Joe Lynch, N6CL publishes a column in CQ every month that specializes in operating. Joe recently has published an introductory book on VHF through microwaves that is very comprehensive. It is advertized in CQ and I recommend it to those that want to know if there's anything on VHF other than the local repeater. Joe frequently lists his e-mail address in his CQ column. There are other sources of info including columns QST and 73 magazine. There are several specialized VHF through microwave clubs in the coun
try including the Rochester (NY) VHF Group, New England Weak Signal Group, North Texas Microwave Society, San Bernadino Microwave Society and The Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club (the one I'm associated with) and many others. If there's interest, I can provide names, addresses, etc for these and other groups.
73, Harry, W3IIT
Editor, "Cheesebits", the newsletter of the Mt. Airy VHF Radio Club
hbrown@resd.vf.ge.com
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Date: (null)
From: (null)
And from Nepal, G4SSC hopes to be active as 9N1SC from now until the
14th October. Check 21.100MHz at 1000 UTC, 14.150MHz at 1500 UTC and
10.150MHz from 2200 to 2400 UTC.
Next, the Rally news and we know of no events for today, Sunday the 18th
of September. However we know of four events for next Sunday the 25th of
September. These rallies are definitely happening, despite a published
report to the contrary.
The Harlow Amateur Radio and Computer Show is to be held at the Harlow
Sports Centre. There is easy access off the M11 motorway at junction 7,
the A414 and other, routes which will be signposted. Doors open 10.30am.
This year's event has extra floor space and more entrances will be used.
The event features many trade stands and a bring and buy area. Full
catering and lounge bar facilities will be available in the complex.
Talk-in will be on S22 and SU22 by G6UT. For further details contact
Mike, 0850 487863.
The Three Counties Rally is to be held at the Three Counties Show
Ground, Malvern. Doors open at 10.30am. The event features a large
selection of trade stands, covering radio and computer, a bring and buy
stall and four lecture periods on amateur radio topics. The site has
catering facilities. Further details from G4PQZ on 0905 773181.
The North Wakefield Radio Club Rally is to be held at the Outwood Grange
School, Potovens Lane, Outwood, Wakefield, located just one mile from
the M1 and the M62. The event features trade stands covering all the
radio and computer interests, local radio groups, a Novice stand and a
bring and buy stall. The RSGB Morse Test will be available on demand,
subject to the usual fee and the need to bring two passport size
photographs. Further details from G4RCG on 0924 362144 or G0EVT on 0924
825443.
The SDX Cluster Support Group (GB7SDX) Junk Sale is to be held at the
Community Centre, Maryhill Road, Glasgow. There are facilities for
disabled and also ample car parking space. Doors open at 11am. The tea
rooms will be open to provide hot/cold drinks and also light snacks.
Talk-in will be on two metres, channel S22. Further details from John,
GM0OPS on 041 638 7670 or via packet to GB7SAN.
Finally, a reminder that the Peterborough Radio and Electronics Society,
East of England Rally which was to have taken place next weekend is the
one event which has been cancelled.
Now for the HF contest news:
Firstly, the rules and dates for the RSGB QRS Cumulative Contests for
September and October 1994 have not been published. Anyone requiring a
copy of the rules should contact Chris Burbanks on 01602 376441
{Newsreaders: note that we will be introducing the new STD codes (see
RadCom, Sept, p7) into GB2RS from this week. The extra '1' is not an
error and the codes really do work now}
The CQ WW RTTY DX Contest takes place from 0000 on Saturday the 24th
until 2400 on Sunday the 25th on the 3.5 to 28MHz, but not the WARC
bands.
Also the Scandinavian Activity SSB Contest takes place from 1500 on
Saturday the 24th until 1800 on Sunday the 25th, on 3.5 to 28MHz, but
not the WARC bands. See September RadCom page 18 for more information on
both of these events.
The RSGB 21/28MHz SSB Contest takes place from 0700 to 1900 UTC on
Sunday the 2nd of October. See June RadCom page 82 for full details.
Next some VHF contest news:
The RSGB 144MHz CW Cumulative Contests will take place from 2030 to 2300
local time, on Thursday the 29th of September, on Friday the 14th and
Monday the 31st of October. General rules will apply. Use 4422 summary
sheet to show scores for each day, and the best three days will be
totalled. Please send all logs plus a single 427 cover sheet for entry.
Rule 10 applies. There are two sections; the first for single operator
or portable entries, and the other for listeners. The Adjudicator is
David Johnson, G4DHF, 65 West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PA.
The RSGB 70MHz Trophy and SWL Contest takes place from 0900 to 1400 UTC
on Sunday the 25th of September. There are three sections: Single
Operator Fixed, All Others and Listeners. See July Radcom page 82 for
further details.
Another RSGB 10GHz Summer Cumulative Contest takes place from 0900 to
2100 UTC next Sunday the 25th. See April's RadCom for details.
Special event stations active this week include:
GB30FYD which will be operated by members of the Scarborough Special
Events Group during today, Sunday the 18th. The call is to celebrate the
30th anniversary of RAF Flyingdales. This is the first amateur radio
operation from inside the early warning base, which is situated on the
North Yorkshire Moors. Operation will be on 80 and 40 metres, CW and SSB
and 2 metres SSB and FM. Further details from Roy, G4SSH whose address
is correct in the RSGB Call Book.
GB0THS will be aired during Space Science Day on Tuesday the 20th of
September. It will be operated on 80 metres telephony by Novice
licensees under supervision, at the Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester.
