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G4TNU > NEWS 14.08.22 00:33l 220 Lines 10250 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 14 Aug 2022
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 14th of August 2022
The news headlines:
* New RadCom team announced
* Jamaican amateurs mark 60 years of independence
* Jacques, ON4AVJ, Silent Key
Earlier in the year, the RSGB announced that RadCom Managing Editor,
Elaine Richards, G4LFM, was planning to retire after leading the
RadCom team for 14 years. Very soon after that announcement, we had
to come to terms with the sad and sudden news that RadCom Technical
Editor, Giles Read, G1MFG, had passed away. RSGB General Manager,
Steve Thomas, M1ACB has now announced the appointment of the new
RadCom team that will continue to deliver and develop a RadCom suite
of publications that supports the future of amateur radio. Ed
O'Neill, M0TZX will take on the role of Managing Editor and Matt
Smith, M0VWS has joined the team as Technical Editor. Ed and Matt are
working very closely with Elaine and the rest of the team to ensure a
smooth handover in the coming months. You can read the full press
release on the main page at rsgb.org.
Amateur radio stations from Jamaica may use the 6Y60 [six yankee six
zero] prefix to mark the 60th anniversary since the Colony of Jamaica
gained independence from the UK. For example, 6Y5WE will be using
6Y60WE.
Sad news next. The IARU has announced that Jacques, ON4AVJ, has
become a Silent Key. He held many roles within the Belgian national
society, UBA, and was part of the IARU Region 1 VHF Committee. He
received honours from both the UBA and IARU for his work on VHF and
higher frequencies. Our thoughts are with his family and friends
within the wider amateur radio community at this difficult time.
This year is the 25th anniversary of the international Lighthouse and
Lightship weekend that will take place next weekend, the 20th and
21st of August. The event runs for 48 hours and, as this news script
was prepared, there are 325 stations registered for this year from
Argentina to Malta and The Netherlands to Wales. Some are stations
that have operated many times before, others like TM59LH are taking
part for the first time. This station will operate from the Sandettie
[San det ee] Light Vessel in Dunkirk Harbour.
Earlier this year, the IARU Region 1 invited amateurs to come up with
an idea that could lead to more licensed radio amateurs. They have
now announced the results. Joint first place was awarded to Nestor,
5B4AHZ and Christian, HB9FEU. Nestor's idea is the Ham Radio Escape
Room that is a radio-based escape room with amateur radio themes and
played with teams communicating via radio. Christian's idea was a
public database of fun projects for innovation where those with
little or no experience and equipment could still take part. Read the
full story at iaru-r1.org where you can find out more about these
projects and the other prize winners.
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 14th, the Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest takes place at
Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset,
BH21 3DA. Talk in will be on 145.550MHz. Gates open between 10am and
6pm with entry costing GBP 4. There will be trade stands as well as
indoor and field pitches. Lectures will take place during the event.
No dogs except Guide dogs are allowed as this is the landowner's
condition. More from Tony, G3PFM on 0774 347 5018.
Next Sunday, the 21st of August, the Rugby ATS Radio Rally will take
place at Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PY. Door
open at 10am and there will be a car boot sale area. More at
rugbyats.co.uk.
Also next Sunday, the 21st, the Red Rose Rally will be held at St
Joseph's Hall, Leigh WN7 2PJ. Organised by West Manchester Radio
Club, there will be free parking, a café as well as trade,
individual and club stands. There will also be a Bring & Buy. More
information at wmrc.co.uk.
Now the Special Event news
AP75PAK is the special callsign for the Pakistan ARS to celebrate the
75th anniversary since Pakistan achieved independence. Additionally,
individual Pakistani amateur radio operators can use the AP75 prefix
throughout August.
TM3GGR will be operating between the 20th of August and the 4th of
September. It is to mark the start of the 3rd Golden Globe Race,
which is a non-stop round-the-world sailing trip, without assistance
and without a modern navigation system. Activity will be on all bands
and all modes. QSL via F6KUF, via the Bureau or direct to F5OEV.
