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G4APL > NEWS 25.08.16 11:10l 230 Lines 10433 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 21 Aug 2016
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Sent: 160820/2317Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:15228 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@GBR
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 21st August 2016
The news headlines:
* RSGB writes to Ofcom
* Aves Island DXpedition surprise
* AMSAT-UK Colloquium videos online
Many UK radio amateurs will be aware that there have been problems
with the new Ofcom licensing system. Following numerous complaints
from members, RSGB Board members have been in almost daily contact
with Ofcom senior staff. Unfortunately, we continue to receive
complaints and the Society has become frustrated at the continued
lack of progress. The RSGB Chairman has therefore written to the
Chief Executive of Ofcom, highlighting multiple shortcomings in the
new Ofcom licensing system, and seeking a meeting at the most senior
level to help Ofcom resolve their problems. RSGB will continue to
keep the amateur radio community informed of progress.
An unexpected invitation from the Venezuelan Navy has given an
opportunity for a DXpedition to Aves Island, IOTA reference NA-020.
Last activated in February 2007, it is number 17 on the ClubLog DXCC
Most Wanted List. A small number of civilian and Navy operators will
be on the air as YX0V for up to 10 days around the end of August and
start of September. The exact dates are dependent on the Navy's
plans. Aves Island is only about 1200 feet long and some 150 feet
wide, and is situated west of the Leeward Islands.
Thanks to the efforts of BATC and AMSAT-UK volunteers, videos of
presentations at the July 2016 International Space Colloquium are now
available on YouTube. These, and previous years' presentations, can
also be downloaded from the AMSAT-UK YouTube channel. AMSAT-UK
members operated a satellite ground station during the event, using
the call sign G0AUK. Contacts were made via the SO-50, AO-85, and
FO-29 satellites.
Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR, and Matt Youngblood, KD5FGE and Lori Hicks
of FlexRadio visited the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park
recently. They delivered a generous donation to the GB3RS station –
a FlexRadio FLEX-6500 and a FLEX Maestro. The trio from FlexRadio
were met by the RSGB President, Nick Henwood, G3RWF and RSGB General
Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB, as well as several of the National Radio
Centre's regular volunteers. A full report is in the September
edition of RadCom.
The RSGB 2016 Convention takes place on the 7th to the 9th of October
at Kents Hill Conference Centre, Milton Keynes. The early bird
booking discount for weekend packages and day tickets has been
extended to the end of August, so don't miss out, go to
www.rsgb.org/convention for bookings and details of the event.
A Train the Trainers event will take place on Saturday 19 November.
It will be hosted by Leicester Radio Society, and there will be space
for up to 25 delegates. The event is free for RSGB Members but must
be pre-booked. For more information contact Mike, G4SJX via email to
mike_g4sjx<at>hotmail.com as soon as possible.
Graham Shirville, G3VZV, has been chosen to be the next president of
the British Amateur Television Club. He succeeds Peter Blakeborough,
G3PYB, who became a Silent Key last December. BATC chairman Noel
Matthews, G8GTZ, said he was delighted Graham had agreed to take up
the role. He added that Graham has the necessary experience and
gravitas, is passionate about ATV, has contacts throughout the
amateur radio community and will serve the BATC well in the role as
President. The appointment is for two years.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
We start with advance notice of the Dutch National Ham Radio
Convention on 5 November. Organised by the Dutch Radio Society,
VERON, it takes place in the Americahal in Apeldoorn. There will be
lectures, presentations, trade stands and a large flea market. More
information, in Dutch, is on the veron.nl website.
Sad news now that the North Wales Rally planned for the 23rd of
October has had to be cancelled. This news unfortunately came in too
late to be included in the September RadCom.
The Rugby ATS Rally takes place today, Sunday the 21st, at
Princethorpe College, Rugby. Due to local road resurfacing work,
access is via a temporary entrance in Coventry Road, off Oxford Road.
Please use satnav postcode CV23 9QF. Doors open at 10am for the
public and 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.
Next Sunday the Milton Keynes ARS rally takes place at The MK Irish
Centre, Manor Fields, Watling Street, Bletchley, Milton Keynes
MK2 2HX. It's opposite Dobbies Garden Centre. There will be a talk in
station. Doors open at 10am and admission is GBP 3. There will be
trade stands, special interest groups and local clubs. A licenced bar
and catering will be available on site. More details from Roy, G8RCK
on 0786 667 3192.
