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G4TNU > NEWS 03.12.23 03:47l 273 Lines 13399 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 03 Dec 2023
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 3rd of December 2023
The news headlines:
* ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 update
* Youth country representatives sought
* YOTA month has begun
The 2023 World Radio Conference has reached the halfway point in its
four-week deliberations. After numerous meetings, the 23cm topic has
made progress at the sub-working group level, and the outcome is
expected to progress up the WRC committee structure for
adoption. Meanwhile, attention is also being paid to a wide variety
of other current and future agenda proposals where amateur frequency
allocations are in scope, from HF and VHF upwards into the microwave
bands. IARU President Timothy Ellam, VE6SH arrived to support the
amateur radio team at the Conference and was able to record an ITU
interview which is available online. The RSGB special focus
page continues to have regular updates and additional detail. You
can find the page at rsgb.org/wrc-23
The RSGB is looking for four licensed radio amateurs to help raise
the profile of wireless communication amongst young people.
Initially, we're looking for RSGB members based in England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales to engage young people in the hobby.
Volunteers in these new roles will represent the RSGB at externally
organised events and will plan and deliver outreach events. If you
have plenty of ideas, a passion for getting young people involved in
amateur radio and experience of running small-scale events, we would
be very keen to hear from you. For full details of these roles visit
rsgb.org/volunteers and for an informal discussion please email RSGB
Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML via gw4bml<at>rsgb.org.uk
Youngsters on the Air month has now begun. Callsign GB23YOTA is
active for the duration of the month, with a range of groups, clubs
and individuals having reserved operating slots. Cray Valley Radio
Society is active with the callsign between 12pm and 6pm today, the
3rd. Tomorrow, Monday the 4th of December, Wick High School is the
first of several schools this week to be operating GB23YOTA. It will
be on the air between 8am and 5pm. Sandringham School will be active
on Wednesday the 6th of December between 8am and 4pm, as well as
Mallaig High School who will be hosting the callsign on Thursday the
7th of December between 8am and 3pm. Finally, for this week, the
RSGB National Radio Centre will be operating as GB23YOTA on Saturday
the 9th of December between 9am and 5pm. Remember to listen out and
have a QSO with a young radio amateur on the air. If you'd like to
get involved, you've still got time. Email Jamie, M0SDV at
yota.month<at>rsgb.org.uk to register your interest or ask for
further information.
The latest RSGB 2023 Convention video to be released is three
presentations in one, on the topic of the 23cm band. Barry Lewis,
G4SJH talks about amateur and RNSS coexistence in the 23cm band, then
John Worsnop, G4BAO considers how the possible RNSS changes will
affect narrow band DX and Earth Moon Earth operation. Finally, Dave
Crump, G8GKQ looks at the future of ATV on the 23cm band. These
presentations were given before the WRC23 conference, and final
arrangements will depend on the WRC23 outcome. You can watch the
presentation on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB
The last of the RSGB's Tonight<at>8 webinars for 2023 is on Monday
the 11th of December. It focuses on amateur radio construction and
the RSGB Construction Competition. Jenny Curtis M7JNY, Colin Murray
GM4EAU, and David Law G0LBK will talk about the projects they worked
on and why they decided to submit them to the RSGB Construction
Competition in recent years. If you're interested in trying something
new, or are wondering whether to submit your construction project to
the RSGB competition, this webinar is for you! Watch live on the RSGB
YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the
live chat. To find out more go to the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/webinars
The RSGB Emerging Technology Coordination Committee members will be
taking a break from processing Notices of Variation and enquiries
from the 20th of December until the 3rd of January. They will reply
to emails after that but please be patient as they work through any
backlog.
When G-QRP Club Secretary Dick, G0BPS, heard about the Radio
Communications Foundation initiative to pay for 60 RSGB Foundation
exams taken by young people in full-time education, he asked if the
Club could help out. The Club Committee, minus Chairman Steve G0FUW,
who is also an RCF Trustee, agreed to sponsor an additional ten
exams. The RCF now has the funds and awaits applications from young
people who would benefit from a little help in getting started in
amateur radio. The G-QRP Club is devoted to low power communications
and has over 4,000 members, mostly in the UK, but also in pretty much
every corner of the world. Further information can be found at
gqrp.com
And now for details of rallies and events
The Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur Club Rally is taking place today,
Sunday the 3rd of December. The event is happening at Spennymoor
Leisure Centre, High Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 6DB. The
doors open at 10.30am, with disabled access from 10am. For more
information contact bdingle<at>hotmail.co.uk
Also taking place today, the 3rd, is the Royal Wootton Bassett
Swapmeet and Auction in Swindon, Wiltshire. There will be
approximately 25 tables of items available from private sellers as
well as bring-and-buy tables. The auction will include around 300
lots. Location details and event times are on the Event Location page
at bvws.org.uk
The Mid Devon Amateur Radio and Computer Fair will take place on
Saturday the 9th of December. The venue will be Winkleigh Sports and
Recreation Centre, Mid Devon, EX19 8HZ. It will run from 9am to 2pm.
