Also in GB2RS this week…
The RSGB’s autumn Tonight @ 8 webinar series starts this Monday, 7 September 2020 with Portable Adventures With Summits on the Air by James, M0JCQ. Join live and ask questions on the Society’s YouTube channel or via the special BATC channel. On the RSGB website, you can find further information about the webinar series, presenters and resources to help you explore each topic more fully at rsgb.org/webinars.
The popular event Churches and Chapels On The Air will still take place this year, despite COVID-19 restrictions. On Saturday, 12 September 2020, operators will be a mix of individual activities near churches, as well as operating from home. Activity is usually 10am to 4pm, and mainly on the 80, 40 and 20m bands using SSB. Contact John, G3XYF via jhwresdell@gmail.com for more details.
The RSGB has updated some of its web pages to reflect online remote invigilation exams and online training processes while physical meetings are still restricted. The student information section on the Society’s website has full candidate instructions for the remote invigilation exams, information about how to book your exams, as well as a new page listing the online training providers that we are aware of. If your club is providing online training at any licence level and is not listed, please send full details to exams@rsgb.org.uk and the RSGB will add you to the new web list. For details of all the licence levels visit the Student Information page.
The Portable Operations Challenge is a new kind of HF contest. It will take place on the weekend of 3 and 4 October 2020. The aim of the challenge is to create a level playing field for small portable stations against the large contest stations by using handicapping algorithms similar to that used in golf. Participants choose their own eight hour contiguous time window within the 48 hour weekend. Find out all you need to know at foxmikehotel.com/challenge.
ARISS has announced the activation of an FM cross band repeater on the International Space Station. It has a downlink frequency of 437.800MHz. This followed the successful installation of the first element of the ARISS InterOperable Radio System. It enables new, exciting capabilities for amateur radio operators, students and the general public including a higher power radio, voice repeater, APRS capabilities and a SSTV system. Further details at amsat-uk.org.
In the news item about the GB2RS Podcast last week there was an error. It’s not approaching 20,000 downloads, it’s actually approaching two hundred thousand downloads. Our apologies to all those involved in this highly successful method of distributing GB2RS.
The RSGB Morse Proficiency testing service continues to operate during this time of limitations on face-to-face meetings. Many of the scheme’s assessors are experienced in offering online testing. This means there’s always an opportunity for anyone to obtain a Certificate of Competency, without leaving their home, by using an online sound and video program such as Skype. Full details of the scheme can be found in the RSGB Yearbook, or at rsgb.org/morse. If you want more information, or to submit a test application, this can be done using email to morse.tests@rsgb.org.uk.
Don’t forget any nomination for the G5RP Trophy need to be in 25 September 2020. If you are an established HF DXer and want to recommend someone, send your nominations to Ian Greenshields, G4FSU by email to hf.manager@rsgb.org.uk.
The RSGB 2020 Construction Competition is also open for entries. There are four categories, including one specifically for people who are new to amateur radio. The deadline for entries is 25 September 2020. For more details, including how to enter, see rsgb.org/construction-competition.
OE SOTA Day is a popular annual Summits on the Air (SOTA) event, organised by the Austrian SOTA Association and will still take place on Saturday, 19 September 2020, but with no social meeting. It will be a festival of SOTA activations to mark the end of summer in Europe. The day should offer a very good opportunity for chasers to amass a large number of points and unique summits worked. For more information about the SOTA scheme, visit sota.org.uk.
Category: GB2RS Headlines
