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G4TNU > NEWS 15.09.24 04:00l 286 Lines 13567 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 15 Sep 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 15th of September
The news headlines:
* The RSGB is looking for its next Youth Champion
* Success for an RSGB member at the IARU ARDF Championship
* Today is the last chance to book early bird tickets for the
RSGB Convention
The RSGB is looking for its next volunteer Youth Champion. This could
be one role or split between people who focus on different aspects of
it. The Youth Champion will work closely with RSGB Board Liaison Ben
Lloyd, GW4BML and the RSGB Outreach Team to ignite interest, develop
links with schools, universities, Scouts, Guides and with the general
public. They will also help to support current young amateurs and
motivate them to try new things within amateur radio after they gain
their licence. This role needs someone who is proactive, good at
building relationships with young people, and passionate about
inspiring the next generation of radio amateurs. For the full role
description go to rsgb.org/volunteers and if you would like to
apply or find out more, contact Ben Lloyd via gw4bml<at>rsgb.org.uk
The 24th IARU Region 1 ARDF Championships in Bulgaria saw an RSGB
member on the podium. David Williams, M3WDD took the silver medal
position in the M60 category of the 144MHz Classic five-transmitter
race at the Championships held at Primorsko, Bulgaria earlier this
month. David had come so very close to winning being only 14 seconds
behind the winner Jozef Simecek [SEE-MA-CHECK] of Slovakia. There
were four races altogether. The week of competition started with the
Sprint race on 80m followed the next day by the 2m five-transmitter
Classic race for the M60 category in which David did so well. A
well-earned rest day followed and after that came the 80m
five-transmitter race. The week ended with the Foxoring event, a
combination of direction finding and orienteering, again using the
80m band. You can see the results in full, and read more about ARDF,
at rsgb.org/ardf
Don't forget that the RSGB Convention early bird price ends today,
Sunday the 15th of September. There's a range of great presentations
planned, a fantastic microcontroller workshop to take part in, as
well as all the fabulous social opportunities to enjoy like the Gala
Dinner. Go to rsgb.org/convention to find out more and book your
tickets.
Have you ever tried LoRa? Or Node Red? Have you used the Raspberry
Pico for coding or played a Morse game with an Arduino? These are
just some of the great activities on the RSGB's website that are
available for National Coding Week which begins this Monday, the 16th
of September. Whether you fancy doing something different for a club
night or would like to sample something new just for fun, there's an
activity to inspire you! You could even try combining your love of
amateur radio with the software interests of a young family member.
The RSGB is offering nine activities this year so head over to
rsgb.org/coding and get involved.
The next Bletchley Park 1940s weekend is taking place on the 21st and
22nd of September. If you are visiting for the event, make sure you
drop into the RSGB National Radio Centre where you'll be able to see
a number of World War Two receivers on display. Don't forget that
RSGB members can get free entry to Bletchley Park, which also
includes admission to the RSGB National Radio Centre. You can access
this fantastic offer by logging into the RSGB membership portal via
rsgb.org/members and selecting ‘Visit Bletchley Park'.
Don't forget that National Hamfest 2024 is coming up 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 more information and to purchase your tickets, visit
nationalhamfest.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
The Broadcast Engineering Museum near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire is
new and a work in progress, so it only opens a few days each year.
Today, from 11am to 4pm, the Museum is having an open day. The Museum
contains a vast collection of historic broadcasting equipment and
memorabilia, some restored and working, on display in a former RAF
sergeants' mess. Free parking is available on site. For more
information email contactus<at>becg.org.uk or visit becg.org.uk
The British Vintage Wireless Society is holding a swap-meet and
auction today, the 15th at the Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road,
Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JH. Stallholders can gain entry from
9am. Admission for visitors will be available from 9.30am at a cost
of GBP 8. The auction starts at 12.30pm and hot and cold
refreshments will be available all day. For more information visit
bvws.org.uk or email Jeremy Owen, G8MLK at secretary<at>bvws.org.uk
The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is taking place on
Saturday the 21st of September. The venue will be Beckingham Village
Hall, Southfield Lane, Doncaster, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open
for visitors from 9.30am until 4pm and admission will cost GBP 3 per
person. Disabled access will be available from 9.15am. For more
information, including booking and contact details, visit
g0raf.co.uk/rally
Weston super Mare Radio Society Radio and Electronics Rally will take
place on Sunday the 22nd of September from 10am. The venue will be
The Campus Community Centre, Worle, Weston super Mare, BS24 7DX. For
further information and to book a table email
westonradiosociety<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event news
To celebrate the G-QRP Club's 50th anniversary special callsign
G5LOW, and all its regional variants, will be QRV until the 30th of
September. In addition, several overseas stations will be joining in
with the event. For more information, including details of
commemorative certificates that will be available for chasers, visit
tinyurl.com/GQRP50
Advance notice now that during October and November special callsign
PZ5JT will be back on the air from Surinam during the jungle training
of the Royal Dutch Army and Marines. The station is operated by
personnel from the signal regiment and they will be working on the
40, 20, 17, 15 and 10m bands using SSB. Operators will be using
in-service military L3Harris radios from different locations and will
welcome your call.
