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G4TNU > NEWS 01.10.23 05:31l 300 Lines 14697 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 01 Oct 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 1st of October 2023
The news headlines:
* RSGB 2023 Convention
* RadCom Basics Editor retirement
* RSGB Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML's SOTA challenge
We're counting down to the RSGB 2023 Convention and the Society is
putting the final touches to the programme. This year there will be a
special, hour-long, session with the RSGB Board where the Directors
will present the four strategic priorities that the Society will be
focusing on until the 2024 AGM. After that, Convention attendees will
have an opportunity to ask questions. This will be a positive and
productive opportunity to discuss with the Board how the Society, and
its members, can meet the challenges facing amateur radio today. The
session will be hosted by Don Beattie, G3BJ, who is the former IARU
Region 1 President as well as a former President of the Radio Society
of Great Britain. The session will be recorded so if you are unable
to attend the Convention but would like to hear a particular topic
discussed, please email that topic with your name and callsign to
comms<at>rsgb.org.uk before Monday the 9th of October. The discussion
will include as many topics as possible but the RSGB cannot guarantee
every topic will be covered. Directors will also only answer specific
questions from those who attend the session at the Convention. To be
part of this discussion and pose your question to the Board, book
your package or day ticket to the RSGB Convention today – go to
rsgb.org/convention and choose ‘Click here to book online'.
Bookings close at midnight on Sunday the 8th of October.
RadCom Basics Editor Lee Aldridge, G4EJB has retired. Over the past
few years, Lee has been instrumental in making RadCom Basics a
success. His passion for amateur radio and commitment to encouraging
newcomers is infectious and has been very well received by readers.
The RSGB thanks Lee for his hard work as Editor and is pleased to
report that he will continue to write for RadCom Basics and provide
regular technical and fault-finding articles. The new RadCom Basics
Editor is Tim Hier, G5TM and the RSGB welcomes him to the role. Lee
and Tim have worked together to produce the September edition of
RadCom Basics. You can contact Tim with ideas or feedback for future
editions via radcombasics<at>rsgb.org.uk RSGB Members can access all
issues of RadCom Basics by visiting rsgb.org/radcom-basics
RSGB Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML has taken on the challenge of
activating ten summits during 12 days on the remote Scottish islands.
He will climb some with his partner and fellow radio amateur Martha,
and their two-year-old daughter Lyra. This SOTA – or Summits on the
Air – challenge combines Ben's favourite hobbies of amateur radio
and hiking, but it also sometimes brings with it adverse weather
conditions and the need to reach remote islands by kayak! Ben is
hoping that by sharing his challenge he will not only inspire radio
amateurs to try SOTA, but he will also encourage people who love
walking and hiking to try amateur radio. You can catch up with his
adventures on the RSGB social media channels and through the special
playlist of videos on the RSGB YouTube channel. Go to
youtube.com/theRSGB and choose the playlist called "RSGB Director Ben
Lloyd, GW4BML - SOTA challenge".
The next Tonight<at>8 live webinar is on Monday the 2nd of October
when Lee Volante, G0MTN will give a presentation aimed at newcomers
to contesting. He will explore how contesting began, explain why it
is rewarding and fun, and demonstrate how anyone can take part in
their first contests with equipment they have today. Watch on the
RSGB YouTube channel and find out more on the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/webinars
The RSGB QSL Bureau reports that, due to unforeseen circumstances,
well-known volunteer Roy Taylor, M0RRV is retiring from his post as
volunteer sub-manager for the M1 to M7 groups. The Bureau thanks Roy
for his valuable service to others and is now seeking a replacement
volunteer. Expressions of interest should be emailed
to qsl<at>rsgb.org.uk Members are requested not to send collection
envelopes to this group until further notice.
IARU Region 1 will hold its next General Conference from the 1st to
the 4th of November 2023 in Zlatibor, Serbia. A wide range of papers
and proposals are now available online and the RSGB welcomes comments
on these. Topics include: general reports; organisational and budget
proposals; the new HF Bandplan; VHF, UHF and SHF changes; and
consideration of WRC-23, the World Radiocommunication Conference,
which follows shortly afterwards. Other themes include: strategic
projects and progress, accommodating digital technologies, contests,
EMC and other spectrum matters. Comments should be forwarded to the
relevant HF, VHF or Microwave spectrum manager, by Thursday the 12th
of October, in order to allow time to finalise the RSGB position. You
can find a link to the consultation via thersgb.org/go/iaruconsult
And now for details of rallies and events
The 48th Welsh Radio Rally is taking place today, the 1st of
October. The venue is Llanwern High School, Hartridge Farm Road,
Newport, South Wales, NP18 2YE. The doors will be open from 8am for
traders and from 10am for the public. Entry is GBP 3. Free parking,
bring and buy and refreshments will be available. For more
information email welshradiorally<at>gw6gw.co.uk
Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 15th
of October. The venue will be Driffield Showground, YO25 9DW. For
more information, contact Les, 2E0LBJ on 01377 252 393 or email
lbjpinkney1<at>hotmail.co.uk
Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 15th of
October. The venue will be Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane,
Yelverton. Devon, PL20 6AL. There will be bring and buy, trader
stands, free parking and refreshments available. The doors will open
at 10am and admission will be GBP 2.50. For more information, contact
Roger on 07854 088 882 or email 2e0rph<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event News
The British Railways Amateur Radio Society, using the club callsign
GX4LMR, is marking 185 years since the opening of Preston railway
station in 1838. Mark, G1PIE will be operating during the whole month
of October. Activity will be centred on the 40m band using SSB. QSL
via the bureau.
Now the DX news
Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR are active as VK9LAA from Lord Howe Island,
OC-004, until the 4th of October. They are running two stations on
the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World,
or via W7YAQ.
Sajid, VA3QY is active as A22EW from his homeland of Botswana until
the 8th of October. He is operating on the 20 to 10m bands. He may
also operate on the 6m band. QSL via eQSL.
Brian, GW4DVB is active as J88PI until the 10th of October from Palm
Island, NA-025, in the Caribbean. Brian is operating on the 40, 20,
17, 15, 10 and 6m bands using SSB, SSTV and FT8. QSL direct to home
call.
Now the contest news
The UK and Ireland Contest Club DX SSB Contest started at 1200UTC on
Saturday the 30th of September and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the
1st of October. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Stations
from the UK and Ireland also send their District Code. This event
replaces the original RSGB DX contest. It is listed on the RSGB
contest calendar and, for entrants from the UK and Crown
Dependencies, counts towards the HF Championship. This international
DX SSB contest also has a Teams section. Team members, with a maximum
of three members, can be from different DXCCs and can enter different
sections. Rules, in English and eight other languages, can be found
under the "DX CONTESTS" menu at ukeicc.com
The Worked All Britain DX Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the
30th of September and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 1st of
October. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked
All Britain square.
On Monday the 2nd of October, 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 Tuesday the 3rd of October, 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 3rd of October, 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 Tuesday the 3rd of October, the IRTS 80m Evening Counties Contest
runs from 1900 to 2000UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80m band, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also
send their county code.
On Wednesday the 4th of October, 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
4th of October, 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 4th of October, the UK 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 Oceania DX SSB Contest starts at 0600UTC on Saturday the 7th of
October and ends at 0600UTC on Sunday the 8th of October. Using SSB
on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange
is signal report and serial number.
Both the IARU and RSGB 432MHz to 245GHz Contests start at 1400UTC on
Saturday the 7th of October and end at 1400UTC on Sunday the 8th of
October. Using all modes on 432MHz to 245GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 7th of October, the 2.3GHz Trophy Contest runs from
1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes on 2.3GHz frequencies, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Saturday the 7th of October, the 1.2GHz Trophy Contest runs
from 1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes on 1.2GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 28th of September 2023
Another week of disrupted solar and geomagnetic conditions saw the Kp
index go up and MUFs come down.
A period of minor G1 geomagnetic storming was observed on Tuesday the
26th thanks to an enhanced solar wind stream containing a
long-duration southward-facing Bz component. If the solar wind's Bz
magnetic field points south, it more easily couples with the Earth's
magnetic field, allowing solar plasma to flood in.
The net result was a Kp index of 5.67 and visible aurora seen from
the UK once again. It is worth reminding people that, at this point
in the solar cycle, conditions are being governed more by the Kp
index than the solar flux index.
A high Kp index generally results in lower MUFs and poor HF
conditions.
During the week, the solar flux index was around 175, declining to
156 on Thursday the 28th. The number of solar flares also decreased
as the week progressed. Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux
index will remain in the range 145 to 155, perhaps hitting 160 on the
7th.
NOAA also predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions with a maximum Kp
index of 2. As we said last week, at this point in the cycle solar
flares and coronal mass ejections are very prevalent and hard to
predict. So, do not be surprised if the Kp index goes up again.
Otherwise, if it remains low, make the most of the good HF conditions
that generally follow.
Finally, as it is now October, we can expect another step up in HF
conditions as we enter Autumn, so keep an eye on the 10m band, which
should be opening up to the US and Canada in the afternoon. There are
plenty of 10m beacons to listen for from 28.160 to 28.330MHz, as well
as FM repeaters clustered around 29.600MHz.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
Last week saw trans-equatorial openings on 50MHz with V51 Namibia
reported all over the UK, as far north as Scotland around 1900UTC.
On the tropo front, last week was fairly unsettled with a visit from
Agnes, our first named storm of the season, which affected the north
and west.
The coming week is looking much more suitable for VHF radio with high
pressure building over the country from Tuesday, bringing a good
chance of Tropo as we go through the week. This may not be fully
developed for the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the 3rd, but
possibly starting to help lift conditions, in the south at least.
The high pressure will become more widespread over the next week, but
by the following weekend of the 7th and 8th of October, the 1.3GHz
Trophy may have to deal with more disturbed conditions in western
areas. However, conditions will still probably be good for eastern
areas across the North Sea to southern Scandinavia.
The meteor scatter prospects are improving as we move towards the
October Draconids, which peak on the night of the 8th and 9th.
Auroras have also featured recently so should remain in our
checklist.
Incidentally, although we are technically outside the main Sporadic-E
season, Dourbes ionosonde data plotted on the Propquest website have
shown occasional ‘blips' in the critical frequency of the
Sporadic-E layer, for example to 7.5MHz around 1650UTC on Wednesday
the 27th of September. This would certainly be enough for 10m and
perhaps even 6m chance openings. ‘If in doubt call CQ' is the
take-away message here.
Moon declination goes positive on Friday the 29th of September and
reaches its peak the following Thursday. This means increasing Moon
elevation and lengthening Moon Windows until then. The downside being
that path losses are increasing all week ahead of apogee on the 10th
of October.
144MHz sky noise starts off low, increasing to 500 Kelvin next
Thursday before dropping again for the 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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