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G4TNU > NEWS 25.11.12 01:24l 224 Lines 11111 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 25 Nov 2012
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 25th November 2012
The news headlines:
* RSGB EGM result announced
* New CP-16 data mode for Chinese text
* South coast beacons get best DX
At the RSGB EGM held on 17 November, the Special Resolution put to
the membership was supported by 96.8% of those who voted. The Interim
Board will now take the necessary steps to bring the new governance
structure into effect. To this end, advertisements for candidates for
the next RSGB President and Board Directors will appear in the
January RadCom.
If you look at the data modes in use today you may notice that the
vast majority can only be used to communicate using the English
language alphabet. That presents a real problem for countries such as
China where the language requires graphical characters. This
shortcoming is critical when using amateur radio to support emergency
and disaster relief operations. To overcome this, the Chinese Radio
Amateur Club has devised an ingenious new mode that uses a 16 by 16
dot matrix to send each character. Known as CP-16, the system uses
sixteen 17Hz spaced tones that allow the transmitted characters to be
displayed by any receiver that uses a waterfall display. So, if you
spot Chinese characters on your waterfall whilst tuning around,
you're seeing CP-16 in action.
The microwave beacon complex at Bell Hill Dorset, IO80UU59, has
entered its 11th year of 24/7 operation across the bands 2.3 to
47GHz. On Wednesday 14 November, auto reports started to arrive from
www.beaconspot.eu advising of DX reception, probably due to high
level overland/sea ducting. During the evening, reports from stations
in DL, OK and OE arrived, with the resulting best distance reception
achieved by each beacon amounting to 1221km. Looking at the records
for best DX kept on Beaconspot during its last five years of
operation, these reports represent the best DX for any beacon in the
EU area in the bands 2.3-10GHz. The South Coast Repeater & Beacon
Group would like to thank all who have contributed to the ongoing
operations of these beacons. They hope that having GPS frequency
locked outputs in conjunction with modern multimode identifiers
continues to provide DX indication for microwavers throughout Europe.
Full details of GB3SCS, GB3SCF, GB3SCC and GB3SCX can be found at
www.SCRBG.org.
The ARRL report that the FCC proposes to amend parts of the
Commission's rules. These changes will implement allocation decisions
from the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference that concern those
portions of the radio frequency spectrum between 108MHz and 20.2GHz,
and make certain updates to the rules in this frequency range. The
FCC is requesting comments on changing the allocation to the amateur
portion of the 160m band, allocating a new amateur service band at
135.7 to 137.8kHz, and cleaning up the rules for the 10.0 to 10.5GHz
band. You can read the full ARRL story at www.arrl.org/news.
The amateur radio station at the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
is now up and running. It plans to run a weekly US Embassy Welfare
Net on 7.178MHz, ± QRM, starting on 28 November at 1930UTC. The net
control callsign will be HH2USA.
The RSGB regrets that the story reported last week concerning an
amateur assisting an American aircraft diversion appears to be
unfounded. The item was broadcast by GB2RS in good faith on the basis
of reports from BBC news and other media organisations.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 25 November, it's the 34th CATS Radio & Electronics Bazaar,
held at 1st Coulsdon Scout HQ, at the rear of the Council Car Park,
Lion Green Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. Doors open from 10am to 1pm and
admission is GBP 1. There will be a Bring & Buy. Details from Glenn,
G4FVL, at chairman<at>catsradio.org.
Also today, 25 November, the Plymouth Radio Club Rally will be held
at Harewood House, The Ridgeway, Plympton, Plymouth PL7 2AS. This is
a new venue for this event. Doors open at 10am and admission is
GBP 2. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well as a talk-in
station.
Next weekend, on 2 December, the Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club
Rally will take place at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, Co Durham
DL16 6DB. Doors open at 10.30am and entry is GBP 2, with accompanied
U14 free. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and a talk-in
station. More details can be obtained from Mark, G0GFG on
01388 747 497.
Now for the news of special events
G4PF and M0GWW will be celebrating Lancashire Day on 27 November
using the callsign GB0LD. They have the callsign from Sunday 25
November to Sunday 2 December inclusive.
Wakefield District Radio Society will be operating GB0IDD for the UN
International Day of Persons with Disabilities over the weekend of 1
to 3 December from the Wakefield 23rd Troop Scout HQ. The aim of the
Day is to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues.
