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G4FVG > NEWS 05.05.14 22:18l 236 Lines 11084 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB MAIN news 4th May
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6ZDE<I0OJJ<GB7CIP<GB7COW
Sent: 140505/2056Z @:GB7COW.#44.GBR.EU #:53004 [249614] FBB7.01.35 alpha
From: G4FVG@GB7COW.#44.GBR.EU
To : NEWS@EU
Hello all,
Due to continuing problems at GB7IPF/GB7CIP gateway, Andy/G4TNU has asked me
to kindly forward his news bulletins from my BBS.
So here is the....
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 4th May 2014
The news headlines:
* New training resources list on RSGB website
* Two amateurs to activate 27 Scottish Islands
* Ofcom puts interactive RF spectrum map online
The RSGB website now has a new webpage designed to provide a
comprehensive list of useful training resources for both trainers and
students. It can be found at
http://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/training-resources. Anyone
wishing to add further links or material should contact Steve
Hartley, G0FUW by e-mail to tec.chairman<at>rsgb.org.uk
Alex, G0DHZ, will team up with Andre, GM3VLB to spend three weeks
activating Scottish Islands. Their list consists of around 27
separate islands and they will get to as many as possible in the
three weeks. Operations will be on SSB and CW with 14257kHz as a
regular spot for SSB. QSLs for GM3VLB should go direct and those for
GM0DHZ will be via eQSL, to GM0DHZ, direct to G0DHZ or by the bureau.
Ofcom's Interactive RF Spectrum Map is an easy way to browse and
search how different spectrum bands are used in the United Kingdom.
You can use the dashboard to find out how spectrum is being used, by
sector and by product/application. The map covers spectrum from
8.3kHz to 275GHz and can be found at
www.ofcom.org.uk/static/spectrum/map.html
The Marconi Radio Group will host the first of its special event
stations at Ballycastle Beach on Thursday 1 May. Operating from 10am
to 4pm, it will use the special callsign GB0GDI, for Giro d'Italia.
The group are expecting major pileups as it is activated. The
callsign will be in use throughout the Moyle area for until 28 May.
Members of the public are very welcome to come along and take part or
listen.
The RSGB is pleased to announce that the technical issue that has
been affecting the RSGB Shop is now resolved. If you encounter any
further problems using the RSGB Shop, or have any questions about the
recent technical issue, please raise a support ticket with the RSGB
Web and IT Helpdesk.
Further to last week's news of Bletchley Park opening its
newly-restored facilities on 12 May, the RSGB is pleased to announce
that RSGB Members can download a free admission voucher from
www.rsgb.org/bpvoucher.
Allen Harvie, VK3HRA is set to use amateur radio as he joins others
on one of the most popular trekking routes in the Himalayas. He will
walk from Nepal to the Southern Everest Base Camp, travelling through
the Sagarmatha National Park, which is on the World Wide Flora and
Fauna list. Allen has gained a permit to take and operate a QRP
radio. Due to weight and size constraints, only 20m CW will be
possible, from 6 to 9 May, during local sunset to sunrise.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 4 May, sees the Dambusters Hamfest at Thorpe Camp Visitor
Centre, Coningsby LN4 4PE. Talk-in is on S22 and via GB3FR and
parking is free. Opening time is 10am, admission is GBP 3 and pitches
are free but limited in size if not pre-booked. There's an RAF
heritage centre on site and overnight camping is possible by
appointment. Details from tcrm<at>hotmail.co.uk or online at
www.thorpecamp.org
On Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May, the Dartmoor Radio Rally takes place
at Tavistock College, Crowndale Road, Tavistock PL19 8DD. There's
free car parking, opening time is 10.13/10.30 and admission is GBP 2.
You'll find trade stands, a Bring and Buy, special interest groups,
catering and more. Contact Roger Hann, 2E0RPH on 01822 860 619.
The Lough Erne ARC rally will take place on 11 May at Share Discovery
Village, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh BT92 0EQ. Doors open at 11.30am and
there will be trade stands and a Bring and Buy. Details from Iain on
028 6632 6693.
If you have any rally or event information you'd like to appear in
future editions of GB2RS News, in RadCom and on the RSGB website,
please e-mail details to GB2RS<at>rsgb.org.uk.
Now for the news of special events
Today and tomorrow, 4 and 5 May, Ballymena ARC will be transmitting
using the callsign GN4KPT from Shanes Castle in Antrim as part of
their participation in the Steam Traction Rally. Visitors are most
welcome and for those who contact the station on the air, QSLs go via
MI0RYL either direct or via the bureau.
