RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 15th September 2024

GB2RS News

Sunday the 15^th of September

The news headlines:

• The RSGB is looking for its next Youth Champion
• Success for an RSGB member at the IARU ARDF Championship
• Today is the last chance to book early bird tickets for the RSGB Convention

The RSGB is looking for its next volunteer Youth Champion. This could be one role or split between people who focus on different aspects of it. The Youth Champion will work closely with RSGB Board Liaison Ben Lloyd, GW4BML and the RSGB Outreach Team to ignite interest and develop links with schools, universities, Scouts, Guides and the general public. They will also help to support current young amateurs and motivate them to try new things within amateur radio after they gain their license. This role needs someone proactive, good at building relationships with young people, and passionate about inspiring the next generation of radio amateurs. For the full role description go to rsgb.org/volunteers  and if you would like to apply or find out more, contact Ben Lloyd via gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk

The 24^th IARU Region 1 ARDF Championships in Bulgaria saw an RSGB member on the podium. David Williams, M3WDD took the silver medal position in the M60 category of the 144MHz Classic five-transmitter race at the Championships held at Primorsko, Bulgaria earlier this month. David had come so very close to winning being only 14 seconds behind the winner Jozef Simecek of Slovakia. There were four races altogether. The week of competition started with the Sprint race on 80m followed the next day by the 2m five-transmitter Classic race for the M60 category in which David did so well. A well-earned rest day followed and after that came the 80m five-transmitter race. The week ended with the Foxoring event, a combination of direction finding and orienteering, again using the 80m band. You can see the results in full, and read more about ARDF, at rsgb.org/ardf

Don’t forget that the RSGB Convention early bird price ends today, Sunday the 15^th of September. There’s a range of great presentations planned, a fantastic microcontroller workshop to take part in, as well as all the fabulous social opportunities to enjoy like the Gala Dinner. Go to rsgb.org/convention to find out more and book your tickets.

Have you ever tried LoRa? Or Node Red? Have you used the Raspberry Pico for coding or played a Morse game with an Arduino? These are just some of the great activities on the RSGB’s website that are available for National Coding Week which begins this Monday, the 16^th of September. Whether you fancy doing something different for a club night or would like to sample something new just for fun, there’s an activity to inspire you! You could even try combining your love of amateur radio with the software interests of a young family member. The RSGB is offering nine activities this year so head over to rsgb.org/coding  and get involved.

The next Bletchley Park 1940s weekend is taking place on the 21^st and 22^nd of September. If you are visiting for the event, make sure you drop into the RSGB National Radio Centre where you’ll be able to see several World War Two receivers on display. Don’t forget that RSGB members can get free entry to Bletchley Park, which also includes admission to the RSGB National Radio Centre. You can access this fantastic offer by logging into the RSGB membership portal via rsgb.org/members and selecting ‘Visit Bletchley Park’.

Don’t forget that National Hamfest 2024 is coming up on the 27^th and 28^th of September and promises to be an unforgettable celebration of all things amateur radio. As always, the traders and manufacturers are lining up to bring you the best in amateur radio equipment and accessories. Many exhibitors will be offering exclusive deals, making it the perfect time to upgrade your gear or add new items to your shack. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit nationalhamfest.org.uk 

And now for details of rallies and events

The Broadcast Engineering Museum near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire is new and a work in progress, so it only opens a few days each year. Today, from 11 am to 4 pm, the Museum is having an open day. The Museum contains a vast collection of historic broadcasting equipment and memorabilia, some restored and working, on display in a former RAF sergeants' mess. Free parking is available on-site. For more information email contactus@becg.org.uk or visit becg.org.uk

The British Vintage Wireless Society is holding a swap meet and auction today, the 15^th at the Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JH. Stallholders can gain entry from 9 am. Admission for visitors will be available from 9.30 am for £8. The auction starts at 12.30 pm and hot and cold refreshments will be available all day. For more information visit bvws.org.uk or email Jeremy Owen, G8MLK at secretary@bvws.org.uk

The  East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is taking place on Saturday the 21^st of September. The venue will be Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Doncaster, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open for visitors from 9.30 am until 4 pm and admission will cost £3 per person. Disabled access will be available from 9.15 am. For more information, including booking and contact details, visit g0raf.co.uk/rally

Weston Super Mare Radio Society Radio and Electronics Rally will take place on Sunday the 22^nd of September from 10 am. The venue will be The Campus Community Centre, Worle, Weston super Mare, BS24 7DX. For further information and to book a table email westonradiosociety@gmail.com

Now the Special Event news

To celebrate the G-QRP Club's 50th anniversary special callsign G5LOW, and all its regional variants, will be QRV until the 30^th of September. In addition, several overseas stations will be joining in with the event. For more information, including details of commemorative certificates that will be available for chasers, visit tinyurl.com/GQRP50

Advance notice now that during October and November, special callsign PZ5JT will be back on the air from Surinam during the jungle training of the Royal Dutch Army and Marines. The station is operated by personnel from the signal regiment and they will be working on the 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10m bands using SSB. Operators will be using in-service military L3Harris radios from different locations and will welcome your call.

