GB2RS

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 21st April 2019

 

The news headlines:

RSGB AGM on Saturday

Ham space pioneer Owen Garriott, W5LFL, SK

International Marconi Day next weekend

 

The 92nd RSGB AGM will be held at Jurys Inn, 24 Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2HQ on Saturday the 27th of April, commencing at 12 noon. Details for the 2019 AGM appeared in the April RadCom. Arrangements have been made for Members who are unable to attend the AGM to cast their votes by proxy. Details of this are at www.rsgb.org/AGM2019. Votes must be received at www.ersvotes.com/rsgb19 before 9am on Thursday the 25th of April. Lunch will be provided at the AGM for Members who notify their attendance in advance. Please register using the form on the website at www/rsgb.org/attendagm. After lunch there will be a Q & A session and a short presentation on the Es’hail-2 satellite by Dave, G8GKQ and Noel, G8GTZ.

Former US astronaut and long-duration spaceflight pioneer Owen Garriott, W5LFL, who operated the world’s first amateur radio station from space, died at the age of 88 on the 15th of April 2019. He spent a total of 70 days in space and 13 hours and 43 minutes in three separate spacewalks. According to his family, he passed away at his home in Huntsville, Alabama. You can read much more about Owen and his career, including his work to get amateur radio into space at www.ariss.org

The May RadCom includes a report that an authentic World War 2 Spy Set was recently donated to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. We are delighted to announce that it is now on display in the reception area, providing a focal point to engage visitors’ interest from the moment they enter the building. RSGB Members can download a free entry pass to Bletchley Park from the RSGB website, www.rsgb.org

International Marconi Day 2019 will take place on the 27th of April. Last year 74 stations were registered, all operating from a site that Marconi operated from or had a personal connection with. To see the stations involved this year, go to www.gb4imd.co.uk

The Syllabus 2019 edition of the Foundation Licence Manual is now available from the RSGB in both in hard copy and Kindle version. It has been fully revised and contains all the information required for those looking to gain their Foundation licence. Full details are on the RSGB website, www.rsgb.org

For those who send large numbers of QSL cards directly to other bureaux there is a change of address for the Canadian Incoming QSL Bureau. From the 1st of May, cards should be sent to RAC National Incoming QSL Bureau Manager, Ed Spingola, VA3TPV, PO Box 83, Streetsville, Ontario L5M 1L5, Canada.

The IARU was represented in Turkey, where committee SE24 on Short Range Devices met to undertake further work concerning Wireless Power Transmission, or WPT. SE24 is considering both WPT for electric vehicles and also generic WPT applications. The IARU has made extensive input on the potential impact on radio communications from spurious emissions from WPT devices and was represented by Region 1 President, Don Beattie, G3BJ, who is leading the IARU work on WPT.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

There are no rallies in the diary for the Easter weekend.

On the 28th of April the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Exhibition will take place at the Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. There will be a talk-in station and plenty of car parking. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Doors open at 10.30am, or 10.15 for disabled visitors. Catering is available on site. Contact Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608.

On the 28th of April the Andover RAC Spring Car Boot Sale will be held in the Wildhern Village Hall, near Andover SP11 0JE. Opening at 10am, admission is £2. Catering is available all day. There is ample on site parking and indoor shelter should it rain. Contact Paul, G4KZY on 07775 738 200.

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – the print cycle means we need to know four months in advance to get your information into RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Max, DK1MAX will operate as XT2MAX from Burkina Faso until the 25th of April. He will be on CW and FT8. Please note that he will not be issuing paper QSLs. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World.

Anders, SM0HPL is on the air from Kampala, Uganda until the 27th of April. He is operating on CW and digital in his spare time using the callsign 5X7W. QSL via Club Log OQRS.

Bruce, AD7MM, Doug, W6HB and Marilyn, KI7DLK will be active holiday style as E51BAS, E51DLD and E51MAS respectively from Rarotonga in the South Cook Islands, IOTA reference OC-013, between the 21st and the 28th of April. QSL via the operator’s instructions.

Look for JL3YWN/6, JI3DST/6 and JS6RRR to be active from the Miyako Islands, AS-079, from the 24th of April to the 7th of May. Activity will be on the 80 to 6m bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via Club Log OQRS.

Tak, JR1LZK/6 and Mitsu, JE1HXZ/6 will be active from Iriomote Island, AS-024, from the 26th of April to the 6th of May. They will operate CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via home calls, either direct or via the bureau and Logbook of The World.

Now the special event news

Special callsigns 4Z64EURO, 4X64S, 4X64O, 4X64N and 4X64G will be active from the 18th of April to the 18th of May for the 64th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel between the 14th and 18th of May. QSL via Logbook of The World and eQSL. Certificates will be available for download, see 4Z64EURO on QRZ.com for the rules.

During the Easter Weekend, broadcasts from Radio Caroline are being sponsored by Martin Lynch, G4HKS in memory of former employee Graeme Platts, G4XOF who sadly passed away due to cancer last November. Listen on 648kHz or via their website www.RadioCaroline.co.uk

OE19M will be on the air for 72 hours between the 26th and 28th of April as an official International Marconi Day station. Contacts made on Saturday, the 27th of April, are valid for the IMD Award. QSL info is on QRZ.com

EI0MAR will be part of International Marconi Day on the 27th of April, operating from the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth. The Marconi Company conducted wireless telegraphy tests at the Martello Tower in 1905. If you would like to come along that day as a visitor or operator you will be most welcome.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that stations using UK special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

This weekend the First Machine Generated Mode Contest ends its 24 hour run at 1400UTC today, the 21st. Using MGM on the 50 and 144MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and four-character locator.

On Monday the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1200 to 1300UTC. It is immediately followed by the IRTS 2m Counties Contest from 1300 to 1500UTC. Both contests use FM and SSB. The exchange is signal report and serial number, with EI and GI stations also sending their county.

On Tuesday 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 Wednesday the UK EI Contest Club contest takes place on 80m between 1900 and 2000UTC. Using CW only, the exchange is your 4-character locator.

On Thursday the 80m Club Championships runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The SP DX RTTY contest runs from 1200UTC on the 27th to 1200UTC on the 28th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number, with SP stations also sending their Province code.

On Sunday the 28th, the BARTG Sprint 75 contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is the serial number.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4DDK

As this version of GB2RS is being compiled early on Thursday, rather than the normal Friday, the propagation report has not yet been prepared. Once it is available, likely to be on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, a new version of the script will be uploaded and the RSGB website will be suitably updated.

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 14th April 2019

 

The news headlines:

Artistic SSTV from Iceland

ML&S sponsors Radio Caroline

GB2RS Manager Ken Hatton, G3VBA, SK

 

Until the 29th of April, as part of an art installation in Iceland by Lucy Helton, KD2MFV, SSTV images will be transmitted by TF3JA. The images, appropriated from the Reykjavik Museum of Photography’s collection, are of Icelandic glaciers photographed many years ago. Amateur radio operators who receive these transmissions are being asked to print out the images received and post them back to Lucy, using instructions on the website www.lucyhelton.com. In exchange, when she has assembled the printed pieces to reconstruct the whole image transmitted, QSLs of the completed images will be sent back to the participating amateurs. Each single transmission consists of 12 SSTV images and five different glacier images will be transmitted over 15 days. Look for USB signals on 14.230MHz at 1300, 1800 and 2300UTC.

Over the Easter Weekend of the 18th to 21st of April, Martin Lynch of ML&S is sponsoring broadcasts transmitted from Radio Caroline in memory of his old employee Graeme Platts, G4XOF, who passed away last November due to cancer. One of Graeme’s last ‘bucket list’ visits was to the ship itself arranged by Martin. The history of Radio Caroline is an interesting one being one of the most famous Pirate Radio Stations in the 1960s. There are several radio amateurs on the ship and the full history can be seen on their website. Listen on 648kHz AM or via their website, www.RadioCaroline.co.uk

Sad news next. Ken Hatton, G3VBA, the GB2RS Manager, became silent key at the end of last week. He was appointed as GB2RS Manager on the 1st of January 2014, taking over from Gordon Adams, G3LEQ. Ken will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

The National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park will be holding its first-ever ElectroJumble on Sunday the 21st of April. Over the years they have accumulated many pieces of electronic apparatus and components that are surplus to requirements. Items for sale will include test equipment, military items, domestic radios, telecommunication equipment and vintage components. Details can be found via www.tnmoc.org

The IARUMS Region 1 Newsletter for March 2019 is now available at www.iaru-r1.org. The Monitoring System report includes details of intruders on the amateur bands from Richard, G4DYA, the Intruder Watch Coordinator who runs the RSGB Monitoring System.

GB2DAY is on the air for its final day today, the 14th, to promote the opening of the Teleprinter Building at Bletchley Park, which houses a fantastic D-DAY exhibition entitled Interception / Intelligence / Invasion. The new exhibition is open as part of the general admission to Bletchley Park museum, located near Milton Keynes. RSGB members can gain free access to Bletchley Park and the National Radio Centre by downloading and printing a voucher from the RSGB website. See www.rsgb.org/bletchleyvoucher for instructions.

The RSGB has released a vintage silent black and white video of an Amateur Radio Direction Finding field day. The video, called D/F Field Day North of the Thames, May 18th 1947, was filmed at Chipping Barnet. It has been added to the many amateur radio videos that can be viewed on the Society’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_LHb3wPAfE

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

We have been asked to clarify definitively that the Andover rally is on the 28th of April and NOT on the 18th, as has been reported incorrectly by some non-RSGB sources.

Today, the 14th, the West London Radio & Electronics Show will take place at Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames TW16 5AQ. A talk-in station will be on air. Car parking is free and doors open at 10am, with disabled visitors gaining access 10 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy as well as special interest groups and lectures. Catering is available on site. More details from Paul, M0CJX on 08451 650 351.

Also today, the 14th, the Hack Green Bunker Rally will be held at the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Hack Green, near Nantwich, Baddington, Cheshire CW5 8AL. It is a sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. Doors open 10am, and there will be refreshments available onsite. Contact 01270 623 353 for more information.

The Ripon Radio Rally, on the 14th, will take place in Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, HG4 2PT. Doors open at 10am. Refreshments will be available on site. Information and a table booking form are at www.ripon.org.uk

There are no rallies in the diary for Easter weekend. The next ones are on the 28th at Blackpool and Andover.

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Mart, DL6UAA will be on the air as OH0UA from the Aland Islands, IOTA reference EU-002, until the 19th of April. He will operate on CW and digital and QSLs go via his home callsign.

Chris, VK3FY and Dindo, DU1UD will be active as 4E8T from Tawi Tawi Island, OC-174, from the 19th to the 23rd of April. They will operate CW, SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 20m bands. QSL via M0OXO’s OQRS.

