GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 7th October 2018

The news headlines:

RSGB Club of the Year winners announced

Jamboree on the Air looms large

Renew your 146 to 147MHz NoV

At the National Hamfest on the 29th of September the winners in the RSGB’s National Club of the Year 2017 competition were presented with their prizes. Once again, we thank Waters and Stanton for sponsoring this year’s event. There are two categories, Large clubs with 25 members or over, and Small clubs with under 25 members. The 3rd placed Large club was Stockport Radio Society in Region 3 and the Small club was Greenisland Electronics & ARS in Region 8. The 2nd placed Large club was Wythall Radio Club in Region 5 and the Small club was South Bristol ARC in Region 11. The 1st place large club was Essex Ham in Region 12 and the Small club was South Kesteven ARS in Region 13. Congratulations to all the winners for the excellent job they do at the grass roots of amateur radio, and also to all the other clubs who took part in earlier stages of the competition.

Two million young people from around the world are expected to take part in this year’s Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet. These take place from the 19th to the 21st of October and are the world’s biggest Scouting event. Some 20,000 licensed amateur radio operators put 12,000 radio stations on the air. This offers an excellent opportunity for radio amateurs both young and old, to inspire Scouts with the charms of radio techniques. During JOTA-JOTI, Scouts and Guides will encounter numerous different languages and cultures in a worldwide learning experience that lasts all day and well into the night.

All current 146-147MHz band Notices of Variation expire on Tuesday the 31st of October. Ofcom has agreed that the band will be made available for another year. To continue to use the frequencies you must obtain a new NoV via www.rsgb.org/nov

On Friday the 12th of October, the RSGB’s National Radio Centre is inviting RSGB members to visit in the afternoon as part of the Convention weekend. Entry will be via the main Bletchley Park site. RSGB Members should download their free entry voucher from www.rsgb.org/bpvoucher At 3pm there will be a private Bletchley Park tour just for RSGB visitors. At 4pm there will be a practical introduction to making an FT8 QSO for anyone interested to learn about this new, popular mode. Licenced amateurs are reminded to bring a copy of their licence and, if there is time, they will have the opportunity to operate the NRC station GB3RS.

IARU volunteers have been working for three years to progress World Radio Conference 2019 Agenda Item 1.1, which seeks a Region 1 allocation at around 50MHz for the Amateur Service in the Radio Regulations Table of Frequency Allocations, to align with the allocations in Regions 2 and 3. After many weeks of planning and meetings in both regional and global forums post the WRC in 2015, the next step on the route to WRC19 took place last week. The Amateur Service has met strong opposition from a few nation states who argue that the 50MHz band is already allocated to other services in their countries, following the closure of many broadcasting stations in recent years which operated in this band, and believe that sharing the band presents problems. At this meeting two options were prepared. You can find out the full details of the meeting and proposals at www.iaru-r1.org

The RSGB Convention takes place from the 12th to the 14th of October at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. Our thanks to the principal sponsor, Martin Lynch & Sons. This year there will be a Partners’ room, which also includes space for those who bring non-radio projects. Also the deadline has been extended until midnight tonight, the 7th, for those wishing to join others at the Convention Buildathon. You can see the whole Convention lecture programme, and apply for a Buildathon place, at www.rsgb.org/convention

For the second time this year, during the weekend of the 13th and 14th of October, the Cadet Forces will be operating on the UK 5MHz band using the allocated frequencies for the purpose of Exercise Blue Ham 100. All their usual live logging and map plotting will be taking place. Upon conclusion of the exercise, amateurs who have met the requirement for the number of contacts can submit their log sheet to the Blue Ham Ex Co-Originator via [email protected] for your certificate to be issued. Please note that once again the exercise has different QSL exchange information. Also, PSK31 will be in use on 5.363MHz. You can find all the details via https://alphacharlie.org.uk/exercise-blue-ham

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

Today, the 7th of October, the 45th Welsh Radio Rally will take place at Rougemont School, Malpas Road, Newport, South Wales NP20 6QB. Doors open 10am and admittance is £2.50. There will be a Bring & Buy sale, catering, lectures/seminars, talk-in, RSGB bookstall, trade stands, special interest groups, and a prize draw/raffle. There will be talks by Eric Edwards, GW8LJJ on Free Digital Voice on HF and by Andrew Rushton, GW0UZK on Aerial Basics. Contact Michael Rackham, GW4JKV, on 01495 226 149.

Today, the 7th of October, the Hack Green Bunker Rally will be held at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Hack Green, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. This will be 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 further information.

Next weekend, from the 11th to the 14th of October, Microwave Update 2018 will take place at the Holiday Inn Dayton, Fairborn, Ohio, USA. It is an international conference dedicated to microwave equipment design, construction and operation. It’s hosted by The Midwest VHF/UHF Society. Go to www.microwaveupdate.org/ for more information.

From the 12th to the 14th of October, the RSGB Convention takes place at Kent’s Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive, Kent’s Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK7 6BZ. The RSGB would like to thank the principal sponsor Martin Lynch & Sons for their continued support of the event. The Convention programme of lectures for all interests is available on the website, www.rsgb.org/convention

On the 14th of October, the Hornsea Amateur Radio Rally will take place in The Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open at 10am and admission is £2, with under 14s free. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy run by the Hornsea ARC and an RSGB book stall. Hot and cold food is available in the café. More from Les, 2E0LBJ on 01377 252 393.

