The News Headlines

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 23rd March 2014

The news headlines:

 YOTA UK July 2014  French amateurs gain 472kHz band  New RSGB Membership System

Having got the RSGB Youngsters on the Air Team lined up for their trip to Finland, a UK YOTA event has been given the go-ahead. This is planned to take place on the weekend of the 19 and 20 July. Other than having a date and knowing that a central place for young members to meet will be needed, the event is pretty much a blank page so please let the TEC Chairman know what kind of thing should be part of a YOTA UK event. Ideas to [email protected] as soon as possible please. The RSGB would also like to have some of the older young Members involved in the organising, particularly those that have experience of leadership from Cadets, Scouts and/or Guides. If you are 'young', willing and able to help or know anyone that fits the bill, please get them to contact the RSGB via [email protected]. News will follow in due course on something very special for a Club-based activity for IARU YOTA month in December.

In changes to their licence conditions, French radio amateurs in both mainland France and the overseas territories in ITU Region 2 are now allowed to use the 472 to 479kHz band with 1 watt EIRP.

A new computerised membership system is being commissioned at the RSGB this weekend and will go live on Monday 24 March. This should have no impact on people using the website or shop, but please note that HQ staff will be familiarising themselves with the new system during the first few days of operation. This may lead to a short delay in actioning requests and orders.

SOS Radio Week in January saw many stations on the air raising money for the RNLI. If you worked one of the stations, don't forget to apply for the Worked SOS Radio Week award. Full details can be found on the website, www.sosradioweek.org.uk. Over £16,000 has been raised to date and the RNLI have asked whether the amateur radio community may be able to help with a forthcoming event they are running. Over the first bank holiday weekend in May, the RNLI will be running Mayday, four days of fun-filled activities to raise money and awareness for the RNLI. With this in mind, the SOS Radio Week Management Team has come with the idea of RNLI on the Air weekend. Anyone interested in taking part in ROAR should contact the event co-ordinator, Derek Hughes, G7LFC, via [email protected].

Denby Dale ARS will once again be co-ordinating the annual Mills On The Air event over the weekend of 10 and 11 May. Full details of how to register, the stations taking part and how to claim a certificate are shown on DDARS website, www.g4cdd.net. If you would like to take part by running a station at a wind- or watermill or even an ancient steam driven mill, ask if they are taking part and would they like to have an amateur radio station as part of their event to promote awareness of the mill.

Stations around the world will be on the air for International Marconi Day on Saturday 26 April. It is not a contest; instead, it is an opportunity to make contact with historic Marconi locations around the world. Over 20 have confirmed to date, including GB4IMD at Poldhu and VO1AA in Newfoundland. Certificates are available for those who work the requisite number of sites. All stations planning to participate are urged to register in advance, and full details are at www.gb4imd.com.

Due to the falling membership, the Leicestershire Repeater Group has taken the decision to limit the hours of operation of the repeaters GB3CF, GB3GV, GB3LE and GB3UM to conserve funds. As a result, the repeaters are now switched off overnight between 10pm and 5am. The beacons GB3LEX and GB3LES continue to operate 24 hours a day. For further information or to join or donate to the group, see the website at www.leicestershirerepeatergroup.org.uk Rotherham has two radio nodes run by Bert, G4NJI. The first is an IRLP node on 145.2875MHz with a CTCSS tone of 71.9 and node number of 5200, Echolink number 135909. He also runs an Allstar node on 431.125MHz with a CTCSS tone of 71.9. The Allstar node number is 29368. Both modes are attracting an interesting number of contacts.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

There are no rallies taking place over the weekend of 29 or 30 March. But the following weekend has several in the diary.

On 6 April, the 51st Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Exhibition will be held in the Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. Doors open at 10.30am, or 15 minutes earlier for disabled visitors. There will trade stands, a Bring and Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608.

Also on 6 April, the Devon and Cornwall Repeater Group and Callington ARS Rally will be held in Callington Town Hall, New Road, Callington PL17 7BD. Doors open at 10am. Information from Roger, 2E0RPH by e-mail to [email protected].

Finally for 6 April, the Cambridge Repeater Group Rally will take place Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, CB22 6RN. Doors open at 7am for traders and 10am for visitors, with admission being £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring and Buy. Details from Lawrence, M0LCM on 07941 972 724.

Regrettably, the decision has been taken to cancel the 6th South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Rally, originally to be held on 13 April, due to the unfortunate clash of rally dates. A decision will taken in due course on whether to hold a rally in 2015. Support given by traders and the public to the South Gloucestershire Rally over the years is greatly appreciated by the Rally organisers.

