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G4TNU > NEWS 14.09.14 14:05l 253 Lines 12619 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 14th September 2014
The news headlines:
* Updating the Amateur Radio Licence
* Learn how to Solder Surface Mount Devices
* Looking ahead to the National Hamfest
The current form of the amateur licence has been around for several
years and Ofcom is keen to ensure that it continues to meet its
regulatory needs. A consultation paper entitled Updating the Amateur
Radio Licence has now been issued, and all amateurs are encouraged to
read it carefully and respond to Ofcom by 20th October. It is a
35-page, 264KB PDF. The RSGB has put together a brief commentary to
help illustrate some of the more significant changes proposed and,
additionally, we have opened a discussion forum in which any amateur
can participate. The RSGB will use contributions to the forum to
inform its response to Ofcom. Go to http://rsgb.org/licencereview
If you are interested in learning how to solder surface mount devices
then the sessions taking place at the RSGB Convention on Saturday 11
October may be of interest. Run by Dave Powis, G4HUP there will be
practical workshops all day, at which you can put into practice the
tips and ideas discussed in his presentation at the start of the day.
Opportunities for hand placement and soldering of SMDs will be
provided, as well as the equipment for solder paste dispensing and
reflow soldering, under expert guidance. Each session is around 45
minutes and can be pre-booked by contacting Dave via
www.g4hup.com/SMD2014.htm
National Hamfest takes place on 26 and 27 September at the Newark and
Nottinghamshire Showground. This year several traders are bring new
products that will be shown for the first time. Details of many of
these new products are in the September and October issues of RadCom.
There is also a large car boot area as well as the inside trade hall.
Visitors will have the opportunity to ask questions of several RSGB
committees and Ofcom will also be there. See
www.nationalhamfest.org.uk for details.
Slow Scan Television appears to be once again operational from the
International Space Station. On 6th September the ISS Slow Scan
Television experiment was activated from the Russian Service Module
on 145.800MHz FM. This followed an unsuccessful test back on 27th
August when only the carrier was detected but no SSTV audio tones
were heard.
Clubs and Groups are reminded that they need to send in their bids to
host the G14YOTA callsign during December, which has been designated
IARU Region 1 Youngsters On The Air month. Applications have been
received from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England and the Isle
of Man with a number of Clubs, schools and universities aiming to put
youngsters on the air. Full details on how the month will work and
how to apply to use the special callsign are on the RSGB website,
just search for 'YOTA month' and you will find all you need. Closing
date for bids is 22nd September, just a week away, so get working on
those applications!
The RSGB Convention takes place between the 10th and 12th October and
will be held at the Kent's Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes.
It is, once again, sponsored by Martin Lynch & Sons, whom the RSGB
thank for their continued support of the event. The latest lecture
schedule is available on the RSGB website. Select the ‘About Us'
drop down menu on the www.rsgb.org main site for Convention details.
Visitors should note that tickets for the Technical Dinner on
Saturday evening are now sold out. Gala Dinner tickets for the same
evening are still available. Weekend packages and Pick and Mix
options should be booked on the RSGB website, see www.rsgbevents.org.
Day tickets with no other bookings will only be available on the door.
Ofcom have advised that there are expected to be LTE test
transmissions over the next few months in the 2.3GHz band. LTE
transmissions are the wireless communication of high-speed data for
mobile phones. The tests will be in the central London area and will
be up to 38dBW ERP. If licensed radio amateurs should become aware of
unusual transmissions, they are asked to bear this in mind.
A report on 2012 trials in the United Kingdom that used 3.613MHz for
24kHz bandwidth high-speed data and video transmissions is now
available to the public. It notes that by using modern modulation
techniques an SSB channel can support a raw data rate of 12,800 bits
per second and wider transmissions can support proportionally faster
data rates. More information on this experimentation can be found in
a very fascinating article with the long title of Wide Band High
Frequency Communications 2012 UK Trials Summary prepared by James
Alexander of Rockwell Collins Corporation. You can find it at
tinyurl.com/hf-video-testing
The 2014 D-Star QSO Party will run from 000UTC on 19th September to
2359UTC on the 21st. The goal of the Party is to communicate through
as many D-Star repeaters as possible around the world during the
period. All operators who submit an approved log will be eligible for
the prize drawing with 10 lucky winners randomly selected to each win
a prize. Full details of this event is on the web at
http://www.d-staruk.co.uk/
Sochi hosts the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix from the 10th to 12th
October and a series of 11 special event stations will be active from
tomorrow, the 15th until 15th October on all bands and modes. All the
callsigns begin with UE16.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The TARS 50th annual Communications Fair takes place today, 14th
September, at Newton Abbot Race Course, Devon TQ12 3AF. The event is
indoors and there will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well as an
RSGB bookstall. Doors open at 10am and admissions is GBP 2. Details
from Mike Dixon on 01803 557 941.
