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G4TNU > NEWS 20.08.23 01:31l 255 Lines 12080 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 20 Aug 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 20th of August 2023
The news headlines:
* National Coding Week
* G5RP Trophy nominations
* RSGB 2023 Convention
National Coding Week is taking place from the 14th of September, but
the RSGB is dedicating the whole of September to amateur radio and
coding activities. This is a great way to try something new, extend
your skills or share your knowledge with your local club, school or
community group. You can find out more on the RSGB's coding page at
rsgb.org/coding and, if you would like to get involved, please
contact ESRG member John Hislop, G7OHO via g7oho<at>rsgb.org.uk If
you are taking part, whether on your own or in a group, the RSGB
would love to share what you're doing so that you can inspire others.
Please email details to comms<at>rsgb.org.uk
The G5RP Trophy is an annual award designed to encourage newcomers to
HF DXing. The award is not limited to youngsters or the newly
licensed. It is open to anyone who has recently discovered and made
significant progress in HF DXing. If you are an established HF DXer
and want to recommend someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2023,
now is the time to send in your nomination. Your nominee should be an
up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in the last year
and has some real achievements to show, for example a good total of
new countries worked or some HF DXpedition activity. Please send your
nominations to Ian Greenshields, G4FSU by email via
hf.manager<at>rsgb.org.uk Nominations should arrive no later than
Friday the 15th of September 2023.
The RSGB Convention is being held between the 13th and 15th of
October. The programme is nearly finalised and contains some
fantastic speakers on a range of amateur radio subjects. In addition,
there will be a buildathon where you will also gain invaluable advice
about how to run a similar event at your club, local school or
community group. The early bird booking price has been extended to
the 14th of September so don't miss out – book now! Full details of
the programme will be published soon. For more information and to
book, visit rsgb.org/convention
Today, Sunday the 20th of August, John, GW3JVB is operating
from Steep Holm Island in the Bristol Channel. The Worked All
Britain square for the location is ST26 and the IOTA reference is
EU-120. John hopes to be operational from approximately 1000UTC to
1930UTC. Using SSB, he is most likely to be working on 40 and 20m,
but may also be available on other bands, depending on the weather
and conditions. If you hear John on the air, please give him a call.
You can read more about John's amateur activities on his blog via
gw3jvb.uk
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is taking place this
weekend. There are lots of stations on the air waiting for your call.
To see a list of registered stations, visit illw.net
Neil Bauers, G4JUV has created ‘Camper Ham UK' on Facebook. It is
for anyone who likes camping and operating their radios, both
licensed and shortwave listeners. Motorhomes, vans, caravans, tents
and bivvy bags are all OK. Just take a radio! As well as the usual
technical discussions about radios and antennas, the group is
interested in antenna-friendly camping sites and good spots for
portable operation. In the future there may be meetups organised by
group members. For more information search for ‘Camper Ham UK' on
Facebook.
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on
Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally is taking place today,
Sunday the 20th of August. The venue is Princethorpe College,
Princethorpe, Rugby, Warkwickshire, CV23 9PY. The event begins at
10am. For more details contact Steve, G8LYB on 07956 855 816, email
rally<at>rugbyats.co.uk or visit rugbyats.co.uk
Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally is also taking place today,
Sunday the 20th of August. The venue is The Festival Hall, Caistor
Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors are open from 9.30am and
admission is GBP 2. Free car parking and refreshments are available.
Tables cost GBP 10. For more information, contact Steve via
m5zzz<at>outlook.com or phone 07777 699 069.
The Red Rose Summer Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 20th of
August. The venue is St Joseph's Hall, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. The event
features free parking, a café, traders, individual stands, club
stands, low-cost bring and buy, and a raffle for a new digital radio.
For more information visit wmrc.co.uk
Torbay Annual Communications Fair will take place on Sunday the 27th
of August. The venue will be Newton Abbot Racecourse, TQ12 3AF. This
will be an indoor event with free parking. The doors will open at
10am. A bring-and-buy area, on-site catering, and an RSGB bookstall
will be available. For more information contact Pete, G4VTO on
01803 864 528, Mike, G1TUU on 01803 557 941 or email
rally<at>tars.org.uk
Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally will take place on Sunday
the 27th of August. The rally will be held at a new venue this year
– Heron's Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton
Lodge, Milton Keynes, MK8 9AA. The venue is opposite the National
Badminton Centre and has excellent modern amenities together with
free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities. The entrance
fee is GBP 3 and doors will be open to the public from 9am. Outdoor
pitches and indoor tables are available. For trader and exhibitor
enquiries please email rally<at>mkars.org.uk For more information
see mkars.org.uk
Now the Special Event News
Celebrating the centenary of the National Park of Abruzzo
[A-BRUT-SO], Lazio [LAT-SEE-OH], and Molise [MOL-EE-SAY], special
callsign II6PN is in use until the 31st of October. QSL via Club
Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, eQSL, or via IK6IHU. For details of
a certificate that is available, see QRZ.com
8S80AA is the special callsign in use throughout 2023 by Vasteras
Radio Klubb, SK5AA to celebrate its 80th anniversary. QSL via Club
Log's OQRS is preferred but is also available via the bureau to
SK5AA, or direct to SM5FUG. More information about the club can be
found at sk5aa.se
LA100K is the special callsign in use by Akademisk [ACA-DEM-EESK]
Radioklubb, LA1K to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its
foundation. Based in Trondheim, it is the oldest amateur radio club
in Norway. The special callsign will be in use until the 31st of
December. QSL via the bureau, or direct.
