THE PAST WEEK
Last Wednesday’s multi-band (80/40m) net was something of a letdown. Conditions were not especially good locally although signals that were heard were quite good. Thanks to those who took the trouble to take part.
I would like to see more of our new licensees and newer members at regular club meetings. Don’t feel that you’re out of your depth, we all had to start somewhere. I’ve heard from one person regarding setting up a specific rig and I’d like to hear from more people who have specific unanswered questions. We may not be able to answer them immediately, but we are always willing to research and advise. Please pass the message on to anyone who you know might benefit.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Tea and Chat night – Wednesday 3rd January – 8.00pm-10.00pm
- RSGB Lecture “Breaking the Mould – a must for all who want to further our club – Wednesday 10th January – 8.00pm-10.00pm
For further information as it occurs, please visit the WADARC website: www.wadarc.org.uk
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
No rallies within easy driving distance in January.
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
RAGCHEW
Autumn 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/autumn-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
GEOMAGNETIC STORM PREDICTED: NOAA forecasters say there is a 50% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on Jan. 1, 2018, when a stream of solar wind engulfs Earth’s magnetic field. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras mixed with bright moonlight.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
ON0VHF (Belgium) has been a little stronger over the past week, but no apparent enhancements for VHF/UHF users.
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 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. John, KB4FB plans to revisit Da Nang in the first days of January and February and be QRV as 3W9FB each time. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via LoTW.
SOMALIA, 6O. Operators Ken, LA7GIA and Adrian, KO8SCA will be QRV as 6O6O from January 3 to 16, 2018. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
MALDIVES, 8Q. Roland, HB9VQQ is QRV as 8Q7HB from Kandima Island, IOTA AS-013, until December 30. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands using JT65 and FT8. QSL to home call.
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 9Y. Thomas, DL9OBQ is QRV as 9Z4/DL9OBQ from Saint Augustine, Trinidad Island, IOTA SA-011, until February 7th, 2018. Activity is on 30, 17 and 15 meters using mostly CW. QSL to home call.
BHUTAN, A5. Pat, N2IEN will be QRV as A52PD from January 2 to 14, 2018. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW and various digital modes. QSL to home call.
QATAR, A7. Members of the Qatar Amateur Radio Society plan to be QRV as A70X from Al-Safliyah Island, IOTA AS-088, from January 1 to 6, 2018. QSL via M0OXO.
THE GAMBIA, C5. Pedro, ON7WP is QRV as C5WP from Buntung until December 30 while here doing charity work. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands with a focus on the digital modes. QSL direct to home call.
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, DA. Special event station DK200MARX is QRV during all of 2018 to celebrates Karl Marx’s 200th birthday. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via bureau.
IRELAND, EI. Special event station EI00MCV is QRV during all of 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Royal Mail Ship Leinster that took place on October 10, 1918. QSL via bureau.
HAITI, HH. Special event station HH70A is QRV until June 30, 2018 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Radio Club d’Haiti. QSL via W3HNK.
JAPAN, JA. Special event station 8J7HCB will be QRV from January 1, 2018 to May 31 to draw attention to the 100th Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival. QSL direct to JK7LXU.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA, P2. Darren, VK4FEDX is now QRV as P29DA. Activity of late has been on 10 meters using SSB. In 2018, he plans to be active from the PNG Coastal Islands East, IOTA OC-240. QSL direct to home call.
SINT MAARTEN, PJ7. Vadym, UT6UD will be QRV as PJ7/UT6UD from December 30 to January 13, 2018. Activity will be on 160 to 17 meters. QSL direct to home call.
ANTARCTICA. Alex, UA1OJL will be QRV as RI50ANO from Bellingshausen Base on King George Island, IOTA AN-010, from January 1, 2018 to March 31. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via RN1ON.
POLAND, SP. Dionizy, SP6IEQ will be QRV as 3Z18HNY from December 30 to January 15, 2018. QSL to home call.
PALAU, T8. Ryosei, JH0IXE is QRV as T8CW from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, until January 5, 2018. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL direct to home call.
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. John, N9EAJ is QRV as VP5/N9EAJ from Grand Turk, IOTA NA-003, until January 4, 2018. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters, and possibly 80 meters, using CW and SSB. QSL via LoTW.
INDIA, VU. Members of the West Bengal Radio Club will be QRV as AU2WBR from Ganga Sagar Mela/Sagar Island, IOTA AS-153, from January 1, 2018 to March 31. QSL via VU2NRO.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The ARRL Straight Key Night, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC CW Sprint, RAC Winter Contest, Stew Perry Topband Challenge, Original QRP CW Contest, Bogor Old and New SSB Contest are all on tap for this weekend.
The QRP ARCI New Years CW Sprint, AGCW VHF/UHF CW Contest, AGCW Happy New Year CW Contest, SARTG New Year RTTY Contest and AGB New Year Snowball Contest are scheduled for January 1, 2018.
The ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for January 2, 2018.
The AWA Linc Cundall Memorial CW Contest, UKEICC 80-Meter SSB Contest, Phone Fray and CWops Mini-CWT CW Test are scheduled for January 3, 2018.
The IQRP Quarterly Marathon is scheduled from January 1, 2018 to January 7.
The ARRL International Grid Chase starts January 1, 2018 and runs during all of 2018.
Please see December QST, page 73, January 2018 QST, page 89, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
2nd January – 144MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
2nd January – 144MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
9th January – 432MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
9th January – 432MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
11th January – 50MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
11th January – 50MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
18th January – 70MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
18th January – 70MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
FINALÉ
A very Happy New Year to all WADARC members. Good health and good DX.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
