Amateur radio in West Sussex - Training, Exams, Contests and Special Event Stations

Weekly Bulletin – March 23 2018

WADARC meets at – Lions Hall, 21 Roberts Road, Lancing. BN15 8AR.

THE PAST WEEK

Wednesday’s talk and practical demonstration of APRS was by Dorian, 2E0FSI and was well attended. Dorian covered all aspects of the APRS system and there were plenty of questions and discussion from members.

Thanks to our Club President Chris, G3UFS for providing some more of WADARC’s history. All of the offerings so far will be used for a historical article, soon to be published on the club website. Any further club history will be gratefully received, but don’t leave it too long.

CLUB MEETINGS & EVENTS

  • Sunday Breakfast – Goring Cafe – Sunday 25th March – 9.00am-10.00am – NOTE: This replaces the following Sunday meeting as it’s Easter Day.
  • Use of modern plastics – talk – Norman, M0EBI – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 28th March – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Tea and chat night – Lions Hall, Lancing – Wednesday 4th April – 8.00pm-10.00pm
  • Talk – I was a cold war spy – Brian Browby – Wednesday 11th April – 8.00pm-10.00pm

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

15 April 2018 Yeovil ARC QRP Convention
Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA.
Admission £3. Open 09:30 to 15:00. Regrettably only guide dogs can be admitted.
Traders. B&B. Club stands. Talks programme (see website). Trader bookings via
the website. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & BYLARA.
Details: http://yeovil-arc.com/QRPconvention.php

15 April 2018 West London Radio & Electronics Show
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ.
Open 10:00/09:50. Talkin. Free on-site parking. Trade. B&B. SIGs. Lectures.
Raffle. On-site catering.
Details: Paul, M0CJX, 0845-165-0351, info@radiofairs.co.uk http://www.radiofairs.co.uk

29 April 2018 Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally [Rescheduled from 4 March]
America Hall, De La Rue Way Pinhoe, Exeter, EX4 8PW.
Open 10:30/10:15 disabled & B&B bookin – may open earlier in inclement weather.
Admission £2. Trade. B&B. Catering.
Details: Pete, G3ZVI, 07714-198374, g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk

Details of other UK rallies can be found on this excellent website: http://www.g4rga.org.uk/All.html

RAGCHEW

Winter 2017 edition published – http://www.wadarc.org.uk/ragchew/winter-201718

PROPAGATION

HF:

LATEST SOLAR NEWS (Courtesy of Spaceweather News):

AURORAS EXPLODE OVER FINLAND: Earth is entering a stream of solar wind flowing from a sprawling hole in the sun’s atmosphere. First contact with the gaseous material on March 22nd sparked a bright display of auroras over Scandinavia. “The sky literally exploded right above our heads,” says Didier Van Hellemont, who sends this picture from Luosto, Finland:

“We enjoyed fine auroras for several hours as we walked through the woods from a snow-covered mountain in northern Finland,” says Van Hellemont. “And I hope there will be more in the nights ahead.”

Indeed there will be. Earth is only in the outskirts of the stream now. Our planet is about to move deeper into the stream where we will experience faster-moving rivulets of solar wind, with speeds exceeding 600 km/s (1.3 million mph). NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on March 24th and 25th.

For further info please visit: http://spaceweather.com

ARLP012 Propagation de K7RA

At 2332 UTC on March 22 the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued
a geomagnetic disturbance warning for this weekend, March 24 and 25.
“Expect the geomagnetic activity to increase to mostly Active levels
with isolated periods of Minor to Major Storm levels due to a high
speed solar wind stream associated with a negative polarity coronal
hole becoming geo-effective”.

In last week’s report, ARLP011, there were no sunspots over the
reporting week. On March 15 one new sunspot appeared for a sunspot
number of 11, which is the minimum non-zero sunspot number. The
next day it was gone, then a new sunspot appeared March 17. Sunspot
numbers on March 17 and 18 were 15 and 13, then none for the rest of
our reporting week, March 19 to 21. So the average daily sunspot
number increased from 0 over the previous week to 5.6 over the most
recent 7 days, ending Wednesday March 21.

