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G4APL > NEWS 25.06.18 22:35l 289 Lines 13772 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 24 June 2018
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Sent: 180624/0231Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:26427 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@GBR
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 24th June 2018
The news headlines:
* ITU chief declares Z6 prefix illegal
* Ofcom equipment on auction
* Curtis Keyer inventor goes SK
The Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union
has said that authorising Kosovo Z6 callsigns is "unauthorised and
illegal". Houlin Zhao said, "ITU has not allocated call sign series
Z6 to any of its member states. Consequently, the utilisation of
callsign series Z6 by any entity without a formal allocation and
consent of the ITU represents an unauthorised and illegal usage of
this international numbering resource." Kosovo is not an ITU Member
State and is thus not eligible to receive a callsign block allocation
from the ITU. More information is in the ITU Operational Bulletin no
1149, downloadable from tinyurl.com/GB2RS-ITU-1149
[Note for Newsreaders: the full URL is
https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-OB.1149-2018-OAS-PDF-E.p
df]
Ofcom is auctioning surplus equipment including vehicles, masts, test
and radio communication equipment. The equipment is located at the
Baldock Radio Monitoring Station and some of this may be of interest
to amateur radio clubs, repeater groups or individual radio amateurs.
It should be noted that bidding ends at noon on the 27th June and
additional fees and charges apply above the hammer price, including
commission and VAT. Details are at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-ofcom-auction
[Note for Newsreaders: the full URL is
https://www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb/auction-catalogues/timed/ramco/cata
logue-id-ramco-10106]
Many seasoned CW operators will remember fondly the Curtis Morse
keyer chip. The ground-breaking device, which revolutionised
electronic keyers, was developed in the late 1960s by John G Curtis,
K6KU, who was more often known as Jack. Sadly, Jack became a Silent
Key on the 4th of June. His legacy lives on in thousands of devices;
most of today's electronic keyers owe a debt of gratitude to him.
As summer winds on and Field Days get under way, the ARRL has drawn
attention again to its Field Day Safety Officer Checklist. This brief
document contains some useful points to consider before any portable
operation. It can be downloaded freely from
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-ARRL-safety
[Note for Newsreaders: the full URL is
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2017/16-2017%20Safety%20Offic
er-2.pdf]
Region 1 of the International Radio Union has released an updated
version of its HF Managers' Handbook. It contains many changes agreed
at IARU Region 1 conferences and meetings between 2008 and 2017. The
structure has also been revised to make it more accessible. Whilst
most home operators won't need to read it, there is much useful
information that illuminates the HF management policies in Region 1.
The new book, version 9, can be downloaded via
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-R1-HF-handbook
[Note for Newsreaders: the full URL is
https://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/hf/1788-hf-managers-handbook-v9-0]
An RSGB Train the Trainers course will take place at Barry Amateur
Radio Club on the Saturday the 21st of July. Running from 10am in the
bowling green board room at Sully Sports and Social Club, this free
course is intended for club Training Officers. It includes the latest
information and techniques on training people for all levels of the
amateur radio exams. For more information contact Glyn Jones, GW0ANA,
via email to rm7<at>rsgb.org.uk and for more information at the venue
see http://sullysportsclub.com/
The Indian Express newspaper has lauded the "invisible warriors who
battle Mumbai monsoon" . amateur radio operators. Communications
are often the first casualty during a disaster. Mumbai hams operate
side by side with the paid crisis-management teams, they ensure that
lines of communication between the agencies never break down. You can
read the full report via tinyurl.com/GB2RS-Mumbai-monsoon
[The full, original URL is
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/invisible-warriors-who
-battle-mumbai-monsoon-5221820/]
Chelsea Pensioners will air their permanent special event callsign
GB4CP on Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm. Operating mainly around 145.500MHz,
they will also be on 20m if possible.
