12 May 2025
Last night I got bitten by a bug. Not the creepy crawly kind you might be thinking of. No, this one is much more sinister—the kind that bites when you finally overcome an obstacle and can suddenly see the path on the other side. But enough with the metaphorical bug speak. What I mean is: I found joy in something that had previously felt like a chore.
I hate to admit it, but I actually had fun last night when I finally got WSJT-X working properly in FT8’s “Fox and Hound” (FH) mode. Knocking out QSO after QSO was enjoyable, even if I was up way past my bedtime.
I’d almost gone to bed early on my “Friday” night, but the lingering frustration over FT8 not working right was—well—bugging me. That’s how I usually handle issues like this. I take them as personal challenges and won’t rest until I figure them out. Thankfully, this one was made a lot easier thanks to all of you. I received countless emails offering encouragement and technical help that pointed me in the right direction. That’s what I truly love about this hobby: the international community of helpful hams.
Around 0730 UTC, I set up my 17-meter dipole, determined to get FT8 working from Wake Island. I think I officially got past whatever gremlins were blocking me. Between 0830 and 0930 UTC, I worked several EU stations, but they soon faded behind the wall of JA stations. Then, to my surprise, the EU stations came back strong after 1030 and stayed steady well past 1200 UTC. I finally turned off the radio just after 0100 UTC (that’s 1 a.m. Wake Island time) after logging close to 930 contacts over several hours.
My alarm at 6:45 a.m. was a rude awakening, but I’d already posted that I’d be on 12 meters SSB after breakfast—so up and at ’em. After eating, I met up with Richard (KR4CDI), and he helped me get things set up. I thought I had my 12-meter dipole with me… I did not. Time to improvise, adapt, and overcome.
What to do? I wondered if the Big Signal DeltaFlex would tune up on 12 meters. It’s built for 10, 15, 20, and 40 meters, but I’d previously gotten a decent SWR match on 17 meters. Sure enough, with Richard manning the selector switch while I watched the IC-7300’s meter, we managed an SWR around 1.5:1. A quick tweak with the radio’s internal tuner, and we were good to go.
I was a bit ahead of schedule, and the silence across the 12-meter band confirmed it. Not a single signal. So, we waited—and enjoyed the morning coffee with a view across the Wake Island lagoon in the (relatively) cool island air. Just after 2000 UTC, I posted a spot on the Parks On The Air (POTA) site. We were probably still early for propagation toward North and South America, but a few calls started coming in. Mostly JA, but a smattering from across the U.S.
After struggling to get 30 contacts, I paused to ask myself: Am I ready for another FT8 marathon?
Apparently, yes.
I changed to 10 meters to get a better match on the DeltaFlex and posted another POTA spot, noting I’d be operating FT8 FH mode above the normal FT8 frequency. Only a few CQs in, and stations started calling. It ramped up fast. By 11 a.m. local time, I had 260 contacts in the log.
Now what?
It was still an hour before lunch, and I didn’t really want to do much else. So—back to 12 meters! And wow, did things pick up. That’s when I discovered my new FT8 problem: I don’t know when to stop.
Just one more click. Okay, maybe one more. I’ve got time for a couple more, right?
There’s something about those quick, defined exchanges in FT8 that makes time melt away. Before I knew it, lunch was slipping out of reach—I kept checking the clock, knowing the dining facility closes at 1 p.m. “I’m not that hungry, right?” I told myself.
Half an hour more. Then another. And another.
By the time I finally shut things down at 0300 UTC (3 p.m. local), I’d logged nearly 760 contacts on 12 meters—bringing the 24-hour total to over 1,900 FT8 QSOs. I was mentally exhausted and hungry for the lunch I gave up but it was worth it.
Your Turn
Have you ever lost track of time during an FT8 run? Pulled off a last-minute antenna improvisation? Share your stories in the comments or drop a note.
33 responses to “1,900+ FT8 Contacts from Wake Island in 24 Hours”
Allen, thank You for ATNO in DIGI (on 20m) – You are my 320th!
An please keep trying FT8 in multislot F/H – it’s a quick and efficient mode. Yesterday your signal was quite strong here with 4 streams, but wall of JA… Hope next times to make QSO with You on 10 and 17m!
73 de Serge, RU6B (QRA: KN94mc, more then 11000 km from Wake Is)
I’ve already crossed your FT8 signal a couple of times yesterday on 17m and today on 15m at 10:10UTC via short path concentrated in 10min workable, but getting through with Japanese wall to be heard is really difficult, if you don’t keep them still around that time.. I’ll try tomorrow morning on 30m if it can be a more congenial frequency, I won’t give up looking for the contact also mentioned above if you reactivate those high bands again in digital, but take into account the suggestion on the window for Europe.
