1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 20 May

The news headlines

* World war two radio intercept operators stage reunion

* School wins radio station licence

* Solar powered Scouting DXpedition

Surviving WWII radio operators who intercepted the highly secret
traffic from the German Secret Service attended a reunion at Bletchley
Park on April 29. Hams who attended were previously involved with
Ultra, the top secret material which was deciphered at Bletchley Park
and disseminated only to those who had direct responsibility for
directing the war.

Mike Coleman, G1YVR, gave the group an illuminating history of
Direction Finding from before WWI to the present day. Direction Finding
was a vital part of the WWII operations and was directed by Major Dick
Keen with assistance from G5RV, G6LL, G8LT and G6CJ working on aerial
systems and distribution wideband amplifiers. A well-known D/F operator
was G2BTO, who unfortunately could not attend the reunion.

Bob Painter, G3BPF, described how he was member of the party given the
task of tracking down the illicit transmitters of the Stern Gang and
the Voice of Israel, in 1946. This was in extremely dangerous
circumstances but he survived to locate the Stern Gang, though not the
Voice of Israel, which was perhaps fortunate for him.

The 1,500 hams who became Voluntary Interceptors during the war were
recruited by various, sometimes bizarre, means. The RSGB was called
upon to help but due to the sensitive nature of the work it could not
be advertised in the T&R Bulletin! Interceptors were mostly selected
via the Old Boy Network.

A Lothians high school has been awarded a licence by Ofcom, enabling it
to be the first in Britain to have its own community radio station.
Pupils at Queensferry High are delighted to have won a five-year public
service licence for Jubilee FM, which they will run with local
volunteers. They will broadcast music, news and entertainment 24 hours
a day to North and South Queensferry and parts of Fife. Station
director Charles Fletcher commented that they are absolutely thrilled.
The plan is to launch on St Andrew's Day. The school is looking to the
community radio fund, the National Lottery and other potential sources
of funding. It will also be a great way of helping train young
journalists on how to run a radio station.

West Lancashire Scouts Expedition to Renland East Greenland 2007 will
be taking place from the 23 July to 20 August. A party of 50 Scouts and
Leaders from West Lancashire will be exploring the ice cap and
mountains of Renland East Greenland. As well as mountain exploration a
number of scientific and wildlife studies and experiments are being
carried for various academic bodies. The Expedition will also be
operating an amateur radio station for a considerable period of time.
Operation will be on the 40m, 30m and 20m bands, SSB, Data and some CW,
under the call sign G3WGU/OX.

One of the major issues with operation for this period of time is
energy as all the power requirements will come from solar cells.
Although there is almost 24hr day light at this time of year, the
efficiency so far north is somewhat reduced. The expedition is
therefore looking for the loan of a small number of light weight solar
panels to ensure operational capability. For more information log on to
www.greenland.westlancashirescouts.org.uk.

2 Hams will be helping at the National Under 23 Road Racing
Championship in Waterford, Ireland, on 1 July. This year's race will
have over 160 riders taking part. This major event will have amateurs
and the Civil Defence to help with marshalling, and it will be filmed
by RTE. This year there is an even heavier reliance on amateur
communications. The Amateur Radio Emergency Network is providing the
comms for traffic management and accident reporting. Additional
volunteer operators who can attend the event are invited to contact
event co-ordinator Richie, EI9HR by e-mail to .

Finningley Amateur Radio Society ran a successful Special Events
Station on 6 and 7 May at the 2007 European Festival of the Plough. The
event hosted by the Society of Ploughmen at former RAF Lindholme, to
the east of Doncaster. It attracted large numbers of visitors from
Europe and the UK. Finningley ARS operated HF and VHF shacks, with
members operating in shifts. Well over 100 contacts were made by each
shack. The HF antenna was a G5RV in an inverted V with the top at about
35 feet, mounted on one of the Club's mobile towers. The VHF antenna
was also at the top of the tower.

