THE PAST WEEK
Wednesday’s highlight was the 1st leg of the G8FMJ Fox Hunt Cup on 70cm. Three teams took part, whilst several of us monitored proceedings at LPH and signals were heard from the ‘fox’ whilst I was using a simple handheld and indifferent antenna. The fox was Andrew, G1VUP who was ‘hiding’ in his van at Humphrey’s Gap, Shoreham behind a building (much further South and he’d have had to get the oars out!) Transmissions started at 19.30.
And the winner is: Ian, M0IAD, time 20.42 – followed by Dorian, 2E0FSI, time 20.45 – not sure if Roger, G4TNT and Terry, G0BRP found the fox, but thanks to all for taking part. Rumour has it that Ian will conduct the next fox hunt through the club repeater – GB3WO. Not as stupid as it sounds – think about it!
Also on Wednesday preparations were being made for the Shoreham Coast Watch event, which takes place on Saturday/Sunday 3rd/4th June. Look out for GB1SCW between 11.00 and 16.00 both days.
The club’s IC7300 was checked out at LPH and will be used in conjunction with the Carolina Windom, which has been found to work well in the past.
Also on Saturday/Sunday is National Field Day – all bands 160 thru 10 metres – CW only. Computer CW is permitted so those who can’t ‘play it by ear’ can still take part. Graham, G4FNL and Peter, G4BVH will be operating on the Downs near Brighton and would appreciate a call – format is RST and serial number. If you hear them, please consider spotting them on the Cluster.
The fruits of Norman and Phil’s labours in the USA have paid off as I’ve used all of the parts brought back from Dayton, to upgrade the club’s K3. It now has all of the advantages of the K3S, minus the USB interface and extra internal pre-amps. Initial comments at LPH were that the audio is much more readable and noise performance is much better than before. Rumour has it that one member was so impressed that he’s going to upgrade his K3 too (name withheld in case his XYL reads this!)
Congratulations to Sally and Andrew, G1VUP on their 1st wedding anniversary last weekend.
Last evening (Thurs) something affected 40 metres, possibly solar activity. Inter-G was the best I’ve heard it for over a year. Stations in Scotland, Yorkshire, Wales, Ireland and most of the rest of the UK as well as parts of Europe were easily workable with typical signals of S9+40dB and over relatively long periods. Later last night 40 metre signals sounded as if they were just starting to go ‘auroral’ with tonal break-up, despite being S9+. Maybe the curse has finally been broken?
FREEBIES
There are some poles (antenna support) going for free at Peter, G8MSQ’s old QTH at Lancing. Please contact Frances directly on the phone number published in the last Member’s Directory for Peter, G8MSQ, to arrange your own visit. Don’t ask Frances for a technical description, just take pot luck that they will be useful to you.
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, 8.00am (local)
Tuesday – This is NOT a WADARC net but there’s no reason why WADARC members can’t join in. Most Tuesday evenings on 144.310 MHz, SSB, 8.00pm (local). Please note: Polarisation is VERTICAL, due to stations being in different directions.
RALLIES
June 2017
4th June 2017 21st Red Rose QRP Festival
The Rose Centre, (Lowton Civic Hall), Hesketh Meadow Lane,
Lowton, Warrington, Ches. WA3 2AH.
Easy access from all directions. M6, M61, M60, A580.
Open 11:00 to 15:00. Admission £2.00 Children under 14 free.
Trade & individual stalls. Club stands. RSGB. GQRP.
Contact: Les Jackson, G4HZJ, 01942-870634, g4hzj@ntlworld.com
4th June 2017 Spalding & DARS Rally [Update]
Sir John Gleed Technology School, Halmer Gardens, Spalding, Lincs. PE11 2EF.
Open 10:00. Free on-site parking. Trade. Outside car boot area. On-site catering.
