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G4APL > NEWS 07.08.16 09:07l 279 Lines 13586 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 7 Aug 2016
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Sent: 160807/0736Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:56492G4APL
T:From: Paul Lewis <g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.uk
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 7th August 2016
The news headlines:
* Ofcom online licensing statement
* Belarus gets 60m band
* Dayton Hamvention moves venue
Some teething troubles have been encountered with Ofcom's new online
licensing system. These include the dedicated licence revalidation
facility, which has disappeared, and the reissue of callsigns that
have, at some time in the past, been issued to someone else. The RSGB
has pressed Ofcom for a statement, which is reproduced in full at
www.rsgb.org/ofcom-update. Ofcom said that it remains a Licence
condition to revalidate at least every five years. While the new
portal doesn't currently have a dedicated revalidation button, it
will automatically revalidate your licence when you register on the
new system. In the future, Ofcom will introduce a feature to
Revalidate and to check your licence details easily. In the meantime,
if you contact Ofcom by phone, email or letter, you can ask them to
revalidate your licence, although they strongly encourage all
licensees to register on the portal. Ofcom also confirmed that some
applicants have received callsigns that were previously issued to
someone else. This only affects a very small number, issued between
the new system going live on the 28th of July, and ending at 8am on
the 3rd of August. Ofcom stress that no duplicate callsigns were
issued, and that none of the recycled callsigns had been valid for at
least the previous two years.
Amateurs in Belarus now have access to the new WRC15 60m allocation.
Their band is from 5351.5 to 5366.5kHz with a maximum power of 50
watts. Class A, the top level licence holders, may use SSB, CW and
digital modes.
Hara Arena, home of the Dayton Hamvention, is due to close shortly.
Hamvention managers have announced that the event will be moving to
the Greene County Fairgrounds and Event Center in Xenia, Ohio. It's
about 16 miles east of central Dayton. More details are at
www.hamvention.org.
Since the first Sunday in June there has been an addition to the
GB2RS broadcast schedule. Reg, G8VHI, in Nuneaton, now reads the news
at 2030UTC on 145.525MHz. He has a very good VHF location and should
be audible over a large part of the West and East Midlands. His best
report to date is near Hamburg in Germany!
Tropical Storm Earl is currently heading across Central America,
affecting Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. Radio amateurs in
the region are providing emergency communications support. Amateurs
in the rest of the world are reminded it is possible to cause
unintentional QRM to these emergency nets. Please listen carefully if
operating near amateur emergency frequencies, particularly in the
7MHz band. Details of all the frequencies to avoid during the
hurricane season can be found at www.iaru-r1.org.
Ofcom is holding a consultation on Improving spectrum access for
consumers in the 5GHz band. This proposes an expansion of 5GHz Wi-Fi
bands that would, amongst other things, affect weak signal reception
for 5760MHz narrowband and EME users and 5840MHz satellites, whilst
still inhibiting innovation of amateur mesh and other innovative data
systems. The RSGB response to this consultation, and a related one by
AMSAT-UK, may be read in the Spectrum Forum section of the RSGB
website. [Note to Newsreaders: the direct link is
http://rsgb.org/main/blog/spectrum-forum-posts-overview/spectrum-forum
-papers-consultations/2016/08/01/5ghz-wi-fi/]
So far more than 375 registrations have been received from 40
countries for this year's International Lighthouse and Lightship
Weekend. Organisers expect around 500 marine structures to be listed
when the event goes on air on the weekend of the 20th and 21st of
August. Leading this fun event so far is Germany with 60, USA and
Australia with 55, followed by England with 30. To see all
registrations, go to www.illw.net
Krzysztof, SP5HS became silent key at the age of 81 earlier this
month. He was one of the reactivators of the Polish Amateur Radio
Union PZK in 1956 and one of the Headquarters personnel. In 1990, he
was elected President of the Union. A longer tribute is on the RSGB
website at rsgb.org/sk
Amateur Radio Newsline has selected 17 year old Skyler Fennell,
KD0WHB, of Denver, Colorado as the 2016 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF
Memorial Young Ham of the Year. First licenced in July 2013, he
reached Extra class in 2014. His YouTube channel chronicles several
of his amateur radio achievements. Search for Skyler FM.
Due to resurfacing work, access to the Rugby ATS Rally on the 21st of
August will be via a temporary entrance in Coventry Road. Full
details are on the RSGB website and will also be in next week's
GB2RS.
Alaska's High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program facility,
HAARP, will reopen in 2017. HAARP is known as the world's most
capable high power, high frequency transmitter for study of the
ionosphere. The FCC recently granted HAARP two Experimental Service
licences for research. WI2XFX covers experiments on various
frequencies between 2.65 and 8.1MHz. WI2XDV covers ionospheric
research between 1 and 40MHz.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The 27th King's Lynn ARC Great Eastern Radio Rally takes place today,
the 7th of August, at Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's
Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4DZ. Talk in will be available on 145.550MHz and
car parking is free. Doors open at 9am, with admission GBP 2. There
will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. There are amateur radio
pitches outside as well as tables inside. Onsite catering will be
available. Details from Ted, G4OZG on 01553 768 701.
Also on today, the 7th, the Lorn Radio Rally will be held in
Crianlarich Village Hall, Main Street, Crianlarich, Perthshire
FK20 8QN. Doors open at 10.30am and entry will be GBP 2. Raffle
tickets cost GBP 1 and the draw will take place at 1.30pm. There will
be a Bring & Buy, trade stands and local groups. Tea, coffee and
light refreshments will be available. Details, by email to
lornradioclub<at>gmail.com.