The launch date for SSeti ESEO, a European Space Agency led student
satellite project intended for geostationary transfer orbit has been
delayed by approximately one year. It had originally been hoped that
this satellite would be a secondary payload on Ariane launch in late
November of 2008 but it now seems that opportunity will not be
available.

Colchester Radio Amateurs are holding a one day Foundation Licence
Assessment day on Sunday 24th June 2007. To enrol or for further
information please contact Kevan, 2E0WMG, on 07766543784, or email
.

A new QSL sub manager has been appointed for the G3 EAA-HZZ series of
calls. The new gentleman is Mr E E Murphy, 21 Standard Street, Fenton,
Stoke on Trent, ST4 4NG, telephone 07881 647434. Mr Murphy is also the
sub manager for G6 three letter calls.

Now the rallies and events for the coming week [Note to newsreaders:
please use your judgement on which of these to read out, based on your
location and broadcast time. We are not aware of any rallies next
weekend.] On Sunday 20 May the Dunstable Downs National Amateur Radio
Car Boot Sale takes place from 9am at Stockwood Park, Luton, and it is
signposted from M1 junction 10. On Sunday 20 May the Magnum rally takes
place from 10.30 at the Magnum Leisure Centre, Harbourside, Irvine,
Ayrshire KA12 8PP. Details from Helen on 07776 3895247. On Sunday 20
May the Mid-Ulster Amateur Radio Society rally takes place from 11am at
the Discovery Centre in Oxford Island, Craigauon.

Now for the news of the special events Clacton Radio Club, Felixstowe
and District Amateur Radio Club and Harwich Amateur Radio Interest
Group have joined forces to operate the GB400AA special event station.
The station will commemorate the founding of Jamestown, Virginia 400
years ago. It will operate at the Mayflower Museum on the Halfpenny
Pier at Harwich where The Harwich Society on 25 May.

3 GB1HYS will be operational from Guides Camp in Scarisbrick,
Lancashire, between Friday 25 May and Monday 28 May. The Southport
District Scouts have taken over the camp for the weekend to celebrate
the centenary together. The station will be manned by members of the
Southport & District Amateur Radio Club and will be utilising whatever
HF bands are available together with 2m, IRLP and possibly 70cm. They
would like to hear from anyone and hope to blitz the Centenary Award,
whilst giving as many Scouts as possible a taste of Amateur Radio. Many
more scout groups are running special event stations over the weekend
25 to 26 May to mark the Centenary of Scouting. A list of known
participants appears in page 89 of the May RadCom. And now the HF DX
news compiled 425 DX News, the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin and other sources.
A group of German radio scouts will be active again as OZ1RDP from Romo
Island, EU to 125, DIA NS-001, on 26 to 29 May. They plan to operate
SSB and CW, and possibly PSK31 and RTTY as well, on 160-10 metres. QSL
via DL9BCP. JA7HMZ, V63DX, JA7AGO, V63GO and JA7ZP, V63Z will be active
on all bands and modes from Pohnpei, OC-010, Micronesia on 21 to 26
May. QSL via home calls. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the
Fenerbahce Sports Club, TA1HZ and TA2RX will operate as TC100FB from
Istanbul on 1 to 31 May. QSL via TA1HZ. TA1CM will operate as TA100FB
on 13 to 27 May from Tekirdag. QSL via TA1CM. Special station LZ07KM
will be active on 1 to 31 May to celebrate St Kiril and Methodius' Day.
QSL via LZ1PJ direct, or bureau requests can be sent to .
Special callsign PA25UKSMG will be aired from The Netherlands between
19 May and 3 June to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the UK Six Metre
Group. Expect activity on 160-2 metres, including an entry in the CQ WW
WPX CW Contest. QSL via PA7FM. Several other special call signs are
expected to be used from other countries, especially during the UKSMG 6
Metre Contest during the first weekend of June. Celebrating the 750th
anniversary of Krakow's city rights is HF750C, which will be active
from 14 May to 30 June. QSL via SP9BRP. Expect also a large number of
local operators to use special prefix SN0 during the year. Hans, PA0HOP
will be active from Bali Island, OC-022, as YB9AQW and YB9/PA0HOP
between 15 May and 20 June. He will operate RTTY, BPSK31 and OLIVIA, 16
tones to 500 Hz, only. QSL via PA0HOP, this applies also to contacts
made with YB9AQW during this time frame only. Special station TM1VDM
will be active on 14 to 28 May to celebrate the 100th anniversary of
the birth of the writer Maxence Van der Meersch in 1907. QSL via bureau
to F6KTN. Now the contest news The RSGB 80m Club Championship takes
place between 1900 to 2030 on 24 May on the 3.5MHz band using CW. The
exchange takes the form of RST and serial number. The CQ WW WPX contest
takes place between 0000 on 26 May to 2359 on 27 May on the 1.8 to 28
MHz bands using SSB. The exchange takes the form of RST and serial
number.

