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G4APL > NEWS 28.05.23 03:31l 282 Lines 13328 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 28 May 2023
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Sent: 230528/0231Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:48452 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
Another week's break for Andy/G4TNU from preparing this week's RSGB
news bulletins, so Mike G4FVG has kindly performed the honours in
readiness for Paul G4APL to press the 'send' button; once again.
So here is the GB2RS News for Sunday the 28th of May 2023
The news headlines:
- RSGB Tonight@8 webinar
- RSGB Beaconnect loop experiments
- RSGB School Zone web page
On Monday the 5th of June, the RSGB's Tonight<at>8 live webinar will
feature Mike Richards, G4WNC who will give a presentation on Node-RED
for radio amateurs. Node-RED is a visual programming language that is
very powerful but surprisingly easy to use. The language has matured
over recent years and has the potential to be a valuable tool for
radio amateurs. In this talk, Mike will provide an introduction to
Node-RED programming techniques. He will conclude with a live
demonstration to show just how easy it can be to add extra facilities
to your rig. Watch and ask questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel
or special BATC channel. For more information see the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/webinars
Three weekends have been identified for some RSGB Beaconnect loop
experiments. On the 3rd and 4th of June there will be some regional
loops and nets. On the 10th and 11th of June there will be an
England-only loop and net based round the activators who have
registered for Beaconnect callsigns so far, but the Society would
welcome new activators in the West of England and East Anglia.
Finally, on the 24th and 25th of June there will be an attempt at a
multiple nations loop, although to do so the Society will need
activators in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you want to
join in with these activities, register for a Beaconnect callsign via
the RSGB website. Go to rsgb.org/coronation and choose the Beaconnect
information page.
The RSGB's School Zone web page brings together radio amateurs in
schools and colleges. The Society wants to help people to share their
experience and expertise of establishing and running a radio club for
young people. The RSGB has just launched a new page as part of this
section called 'School Zone stories' where it is highlighting some of
the great amateur radio activities that are happening in these, and
other, schools. If you're a school with an amateur radio club and
want to be added to the list, or a radio amateur or club that is
linking with local schools, the RSGB would love to add your
information and stories to School Zone. Go to rsgb.org/school-zone to
find out more, or send your stories and photos to comms<at>rsgb.org.uk
Have you seen the RSGB Live News web page? It brings together the
Society's social media feeds, latest YouTube videos and front-page
news in one place. Launched a few years ago, people found it very
useful, so the RSGB is highlighting it again now for those who have
become radio amateurs or returned to amateur radio more recently.
Take a look at rsgb.org/live for a taster and then go to the
individual comms channels to find out more.
The Worked All Britain group will be holding its AGM on Sunday the
11th of June at 12pm. The venue will be the meeting room of Alfreton
Leisure Centre Bowls Hall, Church Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BD. For
further information contact Paul, M1AIB via:
m1aib<at>worked-all-britain.org.uk or visit the Worked All Britain
website.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Durham and District Amateur Radio Rally is taking place today,
Sunday the 28th of May. The venue is Bowburn Community Centre,
Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AT. The doors are open from 10.10am to
2.30pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10am. Admittance is
£2. There is a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest
groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and a licensed bar are
available on site. For more information, contact Michael Wright,
G7TWX on 07826 924 192, or on email via dadars<at>gmx.com
Spalding Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 4th of June. The
venue will be Holbeach United Youth Football Club, Pennyhill Road,
Holbeach, Lincolnshire, PE12 7PR. The doors open at 10am. Disabled
access is available from 9.30am. Admittance is £3. The event will
feature a car boot area, catering, a flea market and trade stands.
For more information Contact Graham, G8NWC on 07754 619 701, email
rally2023<at>sdars.org.uk or visit: sdars.org.uk/spaldingrally
The Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Summer Rally will take place
on Saturday the 10th of June. The venue will be Saint Vincent de
Paul's Hall, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open at 10am and entry
is £3. Refreshments and plenty of free parking are available. For
further information, or to book a stall, contact either Roz Worrall
via rozallin<at>gmail.com, or Dave Carden via dave<at>cardens.me.uk
The Mendips Rally will take place on Sunday the 11th of June. The
venue will be Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane,
Farrington Gurney, Somerset, BS39 6TY. Entrance is £2. The doors open
at 7.30am for traders and 9.30am for visitors. For bookings and
enquiries please contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email
mendipsrally<at>hotmail.com
The Junction 28 Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 11th of
June. The venue will be Alfreton Leisure Centre Bowls Hall, Church
Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BD. The doors open at 10.15am and admission
is £4. There is a fee of £12 to book a table in advance. A bar and
refreshments will be available on site. For more information,
directions, and the booking form, visit snadarc.com Alternatively,
email secretary<at>snadarc.com
Now the Special Event News
OL100RADIO, OL100RJ, OL23RADIO and OL23RJ are the special callsigns
for the Czech Radio Club to mark 100 years of broadcasting in
Czechoslovakia. Look for activity on all bands and modes until the
18th of June. A certificate will be available. For more information
visit the QRZ.com pages associated with each of the special callsigns.
Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Trans-Tasman amateur
radio contact, members of the New Zealand Association of Radio
Transmitters will be operating special callsign ZL100 until the 25th
of July.
North Bristol Amateur Radio Club, in partnership with South Bristol
Amateur Radio Club, is holding a special event to commemorate the
loss of flight 777a on the 1st of June 1943. The flight was en [on]
route from Portugal to Whitchurch Airport, now defunct, in Bristol.
