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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 8th November 2009

The news headlines

* Two Canadian stations on 500MHz

* St Helena Day broadcasts

* Notice of Variation for GB3WX

On 30 October, Canada issued two licences in the Developmental Service
in the range 504 to 509kHz. VE1ZZ has been assigned VX9PSO and is
reported to be on 504.6kHz. VO1NA has been assigned VX9MRC and is
reported to be on 507.77 and 508.5 kHz. Two more stations, VE3OHH and
VE7BDQ, are expected to become active soon.

Radio St. Helena Day will be on Saturday 14 November. For Europe, the
broadcast will be from 2200 to 2330UTC on 11.0925MHz USB. To get a QSL
from Radio St. Helena, you must send a written and verifiable reception
report by airmail and include sufficient return postage, which should
be 5 euros or 3 US dollars. E- mail-reports will be not be verified and
recordings will not be returned. Your reports should be sent to Radio
St Helena, PO Box 93, Jamestown, St. Helena, STHL 1ZZ, South Atlantic
Ocean, via AIRMAIL, via United Kingdom & Ascension. The last two lines
of the address are very important.

The recently postponed Train the Trainer for Reading, Berkshire has now
been rescheduled for Saturday 21 November 2009. It will be located in
the Boardroom, Nabishi UK Ltd, 16c Upton Road, Reading, Berkshire RG30
4BJ. The start time will be 9.30am. For further information please
contact Dr Alison Johnston, G8ROG by email to or by
phone on 0118 954 5368 in the evenings or visit the regional RSGB
website www.rsgb-region-9.org.uk.

A Notice of Variation for GB3WX, the 6m and 10m cross-band repeater,
was issued on 3 November. The Wessex Repeater Group would like to
express their thanks go to all at the ETCC and Ofcom for their support
with this project.

Colchester Radio Amateurs are holding a Foundation licence course. Two
evening tutorial sessions take place on Wednesday 11 and 18 November.
The practical activities and examination take place during the day on
Saturday 21 November. For further details contact Kevan, 2E0WMG on 0776
654 3784 or by e-mail to .

The next round of Advanced classes start in Bath on 7 January, aiming
for the June/July exam. Classes run every Thursday from 7 to 9pm. Full
details can be had from Steve Hartley, G0FUW, who is QTHR and can be
e-mailed using his . Steve and his team are also
happy to support distance learning for those that cannot make the
classes. Steve also has a few places left at the 3rd Bath Buildathon,
which takes place on Saturday 5 December. The project is the Walford
Electronics Brendon 80m double sideband transceiver. The Buildathon
coincides with the Bath Christmas Market, should you wish to make a
weekend of it. Rumour has it that Santa may be operating stroke sled
mobile for the first QSOs with the newly constructed rigs.

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

The Rochdale and District Radio Society Traditional Radio Rally will be
held on Saturday 14 November at St Vincent's Church Hall, Caldershaw
Road, Rochdale OL12 7QL. Doors open at 10.30am, admission is £2.50 and
there are concessions for under 12 and seniors. There will be a Bring &
Buy and tables are £5 for those wishing to sell their own radio related
items. More details from Dave, G0PUD on 07710 243107.

On Sunday 15 November, the CATS Radio & Electronics Bazaar will take
place at the 1st Coulsdon Scout HQ, at the rear of the Council Car
Park, Lion Green Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. Doors open from 10am to 1pm
and entry is £1. Car parking is free and you will find the usual Bring
& Buy as well as catering. Details from Andy G8JAC, e-mail
.

Now for the news of special events

Members of the Galway VHF Group will be operating an HF station for a
24 hour period from lifeboat stations in County Galway. On 14 and 15
November they will operate from the Aran Island Lifeboat station at
Kilronan, Inishmore. There will be a special QSL card for all contacts
made and SWL reports will also be welcomed.

The Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be transmitting from Brownlow
House in Lurgan, Co Armagh on Wednesday 11 November from 10am for
Armistice Day, using the special event callsign GB2AD. This location
was chosen as it has been used in both World Wars. It was a Battalion
HQ in WW1 and American HQ in WW2. The club will be operating all bands
and modes throughout the day, so listen out.

Aberdare and District Amateur Radio Society will be running a special
event station to commemorate Armistice Day on 11 November with the
callsign GB0AD. The call will be active until 15 November and operating
times can be viewed at www.radioclubs.net/aadars.

GB1HF will be on the air on 14 November from Northern Ireland to
commemorate the life of Harry Ferguson the inventor and engineer.

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

T30KI and T30IW will be on the air from Western Kiribati between 10 and
16 November. Activity will be on HF plus 6m as conditions permit using
SSB and CW. QSL via N1EMC.

