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.

6m 3W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on just after 0800z. 

UPDATE 0814z: Spotted by 6 English stations.

UPDATE 1752z: Returned to 6m FT8.  Spotted by19 stations and I  have spotted 20 stations here.

2m FT8 activity contest last evening

On Tuesday evening I went on the 2m activity contest (UKAC) arranged by the RSGB using 10W to the big wheel omni antenna. 

Last night was the 2m FT8 activity contest. Running just 5W it was much easier! Again I was only on for a very short while (less than 30 minutes). The map shows the stations that spotted me.

10m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1852 z: Spotted by 220 stations with the best PY5KD (9884km). See map of stations spotting me today. 347 stations spotted here. Now QRT.

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.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 2011z: Spotted by 101 stations. Amazing Es. Now QRT.

6m 3W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear was turned on at about 0805z.

UPDATE 1120z:  Spotted by 264 stations here so far today. See map. Best Es yet.

2m FT8 yesterday

For about 30 minutes, as usual, I went on the 2m activity contest.  I worked 4 stations with my 10W, poor voice and big-wheel omni antenna. 

Just before finishing, just for fun, I put out a call with 5W 2m FT8. Immediately I was spotted by PA2M (312km). 

It is so much easier on FT8. In all my years with 10W in the 2m activity contest, I don't think I have worked a single station in mainland Europe.  I think the main issues are my low ERP, my short time active and my poor voice.

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.

6m 3W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear was turned on just after 1000z.

UPDATE 1016z:  Spotted by 34 stations already and 29 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1447z:  After seeing rumours about a 6m opening to the USA, I gave up on 8m and returned to 6m FT8. No joy so far. 105 stations have spotted my 3W 6m FT8 today - mostly Europeans.

6m 3W FT8 (Monday)

My gear has been on much of the morning.

UPDATE 1645z: Spotted by 147 stations with the best D4L (4517 km) and 159 stations spotted here including my first from the USA this summer on 6m.

6m 3W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0905z

UPDATE 1700z:   Spotted by 199 stations (mostly European) and I have spotted 259 here, presumably Es mostly.   

UPDATE 2130z:   At last, 3 stations way down in Brazil were spotted with the best PY5XT (9891km).

6m 2W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear was turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE  0840z:   So far just spotted in England by several stations.

UPDATE  1328z:   My station has been spotted by 249 stations despite running just 2W. 191 stations spotted here. Es produces some very strong signals! At first the novelty is having all of Europe on VHF. Then people start looking further afield.

UPDATE 1908z: Now QRT. 359 stations spotted my 2W FT8 and 343 stations spotted here.

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.

10m 3W FT8 - NOT!!

Until I can fix my PC I am unlikely to be on 10m FT8. Hopefully it is something stupid that I can fix. 

I have reinstalled WSJT-X so I know it is not that. Next thing to try is to make sure the TX audio is getting to the USB port. It will be fixed soon, but at the moment I am too tired.

70cm FT8 activity contest

Stations spotting me on 70cm FT8 this evening

It never fails to amaze me how well 10W FT8 and a 144MHz big-wheel omni does on 70cm . Tonight was the 70cm FT8 activity contest. Every contest I seem to be copied in continental Europe and was spotted at considerable range within the UK. See map.

I was only on about 10 minutes.

10m 3W FT8 (Tuesday)

 So far, the thunder has missed us, so I have gone on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1518z: Spotted by 65 stations.

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.