RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for December 1st 2019.

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 1st December 2019

The news headlines:

Falklands get 60m

EMC Committee Chair vacancy

WSJT-X 2.1.1 released

Major changes to the Falklands Islands Communications Laws have been announced by the Falklands Islands Communications Regulator. They were published in the official Falklands Islands Gazette on the 11th of November and came into force on the 15th. One of these changes has resulted in the 60m Secondary allocation becoming available to Falkland Islands radio amateurs. The allocation is 5351.5 to 5366.5kHz, with a maximum power of 25W EIRP.

Dr Martin Sach is standing down as Chair of the RSGB’s EMC Committee at the end of the year. The RSGB is very grateful for all he has done as Chair and for his considerable expertise. This expertise will continue to be available to the Society, as not only will Dr Sach remain a member of the committee but he will also be an EMC Expert Consultant supporting the IARU in its international representation. RSGB Members interested in the vacancy for EMC Chair position will find the Role Description and further information on the Society’s website at www.rsgb.org/volunteers.

The WSJT Development Group has announced the release of WSJT-X version 2.1.1. This is the free software suite that includes the FT4 and FT8 protocols. Version 2.1.1 is a bug-fix release, according to the authors.

Over the entire month of December, many youngsters will become active with YOTA as the suffix in their callsign. The idea for this is to encourage youngsters to be active on amateur radio. GB19YOTA is one of the many stations participating in this initiative. Today, the 1st, the callsign will be operated by M0SDV until 0800UTC, Cambridge University Wireless Society from then to 1600UTC and G0MFR until 2359UTC. On the 2nd Sandringham School Radio Club will operate from 0800 to 1800UTC and M0SDV will take over for the rest of the day. Hilderstone Radio Society will operate from 1200 to 1800UTC on the 3rd and the RNARS station at HMS Collingwood will finish out the day. Hilderstone RS operate again on the 4th from 1200 to 1800UTC followed by Wythall Radio Club. M0XDX and M0NCG take over from 1200 to 1800UTC on the 5th. Then Cambridge University Wireless Society operates from 1200 to 2359UTC on the 6th. Next weekend, for the whole of the 7th and 8th, operating is under the supervision of G4FAL. A full list of those participating throughout the month is on the GB19YOTA page on QRZ.com

There’s still time to book onto the Introduction to Amateur Radio workshop, which will take place on Saturday 14 December at Bletchley Park. Open to anyone aged 17 or over, it will provide an insight into the world of amateur radio through talks, videos and demonstrations. Attendees will gain knowledge on short wave communications including voice, Morse code and digital signal transmissions, and learn how to track satellites and the International Space Station. Pre-booking is essential. Go to www.bletchleypark.org.uk/whats-on for more information and to book.

Are you enthusiastic about promoting and developing the growth of amateur radio? The RSGB Board has split its Training and Education Committee into two parts, one of which is Amateur Radio Development. The ARD activities cover Schools Link, Train the Trainers, the Morse Competency Scheme and Beyond Exams. The RSGB is looking for an enthusiastic volunteer to lead these activities and to play a key role in contributing towards meeting the RSGB’s Strategy 2022 priorities, especially Growth, Participation and Diversity. Further information and the full role description are on the RSGB’s website at www.rsgb.org/volunteers.

The RSGB’s National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Visitors should also note that the NRC will close early, at 3 pm, on New Year’s Eve.

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

We have no more rallies or events listed for 2019. Please send details of your 2020 rally and event plans as soon as possible to [email protected].

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

Nobu, JA0JHQ will be active as T88PB from Koror in Palau, IOTA reference OC-009, from the 6th to the 8th of December. He will concentrate on 160m CW and FT8. QSL via Logbook of The World or direct to JA0JHQ.

Antonio, EA5RM will be in Ecuador from the 2nd of December to the 5th of January. He plans to operate in his spare time as HC3/EA5RM from Loja, and perhaps also as HC2/EA5RM from Guayaquil. He will operate SSB and digital modes on the 40 to 10m bands.