Evert, PA2KW will be active as 5T2KW from Nouadhibou, Mauritania until the 19th of April. Operating as a guest at the QTH of 5T5PA, he will use CW and maybe some SSB. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, preferred, and Logbook of The World.

There will be some IOTA activity from Djibouti in the coming weeks. Christian, EA3NT with MM0NDX and MM0OKG and will travel to Sept Freres Island, IOTA AF-059. They hope to be on the island from the 16th to the 18th of April using the callsign J20DX. This will be followed by activity from Moucha Island, IOTA AF-053, on the 18th and 19th of April signing J20DX/P. Dates may vary due to local conditions.

Now the special event news

A special event station to commemorate the Battle of Culloden will be on the air on the 16th and 17th of April from the Highland Astronomical Society, Culloden Battlefield, Culloden Moor, Inverness IV2 5EU. Using the callsign GB0BOC, the station will be on the air from 9am to 8pm.

GB0GKA, operated by Tony, G3ZRJ, and GB0GKB, operated by Larry, G4HLN, will be representing Portishead Radio during this year’s Maritime Radio Day. The event will run from 1200UTC on the 14th of April until 2200UTC on the 15th.

Special callsigns 4Z64EURO, 4X64S, 4X64O, 4X64N and 4X64G will be active from the 18th of April to the 18th of May for the 64th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel between the 14th and 18th of May. QSLs via Logbook of The World and eQSL. Certificates will be available for download, see 4Z64EURO on QRZ.com for the rules.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK special event callsign stations must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

Today, the 14th, the First 50MHz contest takes place from 0900 and 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number locator and Postcode.

Also today, the 14th, the Worked All Britain Data Contest runs from 1000 to 2200UTC. Using the 3.5 to 14MHz contest bands the exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB number.

On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend the First Machine Generated Mode Contest runs from 1400UTC on the 20th to 1400UTC on the 21st. Using MGM on the 50 and 144MHz bands the exchange is signal report and four-character locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4DDK on Friday the 12th of April.

This has been a difficult time for HF. The solar wind has remained active and the Bz component exhibited several periods of prolonged southward deflection, meaning it more easily coupled with the Earth’s magnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged mostly from 425-475km per second and this was enough to keep the Kp index elevated, often to four. The net result was that conditions were pretty rotten, with even 14MHz struggling to open at times. However, the solar flux did increase to 78 thanks to the return of sunspot number 2738. This is large, but appears to be only producing very minor B-Class flares. An isolated C-Flare may also be possible.

Next week should be more settled, geomagnetically, with a maximum Kp index of two and solar flux of 74. If the solar wind drops we may expect fair HF conditions next week.

This current solar cycle had a peak average of 82 sunspots. The Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel experts have just said the next may have a slow start, but is anticipated to peak with solar maximum occurring between 2023 and 2026, and a sunspot range of 95 to 130. This is well below the average number of sunspots, which typically ranges from 140 to 220 sunspots per solar cycle.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It seems that high pressure remains firmly in control to the north of Britain and over Scandinavia for much of the coming week. This would normally mean that Tropo should get a mention, certainly for eastern areas, but the air mass is fairly dry and therefore not ideal for producing the required change in refractive index needed for Tropo.

In the south and west there will be some spells of rain and a possibility of some rain scatter, but it will also be rather windy at times. There should be a trend later next week for a more moist and warmer flow to cross the North Sea and this could introduce extensive misty low cloud along the east coast. This is exactly what’s needed for better Tropo prospects in eastern areas.

We are rapidly approaching the Sporadic-E season and should start to see some paths on 10m and possibly 6m opening up within Europe. It is worth checking the clusters and beacons for band activity. Digital modes like FT8 will benefit first, but it is possible that SSB and CW will start to show in the second half of the month. The typical early paths are often out to the eastern Mediterranean and over the Pyrenees, usually just out of reach from the UK, but a good sign should they occur.

Although the Lyrids meteor shower does not peak until next week, the first indications of the shower will begin to be noticed around the 16th of April, probably with a gradual increase in the number of meteors encountered growing during the forthcoming week. Don’t expect great things this week, but do keep an eye on the ON4KST chat for reports of meteor bursts. Better still, keep listening on one of the more distant 6m, 4m or 2m beacons for the occasional ping.

As the moon declination decreases during the week, 144MHz moon background sky noise gradually increases. However, path degradation is low due to the moon’s closest approach, or perigee, on the 17th. Libration is also low on the 17th and this will help 1296MHz EME, as CW characters will be less ‘chopped’. The 17th would be good day to try EME.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 7th April 2019

 

The news headlines:

New Syllabus tutorial slides available

Work GB2DAY at Bletchley Park

New videos from the RSGB

 

The RSGB has released SDR and digital model tutorial slides to assist tutors prepare for the new 2019 syllabus, which is expected to be used for amateur radio exams from September. The slides were first presented to tutors at the SDR and Digital Syllabus Matters meeting held on the 17th of March. You can download the Model Tutorial Slides from tinyurl.com/GB2RS-0407A

GB2DAY is a special event station to celebrate and promote the opening of the Teleprinter Building at Bletchley Park, which houses a fantastic D-DAY exhibition entitled Interception / Intelligence / Invasion. The new exhibition is open from Wednesday the 11th April as part of the general admission to Bletchley Park museum, located near Milton Keynes. Operating from the RSGB’s National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park, GB2DAY will be on the air from Wednesday until Sunday, with activity in CW and SSB on the 80 and 40m bands. RSGB members can gain free access to Bletchley Park and the National Radio Centre by downloading & printing a voucher from the RSGB website.

Two new videos are now available on the RSGB YouTube channel. They are Improving your Morse Code Skills by Ray Burlingame-Goff, G4FON and FT8 performance secrets by Neil Smith, G4DBN. You can access these lectures via the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/videos

Visitor numbers to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park continue to be high. On some days around 40% to 50% of Bletchley Park visitors visit the NRC. In March, the NRC volunteers welcomed 8,268 visitors, a significant increase on last year’s number, 2,156, and the second highest monthly number of visitors on record. With the increasing visitor numbers, Nigel Ambridge, G4FRL has joined the NRC volunteer team. If you are interested in becoming an NRC volunteer, contact [email protected]

The GB3LEX 10GHz beacon was re-installed by G3TQF at the Leicestershire Repeater Group site at IO92IQ on the 30th of March at 1200UTC. Two reports from G3UKV in IO82RR and G0API in IO80XS have already been received, but further reports are always welcome via Leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk, beaconspot, etc. For further info see www.leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk.

The RSGB is looking for an enthusiastic volunteer to perform the role of Beyond Exams Champion. The post holder will play a key role in supporting the implementation of Strategy 2022, especially in the priorities of Growth, Participation and Diversity. Beyond Exams is a suite of initiatives designed to promote engagement, learning and enjoyment in amateur radio for all. As a member of the newly-formed Amateur Radio Development Committee, the Champion is needed to look after the schemes under this banner. To find out more and to apply, please email, Mark Jones, G0MGX via [email protected]. The closing date is Friday the 3rd of May. There is more information on the website at www.rsgb.org/volunteers

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 7th, the Cambridge Repeater Group Rally takes place at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Cambridge CB22 6RN. There will be a talk-in station and car parking is free. Doors open 9.30am and entry is £2. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. A burger van has been booked for on-site catering. Contact Lawrence, M0LCM on 07941 972 724 or see www.cambridgerepeaters.net

Also today, the thirty-fifth Yeovil ARC QRP Convention takes place at Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open at 9.30am and admission is £3. No dogs can be admitted except Guide Dogs. The event is supported by the RSGB, RAFARS and BYLARA. There will be club stands as well as new and second-hand stalls. Two talks are scheduled: A Remarkable Very Young Lady Radio Amateur and An Introduction to Mag Loops. Refreshments will be available on site. Contact Bob Harris, G8UED via [email protected] or see http://Yeovil-arc.com.

Next Sunday, the 14th, the West London Radio & Electronics Show will take place at Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames TW16 5AQ. A talk-in station will be on air. Car parking is free and doors open at 10am, with disabled visitors gaining access 10 minutes earlier. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy as well as special interest groups and lectures. Catering is available on site. More details from Paul, M0CJX on 08451 650 351.

Also on the 14th, the Hack Green Bunker Rally will be held at the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Hack Green, near Nantwich, Baddington, Cheshire CW5 8AL. It is a sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. Doors open 10am, and there will be refreshments available onsite. Contact 01270 623 353 for more information.

Finally for next Sunday, the Ripon Radio Rally will take place in Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, HG4 2PT. Doors open at 10am. Refreshments will be available on site. Information and a table booking form are on the website www.ripon.org.uk

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

John, W5JON will be on the Caribbean island of St Kitts, IOTA reference NA-104, throughout April. He will activate his V47JA callsign on all bands from 160 to 6m on SSB and FT8. QSL directly to his home call.

A group of Dutch operators will sign HB0/homecall from Liechtenstein until the 13th of April. The QSL manager is PE1FLO.

Livio, IZ3BUR is now about halfway through his month-long visit to Guinea-Bissau. He is very active using his J52EC callsign. QSL via his home call.

Jerry, F4HJO will be active as F4HJO/P from Belle Ile en Mer, EU-048, from the 13th to the 21st of April. He will operate SSB, RTTY and FT8 on 80 to 15m. QSL via Club Log OQRS, or via the bureau to home call.

Harald, DF2WO will be active as XT2AW from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso between the 7th and the 26th of April. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of The World.

Now the special event news

The Windmill Amateur Radio DX Group will put GB1RY on the air today, the 7th of April. Operating from RAF Ramsbury near Marlborough in Wiltshire, they are taking part in Airfields on the Air over the weekend. Details are at www.rafars.org/rafaota/

Special event station OL75CLAY will be active from the 12th of April to the 31st of July to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the Clay paratroops in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The main mode will be CW, but they also want to be active on SSB, FM and possibly digimodes. Every first QSO will be answered by a special QSL card sent via the Bureau. Please do not send your cards. They will also answer every SWL report sent via bureau to OK2PXJ or via email. Send a SASE for direct requests.

2019 will see the 50th anniversary of landing men on the Moon. One of the places that the astronauts trained was the mile-wide Meteor Crater in Arizona. During 2019, Northern Arizona DX Association will set up and operate K7M until the 13th of April from the Meteor Crater National Natural Landmark. Other activations will follow throughout the year.

The Yukon Canam Contest Club has secured Canadian special prefixes for use by all Canadian licensees until the 28th of May. VEs can use CK, VAs can use CJ, VYs can use CZ and VOs can use CY. The special prefixes are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act of Canada. The club itself has secured the special call CZ1Z. Please QSL via Logbook of The World.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK special event callsign stations must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

The 24-hour SP DX contest ends its 24 hour run at 1500UTC today, the 7th. Using CW or SSB on 1.8 to 28MHz, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their Province code.

