Hello HAMS. Relatively new tech here. I purchased a 10 meter Radioddity QT80 and an end fed half wave deployed vertically approximately 40 feet. I spent some time listening on 10 meters today between 28.3-28.5 MHz and heard a few 5x9 stations in the continental US but couldn’t get through the pileup. My questions are…
Are most folks using FT8 or other digital modes on 10 meters? I have no interest in digital as I’m into HAM more for the preparedness aspect and in a SHTF situation with the internet down digital won’t be useful. I have a limited understanding of the digital stuff but from my understanding it seems like FT8 helps propagate your signal much better. Therefore, my analog station is getting “beat out” in these “pileups” so much so that I don’t stand a chance.
With 80 watts and an EFHW from my research I should certainly be able to make DX contacts, right?
Is 10 meters just a “fad”? Certainly seems like 20 meters is more popular in regards to reliability with propagation, DX, all weather and not just daytime.
I’m getting a LOT of RFI despite having put ferrite chokes every 2.5 feet of my feed line. Ruled out causes in my home by shutting down the main breaker. It’s coming from outside the residence. Is this normal for 10 meters?
I hear a lot of DX stations 5x9 but can’t hear (only very intermittently and faintly) the other HAMs calling that station in the pileup. All I hear is the DX station transmitting and acknowledging their CQ/callsign. Is this normal?
Being a new HAM 10 meters has been hyped up quite a bit and I’ve done a ton of research on it that I felt as though I was prepared but I’m pretty disappointed in the results so far. It’s very neat to be able to hear stations from other countries but I haven’t been able to secure a contact. It seems like my analog station can’t compete with folks using digital.
Digital modes such as FT8 do NOT require an internet connection, only a digital device (smartphone, computer, etc.) with an offline app such as WSJT-X installed to process the signals. Many people do like to use FT8 these days, but they are generally on their own frequency, and therefore should not be affecting your SSB signal.
Yes, 80 watts and an EFHW should be enough to make DX contacts when the band is “open” meaning that conditions are right for the signal to propagate to the DX area.
10 meters is “hot” right now because the solar cycle is at its peak, meaning the higher bands (such as 10 meters) have a lot more and longer band openings.
I think one of the issues you could be facing is the fact that you have ferrite chokes every 2.5 feet of your feedline. This may be affecting your transmissions. I would highly recommend joining the Ham Radio Workbench discord and asking Smitty N6MTS for an explanation of common mode current chokes. That guy is much smarter than I on such matters, and can explain it really well.
Yes, that can be very normal on 10 meters. Patience and persistence is key to breaking a pileup!
Got to jump on and reiterate what the others have said:
10m is hot right now.
Also,
Get it while the gettin is good. If there is a pile up, listen to the what the operator is saying an see if you can identify his/her habit i.e. are they waiting a while and seemingly grabbing the last call, responding quickly and taking first strong call heard…
Don’t get discouraged, I got my tech in 2020 when 10 meters wasn’t the best. Im getting through to a ton of DX stations with 10 watts QRP. I know you definitely have enough horsepower to make it happen.
I have been on 10 meters with Anytone 5555N since September 2024, I’m using a homebrew dipole inside of my garage due to HOA rules. Anyway lovin it, hunted some POTAS, quite a few DX contacts. Pileups happen some you will get through some you wont. I find weekdays not as many pileups
