| |
G4TNU > NEWS 28.02.16 01:42l 285 Lines 13511 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
BID : 12306G4TNU
Read: GUEST
Subj: RSGB Main News - 28 Feb 2016
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<HG8LXL<GB7YEW<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
Sent: 160228/0026Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:12306G4TNU
T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.uk
T:Message-Id: <G108700_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 28th February 2016
The news headlines:
* RSGB UK bid for YOTA 2017
* Special special Scout centenary callsigns
* Latest ISS contact announced
The IARU has run a Youngsters on the Air International Summer Camp
every year since 2011. It has been hosted in Romania,
Belgium/Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Italy and Austria. The RSGB
Board has agreed to submit a bid to host the 2017 YOTA Summer Camp in
the UK. If successful, this will see young members from countries
within Region 1 coming together for a week long programme of amateur
radio related activities.
Ofcom has announced that it will release so-called ‘special
special' callsigns to support the Scouts' Centenary celebrations.
These callsigns will be prefixed GB100 (one zero zero), GB1OO (one oh
oh) and GB1O0 (one oh zero), and have up to eight characters in
total. An example might be GB100CSD. These callsigns will be
available for special events by Cub Scout District and higher level
groups and must be endorsed by the District Commissioner or
equivalent for higher level groups. Ofcom has further clarified that
events at the level of individual Cub Scout Groups will continue to
be limited to normal special event callsigns.
The date of the next ISS School Contact has been confirmed by NASA.
On Saturday the 5th of March, students from Powys Combined Schools
will get their chance to speak to Tim Peake as he flies overhead. The
pass is around 10.55 in the morning. Amateurs all over Northern
Europe will be able to listen to the downlink live on 145.800MHz. A
2m handheld radio outdoors is adequate to hear much of his
transmission, using only a rubber duck antenna.
Financial institutions are starting to see radio as a higher speed
alternative to fibre optic networks. Making deals faster than others
can bring huge benefits to traders, and every microsecond counts. A
recent article in the Times reveals that a financial services
consortium is seeking permission to build a thousand-foot mast in
Kent. The purpose is to carry data traffic to the continent via
radio, fractionally more quickly than other methods. The mast is just
a mile from a similar height mast proposed by a rival company last
year.
Recently, Norman Pascoe, G4USB, became a silent key. He was one of
the founders of International Marconi Day and the yearly organiser.
This year's event will go ahead as planned, and the Cornish Amateur
Radio Club expects to keep it running for many years to come.
Unfortunately an online attack has taken down the International
Marconi Day websites. If you have already registered for IMD 2016 you
need not take any further action. For new registrations, or to find
out more, please email the club via crac.imd<at>gmail.com
Interference from VDSL, the very high bitrate digital subscriber line
technology used for superfast broadband to the home, is an increasing
concern to amateurs. This problem, and other EMC-related matters,
will be the subject of discussions between the RSGB and Ofcom at
meetings in March 2016.
Papers are now available for the April IARU Region 1 interim meeting.
Proposals cover a wide range of HF, VHF, microwave and EMC matters.
These include band plans, contest rules, and interference issues.
Comments from UK amateurs are invited via the RSGB Consultations
forum, which includes guidance and links to the papers. Comments are
also invited on a separate consultation regarding the future of the
UK 5MHz beacons. These must be received before the end of March.
Information on both of these items can be found at
http://forums.thersgb.org
The latest version of the RSGB Band Plans were published in the March
edition of RadCom. For reasons of space, the usual quite-small print
was used. The Band Plans are also available in a variety of formats
on the RSGB website, which can be viewed at much larger sizes if
required. To find them, go to the www.rsgb.org website, select
Operating and then Band Plans. There you will also find additional
information such as a detailed look at the changes made this year.
70cm beacon GB3LEU has been suffering from frequency stability
anomalies. It was switched off shortly after noon on 23 February and
will remain off the air whilst the issues are investigated. Progress
reports will be issued online at
www.leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk.