Details: John, G4NBR, 07946-302815 or Graham, G8NWC, 07754-619701
or email rally-secretary@sdars.org.uk Club website: http://www.sdars.org.uk
11th June 2017 Junction 28 Amateur Radio Rally [Update]
Bowls Hall Alfreton Leisure Centre, Church Street, Alfreton, Derbys. DE55 7BD.
Contact: Rally Secretary, 01159-307322
Website: http://www.snadarc.com
11th June 2017 East Suffolk Wireless Revival (Ipswich Rally)
*NEW VENUE: Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, Ipswich, IP10 0PW.
Venue is just off the A14. Open 09:30. Entry £2. Free parking. Trade stands.
Car boot sale. Bring-and-Buy. SIGs. GB4SWR HF station and an RSGB bookstall.
Catering is available on site.
Contact: Kevin G8MXV, 07710-046846, http://www.eswr.org.uk
17th June 2017 South Lancs ARC Summer Rally [Saturday]
Bickershaw Village Community Club, Bickershaw Lane, Bickershaw, Wigan, WN2 5TE.
Open 09:00/07:30 for traders. Entry £2.50. Trade. SIGs. B&B. On-site parking
and catering.
Details/Bookings: Jason, G0IZR, 01942 735828.
18th June 2017 30th Newbury Radio Rally
Newbury Showground, Priors Court, Hermitage, Newbury, Berks. RG18 9QZ.
Next to M4 motorway at J13.
Open 09:00 visitors/08:00 sellers. Admission £2.50 visitors/£12.50 sellers.
Free parking. Exhibits. SIGs. Amateur radio display. Clubs & societies.
On-site catering and disabled facilities available.
Contact details and discounted advance bookings via the website:
http://www.nadars.org.uk/rally.asp
25th June 2017 West of England Radio Rally
Cheese & Grain, Market Yard, Bridge Street, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE.
Admission £3, kids free. Open 10:00 to 14:00. Free parking. Trade. RSGB books.
Café. Disabled facilities.
Details: Shaun, G8VPG, 01225-873098, http://www.westrally.org.uk
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Outside on the Air – Meeting at Devil’s Dyke car park – Wed 7th June – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. NO MEETING AT LANCING THIS WEEK.
- EGM to discuss possible Club Shack plus tea and chat – Wed 14th June – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. This is an important decision for the Club, please make every effort to attend or submit a proxy vote.
- Lecture – Botswana DXpedition, by Graham G4FNL – Wed 21st June – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
- Practical Evening – Wed 28th June – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. If you have a pet project needing assistance, please contact the committee beforehand to arrange test gear etc.
RAGCHEW
Spring 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/spring-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
ACTIVE SUNSPOT: On June 1st, a small but surprisingly active sunspot rotated over the sun’s eastern limb. In less than 24 hours, it has unleashed nearly a dozen C-class solar flares and hurled a pair of CMEs into space–an impressive display of fireworks. So far, none of the explosions have targeted Earth, but this could change in the days ahead as the active region rotates toward our planet. Visit www.Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.
It’s possible that Thursday’s 40 metres enhancement was affected by this sunspot, as the nature of the strong signals could not be attributed to Sporadic-E.
VHF/UHF:
Once again the beacons continue to provide valuable propagation information, although there hasn’t been much activity or enhanced propagation on 2 metres or 70cms.
Chris, G3UFS reports that in the past, the 4 metre beacon GB3BAA – 70.016 MHz – Tring, Herts has been readable in Lancing and it should be possible to hear GB3WSX in Yeovil.
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
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.
UGANDA, 5X. Kazuo is QRV as 5X2B. He is active on the HF bands.
QSL via operator’s instructions.
MALDIVES, 8Q. John, G4IRN is QRV as 8Q7RN during the month of June.
His activity is on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
MALTA, 9H. Haru, JA1XGI will be QRV as 9H3XG from Sliema, IOTA
EU-023, from June 7 to 12. Activity will be on 40 to 15 meters
using CW and RTTY. QSL to home call.
