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G4APL > NEWS 19.02.23 08:22l 274 Lines 12791 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 19 Feb 2023
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Sent: 230219/0719Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:40916 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 19th of February 2023
The news headlines:
* RSGB Board Chair and Company Secretary
* RSGB Unopposed Election Results
* Saint Patrick's Day Award
We report with regret that Richard Horton, G4AOJ has tendered his
resignation as an RSGB Board Director and the Board Chair, and Stan
Lee, G4XXI has tendered his resignation as RSGB Company Secretary.
The resignations are independent of each other and for personal
reasons. The RSGB would like to thank them for their hard work and
contribution to the Society. The RSGB President Stewart Bryant, G3YSX
will Chair the Board until the AGM. In view of the important role of
the Company Secretary in the Society's AGM, which is just a few weeks
away, the Board will agree the appointment of a temporary Company
Secretary pending advertisement of the position and selection through
the normal process.
The RSGB has announced the unopposed nomination results in its 2023
elections. In the election for RSGB President, there was only one
nomination received so John McCullagh MBE, GI4BWM is elected
unopposed for a two-year term. This year there were Regional
Representative vacancies for five Regions – Regions 3, 7, 8, 11 and
13. The only candidate for Region 8 was Michael Na bPiob [ME HALL NA
BEEB. Note to readers: this pronunciation applies to both the first
and second names shown], MI0HOZ so he is duly elected unopposed for a
three-year term. The terms of office for both roles above will
commence at the AGM on the 15th of April 2023. You can read their
personal statements on page 6 of the March RadCom or on the RSGB
website at www.rsgb.org/election The RSGB would like to congratulate
both candidates and wish them well in their roles. RSGB Board
Director candidates will be announced in the April RadCom and voting
will begin on Wednesday the 15th of March.
There are just over three weeks left to register to participate in
the annual Saint Patrick's Day Award. The event takes place over a
48-hour period from 1200UTC on the 16th of March to 1200UTC on the
18th of March to allow worldwide participation in all time
zones. The Saint Patrick's Day Award is 48 hours of non-competitive
fun. Everyone can participate in the event, whether they are licensed
or not. You can register to be a participating station by completing
a short registration form online at stpatricksaward.com
The Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society will be operating the club
callsign GT3FLH from the Isle of Man Sea Terminal building in Douglas
on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of February between 11am and
3pm. The callsign will be active to celebrate the 75th anniversary of
Douglas being the first radar-controlled harbour in the world. FT8,
CW and SSB modes will be used on the HF bands from 40m and upwards.
If the weather is inclement, operation will be from the club HQ at
the Scout Hall in Ballasalla. For more information about the Isle of
Man Amateur Radio Society visit www.iomars.im
Today, the 19th, is the second day of the British Amateur Television
Club's monthly activity weekend. The event is aimed at getting more
people on the air either from home or a nearby high spot to promote
this exciting part of the hobby. This month, activity on 23cm and
upwards is planned. Participants are encouraged to post details of
where they are going to be, and what time they'll be on the air, on
the BATC forum. You can view the forum posts via forum.batc.org.uk
Everyone is welcome and you don't need to be a member to take part.
As part of British Science Week, the RSGB is running the ever popular
‘Build a Morse Tutor' workshop at the National Radio Centre at
Bletchley Park on Saturday the 18th of March. For information about
the workshop and to see our British Science Week activity pack, visit
our website: www.rsgb.org/bsw
Radio amateurs are requested to give way to emergency response groups
that are dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake that
unfortunately hit Turkey and Syria earlier this month. Response
activities are primarily expected to be on VHF and UHF but 3.777MHz
and 7.092MHz may also be used, if needed.
And now for details of rallies and events
West Manchester Radio Club's Red Rose Rally will take place on Sunday
the 26th of February. The event will be held at St. Joseph's Hall,
Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Free parking, café services and a raffle are among
the attractions on offer. For further information visit:
wmrc.co.uk/rally.htm [Note to Newsreaders: the .htm is required for
the page to load]
The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society is holding its annual rally on
the 4th of March. The venue will be the Hillsborough Village Centre,
7 Ballynahinch [BAH-LA-NA-HINCH] Road, BT26 6AR. Doors open at
10.30am. For more information visit www.lvars.uk
Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place on Sunday the 5th
of March. The venue for the event will be America Hall, De la Rue
Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. The doors will open at 10.30am for
everyone and 10.15am for disabled visitors. Admission is GBP 3. Entry
for under 16s is free. There will be trade stands and bring and buy.
The South Kesteven Amateur Radio Society Junk Sale will take place on
Saturday the 11th of March at the Railway Club, Grantham, NG31 7AU.
Doors open for traders at 8am. Traders are asked to bring their own
table. Doors are open to the public between 9.30am and 1pm. Admission
for traders is GBP 5, and for the public GBP 1. Refreshments will be
available on site. Please book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Contact Stewart, M0SDM for more details via s.mason<at>skars.co.uk
Now the Special Event News
Special event stations, 7Z3FD, 8Z3FD and HZ3FD are operating in
celebration of Saudi Arabia's Founding Day. The stations will be
active until the 22nd of February. QSL via HZ1SAR. The logs will be
uploaded to Club Log.
