THE PAST WEEK
Last Saturday was the special event station at Worthing Fire Station. The club’s new gazebo was successfully tested and many QSOs took place. The event was well attended by the general public. Thanks to Pete and Pete for organising.
Last Wednesday was a Tea and Chat night. Main subjects discussed were the lack of 2 metre and 70 cm activity on all modes, in our area whereas a call put out north of the Downs will nearly always get a reply.
The possibility of obtaining sides for the new club gazebo – since located in the club store. The possibility of a paper list of all members, callsigns and phone numbers. Committee to investigate.
Phil gave a more detailed explanation of the popularity of the new FT8 digital transmission mode.
Thursday was the G3GVB SK Sale at Bryan’s QTH. Not especially well attended but those who did attend left with some real bargains and made in excess of £100 for club funds.
Congratulations to Roger Tuffin on his new callsign – now 2E0TES. If you’ve recently changed your callsign, please let us know for Club records.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
Building and testing Baluns and Transformers. Including a transformer for a 20m EFHW antenna – Wed 2nd August – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
One of our monthly lectures. Subject yet to be chosen. Watch this space – Wed 9th August – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
Foundation examination at Lancing Parish Hall – Mon 14th August – 7:15pm – 8:30pm.
Club annual barbecue at Derek, G4XKF’s QTH. Details will be announced via WADARC Announce reflector – Wed 16th August – 7:00pm – 10.00pm. LPH CLOSED.
Tea and Chat night, a chance to discuss anything Amateur Radio related or just socialise – Wed 23rd August – 8:00pm – 10:00pm.
2 metres Fox Hunt. Lancing Parish Hall open for those who can’t make it onto the road – Wed 30th August – 7:30pm – 10:00pm.
For further information as it occurs, please visit the WADARC website: www.wadarc.org.uk
NETS
Monday – 2metres 145.425 MHz, FM, 7.30pm (local)
Thursday – 40metres 7.106 MHz +/-QRM, SSB, 11.00am (local)
Saturday – 70cms on GB3WO, 7.00pm (local)
Sunday – 80metres 3.712 MHz +/- QRM, SSB, 7.30am-8.00am (local)
RALLIES
July 2017
30 July 2017 Chippenham and District Amateur Radio Club Rally [Update]
Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ.
Open 10:00 to 13:00/07:00 Sellers. Entry £2/kids free. Talkin S22-145.55 MHz.
On-site parking. Disabled facilities. Tables inside £8, car-boot pitches £6
for cars & vans, payable on entry. On-site catering.
Details: Brian, g6huim3hui@gmail.com Club Website: http://G3VRE.org.uk
August 2017
13 August 2017 Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest
Cobham Sports & Social Club Ground, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DA.
Open 10:00. Admission £3.50. Free parking. Talkin S22. Car boot sale. Trade
at Indoor and outdoor pitches. Lectures. Catering with bar. Adjacent camping
available Saturday night only. Details: http://hamfest@frars.org.uk
27 August 2017 Milton Keynes MKARS Rally
The Irish Centre, Manor Fields, Watling Street, Bletchley, Bucks. MK2 2HX.
(Opposite Dobbie’s Garden Centre.) Entrance fee £3.00. Free parking.
Further details: https://www.mkars.org.uk
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
RAGCHEW
NEW Summer 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/summer-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
MASSIVE EXPLOSION ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN: On July 23rd, NASA and European spacecraft observed a massive explosion on the far side of the sun. A spectacular CME tore through the sun’s atmosphere and it now appears to be en route to Mars. Earth will not feel the effects of the blast because of its location on the opposite side of the sun. However, the source of the eruption, old sunspot AR2665, will turn back toward our planet in early August, possibly bringing a new round of geomagnetic storms and auroras.
The lower HF bands have seen some improvement for short skip and even groundwave, although the QSB is still quite marked, making for longish drop-outs.
VHF/UHF:
Predictions today are: No enhancements for the UK and towards Europe. NW France may see contacts up to 250Km and 250-500Km over much of Italy and parts of Spain. Contacts of 750Km or more may be possible North/South over central Germany.
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
GW0ANA, IZ8EGM, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, The Daily
DX, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and
WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
FIJI, 3D2. Wes, ZL3TE plans to be QRV as 3D2SE from Viti Levu, IOTA
OC-016. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW and RTTY.
This includes being an entry in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL to home
call.
CROATIA, 9A. Operators Brani, OM1BD, Branislav, OM2FY and Radovan,
OM2ZZ will be QRV as 9A/OM2ZZ from Pag Island, IOTA EU-170, as a Low
Power entry in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL via OM2FY.
RWANDA, 9X. Alan, KE4TA will be QRV as 9X0TA from Kimihurura,
Kigali beginning August 5 for the next three years. Activity will
be holiday style on the HF bands. He is currently active on 20 and
17 meters using SSB and digital modes as well as some CW. QSL via
N4GNR.
