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G4APL > NEWS 02.10.16 10:55l 282 Lines 12947 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 2 OCT 2016
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Sent: 161002/0949Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO #:19699 [Caterham Surrey GBR]
From: G4APL@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO
To : NEWS@EU
GB2RS Main News for Sunday 2nd October 2016
The news headlines:
* DXCC Card checking at Convention
* Changes to the RSGB website
* Testing new equipment for ISS
ARRL DXCC card checking will be available to visitors at the RSGB
Convention again this year. Please take your cards to the ARRL stand
on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning and be prepared to leave them
until the volunteers are available.
In response to feedback about the RSGB website, we're trialling the
first phase of a new navigation layout. Take a look, use it over the
next few months and let us know if you like it – you can share your
thoughts via web.feedback<at>rsgb.org.uk For example, is information
easier to find? Do the new groupings work well? One of our aims is to
showcase the breadth of RSGB services more effectively – is there
anything we could do to improve that further? We'll use your views as
part of a fuller review of the website next year. Please note that
improving the search function will be part of this later review. If
you encounter problems, please raise a ticket with the IT and Web
Helpdesk at www.rsgb.org/helpdesk.You may need to clear your cache to
see the new version.
The International Space Station is in the final stages of getting an
upgrade. While new equipment has been graciously donated, significant
funding has been needed for testing, certification and delivery of
the equipment to make sure it meets NASA standards. Contact between
schools and the space station have inspired young people to study
science and technology and is one of the more publicised
demonstrations of the power of amateur radio to communities that are
involved. Fundraising is critically important to get this radio
system ready for flight as it costs almost $200,000 to test and
certify for NASA and other space agencies' standards. Check out
www.amsat.org for more information.
The RSGB 2016 Convention takes place on the 7th to the 9th of October
at Kents Hill Conference Centre, Milton Keynes, sponsored by Martin
Lynch & Sons. If you are attending the Gala Dinner on Saturday and
wish to reserve a table for a group of friends, drop an email to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk and we'll take care of it for you. Day tickets
will be available on the door throughout the 8th and 9th. Under 21s
have free entry but those under 16 must be accompanied.
Something for all those RSGB Members who read the news, either
regularly or just occasionally. Can you please check that your
newsreader NoV is current? If you need to renew, go to
www.rsgb.org/nov, click on gb2rs newsreaders NoV and follow the
prompts.
Two videos from the 2015 RSGB Convention have gone on to the Members
section of the RSGB website. The talk by John Regnault, G4SWX on
Regular 3000km+ contacts on 144MHz by meteor scatter and tropo is now
available. Also Clean up your Shack by Ian White, GM3SEK where he
talks about reducing your noise levels on receive and reduce risks of
causing interference. Go to
http://rsgb.org/main/archive/video-archive/rsgb-2015-convention/
During the month of December, youngsters will activate callsigns with
YOTA as the suffix in several IARU countries. The idea of this is to
show the amateur radio hobby to youth and to encourage youngsters to
be active within the hobby. If you or your club wish to host the UK
callsign, please apply before Friday the 7th of October to
yota.month<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The British Vintage Wireless Society Auto Jumble takes place today,
the 2nd of October, at The Angel Leisure Centre, Tonbridge, Kent
TN9 1SF. Doors open from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Details are online at
www.audiojumble.co.uk
Today, the 2nd, the Blackwood ARS Rally takes place at Rougemount
School, Llantarnham Hall, Malpas Road, Newport NP20 8QB. The venue
has free car parking. A talk-in station will be on 145.550MHz. Doors
open at 10am to 4pm, with disabled access 15 minutes earlier. There
will be trade stands, a car boot sale, a Bring & Buy, special
interest groups and a lecture programme. There is catering available
on site. Details available from Mike Rackham, GW4JKV on to
01495 226 149.
The RSGB Convention takes place from the 7th to the 9th of October at
Kent's Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House,
Timbold Drive, Kent's Hill Park, Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ. The
Convention programme of lectures for all interests is available on
the website. Principal sponsor is Martin Lynch & Sons.
On the 9th of October the Hornsea Amateur Radio Rally will be held in
the Floral Hall, 7 The Esplanade, Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire
HU18 1NQ. The venue has car parking on site and the doors open at
10am. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest
groups and an RSGB bookstall. A raffle will be held on the day and
there will be catering on site. Details from Rick, M0CZR, on
01964 533 712.
The Hack Green Bunker Rally takes place on the 9th of October at Hack
Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. There will
be a sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military
radio sets and vehicle spares. Doors open at 10am. There will trade
stands and catering is available on site. Further details from Lucy
on 01270 623 353.
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 email details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
New Zealand amateur operators will be active from Norfolk Island as
VK9NZ until the 8th of October. They hope to have 3 stations
operating simultaneously. Send QSL cards to ZL3PAH. Logs will also be
uploaded to Logbook of The World.
Polish operators will be operating from Central Kiribati starting on
the 4th of October for about 4 weeks. The callsign will be T31T and
they will be on all bands from 80m to 6m. Send QSL cards via Club Log
OQRS.
The ongoing DXpedition by Tom, KC0W next moves to Western Kiribati
where he will operate as T30COW until 24th October. This is a CW only
operation and QSLs go directly to KC0W.
Aaron, VA1AXC is active as CY0/VA1AXC from Sable Island, NA-063,
until early November. In his limited spare time he operates SSB only
mainly on 20 metres. QSL via JE1LET, direct only.
