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G4TNU > NEWS 28.09.14 13:07l 297 Lines 14754 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 28 Sep 2014
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 28th September 2014
The news headlines:
* IARU Region 1 Conference
* The Future of IOTA
* Lord Howe Island Dxpedition
Last week saw the 23rd International Amateur Radio Union General
Conference held in Bulgaria. National societies, including the RSGB,
from 45 countries covering Europe, Scandinavia, Asia and Africa sent
representatives to agree and coordinate activity to secure the future
of amateur radio. Real progress was made at the meeting on a number
of topics that are of key concern to UK radio amateurs including the
need to protect our spectrum and to address the declining numbers of
active radio amateurs. A full report of the proceedings of the final
Plenary will be published in due course on the IARU Region 1 website
at (www.iarur1.org).
The RSGB would like to congratulate Don Beattie, G3BJ who was elected
IARU Region 1 President for the next three years. Don is an RSGB past
president and well-known volunteer for the RSGB. Several other RSGB
Members were elected into various committee positions and full
details are on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB's Islands on the Air programme celebrated its 50th
anniversary in July 2014. The last fifty years has seen the programme
grow to 2,500 active island chasers and approximately 15,000 more
casual participants. Those close to it have been anxious to ensure
the sustainability of the IOTA programme and have spent some time
reviewing the challenges and opportunities it faces. As a result, a
small international group of IOTA enthusiasts will be invited to
bring forward proposals to ensure the future of the programme for the
next 50 years and beyond. This approach has the full support of the
IOTA team and has been welcomed by the wider IOTA community both at
home and abroad. Search "iota future" on the RSGB website
www.rsgb.org.uk for the full information.
Christian, DL1MGB reports that, in less than four weeks, VK9DLX will
be QRV from Lord Howe Island. The main team will arrive on 12th
October but some members are scheduled to arrive earlier so don't be
surprised if you hear VK9DLX some days earlier than expected. The
main focus of this advance operation will be RTTY. Further
information is at www.lordhowe2014.org
The Austrian national amateur radio society is involved in the
negotiations with the government telecommunications ministry, to
create a new Amateur Radio Act. The negotiations will revolve around
modernising that nation's rules. This is to make it more
contemporary, bring relief in the application process and also enable
such concepts as remote operation. The society notes that recent
experiments with remote operation proceeded without any disturbances
or incidents.
The latest edition of The 5MHz Newsletter is now available for free
download from the RSGB 5MHz webpage or from
http://tinyurl.com/m9a9puy. It features the latest 5MHz news, plus a
report on Midsummer's Day on 5MHz and BeaconSpot looks at the new
Swiss 5MHz Beacon.
The RSGB Convention takes place between the 10th and 12th October and
will be held at the Kent's Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes.
The lecture schedule is available on the RSGB website. Select the
‘About Us' drop down menu on the www.rsgb.org main site for
Convention details. Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ from Elecraft will be joining
delegates over the internet for a talk looking at the insides of the
K3 and the KX3 SDR transceivers on Saturday 11th. Packages are still
available from www.rsgbevents.org to book your place or you can buy
day tickets on the door at the event.
Responses to the recent Ofcom consultation on WRC-15 preparation by
RSGB and affiliated groups including AMSAT-UK are now available on
the WRC-15 Special Focus section of the RSGB website. In addition to
supporting Agenda Item 1.4 for a 5MHz allocation, the detailed
responses cover amateur radio interests across several VHF and
Microwave allocations. This includes amateur bands affected by other
agenda items, ITU procedures for nano- and pico-satellites, and
preferences for future agenda items that may be proposed for WRC-1
At the G-QRP Convention in Ripponden on 25 October the traditional
"Bring a Book - Buy a Book" stall will be operating in aid of
Children in Need. Last year over GBP 600 was donated to the appeal.
The book exchange has provided some fantastic opportunities to share
books around and obtain rare and treasured books from others at very
reasonable cost, whilst supporting a very worthy cause. Richard,
G4UGF says that he has empty tables ready to accept books from those
turning out their book shelves. If you are not attending the
convention then Richard is QTHR.