Now the DX news

Carl Gorse, 2E0HPI will be operating from multiple locations for the Parks On The Air scheme around the Lancashire area from tomorrow, the 16^th, to Friday the 20^th of September. He will be using Yaesu FT-857d and Xiegu G90 transceivers with 20W. Listen out for Carl on all bands from 160 to 10m using FT4, FT8 and SSB. 

Maxim, OH7O will be active as 3D2YY from Viti Levu, OC- 016, on Fiji until the 19^th of September. He will operate mostly SSB and some slow CW on the 40 to 10m bands, and possibly the 80m band, from different locations around the island. See QRZ.com for more information.

Now the contest news

Today, the 15^th, the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 14^th and runs until 2359UTC today, Sunday the 15^th of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Today, the 15^th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using All modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also, today, the 15^th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.

The IRTS 2m Counties Contest is also taking place today, the 15^th, from 1330 to 1500 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.

Also today, the 15^th, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial number.

Tomorrow, the 16^th, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, the exchange is your report.

On Tuesday the 17^th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 19^th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Sunday the 22^nd, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest runs from 1200 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 12^th of September 2024

Last week showed that HF conditions are improving as we head into the autumn.

With a solar flux index still above 200, there was plenty of DX available to work. CDXC members reported working VP6WR on the Pitcairn Islands, KH8T on American Samoa and 3D2USU on Fiji, which is not a bad catch for early September.

A little closer to home, 9A168TESLA in Croatia has been popping up for short periods celebrating the 168^th anniversary of the birthday of electrical pioneer Nikola Tesla. Watch DX Summit closely for operating times.

The daylight maximum useable frequency, or MUF, over 3,000 kilometres remains above 28MHz on the whole, although a raised Kp index tends to reduce this.

Geomagnetic conditions remained relatively calm with the Kp index below 3 all week. That changed on Thursday the 12^th as material from a coronal mass ejection, or CME passed the ACE spacecraft in the early hours.

The solar wind speed increased to more than 500 kilometres per second and the Bz swung south. On Thursday the 12^th, the Kp index was 5 and the Met Office Space Weather department was forecasting potentially unsettled conditions for this weekend, ending today the 15^th.

At the same time an X-class flare occurred, with lowered MUFs due to increased D-layer absorption.

Two large coronal holes on the Sun’s surface are also now Earth-facing and threaten to add to the solar wind this weekend.

According to NOAA’s predictions, the solar flux index should stay in the 210 to 225 range next week, although a large number of spots are about to rotate off the Sun’s visible disk.

This may be compensated by an active region that’s about to rotate into view. This has been emitting C-Class and lower-level M-flares and could potentially be the same region that produced several energetic eruptions off the far side of the Sun over the past week. Time will tell.

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

The heavy showers at the end of last week produced some good rain scatter, but no QSOs in the UK were noted due to the showers not coinciding with GHz contests and few suitable home stations were active to take advantage of them.

After a gradual build-up of pressure over this weekend, ending the 15^th, high pressure is suggested by most models during the coming week. However, there is some uncertainty about the position of the high.  

Currently, models are favouring the north of Britain and this means that in the south, although still on the edge of high pressure, there could be a brisk northeasterly breeze, which may weaken the inversion prospects. It’s not clear if the Tropo will be functioning in time for the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest today, the 15^th, but should be helpful for the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the 17^th and the 70MHz UK Activity Contest on Thursday the 19^th.

Solar conditions are still likely to offer the chance of the occasional elevated Kp index, which is a good sign of possible aurora. It will be interesting to see how things evolve this weekend, ending the 15^th, as a series of expected CMEs are due to reach Earth. 

The amateur bands between 10m and 2m are the ones to check as well as looking out for ‘watery’ sounding signals on the HF bands. Remember it doesn’t have to be dark for radio aurora, so don’t wait for dusk before checking.

Meteor scatter is mainly down to random activity in the coming week. However, with the September Epsilon Perseids stream still active until the 21^st, having peaked on the 9^th, conditions may be slightly enhanced.

For EME operators, Moon declination is negative but rising and going positive again on Wednesday the 18^th. Moon visibility windows will continue to rise while path losses decrease as we approach perigee on Wednesday the 18^th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate for the whole of next week.

And that’s all from the propagation team this week.