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G4TNU > NEWS 14.04.24 07:00l 249 Lines 11909 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 14 Apr 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 14th of April 2024
The news headlines:
* RSGB member interviewed by the BBC about the total solar
eclipse
* Ofcom releases video about changes to UK amateur radio
licensing
* World Amateur Radio Day is coming up
On Monday the 8th of April, a total solar eclipse gripped North
America as radio amateurs worldwide looked on to see its effect on
the ionosphere. This included RSGB Propagation Committee associate
member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, who was interviewed by BBC news on the
topic. The article, which was shared across the world, looked at some
of the scientific experiments that took place during the eclipse. You
can read the article by searching for "The 4-minute window into the
Sun's secrets" on BBC news. The RSGB thanks all the WSPR users who
responded to Gwyn's call to action, got involved and shared their
results on the RSGB social media channels.
Ofcom has released a video about changes to the UK amateur radio
framework covering licensing and callsign changes. It also gives some
insight into the forthcoming Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the changes for
callsigns and special event stations. You can watch the video at
tinyurl.com/ofcomvid
World Amateur Radio Day is celebrated each year on the 18th of April.
The theme for 2024 is "A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100
Years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community and Advocacy." The
global event covers all of the IARU regions and runs from 0000UTC on
Thursday the 18th of April to 0000UTC on Friday the 19th of April.
All radio amateurs are invited to take to the airwaves to show their
skills and capabilities to the public. You can read more about the
event at tinyurl.com/iaruward
During May, the RSGB's Photo Friday feature on social media will
highlight radio amateurs who are taking advantage of the new licence
conditions. You could be an individual who is discovering different
things to enjoy with the new power levels, or who is encouraging
friends and family to get on the air under your supervision. You
could be a club involved in special events and outreach to the
public. In whatever way you're making the most of the new licence
conditions, the RSGB wants to hear from you! Send a photo and a short
description to comms<at>rsgb.org.uk and the Society will share as
many stories as possible.
On the 11th of April, BBC Radio 4 Feedback presenter Andrea
Catherwood looked at why the Long Wave frequency is being shut down
by the BBC. She interviewed RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM,
and in the final programme a brief clip was used in which John gives
his opinion on the possible impact for some listeners. You can listen
to the Feedback show on BBC Sounds, by searching for "Feedback and
Long Wave" on the BBC website. The feature starts at 19 minutes and
55 seconds, with the RSGB President featuring at 22 minutes and 18
seconds.
This year Dennis, G7AGZ is running special event station GB0CHC
again in support of Cornwall Hospice Care. This is Dennis' 33rd year
of fundraising for the charity. The station will be active until the
end of April on all bands from 80m to 70cm using SSB, FM and DMR. If
you would like to support the cause, search for GB0CHC on the
justgiving.com website
The Cornish Radio Amateur Club has re-launched its sought-after
Cornish Award Certificate. The award has been around since the 1960s
and is given to amateur radio stations based outside of the County of
Cornwall who have contacted 20 Cornish-based amateur radio stations.
The new award allows the use of HF, VHF and UHF bands using any mode
including FM, SSB, CW, and now digital modes such as FT8. Proof in
the form of copies of logbook entries showing the 20 stations worked,
dates, times and modes is required to qualify. The new award is
applicable to contacts made on or after the 1st of January 2024, and
the certificate will be emailed in PDF format. More information can
be found via the "Cornish Award" link at gx4crc.com
A reminder now that International Marconi Day is coming up on the
27th of April. Once again, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club is
organising and running the event. Lots of amateur radio stations will
be operating from sites that Marconi operated from or had a personal
connection with. For more information, and to view a list of the
stations that are taking part, follow the "International Marconi Day"
link on the gx4crc.com website
And now for details of rallies and events
Yeovil Amateur Radio Club's 38th QRP Convention will be held on
Saturday the 20th of April at Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA.
