GB2RS NEWS Sunday 13th December 2009
 

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 13th December 2009

The news headlines

* RSGB election results announced

* Spectrum Defence Fund announced

* Faraday Medal for Professor Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO

The results of the 2009 RSGB Board and Regional Elections were
announced at 3pm on Thursday 10 December. John Gould, G3WKL, Robin
Bellerby, GM3ZYE, Don Beattie, G3BJ and Iain Phillips, G0RDI were duly
elected to serve as Board members from 1 January 2010. Peter Lowrie,
MI5JYK was re-elected to serve as Region 8 Regional Manager. Alison
Johnson, G8ROG was elected unopposed as Region 9 Regional Manager. The
full results of the election are shown on the RSGB web site.

As announced in the January edition of RadCom, the Society has
established a Spectrum Defence Fund to challenge Ofcom over its
interpretation of the various Acts and Directives that cover PLA/PLT
and the threat they pose. This may take the form of a Judicial Review,
but we will be advised by our lawyers on the direction to take. The
cost of a Judicial Review is likely to be in excess of £75,000 and we
are not guaranteed success. But now is the time to stand up and be
counted and make it known that we, as a community of radio amateurs and
short wave listeners alike are not prepared to accept any level of
interference from non-compliant devices. We are looking to our
administration, Ofcom, to protect our interests, which is their
statutory duty. This is a long term project and all monies donated will
be ring-fenced for those actions alone.

To donate to the Spectrum Defence Fund please make cheques payable to
The Spectrum Defence Fund and send them to Spectrum Defence, RSGB, 3
Abbey Court, Priory Business Park, Bedford MK44 3WH. Alternative
methods of payment such as PayPal etc will be announced in due course.

The RSGB is appreciative of the efforts and support from Society
members, the UKQRM group and its membership, among many others.

Professor Sir Martin Sweeting OBE FRS, G3YJO has been awarded the
Faraday Medal by the Institute of Engineering and Technology, IET. The
medal is awarded for notable scientific or industrial achievement in
engineering or for conspicuous service rendered to the advancement of
science, engineering and technology. The citation said that Sweeting
was awarded the Medal for "his visionary leadership, satellite
expertise, ambition and drive, which among other things, brought the
overheads involved in space exploration, down to earth. Sir Martin's
work includes establishing the viability of the use of small satellites
for earth observation, communication and navigation purposes and his
founding of a company to design and supply small satellites to
organisations throughout the world". G3YJO will be giving the 45th
Appleton Lecture, entitled Small Satellites - Big Future, on Tuesday 19
January at the IET's headquarters in London.

Now news of RSGB Christmas deadlines and opening times. The last day
for exam requests to be received at HQ is 15 December 2009. Given that
the reliability of post can alter over the Christmas period, please
telephone or email the RCE Exams Department to ensure that we have
received your request. The last recommended day of posting for
Christmas is 21 December, which will therefore be last day for posting
exam scripts out from HQ. The deadline for Christmas orders from the
RSGB Shop is noon on Monday 21

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December. No orders received after that time can be delivered before
Christmas. RSGB headquarters will close at noon on Wednesday 23
December for the festive season and re-open on Monday 4 January at
08.30. No exam results will be transferred to Ofcom between those
dates.

Nominations are open for the 2009 ARRL International Humanitarian
Award. The award is conferred upon an amateur or amateurs who
demonstrate devotion to human welfare, peace and international
understanding through amateur radio. The League established the annual
prize to recognise amateur radio operators who have used ham radio to
provide extraordinary service to others in times of crisis or disaster.
Nominations should include a summary of the nominee's actions that
qualify the individual (or individuals) for this award, plus verifying
statements from at least two people having first-hand knowledge of the
events warranting the nomination. Nominations should include the names
and addresses of all references. Details appear on the ARRL website,
www.arrl.org, where you can search for humanitarian award.

Preston ARS currently has places on both its Foundation and
Intermediate courses at the club, which meets every Thursday night from
7pm. If you are interested please contact the lead instructor, Eric,
G1WCQ on 01772 686708 or by e-mail to secretaryatprestonars.co.uk.

A 10GHz beacon went on the air at St. Austell in early December. GB3MCB
transmits on 10.36898GHz and beams East North East with 3dB points from
just east of North through East to almost SE. The IARU locator is
IO70OJ. Reports can be sent via the Beacon Spot website at
www.beaconspot.eu/.

