| |
G4TNU > NEWS 02.03.25 02:56l 282 Lines 13877 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 15209G4TNU
Read: DJ6UX
Subj: RSGB Main News - 02 Mar 2025
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FFL<OE5XBL<OE2XZR<OE6XPE<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<PD0LPM<PI8ZTM<I0OJJ<
I3XTY<GB7COW<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
Sent: 250302/0126Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:15209G4TNU
T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.europe
T:Message-Id: <E1_2209701_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 2nd of March 2025
The news headlines:
* British Science Week – will you be taking part in an
amateur radio activity?
* Could you contribute to the RSGB Technical Forum?
* The RSGB is looking for an Assistant RadCom Editor
British Science Week starts this Friday the 7th of March and gives
radio amateurs the opportunity to share their passion and knowledge
of the hobby to reach new audiences. Schools including Kingsmead
School in Taunton and St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Ormskirk
have radio-related activities planned for students. Clubs including
South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amateur Radio Group will be
involved with events that are open to the public. A Men's Sheds group
in Crowthorne and Wokingham will be active as G8EYM and would
appreciate skeds, especially with other Men's Sheds – could you
arrange one with them? In another fantastic development for this
year, the RSGB Outreach team has partnered with the Radio
Communications Foundation to provide FM radio receiver kits for 15
school, university, scout and youth groups to build. You can find
details of these events, plus more, by going to rsgb.org/bsw and
choosing the "Events happening near you" tab on the righthand menu.
If you have an activity taking place, there is still time to let the
Society know so it can help promote the event. Email the RSGB British
Science Week Coordinator, Ian Neal, M0KEO via bsw<at>rsgb.org.uk
Even if you haven't planned anything yet, you can still get involved
by doing the RSGB's official British Science Week activity with your
friends and family. You can find that and other ideas and resources
on the RSGB British Science Week web page. Be inspired, get involved
and show the very best that amateur radio has to offer.
The RSGB Technical Forum is accepting expressions of interest from
people who would like to join the group. The Forum is a body of
technical experts that review articles submitted to the RSGB RadCom
Editors. It provides a recommendation on whether they should be
accepted for publication, and whether they are best suited to RadCom,
RadCom Basics or RadCom Plus. If you are able and willing to
contribute to the RSGB Technical Forum, please write in the first
instance to gm.dept<at>rsgb.org.uk and include a short summary of
your relevant amateur radio and professional expertise.
The RSGB is looking for an Assistant Editor to join the team that
produces its suite of RadCom publications. The successful candidate
will be involved in everything from magazine production and
sub-editing, to writing articles and planning content. More
information is available on page 83 of the February 2025 issue
of RadCom or via rsgb.org/careers If you are interested in
applying for the role, email radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
The Commonwealth Contest is a unique annual event which has run every
year since 1931. Held over the weekend nearest to Commonwealth Day,
it is loved by many RSGB members and radio amateurs throughout the
Commonwealth. In 2024 over 240 individual entrants and 15
Commonwealth Headquarters stations representing national societies
were active. The Commonwealth Contest is a treasure hunt with
amateurs in distant locations looking to make a QSO with you, so if
you are not a regular contest participant or you have a simple HF
setup, you might use the Contest as an opportunity to make DX QSOs.
UK amateurs are travelling to the Caribbean, the Falklands and New
Zealand, so your scope for QSOs is expanded, and many VK, ZL, VU and
VE amateurs will be joining in too. This year the Contest takes place
on the 8th of March, and you can find out more on page 38 of the
March issue of RadCom and on the RSGB website via
tinyurl.com/commonwealth-contest
On Saturday the 29th of March, the RSGB National Radio Centre
Coordinator, Martyn Baker, G0GMB, together with Andy Webster, G7UHN
from the Radio Communications Foundation, will be delivering a talk
in the Fellowship Auditorium at Bletchley Park. It will introduce
people to the radio spectrum and how to get to grips with the
fundamentals of radio transmission. The RSGB is delighted that its
members can benefit from a 10% discount, reducing the price to
GBP 14.40. To find out more, go to the ‘What's on' section on the
Bletchley Park website via bletchleypark.org.uk If you'd like to
visit the wider Bletchley Park site after the talk, RSGB members can
gain free entry by downloading a voucher from rsgb.org/bpvoucher
Amateur Radio Clubs On The Air is getting ready for a second weekend
of operating on the 22nd and 23rd of March. It is a chance for
amateurs to promote their club, have some fun and collect points for
an award. All bands may be used, using any mode including SSB, CW,
FM, RTTY, FT8/4 and other digital modes. This is an ongoing award,
and contacts may be claimed from 23 March 2024 onwards. You can find
full details on the Leicester Radio Society website at g3lrs.org.uk,
via the G3LRS page at QRZ.com or by emailing arcota<at>g3lrs.org.uk
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on
Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 2nd of March, the Exeter Radio Rally is taking place at a
new venue. The event will be held at The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE, from
10am. Traders and catering will be available on site. For more
information phone Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198 374 or email
g3zvi<at>yahoo.co.uk
On Sunday the 16th of March, the Ripon and District Amateur Radio
Society Rally will take place at Great Ouseburn Village Hall,
Lightmire Lane, Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RL. Doors open for traders
at 7.30am and then to the public at 10am for an admission price of
GBP 3. Free parking, refreshments and bacon butties will be
available. Tables cost GBP 10 each. For enquiries or to book one or
more tables, please email radars.rally<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event news
The British Railways Amateur Radio Society is running special event
station GB0LMR and GB2SDR during 2025 to celebrate 200 years of train
travel since 1825. Starting from April, it will also be running GB2TT
to celebrate the same anniversary. QSL will be via the Bureau. More
information is available at QRZ.com and via webrars.info
From the 1st to the 28th of March George, MM0JNL will once again be
activating special event station GB0GTS. This year the station is
active in support of the Great Tommy Sleepout. This national
challenge aims to raise funds and awareness for all former UK service
personnel who are living homeless. More details are available at
QRZ.com and rbli.co.uk
Now the DX news
Operators R1BIG, RW3RN, W8HC, R9LR and N3QQ are active from Chiriqui
[CHI-REE- KEY], Panama as 3F3RRC until the 3rd of March.
