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G4TNU > NEWS 22.05.22 00:35l 217 Lines 9812 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 22 May 2022
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 22nd of May 2022
The news headlines:
* Platinum Jubilee activities
* High altitude balloon launch
* IARU Region 1 interim meeting
It isn't long now until the RSGB's Platinum Jubilee activities kick
off. There is a wide range of things to be part of, from using the
/70 suffix to creating something for the Innovation 70 competition or
having a go at the WSPR 70 fun challenge. There is also still time to
activate one of the seven special GB70 callsigns. Details of how to
take part are on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/jubilee.
A team from hi-impact on the Wirral will be working alongside the
Oaktree Multi-Academy Trust, a Wirral based group of schools, on a
High Altitude Balloon launch. This is planned for Thursday the 26th
at 11am from a location near Welshpool. The frequency in use will be
434.250MHz USB. There will be RTTY signals and the flight will be
SSDV enabled, so there will be pictures too. You can see activity on
the day on Facebook at facebook.com/hiimpactconsultancy.
IARU Region-1 is holding its Interim Meeting on the 23rd of June. As
outlined in the recent June RadCom, feedback is welcomed on proposals
for global HF band changes to accommodate growth in digital modes and
related matters. The meeting will also consider a series of EMC and
Spectrum topics. RSGB have a consultation page with the background
and document links at thersgb.org/gb2rs/017. Feedback should be
posted to the RSGB-Workshop forum groups.io/g/RSGB-Workshop.
The Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham later this summer.
It will see around 4,500 athletes from 72 nations and territories,
compete in 19 sports across 14 competition venues. The RSGB has just
published news of the various activities it is planning to link with
the Games. You can get involved in one of the seven special event
stations or gain one of two special operating awards. Find out more
on the Society's website at rsgb.org/cwg.
The New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters Society reports that their
regulator has continued their 60m Sub-Licence for 5351.5 to 5366.5kHz.
At the RSGB Regional Forum meeting on the 16th of May, the Regional
Representatives elected David De La Haye, M0MBD as Chair and Neil
Yorke, M0NKE as its Secretary. The RSGB Board would like to thank
Mark Burrows, 2E0SBM and Tony Miles, MM0TMZ for their service in
previous years as Chair and Secretary respectively.
After two years of lockdown, the ITU building in Geneva is back in
operation. 4U1ITU is on the air until the 3rd of June. A Stepp-IR is
used for the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands. A second transceiver is now
also being set up for the 6m band, including FT8.
And now for details of rallies and events
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk. We'll publicise your event in RadCom, on
GB2RS, and online.
Today, the 22nd of May, the National Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale
organised by Dunstable Downs Radio Club will take place at Stockwood
Park in Luton. Entry and car parking is GBP 4 per vehicle and the
gates open at 9am for buyers.
Next Sunday, the Durham District ARS Radio Rally takes place at
Bowburn Community Centre, Durham Road, Bowburn DH6 5AT. Doors will be
open from 10.10am to 2.30pm, with disabled visitors gaining access 10
minutes earlier. Admittance is GBP 2. There will be a Bring & Buy,
RSGB bookstall and trade stands. For more information, contact
Michael, G7TWX, 0782 692 4192.
Now the DX news
Fabian, DF3XY is operating from Mauritius as 3B8/DF3XY until the 2nd
of June. Activity is holiday style on the 40, 30, and 20m bands using
SSB and FT8. QSL to his home callsign.
OG5O and OH2HOD will be active as OH0/OG5O and OH0/OH2HOD
respectively from Lemland Island, EU-002, until the 27th of May.
Activity will be on the 6 to 160m bands, using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8 and
FT4. QSL via Logbook of The World.
Ryan, K0EFW is operational as S9EFW from Sao Tome and Principe until
the end of May. Activity is on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands using
SSB. QSL to his home callsign.
