WADARC meets at – Lions Hall, 21 Roberts Road, Lancing. BN15 8AR.
THE PAST WEEK
Last Wednesday was cold and damp, so those members who did venture out were appreciative that Lions Hall was warm and dry. The RSGB lecture by E51LYC on his DXPedition to Pukapuka Atoll (OC-098) in North Cook Islands was very informative and gave an insight into the trials and tribulations of operators on remote sites. Fortunately most of the info was in the audio presentation, as the camera work was up to the usual poor RSGB standard (editing non-existent)!
Vandals Destroy Repeater In UK
STEPHEN/ANCHOR: It’s tough enough when equipment failure knocks a repeater off the air, but in the UK presumed criminal activity has destroyed a popular SSTV repeater. Ed Durran DD5LP has those details.
ED’S REPORT: Security had been high but it apparently was not enough to protect the MB7TV repeater used by the Martello Tower Group for SSTV. Following reports that the repeater had gone off the air, the group’s chairman Tony G0MBA visited the site on Feb. 3 and discovered vandalism and theft had destroyed it.
The cables had been cut and the repeater itself was stolen – a laptop, a Kenwood TM-D700E radio, SSTV interface, wi-fi interface, thermostatic controlled heater, PSU, 20ft pole, aerial and coax, according to Keith G6NHU.
Keith told Amateur Radio Newsline that there are no suspects. He said [quote] “nobody outside the group knew the exact location of the repeater as the information on the website said it was located somewhere completely different. As far as we know there are no bad feelings between the group and other local hams so the only conclusion we can draw is that it’s some chancers who have seen it on the wall and decided to break it open and steal the contents.”
The Bouvet Island DXpedition is hopefully back on. A team of eastern European amateurs who had planned their activation in late 2017 has put the trip back on the calendar. Southgate Amateur News reported that Dominik 3Z9DX, Stanislaw SQ8X, Leszek SP3DOI, Branko YU4DX and Frans J69DS have put their trip back on the agenda with what they describe as [quote] “a matter of urgency.” [endquote] The team had cancelled its plans late last year at the request of the 3Y0Z DXpedition that had to be unexpectedly aborted earlier this month after reaching its destination.
Although no dates for the trip have been made public, reports indicate that the radio license has been renewed and the Norwegian Polar Institute has also issued a landing permit that is good through February of 2019. The team has indicated they want the expedition to occur during the Southern Hemisphere’s sub-Antarctic summer.
So if you’re still looking to get Bouvet Island in your logbook, you may get your chance after all. The team’s plans will be to sail from South Africa to the island where they will set up a camp and radio on the glacier plateau.
Until then, you can listen for Three Why Zero Eye (3Y0I) on the bands, watch for updates on their web page at https://bouvetoya.org in Polish or a Google translated version is at tinyurl.com/Bouvet-3Y0I
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
G3WOR on the air (CW ops bring your own key) + tea and chat – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 21st February – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Video and discussion on Antenna Types – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 28th February – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Tea and chat night – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 7th March – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Talk on APRS – Dorian, 2E0FSI – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 14th March – 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
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
4 March 2018 Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally
America Hall, De La Rue Way Pinhoe, Exeter, EX4 8PW.
Open 10:30/10:15 disabled & B&B bookin – may open earlier in inclement weather.
Admission £2. Trade. B&B. Catering.
Details: Pete, G3ZVI, 07714-198374, g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk
11 March 2018 Dover Radio Club Rally
Whitfield Village Hall, Sandwich Road, Manley Close, Whitfield, Dover, CT16 3LY.
Open 10:00. Entry £2. Talkin. Catering. Trade. Auction at 12:30.
Details: Aaron Coote, 2E0FQR, 07714-654267, aaroncoote@hotmail.co.uk
Web: http://www.darc.org.uk
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
HF:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
LATEST SOLAR NEWS: Feb 15 1455UTC) A CME impact is underway. The eruption 3.5 days ago has arrived and is increasing pressure on earth’s magnetic field. Thus far disruptions have been minor but instability is building and a Kp4 event is expected soon. When the coronal hole stream arrives in the coming 4-24 hours it will likely trigger Kp5 or Kp6 (minor/moderate geomagnetic storm) events. For further info please visit: http://spaceweather.com
Thursday morning propagation was certainly unstable. EI, F and within Sussex were strong most of the time, but with sporadic drop-outs. Elsewhere inter-G was non-existent.
VHF/UHF:
Tuesday’s 2 metre contest brought out a few stations, with PA, D, ON and a few locals heard from our area. Conditions weren’t anything special, so most DX was from stations /P on hilltops.
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 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.
