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G4TNU > NEWS 22.12.19 02:50l 291 Lines 14201 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 22 Dec 2019
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 22nd December 2019
[Season's greetings from the GB2RS Editorial Team: Elaine Richards,
G4LFM (who compiles the Main News) and Giles Read, G1MFG (who puts
together the Local News section). Our thanks to all who read the
news, whether weekly or on a rota system. There will not be a Main
News script for 29th December; an abbreviated service will resume on
the 5th of January 2020 and the full news service on the 12th.
We have prepared separate Local News sections for today and 30
December; see the Note to Newsreaders at the start of Local News.]
The news headlines:
* Final GB2RS of the year
* Last chances to work GB18YOTA
* RSGB Christmas and New Year opening times
This is the final GB2RS news reading for 2019 and we start with
seasonal greetings to all newsreaders and listeners, both over the
air and via the internet recordings, and not forgetting viewers of
the ATV broadcast, which is available via several repeaters and
kindly streamed via the BATC.TV website, as well as those that get
this news via TX Factor or podcasts. We would like to take this
opportunity to once again thank all those that read the news, in
whatever format, for their tireless dedication to their fellow
amateurs. There will be no formal news reading on the 29th of
December, although Newsreaders may choose to read the local news for
that week. An abbreviated broadcast will resume on Sunday the 5th of
January, and a full GB2RS service on the 12th.
YOTA Month is gathering pace and the two-day event at the RSGB's
National Radio Centre last weekend was a great success. Today, the
22nd, the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society at Blandford Camp will
operate from 1200 to 1800UTC at the Headquarters Station. There is
still time to apply to host the callsign between Christmas and the
New Year so email gb19yota<at>rsgb.org.uk if you would like to take
part.
RSGB HQ will close for the Christmas and New Year period from 12 noon
on the 24th of December. It opens again at 8.30am on the 2nd of
January. During that time, if you need information about amateur
radio, exams or RadCom you'll find lots of information on the RSGB
website, www.rsgb.org. The RSGB's National Radio Centre at Bletchley
Park will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and
New Year's Day. Visitors should also note that the NRC will close
early, at 3pm, on New Year's Eve.
Sweden's Alexanderson alternator station SAQ has planned a Christmas
Eve transmission on 17.2kHz. The transmitter will be tuned up
starting at around 0730UTC and a message will be transmitted at
0800UTC. Guests are welcome to attend the transmission at the radio
station in Grimeton from 8am. The Alexander association will arrange
coffee and Christmas cookies, free of charge, and there is no
entrance fee. Amateur radio station SK6SAQ will be active on the 24th
on 7.035 and 14.035MHz on CW, and 3.755MHz SSB. Two stations will be
on the air most of the time.
The TX Factor team is celebrating an important milestone with the
release of the 25th Episode of the only TV show dedicated to amateur
radio. Bob, G0FGX talks to Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ about the new Elecraft
K4 transceiver and Mike, G1IAR finds out about the WQ Weather Radar
by Weatherquest. Mike and Bob took a trip to Southampton and
Portsmouth to meet a team of radio amateurs who are working with
their local emergency planning officer to make their repeaters
resilient by using point to point RF links utilising off the shelf
kit; there is also some information on the recent ITU World
Radiocommunication Conference held in Egypt. Look out for the RSGB
explanation on how it represents radio amateurs both nationally and
internationally at around 28 minutes into the show. TX Factor is
sponsored by the RSGB and Martin Lynch & Sons. Episode 25 is viewable
in HD on all devices from smartphones to smart TVs and is available
at www.txfactor.co.uk, where you will find all the previous episodes
too.
Now for a licence revalidation reminder. All amateurs are required to
revalidate their licence with Ofcom at least every five years. If it
has been a while since you did that, go to
www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence or email
spectrum.licensing<at>ofcom.org.uk. The process doesn't take very
long.
The GB2RS 5MHz Team has need for readers on the rota of its Sunday
afternoon national broadcast at 1500UTC on 5398.5kHz USB. We would
welcome applicants, who should contact the RSGB's GB2RS Manager via
email to gb2rs.manager<at>rsgb.org.uk. Note that 5MHz readers need to
possess a Full UK amateur radio licence and be RSGB Members.
