Entries from July 2011
July 28th, 2011 · Comments Off
This is the iPOD compatible version of the GB2RS broadcast news files created by VK2ARE.
If you are reading this text on your iPOD you will see that the iPOD truncates the text. To see the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com
Hi, as you will deduce,have managed to find limited Internet connectivity on Lord Howe Island and found a little time to take care of this podcast creation between my duties on the VK9HR DXPedition. (I will be including some audio clips from "inside the DXPedition" as part of my next audio report in the ICQPODCAST podcast.
GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 31st July 2011
The news headlines:
Slovakian amateurs gain 5MHz band Will 800MHz 4G signals interfere with TV? Islands On The Air contest active now
Slovakian amateurs have been given access to the 5MHz frequency allocation for experimental purposes. OM stations can use the band from 5.2585 to 5.2615MHz with a maximum power of 100W ERP. Licences are valid for 1 year.
Ofcom has extended the period for consultation on proposals for technical licence conditions for the award of 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum. The new closing date for responses to this consultation is 11 August 2011. Whilst not strictly related to amateur radio, there is an EMC concern. The new 800MHz 4G signals will fall within the bandwidth of masthead preamps and TV tuners, adding to an already complex mixture for TVI complaints.
This weekend sees amateurs around the world involved in the Islands on the Air contest. Until 1200UTC today you can expect to hear some unusual island stations on the air. Many will be using their own callsigns outside the contest hours. Operation is in the 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28MHz bands. All radio amateurs in the British Isles are automatically operating from an island and so will be keenly sought by others overseas who are taking part in the contest.
Following a request from a club, the graphs from the RSGB Survey are now available as a PowerPoint presentation. This means it is now possible to show the results to a group, with the presenter using the original PDF file as their presentation notes. The files can be downloaded at www.rsgb.org/survey.
Starting today, 31st July, a GB2RS news reading for the South of England is being re-introduced on 3640kHz at 9am local time. A team of five news readers will take turns with this schedule each Sunday. They will read the National news plus regional news for the South East, East Anglia and the South West. At around 9.30 the reader will seek reception reports during an after-news net, which may QSY to a nearby working frequency. On-air reception reports will be very welcome.
AMSAT-UK has made available a free PDF of the Spring 2011 edition of their newsletter, OSCAR News. It contains reports on four UK CubeSat projects currently being developed. There is also news of new South African CubeSats and details of the telemetry on ARISsat-1, currently scheduled to be deployed from the International Space Station on Wednesday 3 August. A printed copy of OSCAR News is posted to members each quarter. Read the Oscar News PDF at www.uk.amsat.org, just follow the new and renewing members tab.
With only a few weeks to go to the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on 20 and 21 August, a total of 290 entries have been received, but many more are expected before the event. So far this year 13 Lightships are entered, mainly from Belgium, England, Germany and the USA. There’s also one each in the Netherlands, Sweden and Wales. Since 1998, the event has attracted more than 440 entrants, from some 50 nations. More information is at www.illw.net.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
This weekend, 30 and 31 July, the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium takes place in the Holiday Inn, Guildford, postcode GU2 7XZ. There is a wide ranging lecture programme, which will also be streamed at www.batc.tv. RSGB Amateur Radio Manager Carlos, G0AKI will be on site with GB4FUN. Details at www.uk.amsat.org.
Horncastle Summer Rally will take place today, Sunday 31 July, in the Horncastle Youth Centre, Willow Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £1.50. Information can be obtained from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527835.
King’s Lynn ARC Rally & Car Boot will take place on 7 August at Gaywood Community Centre, PE30 4DZ. Doors open at 10am and admission is £1.50. There will be trade stands and a car boot area. Details from Ray, G3RSV, on 01553671307.
The Lorn Radio Amateur Rally will be held on 7 August at Crianlarich Village Hall, Crianlarich, near Oban, postcode FK20 8QN. Doors open at 10am and there will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from GM0ERV by e-mail to stewart.mciver@btinternet.com.
Now for the news of special events
Hull & District Amateur Radio Society and RAFARS are setting up a special event station at a veterans weekend today, 31 July, held at East Park, Holderness Road, Hull. GB2VET will be on the air, using HF, VHF & UHF and D-Star. There will also be a display of vintage WW2 radio equipment.
Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Society is operating a GB0YD for Yorkshire Day on 1 August. Operated from the Club's shack with the Yorkshire flag flying from the mast, they intend to talk at all amateurs –whichever side of the Pennines they are located.
GB2SAH is the special event callsign operated by members of the Felixstowe & District ARS in conjunction with the Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group. On 31 July the station will be operating from the Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group's display centre at Kesgrave, Suffolk, as part of the Military Heritage Weekend. The station will use both military and amateur radio equipment as well as making good use of the impressive communications towers on the site.
On 1 August, MI0RYL will be activating Scrabo Tower, Newtownards on the HF bands, propagation allowing. The site is at Locator io74dn and is being activated as part of the Castles and Stately Homes on the Air Programme.
On 3 August, MW6GWR will be activating Graig Fach Goch, an Iron Age hill fort, as part of the Castles and Stately Homes on the Air Programme. The hill fort is at an elevation of roughly 675ft.
On 7 August a few amateurs in the Morecambe Bay area are putting a special event station on for the Heysham Classic Car Rally. They are trying to show the fun of amateur radio to a new audience. So if you’re in the Morecambe area, please feel free to drop in or contact them on air. They will be operating 2m and HF between 10am and 4pm.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Ian, G4FSU will be active again as OH/G4FSU from Emsalo Island, which is IOTA reference EU-097, until 10 August. He will be making an entry in the RSGB IOTA Contest. QSL via his home callsign either direct or via the bureau.
NQ6K will be active as stroke VY0 from Devon Island in the Canadian High Arctic until 5 August. The crew will be primarily using 20, 15 and 10 metres running PSK31 and RTTY and possibly SSB. Other bands will also be used depending on propagation. Please see www.devon2011.nq6k.org for current frequency updates and contact information.
EA3QS, IZ4AKS, IW3SQY, IZ8GCE and IT9YVO will operate as TY1KS from Benin from 5 to 14 August, on all bands, with three Elecraft K3s and two Elecraft KPA500 solid state amplifiers. They will focus on the lower bands and digital modes due to the high demand for those from Benin. They will also be on SSB on the higher bands, especially during trans-equatorial propagation openings. QSL via IZ8IYX.
Axel, DL7VEA will be active as OZ7VEA from Bornholm Island, which is IOTA reference EU-030, until 5 August, including a 12-hour entry in the IOTA Contest. QSL via DL7VEA, bureau preferred.
Now the contest news
Over the years, Islands On The Air has become the RSGB’s flagship contest. These days it attracts over 2000 entries worldwide. Casual participants are likely to pick up some new countries and serious entrants will make thousands of QSOs in the 24 hours, although there are also 12-hour sections for single-op stations. The IOTA Reference is part of the exchange; the one for mainland Britain is EU-005. All the IOTA references can be found on the internet at www.logiciel.co.uk/iota/shtlist/europe.html. Operations start at 1200 on the 30th, although some of the island DXpeditions will be using their own callsigns during testing in the days leading up to the contest. Using the bands 3.5 to 28MHz on CW or SSB, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference.
2 August sees the 144MHz UK Activity Contest taking place from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The first weekend of the month is definitely one for low power enthusiasts. The action on Saturday 6th begins with the fourth 2m Backpacker Contest from 1100 to 1500UTC. Overlapping with the final hour is the144MHz Low Power Contest from 1400 to 2200UTC. In each of them you exchange the usual information, but also the first two letters of your postcode. Single letter postcodes are padded out to two letters, see the RSGB Yearbook or www.rsgbcc.org for a full list.
Also on 6 August, the 12-hour European HF Championship takes place. QSOs within Europe are the only ones that count for points. Exchange a signal report and a two-digit number corresponding to the year in which you were first licensed. There are CW only, SSB only and mixed mode sections for high and low power stations.
The 432MHz Low Power Contest takes place on 7 August from 0800 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and the first two letters of the postcode.
Also on 7 August is the 2nd RoPoCo event. It’s a 90-minute Sunday morning event from 0700 to 0830UTC. You really need to be on your toes to do well, because the rolling exchange of postcodes (PC) is a real challenge. This is the CW leg, the SSB leg having taken place in April.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 18th to the 24th of July, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 25th of July.
The period started with eight sunspot groups visible, most were small and stable. However, one of these groups produced the only C class solar flare, which lifted activity to low levels on the 18th. The remainder of the period saw activity at very low levels. Solar flux levels declined from 102 units on the 18th to 86 by the 24th. The average was 95 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 24th was also 95 units, that’s two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels declined from B2.4 units on the 18th to B1.4 by the 24th and the average was B1.9 units. Due to a recurring coronal hole geomagnetic activity was at unsettled levels from the 19th to the 22nd. The most disturbed day was the 20th with an Ap index of 19 units. The only quiet day was the 24th with an Ap index of 4 units. The average was 11 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 360 kilometres per second on the 18th to 750 by the 21st. Speeds then declined to 400 kilometres per second by the 24th. Particle densities were low except for a brief increase to 13 particles per cubic centimetre on the 18th. Bz varied between minus 8 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the disturbance and between minus 4 and plus 6 nanoTeslas on the quietest day.
