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G4TNU > NEWS 21.06.15 01:05l 298 Lines 14591 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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RSGB News for Sunday 21 June 2015
The news headlines:
* Chris Budd, G4NBG - OBE
* RSGB Convention lectures announced
* Medium wave experiments in US
Professor Chris Budd, G4NBG has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's
Birthday Honours for services to science and maths education. He has
been a radio amateur and RSGB Member since his teens, when he was
introduced to the hobby by his grandfather who held a licence in the
1920s and was a radio scientist during the war. Professor Budd was
active first under G8OPB and then G4NBG and, as a student, was
President of G6UW, the Cambridge Wireless Society. He joined the
University of Bath in 1995, has published over 100 research papers
and is also the creator of Bath Taps into Science, a major hands-on
science festival that has won several national prizes in the 14 years
it has been running. Congratulations.
The RSGB Convention takes place over the weekend of the 9th to the
11th of October at Kent's Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. We
are please to announce that Glenn Johnson, W0GJ will be speaking
about the K1N DXpedition, a once in 32 years opportunity from Navassa
Island, that was number 1 in the Most Wanted Entity in Europe. Dave
Powis, G4HUP will be looking at digital and analogue scopes, how each
type of instrument works and how they can be used. This will be
followed by a workshop to give visitors hands on experience of
scopes. Details can be found at www.rsgb.org/convention
A group of US medium wave experimental licensees will transmit
greetings on 630m during the ARRL Field Day weekend on the 27th and
28th of June. While the 472 to 479 kHz band is not yet available for
amateur radio use in the US, these greetings messages are allowed.
See http://www.arrl.org/news for details of callsigns and frequency
of those planning to pass greetings messages.
With the new UK amateur licence now in place, the exams need to
change to reflect the current licence conditions. The RCF gave notice
that the new rules will be examined from the 1st of October. The RSGB
is now working on updates to the Foundation, Intermediate and
Advanced training books and a further announcement will be made as
soon as the ‘Extras' are available. These should enable anyone
preparing for an exam after the 1st of October to have the current
rules clear in their mind. It is worth noting that the old licence
conditions will continue to be examined until the end of September.
If anyone has any questions about these changes, please contact
Philip Willis, M0PHI, who is chair of the RSGB Training & Education
Committee tec.chair<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB Propagation Studies Committee is seeking someone to develop
a web program that graphically displays HF propagation predictions.
The propagation information will be obtained by running ITURHFProp
and utilising its text-based output. No prior experience in
propagation is expected only a good web programming background.
Interested parties should contact Gwyn Williams, G4FKH at
g4fkh<at>sky.com.
Every year, the BBC broadcasts a special programme to the scientists
and support staff in the British Antarctic Survey Team. Music
requests and special messages are sent to the small team of 40+
located at various Antarctic research stations. The frequencies to be
used for the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast today, the 21st of
June are 5985kHz, 5905kHz and 9590kHz at 2130UTC.
The next British inland Waterways on the air event will be held over
the August bank holiday week end of the 29th to the 31st of August.
The event is open to all amateurs who are boaters, cyclists, walkers
and other users of the canals, rivers, towpaths, riverbanks for work
or recreation. The primary band will be 40m. More details can be
found on the RSGB website, search BiWota.
On the 28th of June, Martin, G7MRV and Bob, M1BBV are walking the
Lyke Wake Walk challenge, a 40mile route across the North Yorkshire
moors, to be completed in under 24 hours with 5,000ft of ascent. They
are fundraising for MAG International, a landmine and UXO clearance
and awareness education charity. As if the strenuous nature of the
walk wasn't enough, they decided to operate amateur radio en route.
