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G4TNU > NEWS 06.10.12 03:04l 236 Lines 11850 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 07 Oct 2012
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 7th October 2012
The news headlines:
* RSGB Convention lectures
* Response to Ofcom's consultation on the future use of VHF spectrum
* CubeSats deployed
The RSGB Convention takes place at Horwood House near Milton Keynes
next weekend, 12 to 14 October. The final programme is on the website
at www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention/. We are pleased to announce that
Patrick, ON4HIL will be speaking both Saturday and Sunday on the
recent DXpedition to Rockall and Carlo, ON4BR will be speaking on
Sunday about the TN2T DXpedition. Howard Long, G6LVB will introduce
the AMSAT FUNcube Dongle Pro+: a DC-to-Daylight Software-Defined
Radio on Saturday and Dr Colin Forsyth will look at The Sun and The
Sky and How Space Weather Affects Radio Signals on Sunday 14th.
Finally, visitors also have the chance to hear Gregg Marco, W6IZT
speak about the award winning HK0NA DXpedition on both Saturday and
Sunday. The RSGB is grateful to all the presenters who take the time
to speak at the Convention - there should be something for all
interests. Day tickets for the RSGB Convention are still available at
the door. Unfortunately, due to illness, the voluntary examiners for
the US exams will be unable to attend this year. Normal service is
expected to be available in 2013. The continued success of the RSGB
Convention is such that we continue to grow year after year and 2012
looks like being the best yet.
The RSGB, jointly with the BATC and AMSAT-UK, has submitted a
response to Ofcom's consultation on the future use of VHF spectrum
formally used by the Home Office, 143 to 156MHz. The unique nature of
this spectrum, and that it surrounds our existing 2m band, suggested
a creative response would be needed in order to be competitive with
the likely responses from Business Radio (PMR). Details are on the
Committees section of the RSGB website under Spectrum Forum.
Radio amateurs around the world have been listening for signals from
the four new amateur radio CubeSats that were deployed from the
International Space Station on Thursday, 4 October. They could have a
life-time of 4 or 5 months before they burn-up in the Earth's
atmosphere. FITSat-1 has a CW beacon on 437.250MHz, 1200 bps AX.25
packet radio on 437.445MHz and a high-speed data transmitter on
5840.0MHz. F-1 has the callsign is XV1VN and the communications
subsystem is built around two Yaesu VX-3R amateur radio handheld
transceivers. One will transmit 1200 bps packet radio every 30
seconds on 145.980MHz while in darkness. The other will operate only
in sunlight sending a 20 second FM transmission of a CW tone on
437.485MHz followed by a 60 second gap. TechEdSat carries a 1200 bps
packet radio transmitter on 437.465MHz. WE-WISH transmits CW and 1200
bps packet radio on 437.505MHz. Due to the effects of Doppler shift
the 70cm downlink frequencies will vary by +/- 10kHz during an 8
minute pass. Further information on these satellites can be found on
the AMSAT-UK website.
The Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group are pleased to report that
the GB3NC repeater has been successfully repaired and is now back in
service. The re-alignment of the filters has also allowed the two
metre beacon, GB3MCB, to be brought back into service. Reports via
www.beaconspot.eu would be appreciated.
As of 1 October, Swedish radio amateurs are allowed to operate on
1810 to 1850kHz with a 1kW maximum power and 1930 to 2000kHz with a
10W maximum. The section of the band between 1850 and 1930kHz is
unavailable. Sadly, they also lost their access to 2.3GHz, although
2.4GHz is unaffected.
Between 7 and 13 October, the North American QRP CW Club is
celebrating their 8th anniversary. There will be 10 special event
stations on the air that week, one from each USA call area from N1A
to N0A. Special QSL cards and certificates for anyone who works one
or more stations are available. Details at http://naqcc.info/.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The BATC Convention takes place this weekend at the Everest Community
Academy, Basingstoke. The event includes BATC Biannual General
Meeting today, Sunday 7th. More details on the website
www.batc.org.uk.
The Autumn Militaria & Electronics & Radio Amateur Hangar Sale takes
place today, Sunday 7 October, at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker,
Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Door open at 10am and there will be
civil, military and vintage radio equipment plus vehicle spares and
more. Contact Rod Siebert on 01270 623 353.
Also today, 7 October, the Blackwood and District ARS Rally will be
held in Coleg Gwent, Risca Road, Cross Keys NP11 7ZA. Doors open at
10am and admission is GBP 2. There will be trade stands, special
interest groups and a Bring & Buy. More from Dave, GW4HBK on
01495 228 516.
The Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on 14 October at
the Floral Hall, 7 The Esplanade, Hornsea, East Yorks HU18 1NQ. Doors
open at 10.30am and there will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and
special interest groups. Details from Rick, M0CZR, by e-mail at,
R106221<at>aol.com.
