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G4TNU > NEWS 28.08.22 00:30l 255 Lines 11696 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 28 Aug 2022
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 28th of August 2022
The news headlines:
* Get ready for the Transatlantic tests
* National Radio Centre contacts the ISS
* GB3HA back on air in Northumberland
The RSGB is hosting The Transatlantic Centenary Tests on the HF
bands, for the entire month of December 2022. This is to commemorate
the centenary of the achievement of amateur transatlantic
communication, during the tests that were held between 1921 and 1923.
Unlike the tests of the 1920s, which consisted of one-way
communication, the 2022 tests will encourage world-wide two-way
communication with UK & Crown Dependency based stations. For those
activating special stations, there will be a series of awards
available. With the assistance of Ofcom, the RSGB has reactivated
five callsigns that it held in the 1920s. These historic callsigns
will be activated by RSGB Members and clubs. You can read more about
the original transatlantic tests and how to participate in 2022 at
rsgb.org/transatlantic-tests.
RSGB National Radio Centre volunteer Steve, 2E0YBJ, was able to show
the visiting public a live radio contact with the International Space
Station using GB3RS. He was using the demonstration station at the
NRC, running SatPC32. This is used to track Earth Low Orbit
satellites and, more recently, the on-board ISS repeater. Steve put
his success down to two factors; the excellent NRC station set-up and
the fact that the ISS approaches the UK from the West. This enables
UK stations to ‘see' the ISS before its communications footprint
passes over mainland Europe. It was an unexpected treat for the
Bletchley Park visitors, a super result for Steve and a first for
GB3RS.
The Northumberland 2m repeater, GB3HA, is operational again serving
the Northeast of England. To celebrate the switch on, a short
check-in net will be held on Tuesday the 30th of August at 7.30pm.
Net control will be Roy, M0TKF, and all radio amateurs within the
repeater coverage are welcome to call in for a quick hello. Please
check the GB3HA page on QRZ.com for frequencies and access
information.
NASA is well known for communicating with astronauts on space
missions, but radio amateurs may also contact NASA centres around the
world. Until the end of this year, NASA will mark several past and
present-day key milestones. NASA Amateur Radio Clubs at the agency's
centres and support facilities across the United States plan to
participate with ‘NASA on the air' special event stations. Look out
for events to celebrate the Artemis launch over the next few days.
The 22nd of September is National Astronomy Day and special event
stations will be on the air for that too. To learn more about NASA on
the Air events, go to nasaontheair.wordpress.com.
The cross-band voice repeater and the APRS node aboard the
International Space Station can now be used simultaneously. The FM
repeater uplink is on 145.990MHz and a 67Hz PL tone is needed to
activate the downlink transmitter on 437.800MHz. APRS and packet mode
uses 145.825MHz for uplink and downlink. The Columbus module radio
uses the callsign NA1SS and the new service module radio uses the
callsign RS0ISS. Both radios are expected to be operational at all
times, except during school contacts, spacewalks and docking
manoeuvres. The operational state of the ISS ham-radio station can be
found on the ARISS website at ariss.org.
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.
Today, Sunday the 28th, the Milton Keynes ARS Rally will be held at
The Irish Centre, Manor Fields, Watling Street, Bletchley, MK2 2HX.
There is free onsite parking, catering and disabled facilities. Entry
is GBP 3 and the doors open at 9am. See mkars.org.uk for more
information.
The Torbay Annual Communications Fair also takes place today, the
28th, at Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon TQ12 3AF. Doors open at 10am
with disabled visitors gaining access at 9.30am. It is an indoor
event with plenty of free parking on site. There will be a Bring &
Buy as well as an RSGB book stall. Catering will also be available on
site.
Tomorrow, Monday, the 29th, the HARS Annual Rally will be held at
Ernulf Academy, St Neots PE19 2SH. Gates open at 9am. There is free
car parking, a Bring & Buy as well as indoor and outdoor stalls.
Catering is available on site. Talk in will be on 145.550MHz using
GX0HSR. More at hunts-hams.co.uk.
A date for your diary now. Churches and Chapels On The Air will take
place on Saturday the 10th of September between 10am and 4pm.
Stations will be operating mainly on the 20, 40 and 80m bands usually
using SSB. If you would like to register your special event station,
please email John, G3XYF at jhwresdell<at>gmail.com. The latest list
of stations taking part can be found at wacral.org.
