THE PAST WEEK
Last Wednesday’s lecture was given by Chris Tomlinson from EON/Rampion, on the Rampion Wind Farm, which as most will be aware, is in its late stages of development. A highly informative talk, with slides despite minor issues between our projector and Chris’ laptop. Further to Chris’ talk, technical questions have been invited and Chris will do his best to have them answered. Please forward any questions for Chris to G4GNX via chairman@wadarc.org.uk
Next week is the Autumn Junk Sale and images of Bryan, G3GVB’s equipment are still available on the WADARC website – follow this link (or copy and paste) to view:
www.wadarc.org.uk/weekly-updates/sk-g3gvb-equipment-at-the-next-junk-sale
Please also note that the start time of the Junk Sale has been brought forward to 7.30pm, as there are quite a lot of ‘GVB pieces as well as members’ own items.
Next week, Jonathan – G1EXG will be composing the Weekly Bulletin and will continue to do so once per month. Watch this space for some excellent content.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
Junk Sale (including radios etc from G3GVB) – Wednesday 18th October – 7.30pm – 10.00pm
Fox Hunt – final stage – Wednesday 25th October – 7.30pm onwards – meet in pub afterwards – Note: LPH CLOSED.
Club Tea and Chat Night – Wednesday 1st November – 8.00pm – 10.00pm
Sunday Breakfast – Lancing Harvester – Sunday 5th November – 9.00am – 10.00am
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
13 to 16 October 2017 The RSGB Convention [Friday to Monday]
Kent’s Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Swallow House, Timbold Drive,
Kent’s Hill Park, Milton Keynes, Bucks. MK7 6BZ.
Details: http://www.rsgbevents.org
15 October 2017 Holsworthy ARC Rally
Holsworthy Community College, Victoria Hill, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 6JD.
Trade. B&B. Catering. Free on-site parking. Disabled access.
Details: Howard, M0MYB, holsworthyarc@gmail.com
21 October 2017 Yeovil ARC 71st Anniversary Event [Saturday]
Sparkford Village Hall, Sparkford, Nr Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7ED.
Open 10:00. Admission free. Also celebrating El Alemein with
radios from that era plus 1920s on. Secret Listener radios.
Light refreshments available.
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
Summer 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/summer-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
FRIDAY THE 13TH, A LUCKY DAY FOR AURORAS: NOAA forecasters say there is a 70% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on Oct. 13th, marking the third day in a row such storms have circled Earth’s poles. In fact, Friday the 13th could be the best day yet as Earth enters a faster-moving stream of solar wind, with wind speeds topping 600 km/s. Arctic sky watchers should remain alert for auroras.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
Low K-index and solar disturbances continue to plague the lower HF bands. 40 metres has been good in the evenings with contacts to North America and good signal strengths, quite frequent.
Bob, G3VXJ reports QSOs with a great many parts of the globe, on the upper HF bands, using just 5 Watts!
VHF/UHF:
This weekend (14th/15th) conditions are predicted to be favourable for what is described as a “mega-lift”, due to temperature inversions and “mirroring”. Autumn auroral activity is highly likely throughout the month.
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 NT5V, 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.
MAURITIUS, 3B8. Flavio, IW2NEF will be QRV as 3B8/IW2NEF from October 16 to 23. Activity will be holiday style on the HF bands.QSL to IK2DUW.
SWAZILAND, 3DA. A group of operators are QRV as 3DA0MB until October 18. This is an EME DXpedition, with activity on 6 and 2 meters, and 70, 23, 13, 9, 6, and 3 cm using CW and JT65. QSL via PA3CMC.
UGANDA, 5X. Kazuo, 5X2B is QRV from Kampala until July 2019. Activity is on 30 to 12 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL direct to JA1PBV.
BHUTAN, A5. Steve, N6SJ is QRV as A52SJ from Paro until October 19. Activity is on the HF bands with a focus on 160 meters. QSL to home call.
SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5. Steve, KL7SB is QRV as E51RAT from Rarotonga Island, IOTA OC-013, until October 18. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL direct to NI5DX.
