Amateur radio in West Sussex - Training, Exams, Contests and Special Event Stations

Weekly Bulletin – February 23 2018

WADARC meets at – Lions Hall, 21 Roberts Road, Lancing. BN15 8AR.

THE PAST WEEK

We’re all very pleased to hear that Ron, G3SKI is home and recovering well from his recent argument with the pavement! Ron appreciates visits and a ragchew, but please phone first.

A test was carried out at Lions Hall last Wednesday by Ian, M0IAD to check the effectiveness of new remote control technology, using his IC7100 with a link back to his home QTH, where the TX/RX unit is connected to an antenna. This proved highly successful and opens up possibilities for WADARC to operate real radio, without large antennas at Lions Hall.

Lancing Parish Council have agreed to have our aerials returned to us and they have now been removed from the building and will be collected and put in store on Monday.

We have outline permission to re-site our 70cm repeater, GB3WO at Worthing Town Hall. Fortunately the antenna that we used there previously is still in place and Phil has checked that the feeder’s still connected and is working. We’re working towards moving the repeater as soon as conveniently possible.

CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • 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
  • Tea and chat night – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 21st March – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Use of modern plastics – talk – Norman, M0EBI – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 28th 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

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 booking – 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):

THE SUN IS BLANK: For the 6th day in a row, the sun is blank–no sunspots. Almost half of the days in 2018 have been this way. Extended stretches of spotlessness are a herald of Solar Minimum. This “quiet” phase of the solar cycle brings extra cosmic rays, pink auroras, and a slight dimming of the sun. Cooling and contraction of Earth’s upper atmosphere can also postpone the orbital decay of Chinese space stations. Stay tuned as the pendulum swings.

EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD RINGING LIKE A BELL: Yesterday, a solar wind stream grazed Earth’s magnetic field. Keyword: graze. The off-center impact of the solar wind caused something unusual to happen. Earth’s polar magnetic field rang like a bell. Rob Stammes recorded the phenomenon from his magnetic observatory in Lofoton, Norway:

For further info please visit: http://spaceweather.com

ARLP008 Propagation de K7RA

Average daily sunspot number dropped from 24 during the previous
seven days, to 5.6 in the current reporting week, February 15-21.
That average is so low because no sunspots have been seen since
February 17, and no new sunspot regions were observed since February
4. Average daily solar flux dropped to 70.1 in the current period
from 77.4 in the previous week.

Based on the latest 45-day prediction for solar flux, I expect
sunspots to re-appear by March 2 or 3, when solar flux is expected
to increase suddenly.

Predicted solar flux is 68 on February 23 to March 1, 69 on March 2,
76 on March 3-12, 74 on March 13-14, 72 on March 15, 70 on March
16-25, 72 and 74 on March 26-27, and 76 on March 28 through April 8.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on February 23-25, then 12, 16 and
8 on February 26-28, 5 on March 1-3, 8 on March 4, 5 on March 5-13,
then 10, 8, 12, 16, 14 and 12 on March 14-19, 8 on March 20-22, 5 on
March 23-30, 8 on March 31 and 5 on April 1-8.

VHF/UHF:

Conditions have been average to poor. No enhancements are predicted for the coming week. Due to the lack of solar activity, auroral contacts are unlikely.

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 AA3B, EA5GL, WB0TEV, WE9V, 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.

ROTUMA ISLAND, 3D2. A group of operators are QRV as 3D2EU until March 16. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via DK2AMM.

TANZANIA, 5H. John, KB7LBY will be QRV as 5H2LBY while ascending Mount Kilimanjaro from February 25 to March 2. Activity will be limited during his climb to 40 and 20 meters using QRP power. QSL via LoTW.

NEPAL, 9N. Charles, KE5GD is QRV as 9N7CR until March 1. He is active on 20 meters using SSB from around 1200 to 1400z. QSL to home call.

ETHIOPIA, ET. Mike, OM2DX is QRV from Addis Ababa from the Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society station ET3AA. QSL via N2OO.

