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G4TNU > NEWS 11.02.24 04:30l 254 Lines 12539 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 11 Feb 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 11th of February 2024
The news headlines:
* Outcome of the RSGB 2024 Board and Regional Team election
process
* RSGB challenge for British Science Week announced
* RSGB Spectrum Forum updates
The RSGB has announced the outcome of its 2024 Board and Regional
Team election process. These results come into force at the RSGB 2024
AGM and, until that time, the current Regional Representatives remain
in their roles. The announcement also contains news of the Nominated
Directors put forward for endorsement by the RSGB membership next
month, as well as two co-options to the RSGB Board, effective until
the AGM. For full details of the announcement and the candidates go
to the RSGB AGM web page at rsgb.org/agm
The theme of British Science Week this year is Time. Both time and
the closely related concept of frequency, are of vital importance to
radio communications. The RSGB has announced a new challenge for
British Science Week linked to this theme. The challenge has
categories for every age group and the winner of each group will win
a prize. The deadline for entries is the 1st of September and the
results will be announced at the RSGB Convention in October. The
challenge is as follows: "Using readily available components,
material or other resources, provide a method of either measuring the
frequency of a radio frequency source or signal, or providing a time
reference to a radio operator or radio system". For more details
about the challenge, as well as activities to inspire you and
resources to help you take part in British Science Week, go to the
RSGB website at rsgb.org/bsw
A busy year has seen several online Spectrum Forum meetings. Two
meetings held in January considered the Ofcom notice period for
‘representations' and areas where band plan adjustments would be
needed, as well as more regular items such as annual group reports.
The RSGB website now has these details online. The RSGB's reply to
Ofcom has been added to its special focus page on the Ofcom licence
review. Along with other recent representations, this will enable
Ofcom to finalise the new licence later this month. The RSGB Spectrum
Forum pages have also been updated with the January 2024 group
reports and meeting notes, which included the discussions on the
provisional changes. To read more, visit rsgb.org/spectrumforum
As previously announced by the RSGB Examinations Standards Committee
Chair, Tony Kent, G8PBH, the amateur radio licence examinations will
need to change to reflect the changes to the licence conditions
announced by Ofcom. The scale of the licence changes will have a
significant impact on Section 1 of the syllabus, ‘Licensing', and a
small impact on Section 7, ‘Operating'. Ofcom is currently
reviewing representations and will publish its final decision,
including the final version of the licence, before the 21st of
February. The new licence will come into effect before work on the
syllabus and examination question bank is completed. The RSGB
Examinations Standards Committee has gained approval from Ofcom to
continue to examine to the current licence conditions for a period of
six months following the publication of the new licence. This will
allow trainers time to update their courses in line with the new
syllabus, and allow candidates that have started their training under
the current licence conditions to complete their courses and take the
exam. It is expected that examinations to the new licence conditions
will begin on the 1st of September 2024. For full details, see the
exam announcements page on the RSGB website.
The first amateur radio station on the moon, JS1YMG, is now
transmitting. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, landed
its Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon on the 19th of January
2024. The JAXA Ham Radio Club, JQ1ZVI secured the JS1YMG callsign and
has been transmitting Morse code on 437.41MHz since the 19th of
January. The probe uses 1W to a UHF antenna, with circular
polarisation, and is transmitting what is described as "matters
related to amateur business." Radio amateurs have been busy analysing
JS1YMG's signal. You can read more about this story on Daniel
Estévez, EA4GPZ's blog at destevez.net
The RadCom team is looking for authors who are interested in
antennas. So, if you are passionate about the theory, design and
construction of antennas, and would like to contribute to the
magazine, please email radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally is being held today, the 11th, 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 British Vintage Wireless Society Biggleswade Swapmeet and AGM
will take place on Sunday the 25th of February. The venue will be The
Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire,
SG18 8JH. A bring-and-buy stall will be available with a 10%
commission on sales going to the British Vintage Wireless and
Television Museum. Stallholders can gain entry from 9am. The doors
open to the public from 9.30am and admission will be GBP 8. For more
Information visit BVWS.org.uk or email secretary<at>bvws.org.uk
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 available from 8.30am and the
event will be open to the public from 10am. Hot and cold refreshments
will be available. Further details can be found via 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
In celebration of World Radio Day, special callsign AO100RADIO
[ALPHA-OSCAR-ONE-HUNDRED…] will be on the air from Spain until the
29th of February. For more information see QRZ.com
The Royal Netherlands Army Signal Regiment is celebrating its 150th
anniversary on the 14th and 15th of February. Cadets, servicemen,
amateurs and veterans will be on the air for 36 hours with all kinds
of historical and in-service radios. Operators will be using the
callsign PI4VBD on all bands using SSB and CW.
