RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for April 30th 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 30^th of April 2023

The news headlines:

• RSGB Coronation activities
• RSGB Membership portal
• High-altitude balloon launch

 

As the Coronation weekend approaches, don’t forget all the amateur radio activities that are being organised by the RSGB to mark this special event. Ofcom has kindly agreed that UK and Crown Dependency radio amateurs may use the “R” prefix in their callsigns during May and June 2023 – just apply for the Notice of Variation via the RSGB website. The RSGB has also created three new awards you can achieve for taking part in Coronation activities. In addition, the callsign GB23C can be used by individuals and clubs from the 10^th of May until the end of June, and there is a special Beaconnect activity throughout May and June. Details of how to get involved with either of these will be announced soon on the RSGB website. Finally, there are ideas for outreach activities for use with people of all ages. Go to rsgb.org/coronation for more information.

Are you an RSGB member? Have you logged into your online membership portal recently? It is important to check your personal information and ensure your preferences are up to date. You can also opt into receiving a number of direct benefits such as the weekly email GB2RS newsletter and notifications about RadCom Plus and RadCom Basics. A new option is to receive emails about the RSGB’s online events click on that and make sure you don’t miss out! Log into the RSGB membership portal via rsgb.org/members or email membership@rsgb.org.uk if you have any questions.

hi-impact, based on the Wirral, is planning another high-altitude balloon launch. This one will feature on the team’s live-stream platform and be viewed by a number of schools across the UK and beyond. The team is planning to launch two high-altitude balloons. One will be running with a HABDuino and the other with some help from AmbaSat, using LoRA. The HABDuino side will be running on the standard setup – 434.650MHz USB, 50 Baud RTTY, 450Hz Shift, 7N1 data format and with the callsign ‘hi-impact’. If you're planning to upload telemetry to SondeHub, you'll need Dave Akerman's HABBase software and Fldigi. The launch, from Cilcewydd in Wales, will be between 11 and 11.15 am on Wednesday the 3^rd of May. More information can be found on hi-impact’s Facebook page and on Twitter via @hiimpactconsult

The RSGB is seeking to recruit a new Technical Editor for RadCom. Reporting to the Managing Editor, the successful candidate will need a wide range of radio and electronic knowledge, including amateur radio. The RSGB is looking for someone who is positive, enthusiastic about technology, has an excellent command of English and has a good eye for detail. For more information about the role and how to apply, see rsgb.org/careers

 

And now for details of rallies and events

Ripon Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 30^th of April, at Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2PT. Traders can gain access from 7 am and tables are £12 each. Doors open to the public from 10 am and entrance is £3 per person. For more information and directions visit g4sjm.co.uk

Thorpe Camp Hamfest Rally will take place on Sunday the 7^th of May. The venue will be Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre and the entrance fee will be £4 per person. Traders should arrive from 7 am. The rally will take place from 9 am to 1 pm. Hot food and drinks will be available on-site. For more information phone Sylvia or Anthony at 07956 654 481.

Dartmoor Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 7^th of May at Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL. There will be the usual bring and buy, trader stands, refreshments and free parking available. Doors open at 10 am and admission is £2.50. For more information contact Roger by phone on 07854 088 882, or email via 2e0rph@gmail.com

The Braehead Rally will take place on Sunday the 14^th of May. The venue will be Braehead Arena Foyer, 150 Kings Inch Road, Renfrew G51 4BN. Free parking will be available. The doors open for everyone at 10 am and admission is £4. The event will feature Bring and Buy and the Central Scotland Repeater Group AGM. For more information and contact details visit www.braeheadradiorally.com

 

Now the Special Event News

Special callsigns PA100PCG, PA100M and PA100K will be active on the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th of May to celebrate 100 years of communication history between Indonesia and The Netherlands. For more information visit QRZ.com. QSL via the bureau.

Look out for special event station AU40NRO which is active until the 30^th of June. The station is operating to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the founding of the National Institute of Amateur Radio in India. QSL via VU2NRO.

A special event callsign DM23BUGA will be active until the 8^th of October. The callsign's suffix stands for 'Bundesgartenschau'. This is a biennial horticulture show and festival taking place in Mannheim this year. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau, and direct cards via DL2VFR.

Celebrating 100 years of broadcasting in Germany, special callsign DB100RDF will be in use until the 31^st of December. The first official radio entertainment programme in Germany was broadcast on the 29^th of October 1923. QSL via the bureau, or direct to DO2PZ.

