Monster Media 1993 #2/Image.iso/ham/rsgb0620.zip/RSGB0620.TXT

Text File | 1993-07-08 | 11KB | 203 lines

Good morning. It's Sunday the 20th of June and here is the GB2RS news
broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.

First the headlines:- RSGB HQ talk on Radio 5 programme; First ever Tusker
Rock amateur radio activity; New RSGB Novice Question and Answer Book
available now; Pentland South Pole Explorers honoured.

On the morning of Friday the 11th of June a member of RSGB HQ staff was
interviewed by presenter Duncan Goodhew on the hobby of Amateur Radio for a
live broadcast on Radio 5's programme "A Couch Potato's Guide to Creative
Leisure" at around 9am. Unfortunately the time scale was too short for it to
be included in an earlier GB2RS News broadcast.

News now of an expedition by the Bridgend and District Amateur Radio Club to
Tusker Rock, situated in the Bristol Channel, some five kilometers south east
of Porthcawl. This WAB square (SS87) has never before been activated. For IOTA
it is classified under EU124. If weather conditions allow the station will be
operating from approx 12 noon on Saturday the 26th of June using the callsign
GB2TR. Activity will be limited to 2, 20 and 40 metres SSB only and for a
maximum of four hours. If the weather conditions are unfavourable, the next
date when tidal conditions will allow landing on the rock will be Saturday the
10th of July. The RNLI, Coastguard and Sea Cadets will all be standing by to
evacuate the island if weather conditions deteriorate during the four hours.

The long awaited book 'Revision Questions for the Novice RAE' is now available
from RSGB Headquarters. It contains a variety of questions, complete with
answers, which cover the syllabus of the Novice Radio Amateurs Examination. It
is intended to help candidates to revise and also to become familiar with
multi-choice style questions. Included is a sample paper together with further
hints and tips on taking the exam. The book is a must for the would-be Novice.

Followers of the Pentland South Pole Expedition earlier in the year will be
pleased to learn of the award of OBEs to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Michael
Stroud in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. They were awarded these for their
achievement in the field of 'Human Endeavour and Charitable Services'.

Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is
edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From Gambia, DL7UBA and DL7UTA will be
active as C5/DL7UBA and C5/DL7UTA respective from now until Tuesday the 29th
of June, on all bands 10 to 160 metres using CW and SSB. From French
Polynesia, a group of JA operators will be active from Tuesday the 22nd for
one week, on 6 to 160 metres inclusive, using CW and SSB. From Peru, the
special call 4T7HP will be aired during Wednesday and Thursday the 23rd and
24th of June to celebrate Andean People's Day. Activity will be on 80 to 10
metres inclusive, using CW and SSB. For CW check first 10kHz of each band and
for SSB check 3680, 7080, 14180, 21280 and 28480kHz. Activity on the WARC
bands is also possible. From Thailand, N4TMW will sign N4TMW/HS0 from HS0ZAK's
QTH from now until Friday the 2nd of July. Activity will be on 10 to 40
metres, mainly SSB.

Rally news now and we know of three Rallies for today, Sunday, the 20th of
June:

The Fourth Annual Belfast Radio Rally is being held at the Chimney Corner
Hotel, 630 Antrim Road, Glengormley. It is convenient to the Glengormley
turn-off from the M2 motorway. Doors open at 12 noon, 11.30am for disabled
visitors. There are trade stands, a bring & buy stall and a lucky dip stand.
Refreshments will be available and talk-in will be on channel S22.

Denby Dale And District Amateur Radio Society Annual Mobile Rally is being
held at the Shelley High School which is located 6 miles South East of
Huddersfield on the B6116. Doors open at 11.00am, 10.30am for disabled
visitors. There are the usual trade stands, car boot sale and ample car
parking space. Refreshments will be available. Talk-in will be on channels S22
and SU22.

Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society Annual Radio Boot Sale is being
held at the Ackland Hall and Recreation Field, Cold Ash, Newbury, Berkshire.
The route is well signposted. Event starts at 9.00am. There is free admission
and free parking for buyers. Talk-in will be on channel S22 via GB4NBS.
Refreshments will be available and a children's play area is nearby.


We know of two rallies for next weekend:

On Saturday the 26th of June, the Wrexham Amateur Radio Society Mobile Rally
is to be held at the Annual Steam and Vintage Machinery Show at Plassey,
Eyton, near Wrexham on the B5426. The venue is signposted from the A483
Chester - Wrexham Bypass. A fun day for all the family. Talk-in is on channel
S22 by GB1WXM. Further details from Ian, GW1MVL on 0978 845858.

And on Sunday the 27th of June, the 36th Longleat Amateur Radio Rally is to be
held at Longleat House, Longleat, near Warminster, Wiltshire. Follow the brown
signs for Longleat House from Warminster. The organisers of the Longleat Rally
are apparently suffering from an incorrect rumour concerning grossly increased
entrance prices. These are greatly exaggerated - entrance price is typical for
rallies and only slightly up on last year. Rally opens at 9.30am. It features
over 150 trade stands; an RSGB bookstall and membership services stand; many
national clubs stands; a craft fair and a bring & buy stall. Full catering
facilities available on site. Also on display will be items from the Journeaux
Historic collection. Camping and caravanning facilities are available nearby.
Contact Shaun, G8VPG on 0225 873098 for further information.


