6m 3W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0905z.

UPDATE 1358z:   Spotted by 174 Europeans and I have spotted 241 here, presumably Es mostly.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yesterday on 10m FT8 RX

 

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

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.