RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for March 12th 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 12^th of March 2023

The news headlines:

• YOTA Summer Camp in Hungary
• Saint Patrick's Day Award Event
• RSGB Company Secretary

 

Applications are open to be part of the RSGB team going to the Youngsters on the Air summer camp in Hungary. The event will take place from the 5^th to the 12^th of August 2023. This is a chance in a lifetime for young RSGB Members to represent their country and national society. You could be a team member if you are aged between 15 and 25, or a team leader if you are aged between 18 and 30. We would love to hear from you if you’re interested in meeting other young amateurs, supporting local and regional YOTA activities, and developing ideas regarding the future of amateur radio. For more information and the application form, either head over to our website at rsgb.org/yota-hungary or email the Youth Champion Liam Robbins, G5LDR via youth.champion@rsgb.org.uk

The annual Saint Patrick's Day Award Event takes place over a 48-hour period from 1200UTC on the 16^th of March to 1200UTC on the 18^th of March to allow worldwide participation in all time zones. The Saint Patrick's Day Award is 48 hours of non-competitive fun. Everyone can participate in the event, whether they are licensed or not. You can register to be a participating station by completing a short registration form online at stpatricksaward.com

The RSGB is looking to recruit an RSGB Member for the voluntary position of Company Secretary. The position plays a key role in the Society’s governance and provides vital support in the running of Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting. The deadline for applications is Monday the 24^th of April. You can find out more about the role on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers If you feel you have the necessary skills to fulfil this important role or would like more information, email the General Manager’s department via gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk

The RSGB has released two more 2022 Convention presentations for radio amateurs to enjoy. In “Antennas for an effective contest station” Lee Volante, M0MTN reviews many of the options available to the HF contester when making antenna choices. He considers how antenna type, height, location and available resources have to be balanced with the type of contest and a contester's personal goals. The “Further exploration of SDR” by Gordon Lean, G3WJ covers the design and performance of Software Defined Radio systems from direct carrier generation to the use of units incorporating the GNU-Radio design software. It also focuses on experience and actual use of equipment on all bands from 80m to 10GHz and some of the benefits and difficulties associated with SDR operation. You can watch them both on the RSGB YouTube channel or in the RSGB members’ portal at rsgb.org/videos

GB3ORK, the Orkney Islands 5MHz beacon has closed down following the expiry of its Notice of Variation. It was the last of a chain of three beacons that once provided a wealth of data for the “5MHz Experiment” prior to the band being formally allocated. The RSGB thanks its keeper for the time and dedication given.

On Tuesday the 14^th of March 2023, the Radio Security Service Memorial Amateur Radio Society will be enjoying a talk by Brian Clarke about his experiences in working at Gilnahirk Listening Station, part of the Y Station network. This is a pre-recorded talk, but Brian will be present to take questions at the end of the talk, which runs for about 45 minutes. The talk will be via Zoom and anyone is free to attend. For more information contact Roger Bradley, MI0WWB via mi0wwb@btinternet.com

 

And now for details of rallies and events

The British Vintage Wireless Society Meet is taking place in Biggleswade today, Sunday the 12^th of March. The venue will be the Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JH. The event will feature traders selling vintage radios and TVs, and components including valves and test gear. There will be a large bring-and-buy area and refreshments will be available. Extensive, free off-road car parking right by the hall is available, as well as disabled parking right beside the main door. The venue has level access throughout. Everyone is welcome to attend. Doors open at 9.30 am and admission is £8. For more details contact Jeremy on 07799 110 080.

Also taking place today, the 12^th, is Dover Amateur Radio Club’s Hamzilla Electronics Fair and Radio Rally. The venue will be Julie Rose Stadium in Ashford, Kent, TN24 9QX. Free parking is available. The doors open at 10 am, or 9.30 am for early bird ticket holders. Local and national traders are welcome. Book your ticket and/or table online at Hamzilla.uk or email: club@darc.online

The Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio Hanger Sale will take place on Sunday the 2nd of April. The venue will be Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL. The sale will include electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. For more information email coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk or visit www.hackgreen.co.uk

Yeovil Amateur Radio Club’s thirty-seventh QRP Convention will take place on Saturday the 15th of April at The Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and admission is £3. The Convention will feature talks, traders, bring and buy, club stalls and a café. For more information visit yeovil-arc.com or contact qrp@yeovil-arc.com

 

Now the Special Event News

GB1PAT and GB2PAT are the special callsigns for members of the Bushvalley Amateur Radio Club to use between the 1^st and 28^th of March to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. Three certificates are available for making contact with both callsigns on different bands. QSL via Logbook of the World only.