Chippenham and District Amateur Radio Club will run a classroom-based
Intermediate training course in July. Starting on the 3rd, the
classes are made possible by the Bath Radio Classes team, who are
volunteering their time as the trainers and assessors for the
duration of the course. The exam will be on the 4th of September. For
more information, or to apply for a place, see www.g3vre.org.uk
Thanks to the efforts of Geoff, G3TQF, the Leicestershire Repeater
Group 10GHz beacon GB3LEX returned to service recently. Reports would
be much appreciated to info<at>leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk via
Beaconspot. Like most beacon and repeater groups it is entirely
self-funded. You can find out more via the group website,
www.leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Newbury Radio Rally runs for the thirty-first time today, Sunday
the 24th. It takes place at Newbury Showground in Berkshire, next to
junction 13 of the M4 where it crosses the A34. There will be a
display area of an amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest
groups, clubs and societies. The grounds open to sellers at 8am and
to visitors at 9am. There is free parking. Entry is GBP 2.50 for
visitors, GBP 12.50 for a car boot seller pitch. There is on-site
catering and disabled facilities. Discounted advance pitch bookings
can be made via www.nadars.org.uk/rally.asp and for other details,
email NewburyRally<at>nadars.org.uk
Next Saturday, the 30th, the Houghton Le Spring Amateur Radio Club
Rally takes place at The Dubmire Royal British Legion Club,
Britannia Terrace, Fencehouses DH4 6LJ, which is located between
Durham and Sunderland. Doors open at 10.30am. Admission is completely
free of charge. Tables are also free but space is limited and will be
allocated on a first come first served basis. The Rally is open to
trade, Clubs and private sellers and exhibitors. There's free tea
and coffee, and licenced bar opens at 11am. Donations will be
welcome, and will be given in their entirety to the hosts, Dubmire
Royal British Legion Club. To book, or for more information, contact
Ian, M0RZE by email to ianlaidler1956<at>gmail.com or 0797 731 0928.
Next Sunday, the 1st of July, sees the Barford Norfolk Radio Rally at
Barford Village Hall & Green, Barford, Norwich NR9 4AB. Doors open at
9am, an hour earlier for traders, and there is talk in on S22. Car
parking is free. There will be trade stands, car boot sales, Bring &
Buy, a raffle and representatives of repeater groups. Catering is
available on site. Entry GBP 2 per person, with under 16s free.
Pitches are GBP 8, indoor tables GBP 10. Contact
radio<at>dcpmicro.com for more information.
Send details of your event as early as possible to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to get it on GB2RS and in RadCom.
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
French club Radio Club Vendeen RCV is operating special callsign
TM2GRR until the 5th of July for the 50th Golden Globe Race. Bureau
QSLs via F6KUF please, or direct to F5OEV. There's no eQSL or LotW.
The EIDX group is progressing towards its goal of activating all
Irish IOTA groups. This summer, EJ0DXG will activate several more
groups. In July they will be on Great Blasket Island, EU-007; August
will see EU-121, Bere Island and the summer's activities conclude on
the 16th of September from Inishmore, Aran Islands, EU-006 as part of
their DX Fée weekend. Working them from four different prefixes
can earn you a plaque supported by dxwanted.net. As a bonus,
EJ0DXG will be on the air from mainland Ireland, EU-115, until the
end of September. Fans of 6m will note that some of the islands being
activated are in rare Worked All Ireland squares. For more
information search for Irish Islands IOTA Tour 2018.
Now the special event news
Paul, M0TVU will be operating GB0FWC for FIFA World Cup most
evenings during the World Cup on 20 and 40m SSB, plus 2m FM and SSB.
He says he has a humble station so please be patient when calling.
Next Saturday and Sunday, Loughton and Epping Forest ARS is operating
GB2NWA for the North Weald Airfield Air Britain Fly-In.
