RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 4th February 2024

GB2RS News

Sunday the 4^th of February 2024

The news headlines:

• The RSGB is seeking resources for British Science Week
• New RSGB Tonight@8 webinar coming up
• RSGB District Representative opportunities in Region 5

The RSGB is collecting resources to help you get involved with British Science Week, which runs from the 8^th to the 17^th of March. The theme this year is ‘Time’. If you have any resources and are willing to share them, please send them in. The RSGB has provided some already, including an example risk assessment and some lesson plans. You can also get advice about how to contact your local school or college to offer help. The Society would like to add to its resource base, so please share your ideas. If you already have an event planned, please let the RSGB know. This will be useful for others to see. Let the RSGB know whatever you’re planning so it can be added to the web page. If you’re going on the air, tell everyone when to listen out for you by sending dates, times, bands and modes. Send your information to the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator Ian Neal, M0KEO at bsw@rsgb.org.uk and to see all the resources go to rsgb.org/bsw 

The RSGB’s next Tonight@8 live webinar is this Monday, the 5^th of February. Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL will be giving a presentation called “Propagation at HF: What can we learn using digital modes WSPR and FST4W?” Gwyn is an associate member of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee and will present some new and exciting research. You can watch and ask questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel and special BATC channel. For more information about the presentation go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars

Do you live in RSGB Region 5? Region 5 covers the West Midlands area of England, from Staffordshire to the Welsh borders and down to Gloucestershire. The RSGB is looking for three volunteers to take up the roles of DR52 for Central and East Birmingham; DR53 for Shropshire, North Worcestershire and West Birmingham; and DR54 for Gloucestershire, Hereford and South Worcestershire. If you live in one of those areas and would like to promote amateur radio and support the local amateur radio community, please get in touch with the Regional Representative Neil Yorke, M0NKE via rr5@rsgb.org.uk – he will be delighted to hear from you!

The RadCom team is looking for a VHF/UHF columnist. James Stevens, M0JCQ has recently retired from this role following the birth of another child. The RSGB thanks James for his work on the column and wishes him well for the future. If you are interested in this opportunity to contribute to RadCom, please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk

HamCation is one of the world’s largest annual gatherings of radio amateurs. This year it starts in Orlando, Florida on Friday the 9^th and runs until Sunday the 11^th of February. The event’s website contains lots of information including details of forums, speakers, prizes and a special event station. You can read all about it via hamcation.com

 And now for details of rallies and events

The Canvey Rally is being held today, Sunday the 4^th of February, at Cornelius Vermuyden  School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. For more information contact Richard Stanley at 07725 551 263 or email g7oed@icloud.com 

The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11^th of February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall, and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue.

The Red Rose Winter Rally will take place on Sunday the 25^th of February. The venue will be St Joseph’s Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Access for exhibitors will be from 8.30 am. The event will be open to the public from 10 am. Hot and cold refreshments will be available. Further details can be found via the West Manchester Radio Club’s website at wmrc.co.uk  Send enquiries to Les, G4HZJ via lesjackson@ntlworld.com or phone 07796 264 569.

 

Now the Special Event News

Today, the 4^th, is the last chance to work the special call sign TM26PVJ. The station is active, on the HF bands, for the 26^th festival celebrating the ‘Opening of the Yellow Wine’. This year, the festival is taking place at Arbois in the Jura region of France. QSL via F8GGZ.

VI100MB is the special call sign for the Manly-Warringah Radio Society, VK2MB, in Australia, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its formation. The station is active until the 25^th of February. QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL.

 Now the DX news

Keith, G3WRO is active as 8Q7WR from the Maldives, AS-013, until the 6^th of February. He is operating SSB on the 40 to 10m bands, and possibly also on the 80m band. QSL via Keith’s home call. 

Michel, F5LRL is active as CN2DX from near Kenitra, Morocco until the 10^th of February. He will operate CW and SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. He is also using FT8 on the 6m band. QSL via EA5GL.

 Now the contest news

Today, the 4^th, the 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Monday the 5^th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 6^th, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Tuesday the 6^th, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 7^th, 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 7^th, 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.

On Wednesday the 7^th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator.

On Saturday the 10^th, the First 1.8MHz Contest runs from 1900 to 2300UTC. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Also on Saturday the 10^th, the Worked All Britain 1.8MHz Contest runs from 1900 to 2359UTC. Please note that this is an SSB-only contest, and all entries need to be with the contest manager by the 20^th of February. See worked-all-britain.org.uk for full details of the rules.

The CQ Worldwide WPX RTTY Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 10^th of February and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 11^th of February. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The PACC Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 10^th of February and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 11^th of February. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Dutch stations send their province.

 

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 1^st of February 2024

We had another week of relatively calm geomagnetic conditions with a maximum Kp index of three. The solar flux index declined from 172 on the 24^th to 135 on the 30^th.

Nevertheless, that is still enough to support propagation on the 10m band, with the maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path generally being between 29 and 36MHz during daylight.

Solar activity has been at low levels with only minor C-class flares and one M-class flare detected. Active region 3559 is now located behind the west limb of the Sun and out of direct view. New active region 3567 in the northeast quadrant is showing the most promise as it appears to be in a growth phase. There is currently a 25% chance of a moderate M-class flare, according to the latest NOAA and SWPC update.

Earlier in the week, we had a period of moderate S2-level radiation storming. Proton levels streaming past Earth, following a solar flare early on Monday morning, increased but this has now declined.

A minor coronal hole also became Earth-facing on the 2^nd of February, so we may still expect some disruption today, Sunday the 4^th.

The 10m band is still romping along, with beacons along the eastern seaboard of the USA coming alive in the afternoon. This weekend, the 3^rd and 4^th, sees the 10-10 International Winter SSB Contest, so there should be plenty of stations to work on 28MHz.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may rise again, perhaps to 150 today Sunday 4^th, and up to 165 a week later. We may have unsettled geomagnetic conditions on the 5^th and 6^th, with the Kp index predicted to rise to three.

 

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

This week, ending the 4^th of February, saw high pressure to the south of Britain and fronts over northern areas. For some stations in the southern half of the country, there could be useful Tropo conditions for the 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest taking place today, the 4^th.

Unfortunately, the frontal activity over the north will move south on Tuesday to remove any chance of these better conditions lasting into the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the 6^th of February.

The period from mid-week onwards looks dominated by low pressure with rain or showers and generally flat VHF and UHF prospects unless you are set up for rain scatter. Other propagation modes like meteor scatter, aurora or Sporadic-E seem likely to remain in the background for the coming week.

For EME operators, moon declination is negative and falling to a minimum on Tuesday the 6^th. Path losses are also decreasing since their maximum at apogee on Monday the 29^th. But with the low peak moon elevations, only eight degrees on Tuesday, moon windows will be short.

144MHz sky noise is moderate to very high all week going over 3100 Kelvin on Tuesday the 6^th. Friday and Saturday see the moon and sun very close together, so Sun noise in antenna beamwidths will be an issue.

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