NARC Live online Wednesday 22nd March 2023: Space Weather numbers

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Published: 04 March 2023

Last Updated: 18 March 2023

Tonight we meet online for NARC Live and welcome our own Steve G0KYA who is going to give us a talk "What do the numbers mean - making sense of space weather and the ionosphere".

Before Steve's presentation we would like to share your club news, stories, pictures and the solution to the latest 'What on Earth...'!

So please send any news, pictures and views you can share for NARC Live! to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 3pm latest on Wednesday.

Join Tammy M0TC and David G7URP live on BATC or Facebook - everyone is welcome.

Watch live on BATC or Facebook at 19.30: 

Watch live on BATC:

https://batc.org.uk/live/NARC

or Facebook Live:

https://www.facebook.com/norfolkamateurradioclub  

WATCHING PREVIOUS NARC LIVE's...

If you missed a NARC Live we now we record most shows in the studio and upload them to Youtube within   couple of days. So you can watch almost any previous recorded NARC Live show by going to YouTube, searching for "Norfolk ARC", click on Videos and choose the programme you want to watch. https://www.youtube.com/c/norfolkamateurradio/videos 

What on Earth is this...?

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Published: 23 February 2023

Last Updated: 14 March 2023

This is our regular competition where we show an unusual object, tool, gadget or thing-me-bob sent in by one of the NARC members and you have to guess (or you know!) what it is or what it does...

Have a good look at the picture below - what on earth is this...?!

Please email your answers with the subject 'What on earth' to David & Tammy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 3pm on WEDNESDAY OF OUR NEXT NARC LIVE and we will read out all of the entries and tell you what it is!

Whats your mystery object - we need more unusual gadgets, tools and gizmos

We ask for your photos of unusual items to feature in future weeks. To enter please send us a good quality photo of your 'What on earth is this' along with a brief description and ideally at the same time include a second photo of it in use by email to the same email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Everyone has one of those 'must-have' kitchen gadgets they bought at a show or one of the strange inventions by Ronco or KTel that you just had to have at the time, but only used once! Please use your own photo if you possibly can, but if you do send us a photo by someone else please be sure to tell us who owns the © copyright.

73 

David G7URP & Tammy M0TC  

Remember please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. not reply to the newsletter or any other email address or Facebook or David & Tammy will not receive it directly and may never receive it!  

Last weeks mystery item was a Tagging gun for adding tags to prizes to hang up in arcade machine sent into us by James M0UKS, an arcade and leisure machine engineer. (I suppose it could also be used to fit tags to socks etc to hang up in a retail environment at a push   ;o)

International Marconi Day 2023, Caister Lifeboat, Saturday 22nd Aprii

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Published: 17 March 2023

Last Updated: 17 March 2023

Here’s one for your diaries. On Saturday 22nd April 2023, Norfolk Amateur Radio Club will once again run a special event station with the callsign GB0CMS at Caister Lifeboat station as part of the International Marconi Day celebrations.

If you haven’t been involved in IMD before, on this day, the closest Saturday to Guglielmo Marconi's birthday, stations around the world are set up at sites with historical links to the inventor's work.

Although it is not a contest, radio amateurs around the world contact as many of these stations as possible to try and win an award. We therefore have to hand out GB0CMS to as many stations as possible on HF (VHF/UHF contacts do not count). With the current sunspot activity, this could be one of the best IMDs we have done.

The station will run from approx. 9am to 5pm, with set up from 8am, and we will be looking for operators for both the 80m/40m station and the 20m/15m/10m station.

You can update the operator roster yourself or send me your details. Just one slot person for now please. See https://docs.google.com/document/d/12oHIFahk7vNjEwlGZZ7_JjnePM-QzeO13f6tXQpqJHU/edit?usp=sharing

SSB, FT8 and CW will be used, so you don't have to be a CW operator.

For more details see the GB0CMS entry at https://www.qrz.com/db/GB0CMS

Steve G0KYA (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

GB2CW Morse Corner Week ending 17.03.23

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Published: 18 March 2023

Last Updated: 18 March 2023

GB2CW Morse Corner Week ending 10.03.23
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MORSE CLASSES FOR 2023 HAVE REALLY GOOD ATTENDANCE.
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Good to see but there really is a large amount of room for improvement.
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since writing last week about the method of learning Morse without proper tuition, i.e. without joining local classes, I have heard again from Claire M7EAH. I now appreciate that she is receiving the correct tuition, though not through NARC.

