GB2RS NEWS Sunday 12 October 2008
 

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 12 October 2008 The news headlines

* GB2RS 40m news broadcasts to resume

* GB2FUN move on apace

* Warwick school will contact the International Space Station

Last week we reported some important changes to the GB2RS news reading
arrangements on 7.150MHz in the 40m band. We have now appointed two
main readers who are some 1300kms apart and whose skywave signals will
jointly cover the UK. The reading at 10am UK local time is now
re-instated and will serve listeners to the North of Birmingham, whilst
the new 1030 hours reading will generally cover those to the South of
Birmingham. Listeners as far away as Iceland and Poland should be able
to receive one of these readings under the present propagation
conditions.

As the new Sunspot cycle climbs back to its hoped-for peak around the
time of the London Olympic Games in 2012 and beyond, one news reader
only may then be able to cover the whole of the UK. At present Near
Vertical Incidence Skywave Propagation (NVIS) is not possible on 7MHz
at 0900 hours UTC, because the Critical Frequency is no higher than
5MHz. Listeners who would like 24-hour real-time ionospheric data can
download this from a sounder at Fairford, Gloucestershire, by clicking
on a link which appears in this news story on the RSGB website.
Furthermore, if you have PowerPoint on your computer, a link is also
provided to a site where you can download an illustrated lecture on
NVIS HF propagation.

The fitting-out of the GB4FUN Mk 2 trailer is moving on apace. Carlos
Eavis, G0AKI, has been working flat out with assistance from a number
of other amateurs to ready the trailer for its debut at the HF
Convention this weekend. When it is finished, there will be capability
to operate from HF up to 13cm. Generous sponsorship from Icom, the
Radio Communications Foundation and other sources has helped to make
the new mobile classroom a reality. The programme of educational visits
will recommence shortly.

Space-based amateur radio educational events with Richard Garriott,
W5KWQ, on board the International Space Station are currently scheduled
for 16, 17 and 19 October. Contacts will be set up with educational
establishments in Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky,
Missouri and Texas. On Friday, October 17 at 1105UTC, Budbrooke Primary
School in Warwick has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Students have been
learning about space exploration and how it has changed in the last 40
years. Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, intends to take part in this contact.

The 51st Jamboree On The Air and 12th Jamboree On The Internet takes
place next weekend, 19 and 20 October. It is an annual event in which
around 500,000 Scouts and Guides from all over the world make contact
with each other by means of amateur radio and Internet techniques. It
is the largest Scout event in the world. Plans are being finalise in
many countries around the world to get even more Scout groups on the
air. Please listen for these groups and exchange greetings messages
with the young people involved.

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The wait for better DX conditions continues and it could be a longer
wait than originally projected. Astronomers who count sunspots have
announced that 2008 is now the `blankest year' of the Space Age. NASA
Science News says that, as of September 27, the sun had no visible
sunspots on 200 days of this year. To find a year with more blank suns,
you have to go back to 1954. That's three years before the launch of
Sputnik. It's also the year that the sun's disk was devoid of sunspots
241 days. But there is better news. For the first time in months, a
significant sunspot is emerging on the sun. It is a fast-growing active
region with two dark cores, each larger than Earth. The magnetic
polarity of the sunspot identifies it as a member of new Sunspot Cycle
24. This new sunspot is an encouraging sign that the 11-year solar
cycle is indeed progressing, albeit slowly.

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

The RSGB HF Convention finishes today, 12 October, at Wyboston Lakes
Conference Centre, Great North Road, Wyboston, Bedfordshire MK44 3AL.

Today, 12 October, is the Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics
Society annual rally. It starts at 10.30am in the Great Lumley
Community Centre, Front Street, Great Lumley, Chester le Street, Co.
Durham DH3 4DJ.

The G-QRP Club Mini-Convention, in conjunction with the Halifax Radio
Society, takes place on 18 October at The Rishworth School, Ripponden,
HX6 4QA. Doors open at 10am and admission is £2. There will be lectures
on QRP subjects as well as a Bring & Buy, surplus sales, component and
kits.

Galashiels and District ARS will be holding their Annual Radio and
Computer Rally on 19 October in the Volunteer Hall, St John's Street,
Galashiels. Doors open 11am and admission is £2. There will be traders,
Bring and Buy and refreshments. Details from Jim, GM7LUN, on
01896-850245.

The Blackwood & District ARS Rally will be held on 19 October at Coleg
Gwent, Risca Road, Cross Keys, NP11 7ZA. Doors open at 10.30am and
admission is £2. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and special
interest groups in attendance. Details from Dave on 01495 228516.

Now for the news of special events

Over the weekend 18 and 19 October, a team from Wakefield and District
Radio Society will be operating from Britain's highest pub, the Tan
Hill Inn, using the callsign GB1TAN.

GB2WCM is being put on air in aid of the Mount Edgcumbe Hospice in St.
Austell, Cornwall. The station will be on air from 1 October 2008 for
28 days. QSL via the bureau or direct, see qrz.com. SWL reports are
most welcome and all QSLs will be answered.

The Caterham Radio Group are running their JOTA Station, GX0SCR, for
the 23rd time from Caterham, Surrey, on behalf of the Caterham Guide
Groups. It is expected licensed Guides with M3 calls will assisting and
operating on 2 metres and the HF bands. The Caterham team would very
much appreciate your calls to assist in passing of greeting messages to
and from their young people and making it another successful event.

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GB4YOU will take part in JOTA from Youlbury Scout Activity Centre near
Oxford. This station is active throughout the year and not just for
JOTA, so please listen out for them and exchange greetings.

The Ethiopian Club Station in Addis Ababa will be operating ET3AA with
the Scout Association of Ethiopia for JOTA on 18 and 19 October. Please
look for them on JOTA frequencies. QSL to PO Box 60258, Addis Ababa,
Ethopia.

Members of the West Manchester Radio Club will be operating GB1ASG for
Astley Scout Group from the Scout headquarters on Ellesmere Street,
Astley, Manchester on 18 and 19 October for Jamboree on the Air.

3DA0SS will be active for Jamboree on the Air on 18 and 19 October from
Swaziland. They will have a group of 20 Swazi scouts camping with them
that weekend. It will be their first experience of JOTA.

The first heavier than air powered flight in the UK was made by S F
Cody on 16 October in Farnborough, Hampshire. To commemorate the 100th
anniversary of this historic event, Farnborough & District Radio
Society will be operating GB1CODY at the Aldershot Military Museum from
13 to 19 October. Because of the museum opening times it is likely that
they will be operating during daytime only. The planned skeds are 0900
to 1200 on 7.050MHz LSB and 1200 to 1600 on 14.250MHz USB. On 18 and 19
October the group may run the station on 3.7MHz in the morning. All
QSOs will be acknowledged through the QSL Bureau and the group are very
grateful to Ofcom for granting this unusual four letter suffix
callsign.

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

Until 31 October, T6EE will be operating from the capital city of Kabul
on 14.200MHz plus/minus QRM as other frequencies are not permitted with
his licence. He does plan to take part in the upcoming CQ WWDX Contest
in SSB on 25 and 26 October. QSLs via KE6GFI.

EA7ATX and EA7AY are currently in Colombia for the next few weeks.
Their plans include the activation San Bernardo Islands as HK1AT from
14 to 19 October. QSL via EA7ATX, direct only.

C56EA will be active as from The Gambia between 15 and 23 October. They
will operate SSB, CW and RTTY on 160 to 10 metres. QSL via EA4BT,
direct or bureau.

