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

Weekly Bulletin – March 16 2018

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

THE PAST WEEK

Due to Dorian being unwell, last Wednesday’s APRS talk was moved to next week. However, all was not lost and the Wednesday meeting turned into a friendly Tea and Chat, with lots to talk about. Several members said they thoroughly enjoyed it and the atmosphere was good. I wonder how many people bought “Swar Grees”? Also, thanks to Ian, M0IAD for bringing his IC7100 remote setup for 2M/70cm.

Following my request for historical anecdotes about the Club, Pete-G4LKW is the only one to respond so far (thanks Pete) with a box of ancient photos and papers. It would be good if other members can relate personal tales of Club history. Please send what you have to me by email. If you prefer to stay anonymous, I don’t need to include your name or callsign.

CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • Committee meeting – at G7VBR QTH – Tuesday 20th March – 7.30pm-9.30pm
  • Talk on APRS – Dorian, 2E0FSI – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 21st March – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Sunday Breakfast – Goring Cafe – Sunday 25th March – 9.00am-10.00am – NOTE: This replaces the following Sunday meeting as it’s Easter Day.
  • Use of modern plastics – talk – Norman, M0EBI – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 28th March – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Tea and chat night – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 4th April – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Talk – I was a cold war spy – Brian Browby – Wednesday 11th April – 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

15 April 2018 Yeovil ARC QRP Convention
Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA.
Admission £3. Open 09:30 to 15:00. Regrettably only guide dogs can be admitted.
Traders. B&B. Club stands. Talks programme (see website). Trader bookings via
the website. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & BYLARA.
Details: http://yeovil-arc.com/QRPconvention.php

15 April 2018 West London Radio & Electronics Show
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ.
Open 10:00/09:50. Talkin. Free on-site parking. Trade. B&B. SIGs. Lectures.
Raffle. On-site catering.
Details: Paul, M0CJX, 0845-165-0351, info@radiofairs.co.uk http://www.radiofairs.co.uk

29 April 2018 Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally [Rescheduled from 4 March]
America Hall, De La Rue Way Pinhoe, Exeter, EX4 8PW.
Open 10:30/10:15 disabled & B&B bookin – may open earlier in inclement weather.
Admission £2. Trade. B&B. Catering.
Details: Pete, G3ZVI, 07714-198374, g3zvi@yahoo.co.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 SOLAR WIND HAS ARRIVED: Earth is entering a stream of high-speed solar wind on March 15th, and this is causing auroras around the Arctic Circle so bright that some observers are seeing them even before nightfall. Visit Spaceweather.com for more information about this intensifying display and–bonus!–a must-see aurora movie.

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

ARLP011 Propagation de K7RA

No sunspots were observed between March 2 and March 15. One sunspot
made a brief appearance on March 2, after a blank sun on March 1.
Average daily sunspot number dropped from 1.6 to zero this week, and
average daily solar flux rose fractionally from 67.6 to 67.7. We’ll
be watching the latest sunspot appearance to see if it is as
fleeting as the March 2 sunspot.

Geomagnetic indicators rose slightly, with planetary A index
increasing from 5.1 to 7.1, and mid-latitude A index rose from 4.6
to 5.7.

Predicted solar flux is 69 on March 16 to 23, 72 on March 24 to 29,
70 on March 30, 68 on March 31 through April 11, 70 on April 12, 72
on April 13 to 25, 70 on April 26, and 68 on April 27 to 29.

Predicted planetary A index is 15 on March 16 to 18, 10 on March 19,
5 on March 20 to 22, then 8, 5, 8 and 20 on March 23 to 26, 5 on
March 27 to 29, 8 on March 30 and 31, 5 on April 1 to 9, then 8, 10,
14, 16 and 20 on April 10 to 14, 5 on April 15 and 16, then 12, 18,
10, 5, 8 and 20 on April 17 to 22, then 5 on April 23 to 25, 8 on
April 26 and 27, and 5 on April 28 and 29.

Carl Luetzelshwab, K9LA has a comment about solar flux and an
observation from N0JK in last week’s bulletin ARLP010:

“Jon Jones, N0JK said Sometimes the solar flux numbers don’t
correlate well to the actual ionization.

What Jon said is more the norm than the exception, as solar
radiation is not the only factor that contributes to the amount of
ionization at any given location. There are two other factors. One
is geomagnetic field activity (the K index), which can modify the
amount of ionization. The other is an event in the lower atmosphere
that couples up to the ionosphere, which also can modify the amount
of ionization and which is a very hot topic with researchers
nowadays.

The bottom line is if today’s solar flux is higher than yesterday’s,
it does not necessarily mean that the ionosphere is better today –
it could be worse. The result of all of this is that we have
monthly median propagation predictions (they are statistical over a
month’s time frame), not daily propagation predictions.”

VHF/UHF:

Conditions have been average to poor. Due to intense solar activity, auroral contacts are very likely. Listen on the SSB/CW end of 2 metres for strange sounding voices and people keying “bath wastes”.

