rsgb gb2rs news 29th august 1993
Edward Batts
broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.
First the headlines:- Historic radio equipment is on show on Portsmouth;
advice for anyone worried about a missing licence reminder; and there's
lighthouses galore to work this weekend.
An exhibition of wireless telegraphy and radio equipment covering the last
hundred years is on board HMS Warrior this weekend. HMS Warrior is part of
Portsmouth's historic dockyard and the radio exhibition is on show until
tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, afternoon. many of the exhibits come from
private collections, including that of past RSGB President Len Newnham, G6NZ.
The Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club will be running a special event
station throughout the event.
Members have asked the Society what they should do if they have not received a
reminder from Subscription Services Ltd that their licence fee is due. If your
licence is about to expire and you have not received a reminder, the
recommended course of action is to send payment together with details of your
name, address, callsign and licence expiry date to SSL, PO Box 885, Bristol,
BS99 5LF. The Radiocommunications Agency has announced that in future licence
renewal reminders will be sent out by SSL six weeks in advance, instead of
four. However, if this and a final reminder are ignored the licence will be
cancelled and pass slips for the RAE and Morse Test (where appropriate) will
have to be produced to support the application for reinstatement.
The September edition of Radio Communication, which was posted to all RSGB
members last week, contains a list of vacancies for the Society's Council.
Members' attention is drawn to this, and to the procedure for nominating
someone for one of these vacancies which was published in the August edition
of RadCom.
Autumn sees the start of many courses for the Radio Amateurs Examination.
Details of RAE courses, as well as Morse classes, have been published in the
July, August and September editions of Radio Communication. In addition, we
have been notified of an RAE course in Newbury, Berkshire. For details contact
Ray, G3NDS on 0672 870892. Information on Novice courses in your area can be
obtained by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to Sylvia Manco, RSGB,
Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3JE.
This weekend eleven amateur radio stations will be operational from
lighthouses in Scotland and on the Isle of Man. Operating from the Scottish
mainland GB2LA is the most westerly, GB2LB the most easterly, GB2LD the most
northerly and GB2LG the most southerly. Other Scottish stations include: GB2LH
on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, GB2LK from Kelso, GB2LL on Lismore
Island at the entrance to the Great Glen, GB2LM in the Shetland Islands and
GB2LO in the Orkney Islands. GB2LT will operate from the Lighthouse at
Turnberry Golf Course. Members of the Isle Of Man Amateur Radio Society will
be on air from the Point of Ayre Lighthouse, at the Northern tip of the Isle
of Man, using the call GT3FLH. An award is available to UK amateurs who work
or hear seven out of the eleven stations. For further information about the
awards and for other details contact Mike, GM4SUC, QTHR or telephone 0292
443127.
The launch of the Ariane spacecraft, carrying three new amateur satellites,
has been postponed until the 24th of September due to a rocket malfunction.
The satellites are ITAMSAT from Italy, KITSAT-2 from Korea and AMRAD from the
USA.
Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is
edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From North Cook Islands, N7NKG will sign
ZK1XR until next Saturday the 4th of September on SSB and CW. PA3FAC will be
active again as 9M8ACP from Borneo until the end of September. An African tour
by OZ1EYE will continue with his next locations being to Zambia and
Guinea-Bissau. From St Paul Island, near Newfoundland, CY9R is scheduled to
operate during the first week of September. Belgian stations are using the
prefix OO until the end of September to celebrate the accession of their new
king. V85XF is the call to be used by G3TXF in Brunei from the 4th to the 11th
of September. His priorities will be WARC and LF bands, CW only. Operating
frequencies include 18073 and 24893kHz.
Rally news now and we have been notified of four rallies for today, Sunday the
29th of August:
Coleraine and District Amateur Radio Group Radio Rally is being held at The
Lodge Hotel, Coleraine. This features a display of latest amateur equipment,
home computer technology and a limited indoor flea market. Refreshments will
be available and there is talk-in on channel S22.
Galashiels and District Amateur Radio Society Open Day is at the Focus Centre,
Livingston Place, Galashiels. Doors open at 11.00am. The event features the
usual trade stands, a bring & buy stall and club stalls. Refreshments are
available.
Gloucester Radio Rally Car Boot Sale is at Naas Lane, Quedgley, Gloucester.
Follow the signposts from the M5 motorway junction 11 and 12.
Stroud Radio Club are running a bring and buy stall. There is talk-in on
channel S22. The Torbay Mobile Rally is being held at the Audley Park School,
Barton Road, Torquay. This is a change of venue from that originally
advertised. Doors open 10.00am and there are trade stands, a bring and buy
stall and refreshments.
We know of one rally taking place tomorrow, Monday the 30th:
The Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society Fifth Annual Bank Holiday Rally will
be at St Germain Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. This is a new venue which
can be found by heading for the town centre, then going round the one-way
system until you see the site on your right. Trading commences at 10.00am.
Attractions include trade stands, a bring & buy stall and many car boot
pitches. Refreshments will be available. All pitches and parking are on
hardstanding. Talk-in will be on channel S22, or via the repeater GB3OV on
433.125MHz, channel RB5. Contact David, G7DIU on 0480 431333 for further
information.
We have news of four events taking place next Sunday, the 5th of September:
The Bristol Radio Rally, incorporating the Bristol Computer and Electronics
Fair, will be at the Brunel Centre, Temple Meads, Station, Bristol. Doors open
at 10.30 am, but disabled visitors can gain access 15 minutes earlier. The
event boasts more than forty trade stands, two bring-and-buy stalls - one for
equipment under 25, refreshments and ample under-cover parking. Talk-in will
be available on channel S22, 145.55MHz. Further information can be obtained by
calling G4YZR on 0275 834282.