MARTINIQUE, FM. A group of operators are QRV as TO972A until March 2. Activity is on all HF bands using CW, SSB and various digital modes. This includes being active in the REF contest. QSL via F5RXL.

NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Yves, FK4RD and Arnaud, FK/JG1XMV are QRV from Lifou Island, IOTA OC-033, until February 26. They will then be QRV from Mare Island, IOTA OC-033, from February 26 to March 2. QSL to home calls.

SOLOMON ISLANDS, H4. Chungki, VA7YM will be QRV as H44YM from Honiara, IOTA OC-047, from February 24 to 26. QSL via EA5GL.

TEMOTU PROVINCE, H40. After his Honiara operation, Chungki, VA7YM will be QRV as H40YM from Lata in Nendo Island, IOTA OC-100, from February 27 to March 12. QSL via EA5GL.

MARIANA ISLANDS, KH0. Will, AA4NC and Ronald, AA4VK are QRV as KH0/home calls from Saipan, IOTA OC-086, until February 28. QSL direct to home calls.

ARUBA, P4. Paul, K9PG, Mike, K9NW, Chad, WE9V and John, W6LD will be QRV as P40L from February 25 to March 9. Activity will be on all HF bands. This includes being a Multi/2 entry in the upcoming ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL via WA3FRP.

GUATEMALA, TG. Chris, PA2CHR and Jos, PA3FYC are QRV as TD9CHR and TD9FYC, respectively, until March 3. Activity is on 2 meters, and 70 and 23 centimeters using EME. QSL via PA3FYC.

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, V2. Bud, AA3B will be QRV as V26K from Antigua from February 28 to March 5. Activity will be on the HF bands. This includes being a Single Op/Assisted/All Band/High Power entry in the upcoming ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL direct to home call.

BELIZE, V3. Victor, WB0TEV and Michael, K5MDK will be QRV as V31VP and V31MK, respectively, from Blackman Eddy from March 1 to 5. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters. This includes being active as V31VP in the upcoming ARRL International DX SSB contest. QSL to home calls.

INDIA, VU. Members of the Gujarat Institute of Amateur Radio and Mount Abu International Ham Radio Club will be QRV with special call sign AT7BK from Ajad Tapu Island, IOTA AS-175, until February 25. QSL via VU2BK.

VIET NAM, XV. Sookun, HL1AHS and Jinho, HL1LUA will be QRV as XV9HL from Ho Chi Minh City from February 26 to March 6. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via HL1AHS. In addition, some members of the Lufthansa Amateur Radio Club will be QRV as XV9DLH from Phu Quoc Island, IOTA AS-128, beginning February 24. QSL via DK8ZZ.

NICARAGUA, YN. Operators Jim, WB2REM and Mark, WY1G will be QRV as H72DX from Granada from February 26 to March 6. Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL direct to WY1G.

SERBIA, YU. Special event stations YU100WWI and YT100SF are QRV until December 31, 2018 to commemorate the 100 years since the end of World War I and the 100 years since the breakthrough of the Salonika Front. QSL via operators’ instructions.

KOSOVO, Z6. Mome, Z32ZM is QRV as Z68M until March 6. QSL direct to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest, North American RTTY QSO Party, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC CW Sprint, REF Contest, UBA DX CW Contest, South Carolina QSO Party, High Speed Club CW Contest, SARL Digital Contest and the North Carolina QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.

The UKEICC 80-Meter CW Contest, CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, Phone Fray, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt and SKCC CW Sprint are all scheduled for February 28.

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

3rd/4th March – 144/432MHz VHF Championship – 14.00-14.00

6th March – 144MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

6th March – 144MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

8th March – 50MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

8th March – 50MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

13th March – 432MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

13th March – 432MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

15th March – 70MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

15th March – 70MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

FINALÉ

Please keep an eye on the WADARC website at www.wadarc.org.uk to keep up with events and changes. The website will always reflect the club’s current situation.

73,

Alan. G4GNX