RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for July 9th 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 9^th of July 2023

The news headlines:

• New ATV display at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre
• Film award for members of Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society
• International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend

A new amateur TV display has just been installed at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre, with signals received via the wide-band segment of the geostationary satellite QO-100. The Society is delighted to be able to demonstrate amateur TV as a permanent display at the NRC, helping to highlight yet another exciting aspect of our technical hobby. A special configuration, developed in conjunction with the British Amateur Television Club, incorporates a touch screen from which visitors can select a signal to be tuned, decoded and displayed on the large monitor. The RSGB would like to thank Justin, G8YTZ for designing the display and working with the BATC for the specially adapted configuration.

A short film produced by members of the Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has won a top award at the 2023 Doric Film Festival. The film was the joint winner in the ‘Groups’ category of the prestigious festival that showcases the distinctive Doric language and culture, most closely associated with North-East Scotland. The film includes a specially written fiddle music theme, based on Morse code. You can find the film by searching for ‘Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society Groups DFF Entry’ on YouTube.

A reminder now that International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is coming up soon. The event is usually held on the third weekend of August which this year is the 19^th and 20^th. It is one of the most popular amateur radio events in the calendar and in past years there have been more than 500 entries from over 40 different countries. More details about the event and a registration form can be found at illw.net

There is so much happening at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre that it needs to expand its team of volunteers! If you can volunteer at weekends, you will be particularly welcome. The National Radio Centre has a fabulous set-up and full training on using the GB3RS radio station will be given. You will be joining a friendly and dedicated team. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. You should enjoy meeting people and be able to volunteer for one or two days per month. For more information please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk

Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.

And now for details of rallies and events

The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 9^th of July, at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN.  The doors open at 10.30 am and admission is £3. There are traders, bring and buy and club stalls. Car parking and catering are available on-site. Contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821073 for more information.

The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday the 16^th of July. The venue will be Reading Rugby Club which offers a bar and catering facilities and has ample free parking. Admission will be £3 per person and £10 per table for traders. Visit mcmichaelrally.org.uk for more information and contact details.

The Finningley ARS Rally 2023 will take place on Sunday the 23^rd of July at Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster, DN8 5SX. The doors will be open from 10 am and a food bar will be available. For more information visit g0ghk.com

Wiltshire Radio and Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday the 30^th of July at Kington Langley Village Hall and Playing Field, Kington Langley, Wiltshire SN15 5NJ. The event will start at 9 am and finish at 1 pm. There is a £2 entry fee for traders. Indoor tables cost £10. Admittance for car booters is £10, and for vans, it is £15. For further information please contact Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club

Now the Special Event News

Guernsey Amateur Radio Society is running a special event station GB5IG until the 14^th of July to celebrate the 19^th Island Games, which is held every two years. The station will be active using SSB, digital modes, possibly satellite and CW, on HF, VHF and UHF bands. More information is available on QRZ.com

VX7NA is the special callsign in use by the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association, until the 24^th of July, to celebrate its 75^th anniversary. The Association is based on Vancouver Island, NA-036. QSL via VE7NA.

Now the DX news

Pierre, VK3KTB will be active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 12^th of July. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS.

Rag, LB3RE will be active on the 40 to 6m bands as DU1/LB3RE from Luzon Island, OC-042, until the 18^th of July. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or via his home call.

Bo, OZ1DJJ will be active as OX3LX from Qaanaaq, on the main island of Greenland, NA-018, until the 18^th of July. He will focus on the 6 and 4m bands but will also be QRV on the HF bands. A side trip to Herbert Island, NA-134, or Meteorite Island, is possible. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or direct to OZ0J.

 Now the contest news

Today, Sunday the 9^th of July, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The IARU HF Championship ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 9^th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU zone. The UK is in zone 27. In particular, listen out for the RSGB HQ station operating as GR2HQ from a variety of different locations using CW and SSB. A team of operators at different stations will be on the air simultaneously on all the available contest bands.

On Tuesday the 11^th of July, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Tuesday the 11^th of July, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Wednesday the 12^th of July, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 12^th of July, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm 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 12^th of July, the 80m Club Championship SSB Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Thursday the 13^th of July, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Saturday the 15^th of July, the 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode.

On Sunday the 16^th of July, the International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and TX power.

 Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 6^th of July 2023

NOAA’s prediction that the Solar Flux Index, or SFI, would decline last week didn’t come to fruition. In fact, the SFI stayed in the 160s and 170s until Thursday, when it declined to 155.

The Sun produced more than 160 sunspots in June, the highest monthly number in more than two decades. This has led some newspapers to run more doom and gloom stories about solar Armageddon, while we amateurs look forward to some F2-layer DX!

Unfortunately, more sunspots do mean more chance of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, but we have to take the rough with the smooth.

As an example, we had an X1-class solar flare on the 2^nd of June. This occurred at 2314UTC so didn’t affect the UK, but did cause an R3 radio blackout over the west coast of the USA and Pacific.

Otherwise, there is still DX to be bagged for well-equipped stations, such as Eric, FP/KV1J on St Pierre and Miquelon islands on 12m FT8, and Marek, FH4VVK, on Mayotte island, on 10m FT8. Other DX worked this week by CDXC members includes the 4W6RU DXpedition on Timor Leste on various bands; Robert, 9N7AA in Nepal on 12m FT4; and V31XX in Belize on 20m CW.

Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre has the SFI at 155, rising to 175 by the end of the week. Unfortunately, the Kp index is forecast to rise to four over the weekend, possibly due to a large Earth-facing coronal hole, and again up to Kp five on the 12^th and 13^th. If it happens, expect noisy bands and a decline in the maximum usable frequency.

As always, we encourage you to get on the HF bands, in the evening, nighttime and especially around dawn, which is when a lot of HF DX is being worked.

And now the VHF and up propagation news

Low pressure dominates the whole weather pattern this coming week, driven by an active meandering jet stream across the Atlantic.

This provides several regions where the turbulence, generated on the edge of these strong winds up at 10km, can propagate upwards to trigger Sporadic-E propagation at about 110km height in the E region.

So, unsurprisingly, Sporadic-E will feature as a ‘go-to mode’ for the coming week. Typically, single-hop paths within Europe will produce very strong signals, whereas multi-hop paths, for example across the Atlantic, will require several such refraction points from Sporadic-E patches, plus intervening reflections from the sea surface, and will have much higher losses.

These will usually be weak signals and probably very fleeting in view of the complex geometry of such paths.

Tropo need not concern us this week, but rain scatter is worth a look since the unsettled weather will provide several heavy rainfall events in some areas. Look for the brighter echoes on the rainfall radar displays, especially those associated with thunderstorms.

Random meteors could be useful in the early morning hours. We also have the start of two showers, Alpha Capricornids and Delta Aquarids, during next week, which don’t actually reach a peak until the end of July. So prospects for meteor scatter and Sporadic-E propagation are improving this month.

The aurora chances may be reasonable initially in view of the recent coronal hole transition, so keep an eye on the Kp index.

Moon declination goes positive on Sunday so there will be lengthening Moon windows. Path losses are currently low but will rise all week. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate all week.

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