First FT8 Contact to China

[@louisreeves709]

Congrats I saw you on there that nite and tried to work you but I don’t think you could hear me! I also finally got China the bands are alive this year !

[@n4hnhradio]

We might have been too close for 15m at night. Maybe I can get you into my log next time. 73, de N4HNH

[@kaydenchristensen5011]

So many cool tricks I’ve Leeann’s on your videos for these digital modes

[@n4hnhradio]

I'm glad to help, Kayden. You are a ham's ham. 73, Doug

[@calthomas3]

Congrats on China - I am with you for 2 months with new FTDX10 using a 40M double bazooka w/3rd harmonic usable at about 2.2:1 so it is compromised, I heard china this morning for first time, and pakistan and Thailand. Have worked kuwait , malawi and Kenya as AF now being heard. 15M is white hot.(am currently an FT8 guy for now) cheers and thanx for your videos -loved bld mtn clip too.

[@n4hnhradio]

Thanks, Cal! 2.2:1 isn’t bad. The touch-up tuner in the radio can handle that. I have a 2:1 at the lower end of the 20m band. I let the antenna match do its thing and all is well. You’re so right about 15 meters. It was my first HF band, back in 1982. I’m so glad those new to amateur radio can experience 15 meters now. 73, Doug

[@realoldgeekster]

Wow, this is very addictive! I want China too! Great job!

[@n4hnhradio]

I hope you get a China contact. You will probably get your chance as Cycle 25 improves.

[@PT9KK]

Congrats on your contact to China!!!

[@n4hnhradio]

Thank you, Luciano!

[@luisedwards5982]

Congrats , Thats awesome. Yet to get any China contact period.

[@n4hnhradio]

Thank you Luis! I thought I wasn’t going to complete that contact. It wasn’t my longest distance contact ever but I think it was nearing 8,000 miles. My longest is still from July of 1982. I had only been on HF for 2-3 weeks. I worked VK2EAU in Australia. It was 10,153 miles. I emailed him last week. He is still down there, but he has a different callsign now.

[@johnratcliffe6438]

Oh brilliant! Congratulations! :)

[@n4hnhradio]

Thanks, John! It’s great to hear from you. 73, Doug

[@martinvanek5951]

Kudos on the China contact. Were you running barefoot for the Japan FT8 contacts. Thanks Doug.

[@n4hnhradio]

Hi Martin! Yes, I started at 50W. When I saw Republic of Korea, I thought I might need the amp. It still took a few tries with the amp to get Korea. China came back after the 2nd or 3rd try but then there was the delay in completing the contact, as you see in the video. That happens sometimes when someone else worked them ahead of me, by moving to their portion of spectrum and then they start calling CQ there, instead of finding a clear portion of spectrum. I’ve had people chase me and them start calling CQ on my portion of spectrum. I guess they don’t know to find their own portion of spectrum and click “Hold TX Freq”. In those cases, I run the amp. 690W was the most I’ve ever used. I have typically used 330 to 411W.

[@cathrynm]

On the west coast, FT8, Japan and China, all very common on the bands. Here, like England is 'rare DX'

[@n4hnhradio]

England is easy from here. Everyday. Of course the European DX stations sometimes call for 6 or 7 stations only, because they get bored working us East coasters. Interestingly, Japan is easy from here when 15 meters is open - easy for SSB and CW. The same night I worked the Chinese station via FT8, I must have worked a dozen Japanese stations.

[@cathrynm]

@@n4hnhradio I think I've worked hundreds of Japanese stations. If I call on FT8, some times at night, I'll get near a pileup of them.

[@n4hnhradio]

Do you almost feel like you have to fight them off? (I say in jest) From here it’s easy to get Italy and Spain like you get Japan. Propagation creates an ionospheric super highway between certain locations.

[@cathrynm]

@@n4hnhradio Yeah, that's west coast and Japan. Like I'll be calling someone else, and a Japanese station will call me. I'm pretty much all ocean between Northern California and Japan, must be why.

[@n4hnhradio]

You probably get a nice number of propagational hops across that much ocean.

[@arthurgumbus3969]

Hi Doug! First off great job on China! Just wondering what antenna you used AND how did you get the WSJT-X window that blue color? 73 Art W1SWL

[@n4hnhradio]

I used my 160m Doublet antenna system. I’m using WSJT-X in dark mode.

[@leftcoasthamradio]

“Superhighway “ to ASIA 👍🏻

[@n4hnhradio]

I’ll take it when I can, Doug. Loving Cycle 25 thus far.

[@Bignose175]

one of your more boring videos

[@kaydenchristensen5011]

Maybe you are just a boring person? If you didn’t like the video, then just click off, no need to be a jerk about it. For Georgia, China is a big stretch