Topband: CQWW 160

[Wes]

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)