Straw in the Wind 160m DXing Sea Change is Upon us!
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?
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