1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 24 February

The news headlines

* It's now easier to operate in Australia

* Broadcast pirates closed down in London

* Changes to the WPX prefix award UK radio amateurs holding a UK Full
licence and visiting Australia no longer have to obtain a separate VK
licence. You can now use your UK callsign stroke VK. Location
information should also be given. The time limit on the visits is 90
days. This new licence has come about through the efforts of the
Wireless Institute of Australia and the IARU, working with the
Australian authorities. More details can be found at www.acma.gov.au.
Ofcom has announced that it recently carried out enforcement action
against over 20 illegal broadcasters in London. It acted in partnership
with the London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey, Tower Hamlets and
Islington, and the Metropolitan Police. The operation was carried out
between 6 and 16 February and resulted in three arrests, one studio
raid, and the removal of 22 transmitters. Ofcom estimates that there
are over 150 illegal stations operating in the UK, with half of those
broadcasting across London and the South East. Several changes to the
WPX Award program have been announced. The changes, effective
immediately, add new bands and create a new Digital WPX Award. Under
the new rules, contacts on all bands between 160 and 6 meters will
count for WPX award credit. In addition, new band endorsements will now
be available for 5MHz, 10MHz, 18MHz, 24MHz and 50MHz contacts. A
separate Digital WPX Award has also been added, for contacts made on
RTTY, PSK and other keyboard modes, with 300 confirmed prefixes
required for the basic level of the award. Digital-mode contacts will
also count toward the existing Mixed award, as will those prefixes
worked on the newly added bands. Details on these and other changes are
available on the CQ magazine website at www.cq-amateur-radio.com. The
International Museums Weekend special event will this year take place
on the weekend of 14 and 15 June. Radio amateurs are encouraged to
participate in this event by setting up stations in their local
museums. Organiser Harry, M1BYT, asks that all those intending to join
in should register their museum on the International Museums Weekend
website, www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw. He can be contacted by email to
, or telephone 07740 030 644 or 0113 2866 897.
The Berwickshire 2m repeater, GB3DU, has changed channel from RV63 to
RV61. Its transmit frequency is 145.7625MHz and it receives on
145.1625MHz. With the extended high air pressure recently the
propagation from VHF to Microwave has been excellent at times over the
last few weeks. On the evening of 12 February the 3cm output from the
GB3BH TV repeater in south-west Hertfordshire was received by G1AUQ in
Stow, Lincolnshire, at P5 for 30 minutes. This was a distance of 110
miles, far beyond any previous reports for this 10GHz transmitter. For
more information about GB3BH see www.gb3bh.com.

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

[Note to newsreaders: Please use your judgement on whether to read the
24 February event details, based on your distance from the events and
your time slot.]

On Sunday 24 February, the Breadhurst Receiving and Transmitting
Society hold their Radio Rally at Rainham Girl's School, Derwent Way,
Rainham, Kent. Details can be obtained by emailing
.