I have since emailed her to apologise for some unreasonable assumptions and comments I made in this piece and to wish her luck in her endeavours.

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If anybody is interested in learning and joining the GB2CW classes I would be very pleased to hear from you. Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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As an experiment I logged into ChatGPT and asked it ( him/her? ) to compose a piece for this Newsletter as to why anybody should learn Morse code. The following is the piece I was given, not bad for a robot! Whadya fink?
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Morse code is a fascinating and historic way of communicating that is still used today in many different fields. Although it may seem daunting at first, learning Morse code is a rewarding and enriching experience that can open up new opportunities and broaden your communication skills.

By learning Morse code, you'll be able to communicate with others using a system that has been used for over 150 years. It's a system that has stood the test of time and has been used in countless applications, from military communication to amateur radio.

Moreover, learning Morse code can also be a fun and challenging way to exercise your brain. Studies have shown that learning a new language or communication system can help improve cognitive function and memory, and Morse code is no exception.

Finally, learning Morse code can be a great way to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for history, technology, and communication. There are many communities and organizations dedicated to the study and practice of Morse code, and by joining these groups, you'll be able to meet new people, learn new skills, and expand your horizons.

In short, learning Morse code is a valuable and rewarding experience that can enrich your life in many different ways. So if you're a newcomer looking for a new challenge, consider giving Morse code a try. Who knows, it may just become your new favorite hobby!
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Classes are as per the table below, BUT speeds will be aimed at whoever checks in for practice.
Accuracy transcends Speed is the motto of FISTS, but in tuition that is the way to go.
So, if you join and can only manage around 10 wpm that will be the speed!
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Classes are now waiting for you to join and there is a variety of days and times to choose from. You will be expected to put in at least 30 minutes practice per day and if you do that you can soon see progress. It's not only the code to learn but lots of procedural signals, punctuation, abbreviations ( around 300 but not all are used! ) and correct protocols to use on the air.
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DO NOT use a Morse reader. You do not become a CW operator that way. CW is a nuaanced mode and you have to be aware of what is going on around you. With a reader only copying ONE signal, that is impossible. You can get away with it in a contest, but even then, you could create a situation that you don't want. Just learn the Code - get on with it!

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Soooooooooooooo, join in any of the following classes - you will be most welcome!

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Head copy class was great this week with five attending and a couple listening only, very chuffed with that result!

The guy you see in the picture could be you. Nothing can replace sitting in front of a receiver with headphones on just LISTENING around the bands only. This is the way you learn good operating, propagation, what bands are open at what time to what parts of the world.
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If you have any questions, do call on 145.450. There is always a CW operator there monitoring and will be only too pleased to discuss anything to do with Morse.
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If you like the idea of learning Morse "in tempo" take a look and listen to this:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XHwygN9CK
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If you have a drum kit you could try it yourself! Look for the mistake..............
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Recently I gave some information about sticky pads for your desk to prevent your Morse key sliding around. I ordered two and have one on my desk for my Vibroplex paddle. I can honestly say these are the best thing I have tried. I had an original sticky pad that I bought years ago, somewhat thicker than these new ones. I was dubious at first sight of the new ones but they really are good. The price is not bad either, they are washable and will retain their quality. Your paddle won't slide around on these pads.
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06Y252SJP/ref=pe_19532351_772108491_em_1p_1_im

==============================

CW OPS
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Phil G4LPP made over 100 Qs in the evening session this week, so congratulations for that Phil! If you would like to be nominated for membership of CW OPS just let one of the local members know and we will do the necessary. The only pre-condition is that you are good up to 25wpm. You can earn yourself a medallion by attending a certain number of sessions.
Even if you are NOT a member, please feel free to join in some of these sessions. For the UK the exchange is {NAME} G
This is a great way of both making new friends and gaining a lot of practice in a fun way.
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If again you are serious about learning CW, then why not join the CW OPS Academy? You sign up for a year in semesters with your own tutor. He will oversee your course and get you up to a decent speed in a year. That way it's a bit like going back to school inasmuch you do feel obligated to attend each week and maintain some progress. The younger you are the easier it is. It is never too late to learn however so don't let your age be a barrier.
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Once you do attain 25wpm with ease, then gaining lots of experience on the air could lead to other things.............
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RUFZXP
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No table this week as there are no updated scores.

