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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 27 July The news headlines

* G5RP Trophy nominations sought

* Amateur Radio Club in Worthing gets Lottery award

* New authors being sought by RadCom

The G5RP Trophy is an annual award to encourage newcomers to HF DXing.
However, the award is not limited to youngsters or the newly-licensed:
the HF DX bug can bite at any age or after many years of experience on
other bands. If you are an established HF DXer and want to recommend
someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2008, now is the time to send
in your nomination. Your nominee should be an up-and-coming HF DXer who
has made rapid progress in the last year and has some real achievements
to show, for example, a good total of new countries worked or some
serious HF DXpedition activity. This prestigious award will be
presented this year at the RSGB HF Convention on 10 to 12 October.
Please send your nominations to John Gould, G3WKL, QTHR, or by e-mail
to to arrive no later than Friday 12 September.

The Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has been awarded over
£9000 in Lottery funding towards new radios. The money will be used to
install VHF and UHF D-Star repeaters in the Worthing Borough Council
buildings and to replace the club's current radio equipment with new
state of the art transceivers, antennas, microphones and sundry
equipment.

The RadCom editorial team invites listeners to submit articles for
publication. Constructional projects for HF and LF will be particularly
welcome. In the first instance please contact the Editor by e-mail to
or telephone 01234 832700.

The lecture programme for the HF Convention is well under way. Over the
weekend 10 to 12 October, visitors to HFC can look forward to lectures
on such topics as the VP6DX Ducie Island Expedition by K3NA, Winning
the CQWW Multi Multi by G3SXW and VHF/EME in an HF DXpedition by AA7A.
These are just a few of the many lectures planned for the weekend.
Bookings for the weekend or individual days are being taken on the RSGB
website at www.rsgb.org/hfc.

The GB2RS news for Sunday 13 July said the level of the Intermediate
examination would 'significantly increase'. The word 'significantly'
was deleted in the draft but was not removed from the published text.
Our apologies for the misleading description. The standard will be
raised but by a more modest amount. The changes are in section 3f where
AC is more fully covered and the concept of capacitive and inductive
reactance are introduced. Similar changes are made to feeder and
antenna impedance. Finally, some sections have been merged to allow a
wider variety of questions, which would otherwise cross syllabus
boundaries. Both the current syllabus, valid to 31 May 2009 and the new
one from 1 June 2009 are available on the RCF website and linked from
the RSGB tutors pages.

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Softstuff have a new free website at www.scalc.co.uk that is integrated
with Google maps and allows sunrise and sunset times to be calculated
for almost anywhere on planet Earth.

Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club, this year's AMSAT-UK
International Space Colloquium has been streamed live to the web.
Today, Sunday 27th, is the final day of the Colloqium. Peter
Blakeborough G3PYB, President of BATC, will be streaming video of the
presentations live to the Internet so that radio amateurs and SWLs can
watch them from anywhere in the world. This service will be available
at www.batc.tv.

In last week's GB2RS News, we asked for images of amateur radio being
used in the community, whether on Open Days, events on the air, RAYNET
exercises, or whatever. The response has been good, but more are
needed, particularly ones showing amateurs and members of the public,
rather than amateurs on their own. Complaints have been received to the
effect that some mail sent to have bounced back.
Unfortunately, although this is a broadband connection, the mailbox is
currently rejecting mail with very large attachments. Please try
splitting large numbers of images into smaller packages, say three at a
time, or mailing on a CD to GM3ZYE, Glenamour, Newton Stewart DG8 7AE.
Many thanks to all who have responded.

The first Indian lighthouse has registered for International Lighthouse
and Lightship Weekend on 16 and 17 August. Permission has been received
to activate a lighthouse in southern India. A callsign is pending but
it will be activated from the Indian Independence Day, 15 August,
through to the 18th, which includes the International Lighthouse
Weekend.

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

Sunday 27 July sees the Horncastle Summer Rally taking place at the
Horncastle Youth Centre, Willow Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ.
Doors open at 10.30am and the entry fee is £1. Contact Tony, G3ZPU, on
01507 52783.

On Sunday 27 July, the Hamtune Hamfest takes place in the village of
Roade in Northants, just 1 mile west of junction 15 of the M1, postcode
NN7 2NL. There is free entry and parking with donations going to
Macmillan's charity.

Also on Sunday 27 July, the Colchester Radio Amateurs Rally and
Computer Fair will be held at St Helena School, Sheepen Road,
Colchester, Essex CO3 3LE. There is plenty of car parking on site and
the doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands and bring & buy as
well as an RSGB bookstall.

There are two rallies scheduled to take place on Sunday 3 August. The
Lorn Radio Rally will be held at Crianlarich Village Hall, which is at
the junction of the A85 and A82. There will be trade stands and an RSGB
Bookstall.

The West Somerset Amateur Radio Club Rally and Boot Sale will be held
at Allerford Community Hall, Allerford, Minehead TA24 8HL. Doors open
at 10am. Contact Bob, G1ONV, on 01643 820265.

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Now for the news of special events

Special event callsign TM5BS will be on air until 29 July for the FIFA
Beach Soccer World Cup to be held in Marseille. QSL via F6KRD.

On 1 August there are several stations due to go on the air. GB0YD and
GB4YD for Yorkshire Day will be on the air from. Carlton, Pontefract.
GB5OCC for Outstanding Cannock Chase will be on the air from the
Brindley Valley.

On 2 August, GB4CW will be on the air for Cowes Week from Ryde on the
Isle of Wight.

GB2VET will be on the air at the 3rd annual Veteran's weekend on 2 and
3 August from the East Park in Hull. They will be running HF on all
workable bands except top band as well as 2m and 70cm. They are hoping
to use restored vintage Ex-RAF World War 2 radio. There will be a
special QSL card.

3 August sees three special event stations taking to the air. GB1BRC is
on the air for Burnley Radio Club from Burnley in Lancashire. GB2CLB is
transmitting for the Cromer Lifeboat and GB4YD will be back on air for
Yorkshire Day, this time from Maltby near Rotherham

On 3 August 1958, the USS Nautilus reached the North Pole through the
North West passage. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, N9N will be
operating from close to the berth of the Nautilus over the weekend 2 to
3 August. Tentative operating frequencies will be 7.279MHz and 14.243
and 14.343MHz, depending on prior use and QRM, using SSB. Event
information is available at QRZ.com under N9N

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

There is a planned mini DXpedition to Inchkeith Island in the Firth of
Forth during the IOTA weekend, which is still taking place today, 27
July. Operation will be on HF by MM1RAH/P and on the 2m band by
GM1CNH/P.

A group of operators from the West of Scotland ARS will also be active
from the Isle of Colonsay (EU-008) during IOTA Contest, which is still
on today 27 July. Two contest callsigns will be used - GM2Z (CW) and
GM4A (SSB). A separate station will be working PSK outside of the
contest, callsign MS0EPC. QSL cards for both contest stations and
MS0EPC should be sent to MM0DFV.

OH2UA and OH2BH will be in the Azores doing some antenna work until 28
July and will occasionally appear on the bands. In the IOTA contest
they will activate CU2A. QSL via OH2BH.

Charles, M0OXO and Nigel, M0NJW will be active from Maitrese Island,
until 29 July using the callsigns GB8LMI and MJ0X during the IOTA
Contest. The QSL route is via M3ZYZ either direct or via bureau.
Further information at QRZ.com.

DO7ZZ will be active from Croatia operating VE3ZIK portable 9A until 23
August. Activity will be on the HF bands only, using CW, SSB, RTTY,
PSK31, PSK63 and 10m FM. QSL via DO7ZZ via the bureau.

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Chris, F8DZY will be active as TK/F8DZY from Furiani, Corsica until 3
August. He will operate CW and SSB on 40 to 10 metres in his spare
time. QSL via home call, direct or bureau.

FG5ED plans to run the St Barth Radio Club station, FJ5KH, until 30
July mostly in CW. The only QSL route for this operation is direct via
CH. Godeau, 13 Avenue Buckeburg, F-72300 Sable, France.

IT9HUV and IT9RBW will be on holiday on Lampedusa Island between 1 and
7 August. They will be active as IG9/homecall on 40, 20, 15 and 10
meters using RTTY and CW. QSL via IT9DQM.

KF8Z/P will be active from Hunting Island in South Carolina until 30
July. Activity will be limited because he is there on holiday. Look for
casual operations, slow CW and SSB on 40-10 meters. QSL via his home
callsign, direct or by the bureau.

W1AW portable KL7 takes to the air until 10 August from the grid square
BP56 as part of the 2008 Alaska State Hamfest being held in Anchorage.
The station will operate on the Alaskan Arctic Circle from the
intersection of the Dalton Highway some 200 miles North of Fairbanks.
The enhanced Grey Line effect starts at about 0600UTC and lasts for 6
to 8 hours.

Now the contest news

Today, 27 July, is the last day of the RSGB IOTA Contest, which
finishes at 1200. The aim of the contest is to promote contacts between
stations in qualifying IOTA island groups and the rest of the world and
to encourage expeditions to IOTA islands. Operating on the 3.5, 7, 14,
21 and 28MHz bands using CW and SSB, the IARU band plans should be
observed, with CW contacts being made only in the recognised CW ends of
the bands. Contest preferred segments must be observed. The exchange is
RST, serial number and IOTA reference.

27 July is also the final day of the IOTA SWL Contest, which finishes
at 1200. The aim of the IOTA SWL Contest, held in parallel with the
IOTA Contest, is to promote the interest of the SWL stations for the
Contests and to encourage the SWL applications to the awards of the
IOTA Programme. The IOTA Programme was established back in 1964 by the
late Geoff Watts, BRS3129, the only SWL ever inducted in the CQ DX Hall
of Fame.

The RSGB 70MHz Activity Contest will be on 29 July from 2000 to 2230
local time. The exchange is RST, serial umber and locator.

The TARA grid Dip Contest takes place on 2 August from 0000 to 2359
using PSK and RTTY on the 1.8 to 50MHz bands. The exchange is name and
grid locator.

Over the weekend 2 and 3 August is the RSGB Low Power Contest using all
modes. The 144MHz Contest is on 2 August from 1400 to 2200 and the
432MHz Contest is on 3 August from 0800 to 1200. The exchange in each
case is the RS, serial number, locator and postal code, such as MK or
BH.

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Now the solar report for the period from the 14th to the 20th of July,
compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

Solar activity was very low with no flares taking place what's so ever.
The solar disc was spotless until the 18th when a very small spot
appeared, this developed in to a small group on the 19th and the 20th.
Solar flux levels averaged 65 units and only varied between 65 and 66
units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 20th was 67 units, that's
the same level as last week. X-ray flux levels remained below the
minimum reporting level. That's the 15th consecutive week. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet everyday and the average was Ap 5 units. Solar wind
speeds at the ACE spacecraft declined from 740 kilometres per second on
the 14th to 280 by the 20th. Particle densities were low throughout. Bz
varied between minus 4 and plus 4 nanoTeslas.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity looks set to
continue at very low levels. There is a possibility that the solar disc
could have spots visible on some days. Saying that solar flux levels
are not expected to increase any higher than the low 70's. Geomagnetic
activity is expected to be quiet everyday. MUFs during daylight hours
at equal latitudes should be around 18MHz for the south and 15MHz for
the south. The darkness hour lows should be about 10MHz. Paths this
week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent
success rate of about 18MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90
per cent success rate should be around 15MHz. The best time to try this
path will be between 0900 and 1400 hours UTC. Sporadic-E is still
expected to take place on some days but openings on 144MHz will become
less frequent now that the peak of the season as passed.

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 Sunday 27 July Cambridge and District Amateur Radio
Club is taking part in the IOTA Contest. Contact David Leary, G8JKV on
01223 355254.

On Sunday 27 July Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is attending
Colchester Rally. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Sunday 27 July Colchester Radio Amateurs hold their 40th annual
rally at St Helena School. Contact David Chambers, M1AMI, on 01206
870989.

On Monday 28 July Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is taking
part in the IOTA Contest. Contact David Leary, G8JKV on 01223 355254.

On Tuesday 29 July Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
looking at the MKARS 80m SSB Transceiver Project with G0WAT and M1HOG.
Contact John McCutcheon, 01462 459254.

On Wednesday 30 July Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 30 July Dover Radio Club is having an outside event.
Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to .

On Wednesday 30 July Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a contest DVD evening. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on 07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 30 July Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a bright
sparks informal evening. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099.

On Wednesday 30 July Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is on the
air. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 31 July Bittern DX Group is having an IOTA debrief and
final planning for Summertime CQ's. Contact Keith, G0GFQ, on 01263 588
506.

On Friday 1 August Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having
an informal evening. Contact David Leary, G8JKV on 01223 355254.

