I finally got my DX-FT8 https://github.com/WB2CBA/DX-FT8-FT8-MU ... /tree/main assembled and on the air yesterday. It's a low power (less than 1w on all 7 bands) FT8 only rig that runs its software on a microprocessor - no computer required.
It has two modes of operation. One is QSO mode, where you can either call CQ or try to contact another station calling CQ, pretty much like any other FT8 setup. The other mode is beacon mode, which is very interesting. The radio will send CQs out until it receives a reply, then it will try to complete the contact (if possible), and will go back to calling CQ.
I made a few QSO mode contacts and then tried the beacon mode on 30m. In about an hour it completed 13 contacts including one with a ham in eastern Italy - not bad for less than a watt into an EFRW!
I think this little radio has potential for a park activator to have FT8 going on one band while operating CW or SSB on another. Has anyone else tried this radio?
73,
Mike, KL7MJ