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G4APL > NEWS 05.11.17 00:49l 249 Lines 11543 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 5 Nov 2017
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Sent: 171104/2309Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:63530 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 5th of November 2017
The news headlines:
* Contest opinions sought by IARU
* 10GHz beacon back on the air
* Want to host Train the Trainers?
IARU Region 1 has a new contest working group that is responsible for
organising the future Region 1 contests. They want to know the
opinion of the contester or the contest teams who send their log to
the robot or to the national contest manager. They also want to hear
from those who just give away points and do not send their log. As
many people as possible are invited to give their views. The survey
takes about 15 minutes to answer and will close on the 30th of
November. To start a survey, go to tinyurl.com/GB2RS-1105A
[Note to Newsreaders: the original, full URL is
www.darc.de/referate/iaru/iaru-survey/]
The GB3LEX 10GHz beacon situated in Leicestershire was returned to
service on the 15th of October. It is running at its licensed power
using a new PA that became available thanks to the late G4HUP.
Reports would be appreciated via the website at
www.leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk, via the DX cluster or on
Beacon Spot.
The RSGB is looking for enquiries from clubs interested in hosting
Train the Trainers during 2018. There are currently four slots
available, spread over the year. We would be particularly interested
in hearing from clubs in areas not yet served by an event. These
include, for example, the North Wales and Flint area; the Midlands,
within a 30 mile radius of Birmingham; the Penrith and Dumfries area,
and the Bath and Salisbury area. For more information please contact
David Evans, G0EVA by email to g0eva<at>aol.co.uk
The RSGB has released the first of its Strategy video updates. This
short video was filmed by the TX Factor at National Hamfest. Top RSGB
representatives talk about some of the ways the Society is engaging
with radio amateurs, representing amateurs nationally and
internationally, and also developing even better ways of
communicating with them. Take a look at www.rsgb.org/strategy-videos
– more videos will be released in due course.
The EMC Committee would like to thank all 1,200 radio amateurs who
took part in the VDSL RFI survey. The results have been analysed and
were presented at the RSGB 2017 Convention. To see the PowerPoint
presentation, watch the video of the Convention lecture or take part
in the survey go to the EMC Committee pages on the RSGB website via
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-1105B. There is still time to take part in the
survey, so please do complete it if you haven't already.
[Note to Newsreaders: the full URL is
http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/rsgb-notices/2017/10/30/results-of-the-
vdsl-interference-survey/]
IARU Region 1 has released a new version of its VHF handbook. You can
get a copy from the Resources section of the IARU website, via
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-1105C
[Note to Newsreaders: the full URL is
www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/downloads/func-startdown/991/]
The Spanish State Official Newsletter carried the new National
Frequency Allocation Chart that contains some good news for Spanish
radio amateurs. It included the new global 60m Secondary allocation,
5351.5 – 5366.5kHz, that was agreed at ITU WRC-15.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 5th of November, the West London Radio & Electronics Show,
also known as the Kempton Rally, will take place at Kempton Park
Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames TW16 5AQ. There will
be a talk in station, and on site car parking is free. Doors open at
10am, with disabled visitors gaining access ten minutes earlier.
There will be trade stands, an RSGB bookstall, RSGB Regional Team
representatives, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Other
attractions are lectures, a raffle and catering on site. Details from
Paul, M0CJX, on 0845 165 0351.
Also today, the 5th, the Bush Valley Radio Rally takes place at the
United Services Club, 8 Roe Mill Road, Limavady BT49 9DF. Talk-in
will be on 145.400MHz. Doors open at 11am and entry is GBP 3, with a
free draw ticket. There will be traders and a Bring & Buy.
Refreshments are available on site. Tables are free and should be
booked with Jack on 0788 529 2545.
The Fog on the Tyne rally takes place on the Saturday the 11th of
November at Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham, Gateshead
NE8 4LH. Car parking is available and the entrance is on Whitehall
Road. Doors open at 10.30am and entry is GBP 2. There will be traders
and RSGB bookstand and a junk stall. Catering will be available on
site. Details from Nancy, G7UUR on 07990 760 920.
As we announced some time ago the Great Northern Hamfest, originally
planned for the 12th of November, has been cancelled.
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
Chas, NK8O will be active again as 5H3DX from Zinga, Tanzania from
the 7th of November to the 4th of December. In his spare time he will
operate CW and some PSK on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via NK8O, direct
only, see QRZ.com for instructions, Logbook of The World and eQSL.
Members of the Mediterraneo DX Club will sign 9U4M from Burundi until
the 17th of November. They will operate all bands from 10 to 160m
using SSB, CW and RTTY. The QSL manager is IK2VUC.
