THE PAST WEEK
The Remembrance Day marshalling went well and we had just enough members to cope with the task. No major disasters or serious incidents, although there were one or two “highlights”! The local ‘traveller’ (read ‘pikey’) who apparently lives in one of the flats (???) tried to cause trouble by barging some cones and actually succeeded in ruining one. We’re thinking of sending him a bunch of grapes to crush, along with a pram so he can throw them out when finished. Obviously his colouring book isn’t enough to keep him fully occupied.
The new antenna for GB3WO was installed last Monday and is working to specification. Propagation reports have been varied, where some have reported an improvement in their area, others see no apparent change and there are one or two who think it may possibly be slightly worse for them. Our published coverage area is well served, although we’re doing our best to push the limits to outlying areas.
Wednesday’s club meeting was supposed to be an ‘on the air’ evening, but unfortunately soon after the first 40 metre transmissions were made, the LPH fire alarm went off again! To keep the peace for that evening and not inconvenience others in the building, we agreed not to transmit and reverted to listening only and somewhat of a lively discussion event. There was also some discussion with the Clerk to the Council, where we made it quite clear that the fault is firmly with the fire/intruder alarm and this must be rectified. We are a radio club and transmitting is what we do, so we’re not prepared to compromise, although we could re-site the HF antenna, provided it costs us nothing to do so.
The Doodle Poll for our Christmas Dinner on December 13th, at the Old Tollgate Hotel, Bramber, is now closed. If you need to book a place and don’t already have your name down, you’ll need to contact the restaurant directly and arrange to pay your £10 deposit to them. For those who are already booked in, please pay your £10 deposit directly to Roger, G7VBR at the next club meeting on 29th November or contact Roger by email to: treasurer@wadarc.org.uk to make arrangements.
Note that LPH is closed next Wednesday 22nd and we will have a 3 or 4 band HF net starting at 8.00pm. Details will be published in the next couple of days via WADARC Announce reflector.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
On the air at home nets Phil, G4UDU net controller – Wednesday 22nd November – 8.00pm-9.30pm – Note: LPH CLOSED.
Annual club quiz, bring brains! – Wednesday 29th November – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Sunday Breakfast at the Lancing Harvester – Sunday 3rd December – 9.00am-10.00am
Tea and chat night – Wednesday 6th December – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Annual Christmas Party and Awards at the Old Tollgate, Bramber – Wednesday 13th December – 7.30pm onwards – Note: LPH CLOSED.
Discussion night – what is the future for WADARC – bring ideas – Wednesday 20th December – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Christmas Day 2 metre net – 145.525 MHz/S21/V38 Simplex – 10.00am-12.00pm – all welcome
Multi-band nets – further details nearer the date – Wednesday 27th December – 8.00pm-9.30pm – Note: LPH CLOSED.
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
19 November 2017 40th CATS Electronic Radio Bazaar
Oasis Academy Coulsdon, Homefield Road, Old Coulsdon, CR5 1ES. Open 10:00-13:00. Admission £1.50. Disabled facilities. Parking. B&B. Flea market. On-site catering. Details: Andy Briers, G0KZT, 07729-866600, bazaar@catsradio.org
19 November 2017 Plymouth Radio Club Radio Rally, Harewood House, Ridgeway, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 2AS. Open 10:00/09:50 to 14:30. Admittance £2. Trade. SIGs. B&B. RSGB books. Raffle. Parking. Disabled facilities. Raffle. On-site catering. Details: David Beck, 2E0DTC, 0777-7664822, d.beck123@outlook.com
29 December 2017 Yeovil ARC Tabletop Rally [Friday] Sparkford Village Hall, Church Road, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JN. Open 10:00 to 15:00. Admission £3. Free parking. Light refreshments. Details: Bob, 01963-440167, wjh069@gmail.com
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
RAGCHEW
NEW Autumn 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/autumn-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
Not much reported this week. No sunspots of significance and the HF bands appear to have been average for the time of year although morning propagation across the UK and Europe has been good, with some minor QSB. Stu, G4WCP reports that 60metres tends to completely close around 6.00pm each evening.
VHF/UHF:
According to real-time propagation maps, there are often openings into Europe on 2 metres. Hourly monitoring is essential if you want to take up every opportunity.
