[Elecraft] FT 8

[Bill Frantz]

I guess I'm just impure in my ham radio operation. Today I 
helped the local ARES/RACES group test communications between a 
possible repeater site and various places in town operating my 
HT between .1 and 5 watts. Then I went home an fought through a 
pileup for XR0YD on 40M CW using 850 watts using only the K3's 
memories. Then I got on FT8 at 100W to try to contact a friend 
who was in Honduras, but no joy.

When I was lucky enough to contact VE2XK on 6M FT8 New Years 
Eve, I used the K3, 100W and my 160M dipole. He came in at -07 
dB and received me at -15 dB, FN06 to CM97. Machine generated 
signal reports take a lot of the guess work out of how well 
you're getting out.

I found FT8 to be ideal for when I was recovering from cancer 
therapy. I had no energy and the automatic operation let me be 
on the air and have some fun. I'm glad my health is back to a 
state where I have the energy to work a contest.

When my wife and I bought a new Subaru Forester, our principle 
requirement was a manual transmission. Our 1993 Miata has 300K+ 
miles and a manual transmission.

Tomorrow, I plan to get out the straight key and try not 
embarrass myself too much when I try to check into the CW net. 
With luck, my schedule and the contest will let me try to check 
into the SSB net. I don't know how much power I'll run for those checkins.

I think my weakest signal situation was when I was activation 
Kings County for the California QSO party. I had my 10W K3 
operating into a Little Tarheel screwdriver antenna on my car 
operating out of a model parking lot. I made a few 80M SSB QSOs, 
but every one of the operators I managed to complete a contact 
with said something like, "You're way down in the noise, but 
we'll make it work." Many thanks to them.

Ham radio is a wonderful hobby, and there are many ways to enjoy it.

73 Bill AE6JV

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Bill Frantz        | Security is like Government  | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506      | services. The market doesn't | 16345 
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them.        | Los Gatos, 
CA 95032