RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 26th November 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 26^th of November 2023

The news headlines:

• 2023 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference
• RSGB 2023 Convention presentation on Ofcom consultation
• Tonight@8 webinar

The first week of the 2023 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference has seen discussions get underway on a wide variety of agenda items. Notably for amateur radio, IARU Region 1 reports that new ITU Recommendation M.2164 on guidance for amateur and amateur satellite usage in the 1240 to 1300MHz range has now been published online. The IARU has also published an accompanying guide on its website – to read it visit tinyurl.com/IARU2023  The recommendation is the culmination of a challenging four-year development period. It now forms a key component of the WRC-23 discussions, which are ongoing, relating to WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b. The RSGB special focus web page has regular reports and background on both 23cm and other frequency bands. To read more, visit rsgb.org/wrc-23  

In the latest RSGB 2023 Convention presentation to be released, RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB provides another informative session on the Ofcom Consultation. He also looks ahead to other changes in prospect across HF to microwaves from the IARU and WRC-23. He outlines the RSGB’s response to the Ofcom Consultation and takes questions about the next steps. Work by specialist RSGB volunteers is integral to the RSGB’s strategic focus on spectrum and licensing. You can watch the presentation on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB

Put the date in your diary for the final RSGB Tonight@8 webinar of 2023. On Monday the 11^th of December there will be a focus on amateur radio construction. Previous category winners Jenny Curtis M7JNY, Colin Murray GM4EA and David Law G0LBK, will talk about their construction projects and what they gained from entering the RSGB Construction Competition. Join the presentation and ask questions live on the RSGB’s special BATC channel or the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB

There is a great programme of live webinars lined up for early in 2024. We begin on Monday the 15^th of January with an update on WRTC 2026 which is going to take place in the UK. Chairman and Project Manager Mark Haynes, M0DXR, and other members of the WRTC 2026 team, will join us live for this presentation. They will explain what WRTC is about and provide an overview of what the UK’s Organising Committee are planning for the 2026 event. Find out how you can be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event – either as a spectator, volunteer, competitor or referee. If you saw Mark’s RSGB 2023 Convention presentation, this Tonight@8 webinar will tell you what has been happening since! Find out more about this and the other webinars in the spring programme on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars

The November issue of RadCom Basics is now available. Among others, it contains articles on getting started with SOTA and building a 2m band antenna. To find out more, visit rsgb.org/radcom-basics

Don’t forget that Youngsters on the Air month is taking place throughout December. The month is aimed at helping youngsters get active on the amateur bands. It could be giving a demonstration at a local school or youth club or helping a young person to send a greetings message. Callsign GB23YOTA will be active for the duration of the month. Cambridge University Wireless Society is the first group to use the callsign. Listen out for them on Friday the 1^st and Saturday the 2^nd of December. Cray Valley Radio Society will be following them on Sunday the 3^rd of December. A full list of operating slots can be found on QRZ.com These slots will be first-come, first-served, so check your calendars and reserve your place as soon as possible. To find out more about YOTA month visit rsgb.org/yota-month  You can also email Jamie, M0SDV at yota.month@rsgb.org.uk to register your interest, or simply ask for further information.

The RSGB shop’s Black Friday sale is on now and ends on Thursday the 30^th of November. Members, and non-Members alike, will find bargains on a large number of books with up to 50% off the usual retail price. Check out rsgbshop.org

A recent Ofcom investigation has resulted in the conviction of a man who was deliberately causing interference to amateur radio users in the Hull area. The investigation involved the use of automatic monitoring equipment as well as ground-based engineers who monitored live transmissions. The case went to court and the defendant was found guilty of the unlicensed use of radio equipment, illegal possession of radio apparatus, and causing deliberate interference to wireless telegraphy – all of which are offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act. To read more on this story visit tinyurl.com/OFCOM-INV

 

And now for details of rallies and events

The Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 3^rd of December. The event will be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, High Street, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 6DB. The doors open at 10.30am for visitors, with disabled access from 10am. For more information, contact bdingle@hotmail.co.uk

Mid Devon Amateur Radio and Computer Fair will take place on Saturday the 9^th of December. The venue will be Winkleigh Sports and Recreation Centre, Mid Devon, EX19 8HZ. The event will run from 9am to 2pm. Entry is £3 but there is no charge for partners and under 16s. for more information, or to book a table, contact Phil, G6DLJ via email at philbridges@hotmail.com

The Sparkford Wireless Group Tabletop Rally, in aid of the RAIBC, will take place on Thursday the 28^th of December from 9.30am to 1pm. The event will be held at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel near Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Entry is £3 and free parking and refreshments will be available. For more information, email Bob via wjh069@gmail.com

Now the Special Event News

LA100K is the special callsign in use by the Akademisk Radioklubb, LA1K to celebrate the 100^th anniversary since its foundation. Based in Trondheim, it is the oldest amateur radio club in Norway. The special callsign will be in use until the 31^st of December.