On Friday 1 August Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having an HF night on the air. Contact Marc, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645.

On Friday 1 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having the
Chairman's alfresco supper. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103.

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On Friday 1 August Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is on the air on the
river bank. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Friday 1 August Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a barbecue at summer camp. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874 7456.

On Sunday On Sunday 3 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is at
Sandford Mill Radio Museum for its open afternoon. Contact Martyn,
G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Sunday On Sunday 3 August Colchester Radio Amateurs are having a
public demonstration day at the Five Parishes Summer Show, Fingringhoe
Ranges, Essex. Contact David Chambers, M1AMI, on 01206 870989.

On Sunday On Sunday 3 August Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio
Society dismantle their summer camp. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874
7456.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Sunday 27 July Plymouth Radio Club is having
a barbecue to finish off the IOTA weekend. Contact Frank, by email to
.

On Wednesday 30 July South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 30 July Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is
operating the club station. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.

On Thursday 31 July Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is on the air and having
a committee meeting. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by email to
.

On Friday 1 August North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
computer evening. Contact Dick Elford, G0XAY, by email to
.

On Friday 1 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

On Friday 1 August Bournemouth Radio Society will be given a
presentation by Peter, M0PTR, on computer aided transceiver control.
Contact John, G0HAT, on 07719 700771.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Sunday 27 July Lincoln Short-Wave Club is
attending the Horncastle Summer Rally. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526
323 153.

On Monday 28 July Sandwell Amateur Radio Club is having a natter night.
Contact Dave, G4JSR, on 0121 552 1820.

On Monday 28 July South Normanton Alfreton and District Amateur Radio
Club is having a talk on the hows and whys of ARDF mobile fox hunting
by Mike, M0RMJ. Contact A J Higton, 2E1GWO, on 01773 783658.

On Monday 28 July Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is holding
its construction competition. Contact Jack, G3VYE, on 01926 641 988.

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On Tuesday 29 July Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having its 5th DF of 2008. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Wednesday 30 July Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a practical workshop at HQ. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299
677.

On Thursday 31 July Salop Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Details on the web at www.salop-ARS.org.uk.

On Friday 1 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by
David Fry on collecting old postcards. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476
273 190.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 28 July Angel Of The North
Radio Amateur Radio Club is having a talk and take to the air evening.
Contact Nancy, G7UUR, on 07990 760 920.

On Monday 28 July Bolton Wireless Club is having its second VHF DF
hunt. Contact .

On Monday 28 July Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having an HF night.
Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 28 July South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having
its monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Monday 28 July Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is visiting
MV Marana. Contact Jack, G4BFH, by email to
.

On Tuesday 29 July Chester and District Radio Society is having a pie
and pint night at the Shrewsbury Arms, Mickle Trafford. Details on the
web at www.chesterdars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 29 July Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
George, G3OGQ, on a new front end for the CDG 2000. Contact Roger,
M0DWQ on 01925 813 558.

On Wednesday 30 July Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having an IOTA
washup meeting. Contact Sue, G6UQA, on 01482 668 041.

On Wednesday 30 July Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is meeting
at The Dee View, Heswall. Contact Tom, G4BKF, on 07050 291 850.

On Thursday 31 July North Wakefield Radio Club is having a barbecue.
Contact Richard, M0RBG, on 07976 220 126.

On Friday 1 August East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a radio
magazines evening. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Friday 1 August South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having a
demonstration of antenna matching by G3SVW. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161
969 3999.

On Friday 1 August Tynemouth Radio Club is having a talk on building
blocks by G0EDK and 2E0IGB. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to
.

On Sunday 3 August Maltby and District Amateur Radio Society is
operating GB4YD for Yorkshire Day. Contact Keith, G1PQW, on 07801 156
678.

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NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 29 July Livingston and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk on propagation. Contact Norman, 0131 449
7641, or on the web at uk.groups.yahoo/group/ms0liv.

On Wednesday 30 July Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is having an
evening of teaching, Practical work and general discussion. Contact
Jim, GM3UWX.

On Thursday 31 July Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having mini
talks. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Friday 1 August Ayr Amateur Radio Group starts operating its three
day special station at Ayr Flower Show under the leadership of Peter,
MM0BQP. Contact John, GM3CSO, on 01292 443 580.

On Friday 1 August Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is
having a normal club night. Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

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.