Andrew, a member of the RSGB affiliated Craven Radio Amateur Group,
will be operational every day from Embudu Island in Kaafu Atoll in the
Maldives, using the call 8Q7AK from 12 to 25 October. He plans to use
SSB and CW on the 40, 30, 20, 17, 15 and 12 metre bands. For
comprehensive details of operating times, QSL information etc, please
check 8Q7AK on QRZ.COM

C56YK will be active from Gambia as between 13 October and 9 November.
Operation will be on 80 through 10 meters and perhaps 160 meters as
well. Modes announced are CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. This will be a
holiday style operation. For more details and updates visit the
www.on7yk.net.

Jose, ON4LAC, will be active from Mauritius (3B8, AF-049), 18 October
through 6 November, and then from Rodrigues (3B9, AF-017) from 7
November to 12 December. Jose is waiting to receive his callsigns. QSL
via his home call.

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Several islands in Papua New Guinea will be activated by a team that
includes G3KHZ during the period 17 October to 5 November. The
itinerary is Garove Island, P29VLR, QSL via SM6CVX; then Hermit Island,
P29NI, QSL via G3KHZ; finally, Manus Island, callsign yet to be
determined, QSL via K6HFA. There is a web page with further
information.

Now the contest news

The 2nd RSGB 50MHz contest takes place today, 12 October, from 0900 to
1200 using all modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number,
locator and postcode.

On 14 October from 1900 to 2130 is the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest
using all modes. The exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.

The second leg of the ARRL International EME Competition takes place
over the 18 * 19 October weekend and is for the 50MHz through 1296MHz
bands, both analogue (CW and phone) and digital modes. The rules can be
found on the ARRL website. London latitude stations will have about 33
hours of Moon time as the declination varies from +26.27° to peak at
+27.27°. The 144/432MHz sky temperature ranges from 437/31K to 575/44K
and the signal degradation at this perigee period varies from -0.03dB
to zero. The Sun offset at Saturday midnight is -122°.

The Worked All Germany contest takes place on 18 and 19 October from
1500 to 1500. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz band, the exchange is RST and
serial number. Check out the DARC website for more details.

Now the solar report for the period from the 29th September to the 5th
of October, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

Last week we mentioned the decline in the solar wind speeds,
temperature and density. This week more grim news: this time sunspot
numbers. As of the 27th of September the sun had been spotless for 200
days of the year. To find a year with more spotless days, you have to
go back to 1954, three years before the launch of Sputnik, when the sun
was spotless for 241 days. "Sunspot counts are at a 50-year low," says
solar physicist David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight
Centre. "We're experiencing a deep minimum of the solar cycle. While
the solar minimum of 2008 is shaping up to be the deepest of the Space
Age, it is still unremarkable compared to the long and deep solar
minima of the late 19th and early 20th centuries." Those earlier minima
routinely had up 200 to 300 spotless days per year. Interestingly, the
sunspot maximum following the 1954 minimum was the biggest on record
and peaked in March 1958. Fingers crossed, hopefully, it will be worth
the wait. Solar activity was very low. The solar disc was spotless
everyday except for the 4th when a very small spot appeared. This had
disappeared the following day. Solar flux levels averaged 67 units and
only varied by one unit. The 90 day solar flux average on the 5th
remained at the same level as last week at 66 units. X-ray flux levels
remained below the minimum reporting level. Geomagnetic activity was
quiet until the 2nd when a coronal hole disturbance arrived. This
lasted into the 3rd. The Ap index was 12 and 13 units respectively. The
average was Ap 7 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
increase from 350 kilometres per second to 710 by the 3rd. Particle
densities were low everyday. Bz varied between minus and plus 5
nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 6 and plus 8 nanoTeslas
during the disturbance. Visual

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aurora was reported on the 1st and VHF radio aurora occurred for
several hours on the 2nd, in both cases only at high latitudes.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
continue at very low levels. The solar disc could be spotless on some
days. Solar flux levels are expected to be around the mid to high 60's.
Geomagnetic activity could be at `unsettled to active' levels today due
to a recurring coronal hole. However, once this disturbance declines
later today or tomorrow quiet conditions should last for the rest of
the week. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be
around 19MHz for the south and 16MHz for the north. The darkness hour
should be about 8MHz. Paths this week to Australia should have a
maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about
22MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
should be around 18MHz. The best time to try this path will be between
1000 and 1400 hours UTC.

