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G4APL > NEWS 16.07.17 06:24l 230 Lines 10494 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 16 Jul 2017
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Sent: 170715/2016Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:49776 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@GBR
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 16th of July 2017
The news headlines:
* 40m GB2RS broadcasts back next week
* Technical parameters from Ofcom for Wi-Fi on 5.7GHz
* Latest episode of TX Factor out now
Today, the 16th of July, there will be no News broadcast on 40m from
Germany because both newsreaders are attending the Ham Radio show at
Friedrichshafen, Germany. They will resume reading on the 23rd.
Ofcom have issued a statement confirming the technical parameters for
the extension of Wi-Fi in the 5.7GHz amateur band. Following
extensive inputs, the RSGB welcomes the conservative approach that
Ofcom are taking and look forward to this being properly enforced.
The new regulations are effective from the 7th of August. Full
details can be read at https://tinyurl.com/y98356n9
The summer edition of TX Factor is out now and includes a trip to
Norwich where Pete, M0PSX spends a day with the Norfolk Amateur Radio
Club at their recent annual Field Day 'Radio Active'. He also chats
to RSGB President Nick Henwood, G3RWF about his Club Initiative. TX
Factor goes digital as Mike, G1IAR gives Bob, G0FGX an introduction
to operating on DMR, Yaesu Fusion and D Star. They also visit a Devon
amateur who has set up a Fusion Gateway to find out how he went about
it. The new episode of TX Factor, sponsored by the RSGB and ML&S, is
available at www.txfactor.co.uk and on You Tube and as it is
professionally produced in HD looks great on a full size TV but works
equally well on a PC, Mac, Tablet or smartphone.
Due to essential maintenance, the Ofcom Licensing Portal will be
unavailable from 15:30 Friday, 14th July 2017 until 06:00 Monday,
17th July 2017
At this year's RSGB Convention there will be the opportunity to sit
the FCC tests for a US licence at 1pm on Sunday the 15th of October.
Please contact Martin, G3ZAY at g3zay<at>btinternet.com before the
event if you would like to sit an exam. This is important as he wants
to ensure there are enough exam papers available and that candidates
have the correct paperwork.
The latest YOTA 2017 vlog features Steve Bunting, M0BPQ who is the
Station Manager for GB2GP at Gilwell Park. During the YOTA camp there
will be a five-band SES running from morning to night with the call
sign GB17YOTA. The RSGB has provided an award for those who make
contact, so listen out for the youngsters on air that week! You can
see all the vlogs via www.rsgb.org/yota-vlogs
In further microwave-related news, Ofcom have also confirmed the
final details for their forthcoming auction of 2.3 and 3.4GHz
spectrum that was removed as part of the 2014 Licence Review. The
auction documents include an information memorandum with considerable
detail of amateur and Primary User usage in these bands. The auction
link can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yc8frb8e
The resurrected 25MHz signal of time and frequency standard station
WWV is now emanating a 2kW signal from a circularly polarised
turnstile antenna. It's hoped that the latest antenna change to
circular polarisation might be helpful to anyone studying propagation
during next month's total solar eclipse, which will be visible across
the US. WWV has invited listeners' comments and reports on its 25MHz
signal by email to wwv<at>nist.gov
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 16th, the McMichael Rally takes place at Reading Rugby
Football Club, Holme Park Farm Lane, Sonning Lane, Sonning on Thames,
Reading RG4 6ST. Talk in will be on S22. Parking is free. Doors open
at 9.30am and entry is GBP 3. Tables and car boot spaces are GBP 10.
There will be trade stands and special interest groups. Catering and
a licensed bar will be available on site. Due to venue rules, no dogs
are allowed other than assistance dogs. Details from Andy on
0777 594 0016.
Next Sunday, the 23rd, the Finningley ARS Rally will take place at
The Hurst Communications Centre, Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster
DN8 5SX. Doors open at 10:30am. There is free parking and a large
indoor /outdoor traders area. Hot food and drinks are available all
day. Admission is GBP 3. Contact Kevin, G3AAF on 07831 614640.
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
The Kuala Lumpur DX Team will be active as 9M4IOTA from Pangkor
Island, AS-072, in West Malaysia from the 22nd to the 24th of July.
They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the 10 to 80m bands.
QSL direct to 9M2OOO.
