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G4TNU > NEWS 03.11.24 02:30l 296 Lines 14902 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 03 Nov 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 3rd of November
The news headlines:
* RSGB President honoured by RAYNET-UK
* Watch the RSGB November Tonight<at>8 live webinar
* Encourage youngsters to get on the air during December
At the recent RAYNET-UK AGM, the Brian Tindill Shield was awarded to
RSGB President John McCullagh MBE, GI4BWM for his outstanding
contribution to amateur radio and RAYNET in Northern Ireland. It
highlighted in particular his outstanding contribution to providing
emergency radio coverage during his voluntary service with RAYNET.
The latest RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar is tomorrow, Monday the 4th of
November. Mike Griffiths will present ‘Listening to the Enemy'
which looks at the experience of Scouser Harry Griffiths, G2DFH and
his move to the St Erth receiving station in Cornwall. Like many
other radio amateurs, Harry was drafted into the military during
World War II specifically for his radio skills. During this live
presentation Mike will look at what Harry's experience was like as he
started to work for MI6 and the mysterious Radio Security Service.
Watch this interesting webinar live on the RSGB YouTube channel or
special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. To find out
more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars
Youngsters on the Air month is fast approaching and the RSGB would
love you to take part in this annual event. Special callsign GB24YOTA
will be active throughout December. Whether you are an individual,
club, school or social group, this is a fantastic opportunity to host
the callsign with the aim of getting youngsters active on the amateur
bands. The Society would love to see scouts, guides and cadet groups
taking part too. Follow the lead of the two new RSGB Youth Champions
and register now. Look for GB24YOTA on QRZ.com to check availability
and then visit rsgb.org/yota-month to find out how to secure your
slot. Operating slots get booked up quickly, so don't delay. The
Society is aiming to have the callsign hosted every day during
December this year to enable more youngsters to have a taste of
amateur radio, so be part of this great goal!
The Society is currently looking to recruit an RSGB member to be the
Company Secretary. This volunteer position plays a key role in the
Society's governance and provides vital support in running Board
meetings and the Annual General Meeting. Stephen Purser, GW4SHF took
on the role temporarily after the previous Company Secretary stepped
down. The Board is grateful to Stephen for stepping in at short
notice last year and is keen to find a good candidate to take the
role forward. If you feel you have the necessary skills to fulfil
this important role, would like more information or to discuss what
is required, please email gm.dept<at>rsgb.org.uk in the first
instance. The Board Chair will then contact you for a chat. If you
email to apply for the position, please include a current CV. In line
with all volunteer roles, the Board welcomes applications from people
with diverse backgrounds. For full information please go to
rsgb.org/volunteers
Jamboree on the Air, or JOTA as it is also known, was very busy with
large numbers of stations and callsigns active across the weekend.
The RSGB would like to thank everyone who contacted the Society with
details of their stations so they could be added to the RSGB website.
It was great to see so many local clubs and societies, as well as
individual radio amateurs, working with scouting groups to deliver a
brilliant event for scouts across the country. Don't forget that
there will be a report on JOTA in RadCom. If you'd like to be
included, please send details and photos from your event to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk by the 15th of November.
If you have ever considered progressing your licence from Foundation
to Intermediate, the Bath Based Distance Learning team have a great
track record with passes well above the national average. The next
Intermediate level course will run from January to May 2025. In order
to take part in the course, all applicants must complete some
pre-course work using BBDL systems. The closing date for applications
is the 6th of December 2024. The team will also be running a Full
licence course starting in August 2025. For further information on
either of these please contact Steve, G0FUW via g0fuw<at>bbdl.org.uk
Do you have some spare time to support fellow radio amateurs? Are you
passionate about the future of amateur radio? Do you support the work
of the RSGB? The Society currently has a number of volunteer
vacancies within the Regional Team and would love to hear from you if
you'd like to fill one of the roles. This week the RSGB is
highlighting two vacancies in Region 9 for District Representatives
to cover Oxfordshire and West London. If you live in one of those
areas and are interested in getting involved, please contact the
Region 9 Representative Ron White, G6LTT via rr9<at>rsgb.org.uk If
you live in a different part of the country you can see all the other
Regional Team vacancies on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers
The 19th International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 Conference is
being held in Bangkok, Thailand, from the 4th to the 8th of November.
The RSGB will join the conference remotely, represented by Spectrum
Forum Chair, Murray Niman, G6JYB. There will be a special event
station in operation from the conference using the call sign
HS19IARU. For more information go online and search for "IARU Region
3 Conference 2024".
The ARRL has awarded a Special Recognition to the team representing
the IARU at the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference in 2023. The
ARRL extended its appreciation to the team and said that their
outstanding contribution and results have benefited the amateur radio
service worldwide. The team includes RSGB Microwave Manager Barry
Lewis, G4SJH and RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB.
