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[Note for Newsreaders: We have received correspondence questioning
the point of including full URLs as a note to Newsreaders after we
use shortened URLs in a news story. Our main reason for doing this is
for future reference, when it's possible a short reference may no
longer be valid. If anyone has any views on this, please let us know
via radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk using the subject line GB2RS URLs]
The news headlines:
* FT8 in UK and EU contests
* Petition launched to save WWV
* GB3RS and GB7BP service interruption
Recently, the RSGB Contest Committee has seen some FT8 QSOs being
claimed within contest logs. At present it is difficult to complete a
full contest exchange using FT8, although an EU contest compatible
version is under development. A machine generated modes, or
MGM-specific contest ran in April this year, with a set of rules
structured to support all MGM modes with varying and limited
exchanges. The initial reaction to this contest was positive and a
second event will take place in December. At this time, FT8 and
similar fast MGM modes will be kept inside a separate, more
experimental contest framework. However, the Contest Committee
proposes increasing the number of these MGM contests during 2019.
Consequently, from the first of September onwards, the allowed modes
for RSGB VHF contests, except for the dedicated MGM events, will be
SSB, CW, FM, AM, JT6M, ISCAT and FSK441.
US National Institute of Standards and Technology station WWV and
sister transmitting stations are among the oldest radio stations in
the United States, having been in continuous operation since May
1920. WWV has transmitted the official US Time for nearly 100 years.
The US government has been planning to close the NIST Radio Stations
WWV, WWVB, and WWVH in 2019. An online petition has been set up at
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-0824-A to change that, though at the time of
writing the only about 7% of the necessary signatures had been
gathered to oblige a response from the White House.
[Note for Newsreaders: the full URL is at
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-statio
ns-wwv-wwvh]
The GB3RS radio shack at the RSGB National Radio Centre will be off
the air from Wednesday the 29th to Friday the 31st of August. During
this time access to the radio room demonstration area will be
limited. The reason is that significant maintenance work is being
carried out on the tower that supports the station's aerials. The
D-Star repeater, GB7BP, will be off the air for the same period
because it shares the same mast. The work is weather dependant, but
if there are any changes the RSGB will post details on its website.
Separately, the NRC will be hosting a visit by a group of visually
impaired students from Spain on Tuesday the 28th. Volunteers will be
running a number of Morse activities for the visitors. On the Sunday
the 2nd of September, it's the Annual Reunion of Code Breakers at
Bletchley Park, including Voluntary Interceptors. This event is
organised by Bletchley Park and more can be seen at
www.bletchleypark.org.uk
The next RSGB Train the Trainers will be held on Saturday the 1st of
September, from 9.30am to 5pm. It takes place at Wolverhampton
Electricity Sports and Social Club, St Marks Road, Chapel Ash,
Wolverhampton WV3 0QH. This venue is the HQ of Wolverhampton ARS. For
more information, or to book a place, please contact Ron Wellsted via
email to ron<at>wellsted.org.uk
The Bath Radio Classes team will be running a Foundation course from
the 12th of September. This will be their last under the current
syllabus. Classes will be on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9pm at the
Scout HQ in the centre of Bath. Cost will be about GBP 60 including
textbook, exam and room hire. An Intermediate course will follow on
in October. Full details from Steve, G0FUW via e-mail to
g0fuw<at>tiscali.co.uk
The RSGB Convention is at Kents Hill Park Training & Conference
Centre, MK7 6BZ, from the 12th to the 14th of October. There will be
a vast array of talks and a provisional programme is at
www.rsgb.org/convention. Early Bird discounts for the RSGB Convention
have just been extended to the 31st of August. So you still have a
few days left to get your packages for this flagship event at a lower
price. Don't forget, under 21's get free admission.
