UBAUnion royale belge des amateurs-émetteurs a.s.b.l.

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Photo: Couloir

Enciens messages "DX News"

Possible interference due to malfunction of a satellite
03-08-2015
Soumis par: ON4AVJ
For the past few weeks many 144MHz meteor scatter enthusiasts have been complaining of interference from AFSK packet transmissions. As a 144MHz DX enthusiast, in addition to being VHF manager I took an interest and started monitoring.
The transmissions on 144.390MHz FM AFSK occur at regular intervals, mostly on Northerly headings. The transmissions fill about 15KHz of spectrum on the waterfall display of a SDR receiver.

The impact the satellite signals on narrowband MS users can be seen from this video from GM4JJJ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZJgMA4i7PY&feature=youtu.be.
Because of the inclined orbit Northern European amateurs get a longer pass than those in the US which means that there is a burst every minute for a pass lasting up to about 12 minutes, repeating every 110 minutes orbit time. Whilst that is not continuous QRM one pass is enough to cause a meteor scatter QSO on 144.390 +/- 6KHz to fail if they coincide.

Find hereby the text of AMSAT-NA, published in their weekly bulletin:

PCSAT Default Beacon Transmissions on 144.390 MHz

An FM APRS signal has been received in England causing interference to the MGM frequency and weak-signal Meteor Scatter (MS) operation which is just below 144.390 MHz. A MS DXpedition was disrupted by such activity earlier in the month and interference has been occurring at various times since.

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, explains that the beacon was planned over 15 years ago for operation only when PCSAT is over North America based on published band plans at that time. Now, after 14 years on orbit, the ability to turn that backup beacon off has been lost.

PCSAT (now 14 years old) had a backup fail-safe beacon on 144.390 that would activate after any unknown spacecraft reset to give a backup comm link in case the primary 145.825 channel died. Being on the North American APRS frequency with hundreds of IGates there would always be at least one that would hear this "emergency call home" from PCSAT even though the channel is generally saturated. It worked.

The problem is, that now PCSAT resets on every orbit due to negative power budget and so, on every orbit that beacon comes back on. Even if we did get a command up to reset it, that setting would last only 15 minutes to the next eclipse.

We learned our lesson! That was our FIRST amateur satellite and we sure learned NOT to use a "connected-packet-command link" that needs ACKS and Retries and logon passwords just to LOGON before you can even send a SHUTUP command. All our satellites since, operate without the multiple Send, connect, ACK, retry, ACK, command, ACK overhead… just to get one command understood. Now, only the receiver on the spacecraft has to be functional to command it to silence in a single packet. But too late for PCSAT.
Expedtion to ZB
02-08-2015
Soumis par: ON4AVJ
From August 10th to August 14th ON7EQ and ON5AEN will be active from ZB in IM76 square.

Activation of the Gibraltar Radio Amateur Society club station ZB2BU in Meteor Scatter on 70 Mhz and 144 MHz (as ZB2/ON7EQ) concentrated during Perseid shower, around August 13th.

More info - like frequencies, sequences etc… - will be released later via respective ON4KST chat rooms.

Meanwhile, already prepared some theoretical range prediction. According to our spot where we have chosen to set up the station and the excellent take-off in the NE quadrant, we expect a range like depicted on the map - as you can see ON will be ideally within reach!

With special thanks to the GARS for their support and interest in this Meteor Scatter activation.

73 and looking forward to cu in MS!

Jean-Jacques ON7EQ
Hans ON5AEN
Friedrichshafen 2015
20-06-2015
Soumis par: ON4AVJ
Thanks to the hospitality of the DARC we will be able to have an informal C5 meeting. Not only for the VHF managers but all HAM’s who are interested in the work of IARU-R1 VHF & up matters.
After a small introduction about the way of working of C5 we will have an open discussion. This could be useful to prepare for the Vienna interim meeting in 2016.
This meeting will take place on Saturday June 27th from 15.00 until 16.30 in Room A (5th floor) in the administrative building. You have to leave the exhibition(don’t forget to get your stamp) and walk to the administrative building.
We would appreciate that you inform your members about this meeting and are looking forward to seeing you there.
Best 73
Jacques ON4AVJ
Chairman C5
New ARI EME Trophy
16-04-2015
Soumis par: ON4AVJ
ARI is proud to invite you all to take part to the New ARI EME Trophy.
Full rules are here.
The first period is on April 25-26th.