DR100XRAY will be active until the end of June. It is a special callsign commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the death of Wilhelm C Roentgen, the physicist whose discovery of X-rays earned him the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 and revolutionised diagnostic medicine. QSL via the bureau, or direct to DJ6SI.

As part of British Science Week, the Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur Club, supported by the Extended Freedom Network, will be operating three special event stations demonstrating FT8, FM Voice and Digital technologies as well as Morse code and more. On Monday the 13^th of March the club will be operating GB4SCE from Staindrop Church of England Primary School. On Tuesday the 14^th and Wednesday the 15^th it will be operating GB4HJS from Hunwick Primary School. Finally, on Thursday the 16^th and Friday the 17^th the club will be operating GB2SPS from St Andrew’s Primary School. For more information and updates visit www.extendedfreedom.network

 

Now the DX news

Rich, PA0RRS will be active as 9M2MRS from Penang Island (AS-015), West Malaysia until the 29^th of March. He will operate CW and digital modes including RTTY, FT8 and FT4 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred, but also via Logbook of the World, or via PA0RRS.

Thaire, W2APF will be active as VP2MDX from Montserrat, NA-103, until the 28^th of March. He will operate CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or via W2APF.

Tom, AA9A is active again as PJ7AA from Sint Maarten, NA-105, from the 3^rd of March to the 1^st of April. He usually operates CW, SSB and FT8 on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World or direct to AA9A.

Sands, VK4WXW has been on Willis Island, OC-007, since October, and will remain there until the end of April 2023. He works at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's weather monitoring station on the island, and in his spare time, he is QRV as VK9WX.

 

Now the contest news

Today, the 12^th, the Commonwealth Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1000UTC. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. HQ stations also send ‘HQ’.

On Tuesday the 14^th of March, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also, on Tuesday the 14^th of March, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 15^th of March, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Thursday the 16^th of March, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using All modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group HF RTTY Contest begins at 0200UTC on Saturday the 18^th of March and will run until 0200UTC on Monday the 20^th of March. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and time.

 

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday 9^th of March 2023

It was business as usual last week with the solar flux index in the 180s, numerous C-class flares and, at the time of writing, 13 M-class flares over the past seven days.

The Kp index has been mostly settled for this part of the cycle, averaging two to three all week. But this doesn’t mean there has been little activity on the Sun, just that any eruptions have been directed away from Earth.

For example, a large prominence eruption off the Sun on the 7^th of March resulted in a coronal mass ejection that stretched hundreds of thousands of kilometres into space.

It is this type of activity that makes space weather predictions difficult. If it had been Earth-facing, we could have ended up with a highly-raised Kp index and extensive aurora. As it was, the event had little or no effect on Earth.

Maximum usable frequencies continue to be high, but we are starting to see the effects of the Summer ionospheric changes that will see daytime MUFs decline.

The MUF over a 3,000km path often doesn’t exceed 28MHz now until later in the morning.

This is due to a seasonal change in the ionospheric chemistry and a shift from monatomic species to diatomic ones, which are harder to ionise.

So, make the most of 10m as by mid-summer we may lose long-range propagation on 28MHz, other than through Sporadic-E events.

We mentioned last week that this is a good time for North-South paths as we head towards the Spring equinox. That is, good paths to South Africa and South America are more likely now than they were a few months back. There have been a lot of stations on 10m in the late afternoon from South America so make the most of the propagation.

Next week, NOAA predicts similar solar flux index figures, with the SFI being in the range of 170 to 185. The Kp index is predicted to be at two or three, with perhaps more unsettled geomagnetic conditions on Wednesday the 15^th.

As always, see solarham.net for more up-to-date information.

 

And now the VHF and up propagation news

The unsettled winter weather has yet to give way to spring, so it's primarily low-pressure systems and periods of rain or snow that we will be dealing with in the next week or so.

Whether it’s rain or snow, this unsettled pattern limits any Tropo options and leaves only GHz band rain-scatter as a propagation mode to explore. Generally speaking, the rain, or perhaps the point where the snow is melting as it falls, should provide better reflections, whereas, in very cold areas, where it is all snow, reflections may be weaker. This probably means that it will be southern areas that perform better with rain scatter.

For the next few weeks, there are no significant meteor showers and therefore the pre-dawn random meteors will be the best options. Aurora, on the other hand, tends to favour the spring and autumn months, so in view of the current state of solar activity, as mentioned in the previous section, you should continue to monitor the Kp index for signs of activity and check the bands if it gets to the point that Kp equals five.

For EME operators, after minimum declination this Thursday, Moon availability windows will start to lengthen. Path losses will continue to fall but we are still a week from the Moon’s perigee – its closest point to Earth. 144MHz sky noise is high, reaching over 2,800 Kelvin on Thursday.

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