QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/infoham/940989.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 35KB

Date: Sat,  3 Sep 94 18:33:27 PDT
From: Info-Hams Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Info-Hams Digest V94 #989
To: Info-Hams


Info-Hams Digest            Sat,  3 Sep 94       Volume 94 : Issue  989

Today's Topics:
                      ACTS Special Event Station
                       Amateur Radio Newsline?
                     ARLP036 Propagation de KT7H
                Can Micors/GEs be used for 220 Mhz ??
                            FLAME the FCC
                    GB2RS News 4th September 1994
                       How to open an ICOM R-1?
                  IPS Daily Report - 02 September 94
                      Long Haul VHF/UHF contacts
                    More Power vs. Better Antenna
                      pizza reflectors? or bunk?
                    Test for UUDECODE.COM program
                             Thanks, ARRL
                    US licences for UK amateurs??

Send Replies or notes for publication to: <[e-mail]>
Send subscription requests to: <[e-mail]>
Problems you can't solve otherwise to [e-mail].

Archives of past issues of the Info-Hams Digest are available
(by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/info-hams".

We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 2 Sep 1994 13:40 EDT
From: lerc.nasa.gov!lerc.nasa.gov!venus.lerc.nasa.gov![e-mail]
Subject: ACTS Special Event Station
To: [e-mail]

The NASA Lewis ARC will operate AK8Y, 1400Z - 2000Z, September 10-12,
1994 to commemorate the 1st year anniversary of the successful launch
and deployment from STS-51 Space Shuttle Discovery, and one year of
successful satellite communication operation of the NASA Lewis Research
Center sponsored Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS).
Operation will be 10 kHz up from the bottom of the General 40, 20 and
15 meter subbands and the Novice 10 meter subband.

For QSL, send QSL and 9" x 12" SASE (self addressed stamped envelope)
with 52 cents postage or 2 IRC's to :

NASA Lewis Research Center Amateur Radio Club
21000 Brookpark Road  MS 54-6
Cleveland, OH, 44135
Attn: Don Hilderman, KW9Y.

If you would like to set up a schedule for a contact or need additional
information, please contact me, Nancy, KC4IYD at:
[e-mail] or call at 216-433-5643


  Nancy Rabel Hall            [e-mail]
  Space Experiments Division             --... ...--   -.. . KC4IYD
  NASA - Lewis Research Center          stamp collector, SF addict

------------------------------

Date: 2 Sep 1994 12:50:24 -0700
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!ccnet.com!ccnet.com![e-mail]
Subject: Amateur Radio Newsline?
To: [e-mail]

Ed Naratil ([e-mail]) wrote:
: Have not received the "Amateur Radio Newsline" for
: a couple of weeks at this site.  Is it still being
: posted?

I have found it in r.r.a.info when all else fails.

Bob


--
     Bob Wilkins                     work    [e-mail]
 Berkeley, California                home    [e-mail]
     94701-0710                      play    n6fri@n6eeg.#nocal.ca.usa.noam

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 02 Sep 1994 11:29:21 EDT
From: psinntp!arrl.org![e-mail]
Subject: ARLP036 Propagation de KT7H
To: [e-mail]

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP036
ARLP036 Propagation de KT7H

ZCZC AP50
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 36  ARLP036

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 02:55:35 GMT
From: pacbell.com!well!barrnet.net!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!concert!salzo!toybox![e-mail]
Subject: Can Micors/GEs be used for 220 Mhz ??
To: [e-mail]

I have been told that either the Micor or the GE Master EXECs can
be mod'ed to operate in the 1.25 m band.  Is this true, or any other
"used commerical" type gear, that can be adjusted to get on 1.25 m ?

Thanks for any info..

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 1994 06:11:00 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!iat.holonet.net!ectech![e-mail]
Subject: FLAME the FCC
To: [e-mail]

L>He waited 17 years to take the test and now complains that the
 >government is taking 14 weeks to give him his FREE license.

I partially agree with your sentiment. I mean, ALL of us new Amateurs
dread that wait. . .but how can we complain - considering the
amount of money expended for licensing?

It IS a drag waiting. But I would find it hard to complain. Instead,
I used the time wisely: I joined a couple of Amateur groups, joined
a couple of repeater groups, and discovered/more-tightly-defined
what I wanted out of Amateur Radio (and what I could do for it).

