1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 2 March

The news headlines

* Science Week approaches

* BBC close European World Service transmitters

* Museums on the Air extended

This year's National Science and Engineering Week runs from Friday 7 to
Sunday 16 March. Organised by the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, the programme has around 2,000 events
throughout the UK. Its aim is to celebrate science, engineering and
technology, including of course amateur radio.

One such event is run by Hilderstone Radio and Electronics Club. They
will be at Chatham House Grammar School on Saturday morning 8 March to
demonstrate amateur radio and electronics. There will be opportunities
to see some of the latest advances in communication technology
including D-Star digital communication via the internet. These will be
alongside traditional radio communication on the short, VHF and UHF
bands. The school's radio and electronics club will also be displaying
some of their robots.

The BBC has announced that all its shortwave radio transmissions to
Europe ceased on 18 February 2008. Although they recognise that this
will be a loss to some of their listeners, they point out that BBC
World Service radio programmes are delivered to Europe via other
platforms including longwave at night. The experimental Digital DRM
transmissions for North East continental Europe will continue
unaffected. Full details of World Service sound broadcasts can be found
on the web at bbc.co.uk/worldservice. The BBC's World Service grew from
the original Empire Service, which was inaugurated in 1932. Last year
it celebrated its 75th anniversary, with an estimated world audience of
some 180 million.

Last week, we brought you the news that International Museums Weekend
takes place on 14 and 15 June. This has now been extended to two
weekends by adding 21 and 22 June. Those intending to join in should
register their museum on the International Museums Weekend website,
www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw. The organiser can be contacted on email
at , or by telephone on 07740 030 644 or 0113
2866 897.

ARRL's DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, has clarified the situation
regarding the DXCC status of newly independent Kosovo. It cannot be
added to the list of DXCC entities until it becomes a member of the UN,
or if it receives a prefix block from the ITU. The date of inclusion in
DXCC will be the date that either of these conditions is met.

It is reported that some amateurs in the Czech Republic will soon have
access to the 4 metre band. There are plans to issue up to 20 special
permits for 70.2 to 70.3MHz with 10 Watts ERP. The permits will be
valid until 31 December 2008.

2 In these increasingly safety conscious days, it pays to take all
possible precautions when running an event. Keith Hotchkiss, G0FEA, has
created sample risk assessment documents for amateur radio special
event stations. These are available for free download from his personal
web site, www.yaesu.org.uk. The site also includes a variety of other
health and safety documents.

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
2 March event details, based on your distance from the events and your
time slot.]

Sunday 2 March is the second day of the Military and Vintage Radio Club
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. The
Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place on Sunday 2
March. 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, or email
. Sunday 9 March sees the Bournemouth Radio Society's
20th Annual Sale. It is at the Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park,
Millhams Road, Kinson, Bournemouth. Doors open at 9.30. Further details
are available from John, G0HAT on 07719 700771. The Wythall Radio Club
Radio and Computer Rally takes place from 10am on Sunday 9 March. The
venue is the Woodrush Sports Centre. Shawhurst Lane, Hollywood, near
Birmingham. Details can be found on the web at www.wrcrally.co.uk, or
from Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412819, email . More
details of these and future events can be found in the March edition of
RadCom. Now for the news of special events Until 16 March, GB4IPY will
be operational as part of International Polar Year. The reference
number is WAP-098 which is valid for WAP Awards. Further information
can be found at www.charlesm0oxo.piczo.com. No fewer than eleven
Lithuanian special event stations are currently active with the prefix
LY90. This is to celebrate the 90th anniversary of independence in the
Lithuanian Republic. And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News
and other sources.

This week sees the start of another major DXpedition, this time to
Clipperton Island in the Pacific. The callsign will be TX5C and the
expedition will run six stations simultaneously on CW, SSB and digital
modes using all bands between 160 and 10 metres. The planned start date
is Friday 7 March and the operation will last 12 days. In addition to
the amateur radio activity, the expedition includes scientists and a
doctor. There's much more information on the web at
www.clipperton2008.org.

