Trump - NOT amateur radio

It amazes me that so many people within the USA voted for Trump. Clearly he has a following in the USA whereas many outside of the USA think him stupid. 

Banana warehouse - NOT amateur radio

This photo is over 100 years old. It shows the banana warehouse in Sheffield owned by the great grandfather of my wife. Years ago my wife visited it and remembers the smell of all those bananas.

New carpet cleaner - NOT amateur radio

 

We bought a new carpet cleaner this week. We tried it out in a small, little used room. It seems to be fine. 

The photo shows me using it.

QSY to 2m FT8 QRP (Thursday)

At 1700z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP as 15m FT8 was quiet. It is now 1740z. So far, 7 statioms have spotted my QRP TX and I have spotted 4 stations on RX.

UPDATE 2123z:  Now QRT . Spotted by 9 stations on TX with 1 QSO. 11 stations spotted on RX.

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