RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for June 25th 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 25^th of June 2023

The news headlines:

• Ofcom consultation on updating the amateur radio licensing framework
• RSGB Tonight@8 webinar
• ‘Fly Your Satellite!’ programme

An Ofcom consultation titled “Updating the amateur radio licensing framework” opened on Friday the 23^rd of June 2023. According to Ofcom, the proposals set out in the consultation aim to “provide greater operating freedom for radio amateurs; and make the process of getting and using a licence simpler, clearer and more responsive.” The closing date for responses is the 4^th of September 2023. All radio amateurs are strongly encouraged to read the consultation via Ofcom’s website directly. You can also find the consultation by visiting rsgb.org/licencereview and clicking the Ofcom logo. The RSGB will provide guidance on how to respond to the consultation via the same web page in due course. 

The next RSGB live Tonight@8 webinar will take place at 8pm on Monday the 3^rd of July, with Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ presenting “Receiving antennas are different”. Eric, who has written numerous amateur radio and electronics articles over the past 30 years, says that almost every ham radio station can benefit from a separate receiving antenna. Effective receiving antennas are optimised for best signal-to-noise ratio, not necessarily the greatest gain. Tune in to the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel to hear Eric discuss the countless interesting means of building high signal-to-noise ratio receiving antennas. You can find out more at rsgb.org/webinars

The ‘Fly Your Satellite!’ programme, initiated by the European Space Agency, presents an exciting challenge for radio amateurs and space enthusiasts worldwide to establish communication via the LEDSAT CubeSat digipeater. This unique opportunity invites participants to connect with the ESA Education Office ESTEC Ground Station in the Netherlands through the satellite digipeater, with a chance to win a special prize – a custom QSL card issued by the ESA Education Office and the LEDSAT team. Running from the 26^th of June to the 30^th of July, this challenge offers an exciting chance for radio enthusiasts to engage with space technology and demonstrate their communication skills. For more information go to the European Space Agency website at esa.int and search for “Connect and communicate with a satellite via the LEDSAT Digipeater Challenge.”

It was with profound shock and sadness that the RSGB learnt of the untimely loss, at the age of 49, of Mr Alexandre ‘Sasha’ Kholod, Chairman of the CEPT WRC-23 Conference Preparatory Group. Alex was head of international frequency planning for the Swiss regulator and was widely respected and influential in CEPT and ITU. Of note to amateurs is that he chaired CEPT Project Team C which led to the successful ITU Region 1 50MHz allocation for the amateur service at World Radio Conference 19 in November 2019. His warm and professional personality will be sadly missed.

 

And now for details of rallies and events

The Newbury Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 25^th of June. The venue is Newbury Showground, next to junction 13 of the M4 motorway in Berkshire, RG18 9QZ. There is a display area with an amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups, clubs and societies. The doors open to sellers at 8 am and visitors at 9 am. Ample free parking is available and entry for visitors is £3. A seller’s pitch costs £15. On-site catering and disabled facilities are available. For more information, email NewburyRally@nadars.org.uk and visit nadars.org.uk

The Barford Norfolk Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 2^nd of July. The venue will be Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors open at 9 am for visitors and 8 am for traders. The event will feature trade stands, car boot sales, bring and buy, a raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking. Entry costs £2.50 per person. Under 16s will be admitted free of charge. For more information contact radio@dcpmicro.com and visit norfolkamateurradio.org

The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 9^th of July at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN. Doors open at 10.30 am and admission is £3. There will be traders, bring and buy and club stalls. Car parking and catering is available on-site. Contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821073 for more information.

The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday the 16^th of July. The venue will be Reading Rugby Club, which offers a bar and catering facilities and has ample free parking. Admission will be £3 per person and £10 per table for traders. Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue will be in attendance to provide a First Response service. Visit mcmichaelrally.org.uk for more information and contact details.

Now the Special Event News

German radio club DK0SM will be on the air as DL75BAL to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The club plans to be active from the 28^th of June to the 2^nd of July and will be looking for UK stations on HF and on EchoLink via DL0STM. More information is available via the DL75BAL QRZ.com page.

Special callsign GB1HEM will be active for 28 days from the 1^st of July in support of Air Ambulances UK. A certificate will be available for making contact with the station on any band from 80 to 10m using SSB, PSK, DMR or FT8. More information is available via the GB1HEM QRZ.com page.

