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G4TNU > NEWS 12.11.23 06:31l 247 Lines 12094 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 12 Nov 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 12th of November 2023
The news headlines:
* RSGB Construction Competition
* RSGB 2023 Convention videos
* RSGB QSL Bureau
Now the nights are drawing in, don't forget about the RSGB
Construction Competition. To enable members across the country, and
even the world, to take part, entries will again be judged over the
internet rather than in person. This year two new categories have
been introduced so there are six categories you can enter: Antennas;
Beginners; Most creative and/or elegant PCB Design; Construction
Excellence; Innovation; and Software and Systems. 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 given the Pat Hawker
G3VA Award. The deadline for entries is the 1st of March 2024 and you
can find out more, including how to enter, on the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/construction-competition
The RSGB has released three presentations from its 2023 Convention.
The first is the keynote speech in which Colonel John Doody talks
about his life in the RF Spectrum during the last 60 years and asks,
"Is this a life for you?". The second presentation is by the RSGB
President, John McCullagh, GI4BWM who talks about his experience of
50 years of RSGB membership and explains the wide range of services
that are offered to members. He finishes with an overview of the four
strategic priorities that the RSGB Board has set until the 2024 AGM.
The third presentation is the Discussion with the Board session that
was hosted by Don Beattie, G3BJ who has been both an RSGB President
and President of IARU Region 1. This builds on the four strategic
priorities, includes questions from those attending this discussion
forum and answers from the Board Directors. Although the three
presentations are separate, the presentation by the RSGB President
was immediately before the Board session at the Convention and is
referred to in that discussion. You can find all three on the RSGB
YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB
The RSGB QSL Bureau is pleased to advise that a replacement QSL
sub-manager is now in place for the M1, M3, M5, M6 and M7 QSL
sub-groups. Ann Eastwood, M7ERT has kindly volunteered to take on
all five busy groups. Members can again send 2nd Class stamped,
C5-sized collection envelopes to the new address. Contact details are
available from the RSGB website. Please remember to number each
envelope and indicate your callsign and membership number in the
top-left corner as usual.
Essex CW Amateur Radio Club's activity week runs from Monday the 13th
of November to Sunday the 19th of November 2023. This is a friendly
non-contest style event to encourage both experienced and new Morse
operators. Slow speed operators are especially welcome. Whilst the
objective is to contact as many radio amateurs as possible in a week,
it is hoped that QSOs go beyond just an exchange of signal reports
and become longer chats. Anyone who works at least 25 other stations
qualifies for a free PDF award certificate. The stations worked
don't have to be Essex CW Amateur Radio Club members. So, please dust
off your key or paddle and get on the air! Listen out for Essex CW
club callsigns GX1FCW and GX8CW during the event. More information,
and a list of preferred frequencies, can be found at essexcw.uk
Please send details of your news and events to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursday before the Sunday
broadcast.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society Winter Rally will
take place on Saturday the 18th of November. The venue will be St
Vincent de Paul's Hall, Norden, Rochdale, Lancs, OL12 7QR. The doors
open from 10am and entry will be GBP 3. The usual traders, caterers
and plenty of free parking will be available. All proceeds from this
rally will go to a local charity. Last time GBP 1000 was given to the
Rochdale Springhill Hospice. For more information, please contact
Dave Carden, G3RIK on 01706 633 400 or email dave<at>cardens.me.uk
The Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society Bazaar will take place on
Sunday the 19th of November. The venue will be Oasis Academy,
Homefield Road, Old Coulsdon, CR5 1ES. Doors open for the public from
10am to 2pm and the entrance fee will be GBP 3. Traders, bring and
buy, club tables and car parking will be available. Tables cost
GBP 12, with additional tables priced at GBP 8. Please forward
general enquiries to bazaar<at>catsradio.org.uk
The Wiltshire Winter Radio Rally will take place on Saturday the
25th of November from 9am to 1pm. It will take place at Kington
Langley Village Hall and Playing Field, Kington Langley, Wiltshire,
SN15 5NJ. Depending on the weather, there may be a small car boot
section. Entry costs GBP 3. There is no charge for under 16s. For
further information please contact chairman<at>chippenhamradio.club
Now the Special Event News
Special callsign HB8DELOY is in use by members of the Swiss Air Force
Museum's Radio Club, HB4FR, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of
the first transatlantic amateur two-way contact between Leon Deloy,
8AB and Fred Schnell, 1MO in November 1923. Listen for activity until
the 31st of December. QSL via HB9ACA, preferably via the bureau.
RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club is operating Special Event Station
GX3LQS/P from the 17th to the 19th of November. The event is being
held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the RAF receiving its
first Typhoon on the 18th of December 2003. To help commemorate the
event, members of the former RAF Coningsby Amateur Radio Club will be
putting GX3LQS/P on the air from various locations during November
and December. Some former club members, supported by RAF Waddington
Amateur Radio Club, will be operating the callsign from RAF Binbrook
from the 17th to the 19th of November. For more details visit QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Ken, LA7GIA and Shani, HA5DDX are active as 7O8AD [SEVEN-OSCAR…]
and 7O8AE [SEVEN-OSCAR…] respectively, from Socotra [SAW-KUH-TRUH]
Island, AF-028, in Yemen until the 16th of November. The team plans
to have up to three stations working on the 160 to 10m bands and will
operate using SSB, CW and FT8. QSL via OQRS and Logbook of the World.
A team of amateurs is active as TJ9MD from Cameroon using CW, FT8 and
SSB. QSL direct to IK2VUC or via Logbook of the World. For more
information visit mdxc.support/tj9md
Now the contest news
The Worked All Europe DX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday
the 11th and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 12th of November.
Using RTTY only on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted,
the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Today, the 12th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from
1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 14th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 14th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 15th, the Autumn Series SSB Contest runs from 2000
to 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report
and serial number.
On Thursday the 16th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 18th, the second 1.8MHz Contest runs from 1900 to
2300UTC. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and District Code.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 9th of November 2023
Last week was characterised by very unsettled geomagnetic conditions
which took their toll on the high-frequency bands.
The Kp index hit seven on the 5th of November, sparking visible
aurora all over the UK. This also caused auroral conditions on the
bands with many people commenting on the auroral flutter on the lower
HF bands and hearing auroral-type signals on the 10m band.
Unfortunately, these conditions didn't improve very quickly, and the
upper bands were badly affected as the subsequent geomagnetic storm
continued.
By late afternoon on the 6th, HF began to return to normal with MUFs
over a 3,000km path hitting more than 28MHz again.
The solar flux index, at this point, was 146, with eleven C-class
flares being detected on Monday, but nothing worse.
Unsettled geomagnetic conditions continued on and off until the
morning of Thursday the 9th when the Kp index finally got down below
four and stayed there.
A quick check of the 10m band on Thursday afternoon revealed the W1AW
CQ practice transmissions on 28.0675MHz, plus two to ten watt beacons
audible from Gibraltar, Italy, Greece and the Eastern seaboard of the
USA. The band was open, but not exactly humming!
Also on Thursday, the data feed to Propquest.co.uk failed, resulting
in a lack of graphs for the F2-layer critical frequency and
extrapolated MUFs. Let's hope it returns quite quickly.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be around 150
and the Kp index will be around 2 or 3. If that is the case, we can
expect conditions to be a little better. But, as always, a coronal
mass ejection could soon put an end to the fun with an increased Kp
index and decreased MUFs.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The current spell of unsettled weather is likely to continue for
another week at least, with some fairly strong weather systems
possible, which could bring gales and heavy rain.
With fast-moving systems it's pointless, with such a long lead time,
to try and nail down the exact timings of each individual system.
Once again, Tropo will not be a big player in VHF/UHF operating this
week, except perhaps over this weekend, the 11th and 12th, as a
transient weak ridge crosses the country.
You might still see the odd 'spike' of higher E-layer critical
frequencies on the propquest.co.uk NVIS charts when it comes back
online. Lately, these have been during the mid-morning period so
maybe give the 10m and 6m bands a cursory check during the coming
week. It's not entirely clear why the bands have been so reliable
during the recent week, but may be a response to meteor input.
We are approaching the peak of the Taurids meteor shower over the
12th and 13th of November. This is followed by the much larger
Leonids towards the end of next week on the 17th and 18th of
November. This also means that it's worth listening for some meteor
scatter signals throughout the next week or so.
There was a nice auroral opening on 6m up to 2m late in the afternoon
on the 5th of November, with the planetary Kp index reaching 6 to 7.
This produced rare visual aurora sightings down to the south coast.
Auroral CW and SSB signals sound ‘watery' on the LF bands and very
raspy and whispery on HF and VHF.
For EME operators, Moon declination is negative and falling again,
reaching a minimum on Thursday the 16th. Path losses continue to fall
and 144MHz sky noise is low, apart from Monday the 13th when the Sun
and Moon are close in the sky. From Wednesday, it rises to a high of
2,900 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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