RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for August 14th 2022.

GB2RS News

Sunday the 14^th of August 2022

The news headlines:

• New RadCom team announced

• Jamaican amateurs mark 60 years of independence

• Jacques, ON4AVJ, Silent Key

Earlier in the year, the RSGB announced that RadCom Managing Editor, Elaine Richards, G4LFM, was planning to retire after leading the RadCom team for 14 years. Very soon after that announcement, we had to come to terms with the sad and sudden news that RadCom Technical Editor, Giles Read, G1MFG, had passed away. RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB has now announced the appointment of the new RadCom team that will continue to deliver and develop a RadCom suite of publications that supports the future of amateur radio. Ed O’Neill, M0TZX will take on the role of Managing Editor and Matt Smith, M0VWS has joined the team as Technical Editor. Ed and Matt are working very closely with Elaine and the rest of the team to ensure a smooth handover in the coming months. You can read the full press release on the main page at rsgb.org.

Amateur radio stations from Jamaica may use the 6Y60 prefix to mark the 60th anniversary since the Colony of Jamaica gained independence from the UK. For example, 6Y5WE will be using 6Y60WE.

Sad news next. The IARU has announced that Jacques, ON4AVJ, has become a Silent Key. He held many roles within the Belgian national society, UBA, and was part of the IARU Region 1 VHF Committee. He received honours from both the UBA and IARU for his work on VHF and higher frequencies. Our thoughts are with his family and friends within the wider amateur radio community at this difficult time.

This year is the 25^th anniversary of the international Lighthouse and Lightship weekend that will take place next weekend, the 20^th and 21^st of August. The event runs for 48 hours and, as this news script was prepared, there are 325 stations registered for this year from Argentina to Malta and The Netherlands to Wales. Some are stations that have operated many times before, others like TM59LH are taking part for the first time. This station will operate from the Sandettie Light Vessel in Dunkirk Harbour.

Earlier this year, the IARU Region 1 invited amateurs to come up with an idea that could lead to more licensed radio amateurs. They have now announced the results. Joint first place was awarded to Nestor, 5B4AHZ and Christian, HB9FEU. Nestor’s idea is the Ham Radio Escape Room which is a radio-based escape room with amateur radio themes and played with teams communicating via radio. Christian’s idea was a public database of fun projects for innovation where those with little or no experience and equipment could still take part. Read the full story at iaru-r1.org where you can find out more about these projects and the other prize winners.

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.

Today, the 14^th, the Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest takes place at Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DA. Talk-in will be on 145.550MHz. Gates open between 10 am and 6 pm with entry costing £4. There will be trade stands as well as indoor and field pitches. Lectures will take place during the event. No dogs except Guide dogs are allowed as this is the landowner’s condition. More from Tony, G3PFM on 0774 347 5018.

Next Sunday, the 21^st of August, the Rugby ATS Radio Rally will take place at Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PY. Doors open at 10 am and there will be a car boot sale area. More at rugbyats.co.uk.

Also next Sunday, the 21^st, the Red Rose Rally will be held at St Joseph’s Hall, Leigh WN7 2PJ. Organised by West Manchester Radio Club, there will be free parking, a café as well as trade, individual and club stands. There will also be a Bring & Buy. More information at wmrc.co.uk.

Now the Special Event news

AP75PAK is the special callsign for the Pakistan ARS to celebrate the 75th anniversary since Pakistan achieved independence. Additionally, individual Pakistani amateur radio operators can use the AP75 prefix throughout August.

TM3GGR will be operating between the 20^th of August and the 4^th of September. It is to mark the start of the 3^rd Golden Globe Race, which is a non-stop round-the-world sailing trip, without assistance and without a modern navigation system. Activity will be on all bands and all modes. QSL via F6KUF, via the Bureau or direct to F5OEV.

Dale, EI7HDB will be setting up a station at The Point of Ayre lighthouse at the north-eastern end of the Isle of Man from the 14^th of August. He will be active on most bands as MD/EI7HDB between the 14th and 19th of August operating holiday style. The Isle of Man ARS will be involved in the operation of GT3FLH next weekend for the International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend.

Now the DX news

Giovanni, IZ2DPX will be active holiday style as 8Q7AG from the Maldives, AS-013, until the 20^th of August. He will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL direct to IK2DUW.

Esteban, EA5Q will also be active from the Maldives as 8Q7QE from the 14^th to the 24^th of August. He will operate almost exclusively CW. QSL via Logbook of The World or via his home callsign either direct or via the bureau.

A German team will be active as TM0BSM from the lighthouse at Berck-sur-Mer in France between the 17^th and 22^nd of August. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the 10 to 80m bands, plus the QO-100 satellite. QSL via DK5OPA.

Masa, JA0RQV expects to be active again as A35JP from Tonga, OC-049, from the 20^th of August to the 24^th of September. In his spare time, he will operate CW, SSB and FT8 on the 6 to 80m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World, Club Log's OQRS, or via the bureau to JA0RQV.

Now the contest news

The WAE DX CW Contest runs for 48 hours this weekend, ending at 2359 UTC today, the 14^th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Please note that EU stations work non-EU stations only.

Today, Sunday the 14^th, the fifth 70MHz Cumulative contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Tuesday, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday it is the 70MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. 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 the 12th of August 2022.

The geomagnetic disturbance we predicted last week, due to an Earth-facing coronal hole and its associated high-speed solar wind, occurred in the early hours of Monday the 8th. This pushed the Kp index to six and sparked a visible aurora that was visible from parts of the UK. It also impacted the Maximum Useable Frequency on Monday, according to the Fairford ionosonde, with it struggling to get much above 18MHz over a 3,000km path until the early evening. The Kp index remained mainly at four on Tuesday before tailing off gradually to reach two on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the solar flux index has been slowly declining, from 116 on Sunday to 108 on Thursday.

Sporadic-E has been bringing short skip to 14MHz, with paths such as the UK to Ireland and Scotland being workable at times.

The best DX has probably been on 21MHz where the Far East has been putting in an appearance, mainly on FT8. 28MHz Sporadic-E has been just that, sporadic, with some days providing great short skip to parts of Europe and others just the sound of noise on 10 metres.

Next week NOAA predicts similar conditions with the SFI in the range 104-108. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 17th, 18th and 19th when the Kp index could rise to five.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

The weather will show a more unsettled side from this weekend. The exceptionally widespread Tropo conditions of last week are likely to decay as pressure falls and by the start of the coming week, it's a slack region of low pressure over us.

This will introduce some mainly showery outbreaks of rain, but in true summer style, they could be heavy and perhaps thundery in places. This raises the prospects for rain scatter on the GHz bands and, as usual, you will need to access one of the many online radar displays to track their movement.

Recent solar conditions have varied, but some occasional aurora alerts have maintained an interest in auroral propagation. Keep a check on the Kp index to see if it goes above five or six and then look at the clusters and chatrooms for activity pointers.

Sporadic-E is still about on some days and well worth your attention for tracking down those missing grid squares. Although we are nearer the end than the start of the Es season, it can occur until about the end of the first week in September, so plenty of time left.

In the coming week, the location of the jet stream activity (often a good guide) suggests that paths may move away from Scandinavia and eastern Europe and favour Spain and the central Mediterranean.

As we slide gently away from the broad peak of the Perseid meteor shower, it's still worth checking meteor scatter propagation during the coming week.

Moon declination goes positive again on Monday, producing lengthening Moon windows. EME is for early birds this week with Moon zenith in the early hours. Path losses will fall all week, and 144 MHz sky noise is low, not reaching 500 Kelvin until next Sunday.

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