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G4TNU > NEWS 16.10.11 20:50l 248 Lines 12909 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 9th October 2011
The news headlines:
* RSGB announces Extraordinary General Meeting
* 5MHz station in Greece
* ISS astronaut to join in Jamboree on the Air
The Society has announced that it will be convening an Extraordinary
General Meeting on 19 November 2011. The meeting will allow members
the opportunity to comment on proposals to address issues surrounding
the governance of the Society. Full details will be in the November
issue of RadCom, but the editorial from that issue has been
pre-released and can be read on the RSGB website, www.rsgb.org.
After three years of negotiation the Radio Amateur Association of
Greece has been given permission for its headquarters club station,
SZ1SV, to use the channel centred on 5400kHz. SZ1SV is permitted to
use 5398.5 to 5401.5kHz for SSB, CW and digital modes, with a maximum
power of 100W. Since the permission is based upon propagation
studies, the Greek association is planning to operate a beacon,
somewhat similar to our own 5MHz chain, when the station is not being
used for contacts. The RSGB has been working closely with Manos,
SV1IW, President of the Radio Amateur Association of Greece, on their
planned usage of this channel for beaconing, so that this can exist
alongside our and others usage of the channel for QSOs. Plans for the
beacon have yet to be finalised, but it will likely operate every 15
minutes, with an alternating CW and PSK31/PSK63 identifier. The
beacon may be capable of being remotely switched as a further measure
to minimise interference to other users of the channel.
This year's Jamboree On The Air takes place on 15 and 16 October.
NA1SS, which is the International Space Station, is going to be on
the air throughout the JOTA weekend. Astronaut Mike Fossum, KF5AQG,
who is also a Scoutmaster, is going to be on the air during breaks
from his work schedule. He should be available on most of the passes
around the world. The uplink is 144.490 and the downlink is
145.800MHz, both plus and minus Doppler shift as the ISS passes
overhead. Within this year's JOTA, an emergency communications
exercise will take place on Saturday, 15 October in the afternoon,
European time zone. This simulated emergency test will include the
Headquarters station, HB9S, of the World Organization of the Scout
Movement, which will be operated by amateurs from five different
countries.
The MM0RAI/P Rockall DXpedition was a success. The amateurs managed
to land on the rock, IOTA reference EU-189, and set up the station.
Operation started on 1 October at 1545UTC and they stopped
transmitting on 2 October at 0652UTC. Online logs will be available
soon. For more information, including photographs, check out the
website at www.rockall.be.
India's latest amateur radio satellites, SRMSAT and JUGNU, are now at
the Indian Space Research Organisation spaceport at Sriharikota,
ready to launch on 12 October. VU2WMY says he used an AMSAT-UK
FUNcube Dongle SDR to receive telemetry from SRMSAT and JUGNU during
environmental tests.
Bletchley Park Trust has been granted 4.6 million pounds from the
Heritage Lottery Fund towards the regeneration of Bletchley Park. The
investment will enable the restoration of iconic Codebreaking Huts 1,
3 and 6, and create a world-class visitor centre and exhibition in
the currently derelict Block C as soon as GBP 1.7 million in match
funding has been raised. Not only will this development allow the
conservation of buildings of highly significant heritage value, it
will considerably improve the educational offering and visitor
experience at Bletchley Park.
The next Advanced revision course run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio
Society starts on Thursday 27 October. This short revision course is
aimed at those who have already studied at home or elsewhere. It will
be held on Thursday evenings between 7 and 9pm at Danbury Village
Hall from 27 October to 1 December. The exam will be held on Monday,
5 December. For more details on this or the other CARS training
courses speak to Clive, G1EUC, on 01245 224 577.
Entries for the Lifeboat Amateur Radio Society's annual SOS Radio
Week are now being accepted. SOS Radio Week 2012 is nine days of
sponsored operating from 21 to 29 January. It is open to individuals,
groups and clubs. Participants can operate from home, their club HQ,
the local shopping centre, a Lifeboat Station, in fact anywhere they
like. There's no minimum time you need to dedicate, just as much time
as you can spare. All money raised goes to the RNLI. In the past two
years, amateur radio operators taking part in SOS Radio Week have
raised over GBP 7,200. If you'd like to take part, please register on
the website, www.sosradioweek.org.uk.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 9 October, the Autumn Militaria & Electronics & Radio Amateur
Hangar Sale takes place at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker,
Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Doors open at 10am and admission is
GBP 2.50. There will be civil, military and vintage radio equipment
plus vehicle spares and more. Contact Rod Siebert on 01270 623 353.
On Sunday 16 October the Blackwood and District ARS Rally takes place
at Coleg Gwent, Risca Road, Cross Keys, NP11 7ZA. Doors open at 10.40
and admission is GBP 2. There will be trade stands, special interest
groups and a Bring & Buy. More details from Dave, GW4HBK on
01495 228 516.
The Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place on 16 October at the
Floral Hall, 7 The Esplanade, Hornsea, East Yorkshire, HU18 1NQ.
Doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well
as special interest groups. Details from Rick, M0CZR by e-mail to
R106221<at>aol.com.
Now for the news of special events
Bedford and District Amateur Radio Club will be operating GB4BMA from
Broham Mill on National Apple Day, 16 October.
There will be many special event stations on the air for JOTA on 15
and 16 October. The October RadCom contains a list of over 20 special
event stations that have issued for the event.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
DJ7RJ will be operating as FR/DJ7RJ from Reunion Island, which is
IOTA reference AF-016, until 26 October. He will operate CW and SSB
on 160 to 10 metres, with a focus on the low bands, using a 500 watt
amplifier into an inverted L antenna. QSL via his home callsign,
direct or via the bureau.
IZ4AMS/P will be active from Tinetto Island, IOTA reference EU-083,
from 9 to 10 October. He will be using the 80, 40 and 20 metre bands.
QSL via his home callsign.
After just four days, the T32C DXpedition has passed the 50,000 QSO
milestone. It has turned out to be something of an unplanned Field
Day style operation and they now have no expectations of the
container of equipment arriving while they are on Christmas Island.
Instead, the team hand-carried just over one metric tonne of
equipment to the island. They are extremely grateful to all those who
loaned equipment at short notice to help enable the DXpedition to
take place and be successful. They will continue to make regular
updates on the website and Michael, G7VJR will no doubt update
Twitter while he is there. The online log on ClubLog is getting a
very high hit rate and they are uploading logs twice a day, at 7am
and 7pm local time. More information at www.t32c.com.
Now the contest news
Tuesday 11 October sees the 432MHz UK Activity Contest take place
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The 80m Club Sprint takes place on 12 October from 1900 to 2030UTC.
Using CW, the exchange is serial number and name.
The second 50MHz contest takes place on 16 October from 0900 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 26th of
September to the 2nd of October, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on
the 3rd of October.
First, before a busy period to report, the latest smoothed monthly
sunspot numbers. For December 2010, January and February 2011 they
are 28.8, 31.0 and 33.4 respectively.
A couple of large groups dominated the solar disc during the period
and were responsible for the eight M class solar flares that took
place. Other groups were visible but were small and quiet. Numerous C
class solar flares took place every day. Sudden ionospheric
disturbances and coronal mass ejections accompanied some of the
larger solar flares. Solar flux levels declined slightly from 148
units on the 26th to 131 units by the 2nd. The average was 138 units.
The 90 day solar flux average on the 2nd was 112 units, that's four
units up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined from C1.4 units on
the 26th to B3.8 units by the 28th, though a small increase was made
by the end of the period. The average was B5.6 units. Geomagnetic
activity started at quiet levels on the 26th, but around midday a
coronal mass ejection arrived and shortly after a major storm was in
progress. Two of the 3 hourly Kp indices reached 8 later that day.
The storm continued until the afternoon of the 29th. The only quiet
days were the 30th and the 1st when the Ap index of 8 and 9 units
were recorded respectively. The average was Ap 23 units. That's the
highest weekly average since December 2006. Solar wind data from the
ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase rapidly from 320
kilometres per second to 700 as the disturbance arrived on the 26th.
Speeds then erratically declined to 420 kilometres per second by the
2nd. Particle densities reached 38 particles per cubic centimetre on
the 26th, otherwise densities were low. Bz fluctuated between minus
30 and plus 28 nanoTeslas on the 26th and between minus and plus 5
nanoTeslas on the quietest day. MUFs dropped sharply – though, as
suggested in last week's report, there were also periods when HF
propagation was enhanced. Many auroral contacts were made on 6, 4 and
2 metres, at least as far south as the south coast.
And now the solar forecast. The present level of solar activity looks
set to continue. Solar activity should be at least moderate on some
days with a slight chance that activity could increase to high on the
occasional day. Solar flux levels should be around the 120's. That
figure is a guide and could be lower with a quiet Sun or higher with
an active Sun. Geomagnetic activity should be at active levels today
due to the effects of a coronal hole, but as in recent weeks a
coronal mass ejection could arrive on any day this week. If, however,
none arrive, then activity should be quiet for the rest of the week.
MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 30MHz
for the south and 27MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be
around 10MHz. As always these figures are based on quiet geomagnetic
levels and will be somewhat lower if activity increases. Now a look
at the predications for the low frequency bands to the T32C
DXpedition to Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean. Top Band will be
very difficult to work but the best time will be around 0400 and
0630. The best time on 80 metres will between 0530 and 0630 but may
be open an hour before and after that on the better days. Unlike Top
Band and 80 metres, which will need the path in total darkness, 40
metres could be worked with a longer window for at least up to an
hour after sunrise. The best times will be between 0400 and 0830 with
a peak around 0530. All times are UTC.
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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