THE PAST WEEK
Last weekend the Lighthouses On The Air event took place at Shoreham Lighthouse (Kingston Buci) using special callsign GB8SL. Setup and removal went smoothly, with no major hiccups. Thanks to all who gave their time to help. Despite very variable band conditions and really bad QRM from the Southwick broadcast station, there were in excess of 300 QSOs over the period, mostly on 20m/40m, with a few on 70cm. We probably hold the record for the most German stations worked in one session, thanks to Edmund, M0MNG’s fluent German language skills! Some heavy rain during the night, but no thunder storms or heavy growling, so we presume Bryan, G3GVB wasn’t presiding from above! There is some video of the event on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buDpNPSIew8
Wednesday evening saw a further discussion about the Lighthouses event. The major downside was the RF ‘swamping’ and other QRM from the rather sick Southwick broadcast transmitter. The broadcast RF was so strong that it was impossible to use antenna analysers, which showed more RF coming back than was going out (an impossibility of course). Whilst there’s probably not much we can do about the transmitter other than pray that either it breaks or outlives its usefulness, as always there are things we can do to combat it. It was generally agreed that as the club’s K3 rejects the broadcast QRM very well, it should probably be used at Shoreham, instead of the IC7300. There was also discussion about the possibility of connecting a good quality hi-pass filter into the RX feed. The committee are looking into all of the ramifications of this.
Discussion also considered recent Ofcom blunders regarding issue of M0+2 letter callsigns.
Those present were reminded that the next stage of the G8FMJ Foxhunt Competition takes place NEXT Wednesday. Suggested starting place is Lancing Parish Hall around 7.15pm, so that teams can be formed for those who don’t want to ‘go it alone’. The hall will also be open for non-participants, with tea being served as usual.
The club’s K3 was in operation during the evening, with some CW and some French and German contacts.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
2 metres Fox Hunt. Lancing Parish Hall open for those who can’t make it onto the road – Callsign: G3WOR/P, Freq: 145.425MHz – Wed 30th August – 7:30pm – 10:00pm.
Sunday Breakfast @ Lancing Harvester – 3rd September – 9.00am – 10.00am.
Building and testing RF Filters, on a budget – Wed 6th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
Band III – a talk by Ron, G3SKI – Wed 13th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
Intermediate Training – email training@wadarc.org.uk to book – Sat 16th – Sun 17th September – 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.
Intermediate Exam – Monday 18th September – 7.15pm – 9.00pm.
Construction Competition – Wednesday 20th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
Setting Up Your Laptop for Digital Modes, talk – Wednesday 27th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
For further information as it occurs, please visit the WADARC website: www.wadarc.org.uk
NETS
Monday – 2metres 145.425 MHz, FM, 7.30pm (local)
Thursday – 40metres 7.106 MHz +/-QRM, SSB, 11.00am (local)
Saturday – 70cms on GB3WO, 7.00pm (local)
Sunday – 80metres 3.712 MHz +/- QRM, SSB, 7.30am-8.00am (local)
RALLIES
August 2017
27 August 2017 Milton Keynes MKARS Rally
The Irish Centre, Manor Fields, Watling Street, Bletchley, Bucks. MK2 2HX.
(Opposite Dobbie’s Garden Centre.) Entrance fee £3.00. Free parking.
Further details: https://www.mkars.org.uk
September 2017
10 September 2017 Andover ARC’s Wildhern Rally
Village Hall, Wildhern, just north of Andover, SP11 0JE. Map reference: SU350510 Open 10:00/Sellers 09:00. Admission £2. Tables in the hall £10, £8 per boot. Free Raffle. Details: arac@arac.org.uk Club Website http://www.arac.org.uk
10 September 2017 Torbay Annual Communications Fair Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon, TQ12 3AF. Open 10:00/09:30. Admission £2. B&B. RSGB books. Raffle. On-site parking and catering. Bookings: Pete, G4VTO, 01803-864528 or Mike, G1TUU, 01803-557941
rally@tars.org.uk
17 September 2017 Weston-Super-Mare Rally
The Campus, Highlands Lane, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 7DX. Open 10:00. Admission £3. Large car park. B&B. Trade. Auction. Lectures.
