Kudos for asking your questions the way you did to ensure you got the answers viewers could understand, very well thought out👍 Tom has helped so many with his sota blogs attached to each summit reference 👍
I've used FT8 when I wasn't having any luck with SSB doing POTA. I am looking forward to trying my first SOTA activation and will bring my gear for Ft8 w/ me just in case. My FT8 gear is pretty light. It's a Raspberry Pi with a small touch screen and a Digirig with a GPS dongle for time. Thanks for the video. 73 de W6OBB
Im returning to the hobby and FT8 is new to me, I hope to be able to give it a whirl through my KF5INZ Easy Digi, i pad and IC703 from a beach soon! Great vid! Thanks for posting! M6ECG 73
I spent my second try of ft8 thinking there was a bad propagation until I realize the time wasn't on sync between the radio and the laptop. In my firts attempt I dint have a ferrite arround my usb cable. Nice video.
I would love to get in to FT8 in the future with my Icom as I don't go out about much I have disabilities I've passed my Ham January this year I spent most of the time on HF very little on 2m and 70cm so yes FT8 is ideal for me I will keep looking on UA-cam on net how to set up ft8 on Icom. Great video
Thanks for the video Richard.A point I noticed when starting meteor scatter in 2m was the need for an accurate clock to produce good decodes,this is the same for ft8.I use dimension 4 which automatically synchs the clock.
I've operated /P with FT8 since it started. I've found the best way to synchronise the clock is to use BktTimeSync by IZ2BKT. You can use an internet connection if you have one but I usually use a small GPS receiver with the Windows laptop or tablet to get a very accurate time reference.
A limitation of my Windows 10 tablet is that it has only one USB socket in total - so I can't even supply power to it while operating let alone connect a GPS. I could perhaps find a solution with a Y-adaptor but these vary in quality & reliability, and overall it's much easier - and faster just to manually set the tablet clock just after I power it up and just before I launch WSJT-X.
Nice video. I would agree. FT8 for SOTA is only easy to those that have never done it (like much of the rest of SOTA for that matter). Keep up the good work.
Great video. Thanks Richard & Tom. Been meaning to try FT8 SOTA or QRP/P for while. I don't understand the claim that FT8 is cheating. It is 2 way communications. Also, it will tend to mean carrying more kit (=weight) up a summit. So, FT8 SOTA ops have gone the extra mile (or kilogram) in my book :-).
Thanks Richard, great video I'm building up a Raspberry Pi to use in the field and want to include FT8 as I have never tried it so will be interesting.
First off I love your relatively easy access to SOTA sites. Although I’m surrounded by mountains, few meet the stringent SOTA regulations. I’ve enjoyed using FT8 but for the past year I’ve been running JS8CALL With it’s texting capabilities it should work well for the SOTA activators. I’d like to see Richard give it a try. VO1OK
What I am interested in seeing how and where you put POTA and the park number in so you have a proper exchange. Let's say you did a p2p how would that look and could you do it and if so, how? I'm pretty much setup for portable ft8 but don't know how to set up the exchange information.
Richard, really appreciate your idea for youtube. enjoyed the FT8 vid. I would have liked to see a couple of live QSOs. Thanks for all you put into Ham Radio. 73 G7OGX
Just FYI, you can manually sync the time on your computer by going to WWV/WWVH or one of the many time/frequency standards available on various bands in various countries and just manually set it that way yourself. No need to figure out how to get the GPS signal into your computer to force it to sync that way. You shouldn’t have a delta-T of more than 0.1 or 0.2 seconds syncing manually by listening to the time signal and syncing that way. Think smarter - not harder.
Planning to try a SOTA FT8 activation in the near future. Can you advise if the CQ message you put out for SOTA is different to the standard CQ FT8 message (ie. do you have to identify it's a SOTA CQ). If so, how do you precis the rest of the limited message you would normally put out for an FT8 CQ call ? Thanks
Which specific model of Acer Iconia tablet is this? There seems to be several different ones and I haven't found one that comes with Win 10 - there is info on the web to suggest that you can install Win 10 on some, but that voids the warrantee
Several questions: Given the choice, KX2 or 818? I am unable to choose Is the sound card used here better then a signalink, I ask because many videos quote the signalink as being noisy, but none give reference to a better alternative. Thanks
What about the choice of radio, I believe you use a 817, but given a free choice? I had also looked at the minion mini transceiver but am drowning in choices
Hi Richard, love FT8, been operating FT8 since it came out. What type or brand tablet are you using for your set-up. Need something small like that to use with my Elecraft KX2 for portable operation. Look forward to seeing more of your videos. 73 from Arizona, USA ..
