Propagation News, Friday 19th April 2023
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HF News
Last week saw a welcome return of sunspots, but unfortunately, it also brought unsettled geomagnetic conditions.
By Thursday the 16th the solar flux index was back above 200, hitting 217. Compare that to the previous week’s 131 and you can see that there is a lot more activity. But with 12 active regions visible it looks like we could be in for a bumpy ride over the next seven days.
The Kp index hit five on the evening of Tuesday 16th April after the interplanetary magnetic field or Bz swung southwards, sparking visible aurora in the UK as far south as Dartmoor. This impacted the ionosphere, pushing MUFs over a 3,000km path way down, with recovery not showing itself until 09:30hrs on Wednesday the 17th.
Ten metres is struggling to open at times, although you may find FT8 still passing weak signals. SSB operators might be better advised to look at 12 and 15 metres which may provide richer pickings.
A small coronal hole on the solar equator is also now facing Earth, which might cause an increased Kp index late on Friday the 19th or Saturday the 20th.
Next week NOAA predicts that the SFI may decline to be in the range of 170 at the beginning of the week, falling to 135-140 at the end. The risk of an M-class flare is currently put at 75%, with an X-class event at 20%. Despite this, NOAA predicts the Kp index will be around two all next week, although there is a chance that a flare and associated CME could scupper that completely.
If we do get a CME we can expect the Kp index to rise roughly 48 hours after the event, perhaps hitting five or more and possibly sparking visible aurora from the UK again.
Overall then, it's good news on the sunspot front, but not so good for geomagnetic activity, which could see MUFs fall if any solar flares and CMEs come to fruition.
VHF and up
The weather is likely to remain in a fairly unsettled state, despite a temporary high pressure moving across the country this weekend. This may bring some Tropo, but it’s a cold air high and probably not the best for enhanced VHF conditions, except for localised overnight or early morning temporary lifts.
The rest of the time there will continue to be an unsettled flavour to the weather so this leads to the possibility of rain scatter on the GHz bands, especially if we get heavy “April” showers.
This first weekend coincides with the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower which peaks on Sunday night, the 21st-22nd April, so it’s worth checking the usual meteor scatter frequencies, especially on Sunday and Monday. If you are not familiar with meteor rates and variations from day to day, then visit the excellent Radio Meteor Observing Bulletin at https://www.rmob.org which gives an hourly display from various locations around the world or try this page https://rsgb.org/main/technical/propagation/meteor-scatter/ on the RSGB website for many other useful links to meteor scatter resources.
The Sun has woken up a little since last week, and a few auroral flutter signals on the LF bands suggest we shouldn’t give up yet for this Spring. As usual, keep a watch for Kp index going above Kp=5.
The late April period can provide some fleeting early season Sporadic-E events, especially for 10m and 6m and a couple of weak 5MHz foEs or Es critical frequencies were noted during late afternoon on Wednesday the 17th on the Dourbes plot shown at https://www.propquest.co.uk/graphs.php
For EME operators, Moon declination goes negative again on Sunday, but path losses are falling as we pass apogee the day before, Saturday the 20th. 144 MHz sky noise is low, but rising to moderate by the end of next week.
RadioActive 2024 - we need your help!
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As many NARC members will know, every year we host an 2 day event called RadioActive on the first weekend of June held at our place in Gt Ellingham near Attleborough. As well as two active contest stations we host workshops, talks and activities at DCP, not to mention Tammy and my Sunday Roast too! A relaxing informal family welcome event.
But I would really appreciate some help: As our Forum has been delayed until a few days before RadioActive I have lost the opportunity to get your feedback on what you would like to see at RadioActive so I would really appreciate some requests and ideas. The event is particularly ideal for things that do not suit the two hours we have on a Wednesday evening at CNS.
We usually run a construction project (inc etching circuit boards) but unfortunately this year Nick who has done this for several years cannot make it, so could you host a small construction project workshop?
Or do you have a suggestion for something you have made and think others would enjoy - circuit wise or antenna?
We have a small mechanical workshop at our disposal as well as work benches and test equipment.
Or maybe a talk... or film ...
Please get in touch with anything you would like to see at RadioActive 2024!
Thanks. 73
David G7URP & Tammy M0TC
Wednesday April 24 - MMANA-GAL Antenna Analysing software @ CNS
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MMANA-GAL is a really clever software tool for analyzing antenna and tonight our own Steve Nichols G0KYA will be taking us through it and demonstrating how useful it can be for radio amateurs.
