 17m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted here so far is 9K2HN (4632km).

17m FT8 RX spots to 1300z today

UPDATE 1300z: Now 40 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX with best DX spotted being HS5XWY (9469km).

UPDATE 1327z: I have just decided to try 17m FT8 TX (2.5W) with the tiny indoor loop antenna. Already I have been spotted well in the Canary Islands by EA8BEV (3126km).

17m FT8

At about 0715z I switched to 17m FT8. I am again using the magnetic loop antenna on the windowsill. No spots yet.

UPDATE 0900z: 12 RX spots so far and a 2-way QSO with RD4D (3089km).

UPDATE 0930z: 28 spots so far with RZ9U (5270km) as the best DX so far on 17m FT8 RX with the little magnetic loop.

UPDATE 1020z:  So far today, 49 stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX. On TX I see I was spotted in Eastern Ukraine by D1DX (2676km). Is this a prefix for the Russian occupied areas?

UPDATE 1024z: According to PSKreporter, 9 stations have spotted my 17m FT8 TX so far today.

Stations spotting my 10W
FT8 to 1122z today

UPDATE 1135z: So far today, 22 stations have spotted my 17m FT8 10W to the tiny magnetic loop antenna (thin copper wire and about 50cm across on the windowsill!). Best DX is a spot by OD5YA (3466km). Magnetic loops definitely work! In the garage I have a thicker loop which I have not used for about 7 years. This is probably at least 3dB better than the loop I am currently using.

UPDATE 1146z: 23 stations have, so far, spotted my 10W FT8 on 17m (see log).

UPDATE 1301z: 101 stations spotted so far on 17m FT8 RX today, with best DX spotted being BG9NJY (7657km) in China. 34 spots on TX.

USA spots of my 10W FT8 to the tiny
magnetic loop so far today (16 spots so far)

UPDATE 1526z: 58 stations have spotted my 10W 17m FT8 to the tiny magnetic loop today including 16 from North America.

UPDATE 1655z: 19 stateside stations have spotted me today with my 10W 17m FT8 to the indoor magnetic loop. 145 stations have been spotted today.

17m FT8 with the magnetic loop

As I have no external 17m antennas, I am using the tiny magnetic loop on the shack windowsill. Plenty of RX spots, 1 QSO, and 10 spots of my 10W signal so far. Amazing.

UPDATE 1246z: Now 103 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1632z: Now 194 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX with the tiny magnetic loop. These include VU and A45, but best DX is 9Y4DG (7209km). On TX (10W) a couple of recent spots from EA8 and CU2. 11 stations have spotted me today on 17m FT8 TX, although I have not been on much.

Stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX with
the magnetic loop antenna on the windowsill

Return to 17m FT8

Although my recent CQ calls on 17m FT8  got no spots or QSOs, on RX 5 stations in 3 continents already spotted with the best being YV5DRN (7611km) in South America. Still using the tiny magnetic loop on the windowsill with 10W.

UPDATE 1518z: Just spotted by CU2GI (2575km) in the Azores on 17m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1528z: 3 spots of my 10W 17m FT8 CQ to the tiny magnetic loop so far with quite decent reports too.

UPDATE 1648z:   10 USA spots of my 10W FT8 17m CQ calls with the tiny magnetic loop on the windowsill. 13 spots of me in total.

UPDATE 1857z:  Now QRT. In all, 14 stations spotted my 10W FT8 on 17m. I am amazed this tiny magnetic loop works so well.

17m FT8 RX

Continuing my tests with the tiny indoor loop, I have QSYed to 17m FT8 RX. Already 12 stations spotted with best DX PY2VA (9584km) in Brazil. Already 3 continents spotted!

UPDATE 1416z: As well as loads of Europeans, 5 USA and one South American spotted.

Stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX 

with the tiny indoor loop to 1715z.

UPDATE 1715z: Now 111 stations spotted today with the tiny indoor loop with best DX spotted LU3DI (11229km).