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G4TNU > NEWS 12.02.12 09:36l 195 Lines 9863 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 12 Feb 2012
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 12th February 2012
The news headlines:
* RSGB launches two consultations
* Warrington club gains Olympic callsign
* Dominican Republic amateurs get 5MHz allocation
The RSGB will shortly be introducing two new consultations to draw
Members into the RSGB policy creation process. Some topics will also
be open to non-Members. The processes are being piloted on two issues
and we hope that many people will feel able to contribute. The first
consultation looks at the RSGB's Spectrum Strategy. The second seeks
views on how we could celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with some
form of QSO Party.
The proposed Spectrum Strategy is being developed by the RSGB
Spectrum Forum. It will take into account the outcomes of the current
World Radiocommunication Conference, which is due to end on 17
February. It is expected that the Spectrum Strategy consultation will
commence on 1 March. All UK amateurs are invited to read and comment
on the proposals and post their responses online.
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee QSO Party consultation uses a different
approach. People will be invited into an internet discussion list to
seek a consensus on a proposed draft for the QSO Party. We have
called this approach a Litmus Test. The QSO Party Litmus Test will go
live on Wednesday 15 February.
Further information and access to the consultations can be found at
www.rsgb.org.uk/consultations.
Warrington Amateur Radio Club has been granted the Olympic call sign
GB2012MV, for Manchester Venue. The station will be located at the
Salford University campus and will operate on VHF, HF and D-STAR. Old
Trafford will be a venue for the Olympic football competition.
Amateur Radio operators in the Dominican Republic have recently been
granted permission to use seven 5MHz channels. These are the same
channels as used in the UK. Modes currently permitted are SSB and CW.
Following the recent earthquake in the Central Philippines,
communications have been set up on HF as the emergency activity of
amateur radio becomes established in the earthquake and landslide hit
areas. Eddie Valdez, DU1EV, Chief Operating Officer for IARU society
PARA, said that Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HEROs) has activated
the emergency frequencies of 144.740MHz and 7.095MHz.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Harwell Radio & Electronics Rally will take place today, 12
February, at Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot. Doors open
at 10.30am and there is plenty of free car parking. Admission is
GBP 2.50, with accompanied under 12s free. There will be trade stands
and a flea market as well as special interest groups at the event.
More details from Ann, G8NVI on 01235 816 379.
The Northern Cross Rally will take place at Thornes Park Stadium,
Horbury Road Wakefield WF2 8TY today, Sunday 12 February. The usual
mix of traders and groups will attend, including the RSGB bookstall
and a local wind up mast manufacturer. Entrance is GBP 3 per person
and refreshments are available. Doors open at 10.30am. You are
advised NOT to park on the road outside as it has double yellow lines
on it, but use the available car parks. For more information, contact
Ken 2E0SSQ on 07900 563117, before 8pm hours please.
The organisers of the Swansea Rally, planned for 26 February, have
been obliged to cancel it. They hope to be able to re-schedule it
later in the year. Details from Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404 422.
Bournemouth Radio Society regrets to announce that, due to
circumstances beyond their control, it has been necessary to cancel
this year's sale, originally scheduled for Sunday 11 March. Please
contact John, G0HAT on 07719 700 771 with any enquiries.
Now for the news of special events
On 18 February, the Surrey Radio Contact Club is activating a
Thinking Day On The Air station. Using the callsign GB4ADD for the
4th. Addiscombe Girl Guides, the station will be in the Church Hall
at Christ Church Methodist, 114, Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon,
Surrey, CR0 6AD. They will be there from around 10.30am and expect to
stay for around three hours. There is ample on site parking.
Itchen Valley Amateur Radio club is helping Girlguiding Chandlers
Ford Division celebrate World Thinking Day, over the weekend of 18
and 19 February, with the callsign GB0CFG. Visitors are always
welcome at the Scout Hut, Brickfield Lane, Chandlers Ford. Further
details from Liz, M0ACL, on 02380 254 599.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Francois, F8DVD will be active as TM8AAW until 26 February, including
the 9th Antarctic Activity Week of 20 to 26 February. He will operate
on 10 to 40 metres, mostly SSB, from his home QTH in Macon, France.
QSL via home callsign, direct or bureau.
Jean-Pierre, F6ITD will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF bands
from Guadeloupe, which is IOTA reference NA-102, until 13 March. Look
him for as FG/F6ITD from Basse-Terre until 19 February and then from
La Desirade. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.
Al, W6HGF will be active as FP/W6HGF from Miquelon Island, IOTA
reference NA-032, until 20 February. Operation is planned to be
focused on digital, mostly RTTY, including an entry in the CQ WW WPX
RTTY contest. QSL via W6HGF, either direct or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
The first of this year's CQWW WPX contests is RTTY, which takes place
for the entire 48 hours of the weekend of the 11th and 12th. There
are categories for QRP, low and high power, single or multi-operator
stations, various numbers of transmitters and even single-operator
stations where the operator has been licensed for less than three
years. With the HF bands now in good shape, 10m could well be busy
for long hours. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
For 24 hours this weekend, the PACC Contest will be running on CW and
SSB. Work as many Dutch stations as possible per band, giving RST and
serial number. Dutch stations give RST + two-letter Province
abbreviation, of which there are twelve in all. The multiplier is the
number of provinces worked per band and, once again, there are
numerous entry categories.
The RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 14 February
between 2000 and 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator. The following day, 15 February,
the RSGB 80m club championships data leg takes place between 2000 and
2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
The ARRL International DX Contest takes place for the whole 48 hours
of the weekend of 18 and 19 February. This event has a loyal band of
followers in the UK and is a great one in which to build up your list
of States contacted, if you are working towards the Worked All States
Award. On the final weekend of the month there are two major
international SSB events, but no clash of bands. Using CW only, the
exchange is signal report and transmit power, although W stations
send their State and VE stations send their Province.
And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 3rd to
Thursday the 9th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the
10th of February.
There were fewer sunspot groups visible during the period with only 3
groups visible on the 5th and the 6th. On the remaining days only 2
groups were visible. Solar activity declined to very low levels for
the first three days but then, on the 6th, an M1 class solar flare
took place unexpectedly. Solar flux levels, as expected, declined
from 111 units on the 3rd to 97 by the 8th. This is the first time
that the solar flux levels were below the 100 mark since August last
year. The average was 105 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the
9th was 136 units, that's five units down on last week. X-ray flux
levels averaged B2.3 units, which is well down compared to previous
weeks. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels, but on the 7th
and the 8th a weak coronal hole disturbance took place with an Ap
index of 15 and 10 units respectively. The average was Ap 6 units.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
increase from 390 kilometres per second on the 3rd to 540 by the 7th.
Particle densities were low every day. Bz varied between minus and
plus 5 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus and plus 7
nanoTeslas during the most disturbed day.
And finally the solar forecast. This week the more active side of the
Sun is expected to be looking our way. However, looking at the latest
images from the STEREO Behind spacecraft, this side of the Sun is not
as active now compared to the last rotation. Therefore, solar
activity is expected to be at low levels, with only a small chance of
activity increasing higher than that. Solar flux levels should be
around the 120's. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet every
day unless a coronal mass ejection heads our way. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 28MHz for the
south and 25MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about
8MHz. Paths this week to Australia 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 22MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and
1300 hours.
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 Thursday before transmission.
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