Thanks see you soon Steve IK4DRY
Wow, that was a good run you had. With strong signals, next time try FT4 for quicker contacts that we I’ll exhaust you faster, ha ha. 73
Hey Allen
Great story and glad that you’re learning how to overcome the technology challenges.
Looking forward to hearing/seeing you on 10-15-20m ft8 mode for an ATNO from Wake Island (ft8 f/h is likely to be our best shot in beating an EU pileup).
Take Care out there (and enjoy your ham radio downtime).
73
Gordon
MM0GOR
Thanks a lot for give FT8 a try, got your signals really good. But JA and EU wall was difficult.
Look forward to contact you from Caribbean sea.
73′ WP4G
I need KH9 on 30m, when will you be on 30m next?
Mike AD5A
Mike,
Just updated my activity page (https://kh7al.site/kh9-upcoming-activity). 15 May, 0700 UTC on FT8.
73,
Allen
Hi Allen,
I will look for FT8 in next days/weeks, sure it will be feasible. Thanks
73’s
ON6PL Pierre
Hi Allen –
Thanks 12m FT8 QSO and hope my email help you figure out FH mode in FT8
Hope to meet you on low bands – 40/80m, it will more enjoy for you – trust me . Maybe no too many QSOs, but much more interesting .
73 from Vlad NA6JD
Hello Allen
I’m glad you’ve found joy in FT8 now.
You’re sure to make many people happy who would never have a chance to break the pileup in SSB/CW.
Thanks also for the QSO on 17m in FT8.
Your signal was still sufficiently decodeable for me with 4 streams.
But I noticed that your filter is only set to about 2000 Hz. Anyone calling higher has no chance.
It’s common practice to set the filter to 3500 Hz. You have to set this on the IC-7300 (widest filter) and also on the waterfall on WSJT-X.
Enjoy FT8 🙂
vy 73 de Gerald, OE3DSB
Hi Allen,
Thank you for not giving up on FT8 based on your initial impression.
For the vast majority of radio amateurs with few resources, this is the only way for us to be able to make contact with you!
I live in São Paulo Downtown, Brazil, and even with a lot of QRM I managed to make contact. Thank you very much !
Paulo – PY2APK
Hello Paulo,
I was surprised and happy to work several Brazil stations recenlty on FT8, and every continent minus Antarctica.
73,
Allen
Hi Allen,,
I am looking forward to Honor Roll and Wake Isl is still missingin my Log.. You are of the most importance to my objective.
I will be following you closely.
Congrats for your fast achievements !
73´s
De Enrique
PY2CP
Hola Allen;
Thanks for all qso´s.
Tried sending an email to you about 5O7ZDG, but it bounces…
Early in the GMT day 2025-05-12 the reason was said to be:
SMTP error from remote server for RCPT TO command, host: mail.kh7al.site (50.6.156.197) reason: 550 Mailbox is full / Blocks limit exceeded / Inode limit exceeded
Early in the GMT day 2025-05-13 the reason changed to:
SMTP error from remote server for RCPT TO command, host: mx004.bluehost.xion.oxcs.net (51.81.206.109) reason: 550 5.5.1 Recipient rejected – OXSUS001_403 – https://postmaster-oxsus.vadesecure.com/inbound_error_codes/#_403
One day mailbox full, next day no such address.
How to correspond by email?
73, VR2BG.
Hello Brett,
Yup, my inbox got flooded with emails when I started FT8. I have since upgraded from that limited storage to a new email: [email protected]. Feel free to send me a message but give me a couple days to get caught up.
73,
Allen
Hallo Allen,
Thank you for your FT8 operation with F/H mode and skip your lunch time.
When you start radio operation every weekend, you offer the schedule where to operate on your blog.
It is really helpful for US and you become crazy of radio.
Particularly on CW, you can do higher speed and works hard.
Hope to catch you on all band where you operate
Enjoy ham radio and make history from Wake island.
vy73s
Toshi,JA8RUZ
Hi Allen,
your post took me back two years.
I have had my amateur radio license since 1983, I have always been active in CW SSB and RTTY mode. I have always hunted for DX.
I have been inactive on the radio for 12 years…then a dear friend convinced me to get back on the air, there were many new things about the new FT8 mode. I had always heard bad things about this FT8.
It is not a human way. There are stations that make qso without being on the radio. Do you want to compare the satisfaction you get from making qsos in CW or SSB?
Good, I want to try!
I have to say that I had the same feelings as you, in my opinion the FT8 is a democratic mode, it allows you to make qsos even with modest conditions.
Unfortunately for Europeans the Pacific area is always difficult to work. I hope to decode your call and put the X on Wake Isl. of worked in digital mode 🙂
Best 73 de Gianni IK6CGO
Gianni,
I am glad to hear your friend talked you back into ham radio. I do hope we get to meet on the air soon.
