This is the combined RSGB podcast iniTunes format, compiled by Ed VK2ARE. Please note as the complete text willnot be visibleon an iPhone/iPOD (limit on device), to read the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com.
GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 14th August 2011
The news headlines:
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IARU Region 1 Conference webcast
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UK Licence Examinations available at the RSGB Convention in October
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ARISSat-1 Deployed
The International Amateur Radio Union General Conference takes place from 12 to 19 August in Sun City, South Africa and will be streamed live via the internet. To listen to the IARU conference stream you need to have iTunes installed. Here are the instructions for installing and setting up iTunes. Download the latest version of iTunes, which is free, from www.apple.com/uk/itunes. Double-click on the downloaded file to start installation. To prevent iTunes from automatically updating and managing the music on your PC or MAC, un-tick all the options in the Installation Options screen that’s shown during the installation. To set up the Stream, run iTunes, open the Advanced drop down menu and select Open Stream and place the following link into the URL field, http://live.datamatix.at:8032/listen.pls and press OK. That’s it; the conference will now show as an Internet song and can be played and paused at will. For more information please refer to the iTunes help file.
The RSGB is offering those wishing to obtain a UK amateur radio licence the opportunity to complete one, or more, of the required Radio Communication Examinations over the weekend of the RSGB Convention, 8 to 9 October. Candidates must book their examinations prior to the event and must provide evidence they have completed the required practical assessments. The contact for further information and for booking examinations is the RCE Department at RSGB HQ on 01234 832700. Candidates for the Foundation or Intermediate examinations must also contact Brian Reay, G8OSN by e-mail to g8osn.rsgb@gmail.com or telephone 01634 376316. This is so that their progress on practical assessments can be verified. If required, Brian can also advise on finding a local tutor to complete practical assessments in advance of the Convention. It is essential that Foundation and Intermediate candidates have their progress verified by Brian before the Convention.
The amateur radio satellite ARISSat-1 has been deployed from the International Space Station and its 145.950MHz FM/SSTV and 145.920MHz BPSK signals have been received around the world. The signal levels from ARISSat-1 should be similar to those expected from the AMSAT-UK FUNcube-1 satellite. The AMSAT-UK team are keen to discover what will be the minimum and best type of antennas for schools to use with a FUNcube Dongle software defined radio. Therefore, user experience with the ARISSat-1 signals will be very valuable in making this determination. To encourage everyone to receive the 145.920MHz BPSK ARISSat-1 telemetry signal, AMSAT-UK are offering a FUN reward for listeners. Check out www.uk.amsat.org for more details.
At the end of today, 14 August, the Early Bird booking discount for the RSGB Convention comes to a close. There is a full programme of lectures on a wide variety of topics from microwave to DXpeditions and antenna design to propagation. On Friday 7 October the Martin Lynch and Sons Buffet Dinner will be accompanied by entertainment and the Saturday DX dinner is being MC’ed by Radio Four presenter Jim Lee, G4AEH. For more information, including booking, take a look at www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention.
The Northern Ireland HF Conference takes place on Saturday 20 August at the Technology Education Centre, Omagh BT78 1FA. Registration is from 11am and admission is £3. Several speakers have been booked, including Malcolm, GI8AFS speaking on HF Beacons, Paul O'Kane, EI5DI talking about DXpeditions and Logging and the RSGB’s Carlos Eavis, G0AKI, speaking about the IOTA programme. More information can be found on the internet at http://wtarc.co.uk/GIHFConference.aspx.
Thailand is the latest country to join the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend that takes place next weekend, 20 and 21 August. Simon Luttrell, HS0ZIB, will be operating from the Golden Jubilee Lighthouse at Phromthep Cape, Phuket. With just days to go, the organisers have already exceeded previous records of participation. The 48-hour event is not a contest but is plenty of fun. More information on all the stations taking part can be found on the internet at http://illw.net.
Over the last year, Radio Amateurs of Canada has been in discussions with Industry Canada with the objective of obtaining access to the 60m band. Industry Canada has now informed RAC that, at this point, it sees no reason not to respond favourably to the RAC request for frequencies at 60m on a no protection, non-interference basis. If all goes well, Canadian amateurs may expect to gain access to frequencies at 60m some time this autumn.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Flight Refuelling ARS are holding their annual Hamfest rally today, 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 is being held today, 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.
The GI HF Conference takes place on 20 August at the Technology Education Centre, Omagh, BT78 1FA. Registration from 11am. More details from Philip, MI0MSO, e-mail mi0mso@yahoo.co.uk.
The Rugby Princethorpe Annual Radio Rally takes place on 21 August at Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PX. Doors open from 10am to 4pm and admission is £2. Contact Tony on 07759 684 411.