The Milton Keynes and District Amateur Radio Society has its seventh Annual
Radio Boot Sale next Sunday at Cranfield Airfield in Bedfordshire. The
airfield can be reached via Junctions 13 or 14 of the M1. Details from Ray,
G1LRU, on 0908 660798.
Also on the 5th is the Telford Amateur Radio Rally at the Telford Exhibition
Centre. Doors open at 10.30 am. There will be trade stands and a flea market.
Talk-in will be on channel S22, 145.55MHz, and the UHF repeater GB3TF on
channel RB8, 433.200MHz. Disabled visitors are asked to contact the organisers
if they require a parking permit. Further details are available from G7BWQ on
0952 770922. He should also be contacted by anyone who wishes to take an RSGB
Morse Test at the rally.
And the Vange Amateur Radio Society Rally will be at the Laindon Community
Centre, a short walk from Laindon railway station. Doors will open at 10.30 am
and the rally includes traders, a bring and buy stall, refreshments and a free
raffle. Talk in will be on channel S22 and approach roads will be signposted.
Further information can be obtained from Mike, G4NVT on 0268 543025.
The Bishop Auckland Rally, which was scheduled for the 31st of October is now
to be on the following Sunday, the 7th of November. Further details from Mike,
G0PRQ, on 0388 766264
Contest news next:
The RSGB SSB Field Day Contest takes place next weekend, the 4th and 5th of
September on the HF bands. Full details can be found in the July edition of
RadCom. Another RSGB event is a Slow CW Cumulative Contest on Monday the 6th
of September. This is the first of five sessions to be held between September
the 6th and October the 8th, from 1900 - 2030GMT on 3.540 - 3.580MHz. July
RadCom has the power output categories and exchange details. On the VHF bands,
the first 144MHz CW Cumulative Contest is next Tuesday the 31st of August from
2030 to 2300 local time. This is the first of five sessions, the last being on
the 1st of November. There are only two sections: Single operator Fixed or
Portable, and Listeners. For further details of these events see February
RadCom page 67.
Special events stations operational this week include:
GB0BCH which will be aired by the Manchester and District Amateur Radio
Society from Halcombe Brook near Bury. Operation will be for the full 72 hours
over this Bank Holiday weekend. The event is in aid of the Boothhall Childrens
Hospital Charity. If you hear the station on air, please give it a call as it
is on sponsorship per contact. GB2CPS is on the air by courtesy of Grafton
Radio Society at Chigwell Police Show next weekend, the 4th and 5th.
And now the solar factual data:
The period from the 16th to the 22nd of August has seen a major magnetic storm
followed by a slow recovery to more normal conditions. The cause of the
disturbance is at present not known, but there was a sudden burst of X-Ray
flux. No flares were reported during the period. Sunspot counts have been very
low and meaned at only 38. The solar flux levels have not changed much and
averaged 92 over the period. The geomagnetic levels have been up to major
storm levels. The sudden storm commencement, or SSC, began on the 15th at 1514
and reached an Ap index of 64 units on the 16th. This is about K7 - the
highest level since last September. By the 19th, there was a slow decline to
quiet, with levels of only 6 units by the 22nd. The period averaged 22.8
units. The state has been 'major mag storm in progress' up to the 19th, then
'nil, nothing to report'. The radio quality indices collapsed on the 16th to
very poor, with the Boulder Fort Collins and New York circuits being almost
useless. Levels recovered to normal by the 21st. The aa indices, as supplied
by the British Geological Survey for the 10th to the 16th of August, were
quiet up to the mag storm on the 15th, with the 14th having a daily index of
only 5.5 nanoTeslas. However the storm raised levels to 115 nanoTeslas during
the evening of the 16th, giving a daily index of 88.9 nanoTeslas. The period
averaged a daily index of 22.6 nanoTeslas. Despite an expectation that the
more active side of the sun would come into view, the X-Ray flux declined
every day, apart from a burst to B1.4 on the 16th. It was down to only A6.7
units by the 22nd, with the period averaging A8.9 units. Since January when
this data was first given on GB2RS, the average levels have dropped
considerably, by about 50 times. It is not possible to say how normal this is
for this part of the cycle, but it seems a big reduction.
Now the ionospheric data for Central France:
The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon for the
16th and 17th, are not available. This often happens with major magnetic
storms which disrupt the ionosonde, making readings extremely difficult.
However we have data for the 18th to the 22nd. Levels rose reaching 8.8MHz on
the 21st and averaged 7.9MHz. The peak times are now around 19.00 to 20.00
hours. The darkness hour lows have not varied much and averaged 3.3MHz, with
the minimum levels being now around 03.00 hours. Blanketing E and Spread F has
been reported some days.
Now the ionospheric data for the north:
The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg were seriously affected by
the mag storm with some readings unobtainable, possibly due to severe
absorption. The highs averaged about 6.6MHz and the lows about 3.8MHz. Proton
events have been measured by satellites since 1966 covering cycles 20, 21, and
the present cycle 22. Cycle 19 has inferred data obtained by other means. The
pattern is very clear, proton events are increasing at an alarming rate; they
have doubled since cycle 20, and far exceed those of cycle 19 which was
reckoned to be the biggest cycle so far recorded. Many of these events are
also now being recorded as ground level events.
And lastly the solar forecast:
This week, the active side of the sun will be rotating away. Solar flux levels
are expected to be at about the 90s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be
unsettled at first due to coronal holes, but becoming quieter as the week
proceeds. Ionospheric levels and the radio quality indices are expected to be
below normal at first but rising to normal or just above normal later in the
week.
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 U B
and G7 R B series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 A G and 2 1 C F 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.