Topband: FT8 on 160 - how you can make a difference

[George Taft]

 Mark etal

Using CW, I've worked DXCC on Topband for at least the past ten "seasons" including 2018/2019. But last year was the most skimpy with just 105 in the log. Peak was several years ago at 155. I use July 1 - June 30 as a "season".

Mebbe when the new mode fad settles, CW on 160 may agn be worthy.

73 George 
W8UVZ     On Sunday, August 4, 2019, 12:02:58 AM EDT, Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 Jerry

You said " Yes DX last year on 160 CW was pretty scarce" and other have
made a similar comment.

Are you referring to new ones, or just DX in general?    I worked 16 new
ones on CW last season and understand that "scarce" can be different
depending upon how many DXCC one already has worked.

73 Mark K3MSB




On Sat, Aug 3, 2019 at 8:51 PM K4SAV <RadioXX at charter.net> wrote:

> NR2DX asked: "If read your post correctly you are saying that you are
> working against an ambient noise level of 20-30 db over S9 is that
> correct.? "
>
> No.  The S9+20 to 30 dB is the S meter reading when all the FT8 stations
> are transmitting after the band opens a little.  Receiver bandwidth was
> 1.5 kHz.  Tuning to a clear frequency my noise level was about S1 with
> 200 Hz bandwidth when I made these tests.  I usually used 100 Hz
> bandwidth when measuring the signal level of the FT8 signal for
> determining his actual strength. Sometimes less if there were multiple
> signals in the passband.
>
>
> W0MU asked:  "Have you attempted to open a conversation with the
> creators of the mode and discuss what you are seeing?"
>
> No I have not.  I have also not seen any published data from anyone
> showing actual performance.  All I see are claims based on calculations.
> Theory is good but it has to agree reasonably well with actual
> measurements.  If not, one of the two is in error.
>
> Yes DX last year on 160 CW was pretty scarce.  Even when I was hearing
> S6 FT8 signals from Europe I would tune down to the CW portion of the
> band and usually there were no CW signals there.
>
> When I was doing these tests I was using WSJT-X in FT8 mode on 160
> meters.  I was using version 2.0.0, which was the latest version at the
> time.
>
> Jerry, K4SAV
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector