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G4TNU > NEWS 03.09.23 02:31l 274 Lines 13413 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 03 Sep 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 3rd of September 2023
The news headlines:
* Ofcom Consultation
* RSGB 2023 Convention
* RSGB Foundation Awards
Time is running out to respond to Ofcom's consultation "Updating the
amateur radio licensing framework". The deadline is Monday the 4th of
September. The RSGB will be sending its own formal response, but
Ofcom is interested in the views of every radio amateur. This is the
biggest review of amateur radio licensing and callsign policy in a
generation and your response will count. Please remind your amateur
radio friends and colleagues to make time to send in their response
so their views are heard too. The RSGB has information, videos and
guidance on its website at rsgb.org/licencereview
Have you booked for the RSGB 2023 Convention yet? The ‘early bird'
booking price has been extended to the 14th of September, so join
hundreds of others at this fantastic amateur radio event over the
weekend of the 13th to the 15th of October. The keynote speaker will
be Colonel John Doody who will discuss his radio
communication experiences across the frequency spectrum from HF,
VHF, SHF and satellite communications from 1965 to the present day.
Colonel Doody is a retired officer of the UK Royal Corps of Signals,
the author of "From Stripes to Stars" and he served at GCHQ and the
former Communications-Electronics Security Group for ten years as
Head of Information Assurance Customer Services. John has a wealth of
knowledge across the whole spectrum of cyber security, information
assurance, cryptography and radio communications. The rest of the
Convention programme is nearly complete and includes expert speakers
on a wide range of amateur radio topics. From portable contesting and
SOTA, to antennas, radio astronomy, and developments in electronic
equipment to detect RF electrical interference, you will be spoilt
for choice! More details will appear in the October issue of RadCom
and the RSGB will be publishing the draft programme on its website
soon. For more information and to book go to rsgb.org/convention
Have you just passed your Foundation licence? Or are you an
established Foundation licence holder who is looking for a new
challenge? The RSGB has just launched a new range of Foundation
Awards that are available to UK Foundation licence holders from
September 2023. There is an HF Award, a VHF Award and a third Award
where you can choose to use a mix of any bands permitted by the
licence, but you need to gain a larger number of contacts on a
greater number of bands. These Awards give you plenty to choose from
whatever you enjoy within amateur radio. For more information see the
RSGB website at rsgb.org/foundation-awards
The RSGB's autumn Tonight<at>8 programme kicks off at 8pm on Monday
the 4th of September with a presentation on MINOS Contest Logging
Software by Peter Burton, G3ZPB. Peter will look at what MINOS does
in terms of contest logging, installation and set-up, plus how to get
hands-on when using it in a contest. You can find out more about the
presentation and Peter on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars and
you can join the presentation and ask questions live on the RSGB
YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB
Air Ambulance Week 2023 is taking place across the UK from Monday the
4th to Sunday the 10th of September. Lots of amateur radio stations
will be on the air to help raise awareness of the lifesaving work
that is carried out by the UK's air ambulance charities, so please
give them a call. More information about Air Ambulance Week 2023 can
be found by visiting airambulancesuk.org
The popular Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as
‘CHOTA', will be taking place next Saturday the 9th of September
from 10am to 4pm. All bands and all modes will be in use. For more
information about the event, and to see a list of registered
stations, visit wacral.org or email John,
G3XYF at jhwresdell<at>gmail.com
And now for details of rallies and events
Telford Hamfest is taking place today, Sunday the 3rd of September.
The venue is Harper Adams University campus near Telford, Shropshire,
TF10 8NB. Talk-in is available on 145.550MHz FM. Further details are
available at telfordhamfest.org.uk If you have any questions,
contact Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255416 or John, M0JZH on 07824 737716.
Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 3rd of
September. The venue is Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane,
Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL. The usual bring and buy, trader stands
and refreshments are available. The doors open at 10am and admission
is GBP 2.50. Free parking is available. For more information email
Roger via 2e0rph<at>gmail.com or phone 07854 088 882.
Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 10th of
September. The venue will be Caister Lifeboat station, Caister on
Sea, NR30 5DJ. The doors will be open from 9am to 2pm. Access for
traders is available from 8am. Admission is free. Inside tables cost
GBP 10 each. Outside tables cost GBP 5 each. Contact Zane, M1BFI via
email on m1bfi<at>outlook.com or phone 07711 214 790.
The Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on
Saturday the 16th of September. The venue will be Whitehall Road
Methodist Church, Whitehall Road, Bensham, Gateshead, NE8 4LH. The
doors are open to traders from 7.30am and tables cost GBP 6. The
event will be open to the public from 10am to 2pm and admission will
be GBP 2.50. Bacon butties and hot drinks will be available to
purchase. There will be a bring-and-buy and a raffle on the day.
