RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for November 7th 2021.

GB2RS News

Sunday the 7th of November 2021

The news headlines:

RSGB co-opts Director

Intermediate level distance learning course open

New RSGB Conventions videos published

 

The RSGB Board is pleased to announce that Richard Horton, G4AOJ has been co-opted as a Board Director until the 2022 AGM. He has served as the RSGB Honorary Treasurer since 2011 and the RSGB Board is advertising for Richard’s successor. Applications from financially-qualified candidates are invited and should be emailed in the first instance to [email protected] For full details of both announcements see the RSGB Notices section of the Society’s website.

The next Bath Based Distance Learning course will be for the Intermediate level running from January to May 2022. The closing date is the 15th of December. All applicants must complete some pre-course work using BBDL systems. A Full licence course will run from August to December. More info from [email protected]

The RSGB has just published the individual presentations in the ‘Learn more about’ stream from its online Convention. This means that you can now see all 15 presentations in the RSGB’s web video archive, or in the RSGB Convention 2021 playlist on the RSGB’s YouTube channel. The presentations are getting some great feedback so do take a look at youtube.com/theRSGB.

The 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition team says that with its first deposit on its contract to have the SS Marama provide transportation to Bouvet, it has confirmed its plans to activate the second most-wanted DXCC entity in November 2022. You can follow the plans via the expedition’s website and the 3Y0J Facebook page.

At a recent meeting of the Examination Standards Committee, it was agreed that the current mock exam papers on the RSGB website should be replaced by a fresh set. There will now be one mock exam paper per licence level. These new papers are generated from the same, Exams and Syllabus Review Group-vetted, RSGB question bank as real exam papers, using the same question selection process. You can find the new mock exam papers for all three licence levels on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/mock-exams.

Ofcom has agreed to the RSGB request to extend the 146/147MHz Notice of Variation for a further year. However, it is made available on a non-interference basis and applicants should note that as the band is increasingly used by other users, the NoV is subject to a 30-day notice period of change or withdrawal. Full licence holders can apply for the 146/147MHz NoV via the RSGB website at rsgb.org/nov.

It's not too late to register your interest for December YOTA Month 2021. We have been granted the callsign GB21YOTA, for allocation to youngsters to operate throughout December. To see what operating slots are still available please look up GB21YOTA on QRZ.com. You can register your interest by emailing [email protected]. You must be a Full licence holder or have one willing to supervise the activity.

And now for details of rallies and events

Before travelling to any rally or event, please check the event’s website as there may still be alterations or cancellations due to the pandemic.

The Holsworthy Radio Rally takes place today, the 7th of November, at the Holsworthy Leisure Centre, Well Park, Western Road, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DH. Doors open at 10 am. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering will be available on site.

The next rally we have details for is in 2022. The Sparkford Wireless Group Rally is due to take place on the 2nd of January at Davis Hall near Yeovil.

Some rallies have been cancelled, as previously publicised. These are the Bush valley ARC rally due for the 7th of November and the Bishop Auckland RAC rally due to be held on the 28th of November.

Now the DX news

David, F4FKT will be active as FT4YM and FT4YM/P from Antarctica until late February or early March. In his spare time, he will operate mainly SSB on the 20 and 40m bands from various bases. Updates will be posted to the Polar DX Group’s Facebook group. QSL via F5PFP.

Gunter, DK2WH will be active as V51WH from Namibia between November 2021 and March 2022. QSLs via DK2WH, direct or bureau. He does not use Logbook of The World.

Stan, K5GO will be active as ZF9CW from Cayman Brac, IOTA reference NA-016, until the 24th of March 2022. He operates mainly CW, with some SSB but no digital modes. QSLs via Logbook of The World, or direct to home call.

Now the Special Event news

OQ05PHI is the special callsign for the UBA Section de Philippeville to celebrate its 5th anniversary. It will be active until the 22nd of November. QSL via ON4PHI.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, OQ60ANT will be active until the 31st of December. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau; logsearch and OQRS on Club Log.

Now the contest news

When operating in contests, please keep yourself and fellow amateurs safe by following relevant pandemic-related government recommendations.

This weekend, the Marconi CW Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the 7th. It’s CW-only on the 144MHz band and the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

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

On Wednesday, the SSB leg of the 80m Autumn Series runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

The 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 2000 and 2230UTC on Thursday. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Saturday, the Club Calls 1.8MHz AFS contest runs from 2000 to 2300UTC using CW and SSB. The exchange is signal report, serial number and your affiliated club information.

Next weekend, the WAE DX RTTY contest runs for 48 hours from 0000UTC on the 13th until 2359UTC on the 14th. Using the contest bands between 3.5 and 28MHz, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Next Sunday, the 14th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 to 3.4GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

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

What a roller coaster week we had. From great conditions on HF last weekend, to a severe geomagnetic storm this week, it has been hard to predict what’s coming next. The Kp index hit seven on Thursday, thanks to incoming plasma from a full halo coronal mass ejection produced by an M1.7 flare from active region 2891 on November 2nd. NOAA classed this as a strong G3 geomagnetic storm after the DSCOVR spacecraft clocked the incoming material at more than 700 kilometres per second. At this time the solar flux index had reduced from more than 100 to just 89.

The Propquest website shows just what effect this storm had on the ionosphere, with critical frequencies on Thursday morning down to the mid 3MHz range. This meant maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path were estimated to be down to around 11MHz. The day before at the same time, they were up above 6MHz with MUFs over 3,000km above 25MHz. This probably sets the scene for the rest of this solar cycle, as explained in Steve, G0KYA’s presentation Solar Cycle 25 – The good, the bad and the downright ugly during the recent RSGB conference, which is now available to view on YouTube.

Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the high 80s to mid-90s. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to remain calm, with a Kp index of two. However, as we warned last week this could well turn out to be over-optimistic, as a solar flare and any associated CME could easily push this up to five or higher. The best advice is to work the DX while it is there. At this time of year, and with SFI figures up in the 90s, you can expect the upper HF bands to come into their own, but only if geomagnetic conditions remain calm.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It still looks like a changeable pattern for VHF, but there are a few chances in there. The main theme continues to be that of unsettled weather with periods of rain interspersed by brighter showery interludes. This should provide further options for rain scatter on the GHz bands. There are a few fleeting options for Tropo, as weak ridges develop from high pressure over Biscay and the near continent, particularly during this first weekend. This is most likely across southern Britain and will probably favour paths to the near continent and across Biscay to Spain.

The recent solar activity gave a nice 144MHz aurora last Thursday, showing that it’s always worth checking for this exotic mode by keeping an eye on the space weather sites. Meteor scatter should also be on your watch list, since we are approaching the November Leonids, which peak mid-month around the 17th/18th. Now would be a good time to get some practice sessions going with digimodes if you’ve not tried it before. Until the shower peak, stick to the time around dawn to maximise your chances with random meteors.

For EME enthusiasts, path losses are low but rising after perigee last Friday, but with minimum declination today the Moon will be low in the sky at Zenith, getting higher as the week progresses.

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