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G4TNU > NEWS 12.03.23 03:31l 272 Lines 13034 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 12 Mar 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 12th of March 2023
The news headlines:
* YOTA Summer Camp in Hungary
* Saint Patrick's Day Award Event
* RSGB Company Secretary
Applications are open to be part of the RSGB team going to the
Youngsters on the Air summer camp in Hungary. The event will take
place from the 5th to the 12th of August 2023. This is a chance in a
lifetime for young RSGB Members to represent their country and
national society. You could be a team member, if you are aged between
15 and 25, or a team leader, if you are aged between 18 and 30. We
would love to hear from you if you're interested in meeting other
young amateurs, supporting local and regional YOTA activities, and
developing ideas regarding the future of amateur radio. For more
information and the application form, either head over to our website
at rsgb.org/yota-hungary or email the Youth Champion Liam Robbins,
G5LDR via youth.champion<at>rsgb.org.uk
The annual Saint Patrick's Day Award Event takes place over a 48-hour
period from 1200UTC on the 16th of March to 1200UTC on the 18th of
March to allow worldwide participation in all time zones. The Saint
Patrick's Day Award is 48 hours of non-competitive fun. Everyone can
participate in the event, whether they are licensed or not. You can
register to be a participating station by completing a short
registration form online at stpatricksaward.com
The RSGB is looking to recruit an RSGB Member to the voluntary
position of Company Secretary. The position plays a key role in the
Society's governance and provides vital support in the running
of Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting. The deadline for
applications is Monday the 24th of April. You can find out more about
the role on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers If you feel you
have the necessary skills to fulfil this important role, or would
like more information, email the General Manager's department via
gm.dept<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB has released two more 2022 Convention presentations for
radio amateurs to enjoy. In "Antennas for an effective contest
station" Lee Volante, M0MTN reviews many of the options available to
the HF contester when making antenna choices. He considers how
antenna type, height, location and available resources have to be
balanced with the type of contest and a contester's personal goals.
The "Further exploration of SDR" by Gordon Lean, G3WJ covers the
design and performance of Software Defined Radio systems from direct
carrier generation to the use of units incorporating the GNU-Radio
design software. It also focuses on experience and actual use of
equipment on all bands from 80m to 10GHz and some of the benefits and
difficulties associated with SDR operation. You can watch them both
on the RSGB YouTube channel or in the RSGB members' portal at
rsgb.org/videos
GB3ORK, the Orkney Islands 5MHz beacon has closed down following the
expiry of its Notice of Variation. It was the last of a chain of
three beacons that once provided a wealth of data for the "5MHz
Experiment" prior to the band being formally allocated. The RSGB
thanks its keeper for the time and dedication given.
On Tuesday the 14th of March 2023, the Radio Security Service
Memorial Amateur Radio Society will be enjoying a talk by Brian
Clarke about his experiences in working at Gilnahirk Listening
Station, part of the Y Station network. This is a pre-recorded talk,
but Brian will be present to take questions at the end of the talk,
which runs for about 45 minutes. The talk will be via Zoom and anyone
is free to attend. For more information contact Roger Bradley, MI0WWB
via mi0wwb<at>btinternet.com
And now for details of rallies and events
The British Vintage Wireless Society Meet is taking place in
Biggleswade today, 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.
Also taking place today, the 12th, is Dover Amateur Radio Club's
Hamzilla Electronics Fair and Radio Rally. 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
The Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio Hanger Sale will
take place on Sunday the 2nd of April. The venue will be Hack Green
Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL. The sale will
include electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military
radio items and vehicle spares. For more information email
coldwar<at>hackgreen.co.uk or visit www.hackgreen.co.uk
Yeovil Amateur Radio Club's thirty-seventh QRP Convention will take
place on Saturday the 15th of April at The Digby Hall, Sherborne,
Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open from 9.30am to 1.30pm and admission is
GBP 3. The Convention will feature talks, traders, bring and buy,
club stalls and a café. For more information visit yeovil-arc.com or
contact qrp<at>yeovil-arc.com
Now the Special Event News
GB1PAT and GB2PAT are the special callsigns for members of the
Bushvalley Amateur Radio Club to use between the 1st and 28th of
March to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. Three certificates are
available for making contact with both callsigns on different bands.
QSL via Logbook of the World only.
DR100XRAY will be active until the end of June. It is a special
callsign commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm
C Roentgen [RUND-GUN], the physicist whose discovery of X-rays earned
him the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 and revolutionised
diagnostic medicine. QSL via the bureau, or direct to DJ6SI.