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 Holsworthy Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 3rd of
November at Holsworthy Leisure Centre, Well Park, Western Road,
Holsworthy in Devon. There are traders, a bring-and-buy area and
catering. The venue has disabled access, free parking and entry is
GBP 3 per person. The doors open to traders from 8am and to the
public from 10am. For more information email Chris, M0KNF at
boltonbicycles<at>gmail.com
The Twelfth Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT will be on Saturday
the 9th of November 2024 at the Museum of Communication, Burntisland
in Fife. Lunch will be provided, and an optional dinner will be held
in the evening at a local hotel. Online booking is available via the
GMRT website at gmroundtable.org.uk or by email to Colin, GM4HWO
at gm4hwo<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event news
George, MM0JNL is active as GB0GTS until the 18th of November to
raise awareness of homeless military veteran in association with The
Great Tommy Sleepout organised by The Royal British Legion
Industries. The station will be operating on the 80 to 10m bands
using SSB. There may also be some activity on the 2m band. George
will operate at least one full night ‘roughing it' outside as part
of the Great Tommy Sleepout. More details are available at QRZ.com
Special callsign GB200LB will be active from the 4th to the 31st of
January 2025 to celebrate the bicentenary of the invention of the
Braille code. More information to follow.
Now the DX news
Maurizio, IK2GZU is active as 5H3MB from Tanzania until the 11th of
November while doing volunteer work at a local school. In his spare
time, he will operate SSB, CW and digital modes on the 80 to 10m
bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, eQSL, or via
IK2GZU.
Now the contest news
The RSGB 144MHz CW Marconi Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the
2nd of November and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of
November. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The International Police Association Radio Club invites all radio
amateurs around the world to take part in its contest which takes
place every year on the first complete weekend in November. This
year, the CW section occurred on Saturday the 2nd of November from
0600 to 1800UTC. The SSB section takes place today Sunday the 3rd of
November from 0600 to 1800UTC. More information about the contest and
the award programme are available at iparc.de
Tomorrow, Monday the 4th of November, the RSGB 80m Autumn Series DATA
Contest runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m
band only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday, the 5th of November, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 5th of November, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity
Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 6th of November, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity
four-hour contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m
band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on
Wednesday the 6th of November is the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity
two-hour contest which runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m
band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Stations
entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.
On Wednesday the 6th of November the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m
Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the
exchange is your six-character locator.
The Worked All Europe DX RTTY Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday
the 9th of November, and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 10th of
November. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday 31 October 2024.
Last weekend's CQWW SSB contest showed just how good autumnal HF
conditions can be. Many contesters worked more than 100 countries or
DX entities on each and every HF band.
With a solar flux index of 238 on Saturday and 246 on Sunday, plus
low Kp indices all weekend, it was about as good as it could get.
There were two three-hour periods where the Kp index hit four and
4.33, but it was otherwise in the ones and twos.
An X-class solar flare occurred on Saturday the 26th at around
07:15hrs UTC, but this had little effect and the MUF over a 3,000km
path was back above 28MHz quite quickly.
The rest of the week saw numerous M-class and C-class solar flares
occur and a Kp index that did get up to four at times, but once again
the MUF remained above 28MHz during daylight for most of the time.
Interestingly, there have been times when the critical frequency over
the UK has hit 14MHz, making 20m almost a local chat band via Near
Vertical Incidence Sky Wave or NVIS communications! These openings
may be short-lived so make the most of them should they occur.
Nighttime critical frequencies have generally been around 4.5-6MHz,
meaning a MUF over a 3,000km path in excess of 14MHz in the first
half of the night and around 10-12MHz in the second half.
The solar proton flux has been above the 10MeV warning threshold but
is now falling as of Thursday 31st. This may improve signals that
pass through the polar regions, such as the UK to the far west of
Canada and Alaska, and the UK to Japan.
Next week NOAA predicts that the SFI will start at around 240, but
perhaps fall to around 195-200 as the week progresses. ESA predicts
that the solar wind speed could increase around November 4th and
could cause disruption.
As always, we are at the mercy of solar flares and CMEs, which could
disrupt HF propagation, so we recommend keeping an eye on
solarham.com for daily updates.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The Autumn Equinox period continued to bring F2-layer propagation to
50MHz with almost daily morning openings to VK and JA and afternoon
openings to the Americas for some.
Stations in the far South and West of the island were favoured. Side
scatter in the Indian Ocean brought the JAs on a 90-degree beam
heading, an effect noted at previous sunspot maxima.
The autumn is typically a time for quiet settled weather, a season of
mist, and this is where we are going for the period through to the
end of next week. It's worth a couple of reminders of how it all
works since, although it's likely to be pretty much the same ‘big
picture' of dominant high pressure, there will be subtle differences.
Firstly, there are two types of high pressure; one that builds in
warm air and the other in cold air. The warm air version is the
current offering, and this means quite cloudy conditions at times
with moist air below the temperature inversion and very dry air above
the inversion.
Second, the quality of the ducting is determined by the change of the
refractive index across the inversion and a large part of the
refractive index change comes from a contrast of moisture, so signs
of cloud and/or fog moisture are good omens for a lift. It is
possible that we may swap over to a cold air high later next week,
which could lessen the Tropo quality.
Meteor scatter prospects are on hold pending the Leonids meteor
shower, which peaks mid-November. A dominant high pressure means that
rain scatter is not likely to be a big player for the GHz bands next
week.
There is a possible heads-up for aurora since the solar conditions
still offer chances for the Kp index to rise – anything over Kp=4
is worth a longer look – and don't forget that ‘watery' signals
on the lower HF bands such as 40m and 80m are also a good sign.
For EME operators, Moon declination reaches a minimum (that is,
maximum negative declination) next Tuesday when the Moon only reaches
nine degrees peak elevation and is only above the horizon for six
hours between 1200 and 1800hrs. Path losses, on the other hand, are
falling all week.
144MHz sky noise is moderate to high, peaking at more than 3,000
Kelvin on Tuesday the 5th before dropping back to moderate levels.
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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