Hi, this is the combined iPOD version of the RSGB files recorded by G4NJH combined into the needed format and kept as a history by Ed VK2ARE. Please note that the iPOD often truncates the text,so to read the complete script please go to my RSGB blog at gb2rs.podbean.com.
Well I am safely back from the VK9HR DXPedition which turned out a great success despite less than perfect propagation. If you worked VK9HR or VK9IR (during the IOTA contest), thanks for taking part in this globally important Amateur Radio event. I really enjoyed being on the other end of some big pile-ups and was very impressed with the patience shown by those hunting down another DXCC/IOTA location! I will be including a report from the DXPedition operators side in my next Aussie correspondent section for the ICQPODCAST. Now on with the text for the GB2RS new bulletin:
GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 7 August 2011
The news headlines:
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Portugal gets amended 6m band
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Dutch amateurs get new frequencies
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Pic-A-Stars get together
The National Communications Authority of Portugal has accepted a proposal to amend the upper frequency limit on the 6m band, effective from 4 April 2012. That coincides with the date of the complete switch-off of the analogue TV broadcasting transmissions and the changeover to digital terrestrial television. The new limits of the band allocation for Portugal will be from 50 to 52MHz once analogue television disappears from that spectrum.
Amateurs in the Netherlands now have access to bands at 500kHz and 70MHz. This after the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation issued a Decree on 6 July changing the National Frequency Plan. The revised band plan shows an amateur service bands at 501 to 505kHz that will remain available until 1 January 2014. It also shows a new allocation from 70.0 to 70.5MHz that has no time limit.
Pic-A-Star is an SDR radio designed by Peter Rhodes, G3XJP, which was serialised in RadCom. It also appears in the RSGB Radio Communication Handbook. Milton Keynes ARS and Milton Keynes Museum are inviting all constructors of Pic-A-Stars to a one-day get together. This will be on Sunday 11 September from 11am to 4pm at the Milton Keynes Museum. Constructors of the Pic-A-star project are invited to bring their radios for a gathering and exchange of ideas. Star add-on circuits are also welcome. Entry will be free, but it would be nice to leave a small donation to the Museum. Constructors of other equipment designed by Peter are also welcome but the emphasis will be on the Pic-A-Star project. There will be test equipment and an antenna available on the day. Further details and directions are available online at www.radio-kits.co.uk/pic_a_star/event.htm.
The Limerick 2m repeater on 145.725MHz is now on the air again after being shut down due to vandalism at the repeater site. Limerick Radio Club is grateful for the many generous donations received, which have gone towards installation of a new security door. A new run of hardline coax has also been installed from the hut to the mast.
On Friday 12 August, Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club will be holding a fun ARDF event and barbecue at the IBM Sports Clubhouse, Hursley. The ARDF event will take place from 6.30pm onwards with the barbecue starting at 7.30pm. All equipment will be supplied and, as this is a fun and social event, spouses and children will be welcome to participate. There is no requirement to hold an amateur radio licence. Full details are available on the club website, www.ivarc.org.uk. Itchen Valley club members should note that this is a change of venue and there will be no meeting at the club house in Brickfield Lane.
Advance notice now. To celebrate their 80th anniversary, Midland Amateur Radio Society will be holding an open day at the club from 10am to 4pm on 24 September. There are plans are for displays of photographs, QSL cards, the original 1931 minute books and the cups and awards. There will also be refreshments and the opportunity to meet the training staff, plus the chance to operate GB8OTH. More information on the society, which is based in Stirchley, Birmingham, can be found on the club web site at www.radioclubs.net/mars.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
King’s Lynn ARC Rally & Car Boot will take place today, 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 01553 671 307.
The Lorn Radio Amateur Rally also takes place today, 7 August, at Crianlarich Village Hall, Crianlarich, near Oban, FK20 8QN. Doors open at 10am and there will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from GM0ERV by email to stewart.mciver@btinternet.com.
Cockenzie & Port Seton ARC is holding its 18th Annual Mini-Rally Night on Friday 12 August in the Community Centre, Main Hall, Port Seton. Bring along your own junk and sell it yourself. Tables are on a first come first served basis, £2 for everyone. Doors are open from 8.30 to 9.30pm.
Flight Refuelling ARS will be holding its annual Hamfest rally next Sunday, 14 August at the Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground at Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DA. Gates open to the public at 10am. Talk-in will be on S22.
The Friskney & East Lincolnshire Communications Club Rally and General Car Boot Sale will be held on Sunday 14 August in the Friskney Village Hall, Church Road, Friskney, Lincs. This is approximately 6.5 miles south of Skegness. Doors open from 10am to 4pm and admission is £1.50. Details from Bren, 2E0BDS, on 01754 820 060.
