Topband: Straws in the Wind ....A 160m Dx'ing Sea Change is Upon us!

[Don Greenbaum]

Clive:

We do have a 40 mtr antenna at the digital site.   I will keep that in 
mind.   Prop charts show a 1 hour window to OH/GM/ etc.

EU is a target area of our operation, hence the 24 hour 20 mtr manning of 
stations.

73
Don

At 09:46 AM 3/30/2018, Clive GM3POI wrote:
>Don, seeing your trip is midsummer, you should strongly consider using FT8
>for EU on 40m as to Western EU there is NO common darkness.
>Otherwise the lowest band Western EU will be able to work KH1 is 30m.  73
>Clive GM3POI
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Topband [mailto:topband-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Don
>Greenbaum
>Sent: 30 March 2018 13:27
>To: k1zm at aol.com; topband at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: Topband: Straws in the Wind ....A 160m Dx'ing Sea Change is
>Upon us!
>
>Jeff, and others:
>
>  From K1JT on the WSJT web pages and instructions:
>
>Please note: DXpedition Mode is not yet ready for production use. Until
>WSJT-X v1.9.0 is fully released, this mode should be used only in controlled
>test situations.  Please remember to send us your test results.
>
>As one of the beta testers and one of the two stations running the next test
>on 7 April (W1/KH7Z) the problem with RR73 being sent before a good
>QSO is logged has been fixed.   There are other errors we ascertained in
>March that are addressed in the next test.
>
>The KH1 team has been working for close to 6 months with the WSJT developers
>to make a more efficient DXpedition version of the software and the current
>plans for our Baker Island DXpedition is to use FT8 as a
>replacement for RTTY on 17 20 and 30 mtrs.   We will also operate RTTY to
>give those who need a digital QSO but haven't migrated to FT8 yet a
>shot.   We have a dedicated digital station with its own antennas.   It
>should be noted, there is no 160 mtr antenna at this digital station, the
>160 meter antenna developed by AA7JV is at the cw tent.  It is our intention
>to use cw as the primary mode on 160.
>
>As for 6 meters, your observations are correct.   On July 6, I worked SO1WS
>on cw followed by 9K2GS in JT65.   Then FT8's new version came out and all
>my e-skip dx contacts were on FT8.   The bands were empty at the low
>end.   Even JT65 seemed to disappear overnight.
>
>The past week while 160 appeared empty the FT8 frequency was full of
>stations making QSOs.   I worked a good number of Europeans on FT8 never
>using more than 100 watts.   Just for fun I worked 5B4AMX calling first
>with 5 watts and finally snagging him with 20 watts.   A QSO on 80 mtrs
>with A71AM on FT8 was accomplished on one call with 100 watts.  Yes, change
>is in the air, and I hope CW remains the primary mode for DX.   BUT, it's
>up to the dx isn't it?
>
>Spark was replaced by CW.   AM by SSB.   Not without debate.
>
>FT8 is here to stay for weak signal work.   I'm surprised to see all the
>USA/USA QSOs on 160 but activity on 160 is a good thing period in my view.
>
>Tune into 14105 on 7 June at 14:00 UTC and see what he hope is the final
>test of the DXpedition WSJT software.  I'll be running W1/KH7Z.
>
>And we hope to work as many of you from KH1 on 160 cw.   While June is not
>optimal, it's the timeframe chosen by FWS and we expect to make lemonade
>from lemons.
>
>Don
>N1DG
>www.baker2018.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 07:50 AM 3/30/2018, you wrote:
> >Hello Gang  I am probably not the only one who has been paying
> >attention lately, but I may be the first to comment directly on what
> >has been taking place right before our eyes the past two nights on
> >1.836kHz - and its possible implications going forward for future
> >Dx'ing on 160m. Pls read on. Â  I am sure most readers of these pages
> >are well aware of the current dx'pedition to Malawi operating as
> >7Q7EI.  Norbert DJ7JC has been a real trooper working the lowbands and
> >has had quite a bit of success doing so - so well deserved kudos &
> >thanks to Norbert. Â Norbert has managed to make quite a few NA
> >stations happy with a NEW ONE on Topband and we all very much
> >appreciate his efforts - well done Norbert - thank you!    So what I
> >am about to comment on next IN NO WAY is an negative opinion on Norbert
