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G4APL > NEWS 09.09.18 03:35l 292 Lines 14105 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 9 Sep 2018
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Sent: 180909/0231Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:37491 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 9th September 2018
The news headlines:
* Brazil gets 60m and other new bands soon
* South Africans' YOTA report
* Exciting Buildathon opportunity
ANATEL, the Brazilian telecoms regulator, has produced an updated
band plan, effective in a couple of months, which releases 60m to
their amateurs. This is the WRC-15 Secondary allocation 5351.5 to
5366.5kHz with 25W EIRP for Class A operators. In addition they have
been granted another two new bands, 135kHz with 1 watt EIRP and
472kHz with 5 watts EIRP. The 160m band in Brazil will be expanded
from 1850kHz, making it now 1.8 to 2MHz, and the 80m band will become
3.5 to 4MHz. The new frequencies are expected to come into operation
in the week beginning the 26th of November.
The September 2018 issue of the South African national society
amateur radio magazine, Radio ZS, reports on the Youngsters on the
Air event, usually known as YOTA, that was recently held in South
Africa. You can read all about the proceedings by downloading the
newsletter from the front page of the SARL website, www.sarl.org.za
The RSGB YOTA 2018 Team posted its experiences of each day at
www.rsgb.org/yota2018
A Buildathon is taking place at the National Hamfest in Newark on the
28th and 29th of September. A place costs only GBP 5, which is
refunded as an RSGB book voucher if you complete the project on the
day. As a bonus, the Hamfest organisers are offering free entry to
those who book for the Buildathon, so the GBP 5 covers entry to the
Hamfest too. The project is a Poldhu Kits ‘Redruth' receiver. Help,
technical expertise and all necessary equipment will be provided on
the day. Many thanks to Poldhu Kits for their help in providing the
kits. Buildathon tickets can be purchased from
www.rsgb.org/hamfestbuildathon
A small team is representing the UK in South Korea for the ARDF World
Championships. We're pleased to report that John Marriott, M0OJM came
in third in the M70 Foxoring event.
The RSGB National Radio Centre is an amazing resource for amateur
radio. Last year it showed our hobby to 26,000 people. We have been
raising the profile of the NRC via social media, events,
presentations, extra equipment, Bletchley Park signage, RadCom
articles and extra opening days. As a result, visitor numbers are
growing beyond all expectations. In August, volunteers showcased
amateur radio to an incredible 10,713 visitors, smashing all previous
records. The RSGB is very grateful for all the hard work, time and
enthusiasm of the entire volunteer team to make this possible, and of
course NRC Co-ordinator, Martyn Baker, G0GMB.
The RSGB Convention takes place from the 12th to the 14th of October
at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes.
Saturday and Sunday is packed with a diverse range of lectures for
all levels of expertise and interest. Dan McGraw, M0WUT will take a
look at the design process of converting a HF WSPR transceiver
personal project into an open-source electronics kit. Don, N1DG, was
one of the team leaders of the Baker Island DXpedition in July. He'll
describe the planning process, setbacks and solutions of activating
this tiny uninhabited atoll, 2000 miles south-west of Hawaii. You can
see the whole Convention lecture programme at www.rsgb.org/convention
This year's International Air Ambulance Week will take place between
the 8th and 16th of September. A free series of Awards will be
available for those who support the event. All information and
registration details are at
www.radio-amateur-events.org/IAW/Registration.htm
The RSGB Board would like to thanks Chris Burbanks, G3SJJ for the
sterling work he has done in revitalising the RSGB Awards scheme. A
vacancy has now arisen for a volunteer to manage the Society's award
programmes. To carry out this role you will need good administration
and computer skills. Most of the communications will be by email. The
workload is not usually high and can be flexibly managed. If you are
an RSGB Member and interested in applying, or would like to find out
more, contact the Board Liaison Member for Awards, Keith Haynes,
G3WRO, via email to g3wro<at>rsgb.org.uk
The 22nd of September marks the 100th anniversary of the first
wireless transmission between Australia and the United Kingdom. The
Wireless Institute of Australia will hold an on-air event that will
run throughout September. Complete information can be found on
www.wia.org.au/newsevents/marconi100/about/
The deadline to nominate someone for the RSGB G5RP Trophy is fast
approaching. This annual award is open to anyone who has recently
started and made significant progress in HF DXing. If you are an
established HF DXer and want to recommend someone, you have until the
14th of September. Please send your nomination to RSGB HF Manager Ian
Greenshields, G4FSU, via email to hf.manager<at>rsgb.org.uk The award
will be presented this year during the RSGB Convention on the 12th to
the 14th of October.
Finally, a reminder to respond to the important Ofcom consultation
that concludes this week. Our responses may shape Ofcom's
preparations for the next World Radio Conference, WRC-19, on subjects
including the future of 6m and the microwave bands. The deadline is
5pm on Thursday. RSGB guidance and further information is at
tinyurl.com/GB2RS-0902-A
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Over the weekend of the 15th and 16th of September the British
Amateur Television Club holds its Convention at the Midlands Air
Museum, Coventry Airport, Rowley Rd, Baginton CV3 4FR. Details at
ww.batc.org.uk
The Fog On The Tyne rally will take place on the 15th of September at
Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham NE8 4LH. There is a car
park entrance on Whitehall Road. The nearest metro station is
Gateshead, or use Go-Ahead routes 53 or 54. Doors open at 10.30am and
admission is GBP 2, including a raffle ticket. There will be traders,
an RSGB bookstand and a junk stall. Details from Nancy Bone, G7UUR,
on 0799 076 0920.
