GB2RS

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 21st January 2024

GB2RS News
Sunday the 21st of January 2024
The news headlines:
British Science Week is approaching
Updates on the RSGB’s Strategic Priorities
RSGB election deadline reminder
 
This year’s British Science Week runs from the 8th to the 17th of March with the theme of Time. This event is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of amateur radio in your local area. The RSGB has some great activity ideas you could try at your local school, Scout or Guiding group or local youth club. Go to the web page at rsgb.org/bsw and click on the activity titles to find everything you need to know to be able to run that activity. Several radio clubs from across the UK have already planned outreach activities for British Science Week and the RSGB hopes its resources will inspire you to get involved too! RSGB volunteer John Hislop, G7OHO has provided these ideas but the Society would love to add other activities to enthuse young people about wireless communication. If you have an amateur radio activity on the theme of Time that you’d like to share, or if you’d like to get involved but aren’t sure how to start, please direct enquiries to the RSGB British Science Week contact, Ian Neal, M0KEO. Ian’s contact details will soon be available at rsgb.org/bsw
At the Discussion with the Board session at the RSGB 2023 Convention, the RSGB President, John McCullagh, GI4BWM confirmed that the Board would keep members updated regularly on progress with the new strategic priorities. Two updates have now appeared in the January and February issues of RadCom and they are also available to read on the RSGB website. These updates highlight some important activities and achievements as well as new plans, so the Society encourages every member to take the time to read them. Go to rsgb.org/strategy and choose the ‘Strategy priorities updates’ option from the righthand list. Further updates are being prepared so do check back regularly or look out for them in each RadCom. You can also watch the Discussion with the Board Convention session on the RSGB’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB
The deadline for applications for the one elected RSGB Board Director position and eight Regional Representative roles is Wednesday the 31st of January. Amateur radio needs a strong and active national society so don’t leave it to everyone else, step forward for one of these roles and play your part in the future of the RSGB. You'll find guidance and candidate forms on the RSGB elections web page at rsgb.org/election as well as contact details if you want an informal chat before standing for election.
A reminder that the RSGB is looking for four licensed radio amateurs to help raise the profile of wireless communication amongst young people across the UK. We have had a good response, but we’d still like to hear from prospective volunteers in Northern Ireland and Wales. These volunteer Youth Country Representatives will represent the RSGB at externally organised events and will plan and deliver outreach activities. If you have plenty of ideas, a passion for getting young people involved in amateur radio and experience of running small-scale events, we would be very keen to hear from you. The deadline is Friday the 16th of February. For full details, see rsgb.org/volunteers and for an informal discussion, please email RSGB Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML at gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk
GB2RS began broadcasting via the Es’hail-2 amateur satellite in May 2021. Every Sunday at 0800UTC you can hear the latest RSGB news on the dedicated narrow-band QO-100 transponder frequency of 10489.855MHz. This has proved so popular that, by the kind permission of AMSAT-DL, from the 4th of February 2024 we’re introducing a second reading at 2100UTC. This will suit our international audience in the western lobe of the footprint. The existing team of three Newsreaders is looking for another volunteer to join them. If you are an RSGB member with a good QO-100 facility and would be interested in broadcasting the news, please contact the GB2RS Manager, Steve, G4HPE at gb2rs.manager@rsgb.org.uk for further details.
During February, the RSGB’s Photo Friday focus on social media is all about clubs. If you’d like your club to be included, let the RSGB comms team know what you've been up to and who's been involved and share all the brilliant things you've been doing. Email comms@rsgb.org.uk by the 31st of January with a brief summary of the activity and some photos, and please make sure that everyone in the photo is happy to have their face on social media!
Chris Deacon, G4IFX has been awarded a PhD from the University of Bath after completing research on propagation. His thesis was entitled: “Radio propagation through ionospheric Sporadic-E”. This part-time work over many years involved looking at Sporadic-E on the 6m band, including making novel measurements of signal amplitude, phase, derived Doppler, polarisation and potential time delay to discover the nature of sporadic-E propagation at VHF frequencies. The RSGB Propagation Studies Committee congratulates Chris on this fantastic achievement. You can find out more by searching for Chris’ name on the University of Bath research portal at researchportal.bath.ac.uk  Chris has done a number of presentations about propagation at RSGB Conventions over the years, which you can see on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB
And now for details of rallies and events
The Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 28th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 9 am and admission is £2. Ample free car parking and hot refreshments will be available. The tables cost £10 each. At 2 pm, after the Rally, there will be a used equipment auction. Items for the auction will be booked from 1 pm. Contact Steve, M5ZZZ for tables and details via m5zzz@outlook.com or 07777 699 069.