And now the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be rotating out of view. Even today an active region could be rotating into view over the Sun’s south east limb. Solar activity is expected to be very low to low for most of the week. Solar flux levels should be on the increase and be in the high 90’s or even slightly above the 100 mark, a lot will depend on the active region mentioned above. Slightly easier to forecast is the geomagnetic activity, which is expected to be unsettled today and maybe tomorrow, and again by next weekend. Both disturbances are the result of recurring coronal holes. However, the midweek period should be at quiet levels. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 19MHz for the south and 16MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 12MHz. 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 17MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate should be about 13MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1900 and 2300 hours. The path will probably open earlier but levels will consequently be lower. Sporadic-E is expected to take place on some days.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
Tags: Ham Radio
July 21st, 2011 · Comments
Please note: next weeks podcast will be delayed a week as I will be taking part in the VK9HR DXPedition to Lord Howe Island and wont have the time or equipment to combine the separate files into the iPOD compatible format. If you wish, you can simpy download the individual MP3 files from http://homepage.ntlworld.com/g4njh2/rsgb.html
the new files are posted there once G4NJH has recorded them. He posts the latest files on this site. I will post both the 31st. July and 7th. August editions of the RSGB News to iTunes upon my return. 73 and good DX – Ed VK2ARE.
GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 24th July 2011
The news headlines:
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Restrictive legislation for Belgian amateurs
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SSB coming to European CB
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AMSAT Colloquium to be webcast live
The administration in Flanders has included radio amateurs in the restrictive Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR, Ministerial Decree of 26 January, aimed at telecom operators. It appears that radio amateurs in Flanders will now have the same standards and obligations, fees and even the same fines or imprisonment for breaches as the telecom operators. Radio amateurs have to apply for a certificate of conformity for their station and, presumably, re-apply whenever the station configuration changes. This costs about 75 Euros and the amateur has to supply detailed information on the site and the antenna concerned. More information online at http://tinyurl.com/BelgiumUBA.
A decision by the European Union has paved the way for the use of single sideband on 27MHz CB across Europe. The revised regulation will permit European CB operators the use of SSB equipment running 12 watts PEP output in the frequency band 26.960 to 27.410MHz. The European Union decision to permit SSB on 11 meters came into force on 24 June and carries a preferred implementation by national telecommunications administrations of 1 October.
The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium takes place in Guildford next weekend, July 30-31. BATC and AMSAT volunteers will be streaming video of the event live, enabling it to be seen around the world. Clearly a webcast cannot match actually being there, with the opportunity to chat to satellite builders and inspect space hardware, but if you can't get to Guilford then the webcast provides the next best thing. The webcast will be at www.batc.tv.
AMSAT satellite ARISSAT-1, currently aboard the International Space Station, has had a chequered history. As previously reported, it was not deployed in February as originally planned. A further date in July also came and went. The RSGB understands that it will now be tested within the ISS on 30 to 31 July, the weekend of the AMSAT-UK Colloquium. It is planned to monitor the tests from the Colloquium using the facilities of GB4FUN. The satellite will probably transmit its standard 2m bandplan, centred on 145.938MHz. All being well it will be hand-launched from the ISS on Wednesday 3 August.
Also on a space theme, AMSAT-UK's FunCube satellite is undergoing thermal testing at RAL Space at Harwell, near Didcot, as part of its launch qualification programme. Reporting to GB2RS live from the laboratory via a video link on Wednesday, Graham Shirville, G3VZV said that the schedule includes a power-off survival test from -35°C to +75°C.
Mexborough & District Amateur Radio Society has been lucky enough to secure passage on the Yorkshire Belle on 30 July for a full day of maritime mobile operating. Sailing from the coastal resort of Bridlington, they intend to operate both HF and 2m stations from on board the Yorkshire Belle with a support station nearby on land. Anyone wishing to contact Full licence holders working maritime mobile should listen out from 9am onwards on 30 July. Anyone wishing to take part in the event should contact Sharon Saiger on 07795 225447.
The National Hamfest will take place at the George Stephenson Pavilion, Newark & Notts Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark NG24 2NY on 30 September and 1 October. Around 3000 visitors came through the doors last year and this year’s show is due to be bigger than ever. The main hall is already well on the way to being full with all the major brands represented, as well as the biggest dealers in the UK and several overseas traders. Tickets can be purchased online with several discounts available for those booking early, www.nationalhamfest.org.uk.
The Radio Club of Provins would like to thank the amateur radio community for all the help and support during the recent theft of 20,000 Euros worth of DXpedition equipment. A radio amateur is helping police with their enquiries following the theft. It was thanks to the network of radio amateurs that this sad event was resolved quickly. The equipment was recovered and will soon be on its way to PJ4C with the F6KOP team and some will be travelling with the MDXC team to 9N.
