| |
G4FVG > NEWS 16.03.25 11:00l 316 Lines 15657 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 41380_G4FVG
Read: GUEST
Subj: RSGB Main News 16 March 2025 [backup]
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DB0RES<SR4BBX<SR1BSZ<EA2RCF<EA5URD
Sent: 250316/0850Z @:EA5URD.EAMU.ESP.EU #:9967 XFBB7.07 Bid:41380_G4FVG
R:250316/0850Z @:ED1ZAC.EAC.ESP.EU #:50525 [EANET1G.06] $:41380_G4FVG
R:250316/0840Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:28114 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
R:250316/0831Z 41380@G4FVG.#79.GBR.EURO LinBPQ6.0.24
It appears as though the forwarding has been interrupted today,
so here is a backup copy of the [same] RSGB news. This might be
duplicated later via the normal route, but at least two copies are
better than none!
So here is the GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 16th of March 2025
The news headlines:
* Final chance to get involved in British Science Week and
share your activities
* Advance notice of how to ask the Board questions at the RSGB
AGM
* The RSGB has launched new National Radio Centre web pages
Today, Sunday the 16th of March, is the last day of British Science
Week 2025. If you live in the Derbyshire or Leicestershire area, pop
along to the open day being held by South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds
Amateur Radio Group. The group is hosting the final day of its
family-friendly open weekend. Members will be showcasing all that
amateur radio has to offer, from kit building to operating under
supervision. Details of the event can be found on the "Events
happening near you" section of rsgb.org/bsw There is also still time
to get involved with the official RSGB British Science Week activity,
which is featured in the British Science Week Community Activity
Pack. This can be done at home on DMR or any other radio. If you've
been involved in amateur radio activities as part of the annual
celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the
Society would love to hear from you. Whether you've run an event at
your local club, set up and operated a radio station in a school, or
introduced the hobby to a community group, get in touch. Please send
your reports, with separate high-resolution photographs, to
comms<at>rsgb.org.uk by the 18th of April. The RSGB would like to
thank everyone who has contributed ideas and resources, sharing your
passion and expertise with others. It is also welcoming feedback
about the British Science Week campaign. Let the RSGB know what
worked well, what you learnt, and how the Society could develop its
activities for next year. Please email the RSGB British Science Week
Coordinator Ian Neal, M0KEO at bsw<at>rsgb.org.uk to share your
thoughts.
Over the last few years, the RSGB has been developing the way in
which the Board can be asked questions at its online AGMs. This year,
the AGM will be held on Saturday the 12th of April and you have three
ways to get involved. To ask a question via video on Zoom you'll need
to register in advance and give the topic of your question. You'll
have the chance to ask your question live with one follow-up question
on the same topic. If you'd prefer to submit a written question in
advance, you can do so via a form on the RSGB website. The third way
to ask Board members a question is via the Live Chat function on the
day. Whilst the Board will take as many questions as possible during
the second part of the AGM, if you would like to ask a question about
the formal part of the meeting, please submit a written question in
advance or register to ask a question via Zoom. Full details of how
to take part in the RSGB AGM, along with closing dates to submit a
question, will be available from Wednesday the 19th of March
via rsgb.org/agm
Have you ever wondered what you'll discover during a visit to the
RSGB National Radio Centre? Or perhaps you're interested in operating
GB3RS during your visit? Maybe you are a group who'd like to arrange
a visit. All these topics, plus much more, have been answered in the
newly updated RSGB National Radio Centre web pages. Other topics
include the RSGB's involvement in the Voluntary Interceptors, as well
as organising your visit and how to volunteer at the Centre. Go to
rsgb.org/nrc to discover more. The team of volunteers looks forward
to welcoming you soon.
Bletchley Park will be hosting one of its infamous 1940s weekends in
May to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE day. In tribute to the
event, the RSGB National Radio Centre will be operating special event
station GB2BP from the 3rd to the 5th of May. Put the date in your
diary and make sure you get this callsign in your logbook.
The next event in the popular 145 Alive series takes place on
Saturday the 12th of April between 12noon and 3pm. If you'd like to
be a net controller for the event please email
masenville<at>gmail.com with the callsign you intend to use on the
day, and your intended six digit maidenhead locator. For more
information visit the 145 Alive Facebook page.