KUWAIT, 9K. Special event station 9K57NLD is QRV until February 28 to mark Kuwait’s 57th National and Liberation Day. QSL via Clublog.
RWANDA, 9X. Christian, M0UPL is QRV as 9XSDA from Kigali until February 18 while here with the Seventh Day Adventist church. Activity is on 40 and 20 meters using mainly SSB. QSL direct to home call.
TAIWAN, BV. Randson, BV2DQ, Terry, BU2CC, James, BV2EL and Steven, VK2HSL, who is QRV as BW/VK2HSL, are all QRV until February 18 to mark the Chinese New Year. Activity is on 40, 20 and 15 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home calls.
EASTER ISLAND, CE0. Michael, DF8AN will be QRV as CE0Y/DF8AN from February 21 to 28. Activity will be on the HF bands, concentrating mainly on RTTY, PSK, JT-modes and FT8. QSL to home call.
CUBA, CO. Members of the Las Tunas Contest Crew will be QRV as T48K in the ARRL International DX CW contest as a Multi/2 entry. QSL via DK1WI.
CAPE VERDE, D4. Henning, OZ1BII is QRV as D44EE from Santiago Island, IOTA AF-005, until February 20. Activity is on the HF bands using CW. This includes being an entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL to home call.
NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Arnaud, JG1XMV plans to be QRV as FK/JG1XMV from Grande Terre, IOTA OC-032, Lifou and Mare, both IOTA OC-033, from February 17 to March 3. Activity will be holiday style on the HF bands. Yves, FK4RD will accompany him. QSL to home call.
OGASAWARA, JD1. Nobuaki, JA0JHQ will be QRV as JD1BOW from Chichijima Island, IOTA AS-031, from February 21 to 24. Activity will be on 160 to 15 meters using CW and various digital modes. QSL to home call.
GUAM, KH2. Operators Toshinobu, JI3ERV and Mikawa, JR7OMD will be QRV as AH2R in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via LoTW.
ARUBA, P4. Bruce, AA5B, Steve, AA7V, Ray, K9RS and Art, N3DXX will be QRV as P40E in the ARRL International DX CW contest as a Multi/Single entry. QSL this operation via K9QVB.
BRAZIL, PY. Members of the CDR Group will be QRV as PX2S from the Boqueirao Beach Lighthouse, ARLHS BRA-284, in the 10th South American Lighthouse Weekend. QSL via PY2CAT.
SLOVENIA, S5. Special event station S510SOTA is QRV during 2018 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the S5 SOTA Association. QSL via bureau.
PALAU, T8. Will, AA4NC will be QRV as T8NC in the ARRL International DX CW contest as a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry. QSL to home call.
COSTA RICA, TI. Nathan, N4YDU is QRV as TI5/N4YDU. He will be active as TI7W in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL TI7W via W4FS and TI5/N4YDU direct to home call.
BENIN, TY. Wim, ON6DX will be QRV as TY1TT from February 20 to 28. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Alan, N3AD is QRV as V26M from Antigua until February 19. This includes being an entry in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via W3HNK.
BELIZE, V3. Operators Torsten, DG7RO and Alexandra, DO5ALX are QRV as V31TF and V31RU, respectively, until February 25. Activity is on the various HF bands using SSB, RTTY and some FT8. This includes being active in the ARRL International DX CW contest and the upcoming CQ World Wide 160 Meter SSB contest. QSL to home calls.
KOSOVO, Z6. Look for Z60A to be active in the ARRL International DX CW contest. QSL via OH2BH.
ASCENSION ISLAND, ZD8. Randy, WW6RG plans to be QRV as ZD8RA on February 20. Activity will be from 0830 to 1100z and again from 1730 to 1930z. QSL to home call.
NEW ZEALAND, ZL. Operators ZL3PAH, ZL3GA and ZL3AB will be QRV as ZL3X in the ARRL International DX CW contest as a Mutli/2 entry. QSL via LoTW.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The ARRL International DX CW Contest, 10th South American Lighthouse Weekend, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint, SARL Youth Day 40-Meter SSB Sprint, Russian PSK World Wide Contest, Feld Hell Sprint, AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party and Classic Phone Exchange will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.
The Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest is scheduled for February 19.
The AGCW 80-Meter Semi-Automatic Key CW Evening, Phone Fray, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, and CWops Mini-CWT Test are scheduled for February 21.
The ARRL International Grid Chase runs during all of 2018.
Please see February 2018 QST, page 87, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest Web Sites for details.
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
22ndFebruary – 70MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00
22nd February – 70MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30
FINALÉ
Just a reminder to committee members that our next meeting is on Skype, this coming Tuesday (20th). Please let me have any items you want to pursue, ASAP.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
