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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 22 June

The news headlines

* Radio Emergency Conference to be held in Germany

* Register for Railways on the Air

* Satellite digital repeater being tested

The fourth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference
will take place on 26 and 27 June at the Ham Radio convention in
Friedrichshafen, Germany. The event will focus on the cooperation among
IARU member societies with specialised groups working on emergency
communications in the amateur radio service.

Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club is coordinating the National
Railways on the Air Weekend that will take place on Saturday 27 and
Sunday 28 September. This date celebrates the anniversary of the first
steam powered passenger railway, which took place on 27 September 1825.
The first passenger train ran on a line in the North East of England
from Darlington to Stockton. The Club is expecting to operate the
special event station GB2EVR at the Eden Valley Railway. If you would
like to take part by running a station, approach your nearest preserved
railway, ask if they are celebrating the birth of passenger railways in
this country and would they like to have an amateur radio station as
part of their event to promote awareness of their railway. Once you
have their agreement, apply for a special event licence in the usual
way with Ofcom. Please leave plenty of time for this application to be
published. When you have the details of the station, please register at
www.barac.m0php.net/. Please click on the `Register for the Railways on
the Air Weekend' link and enter details of your special event station
in the contact box.

The amateur radio digital repeater function is now being tested on the
Cute-1.7 cubesat. Information supplied to AMSAT by the satellite's
controllers say that they are currently testing an amateur digital
repeater and a test message is being transmitted. FM packets are
downlinked on 437.475MHz.

Kenwood and JVC say that their proposed merger will be completed by
this autumn. According to a joint news release the two Japanese
electronics giants will combine to form JVC Kenwood Holdings. The new
corporation will have its headquarters in the city of Yokohama. The new
model business will focus on car electronics, home electronics, and
professional wireless systems, and will also explore new product
segments. In an earlier statement by Kenwood it was stated that the
merger would have no impact on the company's continuing support of the
amateur radio marketplace.

The EG8FOR operation from the Orchilla Lighthouse, on El Hierro Island
was a success but limited by very bad propagation conditions. The DX
Group had offered a special certificate to all operators who contacted
EG8FOR on two or more bands. But, taking into account the difficulties,
the directors of the Teide DX Group decided to issue the certificate to
all operators who contacted EG8FOR two or more times, regardless of the
band or mode. For more details, e-mail .

John, GM7HHB has written an application to send SSTV type images or
webcam captures over the digital data stream on D-Star radios. It's
currently in alpha, so it has a few bugs and features still to be
implemented, but it's workable. You can download it at www.dstartv.com.
Make sure you read the FAQ first.

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RSGB RAYNET Groups wishing to apply for Talkthrough permits should note
that GM3ZYE will be away from this Tuesday until 3 July. Any urgent
requests in this time period should be sent to RSGB, 3 Abbey Court,
Fraser Road, Priory Business Park, Bedford MK44 3WG in an envelope
clearly marked `Talkthrough Permits'.

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

The Ham Radio Show in Freidrichshafen, Germany takes place from 27 to
29 June. More than 18,000 visitors took advantage of the 2007 fair to
find out about the latest offerings in the world of amateur radio and
electronics. This year, the focus is on cultivating the interest of the
younger generation. Youngsters can spend two whole days using Morse,
using radios, soldering or making things and generally gathering their
first experience of the world of amateur radio. The RSGB have a large
bookstall at this show.

The West of England Radio Rally will take place on 29 June at the
`Cheese & Grain', Frome, Somerset. Doors open at 10am and car parking
is free. Look out for the RSGB bookstall. Contact Shaun, G8VPG, on
01225 873 098.

Now for the news of special events

On 22 June, GB1THR from the Tanfield Heritage Railway in Gateshead will
be on the air. On 28 June, GB6WWW for the Wickenby Wings and Wheels
will be on the air from Langworth in Lincoln.

Today, 22 June, a team from Kilmarnock and Loudoun ARC will be active
from Darvel Telephone museum as GB2DTM from around 8am. Expected
operation will be on 20m and 40m.

