THE PAST WEEK
Wednesday’s club meeting was designated as a Tea and Chat evening, but this was enhanced by an impromptu on-air period, so that we could test out the HF antenna, now that it’s been moved.
Well, the antenna worked OK but transmission was interrupted by the noise of the fire alarm going off, accompanied by the intruder alarm, which wasn’t even armed! No absolute proof that RF was the culprit, even the caretaker and the Fire Brigade Officer didn’t think it was, but if it recurs it needs to be fixed. There have been previous problems and the council were warned, but appear to have done nothing to RF proof what is a wired system.
The new antenna for GB3WO was inspected for missing parts (there were none) and is now ready for installation on Monday morning.
Thursday morning’s 40 metre net was in excellent shape with signals exceeding S9 and almost no QSB.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
Sunday Breakfast – Lancing Harvester – Sunday 5th November – 9.00am-10.00am
RSGB Lecture – Cleaning Up Your Shack (Noise and RFI removal) by GM3SEK – Wednesday 8th November – 8.00pm-10.00pm
Used Equipment Sale – GUILDFORD and District Radio Society – Friday 10th November – 8..00pm sharp. Guildford Model Engineer’s Building, Stoke Park, Guildford GU1 1TU.
Remembrance Day marshalling – Worthing Town – Sunday 12th November – 08.45am-12.30pm
On the air evening with the club’s IC7300, plus tea and chat – Wednesday 15th November – 8.00pm-10.00pm
On the air at home nets Phil, G4UDU net controller – Wednesday 22nd November – 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
5 November 2017 West London Radio & Electronics Show (Kempton Rally)
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. Open 10:00/09:50. B&B. SIGs. Talkin. On-site parking. Lectures. Raffle. Catering.
Details: Paul, M0CJX, 0845-165-0351, info@radiofairs.co.uk http://www.radiofairs.co.uk
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
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:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
SOLAR MINIMUM RETURNS: Yesterday the sunspot number was zero as the sun resumes its transition to Solar Minimum. Images from NASA’s Dynamics Observatory show no dark cores on the face of the sun.
This development continues a years-long trend of decreasing sunspot numbers — with a notable interruption in September 2017, which brought a surprising outburst of large sunspots and intense solar flares. The disappearance of sunspots signals a weakening of the sun’s magnetic field and a change in the character of space weather. During Solar Minimum, space weather is dominated by solar wind streams and cosmic rays, not sunspots and solar flares. Bonus: Solar Minimum auroras are gorgeous!
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
There have been considerable enhancements across the UK and much of Europe as well as Ireland, in the past few days, but unfortunately although there was the occasional QSO and distant beacons were heard, there wasn’t a great deal of activity.
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 Z36W, 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.
TUNISIA, 3V. Mik, HB9FSA is QRV as 3V8TD from Djerba Island, IOTA AF-083. Activity is on the various HF bands. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call.
TIMOR-LESTE, 4W. Roly, ZL1BQD is QRV as 4W6RR from Dili, IOTA OC-148, until October 10. Activity is on 40 and 20 meters using CW and JT9, JT65 and FT8. QSL direct to home call.
RWANDA, 9X. Peter, HB9DVG is QRV as 9X9PJ, and possibly later as 9X9PJ/p, from Kigali for the next two years. Activity is on 20 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL direct to home call.
BHUTAN, A5. Operators Zorro, JH1AJT, Kasu, VR2KF and Champ, E21EIC are QRV as A5A until October 8. The main purpose of this trip is to support the launch of the Paralympic Committee in Bhutan with the Bhutan Olympic Committee. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via JH1AJT.
SPAIN, EA. Special event station AN92EXPO commemorates the 25th anniversary of the 1992 Seville Universal Exposition, operating in conjunction with the fifth centennial of the Discovery of America.
QSL via bureau.
REUNION ISLAND, FR. Gust, ON6KE is QRV as FR/ON6KE until October 10. Activity is holiday style on 80 to 10 meters using CW, JT65 and FT8. QSL via operator’s instructions.
TEMOTU PROVINCE, H40. Stan, LZ1GC is QRV as H40GC until October 20.
Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL direct to home call.
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE, S9. A group of operators are QRV as S9YY from Sao Tome, IOTA AF-023, until October 12. Activity is on the HF bands, possibly including 60 meters, using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL via DH7WW.
SEYCHELLES, S7. Peter, DD1GG is QRV as S79PT from Mahe Island, IOTA AF-024, until October 15. Activity is on various HF bands. QSL to home call.
PALAU, T8. Operators JA6BMB, JA6KYU and JR6DRH are QRV as T88CS, T88HS and T88RH, respectively, from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, until October 11. In addition, operators JA6EGL, JQ6FQI and JH7IPR will be QRV as T88SM, T88WM and T88UW, respectively, from October 11 to 17. Both operations are expected to be active on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, JT65, JT9 and FT8. QSL to home calls.
BRUNEI, V8. Special event station V84K50GJ is QRV until October 15 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebration of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Accession to the Throne. Activity is on all bands and modes. QSL via QRZ.com.
CHRISTMAS ISLAND, VK9X. A group of operators are QRV as VK9XI until October 10. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY, with a beacon on 6 meters. This includes an entry in the Oceania DX SSB contest. QSL via M0OXO.
COCOS (KEELING) ISLAND, VK9C. After their Christmas Island operation, the group will be QRV as VK9CI from October 10 to 17.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY, with a beacon on 6 meters. This includes being an entry in the upcoming Oceania DX CW contest. QSL via M0OXO.
VIET NAM. XV. Laurent, F5TMJ is living in Ho Chi Minh City and is QRV as XV9JM. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters at various times. QSL via F6ITD.
MACEDONIA, Z3. Members of the Radio Club Nikola Tesla are QRV as Z370M until December 31 to celebrate the club’s 70 years. QSL via Z37M.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The ARRL EME Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest, TRC DX Contest, Microwave Fall Sprint, Oceania DX Phone Contest, The Russian World Wide Digital Contest SKCC Weekend CW Sprintathon, California QSO Party, International HELL-Contest, FISTS Fall Slow Speed CW Sprint, WAB HF Phone, RSGB DX Contest, UBA ON 80-Meter CW Contest and the UBA ON 6-meter Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.
The RSGB 80-Meter Autumn CW Series and 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint are scheduled for October 9.
The 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint is scheduled for October 10.
The CWops Mini-CWT Test, Phone Fray and NAQCC CW Sprint are scheduled for October 11.
Please see October QST, page 94, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
4th – 5th November – 144MHz CW Marconi Contest – 14.00-14.00
3rd December – 144MHz Affiliated Societies Contest – 10.00-16.00
26th – 29th December – 50/70/144/432MHz Christmas Cumulatives Contest – 14.00-16.00
FINALÉ
Please try to support our efforts to provide adequate marshals for the Remembrance Day Parade in Worthing. We are currently short of our target by 4-5 members and a few hours of your time would be greatly appreciated.
Hi-vis jackets and PMR radios will be provided, so you don’t even need to be licensed. Please indicate that you can attend by adding your name to our Doodle Poll: https://doodle.com/poll/fzbh4cip74s3mtxn
73,
Alan. G4GNX
