Weekly Bulletin – May 26 2017

May 26, 2017

Categories: Weekly Updates

THE PAST WEEK

Saturday/Sunday 20^th/21^st many members visited Salvington Mill for Mills On The Air. An initial issue with the club’s IC7300, but insertion of a manual tuner sorted it out and GB0HSM was on the air. Stations were setup for HF, VHF and UHF with Edmund, M0MNG managing a good QSO rate on 70cms with a semi-portable setup on FM.

Wednesday 24^th was our annual social gathering at The Tollgate, Bramber. Despite rumours to the contrary, it was very well attended and was a light hearted affair. It was good to see Bryan, G3GVB’s family joining in with us and a good exchange of information took place. One of Bryan’s sons has even said that he may wish to become a Radio Amateur – nice guy too!

Propagation on the HF bands went from poor to unbelievably good, probably in as many minutes. There were some openings in the upper frequency bands throughout the week and evidence of Sporadic-E. Those listening on 40 metres on Thursday evening would have had their pleasure spoiled by what appeared to be Russian OHR (Over the Horizon Radar) manifesting itself as a massive signal, spreading across a significant portion of the band, sound like a buzz-saw. Reminds me of the days of battling Radio Tirana, when the only thing that made it through was CW.

VHF/UHF observation of the beacons revealed a mixed-bag of propagation with no major enhancements, despite the improved weather. There were however some worthwhile Sporadic-E openings into Europe on 6 metres. Worth a check on 6m as often as possible, as it looks like the season is upon us – one reason 6m is called the ‘Magic Band’.

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

4^th 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

4^th 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

11^th 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

11^th 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

17^th 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.

18^th 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

25^th 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

Fox Hunt – Wed 31^st May – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – 2m, 70cm or both. G1VUP will announce on the night. Meet at LPH. Tea and biccies as usual.
Outside on the Air – Meeting at Devil’s Dyke car park – Wed 7^th June – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm. NO MEETING AT LANCING THIS WEEK.
EGM to discuss possible Club Shack plus tea and chat – Wed 14^th 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 21^st June – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Practical Evening – Wed 28^th 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

URBAN MYTH DISPELLED

The definitive reason that Bryan, G3GVB disliked (hated) Germans: Many of us were led to believe that this was due to a school friend of Bryan’s being blown up in WWII. This is partly true, but not for the reasons you may think! In 1942 Bryan’s father had been strongly encouraging him to study and prepare to attend a local grammar school in Swansea, where they lived. At the impressionable age of 10, Bryan was looking forward to this and was quite excited and motivated. Unfortunately, a German bomber flew over the area and removed his intended school before he even got there!

PROPAGATION

HF:

From the SIDC (RWC-Belgium) dated May 25:

Over the past 24 hours solar activity has been low. No significant flares have been recorded.NOAA Active Region (AR) 2660 has been most active, producing two B-class flares.No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been detected in coronagraph observations.The greater than 10MeV proton flux remained at background levels over the past 24 hours. Solar activity is expected to remain low over the next 24 hours with a small chance for C-class flares. The greater than 10MeV proton flux remained at background levels over the past 24 hours. No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been detected in coronagraph observations.The greater than 10MeV proton flux remained at background levels over the past 24 hours. Solar activity is expected to remain low over the next 24 hours with a small chance for C-class flares. Solar wind speed decreased from about 475 km/s to values around 370 km/s. Solar wind speed decreased from about 475 km/s to values around 370 km/s. Solar wind speed decreased from about 475 km/s to values around 370 km/s. The total interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength, as recorded by the DSCOVR satellite, was around 3.5 nT. Bz fluctuated between -2 and +3 nT. Geomagnetic conditions (K Dourbes between 0 and 3; NOAA Kp between 0 and 1) were ranged from quiet to unsettled level in the past 24 hours. Solar wind speed is expected to decrease even more today. In response geomagnetic conditions are likely to experience mostly quiet to unsettled conditions today (25-May-2017 April) and tomorrow (26-May-2017). Active conditions with a small chance for minor geomagnetic storm are possible on the day three (27-May-2017) due to possible arrival of 23-May 2017 coronal mass ejection.

VHF/UHF:

With weather conditions constantly changing, it’s difficult to predict enhanced propagation (ducting) more than a few hours in advance. Watch the weather reports for pressure changes and temperature inversions. Also, look out of your window – if you observe sea mist, it’s likely that DX conditions will be enhanced. Listen out for beacons and make a note of what you hear under ‘flat’ conditions, so that you can compare when you hear a new beacon or one or more of your ‘regular’ beacons are being received with increased strength. Bear in mind that brief enhancements over just a few minutes may be due to reflections from aircraft and don’t indicate enhanced conditions. Beacons mostly use horizontal polarisation and transmit their ident in CW, some also transmit digital information. You don’t have to be proficient in CW to recognise a beacon, as long as you can recognise that CW is being transmitted, you can work out which beacon you’re hearing from its frequency and beam heading.

