RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 11th February 2024

GB2RS News

Sunday the 11^th of February 2024

The news headlines:

The outcome of the RSGB 2024 Board and Regional Team election process
RSGB challenge for British Science Week announced
RSGB Spectrum Forum updates

The RSGB has announced the outcome of its 2024 Board and Regional Team election process. These results come into force at the RSGB 2024 AGM and, until that time, the current Regional Representatives remain in their roles. The announcement also contains news of the Nominated Directors put forward for endorsement by the RSGB membership next month, as well as two co-options to the RSGB Board, effective until the AGM. For full details of the announcement and the candidates go to the RSGB AGM web page at rsgb.org/agm

The theme of British Science Week this year is Time. Both time and the closely related concept of frequency, are of vital importance to radio communications. The RSGB has announced a new challenge for British Science Week linked to this theme. The challenge has categories for every age group and the winner of each group will win a prize. The deadline for entries is the 1^st of September and the results will be announced at the RSGB Convention in October. The challenge is as follows: “Using readily available components, material or other resources, provide a method of either measuring the frequency of a radio frequency source or signal or providing a time reference to a radio operator or radio system”. For more details about the challenge, as well as activities to inspire you and resources to help you take part in British Science Week, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bsw

A busy year has seen several online Spectrum Forum meetings. Two meetings held in January considered the Ofcom notice period for ‘representations’ and areas where band plan adjustments would be needed, as well as more regular items such as annual group reports.

The RSGB website now has these details online. The RSGB’s reply to Ofcom has been added to its special focus page on the Ofcom licence review. Along with other recent representations, this will enable Ofcom to finalise the new licence later this month. The RSGB Spectrum Forum pages have also been updated with the January 2024 group reports and meeting notes, which included the discussions on the provisional changes. To read more, visit rsgb.org/spectrumforum

As previously announced by the RSGB Examinations Standards Committee Chair, Tony Kent, G8PBH, the amateur radio licence examinations will need to change to reflect the changes to the licence conditions announced by Ofcom. The scale of the licence changes will have a significant impact on Section 1 of the syllabus, ‘Licensing’, and a small impact on Section 7, ‘Operating’. Ofcom is currently reviewing representations and will publish its final decision, including the final version of the licence, before the 21^st of February. The new licence will come into effect before work on the syllabus and examination question bank is completed. The RSGB Examinations Standards Committee has gained approval from Ofcom to continue to examine the current licence conditions for a period of six months following the publication of the new licence. This will allow trainers time to update their courses in line with the new syllabus, and allow candidates that have started their training under the current licence conditions to complete their courses and take the exam. It is expected that examinations of the new licence conditions will begin on the 1^st of September 2024. For full details, see the exam announcements page on the RSGB website.

The first amateur radio station on the moon, JS1YMG, is now transmitting. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, landed its Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon on the 19^th of January 2024. The JAXA Ham Radio Club, JQ1ZVI secured the JS1YMG callsign and has been transmitting Morse code on 437.41MHz since the 19^th of January. The probe uses 1W to a UHF antenna, with circular polarisation, and is transmitting what is described as "matters related to amateur business." Radio amateurs have been busy analysing JS1YMG's signal. You can read more about this story on Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ’s blog at destevez.net

The RadCom team is looking for authors who are interested in antennas. So, if you are passionate about the theory, design and construction of antennas, and would like to contribute to the magazine, please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk

And now for details of rallies and events

The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally is being held today, the 11^th, at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall, and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue.

The British Vintage Wireless Society Biggleswade Swapmeet and AGM will take place on Sunday the 25^th of February. The venue will be The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JH. A bring-and-buy stall will be available with a 10% commission on sales going to the British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. Stallholders can gain entry from 9 am. The doors open to the public from 9.30 am and admission will be £8. For more information visit BVWS.org.uk or email secretary@bvws.org.uk

The Red Rose Winter Rally will take place on Sunday the 25^thof February. The venue will be St Joseph’s Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Access for exhibitors will be available from 8.30 am and the event will be open to the public from 10 am. Hot and cold refreshments will be available. Further details can be found via West Manchester Radio Club’s website at wmrc.co.uk Send enquiries to Les, G4HZJ via lesjackson@ntlworld.com or phone 07796 264 569.

