WADARC now meets at a new premises – Lions Hall, 21 Roberts Road, Lancing. BN15 8AR.
THE PAST WEEK
Last Wednesday meeting was a busy, industrious and fun evening – thanks to everyone for setting everything up. Chris M0VUE set-up loads of gear to allow people to make various things including: building a dummy load kit, a EFHW antenna and also a low pass filter. I asked Phil to bring along his RIGOL DSA815 spectrum Analyser to check out a 23cm antenna I had made (to go onto a 1.2m dish) and Ian also checked out a 144 MHz band-band pass filter. Both worked well, the analyser provided rapid and useful information.
Wi-fi battery
This week in Computer-Active magazine (well worth reading by the way) they describe a new wi-fi charged battery that is being developed. Presumably it trickle-charges by rectifying the RF from your wi-fi signal. The idea is that the batteries could be put into remote controls and fire alarms for example, so you never need to take them out to change them. I wonder what 100 Watts of RF from a nearby radio amateur station would do to them …
Top-band prop.
I saw a very interesting PDF article recently about top band propagation called “The 160-meter band: an enigma shrouded in mystery”. It’s not a new article but interesting non-the-less, see what you think at the link here:
http://solar.spacew.com/cq/cqmar98.pdf
73’s Jonathan, G1EXG
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
Tea and Chat Night – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 7th February – 8.00pm-10.00pm
RSGB Lecture – E51LYC brings Pukapuka Atoll (OC-098) in North Cook Islands on the air – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 14th February – 8.00pm-10.00pm
G3WOR on the air night – Lions Hall Wed 21st 8:00 to 10:00 pm – one of the club radios will be available for members to use.
NETS
Monday – 2 metres 145.425 MHz, FM, 7.30pm (local)
Thursday – 40 metres 7.106 MHz +/-QRM, SSB, 11.00am (local)
Saturday – 70 cms on GB3WO, 7.00pm (local)
Sunday – 80 metres 3.712 MHz +/- QRM, SSB, 7.30am-8.00am (local)
RALLIES
4 February 2018 33rd Canvey Radio & Electronics Rally. The Paddocks Community Centre, Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0JA (Southern end of A130).
Open 10:30. Trade. Refreshments. Disabled facilities. Free parking.
Details: Vic Rogers, G6BHE, 07957-461694, nvr1945@btinternet.com
http://www.southessex-ars.co.uk
9-11 February 2018 The 72nd Orlando HamCation [Friday-Sunday]
Central Florida Fairgrounds & Expo Park, 4603 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida, 32808, USA
Open 09:00 to 17:00 Friday/Saturday & 09:00 to 14:00 Sunday. Admission $17 at the gate/$15 online.
Talkin. Free parking. Trade. Swap meet. Car boot sale. Forums. SIGs. Family attractions. Draw.
http://www.hamcation.com
18 February 2018 Audiojumble
The Angel Leisure Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1SF.
Vintage & modern hifi, valve & transistor amps, speakers, turntables, components etc will be on sale. See website for entry details and costs.
http://audiojumble.co.uk
25 February 2018 BRATS Medway Radio Rally
Victory Academy, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 5JB.
Open 10:00/09:30 to 14:00. Entry £2.50. Free parking. Trade. RSGB books. Talk-in 145.550 MHz by GB4RRR. On-site catering.
Details: Hugh H, G0BRC, 07825 838877, Secretary@bratsqth.org
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
RAGCHEW
Winter 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/winter-201718
PROPAGATION
Check out the RSGB’s new ITURHFProp Prop. Prediction tool info. at:
http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/propagation-studies-committee/projects/iturhfprop-propagation-prediction-engine/
VHF/UHF:
As usual, if you’re there at the right time, enhancements may be observed. ON0VHF rose out of the noise several times last week, up to around S5 and long enough to indicate that the band was good for DX.
Beacons often heard in our area:
VHF:
GB3WSX – IO80QW – 70.007 MHz
GB3BAA – IO91PS – 70.016 MHz
F1ZXK – JN18KF – 144.438 MHz
F5ZSF – IN88GS – 144.409 MHz
GB3VHF – JO01EH – 144.430 MHz
ON0VHF – JO20HP – 144.418 MHz
UHF:
F5XBA – JN18KF – 432.830 MHz
GB3UHF – JO01EH – 432.430 MHz
ON0UHF – JO20ET – 432.567 MHz
DX NEWS
DX News from the ARRL
2 February, 2018
This week’s bulletin was made possible with information provided by WB0TEV,
The Daily DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.