PW2IO and PW2TA will activate Cabras Island, which is IOTA reference
SA-071, between 19 and 23 November. They will operate two separate
stations running 300W and 100W respectively. Both stations will work CW
and SSB. The main bands to be used are 15, 17, 20, 30 and 40m, on IOTA
frequencies. Additional information will be available at QRZ.com.

F6AML will be on the air from the Union des Comores using the callsign
D68F from 13 to 23 November. QSL via F6AML, either via bureau or
direct. More details on QRZ.com.

DJ8NK, DM2RUM and DM2XO will sign VP2MNK, VP2MUM and VP2MXO from
Montserrat until 15 November, all bands and modes. QSL to their home
calls direct or via bureau.

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DL7DF and friends will operate from Phu Quoc Island, which is IOTA
reference AS-128, until 17 November, with one station on CW and SSB and
one station on RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV. They have a web page. QSL via
DL7DF either direct or via the DL QSL Bureau.

An international team is heading to Samoa, prefix 5W, between 10 and 17
November. Plans are to have two stations including amplifiers for
all-band activity. More details on IK1PMR's website.

Now the contest news

10 November sees the 432MHz UK Activity Contest between 1900 and
2130UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

RSGB HF events begin on Thursday 12th with the SSB leg of 80m Club
Sprints. It takes place between 1900 and 2030UTC. The exchange is
serial number and name. November is the final month of the series.

Two days later, on the 14th, it's the Club Calls Contest, when
individuals from clubs compete as teams. The unique aspect of CCC is
that part of the exchange is the name of your club (assuming you are a
member of one). In the past it has been apparent that some less skilled
ops have either not given the name of their club exactly the same way
for every QSO or have given it wrongly, making it appear that there are
multiple clubs with similar names, for example Shillingbury Radio
Society or Shillingbury Radio Club. It could be a good idea for the
co-ordinators of a club entry to give each operator a briefing and a
card printed with the exact wording that should be given, because the
adjudicator, Rob, G4LMW, is going to check them carefully. The contest
takes place between 20000 and 2300UTC and the exchange is signal
report, serial number and club info.

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 26th October to the
1st of November, compiled on 2nd November by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.

Solar activity was low on some days. In total 9 C class solar flares
occurred, five of which took place in a 6 hour period during the
morning of the 27th. A coronal mass ejection took place on the 31st
associated with a C class solar flare. All this activity was
responsible to a new cycle sunspot group, the largest so far this
cycle. Solar flux levels was 82 units on the 28th but then gradually
declined to 72 units by the 1st as the group rotated out of view. If
the group survives its transit on the far side of the Sun it should
rotate back into view around the 12th or the 13th of November. This as
been the most active week since the end of March last year. The 90 day
solar flux average on the 1st was 71 units, that's two units up on last
week. X-ray flux levels increased above the minimum reporting level all
week and peaked at A7.5 units. The average was A4.2. All this adds up
to more compelling evidence that sunspot minimum is now behind us. We
must however, keep our feet on the ground. We are still in the minimum
phase of the sunspot cycle and it will be a couple of years yet before
activity will be routinely like this. The latest forecast for the next
maximum is in the spring of 2013. Geomagnetic activity was quiet
everyday except for the 30th which increased to `active' levels due
possibly to a sector boundary crossing. The Ap index was 11 units on
that day and the average was Ap 4 units. Solar wind data from the ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 300 and 430 kilometres
per second. Particle densities increased to 15 and 17 particles per
cubic centimetre on the 29th and the 30th respectively; otherwise they
remained below 10 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between
minus and plus 2 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 8 and
plus 11 nanoTeslas during the slight disturbance.

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And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be at very low levels. The solar disc could be spotless for the next
few days but later in the week the return of the large sunspot group
could take place. Solar flux levels are expected to be around the 70
mark, but from midweek a steady increase could take place if the group
returns into view. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet
throughout. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be
around 23MHz for the south and 20MHz for the north. The darkness hour
lows are expected to be about 9MHz. Paths this week to South America
should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate
of about 27MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent
success rate will be around 21MHz. The best time to try this path will
be between 1000 and 1700 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 Tuesday 10 November Brede Steam Amateur Radio
Society is operating from the shack. Contact Steve, on 01424 720 815.
On Tuesday 10 November Harwell Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on healthy eating for radio amateurs by Janet, 2E0LLM. Contact Malcolm,
G8NRP, on 01235 524 844.