---
 * QMPro 1.52 * Nothing in fine print is ever good news.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 18:39:37 +0000
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!newshub.nosc.mil!crash!news.sprintlink.net!demon!llondel.demon.co.uk![e-mail]
Subject: GB2RS News 4th September 1994
To: [e-mail]

Good morning. It's Sunday the 4th of September and here is the GB2RS
news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs
and short-wave listeners.

First the headlines:-

There's been more media attention on amateur radio,

The RSGB has published two membership consultation papers,

And JOTA participants should register now for an information pack.

Amateur radio has featured in the media again this week:

On the positive side, BBC Children's Television repeated the programme
"Why Don't You .. ?", which included an excellent piece by Emma
Constantine, 2E1BVJ, in which she describes her enjoyment of radio, both
at home and at the school radio club.

But adverse publicity was provided by a story in a number of national
newspapers concerning deliberate interference to an air traffic control
station. The blame was attributed to an unspecified radio amateur. The
RSGB responded rapidly by circulating a press release to the papers
involved, expressing concern at the implied slur on all radio amateurs,
and pointing out  and how amateur radio differed from the hobby of
listening to aircraft.

Tomorrow, the International Amateur Radio Union opens its Region 3
Conference in Singapore. The week-long conference will discuss matters
of concern to amateurs in the Pacific and Oceania, but there may be
implications worldwide. The RSGB is represented at the Conference.

The September edition of the RSGB's magazine Radio Communication
includes two discussion papers: The first, on page 7, concerns a
proposed Novice calling frequency on Top Band. The other, on page 11,
concerns the possibility of a change to 12.5kHz FM channel spacing on
the two metre band. It is emphasised that these papers are simply
seeking input from members and they do not yet represent formal
proposals. RSGB members are urged to read these papers and to respond as
soon as possible.

This year's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) will take place over the weekend,
the 15th and 16th of October. The RSGB is putting together an
information pack, which will include a list of known participating
stations and an up-to-date list of countries permitting greetings
messages. Any group involved in the event, and who would like to be sent
this pack should send an A4-size self-addressed envelope, with 38p in
stamps, to Fiorina Sinapi at RSGB Headquarters, Lambda House, Cranborne
Road, Potters Bar, Herts, postcode EN6 3JE.

The 23cm beacon GB3CLE will have to close down at its existing site next
March. Two alternative sites have been offered. One is near Oswestry in
North-West Shropshire and the other is near Newtown in Powys. The
sponsors of the beacon, the Salop Amateur Radio Society, invites users
to indicate their preference. Anyone who uses this beacon, and who would
like a say in its future, should contact the keeper, Don Goddard, G3UQH,
whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book.

Many courses for the Radio Amateurs Examination and for Morse training
are now starting. For RSGB members, lists of courses are published in
the August and September editions of Radio Communication, but there are
too many courses to list on GB2RS. Anyone still wanting to join an RAE
or Morse course, can call RSGB Headquarters on 0707 659015 for details.
Full information is available on Novice courses, too.

Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is
edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 94 11:30:41 PDT
From: pa.dec.com!synchrods.com![e-mail]
Subject: How to open an ICOM R-1?
To: [e-mail]

The phone plug that I was using with my ICOM R-1 had the bad
idea of breaking inside the audio outlet. I tried to remove this
tip with a pair of tweezers but no avail. I will have to open
the whole receiver, so I have a few questions from people who
know about this receiver:

1) I see LOTS of screws, which ones I really have to remove?
2) Do I need to remove the knobs in order to access this audio
   plug?
3) Is this audio outlet a sealed unit, or I can access the broken
   tip from the side?
4) Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. Regards,

Dan ([e-mail]).

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 23:17:07 GMT
From: agate!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!isclient.merit.edu!msuinfo!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.cs.su.oz.au!metro!ipso![e-mail]
Subject: IPS Daily Report - 02 September 94
To: [e-mail]

SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 02/2330Z SEPTEMBER 1994 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE REGIONAL WARNING CENTRE (RWC), SYDNEY.
SUMMARY FOR 02 SEPTEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 03 SEPTEMBER - 05 SEPTEMBER
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity: low

Flares: none.

