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G4APL > NEWS 25.02.17 23:55l 261 Lines 11977 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 26 Feb 2017
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Sent: 170225/2248Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:36312 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 26th February 2017
The news headlines:
* Long path propagation SOTA event
* Review of Contesting seeks your thoughts
* CRS-10 mission to ISS to launch
Mike, 2E0YYY, Andrew, VK1AD and Ed, DD5LP are planning another long
path propagation SOTA Summit to Summit event for 11 March starting at
0630 UTC. Activity will be SSB or CW on 20 metres and going by the
last action in October 2016, over 30 summits are expected to be
active concurrently over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and possibly
Japan. Check reflector.sota.org.uk for details.
RSGB President Nick Henwood, G3RWF is writing a report on the
implementation of the 2015 Review of Contesting. A questionnaire
forms an important part of the input to this report, but there will
also be feedback from clubs, groups and individuals as well as
factual analysis of performance where possible. The questionnaire is
now available on the RSGB website on the ‘Consultations' page. It
will be live until the 19th of March. All those interested in the
future of contesting are urged to complete it. Whether or not you are
a Member of the RSGB, the Society is asking for your help and input.
The CRS-10 mission carrying vital amateur radio equipment to the
International Space Station launched at 1439UTC on the 19th of
February. Included was an ARISS Ericsson 2 metre VHF radio. This
radio will replace the Ericsson radio that failed a few months ago.
The VHF radio is used for school group contacts and amateur packet
radio in the Columbus module. Once the Dragon vehicle is berthed to
ISS, the Ericsson will be un-stowed and, at some point, installed in
Columbus, replacing the UHF radio that is now supporting APRS packet
and some school contacts.
The RSGB Board Proceedings for the December 17 meeting have been
released. Members can read the RSGB Board proceedings on the RSGB
website www.rsgb.org.uk
The GM DX Convention 2017 will be held at the King Robert Hotel,
Whins of Milton, Stirling, on the 1st of April. Lectures include
Chris, G3SVL speaking about the ZL7G Chatham Island DXpedition and
SDR "with knobs on" by John, G3WGV.
The RSGB has added more to the new video page for Members. Go to
www.rsgb.org/video to see more from the 2016 RSGB Convention. They
are freely available for you to download but please read the RSGB's
conditions of use first.
Plans for YOTA 2017 are progressing and the Youth Committee had a
chance to meet at Gilwell Park in early February, where they were
able to see the layout of the site, including the shack. They also
met some of the Radio Scouting team who will be helping out during
the YOTA 2017 week in August. Some of the team have recorded vlogs to
explain their role in the event, so look out for those over the next
few weeks. You can help the RSGB to make YOTA 2017 event a great
success by becoming a financial supporter – anyone who donates more
than GBP 15 receives a supporters' pin. Find out more from the YOTA
2017 web page, www.rsgb.org/yotasupporter
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Rainham Rally takes place today, the 26th of February, at The
Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 5JB. The new
venue is larger with on site parking for 250 cars and is located a
couple of miles from the M2, Junction 3. A talk in station, GB4RRR,
will operate on 145.550MHz. Doors open from 10am to 2pm with disabled
visitors gaining access at 9.30am. Admission is GBP 2.50. There will
be trade stands, special interest groups and catering on site.
Details from Trevor Cannon, on 0771 767 8795.
Also on the 26th is the Pencoed Amateur Radio Club Table Top Sale at
Pencoed Rugby Football Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed
CF35 5PB. Tables will be GBP 10 each (first come first served) Doors
open at 8am for sellers and the setting up of tables. Buyers will be
allowed in when the doors open at 9.30am. Entry fee GBP 2. Hot food
will be available in the morning and at lunch time. Hot and cold
drinks will be available from the bar (non-alcoholic drinks till
lunch time). Table bookings are through Madeline Roberts on
01639 767056.
The Lagen Valley ARS Rally and Hamfest takes place on the 4th of
March in the Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road,
Hillsborough, County Down BT26 6AR. Doors open at 11am. All the usual
traders are expected to attend.
On the 5th of March the Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally will take
place in America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors
open at 10.30am with disabled visitors gaining access 15 minutes
earlier. Bring & Buy book-in starts at 10.15am. Admission is GBP 2
and there will be trade stands. Catering is available on site.
Details from Pete, G3ZVI on 0771 419 8374.
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 full details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Elvira, IV3FSG will be in Burkina Faso until the 13th of March. She
will sign XT2SE on CW, SSB and Digital. QSL Manager is IK3GES.
Steve, M1ACB, Rob, M0VFC and John, M0IDA will be active on the FM and
SSB amateur radio satellites from Berry Islands in the Bahamas from
the 4th to the 10th of March and will be using hand-held antennas.
Since the FM satellites will only cover part of the USA they'll also
be using SSB on FO-29 to reach the British Isles and Europe. They
will be operating from Little Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands, IOTA
NA-054, Grid Square FL15do.
