After nearly a decade away from the hobby, I found myself drawn back to amateur radio in January 2024. The landscape had changed quite a bit during my absence, but the core elements that had always fascinated me - portable operations, simple wire antennas, and the thrill of DX - were still very much alive.
One significant development that caught my attention was the introduction of FT8, a digital mode that had taken the amateur radio world by storm during my hiatus. Intrigued by its capabilities, particularly for low-power operation, I decided to give it a go.
After researching current trends in portable operations, I settled on the Xiegu G90. This compact transceiver, with its built-in antenna tuner and 20W output, seemed ideal for getting back into the swing of things. Its modest power output aligned well with my interest in battery powered portable operation, and the internal tuner promised flexibility with various antenna configurations.
Setting up for FT8 operation was straightforward, and I was soon on the air with a simple quarter-wave vertical antenna. Despite using only 10W - half of the G90's capable output - I was amazed at the results.
Within a single week spanning late February and early March, I managed to work two new African countries, both firsts for my logbook. The first was Angola on 10m (subsequently also worked on 15m), with station D2UY answering my call. Just a few days later, I connected with 5Z4VJ in Kenya on 12m. Both contacts were made using FT8, and both with just 10W into quarter-wave vertical antennas.
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These successful QSOs were a revelation. They demonstrated the effectiveness of FT8 for weak signal work and reinforced my belief in the potential of simple setups. Working two new African countries with such modest power and a basic antenna was precisely the kind of experience that had originally ignited my passion for the hobby.
This early success with the G90 and FT8 has me excited about future operating, not only with FT8 but also CW (for which I have very high hopes) and SSB. It's clear that the combination of new digital modes and compact, efficient radios has opened up fresh possibilities for DXing, even with limited resources. I'm also looking forward to many more adventures in portable operating and exploring what the G90 and its 20w can do with some simple wire antennas.
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