Today, the 7th, the First 70MHz contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, signal report, serial number and locator form the exchange.

Also today, the RSGB RoLo HF Championship event takes place. Running from 1930 to 2030UTC, this SSB contest uses the 80m band only. The exchange is signal report plus the locator you received.

On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC, using FM only. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange for both contests is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 80m Club Championships runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Thursday the 50MHz Machine Generated Mode Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and four character locator. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 50MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next Sunday, the 14th the First 50MHz contest takes place from 0900 and 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchanges is signal report, serial number locator and Postcode.

Also next Sunday, the 14th, the Worked All Britain Data Contest runs from 1000 to 2200UTC. Using the 3.5 to 14MHz bands the exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB number.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Friday the 5th of April.

Last week saw more of the same as we head towards solar minimum, which is now expected to be some time in 2020. There was a slight increase in the solar flux index later in the week as a new embryonic sunspot appeared on the visible disk. A group of three solar coronal holes threatened to cause disturbed conditions this weekend and again on the 12th of April, with NOAA predicting the Kp index could rise to four. Otherwise the geomagnetic conditions will remain settled and the solar flux index is forecast to remain at about 69-70.

This is a good time of year for North-South paths, such as the UK to South Africa and UK to South America. Maximum usable frequencies are expected to be about 14 to 18MHz. But don’t ignore 30 and 40 metres, which could still throw up some surprises, especially around sunset. There is a slight chance of openings to Australia and New Zealand on these lower bands and the HF propagation prediction tool at www.predtest.uk will help show you the best times to attempt a contact. Contacts into North Africa are also a possibility on 20-40m, especially in the early evening.

Do make the most of HF at this time as conditions are likely to get worse as we head into summer, apart from the Sporadic-E season, but more of that later.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It’s looking like a finely balanced weather pattern with high pressure to the north of the British Isles and low pressure near to southern areas. The influence is more from low pressure at first, so there is a continuing chance of heavy April showers bringing some rain scatter to the GHz bands, just as we had last week.

As the northern high becomes stronger, it will introduce an easterly or northeasterly weather pattern, so the North Sea coast will feel very chilly. The strong winds at times will mean that Tropo doesn’t get much of a look-in in the south, although there is a possibility in the north. So, the main theme of the VHF/UHF bands will be a possible occasional bit of weak Tropo in the north, plus some rain scatter in the south. Use the online radars to see where the echo points might be.

We are approaching mid April now, so it’s time to start monitoring the 6 and 10m bands for some Sporadic-E. Last week already saw cluster reports of FT8 QSOs so it will be interesting to note how this new mode is extending the Sporadic-E season.

Moon declination is positive and rising and path losses are falling this week, so it’s a good one for EME. There are no significant meteor showers, but we are only a couple of weeks away from the Lyrids on the 23rd.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 31st March 2019

 

The news headlines:

Join the Cricket World Cup Marathon

Fierce storm delays Bouvet Island DXpedition

5MHz Newsreader wanted

 

The RSGB is hosting an international amateur radio marathon event on the HF bands to celebrate this year’s Cricket World Cup, which is being held in England and Wales. The marathon will run from the 30th of May to the 14th of July. The RSGB Contest Club is looking for more volunteers to help co-ordinate the special event callsigns, but now is also a great time to join the list of operators and sign up so that you will be ready to operate. Full details are at www.rsgb.org/cricket and if you want to get involved, email [email protected].

The much-anticipated 3Y0I Bouvet Island DXpedition has run into difficulties before having a chance to approach the island. Winds as high as 170km/h, that’s 105 mph, caused damage to their ship, the MV Atlantic Tuna, which is now heading back to Cape Town for assessment and repairs. The team is stressing that this setback represents a postponement, not a cancellation. Despite losing both antennas in the storm, E51DOM/mm is now back on the air and giving a taste of what signals from Bouvet could – and will – be like.

A vacancy has arisen for a GB2RS newsreader on the 5MHz team. Transmissions are on a rota basis, each Sunday afternoon at 1500 UTC, on 5398.5kHz USB. If you are interested, please contact the RSGB GB2RS News Service Manager, Ken Hatton, G3VBA, via email to [email protected]. Note that a Full licence is required for 5MHz operation.

Would you like to help shape the direction of the RSGB in the future? Then why not stand as a Director and become a Board member? Details of what’s involved can be found on pages 6 and 7 of the January 2019 RadCom. For an informal discussion, please contact the Chairman, Ian Shepherd, G4EVK, via email to [email protected], by Monday the 15th of April at the latest.

British Summertime started at 1am this morning. with the clocks jumping forward to 2am. Domestic clocks should now read one hour ahead of UTC.

At the RSGB AGM on the 27th of April there will be a fascinating talk on the world’s first geostationary amateur radio satellite, Es’hailsat-2, also known as QO-100. Noel Matthews, G8GTZ and Dave Crump, G8GKQ will explain the history of the project, its space launch in February 2019, the equipment you need to work it, plus a demonstration of listening to the satellite via the internet. See www.rsgb.org/agm for details.

Whilst we’re on the subject of the AGM, we would like to remind RSGB Members that they can vote online on the various Resolutions. Details of these are in the April issue of RadCom and on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/agm2019.

Advance notice now of a couple of major events in the coming months. This year’s International Marconi Day will take place on the 27th of April. Stations are invited to help celebrate Marconi’s birthday by operating from sites that are closely associated with him, or from which he himself operated. For more information, or to register your station, go to www.gb4imd.co.uk. Separately, SOS Radio Week will take place throughout May. The event highlights the amazing work of the RNLI and honours the volunteer Watchkeepers of the National Coastwatch Institution. Individual amateurs and clubs are invited to register as official SOS Radio Week stations. For more information see www.sosradioweek.org.uk

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 31st, the first British Amateur Television Club Regional Convention takes place in Bristol. It will be hosted by North Bristol ARC at SHE7 building, Braemar Crescent, Filton, Bristol BS7 0TD. Doors open from 10am to 4pm. There will be a full day of talks & demonstrations, with a test bench available for visitors’ projects. Further information is at https://forum.batc.org.uk or from Shaun, G8VPG, on 01225 873 098 

Also next Sunday, the Pencoed Radio Club Table Top Sale takes place from 9.30am at Pencoed Rugby Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed CF35 5PB. Refreshments are available on site. Details from Madeline Roberts on 0773 837 5775.

Next Saturday, the 6th of April, the GMDX convention takes place at the King Robert Hotel, Whins of Milton, Stirling. Registration commences at 10.30am, with the GMDX AGM taking place shortly thereafter. The Convention includes a series of excellent lectures on DX and technical subjects, followed by the famous DX Dinner from 8pm. Details are at www.gmdx.org.uk

Next Sunday, the 7th, the Cambridge Repeater Group Rally takes place at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Cambridge CB22 6RN. There will be a talk in station and car parking is free. Doors open 9.30am and entry is £2. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. A burger van has been booked for on-site catering. Contact Lawrence, M0LCM on 07941 972 724 or see www.cambridgerepeaters.net

Also next Sunday, the thirty-fifth Yeovil ARC QRP Convention takes place at Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA. Doors open at 9.30am and admission is £3. No dogs can be admitted except Guide Dogs. The event is supported by the RSGB, RAFARS and BYLARA. There will be club stands as well as new and secondhand stalls. Two talks are scheduled: A Remarkable Very Young Lady Radio Amateur and An Introduction of Mag Loops. Refreshments will be available on site. Contact Bob Harris, G8UED via [email protected] or see http://Yeovil-arc.com.

Now, advance notice that the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park will be holding its first-ever ElectroJumble on Sunday the 21st of April. Over the years they have accumulated many bits and pieces that are surplus to requirements. Items for sale will include test equipment, military items, domestic radios, telecommunication equipment and vintage components. Details can be found via www.tnmoc.org

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Dagmar, DM7PQ / E51NPQ and Rainer, DL1AUZ / E51AUZ will be active holiday-style from Rarotonga, IOTA reference OC-013, in the South Cooks from 2-11 April. They will operate CW only.

Darek, SP3DX will be active as 8Q7DM from Lankanfinolhu Island in the Maldives, AS-013, from the 1st to the 7th of April. Activities will be on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m, SSB and FT8. QSL via SP3DX.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Norfolk Island Act, the VI9NI Team of VK3QB, VK3HJ, VK2PN and VK3BDX will be active from Norfolk Island, OC-005, from the 1st to the 14th of April. They will operate on 160 to 17m, FT8, CW and SSB. QSL via VK4FW.

Harald, DF2WO will be on the air again as XT2AW from Burkina Faso, from the 7th to the 26th of April. He will operate on 160 to 10m, using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via M0OXO direct, OQRS.

Now the special event news

The Windmill Amateur Radio DX Group will put GB1RY on the air on the 6th and 7th of April. Operating from RAF Ramsbury near Marlborough in Wiltshire, they are taking part in Airfields on the Air. Many other stations are expected to take part in the event, for which you will find full details at www.rafars.org/rafaota/

Pontefract & District ARS will operate GB4SL to mark the visit of cosmonaut Gennady Padalka. He will give a talk in Pontefract on the 6th April; the special event station will be on the air for 28 days around this date. Gennady Padalka has spent a record 879 cumulative days in space, over five missions from 1985 to 2015. More information on the talk, for which tickets are still available, can be found at www.space-lectures.com

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK stations with special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

This weekend sees the CQWW WPX SSB contest that started at 0000UTC on Saturday and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday. This SSB-only event uses all the contest bands from 1.8 to 28MHz. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Monday it’s the RSGB 80m CW Club Championships. Running from 1900 to 2030UTC on the 3.5MHz band only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Tuesday is busy on two metres. From 1800 to 1855UTC it’s the 144MHz MGMAC, using machine-generated modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number and your 4-character locator. Also from 1800 to 1855UTC, the 144MHz FMAC uses FM only, exchanging signal report, serial number and locator. From 1900 to 2130UTC it’s the 144MHz UKAC, using all modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Wednesday sees the UKEICC 80m contest from 1900 to 2000UTC. Using SSB only on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is your 4-character locator.

The 24-hour SP DX contest runs from 1500UTC next Saturday. Using CW or SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their Province code.

Next Sunday the RSGB RoLo HF Championship event takes place. Starting at 1930 and ending at 2030UTC, this SSB contest uses the 80m band only. The exchange is signal report plus the locator you received.

Also next Sunday, the First 70MHz contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, signal report, serial number and locator form the exchange.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Friday the 29th of March.