The Canvey Rally will be held on Sunday the 4th of February at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. The Rally is expected to be the usual hive of activity with plenty of traders on site. For more information contact Richard Stanley at 07725 551 263 or email g7oed@icloud.com 
The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11th of February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue.
Now the Special Event News
A team of German amateurs is operating a special event call sign DM24EHF until the 28th of January. The EHF suffix stands for European Handball Federation. The 16th edition of the European Men's Handball Championship is being hosted in Germany from the 10th to the 28th of January. QSL via the bureau, or directly to DL2VFR.
The Straight Key Century Club's Straight Key Month is currently underway. The annual on-air event commemorates the Club's founding in 2006 and celebrates the original instruments of early radiotelegraphy including straight keys, bugs and ‘cootie’ keys. Listen out for the K3Y callsign which is being aired from the ten US call areas. Information on the event and QSL instructions can be found at skccgroup.com/k3y
“Discovering Marconi” is an international amateur radio diploma organised by the ARI Radio Club of Fidenza in Italy. Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian scientist in 1874, this award aims to delve deeper into the thought, vision, capacity and character of Guglielmo Marconi. More details of special callsigns and award rules can be found at arifidenza.itNow the DX news
Chris, WA7RAR will be active as 8P9CB from Barbados, NA-021, until the 25th of January. Most of his operations will be portable at various locations, especially Parks on the Air sites. He will be QRV on the 20 to 10m bands using CW and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World, or directly to WA7RAR.
Listen out for Bob, V4/N4RF who is active from Saint Kitts, NA-104, until the 25th of January. He will operate mainly CW, with some FT8 and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World is preferred but is also available directly via his home call.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 23rd, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 13cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The CQ 160m DX Contest starts at 2200UTC on Friday the 26th and ends at 2200UTC on Sunday the 28th. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province.
The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group RTTY Sprint starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 27th and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 28th. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is a serial number.
The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Friday the 1st of December 2023. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2024. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 18th of January 2024
We had yet another week with good solar conditions which, at this point in the cycle, is good news. The solar flux index remained in the 170s to 180s range and the Sun is currently peppered with spots.
The Kp index never got above 3.33 and that was only for one three-hour period on January the 16th.
We were also lucky with solar flares in that we only had minor C-class flares to contend with. An eruption was observed beyond the west limb on January 14th. The event generated a fast-moving coronal mass ejection or CME, but it was directed away from our planet.
Daytime MUFs over 3,000km remain high at more than 28MHz. At night this reduces to around 6.9 to 9.5MHz, meaning only the 40m band is mainly open to DX, if at all.
HF-wise, this is the best time for low-band DXing, such as 40m band contacts with New Zealand around sunrise, and overnight QSOs on the 80m band with the USA.
Other DX being worked by members of CDXC includes XU7AKU in Cambodia on 40m CW in the early evening; V31XX in Belize, VP9KF in Bermuda, on 30m CW around 1000UTC; and E20AX in Thailand on 40m CW around 0930UTC.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may remain in the 160 to 170 range with a maximum Kp index of 2. As always, take that Kp prediction with a pinch of salt as a single Earth-facing coronal mass ejection could send it sky-high with an accompanying lowering of the MUF and generally poor conditions.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The main theme of the VHF and up propagation options is that we have three distinct phases coming up.
The first phase is set to end today, the 21st. This will be the final blast of the cold northerly wind, which may produce some rain scatter near coasts from snow showers. It is probably not especially useful for Tropo, even inland, except perhaps for local overnight temporary short-distance enhancements due to surface cooling and night frosts.
Phase two is the transition to very unsettled, wet and windy weather, which starts to arrive during this weekend, ending the 21st, and generally sets the pattern for much of the coming week. Maybe it will be a rain scatter option for the GHz bands, but the main radio consideration will be wind potentially damaging antennas, particularly in the south.
Phase three will be the introduction of a weak ridge of high pressure over southern Britain in the second half of the coming week and the following weekend. This could bring some more productive Tropo to southern parts of the UK, especially into the last weekend of the month.
Other propagation modes are available but don’t seem to be elevated beyond chance occurrences for meteor scatter or aurora. There is a vanishingly small chance of Sporadic-E, as we are in the minimum period for this sort of propagation until after Easter.
For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and rising, reaching a maximum on the 23rd. Path losses increase all week until apogee on Monday the 29th. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate this coming week.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 14th January 2024

GB2RS News
Sunday the 14th of January 2024
The news headlines:
RSGB releases new video about changes to amateur radio licensing
WRTC 2026 team to appear in an RSGB Tonight@8 webinar
Paul Athersmith, M0PLA achieves Mountain Goat award
 
Following Ofcom’s consultation on the amateur radio licence last year, it released a statement in December 2023. The statement outlined its decision to update the amateur radio licensing framework to ensure the policies and licences meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s radio amateurs while streamlining the licensing process. It also published a General Notice, giving notice of its proposal to vary all amateur radio licences. The RSGB has just released a video in which RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB chats to RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB. Murray recaps some of the headline results of the Ofcom consultation, including where changes have occurred to Ofcom’s proposals. They also talk about what this could mean for radio amateurs in the future. This is a great example of how the RSGB is working not only to defend the spectrum but also to support all radio amateurs to understand and make use of the privileges they enjoy through their amateur radio licence. You can watch this video on the RSGB’s YouTube channel or via the Society’s licence review updates page at rsgb.org/licencereview
On Monday the 15th of January, join the RSGB’s first Tonight@8 live webinar of 2024. Led by Chairman and Project Manager Mark Haynes, M0DXR, the WRTC 2026 team will be presenting and answering questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel and BATC channel. The presentation will explain what WRTC is about and provide an overview of what the UK’s Organising Committee is planning for the 2026 event. Find out how you can be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event, either as a spectator, volunteer, competitor or referee. Following Mark’s presentation at the RSGB 2023 Convention, this Tonight@8 webinar will bring you up to date with everything that has been happening since. To find out more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars
Paul Athersmith, M0PLA of Telford, Shropshire, has achieved the coveted Mountain Goat award for gaining 1,000 activator points in the Summits on the Air scheme. Paul completed his mission on the summit of Pole Bank, on the Long Mynd in Shropshire. The feat took Paul just over seven years, following his debut activation in December 2016. For more information about SOTA, visit sota.org.uk 
The deadline for nominations in the RSGB elections is Wednesday the 31st of January. You still have time to stand for the one Elected Board Director vacancy or for one of the eight Regional Representative vacancies. Do you want to support your local radio amateurs? Are you passionate about seeing the amateur radio community grow and attract new people of all ages? Do you understand the RSGB’s importance in helping to protect the spectrum and the licence privileges all radio amateurs enjoy? If so, this is the time to step forward! If you don’t feel you can volunteer at this time, do you know someone who would be great in one of these roles? Go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election to find out how to get involved before the nomination period closes.
RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB is a name many will know from visits to the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. Others will know him from contacts they may have made with him on the radio over the many years that Martyn has been an amateur radio licensee. You can learn more about Martyn, and his love for the hobby, in "The Face Behind the Call" in January's Practical Wireless magazine. Journalist Roger Dowling, G3NKH discovers how Martyn came into the hobby and takes a look at his extensive shack. They also talk about volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre and the impressive equipment that makes up the GB3RS station. Read more at rsgb.org/nrc
The deadline for submissions to the RSGB Construction Competition is the 1st of March 2024. To enable members across the country, and even the world, to take part, entries will again be judged over the internet rather than in person. This year two new categories have been introduced so there are six categories you can enter: Antennas; Beginners; Most creative and/or elegant PCB Design; Construction Excellence; Innovation; and Software and Systems. Special recognition will be given to entries submitted by radio amateurs under the age of 24, and to those who have just gained their Foundation licence. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner of each section, with a bonus for the overall winner, who will also be given the Pat Hawker G3VA Award. You can watch an RSGB Tonight@8 presentation featuring winners from previous years, and find out how to enter this year, on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/construction-competition
And now for details of rallies and events
The Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 28th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 9 am and admission is £2. Ample free car parking and hot refreshments will be available. The tables cost £10 each. At 2 pm, after the Rally, there will be a used equipment auction. Items for the auction will be booked from 1 pm. Contact Steve, M5ZZZ for tables and details via m5zzz@outlook.com or 07777 699 069.
The Canvey Rally will be held on Sunday the 4th of February at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. The Rally is expected to be the usual hive of activity with plenty of traders on site. For more information contact Richard Stanley at 07725 551 263 or email g7oed@icloud.com 
The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11th of February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue.
 
