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

Weekly Bulletin – January 26 2018

WADARC now meets at new premises

Lions Hall, 21 Roberts Road, Lancing. BN15 8AR.

THE PAST WEEK

Our second meeting at Lions Hall went well and featured an ARRL podcast provided by Phil, G4UDU about suitable wire for antennas. Some discussion took place afterwards, with tales of member’s observations of public antics and things catching fire.

The parking in Roberts Road seemed to be a little easier this week, but if there’s no on-street parking, Norman’s arranged for us to park behind the nearby carpet shop, ONLY on Wednesday evenings and only if it doesn’t block other users from entering or exiting.

For our newly licensed members as well as the ‘old timers’ our next meeting is a Practical Evening. Don’t feel that you’ll be out of your depth – we’ll all be experimenting and unsure of the result, so a good chance to dive in and have a go.

We’ve done very well with donations of biscuits for the past few months – thanks to all who provided them. We will obviously need more in the coming months, so please consider ordering the odd extra packet when you do your shopping and donate to the club.

I’ve asked before and we seem to be getting nowhere, but I do need more editors to produce this Weekly Bulletin. This must be on a regular reliable basis and would probably suit people who are retired. With only a few extra people, each individual would probably only have to do it once a month or even every 6 weeks. Please consider helping out, or the Weekly Bulletin will cease to be produced!

CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • Practical evening – Simple resonant circuits – M0VUE  – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 31st January – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • 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

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

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

HF:

LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):

SPOTLESS SUN SPARKS AURORAS: The sun has been spotless and quiet for 6 consecutive days. Nevertheless, auroras are dancing around the Arctic Circle. On Jan. 24th, “the lights were absolutely amazing, they blew me away!” reports Marianne Bergli, who sends this picture from Tromsø, Norway:

“Even with no solar storm, the view was unparalleled,” she says.

What’s going on? The answer is “Tromsø.” The island city in Norway is located beneath our planet’s persistent auroral oval, a ring-shaped region surrounding the north pole where the geomagnetic field guides solar wind particles down onto the upper atmosphere. This extra-terrestrial rain may ebb, but it never stops. Inside the oval, sputtering auroras can suddenly blossom into magnificent sprays of green and purple light–no solar storms required.

We predict that the sun will be spotless at least 50% of the time in 2018 as the solar cycle plunges toward a deep minimum expected in 2019-2020. Arctic auroras, however, will continue

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

 

As you can see, the HF bands are not likely improve for another 2 years at least, so DX chasers will have to do just that – chase and constantly look out for openings!

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

HF:

This week’s bulletin was made possible with information provided by
EA1HEO, 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.

TANZANIA, 5H.  Janusz, AK4JK is QRV as 5H0JK from Rungwa.  Activity
is on the HF bands using mostly CW and some SSB.  His length of stay
is unknown.  QSL to home call.

TOGO, 5V.  John, N9MDH is QRV as 5V1JE from Lome until the end of
May.  Activity is on the HF bands, with a focus on the newer bands,
using mostly digital modes.  QSL to home call.

UGANDA, 5X.  Dan, JA1PBV is QRV as 5X2S from Entebbe until January
29.  Activity is on 20 and 17 meters using CW and FT8.  QSL to home
call.

MOZAMBIQUE, C9.  Johannes, PA5X and Gerben, PG5M will be QRV as C8X
and C81G, respectively, from Ibu Island, IOTA AF-061, from January
28 to February 5.  Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters, including 60
meters, using CW, SSB and FT8.  QSL to home calls.

COMOROS, D6.  Giovanni, IK5BCM, Giuseppe, IK5CBE and Giovanni,
IK5CRH will be QRV as D68I from January 29 to February 10.  Activity
will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes.
QSL via IK5CRH.

GUADELOUPE, FG.  Operator F6APE is QRV as FG4KH until February 13.
Activity is on the HF bands.  This includes being an entry in the
REF CW contest.  QSL via F1DUZ.

GUINEA-BISSAU, J5.  Livio, IZ3BUR is QRV as J52EC until February 21
while on a mission to support a Books for High School of Cumara
project.  Activity is in his spare time.  QSL to home call.

ST. LUCIA, J6.  Bill, K9HZ is QRV as J68HZ from Soufriere until
February 3.  Activity is on 160 to 6 meters between 1200 to 0600z.
QSL to home call.

PERU, OA.  Special event station OC4MS will be QRV from the Mateo
Salado Monumental Archaeological Complex on January 27 and 28.
Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various
digital modes.  QSL via OA4O.

BELGIUM, ON.  Javier, EA1HEO is QRV as OR4ESA from the European
Space Agency Redu Ground Station until February 6.  Activity is on
80, 40 and 20 meters using SSB, and mainly RTTY and PSK31, from 1700
to 2200z.  QSL via DL0ESA.

