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G4TNU > NEWS 10.06.14 11:14l 273 Lines 14007 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 08 Jun 2014
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 8th June 2014
The news headlines:
* Get ready for the International Museums Weekends
* IOTA 50th Anniversary celebration next month
* Swiss 5MHz beacon goes on the air
International Museums Weekends are on the air again for the weekends
of 14th/15th and 21st/22nd June. More details about the event can be
found at www.radio-amateur-events.org/ including a list of the
stations registered. Please listen for these stations and give them a
call. An award certificate can be obtained for 5 and 20 stations
worked or 10 heard by a SWL.
The RSGB's IOTA programme is celebrating its 50th anniversary at a
conference at Beaumont House, Windsor on 4 to 6 July. Full details of
the conference are in the July RadCom that will arrive with Members
next week, or can be found on the website www.rsgbevents.org.
Visitors will be interested to know that DXCC card-checking is being
provided by Lionel, G5LP on the Saturday. He has asked that those
bringing their cards for checking should e-mail him via
g5lp<at>lppsltd.co.uk before the event. Anyone considering attending
as a day visitor should note that pre-booked tickets from
www.rsgbevents.org attract savings over those purchased on the day.
Although the 60m band has not been released for amateur radio in
Switzerland, the Sursee Amateur Radio Club has obtained the necessary
authorisations for a 5MHz experimental beacon project. HB9AW became
operational on 5291kHz at 0000hrs on 1 June. The transmission
commences with the callsign HB9AW in CW, followed by five 2-second
dashes. The dashes are each accurately attenuated in the EIRP power
sequence 10 watts, 5 watts, 1 watt, 100 milliwatts and then 10
milliwatts. It currently repeats every 5 minutes, commencing on the
hour. Transmissions come from JN43BA on a half-wave dipole,
configured for high-angle radiation as an NVIS ‘fountain' type
antenna. It is at a height above ground of 0.12 of a wavelength and a
reflector is placed beneath the antenna. The aim of the system is to
explore the propagation conditions on 5MHz in the hills and valleys
of Switzerland in relation to its possible suitability as an
emergency communications band. An online form on the Sursee Amateur
Radio Club's website accepts reception reports.
The next ARRL Kids Day operating event sponsored by the Boring
Oregon Amateur Radio Club is planned for Saturday 21 June. Kids Day
is not a contest but rather a twice yearly way for licensed amateurs
to share the fun and excitement of our hobby with those who could be
the next generation of licensees. Kids Day runs from 18:00 to 23:59
UTC. To take part you just need to invite non-ham youngsters to your
station, with, of course, their parental consent and approval. Once
the event begins simply call "CQ Kids Day". If you make contact, the
preferred exchange would be your guest's name, age, location, and
favourite colour. More information including a free printable
certificate can be found on the web at www.arrl.org/kids-day.
If you' are a user of Google's Chrome browser, then QRZ.com has
published a free browser extension that will let you highlight and
right click on any callsign, on any web page from any website and
instantly perform a QRZ lookup. The new app is now available now in
the Chrome Web Store. Just search for Right Click QRZ.
July 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the first time that amateur
signals from the UK reached other parts of the world by bouncing off
the moon, a technique now known as moonbounce or earth-moon-earth,
EME. In the July 1964 edition of Radio Communications the RSGB
announced that at 20.20 GMT on June 13, 1964, G3LTF at Galleywood,
Essex, and KP4BPZ in Puerto Rico, made contact on 430 Mc/s by
bouncing their signals off the moon. Signal reports were RST459 both
ways. A further contact took place one hour later. KP4BPZ was
fortunate in having the 1000ft radio-telescope dish aerial at
Arecibo, Puerto Rico at his disposal. G3LTF's equipment included a
15ft dish aerial and an AF139 transistor preamplifier for reception.
