Propagation News, Friday 23rd September 2022

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Published: 22 September 2022

Last Updated: 22 September 2022

HF News

Last week saw the solar flux index decline very slightly to 137. The good news is that we have had reasonably-settled geomagnetic conditions.

The highest Kp index has been three, but it has often been at zero or one. This is good news as it means that the ionosphere has had a chance to develop.

The MUF over a 3,000km path has often exceeded 28MHz, especially in the early afternoons. This will probably improve further as we head into late September and early October.

The result has been some good DX has been available. J20EE in Djibouti, Africa has been workable on 10 metres CW, as has ZD7BG on St Helena. And ZL7\K5WE on Chatham Island is reported to have been “very easy” on 40m.

The 4X6TU IBP beacon in Givatayim, Israel on 28.200MHz has been audible down to one Watt recently, which is very encouraging. And numerous North American low-power beacons have also been audible, including the 5W K5TLL on 28.298MHz in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

As we head into next week the Sun will be dominated by active regions 3105 and 3107. Region 3015 is actually the remains of AR 3089. A cluster of sunspots in 3105 continue to turn into view off the southeast limb and for now, they remain mostly stable, however minor solar flares will be quite possible.

NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to the mid-120s next week. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to remain calm, at least until the 29th when the Kp index is predicted to rise to five or even six. A single CME could soon disrupt the calm so don’t expect the good conditions to last.

VHF and up

The weather has a noticeable autumn flavour to it lately and the coming week is continuing that theme.

As I write this on Wednesday evening, there is a hint of Tropo over the southern half of the British Isles, but as soon as a cold front completes its journey south on Thursday, we enter a period of cooler northwesterly winds. This will bring rain and showers and means that for most of this weekend and next week, rain scatter is a good option for the GHz bands.

Late in the week, and probably nearer next weekend, we find another high edging closer to Ireland and western Britain and perhaps bringing some patchy Tropo down the western side of the country.

A further possibility is for meteor scatter and auroral propagation to present themselves as an option, but see the HF section above for the solar details and implications. The Kp index rising above five will be a useful guide for the chance of aurora.

There are no major showers in the coming week, although towards the end there may be some early Orionids shower reflections. This shower will peak between the 2nd and 7th of October.

It is also worth watching for reflections during the daytime Sextantid meteor shower, which is active from the 9th of September through to 9th of October. The peak is expected to be around the 27th of September. Good hunting.

The Moon will be low in the sky throughout this week and as this coincides with the Moon getting closest to the Earth, path losses will be lowest.

With the equinox now past the Sun will not appear above the Ecliptic again for another six months. This will make Sun-to-cold-sky noise measurements less easy. If you need to make these measurements, and there are few EME operators who don’t, now is probably a good time to do them before those horizon trees get in the way!

What on Earth is this....?

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Published: 04 August 2022

Last Updated: 22 September 2022

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 really good look at the picture below - just 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 object was an attachment to fit a Minox Spy camera to a pair of binoculars - Thanks to Tony M0TDK

NARC Club news and views...

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Published: 19 May 2022

Last Updated: 04 August 2022

NARC Live!

NARC Live is always broadcast live so that viewers can ask questions etc, but it is recorded and uploaded to Youtube within a few days of it being live-streamed.

And to watch any of these recordings of NARC Live or other video events please go to https://www.youtube.com/c/norfolkamateurradio/videos

QRP Labs QDX

Are you going to be building one of these new digital Transceivers as described by Hans Summers on a recent NARC Live? Mike M0TVG has just ordered one and thought it would be nice to share the experience with other NARC Members doing the same, so if you are going to be building one please email David G7URP and he will put everyone building one in touch with each other.

Do you live within approx 4km of Swardeston, NR14 8DU - if so please read...

If you live within 4km of this Swardeston area and are a radio amateur you might be affected by a new kind of electricity substation going to be based there. The developers Orsted are keen to engage with radio amateurs and find out what their particular needs or concerns are at this development stage, so if if you are within this area and you care about your hobby please get in touch with me and I will include you in the group.

They have told me that the closest post code would be Lakenham RFU, post code: NR14 8DU and the What Three words for the exact location is as follows:  W3W///finest.itself.heads

Contact David G7URP: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

GEOCHRON SPECIAL OFFER

As promised we have negotiated a special price to NARC Members for the Geochron featured on NARC Live a few weeks ago saving £36 inc VAT and also free delivery to your door worth £12, making a total saving of £48. 

If you are interested in buying one please contact David G7URP for details of how to order from the UK distributor. Contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  Please let me have any club news to put here and/or NARC Live:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    Thanks  David G7URP

Round table informal sessions at CNS...

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Published: 17 June 2022

Last Updated: 17 June 2022

Ian GM3SEK Filter kit - Where to buy and NARC Member feedback...

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Published: 18 January 2022

Last Updated: 16 February 2022

Need Filter parts?  

(This article is also updated with members feedback lower down)

Several people have asked where they can buy parts from for the Filter kit, either because they missed the NARC bulk buy in December, or they want to buy a few extra parts.

The article as described on NARC Live was recorded and the recording can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVTuBsj3U0o

Ian's GM3SEK website with excellent projects - scroll down for the Filter project including the complete slide set of the presentation which shows construction in more detail.

https://gm3sek.com/

The following are the main components of the kit as specified by Ian along the suppliers you can buy them from which are either used by Ian and or myself when I organised the NARC bulk buy. They are not necessarily always the cheapest supplier, but they are consistent suppliers and all parts are in stock as I write this on 18.1.22.

73 de, David G7URP

Enclosure

CE-TEK GR17012             Suggested supplier: www.cpc.co.uk       CPC code EN84544

https://cpc.farnell.com/ce-tek/gr17012/abs-enclosure-170x170x75mm-ip65/dp/EN84544?CMP=TREML007-003

Cable Gland (2 per kit)

ProPower PG-11 Black                     Suggested Supplier: www.cpc.co.uk      CPC code PG-11 Black

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/pg-11-black/pg11-cable-gland-black/dp/CBBR7352

Mains filter

Schaffner FN2030-16-06                  Suggested supplier: Mouser.co.uk   Mouser code: 631-FN2030-16/06

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Schaffner/FN2030-16-06

Main Ferrite 

Fair-Rite core 0431177081                 Suggested supplier:  Mouser.co.uk   Mouser code: 623-0431177081

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Fair-Rite/0431177081

Smaller Ferrite (2 per kit)

Fair-Rite core  2643167851                Suggested supplier:  Mouser.co.uk   Mouser code: 623-2643167851

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Fair-Rite/2643167851

Tip: Label your Ferrites with their part numbers as soon as you receive them as they look identical to others yet perform very differently!

Cable

High temperature flex such as 3093Y 2.5mm is recommended for the filter and this is available from several sources online and locally, eg Screwfix supply 5m lengths as below for collection from a local branch and you will need at least 3m for the filter as described.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/time-3093y-white-3-core-2-5mm-flexible-cable-5m-coil/80786

Cable update 3.2.22:

Thanks to John 2E0TWQ who shares that Screwfix are currently out of stock but he found it available on eBay under item number 202336536417

David G7URP's buying notes

Note that Mouser has warehouses in Germany and USA but currently if you order over £45 shipping is free and VAT prepaid - the £45 should be exceeded if you purchase the mains filter and ferrites from them all at once.

This information was my experience and is offered in good faith but neither NARC or I can accept responsibility for any errors or problems ordering parts or performance of the filter etc.

David G7URP     18.1.22

NARC Members additional feedback on the Mains filter which came in after the show...

From John 2E0TWQ:

A very useful video showing how to make the filter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECogK3pCp28

And a surplus filter which might be useful as found on eBay but the seller has a large quantity:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361843251381

From Ralph 2M0RHT

I attach photos which I hope help others. It works for me so I must be doing something right. A bit of experimentation does no harm. For me, the + and - go through the filter therefore the earth should do the same. Therefore I constructed my filter as per the photo. Hope this helps others.

From Malcolm G3PDH:

David,  a very interesting discussion on Wednesday.  

Just to reiterate my points, Firstly there seemed to be debate on some reflectors about which way round the metal can filter went.  I assumed that LINE was the mains in and LOAD the output to the toroidal and output.   
My mains earth connects through from the earth tag on the can filter to the cables going around the toroids and to the mains output from the filter.  I have not connected that earth to anywhere else such as an external earth.
A definitive circuit diagram would be useful and confirmation as to the direction of the can filter.
As I said I don’t seem to have any mains borne interference but decided to keep it in circuit as good engineering practice and it could help with any RF going back into the mains from the TX, particularly the Linear Amp.

From Bob G7JTZ:

Join us in 2022! Special reduced online membership rate

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Published: 16 December 2021

Last Updated: 29 January 2022

In this current climate, we hope you will appreciate that we cannot make specific plans for when we can start meeting back at CNS school.

Although NARC currently has reduced costs, as a club we still have some financial commitments to consider and meet, such as insurance and RSGB membership as well as essential equipment servicing and maintenance. With this in mind, the committee has decided to make the 2022 membership fee just £5 across the board for anyone for the year which should cover our reduced costs.

This will be the NARC "Online Membership” and we invite you to rejoin now, because in the future when we do start to meet again and have the significant additional costs of room hire etc our membership fees will immediately revert to the normal rates.

Club Contesters

And if you are a contester remember you need to be an up to date member to enter valid scores into the club championship contests.

So we invite you to rejoin (or join) NARC now for 2022 and pay us ideally by direct bank transfer (be sure to use your callsign/surname as reference) - please also complete and email the membership form if you are not already current member.

(NB - As Mark asks please pay by BACS bank transfer if you possibly can because even though we are a voluntary organisation Paypal still take a significant commission along with the bank which also charges for each Cheque payment)

Details are below or see:

http://norfolkamateurradio.org/index.php/membership/join-us

Mark G0LGJ - Treasurer

(After discussion and agreement by committee)

We welcome new members of any age, gender, and ability, from complete beginners to licensed amateurs.

(Not regularly meeting during the current Covid-19 pandemic )

2022 Membership 

£5 which is classed as our online membership and is a special rate for all membership levels only while the club does not physically meet.

Conditions that qualify a member for concessionary membership can be found in the constitution or shown on the form

If you are a current paid-up member you do not need to complete the form again, but just pay your annual subscription using the methods below.

Ways to pay:

Pay directly to our Bank Preferred

Bank: HSBC
Name: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club
Sort Code: 402008
Account: 31432222 (this is classed as a business account - some banks ask)

IMPORTANT - please use your callsign as the reference or if you are not licensed your initial and surname and email the treasurer as below

OR

Cheque Payable to "Norfolk Amateur Radio Club"
Please use BANK Transfer if possible as banks charge us for each cheque

Posted to address below with a note of your name and callsign:

Mark Taylor G0LGJ
c/o NARC
6 Welden Road
Scarning
Dereham
Norfolk
NR19 2UB

OR

Paypal
Use our online shop to pay via Paypal, you will need to login to website to complete.
http://norfolkamateurradio.org/index.php/on-line/shop/category-listing/product/687-online-membership
An additional charge incurred to cover Paypal costs.Paypal charge 2.9% + .30p per transaction. Totals £5.46

If you wish to pay direct using Paypal please pay £5.46 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - please be sure to use your callsign as a reference.

If you pay via bank transfer please inform the Membership Secretary via email and give the reference you used in your online transaction as banks do not always pass on references.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Conditions that qualify a member for concessionary membership can be found in the constitution or shown on the form

Download and print Membership Form 2022