On Wednesday 11 November Aylesbury Vale Radio Society is having a quiz
with Chesham. Contact Roger, G3MEH, on 01442 826 651. On Wednesday 11
November Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a committee
meeting. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008. On Wednesday 11
November Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is having its
annual inter-club quiz night with Aylesbury. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on
01442 831 491. On Wednesday 11 November Darenth Valley Radio Society
will be having a talk on D-Star and the Gateway on GB7OK by Garry,
2E0ULA. The venue is Crockenhill Village Hall, postcode BR8 8LT. For
more information contact Paul, M0HAL, by email to
. On Wednesday 11 November Dover Radio
Club is having an overview of amateur television by Brian, G8ZYZ.
Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to . On Wednesday 11
November Farnborough and District Radio Society is having a talk on
Radio Caroline by John, M3XTE. Contact Derek, G3OFA, by email to
.

On Wednesday 11 November Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having an informal evening. Contact John, M0UKD, on 07817 365 354. On
Wednesday 11 November Norfolk Amateur Radio Club Informal /
Construction / Workshop. Contact Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 419 204.
On Wednesday 11 November South Essex Amateur Radio Society is holding
its AGM. Contact Dave Speechley, G4UVJ, on 01268 697 978. On Wednesday
11 November Southgate Amateur Radio Club is having its autumn junk
sale. Contact David Sharp, M0XDS, by email to .
On Wednesday 11 November Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a collectors' show and tell evening. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on
01903 753 893. On Thursday 12 November Bittern DX Group is having an
informal evening. Contact Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404 154. On Thursday
12 November Edgware and District Radio Society is having a talk on rig
frequency measurement by John, G3SJE. Contact Mike, G4RNW, on 0208 950
0658.

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On Thursday 12 November King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
. On Thursday 12 November Lowestoft and District
Pye Amateur Radio Club is having a discussion on Echolink and whether
it really is radio. Contact Phil, G0JSG, on 01502 585 448. On Thursday
12 November Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is holding its
autumn junk sale. Contact Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697. On Thursday 12
November Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is having a quiz
night. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757. On Thursday 12 November
Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is having a ladies night. Contact
Rich, G4IBW, on 02392 680 852. On Friday 13 November Mid-Sussex Amateur
Radio Society is having a radio night and table top sale. Contact Sue,
G6YPY, on 01273 845 103. On Friday 13 November Wimbledon and District
Amateur Radio Society is on the air and operating Morse. Contact Jim,
M0CON, on 020 8874 7456. On Saturday 14 November Verulam Amateur Radio
Club is taking part in the Club Calls contest. Contact Ralph, on 01923
265 572.

On Sunday 15 November Bittern DX Group continues its Foundation Licence
course. Contact Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404 154. On Sunday 15 November
Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a Sunday morning fox hunt. Details
on the web at www.harc.org.uk. On Monday 9 November Coulsdon Amateur
Transmitting Society is having its annual quiz with question master
Frank, G3ZMF. Contact Andy, G8JAC, by email to .

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Tuesday 10 November Blackmore Vale Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk on narrow band television. Contact Tony
G0GFL, on 01258 860 741. On Tuesday 10 November West Devon Radio Club
is having a table top sale night. Contact Jules Cuddy, M1AGY, on 01752
291 588.

On Wednesday 11 November Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is having a talk on software defined radio by Ron. Contact
Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417 048. On Thursday 12 November Newquay and
District Amateur Radio Society is having a club night and Foundation
training if required. Contact Joe Bell, M6JOE, on 01726 891 557. On
Thursday 12 November South Bristol Amateur Radio Club starts its
Christmas raffle, organised by Steve, G0UQT. Contact Len, G4RZY, on
01275 834 282. On Thursday 12 November Swindon and District Amateur
Radio Club is having a mini-talk on meters by Dennis, G3LLZ. Contact
Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317 750. On Thursday 12 November Yeovil Amateur
Radio Club is having a talk on homebrew microwave equipment by Dave
Edwards. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to . On
Monday 9 November Cornish Radio Amateur Club Computer Section is having
a talk by Clive, G3OCB on creating your movie DVD. Contact Steve,
G7VOH, on 01209 844 939.