The Loughton and District Amateur Radio Society will be operating
GB2NWA on 22 June as participants in the International Museums Weekend
event. This event coincides with the annual Air-Britain Fly-In at North
Weald Airfield. They hope to be QRV on 40m/80m SSB / CW but depending
on prevailing conditions over the weekend may be forced to move to the
higher bands. They will also be QRV on 2m FM.

Until 13 July, members of Stockport Radio Society will be activating
the special event station GB100STH in celebration of the 100th
anniversary of the opening of Stockport Town Hall. The station, which
is open to visitors, will be based in a room of Stockport College
overlooking the Town Hall. It will be operational on all HF bands plus
2 metres VHF and there will be a special QSL card. For further
information visit the station's page at QRZ.com.

Listen out for eighteen Malaysian scouting special callsigns to be on
air for the rest of this year for the centennial anniversary of
scouting in Malaysia. The Scouts Association of Malaysia has been
granted 9M1CS followed by another letter, A to D, F, I to K, M and N, P
to T, W and Y and Z. The Malaysian Amateur Radio Transmitters' Society
will provide QSL Bureau services for most of the stations.

The HS91LIONS special event station marks the 91st Lions Clubs
International Convention held in Bangkok, Thailand, between 23 and 27
June. The amateur radio station is managed by officers and members of
the Radio Amateur of Thailand under the royal patronage of His Majesty
the King. QSL information is via HS1CHB, PO Box 73, Bangkok, 10900,
Thailand.

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

Colin, G3VCQ from Sheffield will be operational as 5B/G3VCQ from Paphos
in Cyprus until 5 July. Operation will be SSB and CW holiday style
running 100W with a Buddipole antenna. QSL via the RSGB bureau to G3VCQ
please, or via QRZ.com for those wishing to QSL direct.

South Dublin Radio Club plan to cruise on the Shannon over the weekend
of 28 and 29 June. Listen for them on the Worked all Ireland
frequencies.

Tony, JA6CNL will be QRV as KH0N from Saipan until 24 June. Activity
will be on the HF bands. QSL to his home call.

Peter, DH3NB will be on the air as S79GB until 4 July. Activity will be
on 40 to 6m. QSL to his home call.

Michael, G7VJR, is expected to be active as JX/G7VJR on Jan Mayen for
around 6 days between June 25th and July 6th. He plans to be active as
much as possible, especially on CW, using lightweight antennas and a
K2/100 radio. Activity will be on 40 to 6 metres. Also on the trip will
be SQ4MP, using the callsign JX/SQ4MP, who will be active on CW/SSB and
a small amount of RTTY. QSL both callsigns via G7VJR, direct or by the
Bureau.

Members of The Hungarian Travelling Amateur Radio Team will be active
from Liechtenstein between 23 and 29 June. Operators will be HA0HW,
HA4DX and HG4GBE. They will operate from Masescha as HB0/home call.
Activity will be on 40 to 6 metres using CW, SSB and possibly some
digital modes. QSL via the HA Bureau or direct via the operator's
QRZ.com address.

Now the contest news

Today, 22 June, the All Asia CW Contest will be on the 1.8 to 28MHz
bands. The exchange is RST plus the operator's age. Also on until 1400
today is the RSGB 50MHz trophy. The exchange is RST plus serial number
and locator.

The Worked All Britain 144MHz QRO Phone Contest takes place today, 22
June, from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial
number and WAB area. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be
obtained from the WAB website or from the Contest Manager G0BFJ, QTHR.

The RSGB 50MHz Backpackers Contest also takes place today, 22 June,
from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is RST, serial number and locator.

On 24 June from 2000 to 2230, the RSGB 50MHz Activity Contest will take
place using all modes. The exchange is RST, serial number and locator.

The AO-51 Operations Team says that during the week of 22 to 29 June,
the satellite will be in the Field Day configuration. The early start
to the Field Day configuration, which is held over 27 and 28 June, will
allow you to test your station prior to the event. They ask you please
be courteous and remember both AMSAT and ARRL rules only allow one QSO
per repeater during the contest. All the details of AMSAT Field Day
operation can be found online at www.amsat.org.

