RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for May 21st 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 21^st of May 2023

The news headlines:

Youngsters on the Air camp
RSGB Board appointment
RadCom Basics Editor

The RSGB has announced the team of young members who will be representing the Society and the UK at this summer’s Youngsters on the Air camp. The event, hosted by the Hungarian Radio Amateur Society MRASZ, will take place in Gyor, Hungary between the 5^th and the 12^th of August. The team is made up of team leader Alexander, 2E0FMZ and members Henry-James, M7HJR; Hannah, M7YYQ and Jake, M7JNS. You can read more about the camp and the team on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/yota-hungary

The RSGB Board has decided to co-opt Ian Shepherd, G4EVK as a Board Director until the 2024 AGM. Please see the Board’s explanation of this appointment on the Society’s website at thersgb.org/go/boardcoopt

The RSGB is sad to report that RadCom Basics Editor Lee Aldridge, G4EJB wishes to retire later this year. The RSGB thanks Lee for all his hard work and effort in the making of RadCom Basics. If you are interested in taking on the role of RadCom Basics Editor, please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk

Last year, the RSGB was approached by the BBC to find experts to contribute to its planned series ‘The Secret Genius of Modern Life’. For episode one, which takes a look at the bank card, Neil Smith, G4DBN re-created the Great Seal Bug – a wooden seal, gifted to the US embassy in Moscow in 1945, and which contained a covert listening device. The technology developed for the bug was an early example of RFID, which is what allows contactless card payments to work. Neil has now released a series of fascinating videos on his YouTube channel which explain the history of the Bug as well as the mechanical design and machining needed to re-create it. You can find the videos in Neil’s playlist on ‘Machining and Microwaves’ and you can watch the original BBC Two programme on BBC Sounds – this episode is available for a further seven months.

The RSGB National Radio Centre welcomes thousands of people through its doors each month and needs to expand its team of volunteers. If you are interested in becoming an NRC volunteer, you should enjoy meeting people and be prepared to work a minimum of one – preferably two – days per month. The team is particularly interested in recruiting new volunteers who are able to work at the weekend. 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. For more information about volunteering, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk

Interest in QRP activity is as strong as ever in the worldwide amateur radio community. QRP activity showcases the ability of radio amateurs to communicate using low power and helps to reduce QRM on amateur bands. This year, QRP Day will be held on the 17^th of June. More information is available via the IARU website: iaru.org

And now for details of rallies and events

RetrotechUK, hosted by the British Vintage Wireless Society, is taking place today, the 21^st of May. The venue is Sports Connexion, Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. This large annual vintage technology fair features around 200 indoor stalls. Private sellers, clubs and dealers are offering vintage items, including radio, television, hi-fi, vinyl, 78s, gramophones, telephones, communications equipment, spare parts, and much more. There is also a bring-and-buy area and free parking available. The event is open to everyone and general admission from 10.30 am is £10. Early entry from 9 am costs £25. For more details contact Jeremy, G8MLK via email at jezzer3@hotmail.com, by phone at 07799 110 080, or visit retrotechuk.com

The Dunstable Downs Radio Club Annual National Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale is also taking place today, the 21^stof May. The venue is Stockwood Park in Luton. All the usual facilities are available. For more information visit ddrcbootsale.org

The Barry Amateur Radio Society Rally will take place on Saturday the 27^th of May. The venue will be Sully Sports and Social Club, South Road, Sully, CF64 5SP. Doors open from 9.30 am for the public and 7.30 am for traders. Free parking is available on-site. For more information contact Steve on 07368 140 795.

The Durham and District Amateur Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 28^th of May. The venue will be Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, Co Durham, DH6 5AT. The doors will be open from 10.10 am to 2.30 pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. Admittance is £2. There will be a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and a licensed bar are available on-site. For more information, contact Michael Wright, G7TWX on 07826 924 192, or on email via dadars@gmx.com

Now the Special Event News

Special callsign GB4VLB is active this weekend from the Volunteer Life Brigade Watch House in Tynemouth. The station is operating as part of SOS Radio Week in support of the Volunteer Life Brigade, RNLI and National Coast Watch Institution. For more information visit the GB4VLB QRZ page. QSL via Logbook of the World.

Look out for the special callsign AU40NRO which is active until the 30^th of June to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the National Institute of Amateur Radio in India. QSL via VU2NRO.

North West Group Amateur Radio Club in Northern Ireland is running a special event station GB0AEL until the 26^th of May to commemorate the anniversary of Amelia Earhart's transatlantic flight. On the 20^th and 21^st of May 1932, Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop and alone across the Atlantic, leaving Harbor Grace in Newfoundland, Canada, and landing 15 hours later in Northern Ireland. QSL via MI0HOZ, directly or via the bureau.

