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G4APL > NEWS 23.10.16 05:25l 239 Lines 10912 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 23 OCT 2016
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Sent: 161022/2303Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:22143 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@GBR
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 23rd October 2016
The news headlines:
* NoV for terahertz bands
* 60m for Luxembourg
* Fire at SAQ, Grimeton
* K1ZZ new IARU Secretary
Frequencies above 275GHz, the so-called terahertz bands, are a new
area for experimentation and propagation research. Ofcom have
generously enabled low-power Notice of Variation access for Full
licensees in order to facilitate innovation at the cutting edge of RF
technology. The NoV includes a number of conditions related to
frequency bands, and protection zones around key UK Radio Astronomy
Sites, for which guidance is available. The NoV application is now
available, along with several other NoVs, at www.rsgb.org/nov
Since the 10th of October, the new WRC15 60m band has been released
for amateur radio use in Luxembourg. The update to the national
frequency plan allows the use from 5351.5 to 5366.5kHz on a secondary
basis with an effective radiated power of 15W. The Luxembourg LX0HF
CW beacon presently operates on 5205.25kHz.
A fire in early October at the SAQ Alexanderson alternator long wave
antenna is under investigation by the Grimeton World Heritage
Foundation, which owns and manages the station in Grimeton, Sweden.
The fire, attributed to arcing, was quickly extinguished.
Fortunately, no injuries occurred. The Foundation said that it could
take a while to determine the extent of the damage, and then to
complete repairs. The fire will keep SAQ off the air for a while, and
prevent operation on the next scheduled UN Day transmission, the 24th
of October.
Rod Stafford, W6ROD has retired as IARU Secretary after seven years
and the ARRL Board of Directors has designated David Sumner, K1ZZ as
his replacement. Dave Sumner has served in this capacity twice
previously, from 1982 to 1989 and from 1999 to 2009. IARU President
Tim Ellam, VE6SH has appointed Rod Stafford as Emergency
Communications Special Advisor, where he will represent the interests
of the IARU and the global amateur radio community in the Development
Sector of the ITU. He will also offer advice and counsel on matters
relating to emergency and disaster response communications.
It is with sadness we report the death of Geoff Holland, G3GHS, a
long time QSL sub manager for the G3E-H group of callsigns. In his
90s and unwell for several years, Geoff was always cheerful and
helped by his XYL Mavis. He continued in post until his death two
weeks ago. He will be missed by many. Members with G3E-H callsigns
need to be aware that this small series will now be absorbed into
other groups as part of the long term consolidation plan. All cards
and envelopes are being transferred. The new groups will shortly
become G3A-F and G3G-L. See the RSGB website for updates at
www.rsgb.org/qsl
The RSGB Spectrum Forum will hold its annual meeting on Saturday the
29th of October. This key event will be an opportunity to consider
reports from its members and review current and emerging issues.
These include the potential harmonisation of the 50MHz band in Region
1, wireless power transmission, and plans for the forthcoming Region
1 Conference. Amateurs are reminded that the Society has a
consultation open for topics for the Conference. Just search for IARU
Consultation on the RSGB website.
[Note to Newsreaders: the direct link is
http://rsgb.org/main/rsgb-consultations/iaru-consultations/]
The RSGB Training and Education Committee Schools Link project is
expanding and has vacancies for additional team members and also for
the team leader. The aim of Schools Link is to find ways of
supporting teachers delivering the curriculum, by providing
additional help and materials for those places where radio examples
help illuminate it. The focus is on teachers and supporting the
curriculum, rather than directly on school students or on getting
amateur radio into schools. If you are interested in joining this
team, please contact Philip Willis by email to
tec.chair<at>rsgb.org.uk, describing those parts of your background
that may be relevant, how they fit the project's needs and why you
think this is something where you would enjoy making a contribution.
The VHF handheld transceiver used for the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station program has begun to display an error
message and is unusable at this time. It has been in use for more
than 16 years and in that time has connected students worldwide with
astronauts on board the International Space Station. While the ARISS
technical team evaluates the best path to restore operation from the
ISS Columbus module, ARISS contacts will be supported using the
Kenwood radio in the Russian Service Module. During this period, the
packet digipeater will be unavailable.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 23rd, the Galashiels Rally takes place at the Volunteer
Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels TD1 3JX. Opening time is 11.15am,
and admission is GBP 2.50. There will be traders, a Bring and Buy,
and refreshments. Details from Jim, GM7LUN, on 01896 850 245, or
email mail<at>gm7lun.co.uk
As mentioned on previous occasions, the North Wales Rally planned for
today, the 23rd of October, has had to be cancelled.
