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G4TNU > NEWS 28.07.24 03:00l 276 Lines 13675 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 28 Jul 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 28th of July 2024
The news headlines:
* Two new Directors have been co-opted to the RSGB Board
* The RSGB welcomes two new Regional Representatives
* The RSGB National Radio Centre is looking for volunteers
When Paul Nichols, M0PVN resigned as an RSGB Director in May, it
created a vacancy on the Board. The Board decided that it was in the
Society's interests to expand the Board to nine people to help
implement the Society's strategic priorities. Under Article 37 it has
co-opted Peter Bowyer, G4MJS and Peter Ransom, M0SFZ as Directors to
serve until the 2025 AGM. Peter Ransom recently passed his Full
licence so that he could build and tinker with RF equipment, to add
to his ongoing interest in writing amateur radio software and
designing his own PCBs. He has a passion for technology and
communication and has had a career that combines technical expertise
with strategic vision. He hopes to use that knowledge and experience
to help the Board to ensure that the Society remains relevant to the
amateur radio community. Peter Bowyer has been in and around IT all
his career and currently helps organisations with their Agile
development strategies. He has been licensed for 45 years, but says
he is still learning new things. He's an avid contester, having
served on the VHF Contests Committee, he has written a column for
RadCom and is a past chair of the UK Six Metre Group. The RSGB
welcomes them both to the Board.
The RSGB is delighted to announce the co-option of two Regional
Representatives. Peter Lowrie, MI5JYK is based in Region 8 and Brian
Woolnough, M5ADQ in Region 12. They will serve in these roles until
the RSGB 2025 AGM. You can see contact details for either of them, or
any member of the Regional Team, on the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/regions
There is so much happening at the RSGB National Radio Centre that it
needs to expand its team of volunteers! The NRC has a fabulous set-up
and you'll be given full training on using the GB3RS radio station.
You should enjoy meeting people and be able to volunteer for one or
two days per month as part of a friendly and dedicated team. NRC
volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering
at Bletchley Park. For more information, please email NRC Coordinator
Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support<at>rsgb.org.uk
From the 27th of July to the 3rd of August, the Essex International
Jamboree is welcoming around 10,000 scouts and guides, including
2,000 supporting volunteers from around the world, to Boyton Cross
near Chelmsford. As part of the programme, amateur radio station
GB24EIJ will be running a wide range of communications and
electronics activities. The organising team intends the station to be
active on the HF, VHF and UHF bands, using various modes. To read
more about the Essex International Jamboree visit eij.org.uk
The Broadcast Engineering Museum near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire is
new and a work in progress, so it only opens a few days each year.
The next open days are coming up on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the
15th of September from 11am to 4pm. The Museum contains a vast
collection of historic broadcasting equipment and memorabilia, some
restored and working, on display in a former RAF sergeants' mess.
Free parking is available on site. For more information email
contactus<at>becg.org.uk or visit becg.org.uk
Don't forget to book your tickets for National Hamfest 2024 which is
taking place on the 27th and 28th of September. There is still a
chance to secure early-bird ticket discount, but this is only
available until the 31st of August. National Hamfest promises to be
an unforgettable celebration of all things amateur radio. As always,
the traders and manufacturers are lining up to bring you the best in
amateur radio equipment and accessories. Many exhibitors will be
offering exclusive deals, making it the perfect time to upgrade your
gear or add new items to your shack. For more information, and to
purchase your tickets, visit nationalhamfest.org.uk
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on
Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 28th, Wiltshire Radio Summer Rally is taking place at
Kington Langley Village Hall, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. The event is
running from 9am to 1pm, admission is GBP 3 and indoor tables cost
GBP 10. To take part in the car boot sale, a car-sized pitch costs
GBP 10 and a van-sized pitch is GBP 15. Hot and cold refreshments are
available on site. For more information email
Chairman<at>Chippenhamradio.club
Part 1 of the British Amateur Television Club Convention for Amateur
TV 2024, also known as CAT 24, will take place on Sunday the 4th of
August from 10am to 4pm. The venue will be Midland Air Museum, Rowley
Road, Coventry, CV3 4FR. The Convention provides opportunities for
amateurs to meet, take part in show-and-tell activities, use test and
fix equipment, and enjoy a bring-and-buy event. For more information
follow the ‘Events' tab at batc.org.uk
King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club's 34th Great Eastern Radio Rally is
taking place on Sunday the 4th of August. The Rally will be held at
Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn in Norfolk. The
doors open at 9am and admission will cost GBP 2.50. Traders are
welcome from 7am. An outdoor pitch will cost GBP 8, and indoors it
will be GBP 10 per table. Car parking is free. There will be trade
stands, a bring-and-buy area and catering will be available on site.
For further information and reservations
email rally.klarc<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event news
Special event station TM67JO is active to celebrate the Paris 2024
Olympic Games which began on Friday the 26th of July. The operators
include F1LFL on SSB, F5PZT using FT8 and FT4, and F5TFW on CW. QSL
to F1LFL via the Bureau or directly. For more information about the
special event station, which will be operating until the 11th of
August, visit QRZ.com
Marking the 25th anniversary since Poland joined the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation, special callsign HF25NATO is active until the
31st of August. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. Only 100 limited edition QSL
cards will be distributed. These will be issued first-come,
first-served so call in quick! For details of a certificate that is
available visit tinyurl.com/hf25nato
Now the DX news
Jeff, W7BRS is active as VK2/W7BRS from Lord Howe Island, OC-004,
until the 1st of August. He is operating using CW, SSB and FT8 on the
40 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS.
