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G4TNU > NEWS 29.09.13 01:27l 302 Lines 15533 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 29 Sep 2013
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 29th September 2013
The news headlines:
* Ofcom presents at the National Hamfest
* LF operations from Portugal
* Operation from Herm
Paul Jarvis, Ofcom, addressed the National Hamfest on the subject of
their planned Licence Review in order to hear feedback from those at
the event. The RSGB has been engaging with Ofcom in their early
thinking on various aspects of the Licence Review, and was pleased to
see a number of areas included that will support the development of
amateur radio. Whilst Ofcom are keen to emphasise that radical change
is not a part of their agenda, the Society wants to ensure that
certain aspects of clarification of current licence conditions are
not detrimental to the interests of its members. Paul Jarvis
emphasised that whilst he was keen to get feedback from those present
at the Hamfest, Ofcom was not staffed to enter into dialogue at this
stage, but that there would be ample opportunity for all to comment
once the consultation was launched next year. Members will have
another opportunity to listen and speak with Paul at the forthcoming
RSGB Convention, as well as participate in Litmus Tests on some of
the issues likely to be included in the Licence Review.
Amateurs in Portugal have some new operating spectrum as well as a
few rules changes. On 6 September the nation's telecommunications
regulator issued an addendum to Portugal's National Table of
Frequency Allocations. In summary, the changes include the allocation
of the new 472 to 479kHz band to the amateur service with secondary
status and changes to conditions for access to the 50 to 52MHz and
1270 to 1300MHz bands. The latter affects only some licence classes.
The Martello Tower Group are returning to Herm Island from 4 to 9
October using the callsign GP0PKT. Activity will be with 400W on 80m
through 10m including the WARC bands using SSB and RTTY. Although
Herm is part of the EU-114 Guernsey IOTA group, it isn't activated
very often and the GP0 prefix should attract some interest. The
DXpedition is being sponsored by Kenwood UK who loaned a TS-590S. All
QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World and direct or bureau
cards should be sent via G6NHU. For further details see qrz.com.
Bletchley Park will be hosting a two-day event on 5 and 6 October
looking at communication throughout the 20th Century and particularly
in times of war, from the post and pigeon carriers to radio,
telephones, television and beyond. There will be exhibits from the
Vintage Military Amateur Radio Society, Milton Keynes Museum and the
British Postal Museum amongst others. The National Radio Centre will
be open all weekend and visitors have the opportunity to go on air
and pass greetings messages from GB3RS. More information can be found
on the Bletchley Park website.
A reminder to constructors, designers and programmers that the
closing date of the end of September for registering an entry for the
Centenary Construction Competition, is almost upon us. Entries don't
have to be complex or innovative and full details can be found on the
RSGB website.
G100RSGB, the special event callsign celebrating the RSGB Centenary,
will be operated today, 29 September, and tomorrow, by Worksop ARS on
the HF bands as well as 2m and 70cm using CW, SSB and FM. Tuesday
sees the Hallam DX Group take over from Theddlethorpe-St-Helen, with
operation on the 10 to 160m bands using SSB and CW. Wednesday is the
turn of Loughborough and DARS from Shepshed where operations will be
on the 10, 15, 20 and 40m bands using SSB. On Thursday and Friday,
Lincs Mobile DXers will operate from Huttoft Bank on the HF, VHF and
UHF bands using SSB and FM. Next weekend, Hucknall Rolls-Royce ARC
will run on the 6 to 160m bands using SSB and data. Please note that
these operations are from Region 13 not Region 5 as in the October
RadCom. Details of how to get your QSL card are on the RSGB website,
www.rsgb.org.uk, under the Operating drop down menu, clicking on
Centenary Station.
NASA has invited amateurs around the world to say hello to its Juno
spacecraft as it passes close to Earth on 9 October. The experiment
will use the amateur 10m band using CW and you will need to know
basic Morse to send the two letters HI. More information on how to
take part is on the web at www.jpl.nasa.gov/hijuno
An amateur radio 9 day special event is taking place, starting this
weekend to help support the many donation-funded flying medical
services around the world. Special event stations will promote these
services and donations go directly to the medical organisations. If
you want to take part, registration is mandatory and all stations
taking part will be issued a registration number that is listed on
the website. This event is being supported by the same team that
operates the well established International Museum Weekends. If you
want more details, see www.qrz.com/db/m0hem.
