Saturday, March 09, 2013

JT on JT9

I had an all-day session on the JT modes today. Actually, almost all of today's contacts were on JT65A. I did listen for JT9-1 signals a few times but most of the time I only saw stations I had already worked before.


I put out a CQ call on 15m JT9-1 and Joe Taylor K1JT came back to me. I've decoded Joe's WSPR signals numerous times and I've exchanged several emails with him but I had never had a radio contact with him until now, so that was a nice surprise.

Then it was back to JT65A. The contrast in activity was extreme. There were so many stations active I couldn't find a space to call CQ, so I had to wait and pounce on new stations that called.

I must say that when using JT9 I miss the infrastructure that has been built up around the JT65A mode - the reverse beacons, the auto-spotting to PSK Reporter so you can see how far your signals have got, the JT-Alerts when you decode someone you've worked before. I especially need the B4 alerts. My memory is so bad I can't remember the calls of stations I've worked before so I have often called people who I have worked only a couple of days earlier. I guess that due to the lack of new stations they probably don't mind too much!

8 comments:

PE4BAS, Bas said...

Hello Julian, that was a nice contact. A familiar call for every JT and WSPR user. I don't care if I work a station every day in whatever mode. It's just the fun you have. And always nice to work a new one once and a while of course, but not neccessary. If time allows I'll give it another try for JT9 next few weeks. 73, Bas

Unknown said...

I haven't found any JT9-1 signals yet, what are the best frequencies to listen on?

73, Colin.

Unknown said...

2kHz above the JT65A frequencies, so 14.078, 21.078 and so on.

Julian, G4ILO

Unknown said...

Thanks Julian, I have tried those (I thought I read that somewhere), obviously listening at the wrong times. I'll try longer spells on 21.078 since you had success there recently.

73, Colin.

Unknown said...

20m has the most activity but 15m may have some activity now as it's the weekend.

Julian, G4ILO

Unknown said...

Not much chance of working JT modes today, bands are overrun with PSK63 contesters. :(

Julian, G4ILO

Patrick said...

Also mentioning the 30m frequency for JT9-1...10130kHz..quite some activity there too. I do prefer JT9 at the moment...as you mentioned Julian, JT65 frequencies can be very crowded lately...the mode is getting more and more popular.

73 de ON4CDJ Patrick

Unknown said...

Thanks for that, Patrick. I didn't know what the 30m frequency was.

Julian, G4ILO