4 The RSGB 50MHz activity takes place between 2000 to 2230 local on 22
May on the 50 MHz band, all modes. The exchange takes the form of RST,
serial number and locator. Now the solar factual data for the period
from 7 May to 13 May compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. Only one sunspot
group was visible every day. This group produced no solar flares,
therefore, solar activity remained at very low throughout. Solar flux
levels declined from 76 units on the 7th to 71 by the 12th. The 13th
saw an increase to 74 units. The average was 73 units. The 90 day solar
flux average on the 13th was 74 units, that's the same level as last
week. X-ray flux levels declined from A2.3 on the 8th to below the
minimum level by the 9th. The average was A1 units. Geomagnetic
activity started at `unsettled' levels with an Ap index of 18 units.
This was due to a recurring coronal hole. The rest of the period was
very quiet and the average was Ap 7 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar
wind speeds decline from 620 kilometres per second on the 7th to 290 by
the 13th. Particle densities peaked at 60 particles per cubic
centimetre on the 7th but quickly declined to single figures for the
remained of the period. Bz varied between minus 16 and plus 20
nanoTeslas on the 7th, during the disturbance and between minus and
plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quiet days. HF MUFs were slightly below
expectations for much of the week. Nevertheless, good morning openings
to the Pacific occurred on 14MHz and VK6 was reported late in the
afternoon. However, the main interest was the arrival of stronger and
longer lasting sporadic-E on 28, 50 and 70MHz. One operator commented
that, 50MHz sounded at times like 20 metres. The main focus was central
and southern Europe; less came on northerly bearings. The best reported
DX was ST2A, worked by a number of UK operators on 50MHz. An auroral
event on the 7th reached briefly down to the south coast, but not many
contacts were reported. And finally the solar forecast. This week the
slightly more active side of the Sun is expected to rotate into view.
However, solar activity should continue at very low levels with only a
small chance of a C class solar flare taking place and increasing
activity to low. Solar flux levels should increase and be around the
high 70's or the low 80's towards next weekend. Geomagnetic activity is
expected to increase from midweek due to a recurring coronal hole. This
disturbance should last till the weekend. MUFs during daylight hours at
equal latitudes should be around 17MHz for the south and 14MHz for the
north. The darkness hour lows should be about 9MHz. Paths this week to
east coast of North America should have a maximum usable frequency with
a 50 per cent success rate of around 18MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate of about 14MHz. The best time
to try this path will be between 1500 and 2200 hours UTC. Expect
sporadic-E to take place on some days with openings up to 70MHz taking
place. And that's all for this week from the propagation team.

5 Next, the Local News:

Please note that details of all RSGB-affiliated clubs and societies can
be found on the RSGB website, including e-mail 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 SOUTH-EAST

and EAST ANGLIA On Sunday 20 May Chesham and District Amateur Radio
Society is attending the Dunstable Boot Sale at Stockwood Park, Luton.
Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506 344, or by email to
.

On Sunday 20 May the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society is
having its annual open day at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum,
Flixton. Contact Peter Walker, 01438 871 350, .

On Monday 21 May Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a club Night.
Contact Frank, M0AEU, by email to .

