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G4TNU > NEWS 23.06.23 20:52l 276 Lines 13403 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 18 Jun 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 18th of June 2023
The news headlines:
* His late Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan's UK amateur radio
equipment
* Coding and amateur radio
* RSGB Convention 2022 presentations
The Radio Society of Great Britain is delighted to announce that Her
Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan has chosen to donate the UK amateur
radio equipment of His late Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan to the
Society. His Majesty was a great ambassador for amateur radio and,
whenever his official duties allowed him, his radio callsign JY1
could be heard on the amateur bands. His Majesty always operated
modestly, never announcing himself as King Hussein, always just
‘Hussein from Jordan'. A permanent display is being organised at
the RSGB National Radio Centre so that the equipment can be used to
help inspire people to get involved in amateur radio, and promote
communication, friendship and understanding throughout the many
countries and cultures of the world. The RSGB extends its thanks to
Her Majesty for this generous donation.
National Coding Week has been run for many years in the third week of
September. Coding is used increasingly in amateur radio, and the BBC
Micro:bit and the Arduino have made it easier for radio amateurs of
all ages to discover more about this. As part of its commitment to
encourage youngsters into amateur radio and to support lifelong
learning, the RSGB will be providing resources and creating coding
activities for people to get involved in throughout the month of
September. The Society is keen to hear from volunteers who have ideas
for this initiative and would like to be part of it. Further details
will follow but, if you're interested, in the first instance please
contact Exam and Syllabus Review Group member John Hislop, G7OHO via
g7oho<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB has released two further Convention 2022 presentations. In
the first, Noel Matthews, G8GTZ provides an introduction to the
challenges of operating on 122GHz and gives an overview of the
VK3CV-designed transverter boards which have put operation within the
reach of amateurs without requiring advanced electronic and
mechanical engineering skills. He tells the story of how he and Dave,
G1EHF used the boards to work up from their first QSO over 2km to
breaking the UK record for 122GHz at 36.5kms. Secondly, in a
presentation called "HF propagation – what do the numbers mean?"
RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA
unravels what terms such as Solar flux index, SSN, A and K index, and
Solar Wind Speed mean and explains how to find the best HF
conditions. You can watch both on the RSGB YouTube channel at
youtube.com/theRSGB
After serving for nine years, the RSGB Trophy Manager is retiring
and the Society is looking for a new volunteer for this role. The
position is part of the RSGB Volunteer Leadership Team, reporting to
the Board. Working in close relationship with the three Contest
Committees and the RSGB General Manager, the Trophy Manager looks
after the RSGB's trophies, arranges for their engraving and
presentation to recipients and maintains the trophies' history. If
you are interested in applying for the role or would like to find out
more, please email gm.dept<at>rsgb.org.uk
The G-QRP Club is running a fun event called the Summer Sizzler from
Saturday the 17th to Sunday the 25th of June. This is not a contest,
rather it is a relaxed on-air QRP event. It is an ideal opportunity
to meet and greet new and old friends, to test your latest homebrew
creations and to fill the bands with friendly QRP activity. The best
logbook for the event will win the inaugural GM3OXX trophy. This will
be decided upon by adjudicators and will not necessarily be awarded
to the entrant with the most contacts. Unusual or remarkable logbooks
have just as much chance of winning. For more information visit
gqrp.com/awards.htm
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets are running their popular radio
communications event Exercise Blue Ham on the 60m shared band from
the 19th to the 23rd of June from 7pm to 9pm local time. Contact can
be made via USB Voice, PSK31 or Olivia 16/500. Details can be found
by following the ‘Exercise Blue Ham' link at alphacharlie.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
The East Suffolk Wireless Revival, also known as the Ipswich Radio
Rally, will take place today, Sunday the 18th of June. The venue is
Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton IP10 0PW, just off the
A14. The doors open at 9.30am and the entry fee for visitors is
GBP 3. The venue has free car parking. There will be trade stands, a
car boot sale, a bring-and-buy area, special interest groups, an RSGB
bookstall and much more. Catering is available on site. For more
information contact Kevin, G8MXV on 07710 046 846 and visit
eswr.org.uk
The Newbury Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 25th of June.
The venue will be Newbury Showground, next to junction 13 of the M4
motorway in Berkshire, RG18 9QZ. There will be a display area with an
amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups, clubs and
societies. The doors will open to sellers at 8am and visitors at 9am.
Ample free parking will be available. Entry is GBP 3 for visitors. A
seller's pitch costs GBP 15. On-site catering and disabled facilities
will be available. For more information, email
NewburyRally<at>nadars.org.uk and visit nadars.org.uk
The Barford Norfolk Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 2nd of
July. The venue will be Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford,
Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors open at 9am for visitors and 8am for
traders. The event will feature trade stands, car boot sales, bring
and buy, a raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking.
Entry costs GBP 2.50 per person. Under 16s will be admitted free of
charge. For more information contact radio<at>dcpmicro.com and visit
norfolkamateurradio.org
The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally will take place on Sunday the
9th of July at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN. Doors open at
10.30am and admission is GBP 3. There will be traders, bring-and-buy
and club stalls. Car parking and catering is available on site.
Contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821073 for more information.
Now the Special Event News
Today is the last chance to work PD2023APD. The station is active to
mark Autistic Pride Day which is held on the 18th of June each year.
Listen for the callsign on the 10, 20 and 40m bands. See QRZ.com for
more information.
Special callsign AU40NRO is active on the HF bands until the 30th of
June to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the National Institute of
Amateur Radio in India. QSL via VU2NRO.
VI75G [VICTOR-INDIA…] is the callsign being used by the Geelong
[JA-LONG] Amateur Radio Club throughout 2023 to celebrate its 75th
anniversary. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via VK3ATL.
Now the DX news
Today is the last chance to work Yuris [YOUR-EESE], YL2GM who is
active as VU7W from the Lakshadweep [LICK-SHAH-DWEEP] islands in the
Arabian Sea. He is operating from Minicoy Island, AS-106, with a
focus on the 6m band although he is also using other bands. QSL via
Club Log's OQRS is preferred, or direct to YL2GN.
Roland, F8EN is active as TR8CR from Gabon until the 12th of August.
He operates CW only, usually on the 30 to 10m bands. QSL via F6AJA.
Ersoy, TA2OM has been active as 3C3CA from Bioko [BE-OH-COE] Island,
AF-010, Equatorial Guinea since October 2022. His current plans are
to stay there for another two months. He usually operates using FT8
on the HF bands and he uploads his log to Club Log and Logbook of the
World on a regular basis.
Now the contest news
The 50MHz Trophy Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the
18th of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Today, the 18th of June, the Worked All Britain 6m Phone Contest runs
from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using phone on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.
The All Asian DX Contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC today,
Sunday the 18th of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and age.
On Tuesday the 20th of June, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 22nd of June, the 80m Club Championship SSB Contest
runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 25th of June, the 50MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to
1200UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 25th of June, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz
Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 15th of June 2023
We had another week of sound HF propagation, helped by relatively
quiet geomagnetic conditions, a lack of bad solar flares, and some
good multi-hop Sporadic-E openings.
The Kp index never rose above three and was mostly ones and twos.
This was no doubt helped by no M-class or higher solar flares and no
Earth-directed coronal mass ejections. A large filament did break
away from the Sun on the 12th of June, but luckily it was directed
away from Earth.
The solar flux index declined to the mid-140s after reaching 172 on
the 6th of June.
Paul, GM4ULS sent in an impressive log of 10m SSB contacts with
Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. These were mostly during the
late afternoon although Paul says the openings often started around
noon. F2-layer propagation was the first thought, but closer analysis
suggests that these were more likely to be multi-hop Sporadic-E.
If these contacts die out as we progress through the summer that
should confirm that they were multi-hop Sporadic-E. Paul does have
one tip. He listens to 27.555MHz, which is the SSB CB calling
frequency. If he hears activity there he then fires up on the 10m
band.
Other DX this week has included VP6A on Ducie Island in the South
Pacific. This DXpedition should be active until the 26th of June, so
there is still plenty of time to work them. 8Q7KB in the Maldives
should also be on until the 21st of June.
Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre thinks the Solar Flux
Index will start the week at around 150, rising to 170 as the week
progresses. After a geomagnetic disturbance this weekend that may see
the Kp index rise to four, and is likely caused by a coronal hole on
the Sun's surface, we may expect quieter conditions next week with a
maximum Kp index of two.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
There has been some excellent Sporadic-E and super Tropo propagation
during recent UK Activity Contest events. This is high-season for
Sporadic-E, so it's worth a few notes to sharpen your DX potential.
There are often two main 'windows' of activity: mid-morning and late
afternoon or early evening.
For early risers there can be a surprise ‘window' of activity
around 0600 to 0700UTC on some days and this is particularly useful
for paths across the pole to Japan and the Pacific.
The tendency is for openings to migrate westwards. Paths across
eastern Europe will be replaced by new paths to Italy or even Iberia
as the particular event ‘window' migrates west.
In this peak season the Sporadic-E operating ‘windows' may almost
merge into one continuous activity period, especially on the lower
bands such as 10m and 6m. As paths to Portugal fade, the new cycle
may be starting with paths to Scandinavia and the Baltic.
Multi-hop paths will be weaker than single hop, and often more
fleeting due to the complex geometry required, making the slower data
modes frustrating. Add this to frequency spreading, and sometimes
slick, fast CW can be the best mode if you can find the activity.
The prolonged high pressure has provided some very good Tropo paths,
particularly across the North Sea to Scandinavia. This may not be so
reliable in the coming week as low pressure moves in and offers heavy
thundery showers as a source of rain scatter for GHz operators.
Meteor scatter and aurora are always possible, but Sporadic-E will
probably be too much of a distraction.
Sunday sees peak Moon declination but with apogee this coming
Thursday, path losses will be at their highest.
144MHz sky noise is moderate until Saturday afternoon when the Sun
and Moon are very close in the sky, spoiling the weekend for VHF EME.
This "close to eclipse" condition persists until Sunday night after
which noise levels are low to moderate for the rest of the week.
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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