| |
G4TNU > NEWS 05.01.25 08:51l 274 Lines 13123 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 58149G4TNU
Read: GUEST
Subj: RSGB Main News - 05 Jan 2025
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<I3XTY<GB7COW<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
Sent: 250105/0746Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:58149G4TNU
T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.europe
T:Message-Id: <E1_4801704_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 5th of January
The news headlines:
* The GB2RS News service is the subject of tomorrow's
Tonight<at>8 webinar
* The RSGB 2025 election process has begun
* Don't forget to report YOTA activity!
The news team and all the staff at RSGB HQ would like to wish our
newsreaders, listeners and online readers a very happy New Year. We
would like to remind everyone that we always welcome your news, by
email, to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk and the deadline is 10am sharp on
Thursday mornings.
And now, on with the news.
The first RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar of 2025 will be live tomorrow,
Monday the 6th of January. During the presentation you will get a
behind-the-scenes insight into the RSGB's GB2RS News service which is
celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. The team of presenters
include GB2RS News Manager, Steve Richards, G4HPE and also RadCom
Managing Editor Ed O'Neill, M0TZX who will explain how a team of
people produces and shares the weekly GB2RS news script. You'll also
hear from the Society's Operating Awards Manager Lindsay Pennell,
GI3KME who has details about a series of special GB2RS awards for you
to chase. Pete Sobye [SOW-BE], G0PNM will give you a newsreader's
perspective of the weekly broadcast. Find out more about this
fascinating discussion and the presenters by going to
rsgb.org/webinars Watch the presentation live on the RSGB YouTube
channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat.
What are your goals for 2025? Could you spare some time and share
your expertise to make a difference within the amateur radio
community? The RSGB 2025 elections process has begun, and nominations
are open for a range of volunteer roles. The RSGB's President John
McCullagh, GI4BWM will reach the end of his second year as President
at the AGM and so will stand down. There are also two Elected Board
Director vacancies. The Board is looking for people with specific
skills to fill these roles. The current President is one of the few
at Board level with extensive experience in spectrum matters and
negotiating with the authorities – so that skills gap needs to be
filled. Outreach has been an important focus over the last year for
the Society and it would like to support the current activities and
expand on them. These developments will include encouraging
practical skills amongst the amateur radio community and also
building links with other organisations. Building those relationships
will require someone with drive and determination but also tact and
diplomacy. There are eight further posts available for RSGB
Regional Representatives, ranging from Region 1 in Scotland to Region
11 in the south west. For more details about the roles as well as
application forms and candidate packs, go to the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/election
December 2024 saw a wide range of individuals, clubs, schools and
universities encouraging youngsters to get on the air and try amateur
radio as part of YOTA Month 2024. The RSGB National Radio Centre also
hosted the callsign over a number of evenings and weekends. If you
were involved with Youngsters on the Air Month and would like your
activity to be included in the RSGB's special RadCom feature,
remember that you need to email your photos and a short report
to comms<at>rsgb.org.uk by this Tuesday, the 7th of January.
Do you like making things? Or are you interested in creating software
for use in amateur radio? Have you thought about entering the RSGB's
Construction Competition? This annual competition is judged online to
allow RSGB members from the UK and across the world to participate
and demonstrate their creativity. In line with the
Society's strategic priority of growth, there will be a new
Outreach category this year in which members are encouraged to submit
a project that can be reproduced in a school or public environment.
The other five categories are beginners, construction excellence,
innovation, software and antennas. The winner of each section will
receive a cash prize, with a bonus for the overall winner. The
deadline for entries is the 1st of March 2025. Find out more by going
to rsgb.org/construction-competition
And now for details of rallies and events
The Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally is taking place on the
26th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road in Market Rasen.
The doors open at 10am and admission is GBP 3. Hot refreshments and
ample free car parking will be available. The cost for a table is
GBP 10. To book, please contact Steve Burke, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069
or email m5zzz<at>outlook.com
The Red Rose Winter Rally is due to take place on the 23rd of
February from 10am at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, Lancashire,
WN7 2PJ. Please note that the maximum number of five-foot tables per
trader has had to be reduced from six to five. On a brighter note,
the price remains as it has been for several years at GBP 10 per
table. For more information visit wmrc.co.uk
On the 1st of March The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society Annual
Rally will be held at Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch
Road, BT26 6AR. The doors open at 10.30am. For more details visit
lvars.uk
The Exeter Radio Rally will take place on the 2nd of March at The
Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE from 10am. Traders and catering will be
available on site. For more information contact Pete, G3ZVI by phone
on 07714 198 374, or by email to g3zvi<at>yahoo.co.uk
Now the Special Event news
Today, the 5th, is the last chance to work special callsign
OZ400POST. The station is active to celebrate the anniversary of
Denmark's postal service which was originally established on
Christmas Eve in 1624. Visit QRZ.com to read about awards that are
available for working the station.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Portishead
Radio, callsign GKA, receiving site at Highbridge, Somerset, special
callsign GB1GKA will be operated until the 31st of January. Operation
will be mainly focussed on CW, but some SSB activity is planned. The
station will be active on all bands from 40 to 10m.
