20m FT8

At the moment I am on 20m FT8 using the tiny indoor loop on the windowsill indoors. So far, 3 TX spots (10W) and 4 RX spots. Later, when out, I may go RX only until I get back in.

UPDATE 1630z: After returning home at 1550z I went on 20m FT8 TX again (10W). So far today, 22 spots of me with the best DX report being by WW1WW (3255 miles). On 20m FT8 RX 287 stations spotted so far with best spotted being JF8QNF (8819km).

UPDATE 1903z: Still being spotted in the USA on 20m FT8 TX (10W).

20m FT8

About 20 minutes ago I went on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop on the windowsill. Although plenty of RX spots (30 including Japan), nothing yet on TX. The power was only 6W and I may have landed on a frequency that has a strong carrier I could not see here. I have since increased the power a bit and QSYed about 200Hz HF to see if that does the trick.

UPDATE 1140z: Moving HF did the trick as I now have 16 spots on 20m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1530z: Now 25 stations have spotted me. 

Amazing!

UPDATE 2133z: In total, 73 spots of my 10W to the tiny indoor loop. The map shows the stations spotting me on 20m FT8 today. Quite amazing.

20m FT8

A few minutes ago I went on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna. Already I have been spotted in Finland. On 20m FT8 RX 3 stations spotted so far today.

Although FT8 is still popular, I get the feeling this mode is going "off the boil" a bit.

UPDATE 1232z: I cannot believe how well this set-up works! Already 8 stations have spotted me with the best report of my 10W to the tiny indoor loop being K7BV (3897 miles). 27 stations in 3 continents spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1458z: So far today 22 spots of my 10W FT8 to the tiny indoor loop As there was a strong signal on my frequency I have QSYed HF about 100Hz. On RX 98 stations spotted so far today on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1842z : 31 spots of my 10W today and 205 stations spotted.

20m FT8 on the tiny indoor loop

A few moments ago I turned on 20m FT8 using the only 20m antenna I have: the tiny indoor loop.

Plenty of stations coming in on RX including lots of Japanese stations with the best DX so far on 20m FT8 RX being JQ2QHQ (9526km).

On TX (10W) just one spot so far EU1SW (1799km).

UPDATE 1202z: 227 stations spotted so far on 20m FT8 RX with 5 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 TX with best being WW1WW (3255 miles).

Stations spotting my 10W FT8
TX to the tiny indoor loop today

UPDATE 1643z: Now 28 stations have spotted my 10W 20m FT8 TX to the tiny indoor loop. On 20m FT8 RX 541 stations spotted.  Absolutely amazing!

UPDATE 1953z: 39 spots of my 10W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. On 20m FT8 RX 668 stations spotted. Now QRT on 20m.

Stations spotted on 20m FT8
RX with the tiny indoor loop

20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop

A few moments ago I QSYed from 17m FT8 to 20m FT8. Although no-one has spotted my 2.5W yet, it is working on RX with 21 stations spotted so far with AB1EP (4941km) as best DX spotted here so far on 20m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1514z: With 2.5W and the tiny loop indoors the best DX is ES5RY (1791km). SWR is 1:1.  On 20m FT8 RX 68 stations spotted so far today.

UPDATE 1529z: Changed rigs so now running 6dB more on 20m FT8 TX.

Stations spotted to about
1545z today on 20m FT8 RX

UPDATE 1610z:  Now 97 stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX with best DX spotted K6OK (8413km). It really annoys me that the FCC has really messed up USA calls! At one time K6 would have been somewhere like California. Now K6 can be anywhere. It happens to be California in this case.

UPDATE 1627z:  IU6JJE (1570km) was spotting me strongly. Even with my 10W to the tiny indoor loop he was copying me at -9dB S/N on 20m FT8 TX!  On 20m FT8 RX, 106 stations spotted so far.

20m FT8 TX (10
or less) today

UPDATE 1816z:  8 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 so far today. On 20m FT8 RX 139 spots so far.

UPDATE 1900z: After a QSO on 20m FT8 with an EA5, I have now gone QRT on all bands.

