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G4TNU > NEWS 07.06.20 00:33l 242 Lines 11696 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 7th of June 2020
The news headlines:
* Join Tonight <at> 8 on Monday
* Respond to Ofcom EMF consultation
* IARU paper on digital device noise
As another part of its national 'Get on the air to care' campaign
with the NHS, the RSGB is launching a new series of bi-weekly live
webinars. The series is called Tonight @ 8 and will start on
Monday the 15th of June. The webinars will be live-streamed each
week, allowing you to watch the presentations and ask questions
online. They will cover a range of topics so whether you've just
gained your Foundation licence, are looking for something new to try,
or simply want to be up to date with the latest amateur radio ideas
and technology, there will be something for everyone. The Society
will release the live-stream details next week but in the meantime
you can find out more about the first four webinars on the special
Tonight <at> 8 web page, www.rsgb.org/webinars.
Now is the last chance to submit your response to the Ofcom
consultation on Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields, or EMF, to meet
the closing date of the 12th of June. The RSGB's own response to the
Ofcom Consultation has been added ahead of this deadline to the EMF
page at rsgb.org.uk/emf. In summary, the RSGB appreciates the need
for the ICNIRP guidelines but cannot support the proposals from Ofcom
that are onerous. It is felt that the proposals could result in
double regulation and are not proportionate to the risk. Instead, the
RSGB recommends a more appropriate change to the existing amateur
licence conditions referencing the 2020 ICNIRP Guidelines. The RSGB
will also prepare its own guidance and training to help amateurs
follow these ICNIRP guidelines.
IARU EMC specialists Tore Worren, LA9QL and Martin Sach, G8KDF have
submitted a paper to CISPR concerning the increasing impact of
multiple digital devices on the noise levels in the radio spectrum.
The paper was considered at the CISPR Steering Committee in late May,
and adopted for circulation to CISPR National Committee for comment
as a Committee Draft, with a view to it becoming a CISPR Report. The
IARU hopes that the result of this will be amendments to the way in
which standards are developed, to recognise the need to properly
consider the cumulative impact of multiple devices.
It is great to see amateur radio still being profiled on the wider
media as the momentum of our 'Get on the air to care' campaign with
the NHS continues to grow. This week RSGB Board Director Mike Bruce;
Region 11 Representative Dean Brice; and Warrington Amateur Radio
Club were all featured - go to the RSGB's media coverage web page
to find the links: www.rsgb.org/gota2c-media. Thank you to everyone
who is showing their support by getting on the air, caring for other
radio amateurs and trying new aspects of amateur radio. More details
about the campaign and stories from clubs and radio amateurs can be
seen on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/gota2c.
One from the history books now. On the 14th of June 1959 Leon Ward,
G5NF made an AM contact with I1KDB in Naples using the 144MHz band.
Leon was based in Fareham, Surrey, at IO91OF. At that time, it was a
new World Record for that band, at 1084 miles. In January 2020, the
record was set at 2963 miles in a contact between D41CV and GM0EWX.
The first Youngsters On The Air online session took place on the 28th
of May. The successful session gathered more than 500 viewers from
almost all of the continent. If you didn't have the chance to join
the live event or just want to see all of it again, you can watch the
recording of the event on the YouTube channel
https://youtu.be/6xKnd2UN9z0.
Now the special event news
Since the change of regulations applying to special event stations in
the UK, many activations are now able to go ahead. UK amateurs would
like to thank Ofcom for their help in making this happen.
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets is pleased to announce that the next
Exercise Blue Ham will be held on the MoD 5MHz shared band over the
weekend of the 6th and 7th of June. There are plenty of callsigns
available for amateurs to contact over the period of the exercise
using both SSB voice and datamodes. Details can be found at
alphacharlie.org.uk/exercise-blue-ham.
Due the coronavirus situation, the GB1SCW special event station will
no longer be held at the National Coast Watch station in Shoreham by
Sea on the 7th of June. To make a presence and celebrate the work of
Coastal Communities, members of Worthing and District Amateur Radio
Club can call from their own station locations.
GB100MZX will be operated by Chelmsford ARS to celebrate the landmark
broadcast made by Dame Nellie Melba on the 15th of June 1920 and will
be on air between the 13th and 20th of June. MZX was the callsign of
the 1920 15kW Marconi transmitter at Marconi New Street Works in
Chelmsford, Essex where it happened.
Now the contest news
Please remember to check before the events for new rules due to
lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world.
RSGB strongly advises obeying your own government's advice first and
foremost.