Now for the news of special events
On 20 August Sutton Coldfield Radio Society will be running a demonstration station at the charity fun mile held at Mile Oak Rovers Recereation Group, Price avenue, Mile Oak, Tamworth from 1 to 5pm. Probably using the club call of GX2RSC, members and non members are welcome.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
From until 22 August, MM5AHO and crew will operate maritime mobile from a 10m yacht on Scotland's west coast visiting inaccessible lighthouses. This year prime target destinations are Skerryvore, which is 12 miles off Tiree in the Atlantic, and Dubh Artach (pronounced "doob arr-tack") 15 miles off the isle of Colonsay. Both are rock mounted Stevenson built lights and both are subject to heavy weather. Sixty foot waves have been measured at Dubh Artach, so both operations are strictly weather permitting. In the event of poor weather, a series of lesser, but never-before-activated lighthouses will be visited. Equipment on board comprises an FT-857, running 100W into an antenna formed by the insulated backstay of the yacht's mast, plus two verticals. It is hoped to land on each rock, but radio operations are unsafe ashore so they will be conducted from the boat, anchored as close as is safe.
A group of Worked All Britain members aims to be active from Fair Isle from Tuesday 16 August for a week. Whilst this is not particularly rare from an IOTA viewpoint, being part of the Shetland, EU-102 group, it is in the extremely rare HZ 100km Ordnance Survey square from a WAB perspective. Accommodation has been secured in the South Lighthouse and the stay there will also coincide with International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend on 20 and 21 August, when it is hoped to also activate the North Lighthouse. They hope to have facilities for all bands from 160m to 2m. The South Lighthouse itself is located in the WAB 10km square HZ16 and is only a few hundred metres from the other three squares, HZ17, HZ26 & HZ27. The transportation of their vehicle to the island has been arranged on the ferry Good Shepherd IV so mobile, as well as portable operation is possible. The group will use the callsign GS4WAB from the South Lighthouse and GS7WAB for other mobile and portable operations. Activity on 5MHz is possible and the callsigns of individual members with NOVs will be used on this band. Operation from other islands in the Shetland group may be possible prior to and after the week on Fair Isle. Any changes to these plans will be published on the WAB website, www.worked-all-britain.co.uk.
OJ0UR will be on the air from Market Reef from until 20 August. This one counts as EU-053 for the Islands on the Air Award as well as being a separate DXCC entity. QSL Manager is M0URX.
PA/IZ4AMS will stay on Texel Island, which is EU-038, from 14 to 17 August. QSL via IZ4AMS.
PY2XB and PT2OP have landing permission for Balique in the Natural Reserve of Parazinho. They plan to become active as PQ8XB and PQ8OP from 17 to 24 August. QSL PQ8XB via PT7WA either via the bureau or direct and PQ8OP via PT2OP, again either via the bureau or direct.
Now the contest news
Today, 14 August, the 70MHz Cumulative takes place between 1400 and 1600UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Tuesday 16 August sees the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest taking place between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Brazilian CVADX Contest CW leg takes place on 20 and 21 August from 2100 to 2100UTC. There are lots of different categories and most points to be gained by working Brazilian stations. Full rules are online at www.craec.info/2010/images/docs_pdf/cvarules.pdf.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 1st to the 7th of August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 8th of August.
Coronal mass ejections, sudden ionospheric disturbances, polar cap absorption events, proton flares, auroras and coronal mass ejection cannibalism all took place during the period. The three large sunspot groups reported in last week’s news continued to rotate across the visible disc. They were large and magnetically complex, just what is needed for strong solar flares. Solar activity was high on the 3rd and the 4th with large M class solar flares taking place, the largest was a M9/2N proton flare early on the 4th. On the quieter days numerous C class solar flares took place. In total five M and over sixty C class solar flares took place. Solar flux levels declined from 125 units on the 1st to 105 by the 7th. The average was 115 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 7th was 96 units, that’s one unit up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined slightly and averaged B4.1 units. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels but on the 4th the first of three coronal mass ejections arrived, which was barely noticeable, unlike the other two. The coronal mass ejection of the 3rd was well on its way to Earth when the much larger and faster coronal mass ejection from the 4th caught it up and, as a result, a coronal mass ejection cannibalism took place. The most disturbed day was the 5th with an Ap index of 49 units, the most disturbed day so far this year. The average was Ap 15 units. Data from the ACE spacecraft showed solar wind speeds decline from 710 kilometres per second on the 1st to 340 by the 4th, however, on the 5th speeds had increased to 660 kilometres per second due to the arrival of the CME. Particle densities increased to 36 particles per cubic centimetre on the 5th, otherwise they were low every day. Bz varied between minus 2 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quiet days but at the height of the disturbance on the 5th varied between minus and plus 21 nanoTeslas. Also at the height of the storm there were fine visual auroral displays and a radio aurora that spread well to the south on 50, 70 and 144MHz. More unusually, one or two 432MHz contacts were reported from high latitudes.
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 most days. There is, though, a slight chance of a C class solar flare taking pace on the occasional day and therefore solar activity would increase to low levels. Solar flux levels should be around the 100 mark or slightly lower for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity could be quiet today but activity is expected to increase due to a recurring coronal hole that could last till almost the weekend. On its last rotation it lasted four days and the highest daily Ap figure was 19 units. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 20MHz for the south and 17MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 11MHz. Paths this week to Australia should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about 21MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 15MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1200UTC. There should be a long path opening of similar values during the late evening. Sporadic-E is expected on some days with openings now on 144MHz unlikely to take place.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
