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Wednesday 20th March 2024 - Trapezing Antennas talk AT CNS!
Tonight we meet in the 6th form common room of CNS School for a talk from Tom Morgan ZT1T who will be telling us about the fascinating world of Trapezing Antenna.
Tom will be bringing us this talk live from his home in South Africa and shown on our projector screen where the audience will also be able to ask him questions at the end.
Please note that this talk will not be live streamed so please come and see the talk with fellow NARC members (we used to have talks like this using Skype).
In April at the Members Forum we will be asking all NARC members what they think of this and other online and in-person activities which we organise...
As usual we meet from 1900-2130 in the CNS 6th form common room and Tom's talk will start after notices at around 19.30 - Cold drinks and biscuits will be available to purchase and there is also a hot drink vending machine in the adjacent canteen room.
David G7URP
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NARC members news...
If you have an article or news you would like to share with other members on the website or newsletter please send them to David G7URP for inclusion on this page (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Free Laser Printer and Toner Cartridge
Tony Payne is offering a working Hewlett Packard HP1018 monochrome laser printer with a spare toner cartridge completely free. If you are interested please email him direct: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. referring to this NARC newsletter.
Vulcan bomber seen from the air...
Tom G8XQD sent us this YouTube link to share with members.
Open day Sale - Saturday March 23rd
One of our members who lives just south of Norwich is down-sizing and has a significant range of high quality radios, power supplies, test equipment, Step-IR and Ultrabeam antenna that they will be selling from their home at an informal open day sale on Saturday March 23rd between 1000-1400. More details and photos will be available nearer the time, meantime if you are interested please save the date.
Three hours of QRP fun on 24th March...
Mark G0TMT shares details of this fun contest for 3 hours on a Sunday morning!
Make a note of this in your agenda ????
THE 1 WATT GAME 2024 - PART1.
I. OBJECTIVE: A short QRPP CW game on the 20 meterband. All radio amateurs and SWL's are cordially invited.
II. DATE: sunday 24 March 2024 from 0900 to 1200 UTC.
III. BAND: 20 meter band only. 14.060 MHz +- 10 kHz.
IV. POWER: maximum 1 watt.
V. OPERATION: Only CW (A1A).
1. CALL: CQ 1W
2. EXCHANGE: RST / POWER / LOCATOR
ie. 559/1w/ JO21LA. Additional info like power, RTX, antenna,... is welcome.
VI. SCORING:
First calculate the distance of each QSO.
QSO points = distance divided by the power of the other station (in watts).
Power less than 1 watt is equal to 1 watt in the points calculation.
Eg. your counter station is 2000 km away and uses 5 watt. Then the point count for this qso is: 2000/5 = 400 points.
Eg. your counter station is 3000 km away and uses 1 watt. Then the point count for this qso is: 3000/1 = 3000 points.
Eg. your counter station is 3000 km away and uses 300 milliwatt. Then the point count for this qso is: 3000/1 = 3000 points.
TOTAL SCORE: Sum of all QSO points.
VII. LOG SUBMISSION:
Email your score to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Add the text: Me, (your call) , I declare that I managed a total of XXX QSOs, my total result is XXX points.
Please add your best DX (call and locator)station-info: locator, power, RTX, antenna. Pictures of your set-up are appreciated.
VIII. GAME REFEREE: Peter Kempenaers (ON6KZ/OO7Z). The Game Referee has the right to request full log in case of any doubt.
IX. LOG DEADLINE: 6 april 2024.
X: Nominees: award for the winner, the best DX, funiest location (if outdoor), original home brew, lowest power.
Do you have any Mark Lamarr music show recordings?
We have received an email from Mike Woodward requesting that we ask if any members have any recordings of missing shows from an archive he is making: https://www.godseternaljukebox.com/p/missing-shows.html
This is an extensive archive of Mark Lamarr BBC Radio 2 music broadcasts that often featured records never before played on radio. See the side menu for the shows, while the menu below includes a list of those left to find. Please use the email link if you have recordings on this list you're willing to share.
If you can help Mike either contact him through this website or via: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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AGM, awards, charity and construction competition...
NARC Annual General meeting
We are fast approaching our AGM on Wednesday April 3rd which will be an in person event at CNS starting at 20.00 and we hope as many members as possible will come.
As well as our annual award presentations the membership will also be nominating and voting on which charity the club will support this year in its fund raising, so please be thinking of which charity is close to you and would like the club to support (in 2023 we raised £900 which can make a lot of difference especially to smaller charities who are often proposed).
The AGM is also the occasion that members decide who will be running their club for the next 12 months, so if you would like to put yourself forward for election of any position to help run the club please enter your name along with a proposer and seconder on the Officer and Committee proposal file which is available near the till at the canteen. The deadline for proposals is the meeting before the AGM, Wednesday March 27th.
Construction Competition!