As Steve is one of our club members and lives relatively locally he will be making his presentation at CNS School with an in person talk which will start just after notices at 19.30.
The school will be open from 1900-2130 - Cold drinks and biscuits will be available to purchase and there is also a hot drink vending machine in the adjacent canteen room.
Members Forum
The Members Forum postponed from last Wednesday will now take place on Wednesday 29th May.
As originally promised this will be both an in person and online streamed event so that every member can get involved with their ideas and suggestions for NARC
73, David G7URP
*** IMPORTANT *** Cambridgeshire Repeater Group Rally 2024.
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Unfortunately the great British weather has finally caught up with us, and the site has become unavailable for use this coming Sunday 21st as originally planned due to waterlogged surfaces, so we have taken the decision to postpone the CRG Rally until July.
We are planning for Sunday 14th July (TBC) to hold the rally, still at the Foxton Village Hall, awaiting final confirmation from the venue.
Please do share this information with your friends and fellow radio amateurs who may have
been planning to attend.
73,
The CRG Committee and Rally Organiser M0LCM
NARC Contest News 134 Friday 12th April 2024
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Welcome to week one hundred and thirty four of NARC’s contest news.
Results:-
On VHF
No new VHF results so far this week
Despite no UKAC SHF entries this year from the club we remain in 4th place overall - Link here
On HF
No new HF results this week of which I am aware either.
If people are entering other contests of whose results I am obviously unaware please e-mail me to let me know the outcome and I'll mention it here.
Contests:-
On VHF
The 432MHz UKAC ran on Tuesday 9th April. Conditions were reasonable. 143 logs received by RSGB with 6 from NARC so far, there should be one or two more! Best DX here was OZ3Z on CW via a mainly sea path. The wind and rain put paid to some of the portable station's operations which were cut short and also meant towers were often at reduced height. Link to claimed scores here
The 50MHz UKAC ran on Thursday evening 11th April. Conditions were poor although they seemed to approach more normal levels here in the last 45 mins. 10 NARC stations were on which is a good turnout. Thanks to all who entered for us. Link to claimed scores
On HF
The RSGB FT4 international activity day ran on 6th / 7th April for 24h. On a quick scan of entries I can see that 195 logs were received at RSGB. Alan, G8OO appears in the UK 100W restricted section with 539 contacts. I didn't spot any other club members. Link to logs received here
The 80M CC CW ran on Monday 8th April. I was sad to miss this but was flying back from Berlin as it ran through the storms over the North Sea that caused some interference with the contest - quite a lot of turbulence! Malcolm, G3PDH was also missing from the test but thanks to some rallying by Roger G3LDI and a generally good turnout by NARC members, 14 logs were entered at RSGB. Great work! On an initial count up it looks like we should win this one as well obviously depending on UBNs etc. Link to logs received here
If any members were involved in other contests this past week please let me know and I'll put a summary in next week's news.
Upcoming contests in the next 2 weeks:-
On VHF / UHF / SHF
Before each of the 2m and 70cm UKACs there is an FM leg starting 1 hour before for 55 minutes. I hear almost no activity in this from here but others may have more luck! Rules etc on RSGBCC site.