A public beta release of the weak signal data modes software WSJT-X,
version 1.4, is planned for 1st October. In all, there are nine
specific changes and improvements to the WSJT-X software in this
latest release. To find out what they are send your web browser
tinyurl.com/njabe49 to read the latest WSJT-X manual.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 28th September, the Pencoed ARC Table Top Sale will be held in
Pencoed Rugby Football Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed
CF35 5PB. Tables are GBP 5 on a first come first served basis.
Sellers have access from 8.30am and buyers from 9.30am. Entrance is
GBP 2. More information from Gerry Day on 01656 860 761.
The 5TH West Tyrone ARC Conference will be held on 4 October at the
Village Inn, Killyclogher, Old Mountfield Rd, Omagh, County Tyrone
BT79 7LT. There is a full lecture stream as well as trade stands and
a Bring and Buy. More details from Ian, MI1CCU by e-mail to
mi1ccu<at>mail.com
Sunday 5th October sees the Blackwood and District ARS Rally at
Rougemont School, Llantarnum Hall, Malpas Rd, Newport, NP20 6QB.
Doors open at 10am and admission is GBP 2 with trade stands, a Bring
& Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from
Andy, MW0MWZ on01495 220 687.
Also next Sunday, the 5th, the North Wakefield Club Winter Rally
takes place at Middleton Active Centre, Middleton Ring Road,
LS10 4AX. Doors open at 10.30am and there will be trade stands and a
Bring & Buy. Details from Tony on 07740 003 159.
The Fog on the Tyne Rally appears in October RadCom with the
incorrect date. The rally is being held on 25 October, opening at
10.30am at the Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham,
Gateshead NE8 4LH. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well
as an RSGB bookstall. Details from Nancy, G7UUR on 07990 760920 or on
www.anarc.net. Our apologies for any confusion this has caused.
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 e-mail details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
Now for the news of special events
Derby & District ARS will be GB2WS on the air as part of the Railways
on the Air from Swanwick near Ripley, in West Shed, the home of the
Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust over this weekend.
GB0GCR will be on the air for Railways on the Air and a Pirates and
Princess weekend run at the Old Railway Station in Rothley this
weekend.
GB1PCA will be on the air from 27th September for 28 days from the
Swiss Valley Community Centre in South Wales to promote the awareness
of Prostate Cancer in men, in conjunction with Prostate Cancer UK.
Activity will be mainly on 40m phone. Full QSL information on
www.qrz.com
Throughout September, Pontefract and District ARS will be remembering
those who fought in the Battle of Britain by using the callsign
GB4BOB.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
DJ7RJ and DJ2CW will be operating stroke as FR from Reunion Island
starting 30th September. Activity will be on the 10 to 160m bands
using CW and SSB with two operators on the air until October 8th but
with single handed operation thereafter until 30th October. QSL via
each operator's home callsign.
PY2WAS will be operating as C6AAS from Cable Beach in the Bahamas
from 4th to 8th October. This will be a holiday style operation
concentrating nighttime on the 10 to 30m bands using CW and SSB.
QSL via PY2WAS either direct or via the bureau.
The Czech DXpedition Team will be on the air from Togo until 3rd
October. Activity will be on the 10 to 160m bands using CW, SSB and
some of the digital modes. The group also plans to take part in the
CQ World Wide DX RTTY Contest. QSLs go via OK6DJ, direct, via the
bureau, eQSL, Logbook to the World, or using the OQRS on ClubLog.
IZ1MHY will be operational as 5H1MD from Zanzibar Island between 28th
September and 10th October. Activity will be on the 6 to 20m bands
using CW, SSB and the digital modes. QSL via his home call, the
bureau or direct. See his listing on QRZ.com for more details.
