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M1CUK > NEWS 08.08.10 02:37l 239 Lines 11772 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 8th August 2010
The news headlines
• Icom UK sponsor the 3rd UK Contest University
• Plasma television interference complaints
• Over 300 stations planned for the ILLW
Icom UK will again be sponsoring Contest University UK on Saturday 9
October at this year’s RSGB Convention, which will be held at the new
venue of Horwood House near Milton Keynes. Contest University UK is the
place where you can learn all the skills and secrets to start your
journey in becoming a contester, or even learn the secrets to stay ahead
of your competitors. Contest University UK is now in its 3rd year and is
based on the highly successful international format that has seen many
radio amateurs throughout the world learn about this exciting facet of
amateur radio from experienced practitioners. The main topics of Contest
University are now shown on the RSGB website. If you have any questions
regarding Contest University, please contact course director Mark
Haynes, M0DXR at mark.haynes@yahoo.co.uk.
If you are considering a visit to the RSGB Convention on 8 to 10
October, please note that the early bird discount on weekend packages
finishes on 14 August. If you would like more details on the different
options available, please check out the RSGB Convention area of the main
RSGB website.
The recent request from the RSGB EMC Committee for interference
complaints regarding plasma televisions has been very successful – to
date over 80 instances have been recorded. These figures will be
presented to CISPR for their information-gathering campaign aimed at
determining the extent and seriousness of interference from plasma TV
receivers. The EMC Committee would like to encourage all amateurs,
members and non members, to report instances of interference from plasma
televisions so they can present a strong case in a few weeks’ time. All
that you have to do is send a very brief e-mail to plasma.tv@rsgb.org.uk.
The International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend takes place on 21 and
22 August. So far there are 340 lighthouses, some lightships and one
time-ball tower registered. The event, now in its 11th year, was begun
by the Ayr Radio Club. Now there are radio amateurs and lighthouses in
some 30 countries involved. The 300th registration this year came from
Rainer, DO7RKL for the Westerheversand lighthouse in the northernmost
part of Germany. Australia has been a strong supporter of this event
with 53 registrations, just ahead of Germany on 50 and the United States
with 40 lighthouses registered to date. There are still lots of lonely
lighthouses looking for the company of friendly radio amateurs to bring
radio gear to them for the International Lighthouse and Lightship
Weekend. To learn more or register a lighthouse, visit the website at
www.illw.net.
EX1SIX is a new 6 metre propagation beacon that has come on the air from
Kyrgyzstan. It transmits on 50.026MHz with 60 watts out to a vertical
ground plane from grid square MN82sd. More is on line at
www.tinyurl.com/propbeacon.
2
The Midland Amateur Radio Society Birmingham will be starting a
Foundation Course on 8 September at 7pm at Selly Park Baptist Church.
Help between classes has been arranged using Skype. If anyone wishes to
do the Foundation course please contact either Jim or Martin by e-mail
to GX1MAR@live.co.uk. The course will run even if it only has one person
taking it. More information can be found on the club website
www.radioclubs.net/mars.
Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society, based in Market Harborough, is
having an open evening. The club would like to invite anyone who has an
interest in radio or electronics of any kind to visit them between 7 and
9pm on Monday 16 August in the Village Hall at Great Bowden. They plan
to have a range of amateur radio equipment on display for the evening
from VHF and UHF to short wave receivers and scanners. Operation will
demonstrate voice, data, television and Morse communications.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society, G4RFR Hamfest takes place
today, Sunday 8 August, at Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley,
Dorset BH21 3AA. There is plenty of onsite parking and doors open at
10am. There will be the usual mix of trade and display items and an RSGB
book stall. The South Coast Repeater & Beacon Group will be selling all
forms of electronic and microwave exotica to raise funds to maintain the
multi-band Bell Hill GB3SC series microwave beacon complex. Full details
of Hamfest can be found on the web at www.frars.org or by phone from
Mike, M0MJS on 01202 883 479.
Friday 13 August sees the Cockenzie & Port Seton ARC 17th Annual
Mini-Rally Night in the Community Centre, Main Hall, Port Seton. You can
bring along your own ‘junk’ and sell it yourself. Tables are available
on a first come first served basis. Doors are open from 6.30 to 9.30pm.
The Friskney & East Lincolnshire Communications Club Rally takes place
on 15 August at the Friskney Village Hall, Church Road, Friskney, Lincs.
This is about 6.5 miles south of Skegness. Doors open from 10am to
2.30pm and entry is £1.50. Details from Bren, 2E0BDS, on 01754 820 204.
Now for the news of special events
Next weekend sees the start of several special event licences. Some of
the stations you can expect to hear on the air are GB1HA from Headcorn
Aerodrome in Ashford, Kent and GB2STC for the Series Two Club in
Milnthorpe. GB2PF, celebrating the life of Peter Fidler, a map maker and
explorer who travelled Canada in the late 1700s will be on the air from
Chesterfield in Derbyshire and GB0HCR will be on the air as part of the
Hylton Castle Re-enactment in Sunderland.
