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G4TNU > NEWS 07.02.16 02:03l 245 Lines 11766 Bytes #999 (0) @ GBR
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 07 Feb 2016
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 7th February 2016
The news headlines:
* ISS linkup for Rickmansworth
* Brit wins I4XCC Memorial Award
* Free Exam Questions seminar
The next ISS schools contact in the UK will be on Thursday the 11th
of February at 1811UTC, when the Royal Masonic School for Girls in
Rickmansworth will operate GB1RMS. During a 10 minute window, when
the ISS passes over the UK, an amateur radio contact will be
established with Tim Peake and students will be able to ask him
questions about his life and work on board the ISS. The transmissions
from the ISS can be heard on the usual downlink frequency of
145.800MHz.
Claudio Maracci, I4XCC was a very active amateur for many years and
his various successes included wins in the 1994 and 1996 Marconi
Memorial Contest. The organisers of that contest decided to create an
I4XCC Memorial Award for 2015 for the Single Operator that made the
best DX during the contest. There were 676 valid logs in the single
operator category and 147 in the multi operator category, including
several well-known VHF operators from the UK. Congratulations to
John, G4ZTR who wins the I4XCC Memorial Award. The full results can
be found at http://tinyurl.com/j9onhdc
Would you like to learn how the Examiners set questions – and be
able to take these skills back to your club? Members of the Exam
Group, led by the Chief Examiner, Alan Betts, will be holding a one
day seminar at the Martin Lynch and Sons Ham Radio Training Academy
in Staines on Saturday the 12th of March. This is an opportunity for
all those involved in training and who have confidence in their radio
theory to learn how to write good questions. For further details
please email question.workshop<at>rsgb.org.uk
The Amateur Radio Observation Service, AROS, is an advisory and
reporting service of the RSGB. Its primary purpose is monitoring the
amateur radio spectrum, and discouraging operating practices that
might bring the hobby into disrepute. AROS relies on a team of
observers to gather evidence on issues that are confidentially
reported to them. The RSGB would welcome applications from any
Members interested in joining our team of volunteers. Applications
from the West of England, South Wales and the London area are
particularly welcome. Please email aros<at>rsgb.org.uk for further
information, or to apply.
The 13th of February is World Radio Day. It is a day to celebrate
radio as a medium, to improve international cooperation between
broadcasters, and to encourage major networks and community radio
alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and
gender equality over the airwaves. This year, the UNESCO theme for
World Radio Day is "Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster", as
radio still remains the medium that reaches the widest audience
worldwide, in the quickest possible time. Whilst this is an event to
celebrate broadcast radio, you will hear some special event stations
from around the world. Check out the Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/WorldRadioDay for more information.
Accomplished author Ian Poole, G3YWX has just completed a video about
the history of the Morse key. We all know that the Morse key has
undergone considerable development since the first Morse telegraph
messages were sent. The video describes many different keys and
keyers. At under 6 minutes in length, it can be seen on YouTube
https://youtu.be/yw9z82COjU8
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 7th, the Canvey Radio & Electronics Rally takes place at
The Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0JA, which is on
the southern end of A130. The venue has disabled facilities, is
served by public transport and also has free car parking. Doors open
at 10.30am. There will be radio and electronic component exhibitors,
special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from Vic
Rogers, G6BHE on 07957 461 694.
If you are holidaying in Florida over the next week you may be
interest to know that the 70th Orlando Hamcation radio and computer
show takes place between the 12th and 14th at Central Florida
Fairgrounds, Orlando, Florida, USA. More details at www.hamcation.com.
On Saturday the 13th, the Ballymena ARC winter radio rally will be
held at 80 Cullybackey Road, Ahoghill, Ballymena BT42 1LA. Doors open
at 10.30am and admittance is GBP 3. There will be trade stands, a
Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Catering is available on site and
a prize draw will take place on the day. Contact Hugh Kernohan,
GI0JEV on 02825 871 481.
On Sunday the 14th the UK Allstar Radioactive Fair will be held at
the Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DG. The venue is well served
by public transport, has free car parking and disabled facilities.
Doors open at 10.30am (7am for traders) and admission is GBP 4. There
will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, an RSGB bookstall and catering
facilities. More information from Roger Reeves, M0ROJ on
0774 761 8131.
Also on Sunday the 14th. the Harwell Radio and Electronics Rally will
be held in Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AY.
The venue has free car parking, disabled facilities a licensed bar
and catering. The talk-in station will be on 145.550MHz. Doors open
at 9.45/10am and admission is GBP 3, with under 12s free, There will
be trade stands, a flea market and special interest groups. Details
from Ann, G8NVI on 01235 816 379.