Also on Sunday 24 February there is the Swansea Amateur Radio Society
Amateur Radio Show. The venue is the Aquadrome, Afan Lido, Aberavon
Seafront, Port Talbot. For more information, contact Roger Williams,
GW4HSH on 01792 404422. On Friday 29 February and Saturday 1 March,
Waygood Radio Club is holding a radio rally style event at Grainger
Market in Newcastle upon Tyne. This is part of the AV Festival 08, an
international festival of electronic arts. Members of local amateur
radio groups are invited to share their enthusiasm about amateur radio
communication and the Waygood's Amateur Radio Club for Artists will be
demonstrating the creative possibilities of radio. GB4FUN, the RSGB's
radio communication demonstration vehicle will also be in attendance.
Details of the radio event are at www.waygood.org, and full information
about the AV Festival can be found at www.avfestival.co.uk. Over the
weekend of 1 and 2 March, the Military and Vintage Radio Club hold
their annual indoor table top vintage radio and military radio junk
sale in south-east London. The venue is Firepower, the Royal Artillery
Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Further details can be obtained by
telephone on 0208 654 2582, or on the web at
www.firepowerradiorally.zoomshare.com. On Sunday 2 March, the Exeter
radio and Electronics Rally takes place at America Hall, Pinhoe,
Exeter. Further information from Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198374. Also on
Sunday 2 March, the Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club Rally
takes place. The venue is the Britten Arena, Wood Green Animal Shelter,
King's Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. For more
details, contact David, G8JKV, on 01223 355254, email
. More details of these and future events can be found
in the February edition of RadCom. Now for the news of special events
GB0ANT is on the air until 29 February to raise awareness of Global
Warming and Climate Change issues. It has a Worldwide Antarctica
Programme reference number of WAP-072. From 1 to 16 March GB4IPY will
be run by the same group, this time for International Polar Year. The
reference number is 'WAP-098' and this is also valid for WAP Awards.
Further information can be found at www.charlesm0oxo.piczo.com. GB0WW
will be active during February from near Weedon in Northamptonshire.
The site is the location of the memorial to the birth of radar. This
was invented on 26 February 1935 by Robert Watson Watt and Arnold
Wilkins. GB0RDF will also operate from Borough Hill in Daventry where
radar experiments were carried out.

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

Weather permitting, Luton VHF Group plan to activate the Welsh island
of Caldey, off the coast of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, during the 2m and
70cm RSGB contest on 1 and 2 March. The callsign will be GW3SVJ/P,
locator IO71PP and WAB SS19. If requested, WAB and IOTA information can
be exchanged during the contest. The expedition is a precursor to a
much longer and larger expedition planned for the first week of
September. Further information is available at vhfcomm.co.uk/LVG. F8CHM
will be active as FR5EZ from Reunion Island, IOTA number AF-016, until
21 March. He expects to be active on the HF bands and 6 metres, CW and
SSB. 4J9M is still in Kazakhstan and has extended his UN/4J9M licence
to 23 April. Being at the centre of a DX pile up involves a lot of hard
work, but it can also be dangerous and expensive. On 9 February, the
XR7W team experienced horrible weather conditions on Wager Island. They
were forced to leave the island after some 24 hours of gale force winds
and pouring rain. Despite this, XR7W managed some 2,400 QSOs.
Abandoning their DXpedition was bad enough, but once on the mainland
the team had a serious accident. Their van slipped of a gravel road,
hit a rock and turned upside-down. Four operators were hospitalized
with cuts, bruises and several broken bones, and the cost to the group
is estimated in excess of 11,000 euros. Now the contest news [Note to
newsreaders: Please use your judgment on whether to read the first
item, based on your time slot.] On Sunday 24 February, a session of the
RSGB 70MHz Cumulatives takes place between 1000 and 1200UTC. All modes
are permitted and the exchange is RST, serial number and locator. The
CQ Worldwide 160m SSB Contest finishes at 2359 on 24 February. The
exchange is RS and country.

On Tuesday 26 February, there is an RSGB 50MHz activity contest between
2000 and 2300UTC. All modes are permitted the exchange is RST, serial
number and locator. Over the weekend of 1 and 2 March, the RSGB 144MHz
and 432MHz contest runs between 1400 on the Saturday and 1400 on the
Sunday. All modes are permitted and the exchange is RST, serial number
and locator. Also on 1 and 2 March sees the ARRL DX SSB Contest on all
HF bands. It starts at 0000 on the Saturday and ends at 2359 on the
Sunday. The exchange is RST and serial number.

