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G4TNU > NEWS 31.08.11 20:06l 250 Lines 13047 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 04 Sep
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 4th September 2011
The news headlines:
* Slovakia expands 60m band privileges
* RSGB Convention getting closer
* PIC-a-STAR get-together at Milton Keynes
Slovak radio amateurs are now allowed to use the entire 60m band,
that's 5.2585 to 5.410MHz, instead of the previous allocation of a
single channel on 5.260MHz. There are some caveats. Operations are
allowed for experimental purposes with a maximum of 100 watts
effective radiated power. Licenses for this are valid for only 1 year.
The RSGB Convention is just five weeks away and bookings are up on
last year. There is a full programme of lectures for both day
visitors and those spending the weekend at Horwood House near Milton
Keynes. A programme of activities has also been arranged for partners
not involved in the radio lecture. This year there are three top
prizes in the DXpedition Fund raffle, an Icom IC-7410 HF/6m
transceiver, a Kenwood TS-590S HF/6m transceivers and a Yaesu FT-450D
transceiver. UK and US amateur radio exams will also be available at
the RSGB Convention. The Foundation and Intermediate exams will be
held on Saturday 8 October. The UK Advanced exam and US exams will be
held on Sunday 9th. Those wishing to take the UK exams must book via
the Exams Department at RSGB HQ on 01234 832700. Foundation or
Intermediate examination candidates must contact Brian Reay, G8OSN
via g8osn.rsgb<at>gmail.com or 01634 376516 so that their progress on
practical assessments can be verified. US exams are held as walk-in
sessions. The ARRL website gives you access to the question pool and
Part 97 to download or read online at www.arrl.org. For details on
the RSGB Convention and to book the remaining rooms go to
www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention.
The PIC-a-STAR is an SDR radio designed by Peter Rhodes, G3XJP, which
was serialised in RadCom. It also appears in the RSGB Radio
Communication Handbook. Milton Keynes ARS, in conjunction with the
Milton Keynes Museum, invite all constructors of PIC-a-STARs to a
one-day get-together. It takes place on Sunday 11 September from 11am
to 4pm at the Milton Keynes Museum. Constructors of the PIC-a-STAR
project are encouraged to bring their radios to the gathering and
exchange ideas. Entry will be free, but it would be nice to leave a
small donation to the Museum. Constructors of other equipment
designed by Peter are also welcome but the emphasis will be on the
PIC-a-STAR project. There will be test equipment and an antenna
available on the day. Further details and directions are available on
www.radio-kits.co.uk/pic_a_star/event.htm.
The RSGB has learned with sadness of the death of Tony Sale, the man
behind the Bletchley Park Colossus computer rebuild project. A
remarkable and skilled man, he had a long history in engineering that
encompassed robotics, radar and computing. He was MI5's principal
scientific officer and later worked at the Science Museum. He helped
create the Computer Conservation Society and, more recently, the
National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park, where his Colossus
remains today. In January 2008 Tony Sale and Colossus were featured
on the cover of RadCom.
Castles And Stately Homes On The Air will be holding a UK & IRE
Heritage event during the month of September to coincide with the
European Heritage Month. This is an opportunity to access locations
that may previously have been inaccessible or closed to the public.
Details on activations appear on the CASHOTA website,
www.cashota.co.uk. The group has also set the dates for CASHOTA's
annual Castles weekend in 2012. The event will be held over two
weekends on 18 and 19 May and 25 and 26 May. New and previous
participants are encouraged to take part. More details can be found
at www.cashota.co.uk.
The G5RP Trophy is an annual award to encourage newcomers to HF
DXing. However, the award is not limited to youngsters or the
newly-licensed: the HF DX bug can bite at any age, or after many
years of experience on other bands. If you are an established HF DXer
and want to recommend someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2011,
now is the time to send in your nomination. Your nominee should be an
up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in the last year
and has some real achievements to show, for example, a good total of
new countries worked or some serious HF DXpedition activity. This
prestigious award will be presented this year at the RSGB Convention
on 7th - 9th October. Please send your nominations to Ian
Greenshields, G4FSU, QTHR, or by e-mail to
ian.greenshields<at>gmail.com, to arrive no later than Friday 23
September.
GB2RS recently learned that RSGB Life Vice President Pat Hawker MBE,
G3VA, has been taken ill and is in hospital. He is expected to make a
good recovery but may have to move to a nursing home. He says he is
thinking of us all, but may not be able to return to the radio.
Messages of support can be sent to him QTHR, from where they will be
relayed.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 4 September, the Telford Hamfest is taking place at the
Enginuity Museum, Coalbrookdale, Telford, TF8 7DU. Doors open at
10.30am and the usual traders will be present, This year there are a
large number of radio valves for sale. The Bring & Buy will be
operating as usual. The lecturer will be Roger, G4ROJ, with his
fascinating talk and demonstration of kites and balloons used as
antenna supports. There are two sessions, 11am & 1pm. There is
limited seating so be early. The organisers recommend that if you
come to the Hamfest from the North, East or West, you should use the
M54 and leave it at Junction 6. Enginuity is just 5 minutes from
there. From the South, via Much Wenlock, take the Telford road. Turn
off right for Ironbridge and then left up the hill to Coalbrookdale.
