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QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

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Peter West

QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
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Carl Jón Denbow

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

Peter,

I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!

73,

Carl

Sent from my iPhone
===========================
Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
17 Coventry Lane
Athens, Ohio 45701-3718

[hidden email]
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh

IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070

PSK and JT65 Forever!
===========================

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
> ______________________________________________________________
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wayne burdick

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

Administrator

Meanwhile, some CW stations were running contacts at a rate of several per minute. With no automation :)

Wayne
N6KR

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 8:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Peter,
>
> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>
> 73,
>
> Carl
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ===========================
> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
> 17 Coventry Lane
> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>
> [hidden email]
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
>
> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===========================
>
>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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ve3ibw

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Carl Jón Denbow

Hi Carl,

One of our club stations (6m) wanted to operate FT8. I asked him to
install wsjt-x before coming onsite. I then configured wsjtx-x for him.
It took less than 30s to do that. Wsjt-x has an ARRL field day mode with
an entry field to add in your exchange. Click click click and you’re
done. It is very simple and wsjtx handles the cadence and the FD exchange
like a boss. Wsjtx seemed to handle most situations and made operating a
joy. It also gave me an opportunity to teach other hams and visitors how
to operate FT8 using wsjt-x because of its ease.

I used also wsjtx for my digital station as paired with a KX3. I used the
KX3 with solar power to gain a 100 point bonus. The KX3 was a champ.
Handled the voltage variances from the panel by automatically reducing
power from 10w down to 5w when the voltage wasn't quite enough for 10w.

Regards
Brian
VE3IBW

On Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 8:27 AM Carl Jón Denbow <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Peter,
>
> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post
> where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and
> complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8
> programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow
> enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no
> sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8
> for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>
> 73,
>
> Carl
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ===========================
> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
> 17 Coventry Lane
> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>
> [hidden email]
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
>
> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===========================
>
> > On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B
> with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery
> pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a
> north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad
> here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to
> FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP
> contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to
> the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts
> and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop
> reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see
> if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I
> started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had
> initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered
> that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100
> watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a
> suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency
> button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m
> only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a
> lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not
> so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed
> and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are
> largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh).
> Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some
> thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All
> in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future
> propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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Regards,
Brian
VE3IBW

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Carl Jón Denbow

The WSJT-X software does have a provision for the correct Field Day
exchange found under the Advanced tab.   I worked several stations on
FT-8 and also on FT-4 with the latest version.    Most activity was on
FT-8 of which a lot was found on 6M.   There are a few issues with RC-7
for FT-4. These are noted on the release page.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 6/25/2019 10:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:

> Peter,
>
> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>
> 73,
>
> Carl
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ===========================
> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
> 17 Coventry Lane
> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>
> [hidden email]
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
>
> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===========================
>
>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jim Brown-10

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Carl Jón Denbow

On 6/25/2019 8:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange?

Simple. Read the WSJT-X online manual! There's a setup option on the
Advanced tab specifically for FD.

73, Jim K9YC

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Jim Brown-10

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Peter West

On 6/25/2019 6:37 AM, Peter West wrote:
> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch.

FWIW, that puts you in 1E, not 1B.

73, Jim K9YC

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Bill Frantz

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

Interesting question. He reports:

>When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best.

It sounds like he was not depending on any of the home station
infrastructure e.g. antennas, so I think that he was in class
1B, one or two person portable or even perhaps 1Bb if he was
battery QRP. YMMV.

