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G4TNU > NEWS 30.04.23 02:35l 276 Lines 12901 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 30 Apr 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 30th of April 2023
The news headlines:
* RSGB Coronation activities
* RSGB Membership portal
* High-altitude balloon launch
As the Coronation weekend approaches, don't forget all the amateur
radio activities that are being organised by the RSGB to mark this
special event. Ofcom has kindly agreed that UK and Crown Dependency
radio amateurs may use the "R" prefix in their callsigns during May
and June 2023 – just apply for the Notice of Variation via the RSGB
website. The RSGB has also created three new awards you can achieve
for taking part in Coronation activities. In addition, the callsign
GB23C can be used by individuals and clubs from the 10th of May until
the end of June, and there is a special Beaconnect activity
throughout May and June. Details of how to get involved with either
of these will be announced soon on the RSGB website. Finally, there
are ideas for outreach activities for use with people of all ages. Go
to rsgb.org/coronation for more information.
Are you an RSGB member? Have you logged into your online membership
portal recently? It is important to check your personal information
and ensure your preferences are up to date. You can also opt into
receiving a number of direct benefits such as the weekly email GB2RS
newsletter and notifications about RadCom Plus and RadCom Basics. A
new option is to receive emails about the RSGB's online events click
on that and make sure you don't miss out! Log into the RSGB
membership portal via rsgb.org/members or email
membership<at>rsgb.org.uk if you have any questions.
hi-impact, based on the Wirral, is planning another high-altitude
balloon launch. This one will feature on the team's live-stream
platform and be viewed by a number of schools across the UK and
beyond. The team is planning to launch two high-altitude balloons.
One will be running with a HABDuino and the other with some help from
AmbaSat, using LoRA. The HABDuino side will be running on the
standard setup – 434.650MHz USB, 50 Baud RTTY, 450Hz Shift, 7N1
data format and with the callsign ‘hi-impact'. If you're planning
to upload telemetry to SondeHub, you'll need Dave Akerman's HABBase
software and Fldigi. The launch, from Cilcewydd [KIL-KOW-WITH] in
Wales, will be between 11 and 11.15am on Wednesday the 3rd of May.
More information can be found on hi-impact's Facebook page and on
Twitter via <at>hiimpactconsult
The RSGB is seeking to recruit a new Technical Editor for RadCom.
Reporting to the Managing Editor, the successful candidate will need
a wide range of radio and electronic knowledge, including amateur
radio. The RSGB is looking for someone who is positive, enthusiastic
about technology, has an excellent command of English and a good eye
for detail. For more information about the role and how to apply,
see rsgb.org/careers
And now for details of rallies and events
Ripon Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 30th of April,
at Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2PT. Traders can
gain access from 7am and tables are GBP 12 each. Doors open to the
public from 10am and entrance is GBP 3 per person. For more
information and directions visit g4sjm.co.uk
Thorpe Camp Hamfest Rally will take place on Sunday the 7th of May.
The venue will be Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre and the entrance fee
will be GBP 4 per person. Traders should arrive from 7am. The rally
will take place from 9am to 1pm. Hot food and drinks will be
available on site. For more information phone Sylvia or Anthony on
07956 654 481.
Dartmoor Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 7th of May at
Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL.
There will be the usual bring and buy, trader stands, refreshments
and free parking available. Doors open at 10am and admission is
GBP 2.50. For more information contact Roger by phone
on 07854 088 882, or email via 2e0rph<at>gmail.com
The Braehead Rally will take place on Sunday the 14th of May. The
venue will be Braehead Arena Foyer, 150 Kings Inch Road, Renfrew
G51 4BN. Free parking will be available. The doors open for everyone
at 10am and admission is GBP 4. The event will feature bring and buy
and the Central Scotland Repeater Group AGM. For more information and
contact details visit www.braeheadradiorally.com
Now the Special Event News
Special callsigns PA100PCG, PA100M and PA100K will be active on the
5th, 6th and 7th of May to celebrate 100 years of communication
history between Indonesia and The Netherlands. For more information
visit QRZ.com. QSL via the bureau.
Look out for special event station AU40NRO which is active until the
30th of June. The station is operating to celebrate the 40th
anniversary of the founding of the National Institute of Amateur
Radio in India. QSL via VU2NRO.
Special event callsign DM23BUGA will be active until the 8th of
October. The callsign's suffix stands for 'Bundesgartenschau'
[BOON-DES-GAR-TEN-SHAW]. This is a biennial horticulture show and
festival taking place in Mannheim [MAN-HIME] this year. All QSOs will
be confirmed automatically via the bureau, and direct cards via
DL2VFR.
Celebrating 100 years of broadcasting in Germany, special callsign
DB100RDF will be in use until the 31st of December. The first
official radio entertainment programme in Germany was broadcast on
the 29th of October 1923. QSL via the bureau, or direct to DO2PZ.