Over the weekend 28 and 29 June, from 1200 to 1200, His Majesty King of
Spain Contest will take place using SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The
exhange is RST and serial number. Also over the same weekend of 28 and
29 June between 1400 and 1400 is the Marconi Memorial Contest using CW
on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is RST and serial number

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Now the solar report for the period from the 8th to the 15th of June,
compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

Solar activity was again very low. The solar flux scarcely varied,
though the average for the week, 67, was one point up on the previous
week. The 90-day average was an unchanged 70. The X-ray flux stayed
below the minimum threshold level, where it has been for many weeks.
The geomagnetic field was initially unsettled, then declined, with the
Ap level in single figures. However, on the 14th a high-speed coronal
stream raised the index to 16, followed by 20 on the 15th. Solar wind
speeds ranged between 539km/sec on the 8th, dropping to 272km/sec on
the 14th, then rising to 754km/sec on the 15th. Particle densities were
low or very low almost all week, but increased on the 14th to 14.3 per
cubic centimetre as the solar wind stream reached Earth. Bz varied
between very narrow limits for most of the week until, with the arrival
of that coronal stream, the variation widened to between plus and minus
15 nanoTeslas on 14th.

HF propagation initially showed little change but somewhat deteriorated
on the 14th and 15th due to the increase in geomagnetic activity. VHF
aurora was reported only from high latitudes. Sporadic-E occurred every
day, reaching 70MHz on most days, while some operators worked the
United States by multiple-op sporadic-E on 50MHz.

Finally, the forecast. Solar activity is expected to stay very low. The
solar flux looks unlikely to stray much above 70. Expect the
geomagnetic field to be unsettled until about Wednesday, but quieter
conditions should then prevail until next weekend. On the quieter days
MUFs at equal latitudes should reach 19MHz in southern Britain and
16MHz in the north. Darkness hour lows will again be about 10MHz. Paths
to the Middle East will have a maximum usable frequency of around
21MHz. The optimum working frequency, where there should be a 90 per
cent chance of success, will be about 18 MHz. The path should be best
between 0800 and 1400UTC. There could well be openings to the area by
double-hop sporadic E at 50MHz, though such events are not predictable.
Sporadic-E should continue daily at 70MHz, with openings at 144MHz a
possibility.

And that's all for this week from the propagation team

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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 Tuesday 24 June Home Counties ATV Club is having a
talk on sailing navigation by G4BID. Details at www.gb3hv.com.

On Tuesday 24 June Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk by Graham Aiken JP on magistrates in the community. Contact
Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247. 2846.

On Tuesday 24 June Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
taking part in the 50MHz UK activity contest. Contact John McCutcheon,
on 01462 459254.

On Wednesday 25 June Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 25 June Colchester Radio Amateurs is running its
Intermediate License Training course at St Helena School. Contact David
Chambers, M1AMI, on 01206 870989.

On Wednesday 25 June Dover Radio Club is having a talk by Graham,
2E1ITE. Details at www.darc.org.uk.

On Wednesday 25 June Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is having
its club BBQ. Families are welcome. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on 07956 594
514.

On Wednesday 25 June Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a bright
sparks informal evening. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099.

On Wednesday 25 June Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a DF Contest. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 26 June Bittern DX Group is holding its AGM. Contact Keith,
G0GFQ, on 01263 588 506.

On Thursday 26 June Colchester Radio Amateurs is having a holiday
DXpedition to Jersey. Contact David Chambers, M1AMI, on 01206 870989.

On Thursday 26 June King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2 metre club net. Details at www.klarc.org.uk.

On Thursday 26 June Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on amateur radio at the movies by Paul, G4CDV. Contact Pete,
G8FRC, on 01189 695 697.

On Thursday 26 June Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
planning for VHF NFD. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Friday 27 June Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
Paul Duell, G0TLG. Contact Quintin, M1ENU, on 02380 78799.

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On Friday 27 June Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a treasure
hunt with a twist. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103.

On Friday 27 June Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air and having a summer camp discussion. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020
8874 7456.

On Saturday 28 June Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on Little Chalfont Village by GB0CVD. Contact Terry,
G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Sunday 29 June Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
coach trip to Greenwich. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Wednesday 25 June South Bristol Amateur
Radio Club is on the air. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 25 June Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a Morse class. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.

On Thursday 26 June Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a committee
meeting and putting the club station on the air. Details at
www.yeovil-arc.com.