4 And now the solar factual data for the 11th to the 17th of February,
compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. Solar activity was very low with no
flares taking place at all. Considering the solar disc was spotless
everyday, solar flux levels managed to stay in the low 70s. In fact,
solar flux levels declined slightly from 72 units to 70 by the 15th and
the 16th. The average was 71 units. The 90 day solar flux average on
the 17th was 75, that's the same level as last week. The only event of
interest during the period was on the 15th, when the SOHO spacecraft
observed a coronal mass ejection that took place on the back of the
Sun. X-ray flux levels remained well below the minimum level
throughout. Due to a large low latitude coronal hole in the southern
hemisphere the geomagnetic field was at active levels for most of the
week. The disturbance lasted 6 days with only the 17th at quiet levels.
The average was Ap 11 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
above 700 kilometres per second until the 16th, when a gradual decline
started. Speeds were down 470 kilometres per second by the end of the
period. Particle densities were low throughout. Bz varied between minus
5 and plus 6 nanoTeslas. HF propagation was slightly below
expectations, particularly over trans-polar paths, due to the unsettled
state of the ionosphere. Conditions did not favour operators looking
for the VP6DX operation on Ducie Island. Most contacts appear to have
been on the lower bands, for the most part around the breakfast period
or a little earlier, though topband was at times available after
midnight. Mid-to-late afternoon provided the best opportunities on 14,
18 and 21MHz. Meanwhile, VHF and UHF operators enjoyed extended tropo
for much of the week. Weak aurora was reported on several days, but it
was too far north for UK operators.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
continue at very low levels. However, there is a chance that sunspots
may be visible on some days. Solar flux levels should be in the low 70s
for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to start at
quiet levels but, from midweek, activity is expected to increase due to
a recurring coronal. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes
should be about 19MHz for the south and 16MHz for the north. The
darkness hour lows should be around 8MHz. Paths this week to South
America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent
success rate of about 24MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90
per cent success rate will be around 19MHz. The best time to try this
path will be between 1200 and 1800 hours UTC. 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 24 February Gorleston Amateur Radio Society
is having a luncheon meeting at the Short Blue Public House. Contact
David, G3OEP, on 01493 662 323.

On Monday 25 February Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its club net. Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Tuesday 26 February Home Counties ATV Club is having a fix-it night.
Contact Dave, M0SAT, by email to , or on the web at
www.gb3hv.com.

On Tuesday 26 February Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a bring and buy sale. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846,
or on the web at www.hdarc.co.uk.

On Wednesday 27 February Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a test equipment demonstration evening. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on
01442 506 344, or by email to .

On Wednesday 27 February Dover Radio Club is having a net on GB3KS with
David, G0DQI as Net Controller. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
.

On Wednesday 27 February Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a repeater talk from Gary, 2E0ULA and Tony, G1HIG, keepers of
GB3OK and GB3LK. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on 07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 27 February Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on 3B7C by Don Field, G3XTT. Contact Richard, G3ZGC, on
01635 46241, or by email to .

On Wednesday 27 February Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having its
members annual construction competition. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on
01362 691099, or by email to .

On Wednesday 27 February Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
putting GX3WOR on the air. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 28 February Bittern DX Group is having an informal evening.
Contact Keith, G0GFQ, on 01263 588 506, by email to , or
on the web at www.bittern-dxers.org.uk.

On Thursday 28 February Echelford Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in the Club Championships. Contact John Osborne, G4GSC, on 01784
451898.

On Thursday 28 February Horsham Amateur Radio is having a club social
at The White Horse, Maplehurst. Details on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 28 February King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having an
informal evening and running the 2m club net. Contact Andy, G1KLP, on
look on the web at www.klarc.org.uk.

6 On Thursday 28 February Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on the new I E T wiring regulations by Chris Smith,
G0JTN. Contact Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697, or on the web at
www.radarc.org.

On Thursday 28 February Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk out of the hat evening. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234
742 757.

On Friday 29 February Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a
skittles evening at the Royal Oak, Barcombe. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on
01273 845 103, or by email to .

On Friday 29 February Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having its AGM.
Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

On Friday 29 February Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is
on the air and having a construction evening. Contact Jim, M0CON, on
020 8874 7456.

