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G4TNU > NEWS 15.10.23 05:32l 255 Lines 11949 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 15 Oct 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 15th of October 2023
The news headlines:
* RSGB Construction Competition
* New chair of the RSGB's Exams and Syllabus Group
* RSGB 2023 Convention
The RSGB recognises the importance of construction as a key element
of amateur radio, whether that is using traditional construction
skills or is a software or systems engineering project. The Society
has launched its 2024 Construction Competition and the deadline for
entries is the 1st of March 2024. To enable members across the
country, and even the world, to enter, entries will be judged over
the internet rather than in person. This year a new category called
‘Antennas' has been introduced so there are five categories you can
enter: Beginners; Construction Excellence; Innovation; Software and
Systems; and Antennas. Special recognition will be given to entries
submitted by radio amateurs under the age of 24, and to those who
have just gained their Foundation licence. A cash prize will be
awarded for the winner of each section, with a bonus for the overall
winner, who will also be declared the winner of the Pat Hawker G3VA
Award. You can find out more, including how to enter, on the RSGB
website at rsgb.org/construction-competition
The RSGB is delighted to welcome Andrew Lenton, G8UUG as the new
Chair of the Exams and Syllabus Review Group. The Society would also
like to thank Donard de Cogan, M0KRK for his hard work and
dedication, including chairing the Group for the past three years.
You can contact Andrew via esrg.chair<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB 2023 Convention takes place over both days this weekend.
There is a fantastic range of presentations on a variety of amateur
radio topics. If you haven't already booked, you can buy day tickets
on the door or join the Livestream at any time over the weekend. The
Livestream contains 12 of the Convention presentations as well as
exclusive interviews and additional content. We are asking radio
amateurs to register for the Convention Livestream this year. Whether
you are there in person, or joining radio amateurs from across the
world online, make sure you are part of this major annual event. For
more information about the full programme of presentations go to
rsgb.org/convention and to register for the Livestream head over to
rsgb.org/livestream
As we get closer to the ITU World Radio Conference, WRC-23, which
starts next month, the future of amateur radio, particularly the 23cm
band, is of key importance. The ITU News Magazine has a feature
article by IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH regarding amateur activity
in the 23cm band. This is the topic of a challenging agenda item at
the Conference which calls for measures that protect primary
radio-navigation services such as Glonass and Galileo from amateur
terrestrial and satellite usage. You can read the article by visiting
tinyurl.com/TimVE6SH
In related news, the IARU also reports that the last formal
preparatory meeting ahead of the WRC on this topic was difficult and
could not achieve a consensus on measures such as power and bandwidth
limits, or frequency restrictions. The IARU supports further efforts
and will continue to try to find a solution regarding suitable
recommendations, whilst opposing the unwarranted statutory imposition
of such. You can read the IARU's post on this subject via
tinyurl.com/ITUR23cm Also, you can hear the latest updates at the
RSGB Convention on Sunday, in a talk by IARU expert and RSGB
Microwave Manager Barry Lewis, G4SJH.
Jamboree On The Air, or JOTA, is an annual event in which Scouts and
Guides all over the world communicate with each other via amateur
radio. JOTA 2023 will run from Friday the 20th to Sunday the 22nd of
October. You can find out more at jotajoti.info
And now for details of rallies and events
Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 15th of
October. The venue is Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane,
Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL. The event features bring and buy, trader
stands, refreshments and free parking. The doors open at 10am and
admission is GBP 2.50. For more information, contact Roger on
07854 088 882 or email 2e0rph<at>gmail.com
Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally is also taking place today, Sunday
the 15th of October. The venue is Driffield Showground, YO25 9DW. For
more information, visit hornseaarc.com
Part 2 of the British Amateur Television Club Convention for Amateur
TV 2023 will take place on Saturday the 21st of October from 10am
until 3pm. The event will feature online talks about ATV-related
topics. For more information visit batc.org.uk/events
The Galashiels Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 22nd of
October. The venue will be the Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street,
Galashiels, TD1 3JX. The doors open at 11am. Entrance is GBP 2.50,
although under-16s will be admitted free of charge.
Now the Special Event News
Today, the 15th, is the last chance to work EI4FOTA
[ECHO-INDIA-FOUR-FOXTROT-OSCAR-TANGO-ALPHA] from the Blasket Islands,
EU-007. A team of ‘Friends on the Air' will be busy activating
special locations in and around Ireland until the 31st of August
2024. See QRZ.com for more information.
Members of Radio Club F5KDC will be active as TM400BPA until Monday
the 16th of October. Listen for activity on the 80, 40 and 20m bands
using SSB and CW. The special callsign marks the 400th anniversary of
the birth of Blaise [BLAZE] Pascal, the French polymath.
Listen out for AT30IIH [ALPHA-TANGO-THREE-ZERO-INDIA-INDIA-HOTEL]
which is active until the 31st of December to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the Indian Institute of Hams, or IIH. The IIH's focus
is training and bringing young people into the amateur radio
community. QSL via the bureau, direct or via eQSL.
Now the DX news
Today, the 15th, is the last chance to work a team of German amateurs
that is active as TX6D from Tahiti, OC-046, in French Polynesia. The
team is operating using CW, SSB and digital modes on the 160 to 10m
bands. QSL to DL7DF directly or via the bureau, Logbook of the World
or OQRS.
Uli, DL2AH is active as V73AH until the 16th of October from Majuro
[MUH-JURE-ROW], OC-029, in the Marshall Islands. He will operate SSB
and FT8 on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or
direct to DL2AH.
Now the contest news
The Oceania DX CW Contest started at 0600UTC on Saturday the 14th of
October and ends at 0600UTC today, Sunday the 15th of October.
On Monday the 16th of October, 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 17th of October, 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 19th of October, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 22nd of October, the 50MHz Affiliated Societies Contest
runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Germany Contest starts at 1500UTC on Saturday the 21st
of October and ends at 1500UTC on Sunday the 22nd of October. Using
CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also
send their DOK reference.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 12th of October 2023
We had a period of low geomagnetic disturbance last week, which
allowed the upper HF bands to shine. There were lots of reports of DX
being worked on the 10m band as the Kp Index sat mainly in the ones
and twos, with a maximum of Kp 3.33 for one three-hour period on the
9th.
The Solar Flux Index, or SFI, also remained in the 150s and 160s,
hitting a maximum of 166 on the 9th. All in all, these were very good
conditions for high-band DXing, especially at this optimum time in
the calendar.
As promised last week, let's take a look at HF paths from the UK to
the W8S Swains Island DXpedition in the South Pacific. The good news
is that operations are in full swing and are being spotted daily on
the DX Cluster.
At a distance of approximately 9,500 miles from the UK on the
short-path, and 15,300 miles on the long-path, it's quite a distance
for signals to traverse. The short-path beam heading you need to
select is a polar path at 350 degrees, and for long-path 169 degrees.
The best openings to Swains from the UK start on the 20m band from
about 0630UTC. As the morning progresses, move up in frequency until
you get to the 10m band around 1000 to 1100UTC. This path should
remain open until 1500 or 1600UTC, at which point you can drop down
to the 12, 15 or 17m bands.
Long-path openings may be a lot weaker, with a short opening on the
15m band from 0600 to 0800UTC. Then move to the 12 or 10m bands from
0700 to 0900UTC. There may also be a long-path evening opening from
1800 to 2000UTC on the 17 and 10m bands. The above predictions are
for SSB and CW. You may find FT8 openings extend these times a little.
For more details, and to compute your own predictions, see VOACAP.com
or Proppy at soundbytes.asia/proppy
This weekend, ending today the 15th, may see some geomagnetic
disturbances due in part to a coronal hole. But, as long as we don't
get any coronal mass ejections, this should settle after the weekend.
The Solar Flux Index is predicted to remain in the 150s with a
maximum Kp index of two. If this turns out to be true, we should have
a good week of DX hunting to come.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The coming period of weather offers many changes, and it looks as
though we have said goodbye to the warm air, with low pressure
controlling events.
Just a gentle reminder to keep an eye on your antennas as this time
of year can produce surprisingly rapid developments of deep
low-pressure systems with associated strong winds.
Early next week, a temporary high returns to give you a chance to
give those antenna supports and guys a once-over while winds are
light, and leave the potential Tropo until the evenings and overnight.
Incidentally, this new high is essentially a cold air high, so may
not be as productive as the recent Tropo of the week just ending.
The new high will probably hang around until midweek when it should
migrate north to allow an easterly wind across the south. This will
probably bring some showery rain along the east coast. It's possible
that we may have some rain scatter from these showers.
Meteor scatter is always good in October, with high random meteor
rates and a number of small showers. Most notable of these is the
Orionids Meteor Shower which peaks on the 22nd of October and is
active until the 7th of November with an average zenithal hourly rate
of around 20.
Of course, aurora is also worth keeping in mind if you get any spare
time!
For EME operators, Moon declination is negative and falling all week,
reaching minimum on Friday the 20th with corresponding shortening
Moon windows. As we are now past apogee, path losses will continue to
fall.
144MHz sky noise starts very high with the annular eclipse on
Saturday the 14th. The following week sees it moderate, increasing to
a high of over 2000 Kelvin on Thursday.
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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