Power input to the PA was 150 watts. What is more remarkable is that
Peter, G3LTF is still active on moonbounce and is one of the world's
leading pioneers. The RSGB offers Peter, G3LTF our heartiest
congratulations on this 50th anniversary of his achievement.
Congratulations to the GB2RS Podcast team. They have now received
100,000 hits on their news recordings on Podbean. Each week the news
is uploaded to both iTunes and the lounge as well as on
http://gb2rs.podbean.com. Thanks to Jeremy and his team for their
service to amateur radio every week, along with all our other news
readers who read the news in various modes on the amateur bands.
Advance notice now of two events planned for 27 September.
International Air Ambulance weekend will be run in support of the
many Air Ambulance services around the world and particularly those
in the UK, which are donation funded. More details on the event, its
aims and a registration form to take part for free can be found at
www.radio-amateur-events.org
Railways on the air weekend takes place every year on the weekend
closest to 27 September. This date celebrates the anniversary of the
first steam powered passenger railway, which took place on 27
September 1825. The first passenger train ran on a line in the North
East of England from Darlington to Stockton. Bishop Auckland Amateur
Radio Club coordinates this event. Now in its seventh year, the 2014
event will take place on 27 and 28 September. For more details please
visit www.rota.barac.org.uk
We all know that Coronal Mass Ejections on the sun have a definite
impact on radio propagation here on Earth, but few outside the solar
science community have ever seen one close up. Now, thanks to video
released by NASA, we can. The video was taken by NASA's sun-observing
Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph or IRIS spacecraft and radioed
back to Earth. It shows a large sheet of solar material erupting from
our parent star that quickly consumes a field of view comparable to
the size of five Earths wide and seven and a half Earths tall. Go to
tinyurl.com/NASA-IRIS-CME.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The 13th Junction 28 QRP Rally will take place today, 8 June, at
Alfreton Leisure Centre, Church Street, Alfreton, Derbyshire
DE55 7BD. It is organised by South Normanton Alfreton and District
Amateur Radio Club in association with the G QRP Club. Doors open at
10am and there will be trade stands, special interest groups and
refreshments. More from Anya, 2E0BQS on 0115 930 7322.
The Rochdale and DARS Summer Flea Market takes place on 14 June at St
Vincent de Paul's, Caldershaw Road, Norden, Rochdale OL12 6BU. Doors
open at 10.15am and admission is GBP 2.50. Details from G0PUD on
0161 285 1600.
The 27th Newbury Radio Rally takes place on 15 June at the Newbury
Showground, next to M4 J13. Car parking is free and entry is
GBP 2.50. Gates open at 9am. There will be a huge radio, electronics
and computing boot sale including a demonstration marquee with
display of amateur radio on air, air traffic radar, plus clubs and
national society stands. Contact rally<at>nadars.org.uk.
If you have any rally or event information you'd like to appear in
future editions of GB2RS News, in RadCom and on the RSGB website,
please e-mail details to GB2RS<at>rsgb.org.uk.
Now for the news of special events
Many stations are on the air to commemorate D-Day. They include HMS
Belfast, which will be active until 30 June as GB70DDAY. GB70DDL will
be on the air from 1 to 28 June. The station will operate on all HF
bands using SSB, CW, PSK and other digital modes.
Thames Amateur Radio Group will be operating GB2HBT from Two Tree
Island, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2GB throughout June as 19 June will
be the 70th anniversary of the collision of two American Air Force
379th Bombardment Group B-17 Flying Fortresses. For more information,
please check GB2HBT on the QRZ.com website.
Crawley ARC will be activating a station from the Gatwick Aviation
Museum on the 14th and 15th and 21st and 22nd for International
Museums on the Air Event. They will be using the 10 to 80m bands.