Now the Special Event News
The World Wide Award 2024 has been running since the 1st of January and will finish on the 31st of January. The event is being held in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi. The World Wide Award combines CW, SSB and digital mode activity from special event stations around the world. Real-time award tracking for chasers is available at hamaward.cloud/wwa
VI100MB is the special callsign for the Manly-Warringah Radio Society, VK2MB to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its formation. The station will be active until the 25th of February 2024. QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL.
 
Now the DX news
Pierre-Jean, F4GPK will be active as TO2FY from French Guiana until the 16th of January. He will operate SSB only from the facilities at the local radio club, FY5KE. QSL via eQSL, or direct to his home call. He does not use Logbook of the World or Club Log.
Yannick, F6FYD will be active as CN2YD from Marrakech, Morocco until the 15th of March 2024. He plans to operate as CN2YD/P from IOTA group AF-065 sometime during his stay. QSL via F6FYD.
Now the contest news
Today, the 14th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m Data modes Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 16th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 18th, 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.
On Saturday the 20th, the Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m SSB Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using SSB only on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Friday the 1st of December 2023. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2024. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator.
 Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 11th of January 2024
We couldn't have asked for better solar conditions last week. We had a low Kp index that never got any higher than 2.67, and a solar flux index that started the week at 167 and then rose to 186 by Wednesday.
So, at first glance, this looks like ideal conditions for HF. However, we are in the middle of winter and therefore the ionosphere is not at its best. The low bands are also being affected by the higher solar flux and, on the whole, the 14MHz band and above are closing as the night draws in.
Daytime critical frequencies remain around 9 to 10MHz, so the 40m band should remain useful for inter-UK work. Nighttime critical frequencies are currently falling to 3.5 to 4.5MHz, which means the 40m band is only open to long skip, if at all.
 
The critical frequency is the highest that still returns a signal from the ionosphere if sent straight up, and is a good guide as to which bands are open to near vertical incidence skywave or NVIS signals around the UK.
On the brighter side, 14MHz has been showing signs of DX. The VK6RBP beacon has been heard on 14.100MHz in the afternoon via the short path and 28.200MHz in the morning via the long path.
The 12m band has shown international beacons RR90 in Siberia, OH2B in Finland, LU4AA in Argentina and YV5B in Venezuela, on 24.930MHz in the morning. While the 10m band also highlighted YV5B in Venezuela during mid-morning.
Not a massive catch, but better than we were getting two years ago!
For the coming week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may fall into the range of 150 to 165. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to remain settled with a maximum Kp index of 2.
As always, this could easily change if we have a coronal mass ejection, so keep an eye on solarham.net for near real-time solar conditions.
 
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The area of high pressure has been working well for some parts of the country, with Tropo conditions lasting into the start of this weekend, but as a cold front moves South on Saturday the 13th, all will change as the high becomes displaced to the Atlantic.
Therefore, there is no significant Tropo for the coming week, but there may be some rain scatter from showers, especially around the coasts.
We seem to have passed the period of unusual winter Sporadic-E propagation without much evidence of activity so that just leaves meteor scatter. After the Quadrantids last week, we entered a period of low meteor shower activity, leaving just random meteors until the next major shower, the Lyrids in April.
For random meteor scatter, the pre-dawn period works best. The solar conditions can still be instrumental in producing extra propagation treats with chance aurora. Probably the best operating policy is to monitor the geomagnetic Kp-index with high values greater than 6 being a good sign for VHF.
For EME operators, this week starts with very low Moon declination, low peak Moon elevation and short Moon windows, but declination is rising and goes positive again on Tuesday. Path losses are still low and reached minimum at perigee on Saturday the 13th. 144MHz sky noise is low for all of the coming week.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.
 

