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G4FVG > NEWS 05.03.23 11:16l 261 Lines 12323 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 05 March 2023
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Sent: 230305/0906Z 23928@G4FVG.#44.GBR.EURO LinBPQ6.0.23
Both Andy/G4TNU and Paul/G4APL are not available this weekend to send
the backup copies of the latest RSGB news, so I now forward the packet
bulletin that has been prepared this week by Andy / G4TNU - for which
many thanks.
So here is the....
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 5th of March 2023
The news headlines:
* New GB2RS broadcast
* Tonight<at>8 webinar
* Train the trainers course
We're pleased to announce a new West Midlands GB2RS broadcast on the
4m band. Eddie, G0VVT, already broadcasts each Sunday evening from
Stoke-on-Trent on 2m FM, 6m FM via GB3SX and on 70cm both simplex and
via the GB7ST DMR repeater. He has now added 4m to his schedule. So,
if you are in the area, please join him at 6pm local time on
70.425MHz FM. You can download the full GB2RS broadcast schedule from
the RSGB website at rsgb.org/gb2rsschedule
Don't forget the RSGB's Tonight<at>8 live webinar tomorrow, Monday
the 6th of March. Barry Lewis, G4SJH, the RSGB's Microwave Manager,
will talk about contesting in the microwave and millimetre wave bands
at 23cm and above. You can watch and ask questions live on the RSGB
YouTube channel or special BATC channel. Find out more about this and
other webinars on the Society's website at rsgb.org/webinars
The Train the Trainers course is designed to help amateur radio
trainers deliver interesting and engaging courses. It imparts some of
the latest best practice in education from front-line teachers in a
fun and friendly environment. Further details are available on the
RSGB website at rsgb.org/train-the-trainers The team would like to
apologise for any late replies to emails received following its
December announcement of Train the Trainers courses for 2023, which
was due to personal circumstances beyond its control. If you are
interested in attending a Train the Trainers course, or are a club
that can host a course during 2023, then please contact the team by
emailing trainthetrainers<at>rsgb.org.uk The team needs 25 delegates
to make a course viable and have already received offers of venues in
Essex, Bristol and Livingston in Scotland. So, if you are in or
around one of these areas and would like to attend a course, the team
would particularly like to hear from you.
The RSGB has just launched a new video called "2022 – a year in
numbers". It links with the March RadCom feature which gave an
overview of the continuing amateur radio success story of 2022, in
which RSGB HQ staff often led the way. You can watch the video on the
RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB In the April RadCom you
will be able to read in detail the work of the RSGB committees and
other specialist volunteers.
After the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Northern Syria on the
21st of February, BBC's Digital Planet spoke to Aziz Şasa [SHA-SA],
TA1E, who is the President of the Turkish Amateur Radio Association.
Aziz explained the vital role of amateur radio as a key communication
method in the region. He also talked about how radio amateurs were
aiding relief efforts and the use of repeaters for VHF and UHF
frequencies. You can hear the interview on BBC Sounds – go to
bbc.co.uk/sounds and search for "Data in disaster zones". The
interview starts at two minutes and forty seconds into the broadcast.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place today, Sunday
the 5th of March. The venue for the event will be America Hall, De la
Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. The doors will open at 10.30am for
everyone and 10.15am for disabled visitors. Admission is GBP 3. Entry
for under 16s is free. There will be trade stands and bring and buy.
The South Kesteven Amateur Radio Society Junk Sale will take place
next Saturday the 11th of March at the Railway Club, Grantham,
NG31 7AU. Doors open for traders at 8am. Traders are asked to bring
their own table. Doors are open to the public between 9.30am and 1pm.
Admission for traders is GBP 5, and for the public GBP 1.
Refreshments will be available on site. Contact Stewart, M0SDM for
more details via s.mason<at>skars.co.uk
The British Vintage Wireless Society Meet will take place in
Biggleswade on Sunday the 12th of March. The venue will be the
Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JH. The event
will feature traders selling vintage radios and TVs and components
including valves and test gear. There will be a large bring and buy
area and refreshments will be available. Extensive, free off-road
car-parking right by the hall is available, as well as disabled
parking right beside the main door. The venue has level access
throughout. Everyone is welcome to attend. Doors open at 9.30am and
admission is GBP 8. For more details contact Jeremy on 07799 110 080.
Dover Amateur Radio Club's Hamzilla Electronics Fair and Radio Rally
will take place on Sunday the 12th of March. The venue will be Julie
Rose Stadium in Ashford, Kent, TN24 9QX. Free Parking is available.
The doors open at 10am, or 9.30am for early bird ticket holders.