DK5AD will be active from Nepal as 9N7AD until 4th October. His
operation is holiday style on the HF bands using an Elecraft KX3 and
a vertical antenna. QSL via his home callsign. For updates keep an
eye on QRZ.com under DK5AD or 9N7AD
Now the contest news
There are three contests on the final weekend of the month. First is
the CQWW DX RTTY Contest, which runs
for 48 hours ending at 2359 today, the 28th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz
bands the exchange is signal report and Zone. The zone for the UK is
14.
The UK Microwave Group Cumulatives take place on today, the 28th,
from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using the 5.7 to 24GHz bands the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Finally, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest that takes place today,
the 28th, has Low Power (10 watts) and Open sections. Running from
1200 to 1600UTC, scoring is 1 point per contact, multiplied by the
number of Locator squares worked. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 1900 to
2130UTC, using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 1.2/2.3GHz trophy contest runs from 1400 to 2200UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Starting at 1400UTC on the 4th and running for 24 hours, the 432MHz
to 248GHz contest has an exchange of signal report, serial number and
locator.
The EU Sprint SSB contest runs from 1600 to 2000UTC on the 4th. Using
the 3.5 to 14MHz bands the exchange is both callsigns, serial number
and name.
On Sunday the 5th the 21/28MHz contest runs from 0700 to 1900UTC. The
modes are CW and SSB and the exchange is the signal report, serial
number and district.
In the Oceania DX SSB contest there are sections for single-op and
multi-op stations. UK stations work Oceania, that's VK, ZL and
Pacific islands, only. To encourage LF activity the points for QSOs
are different on each band. Running from 0800UTC on the 4th to
0800UTC on the 5th and using the 1.8 to 29MHz bands the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
The IARU 432MHz-248GHz Contest starts at 1400UTC on the 4th and runs
for 24 hours. An entry into the IARU contest will be made for you by
the RSGB Contest Committee if you enter one or both of the RSGB
UHF/microwave events that take place this weekend, unless you specify
otherwise. Using all modes on the 432MHz to 248GHz bands the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain HF Phone contest takes place on Saturday 4th
and Sunday 5th October from 1200 to 1200UTC. The exchange is signal
report, serial number and WAB square or DXCC Entity for stations
outside the UK. Entries need to be with the contest manager by 26th
October. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be obtained from
the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.org.uk or from the contest
manager Tony Beardsley G3XKT by email to aebbooks<at>ntlworld.com.
Now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 19th to
Thursday the 25th of September, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on
Friday the 26th of September.
Numerous sunspot regions were visible everyday, some were large and
complex, but for what ever reason failed to produce any significant
solar flares. Saying that, a M2 class solar flare took place on the
23rd, otherwise solar activity was at low levels with only a small
number of C class solar flares taking place everyday. Solar flux
levels increased from 119 units on the 20th to 158 by the 25th, the
average was 134 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 25th was
134 units, that's three units up on last week. X-ray flux levels
averaged B5.3 units and increased during the period to C1 by the
25th. Geomagnetic activity started at active levels due to a coronal
mass ejection that departed the Sun several days earlier, the Ap
index on the 19th was 22 units. Activity declined to quiet levels
till the 24th when a coronal hole disturbance arrived and the Ap on
the 24th was 25 units. The average was Ap 12 units. Solar wind data
from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 660
kilometres per second on the 21st to 380 by the 23rd and the 24th.
Particle densities were low except for the 19th that increased to 40
particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between minus 4 and plus 5
nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 13 and plus 16
nanoTeslas on the 19th.
Now the solar forecast for the coming week. This week the more active
side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity is
expected to be low but could increase to moderate levels on any day.
Solar flux levels are expected to increase to around the 160's. At
the start of the forecast period geomagnetic activity is expected to
be at 'active' levels due to a series of positive polarity,
equatorial recurring coronal holes, by midweek activity should have
declined to quiet levels. MUFs during daylight hours at equal
latitudes should be around 32MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to
be about 11MHz. Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 28MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be
about 24MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0800 and
1100 hours UTC.
And that's all from the propagation team for another 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 gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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