Grid Watch UK

Saturday, 25 February 2023

FT8CN user manual translated to English

 


Using Google translate, I uploaded the whole Chinese FT8CN V0.83 user manual PDF file. Except for the illustrations, it has managed to translate the whole file quite successfully to English.

There is enough detail for most to get an understanding of all of it's modes, uses and information.

Download a copy from here


 



Friday, 24 February 2023

Teatime FT8CN 10m decodes

 

With sunspots high at 108 & Solar flux at 148. 28MHz is wide open at my QTH at 17:00z.

 

Matoa ISina 5 Band HF

 

We live in very exciting times for new Amateur products. You have only got to blink these days and a new rig appears on the horizon. 

It makes a change not to see the normal Chinese output, but this time what appears to be from Indonesia.

Specification is sparse at the moment, but 5W QRP and 5 wide HF Bands on offer:

1. Band1 3-5 MHz
2. Band2 6-8 MHz
3. Band3 11-14.5 MHz
4. Band4 15-23 MHz
5. Band5 24-30 MHz

https://matoaprojects.com/transceiver/hf-transceiver   

I have also seen them being traded on ebay.com

Price appears to be around $250




Tuesday, 21 February 2023

FT8CN and the QDX

 

 

It is being reported on the QRP Labs forum, that some have got the little smart QDX digital transceiver communicating with the FT8CN app.

The rig is noticed straight away by FT8CN using an OTG USB lead and a minimum of configuring. 

The QDX and a small phone or tablet, allow true FT8 portable operating with minimum hardware to cart around.

Pick up the thread here

Details about the QDX https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html

   

The Blog is back on quite a roll.

Sorry I have been away the last twelve months or so, the Blog has had to take a rest from my typing fingers and Amateur Radio has been put well away on the back burner.

I lost both my parents within five months of each other early last year and I still have not really got over the ordeal yet, which had played out over five years before their demise.



Monday, 20 February 2023

Monday FT8CN Decodes

 10m remains very active, this is todays activity at 2 different times.


Around 10:30z:



Around 13:55z:

 


Further details about FT8CN see my Blog https://g1kqh.blogspot.com/2023/02/ft8cn-new-free-android-app.html




Gremlins in the Blog

I had a few problems displaying the blog listing of previous blogs yesterday, after I had uploaded a new blog about the FT8CN app. I have found out what caused it and all should now display correctly on your phones, tablets and PC's.


73's Steve

Sunday, 19 February 2023

FT8CN 10m decodes

Around 16:30z I switched to 10m, the band was wide open to the UK.

Examples of FT8 decoded using FT8CN on my android tablet:

 

 




FT8CN a new FREE android APP..

There is a new FT8 APP for Android doing the rounds, called FT8CN from BG7YOZ (China). It is a free download and unrestricted in use. It is in the early stages of development, but is already up to version 0.86.

Download the APK file from here:https://github.com/N0BOY/FT8CN/releases

You  will need to give your device permission to allow install of the APP.

There are various ways to configure the radio connection. The simplest VOX appears to use the Android device's internal mic and speaker.(Of course you could pipe the audio directly in and out via the audio socket on your Tablet or Phone). Direct CAT allows a USB connection, Bluetooth is available, and connection via a WiFi network. All these seem to be in early stages of development.




 I soon got it installed, and enabled, decoding the audio using the internal mic of my Android tablet..

 



 

Split mode enabled showing Spectrum scope and received decodes.


 

 

 

It also plots the action to a live map via another quick tap on the screen.