Category Archives: FT8

How rare is 5BDXCC – Part 2

Posted on October 8, 2019 by robert

I received a nice note from Sharon Taratula, the Awards Manager at the ARRL today.  She mentioned that the 5BDXCC award is so old that it predates computers, so all records are on paper.  She also indicated that the most … Continue reading →

Posted in 160-Meters, DX, FT4, FT8 | Leave a comment

First FT4 QSO

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Bob Beatty

I finally bit the bullet and installed WSJT-X version 2.1.0-rc5  I figured why let everyone else have all the fun!  (I can admit that debugging new software can be a huge time investment). Anyway, installation went fine, but you must … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Mode, FT4, FT8, LotW, WSJT-X | 4 Comments

Joe Taylor’s upcoming FT-4 and the value of bit shaping

Posted on April 24, 2019 by robert

I was watching a video of Joe Taylor giving a presentation at the Fair Lawn Amateur Radio Club (Thanks, Bob W1YRC, for that reference).  Joe started giving some details of his upcoming FT-4 protocol (starts at 15:35 mark).  FT-4 might … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Mode, FT-4, FT8 | Leave a comment

10,000 QSOs in the Log

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Bob Beatty

How appropriate, on the first day of winter, for a non-fan of cold weather, snow & ice, that I should reach QSO #10,000 in my logbook?  My small contribution to the one billion QSOs entered into LotW as of 12/19. … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, FT8, LotW, Operating | Leave a comment

WSJT-X Users MUST Upgrade to Version 2.0.0

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Bob Beatty

I had noticed that my waterfall was showing 20 or more signals that should be decoding, but only a few were.  Nevertheless I continued to work stations for this final month of the International Grid Chase.  I became concerned that … Continue reading →

Posted in FT8, WSJT-X | Leave a comment

Clearing the air on FT8

Posted on December 11, 2018 by robert

I follow a fairly large number of groups that are associated with various aspects of Amateur Radio or Electronics. I’ve seen a lot of discussing pro and con about FT8.  My personal view is that Amateur Radio should be as … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Mode, From the OM, FT8 | Leave a comment

All likely bands completed with VP6D

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Bob Beatty

This morning I picked up VP6D on 30 and 40 meter CW.  While the 30 meter contact came up on DXA quickly, the 40 meter contact took a very long time.  I had read that they were having some network … Continue reading →

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Sure enough – VP6D FT8 QSOs in log

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Bob Beatty

As I mentioned the other day, there appears to be an issue with the DXA.com application failing to show FT8 QSOs as they occur.  I made two the other day, and neither showed up on DXA, but they did show … Continue reading →

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Success with FT8 for VP6D

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Bob Beatty

Yesterday I had four bands on CW plus a SSB contact, so I needed a Digital contact have Ducie Island on all three modes.  VP6D was on 15-meter FT8 today and I worked them around 18:38 UTC.  I hadn’t run … Continue reading →

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Tried WSJT-X in Hound Mode for the first time

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Bob Beatty

Today I heard SO1WS in Western Sahara on 17-meters.  I noticed a very raspy FT-8 signal, and after checking the time offset, it turned out to be So1WS — however upon further review it was apparent that they were running … Continue reading →

Posted in From the OM, FT8 | Leave a comment