But see also: 6.9. Batteries may be charged while in use. Except
for Class D stations, the batteries must be charged from a power
source other than commercial power mains. To claim the power
multiplier of five, the batteries must be charged from something
other than a motor driven generator or commercial mains.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 6/25/19 at 11:20 AM, [hidden email] (Jim Brown) wrote:

>On 6/25/2019 6:37 AM, Peter West wrote:
>>When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty
>KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch.
>
>FWIW, that puts you in 1E, not 1B.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | Government is not reason, it is not
eloquence, it is force; like
408-356-8506 | a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful
master. Never for a
www.pwpconsult.com | moment should it be left to irresponsible
action. Geo Washington

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Carl Jón Denbow

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Thanks, Gentlemen. I guess I must not have the latest version of WSJT-X, or I somehow missed that feature. I do have a 2.x version. I wish I had known about that because I was running a low power 1B station on SSB with a very compromised antenna system and would have done much better on FT8. Maybe I can try it out for Winter FD.

When I read that thread about all the hoops those guys were going through it discouraged me from pursuing that option. I’m kind of angry at myself at this point for not pursuing it more diligently!

73,

Carl

Sent from my iPhone
===========================
Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
17 Coventry Lane
Athens, Ohio 45701-3718

[hidden email]
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh

IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070

PSK and JT65 Forever!
===========================

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> The WSJT-X software does have a provision for the correct Field Day exchange found under the Advanced tab. I worked several stations on FT-8 and also on FT-4 with the latest version. Most activity was on FT-8 of which a lot was found on 6M. There are a few issues with RC-7 for FT-4. These are noted on the release page.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>> On 6/25/2019 10:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
>> Peter,
>>
>> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Carl
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ===========================
>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>> 17 Coventry Lane
>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>> [hidden email]
>> www.n8vz.com
>> EM89wh
>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>> ===========================
>>
>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

You can find the latest version {2.0.1} of WSJT-X here:
<https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>

https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/
<https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
<https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>

Also you can find version 2.1.0-RC-7 at the same site. It is / has the
FT-4 contesting mode. This mode runs 15 second intervals where FT-8
runs 30 second intervals.

Be sure and read the manual regarding installation and operation of each
one as they are a wee bit different. I have and used versions both
during Field Day. Very easy to install and operate.

73
Bob, K4TAX

On 6/25/2019 1:56 PM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:

> Thanks, Gentlemen. I guess I must not have the latest version of WSJT-X, or I somehow missed that feature. I do have a 2.x version. I wish I had known about that because I was running a low power 1B station on SSB with a very compromised antenna system and would have done much better on FT8. Maybe I can try it out for Winter FD.
>
> When I read that thread about all the hoops those guys were going through it discouraged me from pursuing that option. I’m kind of angry at myself at this point for not pursuing it more diligently!
>
> 73,
>
> Carl
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ===========================
> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
> 17 Coventry Lane
> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>
> [hidden email]
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
>
> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===========================
>
>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> The WSJT-X software does have a provision for the correct Field Day exchange found under the Advanced tab. I worked several stations on FT-8 and also on FT-4 with the latest version. Most activity was on FT-8 of which a lot was found on 6M. There are a few issues with RC-7 for FT-4. These are noted on the release page.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>> On 6/25/2019 10:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
>>> Peter,
>>>
>>> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Carl
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> ===========================
>>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>>> 17 Coventry Lane
>>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>>> [hidden email]
>>> www.n8vz.com
>>> EM89wh
>>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>>> ===========================
>>>
>>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

John Oppenheimer

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Bill Frantz

Covered in ARRL FD FAQ:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019-FD-FAQ-RevA.pdf

convenient backyard operations on property of home stations remain
either Class D (commercial power) or Class E (emergency power), even if
home antenna structures are not used

John KN5L

On 6/25/19 1:52 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:
> Interesting question. He reports:
>
>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best.
> It sounds like he was not depending on any of the home station
> infrastructure e.g. antennas, so I think that he was in class
> 1B, one or two person portable or even perhaps 1Bb if he was
> battery QRP. YMMV.
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Message delivered to [hidden email]

Carl-N8VZ

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Thanks, Bob. Useful information on the current releases.

I believe you meant to say that FT8 is 15 seconds between overs and FT4 is about 8 seconds. At least that’s what Joe Taylor K1JT said at the Flex Radio Banquet was the plan for FT4. Sounds like an exciting contest mode.