Date for your diary.

The RSGB Woburn Rally will take place on Sunday the 18th of July at Woburn
Abbey, Bedfordshire. See June Radcom page 40 details. Further information from
Norman Miller, G3MVV tel: [phone].

HF contest news now:

The All Asian CW Contest is taking place over this weekend, and will end at
2400 today Sunday the 20th. All bands from 160 to 10 Metres will be used, but
excluding the WARC bands. Contest exchange is RST and two figures indicating
age. Ladies should send 00. The RSGB Summer 1.8MHz CW Contest takes place over
next weekend, from 2100GMT on Saturday the 26th, to 0100GMT on Sunday the
27th. For exchange information see May RadCom page 81.

Now some VHF contest news:

The RSGB 70MHz CW Contest takes place today, Sunday the 20th from 0800 to
1100GMT. See February RadCom on page 66 for details. The VHF National Field
Day Contest will take place from 1400GMT on Saturday the 3rd, until 1400GMT on
Sunday the 4th of July. See March RadCom page 82 for details.


News now of some special events stations operating during the coming week:

During today, Sunday the 20th, the Radio Club of Thanet will air the callsign
GB4SSS to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Sandwich Bay Sailing and
Surfing Club. Details from G3OPL on 0843 597916. On Thursday the 24th, the
Hoddesdon Radio Club will operate a Special Event Station from Tolmers Scout
Camp, Tolmers Road, Cuffley, Hertfordshire. Operation starts at 6pm, all
welcome. For details contact Roy, G4UNL on 081 804 5643 daytime only. During
next Saturday the 26th of June, the callsign GB0TPR will be aired by the
Meirion (Dolgellau) Amateur Radio Society. The occasion is the annual Three
Peaks Yachting / Climbing race. The station will be located at the North end
of Barmouth Promenade, near the Coast Guard station. Contact Maurice, GW3GKZ
on 0341 422947 for further information.



And now the solar factual data:

The period 7th to 13th June saw a massive solar wind shock wave hit the earth
on the 10th, major magnetic storms were forecast but in fact these did not
materialise, but very wide spread sporadic E occurred. Openings on 50MHz took
place to VE and all over Europe, together with many parts of the middle east.
On the 12th and 13th openings to Europe on two metres were reported. Over the
period there were a number of M type flares reported, the largest being an
M5.4/2B on the 7th with radio sweeps type 2 and 4 which affected the HF bands
down to about 10MHz, there have been a number of ionospheric disturbances but
most lasted only a few minutes. Spot counts have declined considerably being
only 11 on the 13th the lowest number since January 1988, levels meaned about
76. The solar flux has also declined dropping from 115 down to 87 units by the
13th, with the period averaging 104 units, the 87 units on the 13th is the
lowest level since September 1987.
The geomagnetic Ap indices rose to sub storm levels of 22 units on the 10th
with the Shock wave, but rapidly declined to just unsettled. The period
averaged 14.8 units. The state has been flare alert and major storm expected,
but was later replaced by nothing to report. The radio quality indices have
been poor and have still not recovered from the storms of the 4 and 5 June,
levels are still well below normal on most circuits. The aa indices as
supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period 1st to the 7th June
was mainly unsettled with the daily averages being 36.9 nanoTeslas about K3,
the 1st was very quiet at only 7.3 nanoTeslas and the 4th was very disturbed
with periods being up to 116 nanoTeslas about K5. The X-Ray flux shot up to
B6.8 on the 10th with the shock wave and remained high up to the 13th when
levels declined to B1.3 the period averaged B4.8 units. Bartels rotation 2184
begins on the 24th. The second part of the Lyrids meteor stream is due on the
26th to 29th.


Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers as reported by Meudon averaged
8.0MHz and the darkness hour lows 4.4MHz. There have been reports of
blanketing E lasting up to 5 hours on some days.


Now the ionospheric data for the north:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg averaged 6.4MHz with the
darkness hour lows being 4.8MHz. Sporadic E is mainly a summer phenomena and
though no direct relationship with any particular solar activity has been
established, it is known that the incidence of sporadic E considerably
increases during the solar minimum period. Forecasts of possible openings are
produced by G3YLA the IARU sporadic E coordinator and displayed on the Packet
DX cluster network.


And lastly the solar forecast:

This week, the quiet side of the sun will be moving away, solar flux levels
are expected to be about the 110s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be
quiet to just unsettled, periods of Sporadic E particularly on 50MHz are
likely. The radio quality indices are expected to be around normal or slightly
above.

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 issued were in the G0 T U
and G7 O X series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 A F and 2 1 B Y series.


You're listening to GB2RS, the news broadcasting service of the Radio Society
of Great Britain, transmitting in the 80, 40, 6 and 2 metre bands.