British Railways Amateur Radio Society is running special event
station GB0LMR during 2025 to celebrate 200 years of train travel.
Operation will be mainly focussed on the 40 and 10m bands. QSL via
the Bureau. More information about the station is available at QRZ.com
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the GB2RS News service,
special callsign GB70RS has been on the air since the 1st of January.
Listen out for operators on all modes and all bands. QSL via the
Bureau, eQSL or Logbook of the World. For more information, please
visit the GB70RS page at QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Brian, GW4DVB is operating from St Kitts as V4/G4DVB until tomorrow,
the 6th of January. The station is active using multiple modes on the
160 to 6m bands. QSL directly to Brian. More information is available
at QRZ.com
Ralf, DB4REB is active as CN2REB from Morocco until the 30th of
January. He is operating using CW, FT8 and SSB on various bands. QSL
via eQSL, or directly to Ralf's home call. More information is
available at QRZ.com
Now the contest news
The ARRL RTTY Roundup started at 1800UTC on Saturday the 4th and ends
at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 5th of January. Using RTTY on the 80 to
10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. USA stations also send their state and
Canadian stations send their province.
Tomorrow, the 6th, the IRTS 80m Daytime Counties Contest runs from
1700 to 1800UTC. Using SSB and CW on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their
county.
On Tuesday the 7th, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 7th, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 8th, the RSGB 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 8th, the
RSGB 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 9th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 11th, the Worked All Britain 1.8MHz Phone Contest
runs from 1900 to 2300UTC. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.
On Sunday the 12th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m
Datamodes Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on
the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 2nd of January 2025.
We started the new year with a bang, or more precisely a Kp index of
8 and widespread visible aurora. This was caused by a partial halo
coronal mass ejection, associated with an eruption in the Sun's
southeast quadrant on the 29th of December.
The strong G3 to severe G4 geomagnetic storm peaked at about 1800UTC
on the 1st of January as the solar wind speed moved past Earth at
just above 500 kilometres per second. It then subsided as the Bz
component settled into a north-pointing position.
HF propagation suffered as a result with the maximum usable frequency
down for the rest of the evening. By the morning of the 2nd of
January, things had improved and maximum usable frequencies over a
3,000km path were back above 28MHz.
The solar flux index remained above 200, which no doubt helped, but
we are in rocky times from a space weather point of view.
A large coronal hole became Earth-facing on Friday the 3rd of January
which will no doubt cause some geomagnetic disruption today, the 5th,
as the Kp index rises.
NOAA predicts the solar flux index may decline this week, possibly
ending in the 160s to 170s. Geomagnetic conditions may also be in for
a rough ride around the 10th and 11th when the Kp index is forecast
to reach 4.
From a radio point of view, January is a peak time for low-band
DXing. The nights are long and dark so make the most of the 160 and
80m bands. You may also get DX during the late afternoon on the 40m
band.
During the daytime keep an eye on the 10m band, which may throw up
the odd, interesting DX station while the solar flux index remains
high.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO.
To start the year the main feature is low pressure over the country
but, in the depths of winter, it's good to remember that snow and
rain both provide scattering opportunities for the GHz bands.
There is a glimmer of tropo hope for the end of the coming week,
around the 11th and 12th, as high pressure builds over northern
Britain. This will be a cold-air high which tends not to be the best
for tropo, but it's worth a look nonetheless.
The solar conditions provided an aurora on New Year's Day with a
brief index of 8 during the afternoon. With other disturbances
possible, it is worth keeping up to date with solar conditions and
prospects for geomagnetic storms on spaceweather.com This is one
propagation mode where CW is so much easier to copy under the
difficult conditions of aurora.
Meteor scatter propagation is driven by the Quadrantids in the first
week of January. It peaks on the 4th but spans the period up to the
12th. This is a productive shower with an hourly rate of 120. Since
it's the last major excitement until the late April Lyrids, make the
most of it before we're reduced to chasing random meteor activity
during the rest of winter.
We have previously mentioned the chance of out-of-season Sporadic-E
propagation in mid-winter and we still have the next week to keep
alert, especially in view of the Quadrantids adding fuel into the E
region. The ionised trails of the meteors provide long-lived metallic
ions, which is the material that gets focussed into Sporadic-E if we
are lucky.
The Moon starts the weekend with a negative but rising declination,
going positive today, the 5th, so Moon windows continue to lengthen.
Path losses are low with perigee on Wednesday. 144MHz sky noise is
low all 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.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