73,

Carl

Sent from my iPhone
===========================
Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
17 Coventry Lane
Athens, Ohio 45701-3718

[hidden email]
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh

IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070

PSK and JT65 Forever!
===========================

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 3:12 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> You can find the latest version {2.0.1} of WSJT-X here: <https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
>
> https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/ <https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
> <https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
>
> Also you can find version 2.1.0-RC-7 at the same site. It is / has the FT-4 contesting mode. This mode runs 15 second intervals where FT-8 runs 30 second intervals.
>
> Be sure and read the manual regarding installation and operation of each one as they are a wee bit different. I have and used versions both during Field Day. Very easy to install and operate.
>
> 73
> Bob, K4TAX
>
>
>
>> On 6/25/2019 1:56 PM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
>> Thanks, Gentlemen. I guess I must not have the latest version of WSJT-X, or I somehow missed that feature. I do have a 2.x version. I wish I had known about that because I was running a low power 1B station on SSB with a very compromised antenna system and would have done much better on FT8. Maybe I can try it out for Winter FD.
>>
>> When I read that thread about all the hoops those guys were going through it discouraged me from pursuing that option. I’m kind of angry at myself at this point for not pursuing it more diligently!
>> 73,
>>
>> Carl
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ===========================
>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>> 17 Coventry Lane
>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>> [hidden email]
>> www.n8vz.com
>> EM89wh
>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>> ===========================
>>
>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> The WSJT-X software does have a provision for the correct Field Day exchange found under the Advanced tab. I worked several stations on FT-8 and also on FT-4 with the latest version. Most activity was on FT-8 of which a lot was found on 6M. There are a few issues with RC-7 for FT-4. These are noted on the release page.
>>>
>>> 73
>>>
>>> Bob, K4TAX
>>>
>>>> On 6/25/2019 10:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
>>>> Peter,
>>>>
>>>> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>>
>>>> Carl
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> ===========================
>>>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>>>> 17 Coventry Lane
>>>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>>>> [hidden email]
>>>> www.n8vz.com
>>>> EM89wh
>>>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>>>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>>>> ===========================
>>>>
>>>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>>
>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

One FT-8 cycle is 15 seconds transmit, 15 seconds receive. I construe
that to be one cycle. FT-4 is 7.5 seconds transmit, and 7.5 seconds
receive. Perhaps I shouldn't have used the word "cycle" terminology.

I found a good bit of FT-8 and FT-4 activity on 6M during FD.

73

Bob, K4TAX

On 6/25/2019 2:30 PM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:

> Thanks, Bob. Useful information on the current releases.
>
> I believe you meant to say that FT8 is 15 seconds between overs and FT4 is about 8 seconds. At least that’s what Joe Taylor K1JT said at the Flex Radio Banquet was the plan for FT4. Sounds like an exciting contest mode.
>
> 73,
>
> Carl
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ===========================
> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
> 17 Coventry Lane
> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>
> [hidden email]
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
>
> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===========================
>
>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 3:12 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> You can find the latest version {2.0.1} of WSJT-X here: <https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
>>
>> https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/ <https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
>> <https://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>
>>
>> Also you can find version 2.1.0-RC-7 at the same site. It is / has the FT-4 contesting mode. This mode runs 15 second intervals where FT-8 runs 30 second intervals.
>>
>> Be sure and read the manual regarding installation and operation of each one as they are a wee bit different. I have and used versions both during Field Day. Very easy to install and operate.
>>
>> 73
>> Bob, K4TAX
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 6/25/2019 1:56 PM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
>>> Thanks, Gentlemen. I guess I must not have the latest version of WSJT-X, or I somehow missed that feature. I do have a 2.x version. I wish I had known about that because I was running a low power 1B station on SSB with a very compromised antenna system and would have done much better on FT8. Maybe I can try it out for Winter FD.
>>>
>>> When I read that thread about all the hoops those guys were going through it discouraged me from pursuing that option. I’m kind of angry at myself at this point for not pursuing it more diligently!
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Carl
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> ===========================
>>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>>> 17 Coventry Lane
>>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>>> [hidden email]
>>> www.n8vz.com
>>> EM89wh
>>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>>> ===========================
>>>
>>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The WSJT-X software does have a provision for the correct Field Day exchange found under the Advanced tab. I worked several stations on FT-8 and also on FT-4 with the latest version. Most activity was on FT-8 of which a lot was found on 6M. There are a few issues with RC-7 for FT-4. These are noted on the release page.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>>
>>>> Bob, K4TAX
>>>>
>>>>> On 6/25/2019 10:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow wrote:
>>>>> Peter,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>>>>>
>>>>> 73,
>>>>>
>>>>> Carl
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> ===========================
>>>>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>>>>> 17 Coventry Lane
>>>>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>>>>> [hidden email]
>>>>> www.n8vz.com
>>>>> EM89wh
>>>>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>>>>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>>>>> ===========================
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>>
>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>>
>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

