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G4APL > NEWS 09.09.19 20:06l 281 Lines 13837 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 1 Sep 2019
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From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 1st September 2019
The news headlines:
* Good news for the two metre band
* More positive news from CEPT ahead of WRC-19
* Syllabus 2019 mock exams
The past week has seen CEPT meet in Turkey, where it finalised its
positions on a wide range of WRC-19 Agenda Items, including proposals
for WRC-23. So let's look at the matters that interest radio
amateurs. At 144MHz, after a major effort, the 144 to 146MHz
frequency range was successfully withdrawn from the French WRC-23
aeronautical proposal. This hot topic had been the subject of
detailed submissions by the IARU, France and Germany. This excellent
result for amateur radio occurred in parallel to a number of other
proposals being adopted to support aeronautical interests. There's
more positive news at 50MHz. CEPT confirmed its common position for
an overall 50 to 52MHz secondary allocation for IARU Region 1.
Following requests from both the RSGB and the UK Six Metre Group to
Ofcom, we are pleased to announce that the UK has signed an optional
footnote in the CEPT proposal for national Primary status in the 50
to 50.5MHz segment, along with a number of other countries. In most
microwave bands it is pleasing to report that the CEPT positions
adopted should result in no further regulatory change to the amateur
5GHz Secondary and 47GHz Primary allocations, as well as innovative
UK usage above 275GHz. However, for the 23cm band, following intense
discussions, a WRC-23 proposal was considered necessary to ensure the
protection of new satellite navigation systems such as Galileo from
amateur emissions in the 1240 to 1300MHz range. The draft Resolution
that would guide such studies excludes the removal of the existing
amateur Secondary allocations. Commenting on the overall outcome,
IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ praised the IARU team of
volunteers and their contributions; and was pleased that regulators
had recognised the strength of the amateur case. The RSGB will
shortly add further details and copies of key papers to its online
focus pages at www.rsgb.org/wrc-19. The October edition of RadCom
will also feature further information as the process now moves
towards the final stage at the World Radio Conference this autumn.
In preparation for Syllabus 2019, which comes into effect this
Sunday, 1 September the RSGB has added to the range of documents for
tutors and candidates. Foundation, Intermediate and Full licence mock
exam papers are now available from the Society's website. They
include a new handy syllabus reference column to help candidates
check the appropriate part of the syllabus if they need further
revision on specific questions. You'll find all of these documents on
the special Syllabus 2019 part of the RSGB website,
www.rsgb.org/mock-exams. The Syllabus Full Specification document has
been updated with a few minor changes that are shown in the Change
Log at the end. Additional supporting materials will be released
soon, including documents that will provide sample questions for
every syllabus item in each of the exams.
Hot on the heels of August's Youngsters On The Air summer camp in
Bulgaria, IARU Region 1 YOTA will be running a winter camp in the
Netherlands from the 12th to the 15th of December. We've secured five
places at the camp for RSGB Members who are aged 16 to 25. The camp,
which will take place in a forest setting, promises to be lots of
fun, and will include a variety of workshops and activities. The RSGB
will cover the majority of the cost of the event, with attendees
contributing GBP 50. To apply to take part, please contact Board
Director Mark Jones, G0MGX, via email to g0mgx<at>rsgb.org.uk. The
closing date for applications is the 30th of September. Find out more
at www.rsgb.org/yota
The RSGB Convention takes place in Milton Keynes from the 11th to the
13th of October. The provisional programme of lectures and workshops
is now online at www.rsgb.org/convention. The Buildathon on Saturday
evening includes food and also the SMD Sudden 2, a 40m direct
conversion receiver, made and supplied by Kanga Products UK. All
necessary equipment will be provided, along with a team to assist you
through the build. For more info, to book your Buildathon place, for
weekend packages or day tickets, go to www.rsgb.org/convention. Early
Bird discounts end at midnight tonight, the 1st of September.
With over 60,000 visitors to the RSGB National Radio Centre at
Bletchley Park so far in 2019, we are looking to recruit new
volunteers to engage with the public and give radio demonstrations.
If you're interested in becoming an NRC volunteer you should be
passionate about meeting people, feel confident explaining the hobby,
as well as operating the NRC's radio station, GB3RS. You must be a
licensed amateur, an RSGB Member and be prepared to work a minimum of
one or preferably two days per month. You will be joining a team of
enthusiastic, friendly and dedicated volunteers and full training
will be given. Travel expenses are paid to volunteers living within
reasonable travelling distance and NRC volunteers enjoy numerous
benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. Please email
nrc.support<at>rsgb.org.uk for further information.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 1st of September, the Telford Hamfest and G-QRP Convention
takes place at Harper Adams University, near Telford, TF10 8NB. See
www.telfordhamfest.org.uk for more information.
Next Sunday, the 7th of September, the Caister Lifeboat Rally will be
held at Caister Lifeboat station, Tan Lane, Caister on Sea, Norfolk
NR30 5DJ. Access is via the car park in Beach Road. Doors open from
9.30am. There will be a raffle and the onsite café and museum will
also be open. A special event station will be on the air. Details
from Zane, M1BFI on 0771 121 4790.
Please send details of your 2020 rally and event plans as soon as
possible to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
Laurent, F8BBL will be active as TK19IOTA between the 6th and the
22nd of September. He plans to operate from IOTA groups EU-014, which
is the main island of Corsica, EU-100, which is Cerbicales, EU-104,
which is Sanguinaires and EU-164, which is Lavezzi. He operates
mainly CW. QSL via F8BBL either direct or via the bureau and Logbook
of The World.
