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G4TNU > NEWS 04.02.24 03:01l 237 Lines 11027 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 04 Feb 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 4th of February 2024
The news headlines:
* The RSGB is seeking resources for British Science Week
* New RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar coming up
* RSGB District Representative opportunities in Region 5
The RSGB is collecting resources to help you get involved with
British Science Week, which runs from the 8th to the 17th of March.
The theme this year is ‘Time'. If you have any resources and are
willing to share them, please send them in. The RSGB has provided
some already, including an example risk assessment and some lesson
plans. You can also get advice about how to contact your local school
or college to offer help. The Society would like to add to its
resource base, so please share your ideas. If you already have an
event planned, please let the RSGB know. This will be useful for
others to see. Let the RSGB know whatever you're planning so it can
be added to the web page. If you're going on the air, tell everyone
when to listen out for you by sending dates, times, bands and modes.
Send your information to the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator
Ian Neal, M0KEO at bsw<at>rsgb.org.uk and to see all the resources go
to rsgb.org/bsw
The RSGB's next Tonight<at>8 live webinar is this Monday, the 5th of
February. Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL will be giving a presentation
called "Propagation at HF: What can we learn using digital modes WSPR
and FST4W?" Gwyn is an associate member of the RSGB Propagation
Studies Committee and will present some new and exciting research.
You can watch and ask questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel and
special BATC channel. For more information about the presentation go
to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars
Do you live in RSGB Region 5? Region 5 covers the West Midlands area
of England, from Staffordshire to the Welsh borders and down to
Gloucestershire. The RSGB is looking for three volunteers to take up
the roles of DR52 for Central and East Birmingham; DR53 for
Shropshire, North Worcestershire and West Birmingham; and DR54 for
Gloucestershire, Hereford and South Worcestershire. If you live in
one of those areas and would like to promote amateur radio and
support the local amateur radio community, please get in touch with
the Regional Representative Neil Yorke, M0NKE via rr5<at>rsgb.org.uk
– he will be delighted to hear from you!
The RadCom team is looking for a VHF/UHF columnist. James Stevens,
M0JCQ has recently retired from this role following the birth of
another child. The RSGB thanks James for his work on the column and
wishes him well for the future. If you are interested in this
opportunity to contribute to RadCom, please email
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
HamCation is one of the world's largest annual gatherings of radio
amateurs. This year it starts in Orlando, Florida on Friday the 9th
and runs until Sunday the 11th of February. The event's website
contains lots of information including details of forums, speakers,
prizes and a special event station. You can read all about it via
hamcation.com
And now for details of rallies and events
The Canvey Rally is being held today, Sunday the 4th of February, at
Cornelius Vermuyden [VER-MOW-DEN] School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey,
Essex, SS8 9QS. For more information contact Richard Stanley on
07725 551 263 or email g7oed<at>icloud.com
The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11th of
February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG.
The doors open at 10am and admission is GBP 5. There will be a wide
variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio.
Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks
will be available in the hall, and parking is immediately adjacent to
the venue.
The Red Rose Winter Rally will take place on Sunday the 25th of
February. The venue will be St Joseph's Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh,
WN7 2PJ. Access for exhibitors will be from 8.30am. The event will be
open to the public from 10am. Hot and cold refreshments will be
available. Further details can be found via the West Manchester Radio
Club's website at wmrc.co.uk Send enquiries to Les, G4HZJ via
lesjackson<at>ntlworld.com or phone 07796 264 569.
Now the Special Event News
Today, the 4th, is the last chance to work special callsign TM26PVJ.
The station is active, on the HF bands, for the 26th festival
celebrating the ‘Opening of the Yellow Wine'. This year, the
festival is taking place at Arbois [AH-BWAH] in the Jura region of
France. QSL via F8GGZ.
VI100MB [VICTOR-INDIA-ONE-HUNDRED…] is the special callsign for the
Manly-Warringah [MAN-LEE-WAR-ING-GUH] Radio Society, VK2MB, in
Australia, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its formation. The
station is active until the 25th of February. QSL via Logbook of the
World and eQSL.