If you have any rally or event information you’d like to appear in future editions of GB2RS News, in RadCom and on the RSGB website, please e-mail details to [email protected].

Now for the news of special events

Worcester Radio Amateur Association will put GB1PER on the air on 29 and 30 March for the annual Airfields on the Air operation. This will take place on the grounds of the former Royal Air Force base at Perdiswell where the Kings Flight was based during the Second World War. GB1PER will be on the HF bands only. More details are on QRZ.com.

GB1BST, marking the start of British Summer Time, will be on the air on 30 March from Mount St Bernard Abbey in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire (SK41). The abbey is home to a community of Cistercian monks who have kindly given permission for the special event station to operate from the abbey lawn. The station will be operated by the Phoenix Radio Group on the 40m, 20m and 2m bands plus others if conditions allow.

The ARRL Centennial W1AW Worked All States operations that are taking place throughout 2014 from each of the 50 states has moved location to Tennessee, W1AW/4, New Mexico, W1AW/5, and Guam, W1AW/KH2. During 2014 W1AW will be on the air from every state at least twice and most US territories and awards are available for working the station, see the ARRL website for details.

And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources

N5JC and N5JR will be active stroke HH2 from Haiti, NA-096, between 25 March and 1 April. Activity will be on the 6 to 160m bands with a focus on CW, RTTY and the 30, 17 and 12m bands. QSL both callsigns via N5JR direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook of the World.

Tynemouth ARC will activate the Isle of Arran, EU-123, as GB5DX from 26 March to 2 April. They will be on most of the HF bands and full details are on QRZ.com. The West African country of Burkina Faso will be on the air until 26 March. Calls to look for are XT2AEF, XT2IVU and XT2VWT and they will be found on all bands from 10 to 80m.

The Andaman Islands, AS-001 will see a one-man expedition on the air from 23 – 30 March. The operator will be Krishna, W4VKU who will sign VU4K from Port Blair. Activity will be on 10 to 40m using SSB and RTTY. QSL to his home callsign.

Now the contest news

On Tuesday the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on Tuesday the SHF UK Activity contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using the 2.3 to 10GHz bands and all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The SSB leg of CQWW WPX take place from 0000 on the 29th to 2359 on the 30th. Everybody works everybody, exchanging a report and serial number. Expect the contesting bands between 1.8 and 28MHz to be heaving and some large serial numbers to be exchanged.

Now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 14th to Thursday the 20th of March, compiled by Neil Clarke on Friday the 21st of March.

Despite a large number of sunspot groups visible, up to nine on some days, solar activity was only at low levels with numerous C class solar flares taking place every day. On the 20th the only M class solar flare took place; this occurred from a new sunspot group that had just rotated into view. Solar flux levels increased from 136 units to 151 by the 20th. The average was 142. The 90 day solar flux average on the 20th was 157, that's one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels declined at first but then increased to end the period at B8.2 units. The average was B6.7 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. The most disturbed day was the 18th, with an Ap index of only 5 units. The average was Ap 3 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 590 kilometres per second on the 14th to 270 by the 19th. Particle densities were low at first but then increased to 50 particles per cubic centimetre on the 20th. Bz showed only modest fluctuations due to a quiet magnetic field and varied no more than minus 8 and plus 6 nanoTeslas.

Finally, the solar forecast for the coming week. The active side of the Sun will be looking our way. Due to two active sunspot regions rotating back into view during the second half of the week, solar activity could increase to moderate levels. Also, solar flux levels should increase and be around the 160s by next weekend. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels every day, provided no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections head our way. Right at the end of the period a small coronal hole disturbance is expected. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be well above 30MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to be around 11MHz. Paths this week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 38MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 30MHz. The best time to try this path will be between midday and 1700 hours UTC.

And that’s all for another week from the propagation team Next, the Local News:

Please note that details of all RSGB-affiliated clubs and societies can be found on the RSGB website, including email addresses and website links where known.

[Note to Newsreaders: Please read the local news items appropriate to the service area of your transmission.]

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

We start with clubs that have several events this week. Wythall Radio Club has its club net is on 145.225MHz at 8pm tonight and next Sunday. Tuesday sees a Morse class at 7.45, plus a talk on Summits on the Air by Brian, G8AAD, from 8.30. On Friday there's the regular shack social from 7.30, with a Morse class at 7.45, plus a talk on the CQ WPX World Prefix SSB Contest by Lee, G0MTN from 8.30. Saturday sees the start of the all-weekend CQ WPX SSB Contest. Details from Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.

