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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 18th October 2009

The news headlines

* SAQ diary dates from the Swedish LF station

* Check your IRC expiry dates

* GB7MBC DX cluster is now available

The historic Alexanderson alternator transmitter located at Grimton,
Sweden is preserved as a museum and is operated by volunteers on
various special days throughout the year. The station will transmit CW
on its usual frequency of 17.2kHz on 24 October at 0900UTC and 24
December at 0800UTC. Listen out for SAQ. These transmissions are well
worth listening to if you can rig up some kind of the receiver; the
musical sound of the keyed alternator is unique. No reports required
and no QSL cards are given for the October transmission but QSLs are
available for the Christmas Eve transmission. For more information
check out www.alexander.n.se.

Operators who use International Reply Coupons, or IRCs, in the QSL
exchange process are advised to check the expiry dates of their current
stock because one batch is due to expire on 31 December 2009.

The GB7MBC DX cluster is now available for those listeners with mobile
smartphones. Web pages have been created to make it simple to use the
cluster when mobile. Although designed for an iPhone, they have been
tested on Blackberry, Android and the Nokia N95. It should work with
most smartphones. The pages feature filtering and the capability to
click on a DX callsign to get the QRZ information for it. There are
currently two pages, one for general use and one specifically for VHF,
including 70cm. The General Cluster web address is
www.gb7mbc.net/webcluster/iPhone.php and the VHF Cluster web address is
www.gb7mbc.net/webcluster/iPhone_VHF.php. The group would be happy to
receive your comments.

Due to administrative problems at the RSGB, there has been a delay in
processing CRB checks for amateur radio examination volunteers. Of
those instructors affected, almost all the references are in and all
the CRB checks have been applied for. Quite a lot have been cleared and
the people concerned have been informed and are now re-registered. If
you have not received a new welcome pack then we are still awaiting
your CRB clearance, although it won't be too long now before you are
back on the register. The RSGB would like to take this opportunity to
thank you for your patience and understanding. This was an unfortunate
incident and should not occur in the future.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Thornton
Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society, members will be holding an open day at
the United Reformed Church on Rossal Road, Thornton Cleveleys, on 24
October between 9am and 5pm. They will be displaying different aspects
of amateur radio, with active stations on HF and VHF/UHF. There will be
demonstrations of slow scan TV, digital communications, vintage
wireless, internet linked radio, Morse and the licence training team
will be available to answer any questions. Other amateurs are asked to
listen for G4ATH on 80 and 40 metres and the calling channels on
VHF/UHF and give them a call. Ted, G3WBB has further details on 01253
857466.

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In November, the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society will be starting
revision classes for the Advanced Amateur Radio Communications Exam.
The classes will be held in Danbury Village Hall near Chelmsford every
Thursday evening from November 12 until December 3. The Advanced exam
is being held on Monday December 7. Further details and booking
information are available from the CARS training organiser Clive, G1EUC
on 01245 224577.

If you are off to Portugal on holiday next month, you may be interested
to know that November 15 sees the 12th Ham Fair in Lisbon, Portugal.
Details can be found on the internet at www.arvm.org/index.fr2009.html.
This is one of the biggest events in Portugal and aims to be more than
just a show with new and second hand goods as visitors enjoy meeting
new and old amateur friends.

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

Sadly, the organisers of the Northern Mobile Rally, due to be held in
Richmond School on 25 October, have been obliged to cancel it. Despite
their promotional efforts, bookings haven't been high enough to make
the rally viable. Please pass this message onto anyone you know who was
thinking about travelling to this rally.

Today, 18 October, the Blackwood and District ARS Rally will be held at
Coleg Gwent, Risca Road, Cross Keys NP11 7ZA. Doors open at 10am for
disabled visitors and 10.30 for other visitors. Admission is £2 and
there will be trade stands, a bring & buy as well as an RSGB Bookstall.
Details are available from Dave, GW4HBK, on 01495 228515, or by e-mail
to .

Galashiels and District Amateur Radio Society will be holding their
Annual Radio and Computer Rally in The Volunteer Hall, St John's
Street, Galashiels today, 18 October. Doors open at 11am and admission
is £2. There will be trade stands, a bring and buy and refreshments.
Details from Jim, GM7LUN on 01896 850245, or e-mail .

Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group, GI0LIX, will host its annual Radio
Rally in Downshire Community School, Carrickfergus on Saturday 24th
October 2009. Doors will be open from 12.30 pm. A good range of traders
and tables will be present. Access for traders ONLY is from 10 am.
Further information is online at http://www.gi0lix.co.uk.

