Reminds me of my experience with FT8.
Background: I came to topband seeking my 9th band for DXCC. Achieving that I
was looking for a new challenge. Having worked 18 countries on 2-meter EME (CW)
many years earlier, against my better judgement I considered getting back on,
using JT modes, and notching a tenth band. So I was setting up to do some
listen only tests about two days before FT8 was announced. I gave it a try on
HF and struggled some with logging, when someone suggested, "You need JTAlert."
So I installed it. My setup at the time used a laptop on a shelf above the desk
for logging and a monitor on the desk below it for other stuff with screens
shared. I was attempting to work some west central African station when
something popped up on the screen(s). It straddled both screens but because of
he one foot separation was unreadable and it shortly disappeared. When it
happened again I was able to decipher it. I had no idea that JTAlert had a text
messaging facility but there it was, "I'm sending you a report, send me mine."
At that point I shut down.
I use FT8 from time to time, but don't claim DXCC credit for any QSOs.
Wes N7WS
On 2/27/2021 3:31 PM, Mike Smith VE9AA wrote:
"The contest occurred on the air during the contest period" (not outside
those times on the internet, email, qrz.com, recordings etc)
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