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G4TNU > NEWS 21.07.24 05:45l 255 Lines 12073 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 21 Jul 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 21st of July 2024
The news headlines:
* The RSGB has released new training manuals for amateur radio
exams
* Plans for the RSGB Convention in October are taking shape
* ICQ Podcast episode 434 features interviews with RSGB
representatives at Friedrichshafen
The RSGB is pleased to announce that it has released new training
manuals for the Foundation, Intermediate and Full licence exams.
These books are in addition to the existing manuals and reflect
changes to the syllabus due to the new licence conditions. The RSGB
will start examining to version 1.6 of the syllabus from the 1st of
September 2024 and the new manuals will help tutors and students to
prepare for exams from that date. If you are taking an exam before
the 1st of September, you should continue to use the existing
manuals. There isn't a single manual for the Direct to Full exam, but
you can buy a bundle of all three licence level manuals for a
discounted price. The manuals are available from the RSGB via
rsgbshop.org/training and you can also read more about them in the
August RadCom.
This year the RSGB Convention will take place between the 11th and
13th October at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes. It is the place to
be if you are interested in everything and anything to do with
amateur radio. The Society is delighted that the event will be
sponsored by Martin Lynch & Sons and that AMSAT will be holding its
Colloquium during the Convention again this year. Following a recent
call for proposals, the RSGB received some fantastic offers of
presentations and practical activities. The programme is starting to
take shape and will be organised into three streams called ‘Getting
Started' – aimed at those who want to try something new; Operating
and Technical. To find out more about the programme, go to the RSGB
website at rsgb.org/convention or read the update in the August
RadCom.
ICQ Podcast has released episode 434 of their podcast, which includes
a report from Ham Radio Friedrichshafen. The team chatted with RSGB
General Manager, Steve Thomas M1ACB about a wide range of topics,
including international liaison and the RSGB Convention. You can
listen to this section from one hour and 17 minutes into the podcast.
You can also hear RSGB President John McCullagh GI4BWM, Board Chair
Stewart Bryant G3YSX and Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman G6JYB
talking about licence changes, outreach and spectrum. You can find
this part of the interview from one hour and 39 minutes into the
show. Listen to the podcast at icqpodcast.com For more information on
the licence changes, see rsgb.org/licence-review
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is coming up soon. The
event is usually held on the third weekend of August which this year
is the 17th and 18th. It is one of the most popular amateur radio
events in the calendar and in past years there have been more than
500 entries from over 40 different countries. More details about the
event and a registration form can be found at illw.net
Don't forget that the British Inland Waterways on the Air event will
take place between Saturday the 24th and Monday the 26th of August.
The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes
or reservoirs for work or recreation. Registration for the event is
now open. To sign up, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group's
website at nharg.org.uk and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2024' link.
The National Hamfest 2024 is taking place on the 27th and 28th of
September and promises to be an unforgettable celebration of all
things amateur radio. As always, the traders and manufacturers are
lining up to bring you the best in amateur radio equipment and
accessories. Many exhibitors will be offering exclusive deals, making
it the perfect time to upgrade your gear or add new items to your
shack. For those eager to secure their spot, online ticket sales are
open and an early-bird discount is available until the 31st of
August. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit
nationalhamfest.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally is taking place today, the 21st of July.
The venue is Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 9.30am
for visitors and at 8am for traders. Refreshments are available from
the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors costs GBP 3. For
further information email rally2024<at>bsears.co.uk
The Finningley Amateur Radio Society Rally is also taking place
today, the 21st of July, at Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster,
DN8 5SX. The doors are open from 10am. More details are available at
g0ghk.com
On Sunday the 28th of July, Wiltshire Radio Summer Rally will take
place at Kington Langley Village Hall, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. The
event will run from 9am to 1pm, admission will be GBP 3 and indoor
tables cost GBP 10. To take part in the car-boot sale, a car-size
pitch costs GBP 10 and a van-size pitch is GBP 15. Hot and cold
refreshments will be available on site. For more information email
Chairman<at>Chippenhamradio.club
Now the Special Event news
Tom, NL7RR is active on Wake Island, OC-053, until Tuesday the 23rd
of July. In his spare time, he is operating as NL7RR/KH9 on or around
14.200MHz between 0600 and 0800UTC. QSL directly via Tom's home call.
Vincent, F4BKV is active as XW4KV from Laos [LAUSS] until Wednesday
the 24th of July, with limited operation via the QO-100 satellite as
well as QRP activity on the 15m band using SSB and FT8. QSL via
Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS or directly via his home call.
