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G4FVG > NEWS 28.08.10 22:23l 255 Lines 13659 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main news 29 Aug
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<F6IQF<IK6ZDE<VE2PKT<CX2SA<VE3UIL<GB7COW
Sent: 100828/2007Z @:GB7COW.#44.GBR.EU #:23814 [220425] FBB7.01.35 alpha
From: G4FVG@GB7COW.#44.GBR.EU
To : NEWS@EU
Hello again,
Following my return to packetland this week from my last spell cruising around
the Mediterranean, I see that Trev/M1CUK has moved onto new things and is
unable to send his weekly packet bulletins.
In order to maintain the 'service' that Trev has provided for many years, I am
happy to resume my own sending of the RSGB news bulletins that I assisted Trev
with earlier this year. [Trev is happy for me to do this, as confirmed by
subsequent email contact]. However, this can only be until the end of October
before I depart on the next voyage... so if any reader is able to perform this
task, please feel free to take over for the benefit of 'packetland'....
73 de Mike G4FVG, Hampshire.
= = = = = = = = = =
Now onto the.GB2RS NEWS for Sunday 29th August 2010
The news headlines
* Final preparations underway for SSB Field Day
* Amateurs assisting in Pakistan floods
* Deep space lecture for the RSGB Convention
The ever-popular RSGB SSB Field Day taking place on 4 and 5 September starts
the month's HF contesting. There are Open and Restricted sections, the
Restricted having become slightly more popular than the Open over the past
decade. In recent times the winning team in the Open section have generally
logged well over 1000 QSOs, while the winning Restricted team have generally
logged about 1000 QSOs. A spot of advice to participants, have a suitable
number ready to give participants in the All Asia DX Contest that runs
concurrently. The Asians will be looking for your age, rather than a serial
number. Unfortunately, the long range forecast looks like unsettled weather
for the whole country, so it could be a rather damp, but enjoyable, event.
The IARU reports that the medical and food support being provided to those
affected by the flood disaster in Pakistan is being assisted by the combined
efforts of radio amateurs, a group of four wheel drive enthusiasts and the
Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians. More than 20 amateurs are keeping lines
of communications open and the plan is to increase this number. With both
landlines and mobile phone services failed in the flood affected areas, most
of the radio traffic is through a 2m repeater that is now linked to two
homebrewed 2m/70cm cross-band repeaters extending coverage to a radius of
almost 300 miles. A few stations are monitoring 7.040MHz but due to poor
propagation it is currently of little use, but should be kept clear for
disaster use. Pakistan's national radio society is seeking to finalise
arrangements including those from neighbouring countries to contribute to and
help sustain the emergency communications that will be required for a
considerable time to come
There will be a lecture on deep space reception techniques covering the 2.2,
8.4 and 32GHz bands by Paul Marsh, M0EYT at the RSGB Convention. He plans to
give an overview as to what can be received with a modest ground station using
a small dish. There is also the matter of locating the deep space object and
dish pointing. Paul will show how to accurately point your antenna. The
lecture should be of interest to weak signal microwavers, frequency and time
fans and software defined radio users. The RSGB Convention takes place on 8th
to 10th October at Horwood House near Milton Keynes and Paul's lecture will
take place on Sunday 10th at 2pm. More details can be found at
www.rsgb.org.uk/rsgbconvention.
At the end of last week, the Montenegrin Amateur Radio Pool was accepted as an
IARU Member Society.
India's amateur radio operators now have access to the 6m band. The new
allocation says 50 to 54MHz on F1B, F2B, F3E, F3C modes using 25 watts. Indian
amateurs are hoping there is a mistake and are seeking clarification as
previous allocations allowed CW and SSB among other modes on VHF/UHF. The
other interesting development is that 400 watts DC input power has been
allowed on all HF bands for the General class licence. Earlier the limit was
150 watts input with 400 watts being allowed in very small sub-bands for the
old Advanced class licence holders.