Coventry Amateur Radio Society has its club net on Monday at 8pm on 145.375MHz. The President’s Night is on Friday. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777 363.

Lincoln Short-Wave Club is holding a committee meeting on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Wednesday sees a talk on the new look RSGB by RSGB General Manager Graham Coomber, G0NBI. The club net is on Thursday on 145.375MHz from 8pm. For more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

Rugby ATS is taking part in the UKAC 50MHz on Tuesday, plus radio operation and projects. On Saturday there's a practical project session. Details from Steve, G8LYB, on 01788 578 940.

South Birmingham Radio Society has its regular coffee morning in the shack from 11am on Tuesday. Training classes with Dave Murphy, G8OWL are on Thursday and Friday sees work in the shack. Contact Gemma Gordon, M6GKG, by email to [email protected].

Now we return to the traditional listing in date order. On Monday 24 March Gloucester Amateur Radio and Electronics Society is having a VHF/HF operating and workshop evening. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01242 699 595, daytime.

On Monday 24 March Sutton Coldfield Amateur Radio Society is meeting at Sutton Coldfield Rugby Club from 7.15pm. More information from Robert Bird, by email to [email protected].

On Tuesday 25 March Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is on the air. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to [email protected].

On Tuesday 25 March Dudley and District Amateur Radio Society Club is holding an open discussion. Details form Carl Roberts, M0ZCR, by email to [email protected].

On Wednesday 26 March Midland Amateur Radio Society is on the air, plus having a ragchew and holding training classes. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on 07808 078 003.

On Wednesday 26 March South Kesteven Amateur Radio Society has its net on 145.525MHz at 8pm. Contact Nigel, M0CVO, on 01476 402 550.

On Wednesday 26 March Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has its AGM. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 27 March Central Radio Amateur Circle is on the air. Contact Martin Hallard, G1TYV, on 07906 905 071. On Friday 28 March Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club is having a presentation by Richard, G3CWI from SOTAbeams. Details from Neil, M0NJJ, by email to [email protected]. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 24 March Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 01914 770 036.

On Monday 24 March Bolton Wireless Club is having a talk on portable operating by Richard, G3CWI of SOTAbeams. For details, send an email to [email protected].

On Monday 24 March Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is discussing NARSA. Contact John E Rodway, G4FRK, on 01253 862 810.

On Tuesday 25 March Chester and District Radio Society is having a talk on Arduino by Paul, M0XPD. Visitor admission is £2, including light refreshments. Please email [email protected] if you wish to attend.

On Tuesday 25 March Fleetwood Radio Enthusiasts Group is having a NARSA planning meeting. Contact John Earnshaw, M0JFE, on 07940 815 659.

On Tuesday 25 March Warrington Amateur Radio Club is planning for the Blackpool Rally from 8pm with Brian, G6XRE. Details from Ken Hatton, G3VBA, on 01928 733 234.

On Tuesday 25 March Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the UKAC 6m Contest. On Wednesday 26 March there's a talk on high altitude balloons by Mike Sterling. Contact Simon, G6XHF, on 0151 601 3269.

On Wednesday 26 March Denby Dale Radio Club is on the air on 145.575MHz from 7.30pm. Details from Richard, M0RBG, on 07976 220 126.

On Wednesday 26 March Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is discussing the NARSA club stand. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553 401.

On Thursday 27 March South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is looking at the ionosphere in spring and early summer with Ron, G3SVW. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 01619 693 999.

On Friday 28 March East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air. For more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Friday 28 March Mexborough and District Amateur Radio Society is using the shirt printer. Contact Darrell, G0FUO, on 07887 423 221.

On Saturday 29 March Stockport Radio Society is on the air from Walthew House. Contact Nigel Roscoe, 07973 312 699.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

No news items have been received for Northern Ireland this week.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur Radio Club has its Sunday club today and next Sunday from 9am to 1pm. On Tuesday there’s a talk on the EJ7NET DXpedition by Gordon, MM0BIM and Thursday sees a construction evening. Contact Graham, MM3GDC, by email to [email protected]. Stirling District Amateur Radio Society is open today and next Sunday from 10.30am till late afternoon for construction, training, projects and operating. The weekly club meeting is on Thursday. Contact John McGowan, by email to [email protected].

On Wednesday 26 March Lothians Radio Society is having a dip into the RSGB archives, looking at the Transatlantic tests of 1921-25 and wartime radio, presented by Alan Masson, GM3PSP. Contact Alan J Masson, GM3PSP, on 0131 623 4580.