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 7th January 2024

GB2RS News
Sunday the 7th of January 2024
The news headlines:
RSGB Regional Team vacancies
RSGB volunteer interviewed by the BBC
RSGB National Radio Centre seeks to expand its team of volunteers
 
The news team and all the staff at RSGB HQ would like to wish our newsreaders, listeners and online readers a very happy New Year. We would like to remind everyone that we always welcome your news, by email, to radcom@rsgb.org.uk and the deadline is 10 am sharp on Thursday mornings. The GB2RS script is usually uploaded to the RSGB website by 4.30 pm each Friday afternoon.
Are you interested in supporting your local radio amateurs and promoting amateur radio where you live? The RSGB Regional Team has eight Regional Representative vacancies across the UK where you could make a difference. Last year, Regional Reps got involved in a variety of activities including British Science Week and YOTA Month to help spread the word about amateur radio in their regions. If you have the passion to do this, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election to find out how to apply. The deadline for applications is the 31st of January.
It was great to hear RSGB volunteer Peter Marcham, G3YXZ on BBC Radio Oxford on New Year's Day. Peter volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre, as well as being a tour guide at Bletchley Park. He spoke to radio presenter Sophie Law about his volunteering after sending the words "Bletchley Park Guide" to a three-word, text-in feature on why listeners were up early on New Year's Day. Search for Sophie Law on BBC Sounds, choose the New Year’s Day programme and listen from 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds.
There is so much happening at the RSGB National Radio Centre that it needs to expand its team of volunteers! If you can volunteer on a Friday or Saturday, you will be particularly welcome. The NRC has a fabulous set-up, and full training on using the GB3RS radio station will be given. You should enjoy meeting people and be able to volunteer for one or two days per month as part of a friendly and dedicated team. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. For more information, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk
We have received the sad news that both Mick Senior, G4EFO and Martyn Vincent, G3UKV have become Silent Keys recently. Mick was a former Regional Representative for Region 10, and the keeper of a number of local repeaters. Martyn was the District Representative for Shropshire, North Worcestershire and West Birmingham. Previously, he volunteered for the RSGB as the Regional Representative for Region 5 and as a member of the Nominations Committee. He was also a very well-respected member of the microwave and contesting communities. Our thoughts are with their families at this difficult time.
This year marks 150 years since the birth of Guglielmo Marconi in 1874. The Cornish Radio Amateur Club will be organising International Marconi Day this year on the 27th of April. For more information and updates, visit the GB4IMD Facebook page.
The RSGB’s RadCom team is looking for authors to contribute to the magazine. Previously unpublished features and articles are always welcome for consideration, and authors are paid for any content that is used. To contact the RadCom team please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
The Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 28th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 9 am and admission is £2. Ample free car parking and hot refreshments will be available. Tables cost £10 each. At 2 pm, after the Rally, there will be a used equipment auction. Items for the auction will be booked in from 1 pm. Contact Steve, M5ZZZ for tables and details via m5zzz@outlook.com or 07777 699 069.
The Canvey Rally will be held on Sunday the 4th of February at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. The Rally is expected to be the usual hive of activity with plenty of traders on site. For more information contact Richard Stanley on 07725 551 263 or email g7oed@icloud.com 
The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11th of February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue.
Now the Special Event News
Today, the 7th is the last chance to work special callsign EH5XMAS. The station is operated by members of Radio Club Lliria, EA5RCL in celebration of Christmas and the New Year. QSL via the bureau to EA5RCL, Logbook of the World and eQSL.
On the 14th of January 2024, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the Second will abdicate and leave the throne to her son who will become His Majesty King Frederik the Tenth, when he is sworn in as the new King of Denmark. For this reason, amateur radio associations FRA and EDR will activate Special Event Stations within The Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. OZ24QUEEN will be active from 0000UTC on the 12th of January until 2359UTC on the 14th of January. OZ24KING will be active from 0000UTC on the 14th of January until 2359UTC on the 16th of January. These callsigns, and others, will be active on many amateur radio bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and several digital modes. All amateur bands and all modes may be used. For more information see QRZ.com