Last week the predicted increased Kp index from a coronal hole didn’t amount to much. The coronal mass ejection from the Sun a few days earlier wasn’t quite Earth-facing so we dodged the bullet. Other than that, conditions have been quite settled with a maximum Kp index of three caused by an enhanced solar wind. This was due to a co-rotating interaction region, or CIR, on the Sun, followed by the onset of an isolated, negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream. Elevated solar wind conditions are expected to continue until Friday 29th March, before declining.

The Sun has remained spotless after sunspot group number 2736 left the visible disk and looks set to continue. As we head into April. NOAA has the Sun remaining settled with a solar flux index at 70 and the Kp index sitting at two or three. This means reasonable radio conditions, just in time for the CQ SSB WPX contest this weekend. And don’t forget that if you don’t like contests there are always the WARC bands, although 17m may struggle to open at times.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It looks as though we continue into next week with high pressure dominating much of the country, especially south western areas. This should continue to provide some Tropo, but slowly becoming less noticeable as the week progresses. Various models show low pressure close to northern Scotland at times, so this region is less likely to benefit from any Tropo.

There is a possibility of a few sharp showers, particularly at the end of next week – it is April, after all! These can be good for rain scatter propagation on the GHz bands.

The Moon is at apogee today, its furthest point from the Earth, so EME path losses will start to fall. Declination is negative and goes positive again on Friday, so we’ll see Moon windows lengthening with rising moon elevations and decreasing path losses.

There’s still a while to wait before we see the return of Sporadic-E, so work on your antenna systems for when it restarts. Remember that Sporadic-E can be a great opportunity for VHFers to improve their Morse skills. Give your brain a workout while the rest of the world is staring at computer screens and clicking a mouse.

Finally, there’s always plenty of DX opportunities on the satellites. While we have our marvellous geostationary, QO-100, there are still the low orbit birds to challenge you.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 24th March 2019

 

The news headlines:

Australians set new microwave records

Bouvet Island DXpedition now en route

Smithsonian Institution callsign revived

 

The Wireless Institute of Australia, WIA, reports that new records have been set on the 47GHz and 122GHz bands. Operating 47GHz mobile, David, VK5KK and Wayne, VK5APN set a new record of 20.8km on the 11th of March 2019. At 122GHz, Matt, VK2DAG and David, VK2JDS set a new VK2 state record of 100m. Although this is some way short of the world record, the 122GHz band is fiendishly difficult and has serious attenuation challenges due to an atmospheric oxygen resonance.

The much-anticipated 3Y0I Bouvet Island DXpedition is presently at sea en route to its destination. They set sail from Cape Town on the 19th on board the MV Atlantic Tuna. All being well the team expects to land at the remote Antarctic island around Tuesday 26 March and hopes to be on the air before the end of the month. Whilst en route they plan to operate as E51DOM/mm.

Historic American callsign NN3SI is being reactivated under the aegis of the Smithsonian Institution Amateur Radio Group. Although presently lacking a permanent station location and unable yet to support guest operation, the group’s president, John Weise, N4NPG, told ARRL “This this is the start to Amateur Radio slowly coming back at the Smithsonian. We expect to begin operating holiday-style starting in April.”

The deadline for applications to become a team member or the team leader for YOTA Bulgaria 2019 has been extended until Sunday the 14th of April. Full details are at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2403A

News now of new videos from the RSGB. Two new videos from the 2018 RSGB Convention are now available to Members on the RSGB website. These are the LF Forum run by Dave Pick, G3YXM and David Bowman, G0MRF, and the Dwingeloo story by Dick Harms, PA2DW. RSGB Members can find these new releases and many other recordings via www.rsgb.org/videos. As part of the same move, two more videos from the 2018 RSGB Convention are available on the RSGB’s YouTube channel. First, Jim Bacon, G3YLA revisits his specialist subject, Sporadic-E. Second is the untold IOTA story and announcement of the new IOTA groups by Roger Balister, G3KMA. These and many more can be found via tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2403B

RSGB Members are reminded that every vote counts in the online polls ahead of the 2019 AGM. Members will find the Resolutions and other details in the April issue of RadCom and on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/agm2019 The AGM takes place on the 27th of April in Birmingham.

Regrettably, the Train the Trainers course planned for the 30th March in Cambridgeshire has had to be cancelled. The organisers apologise for any inconvenience.

Finally, a reminder of the start of British Summertime next weekend. The clocks go forward one hour at 1am on Sunday the 31st, jumping to 2am. Consequently, clocks set to BST will read one hour ahead of UTC times.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 24th, the Hamzilla Radio Fest and Electronics Fair, hosted by Dover Amateur Radio Club, takes place. Located at the Discovery Science Park, Gateway House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF, doors are open from 10am to 4pm. There will be a bring & buy, lectures, an RSGB Bookstall, special interest groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site. Contact Aaron, M0IER on 0771 465 4267.

The Callington Radio Rally also takes place today at Callington Town Hall, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7BD. Doors open 10am to 1pm and admittance is £2. There will be a bring & buy and trade stands. Catering is available on site. There is ample free parking in the adjacent car park. The rally is organised jointly by the Devon & Cornwall Repeater Group and Callington ARS. More information Roger, 2E0RPH on 0785 408 8882.

Finally for today, the 24th, Causeway Coast Glens ARC Radio Rally takes place at Bushmills Community Centre, 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim BT57 8QG. Doors open from 11am and admittance is £3. More details by email from [email protected]

Next Sunday, the 31st, the first British Amateur Television Club Regional Convention takes place in Bristol. It will be hosted by North Bristol ARC at SHE7 building, Braemar Crescent, Filton, Bristol BS7 0TD. Doors open from 10am to 4pm. There will be a full day of talks & demonstrations, with a test bench available for visitors’ projects. Further information is at https://forum.batc.org.uk or from Shaun, G8VPG, on 01225 873 098 

Also next Sunday, the Pencoed Radio Club Table Top Sale takes place from 9.30am at Pencoed Rugby Club, The Verlands, Felindre Road, Pencoed CF35 5PB. Refreshments are available on site. Details from Madeline Roberts on 0773 837 5775.

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

The Robinson Crusoe Island DXpedition, XR0ZRC, on the Juan Fernandez Islands, IOTA reference SA-005, reports that their log uploads are being hampered by a very poor internet connection. The Russian Robinson Club also says they are suffering with S9 noise on the lower frequencies and may have to relocate the entire low bands operation.

Kasimir, DL2SBY will be active as 6Y5KB from Jamaica, IOTA reference NA-097, from 28 March to 10 April. He plans to operate CW, SSB, FT8 and possibly RTTY on 80-6 metres. QSL via LoTW, or direct only to home call. He no longer uses the bureau.

A team from ARI Modena will be active as IG9MO from Lampedusa Island, AF-019, from 28 March to 2 April. They will operate on SSB, CW and digital modes on the HF bands, and will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. QSL via IK4ALM.

Jacek, SP5APW will be active as XV9JK from Thu Island, AS-157, Vietnam from 10-16 March. He will operate SSB mainly on 17 and 20 metres; in case of bad propagation, he will operate FT8 on 40 and 30 metres. He might be QRV as XV9JK/p from mainland Vietnam on 6-8 March. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, or via home call.

Dagmar, DM7PQ / E51NPQ and Rainer, DL1AUZ / E51AUZ will be active from Rarotonga, OC-013, in the South Cooks. The will work holiday style from 9-11 March and again on 2-11 April. They will be on the air from Manihiki, OC-014, from 13-25 March, and from Aitutaki, OC-083, on 27-31 March. They will operate CW only.

Now the special event news

From the 25th March to the 1st of April David, G4YVM will be running GB5EEE, Europe Europe Europe. Operating from Salisbury, he will be mostly CW. This is one of several special event stations planned to be on the air around the 29th of March to mark the intended date of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, from an historical rather than political viewpoint. Other callsigns planned include GB3XEU on 6m and 4m SSB and JT data, GB4QEU on HF SSB, GB2BRX on HF, and GB1UK on VHF FM and SSB.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK stations with special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

The UK EI Contest Club DX CW contest ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today, the 24th. Using CW only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and District code.

On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC, using FM only. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both contests is signal report, serial number and locator.

Tuesday also sees the SHF UKAC. Running from 1930 to 2330UTC and using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the report is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wed it’s the UKEICC 80m contest from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW only on the 3.5MHz, the exchange is your 4-character locator.

The 80m Club Championships take place on Thursday. Running from 2000 to 2130UTC, it’s SSB-only on the 3.5MHz band. Signal report and serial number form the exchange.

Next weekend sees the CQWW WPX SSB contest. Starting at 0000UTC on Saturday and ending at 2359UTC on Sunday, this SSB-only event uses all the contest bands from 1.8 to 28MHz. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday 22nd March.

The Sun burst into life this week, with two new sunspots and solar flares aplenty. But before you get too excited the spots are from the outgoing solar cycle 24.

Sunspot 2736 erupted on Wednesday with a C4-class solar flare. The Earth-directed explosion sent ionisation rippling through Earth’s upper atmosphere and caused a Dellinger fade-out over parts of Europe and Africa.

A Dellinger fade-out or sudden ionospheric disturbance, SID, is an abnormally high ionisation or plasma density in the D region of the ionosphere. The SID results in a sudden increase in radio-wave absorption that is most severe in the upper medium frequency and lower high frequency ranges.

The explosion also hurled a coronal mass ejection, CME, into space, which might deliver a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field. Although the bulk of the CME was not Earth-bound, be prepared for increased Kp indices and/or aurora on or around Saturday 23rd. Meanwhile tiny sunspot 2735 also appeared, helping to push the solar flux index to 77. Conditions were mixed this week, with Tuesday being lousy and Wednesday being fair.

Dean Pesnell, Project Scientist of the Solar Dynamics Observatory, said this week that solar minimum is now likely to be some time in 2020 – he didn’t want to be drawn on exactly when. He added that the indications are that Solar Cycle 25 will be similar to 24, so we are not heading for a Maunder Minimum.

Next week NOAA has the solar flux index at 69, but the K index is predicted to hit five between March 26 and 29. Conditions should then be more settled for the weekend.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It’s a good Tropo theme again, with at least one model keeping the large area of high pressure over the country for most of the coming week. However, being centred over the country, the inversion will probably be at a low height, say around 1km or less, and there will be drier air near the surface, so look for overnight lifts, especially if there is any fog.

Another model is less enthusiastic at the end of next week, allowing low pressure to the north of Britain to bring a cold front south. This would produce rather windy weather and bring Tropo to an end. This cold front could be quite active with heavy rain along it, so perhaps an opportunity for some microwave rain scatter.

The Moon is heading for apogee a week today, and its declination is negative and falling all week. The coming week will therefore see shortening Moon windows, low moon elevations and increasing losses for EMEers. The Moon up is in the early hours in Europe.