Now the DX news
The IP1X team is active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, on
the 27th and 28th of July using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands.
QSL via OQRS, or to IU1JCZ directly or via the Bureau. For more
details and updates visit QRZ.com
Special callsign DL0SOP is active until the 31st of July for the 66th
edition of the Sea of Peace Award. The station was heard recently on
the 80, 40, 30 and 20m bands using CW. QSL via Club Log's OQRS,
Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to DL4SVA. For details of an
award that is available for contacting the station, visit
tinyurl.com/DL0SOP24
Special callsign OL80CARBON is active until the 30th of November to
mark the 80th anniversary of Operation Carbon during World War Two.
The operation involved the dropping of paratroopers in the
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. A team of operators is active
using CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands. More information is
available on QRZ.com
Now the contest news
Today, the 21st, the International Low Power Contest runs from 0900
to 1200UTC, and from 1300 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m
bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter
power.
On Tuesday the 23rd, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to
2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 25th, the 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
The IOTA Contest runs from 1200UTC on Saturday the 27th to 1200UTC on
Sunday the 28th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands,
where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and IOTA reference.
On Sunday the 28th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs
from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 18th of July 2024
We had another great week in terms of HF propagation. The solar flux
index was at a remarkable 224 on Thursday the 18th, and the Kp index
had been consistently in the ones and twos all week.
It doesn't get much better than this, HF-wise, although it's a shame
it's not autumn with the associated good HF autumnal propagation.
Given that we are in the summer HF doldrums, there has been a lot of
DX on the bands. 15m has been very good during late afternoons, and
open to all continents, with Australia, Asia, Africa, North America
and South America all workable on FT8 at the same time.
On Thursday the 18th, there were 17 active sunspot regions visible,
which are contributing to the high solar flux index. Two X-class
solar flares brought short-term solar fadeouts on the 14th and the
16th, but any associated coronal mass ejection has been mainly
directed away from Earth.
For those new to HF propagation, this is good news. Remember, a high
solar flux index is generally good, while a high, perhaps more than
four, Kp index is generally bad.
Daytime maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path have
been consistently above 21MHz. Nighttime MUFs have been more than
14MHz, and often 18MHz, at times.
But will this continue? Probably not.
Of the 17 visible sunspot groups, six are classed as ‘growing'.
There have been coronal mass ejections from sunspots on the edge of
the Sun, but they have not been Earth-directed. But, as these spots
rotate to be Earth-facing, a coronal mass ejection could be more
problematic.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may fall, perhaps
into the 170s to 180s range.
The Kp index is predicted to be around 2, but if we do have an
Earth-facing coronal mass ejection that could easily climb to 4 or 5,
with an associated drop in the maximum usable frequency.
So, will it be another week without a high Kp index? Maybe that is
too much to hope for!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
Last week ended with a decaying high over Germany and fronts pushing
in across western Britain. With such warm air over the UK at first,
even temporarily, there will be a reasonable chance of Tropo over
nearby cooler waters around our coasts, especially along the English
Channel and southern North Sea.
Incidentally, for anyone taking a VHF rig with them on holiday to the
Mediterranean resorts, you can expect typical summer semi-permanent,
very strong maritime Tropo ducts over any sea path to neighbouring
islands or countries.
Returning to the UK, we have a series of fronts and lows lined up for
the coming week. In summer months these can often have a showery
element to them, so expect some heavy rain and thunder at times, but
at least there'll be rain scatter to make up for it!
Meteor scatter is again a random experience, with no major showers
this week. Try around, or just before, dawn for best results. The
solar conditions have been all over the place with flares and weak
auroral responses, but nothing dramatic for VHF radio.
Sporadic-E, on the other hand, has done fairly well for digital mode
activity, especially for transatlantic paths, but is slightly subdued
where higher signal levels are required for SSB and CW. Although the
weather is expected to be unsettled, the jet stream activity is less
widespread than recently. If anything, the western side of Europe
seems in the better spot with quite good options for paths to Iberia.
Remember, most years will see activity into the first week of
September, so don't give up yet.
The Moon is at minimum declination on Friday the 19th so we start the
week with short Moon windows and falling path losses as we approach
perigee on the 24th. Perigee is the point at which the Moon is
closest to the Earth. 144MHz sky noise starts very high but declines
to medium next week.
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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