The Republic of South Sudan is the newest addition to the CQ DX Award Countries List, number 342. Verifications confirming contacts after 14 July 2011, which was the date of its admission to the United Nations, are acceptable for credit. No award credit is available for southern Sudan contacts made during the 1980s and 90s. In addition, South Sudan will count as a country, or entity, multiplier for the CQ DX Marathon, the CQ World Wide DX Contest and any other CQ contests that use country multipliers.
Today, 24 July, at 0900UTC, a balloon called Aisekom will be launched from Bilbao in northern Spain with APRS equipment attached. This will transmit an APRS beacon on 144.800MHz FM at 1200 bps. It should be possible to hear it in the UK because it will rise up to 30,000 metres and then come down on a parachute. The callsign will be EG2EE-11. There is more information at www.aisekom.com but it is only available in Spanish.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Next weekend, 30 and 31 July, the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium takes place in the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ. There is a lecture programme available, including a Beginners' Workshop run by Dave, G4DPZ and Carlos, G0AKI, the RSGB Amateur Radio Department manager. GB4FUN will also be onsite. Details at www.uk.amsat.org.
Horncastle Summer Rally will take place on Sunday 31 July in the Horncastle Youth Centre, Willow Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £1.50. Information can be obtained from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527835.
MW0MAH is setting up a demonstration station at charity fund raising event at RAF Valley on 30 July. The RAOB annual charity event starts at 2pm and visitors have the opportunity to pass greetings messages at the demonstration station as well as join in the other activities.
Now for the news of special events
Hull & District Amateur Radio Society will have a station active at The Hull Sea Shanty this weekend at Hull Marina. Their communications trailer will be demonstrating HF, VHF and D-Star communications.
British Inland Waterways on the Air is set to be launched at The Waterways Festival, Shobnall Fields, Burton on Trent on 29 to 31 July. A special event station, GB2TWF, is being set up by local radio clubs and this is just one of over forty stations being set up for the weekend, which include GB0NWM at the National Waterways museum at Ellesmere Port, the Waterways museum at Goole, GB2FIP at the Foxton Inclined Plane museum and GB4HSC at the Hinckley Sea Cadets. Other stations will be set up from the Caledonian canal down to the River Way. A full list can be found on the participants tab at website www.biwota.org.
Hull & District Amateur Radio Society and the RAFARS are setting up a special event station at a veterans weekend on 30 and 31 July held at East Park, Holderness Road, Hull. GB2VET will be on the air using HF, VHF & UHF and D-Star. The club will also display vintage WW2 radio equipment.
Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Society is operating a GB0YD for Yorkshire Day on 1 August. Operated from the Club's shack with the Yorkshire flag flying from the mast, they intend to talk at all amateurs –whichever side of the Pennines they are.
And now the HF DX news, compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
A group of German operators will be on the air from Ascension Island as ZD8D from 24 July to 9 August. They will be operating from a guesthouse in Georgetown. Updates are online at www.zd8d.de.
IK5ASN will be active as 9A8ASN from the island of Cres until 30 July. He will be on 40 and 20 meters using SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via IK5SAN, direct or preferably via the bureau.
KF8UN will be in Peru until 16 August. He plans to be active stroke OA4 and says that he plans to work 20m, particularly on 8 August. At other time he will be operating holiday style. QSL via his home callsign.
EF8M operating from the Canary Islands during the RSGB Islands on the Air Contest on 30 and 31 July as a Multi-Operator, All-Band, High-Power entry. Operators mentioned are RD3A, EA8CAC and UA5C. QSL via UA3DX.
Now the contest news
Today, 24 July, is the WAB QRO 2m phone contest, which runs from 1000 until 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square.
26 July sees both the 50MHz UK Activity Contest and the SHF Activity Contest take place from 1900 to 2130UTC. The former uses all modes on the 50MHz band and the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The latter is on all bands from 2.3GHz upwards and using all modes the exchange is also signal report, serial number and locator.
This leaves the biggest HF event to the end. Over the years IOTA Contest has become the RSGB’s flagship contest. These days it attracts over 2000 entries worldwide. Casual participants are likely to pick up some new countries and serious entrants will make thousands of QSOs in the 24 hours, although there are also 12-hour sections for single-op stations. The IOTA Reference is part of the exchange; the one for mainland Britain is EU005. All the IOTA references can be found on the internet at www.logiciel.co.uk/iota/shtlist/europe.html. Operations start at 1200 on the 30th, although some of the island DXpeditions will be using their own callsigns during testing in the days leading up to the contest. Using the bands 3.5 to 28MHz on CW or SSB, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 11th to the 17th of July, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 18th of July.