Now the DX news
Laurens, PF3X will be active as TF/PF3X while touring Iceland until
the 25th of August. He will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF
and 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL, or direct to his
home call.
Chris, OE6CUD plans to visit the Lofoten [LUH-FUH-TIN] Islands,
EU-076, the Vesteralen [VESTER-ALAN] Islands, EU-033, and Senja
Island, EU-046, while touring Norway by car until late October. He
will be QRV as LA/OE6CUD and will operate mainly CW on the HF bands.
He might also give QO-100 a try. QSL via home call, direct or bureau,
Logbook of the World and eQSL.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 22nd of August, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from
1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend, the CQ RTTYops Worldwide RTTY Contest has two sessions
between the 25th and 27th of August. The first session is between
2200UTC on the 25th and 1200UTC on the 26th. The second session is
from 1200 to 2359UTC on Sunday the 27th. Using RTTY only on the 160
to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and the four-digit year of your first licence.
The Worldwide Digi DX contest runs from 1200UTC on the 26th to
1200UTC on the 27th of August. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 160 to 10m
bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your
four-character locator.
Next Sunday, the 27th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest
runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 17th of August 2023
Sunspot activity continues as we head towards solar maximum. We have
had a reasonably settled Sun over the past week. The Kp index never
exceeded 3.33 and was generally in the ones and twos all week. We
also had no M- or X-class flares to worry about with only minor
C-class events occurring.
The solar flux index stayed in the 140s and 150s, only topping out at
160 on Wednesday and Thursday.
So, it was not a bad week for HF propagation as we head towards the
end of August.
There are signs that propagation is improving due to the seasonal
change in the chemistry of the F2 layer. With a move towards more
monoatomic species and fewer diatomic ones, it means that it is
becoming easier to ionise.
Daytime critical frequencies are currently around 6 to 7MHz according
to the Dourbes Digisonde, giving a maximum usable frequency over
3,000km of between 18 and 21MHz. 28MHz Sporadic-E contacts have all
but finished, but don't write the 10m band off as you may get the odd
surprise.
20m still seems to be the best DX band this week, according to the
Chiltern DX Club, with 17 and 15m also contributing.
FO/F4FJH in French Polynesia; E51JD on the South Cook Islands; and
FH4VVK in Mayotte have all been heard on 20m SSB, while 3D2AG in Fiji
has been worked on 15m CW.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The fine summer-like weather has returned, at least for this weekend
and up to about mid-week before it becomes more unsettled again. So,
Tropo will be worth exploring, especially this weekend and during the
first part of next week.
Note that, in these warmer summer months, Tropo is often better
overnight and early morning, especially those misty ones, but tends
to decay as the ground warms in the morning sunshine. However,
coastal paths often remain good throughout the day so Tropo paths
across the North Sea or English Channel could be worth a look from
your holiday deck chair!
The Sporadic-E season is slowly coming to a close, but it is still
worth a check in the evening tea-time activity window to make sure
nothing is missed, and even better if you can add a morning check-up
at around 1030UTC.
The recent Perseids meteor shower may have added some useful meteor
debris as fuel, so it is certainly not time to give up checking just
yet. However, you may have to manage your expectations on the higher
VHF bands.
Meteor scatter is still a good bet in the tail end of the Perseids
shower and the usual random meteors increase around dawn. Rain
scatter is always an option in the summer months so keep a watch on
weather radar displays for the brighter thundery rainfall echoes,
especially later next week.
There has been some interesting propagation on 50MHz down to the
equatorial belt in the late evenings with D2UY in Angola working FT8
stations in an arc from the Canaries around through Northern
Scotland, and the whole of the UK to Turkey with ‘Trans-equatorial
sounding' fading patterns, making decodes difficult sometimes.
Moon declination goes negative again this Sunday, shortening Moon
visibility windows and, as we are past apogee, path losses will fall
all week. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate until next Friday
peaking at 2900 Kelvin on Saturday morning.
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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