Now the DX news
Carl Gorse, 2E0HPI will be operating from multiple locations for the
Parks On The Air scheme around the Lancashire area from tomorrow, the
16th, to Friday the 20th of September. He will be using Yaesu FT-857d
and Xiegu [ZIGH-GOO] G90 transceivers with 20W. Listen out for Carl
on all bands from 160 to 10m using FT4, FT8 and SSB.
Maxim, OH7O will be active as 3D2YY from Viti Levu [VEE-TEA-LUH-VOO],
OC- 016, on Fiji until the 19th of September. He will operate mostly
SSB and some slow CW on the 40 to 10m bands, and possibly the 80m
band, from different locations around the island. See QRZ.com for
more information.
Now the contest news
Today, the 15th, the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from
0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday
the 14th and runs until 2359UTC today, Sunday the 15th of September.
Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
Today, the 15th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from
0900 to 1700UTC. Using All modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also today, the 15th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300
to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their
county.
The IRTS 2m Counties Contest is also taking place today, the 15th,
from 1300 to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give
their county.
Also today, the 15th, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint
PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m
bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial
number.
Tomorrow, the 16th, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC.
Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, the exchange is your report.
On Tuesday the 17th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 19th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 22nd, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest runs from
1200 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO
on Thursday the 12th of September 2024
Last week showed that HF conditions are improving as we head into the
autumn.
With a solar flux index still above 200, there was plenty of DX
available to work. CDXC members reported working VP6WR on the
Pitcairn Islands, KH8T on American Samoa and 3D2USU on Fiji, which is
not a bad catch for early September.
A little closer to home, 9A168TESLA in Croatia has been popping up
for short periods celebrating the 168th anniversary of the birthday
of electrical pioneer Nikola Tesla. Watch DX Summit closely for
operating times.
The daylight maximum useable frequency, or MUF, over 3,000 kilometres
remains above 28MHz on the whole, although a raised Kp index tends to
reduce this.
Geomagnetic conditions remained relatively calm with the Kp index
below 3 all week. That changed on Thursday the 12th as material from
a coronal mass ejection, or CME, passed the ACE spacecraft in the
early hours.
The solar wind speed increased to more than 500 kilometres per second
and the Bz swung south. On Thursday the 12th, the Kp index was 5 and
the Met Office Space Weather department was forecasting potentially
unsettled conditions for this weekend, ending today the 15th.
At the same time an X-class flare occurred, with lowered MUFs due to
increased D-layer absorption.
Two large coronal holes on the Sun's surface are also now
Earth-facing and threaten to add to the solar wind this weekend.
According to NOAA's predictions, the solar flux index should stay in
the 210 to 225 range next week, although a large number of spots are
about to rotate off the Sun's visible disk.
This may be compensated by an active region that's about to rotate
into view. This has been emitting C-Class and lower-level M-flares
and could potentially be the same region that produced a number of
energetic eruptions off the far side of the Sun over the past week.
Time will tell.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The heavy showers at the end of last week produced some good rain
scatter, but no QSOs in the UK were noted due to the showers not
coinciding with GHz contests and few suitable home stations were
active to take advantage of them.
After a gradual build-up of pressure over this weekend, ending the
15th, high pressure is suggested by most models during the coming
week. However, there is some uncertainty about the position of the
high.
Currently, models are favouring the north of Britain and this means
that in the south, although still on the edge of high pressure, there
could be a brisk northeasterly breeze, which may weaken the inversion
prospects. It's not clear if the Tropo will be functioning in time
for the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest today, the 15th, but
should be helpful for the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the
17th and the 70MHz UK Activity Contest on Thursday the 19th.
Solar conditions are still likely to offer the chance of the
occasional elevated Kp index, which is a good sign of possible
aurora. It will be interesting to see how things evolve this weekend,
ending the 15th, as a series of expected CMEs are due to reach earth.
The amateur bands between 10m and 2m are the ones to check as well as
looking out for ‘watery' sounding signals on the HF bands. Remember
it doesn't have to be dark for radio aurora, so don't wait for dusk
before checking.
Meteor scatter is mainly down to random activity in the coming week.
However, with the September Epsilon Perseids stream still active
until the 21st, having peaked on the 9th, conditions may be slightly
enhanced.
For EME operators, Moon declination is negative but rising and going
positive again on Wednesday the 18th. Moon visibility windows will
continue to rise while path losses decrease as we approach perigee on
Wednesday the 18th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate for the whole of
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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