On Monday 21 May Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is having
its AGM. Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 21 May Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it, advice,
chin-wag and move-it-on evening. Contact Ray, G4FFY, on 020 8644 7589.

On Tuesday 22 May Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on 'some aspects of propagation' by Robin Bellerby, GM3ZYE.
Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846, or on the web at
www.hdarc.co.uk.

On Tuesday 22 May Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
operating on VHF. Contact Neil, M0ARH, on 01438 217 077.

On Wednesday 23 May Dover Radio Club is having a presentation on
broadcast band short wave listening by David, G0DQI. Contact Brian,
G4SAU, by email to .

On Wednesday 23 May Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club is doing
its final planning for Scout's Centenary Camp. Contact Jim, M1JJN.

On Wednesday 23 May Farnborough and District Radio Society is having a
Morse night in preparation for NFD with Derek, G3HEJ. Contact Colin,
M3IHS.

On Wednesday 23 May Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a bring, show and tell your HF radio night. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on
07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 23 May Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its AGM. Contact Richard, G3ZGC, on 01635 46241,
.

On Wednesday 23 May Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having an NFD
briefing. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 23 May Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on 'some aspects of propagation' by Robin Bellerby, GM3ZYE.
Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

6 On Thursday 24 May Cray Valley Radio Society is taking part in the
80m club CW championships. Contact Bob, BRS32525, on 020 8265 7735
after 8pm.

On Thursday 24 May Echelford Amateur Radio Society is preparing for
field day. Contact John Osborne, G4GSC, on 01784 451898.

On Thursday 24 May Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a mobile direction finding event. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234
742 757.

On Friday 25 May Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on simple yet powerful circuits with five or fewer transistors by
Mike, G0BLP. Contact David, G8JKV.

On Friday 25 May Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having a members' radio comparison night. Contact Marc, G0TOC, on 020
8502 1645, or by email to .

On Friday 25 May Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having its
construction contest. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by email
to .

On Friday 25 May Radio Society Of Harrow is having a talk on amateur
television in the Harrow area and the Bushey Heath Amateur Television
Repeater GB3BH. Contact Chris, G4AUF, on 01895 621 310,
.

On Friday 25 May Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having an education
and training evening. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

On Friday 25 May Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is having
an on the air and construction evening. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874
7456.

On Saturday 26 May Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club is operating
the Scout's Centenary Camp station at Hayling Island. Contact Jim,
M1JJN.

On Sunday 27 May Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is visiting the
Waters and Stanton Open Day. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST

On Monday 21 May Appledore and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk by Dave, G3YGJ, on a homebrew HF Backpack antenna. Contact Beryl,
G1SVP.

On Tuesday 22 May Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society is running
its Intermediate training course. Contact Tony, G3PFM, on 01202 622
262.

On Wednesday 23 May South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having its
summer table top sale, hosted by G4RZY. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275
834 282.

On Wednesday 23 May Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is having a video night. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
.

On Thursday 24 May Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on software defined radio by Ray Goff, G4FON. Contact Mike, M5CBS,
on 01793 826 465.

On Thursday 24 May Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a test equipment
evening where members are invited to bring along a piece of equipment.
Contact Derek, 01935 414 452, or by email to .

7 On Friday 25 May Guernsey Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
what to look for in FHFN by GU0SUP. Contact Phil, GU0SUP.

On Sunday 27 May Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on microwave EME by John, G0API. Contact Tony, G3PFM, on 01202 622
262.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

On Monday 21 May Gloucester Amateur Radio and Electronics Society is
having a Mini DF hunt. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 21 May Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on phone operation on shortwave bands by Bob, G4VPE.
Contact John, M1EJG, on 01562 700 513.

On Tuesday 22 May Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.

On Tuesday 22 May Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on APRS by Jim Andrews, G1HUL. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on
01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 22 May Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is having a
visit to the motor cycle museum, organised by Rod, G0FBY. Contact
Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913.

On Tuesday 22 May Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is having a quiz
night. Request details by email to .

On Tuesday 22 May Wythall Radio Club is having a visit from Stratford
Upon Avon club. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819, or by email to
, or on the web at www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

On Wednesday 23 May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a news and views
evening plus a briefing for Scout Camp. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526
323 153.