The RSGB has released a bumper crop of lectures from the 2019
Convention for members to enjoy over the Christmas break. Chris
Duckling, G3SVL speaks about Lessons from the 6Gs VK9XG DXpedition
including logistics, 160m & FT8 Fox and Hounds mode; Roger Balister,
G3KMA and Igor Znamenskiy, UA9KDF talk about the Arctic Legends
DXpedition by RI0B to the Russian Polar Arctic; Chris Whitmarsh,
G0FDZ talks about 122GHz and up and Elaine Richards, G4LFM explains
about Writing for all variants of RadCom. Head to www.rsgb.org/videos
to view these and many more.
You may like to take part in Worked All Postcodes, sponsored by
Moonraker and assisted by several other dealers. The idea is simple:
work as many different postcode areas as you can on 4m, 2m, 70cm
and 23cm. The award website is www.amateur-radio.co.uk.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
On the 29th of December, the Yeovil ARC Christmas Rally will be held
in Davis Hall, West Camel, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Doors open
from 10am and 2pm. There are light refreshments available and plenty
of free parking. The event has been sponsored by Lindars Radio. More
from Bob Harris on 01963 440 167 or by email towjh069<at>gmail.com.
Please send details of your 2020 rally and event plans as soon as
possible to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk.
And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources
Kasimir, DL2SBY will be active as HB0/DL2SBY from Liechtenstein until
the 28th of December. He will operate SSB, CW and digital modes on
the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via his home call direct only. The log will
be uploaded to Logbook of The World and Club Log.
Several operators from the Holy Land DX Group will be active as 4X9R
from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Beit She'arim on the 27th and
28th of December. They will operate CW and SSB, with two stations on
the 80 to10m bands. QSL via 4Z5LA
Oleh, KD7WPJ will be active as CE0Y/UR5BCP from Easter Island, IOTA
reference SA-001, from the 26th to the 31st of December. He will
operate SSB, CW, FT8 & FT4 on the 60 to 6m bands. QSL via KD7WPJ,
either direct or via the bureau; his digital QSOs will be uploaded to
Logbook of The World.
Antonio, EA5RM will use HC3AGT while in Loja, Ecuador until the 5th
of January 2020. In his spare time he operates SSB and digital modes
on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via his home call.
Col, MM0NDX operating as TF/OJ0Y and Jonathan, MM0OKG operating as
TF/MM0OKG will be active from Iceland, EU-021 from the 31st of
December to the 2nd of January. They will operate CW, SSB and FT8 on
the 80 to 20m bands, and possibly on 160m. QSL via Logbook of the
World for both and additionally via EB7DX for Col.
Now the special event news
Royal Signals ARS are pleased to host GB19YOTA at their Headquarters
Station G4RS in Blandford Camp, Blandford, Dorset on today, the 22nd
of December. Activity will be from 12 noon to 6pm and HF and VHF
operation on SSB, CW and FT8 is planned. Visitors are welcome but
please note, as it is located on the Royal Signals Camp a photo ID
such as a passport or driving licence is required for all adults
visiting the station.
Please send special event details to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk as early
as possible. We have not received special event station info from
Ofcom in recent months so you MUST let us know to get your event
publicised here on GB2RS, in RadCom, and online.
Now the contest news
The Christmas Cumulatives take place from 1400UTC on the 26th to
1600UTC on the 29th of December. Using all modes on the 50 to 432MHz
bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain Christmas Party runs from the 26th of December
to the 6th of January. Using all modes on all contest bands, the
exchange is just your WAB book number.
On The 26th, the DARC Christmas Party runs from 0830 to 1100UTC.
Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 7MHz contest bands, the exchange is
signal report and serial number. German stations also send DOK or NM.
The Stew Perry Topband Challenge runs from 1500UTC on the 28th to
1500UTC on the 29th of December. It's CW only and the exchange is
your 4-character Locator square.
