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G4TNU > NEWS 12.10.11 16:07l 179 Lines 8968 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 16 Oct
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 16th October 2011
The news headlines:
* RSGB pre-releases RadCom pages
* 2012 Bath Buildathon announced
* Successful launch for Indian CubeSats
In advance of the Extraordinary General Meeting announced last week,
the RSGB has pre-released the RSGB Matters section of the November
RadCom. The pages set out the background to the EGM and are being
sent by email to all affiliated clubs. The Society encourages all
Members to read the information and help shape the future of the
RSGB. RadCom is being printed this weekend and is due to be delivered
to UK members by next Monday, 24 October.
The date of the 5th Bath Buildathon has been confirmed as
Saturday, 7 January 2012. 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 other licensed amateurs who have never
raised solder smoke in anger before. This year the event will cost
GBP 60 to include a 20m SSB superhet receiver kit, room hire, tea and
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 by email from G0FUW<at>tiscali.co.uk or by post from G0FUW,
who is QTHR in the Yearbook and on QRZ.com.
Amateur satellites SRMSAT and Jugnu were successfully launched by an
Indian rocket from Sriharikota in the early hours of Wednesday 12
October. The satellites are in near-equatorial orbit and cannot be
received in the UK, but will be providing useful science for the
Indian university teams that built the CubeSats. The SRMSAT web page
is at http://srmsat.in.
The RSGB Convention that took place in Milton Keynes over the weekend
of the 7-9 October was the largest in the event's history. The five
streams of lectures were well attended and there was standing room
only in some lecture rooms.
Following the creation of a Youth Co-ordinator portfolio during the
Region 1 General Conference at Sun City in August, the Region 1
Executive Committee has appointed Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, to the role.
Lisa will be working with the Youth Co-ordinators from the various
member societies to promote amateur radio amongst young people in
Region 1. Lisa's contact details will be made available under the
Youth section of the IARY Region 1 web site, www.iaru-r1.org.
Lilford District Scouts in Wigan are looking for a volunteer
Foundation tutor who could run a course sometime between mid-November
and February. Whilst the Scouts cannot offer any payment beyond
limited assistance with transport costs, they do have a well-equipped
venue and plenty of enthusiasm. Ideally, they would like to have some
new Foundation licensees in time for the next JOTA. If you can help,
please contact Carl Thorp, 2E0LVO, via email to
carl.thorp<at>1stastleyscouts.org.uk.
Long-standing software developer George Murphy, VE3ERP, has hung up
his keyboard and is retiring from further development on HAMCALC. For
those who are unfamiliar with the software, HAMCALC is a collection
of useful calculators for amateur radio use, widely used throughout
the amateur community. The latest version of HAMCALC can be
downloaded at www.cq-amateur-radio.com.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, Sunday 16 October, the Blackwood and District ARS Rally takes
place at Coleg Gwent, Risca Road, Cross Keys NP11 7ZA. There are
trade stands, a Bring and Buy and special interest groups. The rally
opens at 10.30 and costs GBP 2. Talk in is on S22. Contact Dave,
GW4HBK, on 01495 228 516.
Also Today, Sunday 16 October, the Hornsea Amateur Radio Club rally
is at Floral Hall, 7 The Esplanade, Hornsea, East Yorks HU18 1NQ.
Opening at 10.30, there are trade stands, a Bring and Buy, RSGB
bookstall and special interest groups including RAFARS. Details from
Rick, M0CZR, by email to R106221<at>aol.com.
The Galashiels and District ARS radio rally takes place on Sunday 23
October at The Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, Scottish
Borders TD1 3JX. Opening time is 11.30, admission is GBP 2.50 and
there are trade stands, a Bring and Buy and other attractions.
Details from Jim, GM7LUN on 01896 850 245.
The Callington Amateur Radio Society Rally is on Sunday 23 October at
Callington Community College, Launceston Road,Callington, Cornwall
PL17 7DR. The opening time is 10am, admission is GBP 2 10am, GBP 2,
and there are trade stands, a Bring and Buy and other attractions.
Contact John, G4PBN, on 01822 835 834.
Now for the news of special events
As this is JOTA weekend, there are numerous Scout special event
stations on the air. The October RadCom contains a list of over 20
special event stations that have issued for the event.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
The T32C DXpedition is going strong from Christmas Island. On 10
October the team announced they had broken the 100,000 QSO barrier.
The team hopes to set a few new records before the end of the event.
There is still time to work the DXpedition, which is covering as many
band and mode slots as it can with the limited equipment at its
disposal.
Now the contest news
Today, Sunday 16 October, the Second 50MHz Contest takes place from
0900-1200. Operation is all mode on the 50MHz band and the exchange
is RST, serial number and locator.
Tuesday 18 October sees the UHF UKAC from 1900-2130. Operation is all
mode on 23cm; RST, serial number and locator form the exchange.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 3rd to the 9th
of October, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 10th of October.
Several sunspot groups were visible every day with up to eight on the
4th and the 5th. Most groups were small and inactive but several
produced C class solar flares every day. Solar activity was low every
day. Most flares were small and were not associated with sudden
ionospheric disturbances or coronal mass ejections. Solar flux levels
declined from 130 units on the 4th to 118 by the 8th. The average was
124. The 90 day solar flux average on the 9th was 114 units, that's
two units up on the previous week. X-ray flux levels varied little
and the average was B4.1 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every
day except for the 5th which increased to an Ap index of 20 units in
response to a glancing blow from a coronal mass ejection that
departed the Sun on the 2nd. A small coronal hole disturbance arrived
on the 9th when the Ap index was 13 units. The average was Ap 8
units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
decline from 480 kilometres per second to 290 by the end of the
period. Particle densities were around the 20 particles per cubic
centimetre for a three day period starting from the 5th. Bz varied
between minus 5 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between
minus 10 and plus 11 nanoTeslas on the 5th. On the 20th several UK
operators and a number of continental stations, enjoyed an unexpected
opening to West Africa on 50MHz. 28MHz was also in excellent shape on
a couple of afternoons, with MUFs at times well over 30MHz and
low-power beacons as far as the West Coast of North America being
copied across much of Europe.
And now the solar forecast. This week the more activity side of the
Sun is expected to return into view. Solar activity may not be as
high as the last rotation but moderate levels could take place on
some days. Solar flux levels are expected to be in the 120's for most
of the week. With no coronal holes expected during the coming week,
geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels. Only a
coronal mass ejection heading our way will increase activity and
there maybe a slight chance for this to happen. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be around 30MHz for the south and
27MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 10MHz. Paths
this week to Australia 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 21MHz. The
best time to try this path will be between 0800 and 1300 hours. The
long path should be open around 0800 and again at 2100 hours, but the
MUFs will be around 21MHz.
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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