FRANCE, F. Members of the Castres DX Gang and IDRE will be QRV as
TM5FI from Ratonneau Island, Frioul Archipelago, IOTA EU-095, from
June 5 to 12. Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and
various digital modes with four stations active. QSL via F5XX.
GUADELOUPE, FG. Reiner, DL2AAZ is QRV as FG/DL2AAZ from Sainte
Rose, IOTA NA-105, until June 7. Activity is holiday style on 30 to
10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home call.
LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0. Members of the Stirling District ARS and the
GMDX group are QRV as HB0/GM4UYE until June 6. Activity is on 80 to
6 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via M0OXO.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HI. Didier, F5PLR will be QRV as HI9/F5PLR from
Las Terrenas from June 6 to July 4. Activity will be on 30, 20 and
15 meters. QSL via operator’s instructions.
MARKET REEF, OJ0. Pasi, OH3WS is QRV as OJ0W until June 3.
Activity is in his spare time mostly on 60 to 30 meters using CW.
QSL to home call.
GREECE, SV. Members of the Radio Amateur Union of North Aegean are
QRV as J48GEO from the Geo Park on Lesvos, IOTA EU-049, until June
23. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various
digital modes. During the Geopark weekend they will be located at
the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest. QSL
direct to SZ8LSV.
CONGO, REPUBLIC OF, TN. Ken, LA7GIA is QRV as TN5E from Brazzaville
until June 4. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, and possibly 6
meters. QSL via M0OXO.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, VP2V. Kevin, K6TOP is QRV as VP2V/K6TOP
until June 5. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands. QSL via
NR6M.
ZIMBABWE, Z2. Tom, KC0W is QRV as Z25DX until June 18. Activity is
on 80 to 6 meters using CW. QSL direct to home call.
ALBANIA, ZA. Operators IK7JWX, I0SNY, I8LWL and IK8GQY will be QRV
as ZA/IK7JWX from June 10 to 20. Activity will be on the HF bands
using SSB and various digital modes. QSL via IK7JWX.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The 10-10 International Open Season PSK
Contest, Geopark Weekend, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, PVRC
Reunion, DigiFest, Wake-Up! QRP CW Sprint, SEANET Contest, UKSMG
Summer 6-Meter Contest, Dutch Kingdom Contest, IARU Region 1 CW
Field Day, RSGB National CW Field Day and Alabama QSO Party are all
on tap for this upcoming weekend.
The RSGB 80-Meter Club Data Championship is scheduled for June 5.
The ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for June 6. The Phone Fray
and CWops Mini-CWT CW Test are scheduled for June 7.
Please see June QST, page 87, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web
sites for details.
VHF/UHF:
6th June – 144 MHz UKAC Contest – 20.00-22.30 (Local)
11th June – 2nd 144 MHz Backpackers – 09.00-13.00 (Local)
13th June – 432 MHz UKAC Contest – 20.00-22.30 (Local)
15th June – 50 MHz UKAC Contest – 20.00-22.30 (Local)
17th/18th June – 50 MHz Trophy Contest – 14.00-14.00 (Local)
22nd June – 70 MHz UKAC Contest – 20.00-22.30 (Local)
25th June – 70 MHz Cumulatives #4 – 14.00-16.00 (Local)
25th June – 50 MHz CW Contest – 09.00-12.00 (Local)
1st/2nd July – VHF NFD – 14.00-14.00 (Local)
FINALÉ
Having struggled once or twice recently to read the callsign/s of a calling station, I would encourage all operators to use ‘alternative’ phonetics. For instance, ‘Foxtrot’ and ‘Oscar’ can sound surprisingly similar when buried in noise and partly broken up by other stations’ QRM, whereas ‘Florida’ made it clear that the required letter was ‘F’ not ‘O’. It’s not made any easier when operators gabble their callsign and keep repeating the same phonetics, especially when their accent is not the same as ours.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
