RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for March 5th 2023.

GB2RS News

Sunday the 5^th of March 2023

The news headlines:

• New GB2RS broadcast
• Tonight@8 webinar
• Train the trainers course

 

We’re pleased to announce a new West Midlands GB2RS broadcast on the 4m band. Eddie, G0VVT, already broadcasts each Sunday evening from Stoke-on-Trent on 2m FM, 6m FM via GB3SX and on 70cm both simplex and via the GB7ST DMR repeater. He has now added 4m to his schedule. So, if you are in the area, please join him at 6 pm local time on 70.425MHz FM. You can download the full GB2RS broadcast schedule from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/gb2rsschedule

Don’t forget the RSGB’s Tonight@8 live webinar tomorrow, Monday the 6^th of March. Barry Lewis, G4SJH, the RSGB’s Microwave Manager, will talk about contesting in the microwave and millimetre wave bands at 23cm and above. You can watch and ask questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel or a special BATC channel. Find out more about this and other webinars on the Society’s website at rsgb.org/webinars

The Train the Trainers course is designed to help amateur radio trainers deliver interesting and engaging courses. It imparts some of the latest best practices in education from front-line teachers in a fun and friendly environment. Further details are available on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/train-the-trainers The team would like to apologise for any late replies to emails received following its December announcement of Train the Trainers courses for 2023, which was due to personal circumstances beyond its control. If you are interested in attending a Train the Trainers course or are a club that can host a course during 2023, then please contact the team by emailing trainthetrainers@rsgb.org.uk The team needs 25 delegates to make a course viable and have already received offers of venues in Essex, Bristol and Livingston in Scotland. So, if you are in or around one of these areas and would like to attend a course, the team would particularly like to hear from you.

The RSGB has just launched a new video called “2022 – a year in numbers”. It links with the March RadCom feature which gave an overview of the continuing amateur radio success story of 2022, in which RSGB HQ staff often led the way. You can watch the video on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB In the April RadCom you will be able to read in detail the work of the RSGB committees and other specialist volunteers.

After the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Northern Syria on the 21^st of February, BBC’s Digital Planet spoke to Aziz Şasa, TA1E, who is the President of the Turkish Amateur Radio Association. Aziz explained the vital role of amateur radio as a key communication method in the region. He also talked about how radio amateurs were aiding relief efforts and the use of repeaters for VHF and UHF frequencies. You can hear the interview on BBC Sounds – go to bbc.co.uk/sounds and search for “Data in disaster zones”. The interview starts two minutes and forty seconds into the broadcast.

 

And now for details of rallies and events

The Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 5^th of March. The venue for the event will be America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. The doors will open at 10.30 am for everyone and 10.15 am for disabled visitors. Admission is £3. Entry for those under 16 is free. There will be trade stands and bring and buy.

The South Kesteven Amateur Radio Society Junk Sale will take place next Saturday the 11^th of March at the  Railway Club, Grantham, NG31 7AU. Doors open for traders at 8 am. Traders are asked to bring their own table. Doors are open to the public between 9.30 am and 1 pm. Admission for traders is £5, and for the public £1. Refreshments will be available on-site. Contact Stewart, M0SDM for more details via s.mason@skars.co.uk

The British Vintage Wireless Society Meet will take place in Biggleswade on 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.

Dover Amateur Radio Club’s Hamzilla Electronics Fair and Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 12^th of March. 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

 

Now the Special Event News

Special callsign HG200AN will be active until the 15^th of March to commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Petőfi Sándor, one of Hungary’s most famous poets. QSL via Logbook of the World and Club Log’s OQRS.

Members of the Grassroots Amateur Radio Club in Newfoundland, Canada will be active as VO1TAP until Tuesday the 18^th of March. The callsign is active to mark the anniversary of the USS Truxton and USS Pollux naval disaster that occurred off the coast of Newfoundland on the 18^th of February 1942.