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 A reserve GB2RS news reader is still required to assist
Julian M0GFD with his 2-metres FM reading at 11.00 hours on a few
Sundays to cover the East and South sides of London. Volunteers should
be members of the RSGB, and are asked to contact the GB2RS News Manager
Gordon Adams G3LEQ on 01 565 652 652 or by E-mail via
gb2rsatntlworld.com.

On Monday 13 October Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society is having a
talk on sub-sea cables by Steve, G3WZK. Contact Andy, G8JAC, by email
to g8jacatbtinternet.com.

On Monday 13 October Farnborough & district radio society is operating
GB1CODY at the Aldershot Military Museum to celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the UK's first powered flight. Contact John, G3KND, by
email to g3knd.radioattalktalk.net.

On Monday 13 October Felixstowe & District Radio Society is having a
fish and chip supper. Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email to
paul.whitingatbt.com.

On Tuesday 14 October Stevenage & District Radio Society is having an
operating night. Contact John McCutcheon, on 01462 459254.

On Wednesday 15 October Chesham & District Radio Society is having a
talk on a 70 MHz transverter by Terry, G0VFW. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on
01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 15 October Dover Radio Club is having an operating and
natter night. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to g4sauatDRC.org.uk.

On Wednesday 15 October Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a table
top sale. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099.

On Wednesday 15 October Worthing & District Radio Club is having a
hints and tips evening. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 16 October Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a social
evening at The Queens Head, Barns Green. Details at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 16 October King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2 metre club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
ral-g3rsvatsupanet.com.

On Thursday 16 October Shefford & District Radio Society is having its
autumn junk sale. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Thursday 16 October Sutton & Cheam Radio Society is having a talk on
'The quest for a quiet radio environment' by John Cleeve, G3JVC.
Contact John, G0BWV, on 020 8644 9945.

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On Friday 17 October Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is holding its
AGM. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103.

On Friday 17 October Wey Walley Amateur Radio Group is having a talk on
working vintage wireless sets by Stan Casperd, G3XON. Details at
www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 18 October Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in JOTA Weekend. Contact Steve, on 0142 720815.

On Saturday 18 October Hastings Electronics & Radio Club is having an
auction. Contact Gordon, on 01424 431 909.

On Saturday 18 October King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
JOTA Weekend. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to ral-g3rsvatsupanet.com.

On Saturday 18 October Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
JOTA Weekend. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099 .

On Saturday 18 October Verulam Radio Club is taking part in JOTA
Weekend. Contact Ralph, G1BSZ, on 01923 265572.

On Sunday 19 October Colchester Radio Amateurs is taking part in JOTA.
Contact David Chambers, M1AMI, on 01206 870989.

On Sunday 19 October Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating and
grass cutting at their Beachy Head site. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424
424 319.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Monday 13 October Cornish Radio Amateur Club
is having a computer section meeting with a talk by Peter, G3WKP on
using the internet for family history. Contact Ian, on 01872 561 058.

On Monday 13 October Exeter Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
propagation by G7NBU. Contact Paul, 2EOEXR, by email to
pchesh-29athotmail.co.uk.

On Tuesday 14 October Chippenham District Radio Club is having an
Eddystone night with Ian Nutt, M0ECQ. Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 846
698.

On Wednesday 15 October Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is having an
operating and natter night. Contact Mike, G1GZG, on 01395 274172.

On Wednesday 15 October South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having an
events and contest planning evening. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834
282.

On Wednesday 15 October Taunton & District Radio Club is preparing for
JOTA. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.

On Wednesday 15 October Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is having a video night. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
tonytsgarcatsky.com.

On Wednesday 15 October Trowbridge & District Radio Club is having a
natter night. Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698.