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NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Tuesday 10 November Derby and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a committee meeting. Contact Richard Buckby, by
email to . On Tuesday 10 November Eagle Radio Group
is having a talk on weird engines by David, G7BUK. Contact Terry,
G0SWS, on 01507 478 590. On Tuesday 10 November Loughborough and
District Amateur Radio Club is having a bring-a-valve vintage. Contact
Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 10 November Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is having
a DVD evening. Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913. On Tuesday 10
November Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is having a talk and on
the air night. Contact Leslie Coyne, M3WRZ, on 01905 764 320. On
Wednesday 11 November Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a shack
activity and natter night. Contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

On Wednesday 11 November Midland Amateur Radio Society is having a
committee meeting and holding training classes. Contact Norman, G8BHE,
on 01214 229 787. On Wednesday 11 November South Notts Amateur Radio
Club is having a talk on the PIC Controller by G4EDX, plus M0BWY will
be running an Intermediate Practical. Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the web
at www.radioclubs.net/snarc. On Wednesday 11 November Telford and
District Amateur Radio Society is having a quiz night with M0TAW.
Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Friday 13 November Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is
running the last night of GB75XX. Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776
869. On Friday 13 November Coventry Amateur Radio Society holds its
great egg race. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777 363. On Friday 13
November Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is having a committee
meeting and shack night. Contact Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332 720 976.

On Friday 13 November South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603. On Saturday 14
November Leicester Amateur Radio Society is on the air and holding a
committee meeting. Contact the duty committee member on 07804 595 749.
On Sunday 8 November South Notts Amateur Radio Club is on the air and
holding a Morse and Intermediate Practical with M0BWY. Contact Terry,
M0RIA, on the web at www.radioclubs.net/snarc. On Monday 9 November
Gloucester Amateur Radio And Electronics Society is operating club
equipment. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548 478, daytime. On Monday 9
November Leicester Amateur Radio Society is on the air. Contact the
duty committee member on 07804 595 749. On Monday 9 November South
Birmingham Radio Society is checking its contest equipment. Contact
Don, on 0121 458 1603.

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On Monday 9 November Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is
having a surplus equipment sale. Contact G0CHO, on 01608 664 488.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Tuesday 10 November Chester and
District Radio Society is having a committee meeting. Contact Barbara
Green on 0151 339 9183. On Tuesday 10 November Isle Of Man Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk and video on the 3B7C DXpedition by Bob
Barden, MD0CCE. Contact Stuart Hill, GD0OUD, on 01624 613 226.

On Tuesday 10 November Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a
fancy dress and games night. Contact Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on 01524 848
193. On Tuesday 10 November Otley Amateur Radio Society is having a
shack night. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996 370. On Tuesday 10
November Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on early DF by
John, G7SF. Contact Roger, M0DWQ, on 07868 000 705. On Wednesday 11
November Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on corn and
kilowatts by John, G3XYF. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240
573. On Wednesday 11 November Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is
working on the club project and operating G4CAX on HF. Contact Peter
Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553 401. On Thursday 12 November Hornsea
Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the 80m Sprint SSB contest.
Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573. On Thursday 12
November South Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
portable operation by Ray, M1REK. Contact Chris Wiseman, G0RDK, on
01782 773 185. On Thursday 12 November South Manchester Radio and
Computer Club is having a talk on cost effective wire antennas by
Chris, G3UAU. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On Thursday 12
November Wakefield and District Radio Society is planning for next
year's Northern Cross Rally which will take place on Valentines' Day.
Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563 117. On Friday 13 November East
Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a technical forum. Contact
Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671. On Friday 13 November Sheffield
Amateur Radio Club is having a visit to the club by Scouts. Contact
Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by email to . On Friday 13
November Tynemouth Radio Club is having a radio sale. Contact Graham
Errington, 07812 172 136.

On Monday 9 November Angel Of The North Amateur Radio Club is holding
its AGM. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 477 0036. On Monday 9
November Bolton Wireless Club is having a talk on meteor observations
by radio by a member of the Bolton Astronomical Society. Contact the
club by email to . On Monday 9 November
Sheffield Amateur Radio Club winter is having a junk sale. Contact
Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by email to .

On Monday 9 November Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk on SSTV by Kevin, G0LRK. Contact John Foster, M3WAZ, on 01253
399 377.

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NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 10 November Kilmarnock and Loudoun Amateur
Radio Club is having a talk on RAYNET by Richard, MM1BHO. Contact
Graham, MM3GDC, by email to . On Tuesday 10
November Livingston and District Amateur Radio Society is having an
operating evening. Contact Norman, on 07740 946 192. On Wednesday 11
November Kingdom Amateur Radio Society is having a shack night. Contact
Brian, MM0XBD, on 01383 738 905.

On Wednesday 11 November Lothians Radio Society is having a one man
outing on the subject of "What's in the box", by Norman Stewart,
GM1CNH. Contact Andy Sinclair, by email to .
On Thursday 12 November Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society Club is having a
discussion night. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663. On Monday 9
November Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is looking at the new club
project. Contact Jim, MM0SMD, on 01340 820 134.

NEWS FOR WALES On Friday 13 November Newport Amateur Radio Society is
having a GB4CR Ryder Cup meeting. Contact Gareth Price on 01633 880
081. On Monday 9 November Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is having a
club night. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840 292.

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.