Lot, DJ7ZG and Babs, DL7AFS are operating from Antigua as V21ZG until
the 26th of March. They will be on SSB on all bands 80m to 6m
including 60m. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World and QSLs
can be obtained through Club Log OQRS.
Mike, W0MU and Jonathan, G0DVJ will be on the air from Belize until
the 28th of February. They are using the callsigns V31MU and V31DV
and can be found on CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to the home calls.
A group of operators are operating as VP6EU from Pitcairn Island
until the 5th of March. Activity is on 160 to 10 metres using CW, SSB
and various digital modes. QSL via DK2AMM.
Jonathan, KK7PW will be in Uganda until the 7th of March. He has been
issued with the callsign 5X1O and will be on the air early mornings/
late evenings on 40, 20, 15 and 10m on CW, SSB and Digital. His QSL
Manager is EA5GL.
Now the special event news
GB0SMD will be operating from the historic church of St Margaret of
Antioch on Saturday the 4th of March from 10am-4pm. Operation will be
on HF using the 10 to 80m bands and a special QSL card will be
produced.
PA2017BP is on the air until the 20th of March to commemorate Lord
Baden-Powell who founded the Scout Movement, also known as the Boy
Scouts. QSL to PA3EFR.
Throughout 2017, Canadian Radio Amateurs may use special callsign
prefixes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada's
Confederation. Those whose regular callsigns start with VA will be
able to use the CF prefix, VE will be able to use the CG prefix, VO
will be able to use the CH prefix and VY will be able to use the CI
prefix.
Now the contest news
With HF conditions now so poor, the CQWW 160m DX CW Contest that ends
its 48 hour run at 2200UTC today, the 26th, might be even livelier
than usual. Using SSB only, the exchange is signal report and CQ
Zone, with V stations sending State and VE stations sending their
Province.
The REF (French) Contest runs for 36 hours ending at 1800UTC today,
the 26th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report
and serial number, with French stations sending their Department or
overseas prefix.
Also today, the 26th, the first 70MHz Cumulative contest takes place
from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC.
Using all modes within the 2.3 to 10GHz bands the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday it's the UK EI CC on 80m from 2000 to 2100UTC. The
exchange is your 4-character locator.
Next weekend it's the ARRL International DX contest from 0000UTC on
the 4th to 2359UTC on the 5th. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz bands the
exchange is signal report and transmit power. American stations will
also send their State and Canadians their Province.
Also next weekend it's the 144/432MHz contest from 1400UTC on the 4th
to 1400UTC on the 5th. Using all modes on the 144 and 432MHz bands
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Finally for next week, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs
from 1000 to 1600UTC on the 5th. Using the 1.3 to 3.4GHz bands, any
mode, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 24th of February.
Last week was a mixed bag as far as HF propagation is concerned. We
had a solar flux index that got as high as 83, but this was tempered
by unsettled geomagnetic conditions at times. The planetary K index
his four on Wednesday due to incoming plasma from a large solar
coronal hole. And it varied from between zero and three for a lot of
the week.
The good news is that there is quite a large sunspot group in the
north-west quadrant of the Sun that should be pretty much
earth-facing by the time you read or hear this report. The bad news
is that there is another coronal hole rotating into position. While
Sunday the 26th and Monday the 27th will merely be unsettled with a
predicted K index of three, Tuesday the 28th and the rest of the week
are predicted to be very unsettled with a possible K index of six.
These unsettled conditions could continue through to the end of the
week.
At the moment we are seeing maximum daytime critical frequencies over
the UK of about 6.6MHz. This means 40m is largely useable for
contacts beyond 100 kilometres and we have daytime maximum useable
frequencies exceeding 21MHz.
Looking on the bright side, next week we enter into March and head
towards the spring Equinox. This can be a good time for the higher HF
bands, with better conditions on North-South paths.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
I hope you managed to keep all the antennas intact and storm Doris
passed uneventfully. The unsettled weather will continue through much
of the coming week with no signs of any significant Tropo to look
forward to.
There is one brief period on Sunday when mild, windy and cloudy
weather may give suitable conditions for a slight lift, in the region
between a warm front and cold front. Given the speed that the weather
systems are moving, it will be a short visit and soon gone. That
leaves us with slow-moving low pressure nearby, but without large
shower clouds at this time of year, GHz bands rain scatter will be
limited.
There are no major meteor showers this week, but remember that the
best time for random meteor scatter contacts is around dawn, when the
earth is rotating into the flux of meteoric particles.
The Moon reaches perigee on Friday, and its declination goes positive
on Tuesday, so EME path losses are low and Moon windows will lengthen
as the week progresses.
It's a good week for EME, apart from today and Monday when the sun
and moon are within a few degrees of each other giving high solar
noise, especially at VHF where antenna beam widths are wide.
And that's all from the propagation team this 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.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
http://www.theskywaves.net http://gb7cip.ampr.org
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