Yuri, N3QQ, Cezar, VE3LYC, Sandro, VE7NY and Adrian, KO8SCA will be
active as K7TRI from Tillamook Rock, IOTA reference NA-211, between
the 6th and the 9th of September. They will operate CW and SSB on the
40 to 17m bands with two stations active around the clock. QSL via
Club Log's OQRS, or via VE3LYC.
Members of the Russian Robinson Club will activate Sledge Island in
Alaska, NA-120, until the 2nd of September. The callsign will be
KL7RRC/P. QSL info is via Club Log OQRS.
Now the special event news
Today, the 1st of September, the Radio Club of Binche will activate
ON44WAR to commemorate the sacrifice of the Belgian Resistance in
WWII, especially those of the Refuge B 40 in Waudrez. On the hour,
for 30 minutes, a Whaddon MK VII Paraset will be used to make CW
transmissions on the 7MHz band. The following half hour will be SSB
transmissions on the 7MHz band. QSL via ON7RY; more information is at
www.on7ry.be
During the month of September, Dutch special event stations PA75PARA,
PA75BTF and PA75OMG will be on the air to commemorate the 75 years
since British, American and Polish airborne forces tried to capture
the river bridges at Arnhem and Nijmegen. PA75OMG will be active from
12 to 22 September. PA75SODS will be on the air to commemorate the
75th anniversary of the Battle of the Schelde.
Please send special event details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk as early
as possible so we can give you free publicity. It is a licensing
condition that stations using a UK special event callsign must be
open to the public.
Now the contest news
The UK and Ireland Contest Club DX contest ends its 24 hour run at
1200UTC today, the 1st of September. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest
bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and District code.
On Monday the Pioneer FT4 Series runs from 1900 to 2000UTC, using FT4
only on the 3.5MHz band. The exchange is signal report followed by
your 4-character locator. Do read the rules carefully for this new
contest.
On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 18550UTC,
using FM only. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator. At the same time, the Machine Generated Mode 144MHz Activity
Contest takes place, exchanging your report and 4-character locator.
From 1900 to 2130UTC it's the 144MHz UK Activity Contest, using all
modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the UK EI Contest Club 80m event runs from 2000 to
2100UTC. Using SSB only, the exchange is your 4-character locator.
On Saturday the CWops CW Open Contest runs from 0000UTC to 2359UTC.
Using the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is serial number
and name. The contest has three 4-hour sessions.
Next weekend is the RSGB SSB Field Day. Running from 1300UTC on the
7th to 1300UTC on the 8th, it uses the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands.
The exchange is signal report and serial number.
Also next weekend is the 144MHz Trophy contest, this time running
from 1400UTC on the 7th to 1400UTC on the 8th. Using all modes, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Another contest over next weekend is the All Asian DX contest. It
runs from 0000UTC on the 7th to 2359UTC on the 8th. Using SSB only on
the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and
your age. YL operators may send 00.
In a busy weekend of contests, the IARU Region 1 Field Day runs from
1300UTC on the 7th to 1300UTC on the 8th. Using SSB only on the 3.5
to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
Finally for contests over the full weekend, it's the IARU 144MHz
contest. This runs from 1400UTC on the 7th to 1400UTC on the 8th.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
There are two contests on next Sunday only. The 5th 144MHz Backpacker
contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Running from 1000UTC to 1400UTC next Sunday is the Worked All Britain
2m QRO Phone Contest. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and WAB square.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on
Friday the 30th of August.
The past week was characterised by a low solar flux index and
relatively-calm geomagnetic conditions. There were reports of
numerous Sporadic-E openings this week that livened up the 10m band.
On Thursday these spread from Serbia through to Germany, Finland and
Norway and were probably caused by a strong jet stream, which can be
seen on the Met Office 300millibar charts.
The Space Weather Services Bureau of Meteorology in Australia has
been reporting that its T index, which can be best thought of as an
"equivalent sunspot number", has been hovering around zero after
weeks of being very negative. This suggests that maximum usable
frequencies may be up to 20% better than we have been experiencing,
partly due to quieter geomagnetic conditions and partly due to the
seasonal change. Nevertheless, the Chilton ionosonde has been
recording daytime F2 critical frequencies of about 4.3 to 4.7MHz,
giving a maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path of between 14
and 18MHz.
Next week NOAA predicts a solar flux index of 67, but a large
T-shaped coronal hole on the Sun threatens to push the K index up to
six late on Saturday 31st or Sunday 1st as solar matter hits the
Earth's magnetic field. This may result in depressed HF conditions
after an initial enhancement. These should settle by Tuesday or
Wednesday, leaving the rest of the week with a K index of two or
three and potentially better conditions.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The last week brought some welcome late season Sporadic-E to many
parts of the UK, even reaching 2m on one occasion. This was an
unusually-widespread opening geographically, with most areas from
Scandinavia round to Portugal being worked. Sporadic-E is possible
into early September, so be sure to check the various blogs and
clusters for activity. You haven't got much time left to bag those
missing squares!
The coming week will see unsettled weather generally with some
showers or spells of rain, especially in the north. This may give a
few opportunities for rain scatter. The south will be closer to high
pressure over the continent and has the best chance of tapping into
some Tropo conditions, although it's not really a strong option until
near the end of the week, when high pressure builds in from the
Atlantic.
The Moon is past perigee and declination goes negative again tonight,
reaching minimum a week today. The EME week will be characterised by
shortening Moon windows and rising path losses. There are no major
meteor showers this week so stick with the usual pre-dawn enhancement
for the best meteor scatter conditions.
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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