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G4TNU > NEWS 13.02.20 17:06l 265 Lines 12574 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 09 Feb 2020
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 9th of February 2020
The news headlines:
* Build a radio at Bletchley Park
* Voting for RSGB AGM opens in around 4 weeks
* GB3GV ATV repeater back to full power
The RSGB invites young people, and an accompanying adult if the child
is under 16 years, to join them at the National Radio Centre at
Bletchley Park for a fun and hands-on workshop where they can learn
more about radio and electronics on the 14th of March. The workshop
offers a short introduction to wireless communications, radio
propagation and electronic construction, before moving on to the
construction of a medium wave radio receiver provided free of charge
for each registered student by the Radio Communications Foundation.
Attendees will also be able to visit Bletchley Park, including the
National Radio Centre. Places are limited to eight young persons,
tickets cost GBP 7 and accompanying adults if child is under 16
GBP 8. The ticket includes access to Bletchley Park for the purposes
of this workshop on the specified date only. Bookings are available
via the Bletchley Park website at www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ under the
what's on tab.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered for the RSGB Board Director
and Regional Representative roles as part of the forthcoming
elections. The nomination period has now ended. Voting will begin on
the 11th of March and will end on the 23rd of April. All the
information on candidates and how to vote will appear in the April
edition of RadCom.
GB3GV, the Leicestershire Repeater Group 23cm ATV repeater, has now
been restored to full ERP following a site visit on the 1st of
February. Further info from www.leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk.
Venues and dates for the 2020 series of Train the Trainers courses
can be found on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/train-the-trainers.
In order to ensure that courses are run as cost-effectively as
possible between twenty and twenty-five candidates are needed for
each course. To reserve a place on any of the courses please email
trainthetrainers<at>rsgb.org.uk with your name and telephone number.
The first course to run will be held in Telford on the 21st of March;
it currently has eight places available. Following Telford will be
Cardiff on the 18th of April. This course currently still has space
so please book as soon as possible. Details of other courses
available are on the website.
The RSGB's Examinations and Syllabus Review Group is delighted to
announce the appointment of Greg Fenton, M0ODZ to the group. Greg has
had a life-long interest in amateur radio and in more recent years he
also became involved with Makerspace in Newcastle. After gaining his
Full licence he started to take part in amateur radio teaching,
including to his youngest daughter who is now also a licensed radio
amateur. Like Tony, G7ETW who also joined the group recently, Greg
has already brought fresh enthusiasm and ideas to the group and the
RSGB looks forward to his continued participation.
Due to essential maintenance, the Radio Room at the RSGB National
Radio Centre at Bletchley Park will be closed to visitors on Tuesday
the 11th of February. Whilst the NRC itself will remain open to
visitors, it means that the station GB3RS will be 'off-air' and
hence will be unavailable for any visiting radio amateurs to operate.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. The work should be
completed by mid-afternoon and hence GB3RS may be on-air later in the
day but, by closing for the day, we are allowing for any over-run
needed to complete the work.
Provisional results for the last IARU R1 VHF Contest are available on
IARU Region 1 website www.iaru-r1.org. Congratulations to GM4ZUK/P
who was the highest placed UK station in the single operation 145MHz
section and G8P who were the highest placed team in the multi
operatior 145MHz section. G3XDY was the highest placed UK station in
the 6 hour 145MHz section
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 9th of February the Harwell Radio and Electronics Rally
will be held at Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot, Oxon,
OX11 8AY, that's about 3 miles from the A34 Milton Interchange. Doors
open 10am to 3pm and admittance is GBP 3 with under 12s free. Talk in
will be on 145.550MHz, using G3PIA and there is free car parking.
Local and national traders as well as Special Interest Groups and an
RSGB Bookstand will be in attendance. Home-made refreshments are
available all day. Details from rally<at>g3pia.net or 01235 816379.
Next Saturday, the 15th the Ballymena ARC Rally will be held in
Ahoghill Community Centre, 80 Cullybackey Road, Ahoghill BT42 1LA.
Doors open at 10.30am and admission is GBP 3. There is free parking
on site. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and a prize draw will
operate. Light refreshments will be available. Tables are free but
must be pre-booked by email to HKernohan<at>aol.com. More details
from Hugh, GI0JEV on 0282 587 1481.
Next Sunday, the 16th, the RadioActive Rally will be held at Nantwich
Civic Hall, Cheshire, CW5 5DG. There is free car parking and doors
open at 10.30am. There will be a Bring & Buy, as well as traders and
an RSGB book stall. A single raffle ticket is included with the
entrance programme; additional tickets available. Catering is
provided on site. Contact Stuart Jackson on 0788 073 2534.
Also, next Sunday, the 16th, the Lomond Radio Club Bring & Buy event
takes place at John Connolly Centre, Main Street, Renton G82 4LY.
Doors open at 10am. There will be a Bring & Buy, traders and
refreshments will be available. Contact Bill at
mm0elf<at>blueyonder.co.uk.