The RSGB has released another presentation from its 2017 Convention
into the Members' Area video portal, which is at www.rsgb.org/video
In his talk on HF Propagation at Sunspot Minimum, RSGB Propagation
Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA asks, and answers, the
questions ‘When is it?', ‘What can we expect?', and ‘How can we
make the most of the HF bands as we approach and pass sunspot
minimum?'. Take a look and, if it inspires you to go to the 2018
Convention, you can book online at www.rsgb.org/convention
An International Space Station school contact has been planned for
Ricky Arnold, KE5DAU with a school in India, scheduled for Monday the
27th of August at approximately 0806UTC. The conversation will be
conducted in English. The contact will be a telebridge operated by
ON4ISS in Belgium. The downlink signals will be audible in parts of
Europe on 145.800MHz FM.
The National Hamfest is coming ever closer. This 10th anniversary
event takes place on the 28th and 29th of September and is the UK's
largest exhibition and gathering of amateur radio enthusiasts. Among
all the usual rally attractions like a big RSGB bookstall, traders,
flea market and the Bring and Buy, the winners of the National Club
of the Year 2017, sponsored by Waters and Stanton, will be announced.
You can get full details of the event and Fast Track advance entry
tickets at www.nationalhamfest.org.uk
Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society, which celebrates its
70th birthday in October, would like to hear from all current and
past members to help mark the anniversary. Please contact David via
the club website, www.sadars.co.uk
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
This weekend, on the 25th and 26th, the Montrose Amateur Radio &
Aviation Rally takes place at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre,
DD10 9BD. Doors are open from 10am on both days and entry is free. If
you want a table, which cost GBP 5, contact Martin, 2M0KAU, on
0776 370 8933 as soon as possible. CQ Scotland.com, part of the Mid
Lanark Amateur Radio Society, will run a Buildathon on the Sunday,
funded by the RSGB Legacy Committee. Spaces are limited, so please
email your interest to David, MM0HQD, via info<at>cqscotland.com
Today, the 26th, the Torbay ARS Annual Communications Fair takes
place at The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF.
It's an indoor event with free parking and disabled facilities, and
is accessible by public transport. There will be a Bring & Buy sale,
RSGB Book Stall, special interest groups and trade stands. Catering
is available on site. Contact Mike, G1TUU on 01803 557 941.
Also today, the 26th, Milton Keynes ARS is holding its 60th
anniversary rally at the Irish Centre, Manor Field, Bletchley, Milton
Keynes MK2 2HZ. Doors open at 9.30am and admission is GBP 3. Hot &
cold food will be available. Contact Francis Hennigan, 2E0FMK, via
email to rally<at>mkars.org.uk
On the 27th, Bank Holiday Monday, the Huntingdonshire ARS annual
rally will take place at the Ernulf Academy, Barford Rd, St Neots
PE19 2SH. Talk-in with GX0HSR will be on 145.550MHz. There's free
parking and admission is GBP 3. Doors open at 9am, or 7am for
traders. There will be an RSGB Book Stall as well as a Bring & Buy,
hot meals and drinks are available on site and there will be an ice
cream van. Contact M0OLG on 01480 214 282.
On September the 1st, Steve, G0FUW is leading the Bath-style
Buildathon in Telford at the Park Inn Hotel, TF3 4NA, the evening
before the Telford Hamfest. This year features a design by Heather,
M0HMO described as an HF Swiss Army Knife. It's a small, digital,
very portable device that will measure VSWR, RF power, DC voltage,
resistance, continuity, HF frequency, and includes a GPS for latitude
and longitude, Maidenhead locator and OS Grid reference for around
GBP 20. The Buildathon venue opens from 7pm and Heather recommends
pre-booking for the project by calling her on 0780 254 8938 or via
email to heather<at>myorangedragon.net Bookings for an overnight stay
can be made directly to the Park Inn Hotel on 01952 429 988, as soon
as possible please; mention the GQRP Radio event for a concessionary
rate. Further information is at www.telfordhamfest.org.uk
The following day, the 2nd, the annual Telford HamFest takes place at
Enginuity in Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shropshire TF8 7DQ. Numerous
trader and exhibitor stands are booked and there will be a variety of
presentations from guest speakers in the Darby Boardroom. There will
be an RSGB Bookstand. Admission is GBP 4.50 with accompanied under
16's free from 10am. On-site catering will be available and car
parking facilities have been improved. Details from Martyn, G3UKV on
01952 255416.