Special event station OL80CLAY will be active from the 12th of
February to the 30th of June 2024 from near Prague. Operation Clay
took place 80 years ago and was a cover name for an operation
executed during World War II in the Protectorate of Bohemia and
Moravia by Czech paratroopers trained in England. Their task was to
gather intelligence data from Northeast Moravia, send it to London by
radio, and to cooperate with the local resistance groups. The station
will be active on all radio amateur bands. CW will be the main mode
of operation, but there will also be activity on SSB, FM and possibly
digital modes. Every first QSO will be answered by a special QSL card
sent via the Bureau. SWL reports sent via the Bureau to OK2PXJ, or
via email, will also be acknowledged. For more information see QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Francis, F6BWJ is active as FM/F6BWJ from Martinique, NA-107, until
the 11th of March. He will operate CW on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via
Logbook of the World or via the Bureau to his home call.
Gerard, F2JD is active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until the
21st of March 2024. He will operate CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on the HF
bands. QSL via F6AJA, directly or via the Bureau.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 13th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 13th, 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 14th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to
2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
On Wednesday the 14th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs
from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 14th, 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 Thursday the 15th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The CQ Worldwide WPX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the
10th and ends at 2359UTC today, the 11th. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m
bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report
and serial number.
The PACC Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 10th and ends at
1200UTC today, the 11th. 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.
The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the
17th of February and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 18th of February.
Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and transmitter power. American stations
send their state and Canadian stations send their province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 8th of February 2024
A large sunspot region has been turning into an Earth-facing position
and now looks like it could be threatening. Active region 3576 has
already emitted a couple of low-class solar flares but could be
poised for even more.
An M5.1 solar flare was detected around region 3575 on the 7th of
February as well. Updated imagery shows that an associated coronal
mass ejection, or CME, was likely however, due to the location near
the Sun's south-west limb, it was directed mostly away from Earth.
The solar flux index remained high this week, hitting 190 on the 6th
before dropping to 188 on the 8th. Geomagnetically, the Sun has been
behaving itself with a maximum Kp index of only three on Sunday the
4th.
But all eyes will be on active region 3576 next week as it could
upset the apple cart.
Meanwhile, daylight maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path
remain in excess of 28MHz, which is good for HF.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to be
in the range of 160 to 170. Geomagnetic conditions are also predicted
to be settled with a low Kp index. Although, as we said earlier, that
could all change if we have a violent solar flare and associated
coronal mass ejection from region 3576 or any of the many other
sunspots.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
Unsettled weather describes the pattern for the coming week,
including some colder weather mixed in to provide snowfall for some
areas, particularly in northern areas. This characteristic weather
type will mean little chance of Tropo during the period.
Other propagation modes of interest might be even harder to find,
unless you are thinking of rain scatter, which could be useful for a
few suitably-equipped stations on the GHz bands. Other modes, such as
meteor scatter or aurora, are also looking a bit thin. There is
always the chance of some random activity, unlike Sporadic-E which is
in its late winter lull that usually lasts until April for the 10 and
6m bands.
For EME operators, Moon declination is negative and rising, going
positive on Monday the 12th. So there will be higher peak Moon
elevations and longer Moon windows throughout the week. Path losses
were at their lowest at perigee on Saturday the 10th.
144MHz Sky noise is moderate to low.
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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