3 From Sunday 9 March, a week-long expedition will operate from various
castles and forts on the Isle of Man. Club calls GT4KPT, GT8LED and
GT3GWB will used. They expect to activate several WAB areas during the
week. G3RWF is active from Uganda as 5X1NH until 22 March. His
operation will be limited because he is on holiday but he expects to
operate all HF bands except 160 metres. Modes will be CW, SSB, RTTY and
PSK. He will run 100 watts to wire antennas. QSL to G3RWF. 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. Now the contest news [Note to newsreaders: Please use your
judgment on whether to read the items for 2 March, based on your time
slot.] The RSGB 144MHz and 432MHz contest finishes at 1400 on Sunday 2
March. All modes are permitted and the exchange is RST, serial number
and locator. Also ending on Sunday 2 March is the ARRL DX SSB Contest
on all HF bands which runs until 2359. The exchange is RST and serial
number. On Monday 3 March, the RSGB 80m Club Championship data contest
takes place on the 80m band between 2000 and 2130UTC. Exchange RST and
serial number. Tuesday 4 March sees the RSGB 144MHz activity and club
championship, starting at 2000 and finishing at 2230UTC. All modes are
permitted and the exchange is RST, serial number and locator. Over the
weekend of 8 and 9 March there is the RSGB Commonwealth Contest, known
historically as BERU. There should be plenty of Commonwealth DX
activity for UK stations to work in this CW event. It is held on 80 to
10 metres from 1000 on the Saturday to 1000 on the Sunday. The exchange
is RST and serial number. The event again includes the Team Contest
with teams from Canada, UK, Australia, DX, New Zealand and a new one
this year representing Africa. Medals for the Team Contest have been
sponsored by Paul O'Kane, EI5DI, whose contesting software SDC is
specifically designed for the Commonwealth Contest. Further details of
the Commonwealth Contest are at www.beru.org.uk. On Sunday 9 March, a
session in the RSGB 70MHz Cumulative contest runs between 1000 and
1200UTC. All modes are permitted and the exchange is RST, serial number
and locator.

4 And now the solar factual data for the 18th to the 24th of February,
compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. With the solar disc spotless everyday,
solar activity was very low. Solar flux levels remained almost static
and only varied between 71 and 72 units. The average was 71.5 units.
The 90 day solar flux average on the 24th remained at the same level as
last week at 75 units. X-ray flux levels once again were below the
minimum reporting level. As forecast, geomagnetic activity started at
unsettled levels due to a recurring coronal hole. However, activity
from the 20th declined to quiet levels. The most disturbed days were
the 18th and the 19th, both with an Ap index of 12 units. The average
was Ap 7 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from
650 kilometres per second on the 19th to 400 by the 24th. Particle
densities were low throughout. Bz varied between minus and plus 6
nanoTeslas on the 18th and between minus 3 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the
quietest day. In short, a fairly uneventful bottom-of-the-cycle week.
We will have a few more of those before we see an unequivocal upturn.
Much of the interest at HF continued to centre on the VP6DX expedition.
Despite remaining frustratingly elusive for UK operators on the higher
bands, the operation, like the major contests, demonstrated that
propagation possibilities at the bottom of the cycle can be better than
pessimists had suggested. Meanwhile, VHF and UHF conditions were more
or less back to normal after ten-or-so days of extended tropo. And now
the solar forecast. All the signs are that solar activity will continue
at very low levels for the coming week. Solar flux levels should be in
the low 70s for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet
until around Friday when a large recurring coronal hole will increase
activity. 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 India should have a maximum
usable frequency, with a 50 per cent success rate, of around 21MHz. The
optimum working frequency, with a 90 per cent success rate, should be
about 18MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0800 to
1400 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 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.