Weston super Mare Radio Society is holding its annual rally on Sunday
the 16th of September at the Campus Community Centre in Worle, near
Junction 22 of the M5. There are 55 tables with many of the
well-known traders in attendance. It is open from 10am until 3pm and
tickets are GBP 3 with accompanied under 16s free.
To get your event into RadCom and GB2RS, please send details as early
as possible to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
Oliver, DK7TX will be active as SV8/DK7TX between the 9th and 15th of
September from the islands of Paxoi, Vido and Kerkyra/Corfu, which
all count for IOTA group EU-052. QSL via his home call.
Harry, JG7PSJ will be active as WH0RU from Saipan, OC-086, between
the 12th and the 18th of September. He will operate CW, SSB and RTTY
on 40 to 10m. QSL via Logbook of The World, or direct to JG7PSJ.
Jacek, SP5APW will be active as 3W9JK from Cham Island, AS-162, from
the 15th to the 22nd of September, and then as 3W9JK/p from Hoi An in
mainland Vietnam between the 22nd and 27th. He will operate SSB on
the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via Club Log OQRS, or via SP5APW.
Christian, OE3DEC will be active as 8Q7EC from the Maldives, AS-013,
between the 14th and the 23rd of September. QSL via Club Log OQRS, or
via his home call either direct or via the bureau.
Manfred, DL5FAB will be active as FY/DL5FAB from French Guiana until
the 18th of September. He will operate CW and FT8 from the Radio
Amateur Club de Kourou. QSL via the bureau to DL5FAB, or via eQSL.
Now the special event news
Bury Radio Society will be holding a special event station from a
moving train carriage being pulled by the Flying Scotsman on the 15th
of September this year. Look out for further info here and on both
their Facebook and Twitter accounts or see
www.buryradiosociety.org.uk/
We are very happy to publicise your event on GB2RS, in RadCom and on
the RSGB website, but can only do so if you tell us what you're
doing, in advance! Please send details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk as
early as possible. The lead time for RadCom is about three months;
it's much less for GB2RS. One of the requirements for getting a
special event callsign is that the station must be open to the
public, so our free advance publicity can help make your efforts more
widely known.
Now the contest news
The WA DX SSB contest ends at 2359UTC today, the 9th. Using SSB on
the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and
serial number. Note that EU stations work non-EU only.
Today, the 9th, the IRTS 2m Counties contest runs from 1200 to
1300UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report and serial
number. Please note that EI and GI stations will also give their
county.
That 2m Counties contest is followed immediately by the IRTS 70cm
Counties contest, from 1300 to 1500UTC. Again using SSB and FM, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also
give their county.
On Monday the 80m Autumn Series contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using SSB only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC,
using FM only. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK
Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange for both is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 50MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC,
using FM only. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 50MHz UK
Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange for both is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The 2018 Africa All Mode International DX Contest takes place next
weekend. The objective of this all-mode contest is to stimulate
contesting from Africa. It runs from 1200UTC on the 15th to 1200UTC
on the 16th of September. Both single and multi-operator stations may
operate for the entire 24-hour period. There are no mandated breaks
in operating time required. Full details are at
www.sarl.org.za/#Contest
Next Sunday, the 16th, the Second 70MHz contest takes place from 0900
to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
Also next Sunday, the UK Microwave Group's contest takes place from
0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on the 24 to 76GHz bands, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The BARTG Sprint 75 contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC next Sunday.
Using RTTY on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is just your
serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G3SVW, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 7th of September.
The Sun was spotless for most of last week and no spots are expected
to rotate into view over the next few days. This will keep flux
levels low, and working frequencies will remain depressed. Maximum
useable frequencies may struggle to include the 18MHz band. Warnings
of a rising Kp index have been issued, and geomagnetic disturbance
may increase as next week progresses. This would bring difficult
conditions to the bands. It is also expected that the unsettled
period will continue over this weekend due to the persistence of a
negative polarity coronal hole.
It's worth monitoring the International Beacon Project frequencies,
even though solar activity and flux is low. The Venezuelan beacon
YV5B was heard on 14.100MHz at 2230UTC. Other DX beacons heard in
daytime on that frequency included RR9O in Siberia and VR2B in Hong
Kong. Another way to assess propagation conditions is to make routine
listening checks of stations operating a continuous service. The mid-
to lower-end of the HF spectrum is well served by the Russian RWM
time service stations. These operate close to 5 and 10MHz. Their
signal strength and fade characteristics are indicative of
propagation conditions.
In spite of the doom and gloom regarding the state of the solar cycle
and propagation conditions, there are instances of fair to medium DX
to be found. These include XV1 in Vietnam and 3B9 Rodriguez Island on
14MHz around 1400UTC, and A5 Bhutan on 7MHz at 2330UTC. Optimism
regarding the start of the next cycle may be slightly premature, but
everyone is eagerly looking now for definite signs of the beginning.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
As the autumn season arrives and early morning mist and fog become
part of the daily weather fare, then it's the season for Tropo. The
coming week will offer some regions of high pressure, in the south
initially, but perhaps more generally by the end of the week, so add
Tropo to your operating list and get some activity going in the
multimode end of the VHF/UHF bands. There will also be some heavy
rain showers, particularly over northern Britain this weekend, so
there is a chance of some rain scatter on the GHz bands.
The disturbed geomagnetic conditions that are expected this weekend
will make it worth checking the K index and 6m to 2m bands for signs
of auroral propagation.
The moon was at perigee yesterday, its closest approach and
declination is still positive until Tuesday, so the early part of the
week should be best for EME. Today though, after about 1130 until
moonset, the Sun and Moon are very close, meaning lots of sun noise
in the antenna beamwidth.
The September Epsilon Perseids meteor shower takes place today within
the boundaries of the constellation of Perseus. It occurs between the
5th to 21st of September with the small peak occurring today.
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.
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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