> >- it is just an observation as to what is now occurring and its
> >possible implications for all of us who like to work DX on 160M!. Â  On
> >or about 27 March, Norbert tried 160M CW operating on 1830kHz - in his
> >grayline period
> >- and was heard by a number of stations including NO3M and me here at
> >VY2ZM.  Others were in there too perhaps - Kaz K8KS may have been
> >another and a few more as well.  I also heard some EU stations in
> >there calling among the NA stations. Â  About 0228z, Norbert asnwered
> >me as UY2ZM - went QRZ a few times but QRNN on his side prevented a
> >legitimate qso.  I heard him fine but I know he did not copy my
> >callsign correctly - and later he even said so over ON4KST noting "I
> >heard a few callers, mainly from EU but logged no NA or EU qso's on
> >Topband - so I went back to 80M CW as the sun came up." Â  The next
> >night Norbert came on ON4KST Â chat and announced that he was going to
> >try 1836 using the new FT8 Dx'pedition mode now in beta trials
> >following its release by K1JT.  I am told that the dx'pedition version
> >of FT8 will also be used experimentally by the upcoming KH1
> >Dx'pedition. Â  Dx'pedition Mode - offers some unique promise when and
> >if it ever is fully conceived including: Â  1) A shortened qso sequence
> >using only 2 of the traditional FT8 required QSO elements 2) The
> >promise of simultaneous qso's between Multiple HOUNDS and the FOX (in
> >this example the FOX was 7Q7EI) 3) The potential, as a result, of up to
> >300-400 qso's per hour may be possible one day - which would improve
> >the overall qso totals of any dx'pedition - IF this ever becomes
> >REALITY. Â  So on night two Norbert came up on FT8 dx'pedition mode -
> >first on 80m and I managed to work him fairly quickly here at VY2ZM. Â
> >Others worked him as well - as we all struggled to learn exactly how to
> >operate this new flavor of FT8.  It is a bit tricky and I invite
> >anyone reading this who may be interested to take a look - because
> >Dx'pedition mode uses special settings within WSJT-x - and one must
> >configure things exactly right - or it just does not function as one
> >might expect traditional FT8 to function in order to complete qso's. Â
> >Nearer to his SR, Norbert went to 1836 and I think he may have worked a
> >couple of NA stations - I tried but without success because I did not
> >pay close enough attention to ON4KST - and I came to 160m too late in
> >the game to have a good shot as he went into daylight on his side. Â
> >So what is going on here exactly? Â And why did I choose to make this
> >post to Topband? Â  The answer is fairly simple and stems from what I
> >observed this past summer on 6M during the Sporadic E season.  I
> >happen to like to work 6M E during the summer and was all set around
> >the end of June for what I hoped would be a great E season on 6M CW
> >into Europe.  I worked a couple of stations on CW in late June but
> >during the first or second week of July, K1JT released the production
> >version of FT8 and almost immediately everyone realized its potential
> >(particularly those in the Mid and Far Western USA) - where it was
> >immediately called a "GAME CHANGER" by K7JA and others on the Left
> >Coast. Well - it SURELY WAS A GAME CHANGER - because I did not hear a
> >single CW DX station out of Europe on 6M for the rest of the summer E
> >season after that - everyone had qsy'ed to
> >50.313 to work FT8 - because it WORKED so well on 6M - even on E skip
> >paths.  And since I did not have FT8 capability - I was TOTALLY SHUT
> >OUT and had NO 6M E season of Dx'ing - BUMMER! So how does this apply
> >to Topband?  Pls read on..... Last night was NIGHT 3 into NA on the
> >lowbands from 7Q7EI - and Norbert was back - first on 160m on 1836 from
> >about 0130z
> >- until around 0320z - again on FT8 - in dx'pedition mode.  By now,
> >most of us had downloaded the dx'pedition mode version of WSJT-x and
> >had sort of figured out how to do the parameter settings correctly - so
> >quite a few QSO's ensued. I happened to be one of the lucky ones on
> >160M - there were quite a few others. Watching my screen though (along
> >with KAZ K8KS) it was clear that K1JT still has some clean up work to
> >do to refine the dx'pedition mode software - because the promise of 300