20m FT8

As I have no working external antennas on HF at present (my 10m end-fed has a high SWR for some reason now), I am using the tiny magnetic loop antenna on the windowsill. Even on 20m FT8 TX the results continue to amaze me. Already this morning, lots of stations spotted me. For a loop just 40cm diameter with thin copper wire this is just flabbergasting. 

The map shows the stations spotting me (10W) this morning on 20m FT8 with the tiny loop.

20m FT8 again with the magnetic loop

As of a short while ago, I am on 20m FT8 with the small, indoor, magnetic loop and 10W. Already 3 spots of me, but no 2-way QSOs yet. I am still amazed how well this tiny loop works!

UPDATE 1340z: So far today, 16 spots of my 10W to the tiny, indoor, magnetic loop with best DX SM2UHF (2016km). A reminder that the loop is about 40cm across using 1mm copper wire and is just sat on the shack windowsill.

UPDATE 1456z: 19 people have spotted my 20m 10W FT8 to the tiny magnetic loop antenna so far today. On 20m FT8 RX, 143 stations spotted so far with best DX KF0RQ (7489km) in Colorado, USA.

20m FT8 with the magnetic loop

Just before 1130z I QSYed to 20m FT8 using the tiny magnetic loop antenna on the shack windowsill. Already 5 spots of my 10W FT8 CQ with best DX RO1M (2030km). On 20m FT8 RX 15 stations spotted, mostly in Eastern Europe.

UPDATE 1348z:   Just measured the loop diameter - just 0.4m!! The wire is about 1mm diameter.  So far, 15 stations have spotted me with the magnetic loop (10W) with the best DX being a spot by K1GUY (3288 miles). Quite amazing.

UPDATE 1700z:  I have just QSYed to 160m FT8, but managed 31 spots of my 10W 20m FT8 CQs (no 2-way QSOs sadly) with the tiny magnetic loop.

20m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

As 10m was dire here yesterday, I decided to try 20m FT8 RX using the tiny wire loop on the back of the rig indoors. I made the switch yesterday afternoon.  In the last day, 618 stations on 4 continents spotted.

20m FT8

On the tiny indoor loop 614 stations spotted in the last day on 20m FT8 RX, well exceeding all expectations.  Already on 20m FT8 RX with the loop lots of stations spotted. This is far from a great loop as the wire is not exactly thick. Quite amazing.

Today I might try a higher HF band.

20m FT8 RX

As I have no antennas outside for 20m I am using the tiny loop on the back of the rig indoors. At a guess this is about 0.5m across. In the first 2 hours no less than 97 stations spotted with best DX EA8AT (2843km) in the Canaries. This antenna is so small and indoors.

UPDATE 1533z: Quite amazing. 373 stations in 4 continents spotted today on 20m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop. Best DX spotted is JF8QNF (8763km).

UPDATE 1542z: As an experiment, I tried a quick 20m FT8 CQ (10W) using the indoor loop, but was spotted by no-one. I may try again as there is a high chance I was being clobbered by another station on the same frequency.

UPDATE 1727z: For some reason, my 20m dial had moved to 14.000 rather than 14.074MHz. I called FT8 CQ again (this time on the correct frequency) and was spotted in southern Italy by 3 stations and 1 in France. On RX 465 stations spotted on 20m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop today.

UPDATE 2140z:  584 stations spotted today on 20m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop. I have to say that results with this tiny antenna have far exceeded my expectations.

20m FT8 RX - stations spotted to 

1717z today with the tiny indoor loop

FT8 issue fixed?

Yesterday I reported that I was struggling on FT8 RX on 20m, and other bands like 70cm RX. I knew the PC settings were right as these worked on 6m and 2m, so the issue had to be with the rig settings.

It appeared that the bandwidth settings on bands other than 6m and 2m was 500Hz. Setting this to 3000Hz seems to have fixed the issues. I am now receiving stations on 20m FT8 on 14.074MHz USB digital with the loop on the back of the rig. I have no idea why these settings were as they were. Maybe I can try 160m FT8 with the earth-electrode "antenna" tonight?

On TX with 8W I have not had any spots yet, but at least there are now RX spots from all over Europe on just the tiny loop.

UPDATE 1342z: Best DX on the tiny loop on 20m FT8 RX is RA1OD (2920km). Another CQ call got no spots.