With still a month to go until the Lyrids meteor shower we’ll have to rely on random meteors around dawn for the best chance of meteor scatter DX.

Remember that if the weather fails to produce propagation there’s always aircraft reflection to fall back on for VHF DX, especially on the lower GHz bands. Just Google aircraft scatter to learn about this fascinating mode.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 17th March 2019

 

The news headlines:

George Dobbs, G3RJV, silent key

RSGB AGM online voting is open

Train the Trainers in Cambridgeshire soon

 

It is with great sadness that we learned this week of the death of George Dobbs, G3RJV, founder of the GQRP club and well know for his writing in SPRAT, RadCom and Practical Wireless. An obituary for George will appear in the May edition of RadCom. Our thoughts are with his family and many amateur friends worldwide at this difficult time.

Voting is open for the RSGB 2019 AGM that takes place on the 27th of April in Birmingham. Members will find the Resolutions and other details in the April issue of RadCom and on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/agm2019.

There is a Train the Trainers course being organised and hosted by Huntingdon Amateur Radio Society for the 30th March in Buckden, St Neots, Cambridgeshire. For more information or to reserve a place, contact the organiser, David Howlett, via email to [email protected]

Keith Bird, G4JED, Regional Representative for Region 10, is looking to recruit a volunteer for the post of District Representative for the East Sussex area. The prime duties in this annual and renewable post will be to liaise with the clubs and individuals in that area. There are opportunities to assist others and develop your own ideas to promote interest in amateur radio with the help of a team within Region 10. Anyone wishing to step into these roles should contact Keith, G4JED, via email to [email protected]

Greece is the latest newcomer to the 60m band. A ministerial decision dated the 26th of February published in the Greek government gazette of the 5th of March. This introduced a new Frequency Allocation Table, which authorises Greek radio amateurs to use the WRC-15 band on a secondary basis at 15W EIRP.

The Dayton Hamvention committee has announced their awards for 2019. Of particular interest is Pietro Begali, I2RTF, the 2019 recipient of Hamvention’s Technical Achievement Award. He is best known for designing and producing high-quality Morse keys and paddles. Chris Janssen, DL1MGB/KO2WW, is the winner of Hamvention’s 2019 Special Achievement Award. He served as president of World Radiosport Team Championship 2018, guiding more than 300 volunteers who put on the successful competition in Germany.

From the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System newsletter come reports that Russian over-the-horizon radar has caused severe problems on 14MHz. Sometimes three signals were active at the same time, each system with 14kHz bandwidth and many splatters. The transmitter is located north of Penza in Western Russia. The German PTT filed an official complaint and the Dutch PTT has been informed.

JVC Kenwood UK has appointed Martin Lynch & Sons as the sole UK distributor for Kenwood amateur radio products. ML&S has earned more Kenwood Amateur Radio Dealer of the Year awards than any other dealer. The sole distributorship for the UK reflects the continued support and commitment, says Kenwood UK. JVC Kenwood is committed to the amateur radio market and will continue to design and manufacture amateur radio equipment.

The RSGB has now released a new Intermediate training book to support the new amateur radio exam syllabus that starts on the 1st of September. The Intermediate Licence Manual For Radio Amateurs has been fully revised, reordered and contains all of the information required for those seeking to upgrade from their Foundation callsign. Go to www.rsgbshop.org for full details.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 17th, the 34th Wythall Radio Club Hamfest takes place at the Club HQ, Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall B47 6LZ. Doors open at 9.45am, with disabled visitors gaining access at 9.30. There is free on-site parking and admission is £4. There are four halls of traders including a Bring & Buy and a club stand. A selection of refreshments will be available all day and bar facilities within Wythall House open from midday. Contact Ian Reeve, M0IDR on 01386 839 655.

The Hamzilla Radio Fest and Electronics Fair, hosted by Dover Amateur Radio Club, takes place on the 24th of March. Located at the Discovery Science Park, Gateway House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent CT13 9FF, doors are open from 10am to 4pm. There will be a bring & buy, lectures, an RSGB Bookstall, special interest groups and trade stands. Catering is available on site. Contact Aaron, M0IER on 0771 465 4267.

The Callington Radio Rally takes place on the 24th at Callington Town Hall, Callington, Cornwall PL17 7BD. Doors open 10am to 1pm and admittance is £2. There will be a bring & buy and trade stands. Catering is available on site. There is ample free parking in the adjacent car park. The rally is organised jointly by the Devon & Cornwall Repeater Group and Callington Amateur Radio Society. More information and bookings from Roger, 2E0RPH on 0785 408 8882.

Causeway Coast Glens ARC Radio Rally takes place at Bushmills Community Centre, 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim BT57 8QG on the 24th of March. Doors open from 11am and admittance is £3. More details from [email protected]

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Cezar, VE3LYC will be active as VE3LYC/KL7 from Little Diomede Island, IOTA reference NA-150, between the 18th and 26th of March. Plans are to operate CW and SSB on the 40 to 17m bands QSL via Club Log’’s OQRS, or via his home callsign either direct or via the bureau.

Alex, 5B4ALX will be active as E6ET from Niue, OC-040, from the 18th of March to the 2nd of April. He will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and FT8 on 160, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 10 and 6 metres. He will operate FT8 using a multi answer protocol with a focus on 20m during his day and 40/60m during his night, 0700 to 1700UTC. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, Logbook of The World, or via IZ4AMS, either direct or via the bureau.

Dagmar, DM7PQ and Rainer, DL1AUZ will be active as E51NPQ and E51AUZ respectively holiday style from Manihiki, OC-014, North Cooks until the 25th of March, and from Aitutaki, OC-083, South Cooks between the 27th and 31st of March. They will operate CW only.

The EI DX Group DXpedition to Togo is on the air until the 26th of March. The plan is to operate as 5V7EI on all bands from 160 to 10m on CW, SSB and digital. QSL manager is M0OXO OQRS.

The Italian DXpedition team will be in Uganda until the 25th of March. They will operate as 5X3C on CW, SSB and RTTY. For QSOs on FT8 they will use the callsign 5X3E. QSL manager is I2YSB.

Now the special event news

Today, the 17th, Army, Sea and Air Cadet Units in the UK will be carrying out Exercise Blue Ham 19 as part of a weekend of activity. Operating on the 5MHz shared band, operation is expected from 8am to 5pm. QSO exchange details can be found at https://alphacharlie.org.uk/exercise-blue-ham and amateurs may claim a certificate by contacting 10 or more stations over the weekend and submitting a copy of their log sheet.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK stations with special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

The Russian DX Contest ends its 24 hour run at 1200UTC today, the 17th. It uses CW and SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands. The exchange is signal report and serial number, with Russian stations also sending their Oblast code.

The BARTG HF RTTY Contest ends its 48 hour run at 0200UTC on Monday the 18th of March. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and time.

IRTS News reports that there is an evening IRTS Counties Contest on Tuesday 19th March from 2000 UTC. It is a one-hour contest, on 80 metres, for SSB and CW. See www.irts.ie/contests for details and the full rules.

On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend the UK EI Contest Club DX CW contest runs for 24 hours from 1200UTC on the 23rd. Using CW only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and District code.

Now the propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 15th of March

There is life in the old dog yet! The lone spotted region on the visible disk of the Sun managed to produce a minor C1.3 flare on the 8th of March. Although not a noteworthy event as far as peak X-Ray strength, the flare was associated with an eruption and what appears to be a faint coronal mass ejection. Much of the plasma was likely reabsorbed, but some did manage to escape the Sun when viewing coronagraph imagery, courtesy of the STEREO Ahead spacecraft. This wasn’t directed at Earth and we seem to have missed it.

This week has been characterised as relatively settled with the Kp index mainly in the zero to two range. There have been no sunspots since the disappearance of the sunspot we mentioned last week. So overall, not good conditions for radio, as was witnessed by last week’s Commonwealth Contest. The consensus was that it was one of the worst yet. Nevertheless, some high scores were presented. Stars like 3B8XF, ZF2CA and 9J2BO, plus many VK and ZL stations were worked from the UK.

Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux will remain at about 79. The Kp index will also remain relatively settled at two to three. The next big unsettled session is due on March 26, thanks to a coronal hole, with the Kp index predicted to hit five. So look out for aurora and make the most of the settled conditions this week.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

After a week or more of very unsettled weather with strong winds testing your antennas, its shaping up to be much quieter in the coming week as high pressure returns.

After this weekend, the pressure will start to build over the south of the country and develop a strong ridge. High pressure will drift northeast from the Azores and across the southern Britain, to finish over Germany by the end of the week. The effect of this will be a welcome return of Tropo lift conditions, although not especially strong all the time. A good visual indicator may be a layer of stratocumulus cloud at 1 to 2km above the ground, which will be at the height of the temperature inversion formed by sinking air within the high. These can extend over hundreds of kilometres to give paths well into northern Europe.

It could be a good week to test the other modes on VHF and UHF. Try a CW or SSB QSO for a change and, if calling CQ, remember to say what square you are in.

The Moon reached peak declination last week and is at perigee on Tuesday, so it’s a good week for EME with low path losses and high elevations.

There are no meteor showers this week, so again we’ll have to rely on random meteors around dawn for the best chance of meteor scatter DX.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 10th March 2019

 

The news headlines:

Amateur Radio Development Leader required

Contact Cadets on 60m in Exercise Blue Ham

DXCC Most Wanted list updated

 

The RSGB is looking to recruit to a voluntary leadership position in the newly-formed Amateur Radio Development Committee. The post holder will play a key role in contributing towards meeting strategic priorities under Strategy 2022, especially Growth, Participation and Diversity. As well as leading on existing elements within the committee, the Chair will develop two new areas that will include the recruitment of project leads. Full details can be found at www.rsgb.org/volunteers

Next weekend, the 16th and 17th of March, Army, Navy and Air Cadet units in the UK will be carrying out Exercise Blue Ham 19. Operating on the 5MHz shared band, the expected period of operation will be from 8am to 5pm both days. QSO exchange details can be found at https://alphacharlie.org.uk/exercise-blue-ham Amateur operators may claim a certificate if they contact 10 or more stations over the weekend and submit a copy of their log sheet.

The DXCC Most Wanted entities list has been updated on Club Log. It contains 340 entities. The top five most wanted are P5 North Korea, 3Y/B Bouvet Island, FT5/W Crozet Island, BS7H Scarborough Reef and CE0X San Felix Islands. Scarborough Reef and San Felix Islands switched places in the 4th to 5th position. The complete DXCC Most Wanted entities list is available at https://secure.clublog.org/mostwanted.php

A note for your diary next. Voting opens for the RSGB 2019 AGM on the 13th of March. Members will find the Resolutions and other details in the April issue of RadCom and, after the 13th of March, on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/agm2019. The 2019 RSGB AGM takes place in Birmingham on Saturday the 27th of April.