Durham and District Amateur Radio Society is participating as one of the bonus stations in the popular 13 Colonies special event. The special callsign GB13COL has been issued for the occasion and will be active from 1300UTC on the 1^st of July to 0400UTC on the 8^th of July. The primary focus of the event will be the HF bands, but the station will also be working on VHF and UHF frequencies and via satellite. QSOs using SSB, CW, FM and various digital modes are welcome. QSL instructions can be found on the GB13COL QRZ.com page. For more information about the event email Ray, G0VLF on g0vlf@yahoo.co.uk

From the 6^th to the 9^th of July, Hartlepool Amateur Radio Club will be celebrating the arrival of the Tall Ships Race to Hartlepool with the special event callsign GB0TSH. The station will be active on the HF, VHF and UHF bands and welcomes all contacts. For more details, contact Stan G7VGM via stan.g7vgm@gmail.com

 

Now the DX news

Franco, IZ5IUY will be active as IL7/IZ5IUY from San Domino, EU-050, one of the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic Sea, until the 29^th of June. He is operating using SSB on the 40 to 6m bands, and on the 2m and 70cm bands. QSL is possible via his home call, but via the bureau is preferred.

Take, JI3DST will be active from Shodo Island, AS-200, until the 5^th of July. He will operate SSB and CW as JJ5RBH. He is paying special attention to the 6m band. QSL via Club Log and Logbook of the World.

Roland, F8EN is active as TR8CR from Gabon until the 12^th of August. He operates CW only, usually on the 30 to 10m bands. QSL via F6AJA.

 

 

Now the contest news

Today, the 25^th of June, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Today, the 25^th of June, the 50MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using CW on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Monday the 26^th of June, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is your report.

On Tuesday the 27^th of June, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Saturday the 1^st of July, the VHF National Field Day Contest starts its 24-hour run at 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m and 70cm bands, and 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Sunday the 2^nd of July, the 3^rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

 

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 22^nd of June 2023

We had yet another week of high solar flux, plenty of sunspots, but also a major solar flare.

The Solar Flux Index reached 180 on the 20^th of June with a massive spread of sunspots across both solar hemispheres. But an X-class solar flare erupted on the same day. This was only just X-class though, as at X1.1 it barely hit the requirements. Luckily, its associated coronal mass ejection was directed away from Earth.

We passed the summer solstice this week so are now heading towards Autumn. Don’t worry too much, though, as there is plenty of summer left, complete with its lower daytime maximum usable frequencies and high levels of D-layer absorption. Fortunately, multi-hop Sporadic-E is also bringing occasional DX on the higher bands.

As we pointed out last week, nighttime MUFs remain high, partly due to seasonal norms and partly due to the high solar flux.

There were reports this week of 15m CW still being open at 3.30 am local time, when Paul, MM0ZBH worked the VP6A DXpedition on Ducie Island. There have also been many reports of VP6A being worked on the 80m band at around 0800 UTC.

Next week the Space Weather Prediction Centre puts the Solar Flux Index at around 165 to 180 again. We can expect unsettled geomagnetic conditions once again around the 27^th and 28^th of this month.

Daytime F-layer MUFs over a 3,000km path are generally around 21MHz, but there are occasional surprises. Sporadic-E still dominates on the 10m band. At night, MUFs over 3,000km are often around 14 to 18MHz, again with some surprises at times.

And now the VHF and up propagation news

After a slow change to a more summer-like pattern of showers and sunshine with occasional fronts in the last week, it does seem like it's a continuation for the coming week.

This means further opportunity for rain scatter on the GHz bands and with a reasonable chance of tracking the storms with any of the online weather radars.

There will be a tendency for higher pressure close to southern Britain with possible Tropo, which will extend south across Biscay to northern Spain or farther south towards the Canaries and perhaps beyond. It may even offer paths east across the southern North Sea towards Denmark.

There have been some reasonable Sporadic-E paths within Europe and beyond to the Americas. Paths have also opened eastwards to the Far East or Middle East and there is no reason not to expect similar for the coming week.

As next week progresses, the jet stream distribution may favour paths to Scandinavia and the Baltic, plus across the Atlantic to the States.

The recent unsettled solar conditions may affect the prospects for Sporadic-E propagation if the Kp index becomes too high, but on the plus side it could then be worth checking for aurora. Don’t forget that random meteors can provide a few chance QSOs using meteor scatter propagation and there have been audible meteor ‘pings’ on some Sporadic-E QSOs recently, so they do exist!

Moon declination goes negative again on Monday – so shortening Moon windows. Path losses will fall all week, and 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate until next weekend when it reaches more than 2500 Kelvin on Sunday.

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