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
KK9A, ON4EI, W2TT, 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.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 9Y. Rich, KE1B and Anna, W6NN will be QRV as
9Y4/home calls from March 19 to 31 from Tobago, IOTA SA-009.
Activity will be holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB,
RTTY and PSK. This includes an entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide
WPX SSB contest. QSL to home calls.

BHUTAN, A5. Zorro, JH1AJT, Jin, JF1IST and Champ, E21EIC are QRV as
A5A until March 18. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB
and RTTY. There is a focus on using FT8 as well. QSL via JH1AJT.

IRELAND, EI. Oliver, ON4EI will be QRV as EI8GQB from March 18 to
28. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using mainly green energy.
He will be active as EI7T in the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB
contest. For QSL see QRZ.com .

NEW CALEDONIA, FK. Alex, 5B4ALX will be QRV as FK/5B4ALX from March
20 to April 4. Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB,
RTTY and JT65. This includes an entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide
WPX SSB contest. QSL via IZ4AMS.

FRENCH GUIANA, FY. Hartwig, DL7BC is QRV as FY/DL7BC/p near Cayenne
until March 26. He plans to be active as TO2BC in the BARTG RTTY
contest and the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home
call.

JERSEY, GJ. Kazu, JK3GAD is QRV as MJ0CFW until March 18. He will
be active as MJ5Z in the Russian DX contest. QSL via LoTW.

HONDURAS, HR. Dave, VE3VSM is QRV as VE3VSM/HR9 from Roatan Island,
IOTA NA-057, until March 19. Activity is holiday style on 20 and 15
meters using CW. This includes being an entry in the Russian DX
contest. QSL direct to home call.

MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1. Take, JG8NQJ is QRV as JG8NQJ/JD1 for three
months. Activity is in his spare time on the HF bands using CW and
RTTY. QSL via JA8CJY.

AUSTRIA, OE. Operators RW3AH and HB9RB will be QRV as 4U1A in the
Russian DX contest from one of the stations at the Vienna
International Centre. QSL through UA3DX.

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. While preparing for the 2018 World Radio Team
Championship, operators OH6KZP and OH6UM will be QRV as OH0X in the
Russian DX contest. QSL via OH2TA.

CURACAO, PJ2. Andreas, DK5ON is QRV as PJ2/DK5ON until March 27.
Activity is on 80 to 6 meters, and possibly 160 meters, using CW,
SSB, RTTY and other digital modes. This includes being an entry in
the Russian DX contest and the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB
contest. QSL to home call.

BONAIRE, PJ4. John, KK9A will be QRV as PJ4/KK9A from March 19 to
25. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. He
plans to be QRV as PJ4R in the upcoming CQ World Wide WPX SSB
contest as a Single Op/All Band entry. QSL via WD9DZV.

CAMEROON, TJ. A group of operators are QRV as TJ3TT until March 29.
Activity is on the HF bands. QSL direct to I2YSB.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO, TN. Members of the Tifariti Gang and DXFriends
are QRV as TN5R from Brazzaville until March 19. Activity is on 160
to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via EA5RM.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Ross, W2TT and John, AF3K will be
QRV as VP5/home calls from Caicos, IOTA NA-002, from March 20 to 27.
Activity will be on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8 and MSK
on 6 meters. This includes being active as VP5P in the upcoming CQ
World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL VP5P via W2TT.

INDIA, VU. Special call AU2ODI is QRV until March 19 to celebrate
the 2018 East India Ham Meet at Puri Beach, Odisha. Activity is on
40, 20 and 15 meters. QSL via VU2GIN.

MEXICO, XE. Special event station 6E3MAYA will be QRV from March 17
to 21 from several regions in Mexico to commemorate Maya culture.
QSL via XE3N.

BURKINA FASO, XT. Harald, DF2WO will be QRV as XT2AW from March 19
to April 10. Max, DK1MAX will join him and be active as XT2MAX from
March 23 to April 2. Activity will be on the HF bands, including 6
meters, using CW and FT8. QSL XT2AW via M0OXO and XT2MAX direct to
DK1MAX.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The BARTG HF RTTY Contest, Russian DX
Contest, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint,
AGCW VHF/UHF CW Contest, Louisiana QSO Party, Virginia QSO Party,
Feld Hell Sprint and the UBA 80-Meter Spring SSB Contest are all on
tap for this upcoming weekend.

The Bucharest Contest and Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest are
scheduled for March 19.

The CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, Phone Fray and QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt
are scheduled for March 21.

The ARRL International Grid Chase runs during all of 2018.

Please see March 2018 QST, page 85, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest
Web Sites for details.

VHF/UHF:

For those interested in seeing what can be worked on 144/432MHz CW – a friendly contest on Saturday afternoon.

FINALÉ

Just a reminder that Dorian, 2E0FSI’s talk on APRS is this coming Wednesday 21st.

73,

Alan. G4GNX