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G4TNU > NEWS 19.02.12 02:04l 182 Lines 8835 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 19 Feb 2012
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 19th February 2012
The news headlines:
* New worldwide 472kHz band created
* David Aslin, G3WGN leaves RSGB Interim Board
* GI HF Conference and DiGIcon announced for June
After more than ten years work by the RSGB, other national societies
and a huge effort by IARU, the World Radio Conference has created a
new amateur band at 472 to 479 kHz. In addition, the Amateur Service
has secured an agenda slot for WRC 2015 to consider a band near
5.3MHz. These achievements are in the same category as work which, in
past years, resulted in the WARC bands, the extension of 7MHz, and
the 136kHz band. The Society is beginning discussions with Ofcom on
how and when the new 472kHz band might be implemented. We will also
address the question of the existing 500kHz NoVs that expire at the
end of February. The Society will shortly begin work with the IARU to
prepare for the 5MHz agenda item.
RSGB Chairman Bob Whelan, G3PJT, reports that David Aslin, G3WGN, has
decided to leave the Interim Board. David has reluctantly concluded
that the heavy demands of the RSGB cannot be reconciled with his
other responsibilities. During his short time on the Board, David has
been able to bring his wide experience to bear on the challenges
facing the Society, for which we are grateful. He leaves with our
very best wishes for the future.
Following the success of DiGIcon in 2009 and last year's GI HF
Conference, West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club is planning another
Conference. It will be held on Saturday 16 June 2012. A number of
speakers have already been secured for the Conference, and the
organisers are currently working on the programme. There are still a
few slots available. Do you feel that you could enhance the program
by giving a talk, demonstration or workshop? If so, contact Philip,
MI0MSO on 07793 386 795, or email mi0mso<at>yahoo.co.uk to express
your interest.
ESA's Vega launcher made its maiden flight at 10:00 UT on Monday 13
February. The payload included eight Cubesats with amateur radio
downlinks. Reception reports started coming in within two hours of
launch; the first reports from the UK were at about 12.07. One of the
Cubesats, PW-Sat, includes a voice repeater. Its uplink is on
435.020MHz and the downlink is at 145.900MHz. More details on the
satellite missions, including operating frequencies, can be found at
www.uk.amsat.org.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
We are not aware of any rallies planned for this weekend.
On Sunday 26 February the Rainham Radio Rally takes place at the
Rainham School for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 0BX.
The opening tim is 10am. Details from Trevor, G6YLW, on
07717 678 795.
A reminder that the Swansea Rally, planned for 26 February, has been
cancelled. Details from Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404 422.
Now for the news of special events
GB2PP will be operating today on 80, 40 and 2m from Co Londonderry,
in support of the Phoenix Project for ADHD. Details can be found on
QRZ.com.
Coventry Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB4WWR on 26
February to commemorate the Daventry Experiment. The station will be
at the Birth of Radar memorial in Litchborough, on the Northampton
Road, approximately 2.5 miles South of Weedon. The NGR is SP650 557.
Activity will be on 80, 40 and 20m, SSB. More information from G8GMU
on 07801 862 686.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Chris Dimitrijevic, VK3FY, has announced the permanent cancellation
of the 2013 VK0HI Heard Island DXpedition.
Dave, G3TBK will be active from the Caribbean Island of St Vincent as
J88DR until 15 March. This will include an entry in the Commonwealth
Contest, as well as both the CW and SSB sections of the ARRL DX
Contest. Operation will be on CW, SSB and RTTY, on all bands from 1.8
to 28MHz. QSL to G3TBK, either direct or through the RSGB Bureau.
Please ensure bureau cards are marked via G3TBK.
Laura, F4GEJ, Mathias, F0GQX and Eric, F5NBK will be on a family
DXpedition to the Dominican Republic from 22 to 29 February. They
will be signing HI7/homecall. Operation will be mainly SSB and
digital, from Punta Cana on the island's east coast. QSLs to home
call, direct or via the French bureau. Details are on QRZ.com.
Now the contest news
Today is the second day of the ARRL International DX Contest, which
takes place for the whole 48 hours of the weekend. Operation is CW
only, from the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is RST plus TX power,
although W stations send their State and VE stations send their
Province.
Tuesday the 21st sees the 1.3GHz UKAC, running from 2000 to 2230 on
the 23cm band. Operation is all mode, and the exchange is RST, serial
number and locator.
The 80m Club Championships CW leg continues on Thursday 23rd from
2000 to 2130. RST and serial number form the exchange.
The CQ WW 160m DX Contest runs for 48 hours from 2200 on Friday 24th.
Operation is on 160m only, SSB, and the exchange is RS, serial number
and CQ Zone, which is 14 for the UK. W stations send their State and
VE stations send their Province.
The French REF Contest runs for 36 hours from 0600 on Saturday 25th.
Work French stations only, sending a report and serial number. Expect
to receive a report and a Department code, or a prefix from French
overseas territories.
Sunday 26 February sees the first 70MHz Cumulative, which runs from
1000-1200, 70MHz only, on all modes. The exchange is RST plus serial
number and locator.
And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 10th to
Thursday the 16th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on
Friday the 17th of February.
First this week the latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers which are
for May, June and July 2011 and are 47.6, 53.2 and 57.2 respectively.
Sunspot groups were visible every day, with five visible on the 12th.
Most groups were small and quiet, even the larger groups were
magnetically simple. Due to this solar activity was only low at first
and then declined to very low levels from the 13th. Solar flux levels
declined from 112 units on the 11th to 103 by the 16th. The average
was 108 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 16th was 132
units, that's four units down on last week. In fact, at the start of
the year the 90 day solar flux average stood at 145 units. X-ray flux
levels averaged B2.1 units and varied little day to day. Geomagnetic
activity started at quiet levels with an Ap index of only 3 units on
the 12th, but by the 14th a coronal mass ejection had arrived and
lasted all of the next day. Even thought the disturbance was weak, a
respectable Ap index of 25 units was recorded on the 15th, this was
due to a long period of southward orientation of the magnetic Bz
component of the solar wind. The average was 8 units. Solar wind data
from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 300 and
470 kilometres per second. Particle densities were very low every day
throughout the period. Bz varied between minus 3 and plus 5
nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 9 and plus 4
nanoTeslas on the 15th. From early evening of the 14th and again from
noon to late evening on the 15th, a radio aurora took place for
European operators, though largely confined to high latitudes. MUFs
dropped by some 30 per cent below recent values, with east-west and
high-latitudes paths particularly degraded. Recovery was under way
during the 16th, though the higher bands were still very patchy.
And finally the solar forecast. This week will see the quiet side of
the Sun rotating into view. Therefore, solar activity is expected to
be very low to low. Solar flux levels should be not much higher than
100 units. Geomagnetic activity is expected to very quiet for the
first half of the week but towards next weekend, activity could
increase slightly due to a small coronal hole. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be around 27MHz for the south and
24MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 8MHz. Paths
this week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency
with a 50 per cent success rate of about 31MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 25MHz. The
best time to try this path will be between 1200 to 1700 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 Thursday before transmission.
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