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G4APL > NEWS 25.08.16 10:10l 253 Lines 11598 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 14 Aug 2016
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Sent: 160813/2316Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:19180G4APL
T:From: Paul Lewis <g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.uk
T:Message-Id: <noo99b$l6q$2@gb7cip.ampr.org>
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 14th August 2016
The news headlines:
* Ofcom website latest news
* Volunteer for the RSGB
* SSTV from ISS this week
RSGB continues to have regular meetings with senior managers at Ofcom
about problems with the new licensing system. Subjects include the
reissuing of previously used callsigns and the continuing need to
revalidate amateur licences every five years. Any important updates
will be published on the RSGB website.
[Note to Newsreaders: the exact link is
http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/2016/08/05/ofcom-licensing-portal-updat
e/]
Have you thought about volunteering with the RSGB? The RSGB is always
looking for volunteers, whether you can spare a little time or a lot,
and wherever you are in the UK. The Volunteer Vacancies page on the
RSGB website has recently been updated to make it easier to find the
role that would suit you best. Volunteers are being sought in
particular within the examinations section as there are two high
profile roles to be filled; the Examination Standards Committee
Chairman and the Examination Standards Manager. For these, and other
roles, go to the RSGB website and search for .volunteering'.
[Note to Newsreaders: the exact link is
http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/volunteering-for-the-rsgb/]
Slow-scan television transmissions will be made from the
International Space Station on the 15th and 16th of August. The
MAI-75 Experiment will transmit SSTV images on 145.8MHz over the
course of a few orbits as the space station passes over Moscow.
Operators in Europe and South America will have the best chances to
receive images. The ISS Fan Club website will show you when the space
station is in range, and that site can be found at www.issfanclub.com
Field strength calculation software ICNIRPcalc has been around for a
while. You can use it to calculate the distance a person needs to
stay clear from a given antenna to ensure that European exposure
limits are not exceeded. A new version has been released with an
enlarged antenna database plus German, English, French and Swedish
language capabilities. You can download the new version free from a
link on the IARU Region 1 website, www.iaru-r1.org
There will be many Churches and Chapels on the air for the annual
CHOTA event on the 10th of September. These include some in rare
Worked All Britain squares such as the most northerly church on the
UK mainland and for, the first time, the most northerly church in UK,
which is on the Isle on Unst in Shetland. Most WACRAL operation will
be on 40m SSB from around 10am to 4pm. There's still time to register
a station on the WACRAL website, www.wacral.org
The RSGB 2016 Convention takes place on the 7th to the 9th of October
at Kents Hill Conference Centre, Milton Keynes. Visitors can hear
Simon, GW0NVN describe how to get your homebrew project up and
running using test equipment you never knew you had in the shack. The
early bird booking discount for weekend packages and day tickets ends
on the 18th of August, go to www.rsgb.org/convention for bookings and
details of the event.
The Tokyo Ham Fair takes place next weekend, the 20th and 21st of
August. Last year, around 36,000 attended the show, including several
from the UK. We plan to bring you a report of this year's show in a
future edition of RadCom.
A replacement QSL Sub Manager volunteer is sought for the very busy
G3I-L group. Outgoing cards may continue to be sent to the central
bureau in the usual way. If you are interested in taking on this
group as QSL Sub Manager, please send an email to qsl<at>rsgb.org.uk
The 19th annual International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend takes
place from 0001UTC on Saturday the 20th of August to 2400UTC on the
21st. The official list of entrants for 2016 is now up to 414
stations in around 40 countries. It's a popular international event,
probably because there are very few rules and it is not the usual
.5/9 CQ Contest' type event. It is free and there are no prizes for
contacting large numbers of other stations. The many entrants will
tell you what an enjoyable time they all have. Details are at
www.illw.net and we mention some of the UK stations later in this
bulletin.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 14th, the Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest takes 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 also on site. More details from Tony Baker,
G3PFM, on 0774 347 5018.
On Saturday the 20th of August, Grey Point Fort ARS and attending the
Grey Fort Point barbecue that runs from 1 to 11pm. Tickets are GBP 6
and activities will include an ARDF fox hunt, a Bring & Buy as well
as family attractions. Tickets are available from the Grey Point
Fort. Thomas, MI0MOD can give you more information on 02891 185 2731.
The Rugby ATS Rally takes place on Sunday the 21st of August at
Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby. Due to local road
resurfacing work, access to will be via a temporary entrance in
Coventry Road, off Oxford Road. Please use satnav post code CV23 9QF.