Ofcom has been very supportive and have issued them with a SES NoV to
operate under the callsign GB0MAG on that day during they walk. The
NoV is not fixed to a single operating location, but rather a 40mile
long and 20meter wide operational corridor! Operation will be at
quite low power on 2m FM only with an ultra lightweight rucksack
mounted antenna to increase the range. See QRZ.com
The British Amateur Television Club is helping to organise an ATV
Convention at the Hamradio exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany on
26 June. Entitled Digital Amateur TV: State Of The Art And Trends, it
will run for four hours. It will give an overview of current ATV
activity in European countries and will cover the move from analogue
to digital operation by ATV operators
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Newbury and District Amateur Radio rally takes place today,
Sunday the 21st of June at the Newbury Showground. Owing to essential
roadworks on the M4 Junction 13, the roundabout is closed. This means
that diversions are in place for most visitors to the rally. Visitors
should check the NADARS website www.nadars.org.uk before setting off
for details of the diversions. Talk-in will be available on S22. The
rally opens at 9am for visitors and 8am for sellers, with trade stand
and a car boot area including a demonstration marquee with a display
of amateur radio on the air. Details from Phill on 07771 504 738.
The Barnsley LAMFEST Radio Rally will take place today, the 21st of
June, in Building 21, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Elsecar, Barnsley
S74 8HJ. The event is held in aid of The Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Doors open at 10am and there will be trade stands as well as family
entertainment. Details from Claire on 01226 361 700.
The Hamtronic Show will take place in Friedrichshafen in Germany next
weekend the 26th to 28th of June. There will be trade stands
including a large RSGB bookstall and the RSGB President will be
attending the show and associated meetings.
On Sunday the 28th of June the West of England Radio Rally will be
held at the Cheese & Grain, Bridge Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE.
Doors open from 10am to 2pm and admission is GBP 2.50. There will be
trade stands, including an RSGB bookstall, as well as disabled
facilities. Details from Shaun, G8VPG on 01225 873 098.
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.
Now the special event news
Cambridge Museum of Technology is hosting GB1CMT, operated by members
of the Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club, today the 21st of
June. On air from 11am to 5pm, the museum including the radio
operating area is open to the public from 2pm to 5pm.
Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society will operate GB1JSS from Galleywood
Common on the Summer Solstice, today the 21st of June. Several
stations will be active through the day including 40m SSB and 2m for
local contacts. The event runs from 7am until 9pm and all are welcome
to visit, operate and/or assist, further details at
http://g0mwt.org.uk/
Thurrock Acorns Amateur Radio Club is operating GB2PHC at Purfleet
Heritage and Military Centre today the 21st of June. This is a
Museums on the Air station operating on 70cm, 2, 10, 20 and 40m
mainly voice.
The 16th Island Games will be held in Jersey between the 27th of June
and the 3rd of July. To mark this occasion, members of the Jersey
Amateur Radio Society will be active with GJ15IG and plan to have 2
or 3 stations on the air, using SSB and CW. Logs will be uploaded the
Logbook of the World and paper QSLs should be requested using the
OQRS facility provided by Club Log
Wearside Electronics Amateur Radio Society will operate from Shildon
Railway Museum on Saturday the 27th of June using GB4SRM. Operation
will be on HF, VHF/UHF and all are welcome. Details at
www.wears.org.uk
On the 27th of June, Llanelli ARS will operate GB1BAF for British
Armed Forces Day.
Bush Valley Amateur Radio Club will be taking part in the Museums On
The Air from The Green Lane Museum in The Roe Valley Country Park on
the 27th and 28th of June using GB8GLM. Two stations will operate HF,
VHF and D Star station.
Riviera ARC will be participating in National Armed Forces Day on the
27th of June using GB8AFD. They aim to be work mainly 40m and 2m but
may consider other bands. Special event QSLs will be available.
If you have news of any future special event stations, please email
details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Peter, VE3IKV will be active from the Bahamas from the 22nd June to
the 6th of July using C6AUX. He will be mainly on 6m with some HF,
both CW and SSB. QSL to his home callsign.
Two Japanese operators will be on the air from Timor Leste, East
Timor, OTA reference OC-148, from the 25th to the 29th of June.
Callsigns will be 4W/JA7LU and 4W/JI1AVY. Activity will be on all
bands from 6 to 160m.
