RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for October 13th 2019.

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 13th October 2019

The news headlines:

RSGB meets with Ofcom over VDSL

Scottish Microwave Round Table soon

Apply now to run GB19YOTA

As a result of RSGB Members’ concerns, a letter requesting a meeting was sent to Ofcom by the RSGB Director responsible for Spectrum, RSGB Board Chair and RSGB President. Subsequently, Dave Wilson, M0OBW, Dr Philip Willis, M0PHI, Dr Martin Sach, G8KDF, Dr John Rogers, M0JAV and Steve Thomas, M1ACB met with Ofcom this week to discuss the VDSL issues. Some of the key points from that meeting include:
1. Ofcom has finished its testing and has produced a report which the RSGB saw in draft format. This revised report recognises that VDSL emits a level of Electro Magnetic Disturbance capable of affecting HF radio reception. With that in mind, the RSGB asked Ofcom to publish its new report and remove the previous report from its website.
2. Ofcom is happy to support the RSGB’s plans to re-open discussions with OpenReach. One area the RSGB intends to discuss with OpenReach is the implementation of notching for the amateur bands, a feature that is already included in OpenReach equipment
3. The RSGB EMC Committee has published its final report on joint testing with Ofcom and is happy to confirm that the results are similar to those in the new Ofcom report at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-1013-ofcom
4. The RSGB emphasised the need to implement notching in G.fast, Ultrafast Broadband, from the beginning, and will take this up with Ofcom during further meetings
5. To help amateurs understand Ofcom’s position, Ofcom offered to write an open letter to the RSGB explaining its ethos; the rationale behind how it operates; what the law is; what Ofcom can do and what it will do; and also how Ofcom’s decision-making process works. This letter has also been published on the RSGB website.

The Scottish Microwave Round Table will take place in Burntisland in Fife on Saturday the 2nd of November. The programme includes talks by Martin Hall, GM8IEM on Constructing a 13cm home station around the Kuhne MKU23 G4 transverter; Heather Lomond, M0HMO on Beginning with GNU SDR and Mark Hughes, GM4ISM on Microwave EME. Other attractions include a construction competition, a test equipment bench and an evening dinner. Further information including the programme and booking information is online at www.gmroundtable.org.uk.

Youngsters on the Air Month takes place each December to encourage youngsters to get on the air and to learn more about the practical side of the hobby. The RSGB has the callsign GB19YOTA and we’re looking for radio clubs, schools, Scout/Guides groups, Cadet groups and individuals to activate the call sign or host a station. Operations can be on HF, VHF, UHF using all modes but all operators should be aged 26 or below. Each day will be split into three operating slots: 0000 to 1159UTC; 1200 to 1759UTC; and 1800 to 2359UTC but you can also just operate for a few hours if you wish. All Full licensed RSGB Members or affiliated clubs can register to host the callsign but Foundation and Intermediate licence holders may operate if they are supervised from the station of a club or the station of a Full licence holder. To find out more go to www.rsgb.org/yota-month and to apply to host the callsign please email [email protected] with your full name and callsign; your RSGB Membership or affiliation number; your preferred dates and operating times.

The RSGB is pleased to announce that Rob Evered, G2RE has taken up the volunteer post of Youth Champion. Rob will work closely with the Youth Team to ignite interest; develop links with schools, Scouts and Guides, universities and the general public; and motivate young people to get involved in amateur radio.

A special WRC-19 issue of ITU News is now available for downloading at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-1013-ITU. It is a large file but provides an excellent overview of the Conference and its Agenda items, including an article on the IARU objectives for the Conference by IARU Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ. WRC-19 takes place over a full month starting on the 28th of October, concluding on the 22nd of November. The relevant RSGB volunteers plan to attend as part of the Ofcom-led UK delegation, whilst some other amateurs will be embedded in other national delegations. The IARU will also be present at it has official Observer status. The RSGB’s social media and special focus page at www.rsgb.org/wrc-19 will feature regular postings whilst the conference is underway.