CURACAO, PJ2.  Jeff, K8ND and Jim, W8WTS are QRV as PJ2ND and
PJ2/W8WTS, respectively, from the Signal Point station until
February 5.  Activity is on the HF bands.  They will be active as
PJ2T as a Multi/Single entry in the CQ World Wide 160 Meter CW
contest.  QSL to home calls and PJ2T via W3HNK.

FERNANDO DE NORONHA, PYOF.  Rafael, PY2NDX and Joao, PU2XDX will be
QRV as PY0F/PY2NDX and PU0F/PU2XDX, respectively, from January 27 to
February 1.  Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW,
SSB and possibly FT8.  QSL to home calls.

PALAU, T8.  Nobuaki, JA0JHQ will be QRV as T88PB from Koror Island,
IOTA OC-009, from January 27 to 31.  Activity will be on the HF
bands, with a focus on 80 meters using CW, and the CQ World Wide 160
Meter CW contest.  QSL to home call.

GABON, TR.  Alain, TR8CA has been active using FT8 on 160 meters
between 0200 and 0300z, and 80 meters using CW after 0500z.  QSL to
home call.

UKRAINE, UR.  Special event station EM80I is QRV from Druzhkivka to
celebrate the 80 years since the birth of poet, stage and film
actor, author and singer Vladimir Vysotsky.  QSL via operator’s
instructions.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4.  Bernie, W3UR will be QRV as V47UR from St.
Kitts, IOTA NA-104, from January 29 to February 12.  Activity will
be holiday style on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and some FT8 from
grid square FK87.  QSL via NR6M.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5.  John, N9EAJ is QRV as VP5/N9EAJ from
Grand Turk, IOTA NA-003, until February 4.  Activity is on 40 to 10
meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to home call.

INDONESIA, YB.  Emmanuel, F5LIT will be QRV as YB9/F5LIT from Bali,
IOTA OC-022, from January 30 to February 10.  Activity will be on 20
to 15 meters using SSB.  QSL direct to home call.

KOSOVO, Z6.  Station Z60A is QRV on the HF bands.  QSL via OH2BH.

UK SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC4.  A group of operators are
QRV as ZC4A until January 31.  Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using
CW, SSB and RTTY with a focus on the low bands.  QSL via M0URX.

SOUTH AFRICA, ZS.  Members of the Secunda Amateur Radio Club are QRV
with special event call ZS30SRC until January 28 to celebrate the
club’s 30th anniversary.  Activity is on the HF bands with six
stations active.  QSL via operators’ instructions.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  CQ 160-Meter CW Contest, Winter Field
Day, NCCC RTTY Sprint, 80-Meter QRP CW Fox Hunt, NCCC CW Sprint, REF
CW Contest, BARTG RTTY Sprint and the UBA DX SSB Contest are all on
tap for this upcoming weekend.

The UKEICC 80-Meter CW Contest, CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, Phone Fray
and 40-Meter QRP CW Fox Hunt are scheduled for January 31.

The ARRL International Grid Chase runs during all of 2018.

Please see January 2018 QST, page 89, and the ARRL and WA7BNM
Contest Web Sites for details.

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

FINALÉ

Here’s an extract from the result of Wednesday’s meeting of Lancing Parish Council, dealing with our complaint:

————————————————————————————-

In answer to some of the points that were raised in the complaint, explanations are provided below:-

  1. Request for a ‘small outbuilding’ – This was not progressed as it was inferred to be a permanent structure and therefore unsuitable for the grounds of the Parish Hall. The shed installed by the Montessori Nursery is a temporary structure and can be easily removed if necessary.
  2. A business occupying a public building – A Parish Council that manages a set-up such as Lancing Parish Halls, must find ways of generating income to cover the costs of the building’s overall outgoings. Commercial activities are an accepted practice providing the buildings use remains for the public benefit. The Council is therefore doing its job, i.e. looking after the best interests of the Hall and the community by ensuring a steady income stream is being received, with three other rooms remaining available for hire.
  3. Right of Way being blocked – It can be confirmed that there are no public rights of way around the Parish Hall. There is a gate in the hedge to the north of the Parish Hall building leading into the grounds of St Michael’s church. However, this gate has not been blocked and can still be accessed from the front path of the building.

————————————————————————————-

You will note that the subject of our main complaint – the fire alarm – has been carefully avoided. I will be requesting a copy of the minutes of their meeting to ensure that it was covered.

On point 1 – not true. Norman requested the erection of a shed-style building – just like the one that Montesiori Nursery have erected!

Point 2 – I’m not qualified to answer their reply. Someone else may wish to take it up.

Point 3 – Partly true. The gate was not blocked, but the passage from there to the rear car park is blocked by a rather large shed!!!

The good news is that Lancing Parish Council have agreed to remove and return our aerials at their expense.

Unless WADARC members wish to take the matter further, I propose that we don’t waste further time on it, apart from collecting our aerials.

73,

Alan. G4GNX