Please send details of your rally and event plans as soon as possible
to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk - we give you valuable publicity online,
in RadCom and on GB2RS, all for free.
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
Andre, PP6ZZ will be active as PY0FF from Fernando de Noronha,
SA-003, until the 18th of February. He plans to operate all modes,
including FT8 and FT4, in his spare time. QSL via Logbook of The
World, or via W9VA.
RI1ANC, the club station at Vostok Station in Antarctica, is active.
Look for activity on the HF bands, mainly FT8 with some CW and SSB.
QSL via RN1ON.
Ed, K1EP will be active as VP2MEP from Montserrat, NA-103, between
the 11th and 17th of February. He will operate CW, SSB and some FT8.
QSL via Logbook of The World or direct to K1EP.
Rob, G4WXJ will be active as ZC4RH from the UK Sovereign Base Areas
on Cyprus until the 13th of February. He expects to operate SSB, CW
and FT8 on the 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10m bands. QSL via his home call,
direct or via the bureau. He does not use Logbook of The World or
Club Log.
Dave, VE3VSM will be active as VE3VSM/HR9 from Roatan Island, NA-057,
between the 11th and 23rd of February. He will be operating on the 20
and 15m bands using CW in his spare time and during some contests.
QSL via Logbook of The World, or direct.
Now the special event news
Heiko, DK3DM and others are active as DL2020R until the end of the
year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the German reunification
process. QSL via Club Log's OQRS or direct only to M0SDV.
DL250BEETH is another special callsign commemorating Ludwig van
Beethoven's 250th anniversary. It will be used by the Kerpen local
branch of DARC until the end of the year. QSL via DJ6SI.
Please send special event details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk as early
as possible to get your event publicised here on GB2RS, in RadCom,
and online.
Now the contest news
The CQ WW WPX Party ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC today, the 9th.
It's RTTY only on the 3.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The PACC Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today, the 9th.
Using CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal
report serial number with PA stations also sending their Province.
On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC.
The 432MHz UK Activity Contest follows at 2000 to 2230UTC using all
modes. The exchange is the same for both, signal report serial number
and locator.
On Wednesday the 80m Club Championships holds a datamodes leg from
2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Thursday the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Next weekend the ARRL International DX Contest runs from 0000UTC on
the 15th to 2359UTC on the 16th. Using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz
bands the exchange is signal report and transmit power, with US
stations also sending their State and Canadians their Province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 7th of February.
After sunspot group 2757 rotated out of view the Sun remained
spotless with a solar flux index around 70. We had periods of
geomagnetic disruption thanks to the effects of coronal holes, the
worst seeing the Kp index hit four on Thursday morning. These storms
resulted in visible aurora being reported at higher latitudes.
Monday saw the first of the RSGB's 80m Club Championship events with
an SSB contest. Participants complained about the poor propagation,
with continental stations being stronger than locals. This was
reflected in the ionosonde data at propquest.co.uk, that showed the
f0F2 critical frequency, as measured at RAF Fairford, as 2.875MHz at
the start of the contest and only 3.175MHz at the end. Meanwhile,
Chilton recorded 3.7MHz at the start of the contest and 3.5MHz at the
end.
So, you can see that short-range propagation on 80m was marginal and
favoured different parts of the country. Next week, there is the
possibility that strong jet streams may provide some low-band
Sporadic-E enhancement for evening nets when the foF2 has deserted us.
Thursday saw an HF enhancement, possibly linked to the raised Kp
index, with maximum usable frequencies creeping above 21MHz and 15m
FT8 openings into the Canary Islands, the Azores, Greece and European
Russia. There were also 15m FT8 openings to South America later in
the afternoon.
CDXC members have also reported contacts last week with TI9A, Cocos
Island, off Costa Rica, and HU1DL in El Salvador. Excitement is also
building for the VP8PJ South Orkney DXpedition that should start
later this month.
Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain around 70
with more settled geomagnetic conditions after the effects of the
current high-speed solar wind diminish.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
After a brief period of Tropo in the second half of last week, we are
now about to enter a period of very unsettled weather with deep lows
passing by the far north of Britain. This means that Tropo will not
be a feature this coming week and time may be better spent making
sure the antenna ropes are secure and towers lowered if the forecast
looks severe.
At present, the strongest winds are likely in northern and western
areas, but with such a strong Atlantic jet stream there is a huge
amount of energy available to spin up very deep lows in less than 24
hours. The message therefore is to keep up to date with the latest
forecasts, because the track of such lows can change markedly over a
few hours.
There is one propagation silver lining to this type of weather, which
is possible microwave rain scatter as squally fronts or showers pass
by.
One of the models does build a high over the continent at the end of
next week with a possibility of some Tropo into France, but only from
the southeastern corner of the country.
Moon declination goes negative on Wednesday, but with perigee on
Monday, it's still a good week for EME. Path losses are at their
lowest and 144 MHz sky noise is low all week.
There are no major meteor showers this week, and we are now well into
the Winter minimum for random meteors. The best time for random
meteor scatter QSOs is always around dawn when the Earth is rotating
towards the main meteor flux.
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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