73,
Allen
Allen, glad to see that you discovered FT8, and equally happy to see you have an Icom IC-7300 to do it on. From my perspective it’s probably the best radio going in the under $2000 market, with a nod to the Yaesu FT-710. From your article it’s clear you enjoy FT8 a lot; what I find so relaxing about it is no yelling into the microphone, no straining to hear a station thru QRM/QRN. You can literally be doing something completely different while working FT8 QSOs. I was lucky enough to work you on phone some weeks ago, now I’ll watch the DXCluster posts and PSK Reporter info to try and work you again, this time on FT8. Congrats and enjoy the fun of FT8.
73, Bill, N4SV
Allen
For some reason your email that I have used in the past no longer works.
Roger that. That inbox was limited on space so I was forced to move to a new provider with the address of [email protected].
73,
Allen
Hi Allen,
I’m happy to have had the opportunity to QSO with you on FT8 after CW and SSB.
Please QRV on 50MHZ as well.
People from all over the world are waiting.
Best DX 73 ！！
JH6QOK JUN
I made two contacts I made with you on 5/11/25, can you please tell me whether these contacts will uploaded to LOTW or QRZ?
Colton Kenshol
WB7AUS
In QRZ you can check in your logbook after you upload your adif log. Search your log for KH7AL/KH9 after you upload and you should see a star to the right, indicating a match. I see our two QSOs in my log now. I also upload to Clublog where you can check.
73,
Allen
Hello Allen,
It seems you have no difficulties with Internet access.
If so, it is the number one task for you to download the latest version, i.e., MSHV version 2.76.2 from http://lz2hv.org/mshv
Almost all DXpeditions choose it because it is highly productive, superior to all the others, and you can easily put it into automatic mode by
putting an x to menu point Other Options –>Multi Answering Auto Seq Protocol DXpedition ! ! !
Then, your IC7300 can be used day and night, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Above all, the ICOM radio is so rugged and reliable that it may run with in 100% power output.
Also, please consider how many old chaps like me can make a new DXCC entity with Wake Island ONLY BY USING FT8!
As for switching to the right band at the right time, please check https://www.voacap.com/hf/
I do hope I will still be alive when I can finally log a QSO with you from that famous Wake Island!
Best of all, 73
Andras HA6NN
Hello Andras,
Thanks for the information. I think I will keep using WSJT-X for the near future. I am not comforable with a fully automated FT8 station so look for my future dates and times I will be on the air. https://kh7al.site/kh9-upcoming-activity/
73,
Allen
Hi Allen,
thank you very much for not moving to the fully automated MSHV-approach. Even though many DXpeditions use it it is not in compliance with DXCC rules because of the automated operation, and I would not like to miss the credit in case I am able to get my call decoded and put into the queue on your side.
If conditions are good enough (for sure it would be a problem for EU) you could use Superfox which would improve the throughput. If you like we could discuss in a separate mail how to set this up on WSJT-X or – even better – WSJT-X_improved.
Hope to see your call on my screen and also hope to get my call decoded on your side (running 80 W only, so FT8 is the only possibility for Wake Island for me.
73 and thanks for your efforts
Juergen, DL8LE
Hello Juergen,
I just submitted my application for a Superfox key. Stay tuned.
73,
Allen
Dear Allen, I’ve been chasing you for months now from YO land, unsuccessfully. Have you considered giving more chances to the distant stations trying to break through the JA pile? Today I was the closest ever in FT8, but not close enough. Three times you’ve picked up my call but only replied twice each time, as you do with all JA stations, and never RR73. I cannot tell you what it means at our end, behind the JA wall, to even break through so you receive my signal. I will try again until the day you leave the island, for this elusive dxcc. 73 de Chris
Hello Chris,
Thanks for trying. You have more patience than I do. I have started using the CQ feature in WSJT-X to call by continent and had intially good results from that. Not only am I specifying who I am looking for, the software also uses that to act as a filter and only displays that region on my computer. So, with continued effort, and good conditions, I am confident we can make the contact in the near future.
73,
Allen
Hi Allen
Thanks for taking the time to answer. I should have specified that by JA wall I mean those times when you have call CQ EU and despite repeated messages both from you and other European stations begging “QSY JA” dozens of JA stations still transmit rendering weaker EU stations unable to break through. I wouldn’t dream to try it when you work JAs as the bandwidth is simply not able to cope with the amount of JAs calling. Speaking of bandwidth, can I please check whether you’ve noted Gerald’s comment above (OE3DSB) and use filter 3 instead of 2 in the ICOM 7300 settings and are now listening up to 3500Hz?
Hi, I hope to be able to contact you in any way, but I see it hard in Italy, but I will try. Good luck