The 22nd Foundation course run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society starts
on 2nd September at the Danbury Village Hall near Chelmsford and will run for
6 Thursday evenings. A 5 week Advanced revision course starts on Thursday 28th
October, with the exam taking place on Monday 22nd November. To book a place
on a course contact Clive, G1EUC on 01245 224577 or by e-mail to
training2010<at>g0mwt.org.uk.
Following success in the June Advanced exam, a number of local amateurs have
asked if a Morse class can be run in Bath. Steve Hartley, G0FUW, has agreed to
arrange a course if there is sufficient interest. It is proposed to run the
classes one evening each week 7 to 9pm from early September. Costs will be
limited to classroom hire so the more that take part, the less it will cost.
If there are any would-be key bashers in the Bath area they should contact
Steve on 01225 464394 between 7 and 9pm or via e-mail to G0FUW<at>tiscali.co.uk
For the week starting 18th September, members of Sands Contest Group and
Workington Radio Club along with Brendon Minish, EI6IZ will be visiting the
Isle of Arran off the coast of south western Scotland, operating under the
callsign MS0SCG. They plan to operate on VHF, HF, SSB, CW and data modes. The
location is IOTA island number EU123 and SCOTIA island number CS14.
It is hoped that the Orkney Wireless Museum amateur radio station will be in
operation from its premises at Kiln Corner, Kirkwall between Thursday 2
September and Wednesday 8 September during the 20th Orkney International
Science Festival. Using the callsign GB2OWM, probable operating periods will
be weekdays and Sunday afternoons between 2.30 and 4.30pm and Saturday morning
between 10am and 12.30pm. Operation will be primarily on HF SSB. More
information can be obtained from Bill, GM3IBU by e-mail to
bill<at>gm3ibu.plus.com.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week.
Today, 29 August, the Milton Keynes ARS Rally takes place at Bletchley Park,
Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB. There will be trade stands,
special interest groups and entry is £2 for adults and 50p for youngsters
under 14 years of age. Doors open at 9.30am. Why not make this a family day
and visit the Bletchley Park museum too? Details from Steve Goodall, G6KJU, on
07866 673 192.
Tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, 30 August, the Huntingdonshire ARS Rally is
being held at the St Neots Community College, Barford Rd, St Neots, PE19 2SH.
Doors open at 10am and you will find trade stands, an RSGB bookstall and a
Bring and Buy amongst the attractions.
The annual Telford HamFest takes place on Sunday 5 September at Telford
Enginuity, Coalbrookdale, Telford, with the sat nav location TF8 7DU. As well
as the varied traders and specialist groups that will be present, a guest
speaker, Nick Miers, from Bletchley Park Code Breakers Centre will be giving a
presentation covering the World War 2 activities at that famous Centre, and
bringing an original German Enigma machine for a hands-on demonstration. The
rally opens at 10:30am, with a talk-in facility on 2 metres and via the local
repeater GB3TF, using the callsign GB4THF. Further information from Martyn,
G3UKV on 01952 255416, or via the group's website www.telfordhamfest.co.uk
Now for the news of special events
1st September sees the start of several special event licences. GB2BCL will be
on the air from Barmoor Castle in Northumberland, GB0PC is part of the
Peterlee Carnival and GB0SMA will be active from Stowe Maries Aerodrome in
Maldon.
GB4BLR will be on the air from 3 September at the Battlefield Line Railway in
Leicestershire and GB2LGR will be active from Langar Airfield in
Nottinghamshire.
Then from 5 September, GB2EFF will be on the air for the Epping Forest
Festival.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
VK6LC will be operational as XV2LC from 10 September from Ho Chi Minh City and
as XV4LC from the Mekong Delta. Listen out for him primarily on CW with some
SSB. QSL via VK6LC.
IZ4AKS/3B9 will be active stroke from Rodriguez Island until 4 September. His
operation will be holiday style on 40 through to 10 meters SSB with the
possibly of some RTTY and CW as well. QSL direct only to IZ4AKS at his
Callbook address.
Niels, OZ7FOC, is going to hit the airwaves from Samos between 29 August and 3
September. QSL via homecall.