On Thursday 27 March Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air and holding a Morse evening. Contact Fred Gordon, MM0ODL, on 01975 651 365.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA

On Tuesday 25 March Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack. For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720 815.

On Tuesday 25 March Dorking and District Radio Society is having a talk by Professor Tony Davies on the history of FM broadcasting in the UK. Contact Garth, G3NPC, on 01737 359 472.

On Tuesday 25 March Harwell Amateur Radio Society is having a shack activity night. Details from Malcolm, G8NRP, on 01235 524 844.

On Tuesday 25 March Radio Society of Harrow Social is at Windsock Club. More information from Linda, G7RJL, on 02083 868 586.

On Wednesday 26 March Crawley Amateur Radio Club is having an evening on how to operate the club shack with Mike, G4KAD. More information from John, G3VLH, on 01342 714 402.

On Wednesday 26 March Darenth Valley Radio Society is having a natter night and on the air evening. Details from Bob, M0RAW, on 01322 663 804.

On Wednesday 26 March Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on defence HF communications in the 1960s by Richard, M1CFW. Contact Rob, G4LMW, on 01635 862 737.

On Wednesday 26 March Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having an informal and Bright Sparks evening. Details from Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 898 678.

On Wednesday 26 March Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is putting G3WOR on the air. Contact John, G8FMJ, on 01273 593 232.

On Thursday 27 March Edgware and District Radio Society is having a round table discussion on ideas for short contests. More information from Mike, G4RNW, on 02089 500 658.

On Thursday 27 March Hilderstone Radio and Electronics Club is having a construction evening. Contact Chrissie Turner, by email to [email protected].

On Thursday 27 March Lowestoft and District PYE Amateur Radio Club is at the shack. Details from Tim Ward, 2E0TJW, on 07810 481 182.

On Thursday 27 March Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is holding its spring junk sale. Details from Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697.

On Thursday 27 March Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on the Mull of Kintyre DXpedition by Paul, G1GSN. Contact John Burnett, 2E0OAK, on 07860 804 793. On Friday 28 March Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on the JT65 and JT9 weak signal digital modes by David, G0LRD. Details from David, M0ZEB, on 01353 778 093.

On Friday 28 March Fort Purbrook Amateur Radio Club is looking at oscilloscopes and signal generators from 7pm. Contact Neil Hoare, M0NEH, on 02392 378 559.

On Friday 28 March Hastings Electronics and Radio Club is having a talk on the internet and building a site by Steve, 2E0GHX. Contact Gordon, on 01424 431 909.

On Friday 28 March Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM. Contact Quintin Gee, M1ENU, on 023 8078 7799.

On Friday 28 March Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is discussing How I Became a Ham. Contact Sue Davis, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103.

On Friday 28 March Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is holding a construction evening with G4ADM or G4WYJ. Details form Kim Brown, G6JXA, on 07812 735 507.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST

Exeter Amateur Radio Society has its 2m net on 145.575MHz tonight at 7.45pm. On Monday there's a talk on the RTL- SDR receiver in the Moose Centre at 7pm. Contact Nick, M0NRJ, on 01363 775 756.

Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society is having a social and natter night tonight and next Sunday. Wednesday sees G4RFR on the air. Contact John, G4POF, by email to [email protected].

On Thursday 27 March South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is holding an open house and on the air night. Details from Andrew Jenner, G7KNA, on 07838 695 471.

On Thursday 27 March Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is having an activity night. Contact Kevin, G6FOP, via www.sdarc.net.

On Thursday 27 March Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact Rodney Edwards, M0RGE, on 01935 825 791.

On Friday 28 March Guernsey Amateur Radio Society is having a presentation by RAYNET at the bunker, demonstrating how amateur radio can help in the event of an island-wide emergency and how RAYNET provides assistance to the Civil Protection Volunteers. Contact Tom Burnett, 2U0TKB, on 07781 405 083.

On Friday 28 March Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a presentation and buffet evening. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to [email protected].

NEWS FOR WALES

On Thursday 27 March Aberystwyth and District Amateur Radio Society is having a club night on the air from 8pm on 145.500MHz and then 145.550MHz. Details from Ray, GW7AGG, on 01970 611 853.

On Thursday 27 March Marches Amateur Radio Society is reviewing club events and discussing ideas for the programme for the next 12 months. Contact the club secretary, via email to [email protected].

On Thursday 27 March North Wales Radio Society is holding its AGM. Contact Liz Cabban, via email to [email protected].