Average daily solar flux over the same two periods increased from
67.7 to 69.3. Geomagnetic indices about doubled, with average
planetary A index changing from 7.1 to 14.4, and mid-latitude A
index increasing from 5.7 to 11.3.

Predicted solar flux is 68 on March 23 through April 2, 69 on April
3 and 4, 70 on April 5 to 15, 69 on April 16 and 17, 68 on April 18
to 29, 69 on April 30 through May 1, and 70 on May 2 to 6.

Predicted planetary A index is 8, 22, 24, 18 and 8 on March 23 to
27, 5, 15, 10 and 8 on March 28 to 31, then 5 on April 1 to 9, then
8, 15 and 20 on April 10 to 12, then 15 on April 13 and 14, then 8
and 12 on April 15 and 16, 18 on April 17 to 19, 15 and 8 on April
20 and 21, and 5 on April 22 to 25, 8 on April 26 and 27, and 5 on
April 28 through May 6.

The spring equinox began at 1615 UTC on Tuesday, March 20 in the
Northern Hemisphere. At that moment solar radiation was equally
distributed between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Except
for the low solar activity, the beginning of spring should be an
ideal time for worldwide HF communication.

Geomagnetic activity forecast for the period March 23 to April 17,
2018 from F. K. Janda, OK1HH.

“Geomagnetic field will be:

Quiet on April 3, 7 to 9
Mostly quiet on March 28, 30, April 6
Quiet to unsettled on March 26 and 27, 31, April 1 and 2, 4 and 5,
16 to 18
Quiet to active on March 23 to 25, 29, April 10 and 11, 13, 15
Active to disturbed on March 26, April 12, 14

Solar wind will intensify on March 25 to 28, (31,) April (6 to 8,)
10 to 18.

VHF/UHF:

Conditions have been variable. Last Tuesday saw a small ‘lift’ in conditions and some distant repeaters in the West of the UK were heard whilst out mobile in the Shoreham/Steyning areas. Auroral contacts are also likely this 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
WB0TEV, The Daily DX, the OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest
Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.
Thanks to all.

MAURITIUS, 3B8. Mart, DL6UAA will be QRV as 3B8MM from March 27 to
April 11. Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using CW, various
digital modes and some SSB. QSL to home call.

VIET NAM, 3W. Yuri, RA0FU plans to be QRV as 3W9CI from Cham
Island, IOTA AS-163, from March 24 to 27. Activity will be on 40 to
10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL to home
call.

GEORGIA, 4L. Mamuka, 4L2M will be QRV in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB
contest as a Single Op on 40 meter entry. QSL via EA7FTR.

MALAWI, 7Q. Members of the EIDX Group will be QRV as 7Q7EI from
March 24 to April 2. Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW,
SSB and RTTY with four stations active. QSL via M0OXO.

CHINA, B. Look for B1Z to be a Multi/Op entry in the CQ World Wide
WPX SSB contest. QSL via EA7FTR.

TAIWAN, BV. Operators BM2AAV, BV2DD, BV2KS and BV3UB will be QRV as
BP0P in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via bureau.

BAHAMAS, C6. Operators Joe, W8GEX and Janet, W8CAA are QRV as C6ADX
and C6AYL, respectively, from the Exuma Islands, IOTA NA-001, until
March 26. Activity is on 40 to 6 meters using SSB and various
digital modes. QSL direct to home calls.

MOROCCO, CN. A group of operators will be QRV as CN2AA in the CQ
World Wide WPX SSB contest as a Multi/Single entry. QSL via UA2FM.

CAPE VERDE, D4. Luca, HB9OBD is QRV as D44KIT from Sal Island, IOTA
AF-086, until March 25. Activity is on 40, 20 and 15 meters using
SSB and FT8. QSL to home call.