The United Nations Global Service Centre Amateur Radio Club will be
active as 4U13FEB until the 28th of February. The station is active
to promote World Radio Day which was held on the 13th of February.
QSL via 9A2AA, directly or via the bureau.
Members of the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society will be active as 9K9NLD
until the 28th of February. The special callsign is active in
celebration of both Kuwait National Day, on the 25th of February, and
Liberation Day on the 26th of February. QSL via EC6DX.
Members of the Panama Canal Amateur Radio Association will be active
as 3E30PCARA until the 28th of February to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the formation of their club in 1993. QSL directly to
the Association.
Now the DX news
Peter, G4HSO will be active as S79/G4HSO from the Seychelles until
the 21st of February. He will be operating CW and VarAC only. QSL via
Logbook of the World.
Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR will be active as YJ0A from Efate
[EY-FAH-TEY] , OC-035, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Their visit
will include operating in the CQ WPX RTTY Contest and the ARRL DX CW
Contest. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World or via K7AR.
Vlad, OK2WX will be active as 9U4WX from Burundi until the
27th of February. He will be operating CW and SSB on the HF bands.
QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred. QSL is also possible via
Logbook of the World or via IZ8CCW.
Now the contest news
The ARRL International DX Contest ends its 48-hour run today, the
19th, at 2359UTC. CW will be used on the 160 to 10m bands, where
contests are permitted. For stations outside of the USA and Canada,
the exchange is signal report and transmission power. American
stations send a signal report and their State. Canadian stations send
a signal report and their Province.
On Tuesday the 21st of February, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 22nd of February, the UK and Ireland Contest Club
80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the
exchange is your six-character locator.
On Thursday the 23rd of February, the 80m Club Championship runs from
1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The CQ 160m DX Contest will run for 48 hours from 2200UTC on Friday
the 24th of February. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange is
signal report and CQ Zone. American stations also send their State
and Canadians stations send their province.
The French HF Championship, also known as the REF Contest, begins at
0600UTC on Saturday the 25th of February and ends at 1800UTC on
Sunday the 26th of February. Using SSB on the HF bands, where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial
number. French stations send their department number, or overseas
territory prefix.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 16th of February 2023
Last week was interesting as we had an X-class solar flare, and a
significant geomagnetic disturbance, as well as good HF conditions at
times.
An impulsive X1.1 solar flare was observed around active region 3217
in the southeast quadrant of the Sun at 1548UTC on the 11th of
February. The flare did not appear eruptive, so we had no associated
coronal mass ejection.
Nevertheless, the flare caused a fade-out as its X-rays penetrated
deep into the D-layer of the ionosphere.
There were other lesser M-class and C-class flares throughout the
week.
The Kp index rose to five on Wednesday the 15th of February and
conditions continued to be geomagnetically unstable throughout
Thursday. Nevertheless, the ionosphere remained relatively stable
with daytime MUFs over 3,000km generally staying above 28MHz all week.
The critical frequency is generally remaining well above 4MHz until
midnight, meaning 80m is open around the UK and also to DX. After
midnight it can decline, meaning only longer paths are open.
NOAA has updated its coronal mass ejection forecast model to predict
a stronger-than-anticipated solar wind passing Earth by late Friday
the 17th of February and into Saturday the 18th. A moderate G2 level
storm watch was officially added, beginning on Friday, so aurora sky
watchers and VHF enthusiasts should be alert this weekend.
Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasts that the SFI
will fall back, perhaps to 130 by next Friday. Once we get past this
weekend's geomagnetic disturbance, the Kp index is predicted to
remain settled all week, although a single coronal mass ejection
could soon spoil that.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
After some good tropo for the 70cm UK Activity Contest last Tuesday,
it will be a return to more unsettled weather that ends this week and
starts this weekend. High pressure will then quickly return and take
up residence over the south and west of the country, eventually
ending up west of Ireland.
This will mean that tropo will again offer some enhanced conditions
on VHF and UHF and may prove useful for the 1.3GHz UK Activity
Contest on Tuesday evening.
After midweek, it will tend to favour paths within the UK and to the
south into France. From midweek there will be low pressure to the
east of the British Isles with a showery northerly flow down the
North Sea. This will cut off the eastern half of Europe from any
Tropo prospects, but it may offer some rain scatter from eastern
areas.
There may continue to be some good chances of auroral propagation,
which you can explore by checking the Kp index for values higher than
five. In the absence of major meteor showers, random meteor scatter
is always an option and likely to be most profitable around the dawn
period.
For EME operators, Moon declination is negative but increasing, going
positive again on Wednesday. The week will therefore see Moon
availability windows increasing and path losses increasing from their
lowest with perigee, the point where the Moon is closest to Earth,
occurring today Sunday the 19th.
The Sun and Moon are close to an eclipse later today and throughout
all of Monday's moon window, so sky noise will be high due to the Sun
being in the beamwidth of most antennas. After that, 144MHz sky noise
is low for the rest of the week.
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
https://www.theskywaves.net http://gb7cip.ampr.org
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