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number :  90/34

GOES satellite data for 01 Sep
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   2.8E+05
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.5E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 2.5E+06
       X-ray background: B1.3
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             03 Sep             04 Sep             05 Sep
Activity     Low to moderate    Low to moderate    Low to moderate
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible

Forecast 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 03 Sep:  92/37
COMMENT:One solar region still shows flare capability, another
previously flaring region is returning to the east limb.

-----------------------------------------------------------
2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY
Geomagnetic field at Learmonth: quiet

Estimated Indices : A   K           Observed A Index 01 Sep
    Learmonth        4  2111 2111
    Fredericksburg   7                          11
    Planetary        8                          11

Observed Kp for 01 Sep: 4323 1133
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
DATE      Ap    CONDITIONS
03 Sep     8    Quiet
04 Sep     8    Quiet
05 Sep     8    Quiet to unsettled
COMMENT: Recurrence suggests quiet conditions to continue until 6
Sep.  Geomagnetic activity is expected to increase after this date
due to a coronal hole. This hole has contracted since its previous
rotation but activity is still expected.
-----------------------------------------------------------
3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
                LATITUDE BAND
DATE        LOW            MIDDLE         HIGH
02 Sep      normal         normal         normal
PCA Event : None.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
                LATITUDE BAND
DATE        LOW            MIDDLE         HIGH
03 Sep      normal         normal         fair
04 Sep      normal         normal         fair
05 Sep      normal         normal         fair
COMMENT: HF Comms at mid and high lats are expected to be degraded
after 6 September.
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY
       Observed
DATE   T-index  MUFs at Sydney
02 Sep    27    near predicted monthly values

Predicted Monthly T-index for September: 20

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
DATE   T-index  MUFs
03 Sep    25    Near predicted monthly values
04 Sep    25    Near predicted monthly values
05 Sep    25    Near predicted monthly values
COMMENT: Spread F observed at times during local night.
--
IPS Regional Warning Centre, Sydney       |IPS Radio and Space Services
RWC Duty Forecaster   tel: [phone]  |PO Box 5606
Recorded Message      tel: [phone]  |West Chatswood NSW 2057
email: [e-mail]  fax: [phone]  |AUSTRALIA

------------------------------

Date: Fri,  2 Sep 94 18:38:00 -0800
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!dog.ee.lbl.gov!agate!iat.holonet.net!megasys![e-mail]
Subject: Long Haul VHF/UHF contacts
To: [e-mail]

Hello from Reno, NV de Tim - NC7K.

Iv'e seen quite a few messages iquiring about "Using the Moon as a
passive reflector", or "Do you REALLY contact people using Meteors on
VHF?", etc...

I can assure you VHF has much more than FM reapeater use in store for
those who desire to be challanged. I became involved in "Weak Signal"
(SSB/CW) VHF work on a whim during the 1991 ARRL June VHF Contest and
have not looked back! Using a IC-211 W/10W into a 5/8 on the roof I
worked over 300 Miles to central CA from a turnout above N. Lake Tahoe.
It's like being a novice again!

When I got started a comprehensive guide to Weak Signal work just didn't
exist but now the new comer is in luck. Two fine publications now exist
to explain what and when to expect from the VHF bands.

1> "Beyond Line Of Sight" By Emil Pocock - W3EP is a great place to
start! Its filled with reprints from QST going back to VHFs early
beginnings to current happenings. A must read as it explains how and why
certain propagation modes work.

2> "The VHF How To Book" by Joe Lynch - N6CL is a fairly complete
overview of the VHF Weak Siganl modes. How and why they work. Techniques
used to make long haul contacts. Sources of up to minute info, ETC...

After reading these two publications most of your VHF+ questions will
have been answered. If anyone wants to duscuss in detail any "Weak
Signal" mode I'd be happy to help.

My current stations are as follows...
A> Mobile IC290A driving 80W brick (amp) into a horiz Dipole 6 FT. above
my passenger side rear view mirror. Worked 300 - 400 Miles on SSB/CW
many many times with this set up.

