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G4FVG > NEWS 17.04.22 09:17l 275 Lines 12802 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB MAIN News - 17 April 2022
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To overcome a problem in the local news forwarding from Andy G4TNU,
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 17th of April 2022
The news headlines:
* RSGB AGM to be livestreamed
* Pop Up YOTA net today
* New EMF video
The RSGB AGM is being livestreamed on Saturday at 12 noon. You can
still submit a question for the RSGB Board to answer during the
event, but you will need to do so before 9am on Wednesday the 20th of
April. Voting in the elections closes at 9am on Thursday the 21st of
April. The Society encourages all RSGB Members to use their vote.
Full details of the event can be found on the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/agm.
A special Pop Up Youngsters On The Air net will be on the air today,
Easter Sunday, at 1400UTC. This Pop Up net is aimed exclusively at
youngsters under the age of 25 and encourages them to call in and
have a QSO with fellow youngsters on the air. The net controller for
the first hour will be Declan, 2W0KYH who is aged 13. The 2nd hour is
with Liam, M7LCB. The net is hosted by the FreeSTAR Amateur Radio
network, which is a multi-node system where various digital radio
modes are accessible including DMR, D-Star, Fusion C4FM and so on.
For full connection details please visit freestar.network or email
Oscar<at>freestar.network.
The RSGB has just released a short video outlining the new EMF
regulations and the help and tools the Society provides for radio
amateurs. There is a wealth of information and guidance on the RSGB
website and the Society hopes that this video will signpost that in a
new way. The video is in the ‘Did you know?' playlist on the RSGB
YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB.
The IARU Region Political Relations Committee, in conjunction with
the Region's EMC Committee, has submitted a paper to a recent
European Commission Call for Evidence with respect to Solar Energy
Strategy. Solar energy systems, which include Solar PV, are a
progressive technology whose use is to be encouraged. However, there
are certain caveats to be noted in deployment and on-going use. The
IARU concerns are not with solar technology, but with the potential
noise pollution from so-called optimisers. The paper that was
submitted detailed elements of the on-going research and monitoring
by the EMC Committee in this area. The paper is available on the IARU
Region 1 website at iaru-r1.org.
As part of the Commonwealth Games activities, RSGB Special Event
Stations will be activated from the four UK Home Nations and three
Crown Dependencies. The callsigns will take the format of GB22G
followed by the Regional Locator, for example GB22GE, GB22GI or
GB22GD. RSGB affiliated clubs and individual RSGB Members who are
Full licensees will be able to book slots to activate a callsign
themselves or to supervise operation by others. Further details will
be coming soon.
Radio Amateurs of Canada is supporting World Amateur Radio Day on the
18th of April by encouraging amateurs to get on the air and contact
as many Canadian stations as possible. RAC official stations will
operate across Canada from 0000Z to 2359UTC on the 18th. Look out for
these special event stations with callsigns ending in RAC. Those
contacting one or more of these stations will be eligible for a
special commemorative certificate. Full details are on their website
at rac.ca.
The RSGB will be running a special event station at the 2022
Commonwealth Games, starting on the 28th of July. The callsign will
be GB22HQ. If you'd like to help operate the station during the Games
and talk to visitors about amateur radio, please contact RSGB Region
5 Representative Neil Yorke, M0NKE at rr5<at>rsgb.org.uk. Due to the
location of the station, operators will only be able to access the
Games by train.
The RSGB and ARRL have been celebrating the centenary of the
Transatlantic Tests. The Society has just released a video that
highlights the fantastic exhibition put on by the National Heritage
Centre in Saltcoats, the 1921 message re-enactment by the Kilmarnock
and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club and also the 160m Transatlantic QSO
Party. You'll find the video on the RSGB YouTube channel at
youtube.com/theRSGB
And now for details of rallies and events
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk. We'll publicise your event in RadCom, on
GB2RS, and online.
The Cambridge Repeater Group Rally takes place on the 24th of April.
The venue is Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridge
CB22 6RN. Doors open at 9.30am and admission is GBP 3. There will be
a talk in station, trade stands, car boot area and a Bring & Buy.
Catering available on site. More at cambridgerepeaters.net.
Also on the 24th is the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association
Exhibition, also known as the Blackpool Rally. It will be held at the
Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. More details at
narsa.org.uk.
The Andover Radio Club Spring Boot Sale is due to take place on the
24th at Wildhern Village Hall, SP11 0JE. It is open at 10am and is
organised by the Andover Radio Amateur Club. Details at arac.org.uk.
Now the DX news
Braco, E77DX will be active holiday style as 8Q7DX from the Maldives,
AS-013, until the 27th of April. He plans to operate on the 10 to 80m
bands. QSL via Logbook of The World and E73Y.
Michael, DF8AN will be touring the Caribbean until early May. He will
be active from Martinique as FM/DF8AN until the 19th of April and
again on the 1st and 2nd of May. He will operate as J79MN from
Dominica between the 19th and 24th of April. Between the 24th of
April and the 1st of May, he will operate from St. Lucia. He will
operate mainly CW and digital modes on all bands, including the 6m
band. QSLs via DF8AN, direct or via the bureau.
Now the Special Event news
Look out for GB1BB today from about 5pm to 7pm local time around
7.170MHz or 3.770MHz as well as 2m FM simplex and via GB3IW.