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station US team will offer two very unusual items in its first-ever auction. JVC Kenwood generously gave a brand new TS-890S, signed by astronauts, and the ARRL donated the limited edition 2019 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications box set, again signed by astronauts. Bidding starts on the 8th of April at 1200UTC and ends on the 14th of April at 2200UTC. More auction details will be posted at www.ariss.org

Finally, it is with great sadness that we learned this week of the death of Jim Stevenson, G0EJQ. He was RSGB Region 13 Representative. He passed away unexpectedly on Monday the 4th of March. An incredibly enthusiastic amateur and an unique, irrepressible character, Jim will be missed by a large number of people both inside and beyond his Region. An obituary for Jim appears on page 95 of the April RadCom, which will begin arriving on Wednesday this week.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 10th of March, the Grantham ARC Radio and Electronics Rally takes place at Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road , Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XW. Doors are open from 9.30am to 3pm and admittance is £3. There will be trade stands, RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483.

Cardiff University Amateur Radio Club has gained a callsign, GW4CDF, in time for the Microwave Roundtable event on the 16th of March. Held at the Cardiff University Engineering Department, Newport Road, Cardiff, you can find more details of the Roundtable at www.cardiffars.org.uk/events/2019/roundtable/

Next Saturday, the 16th, the Laugharne Rally will take place at Laugharne Millennium Memorial Hall, Clifton Street, Laugharne, Wales SA33 4QG. Doors open at 10am. Details from Matthew on 0739 882 5024.

Next Sunday, the 17th, the 34th Wythall Radio Club Hamfest takes place at the Club HQ, Wythall House, Silver Street, Wythall B47 6LZ. Doors open at 9.45am, with disabled visitors gaining access at 9.30am. There is free on-site parking and admission is £4. There are four halls of traders including a Bring & Buy and a club stand. A selection of refreshments will be available all day and bar facilities within Wythall House open from midday. Contact Ian Reeve, M0IDR on 01386 839 655.

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Richard, G3RWL will be active as 8P6DR from Barbados, IOTA reference NA-021, between the 13th of March and the 17th of April. He will operate CW and RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, Logbook of The World or via his home callsign, either direct or via the bureau.

Hans-Martin, DK2HM will be on the air as E51HMK from Rarotonga, OC-013, in the South Cook Islands between the 14th and the 22nd of March. He will operate SSB and FT8 on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, Logbook of The World, eQSL, or via his home callsign, direct or bureau.

Jacek, SP5APW will be active as XV9JK from Thu Island, AS-157, in Vietnam between the 10th and the 16th of March. He will operate SSB mainly on the 17 and 20m bands; in case of bad propagation, he will operate FT8 on 40 and 30 metres. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, or via his home callsign.

Dagmar, DM7PQ and Rainer, DL1AUZ will be active holiday style as E51NPQ and E51AUZ respectively from Rarotonga, OC-013, in the South Cooks until the 11th of March, from Manihiki, OC-014, in the North Cooks on the 13th to the 25th of March, and from Aitutaki, OC-083, in the South Cooks from the 27th to the 31st of March. They will operate CW only.

Andy, DK5ON will be active as PJ2/DK5ON from Curacao, SA-099, between the 14th and the 30th of March. He will operate CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World, Club Log’s OQRS, or via his home call either direct or bureau.

Now the special event news

As part of British Science Week, Frodsham C of E school will be operating GB2OVE on the 12th and 13th of March, from 12noon to 3pm on both days. If you hear the young people on the air, please give them a call.

The James Clerk Maxwell Radio Society will be operating from Parton Kirk, Parton Village, near Castle Douglas, DG7 4NE over this weekend. They will use the call GB2JCM and the activities are part of British Science Week. Feel free to come along and join them, just bring your licence with you.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK stations with special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

The RSGB Commonwealth Contest ends its 24 hour run at 1000UTC today, the 10th. It’s CW only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, with the exchange signal report and serial number. HQ stations also send HQ.

Today, the 10th, the second 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The Worked All Britain 3.5MHz contest takes place today, the 10th of March, from 1800 to 2200UTC. Entries need to be with the Contest Manager by the 31st. The exchange will be RS plus serial number plus WAB square. Full details are at www.worked-all-britain.org.uk

On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC, using FM only. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both contests is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 80m Club Championships CW leg runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Thursday the 50MHz Machine Generated Mode Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 50MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both contests is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend the BARTG HF RTTY Contest runs from 0200UTC on the 16th to 0200UTC on the 18th of March. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report, serial number and time.

Also next weekend is the Russian DX Contest. Running from 1200UTC on the 16th to 1200UTC on the 17th, it uses CW and SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and serial number, with Russian stations also sending their Oblast code.

Now the propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 8th of March

The Sun sprouted a new sunspot this week bringing the sunspot number to 17 and the solar flux index to 73. The sunspot number represents 10 for a group and one for each of the sunspots in that group. Geomagnetic conditions were more settled over the week, with the Kp index hitting one and two. This was due to lack of coronal hole activity. Looking at the extreme UV image taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, shows we can expect relatively calm conditions, at least for the coming week.

NOAA still has a geomagnetic warning out until the tenth of March, but it is hard to see why. We can expect the solar wind speed to remain average over that time, but there are no Earth-facing coronal holes to push the K index to four or higher.

Now that we are in March we can expect to see better HF conditions, with good opportunities for North-South paths, such as the UK to South Africa and UK to South America. Look for openings on 17 and perhaps even 15m, which you might normally expect to be closed at this time of year.

The charts at Propquest show that 20m is open most days, with occasional openings on 17m. But do look out for fleeting openings on 15m, especially around lunchtime.

And finally, good luck in the Commonwealth Contest this weekend, which often throws up excellent opportunities to work some DX.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It’s shaping up to be a quiet propagation week, driven by low pressure, which will be located to the north and east of the British Isles. This implies a colder, north westerly weather pattern. At this time of the year it’s hard to get too excited about Tropo in such disturbed weather conditions.

We’re not far away from the traditional season of April showers, with a chance of some heavy ones, perhaps with hail and thunder, which may provide an opportunity to try some rain scatter on the GHz bands. But in this thundery weather it’s worth considering whether to disconnect your antennas before going off to work.

High pressure is displaced well to the south-west of the UK, so if there are any Tropo prospects, they’ll be marginal and confined to the south-west and into western France and Biscay.

There is a small meteor shower, the Gamma Normids on Thursday, but in general we’ll have to rely on random meteors around dawn for the best chance of meteor scatter DX.

It’s a good week for EME with rising Moon declination peaking on Friday, and falling losses as we approach perigee a week on Tuesday.

Of course, when all other propagation modes fail there are always the satellites. As well as the well-established low earth orbit satellites, we now have a geostationary transponder, Oscar-100 available for use 24/7. Google Goonhilly Web SDR to find the online receiver, and have a listen before you commit your efforts to operating via this new one.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 3rd March 2019

 

The news headlines:

Prepare for Commonwealth Contest next weekend

Suggest talks for RSGB Convention 2019

Ham radio artwork returns to Tate Gallery

 

The Commonwealth Contest, RSGB’s longest-running contest, takes place for 24 hours over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of March. As mentioned in the Propagation Report, you should not expect much propagation on the upper HF bands, but some hardy travellers will undoubtedly activate countries that don’t appear on the air every day, so make the most of it.

Planning has begun for the 2019 RSGB Convention, which will take place from Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of October, at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Milton Keynes. The organising committee would like to encourage suggestions for this year’s lectures, please email [email protected], in particular, if you are able to suggest a presenter, as well as a topic. The RSGB Convention is generously sponsored by Martin Lynch & Sons.

The artwork Ten Minute Transmission, featuring the Kenwood TS-2000 transceiver and the International Space Station is again on display at the Tate Gallery in London. Made of wire and attached to the TS-2000, this sculpture receives radio signals from the ISS and transmits them into the gallery space. The title of this work, Ten Minute Transmission refers to the period of time when the ISS can be contacted as it flies past. Although the ISS orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes, it only passes close enough to the artwork to receive any signals just twice a day. See www.tate.org.uk for other details about the exhibit.

Two videos of 2018 RSGB Convention lectures are due for release to Members this week. Sam Jewell, G4DDK speaks about the Iceni, a high performance 70cm transverter for the constructor, and James Patterson, M1DST gives an introduction to 3D printing for the radio amateur. Go to www.rsgb.org/videos to view these two very interesting talks – and many others too.

Stations taking part in the St Patrick Award will be on the air from noon on the 16th of March to noon on the 18th of March. This year a new Digital Award has been added, covering such modes as FT8, DMR, D-Star, JT656 abd Echolink etc. To claim it you must have made 20 contacts with a registered St Patricks Day Station. For more information go to https://stpatrickaward.webs.com/.

The provisional results for the last IARU Region 1 145MHz Contest have been published. In the Multi Operator 145MHz section G8P was placed third, operating from JO01QD, and G8T was placed 9th, operating from JO01KJ. Full results can be found at www.iaru-r1.org

Cwmbran and District ARS now have a new local SSTV repeater. Classed as a ‘regenerative node’, it will relay/repeat a received image. MB7TR is situated in Cwmbran and maintained by Peter, MW0RPB. It operates on 144.500MHz using FM and outputs in the Martin1 SSTV mode. To get it to repeat your transmitted image, which incidentally can be transmitted in any SSTV mode, on 144.500MHz in FM, you transmit your CW ident, then a 1750Hz tone burst for around 1-2 seconds and key off. Finally you listen and wait for MB7TR to reply with its CW ident and this signifies it is ready so you can transmit your SSTV image. Those using the repeater wish to thank Peter for all his work on this.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 3rd of March, the Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally takes place at America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at 10.30am, with disabled customers gaining access at 10.15am. Admission is £2, with under 16s free. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy, and catering will be available on site. Details from Pete, G3ZVI on 0771 419 8374.

Next Sunday, the 10th of March, the Grantham ARC Radio and Electronics Rally takes place at Grantham West Community Centre, Trent Road , Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XW. Doors are open from 9.30am to 3pm and admittance £3. There will be trade stands, RSGB bookstall and Special Interest Groups. Catering is available on site. Contact Kevin Burton, G6SSN, 07793 142 483.

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Don, G3XTT will be active as C56DF from the Gambia on from the 5th to the 12th of March. Main activity will be during the RSGB Commonwealth Contest on the 9th and 10th, but he hopes to do some operating also before and after the contest. This will be a CW-only operation, low power with wires from a rooftop apartment. It is unlikely there will be space for 80 or 160m antennas. QSL via Logbook of The World, Club Log’s OQRS or direct to his home call.

