[Elecraft] FT-8 & KH6JF/MM

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

There is currently a chance to work some really rare grids. HF Voyager 
is an ocean-going drone currently making its way from Hawaii to 
California. Its current location can be seen here. Onboard in a 
waterproof container is an Elecraft KX3 and a Raspberry Pi computer 
enabling a variety of digital modes to be used.

Onboard in a waterproof container is an Elecraft KX3 and a Raspberry Pi 
computer enabling a variety of digital modes to be used

On March 6, FT8 was enabled and the drone was in gridsquare CL51 
operating with the callsign KH6JF/mm


 From Rusty W6OAT:

"This afternoon I worked KH6JF/mm in Grid CL (we all need it).  I was 
already late for an appointment so I ran out the door as soon as I 
finished my QSO without time to call either of you on the telephone to 
alert you. I'm so sorry about that. But after I got back home tonight, I 
did some research on this station.  It turns out it is a floating, 
unmanned robotic station slowly making its way from Hawaii to 
California. I see no reason why this should not count for the Field 
Award, so you guys should be on the lookout for it.

KH6JF is operating on FT8 on 20m. Apparently it does not call CQ (edit: 
evidently it does call CQ at times), but it will respond to stations who 
call it (that's how it worked for me anyway). So if you can operate on 
FT8 mode, I suggest late afternoon our time you tune to 14074 kHz and 
just call KH6JF/mm blind and see what happens.  The robot uploads its 
log to its website (see QRZ.com <http://QRZ.com> for that link) every 
five minutes when its batteries are charged enough for it to do so, so 
you can actually check to see if your QSO is there."

Read the full story at
https://ae5x.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/hf-voyager-ocean-going-drone-with-kx3.html

Map showing track of HF Voyager
http://hfvportal.jrfarc.org/

73
Bob, K4TAX