To add even more interest to the evening there will also be the NARC Annual Construction Competition where any member can enter anything they have made, scratch built or commercial kit, simple or complex. These are displayed from 1900 and judged on the night by last years winner who will announce the results within the AGM.
Any queries or business regarding the AGM please send them to the club secretary or chairman by 9pm on Wednsday 27th March.
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GB2CW Morse Corner 15.03.24
GB2CW Morse Corner 15.03.24
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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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L
NARC NET 3543KHz plus or minus QRM 2000 local time
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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. I was surprised this week to be joined by Ken G3UDA, who takes holidays in the area and is in fact staying with Phil G4LPP in June. Then Peter G3YSE a station from Gloucestershire, whose club was having a CW evening and finally by none other than Les MM0UMH so it was a very pleasing evening. No locals but hey-ho that's life!
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This week it is the turn of Jim G3YLA.
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.
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NARC Contest News 130 Friday 15th March 2024
Welcome to week one hundred and thirty of NARC’s contest news.
Results:-
On VHF
No new VHF results so-far this week.
We are now running 4th on every band in the UKACs except SHF which we haven't entered so far this year.
Link to the the whole UKAC series in which we are running 4th out of 39 clubs in the General section.
On HF
No new HF contest results this week that I am aware of 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 12th March, NARC members were out in force with 9 providing logs and one other. Leadinng scorer was G4AFF with an excellent 83 claimed contacts. It's good to hear so many of us on UHF. Every entry counds for points so please consider entering even if your equipment is poor for this band. Activity was good with 153 logs received so far by RSGB and conditions were reasonable to the North and East. Link to claimed scores
The 50MHz UKAC took place on 14th March. Conditions were horrible! Very weak stations genarally and extremely deep qsb. NARC members turned out well again with 12 members active which should result in 10 or possibly 11 logs. Stewart G4AFF was once again best scorer with 85 claimed contacts. Best DX for many was David, GI4SNA. It was good to hear James, M0ZAH on again with several contacts on the key and SSB. Link to claimed scores here
On HF
The Commonwealth contest (BERU) ran over the weekend of 9 / 10 March. Unfortunately I was away for this one which usually provides good rare DX and is fun to enter. I gather activity was a bit lower than usual this time. Reports here from Ray G3G and Colin G4EYT (I know there were other entries by NARC members, G3G, G4EYT(no log yet!), M0WEL, G0OOR, G4KQY, G4TUK, G3LDI, G0KYA) :-
Hi Phil
I did 7.50 hours in the contest running 950W and split between Sat afternoon and Sunday morning. This only produced a disappointing 133 Q’s, somewhat due to a lack of support overseas except for Canada and Australia. The Momobeam Tribander performed faultlessly.
(There were several other NARC members participating, but of course I can only contact HQ stations in the UK).
73
Ray (G3XLG) G3G
Hi Phil
I managed to crawl out of bed early on Sunday morning (by my retired old guy standards anyway) to have a crack at the BERU contest.
My 50w to a vertical doublet managed to work 3 VK’s, cyprus and ZL4TT on 20m.
On 15m Japan and Malta. Meanwhile the ones that got away included Hong Kong and Kenya on 10m.
A couple of fun hours, this contest brings out a few exotic stations. Well worth the effort. Will try and get up earlier next year.
73
Colin
G4EYT
Link to BERU logs received here
The 80m CC CW contest ran on Wednesday 13th March. NARC produced an excellent 20 entries with some excellent scores. Performance is certainly improving across the board! Leading NARC scorer was Malcolm G3PDH with 175 contacts logged. 12 of us produced logs with greater than 100 score and many worked the bonus station. 210 logs have so-far been received by RSGB. Link to logs received here
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 16th Mar. 1400-1700 (144MHz) and 1700-1800 (432MHz) AGCW VHF/UHF contest CW Rules here
* Tue 19th Mar. 2000-2230 1.3GHz UKAC
* Thu 21st Mar. 2000-2230 70MHz UKAC
* Sun 24th Mar. 0600-1000 UBA (Belgium) Spring 6m contest, CW and Phone - Rules here
* Tue 26th Mar. 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 Mar. 0000 for 24h PODXS 070 Club St Patricks Day Contest PSK31 - Rules here
* Sat 16th Mar. 0200 for 48h BARTG HF RTTY Contest - Rules here
* Sat 16th Mar, 1200 for 24h F9AA Cup SSB - Rules here
* Sat 16th Mar. 1200 for 24h Africa all mode International DX contest CW, SSB and RTTY - Rules here
* Sat 16th Mar, 2000-2159 Feld Hell sprint - Rules here
* Sun 17th Mar. 0700-1100 UBA Spring contest SSB 80m - Rules here
* Mon 18th Mar. 2000-2130 RSGB FT4 Contest
* Sat 23rd Mar. 0000 to 2359 on 24th Mar. Maidenhead Mayhem Sprint - Rules here
* Sun 24th Mar. 0900-1200 Part 1 of the One Watt Game 20m band CW. This was good fun last year with some surprising distances worked - Rules below:-
THE 1 WATT GAME 2021 - PART1.