Patrick, FO5QS has been active from Huahine, OC-067, in French
Polynesia for seventeen years. He is now moving to Hiva Oa, in the
Marquesas Islands, which is OC-027, and will remain there for several
years.
Steve, W1SRD will be active as VK9LX from Lord Howe Island, OC-004,
until the 8th of October. QSL is via home callsign and Logbook of The
World. He does not use Club Log.
Now the special event news
Poole Radio Society celebrates its 40th Anniversary in October.
GB40PRS will be on air during the month at locations in and around
Poole. Until the 3rd of October, the callsign will be on the air from
Kingstone Lacy, then from Worth Matravers on the 4th and 5th. From
the 8th to the 10th itwill operate from Norden Railway Station.
GB16IYL will be on the air from the 3rd to the 10th of October for
the BYLARA International YL Convention taking place in Milton Keynes.
GB4DUK will be operating from the 1st of October to raise awareness
for Dementia & Dementia UK. A special QSL card will be available for
all HF and VHF contacts. More information is on QRZ.com
Special event stations K6L and K1T will operate from the summit on
Bear's Den Mountain in Virginia where 150 years ago Dr Mahlon Loomis
made the first demonstration of wireless telegraphy over a path of
approximately 21 miles to Furnace Mountain. Loomis recorded various
distances in his records between 14 and 22 miles.
Now the contest news
The 432MHz-248GHz contest ends its 24 hour run at 1400UTC today, the
2nd. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
The Oceania DX SSB contest ends its 24 hour run at 0800UTC today, the
2nd. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and
serial number. There are sections for single-op and multi-op
stations. To encourage LF activity the points for QSOs are different
on each band. Work only Oceania – that's VK, ZL and Pacific islands.
The IARU 432MHz to 248GHz contest ends at 1400UTC today, the 2nd,
after 24 hours. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
The Worked All Britain HF Phone Contest runs for 24 hours ending at
1200UTC today, the 2nd. Using the 14, 21 and 28MHz bands, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Entries need
to be with the contest manager by 23rd October. Full details at
www.worked-all-britain.org.uk
Today, the 2nd of October, the International DX Contest runs from
0700 to 1900UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 14 to 28MHz bands, the
exchange is signal report and serial number. There are Open,
Restricted and QRP categories, plus you can enter single mode or
mixed mode. Countries, UK excepted, and Call Areas act as
multipliers, and QSO points are loaded to encourage operating on
higher frequencies.
The ON Contest takes place from 0600 to 1000UTC today, the 2nd. Using
SSB only on the 3.5MHz band the exchange is signal report and serial
number with ON stations giving their club code too.
On Tuesday The 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC.
Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Wednesday the UK IE Contest Club 80m contest runs from 2000 to
2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band the exchange is your four
character locator, for example IO93.
For 24 hours next weekend, from 0800 on the 8th to 0800UTC on the
9th, the Oceania DX CW contest takes place, Using the 1.8 to 28MHz
bands the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Next Sunday, the 9th, the ON Contest runs from 0600 to 0900UTC. Using
CW on the 3.5MHz band the exchange is signal report and serial
number, with ON stations giving their club code too.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 30th September.
Last week was dominated by extensive geomagnetic disturbances thanks
to ongoing coronal hole activity on the sun. Coronal holes are areas
with open magnetic field lines that allow plasma to escape as a
high-speed stream. This plasma impacted the Earth causing aurora and
unsettled HF conditions, especially on paths over the poles.
The K index was pushed up to five and even six throughout the latter
half of the week, bringing a mixed bag of HF propagation.
At times the maximum usable frequency was suppressed with noisy HF
bands and very poor propagation. But there were highlights, with
enhanced HF propagation at times, up to and including 21MHz. DX heard
in the UK included D66D Comoros and S9BT Sao Tome.
Next week NOAA predicts very unsettled geomagnetic conditions for
Sunday the 2nd and the first half of the week and unsettled
conditions for the remainder. The solar flux index will be in the
range 80-85, with a chance for C-class solar flare activity.
Because of the way HF conditions can change quickly, we suggest
keeping a close eye on the twenty to fifteen metre bands as
short-lived openings may occur at any time during daylight hours. As
we head into October, DX is being worked and conditions will continue
to improve.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The end of last week saw the finish to very unsettled weather. This
week, high pressure is due to build to the east of Britain over
Scandinavia and eventually link up with another area of high pressure
over Biscay. This should provide some modest Tropo prospects at times
for many areas, although Ireland and western Scotland may remain too
breezy for any significant inversions to develop. The limiting factor
of the Tropo may well prove to be fairly dry low-level air under the
inversion, so the better conditions will be seen when there is
evidence of moisture near the surface, like fog and mist.
Wednesday sees the Draconids meteor shower. Don't get too excited
though as it only has a low zenithal hourly rate. It's a bit of an
odd one in that the radiant is highest as darkness falls, giving
higher meteor rates in the evening.
Moon declination reaches minimum on Friday so EME moon windows are
short. Add this to high losses and this is a week for EME system
maintenance and improvement. The Sun's declination is falling giving
a maximum sun elevation of 35 degrees this week, so now is the time
for sun/cold sky measurements before it's too low to clear ground
noise.
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.
--
g4apl@gb7cip.ampr.org g4apl@gb7cip.#32.gbr.euro
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