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G4TNU > NEWS 16.02.11 19:23l 244 Lines 12402 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 20 Feb
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 20th February 2011
The news headlines:
* Data across the Atlantic on 502kHz
* Voice of Russia moves from 7200 to 7265kHz
* National Science & Engineering Week 2011
At 2134GMT on 13 February, Joe, VO1NA managed a full beacon decode
from Graham, G0NBD on 502kHz using the ROS mode. It is believed this
was the first live data mode decoded over the Atlantic on this band.
The signal to noise ranged from -23 to -27dB, giving a 100% decode of
the test message. The transmission was sent using MF-7 with an
estimated ERP of 1 watt from a 35ft top loaded vertical. ROS mode did
a good job of resolving the signals despite deep and rapid QSB over
the 3500km path. At just over a year old the ROS data mode is
relatively new and uses an adaptation of multiple frequency shift
keying and forward error correction to help make successful contacts
under very difficult band conditions. The software for the mode is
completely free and more information can be found via the ROS
website, http://rosmodem.wordpress.com.
Voice of Russia was first heard on 7200kHz on 1 February 2011 and
reported to the IARU Monitoring System by Dick, PA0GRU. Ulrich, DJ9KR
from the IARU Monitoring System in Region 1 reported the station on 2
February to the German Telecoms authorities. Following correspondence
with the Russian General Radiofrequency Centre he was able to
demonstrate the interference. Subsequently, Voice of Russia moved to
7265kHz.
National Science & Engineering Week will take place between 11 and 20
March. As part of this event, Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is
providing hands-on experience of amateur radio at a local school as
well as to the community at large. On Saturday 12 March between 10am
and 4pm the Club will be at Tapton School. They plan to install two
temporary radio stations and aerials and put the school on the air
for the day using the club callsign GX3RCM/P. They will be working
alongside the Sheffield Astronomical Society who have held an annual
exhibition and demonstration at the school for the past few years.
The event is open to all members of the public.
According to the AMSAT News Service, the deployment of the ARISSat-1
satellite from the International Space Station, previously scheduled
for Wednesday 16 February, has been postponed. The delay was
necessary because of changes in the work schedule for the February 16
space walk. Instead, ARISSat-1 deployment will be added to a space
walk scheduled for July 2011.
The United Kingdom Six Metre Group (UKSMG) has launched an initiative
initially to UK radio clubs and societies, to keep them informed
regarding operating on 50MHz. A bi-monthly newsletter will be
e-mailed to club secretaries who have registered to receive it. The
newsletter will contain a wide variety of information including
practical operating tips. Much will be specifically targeted at the
large number of operators who have not previously experienced the
enhanced F2 propagation expected during the sun spot cycle peak in
2012. Any club secretaries who have not already registered to receive
the newsletter can do so at www.uksmg.org/phplist.
The first Douglas Byrne Marconi Lecture, to be delivered by Professor
Peter Scott from the University of Reading, will be held at the
Museum of the History of Science, Broad Street, Oxford, on Tuesday 1
March at 5.30 to 6.30pm. The subject of the lecture will be, ‘The
sources of competitive advantage and innovation in the interwar
British radio industry'. Entrance is free to the lecture and the
reception following in the Bodleian Library. For further information,
e-mail bookcentre<at>bodleian.ox.ac.uk. The Fellowship was
established to recognise the contribution made by Douglas Byrne,
G3KPO to radio history as the Founder of the Wireless Museum on the
Isle of Wight.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
There are no rallies this weekend.
On 27 February. Rainham Radio Rally will take place at Rainham School
for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent ME8 0BX. Doors open
at 10 am. More details from Trevor, G6YLW, 0771 7678 795.
Also on 27 February, Swansea ARS Rally will be held at Court Herbert
Sports Centre, Neath Abbey, Neath SA10 7BE. Doors open at 10.30am and
entry is GBP 2 with free car parking. There will be trade stands and
a Bring & Buy along with special interest groups. Details from Roger,
GW4HSH, on 01792 404422.
Now for the news of special events
North Cork Radio Group will be activating the call EI1NC/P on 20
February from the Blackrock Castle Observatory from 1000 to 1700UTC.
The venue is a 16th century Castle located 4km from the heart of Cork
city on the banks of the river Lee. The Castle has seen many uses in
its long history and now houses a cutting edge space observation post.
Members of the Coventry Amateur Radio Society will be activating the
Birth of Radar Memorial site at Litchborourgh on 26 February. They
will sign GB4WWR, standing for Watson Wilkins Radar. They chose the
callsign because Wilkins and Watson-Watt worked on the project. The
station will be using SSB on the bands 80m through to 20m. Further
information can be obtained from Brian, G8GMU on 07801 862 686 or by
e-mail to brlean<at>freenetname.co.uk.
EG8ISS will be on the air until 11 March from Las Palmas in Gran
Canaria, which is IOTA reference AF-004. Activity is to celebrate the
first ARISS contact with one of the Institute for Technological
Development and Innovation in Communications facilities on campus.
