Β My 2.5W to the horizontal low dipole was turned on at about 0812z. The usual "watering hole"Β for both FT8 and WSPR is 40.680 MHz USB dial. If you set your receiver here you will catch most of the activity.
UPDATEΒ 0951z: G0KTN (211km) has at last spotted me. Pretty sure he has been trying for some time. Not sure if he has a better antenna, higher antenna, more sensitive RX or if conditions were up. Also spotting me was EI3KF (574km).
UPDATE 1000z:Β It would appear that every time I try 8m QRP FT8, I get spotted by several stations. If I get spotted with my very tiny power (2.5W) and low dipole then imagine the results with 50W and a beam. ThereΒ have been some amazing 10mW FT8 QSOs. Under ISM rules many countries can TX on the bandΒ Β without a special permit or even a licence. Check what the rules are in your country.
Stations spotting my 8m FT8 today
UPDATE 1817z:Β No further spots on TX. Slovenia spotted on 8m FT8 RX.
Based on the last few days, it would appear 8m conditions are improving. F2 propagation is getting better, and more frequent.Β
Yesterday, my 8m FT8 2.5W to a low dipole was spotted across the Atlantic by 2 stations. We can expectΒ 8m F2 propagation to be good at this time of year with high sunspot numbers.
To the west of us, there has been some widespread flooding. We have avoided it over here thankfully. One of my friends on 365project posted this photo of her local park flooded and closed.