Now the Special Event news
GB6VER will be on air today, the 22nd. Operated by Verulam ARC from
the Durham District RC Rally. They plan to operate on the 40m, 20m
and 2m bands depending on the noise levels on the day. More on
qrz.com.
GB1SCW to celebrate the work of costal communities will be on the air
from the 28th to the 31st of May. This event is also registered with
SOS Radio Week. More information can be found on qrz.com.
Northwest Group Amateur Radio Club are activating GB0AEL as part of
the 90th Anniversary of Amelia Earhart landing in Londonderry until
the 30th of May. See qrz.com.
Now the contest news
The 144MHz May contest runs for 24 hours until 1400UTC today, the
22nd. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator. Note that UK stations also send their postcode.
Today, the 22nd, the First 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 1100
to 1500UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator. Note that UK stations also send their postcode.
On Tuesday the SHF UK Activity Contest takes place from 1830 to
2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3GHz and up bands, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the CW leg of the 80m Club Championships runs between
1900 and 2300UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
Next weekend is the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest. It runs for 48
hours from 0000UTC on the 28th. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where
contests are allowed, the exchange s signal report and serial number.
Next Sunday, the 29th, the 70MHz Cumulative contest runs from 1400 to
1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
Also next Sunday, the UK Microwave Group High Band contest runs from
0600 to 1800UTC. Using the 5.7 and 10GHz bands, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Friday the 20th of May 2022.
Solar activity reached a new peak for this cycle this week, with the
solar flux index hitting 180 on Thursday the 19th. This was partly
down to the very large active region 3014, which is almost big enough
to be seen with the naked eye, if suitable precautions are taken. To
put this into perspective, the sunspot number is 147, which is higher
than the estimated smoothed maximum prediction of 115 for Cycle 25.
Meanwhile, geomagnetic conditions have been favourable with the Kp
index moving between one and three since Monday. This is all good
news and is being reflected in the band conditions at the moment,
with round-the-world echoes being heard on some DX signals.
Make the most of them as there is the ever-present threat of X-class
solar flares to contend with. Two active regions, which have already
been emitting X-class flares, are about to rotate into view.
The USAF predicts that the SFI may stay above 175 until at least
Wednesday, before declining into the sub-150 range. This is at odds
with the NOAA prediction, which never really thought that the SFI
would get to 180 last week. In other words, it is anyone's guess what
we will get!
Don't forget that Sporadic-E is also livening up the upper HF bands
and providing strong short-skip signals. These can often link into
multi-hop Es or join with F2-layer hops to give surprise
long-distance DX that is hard to predict.
We have never had it so good for some time and let's hope it
continues into the Autumn when HF can really come into its own.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
It seems we are in a typical summer unsettled pattern with areas of
thundery rain and heavy showers drifting north from France. This will
obviously keep rain scatter as an option.
Summer can also be a time of strong Tropo, especially around coasts
and over the adjacent seas. This is because a strong temperature
inversion can develop over cool seas with areas of mist and fog at
sea level overlain by warm dry air blowing off the continent. These
paths are likely to persist over long periods, particularly across
the North Sea, English Channel and Irish sea with extended options
south across Biscay.
To finish off we have the early stirrings of the 2022 Sporadic-E
season, which is starting to show some promising signs, and not just
on digital modes. A major controlling influence is often associated
with the presence of jet streams nearby and the upper air forecast
charts suggest that there should be some reasonable opportunities
during the coming week. Don't forget that jet stream upper air charts
are available daily with commentary on the Propquest.co.uk website.
There is no major meteor shower this week, but we are at the tail end
of the Eta Aquarids shower, which began in late April and is
generally regarded as petering out next weekend. Eta Aquarids is
associated with Halley's Comet. But don't expect to see the comet
until 2061!
The Moon will be waning throughout this week with decreasing
declination and increasing distance as it moves towards apogee and
that, therefore, leading to increasing path loss. Moon libration will
be low.
This week's TK/HB9CRQ Corsican EME microwave DXpedition should enjoy
favourable lunar path conditions if the weather cooperates.
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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