Why am I saying that “FT8 is not for QRP lovers”? Because thousands of ham radio operators are using at least 50 – 100 watts on FT8 mode to ensure the QSO. This is going against rules of fairness, but also penalize QRP ham radio fans
FT8 is a digital protocol born to facilitate HF transmission as fast and reliable between ham radio operators. I was very attracted by FT8 but I did not find it easy like it was with PSK31. In one hour
With FT8, indeed, there isn’t!
The truth is that there is no space for us QRP lovers. The truth is that your tiny signal is completely covered by the huge FT8 signals from Americans with their huge YAGI antenna and 100 watts and more. You don’t believe me? Just have a look at this forum thread!
Hey, do not blame me and my little tiny station! I read
FT8 limits free text messages between hams to 13 characters! Where’s ham radio here? What kind of messaging could we get by this character limitation!?
They say: “FT8 opens up some enormous possibilities for the weak signal field operator” but it’s not the truth. Come on! FT8 is for big stations, you just need to click “Go, transmit” and everything is goin okay.
FT8 is not for QRP!
And guess what? Now they’re ready for FT4 (only 4 seconds!).
If you do agree with me that FT8 is not for QRP please leave a comment here. It was better before, with RTTY and PSK31! Just my 5 cents.
May 23, 2020 at 12:58 pm
Thank you for your FT8 article. You saved me the time and money putting my KX3 on that mode. I’m a CW fan, been one since licensed in 1957. I thought it was a QRP mode, but your article made a LOT of sense. Like SSB, it appears to be the latest segment of the big-power guys. I walked away from AM and SSB years ago. I have no interest in returning.
Mel, W3PYF
August 3, 2020 at 9:14 pm
I agree with IZ0JOJ, except the wise crack about Americans being the problem. I live in Oklahoma and love QRP too, but yes, just like you I got into FT8 and FT4 thinking their ability to code and decode signals below the noise floor would make these perfect for low power ops. I have no doubt they are, but the bands are usually so packed with signals that its hard to be heard over the clatter most of the time. The stations I can reliably work when the band is busy all have +5 dB or better signals. If I call a station with less than a 0 dB signal, I don’t usually get a reply. During ARRL Field Day, for example, I worked a couple dozen stations using FT8 and FT4 with just 5 watts (and just a few characters are all you need in a contest setting like that where the exchange is canned anyway) But like you, I found better success using PSK-31, and I had the chance to say something personal if I wanted, like when I ran into a friend. Sometimes you will catch the band at the right time before the great mass of overlapping waterfalls pile on, and contacts are easy. So, really I think the problem is as much about the popularity of these modes as its is about too much power; but when it’s bad it does remind me of a SSB pileup where people would probably use less power if they could, but with bigger stations always on top of them, it takes either power or patience to play the game; and frankly one of the reasons I love QRP is because it does take more skill, creativity, and patience to make QSO’s, but each one makes me feel like I really accomplished something, and that adds to my enjoyment of the hobby. Oh, and IZ0JOJ, I understand your frustration and I know it can’t possibly be with THIS American, so we’re cool hi hi.
August 12, 2020 at 8:12 pm
I am in complete agreement with you. After years of hearing about FT-8, I took the plunge thinking it was a low power friendly mode. As you indicate, it may perform well with low power, but that is not the reality. Big signals all over the place. Add to this what you mention about its limitations which in my opinion lacks the personality of ham radio and I find myself completely uninterested in it. Like, you, I found a lot of enjoyment out of PSK-31 back in the day. Even in QRP below 5W, it was doable and quite enjoyable. This FT–8 mode is definitely not for QRP in current practice and also lacks the “freedom” that you refer to.
October 17, 2020 at 4:01 pm
How about trying JS8CALL? Very few hams seem to use it. You can do a real QSO like with BPSK31. More room for QRP.
November 1, 2020 at 2:13 pm
QRP is a challenge no matter which mode you are using. I agree that ft-8 in a way is mindless. After a hiatus from Ham Radio I decided to become active again. Ft-8 was totally new to me and I got intrigued by it, but after reaching 1000 QSOs I started to feel that I was not getting much enjoyment out of it . I found I could be successful even operation in a HOA situation. I have always enjoyed QRP CW and am rejoined those ranks . I also though about trying QRP FT-8 and started to work 40m FT-8 at 2 watts. I have been getting a thrill out of pulling off a completed Ft-8 QSO under those conditions. My goal is 100 successful QSOs and have logged 81 so far . If I become disenchanted again I may try lower power levels. I’m having fun with this aspect of ham radio; but, that doesn’t mean I should exclude QRP CW or even (shutter) pick up a microphone.
November 1, 2020 at 2:14 pm
QRP is a challenge no matter which mode you are using. I agree that ft-8 in a way is mindless. After a hiatus from Ham Radio I decided to become active again. Ft-8 was totally new to me and I got intrigued by it, but after reaching 1000 QSOs I started to feel that I was not getting much enjoyment out of it . I found I could be successful even operation in a HOA situation. I have always enjoyed QRP CW and am rejoined those ranks . I also though about trying QRP FT-8 and started to work 40m FT-8 at 2 watts. I have been getting a thrill out of pulling off a completed Ft-8 QSO under those conditions. My goal is 100 successful QSOs and have logged 81 so far . If I become disenchanted again I may try lower power levels. I’m having fun with this aspect of ham radio; but, that doesn’t mean I should exclude QRP CW or even (shutter) pick up a microphone.
November 25, 2020 at 11:04 pm
I disagree. There is enough bandwidth at 50Hz per signal (FT8 in a perfect world) for QRP. Although that may not be the case during a contest such as FD, and you may not be able to work the EU on FT8 at 4 watts today, there are plenty of contacts to make stateside. As we continue to climb out of the current sunspot minimum, I believe we will be blessed with excellent DX propagation on all modes.
January 2, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Personally, I feel FT8 and the like needs to go completely away. The op’s computer is making the contacts, not the op. Ok, the op has to click a couple buttons, but the computer make the real “contact”. ZERO interest in it here.
January 2, 2021 at 6:24 pm
I don’t give up. Still trying to have a QSO on FT8 with my QRP-station. 😊
Maybe those new modes are more interesting for big stations and there is finally some FT8 space for us QRP-users too. I’m also thinking to move back to PSK31. Force is strong in QRP. 😀
February 13, 2021 at 2:30 am
I am with you. I have a 135ft Dipole along the roof of my 2 story house. I can hear stations from Germany and all over but with my FT-818 and a measly 6 watts I have not been able to establish a single QSO. Highly frustrating. Spent all day today trimming trees and shooting arrows with fishing line ties to them to try to get my dipole just a few feet higher and get rid of any spaces where it touches the roof.
February 27, 2023 at 9:36 pm
Circling back after a couple of years. I built Dave Benson’s Phaser FT-8 transceiver and my best QRP DX so far is 6260 miles to the Falkland Islands running 3 watts. While I have operated QRP for many years using CW, SSB, and FT8, I believe low power is a viable power level for most causal operating.