IC-706MKIIG Settings and Making Contacts on FT8

I have been using an IC-706MKIIG radio with a Signallink. My lap top is is a Samsung 730qaa.I have used WSJT-x, and JTDX for software programs. The programs and receiving data and transmitting correctly. The only problem that I have is that I am not getting any contacts. Either contacting CQs or making CQs myself have not worked. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

What band(s) at what times of day ? Antenna? Power level?

My "system" tends to hear rather well, with lots of decodes on most bands 160-15 meters ( occasionally 12 meters ), but being heard is not as easy. On 30 meters for example, almost all US stations respond when I am running 10 watts, but the Europeans don't seem to hear me unless I am running 50-100 watts.

I would think that band, time of day, antenna, and power level are all more important to making FT8 contacts than radio, controller, and software, as along as all is working properly.

 

20 meters all day, the antenna is a 20/40 dipole. Power level is 20-30 watts. My settings on the radio are DSP-ANF on vox on, Com and fagc on. Baud setting on the radio is 1600.

 

Well, I would think with that you should be making contacts. Maybe something subtle in the settings. Maybe others, with experience with your setup, can chime in. I know with my setups ( home and truck ) I had to play with a whole host of settings before FT8 would work properly. And one required very different settings than the other.

Some people said I have to do this or have to do that, and neither this nor that worked for me, so in my experience with FT8 what works with one setup may not work with another. There are a few basics, like no noise reduction, but it seems every setup is a bit different.

 

I guess the time setting needs to be mentioned. Are you synched within one second? Its pretty hard to NOT make contacts with the setup you describe.

 

Yes. I am synched with NTP Meinburg. What is the most likely problem? The radio or the software program?

 

re: "DSP-ANF on "

Automatic Notch Filter?

You're probably "killing" your incoming signal with that "on".

 

ok. I will turn it off. Thank you!

 

I had to adjust the baud rate in the radio to make any contacts. It is working now.

 

Glad to hear it.