SAINT BARTHELEMY, FJ. Damien, F4AZF is QRV as FJ/F4AZF until October 20, or possibly until October 27, while working here. Activity is on the HF bands in his spare time. QSL to home call.
MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1. Take, JG8NQJ will be QRV as JG8NQJ/JD1 beginning October 15 and will be here for two months. Activity will be in his spare time on the HF bands using CW and RTTY. QSL direct to JA8CJY.
ALAND ISLANDS, OH0. Look for OH0B to be QRV in the Scandinavian Activity SSB Contest. QSL via OH2BH.
MARKET REEF, OJ0. Henri, OH3JR is QRV as OJ0JR until October 14. Activity is on 40 to 4 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call.
BELGIUM, ON. Special event station OP36CLM will be QRV from October 16 to November 15 to commemorate the liberation of the town of Knokke by Canadian forces in November 1944. QSL via ON3AIM.
BONAIRE, PJ4. Operators Vernon, NN5E and Jim, NT5V will be QRV as PJ4/NN5E and PJ4/NT5V, respectively, from October 15 to 22. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL to home calls.
BANGLADESH, S2. A group of operators are QRV as S21ZDC from Bhola Island, IOTA AS-140, until October 18. Activity is on 40 to 15 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via G3KHZ.
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE, S9. Jose, EC5AC is QRV as S9CQ from Sao Tome, IOTA AF-023, until October 21. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using SSB and RTTY. QSL to home call.
CRETE, SV9. Mirko, DJ1AA is QRV as SV9/DJ1AA/p from Sisi, IOTA EU-015, until October 13. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
PALAU, T8. Operators JH7IPR, JA6EGL and JQ6FQI are QRV as T88UW, T88SM, and T88WM, respectively, until October 18. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL to home calls.
ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4. Bill, W5JON will be QRV as V47JA from Calypso Bay, IOTA NA-104, from October 15 to November 7. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters, including 60 meters, using SSB. This includes being an entry in the upcoming CQ Word Wide DX SSB contest. QSL direct to home call.
BRUNEI, V8. Special event station V84K50GJ is QRV until October 15 to mark the present Sultan’s Golden Jubilee. QSL via operators instructions.
INDIA, VU. Special event stations AT1FI, AT2FI, AT3FI and AT4FI are QRV until October 28 during the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Activity is on 40, 20 and 15 meters using SSB and various digital modes. QSL via VU2SMS.
LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS, VU7. A group of operators are QRV as VU7T from Kavaratti, IOTA AS-011, until October 20. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes, with up to three stations active. QSL via VU2CPL.
ST. HELENA, ZD7. Bill, G0VDE plans to be QRV as ZD7VDE for one week beginning October 14. Activity will be on the HF bands using SSB and various digital modes. QSL via G3SWH.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The Oceania DX CW Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, Makrothen RTTY Contest, Scandinavian Activity SSB Contest, QRP ARCI Fall CW QSO Party, Pennsylvania QSO Party, Arizona QSO Party, FISTS Fall Unlimited CW Sprint, PODXS 070 Club 160-Meter Great Pumpkin Sprint, Asia-Pacific Fall CW Sprint and the UBA ON 2-Meter Contest are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.
The ARRL School Club Roundup runs from October 16 to 20.
The Run for the Bacon QRP CW Contest is scheduled for October 16.
The Telephone Pioneers QSO Party is scheduled for October 16.
The Phone Fray, RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Data Series and CWops Mini-CWT Test are scheduled for October 18.
Please see October QST, page 94, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
22nd October – 50MHz AFS Contest – 09.00-13.00
FINALÉ
Hopefully we will soon to be able to operate HF again from within Lancing Parish Hall, but this time instead of operators and “chatters” being crammed into the same space, we will be using the tea-bar area in Jubilee Hall to place the K3 or IC7300, with the shutters lowered to keep the mutual noise out. Those who want to chat can continue to do so in the carpeted area, where we have met for the past few weeks.
I’m hoping to formulate a questionnaire, once the committee have met, so that we can tailor the club meetings to the interests of all members, within the cloak of Amateur Radio. Any thoughts you may have in advance can be sent to any committee member for consideration.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
