THE PAST WEEK
Although our Wednesday meeting was advertised as a tea and chat night, we started off with an ARRL podcast, kindly supplied by Phil, G4UDU. There were many subjects to choose from and we chose a discussion on audio tailoring and compression. Some revelations to some and some timely reminders to others, but all-in-all well worth the listen. We will hopefully be using more podcasts to amuse, educate and entertain ourselves.
A lively discussion about various matters, all associated with Amateur Radio then took place and even managed to continue during and after tea.
As you can see below, our Christmas meal and awards is at the Old Tollgate, Bramber. Ron, G3SKI is providing a cake for your delectation (not to be missed) and we will be running a raffle. It will be much appreciated if everyone could bring along an item to donate for the raffle.
CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS
- Christmas Party and Annual Awards – Wednesday 13th December – 7.30pm at the Old Tollgate, Bramber – Note: LPH CLOSED.
- Discussion, what is the future for WADARC – Wednesday 20th December – 8.00pm – 10.00pm
- Annual traditional Christmas morning net on 145.525 MHz/S21/V38 Simplex – 10.00am – 12.00pm
- Multi Band Nets on the air from home – See the website for updated details – 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
29 December 2017 Yeovil ARC Tabletop Rally [Friday] Sparkford Village Hall, Church Road, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JN. Open 10:00 to 15:00. Admission £3. Free parking. Light refreshments. 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
Autumn 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/autumn-2017-ragchew
PROPAGATION
HF:
LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):
WHEN WILL THE NEXT STREAM OF SOLAR WIND ARRIVE? Answer: Dec. 11th or 12th. The gaseous material is flowing from a canyon-like hole in the sun’s atmosphere. Minor geomagnetic storms and Arctic auroras are likely when the fast-moving solar wind reaches Earth. HF conditions are expected to be affected unpredictably.
For further info please visit: http://spaceweathernews.com/
VHF/UHF:
Conditions continue to be poor, with beacons only occasionally rising out of the noise. No improvements are expected for at least the coming week.
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 the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
MADAGASCAR, 5R. Marco, ON8XB is QRV as 5R8XB. Activity is on 20 meters using SSB. His length of stay is unknown. QSL to home call.
JAMAICA, 6Y. Lester, W8YCM is QRV as 6Y6Y from the Westmoreland Parish from Negril, IOTA NA-097, until January 2018. Activity is holiday style on various HF bands. QSL direct to home call.
WEST MALAYSIA, 9M2. Rich, PA0RRS is QRV as 9M2MRS from Penang Island, IOTA AS 015, until January 31, 2018. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and PSK. QSL to home call.
CAPE VERDE, D4. Luca, IK2NCJ, Massimo, IZ4DPV and Andrea, HB9DUR will be QRV as D4C in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest. QSL via IK2NCJ.
PALESTINE, E4. Elvira, IV3FSG is QRV as E44YL from Bethlehem until December 18. Activity is on the HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and various digital modes. QSL via IK3GES.
SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, E5. Tom, WV6E and Chak, JT1CO are QRV as E51TOM and E51ACO, respectively, from Rarotonga Island until December 9. Activity is on 20 to 10 meters using CW, SB and FT8. QSL to home calls.
LIBERIA, EL. Eric, EL2EF is a new radio operator here and is active at various times. QSL direct to home call.
REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HL. Special event station DT23WOP is QRV until February 2018 for the 23rd Olympic Winter Games. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL via HL1IWD.
SVALBARD, JW. Morten, LA4JSA is QRV as JW4JSA from Bear Island, IOTA EU-027, until June 1, 2018 during his six-month work assignment. Activity will be in his spare time on the HF bands. QSL to home call.
AUSTRIA, OE. Stations 4Y1A, 4U1A and 4U1VIC are QRV from the Vienna International Centre until December 14 to celebrate International Civil Aviation Day. QSL via operators’ instructions.
FINLAND, OH. The traditional Santa Claus Land station OH9SCL is QRV during December from Finnish Lapland. Activity is mainly on 160 to 10 meters using all modes, including FT8. QSL via OH9AB.
DENMARK, OZ. Volker, DJ8VW will be QRV as 5P8VW from Roemoe, IOTA EU-125, from December 13 to 23. Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.
BONAIRE, PJ4. Mike, NA9Q is QRV as PJ4/NA9Q until December 10. Activity is holiday style on 40 to 10 meters using primarily SSB with CW and FT8. Depending upon band conditions, he may be an entry in the ARRL 10 Meter contest. QSL to home call.
BRAZIL, PY. John, PY2GTA will be QRV as ZZ2P in the ARRL 10 Meter contest. QSL direct to home call.
SLOVENIA, S5. Special event station S510PMC is QRV until January 7, 2018 to draw attention to the Peace Messenger City. QSL via bureau.
MALI, TZ. Fox, PD0FOX is QRV as TZ/PD0FOX from Gao until January 2018 while working for the United Nations. Activity is in his spare time on 40 and 20 meters. QSL via operator’s instructions.
NAMIBIA, V5. Ulmar, DK1CE is QRV as V5/DK1CE near Omaruru until December 15. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and some SSB. QSL to home call.
BRUNEI, V8. Tom, KC0W is QRV as V85/KC0W until December 10. Activity is on 80 to 6 metes using CW. QSL direct to home call.
UK SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC4. Adrian, G0KOM is QRV as ZC4MK until December 12. Activity is on 40 to 10 meters. QSL to home call.
THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO
The ARRL 10-Meter Contest, NCCC RTTY Sprint, QRP 80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC Sprint, SKCC Weekend CW Sprintathon, International Naval Contest, AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO CW Party, QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew CW Sprint and CQC Great Colorado 20-Meter CW Snowshoe Run are all on tap for this upcoming weekend.
The 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint is scheduled for December 11.
The CWops Mini-CWT CW Test, Phone Fray, QRP 40-Meter CW Fox Hunt and NAQCC CW Sprint are scheduled for December 13.
Please see December QST, page 73, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details
VHF/UHF:
All times – Local
26th – 29th December – 50/70/144/432MHz Christmas Cumulatives Contest – 14.00-16.00
FINALÉ
My new K3S kit finally arrived last Tuesday, despite the best efforts of UPS to delay it in Kentucky, then ferry it up and down the UK several times. Now I know why shipping is so expensive! UPS advertise their service as “Expedited”. If anyone knows what “Expedited” means, I’d like to know – UPS certainly don’t!
I hope to have the rig on the air fairly soon. Reports will be much appreciated.
73,
Alan. G4GNX