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G4APL > NEWS 12.02.17 01:28l 299 Lines 14233 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 12 Feb 2017
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 12th February 2017
The news headlines:
* RSGB responds to Ofcom consultation
* Convention lectures on YouTube
* Slow Scan TV from ISS
The RSGB has responded to the Ofcom Proposed Annual Plan 2017/18
consultation. The response highlights areas of the plan, including
EMC and Spectrum, where the RSGB believes that Ofcom should improve
its focus and resources. A copy of the response can be seen on the
RSGB website.
[Note for Newsreaders: the exact link is
http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/electromagnetic-compatibility
-committee/minutes-papers-and-reports/ or alternatively
http://tinyurl.com/gb2rs-2017-021201]
We're delighted that a number of lectures from the RSGB Convention
2015 are now on the RSGB's YouTube channel, by kind permission of the
presenters. You can see Clean Up Your Shack by Ian White, GM3SEK;
Navassa Island K1N by Glenn Johnson, W0GJ; What Makes The Pings Go
Ping by John Worsnop, G4BAO and Engineering The Gemini Range of LDMOS
VHF Power Amplifiers by Chris Bartram, GW4DGU. Please note that the
presenters retain the copyright of their content and their slides. Do
join the hundreds of people who have already subscribed to the RSGB
channel so you're the first to see videos as they're added. You can
find the videos at www.youtube.com/theRSGB
Slow-scan television transmissions are planned from the International
Space Station on Monday and Tuesday. The SSTV images will be
transmitted as part of the MAI-75 Experiment on 145.800MHz FM. They
will be made using the Kenwood TM-D710 transceiver, located in the
Russian ISS Service module. It is thought they may use the PD-180
SSTV format. The MAI-75 activities have been scheduled for the
Russian crew on the 13th from 0925 to 1800UTC and the 14th from 1125
to 1630UTC.
RSGB President Nick Henwood, G3RWF is writing a report on the
implementation of the 2015 Review of Contesting. A questionnaire
forms an important part of the input to this report, but there will
also be feedback from clubs, groups and individuals as well as
factual analysis of performance where possible. The questionnaire is
now available on the RSGB website on the ‘Consultations' page. It
will be live until the 19th of March. All those interested in the
future of contesting are urged to complete it. Whether or not you are
a Member of the RSGB, the Society is asking for your help and input.
The President also welcomes offers of assistance, or requests to talk
or meet. Contact him via president<at>rsgb.org.uk The report will be
completed by early April.
ClubLog has updated their latest 'DXCC Most Wanted List' as of the
31st of January. The information is derived from QSOs uploaded to
ClubLog. Currently there are 339 entities listed, see
https://secure.clublog.org/mostwanted.php
A new PDF of Examination Announcements has been published. Its
contents include Challenges and Appeals, Practical Assessments and
feedback on Advanced exams in 2016. The document can be downloaded
from the Clubs and Training section of the RSGB website.
[Note for Newsreaders: the exact link is
http://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/examination-announcements/ or
alternatively http://tinyurl.com/gb2rs-2017-021202]
As part of the Society's drive to improve communications across the
organisation, the Chairman of the Board is going to investigate
suggestions that the RSGB is not responding in a timely manner to
comments received via Have Your Say. He will report his findings to
the Board by the 17th of March.
On the 13th of February, ITU will join the global celebrations for
World Radio Day, the day set aside to celebrate the unique power of
broadcast radio. The ITU continues working to enable innovation in
radio communications as well as ensuring that transmission standards
and spectrum are available for digital radio in MF, HF and VHF
broadcasting bands, and that there are approved international
regulatory frameworks in place to allow for a smooth migration from
analogue to digital radio. For full details of activity put World
Radio Day into your favourite search engine and click on the many
results you will find.
AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL have confirmed that the Nayif-1 CubeSat, which
has a full FUNcube payload, is now scheduled for launch at 0358UTC on
the 15th. The flight, C-37, will carry a total of 104 satellites into
orbit. As with previous missions carrying FUNcube payloads, AMSAT-UK
would very much like to receive as many reports as possible from
stations around the world, especially shortly after launch.
Telemetry, using 1k2 BPSK to the FUNcube standard, will be on
145.940MHz. The linear transponder uplink will be on 435.045 to
435.015MHz and the downlink on 145.960 to 145.990MHz. Full details
are at http://amsat-uk.org/
Thinking Day on the Air will take place over the weekend of the 18th
and 19th of February. This is an opportunity for the members of
Girlguiding from the youngest Rainbow to the oldest Trefoil Guild
member to talk to other members of the World Association of Girl
Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world via amateur radio. A list
of known stations due to be on the air can be seen at
www.guides-on-the-air.co.uk/ For further information contact Liz
Jones, M0ACL by email to liz<at>guides-on-the-air.co.uk
Lots of people have views on what the RSGB should or should not do.
Here is your chance to have your say. The RSGB Board has been working
with strategy expert Chris Deacon, G4IFX, the Leadership Team and
Headquarters Staff to develop a strategy for the next 5 years. That
work has been boiled down into a one-page document with a narrative
to explain the context and background. We would now like your views.
The draft strategy and narrative are online at
www.rsgb.org/strategyreview and you will also find a link to an
online survey where you can express your views. If you need a paper
version of the questionnaire, please call the RSGB General Manager's
office on 01234 832 700.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Harwell ARS Radio and Electronics Rally takes place today, the
12th of February, at Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot,
OX11 8AY. Talk-in will be available using G3PIA on 145.550MHz. There
is free parking nearby, with disabled parking next to the Leisure
Centre. Doors open at 10am. Admission is GBP 3, with children under
12 free. There will be radio and electronics stalls, Special Interest
Groups and an RSGB Book Stall. Refreshments will be available all
day. Details for both traders and visitors from Ann, G8NVI, by email
to ann.stevens<at>btinternet.com.