To get your event into RadCom and GB2RS, please send details as early
as possible to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
Nobu, JA0JHQ will be active as T88PB from Koror, Palau, IOTA
reference OC-009, from the 31st of August to the 3rd of September.
Main activity will be during the All Asian DX SSB Contest on the 1st
and 2nd of September with some CW, especially on 30m, and possibly
FT8 outside the contest. QSL via Logbook of The World, preferred, or
direct to JA0JHQ.
Jacques, F6HMJ will be active as SV8/F6HMJ from Ios Island, EU-067,
from the 27th of August to the 6th of September. He will operate CW
and some SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via his home callsign.
Laci, HA0NAR will be active from Guadeloupe as FG/HG0R between the
27th of August to the 7th of September on the 160 to 6m bands using
CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via Club Log.
Now the special event news
The British Inland Waterways on the Air event takes place over the
August Bank Holiday weekend. Paul, MI1AIB and Sharon, 2I0SHZ will be
active with GB8BRM from Ballyronan Marina on the shores of Lough
Neagh. This is WAB square H98. Activity will mostly be holiday style.
QSL via MI1AIB. For more details of other stations taking part in the
event, go to www.nharg.org.uk/biwota
In 1918 a group of amateur radio enthusiasts formed the Guildford
Wireless Alliance. There has been at least one amateur radio society
in Guildford ever since. Guildford & District Radio Society, Wey
Valley Amateur Radio Group and the Guildford Repeater Group are
jointly marking 100 years of amateur radio in Guildford. A special
event station will be on the air until the 27th of August on HF, VHF
and digital modes from the Guildford Model Engineers HQ, London Road,
Guildford, Surrey GU1 1TU.
On the 1st and 2nd of September, the Radio Club of Binche will
operate as ON44WAR to commemorate the Belgian Resistance during WW
II, especially those of the Refuge B 40 in Waudrez, Belgium. Activity
will be from 0700 to 1600UTC on the 1st and 0700 to 1100UTC on the
2nd. CW transmissions on 7MHz from a Paraset will take place on the
hour for 30 minutes, followed by SSB. QSL via ON7RY, direct, bureau
or eQSL.
Over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of September, Thames Amateur
Radio Group will be operating GB2MFM, commemorating the 73rd
anniversary of the end of WW2. Activity will be from WW2 pillbox in
Wat Tyler Country Park, near Basildon.
The RSGB Region 8 Team has been given the opportunity to showcase
amateur radio by hosting GB100RAF in the STEM Village, that's
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, on the 1st and 2nd
September at the 2018 Portrush Airshow, AirWaves. Mid Ulster ARC will
provide their display trailer for the weekend and RAF ARS members
will facilitate the GB100RAF callsign. QSL information for GB100RAF
is via G8FC, the club call sign of HQ RAF ARS.
We are very happy to publicise your event on GB2RS, in RadCom and on
the RSGB website, but only if you tell us what you're doing! Please
send details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk as early as possible. Three
months in advance is about right for RadCom. One of the requirements
for special event callsigns is that the station must be open to the
public, so our free advance publicity can help make your efforts more
widely known.
Now the contest news
Today, the 26th, the UK Microwave Group contest runs from 0600 to
1800UTC on the 5.7 and 10GHz bands. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On the 28th, the SHF UK Activity contest runs from 1830 to 2230UTC
using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands. The exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend, the 1st and 2nd of September, it's the RSGB's SSB Field
Day contest. It runs for 24 hours from 1300UTC Saturday to 1300UTC
Sunday. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. This event includes a
fixed station section and all sections have a maximum output power of
100W. Station inspections are possible too, so portable stations need
to register to qualify for an award. New for this year is a Renewable
Energy Portable 6-hour section.