Now the DX news
Sands, VK4WXW has been on Willis Island, OC-007, since October and
today is the last chance to work him. He works at the Australian
Bureau of Meteorology's weather monitoring station on the island. In
his spare time, he is QRV as VK9WX.
The T30UN operation from West Kiribati [KI-REE-BAAS], OC-017, is
expected to be active until the second week of May. Operators plan to
be available on the 160 to 6m bands with one CW station, one SSB
station and seven FT8 stations. It will be possible to see two FT8
stations on the same band, at the same time, on different
frequencies. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.
Now the contest news
Today, the 30th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club DX CW Contest ends
its 24-hour run at 1200UTC. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial
number. UK and Ireland stations also send their district code.
On Tuesday the 2nd of May, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 2nd of May, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 3rd of May, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour
Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the
exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the
3rd of May, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900
to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and
four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may
also enter the two-hour contest.
Next weekend, the ARI International DX Contest starts its 24-hour run
at 1200UTC on Saturday the 6th of May. Using CW, RTTY and SSB on the
80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. Italian stations give their province code.
On Saturday the 6th of May, the 432MHz to 245GHz Contest starts its
24-hour run at 1400UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Saturday the 6th of May, the 432MHz Trophy Contest runs from
1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Saturday the 6th of May also sees the start of the UK Six Metre Group
Summer Marathon. The event will run until Sunday the 6th of August.
Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is your four-character
locator.
On Sunday the 7th of May the 10GHz Trophy Contest runs from 0800 to
1400UTC. Using all modes on the 10GHz band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Sunday the 7th of May, the UK Microwave Group Low Band
Contest runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 to
3.4GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Sunday the 7th of May also sees the Worked All Britain 7MHz Phone
Contest run from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using AM and SSB on the 40m band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain
square.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 27th of April 2023
What a busy week we've just had! It started with a massive G4
geomagnetic storm that saw the Kp index rise to eight with aurora
visible as far south as Cornwall and the Channel Islands. This was
due to a coronal mass ejection from a filament eruption on the 21st
of April.
The 6m band came to life during the early stage of the storm with
distorted aurora signals throughout the SSB and CW sections. However,
the HF bands suffered, with MUFs down on the morning of the 24th. The
25th wasn't much better with MUFs over a 3,000km path barely reaching
18MHz all day.
By Thursday the 27th the Kp index was still at four.
However, there were surprises to be had. Phil, GU0SUP reported that
at 1300UTC on Monday the 24th, he was amazed to work Yuris
[YOUR-EECE], VU7W on the Lakshadweep [LIC-SHA-DWEEP] Islands on 10m
FT8, with good signals both ways. He says the Kp index was at six and
the regular FT8 frequencies on both the 10m and 12m bands were pretty
much dead.
On Wednesday the 26th, Peter, G8BCG reported, on the CDXC reflector,
that 15m FT8 was open all night via the long path to Australia, New
Zealand and the Pacific.
It is always worth checking the HF bands during a major geomagnetic
storm as there may be surprises to be had.
Next week the Space Weather Prediction Centre thinks that the Solar
Flux Index will remain in the range of 135 to 140. The Kp index may
remain around two to three. However, as last week showed, we are now
really into uncharted territory, in terms of solar activity, with
daily multiple solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections.
So, don't be surprised if we have another major geomagnetic
disturbance with an elevated Kp index.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The weather pattern in late spring often settles into a period of
south-easterly winds from a rapidly-warming Europe and the signs are
there for just such a flow during the coming week.
The sequence starts with unsettled weather and possible rain scatter
from heavy April showers into the first weekend but, thereafter, a
weak ridge of high pressure will move in to bring a chance of Tropo
for next week. Paths along the east coast should do well, especially
if there are large areas of sea fog and misty low clouds over the
North Sea.
At longer timescales, the period towards the following weekend will
see eyes looking towards a low to the southwest of the British Isles
that could push some thundery rain into southern areas by the end of
the week and again bring a chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands.
The jet stream pattern remains complex with several potentially
useful flows that might be instrumental in prompting some
early-season Sporadic-E propagation.
Last week, the Portuguese CS5BALG beacon on 50.036MHz in IM67, and
CS5BLA on 50.0760MHz, made a welcome return. Sporadic-E can be very
fleeting early in the season, but keeping a regular check on the
usual beacons should give you a chance of being there at the right
time.
The daily Sporadic-E blogs start on the 1st of May on
www.propquest.co.uk and should give some clues as to any early-season
options.
Lastly, the Sun has kept everyone busy recently with visible and
radio auroras, so check the Kp index for aurora potential. And we are
in a period when increasing meteor input is starting to help provide
better meteor scatter prospects, as well as fuel for Sporadic-E. The
Eta [ETTA] Aquariids has a broad peak zenithal hourly rate of around
50 next weekend on the 6th of May.
Moon declination is high and falling, meaning shortening EME Moon
windows and peak elevations. We passed apogee on Friday so path
losses will fall throughout the week. 144MHz sky noise is low to
moderate.
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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