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G4TNU > NEWS 12.10.20 10:11l 232 Lines 11438 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 11 Oct 2020
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 11th of October 2020
The news headlines:
* New field strength licence condition proposed by Ofcom
* RSGB YouTube Convention catch-up
* Jamboree on the Air to go ahead
Ofcom received 400 responses to their EMF consultation, 255 of which
were from radio amateurs. Ofcom has addressed some respondent's
concerns, revised their proposals and requested feedback. The RSGB
will reply to Ofcom's revised proposals and keep you updated via
www.rsgb.org/emf. Ofcom intends to add a condition to all licences
that allow more than 10W EIRP, requiring compliance with the ICNIRP
general public limits on EMF exposure. Ofcom has provided a basic EMF
calculator that will provide a conservative estimate of the required
separation distances between the radio equipment and the public. RSGB
and ARRL experts are working on detailed modelling of near-field EMF
levels to demonstrate compliance where the Ofcom calculator is too
conservative. Our aim is that Ofcom will approve such an approach.
The RSGB is continuing discussions with Ofcom about the new
condition, including what amateurs will actually be expected to do to
operate safely within ICNIRP reference levels, and any need for extra
advice and training.
Following on from the online RSGB Convention for 2020 that took place
yesterday, the 10th of October, the AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2020 is
online today, the 11th. There will be a lecture stream from 11am to
4pm. You can find out more at www.amsat-uk.org/colloquium. You may be
interested to know that the two live streams from the RSGB Convention
online will be available to watch again on the RSGB YouTube channel
from today, the 11th. The results of the annual RSGB Construction
Competition were announced during the online Convention and will be
on the RSGB website from today, the 11th, at
www.rsgb.org/construction-compeition.
The IARU Region 1 General Conference, originally scheduled to take
place in Serbia, is taking place online, starting today, the 11th.
Taking advantage of online access, well over 200 delegates and
observers have registered from nearly 50 national societies. Nearly
90 papers are scheduled for discussion, several from the RSGB. The
conference will be formally opened by IARU President Tim Ellam,
VE6SH. A day-by-day report of the proceedings at the Conference will
be published throughout the coming week on the IARU Region 1 website,
www.iaru-r1.org, beginning Sunday evening.
Jamboree On The Air, the world's largest and radio Scout event
promoting friendship and global citizenship takes place over the
weekend of the 16th to the 18th of October. There are of course a few
difficulties this year due to the pandemic. However, the event is
going ahead – often with creative ways of operating. Please listen
out for the JOTA stations and do give them a call.
On United Nations Day, the 24th of October, the SAQ Very Low
Frequency transmitter in Grimeton, Sweden, will again send out a
message. Startup and tuning of the Alexanderson Alternator will be
from 1430UTC. The message will be transmitted from SAQ on 17.2kHz CW
at 1500UTC. Live streaming can be seen at
www.youtube.com/c/AlexanderSAQ/videos.
The RSGB will once again be participating in the annual YOTA Month
activities in December. Normally we would encourage large youth
groups, schools, Scouting associations and amateur radio clubs to
participate. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will not be
encouraging large group events. We do hope that smaller groups will
be able to participate in the event, whilst remaining within national
and local guidelines. GB20YOTA will be available for Full licence
holders to book an appointment slot within a set calendar. This
calendar will be available on the GB20YOTA QRZ.com page for you to
choose when you want to operate. All operations should be focused
with the intention to get young people on the air. To register your
interest or to reserve an operating slot contact Jamie, M0SDV, via
email to yota.month<at>rsgb.org.uk.
According to a Spaceweather.com report on the 6th of October,
Canadian amateur Scott Tilley, VE7TIL received a signal from the NASA
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as it flew just 274km above the Red
Planet's surface. The signal was an X-band carrier containing no data
or telemetry. Such a detection is possible because, right now, Mars
is unusually close to Earth. Visit www.Spaceweather.com and look at
the archive for the 6th of October for more information.
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.
PJ4TEN will be active during October to commemorate the 10th
anniversary of Bonaire becoming a Special Municipality of the
Netherlands and a new DXCC entity. The rules for the award can be
found on the PJ4TEN QRZ.com page.
Hannes, OE1SGU will be active as OE1990SGU between the 1st and the
31st of October to celebrate his 30th anniversary in amateur radio.
QSL via LoTW, eQSL, or via OE1SGU either direct or via the bureau.