> >qso's per hour is not yet possible - but I think the throughput rate
> >will one day improve materially.  (:Last night the throughput was SO
> >SLOW that some suggested to Norbert that he stop using dx'pedition mode
> >in favor of the more reliable current release of FT8 that is on the air
> >today.) Norbert also elected to stay on FT8 - despite many requests
> >from those constrained by CW only capability to move over to CW mode -
> >so those without FT8 basically sat on the sidelines last night watching
> >all of this transpire.  My thoughts at the time were - "Here we go
> >again!  This is 6M E season "DEJA VUE all over again - the 6M E
> >migration to Ft8 was now happening all over again - but this time on
> >160M - and it suggests a real possibility of it becoming the choice of
> >major dxpeditions going forward - meaning - FT8 is likely to be used on
> >160m far more regularly going forward and  CW mode utilized much less
> >perhaps (maybe!).  My crystal ball is no better than yours - but if
> >FT8 dx'pedition mode gets perfected by K1JT and becomes more EFFICIENT
> >one day than CW mode - you can be SURE that it will become very popular
> >and it will get used far more (at the expense of CW) by the rarer
> >Dx'peditions when they choose to QSY to Topband! You can take that to
> >the BANK! Â  At one point, Norbert who was on CHAT all night long -
> >lamented some of the comments he was seeing by others on CHAT.Â
> >Basically, while he was more than courteous, it was clear that he felt
> >like "HEY!  I am the FOX here.....I get to choose to operate whatever
> >mode I think will work - and those sitting in their comfortable chairs
> >back at home (and not sitting in the heat here on the shores of Lake
> >Malawi - really do not get to decide this.!!  Again, I am the FOX
>here.......) Â Basically, Norbert was right on here - IMHO....
> >Â  Some more observations: Â  1) Experimental FT8 qso's are not
> >completing reliably as they should - at least not yet all the time -
> >for example: Â K8KZ was clearly seeing 7Q7EI calling him on his screen
> >for at least 20 mins before the software linked up at  each end to
> >sent the RR73 message
> >- the signal that the QSO was complete. Â  And Norbert was clearly
> >"seeing" K8KS for the same 20 mins - before they linked up to finalize
> >and log the QSO.  I had similar problems on 160M when working Norbert
> >- so it is clear that K1JT has some more work to do,. But, we do have
> >to realize that this is still only a BETA/experimental release - and
> >YES - it does have some glitches and bugs yet to be ironed out. Â  But
> >it does work (after a fashion) and I am sure it will get better - and
> >WHEN IT DOES become a fully functional PRODUCTION RELEASE, I do think
> >we will witness some MAJOR operating changes going forward when working
> >future DX'peditions and even when casual dx'ing on 160M - which is
> >happening every night on 1840 today.  I am seeing Wal W8LRL most every
> >night - and am dabbling in it myself as is my XYL Miriam VY2HH - so old
> >dawgs (like
> >me) are being forced (sometimes kicking and screaming) to learn new
> >tricks. Â  One final comment: Â  This all took place on 1836 and I
> >think on 3569 down on 80m these past few nights.  Traditional FT8
> >(according to the ARRL 160m bandplan) takes place on 1840.  So I am
> >hopeful that the migration to the new mode continues to take place in
> >an orderly fashion because FT8 and CW really will not mix well - should
> >FT8 start showing up below 1830 that will cause problems  - (just my
> >opinion) - but reality I think. Â  So - I think that is the lot for
> >now.  Not much more to report
> >- but for sure - "A change is coming to Dx'ing on 160M - there is NO
> >DOUBT about it - I do not think this is a passing FAD.  "DIGI-WIGI" or
> >its other name "JINGLE BELLS" looks like it is here to stay!!! Â  73
> >JEFFÂ  K1ZM/VY2ZM Â  Â  Â  Jeff Briggs DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of
> >160 Meters Available worldwide through BookBaby, Array Solutions, DX
> >Engineering, Royal Society of Great Britain, & Amazon         Â
> >Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  Â  _________________ Topband Reflector Archives
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