Operation will be mainly on SSB on the 14 to 28MHz bands. QSL via
eqsl.cc only.
5G12ITD is on the air until 16 December in Morocco to commemorate UN
International Day for Tolerance. They will be active all bands and
all modes. QSL via RW6HS.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
VK6DXI will be active stroke FK from New Caledonia until mid
December. He has been heard early on Sunday mornings on 28.485MHz
around 0720UTC. QSL only via his home callsign.
The Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia now have a
landing permit for the ZL9HR DXpedition to Campbell Island, IOTA
reference OC-037. The DXpedition will take place between 28 November
and 9 December. For more information please go to the DXpedition
website at www.ZL9HR.com.
OZ6TL will operate as E51TLA from Rarotonga in the South Cook
Islands, IOTA reference OC-013, until 8 December. The QSL manager is
OZ6TL and logs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World.
Oliver, W6NV will be on Ascension Island, IOTA reference AF-003,
until 30 November. He will use the callsign ZD8W. QSL to his home
callsign.
The 5T0SP DXpedition to Mauritania will take place from 24 November
to 10 December. Details of their planned frequencies are available on
their website, just search the callsign 5T0SP. QSL via SP6FXY, direct
or bureau, and OQRS on Club Log. All QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook
of the World after reasonable time.
The 7P8D expedition to Lesotho that concludes on 3 December has also
announced the frequencies they are using for their four stations.
Details are on their website, again search on the callsign 7P8D. QSL
direct to ZS2DL. An OQRS will be available after the expedition. Logs
will be uploaded to Logbook of the World within 6 months after the
expedition has been completed.
Now the contest news
The big event of the month is in progress still today, 25 November.
The CQWW DX CW contest finishes as midnight tonight. The exchange is
signal report, and CQ Zone, which for the UK is 14.
The UK Microwave Group's Low Band Contest finishes at 1400UTC today,
25 November. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 27 November from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
Also on 27 November, the SHF UK Activity Contest takes place on the
2.3 to 10GHz bands. From 2000 to 2230UTC you can use all modes and
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
At the other end of the frequency range the 80m Club Sprint takes
place on 29 November from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW only, the
exchange is serial number and name.
The third event in this season's Super League series takes place on 2
December. The 144MHz AFS contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all
modes on the band the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Starting at 2200 on Friday 30 November, the ARRL 160m Contest runs
for 42 hours. Work the USA, US Territories and Canada only in this CW
event. The rules say the segment 1830 to 1835 should be used for
intercontinental QSOs only. The basic exchange is signal report, but
US and Canadian stations also send their ARRL or RAC section.
And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 16th to
the 22nd of November compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the
23rd of November.
At the start of the period 9 sunspot groups were visible but on the
17th a new sunspot group emerged onto the solar disc and grew in size
rapidly. By the 20th and the 21st. solar activity had increased to
moderate levels, when two M class solar flares took place on both
days. During the other days solar activity was low, with only C class
solar flares taking place. There were 34 in total. However, on the
22nd no solar flares occurred and as a result solar activity was at
very low levels. Solar flux levels increased slightly to peak at 141
units on the 18th and the 20th but then declined to 128 units by the
22nd. The average was 137 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the
22nd was 122 units, that's three units up on last week. X-ray flux
levels increased to B6.1 units by the 20th but then declined to B3.5
by the end of the period. The average was B4.5 units. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet everyday except for the 20th which increased to
unsettled levels with an Ap index of 13 units. The average was Ap 6
units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
vary between 370 and 480 kilometres per second for the period.
Particle densities were low every day. Bz never varied more than
minus 7 and plus 5 nanoTeslas for the period.
And finally the solar forecast for the coming week. This week the
quiet side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way once an
active sunspot group rotates out of view around midweek. Solar
activity should be at low levels, however, there is a slight chance
that activity could increase to moderate levels till midweek. Solar
flux levels should decline and by next weekend should be slightly
above the 100 mark. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet
levels, but there is a slight chance that activity could increase if
a coronal mass ejection heads our way. MUFs during daylight hours at
equal latitudes should be around 28MHz for the south and 25MHz for
the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 9MHz. Paths this week
to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50
per cent success rate of around 27MHz. 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 0900 and 1400 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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