PHILIPPINES, DU. Operator DU1KIR plans to be QRV as 4H1K in the CQ
World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

CEUTA AND MELILLA, EA9. Members of the Amateur Radio Union of Ceuta
will be QRV as ED9E in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL
direct to EA9ACD. In addition, look for Jorge, EA9LZ to be QRV as
EF9R in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL direct to EA5KB.

ISLE OF MAN, GD. Gordon, MM0GOR will be QRV as MD1E in the CQ World
Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via M0OXO.

THAILAND, HS. A group of operators plan to be QRV as HS0AC in the
CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest as a Multi/2 entry. QSL via HS5NMF.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2. Operators K1ZE, KE0UI and WA0ROI are QRV as
KP2/home calls from St. Croix. They will also be active as NP2N in
the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest as a either a Multi 2 or
Multi/Single entry. QSL NP2N to home call and all others to home
calls.

PERU, OA. Special call OC4PS will be QRV from the Pachacamac
Archaeological Sanctuary near Lima on March 23 and 24. Activity
will be on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various digital modes.
QSL via OA4O.

ARUBA, P4. Andy, AE6Y will be QRV as P49Y from Pos Chiquito, IOTA
SA-036, in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest as a Single Op/All Band
entry. QSL to home call.

CAMEROON, TJ. Members of the IDXT are now QRV with new call TJ2TT
until March 29. Activity is on the HF bands. QSL direct to I2YSB.

BELIZE, V3. Victor, WB0TEV is QRV as V31VP from Blackman Eddy until
March 27. Activity is on 80 to 10 meters. This includes being an
entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call.

MARSHALL ISLANDS, V7. Nobu, JA0JHQ is QRV as V73NC from Majuro,
IOTA OC-029, until March 26. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using
mostly SSB and some FT8. This includes being an entry in the CQ
World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL direct to home call.

BURKINA FASO, XT. Max, DK1MAX is QRV as XT2MAX until April 2.
Activity is on the HF bands and 6 meters using mostly CW and some
FT8. QSL via LoTW.

CAMBODIA, XU. Li, BG4HRM is QRV as XU7AKL until March 28. Activity
is on 40 to 10 meters. This includes being active as a Multi/Single
entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL to home call. In
addition, look for members of the Haiyan Contest Club to be QRV as
XU7AEY in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL via BG9XD.

VIET NAM, XV. Igor, RW0BG is QRV as XV9BG from Phu Quoc Island,
IOTA AS-128, until March 26. Activity is on 40 to 15 meters using
CW and SSB. QSL to home call.

INDONESIA, YB. Hans, YB2DX will be QRV as a Single Op/All Band/High
Power entry in the CQ World Wide WPX SSB contest. QSL direct to
home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO. The CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest, QRP
80-Meter CW Fox Hunt, NCCC RTTY Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, FOC CW QSO
Party and the UBA Spring 6-Meter Contest are all on tap for this
upcoming weekend.

The UKEICC 80-Meter CW Contest, CWops Mini-CWT Test, Phone Fray, QRP
40-Meter CW Fox Hunt and SKCC CW Sprint are scheduled for March 28.

The ARRL International Grid Chase runs during all of 2018.

Please see March 2018 QST, page 85, and the ARRL and WA7BNM Contest
Web Sites for details.

VHF/UHF:

1st April – 1st 70MHz Contest – 09.00-12.00

3rd April – 144MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

3rd April – 144MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

10th April – 432MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

10th April – 432MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

12th April – 50MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

12th April – 50MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

15th April – 1st 50MHz Contest – 09.00-12.00

19th April – 70MHz FMAC – 19.00-20.00

19th April – 70MHz UKAC – 20.00-22.30

21st/22nd April – 1st MGM Contest – 14.00-14.00

FINALÉ

We now have a fairly full programme of events, including special event stations. Please keep an eye on the website for details and/or changes.

73,

Alan. G4GNX