Nice video, but not really comfortable operating. I've been trying digital modes /p but don't like to plug in all the cables. You're tied to be close to the radio. I'm busy to build a system via bluetooth. CAT/audio/GPS time all wireless. It gives you a lot of freedom since you can sit comfortable within 10m from the radio. Actually you can leave the radio and battery in a bag like this....
Kudos for asking your questions the way you did to ensure you got the answers viewers could understand, very well thought out👍 Tom has helped so many with his sota blogs attached to each summit reference 👍
I've used FT8 when I wasn't having any luck with SSB doing POTA. I am looking forward to trying my first SOTA activation and will bring my gear for Ft8 w/ me just in case. My FT8 gear is pretty light. It's a Raspberry Pi with a small touch screen and a Digirig with a GPS dongle for time. Thanks for the video. 73 de W6OBB
Im returning to the hobby and FT8 is new to me, I hope to be able to give it a whirl through my KF5INZ Easy Digi, i pad and IC703 from a beach soon! Great vid! Thanks for posting! M6ECG 73
I spent my second try of ft8 thinking there was a bad propagation until I realize the time wasn't on sync between the radio and the laptop. In my firts attempt I dint have a ferrite arround my usb cable. Nice video.
A very Interesting and informative video Richard. I have avoided FT8 up to this point but now I shall try it.
Yes - if FT8 is your thing, why not?
I would love to get in to FT8 in the future with my Icom as I don't go out about much I have disabilities I've passed my Ham January this year I spent most of the time on HF very little on 2m and 70cm so yes FT8 is ideal for me I will keep looking on UA-cam on net how to set up ft8 on Icom. Great video
Thanks for the video Richard.A point I noticed when starting meteor scatter in 2m was the need for an accurate clock to produce good decodes,this is the same for ft8.I use dimension 4 which automatically synchs the clock.
Good timing is essential for all these modes.
I can’t understand why the time set is being done manually, when there are many free time setting softwares out there. It isn’t difficult
Which software do you suggest?
Richard Newstead I’ve been using Dimension 4 for years without any problems,there are of course others
@@dxscotland5901 How well does it work in a portable situation with no internet connection?
I've operated /P with FT8 since it started. I've found the best way to synchronise the clock is to use BktTimeSync by IZ2BKT. You can use an internet connection if you have one but I usually use a small GPS receiver with the Windows laptop or tablet to get a very accurate time reference.
Took me a bit to find a server that worked, but I'm all set now...Thanks!
Any solution based on the internet is prone to fail in the field but a standalone GPS solution sounds good.
A limitation of my Windows 10 tablet is that it has only one USB socket in total - so I can't even supply power to it while operating let alone connect a GPS. I could perhaps find a solution with a Y-adaptor but these vary in quality & reliability, and overall it's much easier - and faster just to manually set the tablet clock just after I power it up and just before I launch WSJT-X.
Nice portable station and very nice interview.
Thanks. The sound quality needs work though!
Nice video. I would agree. FT8 for SOTA is only easy to those that have never done it (like much of the rest of SOTA for that matter). Keep up the good work.
...lots of armchair experts about!
If all else fails, there's always continuous wave mode....my favorite /K6SDW
Great video. Thanks Richard & Tom. Been meaning to try FT8 SOTA or QRP/P for while. I don't understand the claim that FT8 is cheating. It is 2 way communications. Also, it will tend to mean carrying more kit (=weight) up a summit. So, FT8 SOTA ops have gone the extra mile (or kilogram) in my book :-).
FT8 in the field is far from simple. I will stick to legacy modes I think.
Thanks Richard, great video I'm building up a Raspberry Pi to use in the field and want to include FT8 as I have never tried it so will be interesting.
Sounds good. I hope that it works well.
First off I love your relatively easy access to SOTA sites. Although I’m surrounded by mountains, few meet the stringent SOTA regulations. I’ve enjoyed using FT8 but for the past year I’ve been running JS8CALL With it’s texting capabilities it should work well for the SOTA activators. I’d like to see Richard give it a try. VO1OK
I have used JS8CALL from home but I'm not so keen on data in the field myself - sorry!
Richard Newstead I use it when the bands seem dead.
What I am interested in seeing how and where you put POTA and the park number in so you have a proper exchange. Let's say you did a p2p how would that look and could you do it and if so, how? I'm pretty much setup for portable ft8 but don't know how to set up the exchange information.
