| |
G4APL > NEWS 11.06.17 00:28l 275 Lines 12477 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
BID : 46004_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST
Subj: RSGB Main News - 11 Jun 2017
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<HG8LXL<GB7YEW<GB7CIP
Sent: 170610/2154Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:46004 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@GBR
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 11th of June 2017
The news headlines:
* Real-time propagation tool goes online
* Jamaica removes Morse requirement
* New 122 and 241GHz UK records
A new graphing tool has been developed by Jim, G3YLA of the
Propagation Studies Committee to show the near real-time critical
frequency over the UK and the predicted maximum usable frequency over
different paths. A feature on how to use the free tool appears in the
July issue of RadCom. But if you want to try the critical frequency
tool on your own it can be found at
www.convectiveweather.co.uk/ionosphere and there are useful help
files to get you going.
Amateur radio operators and technicians in Jamaica will no longer be
required to be proficient in Morse code, as a result of changes to
the regulations for the two pieces of legislation that govern radio
and telegraph control services.
The existing 122GHz and 241GHz UK distance records were both extended
to new distance of 6.8km with two-way contacts in CW between John
Hazell, G8ACE, operating from his home, to Ian Lamb, G8KQW/P located
at Shroner Wood, Winchester. The contact took place on Sunday the
21st of May. Transmit power levels were around 200 microwatts at both
ends on both bands, and the antennas were 30cm dishes with separate
122GHz and 241GHz feed horns. RST was 539 each way on both bands. You
can see the contacts thanks to the video uploaded to YouTube by John.
See https://youtu.be/k6ZkNyYJb_Qa for details.
A three-page briefing note from the UK Activity Contest workshop on
the 3rd of June is now available. It can be downloaded as a PDF from
www.rsgb.org/vhf-contest-update and describes what was discussed,
plus the workshop group's unanimous proposals for the further
development of these successful contests.
European Space Agency Astronaut Thomas, KG5FYG, returned to Earth on
the 2nd of June after a 6-month duty tour on the International Space
Station. It took more than 3 hours to descend to Earth in a Soyuz
MS-03 transporter. During his time on the ISS he participated in
several Amateur Radio on the International Space Station school
contacts. Italian astronaut and amateur Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA will
head to the ISS in July.
Grimsby ARS has upgraded the D-Star UHF repeater GB7GC with new
antennas and a UHF preamp on receive. These improvements will help
with better coverage of the area. They will be doing the same for
GB3GY, the UHF FM repeater based in Cleethorpes. Visit
www.grimsbyars.uk for more details.
The callsign of the Perth City internet gateway on 145.2125MHz is now
MB7APT-L. The station is part of the Echolink system, with a new node
number of 866340. The gateway station is located on Kinnoull Hill, on
the outskirts of Perth. It has good coverage both of the city and a
swathe of its hinterland to the North and West. Access is with a
CTCSS tone of 94.8Hz.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 11th of June, the Junction 28 Amateur Radio Rally will
take place at Bowls Hall Alfreton Leisure Centre, Church Street,
Alfreton DE55 7BD. Contact the rally secretary for details on
01159 307 322
Also on today, the 11th, the East Suffolk Wireless Revival, otherwise
known as the Ipswich Rally, will take place at the new venue of
Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, IP10 0PW, just off the
A14. Doors open at 9.30am, with free car parking and an entry fee of
GBP 2. There will be trade stands, a car boot sale, Bring & Buy,
special interest groups, GB4SWR HF station on the air and an RSGB
bookstall. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin, G8MXV, on
0771 0046 846.
Next Saturday, the 17th, the South Lancs ARC Summer Rally will be
held at Bickershaw Village Community Club, Bickershaw Lane,
Bickershaw, Wigan WN2 5TE. There is car parking on site and doors
open at 9am for the public. Entry is GBP 2.50. There are a limited
number of pitches available. There will be a Bring & Buy, special
interest groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site.
Details from Jason, G0IZR on 01942 735 828.
On Sunday the 18th, the 30th Newbury radio Rally will take place at
the Newbury Showground, next to the junction of the M4 and A34 in
Berkshire. There is free parking on site and entry is GBP 2.50, or
GBP 12.30 for those in the car boot area. There will be a display
area of an amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups,
clubs and societies. There is on site catering and disabled
facilities. The site is open to sellers from 8am and to the public
from 9am.
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
Four operators will be active as DL/OO6P and DL/ON4IPA from Fehmarn
Island, IOTA reference EU-128, from the 17th to the 23rd of June.
They will operate SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and PSK63 with two stations. QSL
via ON6ZV, direct or bureau. More details on QSL.net
Ryosei, JH0IXE will be on the air from Koror Island in the Republic
of Palau. He will use the callsign T8CW from the 9th to the 18th
June. Palau is in the western Pacific Ocean and the IOTA reference is
OC-009. Activity will be on all bands from 80m to 6m and on CW, SSB
and digital. QSL manager is JA0FOX.
Stefan, DF8HS will be active from Fehmarn Island, EU-128 from the
16th of June to the 1st of July. QSL via the bureau.
Didier, F5PLR will be active as HI9/F5PLR from Las Terrenas in the
Dominican Republic, NA-096, between the 6th of June to the 4th of
July. He will be using the 30, 20 and 15m bands.
