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G4TNU > NEWS 19.12.24 03:37z 265 Lines 13412 Bytes #4 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 15 Dec 2024
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 15th of December
The news headlines:
* The RSGB 2025 election nominations process is open
* The Society is advertising for a new Convention Chair
* YOTA Month is busy this week with more callsign hosts to
listen out for
The RSGB 2025 elections process has begun, and nominations are open
for a range of volunteer roles. The RSGB's President John McCullagh,
GI4BWM will reach the end of his second year as President at the AGM
and so will stand down. There are also two ElectedBoard Director
vacancies. The Board is looking for people with specific skills to
fill these roles. The current President is one of the few at Board
level with extensive experience in spectrum matters and negotiating
with the authorities, so that skills gap needs to be filled. Outreach
has been an important focus over the last year for the Society, and
it would like to support the current activities and expand on them.
These developments will include encouraging practical skills amongst
the amateur radio community and building links with other
organisations. Building those relationships will require someone with
drive and determination but also tact and diplomacy. There are eight
posts available for RSGB Regional Representatives, ranging from
Region 1 in Scotland to Region 11 in the south west. For more details
about the roles as well as application forms and candidate packs, go
to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election
The RSGB has been developing its Convention over recent years to suit
the changing needs of the amateur radio community. From a
face-to-face meeting it evolved into an online event when we weren't
allowed to meet, then changed again into a hybrid event, bringing
together the best of both for people in this country and across the
world. The Society has also been developing the programme to include
practical workshops and forums to support radio amateurs who would
like a safe and accessible environment in which to try to develop
their practical skills. The RSGB General Manager has been doing the
role of Convention Chair for the last three years but has now stepped
back from that additional voluntary role, so the RSGB is looking for
a new Convention Chair. This role needs someone who understands the
advantages of both online and in-person events and who can contribute
to shaping the RSGB Conventions of the future to suit the changing
amateur radio audience. The RSGB is looking for someone who is
enthusiastic, proactive, collaborative and good at working with
others in a strong team. They will also need an awareness of all
aspects of amateur radio, including the latest developments and what
might be on the horizon. As part of the wider Convention team, they
will need to suggest ideas for speakers and practical activities that
will attract a range of radio amateurs. If you believe you could
contribute to the development of this prestigious annual event, the
RSGB would like to hear from you. Please contact the RSGB General
Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB via gm.dept<at>rsgb.org.uk
Youngsters on the Air Month is now halfway through, with plenty more
operators booked to host GB24YOTA. There is still time to work the
RSGB National Radio Centre's GB3RS station which is hosting the
callsign for the duration of today, Sunday the 15th of December. On
Wednesday, the 18th of December, the Simon Langton Boys School in
Canterbury will be operating between 12pm and 6pm. On Thursday, the
19th of December, between 12pm and 6pm the Cambridge University
Wireless Society will once again be hosting GB24YOTA. To finish up
this week, Tommy, M7OMY will be operating on the 20th and 21st of
December under the supervision of Las, M0BOY. Tommy is a young radio
amateur and has been taking part in YOTA Month for a few years, so be
sure to listen out and make a QSO with him. Search GB24YOTA on
QRZ.com to view the full operating schedule.
The RSGB's headquarters will close for the Christmas and New Year
period from 2pm on Tuesday the 24th of December 2024. It will open
again at 8.30am on Thursday the 2nd of January 2025. During that
time, if you need information about amateur radio, exams or RadCom,
you'll find lots of information on the website via rsgb.org
If you are planning to visit the RSGB's National Radio Centre at
Bletchley Park over the holidays, please note that it will be closed
on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. On
New Year's Eve the NRC will close at 2pm. The National Radio Centre
will also be closed for essential maintenance works on Thursday the
2nd of January 2025. Outside of these times, volunteers look forward
to welcoming visitors as usual. Remember that RSGB Members can
download a free entry voucher for Bletchley Par from the RSGB website
via rsgb.org/bpvoucher
On the 6th of December, Ofcom announced an update regarding the
timing of phases two and three of its amateur radio licensing
framework, including changes to the new intermediate call signs and
rules for Special event Stations. These phases were originally
planned for December 2024 and March 2025 respectively, but Ofcom now
expects to deliver them in the third quarter of 2025. For more
information go to ofcom.org.uk and search for ‘Licensing updates'.
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on
Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Sparkford Radio Rally is taking place on Sunday the 29th of
December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil. Doors
are open to traders from 7.30am and from 9.30am to the public.
Admission is GBP 2. Refreshments and free parking will be available.
For more information, please contact Luke via 07870 168197 or email
m3vhv<at>hotmail.co.uk
Looking ahead to events coming up next year, the Lincoln Shortwave
Club Winter Radio Rally is taking place on the 26th of January at The
Festival Hall, Caistor Road in Market Rasen. Doors open at 10am, and
admission is GBP 3. Hot refreshments and ample free car parking will
be available. The cost for a table is GBP 10. To book, please contact
Steve Burke, M5ZZZ via 07777 699069 or email m5zzz<at>outlook.com
Now the Special Event news
There is still time to work The Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club
which is once again active with special callsign GB0MC until Thursday
the 26th of December. The ‘MC' in the callsign stands for Merry
Christmas. The Club would like to invite everyone to call in and give
them a hearty "HoHoHo" and tell them what radio equipment you would
like from Santa this year. The Club will also be livestreaming on its
YouTube Channel.
