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G4TNU > NEWS 25.06.23 01:35l 252 Lines 12134 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 25 Jun 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 25th of June 2023
The news headlines:
* Ofcom consultation on updating the amateur radio licensing
framework
* RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar
* ‘Fly Your Satellite!' programme
An Ofcom consultation titled "Updating the amateur radio licensing
framework" opened on Friday the 23rd of June 2023. According to
Ofcom, the proposals set out in the consultation aim to "provide
greater operating freedom for radio amateurs; and make the process of
getting and using a licence simpler, clearer and more responsive."
The closing date for responses is the 4th of September 2023. All
radio amateurs are strongly encouraged to read the consultation via
Ofcom's website directly. You can also find the consultation by
visiting rsgb.org/licencereview and clicking the Ofcom logo. The
RSGB will provide guidance on how to respond to the consultation via
the same web page in due course.
The next RSGB live Tonight@8 webinar will take place at 8pm on
Monday the 3rd of July, with Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ presenting
"Receiving antennas are different". Eric, who has written numerous
amateur radio and electronics articles over the past 30 years, says
that almost every ham radio station can benefit from a separate
receiving antenna. Effective receiving antennas are optimised for
best signal-to-noise ratio, not necessarily the greatest gain. Tune
in to the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel to hear Eric
discuss the countless interesting means of building high
signal-to-noise ratio receiving antennas. You can find out more at
rsgb.org/webinars
The ‘Fly Your Satellite!' programme, initiated by the European
Space Agency, presents an exciting challenge for radio amateurs and
space enthusiasts worldwide to establish communication via the LEDSAT
CubeSat digipeater. This unique opportunity invites participants to
connect with the ESA Education Office ESTEC Ground Station in the
Netherlands through the satellite digipeater, with a chance to win a
special prize – a custom QSL card issued by the ESA Education
Office and the LEDSAT team. Running from the 26th of June to the 30th
of July, this challenge offers an exciting chance for radio
enthusiasts to engage with space technology and demonstrate their
communication skills. For more information go to the European Space
Agency website at esa.int and search for "Connect and communicate
with a satellite via the LEDSAT Digipeater Challenge."
It was with profound shock and sadness that the RSGB learnt of the
untimely loss, at the age of 49, of Mr Alexandre ‘Sasha' Kholod,
Chairman of the CEPT WRC-23 Conference Preparatory Group. Alex was
head of international frequency planning for the Swiss regulator and
was widely respected and influential in CEPT and ITU. Of note to
amateurs is that he chaired CEPT Project Team C that led to the
successful ITU Region 1 50MHz allocation for the amateur service at
World Radio Conference 19 in November 2019. His warm and professional
personality will be sadly missed.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Newbury Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 25th of
June. The venue is Newbury Showground, next to junction 13 of the M4
motorway in Berkshire, RG18 9QZ. There is a display area with an
amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups, clubs and
societies. The doors open to sellers at 8am and visitors at 9am.
Ample free parking is available and entry for visitors is GBP 3. A
seller's pitch costs GBP 15. On-site catering and disabled facilities
are 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.
The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale will take
place on Sunday the 16th of July. The venue will be Reading Rugby
Club, which offers a bar and catering facilities, and has ample free
parking. Admission will be GBP 3 per person and GBP 10 per table for
traders. Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue will be in attendance to
provide a First Response service. Visit mcmichaelrally.org.uk for
more information and contact details.
Now the Special Event News
German radio club DK0SM will be on the air as DL75BAL to commemorate
the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The club plans to be
active from the 28th of June to the 2nd of July, and will be looking
for UK stations on HF and on EchoLink via DL0STM. More information is
available via the DL75BAL QRZ.com page.
Special callsign GB1HEM will be active for 28 days from the 1st of
July in support of Air Ambulances UK. A certificate will be available
for making contact with the station on any band from 80 to 10m using
SSB, PSK, DMR or FT8. More information is available via the GB1HEM
QRZ.com page.
Durham and District Amateur Radio Society is participating as one of
the bonus stations in the popular 13 Colonies special event. The
special callsign GB13COL has been issued for the occasion and will be
active from 1300UTC on the 1st of July to 0400UTC on the 8th of July.
The primary focus of the event will be the HF bands, but the station
will also be working on VHF and UHF frequencies and via satellite.