John, K9EL, Paul, K9NU, Gary, N9AOL and John, W9ILY will be active as TO9W from Saint Martin, NA-105, between the 4th and the 13th of December, including entering the ARRL 160m Contest. They will operate CW and FT8 using Fox & Hound, plus some SSB and RTTY with three stations. QSL TO9W via Logbook of The World, Club Log’s OQRS or via W9ILY either direct or via the bureau.

Steve, G0UIH will be active as VK2IAY/4 from Heron Island, OC-142, between the 2nd and the 9th of December. Main activity will be on or around 14260kHz SSB. QSL via G0UIH, either direct or via the bureau.

Harald, DF2WO will be active as XT2AW from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso between the 2nd and the 20th of December, with a focus on the 160, 80 and 60m bands. QSL via M0OXO’s OQRS and Logbook of The World.

Bruce, 3W3B will be active as XW4XR from Laos on between the 4th and the 16th of December. He will operate CW, FT8 and FT4 on the 60 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World or via E21EIC.

Now the special event news

We have no details of any special event stations this week. Please send special event details to [email protected] as early as possible. We have not received special event station info from Ofcom in recent months so you MUST let us know to get your event publicised on GB2RS, in RadCom and online.

Now the contest news

The UK Six Metre Group’s Winter Marathon begins on Sunday the 1st of December and runs until the end of January. There are no specific operating modes or periods. Just work as many locator squares as you can on the 50MHz band.

On Tuesday the 144MHz Machine Generated Mode Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC with the exchange of signal report and 4-character locator. Simultaneously, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs with the exchange of signal report, serial number and locator. It is immediately followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for this contest is also signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend, the ARRL 160m contest runs from 2200UTC on the 6th to 1600UTC on the 8th. It’s CW only and the exchange is your signal report, with US and Canadian stations also sending their ARRL or RAC section number.

Next Sunday, the 8th, the 144MHz AFS contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 29th of November 2019.

Last week’s CQ Worldwide CW event proved that a contest can really generate activity on the HF bands, despite poor propagation. Despite lukewarm predictions during this period near sunspot minimum, there was plenty of DX to be had, despite a solar flux index of only around 70 and zero sunspots. HF bands as high as 15 metres were open, with the occasional station calling CQ on 10 metres as well. Contesters report that 40m and 20m provided a lot of fun with 7MHz providing night-time openings to the US for many. Tom, GM4FDM also reports working 47 countries on 80m during CQ Worldwide, including V47T, which was St Kitts and Nevis and A44A, Oman.

Next week, as we enter December, NOAA has the solar flux index at 69 all week with a Kp index of two. This represents the fact that the Sun’s surface is clear of major coronal holes at this time.

December is really a month for the low bands, with amateurs’ attention often switching to 80m and even Top Band. 160m is always a tough band to work, mainly due to the large amounts of space needed to install efficient antennas. But this month is probably the best for working transatlantic Top Band contacts in the early hours. 80m may also bring some surprises, with regular contacts into the USA being possible, especially around sunrise. Why not check out the DX nets that occur on or around 3.795 MHz?

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It looks like high pressure is coming back, at least for a while in the first part of the coming week, so it’s time to get ready for some Tropo activity on the VHF and UHF bands with those multimode rigs. The present unsettled weather will lead into a new high developing to the northwest of Britain, which will then begin to drift south across western Britain, before being pushed aside into the Atlantic towards Biscay around mid-week.

The developing temperature inversion should provide multiple paths across the UK by early next week, especially over western and southern areas. This is great timing for 144MHz contests on Tuesday the 3rd of December.

Unfortunately, this is not going to last, as the high drifts away midweek. This will allow a new, stronger flow across the north of Britain as lows move southeast down the North Sea. There will be cold northwesterly winds and some possible rain scatter options over the North Sea by the end of the week.

Moon declination is rising again this week but doesn’t go positive until Friday. This means the peak Moon elevation will also increase as the week progresses. With apogee on Thursday, path losses will be at their highest, but 144MHz sky temperature is low all week.

There are two small meteor showers to look out for this week. The Phoenecids are on Monday and the Puppid-Velids next Saturday.

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