From 8am to 5pm today, the 13th of October, UK Army, Navy and Air Cadet Units will be carrying out Exercise Blue Ham 19. Operations will be on the 5MHz shared band. Amateurs may claim a certificate if they contact 10 or more stations over the weekend and submit a copy of their log sheet. QSO exchange details and claim info are at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-BlueHam-19. This is the last chance of 2019 to make contact with Cadets.

There are two ARISS school contacts with the International Space Station planned for this week. An Italian school is booked for the 17th of October around 0849UTC with the contact conducted in Italian. Then, on Friday the 18th at around 0937UTC, an English language contact has been arranged with participants at a Science and Technology event in Germany. The downlink signals for both contacts will be audible in parts of Europe on 145.800MHz FM.

The GB3JV amateur TV repeater is now on the air in beacon mode. It is located in Petts wood, Kent and transmits on 3404MHz. The Tx antenna is a slotted waveguide design and gives an ERP of 150 watts. Receiver inputs are available on 1249MHz and the repeater output is streamed on the BATC website. To receive the repeater all that’s required is a tuneable DVB-S2 satellite receiver, or a BATC Minitiouner, a small dish and a C-Band LNB. Coverage predictions show reception possibilities across the heavily populated area of South-East & East London as well as parts of Essex. This repeater is on the air due to the work of many people and the repeater keeper thanks them all. Information and updates are at www.gb3jv.co.uk.

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

Today, the 13th, is the final day of the 2019 RSGB Convention at Kent’s Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ. See www.rsgb.org/convention

Today, the 13th, the Hornsea Amateur Radio Rally will be held in the Floral Hall, Hornsea HU18 1NQ. Doors open at 10am. Admission is £2, with under 14s free. The Bring & Buy will be run by Hornsea ARC. There will be trade stands showing radio equipment, computers etc and an RSGB book stand. Hot and cold food will be available in the café. Contact Les, 2E0LBJ on 01377 252393 or see www.hornseaarc.co.uk.

Today, the 13th, sees the Holsworthy Radio Rally take place at its new venue, Holsworthy Leisure Centre, Well Park, Western Road, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DH. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and catering on site. The venue has separate disabled access via the side door. A club steward will be on duty in the car park. Doors open 8am for traders and 10am for visitors. Contact Howard, M0MYB via email to [email protected].

On Saturday, the 19th, the Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group Radio Rally will be held in Downshire Secondary School, Downshire Road, Carrickfergus. Doors will open at 12 noon for the public and 9.30am for traders. All proceeds from the sale of the food and beverages will go to Belfast Samaritans, a very worthy charity. More information from Elizabeth Forde on 0785 544 2839.

On Saturday, the 19th, the CW Convention and CW Boot Camp will be held at the 3rd Witham Scout & Guide HQ, Rear of Spring Lodge Community Centre, Powers Hall End, Witham, Essex CM8 2HE. Registration is at 8.30am for a 9am start. The event is due to finish at around 4.30pm. You should pre-register, as places are limited. Contact [email protected] or 0745 342 60 87.

Next Sunday, the 20th of October, the Galashiels Rally will take place in Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, Scottish Borders TD1 3JX. Doors open 11am for disabled visitor and 11.15am for the general public. There will be traders and a Bring & Buy. Refreshments will be available on site.

Please send details of your 2020 rally and event plans as soon as possible to [email protected]. So far we have received details of just SIX events for the whole of the year.

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

Members of the CAN-AM DXpedition Group will be active as TX7T from the Marquesas Islands, IOTA reference OC-027, until the 17th of November. They will operate CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 in Fox & Hound mode on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via M0URX's OQRS and Logbook of The World.

Rene, DL2JRM will be active as 9H3YY from Malta, EU-023, between the 18th and 22nd of October. QSL via his home callsign, direct or bureau. He does not use Logbook of The World.

Willy, DJ7RJ will be active again as FH/DJ7RJ from Mayotte, AF-027, from the 15th of October to the 4th of November. He will operate CW and SSB with a focus on the 160m band and the low bands. QSL via his home call. He does not use Logbook of The World or Club Log.

Antonio, EA5RM will be working in Bolivia until the 30th of November. In his spare time he will operate SSB and digital modes on the 40 to 10m bands as CP1XRM. QSL via EA5RM.