CHINA, BY. Operators Dale, BA4TB, Yu, BG4TMC, Tao, BG4TRN and Zhou,
BG4TVT will be QRV as BG4TMC from Chongming Island, IOTA AS-136, in
the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL via BG4TMC. In addition, members of the
Fuzhou Amateur Radio Club will be QRV as BG5UDN from Pingtan Island,
IOTA AS-138, in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL via M0OXO.
MOROCCO, CN. Rachid, CN8RAH will be QRV with special event call sign
5E4RAH from July 29 to 31 to commemorate the Feast of the Throne.
QSL via EA7FTR.
ESTONIA, ES. Members of the Radio Club V will be QRV as ES0V from
Saaremaa Island, IOTA EU-034, as a Multi/Single entry in the RSGB
IOTA contest. QSL via ES3VI.
MARQUESAS ISLANDS, FO. Operators Didier, F6BCW, Dominique, F6DTZ,
Le, F1TCV and David, K3EL will be QRV as TX5EG from Hiva Oa Island,
IOTA OC-027, from July 29 to August 6. Activity will be on 80 to 12
meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via F6BCW.
WALES, GW. Members of the Barry ARS will be QRV with special event
station GB4RME from July 30 to August 5 from the Royal Mint at
Llantrisant. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB,
RTTY, JT65, and on various satellites. QSL via GW0ANA.
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS, HC8. Geoff, G8OFQ will be QRV as HC8/G8OFQ from
Isabela Island, IOTA SA-004, from August 1 to October 30. Activity
will be on 160 to 6 meters. QSL to home call.
THAILAND, HS. Operators E21IZC, E27EK and HS7UCQ are QRV as E29AU
from Chang Island, IOTA AS-125, until August 1. Activity is on the
HF bands using CW. They will be active as E2T in the RSGB IOTA
contest. QSL direct to E21IZC.
ITALY, I. A group of operators are QRV as IL7P from Pedagne Island,
IOTA EU-091, until July 30. Activity is on the HF bands using all
modes. This includes being an entry in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL
via IZ8EGM.
OGASAWARA, JD1. Koji, JI1LET will be QRV as JD1BOI from Komagari,
Chichijima Island, IOTA AS-031, from August 3 to 12. Activity will
be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call.
AUSTRIA, OE. Special event station OE17BEACH is QRV until August 6
during the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship 2017. QSL via
bureau.
ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. Operators Doug, CO8DM and Pekka, OH2TA will be
QRV as OH0X from Brando Island, IOTA EU-002, as a Multi/2 entry in
the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL via OH2TA.
SLOVAK REPUBLIC, OM. Members of the Secondary School of Electrical
Engineering in Kosice are QRV with special event station OM50SPSEKE
until the end of 2017 to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary.
QSL via bureau.
SEYCHELLES, S7. Nobuaki, JA0JHQ is QRV as S79NH from Praslin
Island, IOTA AF-024, until July 31. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters
using CW and RTTY, and possibly SSB. This includes being an entry
in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL to home call.
DODECANESE, SV5. Efstathios, SV5DKL will be QRV active as SX5R from
Rhodes Island, IOTA EU-001. He will be a Single Op/Assisted/CW
Mode/24 Hrs/High Power entry in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL direct
to home call.
ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA0. Vladimir, UA0LCZ is QRV as R66IOTA from Popov
Island, IOTA AS-066, until July 31. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters
using CW. He will be active in the RSGB IOTA contest using CW and
SSB. QSL to home call.
CANADA, VE. Operators Martin, VA2AMH, Marc, VE2MBT, Jean-Pierre,
VE2SSS, Pascal, VE2WHZ and Remi, VE2YAG will be QRV as VY0/VA2NDX
from Nunavut, IOTA NA-173, in the RSGB IOTA contest. QSL via F4BHW.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The RSGB IOTA Contest, QRP 20-Meter CW
Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, Feld Hell Sprint and ARS
CW Flight of the Bumblebees are on tap for this weekend.
The CWops Mini-CWT Test and Phone Fray are scheduled for August 2.
Please see July 2017 QST, page 82, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest
web sites for details.
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
5th August – 4th 144 MHz Backpackers – 13.00-17.00
5th August – 144 MHz QRP Contest – 14.00-20.00
6th August – 432 MHz QRP Contest- 08.00-12.00
13th August – 70 MHz Cumulatives #5 – 14.00-16.00
FINALÉ
Following Andrew’s comments in the Summer edition of Ragchew, I would urge EVERY club member to consider what you might be able to do for OUR club. If nobody puts themself forward for the Committee at the next AGM, we will be so short of officers/committee members that WADARC will fold – that is there will be no WADARC!!!
Committee duties need not be burdensome, but attendance of committee meetings once per month is desirable.
ISTM that the club has become very apathetic. The same few organising and attending events and others with plenty of ideas but no action. Can you honestly look inwards and say “I have the best interests of WADARC at heart”?
73,
Alan. G4GNX
