RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for September 18th 2022.

GB2RS News

Sunday the 18th of September 2022

The news headlines:

• RSGB HQ and the National Radio Centre closed on Monday

• Special Regional Secondary Locator

• RSGB Convention latest

Our thoughts are very much with the Royal Family as they mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The RSGB will be closing its HQ and the RSGB National Radio Centre on Monday the 19^th of September, the day of the Queen’s state funeral, as a mark of respect.

In response to requests from radio amateurs and after contact from Ofcom, the RSGB will be making available the special Regional Secondary Locator of Q. Any licensed radio amateur may choose to use this after their UK callsign prefix to show their respect for the Queen if they wish to do so. For example, GQ4LFM, MQ1ACB or 2Q0ABC. It will be available until the end of official national mourning on Monday the 19^th of September. Radio amateurs will need to download the Notice of Variation that is available from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/nov. You may be interested to note that Australian amateurs may use the AX prefix between the 19^th and the 23^rd of September to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

The RSGB Convention will take place from the 7^th to the 9^th of October. The online booking system for overnight packages, dinners and day tickets will close on the 2^nd of October. The latest information can be found at rsgb.org/convention Don’t forget that all three UK amateur radio exams may be taken online at this year’s RSGB Convention. The Foundation and Intermediate exam will take place on Saturday and the Full exam on Sunday morning. You will need to book a place via the online form before the 26^th of September. Applications will not be accepted on the day. If you have a question, please email exams@rsgb.org.uk or you can book your place via the link on the RSGB’s Convention web page at rsgb.org/convention.

The RSGB is bringing its Jubilee activities to a close as a mark of respect for the Queen. The Society’s website is being updated and the Innovation 70 award has been cancelled. If you have collected QSOs between the 1^st and the 30^th of June for the Jubilee Award 70, you may still submit an application to the RSGB Awards Manager before the 31^st of October. Details of how to do so will remain on the awards section of the RSGB website at rsgb.org/jubilee.

As the World Radiocommunication Conference 23 approaches, the studies regarding 23cm and RNSS satellites are working towards conclusions. However, the IARU is not content that all the operational aspects of the amateur service usage of the 1240 to 1300MHz band are being properly considered to develop an acceptable compromise for all concerned parties. You can find some more detail on the areas of concern in the discussion paper posted on the global IARU WRC-23 web pages at iaru-r1.org.

On Friday the 23rd of September, a team from hi-impact, based on the Wirral, will be working with Everton Free School on another High Altitude Balloon launch. Launching near Welshpool, at 11 am, you can listen out on 434.250MHz USB and the RTTY transmission will be 300 baud with a 910Hz shift. The callsign will be EVERTONFS. The flight will be SSDV enabled, so there will be pictures being beamed back to earth.

The Radio Amateurs of Canada, the national society in Canada, is holding its AGM today at 1600UTC. The AGM will start with A Fireside Chat on the Future of Amateur Radio. Those involved will be Tim Ellam, VE6SH, President of the IARU, Rick Roderick, K5UR, President of the ARRL, Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, the RSGB President and Phil A. McBride, VA3QR, the President of RAC. You can find out more at rac.ca.

December is Youngsters On The Air month. This brings an opportunity for individuals, clubs, schools and groups to run an amateur radio station with the aim of getting youngsters active on the air. The RSGB is inviting applications to host the special callsign GB22YOTA, pending Ofcom approval. Activations can be big or small and can be made however you wish. To register your interest please email Jamie, M0SDV at yota.month@rsgb.org.uk with details of the activity you’re planning. Please also include your name, organisation and the callsign of the Full licensee who will host the activation.

And now for details of rallies and events

Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We’ll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online.

Weston Super Mare Radio Society’s Radio & Electronics Rally takes place on the 25th of September. It will be held at The Campus Community Centre BS24 7DX.

On the 2^nd of October, the Welsh Radio Rally will be held at Llanwern High School, Farm Road, Newport, NP18 2YE. The doors open at 10 am. There will be a Bring & Buy as well as traders in the hall. For the latest information see gw6gw.co.uk.

And now for the Special Event news

Paisley Amateur Radio Club will be operating GB0DOD from the Methodist Central Hall, 2 Gauze St, Paisley, PA1 1EP on Saturday the 17th of September. This is for Churches & Chapels on The Air.

