THE PAST WEEK
Last Friday I received an email from Lancing Parish Council, telling us that we must vacate the South Hall at Lancing Parish Hall permanently as of today (1st September)! Absolute panic and mayhem ensued, with emails flying backwards and forwards, until it was pointed out that we had been informed of this by email, some months ago, except for the actual date. It would seem that the Council’s email (which DOES exist) had gone astray. Further phone calls to the Clerk to the Council by Andrew and myself and a meeting was arranged between Helen Plant and myself on Wednesday afternoon. The meeting was very fruitful and we have agreed to move our meeting place to the Jubilee Hall, still within the confines of Lancing Parish Hall. Apart from the odd occasion when we can’t use the hall, we may be actually better off and more comfortable in the new venue. Movement of our aerials, feeds and GB3WO are being arranged.
Wednesday evening saw the next stage of the G8FMJ Foxhunt Competition, but unfortunately was VERY poorly patronised with only 4 people taking part, including the ‘Fox’! Dorian, Roger and I left the LPH car park just after 7.15pm, but NOBODY else asked to team up with us or attempted to go-it-alone. When we all finally returned, there were quite a few very able members in the hall, who had not ventured out to support the event.
Ian, M0IAD acted as the ‘fox’ making periodic transmissions throughout the evening. Dorian, 2E0FSI was first to find the fox’s hiding place – well done. Roger, G4TNT and Alan, G4GNX came a close 2nd, albeit with over an hour between sightings! Thank you Ian for your encouragement and patience.
An announcement has already been made about our move of meeting room, but to re-iterate:
As of and including Wednesday September 6th, WADARC meetings will take place in the Jubilee Hall at Lancing Parish Hall. The entrance to Jubilee Hall is next to the rear reception counter, where the caretaker normally sits.
Wi-fi is still available, but you’ll need to connect to a different ‘hot spot’. Details are on the wall inside the reception area.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Sunday Breakfast @ Lancing Harvester – 3rd September – 9.00am – 10.00am.
- Building and testing RF Filters, on a budget – Wed 6th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
- Band III – a talk by Ron, G3SKI – Wed 13th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
- Intermediate Training – email training@wadarc.org.uk to book – Sat 16th – Sun 17th September – 9:00 am – 5:30 pm.
- Intermediate Exam – Monday 18th September – 7.15pm – 9.00pm.
- Construction Competition – Wednesday 20th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
- Setting Up Your Laptop for Digital Modes, talk – Wednesday 27th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
For further information as it occurs, please visit the WADARC website: www.wadarc.org.uk
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, 7.30am-8.00am (local)
RALLIES
September 2017
10 September 2017 Andover ARC’s Wildhern Rally
Village Hall, Wildhern, just north of Andover, SP11 0JE. Map reference: SU350510
Open 10:00/Sellers 09:00. Admission £2. Tables in the hall £10, £8 per boot.
Free Raffle.
Details: arac@arac.org.uk Club Website http://www.arac.org.uk
10 September 2017 Torbay Annual Communications Fair
Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon, TQ12 3AF.
Open 10:00/09:30. Admission £2. B&B. RSGB books. Raffle. On-site parking
and catering.
Bookings: Pete, G4VTO, 01803-864528 or Mike, G1TUU, 01803-557941 rally@tars.org.uk
17 September 2017 Weston-Super-Mare Rally
The Campus, Highlands Lane, Weston-Super-Mare, BS24 7DX.
Open 10:00. Admission £3. Large car park. B&B. Trade. Auction. Lectures.
Family amusements, competitions & contests, interactive displays and fun
activities. On-site catering. Details: 01278-786684, mjones129@btinternet.com http://www.G4WSM.club
29 & 30 September 2017 National Hamfest [Friday & Saturday]
Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts. NG24 2NY.
Trade. B&B. Free parking. Disabled facilities. SIGs. Car boot sale. Flea market.
RSGB books. Morse tests. Catering. Details: http://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk
Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html
RAGCHEW
NEW Summer 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/summer-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
GEOMAGNETIC UNREST: Our planet’s magnetic field should remain unsettled on Sept. 1st as Earth continues its passage through a stream of fast-moving solar wind. The expected arrival of a CME fragment later today could re-kindle G1-class geomagnetic storms that sparked bright auroras over Alaska on Aug.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
The past week has shown variable propagation enhancements, with more possible due to current temperature changes and consequent inversions. Distances in excess of 750Km are highly likely. No auroral activity at present.
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 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, 3B. Hans, PA3HGT will be QRV as 3B8/PA3HGT from September 5 to 22. Activity will be holiday style on 40, 20 and 10 meters using SSB and possibly various digital modes. QSL to home call.
ALGERIA, 7X. A group of operators are QRV as 7Y94I from Rachgoun Island, IOTA AF-094, until September 10. QSL via 7X2DD.
BOTSWANA, A2. Alex, IW5ELA will be QRV as A25AL from September 7 to 15. Activity will be holiday style on the HF bands using mostly CW. QSL to home call.