Peter, ZL2HM will operate holiday style on the Pacific island of
Niue, OC-040, as E6AB from the 24th of June to the 4th of July. He
will be on the 10 to 80m bands, mainly SSB.
The 6M6M team will be active until the 31st of July on 6m only with
high power stations, from the Gyeonggi Province, HL2. QSL via HL2UVH.
Tim, VK7NSE and Paul, VK2HV will be active as VK7FG from Flinders
Island, OC-195 for around two weeks. They will be on the 10 to 160m
bands with possibly some 6m. QSL via M0OXO using OQRS or
www.m0oxo.com for direct and bureau cards.
Now the contest news
The biggest VHF contest of the month, the 6m Trophy, ends its 24
hours at 1400UTC today the 21st. It has 6-hour and 24-hour sections
for ‘single op fixed' and ‘single op others', as well as a
24-hour Open (multi-op) section. Using all modes the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The CW leg of the All Asian DX Contest ends its 48 hours at 2359
today, the 21st. Exchange a signal report and your age, with YL
operators sending 00. It will be using the 1.8 to 28MHz bands.
The IRTS 80m Counties contest runs from 1400 to 1700UTC today, the
21st of June. Using SSB and CW, the exchange is signal report and
serial number with EI and GI stations also giving their county.
The Worked All Britain 50MHz Phone contest takes place today, the
21st of June, from 0900 to 1500UTC. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets
from worked-all-britain.org.uk.
On Tuesday the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is the usual signal report, serial
number and locator. The SHF UK Activity Contest also takes place on
Tuesday at the same time, Using the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange
is also signal report, serial number and locator.
The 50MHz CW contest takes pace on the 28th of June from 0900 to
1200UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The 4th 70MHz Cumulative contest runs from 1400 to 1600 on the 28th
of June. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
Finally for the 28th of June, the UK Microwave Group contest runs
from 0600 to 1800. Using all modes on the 5.7 to 10GHz bands the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 19th of June.
The sun has been relatively clear this week, apart from sunspot group
2367 that pushed the solar flux index to 136. Geomagnetic conditions
have been reasonably quiet with the Kp index mostly at two to three,
with two instances of it hitting four. Nevertheless, summer
conditions in the northern hemisphere have taken their toll with
lower maximum usable frequencies during the day, plus noisy
conditions on 80m and 40m, thanks to solar absorption.
The poor HF conditions are quite normal and are believed to be due to
a change in ionospheric chemistry with a shift towards more diatomic
molecular components and fewer monatomic ones. These are harder to
ionise due to the tighter bonding of their electrons, hence the lower
overall ionisation and maximum useable frequencies during daylight
hours.
This week keep a look out on 20m and 17m, with occasional F2 openings
on 15m. Ten metres should continue to show Sporadic-E activity at
times. There is DX to be had, but you will have to work at it.
The solar flux index is predicted by the USAF to be in the 120s next
week, probably thanks to sunspot group 2371, which is rotating around
the sun's limb and shows some promise.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
Tropo is often to the fore at this time of the year as warm, dry
continental air drifts out across a cool sea and forms sea fog
overlain by dry warm air aloft. These are ideal conditions for Tropo,
since this can form lengthy surface ducts particularly across the
North Sea or down to the south across Biscay to Spain and beyond.
Night-time cooling and the effect of onshore sea breezes can couple
inland stations to these enhanced Tropo conditions, although tends it
to break down as daytime heating gets under way soon after sunrise.
The first part of the week may see elevated inversions due to an area
of high pressure extending towards southern Britain from the Azores,
so look for Tropo down towards the South West. After midweek, an area
of low pressure will introduce more unsettled, showery weather
providing some possibility for rain scatter.
Sporadic-E has been good during the past week and strong jet stream
activity over Europe has probably helped greatly with this.
During next week, the jet stream activity will be weaker and probably
favour more northern paths, check the propagation blog on the RSGB
forums for daily updates.
And that's all from the propagation team for 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.
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