Now the DX news
Jerry, F4HJO will be active as F4HJO/p from Brehat Island, IOTA
reference EU-074, between the 17th and 24th of October. He will
operate mainly SSB on the 80, 40, 20 and 17m bands. QSL via Club
Log's OQRS, Logbook of The World or via his home call, either direct
or via the bureau.
Take, JG8NQJ will be back to the weather station on Minami Torishima,
OC-073, from the 14th of October until mid-January 2021, his QSL
manager reports. Take will operate CW as JG8NQJ/JD1 in his spare
time. QSL via JA8CJY direct or JG8NQJ via the bureau.
Now the contest news
Please remember to check before the contest for new rules due to
lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world.
The RSGB strongly advises obeying your own national and local
government's advice first and foremost, especially in the instance of
local lockdowns.
The Oceania DX CW contest ends its 24-hour run at 0800UTC today, the
11th. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
Today, the 11th, the IRTS 40m Counties contest runs from 1200 to
1400UTC. Using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal report and serial
number, with GI and EI stations also sending their County.
On Tuesday, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC.
It is followed by the all mode UK Activity Contest from 1900 to
2130UTC. The exchange for both is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Wednesday the 80m Autumn Series runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using
data only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Thursday sees the 70MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Next weekend, from 1500UTC on the 17th to 1500UTC on the 18th, it's
the Worked all Germany contest. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz
contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number, with
German stations sending DOK.
Next Sunday, the 18th, the 50MHz AFS contest runs from 0900 to
1300UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
Also next Sunday, the 18th, the second RoLo contest runs from 1900 to
2030UTC. This is CW only on the 80m band and the exchange is signal
report and a rolling locator.
Next Sunday, the 18th, the UK Microwave group's 24-76GHz contest runs
from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 9th of October.
We had another week without a single sunspot appearing on the solar
surface. The only upside was that the solar wind was largely calm,
which resulted in a settled ionosphere. The solar flux index remained
pegged at 71 or 72, reminding us that although NASA says that solar
cycle 25 has started, we are still a long way from the glory days of
solar maximum. Having said that, on Thursday morning there were signs
of some activity on the Sun's south-eastern limb that may or may not
result in a spot forming in due course.
There were numerous warnings this week for spacecraft operators about
high levels of the 2MeV electron integral flux. This can result in
charging occurring on satellite solar panels and other electronics.
It can also have a detrimental impact on HF radio in the polar
regions, while North-South paths remain relatively unaffected.
However, after a brief geomagnetic disturbance when the Kp index rose
to four on Monday the 5th, conditions remained settled, with the Kp
index mainly being one throughout the week. This no doubt helped the
ionosphere, with numerous reports of 15 and even 10 metres opening
up. This time of year usually supports North-South paths as witnessed
by Adrian, G0KOM logging on 15m Cyril, FR4NT on Reunion Island in the
Indian Ocean. An F2-layer opening also brought in Carlos, CX7CO in
Uruguay on 28MHz CW, who was logged by Chris, G3SJJ.
An unseasonal Sporadic-E opening saw France and Italy being worked on
10 and 12 metres on Tuesday. So it is rather good news for HF at the
moment, despite the lack of sunspots.
NOAA predicts more of the same next week with the solar flux index
predicted to remain around 70. Geomagnetic conditions are also
expected to remain settled with the Kp index at two or three.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
Last Tuesday saw a surprise widespread Sporadic-E opening on 50MHz,
with stations working into Italy and Spain. This was quite possibly a
direct result of the current spate of meteor showers. We should
always be alert to the unexpected, especially during very unsettled
weather with strong jet streams and meteor showers in attendance.
These are though, truly rare events.
It looks very much like another "bust" for the autumn season Tropo
mode this week. Low pressure will predominate and give another week
of options to the microwave operators using rain scatter. A brief
period with a ridge nearby is a slight possibility in the second half
of the week, but not looking too strong at this range.
Next Sunday sees the peak of the Epsilon Geminids meteor shower. Not
to be confused with the much bigger Geminids shower in mid-December,
this one has a zenithal hourly rate of just three. Keep looking
around local dawn for the best random meteors.
The Moon is at positive declination until Friday this week and path
losses are falling as we approach perigee on Friday night. 144MHz sky
noise is low this week until the Sun and Moon appear close in the sky
on Friday lunchtime. As mentioned before, we are now well and truly
into the period where perigee and lowest EME path losses begin
coincide with low declination and subsequent low peak moon elevation.
This trend will not start to reverse until July 2022.
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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