A team of five UK operators will attempt to activate MM0UKI from the
Flannan Islands, EU-118, in August. The uninhabited island group is
20 miles west of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. It is the
6th most wanted IOTA location in Europe and the 2nd in the UK, after
Rockall. The team consists of Rockall DXpedition veteran Nobby G0VJG,
John G4IRN, Paul G4PVM, Mike GM5AUG and Jamie M0SDV. The trip is
weather dependent and departure to the island is planned for the 1st
of August, with the 2nd being a contingency day. Activity will be on
the 40 to 6m bands, using SSB and CW from three stations. Operating
will continue until the first available weather window for departure
on the 4th of August or thereafter. The QSL Manager for the trip is
Charles, M0OXO.
Now the contest news
The IOTA Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 27th and finishes
at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 28th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80
to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and IOTA reference.
Today, the 28th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs
from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 3rd of August, the 4th 144MHz Backpackers Contest
runs from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter
postcode.
Also on Saturday the 3rd, the 144MHz Low Power Contest runs from 1400
to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode.
On Sunday the 4th, the 432MHz Low Power Contest runs from 0800 to
1200UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode.
On Saturday the 3rd, the EU HF Championship runs from 0000 to
2359UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and the last two digits of
the first year you were licensed.
The Worked All Britain 144MHz SSB Low Power Contest will take place
on Saturday the 3rd of August from 1400 to 1800UTC. The maximum
power allowed for this contest is 25W. The exchange is report, serial
number and Worked All Britain square. Entries need to be with
the contest manager by the 13th of August. Full rules for the
contest are available on the Worked All Britain website.
The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon started on Saturday the 4th of
May and ends on Sunday the 4th of August. Using all modes on the 6m
band, the exchange is your four-character locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 25th of July 2024
We had yet another week of high sunspot numbers and low geomagnetic
disturbances, but will it last?
We dodged a bullet last week after a weak coronal mass ejection, or
CME, on Tuesday the 23rd failed to generate a geomagnetic storm. This
was from a faint halo CME observed on Sunday, which was much weaker
than expected when it hit Earth.
A further M2.4 flare, near the eastern limb on Tuesday, produced a
coronal mass ejection, but that was directed away from Earth.
So, we ended the week with a Kp index that never rose above 2,
despite up to 19 M-class solar flares occurring. Our luck must run
out some time!
The main HF DX this week has been the K8R DXpedition on American
Samoa. This has been workable on all bands from 20 to 10m, especially
using FT8. They have been trialling a new Super Fox mode on FT8. If
you are interested in using this mode, you will need the latest
version of the WSJT-X software.
Daylight maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path
have reached more than 24MHz, with 28MHz available at times on some
paths. This will, no doubt, improve as we head towards the autumn.
Nighttime MUFs over a similar path length have exceeded 14MHz, and
often reached 18MHz at times. Make the most of the nighttime openings
as they will die off as we head towards the end of the summer.
Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the range of
165 to 175 and the Kp index will be a maximum of 2 all week. As ever,
this will be dependent on any solar flares and associated CMEs. A CME
could easily push the Kp index up and the MUF down.
Four sunspot groups have just rotated into view so keep a close eye
on them on solarham.com At least one is classed as "growing" and
could be a contender for trouble over the next week by way of solar
flares and CMEs.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The area of high pressure which develops over this weekend will bring
the prospect of Tropo conditions at the start of the new week.
The high will drift slowly east towards Denmark by midweek but could
still provide the chance of Tropo conditions across the North Sea
until Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a weather front will reach northwest Scotland on Monday
and edge slowly south whilst a small thundery low develops near the
southwest of Britain. This combination will bring a gradual
transition to more unsettled weather with a chance of rain scatter on
the GHz bands for the second half of the week.
The Delta Aquariid meteor shower is active from the 12th of July to
the 23rd of August. With no noticeable peak, it is expected to reach
its maximum rate of 25 per hour on or around the 30th of July.
We should have more than just random meteors to use for meteor
scatter operation, so it's worth trying meteor scatter on the VHF
bands. Also, given clear skies and darkness over the next few weeks,
it's worth having a look out for them with the naked eye or
photographically.
This extra input of meteors may well improve the prospects for
Sporadic-E, which have perhaps seemed a little less than enthusiastic
recently. Meteor debris from meteor showers, or random meteors,
provides the fuel for Sporadic-E. These ionised trails in the E
region above 100km can be affected by wave motion caused by jet
streams much lower down at around 10km. Fortunately, there are a
number of useful jet streams on the forecast charts for next week
with a slight preference for paths to Scandinavia and eastern Europe.
Moon declination is positive and rising, reaching maximum on Thursday
the 1st of August, so Moon windows are long with high peak Moon
elevation. We passed perigee on the 24th so path losses are on the
increase. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate all week.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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