[NCDXA] W3ICM on FT8

[Fred Matos]

Hello DXers,
I finally modernized and got into FT8.  
Many thanks to N3HU, Rob, for setting up my WSJT-X on Saturday;and to W3IP, Mike for operating advice along the way.     I was a diehard analog guy, but there were more and more DXspots on FT8, especially the 3C3CA who only does digital modes.   The 3C3CA would be an ATNO.  So it was time to go digital.   It was actually a new year’s resolution for2022, but I procrastinated until Dec 30. 😊    I began operating as soon as Rob left on Saturdayafternoon.   Watched some YouTube videos onWSJT-X and began making QSOs.  The bands werehot and the QSOs came very easily.    Except to learn how to use the software, I didn’t have any goalsat the onset, but the DX and U.S. QSOs kept coming.  VU, HS, YB, and BX were among my first QSOs,and that was a great motivator to continue. I was having great fun.  I begansetting goals like 50 countries confirmed on LoTW, but I kept increasing the goalto 70 and then 80, etc.  My final goalwas DXCC confirmed on LoTW in seven days.     I began working states when the DX slowed, with a strategyof working 7’s and 0’s first to get confirmation on the rarer western stateslike ID, UT, NV, MT, WY, and the Dakotas.  That was going smoothly, except for WY, but I finally caught WY7AA.   The goal was WAS in seven days. But MS and NM were elusive, with NM being the50th in seven days.    On the DX, I logged over 100 countries, maybe 110, but somelike S01WS, TN8K, 7Q7EMH, and VR25XMT either don’t use LoTW or will upload later.   OD and LY QSOs on LoTW were my lastconfirmations to achieve my DXCC goal in seven days.  YB, HS, 4I, VU, BX, and BY are part of the DXCC, but places like KV4, Aruba, Bonaire, and the two St. Martins are not.       I was completing a QSO with ZP6LMR on 20 on Friday when I was calledat the same time by two China stations, an Asiatic Russian, and a EuropeanRussian.   Amazing!!  Never had such an experience before.      I also worked D1DX and D1NVG.  Bernie said that they are Russians in theDonesk region of Ukraine.  They don’tcount for anything.      3C3CA.  I worked himon 20 on Saturday afternoon after I achieved my DXCC goal.   I thought that he would have a huge pileup,but he was easy, requiring only a few calls.  It was a different story on 15 on Sunday afternoon when he had a hugepileup, but I finally worked him.  He wasan easy QSO on 10 on Monday afternoon.  He quickly uploaded to LoTW, providing my ATNO confirmation and for the Challenge on three bands.  Going digital was the only way to work him.       Worked some good DX on surprising bands and times, e.g.,VU2CPL on 10 meters at 9:00 local time.  JT1COon 17 at 8:30 EST after I got home from the Annapolis PVRC meeting.  He was an easy QSO.   UB0Y in Kyzyl and Zone 23 on 20.   Sergey’s QRZ.com page says he has a Flex 3000and QSL’s via the bureau.  Sent him anemail encouraging LoTW.  DP0GVN in Antartica on 17 was nice.      Writing this at noon Thursday.   Now have 123 confirmed on LoTW.   Logged but not yet confirmed are KV4, HZ,A6, FR, and RA2F.   My big misses wereET3AA and a T88, both with huge pileups.       73 and see you at the roundtable tonight.      Fred W3ICM 
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