JA0JHQ will be active as AH0C/KL7 from near Anchorage, Alaska from
the 17th to the 19th of June. Main activity will be on 160, 80, 40
and 20 metres during the All Asian DX CW Contest on the17th and 18th.
QSL via JA0JHQ, bureau or direct, and Logbook of The World; logsearch
on Club Log.
Now the special event news
South Essex ARS will be operating from The Bay Museum, Canvey Island
on Sunday the 18th of June for Museums on the Air, and to commemorate
the two B17s that crashed at Canvey Point in 1944.
Crystal Palace Radio & Electronics Club will be activating GX2LW on
HF and VHF at a street party in Overhill Way, Beckenham, Kent on
Saturday the 17th of June. The station will be accessible to the
public.
As part of the Open Garden Squares Weekend event, GB8CCG will be on
the air from a temporary radio shed on the 17th from 11am to 3.30pm
at 182 Mare St, London E8 3RE
Rhondda Amateur Radio Society will be running GB0BTB on the 17th and
18th of June for the historic Beating The Bounds. Members will be
active on all band's and modes, including data.
Now the contest news
The IARU ATV contest ends its 24 hour run at 1200UTC today, the 11th.
Using the 432MHz and up bands the exchange is picture grade,
four-digit code, serial number and locator.
The REF DDFM 6m contest ends its 24 hour run at 1600UTC today, the
11th. Using SSB, CW and FM on the 50MHz band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and four digit locator.
Today, the 11th, the 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 0900 to
1300UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
Lasting three hours longer, from 0900 to 1600UC today, the 11th, the
Practical Wireless 2m QRP contest uses all modes on the band. The
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Note the
maximum power for this contest is 5 watts.
On Tuesday the 432 FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC with
the 432MHz UK Activity Contest following from 1900 to 2130UTC. The
exchange is the same for both: signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Wednesday the 80m Club Championship is on from 1900 to 2030UTC.
This is the CW leg and the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
On Thursday the 70MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC
and is followed from 1900 to 2130UTC by the 70MHz UK Activity
Contest. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The 50MHz trophy runs from 1400UTC on the 17th to 1400UTC on the
18th. Using all modes on the 6m band the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The All Asian DX contest runs from 0000UTC on the 17th to 2359UTC on
the 18th. Using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands the exchange is
signal report and age.
Next Sunday, the 18th, the UK Microwave Group High Band contest runs
from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on the 24-248GHz bands the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 50MHz phone contest takes place next Sunday,
the 18th of June, from 0900 to 1500UTC. The exchange is signal
report, serial number and WAB square for UK stations. Entries need to
be with the contest manager by the 9th of July. Details at
www.worked-all-britain.org.uk
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 9th of June.
Last weekend's National Field Day saw only average HF propagation,
with a geomagnetic disturbance on the Saturday evening sending the K
index to four. Nevertheless, there was DX to be had, even if most of
it was on 20 metres. G4ARN/P in Norfolk reported working Brazil on
20m using five watts, but the majority of their other contacts were
mostly European.
Sporadic-E did manage to cause some excitement up to 28MHz, but you
had to be in the right place at the right time. The rest of the week
was characterised by relatively-settled geomagnetic conditions and a
solar flux index in the seventies.
Twenty metres threw up some interesting openings in the evenings. As
the sun began to set, D layer absorption dropped and David, G3YYD
reported working the USA, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, and Barbados on
20m SSB from 2100 to 2330UTC. This backs up what we have been saying
about 20m remaining open longer as we head towards the summer.
Next week, the solar flux index is predicted to remain around 78 to
80. Geomagnetic conditions may be good until the 14th of June, when
they may then become unsettled until the 18th. We suggest the best DX
may be available this weekend and early next week, with F2 layer
openings up to 20m and occasionally 17m.
Sporadic-E openings could occur from as low as 80m and up to 10m,
although D-layer absorption may hide them on the lower bands during
daylight.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The unsettled weather has lasted into this weekend with further
spells of rain or showers. This type of weather is good for rain
scatter on the GHz bands, but not much else.
Early next week, high pressure starts to build across southern
Britain and is later expected to form a small detached high over the
country. This should be good for tropospheric opening prospects,
which should improve as the week progresses.
Sporadic-E is well under way now, with good QSOs being made,
including multi-hop transatlantic and Japanese QSOs on 50MHz. Even
small stations are benefitting from the upsurge in digimode activity,
but please try to spread out from 50.276MHz and keep to the correct
time slot for your direction to avoid QRM. Most of all, please don't
run ‘attended JT beacons' on this frequency: leave it free for QSOs
and calling CQ. Follow the clusters and beacons to get an early
advantage and select the late morning and late afternoon prime times
for checking the bands from 10m up to 2m.
The openings tend to move across Europe from east to west, so don't
fix your beam in one direction only. This is not the Sporadic-E patch
moving, but different areas becoming active as the earth turns. There
is often a lull during early afternoon and move up to the higher
bands as they open to get maximum range.
This is another poor week for EME, with negative moon declination and
high losses due to the apogee on the 8th, so keep tweaking those
systems on sun noise to optimise your performance.
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
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