I. OBJECTIVE: A short QRPP CW game on the 20 meterband. All radio amateurs and SWL's are cordially invited.
II. DATE: sunday 28 march 2021 from 0900 to 1200 UTC.
III. BAND: 20 meter band only. 14.060 MHz +- 10 kHz.
IV. POWER: maximum 1 watt.
V. OPERATION: Only CW (A1A).
1. CALL: CQ 1W
2. EXCHANGE: RST / POWER / LOCATOR
ie. 559/1w/ JO21LA. Additional info like power, RTX, antenna,... is welcome.
VI. SCORING:
First calculate the distance of each QSO.
QSO points = distance divided by the power of the other station (in watts).
Eg. your counter station is 2000 km away and uses 5 watts. Then the point count for this qso is: 2000/5 = 400 points.
Eg. your counter station is 3000 km away and uses 1 watts. Then the point count for this qso is: 3000/1 = 3000 points.
TOTAL SCORE: Sum of all QSO points.
VII. LOG SUBMISSION:
Email your score to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Add the text: Me, (your call) , I declare that I managed a total of XXX QSOs, my total result is XXX points.
Please add your best DX (call and locator)station-info: locator, power, RTX, antenna. Pictures of your set-up are appreciated.
VIII. GAME REFEREE: Peter Kempenaers (ON6KZ/OO7Z). The Game Referee has the right to request full log in case of any doubt.
IX. LOG DEADLINE: 1 May 2021.
X: Nominees: award for the winner, the best DX, funiest location (if outdoor), original home brew, lowest power.
* Thu 28th Mar. 2000-2130 80m CC SSB
See WA7BNM for other contests
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
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Propagation News, Friday 15th March 2024
HF News
What a difference a month makes. We’ve gone from a solar flux index nearly up to 200, to one that is down in the 120s.
Over the past week, we have only had two M-class solar flares, which means we have had limited coronal mass ejection activity and so low Kp indices.
Last weekend’s Commonwealth Contest saw UK amateurs making plenty of HF contacts, some with Australia, but everyone agreed that HF propagation was a little lacklustre.
There is a daily chance of moderate-class solar flares from AR 3607, the largest sunspot region, but all remaining spots remain mainly small and simple.
The solar wind speed has been quite high with sporadic periods of a south-pointing Bz field. This is what has pushed the Kp index to three, but this isn’t a big threat to HF. There is a slight chance of unsettled intervals caused by a weak coronal hole near the south centre of the solar disc coupled with the fast solar wind.
NOAA reports that active region 3590 has been detected on the far side of the Sun using helioseismology. This may mean that it will still be active and a threat when it returns in a week or so. This region was the source of the February 22nd X6 (R3) solar flare - the largest so far in Solar Cycle 25.
Next week, commencing March 18th, NOAA predicts that the SFI will remain in the 120s-130s range, although the USAF predicts it could reach 150. Geomagnetic conditions are likely to be mainly settled with a maximum Kp index of two or three.
So this is a reasonable forecast for HF propagation, which should remain open up to 28MHz during daylight hours. This is also a good time for north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and the UK to South America.
VHF and up
The continuing theme of unsettled weather will produce further spells of rain and heavy showers and once again provide some rain scatter options on the GHz bands.
Another thing to mention is that, as we move towards the latter part of the month, the intensity of showers becomes greater due to the additional warmth, improving the effectiveness of the rain scatter process.
It is very hard to find any traditional Tropo until we get well into the coming week, probably on Thursday 21st, when a high will develop a ridge from Biscay across southern Britain and the near continent. This should provide a chance of tropo for the last part of next week from Thursday 21st to the final weekend. Unfortunately, this is not in time for the UKAC on 1.3GHz on Tuesday 19th, but the 70MHz UKAC on Thursday 21st may be luckier.
The north of Britain may start to see the next low bringing rain over that weekend, so although it has an early exit from any Tropo, at least being well north gives Scottish stations a head start for any aurora, which tends to favour the spring months.
Meteor scatter still remains in the random territory - try just before sunrise for best results. But with the next major shower being the Lyrids in late April, we have a while to wait for an uptick in activity.
Lastly, a brief mention of Sporadic-E, which has popped up with some weak events on the Dourbes plots on Propquest, but the main season is still a little way off.
Maybe check next month for a heads-up on the lower bands like 28 and 50MHz. Of course, digital modes will get a head start, so best check the clusters and chatrooms for signs of fleeting activity. Some UK stations have seen 50MHz trans-equatorial propagation to Africa last week so check for that.
For EME operators, Moon declination reaches a maximum on Sunday, but path losses are starting to increase again. 144 MHz sky noise is moderate, falling to low on Wednesday.