Dale, EI7HDB will be setting up a station at The Point of Ayre
lighthouse at the north-eastern end of the Isle of Man from the 14th
of August. He will be active on most bands as MD/EI7HDB between the
14th and 19th of August operating holiday style. The Isle of Man ARS
will be involved in the operation of GT3FLH next weekend for the
International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend.
Now the DX news
Giovanni, IZ2DPX will be active holiday style as 8Q7AG from the
Maldives, AS-013, until the 20th of August. He will operate SSB and
digital modes on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL direct to IK2DUW.
Esteban, EA5Q will also be active from the Maldives as 8Q7QE from the
14th to the 24th of August. He will operate almost exclusively CW.
QSL via Logbook of The World or via his home callsign either direct
or via the bureau.
A German team will be active as TM0BSM from the lighthouse at
Berck-sur-Mer in France between the 17th and 22nd of August. They
will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the 10 to 80m bands, plus
the QO-100 satellite. QSL via DK5OPA.
Masa, JA0RQV expects to be active again as A35JP from Tonga, OC-049,
from the 20th of August to the 24th of September. In his spare time,
he will operate CW, SSB and FT8 on the 6 to 80m bands. QSL via
Logbook of The World, Club Log's OQRS, or via the bureau to JA0RQV.
Now the contest news
The WAE DX CW Contest runs for 48 hours over this weekend, ending at
2359UTC today, the 14th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests
are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Please note that EU stations work non-EU stations only.
Today, Sunday the 14th, the fifth 70MHz Cumulative contest runs from
1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Tuesday, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Thursday it is the 70MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Friday the 12th of August 2022.
The geomagnetic disturbance we predicted last week, due to an
Earth-facing coronal hole and its associated high-speed solar wind,
occurred in the early hours of Monday the 8th. This pushed the Kp
index to six and sparked a visible aurora that was visible from parts
of the UK. It also impacted the Maximum Useable Frequency on Monday,
according to the Fairford ionosonde, with it struggling to get much
above 18MHz over a 3,000km path until the early evening. The Kp index
remained mainly at four on Tuesday before tailing off gradually to
reach two on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the solar flux index has been slowly declining, from 116
on Sunday to 108 on Thursday.
Sporadic-E has been bringing short skip to 14MHz, with paths such as
the UK to Ireland and Scotland being workable at times.
The best DX has probably been on 21MHz where the Far East has been
putting in an appearance, mainly on FT8. 28MHz Sporadic-E has been
just that, sporadic, with some days providing great short skip to
parts of Europe and others just the sound of noise on 10 metres.
Next week NOAA predicts similar conditions with the SFI in the range
104-108. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 17th,
18th and 19th when the Kp index could rise to five.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The weather will show a more unsettled side from this weekend. The
exceptionally widespread Tropo conditions of last week are likely to
decay as pressure falls and by the start of the coming week, it's a
slack region of low pressure over us.
This will introduce some mainly showery outbreaks of rain, but in
true summer style, they could be heavy and perhaps thundery in
places. This raises the prospects for rain scatter on the GHz bands
and, as usual, you will need to access one of the many online radar
displays to track their movement.
Recent solar conditions have varied, but some occasional aurora
alerts have maintained an interest for auroral propagation. Keep a
check on the Kp index to see if it goes above five or six and then
look at the clusters and chatrooms for activity pointers.
Sporadic-E is still about on some days and well worth your attention
for tracking down those missing grid squares. Although we are nearer
the end than the start of the Es season, it can occur until about the
end of the first week in September, so plenty of time left.
In the coming week, the location of the jet stream activity (often a
good guide) suggests that paths may move away from Scandinavia and
eastern Europe and favour Spain and the central Mediterranean.
As we slide gently away from the broad peak of the Perseid meteor
shower, it's still worth checking meteor scatter propagation during
the coming week.
Moon declination goes positive again on Monday, producing lengthening
Moon windows. EME is for early birds this week with Moon zenith in
the early hours. Path losses will fall all week, and 144 MHz sky
noise is low, not reaching 500 Kelvin until next Sunday.
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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