Best 73’s Alex IV3KKW
New spectrum for digital experiments in UK
02-04-2015
Soumis par: ON4AVJ
Ofcom have agreed the use of 70.5 MHz to 71.5 MHz by radio amateurs for digital experimentation.
Use will be permitted only via a Special Research Permit and further details of the application process will be published in due course.
For information, the following conditions will apply:
  • Access to this part of the spectrum will be authorised under a Notice of Variation, time-limited to 12 months and available to Full Licence holders only.
  • Ofcom will retain the right to reallocate Amateur Radio spectrum at 70.5 – 71.5MHz should there be a demand for this part of the spectrum from Business Radio and/or other or new services. In the event of this happening, Ofcom will not consult on this decision. However, Ofcom will provide Amateur Radio users with 12 months’ notice before such reassignment and this notice period will be publicised on the Ofcom website.
  • Amateur Radio use of this spectrum will be permitted on a non-protection, non-interference basis. Please note that if use is shown to cause interference, the spectrum will be removed with immediate effect
  • Permission will be subject to a geographical restriction and only granted for use in England, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland and Wales. (There is legacy use of the spectrum by the Scottish Government which precludes licensing for Amateur Radio).
Note that in a similar manner to 146-147MHz, international coordination is likely to be required as use must be compliant with the level published in the Harmonised Calculation Method (HCM) Agreement of +6dBuV/m.


73
John - RSGB VHF Manager
70 MHz in Malta
18-02-2015
Soumis par: ON4AVJ

The 70,0 MHz - 70,5 MHz band has been allocated to Amateur Radio use on secondary basis and included in the National Frequency Plan as published by the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) on 13 Feb 2015.
There are quite a few local stations interested in being active on 4 m.

23cm EME Contest
29-12-2014
Soumis par: ON4AVJ
Hi All,
I enjoyed the nice activity on 23 cm during the ARRL contest, with a good mix of CW, JT and SSB QSOs. Many stations were contacted on both CW and JT modes. After cleaning all the dupes, I ended with a total of 86 QSOs and 33 multipliers. Was also very pleased to QSO the PZ5EME expedition on 13 and 23 cm for a new DXCC and first from ON. Their 1.5 m dish was producing a very nice signal on both bands!
HNY
Eric
ON5TA
3.6 m mesh dish
200 W at feed
Activation of 3A
02-08-2014
Soumis par: ON4AVJ

From August 11 to August 13 3A/ON7EQ will be active from 3A in JN33 square.
Activation on MS 70 Mhz (and possibly 50 MHz if there is interest) next Perseid shower, August 12th & 13th, is hereby confirmed.
Hans ON5AEN, who has MS experience on 2m, will join to operate the station. More info - like frequencies, sequences etc… - will be released later via ON4KST chat.

Meanwhile, already prepared some theoretical range prediction. As you are probably aware, Monaco is only 3 kms long and 300m wide, with mountains towards the north and west… not the best place for a low take-off angle! According to our spot where we have chosen to set up the station and the theoretical models, we expect a range like depicted on the map - as you can see ON will be ideally within reach!

73 and looking forward to cu in MS!

Jean-Jacques ON7EQ
Hans ON5AEN
50MHz ES report 2014. A traduire
28-07-2014
Soumis par: ON4AVJ

Het Eskip seizoen is ongewoon geweest, veel slechter dan de vorige jaren volgens sommige, uitzonderlijk volgens anderen.
Locatie bepaalde sterk tot welke categorie je behoorde.