Look for Fabien, F4GYM/P and Pierre-Marie, F4FCE/P, who will be active from Grande Ile de Chausey, EU 039, between the 19th and the 25th of October. They will operate SSB, CW and digital modes on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via home calls, either via the bureau or direct.

Philippe, F1DUZ will be active as FG4KH from Guadeloupe, NA-102, between the 14th to the 29th of October. He will operate SSB and some FT8 on 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL, or via F1DUZ, either direct or via the bureau.

Now the special event news

Hartlepool ARC will be running Jamboree on the Air special event station GB0TVS on behalf of Tees Valley Scouts on the 19th and 20th of October. The station will operate from the Hartlepool Scout Centre, Brierton Lane, just off the A689. Activity will be on HF, VHF and UHF, and all visitors will be welcome.

GB1NHS will be operating as part of GIANT Healthcare scheduled to take place on 15-16 October 2019 at the Chelsea Football Club Stadium in London. This year will be the first time that the event has featured amateur radio. Paul Devlin will be operating a demonstration station on both days.

GB100GP will be on the air from Gilwell Park on the 19th and 20th of October and will have over 250 youngsters visiting the station over the weekend to take part in a variety of activities. They will be active on HF and locally on 145MHz with voice and SSTV.

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

The Oceania DX CW contest ends its 24 hour run at 0800UTC today, the 13th. Using the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

Today, the 13th, the IRTS 40m Counties Contest runs from 1200 to 1400UTC using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their County.

On Monday, the 80m Autumn Series runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW only on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend the Worked All Germany contest runs from 1500UTC on the 19th to 1500UTC on the 20th. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number, with German stations also sending DOK.

Next Sunday, the 20th of October, the 50MHz AFS contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on 6m only, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next Sunday, the 20th, the 2nd RoLo contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW only on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is signal report and the rolling postcode.

Next Sunday, the 20th, the UK Microwave Group 24-76MHz contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Friday the 11th of October.

We had a mixed bag of HF propagation over the last seven days, although Monday saw maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path climb above 21MHz. Conditions were less good on Thursday morning, mainly due to an elevated Kp index, which reached four thanks to an enhanced solar wind with a south-facing Bz component.

There was DX to be had though, including A82X in Liberia, TO80SP in St Pierre and Miquelon and the ZK3A DXpedition to the Tokelau Islands. They unfortunately had to end their operations early due to the illness of an island resident, but well-equipped stations were able to work them earlier.

There were no sunspots recorded during the last seven days. We apologise for saying the same last week when in fact a small spot appeared and then vanished the next day!

Next week NOAA has the solar flux index pegged at 68. The good news is that it doesn’t think we will have any geomagnetic disturbances. A shot of the sun taken by the Solar Dynamics Observatory on Thursday the 10th showed no coronal hole activity at all. As we know all too well this could change as the week goes on, but for now we predict settled geomagnetic conditions with maximum usable frequencies near their seasonal norms.

We are now seeing the better autumnal propagation as the ionosphere cools, although you may be forgiven for thinking we are not. The low solar flux is not making the bands come alive to SSB and to a lesser extent CW, although modes like FT8 with its lower required signal to noise ratio is letting DX be worked on a regular basis.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

It’s hard to get too much enthusiasm for next week’s VHF propagation prospects as autumn is the season of changeable weather patterns. The coming week is no exception. There will be low pressure nearby for much of the week with the main centres tracking close to Scotland, but also affecting the south at times. These will also bring windy weather at times to test the summer antenna work! The upside of course is that this unsettled weather pattern will bring some good prospects for rain scatter on the GHz bands again.

As for Tropo, it’s not looking good for UK stations with high pressure displaced to the south over France, Biscay and the Azores and thus well out of range for any extended Tropo paths.

Today sees Moon declination go positive so we’ll see a continuing increase in Moon window lengths and peak moon elevation. We are past apogee for this lunar month now, so losses will be falling as well. Sky noise on VHF is low but increasing, reaching 500 kelvin at 144MHz next Saturday.

There is one small meteor shower this coming week, the Epsilon-Geminids on the 18th. We are a week and a day from the much more intense Orionids shower so we should see some improvement then in meteor scatter conditions.

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