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G4APL > NEWS 04.03.18 00:09l 307 Lines 14955 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 4 Mar 2018
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Sent: 180303/2201Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:11314 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 4th March 2018
The news headlines:
* Candidates invited for RSGB Presidency
* Arkwright Day at the National Radio Centre
* Major SOTA activations next Saturday
The RSGB has open elections for its President. Unfortunately no
nominations have been received for 2018 to 2020 and the post is now
being re-advertised. The closing date is 2359UTC on the 26th of
April. If an election is required, details will be published in the
June edition of RadCom, available in mid-May. The current President
Nick Henwood, G3RWF has agreed to continue until the process is
complete. A new video featuring Nick talking about the role of
President is now on the website. On our new Presidents' page, you can
also find out what three former Presidents gained from the role.
Further details and nomination forms at www.rsgb.org/nominations
Next Saturday, the 10th of March, the RSGB National Radio Centre will
be hosting students from the Arkwright Scholarship Trust for amateur
radio training and Foundation exams. This will mean restricted public
access to the National Radio Centre, and the radio station GB3RS will
not be available for use by visiting radio amateurs. We apologise for
any inconvenience caused, but at the last event, reported in the May
2017 RadCom, more than a dozen young students gained a Foundation
pass to enter our hobby. Further information about the Arkwright
Trust can be found at www.arkwright.org.uk RSGB Members may download
a free single-day access voucher for Bletchley Park from the Members
area of the RSGB website. Ordinary, paid entry tickets to Bletchley
Park are valid for up to 12 months and details can be found at
www.bletchleypark.org.uk
The Summits on the Air event Summit to Summit Europe to Australia and
beyond takes place on the 10th of March. Over 30 SOTA activators are
planning to climb to summits in Europe, Canada, South Africa,
Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The event will start around 0630UTC
next Saturday. For anyone wanting to join in, either as an activator
on a summit or from a home station, discussions can be found at
reflector.sota.org.uk
A second beta version of WSJT-X version 1.9.0 has been released. This
is to allow further field testing of the new FT8 DXpedition Mode,
designed to enable DXpeditions to make FT8 contacts at very high
rates. The team is inviting the amateur radio community to
participate in a public test run of FT8 DXpedition Mode. Test times
and frequencies are Tuesday the 6th of March at 2300UTC on 14.080MHz;
on the 7th at 0000UTC on 10.141MHz, at 0100UTC on 7.080MHz and
0200UTC on 3.585MHz. Frequencies are not the conventional FT8
operating frequencies and are subject to change, subject to
conditions. Last-minute changes will be posted on the internet.
The Big Bang at Discovery Park is a free education event organised by
the STEM HUB, a part of the Canterbury Christ Church University. It
takes place on the 9th of March. Its aim is to inspire a love of STEM
subjects. Students from local schools have access to a range of
hands-on experiences such as interactive exhibits, workshops and
shows run by local companies and organisations. Hilderstone Radio and
Electronics Club is setting up a stand at the event with various
activities run by girls from the STEMettes Club, with some help from
club members. The STEMettes Club is a girls-only after school club at
St Joseph's Catholic Primary school in Broadstairs. Amongst many
activities the girls will demonstrate the snail Morse key, designed
by Trevor, G4WKJ and constructed from a cable tie. Also they will
show the 555 timer circuit they built on a breadboard with a variable
frequency and Morse key, then show how two of them can be made into a
simple telegraph system.
Over 80,000 QSOs were logged by the recent DXpedition by Z60A in the
new DXCC entity of Kosovo. Local operator Z61DX is now a regular on
the bands. Another station to look for is Z68M, who will be in
Pristina until the 6th of March. The operator of Z68M is Mome, Z32ZM
and QSLs should go via Club Log OQRS.