The event has been granted the rare callsign GB80AGBB. The station
will be active from 10am until 5pm from the 30th of May to the 3rd of
June on the 20 and 40m bands and on the Southwest DMR Cluster Talk
Group 950. Contact can also be made via the FreeDMR Network on Talk
Group 777. For more information, visit the GB80AGBB page on QRZ.com
or email gb80agbb<at>gb7bs.com
Now the DX news
To raise money for charity, a team of three amateurs is visiting
Rockall Island, EU-189, in the North Atlantic Ocean almost 200 miles
west of Scotland. The team will be operating using the callsign
MM0UKI and plans to be QRV between Monday the 29th of May and Friday
the 2nd of June. The team is expecting to be active on the 40 to 10m
bands using CW, FT8 and SSB. The QSL manager for the DXpedition is
Charles, M0OXO. For more information visit rockallexped.com
Jack, M0PLX will be active from Unst and six other islands in the
Shetlands, EU-012, until Friday the 2nd of June. He will operate
using SSB on the HF bands and will also monitor the 6m band. Updates
will be posted to M0PLX's Facebook page.
Vincent, HB9VCJ will be active as 8Q7VJ from the Maldives, AS-013,
until Sunday the 4th of June. He will operate QRP SSB, and various
digital modes, on the 40 to 6m bands, and also FM on the 10m band.
QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via his home call.
Didier, F6BCW is active as FO/F6BCW from Huahine [WHY-KNEE] Island,
OC-067, French Polynesia until the 25th of October. He operates CW
and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via F6EXV, Club Log and Logbook of
the World.
Now the contest news
Today, the 28th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from
0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Today, the 28th, the CQ Worldwide WPX CW Contest ends its 48-hour run
at 2359UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
National Field Day will start at 1500UTC on Saturday the 3rd of June
and end at 1500UTC on Sunday the 4th of June. Using CW on the 160 to
10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The UK Six Metre Group Summer Contest starts at 1300UTC on Saturday
the 3rd of June and ends at 1300UTC on Sunday the 4th of June. Using
all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial
number, locator and member number.
The ARRL International Digital Contest starts at 1800UTC on Saturday
the 3rd of June and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 4th of June. Using
digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands, the exchange is your
four-character locator.
On Sunday the 4th of June, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest
runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on 1.3, 2.3 and 3.4GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 25th of May 2023
The Sun currently has an equal number of spots in both its Northern
and Southern hemispheres.
The Solar Flux Index was consistently in the 150 to 160s range last
week, with a total of eight M-class flares. We had unsettled
geomagnetic conditions on the 21st and 22nd when the Kp index hit
six, but things then settled down again to a more manageable two to
three.
There are times when the F-layer critical frequency is lower than the
E-layer critical frequency due to Sporadic-E. This means that HF
signals can't reach the F2-layer, basically blocking off DX, but
leaving Sporadic-E short skip available. So, make the most of these
short-skip contacts to the continent and multi-hop Sporadic-E skips
to further afield. Conditions in the F2-layer will improve in the
autumn, so don't worry!
There is still HF DX to be had, but you may have to hunt for it.
Recently, Laurie, G3UML worked BD4VGZ in China on the 15m band using
CW and Stuart, M1SMH worked YG2ALQ in Indonesia as well as A71UN in
Qatar, on the 10m band using FT8. Meanwhile, Andy, M0NKR worked VK on
the 15m band using SSB long path. Namibia, Malawi and Equatorial
Guinea have all been workable from the UK using FT8 on the 10m band
during late morning.
Next week NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will remain in the
same range. That is, in the 150 to 160s. Unsettled geomagnetic
conditions are forecast from the 2nd to the 4th of June, when the Kp
index might reach four. Otherwise, it suggests that conditions will
be mainly settled with the Kp index around two to three.
So, make the most of the elusive HF F2-layer openings and the various
opportunities available during this peak time for Sporadic-E
propagation.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The broad scale pattern is still dominated by a large area of high
pressure over the country with its centre mostly to the northwest of
the British Isles.
The whole period through to the end of the coming week should offer
some good tropo prospects, so why not try using CW or SSB to add some
extra squares to your log? Under lift conditions, even a halo antenna
can be surprisingly effective.
The weather variety will remain until the end of next week when low
pressure over France tries to push some thundery showers northwards
into southern Britain after midweek, and perhaps then northwards as
far as western Scotland. This brings a chance of rain scatter on the
GHz bands.
There is, as usual, always a chance of aurora and meteor scatter to
bring additional options, but the main mode of interest this week
will be Sporadic-E as we head into the peak of the season.
With tropo also in play, it's worth a quick note for those not used
to working Sporadic-E; Tropo tends to be long-lasting and usually
better on the higher bands. That is to say, the 70cm band is often
better than the 2m band whereas Sporadic-E is usually brief and
better at lower frequency bands. So, the 10m band is better than the
6m band.
This time of the year it can reach up to 2m on rare occasions. If you
do nothing else, simply check the bands and clusters at the end of
the afternoon to maximise your Sporadic-E chances.
Moon declination is positive but falling this weekend, going negative
on Tuesday. We are past apogee so path losses will fall as the week
goes on. We'll see shortening Moon windows with falling path losses.
144MHz sky noise is low all 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.
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