Now the DX news
Keith, G3WRO is active as 8Q7WR from the Maldives, AS-013, until the
6th of February. He is operating SSB on the 40 to 10m bands, and
possibly also on the 80m band. QSL via Keith's home call.
Michel, F5LRL is active as CN2DX from near Kenitra [CAN-EE-TRA],
Morocco until the 10th of February. He will operate CW and SSB on the
40 to 10m bands. He is also using FT8 on the 6m band. QSL via EA5GL.
Now the contest news
Today, the 4th, the 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from
0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Monday the 5th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to
2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and
serial number.
On Tuesday the 6th, 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.
Also on Tuesday the 6th, 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.
On Wednesday the 7th, 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 7th, 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 7th, 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.
On Saturday the 10th, the First 1.8MHz Contest runs from 1900 to
2300UTC. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and
serial number.
Also on Saturday the 10th, the Worked All Britain 1.8MHz Contest runs
from 1900 to 2359UTC. Please note that this is an SSB-only contest,
and all entries need to be with the contest manager by the 20th
of February. See worked-all-britain.org.uk for full details of the
rules.
The CQ Worldwide WPX RTTY Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the
10th of February and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 11th of February.
Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
The PACC Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 10th of February
and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 11th of February. Using CW and SSB
on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange
is signal report and serial number. Dutch stations send their
province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 1st of February 2024
We had another week of relatively calm geomagnetic conditions with a
maximum Kp index of three. The solar flux index declined from 172 on
the 24th to 135 on the 30th.
Nevertheless, that is still enough to support propagation on the 10m
band, with the Maximum Useable Frequency over a 3,000km path
generally being between 29 and 36MHz during daylight.
Solar activity has been at low levels with only minor C-class flares
and one M-class flare detected. Active region 3559 is now located
behind the west limb of the Sun and out of direct view. New active
region 3567 in the northeast quadrant is showing the most promise as
it appears to be in a growth phase. There is currently a 25% chance
of a moderate M-class flare, according to the latest NOAA and SWPC
update.
Earlier in the week, we had a period of moderate S2-level radiation
storming. Proton levels streaming past Earth, following a solar flare
early on Monday morning, increased but this has now declined.
A minor coronal hole also became Earth-facing on the 2nd of February,
so we may still expect some disruption today, Sunday the 4th.
The 10m band is still romping along, with beacons along the eastern
seaboard of the USA coming alive in the afternoon. This weekend, the
3rd and 4th, sees the 10-10 International Winter SSB Contest, so
there should be plenty of stations to work on 28MHz.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may rise again,
perhaps to 150 today Sunday 4th, and up to 165 a week later. We may
have unsettled geomagnetic conditions on the 5th and 6th, with the Kp
index predicted to rise to three.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
This week, ending the 4th of February, saw high pressure to the south
of Britain and fronts over northern areas. For some stations in the
southern half of the country, there could be useful Tropo conditions
for the 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest taking place today, the
4th.
Unfortunately, the frontal activity over the north will move south on
Tuesday to remove any chance of these better conditions lasting into
the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the 6th of February.
The period from mid-week onwards looks dominated by low pressure with
rain or showers and generally flat VHF and UHF prospects, unless you
are set up for rain scatter. Other propagation modes like meteor
scatter, aurora or Sporadic-E seem likely to remain in the background
for the coming week.
For EME operators, moon declination is negative and falling to a
minimum on Tuesday the 6th. Path losses are also decreasing since
their maximum at apogee on Monday the 29th. But with the low peak
moon elevations, only eight degrees on Tuesday, moon windows will be
short.
144MHz sky noise is moderate to very high all week going over 3100
Kelvin on Tuesday the 6th. Friday and Saturday see the moon and sun
very close together, so Sun noise in antenna beamwidths will be an
issue.
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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