hhoyt

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Peter West

Peter,

You can get significantly more key-down time or run more FT8 power if you install our Kx22 heatsink:
(https://proaudioeng.com/pae-kx22-heatsink-elecraft-kx2/). With the heatsink installed the rig still fits all of the cases Elecraft sells for the KX2. Running 5 watts FT8 is usually productive, but this past weekend here in NC our propagation was terrible for FD, seemingly worse that that for the west coast...

Cheers & 73,
Howie / WA4PSC

Peter West wrote:
>>I was forced to run QRP (which isn't an issue as I am primarily a
>>QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to
>>overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Message delivered to [hidden email]

Kidder, George

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Bill Frantz

This would seem to be "from the horse's mouth"
Sorry about the formatting as copied from the PDF file - George, W3HBM

From: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019-FD-FAQ-RevA.pdf

Q. We don’t have an area club, but we do have a small group of area hams
(generally two or three of us get together for
operating events). I have a l
arge
-deep
property, and w
e will be setting up in my back yard.
What Class would we be
?
Class A, Class B or ?
A. Convenient access across one’s backyard to their home station
facilities is not in keeping with the spirit of Class A or C
lass B
portable operations. Such convenient backyard operations on property of
home stations remain either Class D (commercial power)
or Class E (emergency power), even if home antenna structures are not
used. If the station will be a ‘good hike’ away from a hom
e
station (
eg, at the rear of a several acre lot, or perhaps operating from a
farmers field down the road) -
clearly away from home
conveniences (away from home utilities, or home restrooms/bedrooms, or
even eating
facilities/refrigerator/kitchen)
- then Class A
(3 or more pers
ons portable) or Class B (1 or 2 person portable) is appropriate.

On 6/25/2019 2:52 PM, Bill Frantz wrote:

> [This message came from an external source. If suspicious, report to
> [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>]
>
> Interesting question. He reports:
>
>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up
>> 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2
>> battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’
>> in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were
>> pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best.
>
> It sounds like he was not depending on any of the home station
> infrastructure e.g. antennas, so I think that he was in class
> 1B, one or two person portable or even perhaps 1Bb if he was
> battery QRP. YMMV.
>
> But see also: 6.9. Batteries may be charged while in use. Except
> for Class D stations, the batteries must be charged from a power
> source other than commercial power mains. To claim the power
> multiplier of five, the batteries must be charged from something
> other than a motor driven generator or commercial mains.
>
> 73 Bill AE6JV
>
> On 6/25/19 at 11:20 AM, [hidden email] (Jim Brown) wrote:
>
>> On 6/25/2019 6:37 AM, Peter West wrote:
>>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up
>>> 1B with my trusty
>> KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my
>> back porch.
>>
>> FWIW, that puts you in 1E, not 1B.
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Bill Frantz | Government is not reason, it is not
> eloquence, it is force; like
> 408-356-8506 | a fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful
> master. Never for a
> www.pwpconsult.com | moment should it be left to irresponsible
> action. Geo Washington
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

ktalbott

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

"good hike away ... from home conveniences (... restrooms ..
Kitchen ...)"
Rather ambiguous. So, if you can't shout at wife to bring you a beer, it's far enough? My living room fits that description. I'm on 80 acres, and since my hiking days are over, I have several favorite spots to which I can drive and operate primitively. Now if I could only get SOTA or POTA numbers assigned to each ......
Ken ke4rg
-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Kidder, George
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 6:02 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