The Turkish Radio Amateurs Association is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on the 29^th of October 1923. A number of special callsigns, including TC100YEAR, will be in use until the end of 2023.

Now the DX news

Tom, VK2WN will be active as AX37EUDXF until the 30^th of November to celebrate the 37^th anniversary of the European DX Foundation. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or Club Log's OQRS. He does not use the bureau.

Take, JI3DST will be active from the Miyako Islands, AS-079, until the 19^th of December. He will be operating SSB, CW and FT8 using a variety of callsigns including JS6RRR. QSL via Club Log and Logbook of the World.

Now the contest news

The CQ World Wide DX CW Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 25^th of November. It ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 26^th of November. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. The UK is in zone 14.

On Monday the 27^th of November, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using FT4 on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is your report.

On Tuesday the 28^th of November, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 13cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 29^th of November the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest will run from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator.

The UK Six Metre Group’s Winter Marathon runs from Friday the 1^st of December 2023 to Wednesday 31^st of January 2024. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator.

The ARRL 160m Contest starts at 2200UTC on Friday the 1^st of December and ends at 1600UTC on Sunday the 3^rd of December. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is a signal report. American and Canadian stations also send their ARRL or RAC section.

On Sunday the 3^rd of December, the 144MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. 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 23^rd of November 2023

What a difference a week makes! Last week the solar flux index was at 118 but, by Thursday the 23^rd, it had climbed up to 190 with the Sun’s surface covered in spots with up to nine groups showing.

The maximum useable frequency over a 3,000km path was estimated at more than 40MHz at times. This, coupled with a Kp index of around two to three, was quite good for HF.

But it isn’t all good news. There has been quite a bit of solar flare activity, and the promise of more to come. A significant eruption was recently observed beyond the northeast limb. This may result in a coronal mass ejection, but this will likely be directed away from Earth.

Active regions 3490 and 3492 remain the main regions of focus and are listed as the most likely to produce a noteworthy solar flare. The current flare threat stands at 55% for a moderate M-Flare and 10% for a strong X-Flare.

DX this week included 4W8X in Timor-Leste and Don, 3B8/G3XTT in Mauritius.

The 10m band was good last week with the KQ2H repeater on 29.620MHz FM coming in strongly in the afternoon. There were plenty of SSB signals to work between 28.4 and  28.5MHz as well.

A scan from 28.200MHz to 28.300MHz around 2pm on the 23^rd revealed plenty of beacons being received including IQ8CZ, IQ8BB and IZ8RVA in Italy; SV6DBG and SV2RSS in Greece; WW2BSA in New Jersey; K4PAR in Georgia; KA3JOE in Pennsylvania; and K5AB in Texas. All of these run less than 20W. For a full list of 10m beacons choose ‘Beacons and Repeaters’ from the ‘On the air’ tab at rsgb.org

Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to be in the range of 145 to 155. Geomagnetic conditions may be reasonably settled with a Kp index of two to three, although a coronal mass ejection or two could soon alter that!

So, make the most of the good HF conditions while you can, especially in this weekend’s CQ World Wide DX CW Contest.

And now the VHF and up propagation news

Weather patterns are settling and, with the current cold north-westerly wind, there are signs of something useful for eastern areas in the form of potential rain-scatter from heavy showers running down the North Sea. 

In the west, we have an area of high pressure with a chance of Tropo but, in cold low-level air near the surface, this may not be very reliable.

The chance of high-pressure building is probably limited and we are already seeing a return to more changeable weather.

The bulk of the coming week will be controlled by low pressure with rain or showers.

So, we have the possibility of further rain scatter, but little chance of significant Tropo, except perhaps if high pressure tries to make a comeback in the north the following weekend. 

The November Orionids meteor shower is making an appearance on the 28^th with a low Zenithal Hourly Rate, or ZHR, of three per hour for meteor scatter operators. 

Keep checking for auroral modes and don’t forget that this can give LF bands a flutter to the signal, as was heard on 40m CW on Wednesday evening. In really strong events with a Kp index above, say, six then check the usual places for activity on the 6, 4 and 2m bands.

For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and rising to maximum on Wednesday the 29^th. Path losses are low to start the week but rising. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate all week.

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