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
Armin, DK9PY is active again as 6Y6N from Jamaica, IOTA reference
NA-097, until 24 August. He operates CW only. QSL via DK9PY, direct
or bureau. Logsearch on Club Log.
A team from the Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society will be active as
EJ0L from Arranmore Island, EU-121, until 22 August. They will
operate CW, SSB and maybe RTTY on 80, 40, 20 and 15 metres. QSL
direct only to MI0BPB.
Flores Island, the Island of Flowers, SA-030 is being be activated
until Tuesday as CV5ER by a team of nine Argentinian amateurs.
Details are on QRZ.com; QSL direct or eqsl.
Former Head Lighthouse Keeper Peter, VK4LLE is on the air from Lady
Elliot island, OC-142, until the 25th of August. Activity is mainly
for ILLW. QSL to home call.
Now the special event news
GB100E will be commemorating the rescue of the crew of the Endurance
by Ernest Shackleton in August 1916. Activity will be from 24 to 31
August at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. More information
is at www.RedKiteRadio.org.uk
GB75ACO – that's Air Cadet Organisation – will be operating at
Stalham ATC Squadron, Norfolk, from the 3rd to the 18th of September.
They are celebrating 75 Years of the Air Training Corps. Primary
activity will be on 40m, with some local 2m and 60m. Special QSL
cards will be available and details are on QRZ.com
TCSWAT will be on the air as TC1LHW from Terkos Karaburun Lighthouse
during this weekend's ILLW event. There will be five operators on the
HF bands. QSL via LoTW only.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 50MHz UKAC takes place on the 6m band, plus at the
same time there's the SHF UKAC on 2.3 to 10GHz. Both contests are all
modes, run from 1900 to 2130UTC and the exchange is RST, serial
number and locator.
Thursday sees the 80m Club Sprint SSB leg from 1900 to 2000UTC. Using
SSB only on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is both callsigns, serial
number and name.
The Irish IRTS 2m Counties takes place from 1300 to 1500UTC on Sunday
the 28th. In this contest QSOs with EI and GI are the only ones that
count for points. Each of the 32 Irish counties is a multiplier.
Using the 2m band only, SSB and FM, the exchange is RTT and serial
number, with EIs also giving their county.
Next Sunday also sees the UKuG 5.7 and 10GHz contest from 0600 to
1800 UTC. Using all modes, RST, serial number and locator forms the
exchange.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday 19th August.
This week has been a little unsettled in terms of geomagnetic
disturbances and we are still experiencing the summer HF doldrums, at
least until September. The K index hit three on many occasions due to
ongoing coronal hole activity, and these negated the slight rise in
the solar flux index caused by a handful of weak sunspots. Maximum
usable frequencies have risen above 21MHz at times, with the 4X6TU
international beacon in Israel, RR90 in Russia, OH2B in Finland and
ZS6DN in South Africa being heard on 18.110 and 21.150MHz. But a
casual glance across the rest of the HF bands has not shown vast
amounts of DX activity.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain in the range
75-80. Geomagnetic conditions should be reasonably settled, apart
from midweek when the K index is predicted to rise to four. This is
due to yet another recurrent, negative polarity, high-speed solar
wind stream from a coronal hole.
We continue to encourage you to look for evening openings on twenty
metres, when D layer absorption has dropped away, hopefully leaving
potentially good DX paths. And during the day don't ignore five
megahertz, a band that continues to offer opportunities for NVIS
contacts around the UK at a time when forty metres is only open to
Europe.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The unsettled weather over the weekend will mean that some rain
scatter may be available, and in the south of the country a weak
ridge of high pressure across Biscay and northern France could also
provide some extended Tropo paths early next week. As the high moves
towards Scandinavia by midweek, Tropo paths across the North Sea may
be worth exploring. It is possible that some thundery weather may
creep north over western Britain later in the week, to reintroduce
the possibility of rain scatter on the GHz bands.
We are now getting nearer the tail of the 2016 Sporadic-E season, so
events may be harder to find. That said, there was a nice
transatlantic opening last week on 50MHz and there should be some jet
streams over Europe and the Atlantic this week that might promote
some more late season Sporadic-E. For this you'll need to check the
cluster, particularly late morning and around tea time.
There are no meteor showers this week so it's back to early mornings
for the best random meteor scatter conditions.
EME conditions will be good this week with low losses and long moon
windows, so look out for inspired and recharged EME'ers returning
from this weekend's EME2016 conference!
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.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
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