Operators from the Isle of Wight Radio Society will be on the Bramble
Bank in mid-Solent for the few minutes that it is exposed by this
weekend's extreme Spring tide. After the event, the club will QSL
direct. QSL certificates will show Gold, Silver, or Bronze Awards.
Gold for confirmed contacts with GB1BB on HF, VHF, and UHF; Silver
for confirmed contacts on any two of those; and Bronze for a
confirmed contact on any one band. Details on iowrs.org.
On the 23rd of April Harlow & District Amateur Radio Society will be
operating GB0MGY for International Marconi Day.
With the kind permission of the National Trust, Weston super Mare
Radio Society will be operating GB0IMD from the Old Fort on Brean
Down on the 23rd of April, as part of the International Marconi Day
celebrations.
Flight Refuelling ARS will be operating from the club station using
GB2FRA to celebrate the club's 40th anniversary. It is intended that
the callsign will be used on all the bands and modes that are
available from the club shack including 10GHz EME. Operations will
run throughout April.
Medway Amateur Receiving and Transmitting Society will operate GB5MW
between the 3rd and 30th of April to celebrate the society's
centenary year. QSL via eQSL.
Now the contest news
On Monday the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs between 1300 and
1330UTC. It is followed by the IRTS 2m Counties Contest from 1330 to
1500UTC. Both use FM and SSB and the exchange is signal report and
serial number. Please note that Irish stations will also send their
county.
On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Wednesday, the SSB leg of the 80m Club Championship runs between
1900 and 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
Thursday sees the 70MHz UK Activity Contest run from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
The SP DX RTTY contest runs from 1200UTC on the 23rd to 1200UTC on
the 24th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted,
the exchange is signal report and serial number with polish stations
also sending their Region code.
Running from 1900UTC on the 23rd to 2130UTC on the 24th, the First
MGM contest uses the 50 and 144MHz bands. The exchange is your report
and 4-character locator.
Next Sunday, the 24th, the BARTG Sprint 75 Contest runs from 1700 to
2100UTC. Using 75 baud RTTY on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests
are permitted, the exchange is the serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 14th of April 2022.
We had a week with declining solar flux index numbers, but with the
ever-present threat of coronal mass ejections. The SFI declined from
101 on Sunday to 96 on Wednesday with the possibility of further
falls as the week goes on. A solar filament located near the centre
disk of the Sun erupted early Monday morning generating a faint, halo
coronal mass ejection (CME) that appeared to be squarely Earth
directed.
A moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm watch was added for the 14th and
sky watchers at middle to high latitudes were also put on alert for
aurora.
Meanwhile, the quieter geomagnetic conditions earlier in the week saw
10 metres open up to some good DX. Laurie, G3UML reports a long path
opening to Australia on 20m CW from 0730 to 0800UTC. He worked two
VK2s and a VK3, and listened to VK5QD who was very loud.
Next week NOAA predicts that the SFI may climb again, perhaps into
the range 100 to 110.
Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be generally quiet, but with
the ever-present risk of CMEs pushing the Kp index up to perhaps four
or five at times. A pair of coronal holes became Earth facing on
Thursday as well, which may bring unsettled conditions again this
weekend. If the Kp index stays low we can expect MUFs to be near
seasonal norms, perhaps with openings up to 21 and even 28MHz at
times.
Look out for occasional early-season Sporadic-E openings as well,
which could bring short-skip openings into Europe on 10 metres.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The high pressure over the North Sea and Scandinavia will decline
slowly allowing a new area of low pressure over the nearby Atlantic
to drift east into southern Britain during the Easter weekend. This
will mean that any Tropo benefits, particularly over the Irish Sea
and North Sea will decline during the weekend.
The new low will bring areas of showery rain across the country with
a chance of rain scatter propagation. This is likely to be a pattern
for much of the following week with low pressure over southern areas
and occasionally expanding bands of rain farther north.
The solar activity has continued to provide aurora options, so again
worthwhile checking the clusters and Kp index for early signs of
auroral activity. It is also a given that random meteor scatter is
always available, especially for those who like to be up early in the
morning!
The main mode to keep a watch out for during the coming week is
Sporadic-E, which is just beginning to make an appearance on 10m and
even higher bands using digital modes.
Jet streams are important as potential sources of the atmospheric
gravity waves that can contribute to Es. You should look to the jet
stream 300hectopascal or hPa upper air charts to see where they are
located. Try paths that cross them, especially where they cross
mountain ranges like the Alps or Pyrenees. Note a hectopascal equals
a millibar.
The Propquest.co.uk website has a set of four 300hPa charts for the
current day and from the beginning of May will also contain a daily
blog highlighting that day's prospects.
The Winter minimum of meteor show activity is coming to an end. This
week the small daytime April Piscids shower starts on the 20th, and
peaks two days later at 2200UTC. This also coincides with the peak of
the larger, and currently active Lyrids shower also on the 22nd but
earlier at 1300 UTC. With a ZHR of around 18 it should produce some
good reflections.
Moon perigee is on Tuesday so path losses are at their lowest. Moon
declination is negative again and reaches minimum on Thursday so Moon
windows will be short and peak Moon elevation low. 144MHz sky noise
is high, peaking at over 3000K on Thursday so combined with the low
elevations a poor week for especially VHF EME.
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.
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