Also on the 1st and 2nd it's the 144MHz Trophy, which runs from 1400
to 1400UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day and 144MHz contests coincide with RSGB
events, but due to new data protection regulations you now have to
submit your own entry to IARU contests. It cannot be done for you.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day runs from 1300UTC Saturday to 1300UTC
Sunday, using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands. The
exchange is signal report and serial number. The IARU 144MHz contest
runs from 1400UTC Saturday to 1400UTC Sunday. Again using all modes,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On the 1st of September the CWops CW Open Contest runs from 0000 to
2359UTC in three 4-hour sessions. It's CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz
contest bands. The exchange is a serial number and your name.
The All Asian DX contest takes place from 0000UTC on the 1st to
2359UTC on the 2nd. Using SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands. The
exchange is signal report and your age, with ladies able to send 00.
On the 2nd of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpacker contest runs from
1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on 2m only, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 2nd, the Worked All Britain 2m QRO Phone contest runs
from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and WAB square.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 24th of August.
This past week was characterised by low sunspot numbers and unsettled
geomagnetic conditions. The K index hit three and four during the
week due to yet another large elongated coronal hole on the Sun's
surface. But it wasn't all bad news as there was DX to be had if you
employed the right equipment. Roger, G3LDI reported working Hank,
W6SX near the Yosemite region of California, USA, on 20 metres during
a CWops contest in the early afternoon on Wednesday. Hank was using a
basic wire antenna while Roger was using a SteppIR beam at height.
Both were using their respective full legal power limits.
The TX5T DXpedition to the Austral Islands in the South Pacific
proved to be a trickier one to work, but a number of G stations did
manage to make the trip, with 40 and 80m contacts surprisingly making
a showing.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be around 66, which
is about as low as it can get in any solar cycle. The better news is
that there appears to be a lack of solar coronal holes for the time
being, so geomagnetic conditions may be more settled, with a maximum
K index of two.
Expect maximum usable frequencies to be in the 14 to 18MHz range,
with the potential for occasional Sporadic-E openings on the higher
bands, although we are now well past the summer peak.
It is perhaps still a little too early in the season to see the
expected autumn upturn in F-layer HF conditions, but there is still
DX to be had if you search for it. This may be a good time to attend
to your HF antennas before the autumn, ready to make the most of
potentially better DX conditions in a month or so.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
It's a much more unsettled flavour to the weather this week, with low
pressure close to northern Britain. What's left of the high pressure
will have moved into the continent and retreated back to the Azores.
This will probably limit the Tropo activity compared with recent
events although, as often is the case, it will be mainly the south of
the country that might see any temporary Tropo at times. What that
leaves us with is the prospect of some occasional microwave band rain
scatter in the unsettled phase of our weather.
There remains the prospect of the dying embers of this year's
Sporadic-E season. It is always worth a check on the clusters and
HF/VHF bands from 10 metres up to 4 metres, but it is perhaps a bit
late in the season to expect much on 2 metres. The unsettled weather
will bring some jet streams into play over northwest Europe and that
can be a good thing for turbulence and Sporadic-E.
Moon declination is still negative and path losses are high today,
but by the time we get to next Saturday and Sunday's EME activity
from the 32-metre Dish at Goonhilly in Cornwall it will be positive
and losses lower. The team plan to be active on 1st and 2nd September
as GB6GHY, concentrating on 3.4GHz on the 1st and 5.7GHz on the 2nd.
Look for them on the HB9Q EME logger, between about 0800 and 1200UTC,
earlier if possible, and if you can elevate your dish to the Moon,
take a listen. Their CW should be receivable on a 1m dish with a
decent preamp.
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.
