Looking to upgrade my 2m EME setup from JT65 to Q65 and wondering about the real-world performance improvement. Currently running 4 x 17 element Yagis with 1kW and typically copy JT65 signals down to about -23dB SNR. Q65 specifications claim 1-3dB better sensitivity than JT65 - has anyone done side-by-side comparisons?

Particularly interested in whether Q65-60 delivers the promised improvement for weak signal work and if the shorter sequence modes like Q65-30 are practical for regular EME operation.

Made the switch to Q65 six months ago and it's a significant improvement. In direct A/B tests with DL stations, Q65-60 consistently decodes signals that JT65 misses. The libration fading handling is noticeably better - contacts that would have taken multiple sequences with JT65 now complete in one or two.

Q65-30 works surprisingly well for stronger stations. Made several ARRL EME contest QSOs using Q65-30B with my modest 2 x 9 element setup. The faster turnaround really helps during contest pileups, though you still need -20dB or better for reliable decodes.

Been running both modes during activity weekends and Q65 definitely has the edge. The key advantage isn't just sensitivity but the improved doppler handling - Q65 tracks the moon's movement much better than JT65, especially near perigee when doppler shift changes rapidly during the QSO.