THE PAST WEEK
A lively discussion took place last Wednesday with the main topic being the move to Lions Hall. Although not confirmed yet, it’s hoped that we can start using the new venue on 17th January. With this is mind, we will need to clear WADARC property from LPH as soon as possible and it would be helpful if everyone could find a little storage space in their vehicle, this coming Wednesday – 10th, to hold some items of club equipment until the following week.
It’s thought that it will cost more to remove our aerials than it will cost to buy new ones. If we can persuade Lancing Parish Council to pay for the removal, we’ll keep our existing antennas. Arrangements are in hand to move the GB3WO repeater.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
- RSGB Lecture “Breaking the Mould – a must for all who want to further our club – Wednesday 10th January – 8.00pm-10.00pm
- We’re either moving to Lions Hall or there will be an 80/40 metre net – Watch this space for further details – 8.00pm-10.00pm. Note: LPH CLOSED.
- Tea and chat evening – 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 UNREST EXPECTED: A stream of solar wind is expected to reach Earth on Jan. 8th, passing mainly north of our planet’s magnetic field. The grazing encounter could spark auroras around the Arctic Circle, albeit not a full-fledged geomagnetic storm. The gaseous material is flowing from a northern hole in the sun’s atmosphere.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
Conditions have been absolutely flat. Even the beacons have been unreadable for much of the week.
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 AA4NC, K1ZZ, WB2TJO, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.
FIJI, 3D2. Jim, WB2TJO is QRV as 3D2JS from Taveuni Island, IOTA OC-016, until March 13. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and some digital modes. QSL to home call.
VIET NAM, 3W. Trung, W6TN is QRV as 3W9T until January 11.
Activity is on 40 and 20 meters using CW. QSL via LoTW.
SAMOA, 5W. Atsu, 5W1SA is QRV with special call 5W20SAMOA during all of 2018. QSL via LoTW.
SOMALIA, 6O. Operators Ken, LA7GIA and Adrian, KO8SCA are QRV as 6O6O until January 16. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
BHUTAN, A5. Pat, N2IEN is QRV as A52PD until January 14. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using mostly CW and various digital modes. QSL via NR6M.
MOZAMBIQUE, C9. Daniel, CT2GXZ is QRV as C81DL from Maputo. His activity of late has been on 40 and 20 meters using SSB. QSL via operator’s instructions.
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, DA. Special event station DQ800HRO is QRV until July 31, and then from September 1 to December 31, during the celebration of the founding 800 years ago of the Hanseatic city Rostock. QSL via DL5KVV.
GUADELOUPE, FG. Burt, FG8OJ is now QRV on 160, 80 and 40 meters.
QSL via F4AVX.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HL. During the Winter Olympic Games, until February 28 all South Korean licensed stations and operators may change the number in their callsigns to 23.
PANAMA, HP. Will, AA4NC will be QRV as HP1/AA4NC from January 10 to 24. Activity will be holiday style on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and possibly other digital modes. QSL direct to home call. In addition, look for operators HP1MAC, HP1RIS, HP1YLS and HP1DRK to be QRV as H91IT from Taboga Island, IOTA NA-072, from January 6 to 9. QSL via HP1RCP.
THAILAND, HS. John, ZB2JK is QRV as HS0ZIQ from Phuket Island, IOTA AS-053, until January 10. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
JAPAN, JA. Take, JA8DKJ is QRV as 8J8SSF from Hokkaido, IOTA AS-078, until February 12 during the Sapporo Snow Festival. QSL via bureau.
PERU, OA. Members of the Radio Club Peruano are QRV with special event callsign 4T18PAX during all of January to commemorate the Apostolic visit of Pope Francis. Activity is on all HF bands using CW, SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK31 and FT8. QSL via OA4O.
ANTIGUA, V2. Randy, WW6RG will be QRV as V25RA from January 8 to 10. Activity will be holiday style with QRP power on 20 meters using SSB. QSL to home call.
BELIZE, V3. Jim, W2JHP is QRV as V31TA from Turneffe Atoll, IOTA NA-123, until January 10. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands using mostly SSB, and possibly some digital modes. QSL direct to EA5GL.
CHAGOS ISLANDS, VQ9. Jim, ND9M is QRV with special call VQ920JC. He is generally active on 17 meters using CW. QSL to home call.
LAOS, XW. John, KK4FB is QRV as XW4FB from January 9 to 23. QSL via LoTW.
COUNTRY NAME CORRECTION. As reported in 2017 DX News Bulletin ARLD052, the correct country for the RI50ANO operation from Bellingshausen Base on King George Island, IOTA AN-010 is South Shetlands, not Antarctica.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The ARRL RTTY Roundup, Kid’s Day SSB Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC CW Sprint, PODXS 070 Club PSKFest, World Wide PMC Contest and EUCW 160-Meter CW Contest are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.
The CWops Mini-CWT Test, Phone Fray and QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt are scheduled for January 10.
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
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
Now we’re into 2018, I’m looking for volunteers to help write this weekly bulletin. If we don’t get at least 4 people to produce it on a REGULAR basis, there will be large gaps in issues. It need only take around an hour and is quite easy to do. Surely some of our members can spend 1 hour per month to help out? I will happily continue to re-publish each issue on the WADARC website.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