Ali, EP3CQ will be on the air as 6O1OO from Somalia until the 24th of March. Usually he operates FT8 on the 20m band; his activity is limited to his spare time. QSL direct with details on QRZ.com.

Dom, M1KTA will be active as C6AKT from Eleuthera Island, IOTA reference NA-001, in the Bahamas between the 8th and 16th of March. He will operate CW on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands, and will participate in the Commonwealth (BERU) Contest. QSL via Club Log’s OQRS, or via his home call.

Dagmar, DM7PQ and Rainer, DL1AUZ will be active as E51NPQ and E51AUZ respectively from Rarotonga, OC-013, in the South Cooks between the 9 and 11th of March, holiday-style. They will operate CW only.

Look for KG4SC and KG4AS to operate SSB, CW, FT8 and possibly other digital modes from Guantanamo Bay between the 6th and 13th of March. QSL as per instructions on QRZ.com.

Now the special event news

TC10GITRAD is the special callsign for the Giresun Radio Amateurs and Nature Sports Association to celebrate their 10th anniversary. It will be active until the end of the year. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL, direct or via the bureau.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK stations with special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

This weekend, the 144/432MHz contest ends its 24 hour run at 1400UTC today, the 3rd. Using all modes on both bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The ARRL International DX contest ends its 48 hour run at 2359UTC today, the 3rd. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and transmit power. American and Canadian stations also give their State or Province.

Today, the 3rd, the UK Microwave Group’s 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.

On Monday the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. This is the data leg and the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC, using FM only. It runs concurrently with the Machine Generated Mode Activity Contest. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. These are immediately followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for this one is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the UK EI Contest Club event will be on the 80m band between 2000 and 2100UTC. The exchange is your four-character locator.

Next weekend the RSGB Commonwealth Contest runs from 1000UTC on the 9th to 1000UTC on the 10th. It’s CW only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands with the exchange signal report and serial number. HQ stations also send HQ.

On Sunday the 10th, the second 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The Worked All Britain 3.5MHz contest takes place next Sunday, the 10th of March, from 1800 to 2200UTC. Entries need to be with the Contest Manager by the 31st. The exchange will be RS plus serial number plus WAB square. Full details at www.worked-all-britain.org.uk

Now the propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 1st of March

The settled Sun came to an abrupt end on Thursday when the Kp index rose to five as a result of an elongated coronal hole on its surface. This sparked high-latitude auroras. It brought to an end a period of settled conditions, with the Chilton ionosonde showing MUFs struggling to reach much above 14MHz on Thursday morning.

Before this there was DX to be had if you stuck with it. Chris, G0DWV reports working T31EU Central Kiribati on 40m CW at 1750UTC. Another DX station that was sought after was FH/UA4WMHX on Mayotte, off the coast of Madagascar, which was worked on many HF bands by Mike, G4DYC during the week. Both Hawaii and Peru were worked on 40m in the morning by Andy, M0NKR.

Next weekend is the Commonwealth Contest with lots of stations on, so make the most of it, but don’t expect much above 14MHz.

NOAA has the solar conditions settled until Friday the 8th of March, when it expects the Kp index to rise to four or more, due to a coronal hole. This should be relatively short lived as it should die down again shortly after. The solar flux index is pegged solidly at 71, so no surprises there.

As we head into March, expect conditions to improve slightly with better DX, although the lower bands may suffer with more daylight. This is a great time for north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and UK to South America.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

We’ve now seen the end of the extended Tropo weather we’ve been enjoying, and are now in a very unsettled Atlantic weather pattern. Weather systems moving towards the British Isles will bring stronger winds and periods of rain or showers.

It’s hard to pinpoint a good weather propagation mode in this pattern, other than some occasional GHz bands rain scatter from showers or the more active cold fronts that happen to pass by. As usual there are many good radar displays, which can allow you to pick the most intense echoes.

Without Tropo to boost activity, and still too early for traditional Sporadic-E, pickings may be thin. However, with such strong jet streams on the charts, especially across the Atlantic, there’s always a remote chance for a brief 28MHz path, but I wouldn’t take a day off work for it!

Meteor scatter conditions are still quiet until April, so just random meteors to keep us interested there.

The Moon is at apogee tomorrow and last Friday saw minimum declination. This week we have a daytime Moon and a week of lengthening Moon windows and falling losses.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 24th February 2019

 

The news headlines:

IARU active at WRC-19 preparation

Enter the Club of the Year competition

Could you be RSGB Company Secretary?

 

The ITU Conference Preparation Meeting for WRC-19 has been running this week and will continue into next week. Taking place in Geneva, the IARU has been present for Agenda Items on 50MHz, Wireless Power and other matters of importance to amateur radio.

There is still time to put in an entry for the RSGB Club of the Year competition. Entries are welcome from all RSGB affiliated groups, and there is just one size category this year so the size of your club doesn’t matter. The theme is ‘Meeting RSGB Strategy 2022’. Entries must be received by the 28th of February. Clubs should read the rules at www.rsgb.org/main/clubs/national-club-of-the-year/ and send entries to their Regional Representative. The RSGB would like to thank Waters & Stanton for their continued sponsorship of this competition.

The RSGB looking to recruit an RSGB Member to 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. For full information on the role, please go to www.rsgb.org/volunteers. If you feel you have the necessary skills to fulfil this important role, or would like more information, email the Chairman of the Board via [email protected] and if you are applying for the position, please include a current CV.

For the first couple of days after KickSat-2 was deployed last November, nothing was heard from the satellite. But in February, Nico, PA0DLO reported receiving several short and weak telemetry bursts on 437.5077MHz. KickSat-2 was scheduled to deploy up to 104 tiny Sprite satellites into low Earth orbit. The Sprites then would transmit on 437.240MHz at 10mW. The Sprites, which are less than 2 square inches, are expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within weeks. There is no news on whether these Sprites will be deployed.

Provisional results for the last IARU Region 1 50 to 70MHz Contest are now available on the IARU Region 1 website, www.iaru-r1.org. Several UK stations are in the top ten in various categories. The 6 hour 50MHz category saw G4ZAP/P achieving 4th place and G0VHF/P got 10th place. In the multi-operator 50MHz section, the GJ8P stations achieved 5th place.

The ARRL has released version 11.7 of the Logbook of the World configuration file. This has added the ability to confirm QSOs made through the JO-97, FO-99 and QO-100 satellites. Users should receive a prompt to update their configuration file when opening recent versions of TQSL. The file can also be downloaded from https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/config.tq6

The RSGB has changed the way it hosts the online version of RadCom. This uses HTML5 to display the pages and no longer requires Flash to be installed. Pages will also load faster. All this year’s editions are now available to Members in the new format at www.rsgb.org/radcom and we will be converting back issues from previous years in due course.

Car parking charges will be waived for The West of England Radio Rally on 16 June at Frome’s Cheese and Grain. Last year, Mendip District Council introduced Sunday charges in a number of car parks across Frome, including the exhibitors’ site. According to BBC News, the council has announced it will stop charging for the duration of the event.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 24th, the Rainham Radio Rally takes place at The Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5JB. Doors open 10am to 4pm and it’s £2.50 for adults, with free entry for children. There will be local and national traders, the BRATS kitchen, a BRATS Interactive Zone for Kids, BRATS Junk and a Talk-in Station on 145.550MHz using GB4RRR.

Also today, the 24th, the Red Rose Rally will be held at St Josephs Hall, Chapel Street, Leigh WN7 2PQ. Doors open at 11am. There will be trade, individual and club stands, including an RSGB bookstall, as well as a Bring & Buy. Catering will be available on site. Details are at www.wmrc.co.uk.

Next Sunday, the 3rd of March, the Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally takes place at America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at 10.30am, with disabled customers gaining access at 10.15am. Admission is £2, with under 16s free. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, and catering will be available on site. Details from Pete, G3ZVI on 0771 419 8374.

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

George, W2AIV will be on holiday in Belize as V31GF until the 2nd of March. He will be on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands using SSB but will also try some slow CW. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World.

Willy, ON4AVT will be active as 6W7/ON4AVT from Senegal until the 30th of March. He will operate PSK, CW, SSB and possibly FT8 on various bands including 60m. QSL via his home call, bureau preferred.

Roman, UT7UA is active as EM1UA and/or EM1U from the Ukrainian Research Station located on Galindez Island, AN-006, Antarctica. His licence is valid until 1 February 2020. QSL for both callsigns via UT7UA.

Gildas and Michel will be active as FG/F6HMQ and FG/F6GWV respectively from Guadeloupe, NA-102, until the 10th of March. QSL via their home calls. In the ARRL DX SSB Contest they’ll call TO3Z. QSL via F6HMQ.

Arnaud, JG1XMV will be on the air as FK/JG1XMV from New Caledonia until the 10th of March. He will operate SSB on the 40 to 15m bands from the main island, Grande Terre, OC-032. Updates will be posted on QRZ.com under FK/JG1XMV. QSL via JG1XMV either direct or the bureau, Logbook of The World and eQSL.

Now the special event news

H31A is being used to commemorate 500 years of the foundation of Panama City, Panama. The station will be on the air at various times until the 15th of August. They will be operating on the 80 to 10m bands, particularly using digital modes, RTTY, PSK31 and FT8, and some SSB. For more information, please refer to QRZ.com. The QSL manager is HP1AVS.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK stations with special event callsigns must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

Today, the 24th, the First 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The CW World Wide 160m DX contest ends its 48 hour run at 2200UTC today, the 24th. Using SSB on the 1.8MHz band only, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone, which for the UK is 14. American and Canadian stations will also send their State or Province.

The REF Contest ends today at 1800UTC. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. French stations also send their département number or overseas prefix.

On Tuesday the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. This is a CW leg and the exchange is your 4-character locator.

On Thursday the 80m Club Championships also has its CW leg between 2000 and 2130UTC. The exchange this time is signal report and serial number.

Next weekend, the 144/432MHz contest runs for 24 hours from 1400UTC on the 2nd to 1400UTC on the 3rd. Using all modes on both bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The ARRL International DX contest runs for 48 hours next weekend from 0000UTC on the 2nd to 2359UTC on the 3rd. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and transmit power. American and Canadian stations also give their State or Province.

On Sunday the 3rd, the UK Microwave Group’s 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.

Now the propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 22nd of February

The Sun played ball this week and matched our predictions. The Kp index soared to four on Thursday the 21st, thanks to ongoing coronal hole activity, but it was otherwise settled. There had been good conditions earlier in the week. The ARRL International DX Contest gave people contacts into nearly all the US states over the weekend of the 16th and 17th. Meanwhile, Chris, G0DWV worked a host of west coast US stations, including some in Oregon and Washington, via 40m long path late afternoon on Wednesday the 20th, although his beam helped a lot. This may have also been due to a pre-auroral enhancement, as the Kp index surged upwards later that evening.

