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G4TNU > NEWS 05.04.20 02:07l 194 Lines 9355 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 05 Apr 2020
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 5th of April 2020
The news headlines:
* G2HCG becomes centenarian this week
* Remember to vote in RSGB elections
* Foundation exams online during pandemic
A good news story to start this week's news. The RSGB would like to
wish Bill Sykes, G2HCG a happy 100th birthday for Wednesday, the 8th
of April. Bill is well-known for his involvement with JBeam aerials
and for his in-depth knowledge of aerials in general. He is still
active, mostly on 80m slow scan television.
Don't forget that voting for the RSGB elections is still open. If
you've struggled to find your Membership number, the Society has made
it easier for you by adding it to the righthand sidebar of your
Members' page when you log into the website. This is your opportunity
to choose who you want to be part of the RSGB Board and help lead the
Society over the next few years. The special web pages at
www.rsgb.org/agm have details of the Calling Notice, Resolutions,
candidate statements and information about how to vote. Internet
voting closes at 9am on Thursday the 23rd of April.
On the 20th of March, the RSGB stopped accepting new exam bookings as
part of its response to the government's guidance concerning
Coronavirus. Since then, it has been exploring ways in which it can
use the online exams platform to enable new people to access amateur
radio and obtain their licence. Following rigorous tests, the RSGB is
now able to offer remote invigilation for online Foundation
examinations. The Exams Department will be ready to receive online
bookings from Monday the 6th of April. Further information, including
an update on practical assessments, is at
www.rsgb.org/syllabus-updates. The RSGB has also published a FAQ
about the new process for candidates and tutors, which is at
www.rsgb.org/exam-faq.
To help and support radio amateurs who are isolated at home and would
appreciate contact with other people, the RSGB Contest Committees are
launching a new six-week initiative: the Hope QSO Party. Starting on
the 6th of April and open to every radio amateur, not just RSGB
Members, this contest will also welcome international participation.
Scoring is on an Anyone works Anyone basis. The format is a series of
90-minute weekday events for single operators. It commences on
Mondays at 0830UTC, starting 90 minutes later each day to begin on
Fridays at 1430UTC. A single mode will be used each day, repeating
over a 6-day cycle. The series will use defined frequency ranges;
QSOs are encouraged before and after the contest periods. The series
rules are at tinyurl.com/rsgb-hope.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, with European national societies
working remotely, several have said that their outgoing and incoming
QSL bureau can no longer provide services. Amongst those countries
that have requested no QSLs be sent are Italy, Spain and Greece.
The RSGB has released to its YouTube channel three more presentations
from its 2019 Annual Convention. Board Director Kamal Singh, M0IOV
explores The future and growth of Amateur Radio; Derek Kozel, MW0LNA
talks about Digital Homebrewing and the Schematics of SDR; whilst
Roger Balister, G3KMA and Igor, UA9KDF report on the Arctic Legends
expedition by RI0B to the Russian Polar Arctic. Each of these
presentations are not only interesting to watch on your own but could
also form the basis for lively on-air club night chats during this
time of virtual club meetings.
The RSGB has a Coronavirus Updates page that brings together some
great ideas as well as its important announcements. Take a look at
www.rsgb.org/coronavirus-updates.
Now the contest news
Due to social distancing and movement precautions around the world,
most contest organisers are not accepting entries from multi-operator
groups or from portable stations. Check the rules before taking part.
The First 70MHz contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC today, the 5th.
Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
The UK Microwave Group second contest runs today, the 5th, from 1000
to 1600UTC. Using 1.3 to 3.4GHz bands, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
Also today, the 5th, the first RoLo, Rolling Locator, contest runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB, the exchange is signal report and
the locator received.
The SP DX contest ends its 24-hour run at 1500UTC today, the 5th.
Using CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal
report and serial number, with SP stations sending their Province
code.
On Monday the 80m Club Championship CW contest runs from 1900 to
2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC.
It is followed by the all mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900
to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same for both, comprising signal
report, serial number and locator.
Thursday sees the 50MHz UK Activity Contest running from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
Next Sunday, the 12th, the First 50MHz contest takes place from 0900
to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number, locator and postcode.
The Worked All Britain Data contest takes place from 1000 to 1400 and
1700 to 2100UTC on Sunday the 12th of April. All data modes except
machine generated CW may be used, but it is expected that most
contacts will be by RTTY, PSK or FT8. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and WAB square. Entries need to be with the contest
manager by the 22nd of April. See www.worked-all-britain.org.uk.
And finally, don't forget the RSGB Hope QSO Party on weekdays, as
mentioned earlier in this bulletin.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Friday the 3rd of March.
The high-speed stream of solar particles from a coronal hole on the
Sun last week wasn't moving as fast as we initially thought. As a
result, its impact on Earth, and the subsequent rise in the Kp index
to four, happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning and not the
weekend as we predicted. The impact though was relatively short lived
and by late Tuesday the Kp index was back down to two.
The bands were affected though, with the critical frequency as
measured at Chilton struggling to reach 5MHz until midday Tuesday.
The predicted MUF over a 3,000km path, according to Propquest.co.uk,
looked like a roller coaster ride, often exceeding 18MHz, but then
crashing down to below 14MHz. A smaller coronal hole is now facing
Earth, which could mean a higher Kp index over the weekend, although
NOAA isn't indicating this.
There is some good news though. A small sunspot group, numbered 2759,
appeared on the Sun's surface, pushing the sunspot number to 12. This
represents two sunspots, which accounts for the 2, in one group,
which accounts for the 10. The spot's high latitude suggests it is
from the upcoming Solar Cycle 25. But on Thursday the SFI was still
at a modest 69.
NOAA predicts that next week the solar flux index will remain at
about 68-70 and geomagnetically the Kp index will remain at about
two. The good news is there are signs that the higher HF bands are
remaining open longer. As the season progresses this should improve,
with 30m and even 20m eventually remaining open until very late. We
are also heading towards the 2020 Sporadic-E season, which should
bring strong short-skip signals on 10m, but more of that in the VHF
section.
And now the VHF propagation news.
The weather produced some half-hearted attempts at Tropo in the past
week and even some weak Sporadic-E opportunities appeared on 10m and
6m.
This week looks to be rather mixed in a weather sense. The high will
weaken and drift east allowing low pressure to move towards northwest
Britain from the Atlantic with a series of fronts crossing the
country next week. This will offer the chance of April shower rain
scatter at times and then, by next weekend, there may be a rebuilding
of high pressure to the east with a hint of Tropo and warmth to end
the week.
The month of April is traditionally the start of early Sporadic-E on
10m and 6m via traditional modes like CW and SSB. For example, a weak
jet stream over the Pyrenees mid-week could favour paths to IS0, EA6,
EA5 etc. Remember that springtime is also a good chance to get some
auroral activity, so check those Kp values: anything above four or
five is interesting.
Moon declination is positive until Tuesday, as is perigee, so losses
will be at their lowest. Moon windows will shorten as the week goes
on. 144MHz sky noise is low, so in all it's a good week for EME. We
are still in the annual low activity period for shower meteors until
the Lyrids, which should start on the 16th of this month. Keep
checking around dawn for the best random meteor contacts.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
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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