The Radioactive Fair at Nantwich takes place on the 19th of February
at the Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich CW5 5DG. The venue has
free car parking. Doors open at 10am and admission is GBP 4. There
will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Catering will be available on
site. Details by email from stuart<at>multimediacontrols.com.
There has been an unavoidable change to the venue for the Rainham
Rally on the 26th of February. It will now be held at The Victory
Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 5JB. This new venue will
host the usual traders and exhibitors, with light refreshments
available during the event. It is easy to find, just a couple of
miles from the M2, and also larger, with on site parking for 250
cars. The date and time of the rally remain unchanged at 10am on
Sunday the 26th of February. Talk-in will be available on 145.550MHz
using the callsign GB4RRR.
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 full details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Pista, HA5AO returns to Lesotho until the 26th of February. He will
reactivate his 7P8EUDXF callsign that he aired last October. This is
a spare time operation and QSLs should go via OQRS to HA5AO.
Michael, DF8AN will operate as CE0Y/DF8AN from Easter Island, IOTA
reference SA-001, until the 17th of February. He will be on CW and
digital modes. He then goes to Juan Fernandez Island, SA-005, from
the 21st to the 24th where his callsign will be CE0Z/DF8AN. QSLs go
via his home call.
Tim, LW9EOC will operate from San Andres, NA-033, between the 13th
and 27th on the low bands and WARC bands using CW, SSB, RTTY as
5J0NA. He will also participate in the ARRL DX CW Contest. QSL via
LW9EOC and via the Bureau.
A DXpedition to the Arctic is due to set off on the 14th of February.
RT9K/9 plans to operate from IOTA groups AS-121, AS-104, AS-068 and
AS-054. Each activation is supposed to run for 4 to 5 days. Using the
40 to 10m bands, operation will be on CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL
via RX9KM, ClubLog OQRS.
Yuri, VE3DZ will be active as 6Y2T from Jamaica, NA-097, from 14 to
21 February, including an entry in the ARRL DX CW Contest. QSL via
his home call.
Now the special event news
The 14th of February marks the 95th anniversary of the start of the
UK's first ever regular, advertised broadcast radio station, 2MT,
which came live from Writtle in Essex. A team from Chelmsford ARS
will be making operating GB952MT from the 12th to the 14th to mark
this occasion. Details are on QRZ.com.
Until the 19th of February, Chertsey Radio Club is running special
event callsign, GB5QE, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 65 Jubilee.
Operators from the Darwin Amateur Radio Club will on air using the
callsign VI8BOD from the 18th of February to the 28th of March to
remember the 75th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Darwin,
Australia in 1942. QSL Manager is M0URX & QSL cards can be requested
on the M0URX OQRS. More information can be found by searching VI8BOD
on QRZ.com.
Now the contest news
The CQ WW WPX RTTY contest ends its 48 hour run at 2359UTC today, the
12th. It takes place on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is just
the serial number.
The PACC contest ends its 24 hour runs at 1200UTC today, the 12th.
Using CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. PA stations also send their Province.
On Tuesday the 14th the Low Power 432MHz FM contest runs from 1900 to
2000UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Following that, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
On Wednesday it's the 80m Club Championship from 2000 to 2130UTC.
This time it's the data leg, and the exchange is signal report and
serial number.
On Thursday the Low Power 70MHz FM contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC.
The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Following
on is the 70MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all
modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend it's the ARRL International DX contest, from 0000UTC on
the 18th to 2359UTC on the 19th. It's CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz
bands and the exchange is signal report and transmitted power level.
W stations also send their State and VE stations their Province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 10th of February.
Last week, the hoped-for settled geomagnetic conditions materialised,
but could have been better. After Monday, the K index settled down to
one or two for the rest of the week.
HF conditions have been variable, rather than outstanding. There have
been some 15 metre openings at times, but 20 and 17 metres have been
more consistent. The lower bands, such as 80 and 40 metres, have also
been proving how good they can be in the winter, offering DX at times.
The daytime critical frequency has been reaching around 6MHz, meaning
40m is open to slightly longer skip of 500 to 1,000 kilometres. Sixty
metres has been better for day-time inter-G contacts. The estimated
night-time MUF over a 3,000km path has been staying above 7MHz
through the night.
Next week, the solar flux index is predicted to remain in the 70s,
moving higher towards 80 around the eighteenth.
Geomagnetically-settled conditions should continue until around the
fourteenth, when the K index is predicted to rise to four, due to
recurrent coronal hole activity. But this should be relatively short
lived.
We will be moving towards spring-time HF conditions in a few weeks,
so make the most of the better low-band conditions while you can.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
With high pressure over the North Sea and the nearby continent, we
might expect some enhanced Tropo conditions on paths across to
Denmark and northern Germany later this weekend, but nothing major.
Some weather models bring the high a bit closer at the end of next
week. This may limit the Tropo by lowering the temperature inversion
and bringing very dry air from the continent, degrading the
inversions' ability to generate Tropo. So, a slightly better week
than last, but much of the time there will be no major Tropo event.
Even with poor Tropo conditions, it's worth investigating the VHF,
UHF and GHz bands. There are always DX opportunities at VHF and above
using aircraft scatter – up to 800km if you have the right
equipment to take advantage of short duration paths. Digimodes or
fast CW are required.
We are in the winter minimum of meteor activity, but there are still
opportunities for random meteor scatter contacts around dawn, when
the earth is rotating into the flux of meteoric particles.
Moon declination is falling, going negative on Tuesday, and losses
are increasing. With apogee only a week away, the best conditions for
EME contacts will be early this 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 gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
http://www.theskywaves.net http://gb7cip.ampr.org
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