Another cancelled rally

The Rochdale and District ARS summer rally, due to take place on Saturday, has been cancelled. Let us hope they have better luck in 2021.  2020 has been an odd year for all of us.

10m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

It is now 1117z and I have been on 10m FT8 with the tiny indoor loop antenna and 2.5W for about 30 minutes. So far, just EA8CZL (2987km) spotted on RX and no spots of me on TX.  I wonder how far down my tiny indoor loop is on a full sized dipole?

UPDATE 1254z:  Nothing further.

UPDATE 1545z:  The USA and Caribbean spotted on 10m FT8 Rx this afternoon, but no spots of me! OK, just a handful spotted, but better than nothing. Who knows what a year will bring. Next autumn we could be spotting far more on 10m FT8.

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

We have just got back from a walk around the village. It is cold and frosty. The photo shows the church and trees in the churchyard. 

The birds are having a socially distanced chat in the trees on the left. 😁

Sunspots - Thursday November 26th 2020

Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 40. A=4 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

At about 2030z I QSYed to 2m FT8 with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.  7 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 5 stations on RX at 2106z.

UPDATE 2303z: QRT. 

Laugh? - NOT amateur radio

This came from a friend earlier. It made me laugh! We certainly are living in odd times. 

Big sunspot maximum?

People have remarked that the upward slope from sunspot minimum looks faster than we were expecting. It is still far too early to tell, but this is a promising. Many thought this would be a slow climb. It will be interesting to see new forecasts for the next maximum.

Amaryllis - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, we have 2 of these plants in flower. The more correct name is hippeastrum, but as I have always called them amaryliss I am unlikely to change now! 

Transnistria - NOT amateur radio

Transnistria is a breakaway state between Moldova and Ukraine. Until today, I had never heard of it!

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnistria_(region) 

10m FT8 QRP

At 1115z I QSYed to 10m FT8. So far, (at 1148z) no spots. With the high solar flux, I am hopeful of some 10m FT8 activity.

UPDATE 1523z: Still no 10m spots.

UPDATE 1650z:  3 spots all day: 2 Gs plus IS0DDL (1427km) on 10m FT8 RX. Nobody spotted me.