Now the Special Event news
GB1SAK will be active from the International Kite Festival at Lytham
St Annes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September. Using SSB and CW,
mostly the 40 and 20m bands, the station will use a variety of wire
antennas, supported by kites. Further details are on QRZ.com
Now the DX news
IK5WWA will be operating from the island of La Maddalena, EU-041,
between the 1st and the 13th of September. Using the 80 to 2m bands
he will use the specail callsign IM0M [I M zero M] . This operation
also qualifies for the Italian Island Award. QSL details are on
qrz.com.
Keith, GU6EFB will be active as GJ6EFB from Jersey, EU-013, from the
29th of August to 1st of September. He will be using SSB via the
QO-100 satellite in his spare time. QSL via Logbook of The World,
direct or via the bureau to GU6EFB.
Col, MM0NDX and Jonathan, MM0OKG will be active as OY/MM0NDX and
OY/MM0OKG from the Faroe Islands, EU-018 between the 1st and the 5th
of September. They will operate on various bands and modes using
vertical antennas next to the sea. QSL via EB7DX.
Now the contest news
The CQ RTTY ops WW RTTY Contest has its second session of activity
between 1200 and 2359UTC today, the 28th. Using RTTY only on the 1.8
to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and the 4-digit year of your first licence.
The Worldwide Digi DX contest ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today,
the 28th of August. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where
contests are permitted, the exchange is your 4-character locator.
Today, Sunday the 28th, the UK Microwave group 5.7GHz and 10GHz
contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend is a busy one for contests.
The RSGB HF SSB Field Day runs from 1300UTC on Saturday the 3rd to
1300UTC on Sunday the 4th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day runs for the same 24 hour period as the
RSGB HF Field Day. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
The 144MHz Trophy Contest also runs for 24 hours next weekend from
1400UTC on the 3rd of September. Using all modes, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The All Asian DX contest runs for 48 hours starting at 0000UTC on the
3rd of September. It is SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where
contests are permitted. The exchange is signal report and your age,
but ladies may opt for 00.
On Saturday the 3rd of September, the CWops CW Open contest runs for
24 hours from 0000UTC. Using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where
contests are permitted, the exchange is the serial number and your
name. There are three 4-hour sessions in this contest.
Next Sunday, the 4th of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpackers contest
runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 144MHz QRO contest takes place on Sunday the
4th of September from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is report, serial
number and WAB square if applicable. For the full rules please see
the WAB website. Entries to the contest manager by the 14th of
September.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Friday the 26th of August 2022.
There was a welcome upturn in ionospheric propagation this week, with
much DX being worked. While the solar flux index remained mainly in
the low 100s, quieter geomagnetic conditions, with the Kp index at
one or two, helped a lot. We are also heading towards September and
better propagation conditions as the ionosphere cools down, resulting
in more monatomic elements and fewer diatomic ones. The monoatomic
elements in the ionosphere are easier to ionise so MUFs go up
accordingly.
Along with daytime critical frequencies above 6MHz we have seen 40m
opening up to shorter distances too, sometimes down to 100km, but
mainly in the range 100-500km.
Over longer distances, there have been reports of some choice DX
being workable, including KH6KB in Hawaii on 17m CW, 9V1YC in
Singapore on 12m FT8 and A35JP in Tonga on 15m FT8.
As long as the Kp index stays low we can expect a lot more like this
over the coming months.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may climb a
little, perhaps ending the week in the range 110-116. Geomagnetic
conditions are unlikely to be as good next week, with the 27th of
August being the most disturbed with a predicted Kp index of four.
A large coronal hole is moving to be Earth-centric on Friday,
although it is largely at one of the Sun's poles. This means that any
fast solar wind might be directed away from Earth, but we could get a
glancing blow late on Sunday or early Monday.
Watch for a rise in the Kp index and a general lowering of the MUF if
it does.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The end of last week finally brought some heavy rain and
thunderstorms to some eastern areas and weakening weather fronts to
the northwest. This may have given some rain scatter opportunities,
but only temporarily.
As we head through this weekend high pressure starts to rebuild over
the UK and will dominate the weather over the British Isles over the
coming week. This will make Tropo a principal player for the next
week. In early September it's still plenty warm enough that inland
areas could see the temperature inversions breaking down during the
daytime heating, so for best results make the most of the night time
and early morning lifts.
We may have a few days left when Sporadic-E could occur before the
transition away from high summer weather patterns, but it is getting
much harder to find now. Focus on 10m or perhaps 6m digital modes for
best results and, of course, check the usual DX clusters.
Don't forget aurora and meteor scatter modes, however this week,
these modes will be overshadowed by the Tropo characteristics as the
high builds.
Moon declination goes negative again late Monday, so shortening Moon
windows this week. Path losses continue to fall throughout the week
and 144MHz sky noise is low until next weekend.
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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