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G4TNU > NEWS 17.03.24 10:01l 265 Lines 12923 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 17 Mar 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 17th of March 2024
The news headlines:
* The RSGB's 2024 AGM is coming up
* British Science Week is drawing to a close
* Changes to examination fees are coming soon
This year's RSGB AGM will take place at 10am on Saturday the 13th of
April and will be held online to ensure as many members as possible
can watch and take part. The formal business of the meeting will
include the results of members' votes on the resolutions, including
the endorsement of three Nominated Directors. The President will give
a video review of 2023 and the Society will announce the recipients
of its annual awards and trophies, as well as the winners of its
construction competition. At the end of the meeting there will be a
recorded presentation on "Making amateur radio licensing fit for the
future" by Ofcom Group Director, Spectrum, David Willis. This will be
followed by a live Q&A on the new licence conditions, with four
senior RSGB representatives answering your questions: President, John
McCullagh, GI4BWM; Board Chair, Stewart Bryant, G3YSX; General
Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB; and Spectrum Forum Chair, Murray Niman,
G6JYB. You can find more information about the candidates, voting and
how to ask the Board a question on the RSGB AGM web pages at
rsgb.org/agm
British Science Week is drawing to a close and lots of exciting
activities have been going on. Radio amateurs across the country
have been encouraging young people to explore and understand our
hobby and there have been some wonderful ways of incorporating the
theme of "Time" into amateur radio activities. The RSGB would like to
thank those who have shared ideas and resources, promoting the magic
of radio communications with young people. There will be a report in
the June issue of RadCom to showcase the activities that have
happened and to inspire people to get involved next year! Perhaps you
ran a construction day, set up and operated a radio station in a
school or achieved a QSO with GB3RS at the RSGB National Radio
Centre. Whatever you've been doing, please send your reports, with
separate high-resolution photographs, to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk by
the 21st of April 2024. The RSGB would welcome feedback about what
worked well, what you learned and how the Society could develop its
British Science Week activities next year. Please email the RSGB
British Science Week Coordinator Ian Neal, M0KEO at
bsw<at>rsgb.org.uk to share your thoughts.
Early in February the RSGB announced that the fees for Foundation,
Intermediate and Full level examinations would increase from the 1st
of May 2024. You can now use the online booking system to book an
exam prior to the 1st of May at the current price or select exam
dates from the 1st of May at the new prices. Please ensure you make
the correct date selection, as booking errors that need to be changed
may incur an administration fee as outlined in the exam terms and
conditions. To book an exam, go to the Student Information section of
the RSGB website and choose the option to book and pay for your exam
from the righthand menu.
The RadCom Contesting column has new editors! The RSGB Contest
Committees will be overseeing the column and have planned a schedule
of topics. Some will be written by members of the three contesting
committees, and some by others who can share their experiences. As
well as information about various aspects of contesting, the
committees hope that the column will feature a contesting tip of the
month, a featured UK contester, as well as a contest of the month.
Once each issue is published, the column content will be shared on
the RSGB website to provide a useful resource about contesting. You
can see a list of the planned topics at rsgb.org/radcom-contesting
The committees are keen to hear from people who would like to be
involved, so if you would like to suggest a missing topic or offer to
write something for the column, please
email ContestClub<at>rsgbcc.org
And now for details of rallies and events
Callington Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place today, the
17th. The rally is being held in the Town Hall, New Road, Callington,
Cornwall, PL17 7BD. The doors will be open from 10am. Entry is GBP 2
each and there is no charge for those under the age of 16. A
comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and societies are present
along with a bring-and-buy stall and the usual catering service. The
venue has excellent disabled access, toilets, and there is ample car
parking nearby. More details, including a list of items currently
registered for sale at the huge bring-and-buy stand, are available at
callingtonradiosociety.org.uk
Grantham Amateur Radio Club Radio and Electronics Rally is also
taking place today, the 17th. The venue is Grantham West Community
Centre, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire. The doors are open from
9am to 1.30pm and entry for buyers is GBP 3. Those under the age of
16 will be admitted for free. Ample free parking is available. For
more information visit garc.org.uk/rally
In Wales, the Pencoed [PEN-KOYD] and District Amateur Radio Club
Rally is taking place today, the 17th. The event is being held at
Sarn and Bryncwils [BRIN-QUILS] Social Club, Sarn, Bridgend,
CF32 9NY. The entrance fee is GBP 2 but there is no charge for those
under the age of 16. Doors open to the public at 10am and
refreshments are available. Disabled access is available via a chair
lift. For more information contact Leuan Jones on 07791 709 691.
Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 24th of
March at Saint Radigunds Community Centre. The doors will be open
from 10am to 2pm and the entrance fee will be GBP 3. Tables cost
GBP 15 each with a maximum of two tables per vendor. For more
information visit darc.online/rally
The Ripon Rally will also take place on Sunday the 24th of March. The
venue will be Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Lane, Great
Ouseburn, York, YO26 9RL. Lots of parking will be available adjacent
to the venue. Traders are welcome from 7am and tables cost GBP 10
each. The doors open for visitors from 10am and entrance is GBP 3 per
person.