Entry is GBP 3 but there is no charge for partners and under 16s. For
more information, or to book a table, contact Phil, G6DLJ via email
at philbridges<at>hotmail.com
The Sparkford Wireless Group Tabletop Rally, in aid of the RAIBC,
will take place on Thursday the 28th of December from 9.30am to 1pm.
The event will be held at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel near
Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Entry is GBP 3 and free parking and
refreshments will be available. For more information, email Bob via
wjh069<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event News
Datta [DAH-TAH], VU2DSI is active as AU2JCB until the 11th of
December to commemorate the birthdate of Indian physicist and radio
pioneer Jagadish Chandra Bose who was born on the 30th of November
1858. He will operate SSB on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands, and FM
on the 10 and 6m bands. QSL direct to his home call.
A60WRC is the special callsign in use by members of the Emirates
Amateur Radio Society during the ITU World Radiocommunication
Conference 2023 which is ongoing until the 15th of December.
Individual operators may append a serial number to the special
callsign, and operate as, for example, A60WRC/1. See QRZ.com for more
information.
Special event station VP8FLY is operating throughout the month of
December to mark the 75th anniversary of the Falkland Islands
Government Air Service. For more information visit QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Burkhard, DL3KZA is active as YB9/DL3KZA from Sumbawa [SOOM-BAA-WUH]
Island, OC-150, until tomorrow, the 4th of December. QSL via home
call, direct or via the bureau.
Maurizio, IK2GZU is active as 5H3MB in Tanzania until the 8th of
December while doing volunteer work at the Ikelu [EE-KAH-LOO]
Hospital and Ilembula [EH-LEM-BUE-LAH] Orphanage. In his spare time,
he operates SSB, CW and digital modes on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via
Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, eQSL, via IK2GZU directly or
via the bureau.
Now the contest news
Today, the 3rd, the 144MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from
1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 5th of December the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 5th of December, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 6th, 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, 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.
The UK Six Metre Group's Winter Marathon started on Friday the 1st of
December 2023 and runs until Wednesday the 31st of January 2024.
Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and
locator.
The ARRL 160m Contest started at 2200UTC on Friday the 1st of
December and ends at 1600UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of December. Using
CW on the 160m band, the exchange is your signal report. American and
Canadian stations also send their ARRL or RAC section.
The ARRL 10m Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 9th of
December and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 10th of December. Using CW
and Phone on the 10m band, the exchange is signal report and serial
number. American, Canadian and Mexican stations also send their state
or province code.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 30th of November 2023
We were lucky last week – the solar flux index remained quite high
and, after the geomagnetic upsets around the 25th, we had settled
conditions, with the Kp index below two.
Unfortunately, it looks like that is all about to change.
On Tuesday the 28th, two M-class solar flares and associated coronal
mass ejections caused a plasma cloud to be directed towards Earth. It
is expected to catch up with an earlier coronal mass ejection, or
perhaps arrive shortly thereafter.
Moderate G2 storming with a chance for strong G3 storming can
therefore be expected, with an increased Kp index.
If this wasn't bad enough, a very large coronal hole is rotating into
an Earth-facing position as well.
This became geo-effective on the 2nd of December, and we can
therefore expect any associated plasma in the solar wind early next
week. Just how bad it will be is hard to say as it will largely
depend on the interplanetary magnetic field of the plasma coming off
the Sun. If it's north facing we might just dodge the bullet but, if
it is south facing, we can expect significant auroral displays and
propagation to match.
Either way, it will be worth keeping an eye on solarham.net and also
the upper HF bands for signs of auroral-type activity. After an
initial surge in the MUF we can expect band conditions to decline for
at least a day or two.
So, all in all then, we can expect the bands to be disrupted at the
end of this weekend ending the 3rd of December.
Next week NOAA predicts the worst will be over by the 8th of
December, but we are in uncharted territory and can expect anything
to happen. So, work the HF DX if and when you hear it!
On a side note, we are now heading towards winter propagation
conditions so expect to hear DX activity on Top Band and 80m at night
and especially around sunrise. The 40m band may also throw up some
surprises during late afternoon.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The weak-but-cold easterly pattern is providing some sharp frosts,
and scattered showers suggest that Tropo is not likely. However, the
overnight cooling temperature inversion inland, or anywhere away from
the east coast, could see temporary Tropo develop overnight and up to
about mid-morning. The showers themselves are mostly fairly shallow
and don't look wonderful from a rain scatter perspective.
All of this changes by mid-week as low pressure starts to dominate
again and really takes control for the rest of the coming week. This
will bring stronger winds, spells of heavy rain and a return to
milder air again. It does not, however, encourage thoughts of Tropo
becoming a big player next week!
Don't forget to check in the early mornings for random meteor scatter
opportunities and keep an eye on the Kp index for possible aurora.
This is the better option with such an active Sun at the moment and,
as we said earlier in the HF report, seems to be a strong player as
we finish this first weekend of December.
For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and falling, going
negative on Thursday the 7th. Monday the 4th is apogee when the Moon
is furthest away so expect path losses to be at their highest. 144MHz
sky noise is low all week.
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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