Family amusements, competitions & contests, interactive displays and fun activities. On-site catering. Details: 01278-786684, mjones129@btinternet.com http://www.G4WSM.club
29 & 30 September 2017 National Hamfest [Friday & Saturday] Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts. NG24 2NY. Trade. B&B. Free parking. Disabled facilities. SIGs. Car boot sale. Flea market. RSGB books. Morse tests. Catering. Details: http://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
RAGCHEW
Summer 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/summer-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
Solar activity is low, and it is likely to stay that way through the weekend. NOAA forecasters say there is a slight 15% chance of M-class solar flares for the next 3 days.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
Predictions show no enhancements for the UK, but given the nature of the Troposphere, this could change on an hourly basis. No auroral activity at present.
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
HF:
This week’s bulletin was made possible with information provided by QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, The Daily DX, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.
CROATIA, 9A. Peter, GW4UWD will be QRV as 9A/GW4UWD/p from Zlarin Island, IOTA EU-170, from August 27 to September 2. Activity will be on the HF bands using only SSB. QSL to home call.
WEST MALAYSIA, 9M2. Special event station 9M29SEAKL is QRV until August 29 during the context of the 29th SEA GAMES 2017 being held in Kuala Lumpur. QSL via bureau.
TAIWAN, BV. Special event station BV0FISU is QRV until August 30 to draw attention to the 29th Summer Universiade sporting event being held in Taipei. QSL via BV2FP.
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, DA. Stefan, DF8HS will be QRV from two different locations on Fehmarn from August 28 to September 14. QSL to home call.
SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5. Doug, W6HB will be QRV as E51DLD from August 27 to September 8. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using only SSB. QSL to home call.
ESTONIA, ES. Members of the Russian Lighthouse Society are QRV as ES/RX3AMI until August 31 from IOTAs EU-034, EU-149, and EU-178. QSL via RX3AMI.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HL. Han, DS2GOO will be QRV as DS2GOO/4 from Pogil Island, IOTA AS-085, from August 26 to 28. Activity will be on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL to home call.
JAPAN, JA. Members of the Tokyo Bay Ham Club are QRV with special event call sign 8J1ZIU until the May of 2018 to celebrate the club’s 40th anniversary. QSL via bureau.
ALASKA, KL7. Mikhail, VE7ACN is QRV as NL6/AA7CH from Kayak Island, IOTA NA-157, until August 28. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home call.
CORSICA, TK. Frans, DJ0TP is QRV as TK/DJ0TP until September 8.
QSL to home call.
MICRONESIA, V6. Toshi, JA6REX will be QRV as V63KS from Chuuk Island, IOTA OC-011, from August 28 to September 3. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call.
VIETNAM, XV. William, WA7WJR will be QRV as XV9WJR from August 26 to September 17. Activity will be from various locations, and QRV mainly on 40 and 20 meters using primarily CW. QSL direct to home call.
INDONESIA, YB. Champ, E21EIC is QRV as YB2/KY1A until August 26 from the Borobudur Central Java Amateur Radio Fair. QSL to E21EIC.
VANUATU, YJ. Bert, CX3AN will be QRV as YJ0CX from Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, from August 27 to September 3. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL to home call. In addition, Tony, KQ2I will be QRV as YJ0AT from Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, from August 28 to September 13. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using only CW. QSL via NR6M.
U. K. SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC4. Adrian, G0KOM has renewed his license and is active as ZC4MK for the next 12 months. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The QRP 20-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC Sprint Ladder, Hawaii QSO Party, ALARA Contest, YO DX HF Contest, SCC RTTY Championship, W/VE Islands QSO Party, Kansas QSO Party, Ohio QSO Party, CVA SSB DX Contest, 50 MHz Fall Sprint and the SARL HF CW Contest are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.
The Phone Fray and CWops Mini-CWT Test are scheduled for August 30.
Please see August QST page 86, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
2nd – 3rd September – 144 MHz Trophy Contest – 14.00-14.00
3rd September – 144 MHz Backpackers # 5 – 11.00-15.00
17th September – 70 MHz Contest # 2 – 09.00-12.00
FINALÉ
Last Wednesday’s club meeting was rather poorly patronised, with only just over a dozen people taking part, including one visitor. Whilst not every evening’s events are of interest to all club members, please think about supporting the club by attending. Hopefully this lull is just a ‘Summer thing’ and as the evenings draw in, there will be less to attract members elsewhere.
When there is no formal talk or outside event, one of the club’s HF rigs is usually available and contrary to some peoples’ view, they can be and are being used for Wednesday evening QSOs. Also, if requested, 2m and 70cm radios can be made available.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
