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G4TNU > NEWS 23.02.11 18:16l 297 Lines 15978 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 27th February 2011
The news headlines:
* Radio amateurs at work following New Zealand earthquake
* Radio amateurs killed by Somali pirates
* Progress on a band near to 500 kHz
Following the earthquake that hit Christchurch, New Zealand this
week, a small team of amateur radio operators are helping to keep the
lines of communication open. A report on the frequencies in use is
yet to be received but Amateur Radio Emergency Communications team
member Richard Smart, ZL4FZ said 10 radio amateurs are using their
two emergency broadcast vans to keep rescue teams and Civil Defence
staff in touch. He said one is at a major welfare centre providing
portable communication so they can talk to Civil Defence and the
other vehicle is en-route to assist search and rescue teams in an
area where communications are poor. Richard, ZL4FZ said amateur radio
operators from around the country are volunteering to help out and
others are sending updates on the disaster to families of people in
Christchurch who are overseas. The RSGB has sent a message of support
to the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, the country's
national body for radio amateurs.
It has been announced that four Americans including three amateur
radio operators who were being held hostage on their yacht by pirates
off the coast of Oman have been killed. Scott Adam, K9ESO and his
wife Jean, KF6RVB, along with Bob Riggle, KE7IIV and Phylis Macay
were on board the vessel Quest when pirates boarded their vessel on
18 February. Our thoughts are with their family and friends.
The ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting, or CPM, for the World
Radiocommunication Conference 2012, or WRC-12, has completed its work
on the agenda item that considers an allocation of up to 15kHz in the
band 415 - 526.5kHz. Three options, one of which is no allocation to
the amateurs, are proposed. Whilst initially it was hoped that
spectrum around and near to 500kHz could be allocated for amateur
use, the maritime service has identified a new requirement for this
part of the spectrum. Because of this there is no support from
national administrations like Ofcom to support amateur allocation in
this part of the spectrum. One of the remaining options agreed by the
ITU CPM is the so-called Method A, originally put forward by the
RSGB. This is for an allocation of up to 15kHz between 472kHz and
487kHz. The Americans, Canadians and others within their regional
group, CITEL, favour a different option, Method B, which is for a
split allocation between 461 - 469kHz and 471 - 478kHz, totalling
15kHz. Method A is the main option being considered within CEPT,
which has yet to reach what it terms a European Common Proposal on
the option. None of this preparatory work affects our temporary
access to 501 - 504kHz, apart from the tests that have been carried
out by the maritime service in respect of their proposed new system.
UK amateurs who wish to experiment at this part of the spectrum can
still obtain an NoV from Ofcom. Further information is at
www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/mf/srp501.php.
A member of The Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network has received two
months' funding to examine how RAYNET could best use data
communications to support Police and other User Services. Howard
Winter, G1BYY, a member of Mid-Herts RAYNET, made an application to
the Vodafone World of Difference Scheme in November. An increasing
demand from User Services for RAYNET to provide data links has led
many groups to experiment and train on a variety of digital systems.
RAYNET members are now using APRS to track vehicles responding to
incidents in remote locations, transmitting photographs from the
scenes of emergencies and sending data files back to Gold Control.
Howard will spend two months undertaking his own research and
experimentation, collating the work that has already been done by
RAYNET Groups and comparing the experiences of members experimenting
with data. He will be producing documents that will be available
nationally, to groups of all affiliations. RAYNET Groups of all
affiliations are being asked to share their experiences of data
communications to help Howard with his task, which begins in March.
Contact Howard Winter by email to dataproject<at>raynet-uk.net.
It seems that radio amateurs may find themselves targets for
so-called copper thefts. In the last two years the price of copper
has risen by 300% with other metals also experiencing higher prices.
We've heard from an amateur in Yorkshire who's been a victim of one
of these copper thefts when all his cabling was stolen overnight.
That included the coax and ladder line used for a G5RV antenna. Other
amateurs are being encouraged to make sure access to cables is
restricted and that their installations are as secure as possible.
The Mid-Pennine Raynet Group is seeking members to re-establish a
RAYNET presence in East Lancashire. The group's operating area will
be the boroughs of Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn. Further
information is available by sending an email to
midpennineraynet<at>rocketmail.com.
Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club will be celebrating the Pearl
Anniversary of their radio rally on 17 April. They invite anyone who
was at the Club's first Rally in April 1982 or others that followed
in the next three decades to contact the Club with memories and any
memorabilia. Cliff, GI4CZW was Secretary in 1982, when he sent news
of the first rally to Short Wave Magazine and he has gathered
memorabilia down the years. More is welcome for a display at the
thirtieth rally in the SHARE Centre on Sunday 17 April. Contact
Michael by email to mi5mtc<at>learc.eu.
Lincoln Short Wave Club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this
year. Anyone working the club callsign G5FZ will receive a limited
edition QSL card that will cease after 31 December 2011.
Air Cadets of Chester 610 squadron are holding a radio weekend with
the help of the Chester and District Amateur Radio Society who are
setting up VHF, UHF and HF stations on 19 and 20 March. They are
asking radio amateurs to listen out for their station and call in to
encourage the young people taking part over the weekend. Cadets will
be able to get hands on experience of operating radio transmitting
and receiving equipment in speech, Morse code and digital modes on
both amateur and air cadet frequencies. This event will see the
launch of the Squadron's own permanent radio station under the
supervision of Corporal Neil Hosker of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
GB3XD is a new 6m repeater, on the air from locator IO93WH. The
output frequency is 50.730MHz and the input frequency is 51.230MHz
with a CTCSS tone of 71.9Hz. All reports should be sent to G7AJP via
GB3XD itself or via the 70cm repeater GB3LC. The new 6m repeater is
supported by the Friskney and East Lincolnshire Communications Club.
More detail can be found on www.qrz.com.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 27 February, Rainham Radio Rally will take place at Rainham
School for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent ME8 0BX.
Doors open at 10.00am. More details from Trevor, G6YLW,
0771 7678 795.
Also today, 27 February, Swansea ARS Rally will be held at Court
Herbert Sports Centre, Neath Abbey, Neath SA10 7BE. Doors open at
10.30am and entry is GBP 2 with free car parking. There will be trade
stands and a Bring & Buy along with special interest groups. Details
from Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404422.
The Bournemouth Radio Society will be holding their 23rd annual sale
on Sunday 6 March at The Kinson Community Centre in Millams Road,
Bournemouth. Doors open at 9.30pm and the sale closes at 2.30pm.
Admission is GBP 1.50. Refreshments will be available. Further
details from tonyg3ywg<at>gmail.com.
The Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally will take place on 6 March in
America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at
10.30am, with disabled access from 10.15. Admission is GBP 2. There
will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. All profits from the event
are shared between GB3SW, GB3EW and GB3EX, the local 2m and 70cm
repeaters. Contact Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198374.
Now for the news of special events
The 90 Speke Squadron ATC Radio Club are holding a radio day in
support of Marie Curie Cancer Research on 5 March using the special
event callsign GB0MAC and the club callsign MX0NAC. They intend to
operate on the HF and VHF bands and will be using SSB and PSK modes
from 10am to 10pm.
EG8ISS will be on the air until 11 March from Las Palmas in Gran
Canaria, which is IOTA reference AF-004. Activity is to celebrate the
first ARISS contact with one of the Institute for Technological
Development and Innovation in Communications facilities on campus.
The special event station will be on the HF bands, from 10 to 40m
using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV. Activities are also planned for
VHF and the satellites AO-27, SO-50, AO-51 and VO-52. There is a
special QSL card designed for this event that will be automatically
mailed to your QRZ.com address. More info is available on QRZ.com
under EG8ISS.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
The XF4 DXpedition has been assigned callsign 4A4A. A team of 9
operators will take to the air from Isla Socorro from 4 to 19 March.
They plan to use 10m through to 160m with CW, SSB some digital modes.
More on line at www.revillagigedo2011.com.
Dennis, WA2USA plans to be active as WA2USA/4 until 3 March from St
George Island, which is IOTA reference NA-085. He will be on 10m to
160m using RTTY, CW and SSB. QSL via his home callsign, either direct
or via the bureau.
