FT8 with 1W : propagation and hops

If you want to see how basic propagation works, use only 1W.

This morning I am active on 17m.

This is what it looks like  :

Almost all stations that receive my 1W signal are in an area of 2500-3000km. 

Oman, 2nd hop area at  5500 km
Thailand and Taiwan, 3rd hop at 9100 km
Australia, 4rd hop at 16500 km

For me, quite spectacular that such a small signal, on a non-directional antenna, can go so far, and that the hops are so clearly visible.

I have a flash back, thinking on the CQ WW 10m contest where some stations at some distances were missing in my log.  This picture is the basic reason of it.

Stacked yagi operation...