Hello Gang
I am probably not the only one who has been paying attention lately, but I may
be the first to comment directly on what has been taking place right before our
eyes the past two nights on 1.836kHz - and its possible implications going
forward for future Dx'ing on 160m. Pls read on.
I am sure most readers of these pages are well aware of the current dx'pedition
to Malawi operating as 7Q7EI. Norbert DJ7JC has been a real trooper working
the lowbands and has had quite a bit of success doing so - so well deserved
kudos & thanks to Norbert. Norbert has managed to make quite a few NA stations
happy with a NEW ONE on Topband and we all very much appreciate his efforts -
well done Norbert - thank you!
So what I am about to comment on next IN NO WAY is an negative opinion on
Norbert - it is just an observation as to what is now occurring and its
possible implications for all of us who like to work DX on 160M!.
On or about 27 March, Norbert tried 160M CW operating on 1830kHz - in his
grayline period - and was heard by a number of stations including NO3M and me
here at VY2ZM. Others were in there too perhaps - Kaz K8KS may have been
another and a few more as well. I also heard some EU stations in there calling
among the NA stations.
About 0228z, Norbert asnwered me as UY2ZM - went QRZ a few times but QRNN on
his side prevented a legitimate qso. I heard him fine but I know he did not
copy my callsign correctly - and later he even said so over ON4KST noting "I
heard a few callers, mainly from EU but logged no NA or EU qso's on Topband -
so I went back to 80M CW as the sun came up."
The next night Norbert came on ON4KST chat and announced that he was going to
try 1836 using the new FT8 Dx'pedition mode now in beta trials following its
release by K1JT. I am told that the dx'pedition version of FT8 will also be
used experimentally by the upcoming KH1 Dx'pedition.
Dx'pedition Mode - offers some unique promise when and if it ever is fully
conceived including:
1) A shortened qso sequence using only 2 of the traditional FT8 required QSO
elements
2) The promise of simultaneous qso's between Multiple HOUNDS and the FOX (in
this example the FOX was 7Q7EI)
3) The potential, as a result, of up to 300-400 qso's per hour may be possible
one day - which would improve the overall qso totals of any dx'pedition - IF
this ever becomes REALITY.
So on night two Norbert came up on FT8 dx'pedition mode - first on 80m and I
managed to work him fairly quickly here at VY2ZM.
Others worked him as well - as we all struggled to learn exactly how to operate
this new flavor of FT8. It is a bit tricky and I invite anyone reading this
who may be interested to take a look - because Dx'pedition mode uses special
settings within WSJT-x - and one must configure things exactly right - or it
just does not function as one might expect traditional FT8 to function in order
to complete qso's.
Nearer to his SR, Norbert went to 1836 and I think he may have worked a couple
of NA stations - I tried but without success because I did not pay close enough
attention to ON4KST - and I came to 160m too late in the game to have a good
shot as he went into daylight on his side.
So what is going on here exactly? And why did I choose to make this post to
Topband?
The answer is fairly simple and stems from what I observed this past summer on
6M during the Sporadic E season. I happen to like to work 6M E during the
summer and was all set around the end of June for what I hoped would be a great
E season on 6M CW into Europe. I worked a couple of stations on CW in late
June but during the first or second week of July, K1JT released the production
version of FT8 and almost immediately everyone realized its potential
(particularly those in the Mid and Far Western USA) - where it was immediately
called a "GAME CHANGER" by K7JA and others on the Left Coast.
Well - it SURELY WAS A GAME CHANGER - because I did not hear a single CW DX
station out of Europe on 6M for the rest of the summer E season after that -
everyone had qsy'ed to 50.313 to work FT8 - because it WORKED so well on 6M -
even on E skip paths. And since I did not have FT8 capability - I was TOTALLY
SHUT OUT and had NO 6M E season of Dx'ing - BUMMER!
So how does this apply to Topband? Pls read on.....