Durham and District Amateur Radio Society is taking part in the 13
Colonies special event. They will be running GB13COL from Durham as
one of the bonus stations. Starting at 1300UTC on 1 July and running
24 hours a day until 0400 on the 8th, the primary focus will be the
HF bands. For further information regarding the 13 Colonies please
visit the website, www.13colonies.net/
If you're planning a special event station, please remember to send
advance publicity to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk . we are very happy to
help publicise your event, for free, but unless you tell us about it
we can't help.
Now the contest news
The UKuG High Band contest takes place today from 0600UTC to 1800UTC.
Using all modes on the 5.7 and 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also today the 50MHz CW contest runs from 0900UTC to 1200UTC. Using
CW only on the 6m band, signal report, serial number and locator
forms the exchange.
Running from 1400UTC to 1600UTC, the 70MHz Cumulative #4 is also
today. All modes are valid on the 4m band, and the exchange is the
usual signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the SHF UKAC takes place from 1830UTC to 2230UTC. Using
all modes on the 1.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Thursday sees the 80m Club Championships from 1900UTC to 2030UTC.
Using SSB on the 3.5MHz band, signal report and serial number forms
the exchange.
As we're in the Sporadic-E season, it seems timely to remind everyone
about the UK Six Metre Group's Summer Marathon, which runs until the
5th of August. Using all modes on the 50MHz band, the exchange is
your locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on
Friday the 22nd of June.
A glancing blow from a coronal hole sent the K index soaring to five
on Tuesday the 19th. This hadn't been predicted by NOAA as it looked
like the high-speed solar wind stream might miss us. However, by
Wednesday the ionosphere had calmed down and the index returned to a
more settled Kp=1.
Much of the fun on the upper HF bands has been due to Sporadic-E this
week, with multi-hop contacts being made across the Atlantic at
times. There have also been reports of contacts into Argentina on
21MHz, which could have been be F2 layer or multi-hop Sporadic-E. If
they were via the F2 layer, this could have helped by two large
sunspot groups currently visible, which pushed the solar flux index
to 82 on Thursday the 21st.
There have also been reports of some excellent 40 metre propagation
to various parts of the world, but this may suit night owls as it
favours the early hours after midnight.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index around 70, with settled
geomagnetic conditions until the 25th. We may then see the effects of
an equatorial coronal hole and its associated high-speed solar wind
stream push the K index to five again with lowered maximum useable
frequencies and noisy bands. So get your HF DXing in this weekend, or
you may have to wait until later in the week for things to settle.
Sporadic-E will continue to bring short-skip fun on all HF bands up
to 10 metres. Longer-range F2-layer propagation may peak at 14 or
18MHz as we continue in the HF summer doldrums.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
There will be a large area of high pressure over, or near to, the
British Isles until the end of the week, so tropo propagation will be
a real prospect. It will favour paths down the Irish Sea or across
Biscay to northern Spain. This direction is favoured over paths
across the North Sea, where the air will be drier at lower levels and
not so conducive to tropo. In the summer months night-time tropo is
an option over land too, but soon fades as the sun warms the ground
and destroys the surface temperature inversion. This high pressure
means that you will not see any rain scatter on the microwave bands.
That leaves Sporadic-E, which is still in full cry and offers two
primary periods to check the bands; mid-morning and late afternoon,
or early evening.
Weather features can play a part in the location of Sporadic-E and,
based on the contribution of jet streams, it looks like paths to
Scandinavia and south-east Europe could do well, as will paths to the
south into Iberia. It's also always worth looking to the Atlantic for
paths to the Americas and the Caribbean with a jet stream present for
much of the week.
The June Bootids meteor shower is active from the 26th of June until
the 2nd of July. It peaks this Wednesday. Normally the shower is very
weak, but occasional outbursts produce a hundred or more meteors per
hour.
The moon reaches minimum declination and apogee on Thursday, so EME
opportunities will be short with a low-elevation Moon and high path
losses.
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 radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
Our thanks to Andy G4TNU for providing this RSGB feed.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
http://www.theskywaves.net http://gb7cip.ampr.org
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