Now for the news of special events
Today, 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.
Today, Sunday 7 August, Chorley and District Amateur Radio Society is running a special event station from Fleetwood Model Yacht Club, who is celebrating its centenary. The callsign to listen out for is GB2MYA. Further information is on QRZ.com.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
VA3ITA will be on the air from 8 to 11 August, signing as /portable ZB2 in a VHF-only operation from Gibraltar. Operations will be on 6 and 2 metres using a mix of digital, SSB and CW from the east side of the Rock, facing the Mediterranean Sea. Please check his QRZ.com page for the latest news and e-mail him directly to schedule a contact. QSL direct via home callsign either direct or via the bureau.
KF8UN will be in Peru until 16 August. He will be active stroke OA4 and says that he plans to work 20 metres with particular emphasis all day on 8 August. At other times he will be operating holiday style. QSL via his home callsign.
Daniel, DK3CH will be active as 9A/DK3CH from Dugi Otok, which is IOTA reference EU-170, until 10 August. QSL via his home callsign.
TM5SM will be on the air from the Saint Marcouf Islands, which is IOTA reference EU-081, on 11 to 15 August. They will operate CW, SSB and RTTY on all bands except 160 metres. QSL via F5RJM either direct or via the bureau.
Ron, WA8LOW and four other operators will be active as WA8LOW/KH8 from Tutuila in American Samoa, IOTA reference OC-045, until 17 August. They will run four high power stations on 160 to 6 metres using all modes. QSL via WA8LOW.
Now the contest news
The 432MHz Low Power Contest takes place today, 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 today, 7 August, is the 2nd RoPoCo event. It’s a 90-minute Sunday morning event from 0700 to 0830UTC in which you really need to be on your toes to do well, because the rolling exchange of postcodes is a real challenge. This is the CW leg, the SSB leg having taken place in April.
Tuesday 9 August sees the 432MHZ UK Activity Contest taking place between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The new series of 80m Club Sprints starts in August and lasts four months. It begins with CW on the 10th from 1900 to 2030UTC. The Sprint contest exchange is both callsigns, a serial number and your name (or nickname in the case of some people). After soliciting a QSO you must QSY a minimum of 2kHz before you can call another station or solicit another QSO. Most of the time this will result in you having two QSOs on a frequency before you have to QSY, the first when you call someone and the second when you have taken over the frequency and called QRZ or CQ.
On 14 August the 70MHz Cumulative takes place between 1400 and 1600UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
For the entire 48 hours of 14-15 August, European stations work non-Europeans only in the Worked All Europe DX CW Contest. Using CW on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and serial number.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 25th to the 31st of July, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 1st of August.
Right at the start of the period on the 25th a large sunspot group rotated into view. This was followed by another on the 26th and yet another on the 28th. All these three groups were complex enough to produce large solar flares, and this is just what they did. Solar activity increased to high on the 30th when a M9 class solar flare occurred, and moderate on the 27th when a M1 flare took place. The remaining days' activity was low with numerous C class solar flares of varying strength taking place. Several sudden ionospheric disturbances accompanied some of the larger flares. Solar flux levels increased steadily from 87 units on the 25th to 119 by the 31st. The average was 104 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 31st was 95 units, that’s the same level as last week. X-ray flux levels increased from B1.7 units on the 25th to B5 units by the 29th and the average was B3.7. Geomagnetic activity was slightly unsettled on the 25th due to a small coronal hole when the Ap index was 12 units. The following few days saw quiet conditions till the next coronal hole disturbance arrived around midday on the 30th. The most disturbed day was the 30th with an Ap index of 16 units. The average was Ap 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds at 650 kilometres per second on the 25th but then to 280 by the 29th. Speeds then increased to end the period at 700 kilometres per second. Particle densities were low every day. Bz varied between minus 12 and plus 10 nanoTeslas on the most disturbed day and between minus 3 and plus 2 nanoTeslas when activity was quiet.
And now the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be rotating into view. Solar activity is expected to be very low to low. Solar flux levels should be around the 90 mark most days. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels for the next few days but on Thursday a recurring coronal hole is expected. On its last rotation the hole was small and on the most disturbed day the Ap index only reached 13 units. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 22MHz for the south and 19MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 12MHz. Paths this week to Middle East 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 1100 and 1700 hours. Sporadic-E should take place on most days; there is a chance that the Middle East could be worked via multi-hop Es.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