Send your new score to Jim G3YLA by Thursday evening at the latest. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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The NARC Net.
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Learning Net Protocol is not that easy and requires practice. To help with this the NARC Net was started a few years ago. We are STILL waiting for newcomers to join on a regular basis however. No need to feel shy or nervous because the Net is the place to learn and we always have a discussion afterwards on 145.250 FM.
We are now starting the NARC Net at 20 wpm. On a paddle, this provides reasonable speed and good Morse to encourage those trying out their skils for the first time, or even those not comfortable at higher speeds. This is what the Net was instigated for in the first place so please try to join in.
The Net controller will call ON TIME at 8.00 and will listen ONLY for beginners to start with so please DO NOT call before time and DO NOT call until sufficient time has been given to those beginners. There must be dozens of them just busting to join in so let's hope this produces some results! Please wait until the Net Controller STARTS the Net before lodging your call.
Once the Net controller has called for those beginners a couple of times, then we can also join in. Then, we can run at 20 wpm for the complete Net or if the controller wishes, he can increase the speed to a suggested level, say 25 wpm.
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Being a pedantic pest I do like to see accurate netting. Please pay particular attention to that.
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Below are the details of the Net.

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3543.00KHz 2000 local time on Monday evenings. Join us for a chat. It lasts approximately an hour.
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Net Operator's list:
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Malcolm G3PDH
Chris G4CCX
Phil G4LPP
Dick G3WRJ
Roger G3LDI
Les G0DFC
Jim G3YLA
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This is the current list.
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Please keep a list of Net Controllers so you can work out when it will be your turn. I will highlight the call in red each week for the following Monday.
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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.

NARC Contest News (77) Friday 17th March 2023

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Published: 16 March 2023

Last Updated: 16 March 2023

Welcome to week seventy seven of NARC’s contest news.

Results:-

On VHF

The results of the 144MHz UKAC of 7th March were released on 16th March. We had a record number of log submissions for this one with 13 entries. Notable new calls entering were M1AFQ, G4BEW, G3EVA and G3LDI - great to hear new or nearly new participants taking part. G4AFF scored highest and is currently the leading NARC member after 3 tests on 144 MHz by 1 point from yours truly with 2,192 points. The club is running 6th on 2m at present and 7th overall.

On HF

No new HF results this week.

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

This Tuesday evening (14th) saw the 432MHz UKAC. Not sure why but conditions seemed pretty good with contacts from here into GM, GI, GD, GW, PA and DJ with best Dx 727 km to JO50 square. It's good to see NARC represented by 6 logs so far with a potential 7th to come.

The 70MHz UKAC took place on Thursday evening 16th March. Conditions were not great but 6 NARC stations took part, 5 of whom will enter logs and one was giving away points. Activity seemed lower than usual but contacts were made into DL, PA, GW, GD, G and GI from here. QSB was bad but overall noise levels seemed low. Thanks to all who participated.

Lets hope we can keep up this great attendance level!

On HF

The main event last weekend for many was the Commonwealth (BERU) contest on HF CW. 6 club members have uploaded logs although 2 didn't declare a club affiliation. John, G8VPE was on for 1hour working 11 stations. Activity was pretty good with some good Dx about although the quantity of rarer islands seemed a bit down compared with previous years. Overall a good event where the Dx is actively looking for UK stations and it's good for building DXCC levels.

The 160m Stew Perry Top Band CW contest also took place last weekend. Activity was fairly good and several NARC stations were on. This is a test where spotting and cluster use is actively discouraged and chat rooms or other means of arranging QSOs are banned. Pure CW!.

The 80m RSGB CW CC took place on Wednesday evening. Activity and conditions were good with a great turnout from NARC members who supplied 17 logs. It was good to see Paul M1AFQ getting back into these contests and also congratulations to John G8VPE on a personal best score of 71 raw contacts. Overall people's scores seem to be improving so excellent work to all. It looks like we should also win this one.

I would be pleased to receive write-ups from anyone who took part in any of these for this newsletter.

If any other contests have been worked by NARC members writeups are always welcome here. Please e-mail content to me at the address below.