Philip, G4PWO will be active as 8Q7PW from the Maldives, AS-013 for
two weeks starting on the 18th of July. He is likely to concentrate
on 40, 20, 17 and 15 metres using SSB if conditions are good,
digimodes if bad. QSL via his home callsign via the bureau, Logbook
of The World and eQSL or log search on Club Log.
Four German operators will be active as P40X from Aruba, SA-036, from
the 22nd of July to the 5th of August. QSL via DL8UD, direct or via
the bureau; the log will be uploaded to Club Log.
Vlad, UA0LCZ will be active as R66IOTA from Popov Island, AS-066,
from the 25th to the 30th of July. QSL via his home callsign, direct
or via the bureau.
Dieter, DF2SD will be active as OZ/DF2SD from Fano Island, EU-125,
from the 23rd of July to the 4th of August. He will operate SSB and
digital modes on the 6 to 80m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook
of The World and eQSL, or via his home callsign either direct or via
the bureau.
John, W5JON will operate as V47JA from the island of St Kitts until
the 5th of August. He operates SSB on 160m to 6m. QSLs go to his home
address in Texas.
Pierre, VE3KTB will be operating as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur
Radio Club station located on Ellesmere Island until the 22nd of
July. This will count as NA-008 for the IOTA award. QSL manager is
M0OXO.
Now the special event news
Mid Ulster ARC will operate a special event station at Coney Island
until the 30th of July. Operation will be from 9am to 5pm and the
address is Maghery Country Park, Co Armagh BT71 6NS.
Between the 22nd and the 30th of July, a big Scout Jamboree will take
place near the town Sonderborg in Denmark. The Scout Jamboree will be
active with the special call sign OZ17SJ and the QSL Manager is
OZ1ACB. No IRCs or paper cards please, use Club Log OQRS. More
details at https://qrz.com/db/oz17sj
Now the contest news
Today, the 16th, the 70MHz trophy contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator
and postcode.
Also today, the 16th, the Low Power contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC
using CW on the 3.5 to14MHz bands. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and power.
On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
On Thursday the 70MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC
and is immediately followed by the 70MHz UK Activity Contest from
1900 to 2130UTC where you can use all modes. The exchange for both is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 14th of July.
Sunspot number 2665 caught NOAA by surprise last week. As we wrote
the last report it was only just rotating into view, but ultimately
turned out to be very large indeed. It helped push the solar flux
index up to 91 during the week, although it was the only sunspot
group visible.
We got the geomagnetic prediction about right though with solar
material from a coronal hole pushing the K index up to five on the
Sunday the 9th. The unsettled conditions continued until midweek, but
then started to calm down after that.
Otherwise, it was business as usual with the summer ionosphere as the
upper bands struggled to open to F2 layer DX at times. Maximum usable
frequencies were around 14 to 18MHz over a 3,000km path, although
daytime summer D layer absorption meant that at times there was
little DX to be heard.
Next week, NOAA has the solar flux index in the range 85-90 with the
chance of unsettled geomagnetic conditions midweek due to coronal
hole activity. So it looks as if this weekend may offer the best HF
conditions.
As always, keep an eye on the 40, 30 and 20m bands in the early
morning and late evening, as they may still bring the odd surprise.
Sporadic-E openings are still possible on HF, but not as prevalent as
they were in May and June.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The start of the week is dominated by weak high pressure over
southern Britain, but it may provide some temporary night-time and
early dawn Tropo. As midweek approaches, the models are keen to bring
an area of thundery rain northwards from France into southern
Britain, so rain scatter on the GHz bands is a good mode to look out
for. The latter part of the week sees high pressure returning to
bring the Tropo back, so again look for overnight lifts or perhaps
some DX to the south across Biscay to northern Spain.
It's worth noting that in the high holiday season in the
Mediterranean region, there is potential for Tropo on most days
pretty much from one end of the Med to the other, so pack that VHF
handheld. These paths are so long that some of the QSOs may get
labelled incorrectly as Es rather than Tropo on the clusters. Usually
Tropo lasts for extended periods, whereas Es will be very transitory.
On the lower bands, some minor meteor showers are active around the
end of July, but they don't peak this coming week.
We still have some time to go with the Sporadic-E season and weak jet
streams mean some options on 10m, even if the higher bands are not
well supported.
Moon declination is positive and increasing this week and with
falling losses as we approach another perigee on Friday, there's a
good week in prospect for EME.
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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