On the 1st of January the IRTS 80m Counties Contest runs from 1500 to
1700UTC. Using SSB and CW, the exchange is signal report and serial
number. EI and GI stations also send their County.
Also on the 1st, but from 2000 to 2100UTC, the UK EI Contest Club
Contest is SSB-only on the 80m band. The exchange is your 4-character
locator.
The ARRL RTTY Roundup takes place from 1800UTC on the 4th to 2359UTC
on the 5th of January. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands the
exchange is signal report and serial number, with US stations sending
their State and Canadian stations their Province.
Finally in this bumper session, the EUCW 160m CW Party takes place
from 2000 to 2230UTC on the 4th of January.
Don't forget that the UK Six Metre Group's Winter Marathon and runs
until the end of January. There are no specific operating modes or
periods. Just work as many locator squares as you can on the 50MHz
band.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 20th of December 2019.
We have a slightly different twist on the HF propagation report this
week. At Christmas, we usually help you work the Father Christmas
special event station in Lapland, but we are not sure if it is active
this year. Instead, there are seven special Christmas stations
operating in Spain until the 6th of January 2020. These are AO1XMA,
AO2XMA, AO3XMA, AO4XMA, AO5XMA, AO7XMA, and AO8XMA. These are all a
fairly easy one-hop distance away from the UK. During daylight hours
rsgb.org.uk/predtest forecasts that 7MHz and 10MHz may be the best
bands for a contact. Twenty metres, or the 14MHz band, may also offer
opportunities around the middle of the day. After sunset the MUF on
this path drops to around 5-5.5MHz, so 80m or the 3.5MHz band, may
provide the best chance.
At the time this report was prepared, we were not too sure exactly
where the stations are located. All are listed as being organised by
Federacion Digital EA in Barcelona. As Spain is quite large, it could
be that propagation on the higher bands favours any station located
in the south of Spain.
NOAA predicts a solar flux index of 70 for the next two weeks and
reasonably-settled geomagnetic conditions with a Kp index of two. The
disruption seen on Thursday 19th should quieten as Earth leaves the
high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole.
There is the potential for a new sunspot that has been seen forming
in the north-west quadrant on the Sun. But this may have completely
disappeared by the time this report is being read out, so don't get
your hopes up!
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The weather models diverge markedly by the middle of next week.
Starting with the period that remains in-step, which takes us through
this weekend and up to Christmas, we have low pressure in the
vicinity of northern Britain eventually drifting into the North Sea
by Christmas. This will mean rain or showers and perhaps some rain
scatter on the microwave bands, but little sign of tropo.
However, one of the models produces a reasonable high over the
country by Christmas Day, which tries to hang on nearby the UK to the
end of the week. This could bring some slightly enhanced tropo,
although it's forming in cold air and may only provide limited lift
conditions, but at least it's a chance.
The other model evolution retains the low pressure story, so no tropo
and a dominant low over the nearby Atlantic keeping the weather
breezy and with rain in the west and north, so the rain scatter theme
persists.
There are continuing signs of quite strong jet stream activity over
southern Britain and the near continent, which in the summer is
usually a shoe-in for Sporadic-E. In the winter it's much less
common, but not entirely without hope, especially for digital modes
on 10m and perhaps up to 6m if we're really lucky.
Moon declination is negative and falling further this week so Moon
availability will reduce. Perigee was last week so path losses will
continue to rise. The 144MHz sky temperature will be high, leading to
Thursday morning which sees the Moon and Sun very close.
There is just the small Ursids meteor shower peaking tomorrow, but
the massive Quadrantids shower gets under way on Friday leading up to
its 110 zenithal hourly rate peak over the third and fourth of
January.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
[Note to Newsreaders: This document contains TWO complete sets of
Local News. The first set is intended for the normal broadcast on 22
December as usual. What you do with the second set, covering 29
December to 5 January, is up to you. Options include ignoring it
entirely, reading it as a GB2RS broadcast on Sunday 29 December, or
amalgamating it with this week's Local News information. If you
choose the latter approach then please be aware that there may be
instances of "today and next Sunday" or "next Saturday" that will
need smoothing over.]
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 radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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