A new volunteer QSL sub manager has been appointed for the G1 and G2
series of call signs. Colin Tuckley, G8TMV replaces long-time
volunteer Anthony Nowell, who died suddenly, shortly before
Christmas. Unfortunately, we have been unable to recover Members'
collection envelopes from Anthony's estate. G1 and G2 call holders
are advised to send replacement envelopes to the new manager ASAP.
Please remember that all collection envelopes must have the relevant
callsign and unique membership number in the top left corner.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Brats Rainham Radio Rally takes place today, the 28th, at Rainham
School for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 0BX.
Doors open at 9.30/10am and there will be a talk-in station. There
will be trade stands, special interest groups and catering on site.
More details from Trevor on 07717 678 795 or online at
www.brats-qth.org.
Also today the Pencoed Amateur Radio Club Table Top Sale takes place
at Pencoed Rugby Football Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed
CF35 5PB. Doors open at 9.30am. Admission is GBP 2. Hot food will be
available in the morning and at lunch time and hot and cold drinks
will be available from the bar. Details are online at
www.MW0PRG.co.uk/events.uk.
Next Saturday the Lagan Valley ARS annual rally takes place at
Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough
BT26 6AR. The only other information we have been given is that the
doors open at 11am.
Next Sunday the Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally takes place at
America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at
10.30am, or 10.15 for disabled visitors and anyone booking items into
the Bring & Buy. Admission is GBP 2. There will be the usual range of
traders, and catering is available on site. Details from Pete, G3ZVI
on 07714 198 374 or by email to g3zvi<at>yahoo.co.uk.
If you have any rally or event information you'd like to appear in
future editions of GB2RS News, in RadCom and on the RSGB website,
please email details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
VK5MAV and VK5CE will be activating Breaksea, IOTA reference OC-243,
from the 29th of February to the 4th of March. QSL via Clublog OQRS,
direct and bureau.
DK2AMM, DL6JGN, GM4FDM and PA3EWP will be on the island of Nuku Hiva,
OC-027 from the 3rd of March to the 15th. Activity will be on 40-10m,
CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via DK2AMM.
Majuro, OC-029 will be put on the air by AH6OY from the 1st to the
7th of March, probably with a V73I callsign. QSL direct or via the
bureau.
UA1QV will activate Kolguev, EU-085 from the 5th to the 16th of
March. Using the callsign RI1PA, activity will be on all bands. QSL
to the home call, direct or bureau.
A group of 10 operators will be on the air as DA0HEL from Helgoland,
EU-127 from the 5th to the 13th of March. Activity will be on all
bands, possibly up to 2m, on SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK and JT65. QSL direct
or via the bureau to DF6QC.
Operating form the lowest point on the Earth's surface, 429 metres
below sea level, 4X429DS will be on the air from the shores of the
Dead Sea on all bands and modes from the 3rd to the 6th of March. QSL
to N4GNR.
Now the special event news
Llanelli ARS will be putting GB4SDD on the air on Tuesday from
10.30am to mark St David's Day.
R85PAR will be on the air from the 1st to the 21st of March to
celebrate 85 years of Russian polar aircraft. QSL via RZ5D, direct or
via the bureau.
Marking 70 years since Winston Churchill's speech that coined the
phrase ‘iron curtain', W0C will be on the air from the 4th to the
7th of March. Sponsored by Callaway Amateur Radio League LLC, the
special event will be operating at or near 14.275, 14.070, 7.225, and
7.070MHz.
St Patrick's Day, the 17th of March, sees the third year of the
annual St Patrick's Day Award. The sole aim of this one-day award is
to enjoy the festivities and connect with other stations across the
world. To find out more or to register a station for the day, go to
http://stpatrickaward.webs.com/
Now the contest news
The French REF Contest concludes tonight at 1800UTC. Using SSB on the
3.5-28MHz contest bands, the exchange is RS and serial number. French
stations also send their département number or overseas prefix.
