….and over the last few weeks we have been busy running the special event station for Antarctic Activity Week.

Operating times and modes varied but all in all it was a good event and was well attended as regards contacts. This Year we worked 2602 q’s which was one of the better years we have had bringing our total qso’s to 12654 for GB0ANT. For me the highlight was last week on 15M.

It was early for 15M but I started call on SSB at around 0740utc. It started very quiet for a few minutes and then there was a rash of activity from Asia with Ukraine, Asiatic Russia and Kazakhstan stations flying in very strong. I was very surprised to hear a VU calling but he wasn’t too strong and therefore didn’t make the grade to gain a place in my log. Shortly after than I was called by JR1NHD (Foto Right) from Kanagawa prefecture in Japan. We had a brief exchange and then all hell broke loose, what a pile up of JA! Its several Years since i have worked into JA and received such a fearsome response.

One after another then got into the log and they just kept coming. Strange as it was, there were none of the ‘usual suspects’ in the mix either, many of them new entries in the logbook.

At 0834 I logged the last two stations JR4CEB and JA2LHG from Japan which brought a total of 71 JA stations in the brief window, what a run! (Extract of Logbook shown below for those who may not quite believe it!)

Lets pray that things continue as they are now for a long time whether we are climbing out of the Solar Minimum or whether we are not. Its certainly a big boost to anyone’s enthusiasm when DX such as that can be worked on the higher band for a change.

Thanks to all the guys that worked and the team that operated during the week, it was a good event this Year and lets hope that we have many more in the Years to comes as AAW (Antarctic Activity Week) grows stronger, bigger and better.

Thanks (to Japan!) and 73 to all….de Charles….

Charles MØOXO & Ian MØIAA will be Qrv as GBØWFF on Tuesday 2^nd March 2010 from the  Derbyshire Dales Nature Reserve (GFF-091 [new]) and on Wednesday 3^rd March 2010 from the Lower Derwent Valley (GFF-010 [new]).

Antennas will be Dipoles at 10M and running barefoot from the Yaesu FT-897D. All being well and pending any disasters on the day we should be qrv around or just before 12.00 UTC.    

**Areas may be subject to change on the day due to Snow and other WX issues.

Qsl as always will be via M3ZYZ / MØOXO and bureau cards can be requested via the On-Line Qsl Request Form (OQRF).

All other Qsl options such as paying via Paypal for Direct Cards can be found by clicking here. Photo’s of the trip will also be found in the World Flora Fauna section of this website in the coming days.

73 & 44 de Charles

So all is well.  Linda has not rung her mother who also lives in Chile but Valdivia is quite far south of the epicentre.  Imagine we are 600 miles north of the epicentre and the effect it had here.”

We wish you all good luck in the coming days David & Linda, our thoughts with you all.

73 de Charles….

Alerted to this situation, the General Manager and members of the Board undertook their own investigations, including a personal visit by the General Manager to the RSGB QSL Bureau, currently managed under contract by Richard Constantine G3UGF. It is apparent that Richard has been on a steep learning curve since taking on the bureau and his early focus was on fixing some longstanding issues with the sub-manager network, and the distribution of incoming cards.

With regard to outgoing cards, shipping costs, at the start of the year had already begun to rise sharply. Costs outside the EU began to rise more than could have been reasonably predicted, due to the worsening economic situation. This could not have occurred at a more inopportune time, when the bureau was turning its attention to building up the overseas distribution. By the first quarter costs had risen 25%, with no sign of slowing, and the Board was made aware of concerns. The bureau’s main provider pulled out of several destinations, including America, Russia and other ex-Soviet destinations, also increasing costs to Europe and the Pacific Rim.  In the second and third quarters  the bureau had to  use several different companies and routes, including costly personal air mail, shopping around for each dispatch, in order to maintain service , whilst trying to find another long-term partner, prepared to offer trade distribution rates.

This proved to be an extremely frustrating period as all carriers appeared reluctant to take on new business and prices changed per shipment, against the value of the pound. Increasing the average weight to popular destinations, from 10kg to 25 kg, brought some short term cost savings, but did not resolve the issue. However, even with additional sorters it became apparent that whilst the bureau’s remit is not to be the quickest way to send a QSL card, only the most cost effective, that increasing the package size to gain a cost saving would not ultimately meet some user expectations and that delays would continue.

It also brought the bureau into conflict with Customs in certain countries as they refused to accept large shipments as non-commercial, printed paper, imposing customs charges. Fortunately, by the last quarter, it was possible to find another provider, capable of distributing to all IARU destinations. Costs were significantly reduced and volumes began to increase in the final quarter and have continued into the New Year. The bureau is now more positive that it can continue to stay within its budget, having shipped approximately 400,000 cards by weight, over the last year. This being 25% down on its own internal projection. The position has been recovered and provided that there are no more shocks to come in the wider economy, there is now a stable platform on which to build in 2010. More importantly for RSGB QSL Bureau users, Richard has agreed to produce a monthly report for RadCom, starting in the April edition, covering RSGB QSL Bureau and listing recent shipments.

The Society regrets any problems with the bureau, whether real or perceived. While the RSGB QSL Bureau is no substitute for direct mail, it is a valuable membership benefit to many. It should be emphasised, incidentally, that intra-UK cards have been flowing freely throughout. It is unfortunate that there continue to be some abuses of the Bureau, for example by members sending cards on behalf of overseas friends who are not members. Indiscriminate QSLing by some contest groups and special event stations have also served to slow down the overall flow of cards.

Any questions relating to the RSGB QSL Bureau should be emailed to Richard at [email protected] but it is hoped that the regular bulletins in RadCom will help to reduce his correspondence and give him and his team more time for getting those cards through.

73 de Charles……

GBØANT kicked off on Monday the 15^th, a week earlier than Antarctica Activity Week (AAW) officially starts. The good propagation meant that we were able to devote time to the higher bands for a change and good pile ups were evident this Year.

John (G4RCG) started early Monday morning on CW (his last stint on 40M producing some VK’s) and i had a play later that afternoon. The same routine took place yesterday (Tuesday) and CW, SSB and Digital modes were good. We were joined by Ian (M0IAA) in the afternoon and he had a great run on 15m to Asia with many YB stations in the log. I have to say that band conditions took a turn for the worse in the late afternoon and activity was well down on previous days, the SFI numbers not favourable at all. A move to 17 & 20M gave Ian a good run to the USA and then he took a severe beating from EU before calling it a day and having worked over 100 stations in his session.

Three days in and the total stands at just over 550 Q’s, a good start to 2010 with another 10 days of the event still to run. Check out more about the event under ‘Special Callsigns‘ in the menu to the left. Thanks to all operators and callers and please remember, apply for your Bureau Qsl Cards on line to save time.

73 de Charles…..

Band condx looking up again with the rare sight of Sunspots? How long will it last?

Tnx CDXC & ClubLog Members for several new ones. Michael G7VJR in the log 3 slots as VP8DMN from Port Stanley, Falklands, and Nick G3RWF for two new slots as 5X1NH in Kampala, Uganda.

Nigel G3TXF is travelling again and joining the TX4T team from North of Tahiti Hiti In French Polynesia (IOTA OC-046 new) (Foto left).Their latest Blog tells us:-

”More than 3000 QSOs on february 11th, more than 8000 in total. The rate is good (and our mood, too !) Thanks to all who call us, we look forward to contact you ! QRM is weak here, DO try to call us if you hear us !80 meters worked very well last night, with 900 QSOs. 160m was harder than previous night. 30m works well, opened to EU between 16 and 17Z. We had a good opening to EU on 17m (spiderbeam), at the same time we also were on 15m for EU (with the 40m vertical !) Nigel installed a 12/17m vertical, we’ll be able to operate 3 stations simultaneously, even during the day. We don’t know yet if we will take part in CQ WPX RTTY, as our main goal remains to favor the low bands.”

Preceding these contacts were several others such as XR0ZA on Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernandez (foto right) and three new slots with the team on Fernando De Noronha off the coast of Brazil. Another new one was Mike R1ANP down in Progress Bay Research Station on Antarctica  (foto left) who is currently qrv on most bands.

All in all conditions looking up with great openings to Nth & Sth America on 15M and even VK’s again on 12. 40 & 80M have also been good with regular openings to the Pacific.

Have a good weekend and good dx! 73 de Charles…..

MMØDGR/p will be operating from the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve (GMFF-046) on Saturday, 6th February, 2010.

The portable station will be located at the Shore Wood (southeast corner of Loch Lomond). Equipment: Icom IC-706MKIIG with HLA-300 Plus (300W) HF Power Amplifier. Antenna: 9m high Vertical with CG-5000 Automatic Antenna Coupler.

Grid locator IO76RB, WAB NS48, EU Area SC31 (West Dunbartonshire), IOTA EU-005. Bands, modes and frequencies ± QRM: 20 m (BPSK63 14.072 MHz, CW 14.044 MHz, SSB 14.244 MHz); 30 m (BPSK63 10.142 MHz, CW 10.110 MHz); 40 m (BPSK63 7.044 MHz, CW 7.014 MHz, SSB 7.144 MHz). QSL-cards via MMØDFV (preferably RSGB QSL-bureau).

Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve (GMFF-046) lies in the southeast corner of Loch Lomond, in the southern part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park (GMFF-002). This portable expedition gives you two WFF reference numbers GMFF-046 and GMFF-002 simultaneously. The Reserve includes some of the woodlands for which Loch Lomond is renowned, including the wooded shores on the mainland and on the islands of Inchcailloch, Clairinsh, Torrinch, Creinch and Aber Isle and the wetlands at the mouth of the River Endrick.

Detailed information & map are available at http://www.srars.org/wff-reports/gmff-046.htm

The event is run by the Wakefield & District Radio Society and in recent Years has moved from the old QTH at the Thornes Sports Stadium Wakefield to a new location ¾ mile south of Ossett town centre, in the grounds of Ossett School, on Storrs Hill Road, Ossett, Wakefield in West Yorkshire.

It is disappointing to hear it is cancelled but should you require further information please contact their Secretary David Lockwood G4CLY.

73 de Charles………