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M1CUK > NEWS 22.05.10 17:25l 248 Lines 12649 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 23rd May 2010
The news headlines
• New 5MHz NoV licences available
• ITU tasked to work on Smart grid standards
• RSGB to review education and training
Following a request by the RSGB last November, Ofcom announced on 14 May
they were able to permit operation of stations by amateur radio Full
licensees, using specified frequencies in the 5MHz experimental band,
after the existing NoV expired on 30 June 2010 and until 30 June 2015.
This follows Ofcom gaining consent from the Ministry of Defence for
continued amateur experimentation on these channels. The terms and
conditions of the new NoV remain unchanged. Note that existing NoV
holders, as well as Full licensees who have not previously held a 5MHz
NoV, wishing to operate in the 5MHz experimental band after 30 June 2010
must obtain a new NoV by completing an updated application form that is
available on Ofcom's website. Go to www.ofcom.org.uk and search for
5MHz.
Some of the world's biggest ICT companies have tasked a new ITU group
with identifying standards needed for the world's new Smart Grid
deployments, which will bring the benefits of digital technology to the
existing electricity network. Many governments have earmarked
significant portions of their stimulus packages for Smart Grids. In the
United States, for example, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
has allocated 4.5 billion US dollars for investments in the Smart Grid.
In Europe, the European Parliament has approved an agreement reached by
the EU Institutions on a package of legislation to liberalise energy
markets, including electricity and gas directives, which require EU
member states to ensure the implementation of intelligent metering
systems.
The RSGB Board has established a new working group to review the
Education and Training provision made by the Society. Persons with a
background of work in education or training who are interested in
contributing are invited to contact Robin, GM3ZYE, by email to
GM3ZYE@rsgb.org.uk, enclosing a brief CV.
The launch of two amateur radio satellites, STUDSAT and TIsat-1, on the
Indian PSLV-C15 launcher has been postponed until June. The rescheduling
of the launch took place after a marginal drop in the pressure in second
stage of the vehicle was noticed during the mandatory checks carried out
on the launch vehicle.
During the evening of Monday 17 May, RSGB VHF Manager David Butler,
G4ASR, contacted stations in Greece on the 2m band. SSB contacts were
made via Sporadic-E propagation to SV2JL at 2300 kilometres and SW6KRV
at 2286 kilometres. A few minutes earlier G4ASR had SSB contacts on 4m
with SV1DH at 2590 kilometres and SV2DCD at 2253 kilometres. On Friday
14 May the 50MHz band was open to Bahrain, with a 5270 kilometre contact
being made between G4ASR and A92IO.
Waters and Stanton are holding their 20th annual Open Day at their
Hockley premises from 10am on Sunday 30 May. There will be free food and
drink, special offers and representatives from Yaesu, Kenwood, Icom, bhi
and others. Details at www.wsplc.com.
The Arfon Repeater Group’s amateur television repeater, GB3GW, located
near the town of Criccieth in North West Wales and operational on
1310MHz, changed its mode of operation on 13 May. The transmission mode
has been changed from analogue to the digital DVB-S system, which is
compatible with free to air satellite TV receivers. GB3GW’s receive
system has not been changed so that users can still transmit on the
input frequency of 1280MHz in analogue mode. Reports to date indicate
that the system is working fine. Repeater keeper Derek, GW3FDZ would
welcome reports on the new transmitter. GB3GW joins GB3TM in digital
mode; this completes the transfer to digital DVB-S system by the Arfon
Repeater Group of their ATV repeaters. Further information and reports
on the Arfon Repeater group’s website at www.arfon.info.
A new power management system has been enabled on the AMSAT Oscar 51
satellite. According to control station Drew, KO4MA, if everything works
right the repeater should run at 1.01 watt while in sun, and at 290
milliwatts while in eclipse. The transmitter will remain at the low
power after exiting eclipse until the batteries recover to around 7.9
volts.
The June RadCom includes a competition. Unfortunately, gremlins crept in
and the published closing date of 1 June is incorrect. The winning entry
will be drawn on Thursday 1 July and details published in the August
edition of RadCom. The editorial team apologises for this error.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 23 May, the Dunstable Downs Radio Club is holding the National
Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale at Stockwood Park, Luton. The postcode for
your satnav is LU1 5NR. Doors open at 9am and entry is £2. Details on
the web at www.ddrcbootsale.org.
The Easter Harlaxton amateur radio get-together and field day had to be
postponed due to bad weather. Organiser Jim, M0JHW re-arranged the event
and today, 23 May, is the second day of the new event. It’s at the same
venue, the Sports and social club, Harlaxton, near Grantham, which is
postcode NG32 1HX. There will be amateur radio operations that visitors
can join as well as plenty of tea and coffee.
The Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be holding their annual Radio
Rally and Boot Sale on Saturday, 29 May, from 11am till 4pm. It is being
held at Drumgor Youth Centre, Drumgor Heights, Craigavon, BT65 4AP.
There will be a talk in station on 2m as well as signage for directions.
At the rally will be a number of traders and private sellers as well as
information stalls by The Short Wave League, CASHOTA-NI and Community
Safety as well as the usual Bring & Buy for individuals. Hot and cold
refreshments will be provided by the coffee shop. Entry is £2.50, which
includes free entry into the raffle. Car boot pitches are £5 per car and
£10 per van or 4x4. More information can be found at www.muarc.com, or
Bobby, MI0RYL on 07751 007 490.
The Sausage and Scouse Net Summer Meeting will be on 30 May at The Old
Quay, The Parade, Parkgate CH64 6SB. Starting at midday, you can join
them for a carvery lunch or just call in for a drink and a chat.
