8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

My gear is on 8m (40.680) FT8  RX. I know activity is way down on 6m.

UPDATE 1711z: No spots. I suspect people are on 6m, 4m and 2m Es.

8m love affair?

 At about 1350z, I turned off my 10m 200mW WSPR TX beacon and 3W 6m FT8 and went on 8m FT8 and WSPR RX on 40.680 MHz. At best, activity on 8m is very low sadly.

UPDATE 1600z: Nobody spotted.

8m FT8 RX

From about 1108z, I have been monitoring 40.680 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1420z: No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

Yet again (more in hope than expectation) I am again on 40.680MHz FT8  RX.

UPDATE 0905z: Just EA7Y (1831km) spotted (on the wrong antenna at my end!). I am sure it is mainly lack of activity rather than poor conditions that prevents more stations being spotted. Despite that, I seem addicted to 8m!

UPDATE 1816z: Just EA7Y and EI2IP (605km) have been spotted.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

My RX started monitoring 8m FT8 on 40.680 at about 0910z.

UPDATE 0919z: No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

Until thunder rudely stopped play, I went on 8m FT8 RX. A couple of Spanish stations were spotted before the storm came and everything had to be disconnected after just a few short minutes.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

 To close the day, I have QSYed to 8m FT8 on 40.680MHz RX.

UPDATE 1821z:  No spots. QRT soon.

8m FT8 RX (Saturday)

Despite being half the day, not a single station spotted. If this had been 6m or 10m I would have spotted quite a few stations.

8m FT8 RX (Friday)

At the moment I am monitoring 8m FT8. As there are far fewer stations active than 6m, this is harder going. 

UPDATE 1400z:   Just spots of EA3ERE in Catalonia. I think I'm going back to 6m FT8.

8m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

From about 1100z I have been monitoring 40.680MHz FT8.

UPDATE 1434z:  4 stations in Europe spotted in 4 different countries.

At one time I held a UK TX permit for 8m that I had to pay for. Comparing 8m with 6m, I decided not to renew it. I do not regret my decision.

8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on at 1215z:

UPDATE  1246z:  Just one spot of a station in northern Spain -  EB1B (1050km).

There appears to be a general lack of activity on 8m. I know my antenna is not the best and is fixed.  I do not regret re-applying for a TX permit.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

 Today I shall probably stick with 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 0500z: Just G8VER spotted so far.

UPDATE 0830z: 2 stations have been spotted with the best S57TW (1237km).

UPDATE 0957z: 3 stations in 3 countries spotted.

UPDATE 2040z: 11 stations spotted in 4 countries today on 8m FT8. The impression I am getting is that my endfed antenna is better than the dipole I was using when I had a TX permit (now taken down). I think that’s it but I shall continue until bedtime. Now QRT.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

As Es seemed good on 10m and 6m, I thought I'd try 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1442z: So far, EA3GCV (1231km) spotted using the well off tune V2000 vertical.

UPDATE 1513z:  3 stations in Spain and 1 in Sardinia spotted.

UPDATE 2130z: 18 stations spotted in 4 countries.

8m FT8 RX (Saturday)

For fun, I might go on 8m FT8 RX later in the hope of spotting some EAs by Es. If things are dire I may try 6m later.

UPDATE 1225z: Monitoring 8m FT8 RX. Nobody spotted. I may try 6m FT8 later. For now, I shall continue on 8m FT8.

8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

Once again, I am monitoring 8m FT8.

UPDATE  1206z:  No spots. This will probably be my last day concentrating on 8m FT8. I am disappointed in 8m activity.

UPDATE 1822z: Just EA3ERE (1153km) spotted. QRT soon.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

Although I no longer hold a UK TX permit for 8m, I still monitor 8m FT8  from time to time. 

I am monitoring today.

UPDATE 1308z:   Just G8VER (64km) spotted.

Is 8m "going off the boil"?

As many know, I held a UK TX permit for the band getting all over the world with just a few watts and a low wire dipole. I was considering getting a new permit, despite the £50 price tag for the pleasure. In the end I decided not to bother, but to concentrate on 10m and 6m instead.

As the sunspot numbers decline, I reasoned that radio science, and me, would learn nothing new. 

Also, I was extremely disappointed by the very negative attitude of many PTTs, when even temporary access to the band around sunspot maximum could have taught us so much. It is, arguably, too late now.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Today, I am trying 8m FT8 RX again.

UPDATE 1450z:  No spots. I think my antenna must be poor on 8m.  I might try the coax to my 2m antenna via an ATU if it works at 40.680.

8m FT8 RX (Friday)

At 1106z, I QSYed to 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1830z:   No spots all day. QRT now. I suspect this will be my last test on 8m until the Es season.

USA back on 8m (and 4m too)

A person in the USA has obtained an experimental licence for 8m and 4m. 

This is not amateur radio so QSOs certainly with radio amateurs in the USA and, probably overseas too, are not permitted. Probably FT8 and WSPR reports are fine.  

Remember this is not amateur radio.

I hope the FCC sees fit to issue more.