Five months, and 161 countries later, operating the HF FT8/FT4 digital mode on less than 100 watts and a $100 amazon G5RV dipole, I completed my last needed QSO with South Dakota to earn QRZ's Award for Worked All 50 States across 8 bands - 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m.
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Some say operating FT8/4 is impersonal, and in most respects, it operates like an extended contest - which is how I operated. However, I did take the time to reply to most who sent eQSL or other acknowledgements.
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During this time, I also participated in on-air events and memorable station contacts:
- 2024 Route 66 On The Air Special Event - contacted a majority of the 23 clubs' operating on Route 66
- The 13 Colonies Special Event - contacted all 13 colonies plus the three bonus stations
- 9-11 Remembering Our Heroes Memorial - special event station
- The United Nations Amateur Radio Club station NYC
- 1550 confirmed QSO's across 161 countries - including Antartica, Oman, Kazakhstan, Seychelles
If any club member is interested in getting on this digital mode and its additive trance... let me know.
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With my FT8/4 goal's achieved - I think it's time to move on to other ham operating modes.
However, there is one additional FT8 tasking - operating in the November .
More to follow...
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Rick.
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Rick WA2HRF Fell