The G QRP Club Convention at Rishworth on 24 October is to have a
Buildathon where novice constructors build a project under the guidance
of experienced radio constructors. The project is a Manhattan style
Sudden receiver for 40 metres. There are only 20 places and the total
cost is £15, which should be paid at the G QRP Club stand on the day.
The Buildathon will begin at 12.30pm and last most of the afternoon.
The actual finish time for individuals will depend upon how long it
takes that person to complete the receiver. To book your place, send an
email to g3rjv at gqrp.co.uk or g3mfj at gqrp.com.

Now for the news of special events

Don't forget that Jamboree on the Air is taking place this weekend, 17
and 18 October. Listen out for the many stations on the air and give
young people the chance to exchange greetings on the air.

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From mid October to mid November the Bromsgrove & District ARC will be
operating Special Event Station GB75XX to commemorate 75 years from the
first transmission from the BBC radio masts at Droitwich. Operation
will be all bands, all modes. Further information on QRZ.com.

4U1UN, the United Nations Headquarters station in New York City, will
make a rare appearance on the air between 10 and 25 October. There will
be an all-star line-up of top gun DXers and contesters at the controls
of the famed station. Its operating schedule is going to be restricted
from 1200 to 0400UTC each day. All- night activity is planned for
Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th. The 24th October is United Nations Day.
Logs for 4U1UN will be uploaded to Logbook to the World after the
operation is completed. All QSL requests should go via HB9BOU.

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

KP4KE will be taking part in the CQWW DX contest on 24 and 25 October.
QSLs should go via OK1DOT.

Andrew, G7COD, will be operational every day from Embudu Island in
Kaafu Atoll the Maldives, which is IOTA reference AS-013, using the
call 8Q7AK until 25 October, using SSB and CW on the 80 to 10 metre
bands including WARC frequencies. For comprehensive details of
operating times, bandplan, propagation forecast and QSL information
etc, please check his website www.8q7ak.freewebspace.com.

FP/KV1J and FP/W8TOM will be operating from Miquelon Island, which is
IOTA reference NA-032, between 20 and 27 October. They plan to operate
SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK on 160 through to 6 metres and to participate in
the CQ WW DX SSB Contest as FP/KV1J. QSL via their home calls, direct
or via the bureau. Their logs will be uploaded to Logbook of The World
and eQSL. Further information at www.kv1j.com/fp/october09.html.

Now the contest news

On 20 October the RSGB UHF Activity Contest takes place between 1900
and 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.

21 October sees the 80m Club Sprint take place between 1900 and
2030UTC. The contest exchange is a serial number and your name, but no
signal report, eg 001 Steve. If you call CQ, after someone has replied
and you complete a contact you must vacate the frequency. On the other
hand, if you call someone and make a contact, practice dictates that
you then call CQ on that frequency until someone replies. When the
contact is completed, you then QSY. In practice this means that much of
the time you have two contacts on a frequency, the first when you reply
to a CQ and the second after calling CQ.

The 48-hour CQ Worldwide DX SSB contest on 24*25 October is undoubtedly
the biggest event of the month. The CQ WW DX contests are some of the
biggest events in the HF calendar and there will be a lot of
DXpeditions and serious entries by contest groups. Expect the phone
portions of the HF bands, except the WARC bands, to be busy all
weekend. There are numerous categories that can be entered, from QRP to
high power, single band to all-band, and single-transmitter single-op,
to multi-multi. This means that just about everyone can pick a category
that is suitable for them personally and put in a competitive entry.
Nobody with a barefoot 100 watt transceiver and a doublet at 25ft would
expect to be able to compete against the big guns, but the beauty of it
is that if you pick your category carefully you still stand a
reasonable chance of receiving a certificate for being highly placed.
For example, if you have family commitments during

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the day, choose to make a single band entry on 160m or 80m, because
they are where the action is at night. On the other hand, if you don't
like staying up at night, choose a single band entry on 10m or 15m,
which are only likely to be open during daylight hours. If you want to
set yourself a real challenge, enter a QRP category. Although you won't
expect to be able to call CQ and get a run of QSOs going if you operate
QRP, if you show determination and keep slugging away at it you may
find when the results are published that there were few other
single-band QRP entrants from your country and you get a certificate.
The contest takes place between 0000 and 2350 on 24 and 25 October and
the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone, which is 14 for the UK.

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 5th to the 11th of
October, compiled on 12th of October by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.

We start this weeks report with some more possible evidence that solar
minimum is now behind us. The latest smoothed sunspots numbers for
January, February and March 2009 are 1.8, 1.9 and 2.0 respectively.
Remember that the figure for December 2008 was 1.7. Even though an
increase is taking place, it is painfully slow. Still there is no firm
confirmation that minimum has indeed did taken place from the Space
Weather Predication Centre. To quote SWPC, monthly values are final
except for the most recent 6 months which are considered preliminary.