Amateurs, friends and SWLs welcome. More information from Bill, G4USW on
07870 325537.
Now for the news of special events
To mark the 10th anniversary of the closure of the world's largest
maritime radio station, Portishead Radio, GB10GKA is being activated
until 27 May. Hours of operation will be dependent on individual
operator's free time and operation will be primarily on CW. The final
leg will be taken by Pete G3TJE and Larry G4HLN from 21 to 27 May from
Burnham on Sea. Special Anniversary QSL cards will be produced to mark
this historic event, and eQSL will also be used. Certificates for
contacting GB10GKA on more than four HF bands will be available. Contact
Tony Roskilly, G3ZRJ by email to g3zrj.morsekey@btinternet.com.
The Geoparks Communication event finishes today, 23 May. Listen out for
GB2MAC at the Marble Arch Caves International Global Geopark, EI2GEO at
the Copper Coast Geopark in County Waterford, GB5GEO in Merthyr Tydfil
and GB6GEO from Kent’s Cavern in Torquay amongst others.
A special callsign will be activated for the famous 24 hour car race in
Le Mans, France. TM24H will be on the air from the 30 May to 13 June.
The QSL manager will be F6KFI.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources.
Tony Howell-Jones, M0THJ will be operating as F/M0THJ/P from near
Prissac, France, locator JP06PM on 80 through to 10m SSB from Sunday 23
May to Friday 28 May. Normally operating 100W he will power down to 5W
for any QRP voice contacts. All QSOs acknowledged with local QSL card
via RSGB bureau.
Denis, ZL4DB is going to Macquarie Island, which is IOTA reference
AN-005, on a 3 month job assignment. He hopes to operate SSB only as
VK0/ZL4DB, when time permits, from mid-late May until mid-August. He is
not an experienced DXer and, according to his QSL manager, ham radio
activity will be minimal. QSL via ZL4PW, direct or via the bureau.
Larry, W6NWS will be in Vietnam until 9 June. He expects to be active as
XV2W when time permits, mainly around the CQ WPX CW and SEANET contests.
QSL via home call, direct or bureau and Logbook of The World.
The Ukrainian DXpeditioners Team has a new project called ‘Pacific
Odyssey 2010’. On the team are UX0HX, RK3FA, UT5UY, UT1HF, US7UX, UR3HR
and SWL Yuriy Grushevskiy. They plan to be active as T31X, Central
Kiribati, 22 May to 1 June; and ZK3X, Tokelau, 2 to 6 June. T31 is
ranked most needed number 7 in Europe, number 19 worldwide. Tokelau is
number 29 in Europe and number 35 worldwide.
Members of the Tifariti Gang are heading to Palestine. Look for E4X to
be active from 28 May to 6 June.
Now the contest news
On May 25 the 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 1900 and
2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
Next weekend, May 29 and 30, the CQWW WPX CW Contest takes place between
0000 and 2359UTC. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The Bath Buildathon Contest is primarily intended to activate the radios
built at the Bath Buildathon events, although it is open to all. The
maximum power is 10 watts. The event takes place between 30 May and 5
June at various times. You must use SSB on the 3.5MHz band. The exchange
is signal report, the make and model of your transceiver and the power.
Full rules can be found on the internet. Using your favourite search
engine, search for Bath Buildathon Contest.
Now the solar factual data for the period from the 10th to the 16th of
May, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 17th of May.
On Friday the 14 May at the Goddard Space Flight Centre the Solar
Dynamics Observatory was declared an operational mission. A spokesman
said “this means we have shown that the spacecraft and instruments are
ready to collect science data. The science teams are working on making
that data available to the scientists and space-weather public very
soon.ö
The latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers are available and are for
August, September and October 2009 and are 4.8, 6.1 and 7.0
respectively.
The solar disc was spotless everyday. Solar activity was very low with
no solar flares taking place. Solar flux levels declined from 74 units
on the 10th to 69 by the 13th, that’s the lowest level since the 9th of
October last year. The average was 71 units, that’s the lowest weekly
average so far this year. The 90 day solar flux average on the 16th was
80. That’s one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels averaged A1.9
units and varied little day to day. Geomagnetic activity was quiet
everyday with the 11th the most disturbed day with an Ap index of 8
units. The average was Ap 5 units. Solar wind data from the ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 320 and 520 kilometres per
second. Particle densities were low throughout. Bz never varied no more
than minus 5 and plus 7 nanoTeslas during the period.
And finally the solar forecast. Without the emergence of any sunspot
groups which are impossible to forecast the solar disc could be spotless
on some days during the coming week. Solar activity is expected to be at
very low levels. Solar flux levels with a spotless Sun will be in the
low 70’s and maybe in the 80’s if any decent sized spots do appear.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels until next
weekend when activity is expected to increase due to a recurring coronal
hole. On its last rotation this hole produced an Ap index of 39 units.
MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 21MHz for
the south and 18MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about
11MHz. Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency
with a 50 per cent success rate of around 19MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 15MHz. The best
time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1400 hours. Sporadic-E
should take place on some days this week. Openings up to 70MHz are
expected.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
---------------------------------------------------------
73
Trev,
SysOp gb7fcr.#16.gbr.eu
E-Mail trev@gb7fcr.co.uk
Packet Radio <-> InterNet Gateway
RF & Telnet access
BBS Web Site http://www.gb7fcr.co.uk
WinPack Web Site http://www.winpack.org.uk
Message timed: 17:16 on 22 May 10
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