For more information visit radars-g4sjm.club
Now the Special Event News
HI180RD [HOTEL-INDIA-ONE-EIGHT-ZERO-ROMEO-DELTA] is on the air to
celebrate the 180th anniversary of the Dominican Republic declaring
its independence from Haiti in 1844. Listen for activity on all bands
and modes until the 30th of April. Around 25 operators from five
radio clubs will be part of the event. For details of a certificate
that is available, visit QRZ.com
Special event callsign EI80MB [ECHO-INDIA-EIGHT-ZERO-MIKE-BRAVO] is
active until the 31st of May 2024 to commemorate the 80th anniversary
of the rescue of 168 German seamen who were rescued from the waters
of the Bay of Biscay after a battle between British and German naval
forces in 1943. The men were carried out by a small Irish coaster
called ‘Kerlogue' [KER-LOG] which had the callsign EIMB. The rescue
took more than ten hours. QSL via Club Log's OQRS or via EI6AL
[ECHO-INDIA-SIX-ALPHA-LIMA].
Now the DX news
Nobby, G0VJG is active as 5H3VJG from Zanzibar Island, AF-032, in
Tanzania until the 20th of March. He is operating mainly using SSB,
and with some CW and FT8. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. QSOs will be uploaded
to Logbook of the World and Club Log.
Gerard, F2JD is active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until the
21st of March. He is operating CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on the HF bands.
QSL via F6AJA directly or via the Bureau.
Now the contest news
On Monday the 18th, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC.
Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is your report.
The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group HF RTTY Contest started at
0200UTC on Saturday the 16th and ends at 0200UTC on Monday the 18th.
Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and time.
On Tuesday the 19th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using All modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 19th, the IRTS 80m Evening Counties Contest runs from
2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and county code.
On Thursday the 21st, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 14th of March 2024
What a difference a month makes. We've gone from a solar flux index
up to almost 200, to one that is down in the 120s.
Over the past week, we have had only two M-class solar flares, which
means we have had limited coronal mass ejection activity and
therefore low Kp indices.
Last weekend's Commonwealth Contest saw UK amateurs making plenty of
HF contacts, some with Australia, but everyone agreed that HF
propagation was a little lacklustre.
There is a daily chance of moderate-class solar flares from AR 3607,
the largest sunspot region, but all remaining spots remain mostly
small and simple.
The solar wind speed has been quite high with sporadic periods of a
south-pointing Bz field. This is what has pushed the Kp index to
three, but this isn't a big threat to HF. There is a slight chance of
unsettled intervals caused by a weak coronal hole near the south
centre of the solar disc coupled with the fast solar wind.
NOAA reports that active region 3590 has been detected on the far
side of the Sun using helioseismology. This may mean that it will
still be active and a threat when it returns in a week or so. This
region was the source of the X6 solar flare on the 22nd of February
– the largest so far in solar cycle 25.
Next week, commencing the 18th of March, NOAA predicts that the solar
flux index will remain in the 120 to 130 range, although the US Air
Force predicts it could reach 150. Geomagnetic conditions are likely
to be mainly settled with a maximum Kp index of two or three.
So, this is a reasonable forecast for HF propagation, which should
remain open up to 28MHz during daylight hours. This is also a good
time for north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and the
UK to South America.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The continuing theme of unsettled weather will produce further spells
of rain and heavy showers and once again provide some rain scatter
options on the GHz bands.
Another thing to mention is that, as we move towards the latter part
of the month, the intensity of showers becomes greater due to the
additional warmth improving the effectiveness of the rain scatter
process.
It is very hard to find any traditional Tropo until we get well into
the coming week. It may occur on Thursday the 21st when a high will
develop a ridge from Biscay across southern Britain and the near
continent. This should provide a chance of Tropo for the final few
days of the coming week. Unfortunately, this is not in time for the
UK Activity Contest on 1.3GHz on Tuesday the 19th, but the 70MHz UK
Activity Contest on Thursday the 21st may be luckier.
The north of Britain may start to see the next low bringing rain over
that weekend, so although it has an early exit from any Tropo, at
least being well north gives Scottish stations a head start for any
aurora, which tends to favour the spring months.
Meteor scatter still remains in the random territory – try just
before sunrise for best results. But with the next major shower being
the Lyrids in late April, we have a while to wait for an uptick in
activity.
Lastly, a brief mention of Sporadic-E. It has popped up with some
weak events on the Dourbes plots on Propquest, but the main season is
still a little way off.
Maybe check next month for a heads-up on the lower bands like 28 and
50MHz. Of course, digital modes will get a head start, so best to
check the clusters and chatrooms for signs of fleeting activity. Some
UK stations reported 50MHz trans-equatorial propagation to Africa
last week, so check for that.
For EME operators, Moon declination reaches a maximum on Sunday, but
path losses are starting to increase again. 144MHz sky noise is
moderate, falling to low on Wednesday.
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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