On 19 December LAM Communications will be holding a Christmas Open Day
at their Barnsley showroom. Open from 9.30am to 4pm, they promise
plenty of festive bargains.

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

We have received no details of any rallies taking place in December
2009. The next rallies we have details for in 2010 are the Red Rose
Winter Rally and the Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally, both taking place
on 17 January 2010. If you would like your 2010 rally mentioned in
RadCom and on GB2RS, please send details to radcomatrsgb.org.

Now for the news of special events

Special event call GB2EI, standing for Great Britain to Ireland, will
be operating to celebrate the reintroduction of the Swansea to Cork
Ferry. A similar station, EI2GBW, will also be operating from Cork. The
original service commenced in 1896. Both special event callsigns will
be operational until 31 March 2010. Further details are available from
qrz.com.

Bobby, 2I0ULL will be activating Narrow Water Castle in Warrenpoint on
16 December from 10am. The station will be active on HF bands and PSK.
Details can be found at www.cashota-ni.org.

Celebrating the launch of the amateur radio satellite XW-1, special
event station BT3WX will be active from Shanxi Province until 20
December. Look for activity on 160 to 10 metres and on VHF/UHF amateur
satellite bands, including FM, SSB, CW, RTTY and PACSAT modes. QSL via
BA1DU.

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

David Burton has been posted to the Bureau of Meteorology station on
Willis Island for the next 6 months and will be operating with the
callsign VK9WBM. The station was first set up in 1921 by the Bureau
and, over the years, many of the officers posted there were amateur
radio operators. The Bavarian Contest club last activated Willis Island
in 2008, when they made 95,178 contacts. David has just arrived at the
weather station and will be setting up an amateur radio station
shortly. QSL manager is Dale, VK4DMC.

Ed, CO7PH plans to operate SSB and CW as CO7PH/P from Cayo Coco, which
is IOTA reference NA-086, on 17 to 31 December. Then from 2 to 5
January he will operate from Cayo Anclitas, which is IOTA reference
NA-201.

Now the contest news

On 15 December the UHF UK Activity Contest takes place on the 1.2 and
2.3GHz bands between 2000 and 2230UTC. The exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.

For a very different kind of challenge, how about the Russian 160m
Contest that takes place on Friday 18 December? Using Google to
translate the rules reveals that it consists of two separate 1-hour
sessions that follow on from one another. It is permitted to work
people on each mode in each session. A map of location squares, which
are not the same as Locator squares, can be found at
www.radio.ru/cq/contest/rule/map- 2.gif. It shows that the vast
majority of Britain is in location square X4, so a phone exchange might
go along the lines of 59001 X4 and a CW exchange along the lines of
599001/X4. Working someone in the same square as yourself will earn you
one point, in an adjacent square two points, etc. This means that most
contacts from the UK to Russia should be worth at least four points.
The event has a bias towards people up to 20 years old, with those over
that age having to enter the multi-op category even if they operate
alone.

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 30th of November to
the 6th of December, compiled on 7th of December by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.

On the 1st of December the GOES 10 satellite was decommissioned and in
its place is GOES 14. This will be the primary satellite for measuring
the X-ray output from the Sun that we use in GB2RS. GOES 10 was
launched on the 25th of April 1997. GOES 11 and 12 are out of use due
to a mechanical malfunction and GOES 13 got damaged by a strong solar
flare not long after it was brought into use. There will be no
secondary X-ray spacecraft till GOES 15 becomes operational sometime
during the summer next year. GOES stands for Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellites.

The solar disc was spotless every day and solar activity was very low
with no solar flares taking place. Solar flux levels varied little and
averaged 72 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 6th was 72
units. That's the same level as last week. Geomagnetic activity was
quiet everyday with 3 days when the Ap index was at zero. Even though a
small coronal hole disturbance arrived on the 5th it's impact was very
limited. The Ap was only 3 units for that day. The average for the
period was only Ap 1 unit. Back in October I reported that solar wind
speeds were the lowest that at I seen them, they were around 240
kilometres per second, well this week the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind
speeds even slower than that at around 225 kilometres per second. That
was on the 5th, however, by the 6th speeds had increased to 430
kilometres per second. Particle densities were very low throughout. Bz
varied little on the quietest days and only between minus 7 and plus 8
nanoTeslas on the 5th.

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And finally the solar forecast. After the upsurge in sunspot numbers
from the middle of October to the middle of November things are now
quiet again and are expected to remain so for the coming week. As
always, things can change with very little warning. Solar activity is
expected to be very low. Solar flux levels should be just above the 70
mark for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at
quiet levels but later in the week activity could increase slightly.
MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 20MHz
for the south and 17MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected
to be about 7MHz. Paths this week to the Middle East should have a
maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around
21MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
will be about 15MHz. the best time to try this path will be between
0900 and 1500 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 14 December Felixstowe and District Amateur
Radio Society is having its Christmas noggin, video and mince pies
evening. Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email to pjwatbtinternet.com. On
Tuesday 15 December Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having its
Christmas Dinner at Longbridge Mill, Sherfield on Loddon. Contact
Clive, G4ODM, on 01256 326050. On Tuesday 15 December Brede Steam
Amateur Radio Society is operating from the shack. Contact Steve, on
01424 720815. On Wednesday 16 December Chesham and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a technical talk and bar evening. Contact
Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491. On Wednesday 16 December Dover Radio
Club is having its Christmas social at the St Margarets Resort. Members
should book with David Donohoe, M0DTI. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email
to g4sauatDARC.org.uk. On Wednesday 16 December Norfolk Amateur Radio
Club is having its Christmas party. Contact Chris Danby, G0DWV, on
01603 419204. On Wednesday 16 December Peterborough and District
Amateur Radio Club is having mince pies and sausage rolls. Contact
David Howlett, M0VTG, by email to padarcattesco.net. On Wednesday 16
December Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is having its
Christmas party at Lancing Royal British Legion. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on
01903 753 893. On Thursday 17 December Cray Valley Radio Society i
shaving Christmas drinks at the Bull, Shooters Hill. Contact Bob,
2E0RCV, on 020 8265 7735 after 8pm. On Thursday 17 December Horsham
Amateur Radio Club is having a social evening at the Victory Inn,
Staplefield. Details on the web at www.harc.org.uk. On Thursday 17
December Lowestoft and District Pye Amateur Radio Club is having a
night in the shack. Contact Phil, G0JSG, on 01502585448. On Friday 18
December Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is having an
informal meeting at the Robin Hood, Loughton. Contact Marc Litchman,
G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645. On Friday 18 December Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio
Society is holding its Christmas quiz. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845
103. On Friday 18 December Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a
club night. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk. On Saturday
19 December Gorleston Amateur Radio Society is having its lunch time
meeting at the Short Blue Hotel, Gorleston. Contact David, G3OEP, on
01493 662 323.

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NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Sunday 13 December Blackmore Vale Amateur
Radio Society is having its Christmas dinner. Contact Tony G0GFL, on
01258 860741. On Monday 14 December Appledore and District Amateur
Radio Club is having its Christmas party. Contact Brian Jewell, M0BRB,
on 01237 473251. On Tuesday 15 December Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio
Society is having an HF evening in the club shack. Contact Tony G0GFL,
on 01258 860741. On Wednesday 16 December Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is
having its Christmas party. Contact Mike, G1GZG, on 01395 274172. On
Wednesday 16 December Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is having
its Christmas social meeting with mince pies. Contact William, G3WNI,
on 01823 666 234. On Wednesday 16 December Thornbury and South
Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on file handling by
John, G6RAZ. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048. On Thursday 17
December South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having its Christmas
social. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282. On Thursday 17 December
Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club Is having a natter night.
Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750. On Thursday 17 December Yeovil
Amateur Radio Club is having a mince pie evening. Contact Steve Crask,
G7AHP, by email to steveatg7ahp.co.uk.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 14 December Gloucester Amateur Radio
And Electronics Society is having its Christmas buffet and raffle draw.
Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime. On Monday 14 December
South Birmingham Radio Society is having a contest planning meeting.
Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603. On Monday 14 December Stratford Upon
Avon District Radio Society is having a test equipment evening with
John, G0JUQ. Contact G0CHO, on 01608 664488. On Monday 14 December
Sutton Coldfield Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas meeting,
which is the last meeting of 2009. Contact Robert Bird by email to
spirit.guideathotmail.co.uk. On Monday 14 December Welland Valley
Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas dinner. Contact Peter D
Rivers, G4XEX, on 01858 432105. On Tuesday 15 December Derby and
District Amateur Radio Society is having a Christmas-themed quiz night.
Contact Richard Buckby, by email to radioatdadars.org.uk. On Tuesday
15 December Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is asking
'What does the team think?'. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319. On
Wednesday 16 December Lincoln Short-Wave Club is holding its
construction contest. Contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356. On
Wednesday 16 December Midland Amateur Radio Society is having a laptop
computer evening and training classes. Contact Norman, G8BHE, on 01214
229 787.

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On Wednesday 16 December South Notts Amateur Radio Club is having
coffee and mince pies. Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc. On Wednesday 16 December Telford and District
Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas dinner. Contact Mike,
G3JKX, on 01952 299 677. On Friday 18 December Bromsgrove and District
Amateur Radio Club is having a committee meeting. Contact Chris, M0BQE,
on 01905 776 869. On Friday 18 December Coventry Amateur Radio Society
is having a curry night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363. On
Friday 18 December Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is having 20
minute mini talks by members. Contact Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332
720976. On Friday 18 December South Birmingham Radio Society is having
a construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 14 December Angel Of The North
Amateur Radio Club is holding its Christmas bazaar. Contact Nancy Bone,
G7UUR, on 0191 4770036. On Monday 14 December Sheffield Amateur Radio
Club is having its Christmas dinner. Contact Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by
email to trevorwood6atyahoo.co.uk. On Monday 14 December Thornton
Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a technical talk by Peter,
G4JGC. Contact John Foster, 2E0EZY, on 01253 399377. On Tuesday 15
December Chester and District Radio Society is holding its construction
contest. Contact Barbara Green on 0151 339 9183. On Tuesday 15 December
Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a social evening. Contact
Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on 01524 848193. On Tuesday 15 December Otley
Amateur Radio Society is having a members' presentation. Contact Paul,
2E0PAK, on 07768 996370. On Wednesday 16 December Bolton Wireless Club
is having a joint Christmas party with Greater Manchester RAYNET.
Contact boltonwirelessatgmail.com. On Wednesday 16 December Denby
Dale Radio Club is having its Christmas party, with entertainment by
Robert, M0PIE and Christian, M0KLF. Contact Gerald, G3SDY, on 01484
602905. On Wednesday 16 December Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having
its Christmas party. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.
On Wednesday 16 December Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606553401. On Thursday 17
December Preston Amateur Radio Society Christmas is having a hot pot
supper and charity raffle in aid of St. Catherine's Hospice. Contact
Eric, G1WCW, on 01772 686708. On Thursday 17 December South Cheshire
Amateur Radio Society is having a club net on S14. Contact Chris
Wiseman, G0RDK, on 01782 773185. On Thursday 17 December South
Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having its Christmas party.
Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

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On Thursday 17 December Wakefield and District Radio Society is having
a committee meeting. This is the last club meeting of 2009. Contact
Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117. On Friday 18 December East Cleveland
Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475
671. On Friday 18 December Mexborough and District Amateur Radio
Society is having its ticket-only Christmas party, which is free to
members but £3 to visitors. Contact Sharon, M0BOH, by email to
M0BOHataol.com.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 15 December Livingston and District
Amateur Radio Society is having a club evening. Contact Norman, on
07740 946192. On Wednesday 16 December Ayr Amateur Radio Group
Christmas is having a quiz night. Contact Charlie, MM0GNS, on 01563
551704, cgnstewartathotmail.com. On Wednesday 16 December Glenrothes
and District Radio Club is having a mince pie night. Contact Dave
Francis, 01383 823878. On Wednesday 16 December Paisley YMCA Amateur
Radio Club is having its Christmas social. Contact Bill Anderson,
2M0BZZ, on 01505 613633. On Thursday 17 December Aberdeen Amateur Radio
Society is having its Christmas party. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224
575 663. On Monday 14 December Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society is
holding its AGM. Contact Andy, G8JAC, by email to
g8jacatbtinternet.com.

NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 14 December Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is
having its members-only Christmas party and auction. Contact Craig,
MW0MXT, on 01269 840292. On Tuesday 15 December Wrexham Amateur Radio
Society is having its Christmas dinner at the Club House, Wrexham
Industrial Estate. Contact Glyn, MW0BNB, via the web at
www.qsl.net/wars. On Thursday 17 December Porthmadog And District
Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas dinner at Porthmadog
Yacht Club. Contact Glyn, MW5CAD, on 01286 830078. On Thursday 17
December Swansea Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas dinner.
Contact Nick Lewis, MW0JGE, on 01792 402035. On Friday 18 December
Aberdare and District Amateur Radio Society is on the air as GB0NG.
Details on the web at www.radioclubs.net/aadars.

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.