* Tue 16th Apr. 1900-2130 1.3GHz UKAC
* Thu 18th Apr. 1900-2130 70MHz UKAC
* Tue 23rd Apr. 1830-2130 SHF UKAC
Also of interest for some on the vhf / uhf bands are the EU FT8 activity tests - see the following link for more information. These are on the first (144 MHz), second (432MHz) and third (1.3GHz) Wednesdays of each month. 1700-2000 Hrs EU FT8 series website
On HF
* Sat 13th Apr. 0000-0600 QRP ARCI CW contest (Canada) Rules here
* Sat 13th Apr. 0700 to Sun 14th Apr 1300 JIDX CW contest (Japan) Rules here
* Sat 13th Apr. 1200 for 36h SKCC club Weekend Sprintathon, CW Rules here
* Sat 13th Apr. 1200 for 24h OK/OM SSB DX contest Rules here
* Sat 13th Apr. 1200 for 36h IG-RY World-wide RTTY Contest Rules here
Sat 13th Apr. DIG QSO party CW, 1200 on various times for various bands See rules for details here
* Sat 13th Apr. 1500-1800 Africa FT4 DX contest. Maybe an opportunity to get some of those rarer ones in your log! Rules here
* Sun 14th Apr. 1500-1600 Hungarian straight key contest 1h on 80m CW! Rules here
* Mon 15th Apr. 0000-0200 4 states QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint CW/SSB Rules here
* Wed 17th Apr. 1900-2030 80m CC SSB
* Sat 20th Apr. 0500-0859 ES (Estonia) Open HF Championship (Estonia) CW/SSB 40/80m Rules here
* Sat 20th Apr. 0600 for 24h Worked all provinces of China DX contest SSB Rules here
* Sat 20th Apr. 0700 for 24h YU DX contest CW/SSB Rules here
* Sat 20th Apr. 0700-1900 Dutch PACCdigi contest FT4/8 and RTTY Rules here
* Sat 20th Apr. 0800-1800 (local time (how does that work?)) USA ran - cw 5w/SSB 10w Rules here
* Sat 20th Apr. 0900 to Apr 21st at 2359 CQMM DX contest CW Rules here
* Sat 20th and Sun 21st Apr. EA-QRP CW contest - various times / bands Rules here
* Sat 20th Apr. 1800-2159 Feld Hell Sprint Rules here
* Sun 21st Apr. 0700-1100 and 1500-1900 International Vintage Contest HF CW/SSB/AM Rules here
* Thu 25th Apr. 1900-2030 80m CC DATA
See Link to WA7BNM for other contests not mentioned above. Several Parks on the air and QSO parties in the USA etc.
Wednesdays throughout the year, CW ops 1 hour mini tests 13:00, 19:00, Thurs 03:00 and 07:00, exchange Name and G if not a member or CWOPS number if you are a member.
See CWOPS website for more details.
Also on Fridays 2000 to 2100 and Mondays 0000 to 0100 each week CWops runs the K1USN slow speed CW contests. Any speed up to 20wpm is acceptable. For rules see :- CW OPs SST page these contests are open to anyone.
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All RSGB contest rules and further details plus log submission at RSGB contest site
Look to WA7BNM’s contest calendar for other contests and links to rules etc at WA7BNM weekly contest calendar
A link to John 2E0TWQ’s site’s Narc contest history page - 2E0TWQ's NARC contest results page
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Contesting can be great fun but I know there's a reluctance to step into unknown waters. It's a great way of improving many aspects of our hobby including one's own performance and the quality of your station. If you have any interest whatsover please call in to the contest net on Friday evening at 9pm on 145.250MHz FM or speak to any of the regular contesters on 450. Or indeed email me!
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Submissions or comments for this news to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
73 until next week,
Phil G4LPP
GB2CW Morse Corner 12.04.24 + Node, BBS & DX Cluster News
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GB2CW Morse Corner 12.04.24
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Morse Classes
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CW OPS
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The four sessions are very well attended by lots of amateurs from around the world. Great practice and good fun too. Try it some time. You don't have to be a member to participate.
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NARC NET 3543KHz plus or minus QRM 2000 local time
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Start young!
Other Net Controllers and tutors will not join in but will leave the frequency to those that need the experience, tuition and practice. Speed will be maintained at 18wpm.
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If you require any practice, come and join in.
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This week it should be Phil G4LPP but as he is away, I will sit in for him.
Malcolm G3PDH
Phil G4LPP
Dick G3WRJ
Roger G3LDI
Jim G3YLA
Colin G4EYT
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That's it, open the cage, play the music.
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If you have any input, please email me.
73 de Roger, G3LDI GB2CW Coordinator. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. May the Morse be with you.
STOP PRESS!!!
G3LDI-8, GB7LDI, and GB7RDX
The time has come, as espoused by the Walrus, to talk of these things! The computer that runs all three has bitten the dust and at 85 I feel it is time to close this chapter of my amateur radio life. So, as from this date I shall no longer be running a Node, BBS or DXCluster. Users had dwindled anyway on the BBS and there are plenty of other Clusters that can be used. This will give me more time on the air, in the garden, or asleep watching the news!
If anybody would like to run GB7RDX, the licence is still valid, although you will have to ask permission of Lee Sawkins, VE7CC. He might wish to charge you a fee however. I paid to run a Cluster many years ago, so not sure of the present day arrangements. However, it is no loss really as there are others to use.
I have enjoyed running these over the years, indeed I ran the BBS from the beginning of Packet Radio in 1983.
73 de Roger, G3LDI
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