Operators Phil, G3SWH and Jim, G3RTE will be active from West Island
in the Cocos, Keeling Islands until 5 March. The Cocos, Keeling
Islands count as OC-003 for IOTA purposes. Both operators will use
the single callsign of VK9C/G6AY. Their activity will be on CW only
on all bands from 10 to 80m. There will be no 160, 6 metres or EME
activity. QSL via G3SWH, either direct with SAE and adequate return
postage, via Phil's website for a bureau reply or via the Bureau.
Now the contest news
The CQ WW 160m SSB Contest finishes at 2200UTC today, 27 February.
The exchange is signal report and CQ Zone.
The SSB leg of the REF Contest finishes at 1800UTC today, 27
February. Work French stations only, send a report and serial number,
and expect to receive a report and a Department code (or prefix from
French overseas territories). There are no separate categories for
different power levels and only a few entry categories. Single-op
stations can enter single- or multi-band, while multi-op stations can
make a single-transmitter all-band entry only.
Today, 27 February, the 70MHz Cumulative Contest takes place from
1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The 144MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 1 March from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
On the weekend of 5-6th the 144/432MHz contest takes place between
1400 and 1400UTC. It has 6-and 24-hour categories. It's one of the
earliest contests of the year in which a few hardy souls or groups
are likely to brave the elements and operate portable for 24 hours.
The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The ARRL International DX Contest takes place next weekend, 5 and 6
March between 0000 and 2359UTC. Work W/VE stations only, in as many
of the 48 contiguous States and Provinces as possible. Send a signal
report and your transmitter power, and expect to receive a signal
report and 2-letter State or 3-letter Province code.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 14th to the
20th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 21st of
February
Ever since it became obvious that we were climbing out of the long
sunspot minimum that we have just gone through, timely warnings were
made if warranted in this report that the Sun would suddenly spring
into high activity. Well this happened during the period. Three large
sunspot groups dominated the solar disc that increased solar activity
to high levels, when on the 15th an X2 solar flare occurred and with
it a large coronal mass ejection. This is the first X class solar
flare since the 14th of December 2006. Also nine M class solar flares
and dozens of C class flares took place during the period along with
numerous sudden ionospheric disturbances. Solar flux levels increased
from 113 units on the 14th to peak at 125 by the 18th. That's the
highest daily figure sine May 2005. Levels quickly declined to 105 by
the 20th by when one of the large sunspot groups had rotated out of
sight. The average was 113 units. The 90 day solar flux average on
the 20th was 86 units, that's two units up on last week. X-ray flux
levels increased from B5 units on the 14th to B8.1 by the 18th. The
average was B5.3 units.
Along with all the solar flare activity several coronal mass
ejections took place, all travelling towards Earth at different
speeds. It would appear that two arrived at about the same time on
the 18th. Until then geomagnetic activity was quiet but increased
during the early hours of the 18th. During the height of the storm
the Bz remained positive or northward, which meant that it did not
couple into the Earth's magnetic field which is also northward,
that's why the needle of a compass points northwards. Given that and
the time of the arrival, very little in the way of auroral contacts
were reported. Visually it was also disappointing, given that most of
the UK was covered by cloud. This is despite the extensive coverage
on the national TV news. If the Bz was southward or negative then it
would have been a different story. The Ap index for the 18th was a
mere 17 units. The remaining days were quiet and the average was Ap 7
units. Solar wind speeds increased to 710 kilometres per second
around midday on the 18th. Particle densities were low except for a
brief increase to 11 particles per cubic centimetre early on the
18th. Bz fluctuated between minus 14 and plus 27 nanoTeslas early on
the 18th, otherwise only modest variations were observed. Strangely,
on the 18th, MUFs reached around 35MHz, which is about 10MHz higher
than forecasted. Normally, levels would be depressed under such
conditions but on this occasion the ionosphere benefited from the
storm.
And now the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be very low to low. However, going on previous rotations and the
present upsurge in activity on the Sun, activity could increase. The
latest SEREO spacecraft shows a large sunspot group that should be in
view this week. Solar flux levels are expected to be in the 80s for
most of the week but could increase later in the week. Geomagnetic
activity should be at quiet levels for the first half of the week but
then increase due to a recurring coronal hole. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be around 22MHz for the south and
19MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 9MHz. Paths
this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50
per cent success rate of about 19MHz. The optimum working frequency
with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 14MHz. The best time
to try this path will be between 0800 and 1000 hours.
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 Tuesday before transmission.
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