GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 4th August 2019

 

The news headlines:

WRC-19 - Request to Support 50MHz

Celebrating W5LFL from space

RSGB Convention news

 

As the run-up to WRC-19 gathers pace, the UK Six Metre Group has also written to Ofcom in support of a positive approach to Agenda Item 1.1 concerning the future of the 50MHz band in ITU Region 1. At present, harmonisation and activity is impeded by the lack of a formal 50MHz ITU Region 1 amateur allocation. Whilst seeking positive UK support for the agenda item that is at the final preparation stage in CEPT, the UK Six Metre Group also expressed concern at recent proposals by some countries to cut the entire band down to just 200kHz wide. The RSGB welcomes the latest submission and is also continuing its own efforts to promote and defend amateur bands at 50MHz, 144MHz and 1296MHz, amongst others that are in scope of the various WRC-19/23 proposals.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, otherwise known as ARISS, is celebrating the life and accomplishments of astronaut, scientist and amateur radio pioneer Owen Garriott, W5LFL, who became a silent key earlier this year. There may just be time to catch the end of the commemorative slow-scan television event featuring images from his work with ham radio during his missions in space. Transmissions began on the 1st of August and are scheduled to continue until 1815UTC today, the 4th. Transmissions will be on 145.800MHz FM using SSTV mode PD-120. Received images may be posted, so visit the ARISS website for updates and more information at www.ariss.org.

The RSGB Convention takes place in Milton Keynes from the 11th to the 13th of October. With use of the first geostationary satellite for amateur use rapidly climbing, visitors will be able to listen to Dave Crump, G8GKQ talk about Use of the QO-100 Wideband Transponder for DATV. Neil Smith, G4DBN will speak on Choosing the right digital mode for the job, particularly useful when digital modes are so useful at this point in the solar cycle. Alwyn Seeds, G8DOH will draw on his long professional and amateur experience to explain many of the pitfalls and mistakes made when selecting feedlines and coaxial connectors. Although focused on VHF/UHF issues, this talk, Coax and connectors, the forgotten ingredient of high performance VHF/UHF stations, should be of interest to all radio amateurs. To book weekend packages or day tickets and to read more about the RSGB Convention, go to www.rsgb.org/convention. The Early Bird discounts are due to end on the 18th of August.

ARISS has successfully completed a battery of stressful tests required as part of the final certification of the next generation radio system for launch to and operation on the International Space Station. In July, compatibility tests were undertaken to ensure that the ARISS hardware will not interfere with the ISS systems or other payloads. These tests verified that the ARISS Interoperable Radio System, or IORS, will not introduce harmful signals back into the ISS power system and is quiet enough to meet ISS acoustic requirements. Successful completion of these tests represents a key milestone in preparing the IORS for launch. ARISS can now begin final assembly of the flight units and prepare for their safety certification before launch. ARISS is working towards launch-ready status by the end of the year.

The latest edition of the VHF Newsletter is now available from the IARU Region 1, as is the VHF Handbook, version 8.50, with the recommendations of the Interim meeting in Vienna. You can download a copy from the IARU Region 1 website, www.iaru-r1.org.

A new edition of RadCom Basics is now out. RSGB Members can read it today by going to www.rsgb.org/radcom-basics, where you can also register to receive notification of subsequent issues as they become available. This edition looks at using repeaters in other areas, using WSPR and how to take part in September’s SSB Field Day.

Celebrating the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group’s 60th anniversary, special callsign GB60ATG will be used from the various DXCC Entities in the UK until the 30th of June 2020. QSL via M0OXO. Complete information on the event and the BARTG Diamond Jubilee Award can be found at http://bartg.org.uk.

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

Today, the 4th of August, the 30th King’s Lynn ARC Great Eastern Radio Rally will take place at Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4EL. Doors open at 9am and traders have access from 7am. Admission is £2.50, with free car parking. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. There are amateur radio pitches outside as well as tables in hall. Details from Ted, G4OZG on 01553 768701.

Today, the 4th of August, the Crianlarich Radio Rally, organised by Lomond Radio Club, will be held at Crianlarich Village Hall, Main Street, Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8QN. The doors will open at 10am. There will be a Bring & Buy, traders and an RSGB Bookstall. Catering will be available on site. Contact Bill, via [email protected] for further details.

On Friday the 9th of August the twenty-sixth Cockenzie & Port Seton Mini Rally will be held in the Community Centre, Main Hall, Port Seton. Bring along your own junk and sell it yourself. Tables on a first come first served basis. The entry fee is £2 and the doors open from 6pm to 9pm.

Sunday the 11th sees the Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest take place at Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3DA. A talk-in station will be on S22. There is car parking on site and doors are open from 10am to 4.30pm. Admission is £4, which includes parking. There will be trade stands with indoor and field pitches and a car boot area. Lectures will take place during the day. No dogs are allowed, except Guide dogs, which is a condition set by the landowner. More from Tony Baker, G3PFM on 0774 347 5018.

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 four months in advance to get your info into RadCom.

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

The slightly delayed CY9C St Paul Island DXpedition is now on the air. CY9C has been spotted on the 40, 30, and 20m bands, with a lot of initial activity on FT8 using Fox/Hound mode, in addition to some CW and SSB. The DXpedition will continue until the 8th of August. All operations will be from the Northeast Island and the DXpedition has already has been approved for DXCC credit. The IOTA reference is NA-094. The propagation report later in this bulletin has info on your best chances of working the DXpedition.

Sugi, JI3KDH will be in the Maldives, AS-013, until the 7th of August. Using the callsign 8Q7SU on the 20 to 10m bands, the operation is CW only. QSL via Logbook of The World.

Darek, SP9DLM will be active as 4L/SP9DLM from Kobuleti, Georgia from the 4th to the 16th of August. He will be active on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL, or via SP9DLM either direct or via the bureau.

Giovanni, IZ2DPX will be active as 5R8PX from Nosy Be, AF-057, until the 17th of August. He will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF bands. QSL via IK2DUW direct and Logbook of The World; the log will be uploaded to Club Log.

Rick, AI5P is on Lord Howe Island, OC-004, operating as VK9APX until the 10th of August. Look for him on the 40 to 17m bands using on CW and FT8. QSLs go via his home call.

A multi-national team of YL operators will be active as OL88YL from the OK5Z contest station near Brno in the Czech Republic until the 8th of August. QSL via HB9FPM.

Now the special event news

GB100HAL has been issued to commemorate 100 years of RAF Halton, in conjunction with the many events that are taking part celebrating the anniversary. The call may also be claimed towards the Airfields on the Air Award and is recognised by RAFARS for all their awards. The callsign will be used most Saturdays up until the end of the year.

The FT8 Digital Mode Club is commemorating its 2nd anniversary and eight special event stations will be on air in a number of countries between the 10th and the 24th of August. An FTDMC Anniversary Award can be earned, with various levels to the award. Full details of the participating stations, and the awards, are at www.ft8dmc.eu

Please send special event details to [email protected] as early as possible so we can give you free publicity. It is a licensing condition that stations using a UK special event callsign must be open to the public.

Now the contest news

Just a reminder that August is the month of the traditional summer holiday, so there are no RSGB HF contests this month.

Today, the 4th, the 432MHz Low Power contest runs from 0800 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM only, its exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. At the same time the 144MHz Machine Generated Mode contest takes place, with the exchange of signal report and 4-character locator. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest, from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange for this contest is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 50MHz machine Generated Mode Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. The exchange is signal report and 4-character locator. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 50MHz UK Activity Contest, from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange for this contest is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Sunday the 11th the 5th 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The WAE DX CW contest runs for 48 hours over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of August. Starting at 0000UTC on the 10th and ending at 2359UTC on the 11th, it’s CW only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and serial number, but EU stations must only work non-EU stations to count.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 2nd of August.

A solar coronal hole pushed the Kp index to three last week and the solar flux index was static at 66. The plasma from the hole impacted the Earth on Wednesday, but it didn’t have the dire results that many had predicted. In fact, there was a pre-auroral enhancement that saw the maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path climb to more than 18MHz at 2030UTC on Tuesday the 30th. Two even larger coronal holes followed, matter from which is expected to hit the Earth today, the 4th. These latter holes have a positive polarity though, so the solar wind may not connect fully with the Earth’s magnetic field.

Next week NOAA has the solar flux index pegged at 67, but the good news is that once the high-speed solar wind stream from this latest coronal hole calms down we can expect more settled geomagnetic conditions.

In other news, 40m has been humming at night with many reports of US and Caribbean stations being worked.

The CY9C DXpedition to St Paul Island, off Nova Scotia, should now be under way. It’s planned to last until the 8th of August. The VOACAP online HF prediction tool shows that 20m from 2100 to 2200UTC may be favourite for a contact. Thirty metres offers an even better opportunity from 2000UTC to midnight, but is obviously restricted to CW and data modes. Later, 40 and 80 metres take over through the early hours, until sunrise. Good news for lesser-equipped stations is that CY9C is using FT8 in Fox and Hound mode at times.

And now the VHF and up propagation news

The end of this last week and most of next will still be on the unsettled side of high summer with areas of low pressure close to the British Isles. At this time of the year it often means heavy showery bursts of rain with a risk of thunder in places, so that’s a good signal for rain scatter on the microwave bands. High pressure is just putting in an appearance over the North Sea and Biscay, which means that some Tropo paths might develop to the continent.

We have a feeling that the Sporadic-E season is in its last phase now, but don’t abandon the idea that Sporadic-E can still occur, since some good openings have been seen in previous years even into the first week of September. Keep a check on the clusters for the much rarer openings in August. They can be productive, although tend to be short-lived.

Moon declination goes negative on Monday so peak Moon elevations will be under 20 degrees by the end of the week. EME Moon windows will therefore be short. Path losses will still be reasonable though as we are still two weeks from apogee.

While the Perseids meteor shower doesn’t reach its peak for another week, the shower is quite broad so you can expect improving meteor scatter conditions as the week progresses.

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