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G4TNU > NEWS 10.08.11 20:06l 255 Lines 13634 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 14 Aug
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 14th August 2011
The news headlines:
* IARU Region 1 Conference webcast
* UK Licence Examinations available at the RSGB Convention in October
* ARISSat-1 Deployed
The International Amateur Radio Union General Conference takes place
from 12 to 19 August in Sun City, South Africa and will be streamed
live via the internet. To listen to the IARU conference stream you
need to have iTunes installed. Here are the instructions for
installing and setting up iTunes. Download the latest version of
iTunes, which is free, from www.apple.com/uk/itunes. Double-click on
the downloaded file to start installation. To prevent iTunes from
automatically updating and managing the music on your PC or MAC,
un-tick all the options in the Installation Options screen that's
shown during the installation. To set up the Stream, run iTunes, open
the Advanced drop down menu and select Open Stream and place the
following link into the URL field,
http://live.datamatix.at:8032/listen.pls and press OK. That's it; the
conference will now show as an Internet song and can be played and
paused at will. For more information please refer to the iTunes help
file.
The RSGB is offering those wishing to obtain a UK amateur radio
licence the opportunity to complete one, or more, of the required
Radio Communication Examinations over the weekend of the RSGB
Convention, 8 to 9 October. Candidates must book their examinations
prior to the event and must provide evidence they have completed the
required practical assessments. The contact for further information
and for booking examinations is the RCE Department at RSGB HQ on
01234 832700. Candidates for the Foundation or Intermediate
examinations must also contact Brian Reay, G8OSN by e-mail to
g8osn.rsgb<at>gmail.com or telephone 01634 376316. This is so that
their progress on practical assessments can be verified. If required,
Brian can also advise on finding a local tutor to complete practical
assessments in advance of the Convention. It is essential that
Foundation and Intermediate candidates have their progress verified
by Brian before the Convention.
The amateur radio satellite ARISSat-1 has been deployed from the
International Space Station and its 145.950MHz FM/SSTV and 145.920MHz
BPSK signals have been received around the world. The signal levels
from ARISSat-1 should be similar to those expected from the AMSAT-UK
FUNcube-1 satellite. The AMSAT-UK team are keen to discover what will
be the minimum and best type of antennas for schools to use with a
FUNcube Dongle software defined radio. Therefore, user experience
with the ARISSat-1 signals will be very valuable in making this
determination. To encourage everyone to receive the 145.920MHz BPSK
ARISSat-1 telemetry signal, AMSAT-UK are offering a FUN reward for
listeners. Check out www.uk.amsat.org for more details.
At the end of today, 14 August, the Early Bird booking discount for
the RSGB Convention comes to a close. There is a full programme of
lectures on a wide variety of topics from microwave to DXpeditions
and antenna design to propagation. On Friday 7 October the Martin
Lynch and Sons Buffet Dinner will be accompanied by entertainment and
the Saturday DX dinner is being MC'ed by Radio Four presenter Jim
Lee, G4AEH. For more information, including booking, take a look at
www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention.
The Northern Ireland HF Conference takes place on Saturday 20 August
at the Technology Education Centre, Omagh BT78 1FA. Registration is
from 11am and admission is GBP 3. Several speakers have been booked,
including Malcolm, GI8AFS speaking on HF Beacons, Paul O'Kane, EI5DI
talking about DXpeditions and Logging and the RSGB's Carlos Eavis,
G0AKI, speaking about the IOTA programme. More information can be
found on the internet at http://wtarc.co.uk/GIHFConference.aspx.
Thailand is the latest country to join the International Lighthouse
and Lightship Weekend that takes place next weekend, 20 and 21
August. Simon Luttrell, HS0ZIB, will be operating from the Golden
Jubilee Lighthouse at Phromthep Cape, Phuket. With just days to go,
the organisers have already exceeded previous records of
participation. The 48-hour event is not a contest but is plenty of
fun. More information on all the stations taking part can be found on
the internet at http://illw.net.
Over the last year, Radio Amateurs of Canada has been in discussions
with Industry Canada with the objective of obtaining access to the
60m band. Industry Canada has now informed RAC that, at this point,
it sees no reason not to respond favourably to the RAC request for
frequencies at 60m on a no protection, non-interference basis. If all
goes well, Canadian amateurs may expect to gain access to frequencies
at 60m some time this autumn.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Flight Refuelling ARS are holding their annual Hamfest rally today,
Sunday 14 August, at the Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground at
Merley, near Wimborne , Dorset. BH21 3DA. Gates open to the public at
10am. Talk-in will be on S22.
The Friskney & East Lincolnshire Communications Club Rally and
General Car Boot Sale is being held today, Sunday 14 August, in the
Friskney Village Hall, Church Road, Friskney, Lincs. This is
approximately 6.5 miles south of Skegness. Doors open from 10am to
4pm and admission is GBP 1.50. Details from Bren, 2E0BDS, on
01754 820 060.
The GI HF Conference takes place on 20 August at the Technology
Education Centre, Omagh, BT78 1FA. Registration from 11am. More
details from Philip, MI0MSO, e-mail mi0mso<at>yahoo.co.uk.
The Rugby Princethorpe Annual Radio Rally takes place on 21 August at
Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PX. Doors open from
10am to 4pm and admission is GBP 2. Contact Tony on 07759 684 411.
Now for the news of special events
On 20 August Sutton Coldfield Radio Society will be running a
demonstration station at the charity fun mile held at Mile Oak Rovers
Recereation Group, Price avenue, Mile Oak, Tamworth from 1 to 5pm.