B> Portable- I operate ALOT from mountain tops throughout the West. I
have a complete station that used for portable work only. It consists of
at least one homebrew Horiz Yagi per band (50, 144, and 432 Mhz) and one
100W Brick (Solid Sate) Amp per band. I carry at least 3 masts and 2
cables per band. I use 2 Rotors with manual backup. I carry a 650 Watts
Honda AC Genorator, RV Deep Cycle Battery, and 250 Ft of extension cords
just in case some AC is available. From Pond Peak Here in grid locator
DM09 I have access to AC so I take a homebreww 4CX250B amp on 6 and 2
Meters running 350 Watts ea. From 8000+ feet I have typically worked out
to 500 miles over very mountainous terrain and on occasion into Mexico
(650 Miles) and once to Hawaii (2500+ Miles, 200+ Miles inland from the
coast).

3> Home- Here I run 4 - 22FT. homebrew DJ9BV yagis on 144 Mhz EME
(Moonbouce) and 750 watts from a pair of 4CX250Bs in parallell.  On 50
Mhz I run a single 25 Ft 5 ele homebrew K6STI yagi at 80 Ft fed with
170+ FT. of 7/8" Heliax at 350W from the single 4CX250B. My only 432Mhz
stuff at home is to work AO-13B (OSCAR 13 sattellite).

As you can tell I've really gone whole hog into VHF in a short period of
time. It's just like being a Novice on 40M CW all over again, What a
BLAST.

I encourage anyone who wants to dabble with "Weak Signal" modes to tune
in during ARRL's Sept VHF QSO Party coming up in a couple of weeks. Even
if all you have is FM, contacts over several hundred miles are still
possible.

I will be QRV from 8100 FT. Pond Peak here in DM09 above Reno, NV. I
will be qrv on 50.125/50.135, 144.200/144.210, and 432.100/432.110
SSB/CW and 146.55 + 446.00 FM. One thing to remember... USe of 146.52 is
not allowed for contest QSOs. Other than that find a high spot and have
fun!

Remember the Sept VHF QSO Party is the weekend of 9/10/94 - 9/12/94.

73's from DM09ep de Tim - NC7K ....SK

------------------------------

Date: 2 Sep 1994 22:38:39 GMT
From: spool.mu.edu!agate![e-mail]
Subject: More Power vs. Better Antenna
To: [e-mail]

In article <3482j8$[e-mail]>,
Paul Antaki  <[e-mail]> wrote:
>I'm trying to make the most of a battery pack on my HT and I find that I
>need to transmit at high power (5 watts) to hit some repeaters I'm
>interested in. Someone once mentioned to me that it would be better to
>use a better antenna (telescopic perhaps) instead of higher power. Would
>someone perhaps be able to explain the relationship between the antenna
>gain and output power?
>
>Many Thanks,
>
>Paul VE7ZPA

Paul -

 For all intensive purposes, 3dB of antenna gain will give you
 the same ERP increase as doubling your Tx power.  A good
 antenna is the first and best step towards increasing your
 range.  Consider that with a good antenna on 440 MHz you
 can easily 4x the effective output power without increasing
 your true Tx power one bit.

 One thing people should be aware of is the decreasing efficiency
 of class C power amplifiers as the power output drops.  If
 you look at the power consumption of a HT between 0.5W
 and 5W, there isn't a 10x reduction in battery power
 consumption going to a lower output power.  The ratio is
 somewhere between 3 and 4x.  Between 2W and 0.5W (typical
 high and low power on a 7.2V pack), the output power varies
 4x, but the current draw varies by 1.5:1.  This is
 important to know if you want to maximize power efficiency
 while keeping battery current in check.

 In summary, get a good antenna.

                    ==ken

------------------------------

Date: 2 Sep 1994 19:40:43 -0700
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!news.cerf.net!ccnet.com!ccnet.com![e-mail]
Subject: pizza reflectors? or bunk?
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] wrote:
:     This might seem a bit strange, but last night I put one
: of those microwave pizzas in and nuked it for the appropriate
: time.  Upon removal from the microwave I noticed that the crust
: was a little browner than it was before.  The box sayed that the
: pizza was packed on a special browning tray that to me looked
: like a piece of aluminized cardboard, or heavy paper stock.
:     So my question is what is this little tray made out of
: and just what does it do?   Does it just reflect the microwaves,
: in which case it really does nothing because the bottom of the
: oven is going to do that or does it focus the radiation.  Or does
: it just get really hot and brown the crust that way?  I almost
: could not get to sleep last night thinking of this.  Some one
: please help
:     Respond here or E-mail me at
:                     [e-mail]

It would help us calculate the browning coefficient if you could give us
the size of the reflector and the operating frequency of you microwave
transmitter along with the sustained power levels and cavity dimentions.

