Back on the air - WSPR / ROS / JS8Call / FT8

[Tigersaw]

I've not been listening since earlier.
I have a ZLP datalink which combined with the 891 is the easiest way of getting audio into the laptop.
I'll look into it

[MrWeetabix]

I've not been listening since earlier.
I have a ZLP datalink which combined with the 891 is the easiest way of getting audio into the laptop.
I'll look into it

Excellent stuff :-)

[Tigersaw]

Loaded the ROS 7.40
Connected to the loop rx antenna I see a few stations, yours and one in France mainly - Not sure if I'm actually receiving them or its from the internet?
I guess I need to RTFM

[Tigersaw]

I've set power 10w, set ALC etc, its biffing out a beacon every 2 mins into a short piece of wire down the garden. I'll leave it doing that a while.
I don't think I'm receiving anyone though. Maybe I need to hook the antron back up ?

[MrWeetabix]

Use this page to see if you have been spotted....

https://pskreporter.info/pskmapn.html?p ... ideunrec=1

Set the band as 11M and then the mode as ROS.

[Tigersaw]

Ta, its a no then. I can try the vertical tomorrow maybe.
It doesn't look like ROS gets used on any other bands?

[MrWeetabix]

ROS is used on other bands for sure.... I see activity there throughout the day though very much depends on band conditions and users as to whether they show on the map or not...

https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

321321.PNG

[MrWeetabix]

I have been posting reports in various other threads, but thought it best to consolidate them all here now. Been experimenting with various bands/antennas and WSPR over night. Last night I stuck with 15m but this time used the Windom 10-40 I made. I am being seen, but not heard a d1ckie bird all night. I appreciate this is probably because I cant get my power down any lower than 5w at the moment. The vertical is still berrt at RX on this bad from what I can gather

15m-300720_01_WSPR_Windom.png

I think I'll try 17m tonight. First with the vert and then the following night with the Windom. I expect there to be a cross-over to the wire at this frequency but we'll see

[Tigersaw]

I think thats well out of my end feds comfort zone, will check

[MrWeetabix]

I think thats well out of my end feds comfort zone, will check

did you have any joy at all with datamodes? How did you get on? :-)

[Tigersaw]

I think thats well out of my end feds comfort zone, will check

did you have any joy at all with datamodes? How did you get on? :-)

I had a short romance with FT8, but didn't really get into it. I worked out that if you matched the recipients clock, split frequencies so that they would hear you separate to any pile up, use enough power then you could 'work' anything. My log filled up and soon I'd bagged everyone on the band, like Pokemon meets wackamole. It wasn't rewarding.

I like the idea of HF packet but not explored it yet.
I loaded ROS the other day after you mentioned it, but I've not had another stab at it since.
I've done some PSK31, slow scan, APRS to ISS, Digital audio on 80m (can't even remember the name of that mode)

I do like WSPR for trying antenna out though, or just for the wow of getting so far with so little power

[MrWeetabix]

So last night I worked 17m band, 18.10460. using my home made windom I think I had some decent results with 5 w

17m-310720_01_WSPR_Windom.png

What really caught my eye was how the band seems to throw up a good mix of quite short prop, as well as the longer stuff.

17m-310720_02_WSPR_Windom.png

The longer stuff included TI4JWC in Costa Rica, which I was pleasantly surprised with!

[Tigersaw]

I was on 15m so no wonder didn't see you

Using the 10m loop, so off tune, directional, overnight RX QRM (neighbour), but it did manage a few

Screenshot_2020-07-31 Spots.png

[MrWeetabix]

Well, after I finished playing with FT8 Last night, I turned to WSPR on 40m and was amazed when I checked the spotter this morning.....

40m-020820_01_Windom.png

Pretty chuffed with that. 18417km (11443 Miles) on 5w and a home made antenna. Got to love this radio malarkey

[MrWeetabix]

I have been playing with FT8 and JS8Call recently, more so FT8 today. Two things occur to me.

First off, I can see the appeal of the mode. Below is my pskreporter spots for the past 12 hours.

3C1A1B8A-BF9A-44F1-AC2C-857E3CA4A3FC.jpeg

Needless to say I have been heard far and wide. This is from numerous sessions on bands between 40m and 2m. I had a particularly enjoyable spell on 6m too!

Secondly, I can see how people can rack up so many contacts so quickly. I have seen a QRZ page of a station who was only licensed 2 years ago but has racked up well over THIRTY THOUSAND log entries! You can leave FT8 in a near automatic mode and it will just churn away, day and night. Bagged, tagged and logged without you even touching the radio and/or computer. This isnt the default setting but it can be done.

With that said, I did enjoy the chase today, seeing far away stations pop up in the feed and the thrill of getting a reply and logging the contact. Who knows if I will feel the same way in a few weeks when the novelty has worn off, but I can definitely say I understand why FT8 is THE dominant datamode on the HAM bands and why some people see it as a threat to HAM radio itself and how things are and have been done for decades. Who knows, it could even threaten Voice as the main way we have QSOs on the bands!

Keen to hear other’s opinions, experiences and insights, but please keep them factual and polite