The doors will be open from 9.30am to 1.30pm and admission will be
GBP 3. The event will feature talks, traders, a bring-and-buy area,
club stalls and a café. For more information, see yeovil-arc.com or
email derekbowen1949<at>talktalk.net
Andover Radio Amateur Club Boot Sale is due to take place on Sunday
the 21st of April at Wildhern Village Hall, Tangley, Wildhern,
Andover, SP11 0JE. The doors open at 10am for visitors and at 9am for
sellers. Entry will cost GBP 2. The fee for a field pitch is GBP 8
and the cost for a table in the hall will be GBP 10. For more
information visit arac.org.uk For table bookings email
admin<at>arac.org.uk
Cambridge Repeater Group Rally will take place on Sunday the 21st of
April at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridgeshire,
CB22 6RN. The doors will open at 9.30am for visitors and at 7.30am
for traders. The event will be a car-boot sale. The rally will
feature talk-in, trade stands, clubs, bring and buy, RSGB books, a
free marshalled car park and a burger van. For more information
contact Lawrence, M0LCM on 07941 972 724, email
rally2024<at>cambridgerepeaters.net, or visit cambridgerepeaters.net
The Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Rally, also known as
both the ‘NARSA Rally' and the ‘Blackpool Rally', will take place
on Sunday the 21st of April. The venue will be Norbreck Castle
Exhibition Centre, Blackpool, FY2 9AA. For more details contact Dave,
M0OBW on 01270 761 608, email dwilson<at>btinternet.com or visit
narsa.org.uk
Dunstable Downs Radio Club would like to remind everyone that its
annual boot sale has been postponed until the 30th of June. This is
due to the site being used by BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music
festival. Updates will be posted to Dunstable Downs Radio Club's
Facebook page and reminder emails will be sent out closer to the
time. To add yourself to the list, visit ddrcbootsale.org and sign
up for email reminders.
Now the Special Event News
Special event station 5P0WARD will be active from Denmark on the 18th
of April to mark World Amateur Radio Day. QSL via Logbook of the
World or via OZ1ACB. For more information, including details of
awards that are available, visit QRZ.com
Special callsign ER30ARM is active to celebrate the 30th of
anniversary of the Amateur Radio Society of Moldova, ER1KAA. Look for
activity until the 30th of April. The station was spotted recently on
the HF bands using CW and FT8. QSL via the Bureau, directly, and
Logbook of the World.
Now the DX news
Willy, ON4AVT is active as 6W7/ON4AVT from Warang [WHERE-ANG],
Senegal until the 16th of April. He operates using mainly FT8 on the
80 to 10m bands. He will also be QRV on the QO-100 satellite. QSL via
Club Log's OQRS.
Bernhard, DL2GAC is active as H44MS from Malaita [MAL-EYE-TAH],
OC-047 in the Solomon Islands until the 25th of April. He is QRV on
the 160 to 6m bands using SSB and some FT8. QSL via Bernhard's home
call or via the Bureau. He will upload his log to Club Log and
Logbook of the World.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 16th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 17th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to
2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and
serial number.
On Thursday the 18th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
2130UTC. 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 11th of April 2024
The Sun is still looking a little bare, but the solar flux index has
climbed back to 131, as of Thursday the 11th, with four active
regions. The promise is that things will improve, especially as we
will soon see the return of active region 3615, which was the source
of numerous M-class and one X-class flare on its last rotation.
Things have been a little sparse on the higher HF bands, with only
FT8 being audible or visible on the 10m band at times. Having said
that there has been some good FT8 DX to be worked on the 10m band,
including Angola, Malawi, China, Japan, Taiwan and the Solomon
Islands.
During the recent solar eclipse event there were also a lot of US
stations on the 10m band using WSPR. These included Bob, K6XX in
Santa Cruz, California, who was copiable in the UK at around 1850UTC.
This just shows how effective WSPR is as a mode on an otherwise quiet
band.
There have been some early signs of Sporadic-E on the 10m band using
digital modes, including some brief openings to Scotland from eastern
UK. We can expect these to improve as we head towards May.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 140
to 150 range with a maximum Kp index of three. If this is correct it
means that HF conditions will be roughly the same as last week.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The weather patterns are showing signs of change after being stuck
for quite some time, and the main beneficiary will be VHF operators
seeing a chance of Tropo returning to the bands.
The initial unsettled weather over the UK, with high pressure fixed
over the continent, will take us through to the middle of the coming
week.
Thereafter, a high will develop to the southwest of Britain midweek
and drift northeast across the country, although some models take the
high on a more southerly track. In either event, there should be some
useful Tropo in the south and possibly northern areas too. This may
be limited to southwestern areas for Tuesday's 23cm UK Activity
Contest, but will hopefully be more supportive of the 4m UK Activity
Contest on Thursday.
Meteor scatter is worth a look next week since we are approaching the
21st and 22nd of April peak of the Lyrids shower at the end of next
weekend.
The quieter solar conditions have taken aurora down the table, but
it's still good practice to watch out for, if the Kp index goes above
five.
Gigahertz-band rain scatter certainly drops down the league table
next week as high pressure probably takes over.
As we said earlier, the next big thing is the start of the 2024
Sporadic-E season, which slowly comes to life during April for the 10
and 6m bands, especially on digital modes, whereas the real shift up
in gear often comes during May. As mentioned last week, it's worth
updating your list of beacons in your rig's memory while it's still
quiet.
For EME operators, Moon declination is at maximum this weekend,
ending the 14th, so there will be long Moon windows. We are past
perigee, so path losses are rising again. 144MHz sky noise is
moderate this weekend then 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.
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