The solar disc was spotless every day. Solar activity was very low with
no solar flares taking place at all. Solar flux levels averaged 69
units and varied very little day to day. The 90 day solar flux average
on the 11th was 69 units, that's the same level as last week. X-ray
flux levels remained below the minimum reporting level throughout.
Geomagnetic activity was very quiet, even though on the 11th a small
coronal hole disturbance arrived the Ap index only reached 6 units for
that day. The average was Ap 3 units. Solar wind data from the ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary from a very slow 240 kilometres
per second to 300 between the 6th and the 10th. On the 11th speeds
increased to peak at 460 kilometres per second. Particle densities were
also very low and for long periods between the 5th and the 10th were
less than one particle per cubic centimetre. An increase to 28
particles per cubic centimetre took place on the morning of the 11th.
Bz varied between minus and plus 3 nanoTeslas everyday except for the
11th which varied between minus 10 and plus 8 nanoTeslas. Particularly,
the solar wind velocities and densities are some of the lowest values
that I have recorded in the last 15 years whilst I have been compiling
these reports.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be at very low levels. This week could possibly see the odd small
sunspot group. If so, then solar flux levels could be in the low 70's.
However, with a spotless sun solar flux levels will be around the 70
mark. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet everyday, later in
the week there is a chance that activity could increase slightly. MUFs
during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 20MHz for the
south and 17MHz for the south. At this time of year daytime highs
normally take place within an hour or so from local noon. Darkness hour
lows should be around 9MHz and normally take place just before local
sun rise. Paths this week to the east coast of North America should
have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of
about 19MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success
rate will be around 15MHz. The best time to try this path will be
between 1400 and 1900 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 On Monday 19 October Braintree and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk by Mark Francis from Waters and Stanton.
Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 19 October Burnham Beeches Radio Club is having a talk on
propagation for beginners. Contact Dave, G4XDU, on 01628 625 720.

On Monday 19 October Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society has
its on-air competition, Worked All FDARS. Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email
to pjwatbtinternet.com.

On Monday 19 October Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it and
natter night. Contact Ray, G4FFY, on 020 8644 7589.

On Tuesday 20 October Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is operating
from the shack. Contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

On Tuesday 20 October Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
vertical antennas by David, G3YYD. Contact Ralph, on 01923 265572.

On Wednesday 21 October Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
on the air and having CW practice. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831
491.

On Wednesday 21 October Dover Radio Club is having a natter and
operating evening. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
g4sauatDARC.org.uk.

On Wednesday 21 October Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk about the GB3HW repeater by Oliver, G3TPJ. Contact John,
M0UKD, on 07817 365354.

On Wednesday 21 October Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a table
top sale. Contact Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 419204.

On Wednesday 21 October Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk by Eddie Wilson, G0ECW on the story of Newhaven Fort
Museum. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 22 October Echelford Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on Power Line Networking by Kevin Wood, G7BCS. Contact John, G4GSC, on
01784 451898.

On Thursday 22 October King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
ral-g3rsvatsupanet.com.

On Thursday 22 October Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is
holding its 75th Anniversary Evening, with G4JTR and G4JNU. Contact
Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697.

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On Thursday 22 October Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
planning for CQWW. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Friday 23 October Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club Police Aviation
with Dave Boardman. Contact Charlie, M0WYM, on 02380 439560,
secretaryativarc.org.uk.

On Friday 23 October Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society
is having a fish-'n'-chips night. Contact Marc Litchman, G0TOC, on 020
8502 1645.

On Saturday 24 October Edgware and District Radio Society is having a
talk. Contact Mike, G4RNW, on 020 8950 0658.

On Saturday 24 October Farnborough and District Radio Society is having
a talk on software defined radio by Olof, G0CKV. Contact Derek, G3OFA,
by email to mailatfarnboroughradio.org.uk.

On Saturday 24 October Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society
commences its weekend Foundation course. Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email
to pjwatbtinternet.com.

On Saturday 24 October Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society
starts its weekend taking part in CQWW. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234
742 757.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Monday 19 October Appledore and District
Amateur Radio Club has the second part of the talk on life under the
waves by Laurence, G4XHK. Contact Brian Jewell, M0BRB, on 01237 473251.

On Tuesday 20 October Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society is planning
for its open day. Contact Tony G0GFL, on 01258 860741.

On Wednesday 21 October Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is having an
operating and mystery night. Contact Mike, G1GZG, on 01395 274172.

On Wednesday 21 October Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is having a video night. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454
417048.

On Wednesday 21 October Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club Is
having a natter night. Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, evenings
and weekends.

On Thursday 22 October South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is planning
club events and contests for 2010 with Fred, G7LPP. Contact Len, G4RZY,
on 01275 834 282.