Members of South Dorset Radio Society will be active as GB0IOW from the Isle of Wight, EU-120, between the 19^th and 23^rd of September. They will operate SSB and various digital modes on the HF bands. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL, or direct to M0XDL.

F1IEH will be active as TM72WOW for fifteen days between the 17^th of September and the 1^st of November. QSL via F1IEH. The station is to commemorate the world aeroplane endurance record in September 1908 set by Wilbur Wright.

And now the DX news

SV5/LA6OP will be active from Rhodes, EU-001, from the 18^th of September to the 9^th of October. He will operate mainly FT8 and SSB on the 4 to 40m bands. QSL only via Logbook of the World.

SP9FIH will be active as SP9FIH/VP9 from Bermuda, NA-005, from the 23^rd of September to the 2^nd of October. He will operate SSB, RTTY and FT8 on the 30, 17, 15 and 12m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

Members of the Dateline DX Association will be active as JW0A from Svalbard, EU-026, between the 19^th and 26^th of September. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes with three stations as propagation allows. QSL via the operator’s instructions.

Now the contest news

Today, the 18^th is the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest that runs from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.

Also today, Sunday the 18^th is the IRTS 2m Counties Contest that runs from 1330 to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.

The BARTG Sprint PSK63 contest takes place today, the 18^th, from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is a serial number.

Today, Sunday the 18^th, the 70MHz AFS Contest takes place between 0900 and 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Tuesday the all-mode 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 1900 and 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday it is the Autumn Series Data contest running from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Next weekend the CQ WW DX RTTY runs for 48 hours from 0000UTC on the 24^th to 2359UTC on the 25^th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. For the UK, this is 14.

Next Sunday, the 25^th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz contest takes place between 0600 and 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also next Sunday, the Practical Wireless 70MHz contest runs from 1200 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday 16th September 2022.

We had an expected boost to the solar flux index last week, thanks to a returning sunspot group. This, when added to sunspot region 3098, pushed the SFI to 152 on the 11th. The returning group, which has now been updated to active region 3102, isn’t quite the threat it was on its last visit, but may still be capable of M-class solar flares.

The good news is that an SFI of up to 150+, coupled with better Autumnal propagation, has seen the HF bands come alive at times.

Jeff, ZL7/K5WE on Chatham Island has been workable on 40m CW and FT8. He is due to be on air until the 21st of September. Brian, 9J2BO in Zambia, a regular in the Commonwealth Contest, has also been worked on 10 metres CW. It is worth noting that this is a good month for north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and the UK to South America.

The beginning of last week was better than the second half, which suffered from an elevated Kp index due to an enhanced solar wind. Also, a high-speed stream from a high-latitude coronal hole on the Sun was forecast to batter the Earth from the 16th onwards.

The critical frequency over the UK has fluctuated from less than 5MHz at sunrise to more than 7MHz around lunchtime and later. If you are looking for good inter-G conditions you are better off waiting until the afternoon.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the SFI will decline into the 120s. This weekend may also be unsettled on the geomagnetic front as well. Expect the Kp index to rise to four or five, with a characteristic drop in the MUF. Hopefully, conditions will improve after the weekend with the Kp index forecast to drop to around two.

As always, things can change very quickly, thanks to solar flares and CMEs, so keep an eye on solarham.com and propquest.co.uk

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

There should be some useful Tropo about in the coming week, initially over western Britain at first, but gradually extending across most areas as high pressure moves in across the British Isles.

The eastern side of the country will start this weekend in a more showery northerly flow down the east coast, so Tropo is unlikely here until we are into next week. Once established it should bring enhanced conditions to most areas and into the near continent, but limited options across the North Sea where the cool showery weather retains control and limits the potential for QSOs to the east.

The other modes to have in mind are meteor scatter, particularly in the early mornings. The Sextantids meteor shower is underway but doesn’t reach its peak until the 27th.

In the disturbed sequence of solar conditions, an aurora is always a possibility so keep an eye on the Kp index; anything above five should be worth checking out.

The Moon is at maximum positive declination at the moment, so is visible for long periods. Apogee is the point at which the Moon is furthest from Earth. It takes place on Monday when path losses are at their highest for the month. 144MHz sky noise starts the week at a moderate 500 Kelvin but quickly falls low for the rest of the week.

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