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 email details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
Now the special event news
On Saturday the 13th of February, Houghton-Le-Spring Amateur Radio
Club is running a special event station from The Watch House, South
Pier, South Shields, NE33 2JZ. This is to celebrate the 150 year
anniversary of the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade. There will
also be a re-enactment of the first drill that took place in the Pier
Yard at 11am to 12:30pm. Although unconfirmed they hope the callsign
will be GB150VLB.
The Council of Europe Radio Amateur Club will be on the air with the
call TP30CE for its 30th anniversary. Activity will be on all bands
using SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK on the 12th and 13th of February. QSL via
F5LGF. More information at http://tp2ce.eu
The Radio Club D'Haïti will put 4V1TL on the air until 30 April in
memory of General Toussaint Louverture, who was arrested and sent to
France and jailed at Fort de Joux where he died on 7 April 1803.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Peter, DC0KK, is operating as 4S7KKG from Moragalla, Sri Lanka, IOTA
reference AS-003, until the 3rd of April. He will be working mainly
in CW and digital modes with operation on 20 to 10 metres. QSL via
DC0KK, via the bureau, which is preferred, or direct. All QSLs will
be sent via the QSL bureau.
Sam, LY5W will be on the air in Lithuania using the special callsign
LY16W for the month of February. This is a rare prefix for LY WPX
Trophies award credits. His time on the air celebrates Lithuania's
independence on the 16th of February 1918. Visit his QRZ.com page for
more details.
David, K1KA is at Calypso Bay in the St Kitts and Nevis Islands,
NA-104, until the 25th of February. This will be a holiday-style
operation and his callsign will be V47KA. QSL to his home call.
Martin, DL3ASM is back in Afghanistan with the NATO-led ISAF mission.
He will be using his T6SM callsign from Camp Marmal until the end of
March. QSL to his home call.
Wim, ON6DX will be QRV as 5V7TH from Lome from the 10th to the 22nd
of February. Activity will be on 40 to 6 metres using CW, SSB and
RTTY during his local mornings and evenings. QSL via operator's
instructions.
Now the contest news
Today, the 7th, the 432MHz AFS contest takes place from 0900 to
1300UTC. Using all modes in the 70cm band, the exchange is RST,
serial number and locator. This is the final event in the 2015-2016
Super League series so it's your last chance to top up your points.
On Tuesday the 432MHz UK Activity contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Saturday the 13th the 1st 1.8MHz contest runs from 1900 to
2300UTC. It's CW only and the exchange is signal report, serial
number and your District code.
The first of this year's CQ Worldwide Worked All Prefix Contests is
RTTY, which is held for the entire 48 hours of the weekend of the
13th and 14th. There are too many categories to list, so please check
the contest website www.cqwpx.com/ for more information. Using the
3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Another contest on the same weekend with numerous categories is the
PACC, a Dutch contest. It's a CW and SSB event that runs for 24 hours
from 1200UTC to 1200UTC. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and Dutch stations send their
Province code too.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G4BAO & G3YLA on
Friday the 5th of February.
Last week's HF propagation was spoiled by a K5 geomagnetic event in
the early hours of Wednesday morning. This was caused by an enhanced
high-speed solar wind stream. This had the effect of knocking the HF
bands for six with the VP8SGI DXpedition on South Georgia barely
making an appearance for modestly-equipped stations for the rest of
the day.
The solar flux index remained around the 110 mark last week, with the
sun's disk looking quite spotty towards the end. As a result, the
solar flux index for the coming week is predicted to remain in the
range 100-110.
According to NOAA, geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be
settled, with perhaps an elevated K index on Monday the 8th and
Tuesday the 9th. So midweek doesn't look the best time for the upper
HF bands.
This remains a good time of year for north-south paths on the upper
HF bands, with openings right up to 12 metres. There could also be
occasional signs of life on 10 metres.
Paths to the eastern seaboard of the United States have around a 75%
probability of success on 14 to 21MHz from 1400Z to 1800Z.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The charts for the UK and Western Europe this coming week show that
low pressure still predominates. Any tropo prospects are mainly due
to shallow surface inversions, following a cold frosty and/or foggy
night; and they will probably be relatively localised and scarce.
There could be deep winter convection over the sea for helping
scatter propagation on the GHz bands, otherwise there will be thin
pickings on VHF and UHF.
Another week then for some satellite activity unless you are lucky
enough to be seeking the warmth of a winter break in Southern Spain,
the Canaries or Cape Verde. Here, the F5LEN tropo maps show strong
ducting conditions extending up the African coast and tantalisingly
close to the Gibraltar peninsula.
The moon declination increases all week so moon windows will lengthen
and, as we approach perigee on Thursday night, losses will be low.
We are still in the early-year minimum for random meteor rates so
persistence and early morning activity is still the order of the day
for meteor scatter operators.
That's all for this week from the propagation team.
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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