The VK9XU Team will be active from Christmas Island, IOTA reference
OC-002, until the 4th of March. They will operate on 160 - 6m, CW,
SSB, RTTY, FT8 and FT4. QSL via DL2AWG, ClubLog and Logbook of the
World.
Looking ahead, DA1DX, DK9IP, DM6EE and DL8LAS will be active from
Anegada [A-NE-GA-DA] Island in the British Virgin Islands
as VP2VI from the 10th to the 27th of April.
Now the contest news
The ARRL DX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 1st of
March, and ends at 2359UTC today, the 2nd of March. Using SSB on the
160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange for
non-US and Canadian stations is signal report and transmit power in
Watts. US and Canadian stations will send their State/Province in
place of transmit power.
The RSGB March 144MHz/432MHz Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday
the 1st of March and ends at 1400UTC today, the 2nd of March. Using
all modes on the 2m and 70cm bands, the exchange is signal report,
serial number, and locator.
Today, the 2nd of March, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs
from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the microwave bands, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also today, the 2nd of March, the Worked All Britain 80m phone
Contest runs from 1800 to 2200UTC. Please note that this is an
SSB-only contest, and the exchange is signal report, serial number
and Worked All Britain area. Entries to be with the contest manager
by March the 12th. The full rules can be seen on the WAB web site.
On Monday, the 3rd of March, the RSGB 80m Club Championship DATA
Contest runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m
band only, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday, the 4th of March, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday, the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday, the 5th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour contest
runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday, the 5th, the
RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC.
Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character
locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the
two-hour contest.
On Wednesday the 5th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club Contest runs
from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your
six-character locator.
The Commonwealth Contest starts at 1000UTC on Saturday the 8th of
March and ends at 1000UTC on Sunday the 9th of March. Using CW on the
80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. The Commonwealth HQ stations will also send
‘HQ' as part of the contest exchange.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 27th of February 2025
We had another week of mixed geomagnetic conditions. The Kp index
rose to a high of five with visible aurora over the UK at times.
Two large coronal holes are now both facing Earth. A solar wind
stream flowing from these zones is expected to flow past Earth,
possibly on Friday the 28th of February or Saturday the 1st of March.
Active geomagnetic conditions with a Kp index of four are currently
forecast for this weekend.
There has also been more solar flare activity over the past seven
days with an X2-class flare on the 23rd and ten M-class flares. The
X-class flare occurred at 19:27UTC so had little effect in Europe as
the Sun had set. Luckily, an associated coronal mass ejection was not
Earth-directed. Another fast-moving CME on the 24th was also not
Earth-directed.
As we enter March it looks as though the Sun is still very active.
The solar flux index stood at 180 on Thursday the 27th, after hitting
210 on the 23rd. Maximum usable frequencies over 3,000km are still
reaching 34-35MHz around midday, while night-time MUFs are generally
around 10-11MHz, with occasional openings on 20 metres.
This week Bob, VP8LP on the Falkland Islands has been active on 10
metres SSB and has been worked from the UK.
As we enter March this is a good time for North-South paths on HF,
such as UK to South Africa and UK to South America. The spring
equinox is also a good time for auroral conditions.
NOAA predicts the Sun will start next week with an SFI of 190,
perhaps falling to 170-180 as the week progresses. We hesitate to say
this, but geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be good once we get
past the disturbances on the 28th and the 1st, but only time will
tell!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
There is likely to be a welcome return of high pressure for much of
the period from this weekend until the middle of the coming week on
the 5th of March.
Models show a return of unsettled Atlantic weather, meaning lows,
fronts, showers and rain scatter for the GHz bands. Until then, it
will be typical high-pressure Tropo conditions with an extensive
temperature inversion aloft caused by the descending warming air in
the high-pressure region.
This should provide ducting conditions over a large part of the
country. As often, the far north of the UK will probably just miss
out and retain too much breeze for the inversion to be effective.
The lull in meteor shower activity continues, so once again your best
chances will be in the morning hours around, or just before, dawn.
The Sun has kept aurora seekers busy and shows how frequently it can
just tip into the right disturbed conditions at this stage of the
solar cycle. As we said earlier, there have been reports of visible
aurora in the past week.
The signs for this are the Kp index rising to five or greater and a
flutter on LF band signals or trans-polar paths on the HF bands.
The new Sporadic-E season is almost upon us, but we are not there
yet. Check the graphs on Propquest for signs of enhanced foEs values
and check the HF bands first; 10m is particularly good for strong
European Es signals.
EME conditions will be predictable as usual, with Moon declination
rising all week and path losses at their minimum at perigee late on
Saturday the 1st of March. 144MHz sky noise is low from this coming
weekend, rising to moderate by Friday the 7th.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