The school's callsigns, GX0VBY and GX7THS, will also be in use. The
station is also hoping to access weather satellites and to use slow scan
television. If you can offer a sked on SSTV, please telephone the school
on 0305 266064.
GB2VK, will be operated by members of the Dragon Amateur Radio Club to
commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the first direct messages from
Britain to Australia. Activity will be next Thursday the 22nd, from 0001
to 2359 UTC, on CW and SSB, from the site of Marconi's Long Wave
Transatlantic Wireless station at Waunfawr, Caernarfon. Contact Dewi,
GW0ABL on 0248 713647 for further information.
And now the solar factual data:
The period from the 5th to the 11th of September has seen some slight
increase in solar activity with a few B and C class flares, a very small
proton event and a considerable increase in magnetic activity. On the
9th, 10th and 11th small flares were reported, the largest being a
C8.7/SF which produced a very small Proton event, reaching only 1.2
particle flux units. The daily Sunspot indices have declined
considerably and meaned at 59 for the period. Solar flux levels have
slightly increased and averaged 88 units. The 90 day flux average on the
11th September was 80 units.
Due to a coronal hole in the sun's northern hemisphere, the geomagnetic
Ap indices rose to sub-storm levels by the 7th, reaching 36 units. By
the 11th they were declining and were back to just unsettled. The period
averaged an Ap of 22 units. The state has been mainly 'nil', but a solar
wind warning was reported being up to 400km per second, (normal levels
are around 300km per second). This was accompanied by a high electron
fluence three orders of magnitude above normal. The daily aa indices, as
supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period the 30th of
August to the 5th of September, averaged 12.3 nanoTeslas, about K2. The
2nd was a very quiet day with periods down to only 2 nanoTeslas. There
was no disturbed day.
The X-Ray flux has declined overall with the period averaging A7.8
units, which is about the level we would expect at this time.
I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 59; Flux - 88; Ap index-22; X-ray flux
- A7.8.
Now the ionospheric data for Central France:
The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon,
averaged 7.3MHz, which is an increase on last week's figure. It looks as
though the seasonal changes are now beginning to exert their influence.
The 6th was the best day with levels up to 8.1MHz. The darkness hour
lows averaged 2.6MHz down on last week, again a sign of the seasonal
changes taking place. There have been many periods of Blanketing E
lasting up to 5 hours at times, mainly due to the high geomagnetic
levels.
I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 7.3MHz; lows - 2.6MHz.
Now the ionospheric data for the north:
We regret that the data from Ekaterinberg is very patchy. Of the data we
have, the F2 daytime critical frequencies were about 5.3MHz and the
darkness hour lows 2.4MHz. These depressed levels are due to the
magnetic storms which were more severe in the north.
I'll repeat the figures: Highs - 5.3MHz; lows - 2.4MHz.
And lastly the solar forecast:
This week, the quietest part of the sun will be looking our way. Solar
flux levels are expected to be about the 70's. Geomagnetic activity is
expected to be quiet. Ionospheric daytime MUFs in the south are expected
to reach 21MHz, with the darkness hour lows being about 12MHz. Northern
levels will be down on these, but the expected quiet geomagnetic
activity should help somewhat. North/south paths will be the best.
And that's 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 allocated were in the G0 Victor
Golf and G7 Tango Romeo series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha India
and 2 1 Delta Kilo series.
--
GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain and is broadcast
in the 80m, 40m, 6m and 2m bands.
Tel +44 1707 659015 Fax +44 1707 645105
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Date: (null)
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The Society's aim at the show is to introduce the hobby to as many
people as possible and well over a hundred thousand visitors are
expected at this seven-day event. GB3RS and GB2VHF, will be operational
from Earl's Court. Full details can be found in the September RadCom,
pages 26 and 88.
Now a reminder of a mis-print in the September edition of Radio
Communication. The new twelve-hour book hotline number is 0956 707373
and not as printed. Full details of this new service, which was
introduced last week, can be found on page 4 of September's RadCom.
Next Wednesday, the 21st of September, Bradford University will be
holding a one day exhibition as part of the Appleton Project. This is an
attempt to create a permanent Museum dedicated to the memory of Bradford
born Sir Edward Appleton, discoverer of the Ionosphere and one of the
'fathers' of Radar. The exhibition's aim is to further the interest of
young people in communications and science.
On display will be GB0APP, operating on 80 and 40 metres, plus VHF
Packet, operated by members of Rishworth School Radio Club. UHF
operation depends on there being enough local fixed and mobile stations
to communicate with on the day. Further details about GB0APP can be
obtained from Emma, 2E1BVJ, who is QTHR, or from Rishworth School.
The latest batch of repeater applications forwarded by the RSGB to the
Radiocommunications Agency had just one application, a site change for
GB3AY, a 2 metre Repeater covering Ayrshire. All applications are
processed by the RSGB's Repeater Management Group to whom any enquiries
should be addressed. As usual, the Society will keep repeater keepers
informed of progress by distributing the RA's monthly progress reports.
An RSGB Regional Meeting takes place on Saturday the 22nd of October in
Bristol. The doors open at 12.30pm, when light refreshments will be
available, and the meeting commences at 2pm. Members of the RSGB Council
will be in attendance plus representatives of HQ. Full details will
appear in the October edition of RadCom which is scheduled to be posted
to all RSGB members during this week.
Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is