QSOs using SSB, CW, FM and various digital modes are welcome. QSL
instructions can be found on the GB13COL QRZ.com page. For more
information about the event email Ray, G0VLF on g0vlf<at>yahoo.co.uk
From the 6th to the 9th of July, Hartlepool Amateur Radio Club will
be celebrating the arrival of the Tall Ships Race to Hartlepool with
the special event callsign GB0TSH. The station will be active on the
HF, VHF and UHF bands and welcomes all contacts. For more details,
contact Stan G7VGM via stan.g7vgm<at>gmail.com
Now the DX news
Franco, IZ5IUY will be active as IL7/IZ5IUY from San Domino, EU-050,
one of the Tremiti [TREM-EE-TEE] Islands in the Adriatic Sea, until
the 29th of June. He is operating using SSB on the 40 to 6m bands,
and on the 2m and 70cm bands. QSL is possible via his home call, but
via the bureau is preferred.
Take, JI3DST [JULIET-INDIA…] will be active from Shodo Island,
AS-200, until the 5th of July. He will operate SSB and CW as JJ5RBH.
He is paying special attention to the 6m band. QSL via Club Log and
Logbook of the World.
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.
Now the contest news
Today, 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.
Today, 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 Monday the 26th of June, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 1900 to
2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is your
report.
On Tuesday the 27th of June, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from
1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 1st of July, the VHF National Field Day Contest
starts its 24-hour run at 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m
and 70cm bands, and 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 2nd of July, the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs
from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 22nd of June 2023
We had yet another week of high solar flux, plenty of sunspots, but
also a major solar flare.
The Solar Flux Index reached 180 on the 20th of June with a massive
spread of sunspots across both solar hemispheres. But an X-class
solar flare erupted on the same day. This was only just X-class
though, as at X1.1 it barely hit the requirements. Luckily, its
associated coronal mass ejection was directed away from Earth.
We passed the summer solstice this week so are now heading towards
Autumn. Don't worry too much, though, as there is plenty of summer
left, complete with its lower daytime maximum usable frequencies and
high levels of D-layer absorption. Fortunately, multi-hop Sporadic-E
is also bringing occasional DX on the higher bands.
As we pointed out last week, nighttime MUFs remain high, partly due
to seasonal norms and partly due to the high solar flux.
There were reports this week of 15m CW still being open at 3.30am
local time, when Paul, MM0ZBH worked the VP6A DXpedition on Ducie
Island. There have also been many reports of VP6A being worked on the
80m band at around 0800UTC.
Next week the Space Weather Prediction Centre puts the Solar Flux
Index at around 165 to 180 again. We can expect unsettled geomagnetic
conditions once again around the 27th and 28th of this month.
Daytime F-layer MUFs over a 3,000km path are generally around 21MHz,
but there are occasional surprises. Sporadic-E still dominates on the
10m band. At night, MUFs over 3,000km are often around 14 to 18MHz,
again with some surprises at times.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
After a slow change to a more summer-like pattern of showers and
sunshine with occasional fronts in the last week, it does seem like
it's a continuation for the coming week.
This means further opportunity for rain scatter on the GHz bands and
with a reasonable chance of tracking the storms with any of the
online weather radars.
There will be a tendency for higher pressure close to southern
Britain with possible Tropo, which will extend south across Biscay to
northern Spain or farther south towards the Canaries and perhaps
beyond. It may even offer paths east across the southern North Sea
towards Denmark.
There have been some reasonable Sporadic-E paths within Europe and
beyond to the Americas. Paths have also opened eastwards to the Far
East or Middle East and there is no reason not to expect similar for
the coming week.
As next week progresses, the jet stream distribution may favour paths
to Scandinavia and the Baltic, plus across the Atlantic to the States.
The recent unsettled solar conditions may affect the prospects for
Sporadic-E propagation if the Kp index becomes too high, but on the
plus side it could then be worth checking for aurora. Don't forget
that random meteors can provide a few chance QSOs using meteor
scatter propagation and there have been audible meteor ‘pings' on
some Sporadic-E QSOs recently, so they do exist!
Moon declination goes negative again on Monday – so shortening Moon
windows. Path losses will fall all week, and 144MHz sky noise is low
to moderate until next weekend when it reaches more than 2500 Kelvin
on 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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