The South Yorkshire ATV Group is pleased to announce that the GB3YT
television repeater on 23cm has completed its move from Mirfield in
West Yorkshire to its new site at Birdwell near Barnsley, adjacent to
junction 36 on the M1. The repeater receives on 1276MHz DVB-S or
DVB-S2 using 1000 or 333 kilo symbols per second and transmits on
1316MHz DVB-S at 1000 kilo symbols per second. The repeater is
switched on between 6pm and 9pm weekdays and 3pm and 9pm at weekends.
This will be reviewed when activity increases. Further information
about GB3YT and membership of the Group can be found via gb3yt.co.uk
or by emailing info<at>gb3yt.co.uk
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 Biggleswade Swapmeet, organised by the British Vintage Wireless
Society, is taking place on Sunday the 23rd of March at The
Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire,
SG18 8JH. Doors open to stallholders from 9am, with general entry
from 9.30am. Admission is GBP 8. Hot and cold refreshments are
available all day. There will be vintage technology of varying sorts,
as well as a bring-and-buy stall run by the British Wireless and
Television Museum. For enquiries, including stall bookings, please
email Jeremy Owen, G8MLK via secretary<at>bvws.org.uk More details
can also be found via BVWS.org.uk
The Callington Radio and Electronics Rally will be held in the Town
Hall, New Road, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7BD on Sunday the 23rd of
March. Public access to the event is from 10am until 1pm. Entry is
GBP 2 each with no charge for those under the age of 16. A
comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and societies from the
south west will be present along with a bring-and-buy stall and the
usual excellent catering service. As an improvement from last year,
the bring-and-buy stall now accepts payment by all major debit and
credit cards using contactless, chip and pin or by phone. The venue
has disabled access and toilet facilities with ample parking in a
nearby car park. Although the main hall is now fully booked, tables
are still available in an adjacent room at GBP 5 for the large size
and GBP 3 for the smaller one. Pre-booking is essential, so please
contact Alastair, M0KRR at alastair.kerr1<at>btinternet.com or by
phone on 01503 262 755 with your requirements as soon as possible.
Also on Sunday the 23rd of March is The Dover Amateur Radio Club 2025
Rally which is taking place at the St Radigunds Community Centre,
Poulton Close, Dover, CT17 0HL. The doors are open between 10am and
2pm and entry is GBP 3. Tea, coffee and bacon rolls will be available
on site. Tables are available at GBP 15 each, with a maximum of two
tables per vendor. For table bookings and the latest news go
to darc.online/rally
The Pencoed [PEN-KOYD] and District Amateur Radio Club Rally is on
Sunday the 30th of March at Sarn and Bryncwils [BRYN-CA-WILS] Social
Club, Bryncoch [BRYN-CORCH] Road, Sarn near Bridgend, CF32 9NY.
Entrance is GBP 2.50. Tables are available at GBP 10 each.
Refreshments will be available. Public access to the event is from
10am, with trader access from 8am. Please contact Ieuan [I-WAN] Jones
via 07791 709 691 for further information.
Now the Special Event news
In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Mid Ulster Amateur Radio
Club will be operating the club's call sign GI3VFW on the Monday the
17th of March for one week. Members will be operating on all bands on
HF, VHF and UHF from Tandragee, County Armagh [AA-MAA]. The club will
also be operating GI3VFW from the 25th to the 27th of April from
Navan Fort Armagh using all bands and modes.
Radio amateurs in Scotland will be on the air throughout March using
special callsign GB1KBR. This is to celebrate the start of the
official handover of the Commonwealth Games Kings Baton by His Royal
Highness King Charles the third at Buckingham Palace for the Glasgow
2026 Commonwealth Games. Activity will be on HF, SSB, CW and digital
modes. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL and QRZ.com There will
also be an award programme available via the HamAward platform. For
further information on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games please
visit glasgow2026.com
Dennis Spratt, G7AGZ will be operating as special event station
GB0CHC in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care. This marks his 34th year
since his first project for the hospices in 1991. Dennis will be
active from near St. Agnes, Cornwall on most bands and modes. The
station will be on air from the 1st of April for 28 days. He hopes to
beat his target of 912 QSOs from 2024. See QRZ.com for further
details, as well as how to donate.
Now the DX news
Heath, VK3TWO is active from Fiji as 3D2TWO until the 27th of March.