VIET NAM, 3W. Chuck, W0DLE is QRV as 3W9DLE from Ho Chi Minh City until April 30. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB and FT8.
This includes being entries in the upcoming ARRL DX and Russian DX contests. QSL direct to home call.
BOUVET, 3Y. A group of operators will be QRV as 3Y0Z until February 28. Activity will be on 160 to 2 meters with multiple stations using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8, with EME on 6 and 2 meters. QSL via N2OO.
SAMOA, 5W. Dick, AD7AF will be QRV as 5W0LR from February 4 to 22. Activity will be on 40 to 15 meters, and possibly 80 meters, using primarily CW and FT8 with some SSB, depending on band conditions. This includes being active in the upcoming ARRL DX CW contest. QSL direct to home call.
BAHAMAS, C6. Operators Tim, N4UM, Bob, N4BP and Mike, K4RUM will be QRV as C6ARU, C6AKQ, and C6AUM, respectively, from Great Abaco Island, IOTA NA-080, from February 6 to 20. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters with a focus on CW, and the upcoming CQ WPX RTTY and ARRL DX CW contests. QSL direct to home calls.
COMOROS, D6. Giovanni, IK5BCM, Giuseppe, IK5CBE and Giovanni, IK5CRH are QRV as D68I until February 10. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via IK5CRH.
PHILIPPINES, DU. Chris, F4EBK is QRV as DU3/F4EBK from Baliuag on Luzon, IOTA OC-042, during the month of February. Activity is on 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB. QSL to home call.
ESTONIA, ES. A number of amateur radio operators are active with an ES100 prefix until March 31 to mark the 100th birthday of the Estonian Republic.
SOLOMON ISLANDS, H4. Bernard, DL2GAC is QRV as H44MS until May 2. QSL to home call.
ITALY, I. Various members of the Amateur Radio Club of United Nations Global Service Centre are QRV as 4U13FEB from Brindisi until March 31 to promote United Nations World Radio Day. Activity is on various HF bands. QSL via 9A2AA.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Haru, JA1XGI is QRV as P29VXG from New Britain Island, IOTA OC-008, until February 7. Activity is on 160, 80, 40, 30 and 20 meters. QSL to home call.
PALAU, T8. Mitsuhiko, JL3WXS is QRV as T88XS from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, until February 5. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL to home call.
MALI, TZ. Youma is now QRV as TZ5YL. She has been active on 17 meters using CW. QSL to home call.
BELIZE, V3. Victor, WB0TEV and Scott, KK7JS will be QRV as V31VP and V31CQ, respectively, from Blackman Eddy from February 8 to 12. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters. This includes being active as V31VP in the upcoming CQ WPX RTTY contest. QSL to home calls.
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4. Bernie, W3UR is QRV as V47UR from St. Kitts, IOTA NA 104, until February 12. Activity is holiday style on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and some FT8 from grid square FK87. QSL via NR6M.
CANADA, VE. Pierre, VE3KTB and Alex, VE1RUS will be QRV as VY0ERC from Nunavut, Ellesmere Island, IOTA NA-008, from February 4 to April 1. Activity will be in their spare time mostly on 40 and 20 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via M0OXO.
KOSOVO, Z6. Station Z60A is QRV on the HF bands. In addition, Z61DX has been active on 20 meters using CW and SSB at various times. QSL via OH2BH.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The AM Rally, NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC CW Sprint, Vermont QSO Party, 10-10 International SSB Winter Contest, Mexico RTTY International Contest, Black Sea Cup International, F9AA CW Cup, Minnesota QSO Party, FYBO Winter QRP Sprint, AGCW 80-Meter CW Straight Key Party, British Columbia QSO Party, FISTS Winter Slow Speed CW Sprint and North American CW Sprint will certain keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.
The RSGB 80-Meter Club SSB Championship is scheduled for February 5.
The ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for February 6.
The CWops Mini-CWT Test, UKEICC 80-Meter SSB Contest, Phone Fray and QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt are scheduled for February 7.
The ARRL International Grid Chase runs during all of 2018.
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
6th February – 144MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
6th February – 144MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
13th February – 432MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
13th February – 432MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
15th February – 50MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
15th February – 50MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
22ndFebruary – 70MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
22nd February – 70MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