We are always on the lookout for new contesters to add to our team and welcome people of any ability who either wish to add their score to ours or develop their skills.

Note, NARC contest net takes place every Friday evening at 9pm clock time on 145.250MHz. This is a useful place to exchange contest information and get help with logging and station setup issues etc.

Contest reports are always appreciated from any club members.

To repeat:- I have been approached about forming a contest group to participate for NARC in the various 2m / VHF contests throughout the year such as VHF Field day, 2m CW Marconi, VHF championships etc. This would be on a portable station basis. If there is any interest out there in putting together such a group please contact me for details. There has certainly been a reduction in NARC participation in these events since COVID and it would be good to get a well prepared club VHF contest station up and running once more. So far I have heard from three interested parties. More would be appreciated! We are close to starting planning for this (probably over a pint!) I will be in touch with likely helpers shortly!

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.

* Sat 18th Mar 1400-1700 (144) and 1700-1800 (432) AGCW VHF/UHF contest CW (European focus)- see WA7BNM
* Tue 21st Mar 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC
* Tue 28th Mar 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 https://ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/

On HF

* Sat 18th March 0200 for 48h BARTG HF RTTY contest - see WA7BNM
* Sat 18th March 1200 for 24h F9AA Cup SSB - see WA7BNM
* Sat 18th March 1200 for 24h All Africa International DX Contest - see WA7BNM
* Sun 19th March 0700-1100 UBA Spring Contest SSB - see WA7BNM
* Thu 23rd March 2000-2130 80m CC SSB
* Sat 25th March 0000 for 48h CQ WW WPX SSB - see WA7BNM
* Mon 27th March 1900-2030 RSGB FT4

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.

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

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

Propagation News, Friday 17th March 2023

Details

Published: 16 March 2023

Last Updated: 16 March 2023

HF News

Last week was split into two, HF propagation-wise. The first half of the week was characterised by excellent high-band conditions, with many people commenting on how good things were. The Kp index was low, there was a lack of solar flares and the solar flux index (SFI) was high – perfect for HF.

There were reports of openings to Hawaii and Alaska on 10 metres and Bob MD0CCE said 10m had been open to the Pacific every night for the last five or six days.

But it didn’t last and by Wednesday it all went pear-shaped.

The Earth was hit by a fast solar wind with a southward-pointing Bz on Wednesday the 15th, which increased the Kp index to 5.67. Its impact on the ionosphere was quick and very damaging. To such an extent that the two “local” Digisondes at Fairford and Chilton couldn’t detect the F2 layer, leaving their traces blank.

It happened again later on Wednesday evening, with the Kp index hitting 5.67 once again.

Luckily, it didn’t last long and the Kp index was back down to less than two by the morning and the MUF over 3,000km was back over 28MHz by mid-morning Thursday.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the SFI will remain in the range 135-145. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 20th, but as we know, anything can happen at this point in the solar cycle. Look for a low Kp index, but above all, get on the bands and see what you can work!

VHF and up

The unsettled weather pattern seems likely to continue through the coming week driven by an undulating jet stream over the British Isles. This will mean, for yet another week, there is unlikely to be much good Tropo. It’s not all bad news though, since the unsettled part of the weather story may introduce some rain scatter on the GHz bands.

The mention of jet streams should, in a month or so, raise the promise of some Sporadic-E activity, which is often geographically related to the position of jet streams. It’s probably a bit early for that, although it could be worth considering a look at 10 and 6m as we move towards the end of the month.

Ten metres, (and 6m if you're in the far South West) can also give some good Trans Equatorial (TEP) propagation, this time of year. This is typical of the changeover period from southern hemisphere Es to northern hemisphere Es.

As usual, the chance of aurora is still around, so keep a watch out on the clusters or www.spaceweather.com for all the latest news. Early-morning random meteors should stay on the checklist too.

For EME operators, moon declination is low but rising, going positive again on Wednesday meaning Moon availability windows will lengthen. The Moon is at perigee today so path losses are at a minimum. 144 MHz sky noise is low this week, apart from the whole of Tuesday when the Sun and Moon are close to eclipse.

It is perhaps worth reminding new licensees that preparing a good list of HF and VHF beacons to monitor can be worthwhile, especially in quieter times now before the summer Es season gets under way.