PHILIPPINES, DU. Michael, W6QT is QRV as DU3/W6QT from Luzon Island, IOTA OC-042, until the end of the year. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters. QSL direct to home call.
SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5. Nobuaki, JA0JHQ is QRV as E51JHQ from Rarotonga Island, IOTA OC-013, until September 4. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters. This includes being active in the All-Asian DX Phone contest. QSL to home call.
BELARUS, EU. Special event station EV500S is active until September 20 to celebrate the Quincentenary of the town of Schuchin. QSL via DL7VFM.
SCOTLAND, GM. Station GB5TAM is QRV from the H.M.S. Tern Naval Air Station Museum on Orkney Island, IOTA EU-009, during the month of September. QSL via MM5DWW.
COLOMBIA, HK. Special event station 5K300PF will be QRV from September 5 to 9 during his Holiness Pope Francis’ visit. QSL via HK1X.
ITALY, I. Members of the Strange Radio Team will be QRV as IQ8OM/p from the Capo d’Orso Lighthouse, ARLHS ITA-019, on September 2. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using SSB. QSL via IK8WEJ.
ST. LUCIA, J6. Operators K9HZ, K0UM and K8SD are QRV as J68HZ from September 1 to 16. Activity is on 160 to 2 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL direct to K9HZ.
BULGARIA, LZ. Members of the Bulgarian Radio Club Blagovestnik are QRV with special event call sign LZ100SK during September to honor Bulgarian Saints. QSL via bureau.
MARKET REEF, OJ0. Jukka, OH2BR will be QRV as OJ0/OH2BR for a week beginning September 2. Activity will be on the HF bands including 60 meters. QSL to home call.
BONAIRE, PJ4. Wilko, PA3BWK is QRV as PJ4/PA3BWK until September 16. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, and possibly 30 meters, using mainly CW with some RTTY and occasional SSB, QSL to home call.
FRANZ JOSEF LAND, R1/F. Eugene, UA4RX is QRV as UA4RX/1 from Heiss Island and is here until July or August 2018. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL direct to UA2FM.
GREECE, SV. Dave, GM0LVI is QRV as SV8/GM0LVI/p from Zakynthos, IOTA EU-052, until September 19. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters. QSL to home call.
UKRAINE, UR. Special event station EO25P is QRV until December 31, 2017 to mark the 25 years of the Volyn Amateur Radio League. QSL via operators’ instructions.
VIET NAM, XV. BJ, WA7WJR is QRV as XV9WJR from various locations until September 17. Activity is on 40 and 20 meters using CW. QSL direct to home call.
INDONESIA, YB. Bert, PD1SA plans to be QRV as YB1/PD1SA from September 2 to October 2. QSL to home call.
ROMANIA, YO. A group of operators are QRV as YP0F from Insula Fericirii Island, IOTA EU-191, until September 3. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, and may run QRP power as well, using mostly SSB. QSL via YO9RIJ.
PRINCE EDWARD AND MARION ISLANDS, ZS8. David, ZS1BCE is QRV as ZS8Z from Marion Island, IOTA AF-021, until May 2018. Activity is on the HF bands using SSB and various digital modes. QSL direct to ZS1LS.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The All-Asian DX Phone Contest, IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day, RSGB SSB Field Day, QRP 20-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key CW Contest, Russian RTTY World Wide Contest, CWOps CW Open, Wake-Up. QRP CW Sprint, Colorado QSO Party, AGCW Straight Key 40-Meter CW Party, PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80-Meter PSK31 Sprint, WAB 144 MHz QRO Phone and the Tennessee QSO Party will certainly keep contesters busy this upcoming weekend.
The MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint is scheduled for September 4. The ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for September 5. The CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, UKEICC 80-Meter Contest, and Phone Fray are all scheduled for September 6.
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
2nd – 3rd September – 144 MHz Trophy Contest – 14.00-14.00
3rd September – 144 MHz Backpackers # 5 – 11.00-15.00
17th September – 70 MHz Contest # 2 – 09.00-12.00
FINALÉ
I was going to write about lack of club interest, but decided that being pessimistic and grumpy only serves to turn people away. Sure the occasional kick up the a*se can provoke activity, but not today.
OK philosophy over, now the bright side. There’s still plenty of opportunity for members to enjoy the hobby but those who ‘do things’ need to know if they’re doing the right things and how improvements can be made.
There’s also expertise in many radio matters amongst experienced club members, but I suspect that quite a few people are afraid to ask or make suggestions. There are also those who are more forthright and whilst well-intentioned, may ‘get up the nose’ of the person/s being asked to do something.
To this end, Roger, G7VBR has offered to become a WADARC ‘Agony Uncle’! He’s a good listener and a very fair arbiter and is even happy to ‘take flack’ if necessary. Members can make their suggestions or gripes to Roger, who will then evaluate them and pass info to the committee or other relevant person. You can ask for your comments to be passed on anonymously and Roger will honour that, or you can ask for them to be made public, the choice is yours. Please let us know if you support this idea in principle, either by a direct private email to Roger, Andrew or myself, or by a ‘public’ comment via WADARC Discuss reflector.
73,
Alan. G4GNX