Next week we can expect more of the same, with NOAA predicting the solar flux index at 68 to 70 again. Geomagnetic conditions will be settled to start with, but expect the Kp index to rise again from around the 27th due to recurrent coronal hole activity. We may expect the Kp index to hit four or five between the 27th of February and the 2nd of March, so expect subdued maximum usable frequencies after the potential for enhanced conditions before the geomagnetic storm bites.

As we head into March we can start to kiss goodbye to the long nights that have brought good 160m conditions. It’s time to say hello to better HF conditions, with excellent north-south paths, especially around noon and early afternoon. Eighty metres may also start to continue to be open to the UK after dark, with the critical frequency just managing to cover the whole band at times this week.

And now the VHF and up propagation news

The large area of high pressure nearby to the east and south of Britain will continue to provide good Tropo conditions during the first part of the coming week. This long run of Tropo weather, pretty much since the start of the month, is typical of slow-moving winter highs, but eventually the Atlantic lows and their frontal systems will always break through. This time it seems the changeover starts from mid-week, as the pressure falls, and the quality of the lift conditions fade. It’s still too early to talk of Sporadic-E propagation, so that leaves the cupboard bare for other weather-related modes this week, but keep watch in case the odd aurora chances by.

Es’hailSat continues to surprise and activity is high, with reports of people copying narrowband signals with just an LNB pointed at the satellite and no dish! A 45cm Sky dish seems to give acceptable results receiving the narrowband transponder.

Moon declination is negative and falling this week so the Moon will be at low elevation for a short period each day and losses are increasing as we go towards apogee a week tomorrow.

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

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 17th February 2019

 

The news headlines:

First Amateur Geostationary Satellite Transponder now active

Updated ITU document for Emergency Communications

Could your club host Train the Trainers?

 

The geostationary amateur radio narrowband transponder on the Es'hail-2 / QO-100 was made available for amateur experimental use on the afternoon of Tuesday the 12th of February. The 250kHz bandwidth transponder uses the 2.4GHz band for the uplink with the downlink in the 10.45GHz band and should provide communications over a wide portion of the globe. Potentially both Brazil and Thailand might be in range from the UK. Contacts have been made by running as little as 500 milliwatts of SSB to a 1.2m dish. You can listen to the Narrowband transponder from anywhere in the world by using the online WebSDR developed by AMSAT-UK and BATC that is located at Goonhilly, UK, see https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

The ITU has updated a key recommendation for cross border usage of Emergency Communications Equipment. The new 2019 edition of ITU Recommendation M-1637 is clearer regarding countries facilitating the use of radio equipment that may be physically brought by visiting relief personnel into the territory where there is a disaster or emergency. The recommendation is intended to avoid delays due to customs procedures and type-approvals etc and facilitate the use of both professional, as well as amateur, radio equipment in such situations. URL for M1637-1 is www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-M.1637-1-201901-I

The RSGB is in the process of organising Train the Trainers courses for this year. If your club would like to host one then please contact [email protected]. Further details and the list of requirements for hosting the course can be found at www.rsgb.org/train-the-trainers.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, otherwise known as ARISS, has planned another slow-scan television weekend. Transmissions will run until today, the 17th of February, at 1725UTC. SSTV images will be transmitted on 145.80MHz using SSTV-mode PD120. These can be received using equipment as simple as a 2m handheld radio, a scanner that covers that band, or even an online WebSDR receiver. Transmissions will consist of eight images from the NASA On The Air celebration and four ARISS commemorative images. Received images can be posted and viewed online. ARISS offers an ARISS SSTV Award for those who receive and decode at least one SSTV image in the session.

A date for your diary now. SOS Radio Week 2019 will take place between 0000UTC on the 1st of May to 2359UTC on the 31st of May. Individual amateur radio operators and clubs are invited to register as official SOS Radio Week stations and operate during the month. Stations can be run under individual, club, or special event callsigns, from home or other locations. There are few restrictions at to what can be done when, how, or where, other than to warn participants not to operate within the vicinity of a lifeboat or Coastwatch station without clearing it with them first. For more information, visit sosradioweek.org.uk.

Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, will oversee the development and implementation phases of the ARRL's new Volunteer Monitors program. K4ZDH once handled amateur radio enforcement for the FCC Volunteer Monitors and will work in cooperation with the FCC. Volunteers trained and vetted by ARRL will monitor the amateur bands for possible instances of misconduct or to recognize exemplary on-air operation. Cases of flagrant violations or noncompliance will be directed to the FCC for action, in accordance with FCC guidelines. The program, aims to re-energise amateur radio enforcement efforts, although ARRL officials estimate that it will take 9 to 12 months before the first Volunteer Monitors begin filing reports.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

Today, the 17th, the Radioactive Rally takes place at Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire CW5 5DG. The venue has free car parking and the doors open at 10.30am. There will be a Bring & Buy, as well as traders and RSGB book stall. Catering is provided on site. Contact Stuart Jackson on 07880 732 534.

Next Sunday, the 24th, the Rainham Radio Rally takes place at The Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 5JB. Doors open 10am to 4pm and its £2.50 for adult entry with free entry for children. There will be local and national traders, the BRATS kitchen, a BRATS Interactive Zone for Kids, BRATS Junk and a Talk In Station on 145.550MHz using GB4RRR.

Also next Sunday, the 24th, the Red Rose Rally will be held at St Josephs Hall, Chapel Street, Leigh WN7 2PQ. Doors open 11am. There will be trade, individual and Club stands including an RSGB bookstall as well as a Bring & Buy. Anyone wishing to hire a table should contact Colin on [email protected]. Catering will be available on site. Details on www.wmrc.co.uk

To get your event into RadCom, onto GB2RS and on the RSGB website, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know about four months in advance for RadCom.

And now the DX news from 425 DX News and other sources

Jean-Pierre, F6CTF will be active as 3W9JF from the island of Phu Quoc, AS-128, from the 19th of February to the 6th of March. Plans are to be mainly on the 80, 40, 20 and 17m bands. QSL via eQSL or direct to EA5GL.

A group of operators will be on the air as KP3RE from Culebra Island, NA-249, between the 22nd and 24th of February. They will operate SSB, CW and FT8 Fox & Hound mode on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL for this operation is via EA5GL.

Shabu, M0KRI is visiting Burundi until the 26th of February. He has been issued with the callsign 9U4RI and plans to operate on the 40 to 10m bands using SSB and CW. QSL via Club Log OQRS.

A group of mainly German operators will be active from Kanton Island in Central Kiribati until the 5th of March. Their callsign will be T31EU and they will be on the 10 to 160m bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via Club Log OQRS.

Alan, G4DJX will be on the air as C5DX until the 23rd of February from the Gambia while here with a group of students. Activity will be in his spare time on the 40 to 10m band using only CW. QSL direct to home call.

Philip, HB9HFD will be active as D44TAQ from Sao Vicente, IOTA AF-086, in the Cape Verde islands from the 17th to the 22nd of February. Activity will be on the 40 to 10m bands using various digital modes. QSL via Logbook of The World.

Now the special event news

Members of Radio Club F6KMB will be active as TM6C until the 24th of March during the traditional Dunkirk Carnival. QSL via F6KMB.

Please send special event details to [email protected], as early as possible, for free publicity on GB2RS, in RadCom and online. Remember that UK special event stations must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

The ARRL International DX contest ends its 48 hour run at 2459UTC today, the 17th. Using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and transmit power. American and Canadian stations will also send their State or Province details.

On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Then on Thursday it’s the 70MHz UK Activity Contest, also from 2000 to 2230UTC. Both contests use all modes and the same exchange of signal report, serial number and locator.

Next Sunday, the 24th, the First 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The CW World Wide 160m DX contest runs for 48 hours from 2200UTC on the 22nd to 2200UTC on the 24th. Using SSB on the 1.8MHz band only, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone, which for the UK is 14. American and Canadian stations will also send their State or Province.

The REF Contest runs from 0600UTC on the 23rd to 1800UTC on the 24th. Using SSB only on the 3,5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and serial number with French stations sending their Department Number or overseas prefix.

Now the propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 15th of February.

We had another spotless week as the Sun continued its decline into solar minimum. Geomagnetic conditions were varied with the beginning of week seeing the Kp index hitting one and two. But this didn’t last due to ongoing coronal hole activity, which saw the Kp index climb to three and four by Wednesday the 13th and Thursday the 14th.

To recap, coronal holes are lower energy areas on the Sun with open magnetic field lines. This allows the solar wind to flow out towards Earth. If the plasma’s ‘frozen in’ or embedded magnetic field has a south-facing component it is more likely to couple with the Earth’s, allowing the charged particles to enter the magnetotail. A magnetic recombination event can then see them accelerated back to the Earth’s magnetic poles, resulting in auroral displays and depressed maximum useable frequencies.

Coronal holes appear dark when the Sun is photographed in extreme ultraviolet light. Look for the images marked AIA 211 from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (or SDO) at solarham.com.

Next week NOAA predicts a solar flux index of around 72 with unsettled geomagnetic conditions around the 18th, 20th and 21st, due to yet more coronal hole activity.

Propquest.co.uk shows that the unsettled geomagnetic conditions can impact the critical frequency, which was topping out at around 4.5 to 5MHz during daylight at times. This means that 60 metres or the 5MHz band may struggle a little with NVIS, or near-local, signals.

Eighty metres may also struggle with close-in signals after dark as the critical frequency struggles around the 3-3.5MHz mark. The good news is that this should improve as the month moves on, which will no doubt be welcomed by participants taking part in the RSGB 80m Club Championships.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

The Es'hailSat 2 transponders have gone live and the 10GHz narrow-band downlink is at least as strong as expected using a satellite LNB and a 60cm dish. The 2.4GHz uplink is really sensitive with easy access via a second feed on the same dish, a small Yagi or patch antenna and a few Watts. More in the main news about this.

Back on Earth, the large high has done well with enhanced Tropo conditions during last week, and although the theme of high pressure continues into next week there is one subtle difference – it's simply where the air over the country is coming from.

Recent air flow has been from the Atlantic down to the southwest of the British Isles, and as a result, it contains plenty of moisture. This means more cloud than is ideal, but the moist layer of cloud provides a great contrast to the dry air above the temperature inversion at the top of the cloud layer. This is what gives the Tropo conditions, since moisture is a big player in the value of the refractive index of the air and changes of the index are what produces the ducting.

As we move into next week, the flow of air round the high is coming from across the continent, so it will be drier and therefore may not be so useful for maintaining Tropo. At the very least, we should expect Tropo conditions to be more variable, despite the high pressure remaining in control.

Moon declination peaked yesterday and with perigee tomorrow it's another good week for EME. Peak Moon elevation is around midnight, moving into the early hours as the week progresses.

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