From 14 August, two lighthouses in the north of Scotland will be on the
air. GB2SLH will be operating from Sumburgh Lighthouse on South
Mainland, Shetland and GB1OL will operate from Orkney Lighthouse in
Westray.
EI50UN will be on the bands until 31 December celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the first Irish Battalion to serve overseas with the
United Nations in Congo. QSLs via EI2V, the Irish Air Corps Amateur
Radio Club.
3
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
IK2NCJ will be on the air as D4C from Sao Vicente Island between 5 and
26
August. Activity will include the WAE DX CW Contest on 14 and 15 August
as a single operator all band entry. QSL via Logbook of the World or
CT1ESV via the bureau.
DK2TUX, will be active portable EA8 from the Canary Islands between 16
and 20. Operations will be on 40m through to 15m. QSL via DK2TUX.
Michael, OZ/DG5LAC, will be on the air from the island of Mon in the
Sjaelland Archipelago from 8 to 13 August. QSL via his home callsign
either direct or via the bureau.
Volker, F/DK2MT, plans to be active from Oleron Island, which is IOTA
reference EU-032, until 20 August. QSL via his home callsign either
direct or via the bureau.
Andy, DL7AT/M, will be QRV from Sylt, which is IOTA reference EU-042,
from 7 to 15 August. QSL via his home callsign either direct or via the
bureau.
Nick, RA1QQ/1, and Dima, RN3GM/1, will be on Kildin Island, which is
part of the Barents Sea Coast West Group, from 9 to 15 August. QSL via
RA1QQ.
Tommy, DL8KX/P will be QRV from Usedom, which is IOTA reference EU-129,
from 7 to 14 August. He also plans to show up as SP1/DL8KX from Wolin
Island. QSL via his home callsign either direct or via the bureau.
Leonardo, 9A/IW0QO, is working from Losinj Island until 18 August. QSL
via his home callsign either direct or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
The 432MHz Low power contest is on today, Sunday 8 August, from 0800
until 2100UTC. Operation is all mode on 70cm. RST, serial number,
locator and postcode should be exchanged.
Also on the 70cm band, the 432MHZ UK Activity Contest takes place on 10
August between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The RSGB 80m Club Sprint series begins this month, with the CW leg on
the 12th from 1900 to 2030UTC. Work everyone, but remember that once you
have made a QSO as the result of calling CQ, you have to vacate the
frequency. Remember also that the contest exchange is different for the
Club Sprints: it is serial number and your name, but no signal report.
The final 4m Cumulative of the year takes place on Sunday 15 August
between 1400 and 1600UTC. There’s only a slim chance of Sporadic-E
propagation in this one, because it’s very late in the season. Using all
modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator
In the WAE DX CW Contest, European stations work non-Europeans only.
This takes place on 14 and 15 August from 0000 to 2350UTC on all bands
from 3.5 to 28MHz. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
4
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 26th of July to
the 1st of August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 2nd of August.
On three days solar activity increased to low levels when a C class
solar flare took place on the 27th, 26th and the 1st. The C3 solar flare
on the 1st took place around the same time as an enormous magnetic
filament stretching across the sun's northern hemisphere erupted, this
was clearly seen from the new ‘Solar Dynamic Observatory’. Also an
Earth-directed full halo coronal mass ejection is heading our way. For
almost daily updates on solar activity the place to visit is the ‘spots
and flares’ forum, which is compiled by Neil, G0CAS. Solar flux levels
remained in the low 80s all week and averaged 83 units. The 90 day solar
flux average on the 1st was unchanged from last week at 75 units. X-ray
flux levels peaked at B2 units on the 30th and the average was B1.5
units. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels on the 26th but for
the next couple of days activity increased due to a recurring coronal
hole. The Ap index was 19 and 14 on the 27th and the 28th respectively,
before quiet conditions returned for the remainder of the period. The
average was Ap 9 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds increase from 400 kilometres per second on the 26th to
720 by the 28th. Particle densities remained low throughout. Bz varied
between minus 7 and plus 8 nanoTeslas on the 27th and between minus 2
and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quietest day.
And now the solar forecast.
This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way.
Solar activity should be at very low levels. Solar flux levels should be
around the 80 mark for most of the week. Initially, geomagnetic activity
will be at quiet levels but on Tuesday activity could increase due to a
small recurring coronal hole. However, the effects could be minimal, on
the last rotation the Ap index increased to 11 units on the most
disturbed day. Activity should return to quiet levels from midweek
onwards. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around
19MHz for the south and 16MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should
be about 10MHz. Paths this week to South America should have a maximum
usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 24MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about
19MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1500 and 2100
hours.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
----------------------------------
73
Trev,
SysOp gb7fcr.#16.gbr.eu
E-Mail trev@gb7fcr.co.uk
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