Thanks in advance, sometimes just eating the pizza will cure the problem.

Bob


--
     Bob Wilkins                     work    [e-mail]
 Berkeley, California                home    [e-mail]
     94701-0710                      play    n6fri@n6eeg.#nocal.ca.usa.noam

------------------------------

Date: 4 Sep 94 00:22:11 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Test for UUDECODE.COM program
To: [e-mail]

>Attention all AMSAT members:
>
>Ray Hoad, WA5QGD, will be trying a new way to transmit ALL the
>weekly keps as a SINGLE file, attached to a message, through the Dallas
>Remote Imaging Group, out to Internet, and to Compuserve for those folks
>without a gateway or UUCP capability for Internet.
>

I might add that for some of us whose newsreaders are smart enough to
decode these "on the fly" to follow the standard rules for posting them!
The narrative at the beginnning of the file this time (yes, I know that it
was an explanation of the event about to occur) caused the newsread to
assume that the whole message was text!

I don't mind this at all... and will be more than happy to transform the
message over to the way some people are used to it... and post it to the
masses on America Online.

73 for now.... c u on the shortwaves
Terry Stader - KA8SCP
America Online Ham Radio Club Host
Internet: [e-mail] (files <28K)  or
          [e-mail] ( files >28K)
          [e-mail]
KA8SCP@WA1PHY.#EMA.MA.USA.NOAM
[e-mail] [44.56.4.82]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 17:48:17 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!zip.eecs.umich.edu!yeshua.marcam.com!charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu!csusac!csus.edu!netcom.com!@@ihnp4.ucsd.edu
Subject: Thanks, ARRL
To: [e-mail]

In article <3454no$odc$[e-mail]> Hans Brakob <[e-mail]> writes:
>
>There are a kazillion (that's a whole bunch) places, including
>here, where members are expressing their opinion.  ARRL elected
>folks and HQ staff can't be in ALL those places, although they
>are in a lot.

I'd beg to differ. There're very few forums like this one, so
globally available, where members have been able to express themselves
freely, which were available up until now.

This forum (or perhaps one which ought to be created starting in the
alt. hierchy) is a very accessible watershed for serious discussions
of the issues facing ham radio. Up until now, much of the discussion
was under control of the ARRL itself, of Wayne Green, etc.

With that come a whole new set of issues and opportunities.

>The advice "tell your Director" really is valid..... they can't
>be everywhere and hear/see/read every comment.

No, but I believe that in the realm of choices, this is an awfully
good place to be listening.

Both because it is accessible and global, and because to some extent
the internet represents the 'competition' for the Ameteur Radio
Service's personnel. I know a lot of people who would have been
hams before who are turning their interest to the Internet instead.

Greg

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 22:09:17 GMT
From: world![e-mail]
Subject: US licences for UK amateurs??
To: [e-mail]

Simon Twigger ([e-mail]) wrote:
: HI there,

: I am moving to the US early next year and would like to carry on with
: amateur radio when I move over. I currently have a class B licence over
: here, and I was wondering if anyone knew what, if any, arrangements exist
: between the US and the UK to allow amateurs from the one country to operate
: in the other.

: i.e. would I have to sit US exams in order to gain a US licence, or would I
: be eligable for a US version of my UK licence?


:     If anyone knows anything about this and can let me know i would be very
: grateful.


You have two routes open to you.

You can apply for a reciprocal permit (on FCC form 610-A).  You get a
permit good for 1 year (you have to reapply each year).  It allows you
to do anything our highest licence class allows that your own license
also allows.  This could be a problem if, e.g., the UK doesn't allow
access to 146-148 MHz even when you're in Region 2.  There's no fee.
Allow 90 days for processing.

The other is to get a US license.  For this you would have to take all
the US exams.  Once you get a US license (or US citizenship, BTW) you
can't use a reciprocal permit any more.  You are, of course, limited
to the class of license you are able to qualify for.

One trick around this is to get your reciprocal permit and then over
the year take all the exam elements OUT OF ORDER.  If you don't take
the first theory exam (Element 2) until you've passed enough elements
to qualify for a license you can live with, you cannot possibly
qualify for a license prematurely.  You have one year, once you pass
an element, to use it to apply for a license.  Depending on your code
speed, you should be able to get the top class or at worst second
within a year - maybe even much sooner.  Once you have all the harder
elements, take the very easy Element 2 and get your license.  Your
reciprocal permit is good until the license actually comes.

Hope that's enlightening!

-drt

------------------------------------------------------------------------
|David R. Tucker     KG2S         8P9CL            [e-mail]|
------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: (null)
From: (null)


------------------------------

Date: (null)
From: (null)


------------------------------

Date: (null)
From: (null)
And from Chagos, VQ9QM is listening on 160m on Sunday evenings.

Now the rallies we know of for today, Sunday the 4th of September:

Please note that the Preston Rally, scheduled for today, is cancelled.

The Bristol Radio Rally is being held at the Brunel Centre, Temple Meads
Railway Station, Bristol. Doors open at 10.30am, or at 10.15 for
disabled visitors. The event features over 40 trade stands, a bring and
buy stall and an 'under 25' bring and buy stall. Refreshments will be
available.

The Vange Amateur Radio Society Rally is being held at the Laindon
Community Centre, Laindon High Road, Basildon, Essex, which is just a
few minutes walk from the British Rail station. Doors open at 10am. The
rally has the usual exhibitors. This year RSGB Morse Tests will be
available on demand but candidates should remember to bring two
passport-size photographs. Talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel S22.

The Telford Radio Rally is at the Telford Exhibition Centre, Telford,
Shropshire which has first class facilities for disabled visitors. Doors
open at 10.30am. The event features many trade stands, both large and
small, also many special interest group and club stands, a flea market,
Novice features and a bring and buy stall. The RSGB's Morse Test will be
available on demand, subject to the usual fee and the need to bring two
passport size photographs. Refreshments will be available, with a
seating area. An RSGB Bookstall and Enquiries stand will be manned by
Headquarters staff supported by local Council members and RLOs. This is
a good opportunity to meet your local RSGB representative.

Next the three events we know of for next Sunday, the 11th of September:

The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group (BARTG) Rally is to be held at
the Sandown Exhibition Centre, Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey.
There is easy access from junction 10 of the M25, which is not far from
the M3, M4 and M40 motorways. Doors open at 10.30am. The event features
many exhibitors and special interest groups, covering radio, computers,
peripherals, software, books, kits and test equipment, all with the
emphasis on Data Communications. Refreshments will be available. For
further details contact Peter, G8VXY, on 021 453 2676.

The Cranfield Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale (organised by the Milton
Keynes and District Amateur Radio Society) is to be held at Cranfield
Airfield, Bedfordshire. The airfield is located near the M1 Motorway.
Take junction 13, if travelling from the south or 14 if arriving from
the north. Doors open at 9.30am. Talk-in will be on two metres, channel
S22. Further details can be obtained from Mike, G0FMC on 0908 566796.

Also the Lincoln Short Wave Club 'Hamfest' will be held at the
Lincolnshire Showground and Exhibition Centre, situated some four miles
north of Lincoln on the A15, Lincoln to Scunthorpe road. Doors open at
10.30am. The event features all the usual trade stands and a bring and
buy stall. The site also has lots of attractions for other family
members. Refreshments will be available and talk-in is on channel S22.
Further details from Sue, on 0522 525431.

Now the HF contest news:

The RSGB SSB Field Day Contest finishes at 1500 UTC today, Sunday the
4th of September. Bands in use are 3.5 to 28MHz, excluding the WARC
bands. Full details can be found in the June edition of RadCom.

The Worked All Europe SSB Contest takes place from 0000 next Saturday
the 10th, until 2400 on the 11th. Europeans work non-europeans only and
the exchange is RS and a serial number. Bands are 3.5 to 28MHz, but not
the WARC bands. See August RadCom page 18 for further details.



Next some VHF contest news:

The RSGB 144MHz Trophy and Listeners Contest finishes at 1400 UTC today,
Sunday the 4th. See May Radcom for details. The 4th RSGB Back Packers
144MHz Contest takes place from 1100 to 1500 UTC today, Sunday the 4th.
See January Radcom for further details.

The next RSGB 24GHz Summer Cumulative Contest is next Sunday the 11th
from 0900 to 2100 UTC. See April's RadCom for details.

Also on the 11th is the Worked All Britain 144MHz High Power Phone
Contest. Times are 0900 to 1700 UTC and there are sections for fixed,
portable, mobile and Short Wave Listener stations. Full details are
available from the WAB Contest Manager G4SKQ, whose address is correct
in the RSGB Call Book, or who can be contacted via packet radio at
GB7SYP.

Special event stations active this week include:

GB2EPF, which is activated today, Sunday the 4th, by members of the
Grafton Radio Society at the Police Sports Ground Chigwell, Essex.
Operation is on HF, VHF, packet and 24cm amateur television.

Starting next Friday, the 9th, GB2OWM will operate for 7 days from the
Orkney Wireless Museum on the island of Ronaldsay, WAB area ND49. The
occasion is the Fourth Orkney Science Festival.

Amongst the special event stations active next weekend, the 10th and
11th, are GX8MWA and GX5MW which will be operated by the Medway Amateur
Receiving and Transmitting Society at the Strood Steam Rally, and GB2NFR
operational from the North Foreland area of East Kent, commemorating the
wartime radar sites operated from the area.

And now the solar factual data

The period from the 22nd to the 28th August has seen solar activity at
very low levels with the geomagnetic field also at quiet levels. On the
22nd a sub-flare took place which was rated at B1.9. Sunspot numbers
fell throughout the period and meaned at only 19. The solar flux
remained very steady and averaged 71 units. The 90-day average flux was
78 units on the 28th. The geomagnetic Ap indices were mainly quiet, with
levels down to single figures, except for the 25th which was just
unsettled. The average for the period was an Ap index of 8.1 units.

The state has been 'nil nothing to report' throughout the period. The aa
indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period
from the 16th to the 22nd of August, were quiet. Daily indices for the
period gave an average of 15.3 nanoTeslas, about K2. The very quiet day
on the 19th was down to only 8.9 nanoTeslas, about K1, with periods down
to only 2 nanoTeslas. The X-Ray flux levels have declined to very low,
in fact the lowest level since last May, averaging only A1.04 units. The
electron fluence levels fell slightly throughout the period but remained
at moderate levels. They are now about two orders of magnitude lower
than the disturbed periods of recent months and this should help to
stabilise the HF bands. The Geomagnetic Ap average for July was 11
units, well down on previous months. The six-month smoothed level for
January was 18.0 units.

I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 19; Flux - 71; Ap index - 8.1; X-ray
flux - A1.04; July Geomagnetic Ap 11.

Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon,
are not complete this week due to a breakdown with the ionosonde on the
28th. For the other days, levels averaged 6.3MHz with the darkness hour
lows down to an average of 3.0MHz. Blanketing E was reported for a
couple of hours on the 22nd and 27th, possibly due to sporadic E. The
highs are now about 20.00 hours with the darkness hour lows about 04.00
hours.

I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 6.3MHz, Lows - 3.0MHz.

Now the ionospheric data for the north:

There is still no news about Ekaterinberg and no data is being received.
We just hope that they have not closed down the ionosonde station and
the RSGB is trying to contact the authorities to find the answer.

And lastly the solar forecast:

This week will see the quiet side of the sun looking our way. Solar flux
levels are expected to be in the mid 70s. Geomagnetic levels are
expected to be quiet at first but becoming very unsettled by the end of
the week. The ionospheric seasonal changes are now beginning to be felt
so the HF bands are expected to improve slowly. Ionospheric MUFs in the
south are expected to reach about 21MHz during daylight hours; the
darkness hours about 14MHz. Levels in the north will be down on these.
North/south paths are expected to be best.

And that is the end of the solar information.

Finally in the main news, SSL has informed the Society that as of last
Wednesday morning, the latest callsigns issued were in the G0 Victor
Foxtrot and G7 Tango Papa series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha
India and 2 1 Delta India series.

--

GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain and is broadcast
in the 80m, 40m, 6m and 2m bands.
Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]

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End of Info-Hams Digest V94 #989
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