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G4APL > NEWS 09.03.24 21:56l 269 Lines 12656 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 10 Mar 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 10th of March 2024
The news headlines:
* New rules for HF contests are in place
* Applications are open for this year's YOTA camp
* Listen out for operators taking part in British Science Week
The RSGB HF Contest Committee has introduced a couple of rules to
address changes in licence conditions that came into effect from the
21st of February. It has also highlighted power changes to specific
contests. The committee is introducing a section for Foundation
licensees in some of its contests now that the power limit is
increased to 25W. Prior to finalising the rules for 2025, the
committee will consult widely on whether Regional Secondary Locators
should remain mandatory in those contests for which the country in
which the operator is situated has no bearing on the score. For more
details see the RSGB Notices section on the RSGB website.
Are you aged between 18 and 25 and passionate about all things
radio? Are you ready for exciting experiences, making new friends
and shaping the future of amateur radio? Why not apply to be part of
the RSGB YOTA team going to the YOTA Czechia summer camp this
year? You can find out more on the RSGB website. Go to rsgb.org/yota
and click on the ‘YOTA Summer camps' link in the righthand menu.
You'll be able to read about the experiences of previous teams and
download an application form for the Czechia event. The closing date
for applications is the 15th of April for the Team Leader and the
22nd April for Team Members.
British Science Week started on Friday the 8th of March and continues
until Friday the 17th of March. Please have a look at the list of
times that participants will be on the air and try to respond to
them. These will nearly all be students who will be making their
very first QSOs working with local amateurs. Your contact will
really make their day and might lead to new radio amateurs! For
those participating in British Science Week with stations, remember
the offer for skeds from GB3RS at the RSGB National Radio Centre. To
find out more, go to rsgb.org/bsw and choose the ‘List of events'
tab on that web page. If you'd like to show what you're doing during
the week, email comms<at>rsgb.org.uk and the RSGB Comms Team will
share your photos on social media. Whether or not you're involved
with this year's British Science Week, it's time to think ahead to
next year's event! Make contact with your local school or youth
group and use the activity suggestions and resources on the RSGB
British Science Week web page.
The Edinburgh 23cm microwave beacon GB3EDN is back on the air after a
move to a new location on the south side of Edinburgh. It has moved
about 1.5km south from its previous site in the University of
Edinburgh, King's Buildings Campus. The operating frequency is
1296.990MHz. It sends its callsign and QRA locator in both FSK and
JT4 once per minute. The new site is about 200m higher than the
previous site and it is hoped that coverage is somewhat
improved. It has a clear view from northwest through to the east,
giving good coverage up the east coast and across the North Sea to
Scandinavia. It is also hoped that there will be better propagation
to the south from the new site. More details are available via the
‘Beacons' link on the Lothians Radio Society's website at
lothiansradiosociety.com
And now for details of rallies and events
The Hack Green Radio Surplus Hangar Sale is taking place today, the
10th. The venue is Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich,
Cheshire, CW5 8AL. The event includes the sale of electronic
equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle
spares. For more information email coldwar<at>hackgreen.co.uk or
visit hackgreen.co.uk
Callington Radio and Electronics Rally will take place on Sunday the
17th of March. The rally will be held in the Town Hall, New Road,
Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7BD. The doors will be open from 10am.
Entry will be GBP 2 each but there will be no charge for those under
the age of 16. A comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and
societies will be present along with a bring-and-buy stall and the
usual catering service. The venue has excellent disabled access,
toilets, and there is ample car parking nearby. More details,
including a list of items currently registered for sale at the huge
bring-and-buy stand, are available at callingtonradiosociety.org.uk
Grantham Amateur Radio Club Radio and Electronics Rally will be held
on Sunday the 17th of March. The venue will be Grantham West
Community Centre, Trent Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire. The doors will
be open from 9am to 1.30pm and entry for buyers will be GBP 3. Those
under the age of 16 will be admitted for free. There is a cost of
GBP 5 per table for sellers. Traders must book and pay in advance.
The event will feature an RSGB book stall, hot and cold refreshments
and a prize raffle. Ample free parking will be available. To reserve
tables, contact rally<at>garc.org.uk For more information visit
garc.org.uk/rally
Pencoed [PEN-KOYD] and District Amateur Radio Club Radio Rally will
take place on Sunday the 17th of March. The venue will be Sarn and
Bryncwils [BRIN-QUILS] Social Club, Sarn, Bridgend, CF32 9NY. Doors
open for traders at 8am and tables cost GBP 15. The entrance fee will
be GBP 2 but there will be no charge for those under the age of 16.
Doors open to the public at 10am and refreshments will be available.
Disabled access is available via a chair lift. To book your tables
please contact Leuan Jones on 07791 709 691.
