This is the combined RSGB podcast in iTunes format, compiled by Ed VK2ARE. Please note as the complete text will not be visible on an iPhone/iPOD (limit on device), to read the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com
GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 11th September 2011
The news headlines:
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Special event stations to mark 9/11
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IARU Region 1 Conference minutes available
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SatNav GPS tests in East Anglia
The ARRL reports that several amateur radio special event stations are being planned in remembrance of those who died in the attacks of 11 September 2001. The Pentagon Amateur Radio Club, K4AF, Blair Amateur Radio Society, W3PN, Northeast Wireless Radio Club, N2WC, Kings County Repeater Association, KC2RA and Symbol Technologies Amateur Radio Club, W2SBL are among those who will be on the air. See www.arrl.org for full details of all the stations involved.
The minutes of the Final Plenary of the 22nd General Conference of IARU Region 1, held at Sun City from 13 to 19 August, are available for download from the IARU Region 1 website at www.iaru-r1.org.
Ofcom has announced an exercise to test the GPS SatNav system. It will take place around the Stanford area in East Anglia between 19 and 23 September and 3 to 7 October. Authorised jammers will be operating between 9am and 5.30pm. Safety of Life operations will at all times take precedence over exercise activities. For further information contact InfoGPS.Notices@ofcom.org.uk.
AMSAT-UK has awarded The Louis Varney G5RV Cup for Space Communications to Paul Robinson, 2E1EUB. The cup is awarded for advances in space communication. The presentation, by RSGB President Dave Wilson, M00BW, took place at the Telford Hamfest on Sunday, September 4. Paul was nominated by AMSAT-UK for his work promoting and encouraging the use of amateur radio satellites and perfecting the art of a portable ground station.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the AGM of UKFMGW Western originally planned for 5 September was postponed. It will now be held on Monday 10 October, starting at 8pm, at Grappenhall Community Centre, Bellhouse Lane, Grappenhall, Warrington. The committee asks that any items for AOB be with Paul, G1DVA by e-mail to paul@g1dva.net by midday Monday 12 September. The committee apologises for any inconvenience caused by this change of date, however they look forward to seeing you all on this new, revised date.
As part of the European Heritage Open days that are held throughout September, Castles and Stately Homes On The Air will be holding a month long award event called UK & Ireland Heritage Month. Any individuals, clubs or groups can activate locations, throughout September, by registering at www.cashota.co.uk for the UK and www.cashota-ireland.org for Ireland, with all details of the event to be found there as well. Participants may register up until the end of September to participate.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, Sunday 11 September, the Torbay Annual Communications Fair takes place at Newton Abbot Racecourse, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 3AF. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Doors open at 10am and admission is £2. Details by e-mail to rally@tars.org.uk.
Mold & DRC North Wales Swap & Sell will take place on 14 September at Mold Rugby Club, Mold, Flintshire, North Wales. It’s a silent key, shack surplus, bring and buy, junk swap and sell evening. Doors open at 8pm. Details from Steve, GW7AAV on 01244 819 618.
On 17 September the Fog On The Tyne Rally will be held at Whitehall Road Methodist Church Hall, Bensham, Gateshead NE8 4LH. Organised by Angel of the North ARC & South Tyneside ARS, the doors open at 10.30am and admission is £2. Details from Nancy Bone, G7UUR on 01914 770 036 during the evening.
The 21st Great Northern Hamfest takes place in the Metrodome Leisure Complex, Barnsley S71 1AN on 18 September. Doors open at 11am and there will be trade stands and special interest groups. More information from Ernie, G4LUE on 01226 716 339.
On 18 September the Belgium Amateur Radio & Computer Rally takes place at Hall 'Lotto Mons Expo', Mons, which is 50km south of Brussels. Doors open at 9am and Talk in is available via repeaters on 145.600MHz & 430.325MHz. Plenty of international traders will be present. Details at www.on6ll.be.
Midland Amateur Radio Society will be holding an open day, at the club QTH, from 10am to 4pm on 24 September. Plans are underway for refreshments, meet the training staff and there will be displays of photographs QSL cards, the original 1931 minute books and their cups and awards stalls and operating using GB8OTH. More information from the club website www.midamradio.net
Now for the news of special events
Churches & Chapels On the Air takes place this weekend, 10 and 11 September, from 10am to 4pm. There will be several stations on the air, mainly 40 and 80m SSB with special event callsigns. The organisers say, please give the stations a call.
GB4CFV will be put on the air by members of the Friskney & East Linconshire Communications Club. Visitors are welcome to come and join them or call them on the air on 11 September at Church Farm Museum in Skegness. They plan be active on 2m FM and will be using PSK, SSB and CW on the HF bands.