 

Now the DX news

Gopan, M0XUU and Ram, VU2JXN will be active from the Andaman Islands, AS-001, until the end of today, Sunday the 5^th. Operating will be focussed on the higher HF bands from 20 to 10m using CW and QO-100. For more details visit QRZ.com

Philippe, F1DUZ will be active as FG4KH from Guadeloupe, NA-102, until the 8^th of March, including participation in the SSB leg of the French HF Championship and the ARRL DX SSB Contest. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via F1DUZ.

Paul, VE3AXT will be active as V31AX from Caye Caulker island, NA-073, off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea until Monday the 6^th of March. He will be operating QRP on the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via M0URX’s OQRS.

 

Now the contest news

Today, Sunday the 5^th of March, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 to 3.4GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also today, the Worked all Britain 3.5MHz Contest runs from 1800 to 2200UTC. Using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked all Britain square, if applicable.

The ARRL International DX Contest ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 5^th of March. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmission power. American stations send a signal report and their State. Canadian stations send a signal report and their Province.

The March 144MHz and 432MHz Contest ends at 1400UTC today, the 5^th of March. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Monday the 6^th of March, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 7^th of March, 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.

Also on Tuesday the 7^th of March, 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.

On Wednesday the 8^th of March, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 8^th of March, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.

On Thursday the 9^th of March, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend, the Commonwealth Contest runs for 24 hours from 1000UTC on Saturday the 11^th of March to 1000UTC on Sunday the 12^th of March. 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’.

 

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 2^nd of March 2023.

The auroral event last week was probably the strongest we've had in this solar cycle. There were widespread visible aurora reports from the UK on Sunday the 26^th of February. The Kp index eventually hit seven at 0900 UTC on February 27^th, sparking widespread visible aurora alerts all over the UK for Tuesday evening as well.

The solar wind speed gradually decreased to below 650km/s and the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field shifted to the north, bringing the Kp index down.

March is always a good, or bad, month for aurora, depending on your perspective. The aurora is at its most active around the equinoxes in March and September.

Active region 3234 also produced an M8.6 flare on the 28^th, but as this was at 1750UTC, the radio blackout was restricted to the Americas. Any CME material was directed away from Earth.

The solar flux index remained in the range of 150 to 160 last week, which was enough to make the daytime maximum usable frequency remain above 28MHz most of the time, although the geomagnetic disturbance did have an effect and lowered it slightly.

Next week NOAA predicts the SFI will remain in the range of 145 to 165. A geomagnetic disturbance is predicted for the fifth to the seventh, which could see the Kp index hit five. So, watch out for visible aurora once again.

The period between the ninth to the fourteenth is predicted to be generally calm geomagnetically, so this might be the best time for DX on the upper HF bands.

However, as we know this is a difficult time for predictions, anything could happen. We suggest keeping an eye on solarham.net for updates.

 

And now the VHF and up propagation news

The very strong high pressure and tropo enhancement recently have. competed for attention with magnificent auroras, but we are now heading into quieter territory. The large high will decline early this weekend, ending the tropo bonus.

After which, the central weather theme is that of a colder northerly weather type with wintry showers, especially near windward coasts. This raises the prospect of rain scatter on the GHz bands.

After the recent dramatic solar-induced propagation week, it would be optimistic to expect a repeat, but the spring months are notable for producing auroras and there is always random meteor scatter. So, there are plenty of options to check up on in the coming week.

For EME operators, Moon declination is still high this weekend but we are on a downward trend, turning negative on Thursday, meaning Moon availability windows shortening all week.

With perigee last Friday, path losses will continue to fall. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. Perhaps you already view your radio-activity in the context of propagation conditions. But, for those not yet making this a routine, becoming aware of how these things are controlled can make a huge difference to your operating successes.

Why not start by seeking out some of the excellent propagation talks from radio clubs and the RSGB Convention which are often available online?

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