On Thursday 16 October Swindon & District Radio Club is having a talk
on SDR developments by Jan, G0BBL. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

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On Thursday 16 October Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
restoring WW2 radios by G7LNJ. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by email to
g.swainattesco.net.

On Friday 17 October Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having an
operating night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to g6fspattars.org.uk.

On Saturday 18 October Taunton & District Radio Club is taking part in
the JOTA Weekend. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Sunday 12 October Wythall Radio Club is
attending Lord Pettitt's Shooting Party. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710
412 819.

On Monday 13 October Gloucester Amateur Radio and Electronics Society
is having an informal evening. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478.

On Monday 13 October Sandwell Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact
Dave, G4JSR, on 0121 552 1820.

On Monday 13 October South Normanton Alfreton & District Radio Club
starts its winter construction project with Mike Jeffs, M0RMJ. Contact
A J Higton, 2E1GWO, on 01773 783658.

On Monday 13 October Stourbridge & District Radio Society is having an
open shack night. Contact John, M1EJG, on 01562 700 513.

On Tuesday 14 October Derby & District Radio Society is having a
committee meeting. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.

On Tuesday 14 October Loughborough & District Radio Club is holding its
AGM. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 14 October Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is having
a technical topics evening with tips, hints and wrinkles for the brow.
Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913.

On Tuesday 14 October Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is having a
talk on the 80m SSB transceiver club project. Contact Leslie Newth, on
01905 726320.

On Tuesday 14 October Wythall Radio Club is having a committee meeting.
Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.

On Wednesday 15 October Telford & District Radio Society is having a
talk on D-Star by Mike Hines, G1ZRN. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299
677.

On Thursday 16 October Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is on the air.
Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893.

On Friday 17 October Coventry Amateur Radio Society is visiting a local
radio station. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 17 October Wythall Radio Club continues its Intermediate
course. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.

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NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND The first meeting of the North West
Microwavers group will be held in a pub near Macclesfield, Cheshire on
Tuesday 21 October. It is planned that the meeting will include a short
demonstration of microwave SDR using Doppler-shifted aircraft scatter
as well as a practical implementation of a portable solution for
accessing the ON4KST microwave chat system. After that, the group will
have a meal. Anyone is welcome but they must pre-register by contacting
Richard Newstead, G3CWI, QTHR or by email to g3cwiattesco.net. If the
meeting is a success, it is hoped to have similar meetings every few
months in different locations in the North West. On Monday 13 October
Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on VHF and UHF by M0GAV.
Details at www.sheffieldarc.org.uk.

On Monday 13 October Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is
holding its AGM. Contact John Webb, G8RDP, on 01253 876313.

On Tuesday 14 October Pontefract District Radio Society is having a
talk on standing waves. Contact Chris, M0JRQ, on 07594 596 040.

On Thursday 16 October North Wakefield Radio Club is having a talk on
life on the inland waterway by Geoff Spurr, G0PFH. Contact Richard,
M0RBG, on 07976 220 126.

On Friday 17 October East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a
radio components catalogues evening. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642
475 671.

On Friday 17 October Mexborough & District Radio Society is having a
quiz night with Ron, G0TLA. Contact Sharon, M0BOH, by email to
M0bohataol.com.

On Friday 17 October South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
a talk on the 3X5A VooDoo Contest Group operation by John, G4IRN.
Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 17 October Tynemouth Radio Club is taking part in CQWW as
G0NWM/P. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to mailatg0nwm.com.

On Saturday 18 October Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club is taking
part in JOTA Weekend. Contact Mark, G0GFG, on 01388 745353.

On Saturday 18 October Pontefract District Radio Society continues its
Intermediate course. Contact 07594 596 040 for more information.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Wednesday 15 October Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio
Club is having a talk by GM4FLX. Contact Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on
01505 613633.

On Thursday 16 October Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a quiz.
Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Friday 17 October Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is
having a video night. Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Sunday 19 October Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a bus
trip to Galashiels Rally. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

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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.