The special event station will be on the HF bands, from 10 to 40m
using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV. Activities are also planned for
VHF and the satellites AO-27, SO-50, AO-51 and VO-52. There is a
special QSL card for this event that will be automatically mailed to
your QRZ.com address. More info is available on QRZ.com under EG8ISS.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Phil, G3SWH and Jim, G3RTE plan to operate from the West Island in
the Cocos Islands group from 22 February to 5 March. They will be
active as VK9C/G6AY on 10 through to 80m using CW only. The Cocos
(Keeling) Islands, IOTA reference OC-003, is ranked number 75
worldwide. You can QSL VK9C/G6AY via G3SWH either direct with an SAE
and adequate return postage, via Phil's website for a bureau reply or
via the bureau.
Stan, VP5/AC8W, Jim, VP5/KB8TXZ and Lee, VP5/N8LJ are working from
Providenciales Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands until 23
February. QSL via their home callsigns, either via the bureau or
direct.
Ted, FO/K8AQM, will activate Moorea Island, which is IOTA reference
OC-046, until 25 February. He will be operating holiday style with
100 watts on 20 and 30m. QSL via homecall either via the bureau,
direct or using LogBook of the World.
Buenos Aires Province Group LU1EEZ/D and LU7CAW/D will be operating
from Martin Garcia Island, which is IOTA reference SA-055 from 23 to
28 February. QSL LU1EEZ direct, see QRZ.com for details and for
LU7CAW you can QSL via the bureau.
G3TBK will be re-activating J88DR on St Vincent until 14 March.
Operation will be on all HF Bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. Entries are
planned in the RSGB Commonwealth Contest and the ARRL International
DX Contests, both CW and SSB legs. QSLs as usual to G3TBK either
direct or through the RSGB Bureau. Logs will be uploaded daily to
Clublog.
Dennis, WA2USA plans to be active as WA2USA/4 from St George Island,
which is IOTA reference NA-085, until 3 March. He will be operating
on 10 to 160m using RTTY, CW and SSB. QSL via his home callsign
either direct or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
On 22 February the 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 2000
and 2230UTC. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on 22 February, the SHF UK Activity Contest takes place at the
same time, 2000 to 2230UTC. Using bands between 2.3 and 10GHz and all
modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The 80m Club Championships CW leg takes place on 24 February from
2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
On 25 to 27 February the CQ WW 160m SSB Contest takes place between
2200 and 2200. The exchange is signal report and CQ Zone.
The SSB leg of the REF Contest is on 26 to 27 February from 0600 to
1800UTC. Work French stations only, send a report and serial number,
and expect to receive a report and a Department code (or prefix from
French overseas territories). There are no separate categories for
different power levels and only a few entry categories. Single-op
stations can enter single- or multi-band, while multi-op stations can
make a single-transmitter all-band entry only.
On 27 February the 70MHz Cumulative Contest takes place from 1000 to
1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is Signal report, serial number
and locator.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 7th to the
13th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 14th of
February.
On the 25th of October 2006 NASA launched two identical spacecraft to
observe the Sun. This became known as the STEREO mission. Since then
they have travelled to each side of the Sun. On the 6th of February
they were separated by 180 degrees. That allowed us for the very
first time to view the entire Sun. STEREO is a key addition to the
fleet of space weather detection satellites and is a major
breakthrough in space weather forecasting, one that as been used in
compiling this report and will continue to do so.
Solar activity increased twice to moderate levels when a M1 solar
flare occurred on the 9th and a M6 on the 13th. Interestingly, both
these M class flares took place from different sunspot groups. The
first, from region 1153 as it was rotating out of view over the west
limb. The second, from a region that emerged on the solar disc on the
11th and grew rapidly in size and magnetic complexity and by the 13th
had produced the M6 flare. In total 12 C class solar flares took
place. Only two days saw solar activity at very low levels which were
the 8th and the 11th, the remaining days activity was low. Solar flux
levels increased from 82 units on the 7th to 107 by the 13th. That's
the highest daily figure since the 9th of July 2005. The average was
92 units, the highest weekly average going back to December 2006. The
90 day solar flux average on the 13th was 84. That's one unit up on
last week. X-ray flux levels increased from A5.6 units on the 7th to
B4.4 by the 13th and the average was B1.1 units. Geomagnetic activity
was quiet every day. The highest daily Ap index was only 4 units that
occurred on three days. The average was Ap 3 units. Solar wind data
from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 550
kilometres per second on the 7th to 320 by the 13th. Particle
densities were low throughout the period. Bz never varied more than
minus and plus 7 nanoTeslas, that is what we would expect with quiet
geomagnetic activity.
And now the solar forecast. Around midweek an active region is
expected to rotate back into view. As this group rotated out of sight
around the 10th of February it produced several C class and a M class
solar flare. Therefore, solar activity could increase later in the
week. Solar flux levels could be around the high 80s later in the
week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet every day. MUFs
during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 22MHz for
the south and 19MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about
8MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 28MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be
about 23MHz. The best time to try the path will be between a couple
of hours either side of midday.
And that's all for this week from the propagation team.
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 gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Tuesday before transmission.
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