Building gear

Somewhere, in a drawer, I have an unbuilt Rockmite transceiver kit for 20m CW. It is some years since I built anything (it is much harder since my 2013 stroke), but maybe I should have a go and see how I get on.

My 20m antenna is not too great. The test is building it. Having a few QSOs would be a bonus. I must have bought the kit in 2012. Obviously I was in no hurry!

20m FT8 RX

As 10m FT8 was so dire, I QSYed to 20m FT8 RX. So far, in a couple of hours 139 stations in 3 continents spotted.

UPDATE 1939z: 151 stations spotted so far.

Yesterday on 20m FT8

For a complete change I went on 20m FT8 RX yesterday. My antenna is very low and would not match! Even so, the photo shows the stations received. 20m FT8 is just too easy. Imagine if I had a decent antenna!

20m FT8 RX

For a total change I am on 20m (14MHz) FT8 RX.  My antenna is very poor and I cannot get a good match. Even so, I am spotting JA stations.

Within an hour on 20m FT8 RX with a useless, low, antenna!

UPDATE 1252z: Too easy! Spots on 20m FT8 RX today so far. Remember my antenna is low and not even resonant!

UPDATE 1515z: At the moment, Indonesia is the best DX spotted at 11977km. Also, west coast USA is being spotted but nothing from Africa, Australia or South America. I am unfamiliar with 20m, so I do not know the best times for these.

20m FT8 RX

As far as I recall I had never tried FT8 RX on 20m. In the past I took a peak at 20m JT65.

Within just a few minutes I was copying all across Europe as well as spotting Japan on 20m FT8. It is amazing how FT8 has "taken off" in such a short time. The slot was crowded with stations.

My end fed antenna is quite low (4m or less?) and definitely not brilliant for 20m DX! Yes, FT8 is transformational.

UPDATE 1026z: Now seeing South Americans coming through including VP8LP (12773km).

UPDATE 1725z: Incredible! The photo show the stations spotted today on 20m FT8 RX.

20m FT8 RX

For a change, I am on 20m FT8 RX using the coax to my 2m antenna via an ATU. Lots of stations being copied!

Initially I was getting nothing on PSK Reporter Maps. After a Windows Update all was well.

UPDATE 1055z:  Best DX so far is RU7T (3118km).

UPDATE 1140z: It is just too easy on 20m FT8 - I have lost count of all the Europeans and Russians copied. I shall leave it running during today to see what else comes in from outside Europe.

UPDATE 1237z:  First stateside station spotted was WW1WW (5184km) just before noon.

UPDATE 1818z:  Best DX so far is WB3JSW (5914km). Also spotted was TR8CA (5820km) in Gabon, W.Africa.

20m FT8 RX overnight

Well, as an experiment I stayed on 20m FT8 overnight. There is a big take-up in the USA and Europe of this new mode. I lost count of the USA stations spotted using 20m FT8, but it was at least 21. In the other direction Kuwait and all over Europe were spotted. There is little doubt this will become the de facto digital mode for QSOs, especially on 20m.

It is a pity there is not a WSPR mode with a shorter period, maybe 30 secs. Several brief openings are missed on WSPR and WSPR is an ideal beaconing mode.

UPDATE 1708z: JA1BOQ (9484km) is currently the best DX on 20m FT8 RX.

20m FT8

At the moment I am on 20m RX. After a brief period in which I called CQ and was heard in GI, I have reverted to RX only for now. I have spotted several Europeans including European Russia.

20m FT8 early

UPDATE 0835z:  Lots of Europeans seem to be on 20m FT8. Later I'll try TX again on  20m FT8. I need to check the storm maps first and do some shopping as we have friends for lunch. They are very easy going. Once, they were coming for tea at 4.30pm. They arrived at 10.30pm! They never change and I like them as they are. The map shows the stations received this morning on 20m FT8.

UPDATE 1610z: As the storm was a non-event, I have reconnected everything on 20m FT8. I was TXing for a few minutes (calling CQ) and was copied in Southern Europe, but have now reverted to RX only on 20m. Plenty of Europeans spotted.

20m FT8 RX last few hours

UPDATE 2136z: For the last few hours I have been on 20m FT8 RX. Plenty of stations, even with my low, poor 20m antenna.