Friday Feb 10, 2023
RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for February 12th 2023
GB2RS News
Sunday the 12th of February 2023
The news headlines:
- Special Contest Callsigns
- BBC Radio Somerset Interview
- RSGB Convention Videos
Ofcom has recently authorised an expansion of the list of Special Contest Callsign qualification contests to include two UK and Ireland DX Contests. Full details of how to apply for a Special Contest Callsign, including the complete qualifying criteria, can be found at rsgb.org/scc
On the 6th of February, RSGB District Representative Andy Jenner, G7KNA spoke to the BBC’s Simon Parkin about his passion for amateur radio. The RSGB arranged this interview having been contacted by BBC Radio Somerset, following the Society’s recent piece in The Times. Andy discussed how he got into radio, getting licensed and about the work he and South Bristol Amateur Radio Club are doing to involve young people in amateur radio. This includes plans for a demonstration day at a Bristol primary school as part of British Science Week in March. You can still listen to the interview if you search for BBC Radio Somerset and Simon Parkin’s show on BBC Sounds. The interview starts at 19 minutes and 20 seconds into the programme.
The RSGB has released two more of its 2022 Convention videos just for RSGB Members to view. In the first presentation, called “Using the right tools to work more 144MHz DX”, RSGB VHF Manager, John Regnault, G4SWX gives a comprehensive guide to a range of software packages and websites that will help you to develop your VHF DXing skills. The second presentation is by James Stevens, M0JCQ who is the co-author of the RadCom VHF/UHF column. In his presentation “VHF Equipment to start you going”, he explains how newcomers to amateur radio or even the most ardent HF enthusiast can get started on the VHF bands. These are being released as a benefit of RSGB Membership and can be seen in the RSGB 2022 Convention video section of the website at rsgb.org/videos
An organisation called Experimental Danish Radio Amateurs, also known as ‘EDR’, are celebrating the opening of the Enigma Post and Telegraph Museum in Copenhagen which now has a new address, appearance and name. EDR has created a special award to celebrate this opening. Contacts with different qualifying stations between the 14th and 28th of February will be eligible for the award. For more information, please visit the OZ625E page on QRZ.com
The Polish Amateur Radio Association is inviting the amateur radio community to participate in an event related to the 550th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus. From 0000UTC on the 17th of February to 2359UTC on the 5th of March, there will be nine special event stations on the air, including SN550NC. Awards will be available for contacts made with the special event stations. For more information about the event and the awards visit 550mk.pzk.org.pl
Time is running out to enter the RSGB Construction Competition. You don’t have to be an expert constructor and the judges will give special recognition to entries submitted by radio amateurs under the age of 24 and also to those who have just gained their Foundation licence. The four categories are: Beginners; Construction excellence; Innovation; and Software. There are cash prizes in every category. The RSGB Communications Manager chatted to last year’s winners and runners-up and shared their stories in the January and February editions of RadCom. So, take a look and be inspired! You can also read the stories and find out how to enter the competition on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/construction-competition
And now for details of rallies and events
The Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society Radioactive Fair is being held today, Sunday the 12th of February. The venue is Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. Doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. A wide variety of trader stalls, a bring-and-buy platform and refreshments and snacks are available. Parking is immediately adjacent to the hall. For more information visit radioactivefair.co.uk
West Manchester Radio Club’s Red Rose Rally will take place on Sunday the 26th of February. The event will be held at St. Joseph’s Hall, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Free parking, café services and a raffle are among the attractions on offer. For further information visit: wmrc.co.uk/rally.htm
The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society is holding its annual rally on the 4th of March. The venue will be the Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, BT26 6AR. Doors open at 10.30 am. For more information visit www.lvars.uk
Now the Special Event News
Special callsign ZX89L is operating in celebration of the 89th anniversary of the Brazilian Radio Amateur League and will be active until the 15th of February. QSL via Logbook of the World. Details of awards associated with the station can be found via QRZ.com
Special event station TM20AAW will be on the air until the 24th of February in celebration of the 20th Antarctic Activity Week. François, F8DVD will be operating the station from Mâcon in eastern France, 60km north of Lyon. For further information visit QRZ.com
Members of the Panama Canal Amateur Radio Association will be active as 3E30PCARA until the 28th of February to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the formation of their club in 1993. QSL directly to the Association.
Special event station GB0CFG will be active from the 16th of February. The station will be operated by Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club to mark World Thinking Day on the air. The event provides an opportunity for local Girl Guides to talk to other members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts all over the world via amateur radio. Several other special callsigns will also be active in February to take part in the event. These include Easingwold Girl Guides, who will be operating with special callsign GB2EGG from the 17th of February, and Milton Keynes Girlguiding who will be active with special callsign GB0MKG from the 18th of February.
Now the DX news
John, W5JON will be active as V47JA from Saint Kitts, NA-104, until the 15th of February. He will be operating SSB and FT8 on the HF bands and 6m. QSL via Logbook of the World, or directly to W5JON.
Andre, ON7YK will be active from Bijilo, Gambia until the 24th of February. He will be operating as C5YK on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via eQSL, Logbook of the World or directly to his home call.
Francis, F6BWJ will be active as FM/F6BWJ from Martinique, NA-107, until the 10th of March. He will be operating CW, PSK and RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands. He will upload his log to the Logbook of the World and Club Log.
Gerard, F2JD will be active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until the 13th of March. He will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands. QSL via F6AJA directly or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
Today, Sunday the 12th of February, the CQ Worldwide WPX RTTY Contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The PACC Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today, the 12th. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Stations from The Netherlands also send their province.
On Wednesday the 15th of February, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Thursday the 16th of February, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 18th of February and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 19th of February. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmission power. American stations also send their State and Canadian stations send their province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 9th of February 2023
The solar flux index rose again this week with the arrival of more sunspots. By Thursday, the SFI had reached 192, up from 135 the week before.
However, there has been some flare activity with minor C-class and some M-class flares, mainly from active region 3213. None of these has erupted in an Earthward direction so we’ve avoided coronal mass ejections and their effects.
The solar wind has been quite active, including long periods with a negative Bz and speeds of up to 600 kilometres per second. This has meant that the Kp index has remained relatively high, hovering around 3.5 for days.
All of this means that ionospheric conditions have been quite good with the daytime critical frequency over the UK generally above 9MHz. This means that paths over 3,000km have generally supported operations up to and beyond 10 metres.
At night, MUFs over 3,000km hover around 10MHz, especially in the hours just after sunset.
Next week, the US Air Force has the SFI remaining at around 195, before falling back to 150 by the 17th. Geomagnetic conditions should remain relatively settled unless we get a coronal mass ejection.
All in all, this is a good time for HF so get to it! And good luck with making contact with the 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The large area of high pressure which has brought tropo to many parts of the British Isles looks good for a few more days. Some models suggest that Atlantic lows may move in after mid-week, so make the most of it before then.
Unfortunately, the northern parts of the country have seen windier weather at times and largely missed out on the best tropo, although with some chance of rain scatter to make up for it.
The aurora prospects and meteor scatter are still worth a check during the next week. Check aurora when the Kp index is high, and meteor scatter around dawn. Use the usual sources of information, such as clusters and band reports to get onto the bands at the right time.
For EME operators, Moon declination is negative, reaching a minimum on Thursday. EME Moon availability windows will be short. Path losses are at their lowest as the Moon approaches perigee next Sunday.
144MHz sky noise is moderate at the start of the week but increases to a high of over 3200 Kelvin next Thursday, the 16th.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.
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