06 August, 2019

You have probably worked an FT8 robot

I was following the presentation of Joe Taylor, K1JT, from the recent German ham radio meeting in Friedrichshafen this year. He showed this slide of stations suspected of being robotic ones, due to them being seen on PSKReporter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. His list is this:

I have worked many of these and most of them on multiple bands:
A41ZZ, A45XR, CN2MA, ES6DO
EW8W, HA1RB, HA7TM, IK4LZH
OG0C, OO6O
OO7B, RA9H, SQ9IWA, SV1EDY
SV5DKL

I only miss IK4LZH, KA1AQP, KW4SP, OO6O, OO7B, RA9H, SV1EDY, and W1KE.

In addition it wouldn't surprise me if MM0HVU also runs automatically from time to time judging from how often that call sign is seen on the bands.

Have you worked any of these stations? And are there others who are active on an almost 24/7 basis?

By the way, the presentation has title "WSJT-X FT8 and Beyond" and can be downloaded (images and sound) here. It is well worth listening too.



This blog post first appeared on the LA3ZA Radio & Electronics Blog.

15 comments:

  1. https://www.ebay.com/itm/153600674309

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, don't we all need an "FT8/FT4 QSO ROBOT - FULLY AUTOMATIC QSO MACHINE - PERSONALIZED TO YOUR CALLSIGN!"

      Delete
  2. Well here is the main software used: http://www.edtk.de/ft8-helper/ft8-en.html .

    Its all on the honor system.... Yet the way that Amateurs interact with each other what can be considered honorable?

    Remember there are 220-odd known nations yet 340 DXCC entities ... This in itself is a corruption !

    ReplyDelete
  3. The problem is not the robots.
    The problem is FT8.

    It's a bit like using an outboard in a rowing regatta and then complain there are guys using a 4 blade propeller...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Also DJ1AA very often!

    ReplyDelete
  5. DJ1AA on all bands include 6 meters!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I worked DJ1AA for the first time on 40m FT8 today!

      Delete
    2. You will find him 24h!

      Delete
  6. A new Bot: DK7ZT .......

    ReplyDelete
  7. you add VK6EI and VK6AL to the list of FT8 robots

    ReplyDelete
  8. add VK5PO to the list. calls every sequence, never changes freq or sequence for hours on end

    ReplyDelete
  9. G8OO is also the robot station. Ignore if someone is working on the same FRQ and same period. DQRMER!
    This is about the last (of many) SPOT from: DJ5AN 5357.0 G8OO on top of TN8K
    If you are a robot, don't be deaf!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. New FT8 Bot every day: BA7NQ BA3KY BA6QC

    ReplyDelete
  11. The worst one is VK6AS - always on, man never sleeps.

    ReplyDelete