Beacons often heard in our area:

VHF:

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.KUWAIT, 9K. Abdallah, 9K2GS will be QRV as 9K2K in the CQ World
Wide WPX CW contest as an All Band entry. QSL direct to home call.MADEIRA ISLANDS, CT3. Serge, R7KW and Oleg, YL3JM are QRV as
CT9/home calls from Madeira Island, IOTA AF-014, until May 28. They
will be QRV as CT9/R7KW in the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest. QSL
both calls via K2PF.

CANARY ISLANDS, EA8. Jack, R2AA will be QRV as EG8AA from AF-004 in
the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest. QSL via RW3RN.

FRANCE, F. Special event station TM500LH is QRV until May 31 to
celebrate the 500th anniversary of Le Havre. QSL via F6KOH.

ENGLAND, G. Paul, M0XDX and Mark, M0NCG are QRV as GB1HMB until
June 2 to provide points for the Beaches on the Air award program.
Activity is mainly on 40 and 20 meters, and possibly 10 and 6 meters
if conditions permit. QSL via operators’ instructions.

MARKET REEF, OJ0. Pasi, OH3WS will be QRV as OJ0W from May 27 to
June 3. Activity will be in his spare time mostly on 30 and 60
meters using CW. QSL direct to home call.

ARUBA, P4. Operators DJ4MZ, DL5KUT, DL5RMH and DL6RAI are QRV as
P4/home calls until May 28. They will be QRV as P44X in the CQ
World Wide WPX CW contest as a Multi Operator entry. QSL P44X via
DO4MX and all others to home calls.

NETHERLANDS, PA. A group of operators are QRV with special event
call sign PA150LIM until June 10 to mark the 150th anniversary of
the province Limburg. Activity is on the HF and V/UHF bands. This
includes an entry in the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest. QSL via
PD0MHZ.

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.

PALAU, T8. Naoki, JS3LSQ is QRV as T88WJ until May 29. Activity is
on 80 to 6 meters using mostly RTTY. QSL to home call.

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.

ASIATIC RUSSIA, UA0. Vlad, UA0FAM will be QRV as UA0FAM/p from
Kunashir Island, IOTA AS-025, for one week beginning on May 29.
Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL to home call.

CANADA, VE. Bob, VE1RSM is QRV with special call sign XM1150CAN and
will be active in the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest on all bands.
QSL via bureau.

MONTSERRAT, VP2M. George, K2DM is QRV as VP2MDG until May 29. This
includes being active as a Single Op/All Band entry in the CQ World
Wide WPX CW contest. QSL direct to home call.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, VP2V. Kevin, K6TOP will be QRV as
VP2V/K6TOP from May 28 to June 5. Activity will be holiday style on
the HF bands. QSL via NR6M.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5. Art, KZ5D is QRV as VP5/KZ5D until
May 31. He will be active as VQ5D in the CQ World Wide WPX CW
contest. QSL via operator’s instructions.

MEXICO, XE. A group of operators will be QRV as XF2L from Isla de
Lobos, IOTA NA-221, in the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest. QSL via
operators’ instructions.

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. Henning, OZ1BII is QRV as ZA/OU2I from Golem until May
29. Activity is on the HF bands with a focus on 30, 17 and 12
meters. This includes being a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry in
the CQ World Wide WPX CW contest. QSL via OU2I.

ST. HELENA, ZD7. Peter, ZD7FT has been active on 17 and 15 meters
at various times. QSL via operator’s instructions.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest, NCCC
RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, SARL Digital Contest and QRP ARCI
Hootowl CW Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming
weekend.

The Phone Fray and CWops Mini-CWT CW Test are scheduled for May 31.

Please see May QST, page 87, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web
sites for details.

VHF/UHF:

28^nd May – 70MHz Cumulatives #3 – 14.00-16.00 (Local)

11^th June – 2nd 144MHz Backpackers – 09.00-13.00 (Local)

17th/18^th June – 50 MHz Trophy Contest – 14.00-14.00 (Local)

25^th June – 70MHz Cumulatives #4 – 14.00-16.00 (Local)

25^th June – 50MHz Contest CW – 09.00-12.00 (Local)

FINALÉ

Finally a tale of friendship and co-operation. The WADARC Committee agreed to upgrade the club’s K3, so wheels were set in motion to obtain the necessary parts. We decided to wait until the recent Dayton Hamvention, so that one of our club members could bring the parts back with him and save quite a good sum in shipping costs. Elecraft could not carry the parts direct to Dayton, so I arranged for them to be sent to one of our friends, Tyler, N4TY in Kentucky, who offered to carry them to Dayton and hand them to Norman, 2E0RKO. Unfortunately, a few days before the Hamvention, Tyler got sick and was unable to travel. Fortunately Phil, G4UDU had to make a 160 mile trip south from Dayton to visit a friend, so offered to travel an extra 40 miles to collect our parts from Tyler’s home. A good example of selflessness where both Norman and Phil were happy to go the extra mile for the sake of the club, despite the fact that they may not personally use the K3 very much themselves.

73,

Alan. G4GNX