Topband: KH1/KH7Z TopBand Ops Brief

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Thu, 12 Jul 2018 22:19:07 -0400
From: GEORGE WALLNER <aa7jv at atlanticbb.net>
To: <topband at contesting.com>, ha7ry at tomisat.com <ha7ry at tomisat.com>
Subject: Topband: KH1/KH7Z TopBand Ops Brief

<After operating 7 straight nights on 160, my ears were ready for a break. We 
<switched to FT8 for about 5 hours, using the regular QSO mode (not 
<hound-and-fox). With N1DG operating, we made about 120 NA QSO-s in about 5 
<hours! Just before midnight, we switched back to CW for the JA-s, who are not 
<allowed to operate FT8 in the lower part of the band. 

<The FT8 operation 
<revealed three things: There is SERIOUS  DEMAND for FT8 on TB, the MODE  GETS 
THROUGH the NOISE VERY  WELL  and gives  MODEST STATIONS a chance to work 
<serious DX on TB, but it is easily dominated by the strong signals.

<The key lessons learned
<1.  160 m DX is more than possible in June and July.
<6. FT8 is now part of Amateur Radio, even on TB.

<George,
<KH1/KH7Z (AA7JV)

##  1500  qsos  on TB, but only 120 of those using FT8.  And  5 hrs  to work just
120 stations on FT8.   That averages out to  1 station every 2.5 mins.  

##  FT8 is indeed a game changer,  but I dont think the hard core CW op will  buy
into the.... new fangled mode. 

Jim   VE7RF