First this week the smoothed monthly sunspot numbers for October, November and December 2010, they are 23.2, 26.5 and 28.8 respectively. The rise continues towards a maximum, which is due probably in 2013.
Numerous sunspot groups were visible every day, in fact, seven groups were visible on the 13th and the 15th. However, most were small and quiet. One C class solar flare took place on the 11th and the 12th when solar activity was low. The remaining days' activity was very low. Solar flux levels increased from 90 units on the 11th to 104 by the 17th. The average was 95 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 17th was 97 units, that’s two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels increased slightly to B2.1 by the 17th. The average was B1.7 units. Geomagnetic activity was unsettled on the 11th with an Ap index of 13 units. This was due to a coronal hole. The remainder of the period activity was just at quiet levels with an Ap of 6 or 8 units on most of the other days, except for the 17 which was 5 units. The average was Ap 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar winds at 750 kilometres per second on the 11th and the 12th but then gradually decline to 345 kilometres per second by the 17th. Particle densities were low every day. On the 11th Bz varied between minus and plus 8 nanoTeslas and between minus 3 and plus 4 nanoTeslas on the 16th.
And now the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity should be at very low levels on most days. Even though sunspot groups will be visible, all are expected to be small and inactive. Solar flux levels should be in the high 80’s for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels till after midweek, when a small recurring coronal hole disturbance arrives. The effects from the hole should be minimal, with the daily Ap index into the teens. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 20MHz for the south and 17MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 13MHz. Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 18MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 13MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1500 hours. Sporadic-E should take place on most days on the lower VHF bands and up to 144MHz occasionally during any intense openings.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
Tags: Ham Radio
July 14th, 2011 · Comments
This is the iPOD compatible version of the GB2RS broadcast news files created by VK2ARE.
If you are reading this text on your iPOD you will see that the iPOD truncates the text. To see the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com
** Please note I will be away from July 23rd to August 2nd on the VK9HR DXPedition (see VK9R.com for info) so there may be some delays in my posting of the cobined RSGB files onto iTunes ***
GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 17th July 2011
The news headlines:
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Results of RSGB Survey released
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Error found in Ofcom licensing system
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Dutch to get 500kHz and 70MHz bands
From October to December last year the RSGB ran a major online survey of amateur radio enthusiasts. The intention was to capture the current state of the hobby and how it might develop over the next decade or so. The analysis of the survey has been completed and has turned up some interesting results. The detailed findings have now been published and can be downloaded from the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/survey/analysis. A short article will appear in the August RadCom that puts the results in context.
An error has been discovered in the Ofcom licensing system that appeared to allow the reissue of callsigns. This is being investigated by Ofcom and will be corrected as soon as possible. Any incorrect callsigns issued will be revoked and replaced with a callsign of the correct series.
A recent change of the National Allocation Table in the Netherlands shows that Dutch amateurs will get a secondary allocation from 501-505kHz until 1 January 2014 and a secondary allocation from 70.0-70.5MHz. The allocations will not start until an update is made of certain frequency control legislation.
As preparations for the Olympics gather pace, Airwave has announced that its specialist TETRA Network, Apollo, is ready to provide voice communications in the London area. This uses UHF spectrum that is separate from the amateur 70cm allocation, however the scale of the games is such that additional spectrum may still be needed from the 70cm band on a temporary basis. An example of this is the forthcoming use of 70cm for telemetry to support sailing test events. As announced last week, this will occur in the Weymouth and Portland area between Wednesday 20 July and Saturday 13 August. Further information can be found on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/olympics.
The lecture programme for the RSGB Convention in October is nearly full. 60 of the 65 lecture slots have been filled and a new provisional lecture timetable has been uploaded to the Convention website, www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention.
A new free sample edition of RadCom is now available to read online or download from the RSGB website. The sample RadCom is available in digital magazine format for reading online, which requires a Flash plug-in to your browser. For those who would like to save the magazine to their computer, or do not have Flash installed, a 24 megabyte PDF version is available. The sample is the March 2011 edition.
Crystal Palace Radio & Electronics Club is starting a new Foundation course. It will take place on four Saturday mornings, commencing on 24 September and ending with the exam on 22 October. Contact Bob on 01737 552170 or email g3oou@aol.com for more information or to join the course.
Production company The Garden is inviting people to get involved in a new TV programme for Channel 4. They are looking for people with a wide variety of skills and voices to form a group to help someone at a crossroads in their life. They said that a radio amateur might be an interesting person to add to the mix. To find out more please call Tom Wilde on 0203 465 9079 or email takepart@thegardenproductions.tv. Filming will take place for a week in August.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The McMichael Rally and Boot Sale takes place today, 17 July, at Reading Rugby Club, just off the A4 east of Reading. There is free car parking and admission is £2. Traders and special interest groups will be in attendance and a car boot sale area is available. The gates open at 9.30am. Details from Pete, G8FRC on 01189 695697.