The station will be active on the 40 to 10m bands using SSB and FT8.
More information can be found at QRZ.com
Aldir, PY1SAD will be active again from Georgetown in Guyana
[GAI-AA-NUH] as 8R1TM from the 11th of March to the 26th of April.
Aldir will be operating on all bands using CW, SSB, digital and
satellite. QSL via eQSL and Logbook of The World.
A team of 12 operators are active as VU4AX from the South Andaman
Islands, IOTA reference AS-001, until Thursday the 20th of March. The
group is operating six stations around the clock, on bands from 10m
to 160m, including WARC and 60m, using CW, SSB, and digital. Full
details, including QSL information, are available via dx-adventure.com
Looking ahead, DA1DX, DK9IP, DM6EE and DL8LAS will be active from
Anegada [A-NE-GA-DA] Island in the British Virgin Islands
as VP2VI from the 10th to the 27th of April.
Now the contest news
The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group HF RTTY Contest started on
Saturday the 15th of March and ends at 0159UTC on Monday the 17th of
March. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and time.
On Monday the 17th of March, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 2000 to
2130UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your report.
On Tuesday the 18th of March, 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.
Also on Tuesday the 18th of March, 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 20th of March, 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 13th of March 2025
We've had another week of disturbed geomagnetic conditions with the
Kp index at four or five for long periods. On the evening of the 12th
of March, Kp was five and, at the time of writing, has stayed there
for a total of five three-hour periods.
This has taken its toll on the ionosphere with MUFs over a 3,000km
path down to less than 24.7MHz during daylight.
Meanwhile, the solar flux index rose to 160 on Thursday the 13th
after hitting a low of 147 on the 7th.
The best HF propagation was last weekend, the 8th and 9th of March,
just in time for the Commonwealth Contest. This saw stations around
the world romping into the UK, including signals from Australia, New
Zealand, the Falkland Islands, Barbados, and many others.
As contacts were limited to Commonwealth countries, it meant the UK
had little QRM to contend with and it was fairly easy to fill the log
book on 40m to 10m.
Australia was still coming in at 59 after dark, and even British
Columbia on the west coast of Canada could be worked with simple wire
antennas and low power.
This may have been caused by a pre-auroral enhancement, as the Kp
index rose late on the first day of the contest.
Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index may rise to 195 by the
21st. It also suggests that we may be back into calmer geomagnetic
conditions with a maximum Kp index of two. This will be a welcome
change and, if it happens, will no doubt result in better HF
conditions.
And remember, March is a good month for north-south contacts, such as
the UK to South Africa and UK to South America.
But with the equinox just around the corner, auroras are twice as
common due to the Russell-McPherron effect.
Just as when two bar magnets attract one another when they are
oriented oppositely, so opposite Bz components attract. During the
autumn and spring equinox, this orientation enables a 'connection' to
the Sun, thereby allowing the solar wind to stream in.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The recent change to colder weather brought showers and potential
rain scatter to the second half of last week. But this weekend we
have lost the showers and gained a large region of high pressure to
bring a hint of Tropo.
It's not perfect, since in cold air highs like this, conditions are
usually less than ideal, so don't expect too much from this
particular area of high pressure.
The high will last until midweek before it slips away into eastern
Europe and, on its parting, may allow some moisture below the
inversion and will improve the Tropo prospects briefly. The second
half of the coming week will be dominated by low pressure and back to
rain scatter as an option on the GHz bands.
The solar conditions have continued to provide a few weak auroral
alerts and it's worth continuing a watching brief on the Kp index for
hints of activity; anything greater than a Kp of five is worth our
interest.
Listen out for watery-sounding signals on the LF bands and then check
out the 10m and 6m bands for auroral signals.
The next important meteor shower is the April Lyrids, but there's
always the chance of random meteor scatter activity, particularly in
the pre-dawn hours.
It's still a little early to mention Sporadic-E, but it's always
worth looking at the lower frequencies first, which means 10m and 6m.
Check the graphs on Propquest for signs of spikes in the foEs, which
is the critical frequency of the Es-layer.
EME path losses continue to rise until apogee on Monday evening. Moon
declination is still falling, reaching a minimum on Saturday the
22nd. So again, we have short Moon windows and reducing peak Moon
elevation. 144MHz sky noise is moderate and rising to high by Friday
the 21st.
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.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