Doors will open at 8.30am for traders and at 10am to 4pm for the
public. Admission is GBP 3. There will be a car boot area and
catering will be available on site. More details from Tony, G0OLS on
07759 684 411.
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
Nicola, IU7GSN is on the air as ZA3/IU7GSN until the 23rd of August.
Activity is holiday style on the 10 to 40m bands using SSB and
various digital modes. QSL direct to his home callsign.
A group of US and Canadian operators will use CY9C from St Paul
Island, NA-094, from the 19th to 28th of August. Operation will be on
all bands from 6 to 160m using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via Club Log
OQRS or directly to WA4DAN.
A group of operators will be using R0F from Shikotan Island, IOTA
AS-062, until the 17th of August. Activity is on the HF bands with
two stations. QSL via R6MG.
Four German amateurs will use the callsign OJ0DX from Market Reef
until the 16th of August. They will be on the 10 to 60m bands using
CW and SSB. QSL manager is DL3DXX.
Operators Alex, UX0LL and Alex, UT5UY will be operating as 5H1ZZ from
Zanzibar Island, IOTA AF-032, until the 22nd of August. Activity will
be with two stations on the HF bands using CW, SSB and various
digital modes. QSL via M0URX.
Reg, G8VHI remains active /MM in the North Sea on 2m, holiday style,
until the 20th of August.
Now the special event news
International Lighthouses and Lightships weekend on the 20th and 21st
of August will see many special event stations and activations.
Dover Radio Club will operate GB2DCP from Dover Castle. Details from
Aaron, 2E0FQR, on 0771 465 4267.
Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is putting GB2LBN on the
air at Barns Ness. More information from Bob, GM4UYZ, on
01875 811 723.
Loughton & Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is running GB0TBW,
Trinity Buoy Wharf. Details from Dave De La Haye, M0MBD, on
0798 016 5172.
Hilderstone Radio and Electronics Club will put GB0NFL on the air at
Joss Bay. Details from Ian, 2E0DUE, via email to
hilderstoneclub<at>gmail.com.
Newport Amateur Radio Society will have GB4EUL active at East Usk
Lighthouse. Details from Margaret, GW4SUE, on 01633 665 289.
Now the contest news
The Worked All Europe (WAE) DX CW Contest ends it 48 hour run at
2359UTC today, the 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.
Today, the 14th, the UK Microwave Groups contest runs from 0900 to
1700UTC. Using all modes on the 24, 47 and 76GHz bands, the exchange
is signal report serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 12th of August.
Last week the solar flux index climbed as NOAA had predicted, hitting
95 by Thursday evening. This was largely due to a new large crop of
sunspots on the sun's surface. These will rotate across the sun over
the next few days and, as long as they don't fade away, they should
help the solar flux index remain high.
The week also saw some very unsettled geomagnetic conditions due to
ongoing coronal hole activity, with the K index hitting three and
four. Coronal holes are areas of the sun with lower energy and open
magnetic fields that allow plasma to flow out. When these are in line
with the earth the plasma can arrive in a couple of days.
NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain in the range 90-95
over the next week, tailing off to 75 by next Sunday.
The beginning of next week may once again be subject to unsettled
geomagnetic conditions due to coronal holes, with the K index
predicted to hit four again.
HF is showing some signs of improvement with the Chilton ionosonde
measuring the critical frequency as 5.875MHz at noon on Thursday.
This means that we may see 18 and 21MHz opening to DX at times.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The prospects for VHF and UHF are looking pretty good for the start
of the week with high pressure over Britain, later moving eastwards
across the North Sea. This means there are likely to be some good
opportunities for Tropo this weekend and into the first half of the
week. Paths to the south across Biscay to Spain, Portugal and the
Azores and Canaries look worth trying initially, and then along the
east coast from East Anglia to Shetland early in the week.
The midweek period onwards looks more unsettled with the potential
for some thunderstorms and perhaps rain scatter from the large
cumulonimbus thunder clouds.
Sporadic-E has been good recently for some parts of the country, but
it's important to realise that it is very rare for all areas to have
openings at the same time. The unsettled weather means that there
should continue to be some jet stream activity, so check for late
morning and late afternoon Sporadic-E.
The tail end of last week's Perseids meteor shower should still give
enhanced meteor scatter conditions for the next day or so.
The Moon is at minimum declination today, so short, but lengthening
low-elevation Moon passes are the order of the day. These will
lengthen and losses will reduce as the week progresses.
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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