Four Australian amateurs will be on Vanuatu, YJ, until 2 September. This will
be a fairly low-key operation, running just 100 watts to verticals and
dipoles, but is one of the few expeditions slated for September.
Laci, HA0HW, will sign J48HW from Thassos Island until 7 September. QSL via
HA0HW.
Moving on to another non-RSGB events, the All Asian DX SSB contest kicks off
on 4th and 5th. Exchange a signal report plus your age. If shy about their
age, YL ops can send '00'.
Now the contest news
The IRTS 2m Counties Autumn Contest takes place today, Sunday 29 August. If
you're outside EI/GI, work EIs and GIs only, giving them a signal report and
serial number. Expect to receive a signal report, serial number and their
county. In the 2008 and 2009 running of this contest no entries at all were
received from outside of EI, so if a UK station had made just one QSO it would
have put him in top spot. That said, if any GIs are active, their proximity to
EI means you'll have to do well to beat them. It's only 2 hours long between
1300 and 1500UTC but you can use all modes on the 2m band.
Tuesday, 31 August, sees the 70MHz UK Activity Contest take place between 1900
and 2130. You can use any mode on the band and your exchange should be signal
report, serial number and locator.
The ever-popular SSB Field Day on 4th and 5th starts September's HF
contesting. There are Open and Restricted sections, the Restricted having
become slightly more popular than the Open over the past decade, From 1300 to
1300UTC, the event covers the 3.5 to 28MHz bands and the exhcnage is signal
report and serial number.
On VHF, the first weekend of the month is a busy one, with the 144MHz Trophy
on 4th and 5th and the final 144MHz Backpacker of 2010 on the 5th. To ensure
there is a period during which weak-signal QSOs can take place between
Backpacker entrants, there's a period of peace and calm in the final hour
after the 144MHz Trophy ends. The 144MHz Trophy takes place between 1400 and
1400UTC using all modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator. For the backpacker Contest, the times are 1100 to 1500 UTC, again all
modes with an exchange of signal report, serial number and locator.
Overlapping the two RSGB 2m events taking place on Sunday 5th is the WAB
144MHz QRP, meaning 10 watts, Phone Contest. Multipliers are WAB squares and
DXCC countries. The event take place between 1000 and 1400UTC and the exchange
is signal report, serial number and WAB square.
Moving on to another non-RSGB events, the All Asian DX SSB contest kicks us
off on 4th and 5th. Exchange a signal report plus your age. If shy about their
age, YL ops can send '00'.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 6th to the 22nd of
August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 23rd of August.
Solar activity for the first three days started at low levels with C class
solar flares taking place on those days. The largest flare was a C4 which
occurred on the 18th, when the spot group had rotated out of sight a day
earlier. The remaining days activity declined to very low levels. The solar
disc became spotless on the 21st and the 22nd. Solar flux levels declined from
85 units on the 16th to 75 by the 22nd. The average was 79 units. The 90 day
solar flux average on the 22nd was the same level as last week at 77 units.
X-ray flux levels declined from B1.4 units on the 16th and the 17th to A4.9 by
the 22nd. The average was A8.2 units. Despite several coronal mass ejections
caught on camera by the SOHO spacecraft none headed our way and geomagnetic
activity remained at quiet levels everyday with the average was Ap 5 units.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds declined
gradually from 410 kilometres per second on the 16th to a slow 260 by the
22nd. Particle densities were low throughout. Bz with a quiet magnetic showed
variations no more than minus 6 and plus 5 nanoTeslas for the period.
And now the solar forecast. This week the slightly more active side of the Sun
is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity on occasions could increase
to low, but most days should remain at very low levels. Solar flux levels are
expected to be into the 80's for most of the week or the 90's if any
substantial groups unexpectedly appear. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be
at quiet levels everyday. 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 10MHz. 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 1300 hours. Just a remainder that
the summer sporadic-E season is just about over but for the coming few weeks,
short localised openings can still take place on some days. Also, the winter
season will take place from the middle of December to the middle of January.
GB2RS will remind you nearer the time.
And that's all for this week from the propagation team.....
and for this week's main news packet bulletin.
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