Also today is QRP in Country at Upton Bridge Farm, Long Sutton, Langport TA10 9NJ. The Bath Buildathon team, led by Steve Hartley, G0FUW, will be supervising construction and George Dobbs, G3RJV will be attending and commenting on a Show & Tell display, so please bring along lots of homebrew things for all to see. Rob Mannion, G3XFD, Editor of PW, the RSGB and other QRP personalities will be there. Entry is free and details can be found at www.walfordelectronics.co.uk.
Bletchley Park is today celebrating the important contribution made by three Polish mathematicians for their work on breaking the Enigma codes. As part of the annual Polish Day celebrations, Bletchley Park will also be remembering other Polish contributions and involvement in World War II. The day will include Polish dancing, food and displays, themed talks and a Spitfire fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Northumbria Amateur Radio Club is holding a Bring and Buy sale on Saturday 23 July, starting at 10am. Everyone is very welcome to come along. To sell items, please forward details to the club secretary Roy, G0AXJ, by email to roymccluskey@hotmail.co.uk, or telephone 0741 2659 150, as soon as possible. For full details please visit the NARC website, www.g4aax.org.uk, where you will find appropriate links associated with this event.
Now for the news of special events
Today, 17 July, Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Society is on its second and final day operating GB1AVR for Ackworth Vintage Rally. The site is at Watertower Field, Ackworth.
GB6MMR will be on the air today from the McMichael Mobile Rally near Reading. Operation is on 2m and 70cm.
From 20 until 24 July GB4WP will be operating from the War and Peace Show at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent. Activity will be from Top Band to 2m.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
From 24 July to 2 August an international team of operators will be QRV from Lord Howe Island, IOTA OC-004, on all bands from 6 to 160m. This includes the RSGB IOTA contest on 30 and 31 July. The callsign to listen for is VK9HR. All details can be found at www.vk9hr.com and you can see equipment preparations in progress by searching for VK9HR on youtube.com. All team members are linked to the Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia.
Dave, ZR6DG will be active as C92DG from Tofo in Mozambique until 28 July. His plans are to do two DX sessions a day along with Helge, ZS6HB. QSL via ZR6DG.
Look for Stefan, DF8HS/P to be active from Fehmarn Island, which is IOTA reference EU-128, until 29 July. QSL via home call, bureau preferred.
Eric, SM1TDE will be active holiday style as OH0/SM1TDE from Eckero, Aland Islands, which is IOTA reference EU-002, from 21 to 24 July. QSL via the bureau and Logbook of The World.
Now the contest news
Today, Sunday 17 July sees the Low Power Contest taking place from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using the 3.7 and 7MHz bands, CW only, the exchange is signal report, serial number and power. Also today, from 1000 to 1600UTC is the 70MHz trophy. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The UHF UK Activity Contest takes place on Tuesday 19 July from 1900 to 2130UTC. Operating on the 23cm band using all modes, signal report, serial number and locator form the exchange.
On Thursday 21 July from 1900 to 2030UTC it's the RSGB 80m Club Championships. Using data modes only on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Next Sunday, 24 July, is the WAB QRO 2m phone contest, which runs from 1000 until 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 4th to the 10th of July, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 11th of July.
The solar disc had sunspot groups visible every day with up to five groups on the 8th. Solar activity was very low except for the 7th when a single C class solar flare took place. Then during a six hour period on the 8th, as a group emerged, four C class solar flares took place. Solar flux levels varied little and averaged 86 units, but on the 10th increased to 91. The 90 day solar flux average on the 10th was 99 units. That’s one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels averaged B1.2 units and showed little variation day to day. Geomagnetic activity was just unsettled on most days for one reason or another, first a glancing blow from a coronal mass ejection on the 4th and the 5th and then a coronal hole disturbance on the 9th and the 10th. The 7th was the quietest day with an Ap index of 6 units. The average was Ap 10 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 330 and 540 kilometres per second. Particle densities increased to 22 particles per cubic centimetre on the 8th and the 9th. The remaining days were low. Bz varied between minus 4 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 9 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the disturbances.
And now the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to be at very low levels but could increase on some days. Solar activity should be around the 90 mark for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet for at least the next couple of days before a recurring coronal hole disturbance arrives and when it does it will last till the weekend. The disturbance should not be too strong; the Ap index should be in the teens during the second half of the week. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 20MHz for the south and 17MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 13MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 26MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 21MHz. Paths going directly over the equator will not be effected by the coronal hole disturbance and the best time to try this path will be between 1100 and 1600 hours. Sporadic-E is expected to take place most days on the lower VHF bands but the chance of an opening up to 144MHz is now becoming less likely as the peak of the season as now passed. A new solar activity near real time service has been launched on Twitter by G0CAS. It can be found by searching on Twitter for spots and flares, that’s without the spaces.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
Tags: Ham Radio
July 6th, 2011 · Comments Off
This is the iPOD compatible version of the GB2RS broadcast news files created by VK2ARE.