Now the Special Event News
In celebration of International Women's Day, special callsign TM88YL
will be active from France until the 15th of March and,
simultaneously, DM88YLF will be operating from Germany. QSL via the
Bureau. For more information, visit QRZ.com
Special callsign IY9MM [INDIA-YANKIE…] is active until the 31st of
March to commemorate the experiments conducted by Guglielmo Marconi
from the ship 'Regina Elena' in the port of Augusta in 1914. QSL via
Logbook of the World, eQSL, or direct to IT9MRM. The station was
recently spotted on the 40m band using FT8.
Now the DX news
Eric, F6ICX is active as 5R8IC from Sainte Marie [SANT-MAH-REE]
Island, AF-090, until the 31st of March. He operates mainly using CW
on the 40 to 10m bands and via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via Logbook
of the World or via his home call.
Peter, DC0KK is active as 4S7KKG from Sri Lanka, AS-003, until the
30th of March. He operates FT8, FT4, RTTY and sometimes CW on the 20
to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or direct
to his home call.
Now the contest news
The Commonwealth Contest started at 1000UTC on Saturday the 9th of
March and ends at 1000UTC today, Sunday the 10th of March. Using CW
on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and serial number. HQ stations also send ‘HQ'.
On Tuesday the 12th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs between 1900
to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 12th, 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 13th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs
from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70m band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 13th, the
432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using
FT8 on the 70cm 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 13th, the 80m Club Championship Contest runs from
2000 to 2130UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
On Thursday the 14th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group HF RTTY Contest starts at
0200UTC on Saturday the 16th and ends at 0200UTC on Monday the 18th.
Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 7th of March 2024
As predicted, a coronal mass ejection, or CME for short, affected the
ionosphere last weekend, the 2nd and 3rd of March, pushing maximum
usable frequencies down and sparking auroral displays that were
visible as far south as Cornwall.
The plasma hit the Earth around midday on Sunday the 3rd, eventually
pushing the Kp index to more than 5 for nine hours. It eventually
started to settle again, dropping to 4 for six hours, before then
moving back to background levels by the morning of the 4th.
The solar wind speed was not that high, being around 350 kilometres
per second, but the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic
field, or IMF, was pointing sharply south for a long period. This
allowed the solar plasma to couple with the Earth's magnetic field
more easily, and it flooded in.
The maximum usable frequency was impacted, and it took until late
morning on the 4th before the 10m band was usable again over a
3,000km path. This probably impacted northerly paths the most with
southerly paths being relatively unscathed.
The rest of the week was generally free from coronal mass ejection
chaos with the Kp index remaining below 3.
Attention is now turning to active region 3599, which has expanded in
size. It may therefore be a threat for an M-class solar flare and
potential CME.
Next week, commencing Monday the 11th, NOAA predicts that the solar
flux index will be around 135, but may then increase to 170 by the
15th.
We are heading towards the equinox, which means that geomagnetic
disturbances are likely to be more common and harsher. They are
almost twice as likely in spring and autumn versus the winter and
summer.
If the Kp index stays low, though, this can be a good time for HF.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
This weekend, the 9th and 10th, a strengthening southeasterly wind
will develop over the country as low pressure moves into Biscay and a
strong high builds over Scandinavia. Unfortunately, this may not be
useful for Tropo since the high is a long way to the northeast and
stronger winds usually prohibit the development of a quality
inversion.
All this changes again over this second weekend of March, the 9th and
10th, as low pressure pushes fronts into southern Britain. It won't
last long though and a weak ridge will cross the country on Tuesday
the 12th, which may bring some Tropo support for southeastern Britain
into the continent for the 432MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday
evening.
On Wednesday, an Atlantic low will cross northern areas with rain and
possible rain scatter options, but this will soon clear to leave a
weak high over the country and it's a return to Tropo conditions for
the remainder of the week.
The upshot of all this is that Tropo will be an off-and-on affair,
but nonetheless worth a look. The other modes, not so much. Although,
as we said in the HF section, spring is a good time of the year for
auroral activity and, after the recent visible aurora, we should
definitely keep a watch for activity and a high Kp index.
There has been the odd fleeting pulse of Sporadic-E showing on the
Propquest graphs recently. This has been noticeable on the LF bands
sometimes but is not yet a big player for the usual Sporadic-E bands
of 10m, 6m and beyond. However, on digital modes, UK stations have
seen 50MHz trans-equatorial propagation, or TEP, to Africa last week
– so check for that.
For EME operators, Moon declination is still negative but goes
positive again on Monday. Path losses are approaching minimum with
perigee today, Sunday the 10th. 144MHz sky noise is low all week
except today, the 10th, when the Sun is close to the Moon and in the
beamwidth of antennas.
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.
Our thanks to Andy G4TNU for providing this RSGB feed.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
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