Next Friday, the 12th, the 23rd Mini Rally Night will be held by
Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club. It takes place in the
Community Centre, Main Hall, Port Seton EH32 0BQ. Bring along your
junk and sell it yourself. Tables are on a first come first served
basis. The entrance fee GBP 2 for everyone. Refreshments will be
available. Doors open from 6pm to 9pm. The venue has disabled access.
Next Sunday, the 14th, the Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest will take
place at Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, near Wimborne,
Dorset BH21 3DA. The venue has car parking on site. Camping is
available in an adjacent field on Saturday night only. Talk-in will
be provided on S22. Gates open at 10am and admission is GBP 3.50.
There will be trade stands, a car boot sale and indoor and field
pitches for traders. Lectures will take place during the day. A
licensed bar and catering facilities are on site. More details from
Tony Baker, G3PFM on 0774 347 5018.
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
Reg, G8VHI will be active from the 13th to the 20th of August /MM in
the North Sea. He plans to use 144.333MHz using 100W to a 4 element
antenna. He is limited to operation from his cabin, which is located
on the starboard side. This is a family holiday and operating will
reflect this.
Armin, DK9PY will be on the air as 6Y6N from St Elizabeth in Jamaica,
IOTA reference NA-097, from the 10th to the 14th of August. Activity
will be on the HF bands. QSL to his home callsign.
GW4UWD is on the air as 9A/GW4UWD/p from Zlarin Island, Croatia,
EU-170, until the 9th of August. Activity is QRP on HF using CW,
mostly during his mornings and evenings. QSL direct to his home
callsign.
Johannes, PD0JBH is transmitting as C91PA from Maputo in Mozambique
and plans to be there until March 2017. Activity of late has been on
40 and 20 metres using SSB. QSL via operator's instructions.
Giuseppe, IZ4JUK will be on the air as IS0/IZ4JUK from Porto Ottiolu
in Sardinia, EU-024, until August the 25th. Activity will be on 20
and 15m using SSB, and on 40m if conditions permit. QSL direct to his
home call.
Ismo, OH2IS will be transmitting as OH0/OH2IS from the Aland Islands,
EU-002, until the 11th of August. Activity will be holiday style on
80 to 10 metres using only CW. QSL to home call.
Dietmar, DL3DXX, Rene, DL2JRM and Robin, DO2XX will active as OJ0DX
from August the 11th to the 16th from Market Reef, EU-053. Activity
will be on 80 to 6 metres using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via DL3DXX.
Now the special event news
ZV2016RIO will be on the air from Rio de Janeiro until the 21st of
August. Activity is on 160 to 2 metres, except 30 metres, using CW,
SSB, FM, PSK, D-Star and some satellites as well. QSL via PY1AA.
GB5RC will be on the air to commemorate Radio Caroline broadcasts.
The Martello Tower Group, based in Essex, is operating two stations
aboard the MV Ross Revenge until the 8th of August.
Plymouth Radio Club is taking part in the 1940s Weekend on the 13th
and 14th of August from RAF Harrowbeer Wartime Airfield, Dartmoor,
A386, Crapstone Road, Crapstone, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6BT. GB0QB
will be used on the air, because QB was RAF Harrowbeer's wartime
identification code.
South Essex ARS will put GB1HB on the air for the 72nd anniversary of
the two B17s that crashed at Canvey Point on the 13th of August 1944.
Activity will be from the Island Yacht Club, Point Road, Canvey
Island, Essex SS8 7TX. Visitors are always welcome.
Now the contest news
Today, the 7th, the 432MHz Low Power contest runs from 0800 to
1200UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and
postcode.
On Tuesday the 432MHz UK Activity Contest will be on the air from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 80m Club Sprint runs from 1900 to 2000UTC. It's the
CW leg and the exchange is both callsigns, serial number and name.
The Worked All Europe (WAE) DX CW Contest runs for the entire 48
hours of the weekend of 13 and 14th. Europe works non-Europe only in
this event, so, propagation permitting, there' a lot of DX working.
Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 5th of August
This week saw the effects of yet another solar coronal hole, which
pushed the Kp index to four and five on Wednesday and Thursday. We
predicted this last week, but were out by one day. Lacklustre sunspot
activity also meant that the IOTA contest saw many contestants
staying on 20m and below, with the odd foray up to higher bands. The
solar flux index stayed in the mid 70s as the only sunspot that did
appear rapidly dwindled away by Wednesday. On the bright side there
were no solar flares to report.
Next week both NOAA and the US Air Force predict the solar flux index
will be in the range 90-95. If correct this means we may see a slight
uplift in HF conditions. However, continued unsettled geomagnetic
conditions may work against us, especially around midweek when NOAA
predicts the K index will hit four again. Summertime D layer
absorption and reduced MUFs are still impacting DX paths.
VOACAP predicts UK to New York on 20m CW is best from 2000-2200UTC
with a 77% chance of success, and on 30m from 2200 to midnight with a
maximum 81% chance. These figures drop by about 30% for SSB.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
There is a familiar look to the weather charts for the coming week,
largely a story of low pressure to the north, moving into Scandinavia
later. This means that Tropo conditions may be limited initially, but
pressure remains high over Biscay and northern France, so paths to
the south from southern Britain offer the best of a poor showing.
However, models do bring a large high close to the southwest and
Ireland later, with perhaps some Tropo possibilities. The low
pressure to the north means that there will be showery periods,
especially in the first part of the week, so there's a chance for
rain scatter on the gigahertz bands.
Hanging on to Sporadic-E into August is always a bit problematic, but
there are likely to be some strong jet streams around, particularly
over the UK and northern Europe. These may bring good prospects if
you can be in the shack at the right time. A check during late
morning and tea time should capture most events.
The Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak next Thursday and Friday
so meteor scatter conditions will improve through the week. Moon
declination is negative and the moon is at apogee on Wednesday so
losses are high and moon windows are short. 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.
--
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