Preston ARS will put GB1AVR for Ackworth Vintage Rally on the air on 11 September from Lanes Farm, Ackworth.
Throughout September, special event station GB2JB will be on the air to commemorate the life and birth place of Jack Binns, radio operator of the Passenger Ship Republic in 1909. Operation will be from Coney Court, Brigg and is run by Brigg & District Amateur Radio Club.
GB0SMA will be on the air from Stow Maries Aerodrome on 11 September for the Vintage Fly In. Stow Maries Aerodrome in Essex is probably the best preserved World War 1 airfield in the UK with over 20 of the original buildings still standing. It was home to 37 Home Defence Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and then 37 Squadron, Royal Air Force. The site owners have invited Dengie Hundred Amateur Radio Society to establish a permanent amateur radio station at the site under the call sign GB0SMA and to operate that station during the various open days and events held throughout the year.
Northumbria Amateur Radio Club & The Border Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB2BCL from Barmoor Castle near Lowick in Northumberland on Sunday 18 September, commemorating the battle of Flodden Hill. GB2BCL will be operational on most HF frequencies. The event manger Roy, G0AXJ welcomes visitors to the station that will be active from 10am through to 7pm. GB2BCL will be situated at Barmoor Castle's west entrance gate. Talk-in will be available on 145.500MHz. For more information please visit www.g4aax.org.uk or telephone Roy on 07421 659 150.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
ZA1TC will be on the air until 14 September from Durres in Albania. The station will consist of a Kenwood TS-570D, FD-4 Windom antenna plus 80m dipole. This is his first solo trip. QSL to TCSWAT at PO Box 73, Karakoy, 34421 Istanbul, Turkey or via the TA QSL Bureau. More details on QRZ.com.
Marko, S55EI will be in Morocco until 20 September and will be active as CN2EI. He will be on 40, 6 and 2m. QSL to his home callsign.
Gab, HA3JB has renewed his Egyptian licence and plans to be active as SU/HA3JB from now until the end of November. He will be active on all bands from 160 to 10m using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK, plus possibly some SSTV.
Harry, 7Q7HB is on the air again from Malawi until 23 November. He will be as active as possible but is subject to power cuts. Only direct QSLs are available via G0IAS.
Now the contest news
The 2nd 70MHz contest takes place today, 11 September, from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Tuesday 13 September is the 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The following day, 14 September, is the 80m Club Sprint. Using SSB from 1900 to 2030UTC, the exchange is both callsigns, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 144MHz Low Power Phone Contest takes place next Sunday, 18 September, from 1000 to 1400UTC. Low power means a maximum power of 10 watts. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be obtained from the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from the Contest Manager G3XKT by e-mail to aebbooks@ntlworld.com.
Also next Sunday, 18 September, the BARTG Sprint 75 takes place from 1700 to 2100UTC. All activity is on 75 bauds. Exchange a serial number only. Entries are single-op only and all-bands only, with a special sections for ‘experts’, defined as anyone who has had a top 10 placing in any BARTG contest from 2008 onwards.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 29th of August to the 4th of September, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 5th of September.
Numerous sunspot groups were visible every day, in fact nine were visible on the 31st. These groups produced a small number of small C class solar flares every day. However, on the 3rd and the 4th a small complex region emerged close to the west limb and produced numerous C class and one M class solar flare before it rotated out of view a couple of days later. Several large coronal mass ejections took place, many from the back side of the Sun, but none seems to be heading directly our way. Solar flux levels responded well to the number of sunspot groups and increased from 101 units on the 29th and the 30th to 119 by the 3rd and the 4th. The average was 111 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 4th was 98, that’s one unit up on last week. X-ray flux levels increased from B2.4 units on the 30th to B6.3 by the 4th, the average was B3.6 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day except for the 3rd when a weak coronal hole disturbance arrived, the Ap index that day was 13 units compared to the quietest day with an Ap of 2 units on the 31st. The average was Ap 6 units. Initially solar wind speeds slowed from 500 kilometres per second on the 29th to 270 by the 2nd but then increased to 450 in response with the disturbance. Particle densities remained low every day. Bz varied between minus 12 and plus 8 nanoTeslas on the 3rd and between minus 2 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quiet days.
And now the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be rotating out of view. Solar activity should be low but could increase on the occasional day. Solar flux levels should be above the 100 mark for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels every day. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 24MHz for the south and 21MHz for the north. The daytime highs are now starting to take place earlier in the day, usually around midday, as is expected during the winter months. Darkness hour lows should be about 10MHz. Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 19MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 14MHz. the best time to try this path will be late morning around 1100 hours UTC.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.