The Portuguese Maritime Police and national regulator have acted over
illegal communications and interference in an operation that resulted
in confiscation of radio equipments and heavy fines to ten operators.
Raids were apparently made on 28 vessels and 29 harboured stations,
both on sea, inland and in waterways. The Authorities said that the
operation was based on interference complaints to legal radio
systems, including Amateur Radio Service, Aeronautical Band, Maritime
Service and commercial radio frequencies.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Northampton Radio Club is hosting the National Final of the British
Top-Band Direction Finding Association competition today, Sunday 29
September. In this, the national final, competitors will be required
to locate three hidden transmitters, operated using CW and AM; in the
1.8MHz band and with a maximum carrier level of 9dBW. The event will
start at 12.50 and conclude at 16.30. For further information please
refer to the BTBDFA website at http://www.topbanddf.org.uk.
The West Tyrone ARC Annual Conference that will take place on 5
October at the Technology Education Centre in Omagh. Speakers this
year include Carlos, G3VHF from AMSAT-UK, Pat, EI2HX from IRTS, Len,
GM0ONX from the RSGB, Phil, MI0VIM, Graeme, MI0WGM and Simon, GW0NVN.
Doors open at 10:30am with first speaker at 11:00am.
Sunday 6 October is a busy day for rallies. The Autumn Militaria and
Electronics and Radio Amateur Hangar Sale takes place at the Hack
Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8ALDoors open
10am and there will be civil, military and vintage radio equipment
plus vehicle spares and more. Contact Lucy Siebert, 01270 623 353.
Blackwood and District ARS Rally will be held at Coleg Gwent, Risca
Rd, Cross Keys NP11 7ZA. Talk in is on S22 and doors open at 10am
with admission beinf GBP 2. There will be trade stands, a car boot
area and a Bring and Buy. More information from Dave, GW4HBK on
01495 228 516.
The 24th Great Northern Hamfest will be held at Barnsley Premier
Leisure Complex, Queens Road, Barnsley S71 1AN. Doors open at 10.30am
and admission is GBP 3.50. There will be trade stands, special
interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from Ernie, G4LUE on
07984 191 873.
If you have any rally or event information you'd like to appear in
future editions of the News and in RadCom, please e-mail details to
GB2RS<at>rsgb.org.uk.
Now for the news of special events
During October, GB1LCT will be on air from Leyland in Lancashire. The
station is a tribute to the men and women of Leyland who built and
operated the Centurion tanks. The operators Mark, G1PIE, Phil, M6SRZ
and Pam, 2E1HQY will be transmitting from the side of the Centurion
tank. More information about the station is on qrz.com.
On 4 and 5 October, the Lincs Mobile DXers will be running the
G100RSGB Centenary station from Huttoft Bank in Lincolnshire, locator
JO03DG and WAB square TF57. They will be operating on the 10 to 160m
bands using SSB and VHF and UHF using SSB and FM. Operators by Jim,
G0EJQ and Ray G7TAS say that internet access will be limited but they
do welcome visitors.
A Special Event Station, GB1BOL, to commemorate the 750th anniversary
of the Battle of Largs, which was fought between the Vikings and
Scots on 2 October 1263, will operate from the Battle of Largs Pencil
Monument, near to the Largs Yacht Haven. Operating on 2 October only,
they will be using the 20 and 40m bands, SSB, operators Ian, MM0IMC
and Andrew, MM6GTJ say that this will be a QRP station. QSL via eQSL
and Logbook of The World only, discover more on qrz.com.
During October, Chorley and District ARS will be running GB1BNB as
part of the ROC bunkers month. The station will be at the site of
Brinscall Nuclear Bunker, near Chorley. QSL via the Bureau or Graham,
G7DKY QTHR. More details on qrz.com.
Houghton Le Spring Amateur Radio Club is running a GB6HF to celebrate
Houghton Feast from Saturday 5 October from the Dubmire Royal British
Legion Club, Fence Houses.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Vietnam will be on the air in a few weeks when N0ODK will be
operational from Ho Chi Minh City as 3W2DK between 17 and 24 October.
His operations will be on 20, 17, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via N0ODK,
direct, by the Bureau or Logbook of the World.
Karl LA8DW is going back to Svalbard to reactivate his JW8DW call.
Svalbard counts as EU-026 for the Islands on the Air Award. Look for
him until 2 October.
Willi, DJ7RJ will stay on Reunion Island, AF-016, until 2 November.