As previously announced, the RSGB confirms that this weekend's
National Field Day event has been cancelled due to the Covid-19
situation. The 144MHz Backpackers contest scheduled for next Sunday,
the 14th, is also cancelled.
The SEANET contest ends its 24 hours run at 1200UTC on the 7th. Using
CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The UK Microwave Group Low Band contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC
today, the 7th of June. Using all modes on the 1.3, 2.3 and 3.4GHz
bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1955UTC.
It is followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest. The
exchange for both is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 80m Club Championships CW leg runs from 1900 to
2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
Also on Wednesday is the UK EI Contest Club Summer Series, running
from 1800 to 1900UTC. Using FT4 only on the 80m band, the exchange is
your 6-character locator.
On Thursday the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Next weekend from 1200 UTC on the 13th to 1800UTC on the 14th, the
IARU ATV contest is on the 432MHz and up bands. The exchange is
picture report, serial number, your four digit code and locator.
The World Wide South America Contest runs from Saturday 1500UTC on
the 13th to 1500UTC on the 14th. It's CW only on the 80 to 10m
contest bands, with full rules at http://contest.com.ar/gacw-wwsa
The Practical Wireless 2m QRP contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC next
Sunday, the 14th. It's phone only on the 2m band, with an exchange of
signal report, serial number and locator.
EIDXG is running a Summer Challenge as a fun event from the 1st of
June to the 30th of August. Simply work as many unique DXCCs, CQ
Worked all Zones, participating EIDXG members and 32 Irish counties
as possible. Full information at www.eidxg.com/sc2020
The UK Six Metre Group's Summer Marathon runs until the 2nd of
August. Using all modes on the 50MHz band, the exchange is your
4-character locator.
And finally, join the fun of the next round of RSGB Hope QSO Party on
weekdays. See www.rsgbcc.org/hf.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 5th of June.
Well, the excitement of Sporadic-E propagation continued last week.
There were extensive openings on 20 to 10 metres, which resulted in
very short-skip openings at times. Paul, GM4ULS in Perth reports
working lots of G stations on the South Coast of England on 20 metres
on Wednesday and the skip ran as short as a QSO into Northampton. He
said, "At about 1320UTC the short skip lengthened slightly, and I
began to attract stations in France and Belgium." This just goes to
show that Sporadic-E can affect all the higher HF bands. It is often
seen on ionogram plots as flat reflections from the E layer about
95-100km, and a critical frequency of more than 10MHz. It often
blocks signals from reaching the F2 layer, leaving gaps in the
critical frequency plots on Propquest.co.uk.
There has also been some F2-layer propagation around. Paul, GM4ULS
also worked Jim, E51JD in the South Pacific on 20 metres on Thursday
at 0634UTC. Jim featured in last week's report as well.
The promised active sunspot region that was supposed to rotate into
Earth's view last week didn't amount to much, but another sunspot
group, numbered 2765, has subsequently appeared. It is a sign that
sunspot cycle 25 is starting to crank up. The solar X-Rays from this
Cycle 25 spot appeared to be fairly stable on Thursday, but that
could change.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain around 70.
The Sun may also remain quite quiet geomagnetically due to a lack of
coronal holes and NOAA has the Kp index pegged at two all week.
Hopefully the Sporadic-E season will continue giving plenty of
short-skip and multi-hop activity on HF.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The present shift of focus to unsettled weather has now taken place
and from now through next week, the general theme is for this showery
weather type to remain with us. This will mean that rain scatter is a
good mode of choice for the microwave bands. Make use of the various
radar displays to see where the nearest reflecting storms might be.
Tropo will be a rarity during this period, although there are signs
of high pressure to the northwest of Britain later next week and one
model even suggests a new high forming over the country next weekend,
but it's at a long lead time and much could change before then.
Now onto Sporadic-E, which has produced stunning results recently.
Although it's taken a step back, as I write this on Wednesday, I'm
sure other good days are out there for us during the next week, and
there will be plenty of jet streams on the charts to provide the
triggers. Check the bands mid-morning and late afternoon or early
evening for signs of activity and you should catch most of the
openings.
The Moon is at minimum declination today, the 7th, and the consequent
Moon peak elevation is accompanied by very high 144MHz sky
temperatures. Unfortunately, we are now entering a period of the
lunar cycle where low path losses start to coincide with low
declination. This continues to get worse until July 2022, when
apogee, that's highest loss, coincides with maximum declination.
Perigee and highest declination don't coincide again until May 2026.
June continues to be an active time for meteor scatter operations,
and the daytime Areitids shower peaks today.
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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