On Monday 3 March Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on stamp collecting by G2TGB. Contact John, M5AJB, on
01787 460 947.

On Monday 3 March Burnham Beeches Radio Club is having its AGM. Contact
G4XDU, on 01628 625 720. On Monday 3 March Southdown Amateur Radio
Society is having a talk by Chris, G4ZCS, on antenna feeder loss.
Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424,424,319, or by email to .


On Tuesday 4 March Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
Hylands House by Ceri Lowen and Richard Oscroft. Contact Martyn, G1EFL,
on 01245 469 008.

On Tuesday 4 March Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
natter night and social evening. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247
2846, or on the web at www.hdarc.co.uk.

On Tuesday 4 March Leiston Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
weather satellites. Contact Dave, G4HUP, on 01473 737 717, or by email
to .

On Tuesday 4 March North Kent Radio Society is having a natter night.
Contact Dave, G4YIB, on .

On Wednesday 5 March Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a general meeting. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506 344, or by
email to .

On Wednesday 5 March Dover Radio Club is having a talk on operating in
Barbados by Peter, G0KOK. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
.

On Wednesday 5 March Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is having
an informal evening. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on 07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 5 March Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a table top
sale. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 5 March Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating at
the Halisham shack. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424,424,319, or by email
to .

On Wednesday 5 March Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on radiosondes by Walter Blanchard, G3JKV. Contact Roy, G4GPX,
on 01903 753 893.

6 On Thursday 6 March Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is starting new
Morse classes in Danbury Village Hall. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245
469 008.

On Thursday 6 March Colchester Radio Amateurs is having a presentation
by Trinity House. Contact Kevan, 2E0WMG, on 07766543784 or by email to
.

On Thursday 6 March Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a used
equipment sale. Details on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 6 March King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2 metre club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
, or on the web at www.klarc.org.uk.

On Thursday 6 March Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club is
having an informal evening. Contact John, G8RYW, on 01628 628 463, or
by email to .

On Thursday 6 March Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its AGM. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Friday 7 March Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having talks,
"how I started in radio". Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by
email to .

On Friday 7 March Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having an operating
night. There will be no club meeting on 21 March. Contact Dave, G6FSP,
by email to .

On Friday 7 March Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a talk on
Micro DX by Roger Western, G3SXW. Details on the web at
www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 8 March Radio Society of Harrow is taking part in Science
Week with a weekend operation of GB2HM from the Harrow Museum. See
website for more details. Contact Linda, G7RJL, on 020 8386 8586, or on
the web at www.g3efx.org.uk.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Wednesday 5 March Bath Amateur Radio Club is
having an informal evening. Contact Rob, M0TFO, on 01225 351 016,
.

On Wednesday 5 March Cornish Radio Amateur Club is having a talk by
David, G3NPB. Contact Ian, on 01872 561 058.

On Wednesday 5 March South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a kit
builder's evening with Muriel, G4YZR. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834
282.

On Wednesday 5 March Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on LF operating on 137 and 500kHz by Tom, G3OLB and Colin,
G3HYV. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 5 March Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is having a talk by RSGB representative Dick Elford, G0XAY.
Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to .

On Wednesday 5 March Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a look at the Longleat Rally video archives, reliving 45 years
of the much loved and sadly defunct radio rally with Shaun O'Sullivan,
G8VPG. Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, evenings and weekends.

7 On Thursday 6 March Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a construction contest. Contact Mike, M5CBS, on 01793 826 465.

On Thursday 6 March Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a construction
contest. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by email to .

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 3 March Aldridge And Barr Beacon
Amateur Radio Club is meeting on the air. Contact Roy Horton, G4GRM, on
01922 691646, or by email to .

On Monday 3 March East Kent Radio Society is having a used equipment
sale. Contact Paul, G3VJF, on 01227 365 384, by email to
, or on the web at www.paulnic.com/ekrs.

On Monday 3 March Gloucester Amateur Radio And Electronics Society is
having a talk on Arrowsmith Timetable by Brian, G4CIB. Contact Anne,
2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Tuesday 4 March Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is having
its junk sale. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.

