10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 As I was having no success on WSPR I QSYed to FT8 with 6W from the IC-705.

UPDATE 2222z: 527 stations have spotted me. The map shown was hours earlier, shortly after switching on.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 set at 6W was turned on just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1258z:  13 UK stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since about 1410z, I have been on 6m FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W.

UPDATE 1453z:  6 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1912z:  16 stations have spotted me including one in Germany. QRT soon.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0930z. So far, mostly eastern Europe and Middle East stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1413z:  67 stations have spotted me on 4 continents.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0925z.

UPDATE 1541z:  93 spots of me. 

UPDATE 1940z:  Spotted by 164 stations. See map.

6m 6W FT8 (Thursday)

My IC-705 at 6W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on shortly after 1000z.

UPDATE 2214z: 41 stations including two Germans, one Portuguese and one Swede have spotted me. QRT.

10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

At about 1546z, I decided to stop my WSPR beacon and turn on the IC-705 at 6W FT8.

UPDATE 2034z:  Spotted by 339 stations with the furthermost YE4LWU (11246km) in Indonesia. See map. QRT now.

10m as the sunspot count declines

It is probably the case that I am rare in quite looking forward to the quieter solar years when propagation on 10m becomes more difficult. 

At the moment a few watts of 10m FT8 seems to get all over the planet. It is quite easy at the moment. 

At sunspot minimum it will be far harder, but it will be interesting to see how 10m FT8 QRP behaves then. It is my view that as long as monitors continue to look at 10m FT8 we will find paths open far more than we thought. 

As I have said many times before, people move to lower bands as it is easier. Sticking with 10m we will be doing real research. It would not surprise me to see N-S paths possible right at sunspot minimum with FT8.

10m 6W FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on just before breakfast on FT8.

UPDATE 2000z: 844 stations have spotted my 6W 10m FT8 today with the furthermost Antarctica. See map for spots.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

I went on 10m QRP FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W at about 0650z.

UPDATE 1405z:  290 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 QRP. See map.

UPDATE 1413z: Just for fun I have reduced my IC-705 to 500mW FT8.  It will be interesting to see how this goes.

UPDATE  1502z: Already 37 spots of my 500mW 10m FT8 with the furthermost N4LR (7277km).

Stations spotting my
500mW 10m FT8

UPDATE 1817z: 104 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW FT8. Furthermost is HK4R (8498km). See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 at 6W to the vertical omni V2000 antenna was turned on mid-morning. 

18 British Isles stations have spotted me so far. 

UPDATE 2155z: 24 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8. This includes some in mainland Europe. See map of stations spotting me up to teatime.  QRT soon.

2m QRP FT8

 

Yesterday late I decided to go on 2m QRP FT8. I was on the vertical V2000 omni antenna. Quite amazing.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My IC-705 was turned on at 6W just before 0800z.  At 0920z spotted by 9 stations in the UK and Eire.

UPDATE 2112z:  18 stations have spotted me. No continental Europe and no exotic DX. In fact, a pretty lousy day. QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0900z. So far, 7 stations have spotted me, all UK.

UPDATE 1200z:  21 stations have spotted my QRP. 

UPDATE 1600z:  41 stations have spotted me today on 6m FT8 QRP.  See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My IC-705 was turned on at 6W at about 0900z. So far,  5 spots including one in Poland.

UPDATE 1713z:  20 stations have spotted me, all in Europe. See map.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at 0900z.  

UPDATE 1009z:  9 stations including 1 in Portugal have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 As 10m was so good, I QSYed to 6m with my 6W FT8.

UPDATE 1457z:  So far, just 4 English spots of me.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My IC-705 was turned on at 6W at about 0715z on 10m FT8.

UPDATE 1050z:  137 stations have spotted me with the furthermost India and the Seychelles. On RX 275 stations were spotted with the furthermost Indonesia. 

UPDATE 1452z:  410 spots of my QRP today and 755 stations spotted here on 10m FT8. The map shows the stations spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 My IC-705 at 6W  has been on since breakfast.  11 spots (G, and GW) so far at 1036z.

UPDATE 1632z:  18 stations spotting me.  All G and GW.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at 1017z. Just 7 English spots so far.

UPDATE 1514z:  Spotted by 19 stations. See map.