The Radio Club of Haïti is on the air until the 31st of January with special callsign HH220Y. The station is active to celebrate Haïti’s 220th anniversary of independence. Operators are active on the 160 to 10m bands using CW, FT8 and SSB. QSL via N2OO.
Now the DX news
Eric, F5LCX will be active as V5/F5LCX from Namibia until the 11th of January. He plans to operate with both mobile and fixed stations for a few hours on a daily basis – probably during the evening hours. QSL via Logbook of the World.
Brad, VK2BY will be active again as HS0ZNR from the Nam Yuen district in northeastern Thailand until the 14th of January. He will be QRV on the 160 to 10m bands. QSL directly to VK2BY and Logbook of the World.
Now the contest news
The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Friday the 1st of December 2023. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2024. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator.
The ARRL RTTY Roundup ends its two-day run today, Sunday the 7th of January, at 2359UTC. Using the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. American stations also send their state. Canadian stations send their province.
On Tuesday the 9th, 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 9th, 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 10th, 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 10th, 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 Thursday the 11th, 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.
On Sunday the 14th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m Datamodes Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 4th of January 2024
Welcome to the first HF propagation report of 2024 – it looks like it will be business as usual!
A massive X5-class solar flare occurred on the 31st of December. Luckily, this happened at 2155UTC so didn’t affect the ionosphere over the UK. But it did launch a large coronal mass ejection, which was forecast to possibly hit the Earth on the 2nd of January. It looks like it largely missed us, although low-energy proton levels streaming past Earth continued to rise and were at the minor S1 radiation storm threshold on Wednesday the 3rd.
Had active region 3536 been directly facing Earth when the flare was observed, a stronger proton event and geomagnetic storm would have been very likely. Only minor HF signal degradation through the polar zones should be expected because of the minor S1 storm. So, it looks like we dodged the bullet again, but this is a warning that there could be more to come.
Otherwise, the solar flux index declined to the 140s over the Christmas period, although it looks like it may increase over the coming week.
NOAA predicts it could be in the range of 150 to 160 next week, with a maximum Kp index of 3 on Monday the 8th, or Tuesday the 9th. However, this could soon change if we have another solar flare and subsequent coronal mass ejection, which could see the Kp index rise two days later. So, make the most of HF when the Kp index is low!
Otherwise, the winter period is when the low bands, from 160 to 40m, come into their own. While solar maximum is not the best time for low-band propagation, there will still be plenty of DX to be worked. Generally speaking, winter is a good time for east-west paths on HF too.
Taking a closer look at 40 metres, the band should open for DX in an easterly direction during the late afternoon and towards the south at sunset. Paths during the afternoon may also include West Coast USA in mid-winter. Relatively local contacts should be possible during the day, as the critical frequency remains above 7MHz during daylight.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
A new year brings a change of weather type and, after some residual rainfall events at the tail end of the previous week, we should be seeing a marked improvement in the weather as high-pressure returns fairly generally across the country by this first weekend of January, ending today, the 7th.
This will remain near, or very close by, for much of the coming week and into the following weekend. It is good news for Tropo, initially over the North Sea towards southern Scandinavia and the Baltic region, but will probably change to favour the western side of Britain in the second half of the week. This is nice timing to coincide with the 70cm band RSGB contests during the week on Tuesday the 9th and Wednesday the 10th of January.
Up until the middle of the month, we should be alert to rare mid-winter sporadic-E propagation. With a very contorted jet stream pattern during the whole period, the chances are better than average. This is another piece of good timing for the 50MHz UK Activity Contest on Thursday the 11th.
We were going through the Quadrantids meteor shower as this report was being written, so this may provide a little boost to meteor scatter into some of the coming week. Rain scatter will be a rapidly diminishing option during the period as high pressure builds next week. The solar conditions continue to produce elevated Kp index events. So, again, check for auroral openings although, generally, aurora is usually better towards the Spring.
For EME, this week we see a negative Moon declination, falling to a minimum by Wednesday. So, Moon windows will be short and peak Moon elevation will be low. Path losses are also low, but we are still over a week away from perigee, the closest approach of the Moon to the Earth. 144MHz sky noise increases all week culminating in the Sun and Moon being close in the sky on the 11th.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.