On Sunday 2 March Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society is running
a Foundation course at Victory Social Club, Kechill Gardens. Details on
the web at www.bdars.org, or by email to .

On Sunday 2 March Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a Sunday morning
fox hunt. Details on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Tuesday 26 February South Bristol Amateur
Radio Club is having a PC and electronics workshop with Norman, G4NFS.
Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 27 February South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is on the
air. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 27 February Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is
operating the club station. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234,
or by email to .

On Wednesday 27 February Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
.

On Thursday 28 February Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by email to .

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 25 February Gloucester Amateur Radio
and Electronics Society is having an HF operating evening, workshop and
Morse practice night. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 25 February Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is
updating the club archive. Andrew M3NDZ will give a resume of his
latest progress in researching the club history. Contact Jack, G3VYE,
on 01926 641 988.

On Tuesday 26 February Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.

On Tuesday 26 February Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

7 On Tuesday 26 February Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk and demo by Bernard, M1AUK on PIC Basics, creating a
Morse decoder. Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913.

On Tuesday 26 February Wythall Radio Club is having a talk on direction
finding by Martin, G8VXX. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819, or by
email to , or on the web at
www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

On Wednesday 27 February Telford and District Amateur Radio Society HQ
is closed. Instead there will be a social meeting at the Huntsman pub.
Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677, or by email to
.

On Thursday 28 February Barking Radio and Electronics Society is having
a talk on basic antenna construction by Leslie Butterfields, G0CIB.
Contact Bill, G0IQK, on 020 8478 4758, or my email to
.

On Thursday 28 February RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club is having a
general discussion on data modes in the shack. Contact Martin, M0MDF,
on 01522 752 785, or by email to .

On Thursday 28 February Salop Amateur Radio Society is having an
equipment sale. Details on the web at www.salop-ARS.org.uk.

On Thursday 28 February Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having its
club junk sale at St Francis Church, Maesfield Drive, Tamworth. Contact
Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, or by email to
.

On Friday 29 February Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is
planning for its summer activities. Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776
869, or by email to .

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 25 February Macclesfield and District Radio Society is on the
air and having a social evening. Contact Tom, M1EYP, on 01625 612 916,
or by email to , or on the web at www.gx4mws.com.

On Monday 25 February Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a project
night, constructing a portable VHF antenna for foxhunting. Contact
Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 25 February South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is
having its monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969
3999.

On Monday 25 February Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk by Ted, G3WBB, on "My time in computers". Contact Jack,
G4BFH, by email to .

On Tuesday 26 February Pontefract District Amateur Radio Society is
having a construction evening, completing the CW decoder. Contact
Colin, G0NQE, on 01977 677 006, or by email to
.

On Tuesday 26 February Wakefield and District Amateur Radio Society is
operating HF with Ken, 2E0SSQ. Contact Dave, G4CLI, on 07748 221 855,
or by email to .

On Tuesday 26 February Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk
by Dave Wilson, M0OBW, on the RSGB, repeaters and other topics. Contact
Roger, M0DWQ on 01925 813 558, or by email to .

8 On Wednesday 27 February Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on building the Ozipole by Dave, G3UFO. Contact Tom,
G4BKF, on 07050 291 850.

On Friday 29 February East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having mini
talks by members. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671, or by
email to .

On Friday 29 February South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is
having a talk on "Leap Days and Leap Seconds" by Ron, G3SVW. Contact
Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 29 February Tynemouth Radio Club is having a briefing on the
AVO 8 by Glen, G0SBN and Graham M0GAE. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to
.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Monday 25 February West Of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having
a Club Night. Details on the web at www.wosars.org.

On Wednesday 27 February Lothians Radio Society is having a visit to
the Scottish Microelectronics Centre. Contact Toby, MM0TSS, on 07739
742 367, or by email to , or on the
web at www.lothiansradiosociety.com.

On Thursday 28 February Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air
and having a construction evening. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575
663, or on the web at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

NEWS FOR WALES

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

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

And that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain.