Please send your 'What on earth...' entry together with any news, pictures and views you can share for NARC Live! to radio@dcpmicro.com

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 maybe you know!) what it is for...

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

You have until 3pm on the next NARC Live to let Tammy and David know... 

We are running low on What on Earths.... please see if you can send a picture of something unusual for the competition - don't forget to tell us what it is too!  Thank you

Please email your answers with the subject 'What on earth' to David & Tammy radio@dcpmicro.com by 3pm latest on the WEDNESDAY OF OUR NEXT NARC LIVE and we will read out all of the entries and tell you what it is!

73 

David G7URP & Tammy M0TC  

Remember please email radio@dcpmicro.com not just reply to the newsletter or any other email address or Facebook otherwise David & Tammy will not receive it directly and may never receive it!   

HF News

The solar flux index took a downturn this week, ending up at 150. The visible solar disk is looking rather bare compared with a couple of weeks ago.

This is the lowest SFI value since May 2, 2024, but it is only a matter of time before we see another sunspot appear as we make our way through solar maximum.

The good news is that this means we have been pretty devoid of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, with only a few M-class flares occurring. Any CMEs were not Earth-directed and so the Kp index stayed low.

As a result, the bands are still playing ball. A quick look on 10 metres at 10.00hrs UTC on Thursday 14th showed the 4X6TU (Israel), OH2B (Finland) and LU4AA (Argentina) International Beacon Project beacons were romping in on 28.200MHz.

Going down to 15 metres it was even better, with ZL6B (New Zealand), VK6RBP (Australia) and JA2IGY (Japan) all audible on 21.150MHz.

Also, the proton flux from the Sun remains low, which bodes well for polar paths.

Next week the Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasts that the solar flux index will rise again, no doubt as new or returning sunspots appear, perhaps putting us into the low 200s.

From a geomagnetic perspective, unsettled conditions are forecast for Wednesday, November 20 when the Kp index could rise to four.
Looking further ahead, fingers crossed for the 23rd and 24th weekend when CQ Worldwide CW takes place!

VHF and Up

It was more of the same on 50MHz last week, with what may be a mix of Es and F2-layer propagation producing morning openings in the afternoon to the Gulf States, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.

On the higher bands, with the high pressure just hanging on in its colder guise, next week looks distinctly on the wintry side for some areas.

The high pressure has, along with its predecessor, given us at least two weeks of Tropo conditions on the VHF bands. The expected change-over to low pressure takes place on Sunday and drives a colder northerly weather pattern down across the UK, even to southern areas. This means that the majority of next week is a good time to look for rain scatter.

Regarding meteor scatter, the peak of the Leonids occurs this Sunday 17th November with rates of 15-20 per hour.

Also, occasional peaks of the Kp index above four should tempt us to beam north for chance aurora openings. As usual, check the VHF beacons and clusters for signs of activity during the afternoon and evenings when the auroral oval is displaced southwards nearer to our part of the world.

It's a good week for EME operators, the Moon reaches peak declination on Monday morning, but path losses are rising as we passed perigee on Thursday the 14th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate, reaching 500 Kelvin on Sunday night.

Welcome to week one hundred and sixty five of NARC’s contest news.

Results:-

On VHF

The results of the 23cm UKAC of 15th October were released on 13th November. Our 5 entries scored well, topped by Stewart G4AFF with 727 points. This has resulted in us moving from 6th to 5th place overall in this series! Well done to those who have contributed. Link to results here. 

The results of the October UHF contest which several NARC members worked alongside the Bittern Club to enter, using their call G6IPU/P, are out. Their low power entry in the open section gave them an overall Second place. The team also entered the same weekend's trophy contests. Link to results here. 

NARC is running 10th at the moment in this year's VHF championships out of 84 clubs. Link here 

In the overall UKAC we are still running 4th out of 56 in the General clubs section. Link to this here 

On HF

No new HF results of which I am aware so far 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

The 432MHz UKAC ran on Tuesday 12th November. NARC team managed 6 entries with some good scores. Leading scorer should be Stewart G4AFF once again with 74 contacts. Conditions were poor here with good Tropo going over our heads to the midlands, south west and Scotland although there seemed to be a very slightly enhanced path due east for some of the time. Link here to claimed scores here 

The 432MHz FT8 AC ran on Wednesday 13th November, 2h and 4h sections. Roger, EI8KN was in evidence as was Terry, G0BIX. Link to claimed scores (4h) here - see also 2h via same link. 

The 50MHz UKAC ran on Thursday 14th November. Conditions seemed pretty average from here although band noise seemed lower than usual. NARC seem to have fielded 6 stations. Those in the West country seemed to have a better evening of the Tropo once again although it was far from strong for them. Stations from here on the continent were extremely weak. Link to claimed scores here. 

On HF

On Saturday 9th Novemebr the Club Calls 1.8MHz contest ran from 2000-2300hrs. This is an annual contest where the band is split into 2 segments, one for SSB and one for CW, it is allowable to work each station once on each mode and also the bonus station G6XX in the same way. The contest is quite well attended. I counted 5 NARC stations in the mix. Conditions on Top Band were reasonably good. Link to logs received here. 

The 80m Autumn series SSB contest ran on Wednesday 13th November. Conditions were good and noise levels were quite low here. Many of our team members were unavailable for one reason or another (including forgetfulness!!). This contest clashed with en equipment sale at the club. We managed 7 entries. Link to logs received here. 

Please let me know if you were on in any other VHF or HF contests and I'll put a summary in next week's news.

Upcoming contests in the next 2 weeks (all times in UTC):-

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 16th Nov. 0000 to Sun 17th Nov. 2359 ARRL EME contest - Link to rules here 
* Tue 19th Nov. 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC
* Thu 21st Nov. 2000-2230 70MHz UKAC
* Tue 26th Nov. 1930-2230 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 16th Nov. 1900-2300 2nd 1.8MHz Contest (CW), part of RSGB HF Championship Link to rules here 
* Sat 16th Nov. 1600-2359 All Austrian 160m Contest CW - Link to rules here 
* Sat 16th Nov. 1700-2400 REF 160-Meter Contest (France) CW - Link to rules here 
* Sat 16th Nov. 1200 for 24h LZ DX Contest CW and SSB - Link to rules here 
* Sat 16th Nov. 1800 for 27h South American Integration CW contest - Link to rules here 
* Sat 16th Nov. 1900-2059 Feld Hell Sprint - Link to rules here 
* Sun 17th Nov. 0000-2359 FISTS Sunday sprint CW - Link to rules here 
* Sun 17ht Nov. 1300-1500 (40m) and 1500-1700 (80m) Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party CW - Link to rules here 
* Mon 18th Nov. 2000-2130 RSGB FT4 contest
* Sat 23rd Nov. 0000 for 48h CQ Worldwide DX CW contest - Link to rules here 
* Mon 25th Nov. 1300-1400 QCX (includes QMX and QDX) CW challenge - Link to rules here 
* Thu 28th Nov. 2000-2130 80m Autumn series CW (the last one in the Autumn series)

See Link to WA7BNM for other contests not mentioned above.

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 

************************

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!
************************

Submissions or comments for this news to thedoctorphil@gmail.com

73 until next week,

Phil G4LPP

GB2CW Morse Corner 15.11.24
.

Morse Classes.
.

Classes are still progressing well but it would be nice to see a few more join them.
.

I heard from Steve and Marie this week. They have signed up for the advanced class with CW OPS Academy so they are doing well. Keep up the good work and
don't forget you can also sign into any class of your choice to enhance your work!
.
Jeffrey G0VJH, Stephen M6KYF, James M1TES, Have yet to sign in, but I am living in hope there!
I am not sure what is happening with Frankie M7EQR, unless he has rather heavy school work and has shelved the CW.
I do have two new students signing in Friday evening to the beginner's class, James M1TES and Emma M7TSP both starting from scratch.
If there is anybody else in the same situation please join in on Friday evening.

The NARC CW Monday Night Net.
.

This now takes place on 3543 at 8 p.m. on Monday evenings. We have a Net controller each week and the idea is to encourage you to conversational Morse. If you can read and send at 23wpm, do come and join us. 23wpm is the speed at present and we may be increasing that as time goes by. The overs are short but protocol is adherred to and just a few comments from each attendee is all that is needed. Give it a try!
.

.
And again still nobody joins us on Monday evenings, other than the normal faithful. There is no need to be shy. Learning conversational Morse is a skill in itself. Anybody can work a DX pile-up by using macros or sending their call and 599 TU. Try holding a conversation for about an hour and see how you get on. If you aspire to CWOPS or even FOC it's the only way you will get in to those clubs, by showing and proving your proficiency with a paddle. Not only that, but it really is very satisfying to be able to hold a conversation for that long at around 25wpm with minimal mistakes. PLUS of course you can then monitor the CW end of the bands and hear just conversations and not just dits and dahs.
.
Jeffrey G0VJH is one of the secret listeners apparently. Glad you do listen Jeffrey, but you would be more than welcome if you called into the Net and joined in. Jeffrey has at least now joined NARC, so hopefully he will be joining the NET soon, and one of the Morse Classes too.
.
CW OPS
.

The four sessions are still going well and we have managed to get decent scores each time. This is a great way of making friends with other amateurs. You may not think that the case, but it is surprising how you do get well known in those sessions and further QSOs follow on. You also receive a very nice Newsletter after you join.
.

That's it, open the cage, play the music.
.
If you have any input, please email me.

73 de Roger, G3LDI GB2CW Coordinator. roger@g3ldi.co.uk May the Morse be with you.

Author Roger Cooke

I am pleased to publish details and the booking form for our annual Christmas dinner at The Village Inn in Little Melton on Wednesday 18th December; Arrival is from 1845 and Dinner will be served from 19.30.

Dinner comprises a three course meal with varied menu selections to suit all tastes and dietary requirements will cost members and their family or friends just £15 per head, being subsidised by NARC. The only thing you will need to buy on the night is drinks!

All details are on the booking form which I have attached to most weekends newsletters and printed versions are also available at CNS meetings. With well over a month to book I ask everyone to please help me arrange this event by making sure they book asap and by the deadline Wednesday 27th November at the latest - you can pay by cash at CNS, BACs or Paypal friends and family. If you prefer me to email a booking form to you please drop me an email.  

In addition to the dinner we will be holding a secret santa raffle to raise funds for our member nominated charity of the year, Prostate Cancer UK. If you can we ask everyone attending to bring a small wrapped gift which will be raffled after the dinner.  

**Only 11 days left to book!! (booking opened in October)**

David G7URP

radio@dcpmicro.com

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