On Wednesday 23 May Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having an amateur radio software evening where members are invited to
bring their laptops and demo their favourite programs. Contact Mike,
G3JKX, on 01952 299 677, or by email to .


On Thursday 24 May Salop Amateur Radio Society is having its second Fox
hunt. Contact Glenda, G1YJB, on 01939 235 412.

On Friday 25 May Hucknall Rolls-Royce Amateur Radio Club is having an
international quiz night. Contact Carl, M0XBE, on 07979 092 447, or on
the web at www.hrrarc.com.

On Friday 25 May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is setting up its portable
station at Laughterton Scout Camp. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526 323
153.

On Saturday 26 May Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
visiting the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on
01952 299 677, or by email to .

8 NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Sunday 20 May Tyne And Wear Repeater Group is having an auction at
the Community Centre, Front Street, Great Lumley. Contact Nancy, 0191
477 0036, 07990 760 920, or by email to .

On Sunday 20 May Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics Society is
attending the Tyne and Wear Repeater Group Auction. Contact Nancy, 0191
477 0036, 07990 760 920, or by email to .

On Monday 21 May Macclesfield and District Radio Society is on the air
and having a Club evening. Contact Tom, M1EYP, on 01625 612 916,
, or on the web at www.gx4mws.com.

On Monday 21 May Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a presentation
by 2E0DRE on fitting radios into mobiles. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Tuesday 22 May Chester and District Radio Society is having an
outside operating night at the Yield, Kelsall, Chester. Details on the
web at www.chesterdars.org.uk, .

On Tuesday 22 May Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society is having
a members technical evening at Rishworth. Contact Brenda, 2E0YKS, by
email to .

On Tuesday 22 May Macclesfield and District Radio Society is operating
its special 50th anniversary station GB5OMR from 2 to 5pm. Contact Tom,
M1EYP, on 01625 612 916, , or on the web at
www.gx4mws.com.

On Tuesday 22 May Wakefield and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a construction evening. Contact Dave, G4CLI, on 07748 221 855,
or by email to .

On Wednesday 23 May Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics Society
is on the air. Contact Nancy, 0191 477 0036, 07990 760 920, or by email
to .

On Wednesday 23 May Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is having DF
practice. Contact Tom, G4BKF, on 07050 291 850.

On Thursday 24 May Grimsby Amateur Radio Society is taking part in the
80m CW club contest. Contact Brian, G4DXB, on 01472 231 383.

On Friday 25 May South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having a
talk entitled "Computers without Bill". Contact Ron, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 25 May Tynemouth Radio Club is having an operating and Morse
night. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to .

On Saturday 26 May Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a boat trip on
the river Humber, where they hope to operate G4EKT/MM on HF SSB and
possibly G6EKT/MM on VHF and UHF FM. Contact Steve, G4GPY, on 01482 860
440, or by email to .

On Saturday 26 May Northwest Amateur Radio Club is operating special
event station GB1COS, centenary of scouting, from Bispham Hall Scout
Estate between 10am and 4.30pm. Contact Ian Cooper.

On Saturday 26 May Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a report on
National Science Week at Weston Park, Sheffield. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.


9 NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Tuesday 22 May Dundee Amateur Radio Club is having a club night.
Contact Martin, MM0DUN, on , or on the
web at www.dundee-amateur-radio.co.uk.

On Thursday 24 May Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a VHF fox
hunt. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on the web at
www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May Dundee Amateur Radio Club is taking
part in the Scout Centenary Celebrations. Contact Martin, MM0DUN, on
, or on the web at
www.dundee-amateur-radio.co.uk.

NEWS FOR WALES

No news items have been received for Wales this week. NEWS FOR NORTHERN
IRELAND

On Sunday 20 May Mid-Ulster Amateur Radio Club is operating Gi3VFW
during their rally at the Discovery Centre, Oxford Island, doors open
at 12.00. Contact John McCabe.

And that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast,

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.