OR100LGE is the special callsign in use by members of the Liège
[LEE-EJH] Radio Club, ON5VL to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The
station is active until the end of the year on the 160 to 6m bands
using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via
ON6YH. QSOs will also be uploaded to Club Log.
Starting in January 2025, members of the British Railways Amateur
Radio Society will be operating Special Event Station GB0LMR to
celebrate 200 years of the modern railway. QSL via the Bureau or
direct by sending a Stamped Addressed Envelope to the address given
on QRZ.COM.
Now the DX news
Mike, V47NH is active from St Kitts and Nevis [NEEVIS] until the 17th
of December. The IOTA reference is NA-104. He will operate on the 40
to 10m bands and SSB. QSL via KC1NGS or Logbook of the World.
The VP2VMM team is active from Anegada Island in The British Virgin
Islands. They will be QRV in the 2024 ARRL 10m Contest which ends at
2359 today, Sunday. Outside the contest, they will be QRV holiday
style using VP2V/homecall until Tuesday the 17th of December. QSL via
Logbook of the World, Bureau, OQRS or direct to KU9C. Full details
via QRZ.com
S21DX is active from Bangladesh until the 19th of December. The IOTA
reference is AS-140. The team is active on the 160 to 10m bands, SSB,
RTTY and FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World or direct to EB7DX.
A Danish DXpedition will be operating as TO0J [TANGO OSCAR ZERO
JULIET] from French Guiana [GEE-AH-NA] between the 20th and 31st of
December. They will be active on the 80 to 10m bands, CW, SSB, but
mainly FT8. QSL via Clublog OQRS, Logbook of the World or eQSL.
Now the contest news
The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon started at 0000UTC on Sunday
the 1st of December and ends at 2359UTC on Friday the 31st of January
2025. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report
and locator.
The ARRL 10m Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 14th of
December, and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 15th of December.
Using CW and phone on the 10m band, the exchange is signal report and
serial number. US, Canadian and Mexican stations will also send their
State or Province code.
On Tuesday, the 17th of December, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday, the 19th of December, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 12th of December 2024.
We had another week with quiet geomagnetic conditions. Other than a
three-hour period with a Kp of four on the 9th of December, as of
last Thursday when this report was being compiled it had been below
three for the past seven days.
Active region 3920 produced an impulsive M2.8 solar flare, peaking at
1006UTC on the 11th of December. A quick M2.0 flare was also detected
around AR3922 in the southeast quadrant. There was also an M6.4 solar
flare at 0648UTC on the 10th of December, but no Earth-directed
coronal mass ejections were observed.
The solar flux index, despite being predicted to reach 200 again, has
been simmering away in the 160s and 170s. Nevertheless, the quieter
geomagnetic conditions have helped HF with the extrapolated MUF over
a 3,000km path often hitting 40MHz at times.
However, the early sunset, which is around 1538UTC to 1621UTC at the
moment depending on your location in the UK, means that the MUF drops
off quite quickly in the afternoon. The average critical frequency at
night is currently about 3.0-3.5MHz, which explains why the HF bands
appear to be dead. The winter solstice is on the 21st of December,
and we won't see much change until we get to mid-January.
There is DX to be had with CDXC members reporting working YJ0CA
(Vanuatu) on 15 metres, V73WE (Marshall Islands) on 30 metres and
YI1QEA (Iraq) on 10 metres.
So, at the moment, make the most of the daytime DX and greyline
openings, and reserve the evening for Top Band and perhaps 80 metres.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain around
170 to 175. The Kp index is expected to be around two or three, apart
from the 19th of December when it could reach four.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO.
The period of enhanced Tropo activity will have faded away by this
weekend as the high pressure slips away into Europe and declines.
This allowed low pressure to regain control from last Friday through
the current weekend.
There may be a chance of some rain scatter propagation on the GHz
bands, although it doesn't look like a particularly good example.
All is not lost for Tropo followers, since the next high drifts in
from the Atlantic early next week. Southern UK will benefit the most
with Tropo paths to France and across Biscay. This lasts until
midweek, to be followed by a return of low pressure for the second
half of the week and probably a better rain scatter option than this
weekend.
The big Geminids meteor shower peaked yesterday, the 14th of
December, but will linger throughout the month. The radiant source
rises late afternoon and sets the following lunchtime and is most
favourably positioned late evening and early morning, pre-dawn.
Next, a consideration of aurora prospects, which are still a little
enhanced by solar conditions. So, as usual, stay alert to an
increasing Kp index above Kp=4 to keep in the game.
Finally, remember that the period of Christmas and early January is
well known for producing random out-of-season Sporadic-E. It's not
possible to fine tune Es prospects this far ahead, but it wouldn't
hurt to monitor the f0Es traces on the www.propquest.co.uk website
between now and mid-January.
The Moon's declination is at maximum today, Sunday the 15th of
December, and also on Monday, so expect long Moon windows with high
peak elevations. Path losses are still low but rising, so it's still
a good week for EME. The 144MHz sky noise is moderate to low all
week.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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