Posts Tagged ‘JT-9’
First JT-65A Contacts!
June 30th, 2014 | 
Author:  |
| JT-65 Spots on 40 Meter with 2 Watts |
Over the weekend I setup WSJT-X on my old XP computer. I let it do some decoding off and on over the weekend on several bands – and I was decoding well!
So last night I went down to the shack about 0350 UTC and fired up the rig on 40 meters. I set WSJT-X to 40 meters and started seeing several signals on the waterfall, and decodes started coming in.
Over the next 45 minutes I worked 6 stations – 5 on JT-65 and one on JT-9. It was pretty much back to back QSO’s which was fun. I have read a few people complain about the slow speed, and the short contest style exchange.
I actually loved both aspects on this mode! I am really not much of a rag chewer, I prefer the hit and run style of contacts. The speed didn’t seem abnormally slow to me, about the same length of time a typical CW QSO takes at my speed.
Anyway, this mode is a blast, especially in my noisy environment. The weak signals still come through and get decoded in the noise.
Here are the stations I worked:
WB0N – Bert in Minnesota JT-65
NC7L – Robert in Arizona JT-65
W6PDP – Charles in California JT-65
K7IPP – Neil in Arizona JT-65
KF7DRU – David in Arizona JT-9
KI5PM – Ken in Texas JT-65
This was a very fun session playing radio! I will definitely be back to the JT modes for more contacts.
On a side note – my little 2 watt signal was decoded in Switzerland as well! Not bad for 2 watts on 40 meters from an attic antenna. I did see a couple decodes of stations in South America, but I did not work them, or attempt to work them.
If you haven’t ventured into the digital modes, what are you waiting for? Jump in and have some fun!