The West Kent ARS Radio & Electronics Fair will be held at Tunbridge
Wells Grammar School for Boys, St John's Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
TN4 9XB today, 14th September. Doors open at 10am and admission is
GBP 2.50. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB
Bookstall. Contact Dave, G4OTV, by e-mail to rally<at>wkars.org.uk
for more information.
The Five Bridges Cluster and the Angel club are jointly hosting a
Workshop for Examination Invigilators at 7.30pm on Monday 15th
September. All current and potential exam invigilators are welcome to
discuss best practice. The meeting will be held at Whitehall Road
Methodist Church Hall, Bensham, Gateshead NE8 4LH. Details from Nancy
Bone, G7UUR on 07990 760920.
We have no details for rallies next weekend, the 20th and 21st, the
next in the diary is the National Hamfest. This takes place on Friday
and Saturday, the 26th and 27th. The two day show is brought to you
by the RSGB in association with the Lincoln Short Wave Club, to whom
the RSGB offer its thanks for the work involved. Taking place at the
George Stephenson Pavilion, Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground,
Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark NG24 2NY doors open for the main hall
at 10am and 9.30am for the outside and car boot area. There will be
trade stands, a Bring & Buy, large RSGB bookstall, RSGB committees
and special interest groups. Details at www.nationalhamfest.org.uk.
If you have any rally or event information you'd like to appear in
future editions of GB2RS News, in RadCom and on the RSGB website,
please e-mail details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
Now for the news of special events
Throughout September, Pontefract and District ARS will be remembering
those who fought in the Battle of Britain by using the callsign
GB4BOB.
The Royal Engineers Association Radio Branch will be running GB1WWR
in remembrance of World War One from Fort Amherst in Chatham, Kent
today, 14th September. This is the Corps Memorial and Veterans
weekend.
PA70OMG will be on the air until 21st September to commemorate
Operation Market Garden by paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne division
on 17th September 1944.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Nigel, G3TXF and Paul, ZS1S will be on Gough Island, AF-030, until
3rd October. Nigel will operate as ZD9XF on CW and Paul will sign
ZD9ZS on SSB.
Four Australian operators will sign VK9NT from Norfolk Island,
OC-005, until 21st September. Look for them on all bands from 10 to
160m using SSB and CW.
EA5IDQ will be on the air signing 9H3JA from Malta, EU-023 between
18th and 25th September. Activity will be holiday style on the 10 to
40m bands using SSB and the digital modes. QSL via his home callsign
either direct or via the bureau.
Five operators will be on the air as BO0D from Tungyin Island,
AS-113, until 20th September. Activity will be on all HF bands using
CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via the BV Bureau.
Now the contest news
The SSB leg of the Worked All Europe Contest ends at 2359UTC today,
the 14th, after 48 hours on the air. The contest is on the 3.5 to
28MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and serial number and EU
stations work non EU stations only.
The Worked All Britain 144MHz QRO Phone contest takes place today,
14th September, from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and WAB square. Entries need to be with the contest
manager by 5th October. Full details of the rules and logsheets may
be obtained from the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.org.uk or
from the contest manager Tony Beardsley, G3XKT by e-mail to
aebbooks<at>ntlworld.com.
On Tuesday, the 16th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Sunday 21st, the second 70MHz contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Also on Sunday 21st, this time from 1700 to 2100UTC the BARTG Sprint
75 takes place. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is just the
serial number. Note all contacts are 75 baud.
Now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 5th to
Thursday the 11th of September, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on
Friday the 12th of September.
On the 4th two large sunspot regions rotated into view and between
them they produced numerous C class solar flares everyday and one M
class solar flares on the 6th and the 9th and two on the 11th. On the
10th activity increased to high when a X1 class flare occurred, the
first since the 11th of June. Solar flux levels increased from 144
units on the 5th to 164 by the 8th, the average was 155 units. The 90
day solar flux average on the 11th was 129 units, that's one unit
down on last week. X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and
averaged B9.5 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet everyday except
for the 11th, which increased possibly due to the arrival of a
coronal mass ejection that departed the Sun on the 9th. The Ap index
on the 11th was 13 units. The quietest day was the 8th with an Ap of
5 units. The average was Ap 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds 330 and 490 kilometres per second.
Particle densities increased to around 40 particles per cubic
centimetre on the 6th, 10th and the 11th, the remaining days
densities were low. Bz varied between minus 12 and plus 15 nanoTeslas
on the most disturbed day.
Now the solar forecast for the coming week. At least for the first
half of the week the two active sunspot regions will still be visible
before rotating out of view. Solar activity is expected to be at low
levels but there is a good chance that activity could increase at
least till midweek. Solar flux levels should be around the 150's for
most of the week but could start to decline by next weekend.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be low, however, if an Earth
directed coronal mass ejection takes place this would increase
activity. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be
around 25MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 12MHz.
Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with
a 50 per cent success rate of around 27MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 21MHz. The
best time to try this path w.
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 gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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