The CQ WW 160m DX contest concludes tonight at 2200UTC, having
started on Friday. Using SSB on the 1.8MHz band, the exchange is RS
plus CQ Zone. US stations will also send their State and Canadians
their Province.
The first 70MHz Cumulative runs from 1000UTC to 1200UTC today on the
4m band. Using all modes, the exchange is RST, serial number and
locator.
On Wednesday the UKEICC 80m SSB contest takes place from 2000UTC to
2100UTC. Using SSB only on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is your
4-character locator.
Next weekend sees the ARRL International DX contest from 0000UTC on
the 5th to 2359UTC on the 6th. Using SSB on the 1.8-28MHz contest
bands, the exchange is RS plus Tx power. US stations will also send
their State and Canadians their Province.
Also on the 5th and 6th is the RSGB 144/432MHz contest, which is a
VHF Championship event. Action commences at 1400UTC on Saturday and
ends at 100UTC on Sunday. All modes can be used on the 144 and 432MHz
bands, and the exchange is RST, serial number and locator.
Next Sunday the YL France team and DARC's YL group are organising an
international YL-Activity day in advance of International Women's
Day, March the 8th. Activity is from 0700 UTC to 1100UTC on 40m and
80m using SSB and CW. Scoring is heavily weighted towards YLs working
YLs; OM to OM contacts score nil. Details are online at
tinyurl.com/YL-comp-2016.
Finally, the first UK Microwave Group Low Band contest takes place
from 1000UTC to 1600UTC next Sunday. Using all modes on the 1.3 to
3.4GHz bands, the exchange is RST, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G4BAO and G3YLA
on Friday 26th February.
This week didn't bring the better HF conditions that we talked about
in the last GB2RS. This was due to a declining solar flux index and
generally active geomagnetic conditions. The SFI declined to 88 by
Thursday due to a lack of sunspots, although NOAA had predicted
around 100 to 110. The K index also fluctuated between one and three
due to ongoing solar coronal holes, although there were no major
geomagnetic events. Together this brought reasonable propagation
during the ARRL DX CW contest, with many of the eastern and
mid-western states being workable up to 21MHz, but ten metre openings
were a little lacklustre.
We now have one solitary sunspot group on the solar surface – and
it's a small one at that. So next week the SFI should start with a
lowly 85, but is predicted to finish the week at a more promising
115, according to the US Air Force. The geomagnetic K index may
continue to remain reasonably unsettled due to coronal holes. The
first, third and sixth of March may potentially be worse with a
predicted K index of four.
We are now entering a period where north-south paths are potentially
much better on HF, but east-west paths may suffer, especially on the
higher bands.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
It's thin pickings again for VHF/UHF tropo this week. There will be
some weak ridging at first and again from midweek, but these cold air
winter highs or ridges are not necessarily great at producing good
lift conditions. Ideally, we need a good flow of cloudy moist air
from the Azores or Biscay, but alas not this week.
Other potential sources of higher frequency action may come from
isolated wintry showers around the coasts, which can make good
sources of scatter mode propagation on the GHz bands. This week will
favour the North Sea for scatter points.
Last Wednesday's cluster reports saw a short 50MHz Sporadic-E opening
from the South West down to Spain and Portugal, so remember to check
the lower bands around lunchtime for these rare surprises.
The seasonally-low random meteor rates continue and, with no major
showers, early morning continues to be best time day for random
meteor scatter operation.
The Moon heads towards its lowest declination on Friday and the
short, low elevation windows added to high losses mean not much time
for QSOs. But it is a good week to check out your EME systems. At
this this time of year the sun is reaching up to 30 degrees elevation
at noon so you can again use the sun for cold sky noise measurements
to check your system sensitivities on the higher bands.
And that's all for this week from the propagation team.
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 gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
