RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 1st October 2023

GB2RS News

Sunday the 1^st of October 2023

The news headlines:

• RSGB 2023 Convention
• RadCom Basics Editor retirement
• RSGB Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML’s SOTA challenge

We’re counting down to the RSGB 2023 Convention and the Society is putting the final touches to the programme. This year there will be a special, hour-long, session with the RSGB Board where the Directors will present the four strategic priorities that the Society will be focusing on until the 2024 AGM. After that, Convention attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions. This will be a positive and productive opportunity to discuss with the Board how the Society, and its members, can meet the challenges facing amateur radio today. The session will be hosted by Don Beattie, G3BJ, who is the former IARU Region 1 President as well as a former President of the Radio Society of Great Britain. The session will be recorded so if you are unable to attend the Convention but would like to hear a particular topic discussed, please email that topic with your name and callsign to comms@rsgb.org.uk before Monday the 9^th of October. The discussion will include as many topics as possible but the RSGB cannot guarantee every topic will be covered. Directors will also only answer specific questions from those who attend the session at the Convention. To be part of this discussion and pose your question to the Board, book your package or day ticket to the RSGB Convention today – go to rsgb.org/convention and choose ‘Click here to book online’. Bookings close at midnight on Sunday the 8^th of October.

RadCom Basics Editor Lee Aldridge, G4EJB has retired. Over the past few years, Lee has been instrumental in making RadCom Basics a success. His passion for amateur radio and commitment to encouraging newcomers is infectious and has been very well received by readers. The RSGB thanks Lee for his hard work as Editor and is pleased to report that he will continue to write for RadCom Basics and provide regular technical and fault-finding articles. The new RadCom Basics Editor is Tim Hier, G5TM and the RSGB welcomes him to the role. Lee and Tim have worked together to produce the September edition of RadCom Basics. You can contact Tim with ideas or feedback for future editions via radcombasics@rsgb.org.uk  RSGB Members can access all issues of RadCom Basics by visiting rsgb.org/radcom-basics

RSGB Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML has taken on the challenge of activating ten summits during 12 days on the remote Scottish islands. He will climb some with his partner and fellow radio amateur Martha, and their two-year-old daughter Lyra. This SOTA – or Summits on the Air – challenge combines Ben’s favourite hobbies of amateur radio and hiking, but it also sometimes brings with it adverse weather conditions and the need to reach remote islands by kayak! Ben is hoping that by sharing his challenge he will not only inspire radio amateurs to try SOTA, but he will also encourage people who love walking and hiking to try amateur radio. You can catch up with his adventures on the RSGB social media channels and through the special playlist of videos on the RSGB YouTube channel. Go to youtube.com/theRSGB and choose the playlist called “RSGB Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML - SOTA challenge”.

The next Tonight@8 live webinar is on Monday the 2^nd of October when Lee Volante, G0MTN will give a presentation aimed at newcomers to contesting. He will explore how contesting began, explain why it is rewarding and fun, and demonstrate how anyone can take part in their first contests with equipment they have today. Watch on the RSGB YouTube channel and find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars

The RSGB QSL Bureau reports that, due to unforeseen circumstances, well-known volunteer Roy Taylor, M0RRV is retiring from his post as volunteer sub-manager for the M1 to M7 groups. The Bureau thanks Roy for his valuable service to others and is now seeking a replacement volunteer. Expressions of interest should be emailed to qsl@rsgb.org.uk  Members are requested not to send collection envelopes to this group until further notice.

IARU Region 1 will hold its next General Conference from the 1^st to the 4^th of November 2023 in Zlatibor, Serbia. A wide range of papers and proposals are now available online and the RSGB welcomes comments on these. Topics include: general reports; organisational and budget proposals; the new HF Bandplan; VHF, UHF and SHF changes; and consideration of WRC-23, the World Radiocommunication Conference, which follows shortly afterwards. Other themes include: strategic projects and progress, accommodating digital technologies, contests, EMC and other spectrum matters. Comments should be forwarded to the relevant HF, VHF or Microwave spectrum manager, by Thursday the 12^th of October, in order to allow time to finalise the RSGB position. You can find a link to the consultation via thersgb.org/go/iaruconsult

 

And now for details of rallies and events

The 48^th Welsh Radio Rally is taking place today, the 1^st of October. The venue is Llanwern High School, Hartridge Farm Road, Newport, South Wales, NP18 2YE. The doors will be open from 8am for traders and from 10am for the public. Entry is £3. Free parking, bring and buy and refreshments will be available. For more information email welshradiorally@gw6gw.co.uk 

Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Sunday the 15^th of October. The venue will be Driffield Showground, YO25 9DW. For more information, contact Les, 2E0LBJ on 01377 252 393 or email lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk

Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 15^th of October. The venue will be Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton. Devon, PL20 6AL. There will be bring and buy, trader stands, free parking and refreshments available. The doors will open at 10am and admission will be £2.50. For more information, contact Roger on 07854 088 882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com

 

Now the Special Event News

The British Railways Amateur Radio Society, using the club callsign GX4LMR, is marking 185 years since the opening of Preston railway station in 1838. Mark, G1PIE will be operating during the whole month of October. Activity will be centred on the 40m band using SSB. QSL via the bureau.