 

Now the DX news

Sands, VK4WXW has been on Willis Island, OC-007, since October and today is the last chance to work him. He works at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's weather monitoring station on the island. In his spare time, he is QRV as VK9WX.

The T30UN operation from West Kiribati, OC-017, is expected to be active until the second week of May. Operators plan to be available on the 160 to 6m bands with one CW station, one SSB station and seven FT8 stations. It will be possible to see two FT8 stations on the same band, at the same time, on different frequencies. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

 

Now the contest news

Today, the 30^th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club DX CW Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. UK and Ireland stations also send their district code.

On Tuesday the 2^nd of May, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Tuesday the 2^nd of May, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 3^rd of May, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 3^rd of May, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.

Next weekend, the ARI International DX Contest starts its 24-hour run at 1200UTC on Saturday the 6^th of May. Using CW, RTTY and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Italian stations give their province code.

On Saturday the 6^th of May, the 432MHz to 245GHz Contest starts its 24-hour run at 1400UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also, on Saturday the 6^th of May, the 432MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Saturday the 6^th of May also sees the start of the UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon. The event will run until Sunday the 6^th of August. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is your four-character locator.

On Sunday the 7^th of May the 10GHz Trophy Contest runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 10GHz band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Sunday the 7^th of May, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 to 3.4GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Sunday the 7^th of May also sees the Worked All Britain 7MHz Phone Contest run from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using AM and SSB on the 40m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.

 

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 27^th of April 2023

What a busy week we’ve just had! It started with a massive G4 geomagnetic storm that saw the Kp index rise to eight with aurora visible as far south as Cornwall and the Channel Islands. This was due to a coronal mass ejection from a filament eruption on the 21^st of April.

The 6m band came to life during the early stage of the storm with distorted aurora signals throughout the SSB and CW sections. However, the HF bands suffered, with MUFs down on the morning of the 24^th. The 25^th wasn’t much better with MUFs over a 3,000km path barely reaching 18MHz all day.

By Thursday the 27^th the Kp index was still at four.

However, there were surprises to be had. Phil, GU0SUP reported that at 1300UTC on Monday the 24^th, he was amazed to work Yuris, VU7W on the Lakshadweep Islands on 10m FT8, with good signals both ways. He says the Kp index was at six and the regular FT8 frequencies on both the 10m and 12m bands were pretty much dead.

On Wednesday the 26^th, Peter, G8BCG reported, on the CDXC reflector, that 15m FT8 was open all night via the long path to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

It is always worth checking the HF bands during a major geomagnetic storm as there may be surprises to be had.

Next week the Space Weather Prediction Centre thinks that the Solar Flux Index will remain in the range of 135 to 140. The Kp index may remain around two to three. However, as last week showed, we are now really into uncharted territory, in terms of solar activity, with daily multiple solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections.

So, don’t be surprised if we have another major geomagnetic disturbance with an elevated Kp index.

 

And now the VHF and up propagation news

The weather pattern in late spring often settles into a period of south-easterly winds from a rapidly-warming Europe and the signs are there for just such a flow during the coming week.

The sequence starts with unsettled weather and possible rain scatter from heavy April showers into the first weekend but, thereafter, a weak ridge of high pressure will move in to bring a chance of Tropo for next week. Paths along the east coast should do well, especially if there are large areas of sea fog and misty low clouds over the North Sea.

At longer timescales, the period towards the following weekend will see eyes looking towards a low to the southwest of the British Isles that could push some thundery rain into southern areas by the end of the week and again bring a chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands.

The jet stream pattern remains complex with several potentially useful flows that might be instrumental in prompting some early-season Sporadic-E propagation.

Last week, the Portuguese CS5BALG beacon on 50.036MHz in IM67, and CS5BLA on 50.0760MHz, made a welcome return. Sporadic-E can be very fleeting early in the season, but keeping a regular check on the usual beacons should give you a chance of being there at the right time.

The daily Sporadic-E blogs start on the 1^st of May on www.propquest.co.uk and should give some clues as to any early-season options.

Lastly, the Sun has kept everyone busy recently with visible and radio auroras, so check the Kp index for aurora potential. And we are in a period when increasing meteor input is starting to help provide better meteor scatter prospects, as well as fuel for Sporadic-E. The Eta Aquariids has a broad peak zenithal hourly rate of around 50 next weekend on the 6^th of May.

Moon declination is high and falling, meaning shortening EME Moon windows and peak elevations. We passed apogee on Friday so path losses will fall throughout the week. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate.

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