THE PAST WEEK
This past week we met in the bar area of the Jubilee Hall, where we all sat round the table layout in the centre of the room. I think all agreed that the it was easier to hear each other without the echo from the main auditorium and the room layout provided a more friendly atmosphere. Next week we will probably use the club screen with the projector in the same room, to see how that works out.
Last Wednesday was our annual Construction Competition and it was pleasing to see a number of entries, all different. Thanks to all who participated. The over all winner was Chris, G3UFS with his 400W dummy load, constructed from a modified PW design, using 100W resistors, mounted on a suitable heatsink.
Discussion also took place on the next JOTA event and the Remembrance Day parade marshalling, with the need for volunteers to man these worthy events. Further details to be published via the club reflectors.
There were also comments that the last Sunday Breakfast was non-existent. This will only work if members turn up for the event.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Construction Competition – Wednesday 20th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
- Setting Up Your Laptop for Digital Modes, talk – Wednesday 27th September – 8.00pm – 10.00pm.
- Breakfast at the Lancing Harvester – Sunday 1st October – 9.00am – 10.00am
- WADARC AGM and after meeting chat – Wednesday 4th October – 8.00pm sharp
- 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 – 8.00pm – 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
September 2017
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
October 2017
1 October 2017 Hack Green Hangar Sale
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Nantwich, Ches. CW5 8AL.
Open 10:00. Sale of amateur & electronic equipment, comps, military radio
sets and vehicle spares. Refreshments on-site.
Details: Lucy Siebert, 01270-623353, lucy@hackgreen.co.uk
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
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):
(Sep 17 1847UTC) FARSIDE UPDATE: A powerful double-eruption, likely in the X class range, has occurred on the far side of the sun from the big sunspot that gave us our flares last week. It is still very active, and the flare/CME are visible on STEREO A/SOHO coronagraphs.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
Some enhanced propagation during the past week, due to variations in temperature and subsequent inversions. This behaviour is likely to continue and it’s worth checking the beacons frequently, as well as looking out for sea mists, which usually indicate that there’s a ‘lift’ on. Distances in excess of 750Km are highly likely. Autumn auroral activity highly 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 WB0TEV, 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.
BARBADOS, 8P. Dean, 8P6SH plans to be QRV as 8P50B on 20 meters in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL via KU9C.
NEPAL, 9N. Gerhard, OE3GEA is QRV as 9N7GE. Activity of late has been on 30 and 17 meters using CW. His length of stay is unknown.
QSL to home call.
TAIWAN, BV. A group of operators will be QRV as BV2A/3 from SaXi, Tao Yuan City in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL via
operators’ instructions.
BOTSWANA, A2. Operators Paul, R2AD, Elena, RC5A, and Yuri, RM0F are QRV as A25SP, A25BE, and A25BI, respectively, from Chobe National Park until September 25. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to home calls.
TONGA, A3. Hal, JR4OZR will be QRV as A35W from Tongatapu Island, IOTA OC-049, in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL direct to JJ2VLY.
OMAN, A4. Members of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society will be QRV as A44A in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest as a Multi/2 entry. QSL via A47RS.
CEUTA AND MELILLA, EA9. Jorge, EA9LZ will be QRV as EF9R in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL via EA5KB.
REUNION ISLAND, FR. Alain, F8FUA is QRV as FR/F8FUA until September 30. Activity is holiday style on the HF bands using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL to home call.
JERSEY, GJ. Kazu, M0CFW will be QRV as MJ5Z in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest on all bands. Before and after the contest he is
active as MJ0CFW. QSL to home call.
GUERNSEY, GU. A group of operators are QRV as MU/ON4ANN until September 24. Activity is on 160, 80, 40 and 30 meters using CW,
SSB and various digital modes. QSL via M0URX.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HL. Special event station HL50NWPF is QRV until September 24 to celebrate the 5th Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival. QSL via HL5FXP.
OGASAWARA, JD1. Take, JA1UII is QRV as JD1BON until September 30. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL to home call.
AUSTRIA, OE. Special event station OE6YHOTA will be QRV on September 23 and 24 to draw attention to the Young Helpers on the Air activity. Activity will be on 80, 40, 20 and 15 meters. QSL via OE6SWG.
ARUBA, P4. Operators Jim, K8JH and Mike, KB8KB will be QRV as P40N and P40M, respectively, from September 27 to October 3. Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and FT8. QSL both calls for this activity direct to home calls.
FERNANDO DE NORONHA, PY0F. Leo, PP1CZ is QRV as PY0F/PP1CZ until September 27. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using mainly CW, with some RTTY, JT65 and FT8 as well. QSL direct to home call.
CRETE, SV9. Joerg, DM1OS will be QRV as SV9/DM1OS from Gavdos Island, IOTA EU-187, from September 23 to 25. Activity will be
holiday style on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
PALAU, T8. Katsumi, JA3KIO is QRV as T88XA from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, until September 26. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and JT65. This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL to home call. In addition, Toshi,
JA3JND is QRV as T88ON from Koror Island until September 28. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and JT65. QSL to
home call.
BELIZE, V3. Victor, WB0TEV is QRV as V31VP from Blackman Eddy until September 25. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using some SSB. This includes being an entry in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL to home call.
LAOS, XW. Champ, E21EIC is QRV as XW1IC from Vientiane until September 25. Activity is on 80 to 6 meters. This includes being a Single Op/Single Band on 20 meter entry in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL to home call.
CAYMAN ISLANDS, ZF. A group of operators will be QRV as ZF1A in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest. QSL via operators’ instructions.
GIBRALTAR, ZB. Robert, M0TTT will be QRV as ZB2TT in the CQ World Wide DX RTTY contest as a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry. QSL via M0URX.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ Worldwide DX RTTY Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, Railways on the Air, NCCC Sprint CW Ladder, Maine QSO Party, Texas QSO Party and the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.
The 220 MHz Fall Sprint is scheduled for September 22. The CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, UKEICC 80-Meter CW Contest, Phone Fray and SKCC CW Sprint are scheduled for September 27.
Please see September 2017 QST, page 84, 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
Thanks to all who have renewed their membership for the coming year. For those who haven’t yet managed it, please try to renew ASAP and certainly before the AGM. Methods include cash to any committee member, cheque, bank standing order, BACS direct transfer. Details can be obtained by sending an email to membership@wadarc.org.uk or to treasurer@wadarc.org.uk
If you make a direct transfer, please inform the membership secretary. Current subscription is £35 per annum.
If anyone has difficulty in getting payment to us, please contact Roger, G7VBR who will attempt to discretely resolve the situation.
Membership renewal is not just about the money, although it does come in handy! The committee need to know of everyone who is supporting the club and who/where to send club information. It also helps the club to plan ahead for future events.
73,
Alan. G4GNX