Next weekend, on Saturday 10 September, the Warrington Communications
Market will be held in Warrington Indoor Market, Bank Street, Academy
Way, WA1 2EN. Doors open at 10am and there is a multi-storey car park
nearby. There is free entry to the event and there are cafes in
market for refreshments. Trade stands are available from GBP 10 per
table with free parking below the venue for traders. Details from
Patrick on 07581 545 671.
On Sunday 11 September, Torbay Annual Communications Fair takes place
at Newton Abbot Racecourse, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF. There will
be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Doors open at
10am and admission is GBP 2. Details by e-mail to
rally<at>tars.org.uk.
Now for the news of special events
Several special event stations are being run to commemorate the 10th
anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the USA. ARRL reports that these
include the Pentagon Amateur Radio Club, K4AF, from 1100UTC on
Saturday 10 September until 0100UTC on Sunday 11 September.
Churches & Chapels On the Air takes place next weekend, 10 and 11
September, from 10am to 4pm. There will be several stations on the
air, mainly 40 and 80m SSB with special event callsigns. The
organisers particularly ask all amateurs to give the stations a call.
GB4CFV will be put on the air by members of the Friskney & East
Linconshire Communications Club. Visitors are welcome to come and
join them or call them on the air on 10 and 11 September at Church
Farm Museum in Skegness. They plan be active on 2m FM and will be
using PSK, SSB and CW on the HF bands.
Preston ARS will put GB1AVR on the air for Ackworth Vintage Rally on
10 and 11 September from Lanes Farm, Ackworth.
Throughout September, special event station 3Z176DORR will be on the
air to commemorate German scientist Robert Dorr. The station will be
QRV from Polish Flora & Fauna parks SPFF-025, 151, 200, 222, 261,
335, 336 and 337. Information can be found on qrz.com.
The Lithuanian amateur radio society, LRMD, is organising a number of
special event stations to mark the 37th European Men's Basketball
Championships. There are around 23 special calls, all LY37 plus one
letter, active until 18 September. Full details, including Awards
that can be achieved for working the stations, are in English at
www.LRMD.LT/basketball-2011-en.htm.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
ZS6AYU will be active as ZS6AYU/A25 from Botswana between 9 and 11
September. Operations will probably be on 10 through to 40m including
17 and 12m using CW only. QSL via ZS6AYU.
Members of the Wessex Contest Group will be active from the island of
St Martin's, Isles of Scilly, using the club callsign MX0WCB, between
11 and 17 September. Activity will be mainly QRP on the 40, 20, 17,
15 and 10m bands. The team will use three FT-817 transceivers, a
Clansman PR320 and an FT-897 as the main shack radio. QSL direct, by
the Bureau, eQSL or via M0WAY.
K3GV/VY2 will be active mostly on 15m and 20m from Prince Edward
Island, which is IOTA reference NA-029, for one month starting on 1
September. QSL via K3GV either via the bureau or direct.
OZ/DF6FL, OZ/DL9ZE and OZ/DL5FF are working from Bornholm in SSB, CW
and RTTY on 40-10m until 10 September. QSLs via their home calls
either via the bureau or direct.
Now the contest news
There are several contests active today, 4 September. The RSGB SSB
Field Day finishes at 1300UTC on all bands from 3.5 to 28MHz; the
exchange is signal report and serial number. The 144MHz trophy also
runs until 1400UTC. The fifth and final 144MHz Backpackers' Contest
takes place between 1100 and 1500UTC. For those unfamiliar with
backpacker contesting, there are antenna and height restrictions in
both sections.
The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Amateur Television
International Contest takes place from 1800UTC on Saturday 10
September until 1200UTC on Sunday 11 September. Stations are
encouraged to participate, or just look for increased amateur TV
activity on the 70, 23, 13 and 3cm bands. Talkback is most likely to
be found around 144.750MHz FM or 144.525MHz SSB. More information can
be found on the British Amateur Television Club website
www.batc.org.uk.
On 6 September from 1900 to 2130UTC the 144MHz UK Activity Contest
takes place. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The 2nd 70MHz contest takes place on 11 September from 0900 to
1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 22nd to the
28th of August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 29th of August.
This week saw the return of the active regions from almost a month
ago. The groups have decayed during their transit of the far side of
the sun. Since their return, solar activity increased to low levels
on the 22nd, 24th and the 26th, when only small strength C class
solar flares took place. Solar flux levels varied little day to day
and averaged 104 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 28th was
97 units, that's one up on the previous week. X-ray flux units also
varied little day to day and averaged B2.5 units. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet every day; saying that, a weak coronal hole
disturbance arrived on the 23rd but the Ap index only increased to an
Ap index of 9 units. The average was Ap 6 units. Solar wind data from
the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase to 470 kilometres
per second on the 23rd and then gradually decline to 370 kilometres
per second by the 28th. Particle densities remained low every day. Bz
varied between minus 7 and plus 8 nanoTeslas on the 23rd, which was
the most disturbed day, and significantly less on the quieter days.
And now the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is
expected to be looking our way. Therefore, solar activity is expected
to be very low most days but the occasional C class solar flare could
take place and lift solar activity to low levels. Solar flux levels
should be around the mid 80's for most of the week. Today could be
slightly unsettled but otherwise geomagnetic activity is expected to
be at quiet levels for the rest of the week. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes are expected to be around 23MHz for the
south and the 20MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be
10MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 28MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be
about 22MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1200 and
1600 hours UTC.
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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