GB2RS NEWS

Sunday the 27th of August 2017

The news headlines:

·  Abuse causes repeater shutdowns

·  UKAC Scoring vote result announced

·  Train the Trainers in West Dumbartonshire

The RSGB have been made aware that due to continuing and sustained repeater abuse, GB3DY at Wirksworth and GB3EE at Chesterfield have been required by Ofcom to close down for 14 days. The RSGB’s Amateur Radio Observation Service and the Emerging Technology Coordination Committee are working to formalise an agreed process for dealing with unfortunate situations like this and will be contacting all Repeater Keepers once this is finalised. The RSGB would emphasise that if a repeater is suffering abuse it is essential that users do no react or attempt to communicate with the abusers as doing so inevitably makes the situation worse. Guidance on combating abuse can be found on the ETCC website at www.ukrepeater.net/abuse.htm

The results of the vote on changes to UKAC scoring arrangements have been announced. 77% were in favour of the Nordic method, where the first contact with every new square attracts a bonus of 500 points. The B3 method, a variant of the current scheme with reduced overall bonus scores and some additional high bonus squares, received just 23% of the votes. The decision affects all UKAC events from 6m to 23cm and will be implemented in 2018. Full details of the results, including a frequently asked questions page, are on the RSGB website at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2708a

[Note to Newsreaders: the full URL is http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/rsgb-notices/2017/08/25/vhfuhf-ukac-scoring-system/]

Lomond Radio Club is hosting a Train the Trainers day on the 2nd of September at their radio shack in Renton, West Dunbartonshire. The RSGB will be providing instructors to inform volunteer trainers on the latest methods of presentation and updates on the many changes that are occurring in the hobby. The course is designed to suit all levels of training and presentation, ranging from those who are just thinking about starting training and those who have been giving courses for many years. Places are limited, so for further information please contact Barrie, GM0KZX on 01389 764 401 or Bill, MM0ELF on 01389 755 758.

The major papers and speeches from the HamRadio 2017 show in Friedrichshafen have been made available by DokuFunk. You can find the information on the website www.dokufunk.org along with material from 2016 and previous years.

At the National Hamfest on 29 and 30 September, the UK Six Metre Group has agreed to host Fred, G4BWP so he can facilitate DXCC checking. The National Hamfest takes place at the Newark & Nottingham Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark NG24 2NY.

Mainstream media this week has told the story of an M6 amateur in the Bristol area taking an emergency contact, which helped rescue a young girl having a seizure in a remote part of Exmoor. A fuller report is on the BBC website at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2708b or you can see the original Bristol Evening Post article at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-2708c

[Note to Newsreaders: the full URLs are http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-41041433 and http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/how-bristol-amateur-radio-enthusiast-364577]

The RSGB Convention is at Kents Hill Park Training & Conference Centre, MK7 6BZ from the 13th to the 15th of October. Extended Early Bird discounts for the RSGB Convention expire on the 31st of August so book now to take advantage of the lower rates. The Convention website www.rsgb.org/convention contains full details, including a provisional Programme. Under 21’s get free admission.

This year's International Air Ambulance event will take place from the 9th to the 17th of September. The event covers two weekends, giving amateurs a great chance to get involved and support the event. Registration is mandatory and all stations taking part will be issued a registration number that will be listed on the website. Awards will be available for those who support the event. Claims for the awards will need to be made to the Award Manager by email to including an excerpt from the log as proof of a valid claim. To register your special event station, go to www.radio-amateur-events.org/IAW/Registration.htm

The Radio Amateur Old Timers' Association is holding its AGM on Wednesday the 6th of September at the Brunswick Inn, 1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU. The meeting will commence with an informal get-together at noon and the AGM will commence at 1.30pm. For more information contact Ian, G4EAN by email to or 0115 926 2360. Membership of RAOTA is open to anyone with an active interest in amateur radio, see www.RAOTA.org for details.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

The Milton Keynes ARS Rally takes place on today, the 27th, at The Irish Centre, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley MK2 2HX, just opposite Dobbies Garden Centre. Doors open at 10am. Contact Tim Cowell, G6GEI on 07976 262 497 or email for more information.

On Bank Holiday Monday, the 28th, the Huntingdonshire ARS Rally takes place at Ernulf Academy, Barford Road, St Neots PE19 2SH. Doors open at 7am for traders and 9am for the public. Admission is £3, with free parking. Catering including hot meals and drinks are available on site. There will be an RSGB bookstall. More from Malcolm, M0OLG on 01480 214 282 or by email to

The Telford Hamfest takes place at the Enginuity Technology Centre, Coalbrookdale, Telford, Shropshire on Sunday the 3rd of September. There will be trade stands, a flea market and special interest groups. Lectures will be from Dave, G3YXM on 21 years of LF, Dom, M1KTA on QRP and making antennas when in DX and Paul, M0XPD on The Little Rigs That Could. The evening before, at the Holiday Inn, Telford, the G QRP Buildathon will take place. Details at www.telfordhamfest.org.uk

If you have any rally or event information you’d like to appear in future editions of GB2RS News, in RadCom and on the RSGB website, please email full details to .

And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources

Prefix hunters may be interested in the special event station ZY158CAT that is active from Brazil until the 30th of August. The station commemorates 158 years of the city of Catalao in the state of Goias. The QSL manager is PP2BO.

Peter, GW4UWD will be on the air as 9A/GW4UWD/P from Zlarin Island, IOTA reference EU-170, until the 2nd of September. Activity will be on the HF bands using only SSB. QSL to his home callsign.

Doug, W6HB will be operating holiday-style as E51DLD from the South Cook Islands, OC-013, until the 8th of September. Activity will be on the 10 to 160m bands using SSB only. QSL to his home callsign, but see notes on QRZ.com for more information.

