2m FT8 contest last night

Last night 2m FT8 was very busy with 95 stations in 9 countries spotted. 

I am pretty sure there was a contest on as several were calling "CQ TEST".

Remember, this is with an omni antenna - no beams here!

15m FT8 (QRP) Thursday

At about 1050z, my QRP 15m FT8 was turned on (2.5W and the indoor loop). So far (it is now 1100z) 4 stations have been spotted on RX, but nobody has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1654z: 104 stations spotted.

OFCOM updates

 According to the OFCOM website they have shown the names of the bidders for their spectrum auction coming up. See the OFCOM website.

Sunspots - Thursday January 7th 2021

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

At about 1825z I QSYed to 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. At 1842z, I had been spotted by 8 stations in 3 countries with the furthermost EI8KN (518km). 4 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 2250z :  95 stations in 9 countries spotted this evening. Contest? 

Foxfire (fungus that glows green) - NOT amateur radio

The other night my son noticed some glowing fungus on a tree at night. I have never seen this. Apparently it can grow on decaying wood.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxfire

Signs of life - NOT amateur radio

On our walk this morning we came home via the churchyard. There are stirrings in the ground (no, not ghosts!) with aconites just coming in to flower with their yellow flowers. Most snowdrops and daffodils have yet to come. These are a sure sign of better weather and lighter evenings on the way.

Incidentally although the late afternoons have been getting gradually lighter, the mornings get darker for a while into January. From this point onward it gets lighter here morning and afternoon. A corner has been turned.

15m FT8

It is now 0922z. For about 5 minutes, I have been on 15m FT8 RX. So far,  6 stations have been spotted. When on TX I use 2.5W to the indoor loop.

UPDATE 1525z: 259 stations spotted so far with the furthermost being YB6UAF (12009km) in Indonesia.  5 continents spotted.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 6th 2021

Solar flux is 75 and the SSN 0. A=11 and K=3.

2m activity contest

The first UKAC 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB was last night. I was on for about 50 minutes with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 

In my view, conditions were poor and activity low. There were no portables (presumably because of lockdown). My best DX (lost before we could complete) was G4RRA in Devon. Had we completed, this would have been a good contact. It is much easier on FT8!