Hi Bruce, I'm not knowledgable on that side of things. Maybe I will ask a friend to do a video on it sometime. 73!
thank you.
See you on FT8 & THX for sharing GOOD SOTA Video., 73 Farid VR2UNG/PQRP AS006
Richard, really appreciate your idea for youtube. enjoyed the FT8 vid. I would have liked to see a couple of live QSOs. Thanks for all you put into Ham Radio. 73 G7OGX
Thanks. The QSO's are largely automatic - not much to see really!
@@g3cwi_Radio_Adventures just curious as to what he picked up. I've been using FT8 for nearly a year now, nosy I suppose hi have a cool yule! 73
Just FYI, you can manually sync the time on your computer by going to WWV/WWVH or one of the many time/frequency standards available on various bands in various countries and just manually set it that way yourself. No need to figure out how to get the GPS signal into your computer to force it to sync that way. You shouldn’t have a delta-T of more than 0.1 or 0.2 seconds syncing manually by listening to the time signal and syncing that way.
Think smarter - not harder.
I use WSJT software on Raspberry Pi, PC and Mac, so I could try FT8 too!
Give it a go!
Planning to try a SOTA FT8 activation in the near future. Can you advise if the CQ message you put out for SOTA is different to the standard CQ FT8 message (ie. do you have to identify it's a SOTA CQ). If so, how do you precis the rest of the limited message you would normally put out for an FT8 CQ call ? Thanks
Suggest you email Tom M1EYP or ask on the SOTA Reflector. I don't know the answer myself.
Have not tried FT8 yet.
What do you do when you don't have a summit to activate? I live in Holland now.
There are summits in the Netherlands and the surrounding countries. But you don’t have to be on a summit to enjoy portable operating! Have fun.
Great video!
Thanks.
Hi Richard. Can you ask Tom how he sets the format and macros up and the order he sends the SOTA data during a qso please ?
I suggest contacting him direct to ask: reflector.sota.org.uk/t/ft8-video/21676
reflector.sota.org.uk/t/cept-and-ft8-operating-procedure/20144/2
Which specific model of Acer Iconia tablet is this? There seems to be several different ones and I haven't found one that comes with Win 10 - there is info on the web to suggest that you can install Win 10 on some, but that voids the warrantee
Best to ask Tom for the details.
nice info
Thanks.
I think this guy would love a gps chip to set his clock
FT8….. Going down the dark side to the the new “video game” for hams. 🤣🤣🤣
Several questions:
Given the choice, KX2 or 818? I am unable to choose
Is the sound card used here better then a signalink, I ask because many videos quote the signalink as being noisy, but none give reference to a better alternative.
Thanks
I don't know the answer to that one - sorry!
What about the choice of radio, I believe you use a 817, but given a free choice?
I had also looked at the minion mini transceiver but am drowning in choices
Andrew 2E1HSU,
I know that FT8 is a low power mode, what power was you using? I presume not more than 2.5w running off the battery.
5 Watts
Hi Richard, love FT8, been operating FT8 since it came out. What type or brand tablet are you using for your set-up. Need something small like that to use with my Elecraft KX2 for portable operation. Look forward to seeing more of your videos. 73 from Arizona, USA ..
Hi Norm - set-up details are in the videp description.
So.. soundcard, but not CAT cable? Care to expand on that just a little?
No CAT. Interface does switching. 817 set to DIG mode
Will this mean that digital ham radio can be tracked just like GPS in mobile phones that have WiFi access?
Yes
Good job on the video.. What is the antenna?
30m GP. All the main items used are listed in the video description.
Nice video, but not really comfortable operating. I've been trying digital modes /p but don't like to plug in all the cables. You're tied to be close to the radio. I'm busy to build a system via bluetooth. CAT/audio/GPS time all wireless. It gives you a lot of freedom since you can sit comfortable within 10m from the radio. Actually you can leave the radio and battery in a bag like this....
It works for Tom but there are certainly other options.
Whats the iOS software you used ?
Windows - not iOS
Nice video. 73 de VK6HIL
Thanks!
should be in A field!
"In the field" works perfectly well thanks.
Great video! And hats off to all the hill toppers and chasers. But FT8 IS cheating! G6AD said that :-)
...hmm.
"But FT8 IS cheating!"... Not according to SOTA rules it's not. I think you missed the vital suffix "...in my opinion".
Nothing FT8 for Android ? Tnx 73 de IW2HTZ
Not sure - sorry.