Please contact anarc.club<at>gmail.com for further information.
Now the Special Event News
Special callsign VI7ALARA
[VICTOR-INDIA-SEVEN-ALPHA-LIMA-ALPHA-ROMEO-ALPHA] is active on the HF
bands until the 8th of November to mark the Australian Ladies
Amateur Radio Association's meeting in Hobart this year. QSL via Club
Log's OQRS. For more information visit alara.org.au
OQ95RCL is the special callsign in use throughout 2023 by Radio Club
Leuven [LOO-VIN], ON4CP to celebrate its 95th anniversary. QSL via
Logbook of the World, eQSL, the bureau, or direct to ON3AR.
Now the DX news
Today, the 3rd, is the last chance to work Matt, AF2F while he is
active as K4H from Hatteras Island, NA-067. He is using CW and FT8.
QSL via Club Log's OQRS.
Christo, LZ3FN and Thomas, SV2CLJ are QRV from Skyros Island, EU-060,
in Greece, as SV8/LZ3FN and SV8/SV2CLJ. They are operating on the 80
to 2m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes until the 7th of
September.
Now the contest news
IARU Region 1 Field Day and RSGB SSB Field Day both started at
1300UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and end at 1300UTC today,
the 3rd of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
The 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the 2nd of
September and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of September.
Using All modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 2nd of
September and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of September.
Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is serial number and age.
Today, the 3rd of September, the Worked All Britain 2m QRO Phone
Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using phone, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.
Today, the 3rd of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs
from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Monday the 4th of September, the Autumn Series SSB Contest runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 5th of September, 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 5th of September, 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 6th of September, 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
6th of September, 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.
On Wednesday the 6th of September the United Kingdom and Ireland
Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the
80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator.
The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest runs from 0000UTC on Saturday
the 9th of September to 2359UTC on Sunday the 10th of September.
Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 10th of September, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz
Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 31st of August 2023
We had another week of relatively settled solar conditions. The Kp
Index never really got above three and the Solar Flux Index flattened
to be below 140. Solar flares were nominal with only minor C-class
events occurring and with no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections.
The solar wind speed remains low as does its density. The
all-important Bz has headed south at times meaning it more easily
couples to the Earth's magnetic field, but the solar wind's low speed
and density means we have not suffered from geomagnetic disturbances.
As a result, ionospheric conditions were quite good with much DX
romping in on 21MHz, including Mongolia on FT8 during the afternoon.
On the 10m band Vlad, 9Q2WX in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
and Robert, 9N7AA in Nepal, were both logged around lunchtime on CW.
At the same time, Ravi, S79VU in the Seychelles could be heard on SSB.
The Chilton and Fairford Digisondes remain down, but Dourbes remains
online which is still driving propquest.co.uk
Daytime maximum useable frequencies over a 3,000km path are currently
peaking above 28MHz at times, although you may find 21 and 24MHz more
usable. Daytime critical frequencies remain above 7MHz making the 40m
band very useful around the UK.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will remain in the
range of 140 to156. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be quiet,
apart from an excursion between September the 6th to the 8th when the
Kp index could rise to three.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
There will be some GHz bands rain scatter on offer as we end this
current week, but it's ‘all change' by the weekend. The prospects
for VHF and UHF, then, are looking very promising indeed, especially
good for those out working portable in the 144MHz Trophy Contest
today, the 3rd of September.
After lots of uncertainty in the forecast during the last week, there
is now plenty of support from the models that the high-pressure
version is the favoured outcome. This should be very encouraging for
2m band contesters hoping to get some enhanced Tropo propagation.
Paths across the southern North Sea to Denmark and southern Sweden
look good throughout. It would also be worth looking to the south
across the Channel and, for some southwestern parts of the UK, down
across Biscay to Spain.
There are two very useful websites that detail the expected Tropo
prospects using the weather forecast model data to calculate the
vertical changes in the refractive index of the air and hence Tropo.
These are dxinfocentre.com and tropo.f5len.org
Remember that Tropo improves as you move from HF to 2m, to 70cm and
23cm. So, give CW or SSB a try and don't just stay on FT8 or
over-crowded repeater channels during lift conditions. These enhanced
Tropo conditions will likely extend well into next week, but with a
chance of low pressure bringing unsettled weather back to the south
by the end of next week.
The daily Sporadic-E blogs have finished for this year, but the jet
stream charts will still be available on propquest.co.uk and of
course, random meteor scatter and chance aurora are still there if
you are lucky.
For EME stations, Moon declination is positive again but reaches
maximum late at night initially moving to early morning as the week
progresses. Last Wednesday's perigee means path losses are still low
but increasing daily. 144MHz sky noise is low, rising to moderate by
next weekend.
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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