Probably using the club call of GX2RSC, members and non members are
welcome.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
From until 22 August, MM5AHO and crew will operate maritime mobile
from a 10m yacht on Scotland's west coast visiting inaccessible
lighthouses. This year prime target destinations are Skerryvore,
which is 12 miles off Tiree in the Atlantic, and Dubh Artach
(pronounced "doob arr-tack") 15 miles off the isle of Colonsay. Both
are rock mounted Stevenson built lights and both are subject to heavy
weather. Sixty foot waves have been measured at Dubh Artach, so both
operations are strictly weather permitting. In the event of poor
weather, a series of lesser, but never-before-activated lighthouses
will be visited. Equipment on board comprises an FT-857, running 100W
into an antenna formed by the insulated backstay of the yacht's mast,
plus two verticals. It is hoped to land on each rock, but radio
operations are unsafe ashore so they will be conducted from the boat,
anchored as close as is safe.
A group of Worked All Britain members aims to be active from Fair
Isle from Tuesday 16 August for a week. Whilst this is not
particularly rare from an IOTA viewpoint, being part of the Shetland,
EU-102 group, it is in the extremely rare HZ 100km Ordnance Survey
square from a WAB perspective. Accommodation has been secured in the
South Lighthouse and the stay there will also coincide with
International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend on 20 and 21 August,
when it is hoped to also activate the North Lighthouse. They hope to
have facilities for all bands from 160m to 2m. The South Lighthouse
itself is located in the WAB 10km square HZ16 and is only a few
hundred metres from the other three squares, HZ17, HZ26 & HZ27. The
transportation of their vehicle to the island has been arranged on
the ferry Good Shepherd IV so mobile, as well as portable operation
is possible. The group will use the callsign GS4WAB from the South
Lighthouse and GS7WAB for other mobile and portable operations.
Activity on 5MHz is possible and the callsigns of individual members
with NOVs will be used on this band. Operation from other islands in
the Shetland group may be possible prior to and after the week on
Fair Isle. Any changes to these plans will be published on the WAB
website, www.worked-all-britain.co.uk.
OJ0UR will be on the air from Market Reef from until 20 August. This
one counts as EU-053 for the Islands on the Air Award as well as
being a separate DXCC entity. QSL Manager is M0URX.
PA/IZ4AMS will stay on Texel Island, which is EU-038, from 14 to 17
August. QSL via IZ4AMS.
PY2XB and PT2OP have landing permission for Balique in the Natural
Reserve of Parazinho. They plan to become active as PQ8XB and PQ8OP
from 17 to 24 August. QSL PQ8XB via PT7WA either via the bureau or
direct and PQ8OP via PT2OP, again either via the bureau or direct.
Now the contest news
Today, 14 August, the 70MHz Cumulative takes place between 1400 and
1600UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
Tuesday 16 August sees the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest taking place
between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The Brazilian CVADX Contest CW leg takes place on 20 and 21 August
from 2100 to 2100UTC. There are lots of different categories and most
points to be gained by working Brazilian stations. Full rules are
online at www.craec.info/2010/images/docs_pdf/cvarules.pdf.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 1st to the 7th
of August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 8th of August.
Coronal mass ejections, sudden ionospheric disturbances, polar cap
absorption events, proton flares, auroras and coronal mass ejection
cannibalism all took place during the period. The three large sunspot
groups reported in last week's news continued to rotate across the
visible disc. They were large and magnetically complex, just what is
needed for strong solar flares. Solar activity was high on the 3rd
and the 4th with large M class solar flares taking place, the largest
was a M9/2N proton flare early on the 4th. On the quieter days
numerous C class solar flares took place. In total five M and over
sixty C class solar flares took place. Solar flux levels declined
from 125 units on the 1st to 105 by the 7th. The average was 115
units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 7th was 96 units, that's
one unit up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined slightly and
averaged B4.1 units. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels but
on the 4th the first of three coronal mass ejections arrived, which
was barely noticeable, unlike the other two. The coronal mass
ejection of the 3rd was well on its way to Earth when the much larger
and faster coronal mass ejection from the 4th caught it up and, as a
result, a coronal mass ejection cannibalism took place. The most
disturbed day was the 5th with an Ap index of 49 units, the most
disturbed day so far this year. The average was Ap 15 units. Data
from the ACE spacecraft showed solar wind speeds decline from 710
kilometres per second on the 1st to 340 by the 4th, however, on the
5th speeds had increased to 660 kilometres per second due to the
arrival of the CME. Particle densities increased to 36 particles per
cubic centimetre on the 5th, otherwise they were low every day. Bz
varied between minus 2 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quiet days but at
the height of the disturbance on the 5th varied between minus and
plus 21 nanoTeslas. Also at the height of the storm there were fine
visual auroral displays and a radio aurora that spread well to the
south on 50, 70 and 144MHz. More unusually, one or two 432MHz
contacts were reported from high latitudes.
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 most days. There is, though, a slight chance of a C class
solar flare taking pace on the occasional day and therefore solar
activity would increase to low levels. Solar flux levels should be
around the 100 mark or slightly lower for most of the week.
Geomagnetic activity could be quiet today but activity is expected to
increase due to a recurring coronal hole that could last till almost
the weekend. On its last rotation it lasted four days and the highest
daily Ap figure was 19 units. MUFs during daylight hours at equal
latitudes should be about 20MHz for the south and 17MHz for the
north. Darkness hour lows should be about 11MHz. Paths this week to
Australia should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent
success rate of about 21MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90
per cent success rate will be around 15MHz. The best time to try this
path will be between 0900 and 1200UTC. There should be a long path
opening of similar values during the late evening. Sporadic-E is
expected on some days with openings now on 144MHz unlikely to take
place.
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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