Showing posts with label ft8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ft8. Show all posts

15 May 2026

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.

13 May 2026

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.

12 May 2026

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.


11 May 2026

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.

10 May 2026

Es in full swing

This morning, I am on 10m 3W FT8. It is clear, with lots of spots on TX and RX, that the Es season is well underway.

UPDATE 1640z:  184 stations spotted here on RX and I have been spotted by 112 stations.

7 May 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

 Very briefly, I went on 10m 3W FT8 just after breakfast, although I have been on 10m WSPR most of the day including now.  It is evident that we are now in the Es season.

6 May 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Wednesday)

Although I was RX only most of the time, I was on TX until breakfast and spotted by 6 English stations.

UPDATE 1928z:  Spotted 144 stations here. See map.  Now QRT.

5 May 2026

WSPR and FT8

In the Northern Hemisphere we are now, once again, in the Es season.

My main activity is 10m QRP WSPR and 6m QRP FT8.

Although I do not claim anything scientific, my impression is that FT8 is now more popular than WSPR. Although WSPR works with far weaker signals, this is less important with Es where signals can be very strong and fleeting. 

I have not tried FT4 or FT2. Also WSPR needs about 120 seconds TX, whereas FT8 needs just 15 seconds.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear was turned on at about 1015z.

UPDATE 1407z: 17 spots of me, many by Es. See map. 21 stations spotted here.

4 May 2026

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

 My gear  has been on since just before breakfast.

UPDATE 0830z:  Mostly English stations spotting me with just one in Austria.  Currently RX only.

UPDATE 1409z: 25 stations spotted around Europe. See map.

3 May 2026

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

 As the V2000 is available, I am on 6m 5W FT8  from 0938z.


UPDATE 1113z: 
 35 stations are spotting me. Now RX only. Clearly some Es!

UPDATE 1856z:  Back on TX again. Just English spots.

UPDATE 1954z: QRT.

10m 3W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at 0540z.

UPDATE 0922z: 10 spots of me and I have spotted 23. Clear signs of Es now. Currently RX only.

28 Apr 2026

Yesterday on 10m FT8 RX

 

In all, 112 stations on 5 continents were spotted yesterday. See map.

27 Apr 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Monday)


Currently I am on 10m 3W FT8 since breakfast.

UPDATE 1133z: 
Spotted by 4 stations. Currently RX only with 34 stations spotted in 4 continents. 

UPDATE 1557z: 67 stations spotted here on RX. See map.

26 Apr 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Sunday)


Today, I am on 10m 3W FT8.

UPDATE 0802z: 4 English spots of me and I have spotted 6 stations here today.

UPDATE 1019z:  Currently RX only with 28 stations spotted here.

UPDATE 1040z:  Back on TX again with my best spot by V51F (8209km) in Namibia. 29 stations spotted here on RX.

UPDATE 1329z: RX only again. 75 stations spotted here. See map.

UPDATE 2013z: RX only currently. 145 stations spotted here. QRT soon.

25 Apr 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on mid-morning.

UPDATE 1451z:  23 stations have spotted me with the best UA9MA (4600km).  44 stations have been spotted here. Currently RX only.

24 Apr 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Friday)


My gear was turned on at about 0755z. 

UPDATE  1355z:   90 stations spotted here. 8 stations have spotted me. See map of stations spotting me.

23 Apr 2026

10m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

 Since returning from a few days in Winchester, I turned on my 10m FT8 gear.

UPDATE 1935z:   Spotted by 6 stations all in the UK. Now QRT.

19 Apr 2026

10m 2W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned at about 1100z.

UPDATE  1118z:  2 English stations have spotted me and 3 stations spotted here on RX.