Members of the Russian Lighthouse Society are on the air as ES/RX3AMI until the 31st of August from EU-034, EU-149, and EU-178. QSL via RX3AMI.

Bert, CX3AN will be operating as YJ0CX from Efate Island, OC-035, until the 3rd of September. Activity will be on the HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL to his home callsign. In addition, Tony, KQ2I will be on the air as YJ0AT from Efate Island until the 13th of September. Activity will be on 40 to 10 metres using only CW. QSL via NR6M.

Han, DS2GOO will be operating as DS2GOO/4 from Pogil Island, AS-085, until the 28th of August. Activity will be on 40 to 6 metres using CW, SSB and various digital modes. QSL to his home call.

Now the special event news

GB4GHF will be on the air on the 2nd of September from 9.30am from Gloucester Life Museum, formerly the Gloucester Folk Museum, on Lower Westgate Street, Gloucester. Operating on the 80, 40, 20 and 15m bands as well as 2m, visitors are welcomed. The station will be run by Alan, G4MGW.

Now the contest news

Today, the 27th, sees the UKuG contest from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 5.7 and 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The ITTS Counties contest takes place on 2m SSB and FM today, the 27th, from 1300 to 1500UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number, with all stations on the island of Ireland also giving their County.

Next weekend, the 2nd and 3rd of September, is a really busy one for contests with six different events taking place.

The RSGB SSB Field Day runs from 1300UTC on the 2nd to 1300UTC on the 3rd. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The 144MHz Trophy contest runs from 1400UTC on the 2nd to 1400UTC on the 3rd. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Starting at 0000UTC on the 2nd and finishing at 2359UTC on the 3rd, the All Asian DX contest uses SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, The exchange is signal report and age, though ladies can send 00.

The IARU 144MHz contest starts at 1400UTC on the 2nd and ends at 1400UTC on the 3rd. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 5th 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 1100UTC to 1500UTC on the 3rd. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The World All Britain 2m QRO phone contest is on the 3rd from 100 to 1400UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday 25th August.

Last week saw the solar flux index touch 90 as large sunspot group 2671 rotated into the centre of the solar surface. But, unfortunately, the predicted unsettled geomagnetic conditions, caused by a high-speed coronal hole solar wind stream, pushed the K index up to six early in the week. This hampered DX by pushing maximum useable frequencies downward. The unsettled conditions continued until at least Wednesday the 23rd.

Sporadic-E did put in an appearance for last weekend’s International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend, bringing short skip to the 40m band. This meant that many UK amateurs were able to contact special event stations on 7MHz that would have otherwise been unworkable, other than by ground wave. This was a good example of how Sporadic-E clouds over the UK can often bring advantages on the lower HF bands, such as 40, 30 and 20MHz, while we normally associate Sporadic-E with 28MHz and above.

This weekend there is a chance that a small coronal hole may threaten us with more unsettled geomagnetic conditions. Conditions may also be unsettled mid week due to the effects of another coronal hole, but could improve for next weekend’s HF SSB Field Day.

Next week sunspot 2672 will be fully facing Earth. This has already produced an M-class solar flare and a number of lesser C-class flares, so we may be in for a bumpy ride. However, NOAA predicts the Solar Flux Index will decline to the high 70s.

Maximum useable frequencies over a 3,000km path are still peaking around 17MHz during the day, with occasional DX openings on the 17m band.

And now the VHF and up propagation news.

For this week there is still a chance of limited Tropo options as a ridge of high pressure develops over southern Britain. As usual for Tropo conditions it is the higher VHF, UHF and GHz bands that fare best and, unlike with Sporadic-E, the openings can be long lasting, especially over sea paths. Night-time is often best over the land, since there will sometimes be a shallow surface temperature inversion to add to the one brought by the high pressure, giving longer paths.

The second half of the week may see the return of low pressure in the north particularly, but it will increase the chances of some rain scatter on the GHz bands.

Sporadic-E is now nearing the end of its main season and at the moment the jet streams look to be fairly weak, meaning Sporadic-E will struggle to make many appearances.

As we head into the week, a new Atlantic jet stream will appear over Scotland and Scandinavia, giving a chance of northern Sporadic-E paths into Scandinavia and across to the States. About this time there will also be a broad upper ridge over France and Germany, which may also help with Sporadic-E.

There are only minor meteor showers this week, so continue to look around dawn for the best random meteor scatter contacts. We have negative Moon declination this week and apogee on Wednesday. The moon doesn’t get above 20 degrees elevation after Monday and path losses will be high. For VHF operation, the low moon elevation means high ground noise in the beam of the antenna.

And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

Next, the Local News:

Please note that details of all RSGB-affiliated clubs and societies can be found on the RSGB website, including email addresses and website links where known.

[Note to Newsreaders: Please read the local news items appropriate to the service area of your transmission.]

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

We start with clubs that have several events this week. Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association has a net from 8.30am today and next Sunday on 50.220MHz USB. On Tuesday there’s the slow CW net around 3540-3550kHz from 8pm. Contact Derek, G3NKS, on 01242 241 099.

Wythall Radio Club has its regular net at 8pm today and next Sunday on 145.225MHz or GB3WL. On Monday there’s a curry night and on Tuesday there’s a Morse class and club night. The regular nibbles night in the shack is on Friday from 7.30pm. Details from Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.

Coventry Amateur Radio Society has an open net on Monday from 8pm on 145.375MHz FM and / or 7.16MHz SSB ± QRM. Thursday sees an open net from 8pm on 50.175MHz SSB and on Friday it’s the fourth round of the G2FDC DF Trophy. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777 363.