As part of British Science Week, the Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur
Club, supported by the Extended Freedom Network, will be operating
three special event stations demonstrating FT8, FM Voice and Digital
technologies as well as Morse code and more. On Monday the 13th of
March the club will be operating GB4SCE from Staindrop Church of
England Primary School. On Tuesday the 14th and Wednesday the 15th it
will be operating GB4HJS from Hunwick Primary School. Finally, on
Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th the club will be operating
GB2SPS from St Andrew's Primary School. For more information and
updates visit www.extendedfreedom.network
Now the DX news
Rich, PA0RRS will be active as 9M2MRS from Penang Island (AS-015),
West Malaysia until the 29th of March. He will operate CW and digital
modes including RTTY, FT8 and FT4 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via
Club Log's OQRS is preferred, but also via Logbook of the World, or
via PA0RRS.
Thaire [TARE], W2APF will be active as VP2MDX from Montserrat,
NA-103, until the 28th of March. He will operate CW and SSB on the 80
to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or via W2APF.
Tom, AA9A is active again as PJ7AA from Sint Maarten, NA-105, from
the 3rd of March to the 1st of April. He usually operates CW, SSB and
FT8 on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the
World or direct to AA9A.
Sands, VK4WXW has been on Willis Island, OC-007, since October, and
will remain there until the end of April 2023. He works at the
Australian Bureau of Meteorology's weather monitoring station on the
island, and in his spare time he is QRV as VK9WX.
Now the contest news
Today, the 12th, the Commonwealth Contest ends its 24-hour run at
1000UTC. 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'.
On Tuesday the 14th of March, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 14th of March, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 15th of March, the 80m Club Championship runs from
1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
On Thursday the 16th of March, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using All modes on the 4m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group HF RTTY
Contest begins at 0200UTC on Saturday the 18th of March and will run
until 0200UTC on Monday the 20th of March. Using RTTY on the 80 to
10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and time.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday 9th of March 2023
It was business as usual last week with the solar flux index in the
180s, numerous C-class flares and, at the time of writing, 13 M-class
flares over the past seven days.
The Kp index has been mostly settled for this part of the cycle,
averaging two to three all week. But this doesn't mean there has been
little activity on the Sun, just that any eruptions have been
directed away from Earth.
For example, a large prominence eruption off the Sun on the 7th of
March resulted in a coronal mass ejection that stretched hundreds of
thousands of kilometres into space.
It is this type of activity that makes space weather predictions
difficult. If it had been Earth-facing, we could have ended up with a
highly-raised Kp index and extensive aurora. As it was, the event had
little or no effect on Earth.
Maximum usable frequencies continue to be high, but we are starting
to see the effects of the Summer ionospheric changes that will see
daytime MUFs decline.
The MUF over a 3,000km path often doesn't exceed 28MHz now until
later in the morning.
This is due to a seasonal change in the ionospheric chemistry and a
shift from monatomic species to diatomic ones, which are harder to
ionise.
So, make the most of 10m as by mid-summer we may lose long-range
propagation on 28MHz, other than through Sporadic-E events.
We mentioned last week that this is a good time for North-South paths
as we head towards the Spring equinox. That is, good paths to South
Africa and South America are more likely now than they were a few
months back. There have been a lot of stations on 10m in the late
afternoon from South America so make the most of the propagation.
Next week, NOAA predicts similar solar flux index figures, with the
SFI being in the range of 170 to 185. The Kp index is predicted to be
at two or three, with perhaps more unsettled geomagnetic conditions
on Wednesday the 15th.
As always, see solarham.net for more up-to-date information.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The unsettled winter weather has yet to give way to spring, so it's
primarily low-pressure systems and periods of rain or snow that we
will be dealing with in the next week or so.
Whether it's rain or snow, this unsettled pattern limits any Tropo
options, and leaves only GHz band rain-scatter as a propagation mode
to explore. Generally speaking, the rain, or perhaps the point where
the snow is melting as it falls, should provide better reflections,
whereas in very cold areas, where it is all snow, reflections may be
weaker. This probably means that it will be southern areas that
perform better with rain scatter.
For the next few weeks, there are no significant meteor showers and
therefore the pre-dawn random meteors will be the best options.
Aurora, on the other hand, tends to favour the spring and autumn
months, so in view of the current state of solar activity, as
mentioned in the previous section, you should continue to monitor the
Kp index for signs of activity and check the bands if it gets to the
point that Kp equals five.
For EME operators, after minimum declination this Thursday, Moon
availability windows will start to lengthen. Path losses will
continue to fall but we are still a week from the Moon's perigee –
its closest point to Earth. 144MHz sky noise is high, reaching over
2,800 Kelvin on Thursday.
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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