Members of ARI Novara will be active as II1CAI until the 30^th of June. The special callsign marks the 100^th anniversary of the local section of the Italian Alpine Club, founded in 1863. QSL via IQ1NO.

Now the DX news

Today is the last chance to work Pete, M1PTR, Tom, M0DCG and Kieron, M5KJM / EI6KP from Stockport Radio Society who are operating as EJ6KP from Great Blasket Island, EU-007. The team is active on the 40, 20 and possibly 15m bands using SSB. QSL via the bureau or OQRS.

Bob, N7XR is active as V7/N7XR from Kwajalein Atoll, OC-028, in the Marshall Islands until late June or early July. He operates CW, RTTY and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.

James, KI7MGY will be stationed in Djibouti until June and plans to be QRV as J28HJ on the 80, 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10m bands using SSB and FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World.

Giorgio, IU5HWS will be active as 5UA99WS from Niamey, Niger until the 15^th of June. In his spare time, he will be QRV on the 40 to 10m bands using FT8 and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World, or via EA5GL.

Now the contest news

Today, the 21^st of May, the 1^st144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK and Crown Dependency stations also send the first two letters of their postcode.

Today, the 21^st of May, the 144MHz May Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK and Crown Dependency stations also send the first two letters of their postcode.

On Monday the 22^nd of May, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is your report.

On Tuesday the 23^rd of May, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3GHz and up bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 25^th of May, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Saturday the 27^th of May, the CQ Worldwide WPX CW Contest starts its 24-hour run at 0000UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Sunday the 28^th of May, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 5.7 and 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 18^th of May 2023

After last week’s NOAA prediction that we would have settled geomagnetic conditions all week, it seems they were right! The Kp index never got above three – a miracle given the recent disruption due to coronal mass ejections and coronal holes.

The proton flux from the Sun has declined as well. However, an M9 solar flare on Tuesday from active region 3310, and numerous C-class flares, maybe a precursor to more flare activity next week.

With a solar flux index in the 130s and 140s, HF conditions have been quite good. Daytime maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path have usually exceeded 21MHz, with 24MHz seeing occasional F2-layer openings, as well as sporadic E propagation.

At the moment, the 10m band is mainly open to Sporadic-E propagation with more DX paths now locked out until the Autumn. This is in line with predictions, as the ionosphere changes in the Northern Hemisphere summer with a change to more diatomic elements, which are harder to ionise.

So, will our luck hold out next week?

The Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasts that the Solar Flux Index, or SFI, will decline slightly to the 120s and this weekend should be geomagnetically settled. However, it is predicting that the Kp index will rise again from the 23^rd of May. It suggests that the Kp index may hit four or even five for a few days before becoming more settled again from the 30^th.

The US Air Force disagrees and thinks the SFI will be higher, perhaps hitting 145 and even 155 by the 28^th. It agrees that we are in for more unsettled geomagnetic conditions from the 24^th to the 28^th, possibly due to a coronal hole rotating into an Earth-facing position.

So, expect MUFs to decline if the Kp index goes up, with poor overall HF conditions.

It is certainly looking like this weekend may see the best conditions for HF, so we suggest you get your DXing in right now, with 14 to 21MHz offering the best prospects.

And now the VHF and up propagation news

The upcoming weather week will be predominantly high-pressure driven, with an elongated region of high pressure from the Azores to Scandinavia.

However, there is still scope for a few blemishes and as we end the current week it comes as isolated showers, especially in the south and weakening fronts over north-western Britain. Early next week, a brief period with low pressure over the near continent will threaten some heavier rain for south-eastern areas.

Concentrating on the high-pressure part of the story, this means Tropo is a strong player and will hopefully be in attendance for the 144MHz May Contest and 144MHz Backpackers Contest this weekend.

Remember that, in the summer months, Tropo becomes much weaker over the land during the stronger heating of the daytime sunshine but can become quite widespread overnight and around coasts.

The rainfall component can lead to good rain scatter options, especially as the summer usually produces more intense rainfall, so performs better as a scatterer on the GHz bands.

The other primary propagation mode is going to be Sporadic-E as we move into the peak summer months. Follow the position of jet streams on the upper air charts, shown on propquest.co.uk and described in a daily blog.

Don’t forget there are always modes like aurora and meteor scatter, which can add to the excitement, but will need to be checked each day.

Moon declination is at its highest this weekend for the Dubus EME 10GHz and up SSB/CW contest, peaking on Monday. With apogee next Friday, path losses will continue to increase.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for May 21st 2023

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