Dengie Hundred ARS will be active on the HF bands, mainly 40m and 2m,
with GB0SMA for the annual Stow Maries Vintage Fly-In on 10 and 11
May, from 10am until 6pm each day. More information can be found on
QRZ.com
Farnborough and District Radio Society will be operating their Mills
On the Air Station, GB2EM, from Elstead Mill, Surrey GU8 6LE. The
station will operate from 9am on the 10th until 5pm on the 11th. Most
operation is likely on 80 and 40m. Visitors are welcome to come along
and see the station in operation. The Mill has an excellent
restaurant serving meals all day and has just re-opened after the
floods of December 2013. Further details may be obtained from G4OQZ,
QTHR.
Special event station GB6MW will be aired on 10 and 11 May by Cray
Valley Radio Society at Meopham Windmill as part of National Mills
Weekend. The station located at Wrotham Road, Meopham Green, Kent
DA13 0QA will be active on HF, 4m and 2m over the weekend. There will
also be displays about amateur radio and training courses offered by
the club.
Ruiton Mill, home of Dudley and District Amateur Radio Society, will
be active in the Special Event Mills On The Air on the weekend of 10
and 11 May with the callsign GB2RM. Activity will be on the HF and
VHF bands. The station is open to visitors all weekend and on the
Saturday evening there is a club talk on SOTA by Richard, G3CWI.
Lincoln Short Wave Club intend to operate from two historic windmills
on 11 May as part of the Mills on the Air weekend. Activity will be
at Heckington Windmill using the callsign GB2HWM and at Ellis Mill
with GB5EM. There are cafeteria facilities close to both mills, and
visitors are welcome to visit the stations, which will be on the air
from 10am to 4pm.
12 May 2014 would have been Tony Hancock's 90th birthday and Coventry
Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB8TH from his birthplace at
41 Southam Road, Birmingham on that day.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
F4FET will operate maritime mobile and portable from the Isle of Mull
between 12 and 18 May. His activity will be holiday style on the HF
bands. QSL via his home callsign, direct, via the bureau or using
Club Log.
Members of the DX Plus Hellenic Radio Amateur Team will activate
Levitha Islet in the Dodecanese Islands from 3 to 11 May. The
callsign will be SX5LA and the IOTA reference number is EU-001. QSLs
go via SV2FWV.
Stan, EI6DX, will be visiting French Polynesia in May. He will be
active from Bora Bora, OC-067, between 7 and 18 May as FO/EI6DX. The
equipment will include a K3, Acom 1000 and a CrankIR vertical. All
QSLs via RX3RC (bureau or direct). It will be holiday style operation
using CW and SSB on the 10 to 80m bands.
Now the contest news
Today, 4 May, the 432MHz to 248GHz trophy contest ends at 1400UTC,
having been going for 24 hours. Using all modes on the bands the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The UK Microwave group low band contest runs today from 0800 to 1400.
Using all modes on the 1.3 to 3.4GHz bands the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Bank Holiday Monday sees the latest SSB leg of the 80m Club
Championships taking place from 1900 to 2030UTC. The exchange is the
usual signal report and serial number.
Wednesday the 6th is the 144MHz UK Activity Contest running from 1900
to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the bands, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Next Sunday, 11 May, the 70MHz CW contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC.
The exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.
Now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 25th to
Thursday the 1st of May, compiled by Neil Clarke on Friday the 2nd of
May.
Twenty seven minutes after the start of the period an X1 class solar
flare took place, however, since then only a sprinkling of C class
solar flares took place and then not on every day. Solar activity was
high on the 25th due to the X1 flare but then declined to very low on
the 27th, 29th and the 1st. Solar flux levels declined slightly to
118 units by the 27th but then increased to 126 units by the 1st. The
average was 122. The 90 day solar flux average on the 1st was 154
units, that's two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels declined
from B6.1 units on the 25th to B2.5 by the 28th. The average was B3.4
units. Geomagnetic activity start at quiet to unsettled levels but on
the 30th activity increased due to a slow moving coronal mass
ejection associated with the X1 class flare. The Ap index for the
30th was 20 units and the average for the period was Ap 10 units.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline
from 550 kilometres per second on the 25th to a slow 260 kilometres
per second by the 28th and the 29th. Particle densities were low
except for the 30th, which increased to 34 particles per cubic
centimetre and 55 on the 1st. Bz varied between minus 3 and plus 4
nanoTeslas on the quietest day. Bz remained around minus 10
nanoTeslas for around 16 hours on the 30th, which produced a small
disturbance during the afternoon which resulted in 50 and 144MHz
auroral contacts across most of northern Europe but only a handful
were reported from the UK. The first, scattered, sporadic E contacts
of the season took place and you can expect more in the coming weeks,
possibly extending to 70MHz.
Finally, the solar forecast for the coming week. This week the more
active side of the Sun will rotate into view. At least two active
regions are expected to be seen, one at the start of the week and the
other next weekend. Solar flux levels should increase and be around
150 units by the end of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to
be quiet every day. No coronal hole and coronal mass ejections are
expected. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be
around 27MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 14MHz.
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 about 20MHz. The
best time to try this path will be between 0800 and 1100 hours 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.
73 de Mike G4FVG
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