Using the callsign FR/DJ7RJ, he will be on the 10 to 160m bands using
SSB and CW with a focus on the low bands. QSL via DJ7RJ either direct
or via the bureau.
Karl, LA8DW will get on the air again as JW8DW from the JW5E club
station on Spitsbergen Island, EU-026, until 3 October. Using the 10
to 80m bands he will operate CW and SSB, maybe also RTTY and PSK31.
QSL via Logbook of the World and LA8DW either direct or via the
bureau.
A team, under the call EJ0M, will operate from Aran Island, EU-121,
until 5 October. On the air with 5 stations they will be using CW and
SSB. QSL via G0MTD either direct or via the bureau.
Tom, DL4VM will return to North Jutland, NJ-001, and operate again as
OZ/DL4VM until 19 October. QSL via DL4VM either direct or via the
bureau.
Now the contest news
The CQWW RTTY DX Contest ends today having been going on for 48
hours. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and
Zone, which for the UK is 14.
The UK Microwave Group is holding another of its Cumulative Contests
today, the 29th. The bands in use will be 5.7 to 24GHz running from
0600 to 1800UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Tuesday, 1 October sees the 144MHz UK Activity Contest taking place
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain HF Phone contest takes place next weekend from
Saturday 5 October 1200UTC until 6th at 1200UTC. Eligible bands are
20m, 15m and 10m. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
WAB square. Entries need to be with the contest manager by 27
October. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be obtained from
the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from the contest
manager G3XKT (email aebbooks<at>ntlworld.com)"
The weekend of 5-6th is a busy one of UHF and microwave enthusiasts,
with the 1.2 and 2.3GHz Trophy Contests taking place for 8 hours on
Saturday 5th, starting at 1400UTC. Using all modes the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator. Starting at exactly the
same time, but running for 24 hours, the 432MHz-248GHz Contest is
where the serious microwavers get their kicks. Those who enter either
of these contests will have their logs automatically forwarded for
entry into the IARU event, unless they specify otherwise.
There are some very different non-RSGB contests on the first weekend
of the month too. The first to start at 0800 on Saturday 5th is the
SSB leg of this year's Oceania DX Contest. There are sections for
single-op and multi-op stations, with the points for QSOs different
on each band (to encourage LF activity in particular). Work Oceania
– that's VK, ZL and Pacific islands – only. The first autumn EU
Sprint takes place for four hours, starting at 1600UTC on the 5th
using the 3.5 to 14MHz bands the exchange is both callsign, serial
number and name.
The 21/28MHz contest takes place on 6 October running from 0700 to
1900UTC. Using CW or SSB the exchange is signal report, serial number
and District.
The UK Microwave Group's Low Band contest is on 6 October from 0800
to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3, 2.3 and 3.4GHz bands the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 20th to
Thursday the 26th of September, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on
Friday the 27th of September.
Yet another week where solar activity looks like solar minimum rather
than solar maximum, as where we are now. Despite up to 7 sunspot
groups visible solar activity was at very low levels except for 8
small C class solar flares that took place, 4 on the 20th, 3 the
following day and one on the 24th. Solar flux varied little day to
day and the average was 110 units. The 90 day solar flux level on the
26th was the same level as last week at 111 units. X-ray flux units
declined slightly from B2.8 units on the 20th to B1.9 by the 23rd and
the 24th. The average was B2.3 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet
everyday, however, activity did increase slightly on the 24th but the
Ap index only reached 10 units that day. The average was 6 units.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
increase from 340 kilometres per second to 460 by the 24th. Particle
densities were low except for a brief increase to 60 particles per
cubic centimetre around midday on the 24th. Bz varied between minus 3
and plus 4 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 10 and plus
11 nanoTeslas during the 24th.
And finally the solar forecast for the coming week. With the quiet
side of the Sun expected to be looking our way solar activity is
expected to be at very low levels. There is a chance though that
activity could increase to low levels on some days. Solar flux levels
are expected to be around the 100 mark for most of the week.
Geomagnetic activity could be slightly unsettled today and tomorrow
due to a small recurring coronal hole but then decline to quiet
levels for the remainder of the week. MUFs during daylight hours at
equal latitudes 22MHz for the south and 19MHz for the north. Darkness
hour lows should be about 11MHz. Paths this week to Australia should
have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of
around 25MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent
success rate will be around 20MHz. The best time to try this path
will be between 0800 and midday 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 Thursday before transmission.
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