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G4TNU > NEWS 03.11.10 19:01l 228 Lines 11553 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 7th November 2010
The news headlines
Ofcom to automatically renew Short Contest Callsigns
RSGB Museum Surplus Equipment
4th Bath Buildathon announced
At the Ofcom and RSGB Forum on 19 October it was agreed that,
exceptionally, holders of individual Short Contest Call signs would
not be required to re-apply and go though the assessment process at
the end of this year. The assessment at the end of the year would
also not be applied to clubs holding SCCs. Instead Ofcom will
automatically renew all SCCs for a further 3 years. Any individuals
or clubs holding SCCs that they will not want to renew should inform
the Amateur and Maritime Team at Ofcom as soon as possible. All are
reminded that the assessment criteria remains, and that individuals
or clubs that envisage requiring SCCs after 2014 should appraise
themselves of, and work toward, meeting the criteria. Ofcom has a
detailed explanation of the criteria for Short Contest Call signs on
their website.
The first RSGB Museum Surplus Sale closed last Sunday and the initial
items all sold. Several hundred people registered as watchers of the
items and eight lucky people walked away with bargains including an
IC-720 and a Hallicrafters Skyrider SX23. Proceeds of all the sales
will be going towards the costs of the National Radio Centre at
Bletchley Park. This week over 20 items have been put up for sale and
the auction ends this evening, 7th November. Several hundred people
are watching these items too. In the first few days it was obvious
that the Microwave Modules linear amplifier and the Eddystone 960 are
on the most-wanted list. For details of the surplus equipment check
out the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/auction.
The date of the 4th Bath Buildathon has been confirmed as Saturday 8
January 2011. For those that are not familiar with the concept, the
basic idea is for a group of radio enthusiasts to lock themselves in
a room for a day and build a radio project under the watchful eye of
a few experienced mentors. These events are ideal for Intermediate
students or licensed amateurs who has never raised solder smoke in
anger before. This year the event will cost £55 to include a 20m SSB
superhet receiver kit, room hire, tea, coffee, etc. The Bath
Buildathon Crew will be providing all tools and test equipment
required and no previous experience is needed, just a bucket load of
enthusiasm! Booking forms for the Buildathon are available on request
from g0fuw<at>tiscali.co.uk or by post. Steve is QTHR in the Yearbook
and on QRZ.com.
On 1 October, at the National Hamfest in Newark, a new Amateur Radio
Society was launched for lifeboat enthusiasts. Called the Lifeboat
Amateur Radio Society, membership is open to everyone for a flat
membership fee of just £10 per year for those aged 16 and above;
under-16s are free. Clubs may affiliate themselves with the society
for only £40 per year. The club's website is at
www.lifeboat-amateur-radio.org.uk. The next SOS Day will take place
on 28 January 2011 and the Lifeboat Amateur Radio Society will, once
again, be organising SOS Radio Week to coincide with it. Taking part
is easy, you simply register on the event website at
www.sosradioweek.org.uk.
A short wave station on the African continent is refusing to leave
the amateur-only portion of 40 metres even after notification from
the government. Radio Uganda continues to operate on the amateur
radio frequency of 7.195MHz. Uganda radio amateurs have been
authorised by Uganda Communications Commission to use the band 7.1 to
7.2MHz.
Many UK amateurs who operate on 501 - 504kHz have reported over the
past month reception of an wideband signal between 498 and 502kHz.
The RSGB is investigating the matter, but it is possible that it is
an early trial of a so called e-Navigation MFSK system that the
maritime service is proposing for this part of the spectrum at WRC-12
preparation meetings.
Lubomir, OK2BVG has been given permission to operate between
501-504kHz with maximum power of 20W ERP. This permission is valid
until the 1 September 2011. Lubomir would like to thank the executive
staff of the Czech Telecommunications Office and OK1HH of the Czech
Radio Club for their assistance. This means that 11 countries in
Region 1 are now known to be authorised in this part of the 500kHz
band and more information can be found on the IARU Region 1 website.
Whitton Amateur Radio Group is planning a six week Intermediate
course starting 10 November and a Foundation course early in the New
Year. Whitton Amateur Radio Group can be contacted on 0870 760 5082
or by e-mail to g0ofn<at>msn.com.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week.
Today, 7 November, the Kempton Rally is taking place at Kempton Park
racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ.
There will be a talk-in station on 145.550MHz using the callsign
GB2KRT. Doors open at 10am and there will be trade stands, lectures
and an RSGB bookstand. Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society will be
running a Bring and Buy stand. Details from Paul, M0CJX, on
0845 165 0351.
Also today, 7 November, the Foyle & District ARC Annual Rally is
being held at the Best Western White Horse Hotel, 68 Clooney Road,
Derry BT47 3PA. Doors open at 12 noon and there will be trade stands,
special interest groups and RSGB representation.
