Closing in On DXCC: 100 watts and a wire, and FT8

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I have worked 103 countries and confirmed 96 on QRZ (90 on LoTW) since I starting chasing DX in November 2020.  The ARRL DX Century Club Award for Digital Modes is not far away.  The best results have been using FT8, 100 watts and a wire antenna even with these poor band conditions.   

GridTracker has also been a nice tool to track everything on one screen.  Reception reports, grids worked, wanted DXCC, and the very powerful call roster filtering capabilities.  I'm building a legal limit amplifier for memorial day but I hope to close this award out before then.















A word on transmit power:  Yes, most of these contacts have been with 100 watts. The argument has been made 1000 times if  FT8 was designed for low power output or for weak signal reception. Reminder that ARRL DX contest rules define lower power as 150w PEP output or less (not QRP - that's typically 5w or less).  Yes I've heard the anecdote that 1w FT8= 1000w SSB.  I've also heard that Joe Taylor has worked rare DX using 1000w.   I'm not sure if either is true or not.

I do stand by my operating procedure which applies to any amateur radio transmission: 
  • Use as much power as needed to make the contact. Start low and work up to QRO
  • Monitor reception reports thru DXCluster, PSK Reporter and Gridtracker.  
  • Strive to match the signal reports sent and received.   
  • Don't repetitively call the same station.   Send 73 and move on.
  • Adopt the DXCC Code of Conduct.  This is my operating north star.

At 100w my international signal reports are typically between -10db and -24db.  50 watts rarely gets out of US with my OCF Dipole at 43ft.   There are may places in the world I have yet to work (China, India and other parts of Asia).   With 1500+ QSOs made and 1250+ confirmed I've received two complaints (and those were friendly sorts).  One for repetitive calling, the other for transmitting near a rare DX (Algeria).  

So lesson learned - if you transmit near or on top of a rare DX you will create QRM for everyone else who is also trying to work the contact.  When others do it, make adjustments.  Be nice - you'll get lucky next time.  Both complaints helped me adjust my operating procedure.  Finally 83% QSL confirmation rate speaks for itself, and although I want to see the final 73 before logging that of itself isn't mandatory as it was probably sent and was lost in the noise.

I think its a miracle what using FT8 has taught me in the past few months which I can apply to CW in the future:  propagation, band behaviors, signal reports, power levels, calling etiquette and etc.  Its given me a shot at the DXCC award.  I'm looking forward to solar maximum (and retirement) by 2026!

73 - Chris de WX7V

Comments

chris said…
Update: As of April 29th, I have finally confirmed 100 countries on QRZ, and have 97 DXCC confirmed on LoTW. I have a few open QSOs still to be processed thru Club Log: Online QRS tool. In the meantime still 3 short of finishing off the ARRL's DXCC award!
12:07 PM
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