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 26th August 2018
[Note for Newsreaders: We have received correspondence questioning
the point of including full URLs as a note to Newsreaders after we
use shortened URLs in a news story. Our main reason for doing this is
for future reference, when it's possible a short reference may no
longer be valid. If anyone has any views on this, please let us know
via radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk using the subject line GB2RS URLs]
The news headlines:
* FT8 in UK and EU contests
* Petition launched to save WWV
* GB3RS and GB7BP service interruption
Recently, the RSGB Contest Committee has seen some FT8 QSOs being
claimed within contest logs. At present it is difficult to complete a
full contest exchange using FT8, although an EU contest compatible
version is under development. A machine generated modes, or
MGM-specific contest ran in April this year, with a set of rules
structured to support all MGM modes with varying and limited
exchanges. The initial reaction to this contest was positive and a
second event will take place in December. At this time, FT8 and
similar fast MGM modes will be kept inside a separate, more
experimental contest framework. However, the Contest Committee
proposes increasing the number of these MGM contests during 2019.
Consequently, from the first of September onwards, the allowed modes
for RSGB VHF contests, except for the dedicated MGM events, will be
SSB, CW, FM, AM, JT6M, ISCAT and FSK441.
US National Institute of Standards and Technology station WWV and
sister transmitting stations are among the oldest radio stations in
the United States, having been in continuous operation since May
1920. WWV has transmitted the official US Time for nearly 100 years.
The US government has been planning to close the NIST Radio Stations
WWV, WWVB, and WWVH in 2019. An online petition has been set up at
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-0824-A to change that, though at the time of
writing the only about 7% of the necessary signatures had been
gathered to oblige a response from the White House.
[Note for Newsreaders: the full URL is at
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-statio
ns-wwv-wwvh]
The GB3RS radio shack at the RSGB National Radio Centre will be off
the air from Wednesday the 29th to Friday the 31st of August. During
this time access to the radio room demonstration area will be
limited. The reason is that significant maintenance work is being
carried out on the tower that supports the station's aerials. The
D-Star repeater, GB7BP, will be off the air for the same period
because it shares the same mast. The work is weather dependant, but
if there are any changes the RSGB will post details on its website.
Separately, the NRC will be hosting a visit by a group of visually
impaired students from Spain on Tuesday the 28th. Volunteers will be
running a number of Morse activities for the visitors. On the Sunday
the 2nd of September, it's the Annual Reunion of Code Breakers at
Bletchley Park, including Voluntary Interceptors. This event is
organised by Bletchley Park and more can be seen at
www.bletchleypark.org.uk
The next RSGB Train the Trainers will be held on Saturday the 1st of
September, from 9.30am to 5pm. It takes place at Wolverhampton
Electricity Sports and Social Club, St Marks Road, Chapel Ash,
Wolverhampton WV3 0QH. This venue is the HQ of Wolverhampton ARS. For
more information, or to book a place, please contact Ron Wellsted via
email to ron<at>wellsted.org.uk
The Bath Radio Classes team will be running a Foundation course from
the 12th of September. This will be their last under the current
syllabus. Classes will be on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9pm at the
Scout HQ in the centre of Bath. Cost will be about GBP 60 including
textbook, exam and room hire. An Intermediate course will follow on
in October. Full details from Steve, G0FUW via e-mail to
g0fuw<at>tiscali.co.uk
The RSGB Convention is at Kents Hill Park Training & Conference
Centre, MK7 6BZ, from the 12th to the 14th of October. There will be
a vast array of talks and a provisional programme is at
www.rsgb.org/convention. Early Bird discounts for the RSGB Convention
have just been extended to the 31st of August. So you still have a
few days left to get your packages for this flagship event at a lower
price. Don't forget, under 21's get free admission.
