iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 20/09/2026

@norlander.bsky.social Yo Matt! Hope that you are enjoying the Bears weather today! I just flew back from Portland, ME, your neck of the woods, and am at Pete's Pizza on Western ave correcting my constitution with some tavern style love! Enjoy the game!!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 06/09/2026

No one has ever seen anything like it!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 26/08/2026

First day of class in Champaign-Urbana at #UIUC. Teaching a startup class and not sure if they will learn more from me than I learn from them, but gonna be a great ride this semester!

Teacher in front of students in a startup class for undergraduate students.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 16/06/2026

@professorgerdes.bsky.social When will the Germans be "sold" some rights to the Ukrainian rare Earth minerals? Another strategic defeat for US if this happens, but why would you "partner" with someone who doesn't support you?

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 05/06/2026

Wrapping up the first of two weeks of the Princeton Introduction to Plasma and Fusion course. suli.pppl.gov/2026/course/ I'm looking forward to the dusty plasma session next week by Eva Kostadinova.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 09/04/2026

Second day in a row that there's a daytime power outage in the neighborhood and I'm the only one who has solar and battery here in Austin. Have been in meetings and zoom calls all day and not a blip of a problem. I'm sure that this won't be the last unintended benefit!

Solar power production and usage in a residential setup.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 29/03/2026

Illini in the Final Four!! LFG!!

University of Illinois Kingfisher carrying a pennant that says Final Four Bound

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 20/03/2026

Had an awesome QRP POTA activation yesterday! Anguilla AI-0005 - Prickly Pear Marine Park 10 SSB contacts, including Canada, France, Spain and Sweden 12 CW contacts, including Canada, Spain and Chile! Thanks VP2EIH, VP2EKG and VP2EML!!

Rainbow pointing down towards a sailboat in the Caribbean

POTA CW and SSB contacts map. Includes USA, Canada, Spain, France, Sweden and Chile.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 01/03/2026

Howdy @jasonnarducy.bsky.social Wanted to send thanks for Emo's show. Great time! Looking forward to Document Tour next year!

Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy playing around in LRP intermission

Narducy and Shannon making it happen. Emo's Austin

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 18/02/2026

Took almost 3 weeks to get from 150 to 175 on 12m FT8. This is after reaching about 180+ on 30m FT8 all of last year. So the goal is 250 for America's 250th birthday.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 16/02/2026

Almost 85% renewable energy right now, uncluding Nuclear. Power storage just getting ramped up the last two years but headed towards a more stable grid.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 15/02/2026

Texas power grid is currently 70% sourced from renewable energy, primarily wind and solar. This is unusually high, but the work done a decade or two ago is paying off today. Ending support for green tech will show up negatively a decade or two from now.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 08/02/2026

Caught this little gem recently in Austin Texas. Solar eclipse ND filter and some patience.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 31/01/2026

Almost two weeks to get another 25 points. The easy pickings are gone. Been picking up some African DXpeditions and the Baltics. Haven't got much into Asia yet. One month into the year, almost matched all of 2025 30m count! :0

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 18/01/2026

Still racking up the points. Scored San Marino this morning and Australia this evening. Next up: 150 points and barely 2.5 weeks into the year!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 14/01/2026

Cleaned up some European countries and now at 100 for the year. Gonna be slower going for sure, but summer should yield some interesting DX locations.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 11/01/2026

From a freind of mine who was at the game last night:

I once read the Kop end at Anfield described as "a boiling cauldron of hostility" during Man U games and for once Solider Field lived up to that. Insane game

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 10/01/2026

Got Norfolk Island and South Sudan today to push me over 75 for the year. 12m gonna be fun this year!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 06/01/2026

Haven't been trying hard, but rather focused on the more edge DXCC but already at 50 points for the year. Hope to break 200 this year. Stretch goal is 250.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 01/01/2026

Already at 25 points in the CQ DX Marathon 2026 contest. A long way to go, but working 12m this year since we are still in the good part of the solar cycle.

CQ DX Marathon Scoresheet on Jan 1, 2026.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 30/12/2025

So I started checking @Walmart to see how their prices compare. Obviously, there is some ring kissing there too, but not as singular as Nazi Bezos. Checked a water purifier replacement and this was half the price at Walmart compared to Amazon: www.walmart.com/ip/RO-Water-...

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 17/12/2025

Had a great time at Big Bend National Park taking a Geminids meteor shower photography workshop. Ben Sassani and Mallory Davis were excellent hosts and very knowledgable. Can't recommend them enough for Big Bend photography!!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 28/11/2025

One of my favorite record subscription services is having a sale for their subscription. New Orleans based club has some real unique releases! Tipitina's Record Club

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 04/11/2025

And this is why you have to keep the government closed. DementiaDon won't abide by any deal with Democrats: www.nytimes.com/live/2025/11...