This would seem to be "from the horse's mouth"
<snip>

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aj4tf

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by Bob McGraw - K4TAX

Bob, I'm curious how you got the RC version to work during Field Day
weekend; did you fake the date?

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Dan Presley

Re: QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Yes we were running about that rate on cw up here in Oregon. 4A 5w on our KX3s. Some of the visiting new hams had never seen real cw with a paddle (!) in action. We had 3 antennas-ZL special,2 element 40m wire beam and a rhombic switchable open/closed loop for either 20 or 80. They were all strung on a 550 ‘catenary ‘ line at about 75 feet between pine trees. I love holding a frequency with 5W :). And-no interference between the KX3s-not so the other brands that occasionally showed up. Call W7LT

Dan Presley 503-701-3871
danpresley@me. com
[hidden email]

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 08:28, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Meanwhile, some CW stations were running contacts at a rate of several per minute. With no automation :)
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 8:25 AM, Carl Jón Denbow <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Peter,
>>
>> I am curious how you got FT8 to do the proper FD exchange? I read a post where some hams were discussing this and it sounded very difficult and complex, so I decided against trying it. One guy actually had two FT8 programs running simultaneously, with one connected to HRD, which somehow enabled him to do the proper exchange. His description made absolutely no sense to me, so though I’m an experienced FT8 op, I decided to forgo FT8 for this FD. I’m curious how you accomplished this feat!
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Carl
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> ===========================
>> Carl Jón Denbow, N8VZ
>> 17 Coventry Lane
>> Athens, Ohio 45701-3718
>>
>> [hidden email]
>> www.n8vz.com
>> EM89wh
>>
>> IRLP 4533 Echolink 116070
>>
>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>> ===========================
>>
>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 AM, Peter West <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> When our club’s plans for FD fell through at the last minute I set up 1B with my trusty KX-2 with a Bioenno battery and two internal KX2 battery pacs on my back porch. Got a Par 40-20-10 end-fed up about 40’ in a north-south orientation only to find band conditions here were pretty bad here in the north with QRN, QSB and faint signals at best. So switched to FT-8. I was forced to run QRP (which isn’t an issue as I am primarily a QRP contester anyway) as anything over 5 watts caused the rig to overheat to the point of automatically reducing power to 5 watts. Had WSJT, JT Alerts and even N1MM all cooperating and auto logging so all I had to do was stop reading the newspaper and occasionally glance over to the computer to see if I had worked anybody since the last time I clicked on a callsign. Then I started to notice my setup wasn’t completing a lot of calls which I had initiated. I started to pay more attention to the screen and discovered that it appeared to me that my signal was getting swamped out by QRO (100 watts or more on FD) signals which I couldn’t readily detect. At a suggestion from the FT8 FB group switched on the hold-my-transmit-frequency button. On CW my rates aren’t much different from QRP to 100 watts as I’m only 2 S-units down and aggressive operating skills can compensate for a lot of differences in power and I can deal with QRM I can hear and see. Not so on FT-8. I am rebuilding my contest station and only have the end-fed and an HF-2 vertical up right now and know that better results on QRP are largely antenna and location dependent (oh to live on a saltwater marsh). Running FT8 with the KX-2 on FD was an education and I’ve got to do some thinking about how to improve my chances if I decide to try this again. All in all great fun with some learning but can’t wait for more future propagation. Maybe I should by the Elecraft amp LOL.
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