NBC News recently produced a video on Hawaii's amateur radio
operators and the role they could play in a national disaster. Take a
look at https://youtu.be/dO09aMGMizM
Plans appear to be on track for the 3B7A DXpedition to Saint Brandon
Island, expected to start in early to mid-April. The 3B7A team said
that 700 kilograms of gear is now on its way to Mauritius, where it
will join the generators and stock of fuel on the boat to Saint
Brandon Island on the 3rd of April with two team members. A second
vessel departing on the 5th will transport the other operators. 3B7A
will not be active on 60m nor on 6m EME. The DXCC entity of Agalega
and Saint Brandon Islands is the 28th most wanted.
The ARRL has asked the US regulator to expand HF privileges for
Technician licensees to include limited phone privileges on the 75,
40, and 15m bands, plus RTTY and digital mode privileges on the 80,
40, 15, and 10m bands. The FCC has not yet invited public comment on
the proposals, which stem from recommendations put forth by the ARRL
Board of Directors' Entry-Level License Committee, which explored
various initiatives and gauged member opinions in 2016 and 2017.
After issuing the ministerial decree allowing Tunisians to acquire
their individual licences in September, and the first amateur radio
exam in December, the Tunisian Regulator has delivered the first
licences.
The web hosting company that provides the RSGB radiclubs.net service
is shortly to cease providing us with that service. In January 2016
the RSGB had already announced the intention to close the facility,
which is only now used by a small number of clubs. Recent events
beyond our control have forced the issue and radioclubs.net will
close down for good on the 29th of March 2018. Full details are at
www.rsgb.org/radioclubs-closedown
Finally, the recent adverse weather conditions might affect some
events planned for the next week or so, including rallies, club
events and even special event activations. Before you travel
anywhere, please take the time to check that the event will still be
occurring as planned.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
We start with news that the Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally planned
for today, the 4th, has been cancelled due to adverse weather
conditions. The organisers say that they hope to re-arrange the event
for later in the year when conditions are better. We will of course
let you know details as soon as they become available.
Today, the 4th, the Grantham ARC Radio and Electronics Rally is
planned for the Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road, Grantham
NG31 7XQ. There is car parking on site and talk-in will be available,
but you are advised to take special care while driving in any adverse
weather conditions. Admission is GBP 3. There will be trade stands,
special interest groups and an RSGB book stall. Contact Kevin, G6SSN
on 0779 314 2483 for more information.
On the 11th of March the Dover Radio Club Rally will be held in
Whitfield Village Hall, Sandwich Road, Manley Close, Whitfield,
CT16 3LY. There will be a talk-in station. Doors open from 10am and
entry is GBP 2. The auction starts at 12.30pm. Catering is available
on site. Details from Aaron Coote, 2E0FQR on 0771 465 4267.
To get your rally or event information into GB2RS News, RadCom and on
the RSGB website, email details as early as possible to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Mark, XE1B is on the air from Socorro Island, IOTA reference NA-030,
in the Revilla Gigedo Archipelago, until the 15th of March. He is
using the callsign 4B4B and is active on the 160 to 6m bands, SSB
only. This is quite a rare DXCC entity and the first activation since
2011. QSL via Club Log OQRS.
A group of operators are operating as XR0YD from Easter Island,
SA-001, until the 15th of March. Activity is on the 160 to 10m bands
using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via DL4SVA.
A large group of operators will be on the air as 9M0W from Layang
Layang Island, IOTA AS-051, from the 6th to the 13th of March.
Activity will be on the 160 to 6m bands using CW, SSB and various
digital modes. QSL via YT1AD.
Michael, G7VJR is operating as YJ0GB from Efate Island in Vanuatu,
IOTA OC-035, until the 19th of March. Activity is holiday style on
the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via M0OXO.
Operators YL2GM, YL1ZF and YL2KL are on the air as 3C3W from Bioko in
Equatorial Guinea, IOTA AF-010, until the 27th of March. Activity is
on the 160 to 10m bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL direct to YL2GN.
Now the special event news
EI50AOM will be on the air throughout March to remember the 61 lives
lost after the crash of an Aer Lingus Viscount airliner in the Irish
Sea 50 years ago. QSL via EI2KA, direct with $2 and self-addressed
envelope, or via the bureau. The log will be uploaded periodically to
Logbook of The World for non-paper confirmations.
