Exciting propagation research is underway on the emerging 8-meter band (40 MHz), thanks to FCC-licensed experimental station WQ2XDM in Florida. Operating on 40.680 MHz, they’re beaconing FT8 signals to probe Sporadic-E and regional VHF behavior—perfect for us SDR tinkerers and ham radio fans pushing band boundaries. 8-Meter Experiment
While U.S. hams can’t transmit here yet, you can monitor and decode these signals using tools like WSJT-X or your favorite SDR setup (think RTL-SDR or Airspy). Every reception report builds valuable data on 8-meter propagation, supporting future access to this under-explored band between 6 and 10 meters.
WQ2XDM also experiments on the 4-meter band (70 MHz) with digital modes like WSPR and FT8, focusing on summer Sporadic-E openings that could reveal multi-hop paths across regions.
8-Meter Experiment transmission Schedules
- 8m FT8 (40.680 MHz): Continuous 24/7 following standard FT8 sequence (15-min cycles: even minutes TX/RX based on UTC). Max 10W ERP.
- 4m FT8/WSPR (70.000-70.200 MHz): Similar digital modes, 24/7 with WSPR on 2-min slots every 4/6/10 min. Max 25W ERP; focus on Sporadic-E peaks May-July.
Monitor anytime, but evenings/local Es openings yield best decodes.
Why it matters for radio enthusiasts:
- Proves 8/4-meter viability for DX and regional contacts.
- Contributes to real research—your decodes help map propagation models.
- Ideal SDR project: Tune in, decode, and submit reports to fuel the science.
Follow the project on social at @WQ2XDM, visit www.WQ2XDM.com for details, or email reports to [email protected]. EL99 reports especially welcome!
Have you spotted 40.680 MHz signals yet? Fire up your receiver and join the experiment—your data could shape the future of VHF+ bands.