Also in GB2RS this week…

| January 31, 2014

The AMSAT FUNcube Team has announced that the latest version of the Dashboard Software, Version 820, can now be downloaded. They have also made a few changes to the way Fitter Messages are handled or displayed on the Data Warehouse. Check out the changes at http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk.

Users of 70MHz will be interested to know that the WG2XPN beacon on 70.005MHz is active all year round and not just the summer. Sadly there have been no reports from IARU Region 1 since the New Year. The beacon transmits in CW, running 3kW ERP beamed at 60 degrees towards Europe. It uses a three element Yagi at 15 metres above ground on the peak of Apple Orchard Mountain along the Blue Ridge mountain range of Virginia state, in Maidenhead grid square FM07fm.

The current TE6U operation from Afghanistan has been approved for DXCC credit. That operation will continue until 3 May. Also approved is the 7Z1ES operation from Saudi Arabia.

Former Enfield Southgate MP, Michael Portillo, was shown how to send Morse code on BBC TV by Chelmsford radio amateur Peter, M0BHY in the programme Great British Railway Journeys. Although originally broadcast on 28 January, you can now watch it at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xgqxy. If you scroll through to 22 minutes 30 seconds in the show you’ll arrive at the Morse demonstration.

The final results for the 41st Marconi Memorial Contest 144MHz CW Contest, organised by ARI Bologna, are available on the IARU Region 1 website. It appears the highest placed UK station was G4DHF in IO92UU. Congratulations to all the winners.

Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, a regular lecturer on Top Band matters at the RSGB Convention, has been named the winner of the Bill Orr, W6SAI, Technical Writing Award for 2013. The ARRL Foundation selected Carl for his article The Sun and the Ionosphere that appeared in the March 2013 issue of QST.

Category: GB2RS Headlines