 

Now the DX news

Bob, W7YAQ and Al, K7AR are active as VK9LAA from Lord Howe Island, OC-004, until the 4^th of October. They are running two stations on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, or via W7YAQ.

Sajid, VA3QY is active as A22EW from his homeland of Botswana until the 8^th of October. He is operating on the 20 to 10m bands. He may also operate on the 6m band. QSL via eQSL.

Brian, GW4DVB is active as J88PI until the 10^th of October from Palm Island, NA-025, in the Caribbean. Brian is operating on the 40, 20, 17, 15, 10 and 6m bands using SSB, SSTV and FT8. QSL direct to home call.

 

 

Now the contest news

The UK and Ireland Contest Club DX SSB Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 30^th of September and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 1^st of October. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Stations from the UK and Ireland also send their District Code. This event replaces the original RSGB DX contest. It is listed on the RSGB contest calendar and, for entrants from the UK and Crown Dependencies, counts towards the HF Championship. This international DX SSB contest also has a Teams section. Team members, with a maximum of three members, can be from different DXCCs and can enter different sections. Rules, in English and eight other languages, can be found under the "DX CONTESTS" menu at ukeicc.com

The Worked All Britain DX Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 30^th of September and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 1^st of October. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.

On Monday the 2^nd of October, the Autumn Series CW Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 3^rd of October, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Tuesday the 3^rd of October, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Tuesday the 3^rd of October, the IRTS 80m Evening Counties Contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their county code.

On Wednesday the 4^th of October, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 4^th of October, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.

On Wednesday the 4^th of October, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator.

The Oceania DX SSB Contest starts at 0600UTC on Saturday the 7^th of October and ends at 0600UTC on Sunday the 8^th of October. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Both the IARU and RSGB 432MHz to 245GHz Contests start at 1400UTC on Saturday the 7^th of October and end at 1400UTC on Sunday the 8^th of October. Using all modes on 432MHz to 245GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Saturday the 7^th of October, the 2.3GHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes on 2.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Saturday the 7^th of October, the 1.2GHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes on 1.2GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

 

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 28^th of September 2023

Another week of disrupted solar and geomagnetic conditions saw the Kp index go up and MUFs come down.

A period of minor G1 geomagnetic storming was observed on Tuesday the 26^th thanks to an enhanced solar wind stream containing a long-duration southward-facing Bz component. If the solar wind’s Bz magnetic field points south, it more easily couples with the Earth’s magnetic field, allowing solar plasma to flood in.

The net result was a Kp index of 5.67 and visible aurora seen from the UK once again. It is worth reminding people that, at this point in the solar cycle, conditions are being governed more by the Kp index than the solar flux index.

A high Kp index generally results in lower MUFs and poor HF conditions.

During the week, the solar flux index was around 175, declining to 156 on Thursday the 28^th. The number of solar flares also decreased as the week progressed. Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the range 145 to 155, perhaps hitting 160 on the 7^th.

NOAA also predicts quiet geomagnetic conditions with a maximum Kp index of 2. As we said last week, at this point in the cycle solar flares and coronal mass ejections are very prevalent and hard to predict. So, do not be surprised if the Kp index goes up again.

Otherwise, if it remains low, make the most of the good HF conditions that generally follow.

Finally, as it is now October, we can expect another step up in HF conditions as we enter Autumn, so keep an eye on the 10m band, which should be opening up to the US and Canada in the afternoon. There are plenty of 10m beacons to listen for from 28.160 to 28.330MHz, as well as FM repeaters clustered around 29.600MHz.

 

And now the VHF and up propagation news

Last week saw trans-equatorial openings on 50MHz with V51 Namibia reported all over the UK, as far north as Scotland around 1900UTC.

On the tropo front, last week was fairly unsettled with a visit from Agnes, our first named storm of the season, which affected the north and west.

The coming week is looking much more suitable for VHF radio with high pressure building over the country from Tuesday, bringing a good chance of Tropo as we go through the week.

This may not be fully developed for the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the 3^rd, but possibly starting to help lift conditions, in the south at least.

The high pressure will become more widespread over the next week, but by the following weekend of the 7^th and 8^th of October, the 1.3GHz Trophy may have to deal with more disturbed conditions in western areas. However, conditions will still probably be good for eastern areas across the North Sea to southern Scandinavia.

The meteor scatter prospects are improving as we move towards the October Draconids, which peak on the night of the 8^th and 9^th. Auroras have also featured recently so should remain in our checklist.

Incidentally, although we are technically outside the main Sporadic-E season, Dourbes ionosonde data plotted on the Propquest website have shown occasional ‘blips’ in the critical frequency of the Sporadic-E layer, for example to 7.5MHz around 1650UTC on Wednesday the 27^th of September. This would certainly be enough for 10m and perhaps even 6m chance openings. ‘If in doubt call CQ’ is the take-away message here.

Moon declination goes positive on Friday the 29^th of September and reaches its peak the following Thursday. This means increasing Moon elevation and lengthening Moon Windows until then. The downside being that path losses are increasing all week ahead of apogee on the 10^th of October.

144MHz sky noise starts off low, increasing to 500 Kelvin next Thursday before dropping again for the weekend.

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