GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 29th July 2018

 

The news headlines:

WRTC 2022 venue announced

Lighthouse 300 registered

Kraftwerk jams with astronaut on ISS

 

After the recent successful World Radiosport Team Championship in Germany it has been announced that the 2022 event will be hosted by Bologna in Italy. The invitation-only event pits the world’s greatest DXers against each other in over sixty teams. They compete with each other using similar stations in similar terrain to level the playing field. As far as possible, this means it comes down to a fair test of the operators’ sheer skill. The official website of the 2022 event is at http://wrtc2022.it/

The International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend takes place over the weekend of the 18th to the 19th of August. The event’s organisers have just announced the 300th lighthouse registration. It’s still a little short of the 2014 record, which was 544 lighthouses and lightships. However, there is still time and if you’d like to take part – either as an activator or a chaser – you will find the details at www.illw.net

Pioneering 1970s electronic music band Kraftwerk performed an extremely unusual duet last week, playing live on stage in conjunction with ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst aboard the International Space Station. The event took place as part of Stuttgart’s Jazz Open Festival on the 20th of July. After introductions, they played a special duet version of the track Spacelab, for which Alexander Gerst had a tablet computer configured with virtual synthesisers. You can find full details on Gerst’s blog via tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2907A

As a result of work by the RSGB Emerging Technology Coordination Committee, in July Ofcom cleared two 23cm ATV repeaters for operation. GB3EY in Hull and GB3FT in Blackpool have received their NoVs. These are the first 23cm units to be cleared for several years. Separately, 23cm TV repeater GB3YT, or Yorkshire Television, is now back on the air following an extensive update of equipment. It has inputs on 70cm digital plus 23cm digital and analogue. You can find details of these – and all other UK repeaters – on the ETCC website at www.ukrepeater.net

The RSGB presently has several important volunteer vacancies. Candidates must be an RSGB member, be willing to agree to observe the Society's Code of Conduct and Ethos and support the Society's strategies. We can only give brief details of each vacancy in this broadcast but there are more details on the RSGB website or on request, and full details will appear in the September RadCom.

The RSGB has over 30 affiliated national clubs and societies and we have recognised the need for an Honorary Officer to act as a champion for these groups, and to develop a closer relationship to support them and the amateurs they represent. This position is offered for an initial period of up to three years. For more details please see www.rsgb.org/volunteers or contact Len Paget, GM0ONX, on 01563 534 383 or via email to [email protected].

The Operating Advisory Service, OAS, is the RSGB’s new advisory and reporting service. It replaces the Amateur Radio Observation Service, AROS. RSGB needs an Honorary Officer, who will be known as the Operating Advisory Service Coordinator. They will coordinate this service, including recruiting and training a team of volunteer Regional Operating Advisers. The role requires patience and tact, good communication skills and a willingness to help create and continue to improve this new service.

In support of the Operating Advisory Service Coordinator the RSGB is also seeking Operating Advisory Service Regional Operating Advisers from around the country. There will be notionally one per RSGB Region, and they will be the first point of contact to provide advice for the Regional Team. They will be proactive in disseminating advice through clubs, repeater groups and events where radio amateurs may be found. The Regional Operating Advisers will be supported by, among other things, an email group to help develop best practice and common presentation materials. To find out more about either of the OAS roles, please see www.rsgb.org/volunteers or contact RSGB Board Director Philip Willis, M0PHI, via email to [email protected]

British Inland Waterways on the Air takes place over the 25th to the 27th of August, the Bank Holiday weekend. It is open to all amateurs that use tow paths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs that are used for recreation. For more details see www.nharg.org.uk/biwota

Finally, the RSGB offers its congratulations to Radio Communications Foundation scholar Luke Andrews, who is now M0LLX. Luke passed all three exams since being selected as an Arkwright Scholar, and gaining sponsorship from the RCF. The RCF Trustees are grateful to Martin Atherton, G3ZAY, and the Cambridge University Wireless Society for their support.

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

Today, the 29th, the Chippenham & DARC rally, electronics fair & car boot sale takes place at Kington Langley Village Hall & fields, Church Road, Kington Langley SN15 5NJ. Doors open at 9am, or 8.30 for disabled visitors. Admission is £2. There will be a car boot sale, catering, flea market, special interest groups, talk-in and trade stands. Sellers pay £10 per pitch, or the same per indoor table, and can set up from 7am. Details form Brian Tanner, G6HUI, on 0772 224 2741.

Also today, the Horncastle amateur radio rally takes place at Horncastle Youth Centre, Willow Close, Cagthorpe, Horncastle LN9 6DZ. It’s all on one level, making it suitable for people with mobility problems. Hot food & drinks are available and there is room for traders outside. Entry remains £2. The RSGB bookstall will be in attendance. Details from Tony, G3ZPU, on 01507 527 835.

Next Sunday, the King's Lynn ARC Great Eastern Radio Rally takes place at Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk. PE30 4DZ. There will be talk-in on 145.550MHz and car parking is free. Doors open at 9am, with admission £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. There are amateur radio pitches outside as well as tables inside. Onsite catering will be available. Details from Ted, G4OZG, on 01553 768 701.

Also next Sunday, the Lorn Radio Rally takes place at Crianlarich Village Hall, Main Street, Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8QN. Doors open at 10.30am and entry is £2. There will be trade stands, for which tables are free but a raffle prize is appreciated, as well as a Bring & Buy. The raffle will be drawn at 1.30pm. Catering is available on site. Details from [email protected].

To get your event into RadCom and GB2RS, send details as early as possible to [email protected].

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

With the IOTA Contest reaching its end today you’re sure to find the bands still busy with lots of exotic DX from rare locations.

Dave, G4BUO will be active as E51BUO from Rarotonga Island, IOTA reference OC-013, from the 30th of July to the 6th of August. He will operate on HF CW, using 100W and wire antennas. QSL via home call.

From the 5th to the 12th of August SP7IDX will be on the air from Vlore, Albania as ZA/SP7IDX. Activity will be on 40 to 10m, SSB and digital. QSL via LotW or direct to homecall.

Next weekend you can expect to find lots of activity from unusual places on VHF as there are three contests happening at the same time. More details of those later in this broadcast.

Finally, note that the planned CY9C DXpedition to St Paul’s Island, Nova Scotia, has been cancelled. It was due to run from the 1st to the 9th of August.

Now the special event news

Continuing the year-long Eleven Cities Marathon in Holland, PF2018HAR will be on the air throughout August from Harlingen in the Netherlands. You can email [email protected] to set up a sked.

Wearside Electronics Amateur Radio Society and other clubs are running GB4SAS this weekend for the Sunderland Air Show. Operating from the Life Guard Station, Marine Walk, SR6 0PW, all bands from HF to 70cm will be in use from 10am on both days. Visitors are welcome.

ZM50MAUQ will be on the air throughout August to commemorate the 1968 fire aboard the SS Gothic, which resulted in the deaths of four passengers and three crew. Activity will be on 80, 40 and 20 metres using CW and SSB. QSL via ClubLog. There is a gripping account of the accident at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2907B

Celebrating five decades of offshore broadcasting, the Martello Tower group will operate GB5RC from the Radio Caroline ship the MV Ross Revenge from the 3rd to the 5th of August. Operation will be from three stations on 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m and 10m, running SSB and various datamodes. QSL direct to G6NHU or via the bureau to GB5RC. More details are at http://martellotowergroup.com

Members of the Carpathian Society of Transylvania will be active as YP27EKE during their hosting of the 27th Roaming Camp from the 30th of July to the 5th of August. Activity will be on the HF bands. They may also activate WWFF sites YOFF-0177 and YO/MC-031. QSL via YO6PIB

If you’re planning a special event station, please remember to send publicity information well in advance to [email protected] – we are very happy to help publicise your event, for free, on GB2RS, in RadCom and on the RSGB website, but can’t help you unless you tell us what you’re doing!

Now the contest news

The RSGB IOTA Contest draws to a close at 1200UTC today, Saturday. Using CW or SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference, which is EU-005 for mainland Great Britain.

Also today, the UK Microwave Group High Band contest takes from 0600UTC to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 5.7 and 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Thursday sees the regular Straight Key Sprint Europe contest, which takes place on the first Thursday of every month. At this time of year it runs from 1900UTC to 2100UTC. You’ll find the rules on the www.skccgroup.com website but, in brief, it’s CW-only, using only a manual key, sideswiper or bug. All the contest bands can be used from 160 to 6m, and the website has some suggested centre frequencies. The exchange is a true signal report, a QTH code which you can find on the website, operator name and either your SKCC membership number or ‘none’.

Next Saturday is going to be very busy on 2m, with no fewer than three events taking place more or less simultaneously. The Worked All Britain 144MHz Low Power Phone contest runs from 1400UTC to 1800UTC. Using all phone modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square.

Also next Saturday, the 144MHz Backpacker #4 runs from 1300UTC to 1700UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, signal report, serial number, locator and postcode forms the exchange.

Overlapping with that is the 144MHz Low Power contest, which takes place from 1400UTC to 2000UTC on Saturday. Conveniently, the exchange is the same – signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

Next Sunday morning the 432MHz Low Power contest runs from 0800UTC to 1200UTC. Again, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 27th of July.

The solar flux index hit 66 on Thursday 26th, which is probably the lowest it will go this sunspot minimum. At the time of writing the visible solar disk has been devoid of sunspots since June 27th, apart from the tiniest fleck that sent the sunspot number to 11 for one day on 12th July. We can probably expect more of the same through 2018 as we make our way through this low part of the current solar cycle.

Geomagnetic conditions were a little unsettled this week due to coronal hole activity, with the K index hitting four at times. Next week NOAA has the solar flux index pegged at 68 with reasonably-settled geomagnetic conditions.

This weekend is the RSGB Islands on the Air Contest, which may actually be over by the time you hear this. But for those of you who read GB2RS online or catch it on Saturday, expect 40m and 20m to be the money bands, with 7MHz coming into its own after dark. Fifteen metres and ten metres may struggle to open, other than through Sporadic-E openings, which are now becoming less prevalent as we move towards August.

Started in 1993, IOTA is now a major international event, attracting thousands of participants from all over the world. Radio amateurs will be travelling to islands around the globe, and putting them on the air, so it is an ideal opportunity to make some contacts.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

The weather is breaking with some heavy thundery showers in attendance this weekend, so there’s the prospect of some rain scatter for the microwave bands. This will only be temporary as fine weather returns from Tuesday. That also means that although we are having a pause from the almost daily Tropo weather due to the recent high pressure, it will return from mid-week to give the prospect of some VHF DX paths across the North Sea to the Baltic and Scandinavia, or to the south across Biscay to Spain and western France. Sea paths are often the best under these summer Tropo conditions.

The Sporadic-E conditions have been a bit variable recently, but don’t worry about the change of month, as Sporadic-E can go right through to early September in a good year. However, we do really need a more changeable pattern of weather to bring us the useful jet streams, which can be good for Sporadic-E. There are some jet streams about, so you maximise the potential for openings by listening for the beacons and looking at the clusters. The peak times are typically late morning and late afternoon and early evening.

It is only two weeks to go until the Perseids meteor shower, the biggest of the year, so check out your equipment and be ready for some – literal – fireworks on the 12th.

The moon is past apogee again and declination goes positive on Thursday so EME conditions will pick up as the week progresses.

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