The Portable Operating Group will be operating MC0POG from various
locations around Pembrokeshire from 14 to 21 June. They will be
working on all bands using SSB, CW and digital modes, experimenting
with antennas, working QRP and the more energetic members of the
group operating SOTA and Pedestrian HF Mobile. Details are on QRZ.com
To honour their Founder, Walter, G3ESP, Wakefield and District Radio
Society will be putting GX3ESP on the air several times during June,
with a special airing from the club portable site on the 28th and
29th using the callsign GX3ESP/P. QSL is via EQSL. More details can
be obtained from Dave, G4CLI on 07748 221 855 or via email to
g4cli<at>wdrs.org.uk.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Look for Geoff, MM5GAC/P to be active from Islay, EU-008 between 15
and 27 June.
K9EL will once again be active stroke FS from St Martin, NA-105,
between 9 and 27 June. Operations will take place on the 6 to 80m
bands. QSL via his home callsign.
Jay, K2TTT will be active holiday style as C6ATT from New Providence
Island, NA-001, in the Bahamas until 21 June. He will be using the 6
to 40m bands. QSL via K2TTT.
A team of ten Belgian operators will be active as ZA/ON6NB from
Albania until 15 June. They will operate SSB, CW, PSK and RTTY on the
6 to 80m bands with four stations. QSL via ON4ANN, direct or via the
bureau.
Now the contest news
CW National Field Day runs until 1500UTC on the 8th. Using the 1.9 to
28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The South East Asia Network Contest runs for 24 hours ending at
1200UTC today, the 8th. From outside the SEANET region, which is CQ
Zones 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, work only the SEANET region.
Using SSB and CW on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
The UK Six Metre Group's Summer Es Contest finishes its 24 hours at
1300UTC today, the 8th. Using all modes on the 50MHz band the
exchange is signal report, serial number locator and member number.
The UK Microwave Group Low Band contest runs from 1000UTC to 1600UTC
today. Using all modes on the 1.3, 2.3 and 3.4GHz bands the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2139UTC.
All modes count and the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
The CW leg of the 80m Club Championships is on Wednesday from 1900 to
2030UTC. The exchange is the usual signal report and serial number.
The Practical Wireless 2m Low Power Contest on Sunday 15th starts at
the same time as the RSGB 2m Backpacker contest, 0900UTC, but runs
for longer. There seems no reason why someone entering the 3W section
of the RSGB contest cannot enter the other; just carry on for up to
three more hours for the PW event. The PW contest finishes at 1600UTC
and the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator – as
is the Backpackers exchange, which finishes at 1300UTC.
Also next Sunday, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1800 to
2030UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
Now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 30th of May
to Thursday the 5th of June, compiled by Neil Clarke on Friday the
6th of June.
Several small sunspot groups were visible every day but none were
really very active, in fact, solar activity was very low on the 30th,
the 2nd and again on the 5th. However, on the 3rd an M class solar
flare occurred. In total only six C class solar flares took place.
Solar flux levels struggled to increase, a slight increase from 102
units on the 30th to 111 by the 5th. The average was 105 units. The
90 day solar flux average on the 5th was 138 units, that's four units
down on last week. X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and
averaged B2.5 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day and the
average Ap index was 6 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft
saw solar wind speeds vary between 280 and 390 kilometres per second.
Particle densities were moderate every day with peaks to 51 particles
per cubic centimetre, for example on the 2nd. Bz varied between minus
and plus 10 nanoTeslas on the most disturbed day and between minus 4
and plus 6 nanoTeslas on the quietest day.
Finally, the solar forecast for the coming week. This week solar
activity is expected to continue at low levels, however, later in the
week activity may increase with the return of an old active region.
Solar flux levels are expected to increase later in the week to the
120's. Geomagnetic activity could start at unsettled levels due to a
recurring coronal hole but then decline to quiet levels for the
remainder of the week. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes
should be around 23MHz. Darkness hour lows should be about 13MHz.
Paths this week to the east coast of North America should have a
maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around
21MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
will be about 16MHz. The best time to try this path will be between
1600 and 2000 hours. Sporadic E is expected to take place on most
days. Openings to 144MHz possible in any larger openings.
And that's all for another 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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