Jean-Paul, HB9ARY will be operating as 3B8HC until the 18th of
November from Mauritius, IOTA reference AF-049. Activity will be
holiday style on the 80 to 10m bands using CW and SSB. QSL direct to
NI5DX.
Alain, F5OZC and Sebastien, F8DQZ are on the air as as 3XY3D/p from
Kassa Island, AF-051, during the month of November. Activity is on
the 10 to 40 to 10m bands using mainly CW. QSL via F5OZC.
Sergio, IZ3NXC will be operating as 9A/IZ3NXC from Pag Island,
EU-170, from the 7th to the 9th of November. Activity will be on he
10 to 80m bands using SSB and various digital modes. QSL via IK3GES.
Now the special event news
Many amateur radio operators will use the 630m band on the 11th of
November during a special operating event to commemorate the 1906
Berlin Treaty. On the 3rd of November of that year the Treaty made
500kHz the International Distress Frequency. Canadian and authorised
US radio amateurs will operate from 472 to 479kHz, using CW. Some
stations are expected to offer cross-band contacts, transmitting on
630m and listening on 160, 80, and 40m. Experimental operators,
including WD2XSH stations and others who don't yet have UTC approval,
will operate in the 472-479kHz band or just outside of it, and there
may be some operation on 500kHz proper. The Maritime Radio Historical
Society will activate its KSM/KPH transmitter at Bolinas, California
with special messages and bulletins.
Now the contest news
Ending its 24 hour run at 1400UTC today, the 5th, the Marconi CW
contest takes place. Using the 144MHz band only, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 200UTC.
It is followed by the 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC
using all modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Thursday the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Saturday the 11th, the Club Calls contest, otherwise know as the
1.8MHz AFS, takes place from 2000 to 2300UTC. Using CW and RTTY on
the 1.8MHz band the exchange is signal report, serial number and club
information.
Next weekend is the WAE DX RTTY contest running from 0000UTC on the
11th to 2359UTC on the 12th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 3rd of November.
Last week saw more settled geomagnetic conditions and, although there
were few sunspots, the ionosphere was able to offer DX contacts. The
CQ Worldwide contest saw 15 metres and even 10 metres providing
openings at times. With the solar flux in the low 70s it was the
seasonal upturn, due to change in ionospheric chemistry, that was
mostly responsible for the better conditions.
There is also evidence that coronal hole activity may be responsible
for an increase in the ionospheric electron count. This shouldn't be
confused with the effects of a coronal mass ejection, when the earth
is effectively blasted with a high-speed solar wind, which can lower
ionisation levels and depress maximum usable frequencies.
NOAA issues what are called ALTEF3 warnings when energetic electron
levels exceed a certain event threshold. HF propagation enthusiasts
might want to experiment and see if these coincide with higher
maximum usable frequencies and openings when the solar flux index
remains otherwise low.
Solar activity is predicted to remain at very low levels next week
with no visible Earth-facing sunspots at the time of writing.
However, another coronal hole will become geoeffective and NOAA
predicts that its effects could see the K index rise to five or even
six from Tuesday the 7th to Friday the 11th.
Look out for the possibility of initial ionospheric enhancements, but
also the likelihood of unsettled conditions and depressed maximum
usable frequencies thereafter. However, an increased solar wind can
often bring unpredictable ionospheric effects, so do check the upper
HF bands for openings all week and keep an eye on the live ionosonde
data at propquest.co.uk.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The enhanced Tropo of last week saw some good VHF and microwave bands
DX, but it will decline quickly as a cold front moves south and
destroys the subsidence inversion. This weekend has a colder
northerly flow controlling the weather. This means strong shower
development around the coasts, especially of Scotland, Northern
Ireland and eastern England.
These showers are driven by the warmth of the surrounding seas, whose
temperatures change little from day to night. This can provide a
24-hour run of potential rain scatter on the microwave bands. You can
track the showers on any rainfall radar to get the beam headings you
need.
The next item for attention could well be the return of high pressure
in the south late in the week, but this is not supported by all
weather models, so check the charts after midweek for signs of a
ridge building from the Azores high towards Biscay and southern UK.
The Moon reaches perigee on Monday and maximum declination on
Wednesday. This brings low losses and long moon windows for EME,
coinciding with microwave bands activity from Cape Verde this weekend
until Tuesday.
There are no significant meteor showers this week, but the big
Leonids shower is less than two weeks away, so focus on checking all
your systems. You can continue to look around dawn for the best
chance of QSOs via random meteor scatter.
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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