THE PAST WEEK
A highlight of the week was on Monday when there was an opening of the HF bands, with all bands seeing propagation improvement, right up thru 10 metres, with some good DX reported.
Band conditions continued to be fair and 40 metres was very much improved for our Thursday morning net, although there weren’t many ‘takers’!
In case you hadn’t noticed, the AGM took place last Wednesday and I’m pleased to say that it went very well, with around 30 members attending, despite there being an overall membership decline.
Further accurate details will be published as soon as Andy and Roger compare notes and compile the info.
For the time being, here’s an abbreviated list of officers and committee for 2017/2018:
Chairman – Alan, G4GNX
Vice-Chairman – Les, G3JSU
Secretary – Andy, M6RFE
Treasurer – Roger, G7VBR
Committee members:
Ian, M0IAD
Norman, 2E0RKO
Ray, M6IKO
Alex, M6UMD
A further reminder that the Junk Sale is not far away, images of Bryan, G3GVB’s equipment are now 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.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
Foundation Training – Saturday 7th October – email: training@wadarc.org.uk to book
Foundation Exam – Monday 9th October – 7.15pm – 8.30pm
Lecture – The Rampion Windfarm – Wednesday 11th October – 8.00pm – 10.00pm
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.
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):
(Oct 5 1147UTC) Solar has intensified but only slightly. The southern coronal hole stream has mostly missed our planet and will be only lightly felt in the magnetosphere.
(Oct 4 1155UTC) The solar wind is late. Telemetry shows no impacts thus far and so the stream may be weaker than the last one (which produced level 3 geomagnetic storms). If the stream does not impact in the next 24 hours it has likely missed our planet.
(Oct 3 1200UTC) An intensification of solar wind is expected within ~24 hours due to the earth-facing coronal hole. Aurorae and geomagnetic storms are expected. Solar flaring is expected to remain low as the sunspots are weak, turning out of view, and few appear ready to replace them.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
Occasional enhancements over 750Km have occurred during the past week right across Europe, but are rather short lived. These are likely to continue. Autumn auroral activity also likely.
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
7th – 8th October – 432MHz/2.45GHz Contest – 14.00-14.00
7th October – 1.2GHz/2.3GHz Trophy – 14.00-22.00
22nd October – 50MHz AFS Contest – 09.00-13.00
FINALÉ
There was considerable discussion at last Wednesday’s AGM regarding the decline in WADARC membership and the direction in which YOUR club is going. Whilst it was realised that part of the decline is due to members passing away, that’s really quite a small proportion of the overall membership. As a club we need to think up new ideas and activities to attract people into Amateur Radio and to join WADARC, whilst catering for the varied interests of existing members. There was also talk of moving our meeting place, preferably to somewhere where we can have a dedicated shack, storeroom and workbench.
I would ask all members to consider the above and to try to come up with suggestions to submit to the Committee.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
