Topband: Testing FST4 on 160m

[Brian Hamerski]

So far I’m impressed with the mode from here in AZ.   Worked into IL at 0100, pretty early for out west here.   Getting spots on east coast well after their sunrise.,
VK4TUX is on every day starting about 1300,   he is running at 300seconds!    Many folks (me included) have called him but I have not seen any QSOs take place. He is  not on PSK reporter, so can’t see who he decodes.   

Most people are running 60 seconds.  

FYI, CLUBLOG will not forward your FST4 QSOs to LOTW properly.    They have no plan to fix this. 

—Brian, KF6HI  


> On Feb 9, 2021, at 11:09 AM, Jim Miller <jim at jtmiller.com> wrote:
> 
> First test Feb 10, 0100z, Dial freq 1837.5. DF1500 FST4-60 for a fine tone
> freq of 1839.
> 
> R7LV on the other end.
> 
> I know this is too early for W6/7 but I'd like to get a first try without
> staying up too late.
> 
> Stay safe!
> 
> jim ab3cv
> 
> On Tue, Feb 9, 2021 at 12:53 PM Jim Miller <jim at jtmiller.com> wrote:
> 
>> I'll post any skeds for others to participate as well.
>> 
>> stay safe!
>> 
>> jim ab3cv
>> 
>> On Mon, Feb 8, 2021 at 7:51 PM Jim Miller <jim at jtmiller.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> I've been looking at FST4 as a possibility for getting some more
>>> difficult new ones on 160.
>>> 
>>> From Table 7 in
>>> https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.4.0-rc1.html#SLOW_MODES
>>> 
>>> you can see that FST4 with 60 second periods is 3db more sensitive than
>>> JT65 and 7db more sensitive than FT8.
>>> 
>>> I enjoy CW but will use FT8 when it gets the job done. But there are
>>> times when even FT8 doesn't get through.
>>> 
>>> I've used JT65 in the past but when FT8 came along everyone hopped on it.
>>> 
>>> FST4 at 60 second periods is obviously slower but has the same automation
>>> features that the newer WSJT-x modes have.
>>> 
>>> I'd like to find a partner in EU or AS who would sked with me to do some
>>> FST4 tests on 160.
>>> 
>>> Anyone?
>>> 
>>> Stay safe
>>> 
>>> jim ab3cv
>>> 
>> 
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