Lomond Radio Club will be holding a junk sale on the 30th of October
in the John Connolly Centre, Renton, West Dumbartonshire. Doors are
open from 10am to 2pm. Everyone is welcome.
We have no details of any full scale rallies taking place next
weekend, the 29th or 30th of October.
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
Keith, GM4YXI and Chris, GM3WOJ will be active as V6Z from Chuuk
[pronounced ‘Truk'] island in Micronesia, which is IOTA reference
OC-011, until the 1st of November. Activity will be on SSB and CW,
with extra emphasis on 160m and 80m, and they are looking especially
for UK stations. Direct QSLs should be sent to Steve, N3SL. Visit
www.v6z2016.com for more details, propagation charts, latest news and
info, etc.
A multi-national team will be active as 3W2R from the Mekong Delta in
Vietnam until the 28th of October. Activity is on 160 to 10 metres.
QSL via EB7DX.
Daniel, DL5YWM will be on the air as OA4/DL5YWM, and possibly as
OA8/DL5YWM from Peru, until the 5th of November. QSL to home call.
ES2RR, OH2BH and OH2PM will be on the air as OJ0B from the 23rd to
31st of October from Market Reef, EU-053. Activity will be on the low
HF bands using RTTY. QSL via OH2BH.
John, KK9A will be active as P40A from the 25th to the 31st of
October. Activity will be on 160 to 10 metres using CW and SSB. QSL
via WD9DZV.
Francois, F6AJL is on the air as TY5AA from Parakou City until the
13th of November. Activity is on 80 to 10 metres. QSL to home call.
Now the special event news
Members of the Radio club Admira in Romania are on the air with
special event calls YR95HMK and YP95HMK until the 15th of November to
mark the 95th birthday of King Michael. Activity is on 160 to 10
metres using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL direct to YO2KBQ.
Now the contest news
The UKEICC DX contest ends its 24 hour run at 1200UTC today, the
23rd. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, RST, serial
number and district code form the exchange.
On Tuesday the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Also on Tuesday, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using the 2.3 to 10GHz bands the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the UK EI CC takes place on 80m between 2000 and
21000UTC. It's CW only and the exchange is your four-character
locator, for example IO93.
On Thursday, the 80m Club Sprint contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC.
SSB only, the exchange is serial number and name.
Next weekend is one of the big contests, the CQ World Wide DX SSB.
Running from 0000UTC on the 29th to 2359UTC on the 30th, it's SSB
only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and
Zone, which for the UK is 14.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 21st of October
Last week the solar flux index fell back to the high seventies.
Geomagnetic conditions were unsettled over the weekend, but improved
as the week went on. We are well and truly into the autumn HF season
now, which is reflected in higher daytime maximum useable frequencies
and lower night-time ones. However, we continue to be dogged by
unsettled geomagnetic conditions at times, which have impacted MUFs
and generally created poor HF opportunities. But when conditions have
became more settled there have been band openings up to 12 metres.
As this is being written sunspot 2602 is heading towards the solar
rim and there is nothing to replace it. As a result NOAA predicts the
solar flux index will remain in the range 70-75 next week, and HF
conditions are likely to hampered by high K indices from the 22nd
onwards. We may even see the K index hit six early in the week, due
to recurrent coronal hole activity, and it could remain high until at
least Wednesday.
Apart from possible auroral openings, there might be a
pre-ionospheric storm event enhancement this weekend, although these
are very hard to predict.
The last storm resulted in a good 10m opening to the Middle East and
South America, so keep an eye on the higher HF bands this weekend.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
It's a mixed week with unstable air still producing showers near the
east coast at first with some scope for rain scatter on the GHz
bands. Around midweek, a more changeable westerly flow will bring
windier weather across the north of Britain, so we need to be looking
to the south for a high to develop over Brittany and bring a chance
of some Tropo later in the week, which may then extend into parts of
northern Britain later. Now this high is placed such that it may not
be a great provider, but the peak times should be overnight and early
morning, especially in regions where fog and mist has formed.
The Orionids meteor shower is over now, so it's back to early morning
random meteor QSOs on the lower VHF bands. There are still quite long
daytime moon windows for EME operation, but Moon declination goes
negative on Thursday and losses are approaching their highest at the
end of the week.
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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