[NCDXA] W3ICM on FT8

Fri Jan 27 00:48:02 UTC 2023

Nice Fred.  enjoy the button pushing.

73  Phil K3EW

On Thu, Jan 26, 2023 at 4:20 PM k0gd--- via NCDXA <ncdxa at ncdxa.org> wrote:

> Fred,
>
>
>
> Good job, Fred. I have been an equal opportunity mode operator for years.
> Without FT8 I would have missed an ATNO, FT8WW. I learned the value of
> exotic digital modes back in the 1970’s when I was on a team that designed
> the Harris RF3466 2400 baud modem for NVIS on bands near 80 meters.
>
>
>
> I still prefer CW, but last evening I worked 75 stations in the pacific
> rim on 10 meter FT8, including many JAs, and some from YB, BY, 9M6, VR, PY,
> DU, HL, XE, VK. Not bad for a short session of casual operating.
>
>
>
> Rick
>
> K0GD
>
>
>
> *From:* NCDXA <ncdxa-bounces at ncdxa.org> *On Behalf Of *Fred Matos via
> NCDXA
> *Sent:* January 26, 2023 10:31 AM
> *To:* ncdxa at ncdxa.org
> *Subject:* [NCDXA] W3ICM on FT8
>
>
>
> 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 DX spots 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 for 2022, but I procrastinated until Dec 30.  😊
>
>
>
> I began operating as soon as Rob left on Saturday afternoon.   Watched
> some YouTube videos on WSJT-X and began making QSOs.  The bands were hot
> and the QSOs came very easily.
>
>
>
> Except to learn how to use the software, I didn’t have any goals at 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 began setting goals like 50 countries confirmed on LoTW, but
> I kept increasing the goal to 70 and then 80, etc.  My final goal was DXCC
> confirmed on LoTW in seven days.
>
>
>
> I began working states when the DX slowed, with a strategy of working 7’s
> and 0’s first to get confirmation on the rarer western states like 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 the 50th in seven days.
>
>
>
> On the DX, I logged over 100 countries, maybe 110, but some like S01WS,
> TN8K, 7Q7EMH, and VR25XMT either don’t use LoTW or will upload later.   OD
> and LY QSOs on LoTW were my last confirmations 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 called at
> the same time by two China stations, an Asiatic Russian, and a European
> Russian.   Amazing!!  Never had such an experience before.
>
>
>
> I also worked D1DX and D1NVG.  Bernie said that they are Russians in the
> Donesk region of Ukraine.  They don’t count for anything.
>
>
>
> 3C3CA.  I worked him on 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 huge pileup, but I finally worked him.  He was an
> 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.  JT1CO on 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 3000 and QSL’s via the
> bureau.  Sent him an email 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 were
> ET3AA and a T88, both with huge pileups.
>
>
>
> 73 and see you at the roundtable tonight.
>
>
>
> Fred
>
> W3ICM
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> NCDXA at ncdxa.org
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>
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