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GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 10th July 2011
The news headlines:
Following the first tests in June, the RSGB has now received an update that additional tests for the Olympics affecting 70cm will take place in the Weymouth and Portland area between Wednesday 20 July and Saturday 13 August. These will take the form of spot frequency telemetry transmissions in the range 431 to 432MHz plus some more limited activity around 436MHz. All amateurs are requested to respect these tests and not interfere with them. Information is also available at www.rsgb.org/olympics.
AMSAT-UK will be holding a Satellite Beginners’ Workshop at 4pm on Friday 29 July to teach newcomers how to get started in amateur radio space communications. With some satellites you can communicate using little more than a standard dual-band FM handheld. Others use SSB or CW and permit intercontinental DX communications using the VHF/UHF bands. The Beginners' Workshop will be run by Dave, G4DPZ and Carlos, G0AKI and takes place at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ. Look for the RSGB GB4FUN vehicle in the car park. Details are on the AMSAT-UK website www.uk.amsat.org.
Railways on the Air 2011 will take place on the weekend of 24 and 25 September. As last year, the suggested frequencies for the event are 3.65, 7.12 and 14.12MHz, but participants are requested to avoid any interference with RSGB news reading. Anyone is encouraged to register if they are working an historic railway site, it doesn't have to be a famous one or indeed one operating trains, just a site that has a railway heritage. Registration and general enquiries can are through the website www.rota.m0php.net.
The National Hamfest will take place at the Newark & Notts Showground again this year on 30 September and 1 October. The RSGB & Lincoln Short Wave Club are pleased that the ARRL are attending from the USA again this year. Joining them will be the German companies Spiderbeam, Tecadi and Czech company Mastrant as well as all the major manufacturers and dealers in the UK. Advance tickets are available from the National Hamfest website, www.nationalhamfest.org.uk.
In June 2011 the Portuguese administration Anacom assigned 5288.5kHz in addition to the already authorised frequencies of 5371.5 and 5403.5kHz on a secondary and non interference basis. The special propagation study permits are being issued for a year.
The first provisional programme for the RSGB Convention is now available on the RSGB website. Taking place at Horwood House near Milton Keynes over the weekend 7 to 9 October, the lecture programme is well underway. You can see the confirmed lectures on a wide range of subjects from low frequency to light communications, which will be updated as more talks are confirmed. Check out www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention.
The Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society has launched its new website. All amateurs and anyone with an interest in maritime radio, especially those who have served or are serving in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and other navies throughout the world, are invited to visit the site at www.rnars.org.uk. The site is under continuous improvement and visitors are invited to suggest additional features to enhance the site. This can be done on the home page using the link under the main photograph.
The team from Wakefield and District Radio Society will be QRV from the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which is IOTA reference EU 120, off the Northumberland coast, from 15 to 18 July. They will be using the callsign GB1HI. Transmission times will vary and, as it qualifies for IOTA, will utilise the IOTA frequencies between 6 to 80m wherever possible, plus or minus QRM. As well as SSB it is hoped to do some data modes. The QSL route is via M0OXO and all information is available on QRZ.com. Visitors are welcome but please bring your licence and a club card wherever possible. The team will be sited on the approach road to the castle.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 10 July, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club's 48th Mobile Rally will take place at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from Steve on 01209 844939.
The McMichael Rally and Boot Sale will take place on 17 July at Reading Rugby Club, just off the A4 east of Reading. There is free car parking and admission is £2. Traders and special interest groups will be in attendance and a car boot sale area is available. The gates open at 9.30am. Details from Pete, G8FRC on 01189 695697.
QRP in Country will take place on 17 July at Upton Bridge Farm, Long Sutton, Langport TA10 9NJ. There is still plenty of space available for those individuals or Clubs who would like to put on a display or have a stand. The Bath Buildathon team, led by Steve Hartley, G0FUW, will be supervising construction and George Dobbs, G3RJV will be attending and commenting on a ‘Show & Tell’ display, so please bring along lots of homebrew things for all to see. Rob Mannion, G3XFD, Editor of PW, the RSGB and other QRP personalities will be there. Entry is free and details can be found at www.walfordelectronics.co.uk.
Northumbria Amateur Radio Club is holding a Bring and Buy sale on 23 July starting at 10am. Everyone is very welcome to come along. If anyone is interested in selling items details should be forwarded to the club secretary Roy, G0AXJ by email to roymccluskey@hotmail.co.uk or telephone 0741 2659 150 as soon as possible. For full details please visit the NARC website, www.g4aax.org.uk where you will find appropriate links associated with this event.
