WSPR versus FT8

It is now about 3 months since I got my 10m QDX-M FT8 transceiver and the Zachtek 200mW WSPR TX. Much to my surprise, I am getting more fun from the WSPR beacon than the FT8 transceiver.

There are more people (I think) using FT8, but overall I find 10m WSPR more fun. Most days on WSPR my 200mW gets spotted at amazing distances.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0750z. 

UPDATE 1340z: 4 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2001z: 7 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

In all yesterday I was spotted by 5 stations. 

See map from WSPR Rocks by VK7JJ. 

The spots from the German research base in Antarctica seem almost daily.

Zachtek WSPR beacon

I have a 10m 200mW WSPR beacon by ZachTek in Sweden. 

What I really like is that, apart from switching it on, nothing at all has to be done, Maidenhead locator and timing are all done by GPS. 

There is a much cheaper product from China, but this is inferior.

With a very average wire antenna it seems to get spotted widely around the world.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was turned on at 0836z.

UPDATE 0844z: Immediately spots by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1946z:  Spotted by 5 stations with the best Antarctica.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1942z:  Spotted by 10 stations with the best Antarctica (again). Now QRT.

10m 200mW WSPR to Antarctica (Thursday)

Yesterday my tiny WSPR beacon was copied in Antarctica 11 times in 12 hours. I think this is a record.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon has been on since before breakfast.

UPDATE 1540z:  Spotted in Antarctica yet again today several times.

UPDATE 1630z:  5 stations in 4 continents have spotted me.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0850z.

UPDATE 1231z:  Just one spot by a station in Kenya.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 Although my beacon has been on since before breakfast, no spots yet.

UPDATE 1611z:  Spotted by 4 stations with the best PP5ZX{10058km). See table.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 At about 1505z, I changed to 10m WSPR with my beacon.

UPDATE 1544z: 4 spots by EA8BFK (2880km).

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0915z.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Friday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0630z.

UPDATE 2054z: Spotted by 48 stations.

10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)

 

Once again I am on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 0929z: 20 spots of me. See table.

10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on briefly at breakfast time.

UPDATE 1432z: No spots. About to change back from 10m FT8 RX to 10m 200mW WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1541z: So far, spotted by just 2 stations in the Canary Islands multiple times.

UPDATE 1919z: Spotted by 3 stations with the best PP5ZX (10058km). QRT soon.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

 My beacon was turned on at 0850z.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon has been on until about 1510z

UPDATE 1523z: Only 2 stations in the Canary Is have spotted me. Now QRT .

10m 200mW FT8 ( Saturday)

My TX beacon was turned on at about 0943z.

UPDATE 1553z:    Spotted by 4 stations with the best PP5ZX (10058km) in Brazil.

10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

 Late in the afternoon I switched to 10m 200mW WSPR  TX. In the end I went QRT at about 2030z.

UPDATE 2118z:   9 stations spotted today. See table.

10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0615z.

UPDATE 1622z:  7 stations have spotted me with (yet again) spots by DP0GVN (13685km) down in Antarctica. See table.