Archive - September 2020

No Sunspots, just ‘Froth’ !

30th September 2020

There are no sunspots on the sun today, but there is a lot of magnetic froth. Philippe Tosi sends this picture from Nîmes, France.
 
“I inserted a picture of Earth for scale,” says Tosi. “The active region is quite large.”
 
The frothy sea of magnetism in Tosi’s photo is called “plage”–French for beach. Bright plage often surrounds large sunspot groups. There was a sunspot at this location a few days ago, but it abruptly decayed after unleashing a C1-class solar flare. Only the froth remains.
 

RI0Q – IOTA AS-152

20th September 2020
Bol’shoy Begichev Island
Preobrazhenla Island
 
The latest news from the RT9K Team has been announced, please read below;
To achieve our goal – Bolshoj Begichev island, the team will have to go through 3624 km by snowmobiles 1812 km*2.
 
Gentlemen, all our Arctic expeditions are very expensive. All the time, before each expedition, we always come up with something new and special to make your support of us more interesting and attractive. In this expedition we want to introduce a special QSL called “fast”. All “fast” QSLs will be sent out from the very first functioning post office on our way back. Most likely it will be in Khatanga settlement (UA0A). “Fast” QSL is a special designed postcard with a real 1987 year photograph of Preobrazheniya polar meteorological station (18 km from Bolshoy Begichev island) stamped by two stamps. The first one is the original 1987 year stamp found at Preobrazheniya station (closed in 1990 and abandoned). The second is a modern copy of this stamp made for our 2021 expedition.
 
The cost of a QSL is $ 30. It can be paid via PayPal. Links are at www.qrz.com/db/ri0q
Those who wish to receive this exclusive card must order it prior to the expedition start.
All others will receive traditional confirmation (OQRS, LoTW, ClubLog). IOTA credit via Сlublog will be opened in 6 months after the end of the expedition.

Changes to Bureau Requests

5th September 2020
On the latest OQRS update v5.3 we have now prevented repeated Bureau QSL requests where a QSL has been previously sent for the QSO.
 
The reason for this is that many people consistently repeat Bureau QSL requests. We cannot guarantee arrival of Bureau Cards and we suggest that if you would like a replacement QSL then we ask you to request using OQRS Direct route.
Now, if you try to do a repeat Bureau request you will get the following message;
 
“Only one free Buro request is allowed. You cannot use Buro QSL cards because some of your selected QSO’s are already requested via the buro.”
 
This was highlighted in the last bureau mailing when several (not just one) but several stations requested around 100 cards each. I am of the belief that these cards are not ‘needed’, but just ‘wanted’ because of the misinterpretation that they are ‘free’. This practice has to stop, it is simply not sustainable and is abusing my service. 
 
I have disabled Bureau route on OQRS for some older inactive call signs with consultation of those operators. For some of these I have minimal cards left and will not be printing more, so future requests for these Callsigns will be direct only.

Bureau Mailing News 2020

1st September 2020
QSL cards have been posted to 85 World Bureaus – Tuesday September 1st, 2020. Total Shipping Cost £623.00 – (£6.90 per kg).
 
This mailing is a joint mailing between Charles M0OXO and Tim M0URX.
Total amount of QSL cards dispatched: 25,891
Via M0URX 6,521, Via M0OXO 18,462, Via MD0CCE 597, Via G4IRN 149, Via G4ZIB 162
Total Weight 90,253g (gross weight includes packaging)
Total Shipping Cost £623 – £6.90 per kg.
Average postage cost 2.4p per QSL card.
 
This mailing had been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions. The cost of air freight for this mailing is considerably higher due to the lack of air freight capacity at this time. The parcels are sent by Priority Business Mail to get to the Bureaus quickly.
 
If anyone wishes to make a donation to the costs of bureau shipments, you can do when you request a QSL and use the donation facility on OQRS or via PayPal.
 
Old out of date IRCs can be donated to either Tim or Charles for future mailings. Any donations and/or IRC’s would be most appreciated.

 

Foundation & Intermediate Courses – GM6DX

1st September 2020
CURRENTLY 100% PASS RATE – (people who follow the course and his advice throughout)
Available on his website are Foundation Licence and Intermediate Licence Courses.
Foundation course consist of 58 lessons. The lessons are composed of PDF’s, Videos and Quizzes. All material is written in a manner which would also suit the younger generation where the youngest I am aware of was a 14year old YL who passed using the material. In the course it contains 5 Mock exams where the questions are of the format which would represent a realistic exam question but also get a training point across.
 
The material is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can self-enrol at any time and doesn’t require prior approval. The platform which hosts the course is a professional online course platform, Thinkific and the course is 100% FREE and is tailored to suit the current 2020 syllabus.
Intermediate course currently has 83 lessons. The lessons are composed of PDF’s, Videos and Quizzes. All material is written in an understandable manner. I am still tweaking the course material however they are currently 8 Mock exams where the questions are of the format which would represent a realistic exam question but also get a training point across. Pass mark for all Mock exams is 90% to ensure the candidate is ready to book an actual exam. The material is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can self-enrol at any time and doesn’t require prior approval. The platform which hosts the course is a professional online course platform, Thinkific and the course is 100% FREE and is tailored to suit the current 2020 syllabus.
Both courses are designed to be used as a training aid along with the RSGB published manuals and are not a replacement. Social media Facebook groups have been created which hosts valuable information to the student as well as taking the online course. The details of these groups are contained within the course material.
 
Anyone and everyone is welcome where they can access BOTH courses and see reviews at
These courses are also raising money for Glasgow Sick Kids Hospital, as I have made the courses FREE, people who pass the exam have donated money to my charity ( link within the course ) so all for a good cause.
 
Facebook group link for the intermediate is

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1123009011406625/