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G4TNU > NEWS 10.09.23 02:31l 264 Lines 12606 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 10 Sep 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 10th of September 2023
The news headlines:
* RSGB 2023 Convention
* RSGB 2023 outreach and buildathons
* National Coding Week
The RSGB 2023 Convention will be held this year from the 13th to the
15th of October. It is an action-packed weekend of amateur radio and
includes the AMSAT-UK Colloquium which will be held during the
Convention again. You can chat to the Special Interest Groups and
RSGB Committees over a coffee, browse the latest amateur radio
equipment and maybe even win a great prize if you buy a ticket in the
DXpedition Fund raffle. There will also be two interesting forums on
Saturday run in partnership with ICQPodcast. For the first time, the
Convention will also have a clear focus on outreach and practical
activities as the RSGB provides opportunities for individuals and
clubs to ‘have a go' and be inspired to try new things in their
local areas. The draft programme will be available in the October
RadCom but is also available now on the RSGB website to give you an
idea of the fantastic range of talks that will be happening over the
weekend. Find out more and take advantage of the early-bird booking
price which is available until the 14th of September – go to
rsgb.org/convention
As part of the RSGB's commitment to the growth of amateur radio,
Regional Representative David De La Haye, M0MDB will be giving a
presentation at the RSGB Convention in which he will explain more
about the Regional Team and how its members can support you to do
amateur radio outreach in your local area. A particular focus will be
on organising the ever-popular buildathon events. Once you've picked
up some tips, you can then have a go at building one of a range of
kits provided by Kanga Products. The RSGB Convention buildathon is a
drop-in event on Saturday the 14th of October which runs from 10.30am
to 5pm. You can also confirm your preferred time by pre-booking a
slot for a deposit of GBP 5, which is refundable against the cost of
the kit you choose to build. Pre-booked time slots will be allocated
as first-come, first-served, so make sure to book now! For full
details and to book your slot, visit the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/buildathon
National Coding Week runs from the 18th of September, but the RSGB is
dedicating the whole of September to a focus on amateur radio and
coding. There is a range of activity sheets on the RSGB website and
we know of schools and amateur radio clubs that are getting involved.
Whether you'd like to try the BBC:Microbit, have a go at Node RED or
find out more about GNU Radio, this is a great way to try something
new, extend your skills, or share your knowledge with your local
club, school or community group. If you'd like some support or
advice, contact RSGB volunteer John Hislop, G7OHO via
g7oho<at>rsgb.org.uk, and if you're planning an event let the RSGB
know – email comms<at>rsgb.org.uk so the Society can share your
stories and photos to inspire others!
Air Ambulance Week 2023 is finishing today, the 10th of September.
Lots of amateur radio stations are active on the air to help raise
awareness of the lifesaving work that is carried out by the UK's air
ambulance charities. Please give them a call! More information about
Air Ambulance Week 2023 can be found by visiting airambulancesuk.org
Amateur radio has been mentioned in the mainstream media twice this
week. RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM, was interviewed in a BBC
news feature about the demise of longwave radio. You can read it
online by searching for "Long wave radio fans mourn fading
frequencies". Secondly, Helen Sharman, the first person from the UK
to go into space, was chatting on The Naked Scientists podcast about
using amateur radio on the International Space Station to talk to
school pupils. Search for "Helen Sharman: chatting with Mikhail
Gorbachev" [MI-KILE GAW-BUH-CHOV] and skip to three minutes and 49
seconds into the podcast.
And now for details of rallies and events
Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 10th
of September. The venue is Caister Lifeboat station, Caister on Sea,
NR30 5DJ. The doors are 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. For more information, 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 will be 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
Rustington Amateur Radio Group and Worthing and District Amateur
Radio Club will be active with Special Event Station GB1SCW on
Saturday the 16th of September. Working between 10.30am and 4.30pm,
operation will take place on HF, VHF and UHF bands using various
modes including SSB, FM and digital modes. The station will be
operating to celebrate the work of coastal communities, in particular
the National Coastwatch Institution and Royal National Lifeboat
Institution. More information is available via QRZ.com
OO35ATH is the special callsign in use by members of the Radio Club
de Ath, ON4ATH, in Belgium, to celebrate the club's 35th anniversary.
The station will be active until the 30th of September.
Now the DX news
John, W5JON is active as V47JA from St. Kitts, NA-104, in the West
Indies, until the 12th of September. He is operating SSB and FT8 on
the HF and 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or direct only to
W5JON.
Mike, DG5LAC is active as OZ/DG5LAC from Romo Island, EU-125, in
Denmark, until the 13th of September. He will operate using FT8, FT4
and some SSB. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World and eQSL.
Now the contest news
Today, 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.
The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday
the 9th of September and ends at 2359UTC today, 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 Tuesday the 12th of September, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs
from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 12th of September, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 13th of September, the Autumn Series CW Contest runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Wednesday the 13th of September, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour
Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the
exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday, the
13th of September, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from
1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is report
and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest
may also enter the two-hour contest.
On Thursday the 14th of September, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 17th of September, the 70MHz Affiliated Societies
Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 17th of September, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs
from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator. EI and GI stations also
give their county.
Also on Sunday the 17th of September, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest
runs from 1300 to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. EI and GI
stations also give their county.
On Sunday the 17th of September, the British Amateur Radio Teledata
Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on
the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 7th of September 2023
The propagation team was caught out last week by two coronal mass
ejections, or CMEs, that came off the edge of the Sun. The arrival of
those CMEs on the 3rd of September eventually pushed the Kp index to
5.67.
In its report, Spaceweather.com said that it was possible that a CME
arrived on the 2nd of September, but its weak impact was masked by a
chaotic stream of solar wind already blowing around Earth at the time.
At this time of year, even weak CMEs can do a good job of sparking
auroras as a result of the Russell-McPherron effect, which boosts
geomagnetic activity around the equinoxes.
So much for saying that we could expect quiet geomagnetic conditions
last week!
The Solar Flux Index declined to 131 but has since recovered to reach
147 on Thursday the 7th, with eight active regions visible. We had a
number of M-class solar flares last week, but nothing too damaging.
With the Kp index back to one on the 7th, we saw daytime MUFs rising
again, heading above 24.9MHz over a 3,000km path. There were lots of
Chinese and Japanese stations on 21MHz FT8 around 1100UTC on
Thursday. And up on 12m FT8, even more of the same. DX stations
included Thomas, KH0/KC0W on the Mariana Islands in the Pacific.
While the 10m band was just about open as well, it offered slim
pickings compared with the 12m band.
Next week NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will increase over
the week to hit perhaps 155 by next weekend. Geomagnetic conditions
remain variable with a Kp index of three or four forecast for the
12th to the 16th.
This weekend the geomagnetic forecast is that it will be quiet
although, with so many sunspots visible at the moment, it wouldn't
take much for a CME to disrupt things. As always, keep an eye on
solarham.net for near real-time updates.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The RSGB 144MHz Trophy produced good DX on 2m into Poland and Sweden,
so we guess that Tropo performed for us this week.
This spell of hot sunny weather, due to high pressure, does mean
Tropo was the mode of choice for the end of this current week, ending
today the 10th, especially across the North Sea.
However, unsettled weather is gradually encroaching from the west,
introducing some thundery rain into western areas, and this will
spread east.
Although the Tropo will cease, Gigahertz bands rain scatter is a
likely replacement although very isolated rather than the widespread
nature of a good Tropo event. It should be noted that next week is
not fully determined by all models with quite a spread of outcomes.
Either way, it's Tropo or rain scatter for most areas next week.
It's always possible that meteor scatter and aurora could show during
this period. The early morning, around dawn, is usually the best time
to look for random meteor scatter activity in the absence of any
major meteor showers. For aurora, it's best to follow the solar data
from spaceweather.com to pick up early alerts and an increasing Kp
index.
For EME stations, Moon declination is at its highest this weekend but
with apogee, the Moon's furthest point from Earth, next Tuesday, path
losses are high. 144MHz sky noise is low for most of the week except
for Thursday and Friday when the Moon and Sun are very close, meaning
high solar noise in the beamwidth of antennas.
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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