Local and national traders are welcome. Book your ticket and/or table
online at Hamzilla.uk or email: club<at>darc.online
Now the Special Event News
Special callsign HG200AN will be active until the 15th of March to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Petőfi
[PEH-TWO-FEE] Sándor [SHAN-DOR], one of Hungary's most famous poets.
QSL via Logbook of the World and Club Log's OQRS.
Members of the Grassroots Amateur Radio Club in Newfoundland, Canada
will be active as VO1TAP until Tuesday the 18th of March. The
callsign is active to mark the anniversary of the USS Truxton and USS
Pollux naval disaster that occurred off the coast of Newfoundland on
the 18th of February 1942.
Now the DX news
Gopan [GO-PAN], M0XUU and Ram, VU2JXN will be active from the Andaman
Islands, AS-001, until the end of today, Sunday the 5th. Operating
will be focussed on the higher HF bands from 20 to 10m using CW and
QO-100. For more details visit QRZ.com
Philippe, F1DUZ will be active as FG4KH from Guadeloupe, NA-102,
until the 8th of March, including participation in the SSB leg of the
French HF Championship and the ARRL DX SSB Contest. QSL via Logbook
of the World, eQSL or via F1DUZ.
Paul, VE3AXT will be active as V31AX from Caye Caulker
[KAY-KAW-KUH] island, NA-073, off the coast of Belize in the
Caribbean Sea until Monday the 6th of March. He will be operating QRP
on the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via M0URX's OQRS.
Now the contest news
Today, Sunday the 5th of March, the UK Microwave Group Low Band
Contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 to
3.4GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Also today, the Worked all Britain 3.5MHz Contest runs from 1800 to
2200UTC. Using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and Worked all Britain square, if applicable.
The ARRL International DX Contest ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the
5th of March. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmission power.
American stations send a signal report and their State. Canadian
stations send a signal report and their Province.
The March 144MHz and 432MHz Contest ends at 1400UTC today, the 5th of
March. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
On Monday the 6th of March, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000
to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 7th of March, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 7th of March, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 8th of March, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour
Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, the exchange is report
and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 8th of March, the
432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using
FT8, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Stations
entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.
On Thursday the 9th of March, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend, the Commonwealth Contest runs for 24 hours from 1000UTC
on Saturday the 11th of March to 1000UTC on Sunday the 12th of March.
Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. HQ stations also send
‘HQ'.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 2nd of March 2023.
The auroral event last week was probably the strongest we've had in
this solar cycle. There were widespread visible aurora reports from
the UK on Sunday the 26th of February. The Kp index eventually hit
seven at 0900UTC on February the 27th, sparking widespread visible
aurora alerts all over the UK for Tuesday evening as well.
The solar wind speed gradually decreased to below 650km/s and the Bz
component of the interplanetary magnetic field shifted to the north,
bringing the Kp index down.
March is always a good, or bad, month for aurora, depending upon your
perspective. The aurora is at its most active around the equinoxes in
March and September.
Active region 3234 also produced an M8.6 flare on the 28th, but as
this was at 1750UTC, the radio blackout was restricted to the
Americas. Any CME material was directed away from Earth.
The solar flux index remained in the range of 150 to 160 last week,
which was enough to make the daytime maximum usable frequency remain
above 28MHz most of the time, although the geomagnetic disturbance
did have an effect and lowered it slightly.
Next week NOAA predicts the SFI will remain in the range of 145 to
165. A geomagnetic disturbance is predicted for the fifth to the
seventh, which could see the Kp index hit five. So, watch out for
visible aurora once again.
The period between the ninth to the fourteenth is predicted to be
generally calm geomagnetically, so this might be the best time for DX
on the upper HF bands.
However, as we know this is a difficult time for predictions,
anything could happen. We suggest keeping an eye on solarham.net for
updates.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The very strong high pressure and tropo enhancement recently have.
competed for attention with magnificent auroras, but we are now
heading into quieter territory. The large high will decline early
this weekend bringing an end to the tropo bonus.
After which, the main weather theme is that of a colder northerly
weather type with wintry showers, especially near windward coasts.
This raises the prospect of rain scatter on the GHz bands.
After the recent dramatic solar-induced propagation week, it would be
optimistic to expect a repeat, but the spring months are notable for
producing auroras and there is always random meteor scatter. So,
there are plenty of options to check up on in the coming week.
For EME operators, Moon declination is still high this weekend but we
are on the downward trend, turning negative on Thursday, meaning Moon
availability windows shortening all week.
With perigee last Friday, path losses will continue to fall. 144MHz
sky noise is low all week. Perhaps you already view your radio
activity in the context of propagation conditions. But, for those not
yet making this a routine, becoming aware of how these things are
controlled can make a huge difference to your operating successes.
Why not start by seeking out some of the excellent propagation talks
from radio clubs and the RSGB Convention which are often available
online?
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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