On Saturday 13 November, the Rochdale & District RS Traditional Radio
Rally will take place at St Vincent's Church Hall, Caldershaw Road,
Rochdale OL12 7QL. Note that this is a Saturday rally. Doors open at
10.30am and admission is £2.50 with concessions for under 12s and
seniors. There will be a Bring & Buy. More details from Dave, G0PUD,
on 07710 243 107.
Now for the news of special events
From 9 November GB2AD will be on the air from Lurgan in County Armagh
for Armisitice Day.
Coventry Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB70CBC for the
Coventry Blitz Commemoration from Coventry Cathedral during November.
Operation will be on an 'as available basis' on 2m and the HF bands
between 80 and 10m. Further information from G8GMU on 0247636 4235 or
by e-mail to info<at>andrewphotgraphic.co.uk.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
DL5MFL, DL4MAQ and DF9MV are planning to be active from Senegal from
8 to 18 November. The group will be guests of 6W7RV at the Le Calao
resort and will operate dedicated holiday style. A 6V7 callsign has
been requested. QSL via DE0MST.
The low band operation at 5R8X in Madagascar is now under way. 160,
80, 40 and 30m will be activated during the dark hours every night.
Activity will run for 8 days, until 9 November. They plan to use
1822.5, 3505.5, 3525, 7005.5 and 7025 and 10105.5kHz, almost
exclusively CW.
Ulli, DL2AH is on Tristan da Cunha, IOTA reference AF-029, and will
operate as ZD9AH until 6 December. This is not a DXpedition and he
plans to operate mainly SSB on 40, 20, 17, 12 and 10 metres with some
RTTY activity during the last two weeks of November. QSL via DL2AH,
direct or via the bureau.
Sigi, DL7DF, will lead 9U0A operations from Burundi until 11
November. One station will be full time on digital modes. QSL to
DL7DF direct or to the German DARC Bureau.
HA5UK and HA5AO will be on Efata Island, OC-035, Vanuatu, until 15
November, signing YJ0HA, all bands and modes, including SSTV. QSL via
HA5UK direct and LoTW.
Now the contest news
The first event this week is the 432MHz UK Activity Contest on 9
November from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The SSB leg of the 80m Club Sprints on Thursday 11th. The event takes
place between 2000 and 2130UTC and the exchange is serial number and
name.
On Saturday 13 November, between 2000 and 2300UTC, we have the annual
Club Calls Contest on 160m. This event often sees clubs making a
special effort to get new operators to take part under supervision.
Exchange a report, a serial number and, if you are a member of an
RSGB affiliated society, the full official name of your club and the
word ‘member'. For those using a club's own callsign, say
‘club station' instead of ‘member'. Some clubs have very long
names, so there's a list on the Contest Committee website at
www.rsgbcc.org/hf/clubcalls.xls of over 100 approved abbreviations
for club names to be given in submitted logs. You still need to give
the full name during each QSO. Something important for the contest
managers of clubs to do is ensure that all the members who partake
give exactly the same club name. This can done by giving everyone a
cue card to place in a prominent place on their station while the
contest is running. A log-keeping tip for participants is to key in
‘M' for Member, ‘CS' for Club Station and ‘NC' for No
Club while QSOs are taking place, and expand the abbreviations to the
full words afterwards.
16 November sees the UHF UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC.
Using the 1.3 and 2.3GHz bands the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The RTTY leg of the Worked All Europe DX Contest takes place over the
weekend 13 and 14 November from 0000 to 2359UTC. Unlike the CW leg
held in August and SSB leg held in September, in the RTTY leg
everybody works everybody. Single op stations are limited to 36 hours
out of 48. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 25th to the
31st of October, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 1st of
November.
The solar disc had sunspots visible every day. Solar activity
increased to low on four days when in total six C class solar flares
occurred. The largest was a C5 which took place early on the 31st.
Several coronal mass ejections also took place but had very little
effect. Solar flux levels varied little day to day and averaged 85
units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 31st remained at 81 units
for another week. X-ray flux levels also varied little and averaged
A9.9 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. The average was
Ap 4 units. The most disturbed day was the 26th with an Ap of 8.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline
from 670 kilometres per second on the 26th to 330 by the 320 by the
31st. Particle densities were very low with only 2 particles per
cubic centimetre except for the 31st when around midday there was a
brief increase to 10 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz never varied
more than minus 5 and plus 8 nanoTeslas during the period.
And now the solar forecast. Later this week the more active side of
the Sun is expected to rotate into view. Solar activity could
increase after midweek. Solar flux levels should increase and by next
weekend be in the mid 80's, or even higher. Geomagnetic activity is
expected to be quiet every day. MUFs during daylight hours at equal
latitudes should be around 26MHz for the south and 23MHz for the
north. Darkness hour lows should be about 9MHz. Paths this week to
the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency of around
25MHz. 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
0900 and 1400 hours.
And that's all for this week from the propagation team.
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