Last night was NIGHT 3 into NA on the lowbands from 7Q7EI - and Norbert was
back - first on 160m on 1836 from about 0130z - until around 0320z - again on
FT8 - in dx'pedition mode. By now, most of us had downloaded the dx'pedition
mode version of WSJT-x and had sort of figured out how to do the parameter
settings correctly - so quite a few QSO's ensued.
I happened to be one of the lucky ones on 160M - there were quite a few others.
Watching my screen though (along with KAZ K8KS) it was clear that K1JT still
has some clean up work to do to refine the dx'pedition mode software - because
the promise of 300 qso's per hour is not yet possible - but I think the
throughput rate will one day improve materially. (:Last night the throughput
was SO SLOW that some suggested to Norbert that he stop using dx'pedition mode
in favor of the more reliable current release of FT8 that is on the air today.)
Norbert also elected to stay on FT8 - despite many requests from those
constrained by CW only capability to move over to CW mode - so those without
FT8 basically sat on the sidelines last night watching all of this transpire.
My thoughts at the time were - "Here we go again! This is 6M E season "DEJA
VUE all over again - the 6M E migration to Ft8 was now happening all over again
- but this time on 160M - and it suggests a real possibility of it becoming the
choice of major dxpeditions going forward - meaning - FT8 is likely to be used
on 160m far more regularly going forward and CW mode utilized much less
perhaps (maybe!). My crystal ball is no better than yours - but if FT8
dx'pedition mode gets perfected by K1JT and becomes more EFFICIENT one day than
CW mode - you can be SURE that it will become very popular and it will get used
far more (at the expense of CW) by the rarer Dx'peditions when they choose to
QSY to Topband!
You can take that to the BANK!
At one point, Norbert who was on CHAT all night long - lamented some of the
comments he was seeing by others on CHAT. Basically, while he was more than
courteous, it was clear that he felt like "HEY! I am the FOX here.....I get to
choose to operate whatever mode I think will work - and those sitting in their
comfortable chairs back at home (and not sitting in the heat here on the shores
of Lake Malawi - really do not get to decide this.!! Again, I am the FOX
here.......) Basically, Norbert was right on here - IMHO....
Some more observations:
1) Experimental FT8 qso's are not completing reliably as they should - at least
not yet all the time - for example: K8KZ was clearly seeing 7Q7EI calling him
on his screen for at least 20 mins before the software linked up at each end
to sent the RR73 message - the signal that the QSO was complete.
And Norbert was clearly "seeing" K8KS for the same 20 mins - before they linked
up to finalize and log the QSO. I had similar problems on 160M when working
Norbert - so it is clear that K1JT has some more work to do,. But, we do have
to realize that this is still only a BETA/experimental release - and YES - it
does have some glitches and bugs yet to be ironed out.
But it does work (after a fashion) and I am sure it will get better - and WHEN
IT DOES become a fully functional PRODUCTION RELEASE, I do think we will
witness some MAJOR operating changes going forward when working future
DX'peditions and even when casual dx'ing on 160M - which is happening every
night on 1840 today. I am seeing Wal W8LRL most every night - and am dabbling
in it myself as is my XYL Miriam VY2HH - so old dawgs (like me) are being
forced (sometimes kicking and screaming) to learn new tricks.
One final comment:
This all took place on 1836 and I think on 3569 down on 80m these past few
nights. Traditional FT8 (according to the ARRL 160m bandplan) takes place on
1840. So I am hopeful that the migration to the new mode continues to take
place in an orderly fashion because FT8 and CW really will not mix well -
should FT8 start showing up below 1830 that will cause problems - (just my
opinion) - but reality I think.
So - I think that is the lot for now. Not much more to report - but for sure -
"A change is coming to Dx'ing on 160M - there is NO DOUBT about it - I do not
think this is a passing FAD. "DIGI-WIGI" or its other name "JINGLE BELLS"
looks like it is here to stay!!!
73 JEFF K1ZM/VY2ZM
Jeff Briggs
DXing on the Edge: The Thrill of 160 Meters
Available worldwide through BookBaby, Array Solutions, DX Engineering, Royal
Society of Great Britain, & Amazon
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