II4CAO will be on the air during March to commemorate the Italian
scientist Temistocle Calzecchi Onesti. He demonstrated in experiments
in 1884 through 1886 that iron filings contained in an insulating
tube will conduct an electric current under the action of an
electromagnetic wave. Further details and award regulations at
www.arifidenza.it
Now the contest news
The 144/432MHz contest ends its run at 1400UTC today, the 4th. Using
all modes on 2m and 70cm, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The ARRL International DX Contest ends its 48 hour run at 2359UTC
today, the 4th. Using SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the
exchange is signal report and transmit power. US stations also send
their State and Canadians their Province.
Today, the 4th, the UK Microwave Group First Low Band Contest runs
from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 to 2.4GHz bands, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Monday the 80m Club Championships runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using
data modes only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC.
It is followed by the 144MHz UK Activity Contest, which uses all
modes, from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both is signal report,
serial number and locator.
There's a similar evening on Thursday with the 50MHz FM Activity
Contest from 1900 to 2000UTC, then the all-mode 50MHz UK Activity
Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the UK EI Counties Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC.
Using SSB only, the exchange is your 4-character locator.
Next weekend the Commonwealth Contest runs from 1000UTC on the 10th
to 1000UTC on the 11th. It's CW only on the 3.5 to 29MHz bands. The
exchange is signal report and serial number, with HQ stations also
sending the letters HQ.
On Sunday the 11th, the 2nd 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1200
to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 3.5MHz contest takes place from 1800UTC to
2200UTC on Sunday the 11th of March. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and WAB square. Entries must be with the contest
manager by the first of April. Full details of the rules and log
sheets may be obtained from www.worked-all-britain.org.uk
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 2nd of March.
As we move into March, HF conditions should be well under way to
being more Spring-like. As the days gets longer and the nights get
shorter, the LF and MF bands can become less attractive and the HF
bands can show a little more life for a little longer into the
evening. March is also good month for north-south paths such as UK to
South Africa and South America.
Last week saw a mixed bag, propagation-wise, with a K index of 5 on
Tuesday the 27th, but there were otherwise calmer geomagnetic
conditions later in the week. There were some HF highlights,
including TY1TT in Benin being very audible on Tuesday on 20m. There
were also some loud east coast US CW stations on 20m near sunset,
which bodes well.
NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the high 70s next week
and geomagnetic conditions will be largely settled due to a predicted
lack of coronal hole activity. As this report was being prepared,
there were some coronal holes, but only at the solar poles. This
means their associated high-speed solar wind may not be
Earth-directed. So a solar flux index of 78, settled geomagnetic
conditions and equinox-type propagation could throw up one or two
surprises on 20, 17 or 15m, hopefully just in time for the
Commonwealth Contest on the weekend of the 10th and 11th. But we will
have to wait a few more weeks yet before the start of the Sporadic-E
season, so 10m openings may be more elusive.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
Last week saw some good snow scatter propagation on the microwave
bands, coinciding – for once – with the SHF UKAC contest. Paths
up the eastern side of the UK were particularly good as the snow
barrelled in from the continent.
The cold, Siberian blast from the East last week is being displaced
by slightly less cold weather from the south. These transitions can
often involve strong winds, ruling out any tropo propagation, at
least to begin with. Many weather models get us into positive daytime
temperatures next week, with a complex pattern of weak lows around
Britain. Not exactly ideal for tropo either, even though winds will
be lighter. However, with such large amounts of snow on the ground,
there will be periods when it's very misty, and warmer air overlaying
the cold snow fields could produce slightly lifted conditions for
limited paths.
The long winter wait for the return of Northern hemisphere Sporadic-E
season continues, so the best opportunity for DX on the lower VHF
bands still lies in early morning random meteor scatter contacts.
Last week's lunar perigee and high declination brought good EME
conditions, but declination went negative again today and the Moon is
heading out to its apogee next Sunday. Get your EME contacts in early
this week, as path loses will increase and Moon windows shorten as
the week progresses.
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.
Our thanks to Andy G4TNU for providing this RSGB feed.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
http://www.theskywaves.net http://gb7cip.ampr.org
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