The Holsworthy Radio Rally will take place on the 14th of October at Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6JD. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering. Doors open at 10am. More information from Howard, M0MYB, by email to [email protected]

To get your event into RadCom and GB2RS, please send details as early as possible to [email protected] – we need to know at least three months in advance to get your information into RadCom.

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

John, W5JON will be active as V47JA from St Kitts, IOTA reference NA-104, from the 10th of October to the 6th of November. He will operate SSB and FT8 on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via W5JON, direct only, and Logbook of The World.

Ken, LA7GIA will be active as TT8KO from N’Djamena in Chad from the 9th to the 21st of October. He will operate CW and maybe some SSB on the 160 to 10m bands.

Volker, DL1WH will be active as DL1WH/p from Rugen Island, EU-057, from the 6th to the 20th of October. He will operate mainly CW with some SSB on the HF bands. QSL via his home call, direct or via the bureau.

Scout station 3E1JT from Panama will be active throughout October, and particularly during the Jamboree on the Air from the 19th to the 21st. QSL via HP1ALX.

WA7WJR will be active as XV9WJR from Vietnam until the 27th of October. He will operate CW, some PSK31 and SSB on the 40, 20 and 15m bands from the city of Vung Tau, with side trips to Con Son Island, AS-130, and Phu Quoc Island, AS-128. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL, or via WA7WJR.

Now the special event news

The RNIB, now known as the Royal National Institute of Blind People, was founded on 16 October 1868. As part of their 150th anniversary, Terry, GM3WUX will run GR150NIB throughout October. Special QSLs will be available. A log search is at www.g3swh.org.uk/gr150nib.html

Scarborough ARS will be operating GB2YMR at Pickering War Weekend from the 12th to the 14th of October from the North Yorks Moors Railway Station in Pickering. Operations will include some modern and military radios. A warm welcome is extended to all visitors and those they contact on the air.

The Wireless in Wales Amateur Radio Club will operate GB0WIW on the 8th of October to celebrate the Museum's 10th anniversary. Museum tours, talks and refreshments will be available 10am to 3pm. Visitors are welcome.

We are very happy to publicise your event on GB2RS, in RadCom and on the RSGB website. Please send details to [email protected] as early as possible. One condition for getting a special event callsign is that the station must be open to the public, so our free publicity can help make your efforts more widely known.

Now the contest news

The CQWW DX RTTY contest ends its 48 hour run at 2359UTC today, the 30th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is RST and Zone, which for the UK is 14.

The Oceania DX SSB contest ends its 24 hour run at 0800UTC today, the 7th. Using SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The IARU 432MHz to 245GHz contest ends its 24 hour run at 1400UTC today, the 7th. Using all modes on 70cm and above, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Today, the 7th, the DX Contest takes place from 0500 to 2300UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The Worked All Britain DX contest takes place today, the 7th of October, from 0500 to 2300UTC. The exchange will be RS plus serial number plus WAB square using the 80, 50, 20, 15 and 10m bands, SSB only. This is a new contest and replaces their HF contest that was discontinued. Entries need to be with the contest manager by the 28th of October. www.worked-all-britain.org.uk is your source for details of the rules and log sheets.

On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC, 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 Thursday the 50MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1900UTC, using FM only. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 50MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange for both contests is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend the Oceania DX CW contest runs from 0800UTC on the 13th to 0800UTC on the 14th. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On the 14th, the IRTS 40m Counties contest runs from 1200 to 1400UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 7MHz band, the exchange is signal report and serial number, with EI and GI stations also sending their County.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday 5th October 2018.

There are signs that ionospheric conditions are improving as we head into autumn. This isn’t unexpected; as the ionosphere cools there is a chemical shift towards more monatomic species that are easier to ionise.

The 4U1UN New York, VE8AT Nunavut and ZS6DN Pretoria beacons on 14.100MHz were all audible at the same time on Wednesday, and we can expect transatlantic conditions to get better as the month progresses. Robert, G4TUK even reported working Mayotte in the Indian Ocean on 10 metres. So do make sure you make the most of the autumn DX openings if and when they occur.

Next week the solar flux index is predicted to remain around 68-70, so 14 and 18MHz are likely to be the main daylight DX bands, with the possibility of occasional openings on higher bands. However, the effects of a solar coronal hole may once again disrupt the ionosphere with Sunday the seventh and Monday the eighth predicted to see a raised Kp index of up to six.

Look for pre-auroral enhancements before or just after the solar matter hits the earth. One way to do this is monitor the real-time solar wind at solarham.com. An increasing wind speed, increasing particle density and a south-facing interplanetary magnetic field or Bz are all indicators of an impending geomagnetic disturbance.

Wednesday the 10th and Thursday the 11th may also be disturbed, before we see a little respite later in the week.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It’s looking a bit mixed for the next week with high pressure nearby over southern areas, while we have occasional periods of low pressure to the north and west of Scotland. The high pressure in the south will mean that Tropo will be a feature again this week. This is typical autumn fare, and there should be some good paths into the continent and across the southern North Sea to the Baltic. It will also be worthwhile checking paths to the south across Biscay to Spain and the Canaries.

The northwest of the British Isles will probably miss out on these Tropo conditions since it will also be rather breezy with occasional rain or showers. A few options may present themselves for some rain scatter on the microwave bands.

Moon declination is positive until Monday night, so EME windows will shorten and losses will climb as the week progresses.

October is a busy month for meteor showers. Next Tuesday sees the peak of the Draconids, which favours temperate and far-northern latitudes. Look for increased activity from tonight.

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