On Friday 27 June North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is preparing for
Westrally. Details at www.nbarc.org.uk

On Friday 27 June Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by Tim
Walford of Walford Electronics, demonstrating his range of Somerset
Kits. Details at www.tars.org.uk.

On Saturday 28 June Appledore and District Amateur Radio Club is
attending Abbotsham Fete. Contact Brian Jewell, M0BRB, on 01237 473251.

On Saturday 28 June Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club is
attending Southwick and North Bradley Scout Fete GX2BQY. Contact Ian,
G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, evenings and weekends.

The John Newton Memorial Radio Club callsign, G8EAM, will be on the air
during the 24 hour Relay For Life in Ferndown, Dorset on 28 and 29
June. The team will be operating between 1100UTC on 28th and 1100UTC on
29th. It will be operating a modest set up with Icom IC-7400 running
100W into a G5RV but hope to be operational on 3.5, 7, 14, 18, and
21MHz SSB voice as conditions dictate. They will also be running a
small station on 145MHz FM for local contacts.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 23 June Gloucester Amateur Radio And
Electronics Society is having an informal evening. Contact Anne,
2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 23 June South Normanton Alfreton and District Amateur Radio
Club is having an inter-club quiz night with buffet. Contact A J
Higton, 2E1GWO, on 01773 783658.

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On Monday 23 June Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society is
having an open shack night. Contact John, M1EJG, on 01562 700 513.

On Monday 23 June Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is having
a barbecue and is on the air. Contact Jack, G3VYE, on 01926 641 988.

On Tuesday 24 June Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 24 June Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is having a
picnic at Bidford-on-Avon. Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913.

On Wednesday 25 June Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a news and views
evening. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526 323 153.

On Wednesday 25 June Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
doing shack work and starts its trip to Friedrichshafen. Contact Mike,
G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 26 June Lincoln Short-Wave Club is operating GB2CWP at East
Kirkby as part of Brigades on the air. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526
323 153.

On Thursday 26 June Salop Amateur Radio Society is preparing for NFD.
Details at www.salop-ARS.org.uk.

On Thursday 26 June Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
International Museums Weekend. Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700
893.

On Friday 27 June Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is taking
part in Hills on the Air. Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776 869.

On Friday 27 June Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a video
night, watching the St Brandon 3B7C video. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 079
5877 363.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 23 June Angel Of The North
Radio Amateur Radio Club is having a take to the air night. Contact
Nancy, G7UUR, on 07990 760 920 (day), 0191 477 0036 (night).

On Monday 23 June Bolton Wireless Club is having a 2m DF practice
event, meeting at the Britannia Hotel at 7.30pm. Details at
www.boltonwireless.org.uk.

On Monday 23 June Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a postcode
competition and SSB contest planning meeting. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 23 June Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is preparing
for VHF field day. Details at www.tcars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 24 June Chester and District Radio Society is having a talk
on NHS communications by Roger Howells. Details at
www.chesterdars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 24 June Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a Part 2 of
the talk on vertical antennas by Keith, G8MKO and John, M0ANM. Contact
Roger, M0DWQ on 01925 813 558.

On Wednesday 25 June Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is holding
the Eileen Medley DF Hunt. Contact Tom, G4BKF, on 07050 291 850.

On Thursday 26 June North Wakefield Radio is having a club BBQ. Contact
Richard, M0RBG, on 07976 220 126.

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On Friday 27 June East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a radio
magazines evening. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Friday 27 June South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having a
talk on valve testing by G8RSI. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 27 June Tynemouth Radio Club is having a building blocks talk
on measuring resistors by Ian, 2E0IGB and Bob, G0EDK. Details at
www.g0nwm.com.

On Sunday 29 June Mexborough and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a beginners guide to RTTY, PCK and SSTV by Ron, G0TLA. Contact
Sharon, M0BOH.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 24 June Livingston and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk on the RSGB by RSGB Regional Manager
Gordon Hunter, GM3ULP. Contact Norman, on 0131 449 7641.

On Wednesday 25 June Lothians Radio Society is having a BBQ. Details at
www.lothiansradiosociety.com.

On Friday 27 June Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is having
a club night. Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

NEWS FOR WALES No news items were received for Wales this week.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND No news items were 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.