Het is duidelijk dat de verhoogde zonneactiviteit in de zomermaanden een nefaste invloed had op de E-propagatie. Ook in vorige
cyclus was het duidelijk dat er minder eskip was bij hoge zonneactiviteit. Volgend jaar dus beter.

Wat wel een gegeven is, is dat er een aantal uitzonderlijke multi-hop eskip openingen in de afgelopen 2 maanden zijn geweest.
Een paar van deze waren vrijwel uniek te noemen, KG6DX ( Guam Isl), DU7/PA0HIP op 02/06 zijn niet alledaagse DX te noemen.

Maar ook de iets mindere 'ongewone' openingen naar Japan waren er, eigenlijk meer dan vorige jaren. Diverse OM's hadden het geluk
Japan te werken. Zelfs tot op het einde van Juli was er nog JA te horen/werken. BA4SI, China was ettelijke keren te horen, 2x7el
langs zijn zijde maakten wel degelijk het verschil. Het oosten was er wel degelijk dit jaar.

21/06 was T6DD (Afghanistan) te werken, 100w en 2 element draadbeam. Soms heb je echt niet veel nodig voor DX

Zaterdag 26/7 bracht nog een uitzonderlijk station , KL7KY werkte een deel van Europa over de Noordpool en was zelfs kort in ON
te horen. Voor KL7KY was dit zijn 3de of 4de opening naar Europa, dit jaar.

Waar was het dan minder.?

Noord Amerika, propagatie was beduidend minder, een 2-tal weken heel goede condx naar de Caraïben en een handvol bandopeningen
naar VE en W. Voor deze regio was het een teleurstelling. Toch een highlight met XE2OR.

Vanuit Centraal en Zuid America was het heel rustig, YS1AG was neembaar en OA4TT werd gewerkt in Belgie.

Activiteit op 6m blijft stijgen, het is al heel wat drukker op de banden en de pile ups zijn navenant. Ook de digitale modes zijn populair,
50276 voor JT65A is behoorlijk in gebruik en doordeweeks kan je soms mooie DX werken met beperkte middelen.

Toch een kanttekening, het merendeel van de DX stations was te werken in CW, activiteit in SSB was nagenoeg nihil uit Noord Amerika, Japan
en Centraal America. De echte DX zit dus wel degelijk in CW.

Voor de liefhebber van nieuwe vakken was er F5MYK/MM die de ganse Middellandse zee actveerde op zijn reis, KX3 en verticaal, en een hele reeks
QSO's met Belgie. En niet te vergeten de belgische expedities naar ZA (Albanie).

Gehoorde/gewerkte DXCC periode 01/06 - 31/07

K,G,XE,DU,KG6DX,JA,VE,ZA,E7,F,GW,4X,EI,EA,EA6,EA8,EA9,D4,CT,CT3,CU,LU,FG,FM,KP4,HI,CO,ZF,FS,9K,A7,YV,KP2,OX,TF,J6,
GU,T6DD,S0,SM,LA,OH0,OH,OK,OM,DL,OZ,OY,OA,8P,9Y,PY,J3,S5,9A,Z3,SV,SV5,SV9,TA,UR,ER,GM,GD,GI,I,IS0,HA,SP,TK,....
waarschijnlijk vergeet ik er nog een paar in mijn opsomming.

Het seizoen loopt nu op zijn einde, een paar zeldzame opening in Augustus en het zit er weer op.
Afwachten wat het TEP seizoen zal brengen, jammer genoeg is de SFI aan een stevige duik begonnen en zijn de vooruitzichten niet best.

Johan - ON4IQ
Manager 50 - 70 MHz

UBA VHF Summer Cup
29-06-2014
Soumis par: ON4AVJ

Pour promouvoir le DX sur les bandes VHF la commission VHF a prévu une nouvelle competition qui aura lieu entre le 1 juillet et le 30 septembre
Plus d'information ici.