Bletchley Park’s annual Polish Day takes place on Sunday 17 July. It will celebrate the important contribution made by three Polish mathematicians for their work on the breaking of Enigma. Bletchley Park will also be remembering other Polish contributions and involvement in World War. The day will include Polish dancing, food and displays, themed talks and a Spitfire fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Now for the news of special events
Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Society is operating GB0PLF on 10 July from Pontefract Town Centre for the Liquorice Festival. On 16 and 17 July the club will put GB1AVR on the air for the Ackworth Vintage Rally, operating from Watertower Field, Ackworth.
Borders Amateur Radio Society will be holding a special event station at Birgham Village Fete, located in the village playpark on 16 July. Operating on the HF bands and 2m on CW and SSB, the callsign will be GB4BBR.
Sutton Coldfield Radio Club is hosting a special event station GB4MVF on 16 July at Middleton Village Fete, Church Lane, Middleton B78 2AW from 2pm till 5pm. Further information from Rob Bird on 01827 288483. Visitors are welcome.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Andy, P29CS is at present active as YJ8A on the island of Efate in the DXCC entity of Vanuatu. This one counts as OC-035 for the Islands on the Air award programme. He is there until 17 July and QSLs go via M0URX.
Dmitrij, RW6AML will be on Waya Island, Fiji until 17 July. He will be active as 3D2ML on both CW and SSB. QSLs go to his home callsign.
Malcolm, GM3TAL is taking part in the Scottish Scouts New Horizons expedition to Malawi until 25 July and plans to be active as 7Q7MH from the Malawi National Scout Campsite at Makwawa. Look for activity on 20, 17, 15, 10 and possibly 6 metres, using CW and SSB. QSL via G0IAS, direct only. The website for the expedition is at www.7q7mh.org.
Dante, IK5ASN will be active as 9A8ASN from the island of Cres, which is IOTA reference EU-136, from 12 to 30 July. He will be on 20 and 40 metres SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK31. QSL via his home callsign, preferably using the bureau.
Now the contest news
This weekend, it’s the IARU HF World Championship, which finishes at 1200UTC today, the 10th. The UK HQ station GR2HQ will be active and looking for as many QSOs as possible, on as many bands and modes as possible, with as many people as possible. You don’t have to be taking part in the contest to call GR2HQ; the operators will be delighted to work you and also pass you around the bands and modes, to help you work towards one of the free certificates that are available. The exchange is signal report and ITU zone, which for the UK is 27.
Tuesday 12 July is the 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
13 July sees the SSB leg of the 80m Club Championship take place between 1900 and 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
Sunday 17 July sees the Low Power Contest taking place from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using the 3.7 and 7MHz bands, CW only, the exchange is signal report, serial number and power. Also that day, from 1000 to 1600UTC is the 70MHz trophy. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 227th of June to the 3rd of July, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 4th of July.
For the first six months of 2011 there was only one day when the solar disc was spotless, that was on the 27th of January.
Solar activity was very low except for the 3rd when the only C class solar flare of the period took place which increased activity to low. Solar flux levels varied between 86 and 89 units and the average was 87 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 3rd was 100 units, that’s two units down on last week. The year started with the 90 day solar flux average at 84 units and then increased steadily to peak at 110 units at the beginning of May. Since then levels have declined sharply to 100 units. X-ray flux units averaged B1.1 units and varied little day to day. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day except for the 1st which increased to unsettled levels with an Ap index of 13 units. This was in response to a small coronal hole. The average for the period was Ap 6 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 320 kilometres per second to 450 by the 1st. Particle densities increased to 15 particles per cubic centimetre on the 1st, the remaining days densities were low. Bz varied between minus 2 and plus 5 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 10 and plus 8 nanoTeslas on the most disturbed day.
VHF Sporadic-E was reported daily up to 70MHz and some locations enjoyed a good opening to the Caribbean and South America on the evening of the 30th and a smaller one on the 1st. A few stations reported a Scottish-type aurora on the afternoon of the 1st.
And now the solar forecast. This week the slightly more active side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Without the appearance of any large active sunspot groups, solar activity is expected to be at low levels on some days. Solar flux levels should be around the 100 mark throughout the period. No influence from any coronal holes is expected this week so geomagnetic activity should be quiet every day. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 21MHz for the south and 18MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be around 13MHz. Paths this week to India should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 20MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 15MHz. The best time to try this path from the UK will be between 1200 and 1800 hours. Sporadic-E should take place on some days with openings up to 144MHz possible. As always the favoured times for Sporadic-E are mid mornings and early evenings, but not exclusively.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
Tags: Ham Radio