On Thursday 22 October Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on surface mount devices by Dennis, G3LLZ. Contact Den,
M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

On Thursday 22 October Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
the national DF competition by G4DPH. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by
email to steveatg7ahp.co.uk.

On Friday 23 October Torbay Amateur Radio Society Is having a natter
night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to g6fspattars.org.uk.

On Saturday 24 October Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society is holding
its open day, with displays and demonstrations. All are welcome.
Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860741.

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NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 19 October Gloucester Amateur Radio And
Electronics Society is operating club equipment. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY,
on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 19 October South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
committee meeting. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Monday 19 October Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on vehicle tracking systems by Paul, G1FJH, and on HF and Echolink
skeds by Alan, VE6QQ. Contact Peter D Rivers, G4XEX, on 01858 432105.

On Monday 19 October Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is helping
Hallow Scouts with their communicators badge. Contact Leslie Coyne,
M3WRZ, on 01905 764320.

On Tuesday 20 October Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk by Jim, G0EJQ, on the work of the RSGB. Contact Richard
Buckby, by email to radioatdadars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 20 October Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having the preamble to its ZN414 competition. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on
01509 504 319.

On Wednesday 21 October Midland Amateur Radio Society is holding its
AGM. Contact Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 21 October Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
on the air. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 22 October Lowestoft and District Pye Amateur Radio Club is
having a club night. Contact Phil, G0JSG, on 01502585448.

On Thursday 22 October Salop Amateur Radio Society is holding its AGM.
Details on the web at www.salop- ARS.org.uk.

On Thursday 22 October Stafford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk by John Alexander on the enigma machine. There is a £1
entry fee for this event. Details on 01785 878268.

On Friday 23 October Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a video
night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 23 October Leicester Amateur Radio Society is having a
barbecue organised by Tony. Contact the duty committee member on 07804
595749.

On Friday 23 October Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is having a
talk and discussion on light, led by Pete Walker. Contact Ken Frankcom,
G3OCA, on 01332 720976.

On Friday 23 October South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 19 October Angel Of The North
Amateur Radio Club is on the air and continues its Advanced Licence
course. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 4770036.

On Monday 19 October Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is watching the AMSAT
UK video. Contact Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by email to
trevorwood6atyahoo.co.uk.

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On Monday 19 October Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is
watching a video on old radios. Contact John Foster, M3WAZ, on 01253
399377.

On Tuesday 20 October Chester and District Radio Society is having a
surplus sale. Contact Barbara Green on 0151 339 9183.

On Tuesday 20 October Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a
social evening. Contact Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on 07852 200232.

On Tuesday 20 October Otley Amateur Radio Society is having a members'
presentation. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996370.

On Wednesday 21 October Denby Dale Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Contact Gerald, G3SDY, on 01484 602905.

On Wednesday 21 October Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having an
activity night. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

On Wednesday 21 October Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society Shack
re-wiring, club project and is on the air. Contact Peter Paul Fox,
G8HAV, on 01606553401.

On Thursday 22 October South Manchester Radio And Computer Club a is
having a talk on measuring inductance reliably by Ged, G8RSI. Contact
Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 23 October East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Friday 23 October Tynemouth Radio Club is having an operating night
with technical topics and a Morse Class. Contact Graham Errington, on
07812 172136.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 20 October Livingston and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk on amateur radio direction finding by
Tom, GM0JHF. Contact Norman, on 07740 946192.

On Wednesday 21 October Kingdom Amateur Radio Society is having a
presentation night. Contact Brian, MM0XBD, on 01383 738905.

On Wednesday 21 October Lothians Radio Society is having a surplus
equipment auction at St Fillans Church Hall. Contact Andy Sinclair, by
email to lrs_secretaryatmoosedata.com.

On Wednesday 21 October Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is having a
training evening. Contact Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on 01505 613633.

On Thursday 22 October Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air and
having a construction evening. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Saturday 24 October Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club
commences its weekend of operating in the CQWW SSB contest. Contact
Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Saturday 24 October Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is having a
junk sale. Doors open 12 noon and the sale ends at 1.30pm. Contact Jim,
MM0SMD, on 01340 820 134.

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NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 19 October Dragon Amateur Radio Club is having
a junk sale. Contact Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF, on 01248 362229.

On Monday 19 October Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is holding a club
raffle and social night. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292.

On Friday 23 October Newport Amateur Radio Society is holding its AGM.
Contact Gareth Price on 01633 880081.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group, GI0LIX,
will host its annual Radio Rally in Downshire Community School,
Carrickfergus on Saturday 24th October 2009. Doors will be open from
12.30 pm. A good range of traders and tables will be present. Access
for traders ONLY is from 10 am. Further information is online at
http://www.gi0lix.co.uk.

And that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast,

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.