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 18/10/2025

In the thick of the #NoKings march in Austin, Texas.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 18/10/2025

More from the #NoKings rally in Austin, Texas.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 18/10/2025

Austin, Texas #NoKings rally was huge! Crowd stretched for a mile and a half walking from the Capitol to the Long Center. Peaceful, fun, but with a purpose.

NoKings Rally March leaving the Capitol on Oct 18th, 2025.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 18/10/2025

Finally made my next 25 point increment. Took over 4 months, but I missed the digi contest over Labor Day and summer had short nights. I still think that 200 points is possible. Only 5 CQ zones left.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 09/10/2025

A great start to a celebration of founders at the University of Illinois. Panel discussion about growing capital access in Illinois. #Illini #FoundersWeek

Panel discussion of Illinois capital. Nancy Sullivan, Al Goldstein and Gerald Wilson.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 05/10/2025

Royal and the Serpent singing Where Did You Sleep Last Night is a highlight so far. #ACL2025 #ACL25 #ACL

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 05/08/2025

Sorry to see you go 247sports. I subscribed for the guys at Illini Inquirer, but now that they are owned to make State TV (Paramount), I am out of there. #illini #247sports

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 16/07/2025

Great day of POTA at Peninsula State Park in Wisconsin! Lots of CW and FT8 contacts, even a 20m ground wave to a local resident about 5 miles away. Ham Radio can be so rewarding sometimes!

2.5 Hour POTA map from Peninsula State Park in Wisconsin. 20m, 40m and all modes.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 09/07/2025

Had a really great time working the 13 Colonies stations last week. Hope to complete the entire sweep in CW next year.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 04/07/2025

I've never seen this much traffic on FT4. Digital bands are full all over the place and the 13Colonies SES seems to be driving 20% of the traffic.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 17/06/2025

Great panel at ANS led by @katyhuff.bsky.social How to navigate the uncertain funding environment. I learned a lot and think public/private partnerships will need to grow long term. #nuclear #ANS25 #Illini

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 08/06/2025

Took over three weeks for the next 25 points to be added. Gonna be slow going this summer, me thinks, but will pick up as the days get meaningfully longer.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 02/06/2025

Milky Way Galaxy over Lake Tahoe, Cali last night. Really getting the hang of this editing with Capture One. All setup for tonight's solar storm show. Fingers crossed!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 30/05/2025

Jumped back into CW tonight for the first time on my FlexRadio Maestro and had a great time in the N5OAK CW Net. My recognition skills have deteriorated, but I'm gonna spend more time on this in the coming months.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 15/05/2025

Just over two weeks to add 25 points to my score. Like in some sports, hanging around the goal results in opportunities. Scored Norfolk Island VK9DX because I was online this morning.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 30/04/2025

Hit a score of 100 on the CQ DX marathon for 30m digital this year. Have 2/3 of the year to get to 300+. One per day for the rest of the year will get me close, but I'll need a lot of luck because the easy targets are almost gone.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 13/04/2025

90 degree day in Austin, Texas and the power grid is generating 67% of the needed power from solar and wind! It would be stupid to rescind the solar tax credits and leave our national security up to the energy terrorists.

Texas Fuel Mix on 90 degree day in Austin, Texas.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 09/04/2025

Even though the price of oil is up today following Dementia Don's capitulation of a terrible policy, he still has done Ukraine a favor by lowering Russia's revenue. This will hurt Putin's ability to fund the war... Keep it up, Donnie!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 31/03/2025

A great day of DXing for the CQ WPX contest. Finished off my time with Namibia! Happy for my 230+ QSOs. My most ever for a contest. Still have bad noise on 40m so will work on that for the Fall cycle.

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 28/03/2025

Mumford and Sons are out for #ACLFest this year! PTL!!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 23/03/2025

Texas Power Grid generating 60% with only solar and wind today. This didn't happen overnight, but because of planning and forsight. Thank you to Governor George W. Bush, Republican state Sen. David Sibley, Pat Wood, and Governor Rick Perry for supporting this project!

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Craig Vodnik - K5AYO @craigvodnik.com · 20/03/2025

Had our Enphase solar panels fired up for the first time today and produced about *2.5x* what we consumed. Summer AC will bring that down, but this is still setting up to be another step towards independence from the tyrrany of the minority. #NazisRaus

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