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 AA3B, AJ9C, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
VIETNAM, 3W. Tom, KC0W is QRV as 3W9CW from Con Son Island, IOTA AS-130, until November 28. QSL direct to home call.
MAURITANIA, 5T. Operators A92AA and A61M will be QRV as 5T1A and 5T1R, respectively, from Nouakchott from November 20 to December 20. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via operators’ instructions.
GHANA, 9G. A group of operators will be QRV as 9G5W from Kokrobite from November 20 to 29. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide DX CW contest. QSL via S59ZZ.
SIERRA LEONE, 9L. Mark, KW4XJ is QRV as 9L/KW4XJ in Freetown while on work assignment. Activity is on the HF bands in his spare time using CW and various digital modes. QSL to home call.
RWANDA, 9X. Harald, DF2WO is QRV as 9X2AW from Kigali until November 30. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via M0OXO.
PHILIPPINES, DU. Serge, RZ3FW and Sergei, R4WAA will be QRV as DU9/home calls from Sarangani Island, IOTA OC-175, from November 21 to 29. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL to home calls.
SAINT BARTHELEMY, FJ. A group of operators are QRV as TO2SP until November 30. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide DX CW contest. QSL via SP6IXF.
SAN ANDRES AND PROVIDENCIA, HK0. Members of the Yaguarete DXers Group are QRV as 5K0T from San Andres Island, IOTA NA-033, until November 25. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via LU1FM.
GUINEA-BISSAU, J5. A group of operators are QRV as J5T from Bubaque Island, IOTA AF-020, until November 26. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY with three stations active. QSL via I2YSB.
CURACAO, PJ2. Alex, KU1CW is QRV as PJ2/KU1CW until November 20. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL via LoTW.
SURINAME, PZ. Members of the Voodoo Contest Group will be QRV as PZ5V from November 19 to 28. This includes being a Multi/2 entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide DX CW contest. QSL via M0URX.
SUDAN, ST. Sergey, R4PBW is QRV as ST/R4PBW from Khartoum. Activity is on the HF bands. His length of stay is unknown. QSL via operator’s instructions.
ANTIGUA, V2. Bud, AA3B will be QRV as V26K from November 22 to 27. Activity will be on the HF bands using primarily CW and possibly RTTY on November 27. This includes being a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide DX CW contest. QSL direct to home call.
FALKLAND ISLANDS, VP8. Eberhard, DL7JLL is QRV as VP8JLL until November 25. QSL to home call.
CHAGOS, VQ9. Yasu, JO1GWT is QRV as VQ9KA. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call.
INDIA, VU. Special event station AU2JCB will be QRV from November 23 to December 11 to celebrate the 159th anniversary of the birth of India’s great scientist and inventor Sir Jagadeesh Chandra Bose. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using SSB, and FM on 10 and 6 meters as well. QSL direct to VU2DSI.
VANUATU, YJ. Tom, JA1VND is QRV as YJ0JA from Efate Island, IOTA OC-035, until November 20. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call.
NICARAGUA, YN. Mike, AJ9C will be QRV as YN2CC from November 21 to 29. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ World Wide DX CW contest. QSL direct to home call.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The ARRL SSB Sweepstakes Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC CW Sprint, YO International 80-Meter PSK31 Contest, LZ DX Contest, All Austrian 160-Meter CW Contest, REF 160-Meter CW Contest, Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment CW Party, Feld Hell Sprint and the RSGB 2nd 1.8 MHz CW Contest are all on tap for this weekend.
The Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest is scheduled for November 20.
The CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, RSGB 80-Meter Autumn SSB Series, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt, Phone Fray and SKCC CW Sprint are scheduled for November 22.
Please see November QST, page 93, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
26th – 29th December – 50/70/144/432MHz Christmas Cumulatives Contest – 14.00-16.00
FINALÉ
As per last Wednesday’s impromptu discussion, we are looking at an alternative QTH for WADARC. Although there are a few reservations, the Lions Hall in Lancing looks very promising and members at the meeting were very positive that we should actively pursue this venue, especially as they are happy for us to erect a structure to act as a shack and have even asked us if there is sufficient space in the designated area for us – a bit different to the usual ‘hmmm…. not sure about that’ – they actually want us there! The committee meets again next Tuesday and will be discussing all the possibilities.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