The RSGB has released another presentation from its 2017 Convention
into the Members' Area video portal, which is at www.rsgb.org/video
In his talk on HF Propagation at Sunspot Minimum, RSGB Propagation
Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA asks, and answers, the
questions ‘When is it?', ‘What can we expect?', and ‘How can we
make the most of the HF bands as we approach and pass sunspot
minimum?'. Take a look and, if it inspires you to go to the 2018
Convention, you can book online at www.rsgb.org/convention
An International Space Station school contact has been planned for
Ricky Arnold, KE5DAU with a school in India, scheduled for Monday the
27th of August at approximately 0806UTC. The conversation will be
conducted in English. The contact will be a telebridge operated by
ON4ISS in Belgium. The downlink signals will be audible in parts of
Europe on 145.800MHz FM.
The National Hamfest is coming ever closer. This 10th anniversary
event takes place on the 28th and 29th of September and is the UK's
largest exhibition and gathering of amateur radio enthusiasts. Among
all the usual rally attractions like a big RSGB bookstall, traders,
flea market and the Bring and Buy, the winners of the National Club
of the Year 2017, sponsored by Waters and Stanton, will be announced.
You can get full details of the event and Fast Track advance entry
tickets at www.nationalhamfest.org.uk
Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society, which celebrates its
70th birthday in October, would like to hear from all current and
past members to help mark the anniversary. Please contact David via
the club website, www.sadars.co.uk
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
This weekend, on the 25th and 26th, the Montrose Amateur Radio &
Aviation Rally takes place at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre,
DD10 9BD. Doors are open from 10am on both days and entry is free. If
you want a table, which cost GBP 5, contact Martin, 2M0KAU, on
0776 370 8933 as soon as possible. CQ Scotland.com, part of the Mid
Lanark Amateur Radio Society, will run a Buildathon on the Sunday,
funded by the RSGB Legacy Committee. Spaces are limited, so please
email your interest to David, MM0HQD, via info<at>cqscotland.com
Today, the 26th, the Torbay ARS Annual Communications Fair takes
place at The Racecourse, Newton Road, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF.
It's an indoor event with free parking and disabled facilities, and
is accessible by public transport. There will be a Bring & Buy sale,
RSGB Book Stall, special interest groups and trade stands. Catering
is available on site. Contact Mike, G1TUU on 01803 557 941.
Also today, the 26th, Milton Keynes ARS is holding its 60th
anniversary rally at the Irish Centre, Manor Field, Bletchley, Milton
Keynes MK2 2HZ. Doors open at 9.30am and admission is GBP 3. Hot &
cold food will be available. Contact Francis Hennigan, 2E0FMK, via
email to rally<at>mkars.org.uk
On the 27th, Bank Holiday Monday, the Huntingdonshire ARS annual
rally will take place at the Ernulf Academy, Barford Rd, St Neots
PE19 2SH. Talk-in with GX0HSR will be on 145.550MHz. There's free
parking and admission is GBP 3. Doors open at 9am, or 7am for
traders. There will be an RSGB Book Stall as well as a Bring & Buy,
hot meals and drinks are available on site and there will be an ice
cream van. Contact M0OLG on 01480 214 282.
On September the 1st, Steve, G0FUW is leading the Bath-style
Buildathon in Telford at the Park Inn Hotel, TF3 4NA, the evening
before the Telford Hamfest. This year features a design by Heather,
M0HMO described as an HF Swiss Army Knife. It's a small, digital,
very portable device that will measure VSWR, RF power, DC voltage,
resistance, continuity, HF frequency, and includes a GPS for latitude
and longitude, Maidenhead locator and OS Grid reference for around
GBP 20. The Buildathon venue opens from 7pm and Heather recommends
pre-booking for the project by calling her on 0780 254 8938 or via
email to heather<at>myorangedragon.net Bookings for an overnight stay
can be made directly to the Park Inn Hotel on 01952 429 988, as soon
as possible please; mention the GQRP Radio event for a concessionary
rate. Further information is at www.telfordhamfest.org.uk
The following day, the 2nd, the annual Telford HamFest takes place at
Enginuity in Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shropshire TF8 7DQ. Numerous
trader and exhibitor stands are booked and there will be a variety of
presentations from guest speakers in the Darby Boardroom. There will
be an RSGB Bookstand. Admission is GBP 4.50 with accompanied under
16's free from 10am. On-site catering will be available and car
parking facilities have been improved. Details from Martyn, G3UKV on
01952 255416.
