FT8

General discussion topics, anything goes within the bounds of the forum rules.
M0XXQ
Posts: 484
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 10:23 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Contact:

FT8

Unread post by M0XXQ »

Found this on one of the Facebook groups UK VHF/UHF Contesting thought it was rather funny, should trigger the right people into commenting :mrgreen:
G4SWX FT8 Banter
G4SWX FT8 Banter
User avatar
M0VMT
Posts: 1005
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 10:23 pm
Location: Doncaster

Re: FT8

Unread post by M0VMT »

I hate marmite and as for ft8 not really interested in fact I don't have a pc in my shack so Digi modes are banished here, tried the usual suspects and they got boring really quick but each to their own.
M0VMT Mark
Doncaster
RSARS
Happy to be here :D
M0BVL(Silent Key)
Posts: 76
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2018 7:27 pm
Location: Sheffield
Contact:

Re: FT8

Unread post by M0BVL(Silent Key) »

I use a pc to generate a digital voice ...like Steve Hawkins did ,its great saves stressing the vocal cords :lol:
It's not broke yet ! ...just give me a minute.
M0XXQ
Posts: 484
Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2018 10:23 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Contact:

Re: FT8

Unread post by M0XXQ »

G4RRA

Re: FT8

Unread post by G4RRA »

Our esteemed VHF manager was a bit pissed at the time,it was an excellent evening though :lol:
G0JUR
Posts: 31
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2018 8:27 pm
Location: Spalding Lincolnshire.

Re: FT8

Unread post by G0JUR »

G4RRA wrote: Tue Nov 06, 2018 9:11 am Our esteemed VHF manager was a bit pissed at the time,it was an excellent evening though :lol:
I remember getting pissed with John at Sandown VHf convention 1 year, funny bloke when he,s had a few.

as for FT8, I get bored after 3 or 4 contacts so wander off and go back later (not to see what i have "worked") for another couple of contacts rinse and repeat.
G4RRA

Re: FT8

Unread post by G4RRA »

I use it on 144Mhz to see how conditions are,put a few calls out normally beaming NE/E and see whose computer has seen me,its quite surprising at times,I reckon OZ1BEFs computer sees me about 7 times out of 10 unless the band is really flat,its over 1000kms from here so a fair distance.If hes about he often comes back,its also got the advantage that everyone using it is in the same place so its easier to assess how things are.
You can get a distorted view of how good things actually are though,many times I've been decoding stations fully every period and asked them to go to CW,we normally make it but far weaker than you might expect given the FT8 strengths indicated.
Ive also noticed you can presume that stations have reporting enabled,which many don't,so often things are getting further than PSK reporter would have you believe,you find this out when you get called by someone 3 squares further on than you thought it was getting.
The downside of FT8 is it detracts from activity on the rest of the band,I find that during openings you still have to call on 144.300,and I still find stations on there that are further than those heard/seen on FT8..its getting to the point where an SDR is becoming essential if you dont want to miss anything.
I've caught John on FT8 a few times calling some exotic DX.......the lure is plainly too much :-)
Post Reply