Now for the news of special events
Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club will be active with the Scouts at
Moor House, Durham from Friday 12 October to Sunday 14 October on 2m
and HF using GB2CMH. The following weekend, 20 and 21 October, the
club will host the Scouts JOTA weekend from the clubhouse with the
callsign GB1FDS.
Members of the Guernsey Amateur Radio Society and Guernsey RAYNET
group will be setting up a station and participating in the 2012
Jamboree On The Air on the weekend of 20 and 21 October. It has been
many years since the Guernsey Scouts took part in this event and
interest in this special event is high. The station will be using the
callsign GB2JTA and will operate throughout the weekend on HF and VHF
bands as conditions permit.
GB50WVR will be on the air from the Worth Valley Railway, West
Yorkshire, over the weekend 12 to 14 October during the 50th
anniversary autumn steam gala. Eight steam locomotives will be
running over the weekend including two visiting ones. Direct QSLs to
Pam, 2E1HQY, QTHR or via the RSGB bureau. More information is on
qrz.com
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
A three-man team will operate from Niger in West Africa until 15
October. They will use the calls
5U5U, 5U6E and 5U8NK and operation will be on all bands from 6 to
160m.
A new one for the IOTA chasers will be on the air until 11 October.
This will be 7Z7AB operating from Al-Dhahrah Island. The IOTA
reference will be AS-190 and QSL info is via 7Z1CQ.
Arne, OH2NNE will be active as 5H2DK from Moshi, Tanzania until 17
October. He may also be on the air using a portable setup from
different locations between 18 and 27 October. He will operate SSB
only on 10 to 80m. QSL via his home callsign.
Sam, F6AML will be active as TO2M from Mayotte, which is IOTA
reference AF-027, until 19 October. He will operate CW and SSB on the
10 to 80m bands. QSL via his home callsign, direct or bureau.
Now the contest news
The 21/28MHz Contest takes place for twelve hours today, Sunday 7th,
starting at 0700UTC. There are Open, Restricted and QRP categories
for UK stations; the same again for non-UK stations, plus you can
enter CW-only, SSB-only or mixed modes. The exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain HF Contest finishes at 1200UTC today, the 7th,
using 20, 15 and 10m. UK stations send a signal report, serial number
and WAB area, while non-UK stations send report, serial number and
DXCC country. UK to UK QSOs do not count for points in this event.
Full details of the rules and also log sheets can be obtained from
the WAB website at www.worked-all-britain.co.uk.
The IARU 432MHz-248GHz Contest runs until 1400UTC today, the 7th. The
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. In theory you
could submit a log direct to IARU for this event but, in practice, UK
stations that enter one of the RSGB events allow their logs to be
forwarded by the Contest Committee.
On 9 October, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 1900
to2130UTC. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The following day, 10 October, the 80m Club Sprint takes place from
1900 to 2000UTC. Using CW the exchange is serial number and name.
Next weekend, 13 October, the EU Sprint takes place from 1600 to
2000UTC. Using CW only on the 3.5 to 14MHz bands the exchange is both
callsigns, serial number and name.
Finally, over the weekend 13 and 14 October, the Oceania DX CW
Contest takes place from 0800 to 0800UTC. On the 1.8 to 28MHz bands,
the exchange is signal report and serial number.
And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 28th of
September to Thursday the 4th of October, compiled by Neil Clarke
G0CAS on Friday the 5th of October.
Solar activity started at low levels but, on the 30th, as several
sunspot groups were rotating out of view, one produced the only M
class solar flare of the period. This was an impulsive type solar
flare and no earthward coronal mass ejection was associated with the
event. Activity declined to very low levels on the 3rd and the 4th.
Solar flux levels declined from 138 units on the 28th to 110 by the
4th. The average was 126 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the
4th was 123 units, that's one unit down on last week. X-ray flux
levels initially increased to peak at B7.6 units on the 1st but as
the active regions departed the solar disc levels declined sharply to
B1.8 by the end of the period. The average was B4.5 units.
Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels but around noon on the
30th a coronal mass ejection arrived that departed the Sun late on
the 27th. The disturbance lasted for about 24 hours and the Ap index
on the 1st was 36 units. Aurora was report on 50 and 144MHz during
the evening of the 30th. The quietest days were the 28th and the 4th
with an Ap of 3 units. The average was Ap 10 units. Solar wind data
from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from a slow
260 kilometres per second during the morning of the 30th to 460 by
early the next day. Particle densities were low except for a few
hours around midnight on the 30th and into the 1st when they
increased to 20 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between
minus 1 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus
20 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the disturbance.
And finally the solar forecast for the coming week. This Week the
quieter side of the Sun should be rotating into view. Solar activity
is expected to be at low levels on most days. Solar flux levels
should start around 100 units with levels increasing slightly towards
next weekend. Geomagnetic activity should be mostly quiet but a weak
disturbance could take place around midweek. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should around 27MHz for the south and 24MHz
for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 10MHz. Paths this
week to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency with a
50 per cent success rate of around 25MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 20MHz. the
best time to try this path will be between 1500 and 1900 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 Thursday before transmission.
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