Now the Special Event News

In celebration of World Radio Day, a special callsign AO100RADIO will be on the air from Spain until the 29^th of February. For more information see QRZ.com

The Royal Netherlands Army Signal Regiment is celebrating its 150^th anniversary on the 14^th and 15^th of February. Cadets, servicemen, amateurs and veterans will be on the air for 36 hours with all kinds of historical and in-service radios. Operators will be using the callsign PI4VBD on all bands using SSB and CW.

Special event station OL80CLAY will be active from the 12^th of February to the 30^th of June 2024 from near Prague. Operation Clay took place 80 years ago and was a cover name for an operation executed during World War II in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia by Czech paratroopers trained in England. Their task was to gather intelligence data from Northeast Moravia, send it to London by radio, and cooperate with the local resistance groups. The station will be active on all radio amateur bands. CW will be the main mode of operation, but there will also be activity on SSB, FM and possibly digital modes. Every first QSO will be answered by a special QSL card sent via the Bureau. SWL reports sent via the Bureau to OK2PXJ, or via email, will also be acknowledged. For more information see QRZ.com

Now the DX news

Francis, F6BWJ is active as FM/F6BWJ from Martinique, NA-107, until the 11^th of March. He will operate CW on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World or via the Bureau to his home call.

Gerard, F2JD is active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until the 21^st of March 2024. He will operate CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on the HF bands. QSL via F6AJA, directly or via the Bureau.

Now the contest news

On Tuesday the 13^th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also, on Tuesday the 13^th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 14^th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Wednesday the 14^th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 14^th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.

On Thursday the 15^th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The CQ Worldwide WPX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 10^th and ends at 2359UTC today, the 11^th. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The PACC Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 10^th and ends at 1200UTC today, the 11^th. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Dutch stations send their province.

The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 17^th of February and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 18^th of February. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmitter power. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 8^th of February 2024

A large sunspot region has been turning into an Earth-facing position and now looks like it could be threatening. Active region 3576 has already emitted a couple of low-class solar flares but could be poised for even more.

An M5.1 solar flare was detected around region 3575 on the 7^th of February as well. Updated imagery shows that an associated coronal mass ejection, or CME, was likely however, due to the location near the Sun’s south-west limb, it was directed mostly away from Earth.

The solar flux index remained high this week, hitting 190 on the 6^th before dropping to 188 on the 8^th. Geomagnetically, the Sun has been behaving itself with a maximum Kp index of only three on Sunday the 4^th.

But all eyes will be on active region 3576 next week as it could upset the apple cart.

Meanwhile, daylight maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path remain more than 28MHz, which is good for HF.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to be in the range of 160 to 170. Geomagnetic conditions are also predicted to be settled with a low Kp index. However, as we said earlier, that could all change if we have a violent solar flare and associated coronal mass ejection from region 3576 or any of the many other sunspots.

And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO

Unsettled weather describes the pattern for the coming week, including some colder weather mixed in to provide snowfall for some areas, particularly in northern areas. This characteristic weather type will mean little chance of Tropo during the period.

Other propagation modes of interest might be even harder to find unless you are thinking of rain scatter, which could be useful for a few suitably-equipped stations on the GHz bands. Other modes, such as meteor scatter or aurora, are also looking a bit thin. There is always the chance of some random activity, unlike Sporadic-E which is in its late winter lull that usually lasts until April for the 10 and 6m bands.

For EME operators, Moon declination is negative and rising, going positive on Monday the 12^th. So there will be higher peak Moon elevations and longer Moon windows throughout the week. Path losses were at their lowest at perigee on Saturday the 10^th.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 11th February 2024

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