Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Dan Presley]

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 
n7...@arrl.net


> On Jun 25, 2019, at 08:28, Wayne Burdick  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  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
>> 
>> c...@n8vz.com
>> www.n8vz.com
>> EM89wh
>> 
>> IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
>> 
>> PSK and JT65 Forever!
>> ===
>> 
>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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
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>>> 
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to n...@qth.com
>> 
>> __
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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[aj4tf]

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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[ktalbott]

"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: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net  On 
Behalf Of Kidder, George
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 6:02 PM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

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

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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Kidder, George]

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 
> ab...@ilstu.edu]
> 
> 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, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Howard Hoyt]

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.


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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

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
  
c...@n8vz.com

www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
  
IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  
PSK and JT65 Forever!

===


On Jun 25, 2019, at 3:12 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX  wrote:

You can find the latest version {2.0.1}  of WSJT-X here: 


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
  c...@n8vz.com
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
  IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  PSK and JT65 Forever!
===


On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX  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
  c...@n8vz.com
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
  IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  PSK and JT65 Forever!
===


On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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 

Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Carl Jón Denbow]

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
 
c...@n8vz.com
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
 
IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
 
PSK and JT65 Forever!
===

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 3:12 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX  wrote:
> 
> You can find the latest version {2.0.1}  of WSJT-X here: 
> 
> 
> 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
>>  c...@n8vz.com
>> www.n8vz.com
>> EM89wh
>>  IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
>>  PSK and JT65 Forever!
>> ===
>> 
>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX  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
  c...@n8vz.com
 www.n8vz.com
 EM89wh
  IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  PSK and JT65 Forever!
 ===
 
> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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 

Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[John Oppenheimer]

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.
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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

You can find the latest version {2.0.1}  of WSJT-X here: 



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
  
c...@n8vz.com

www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
  
IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  
PSK and JT65 Forever!

===


On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX  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
  c...@n8vz.com
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
  IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  PSK and JT65 Forever!
===


On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Carl Jón Denbow]

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
 
c...@n8vz.com
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
 
IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
 
PSK and JT65 Forever!
===

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 12:48 PM, Bob McGraw K4TAX  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
>>  c...@n8vz.com
>> www.n8vz.com
>> EM89wh
>>  IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
>>  PSK and JT65 Forever!
>> ===
>> 
>>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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
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>>> 
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
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>>> Message delivered to n...@qth.com
>> __
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>> Message delivered to rmcg...@blomand.net
> 
> 
> 

Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Bill Frantz]

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, j...@audiosystemsgroup.com (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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Jim Brown]

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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Jim Brown]

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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

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
  
c...@n8vz.com

www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
  
IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
  
PSK and JT65 Forever!

===


On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Brian Waterworth]

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  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
>
> c...@n8vz.com
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
>
> IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
>
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===
>
> > On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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
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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Wayne Burdick]

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  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
> 
> c...@n8vz.com
> www.n8vz.com
> EM89wh
> 
> IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
> 
> PSK and JT65 Forever!
> ===
> 
>> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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
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>> Message delivered to n...@qth.com
> 
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Re: [Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Carl Jón Denbow]

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
 
c...@n8vz.com
www.n8vz.com
EM89wh
 
IRLP 4533   Echolink 116070
 
PSK and JT65 Forever!
===

> On Jun 25, 2019, at 9:37 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. 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
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[Elecraft] QRP FD KX2 Batteries & FT8 Report

[Peter West]

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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