On Tuesday 4 March Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having its annual dinner. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 4 March Wythall Radio Club is taking part in the 2m Club
Championship from the shack. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819, or
by email to , or on the web at
www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

On Wednesday 5 March Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having an open house. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677, or by
email to .

On Thursday 6 March RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club is on the air and
having a chatter night. Contact Martin, M0MDF, on 01522 752 785, or by
email to .

On Thursday 6 March Salop Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Details on the web at www.salop-ARS.org.uk.

On Thursday 6 March Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, or by email to
.

On Friday 7 March Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association is having a
constructors exhibition. Contact Pat, G3IKR, on 01386 792 542.

On Friday 7 March Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
the history of Caludon Castle by John Clarke OBE. Contact John, G8SEQ,
on 02476 273 190, or by email to .

On Saturday 8 March Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is running a
Foundation Course at St Francis Church Leyfields. Contact Colin Marks,
G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, .

On Sunday 9 March Wythall Radio Club is running the Wythall Radio
Rally. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819, or by email to
, or on the web at www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

8 NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 3 March Macclesfield and District Radio Society is on the air
and having a social evening. Contact Tom, M1EYP, on 01625 612 916, by
email to , or on the web at www.gx4mws.com.

On Monday 3 March Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
M0GDX on ground planes and loopholes. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 3 March Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
show and tell evening. Contact Jack, G4BFH, by email to
.

On Tuesday 4 March Chester and District Radio Society is having a
surplus sale. Details on the web at www.chesterdars.org.uk,
.

On Tuesday 4 March Stockport Radio Society is having a planning meeting
for the Reddish Rally. Contact David, M1ANT, on 0161 456 7832.

On Wednesday 5 March Hambleton Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
by Steve, G8IHT on 'Digital and fuzzy modes'. Contact Tim, G0TYM, on
01642 711 334, by email to , or on the web at
www.radioclubs.net/hambletonars.

On Wednesday 5 March Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
podcasts and amateur radio by Chris, G6KIA at The Old Bakery, Mereside,
Hornsea. Contact Sue, G6UQA, QTHR.

On Wednesday 5 March Maltby and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air on VHF and UHF from the shack. Contact Keith, G1PQW, on 07801
156 678, or on the web at www.maltbyradio.org.uk.

On Wednesday 5 March Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
natter night at The Hoylake Lights, Hoylake. Contact Tom, G4BKF, on
07050 291 850.

On Friday 7 March East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a radio
magazine evening. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671,
.

On Friday 7 March South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is
discussing NARSA Rally preparations. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969
3999.

On Friday 7 March Tynemouth Radio Club is having an operating night.
Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to .

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Tuesday 4 March Livingston and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on mobile radio installation. Contact Norman, 07740 946
192, or on the web at uk.groups.yahoo/group/ms0liv.

On Wednesday 5 March Paisley (YMCA) Amateur Radio Club is having a talk
on mini portable operating. Contact Jim, GM3UWX.

On Thursday 6 March Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a junk
sale. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on the web at
www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

On Friday 7 March Border Amateur Radio Society is having a junk and
surplus sale. Contact Ray, GM0CDV, on 01573 228730.

9 On Friday 7 March Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is
having a normal club night. Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Friday 7 March West Of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having a
club night. Details on the web at www.wosars.org.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Monday 3 March Dragon Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
Professor David Last, GW3MZY, on 'Where in the world is Llanfairpwll?'.
Contact Martin, GW3PRL.

On Tuesday 4 March Carmarthen Amateur Radio Society is on the air.
Contact Les, GW8PSJ, on 01239 811 922.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

On Thursday 6 March Bangor and District Amateur Radio Club is having
talks on wire antennas by Harry, GI4JTF and Logger32 by Pete, GI4VIV.
Contact Mike, GI4XSF, on 028 4277 2 383.

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