To get your event into RadCom and GB2RS, please send details as early
as possible to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
Nobu, JA0JHQ will be active as T88PB from Koror, Palau, IOTA
reference OC-009, from the 31st of August to the 3rd of September.
Main activity will be during the All Asian DX SSB Contest on the 1st
and 2nd of September with some CW, especially on 30m, and possibly
FT8 outside the contest. QSL via Logbook of The World, preferred, or
direct to JA0JHQ.
Jacques, F6HMJ will be active as SV8/F6HMJ from Ios Island, EU-067,
from the 27th of August to the 6th of September. He will operate CW
and some SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via his home callsign.
Laci, HA0NAR will be active from Guadeloupe as FG/HG0R between the
27th of August to the 7th of September on the 160 to 6m bands using
CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via Club Log.
Now the special event news
The British Inland Waterways on the Air event takes place over the
August Bank Holiday weekend. Paul, MI1AIB and Sharon, 2I0SHZ will be
active with GB8BRM from Ballyronan Marina on the shores of Lough
Neagh. This is WAB square H98. Activity will mostly be holiday style.
QSL via MI1AIB. For more details of other stations taking part in the
event, go to www.nharg.org.uk/biwota
In 1918 a group of amateur radio enthusiasts formed the Guildford
Wireless Alliance. There has been at least one amateur radio society
in Guildford ever since. Guildford & District Radio Society, Wey
Valley Amateur Radio Group and the Guildford Repeater Group are
jointly marking 100 years of amateur radio in Guildford. A special
event station will be on the air until the 27th of August on HF, VHF
and digital modes from the Guildford Model Engineers HQ, London Road,
Guildford, Surrey GU1 1TU.
On the 1st and 2nd of September, the Radio Club of Binche will
operate as ON44WAR to commemorate the Belgian Resistance during WW
II, especially those of the Refuge B 40 in Waudrez, Belgium. Activity
will be from 0700 to 1600UTC on the 1st and 0700 to 1100UTC on the
2nd. CW transmissions on 7MHz from a Paraset will take place on the
hour for 30 minutes, followed by SSB. QSL via ON7RY, direct, bureau
or eQSL.
Over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of September, Thames Amateur
Radio Group will be operating GB2MFM, commemorating the 73rd
anniversary of the end of WW2. Activity will be from WW2 pillbox in
Wat Tyler Country Park, near Basildon.
The RSGB Region 8 Team has been given the opportunity to showcase
amateur radio by hosting GB100RAF in the STEM Village, that's
Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, on the 1st and 2nd
September at the 2018 Portrush Airshow, AirWaves. Mid Ulster ARC will
provide their display trailer for the weekend and RAF ARS members
will facilitate the GB100RAF callsign. QSL information for GB100RAF
is via G8FC, the club call sign of HQ RAF ARS.
We are very happy to publicise your event on GB2RS, in RadCom and on
the RSGB website, but only if you tell us what you're doing! Please
send details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk as early as possible. Three
months in advance is about right for RadCom. One of the requirements
for special event callsigns is that the station must be open to the
public, so our free advance publicity can help make your efforts more
widely known.
Now the contest news
Today, the 26th, the UK Microwave Group contest runs from 0600 to
1800UTC on the 5.7 and 10GHz bands. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On the 28th, the SHF UK Activity contest runs from 1830 to 2230UTC
using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands. The exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend, the 1st and 2nd of September, it's the RSGB's SSB Field
Day contest. It runs for 24 hours from 1300UTC Saturday to 1300UTC
Sunday. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. This event includes a
fixed station section and all sections have a maximum output power of
100W. Station inspections are possible too, so portable stations need
to register to qualify for an award. New for this year is a Renewable
Energy Portable 6-hour section.
Also on the 1st and 2nd it's the 144MHz Trophy, which runs from 1400
to 1400UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day and 144MHz contests coincide with RSGB
events, but due to new data protection regulations you now have to
submit your own entry to IARU contests. It cannot be done for you.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day runs from 1300UTC Saturday to 1300UTC
Sunday, using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands. The
exchange is signal report and serial number. The IARU 144MHz contest
runs from 1400UTC Saturday to 1400UTC Sunday. Again using all modes,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On the 1st of September the CWops CW Open Contest runs from 0000 to
2359UTC in three 4-hour sessions. It's CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz
contest bands. The exchange is a serial number and your name.
The All Asian DX contest takes place from 0000UTC on the 1st to
2359UTC on the 2nd. Using SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands. The
exchange is signal report and your age, with ladies able to send 00.
On the 2nd of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpacker contest runs from
1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on 2m only, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 2nd, the Worked All Britain 2m QRO Phone contest runs
from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and WAB square.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 24th of August.
This past week was characterised by low sunspot numbers and unsettled
geomagnetic conditions. The K index hit three and four during the
week due to yet another large elongated coronal hole on the Sun's
surface. But it wasn't all bad news as there was DX to be had if you
employed the right equipment. Roger, G3LDI reported working Hank,
W6SX near the Yosemite region of California, USA, on 20 metres during
a CWops contest in the early afternoon on Wednesday. Hank was using a
basic wire antenna while Roger was using a SteppIR beam at height.
Both were using their respective full legal power limits.
The TX5T DXpedition to the Austral Islands in the South Pacific
proved to be a trickier one to work, but a number of G stations did
manage to make the trip, with 40 and 80m contacts surprisingly making
a showing.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be around 66, which
is about as low as it can get in any solar cycle. The better news is
that there appears to be a lack of solar coronal holes for the time
being, so geomagnetic conditions may be more settled, with a maximum
K index of two.
Expect maximum usable frequencies to be in the 14 to 18MHz range,
with the potential for occasional Sporadic-E openings on the higher
bands, although we are now well past the summer peak.
It is perhaps still a little too early in the season to see the
expected autumn upturn in F-layer HF conditions, but there is still
DX to be had if you search for it. This may be a good time to attend
to your HF antennas before the autumn, ready to make the most of
potentially better DX conditions in a month or so.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
It's a much more unsettled flavour to the weather this week, with low
pressure close to northern Britain. What's left of the high pressure
will have moved into the continent and retreated back to the Azores.
This will probably limit the Tropo activity compared with recent
events although, as often is the case, it will be mainly the south of
the country that might see any temporary Tropo at times. What that
leaves us with is the prospect of some occasional microwave band rain
scatter in the unsettled phase of our weather.
There remains the prospect of the dying embers of this year's
Sporadic-E season. It is always worth a check on the clusters and
HF/VHF bands from 10 metres up to 4 metres, but it is perhaps a bit
late in the season to expect much on 2 metres. The unsettled weather
will bring some jet streams into play over northwest Europe and that
can be a good thing for turbulence and Sporadic-E.
Moon declination is still negative and path losses are high today,
but by the time we get to next Saturday and Sunday's EME activity
from the 32-metre Dish at Goonhilly in Cornwall it will be positive
and losses lower. The team plan to be active on 1st and 2nd September
as GB6GHY, concentrating on 3.4GHz on the 1st and 5.7GHz on the 2nd.
Look for them on the HB9Q EME logger, between about 0800 and 1200UTC,
earlier if possible, and if you can elevate your dish to the Moon,
take a listen. Their CW should be receivable on a 1m dish with a
decent preamp.
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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