GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 22nd August 2010

The news headlines

Ofcom clarifies interference investigation changes

AO-51 comes back into service after break

National Hamfest Award

The Society has now obtained clarification from Ofcom about the changes
in responsibilities for interference investigation. The position is that
the BBC is now responsible for investigating interference affecting
domestic TV & radio broadcast reception. The Ofcom website provides some
initial advice to those experiencing problems with TV & radio reception
and a link to the BBC to report interference & request assistance. Ofcom
remains responsible for investigating interference to the amateur
service, and to broadcast services originating outside the UK. Ofcom
tells us that its website is undergoing significant changes, but that
the new site will make clear the division of responsibilities, and
include a web form for reporting interference to the amateur service. In
the meantime, the web form for reporting cases of abuse on amateur
frequencies can also be used for reporting interference, for example,
from PLA devices.

Vice-President of Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, reports that
after a brief outage aboard AO-51, the amateur radio satellite has been
restored to service. The cross band 145.92 to 435.300MHz repeater is set
to run with the 67Hz tone required to activate the satellite. Power
output was reported as 740 milliwatts.

The National Hamfest co-hosts, The Lincoln Short Wave Club, will offer
an award for the Ham Week UK. A special event station is being set up
for the National Hamfest. GB10NH will be on air from 28 September until
10 October. The station will be mainly on 40m and 80m, although some 2m
operation is also likely. To gain the award, stations must work GB10NH
and four other UK special event or club callsigns. It is open to all
amateurs and short wave listeners. No QSLs will be required. Other
special event stations that plan to be on the air during Ham Week UK
include GB2GW at Gleaston Water Mill, Ulverston, GB2RAF from the RAF Air
Defence Radar Museum at RAF Neatishead Norfolk, GB2SPY in Dover and
Furness Amateur Radio Society with G4ARF using Field Day aerials. Claims
to be made to Lincoln Short Wave Club, BSA Social Club, Aisthorpe,
Lincoln LN1 2SG. More information can be obtained by e-mailing
.

IARU representatives have a busy schedule with CEPT and WRC-12
preparatory meetings. Representatives from the UK need to attend these
meetings to protect existing amateur radio services and to progress
WRC-12 agenda items. CEPT Spectrum Engineering 24 is a group that
studies, amongst other matters, Short Range Devices, Ultra Wide Band and
Short Range Radars. Some of these devices are of particular interest to
the amateur services, with most short range devices active within the
70cm band. Vehicle anti-collision radars use 24 and 76GHz and talks are
aimed at ensuring that no interference is caused to the amateur
services. Peter Chadwick, G3RZP will be present at the next meeting that
takes place in Montegrotto, Italy between the 30 August and 3 September.
A meeting of CEPT Conference Preparatory Team Project Team C will take
place in Kristiansand, Norway between 1 and 3 September. This group is
studying a number of WRC-12 agenda items including 1.23, which is the
proposal for an amateur allocation around 500kHz. Colin Thomas, G3PSM is
the CEPT Coordinator for this item and national delegations will include
John, Gould G3WKL.

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society has asked that amateurs and short
wave listeners keep a listening watch around 28.265MHz FM as there have
been incursions by churches on this frequency heard throughout Europe at
up to 5 and 9 plus 20dB. The IRTS is collecting information on these
broadcasts to send to the national regulator, ComReg. All information
can be sent to Ger McNamara, EI4GXB who is the IRTS IARUMS co-ordinator
by e-mail to at ei4gxb@gmail.

GB50ATG has been on the air as part of the British Amateur Radio
Teledata Group's Golden Jubilee. The station has been operated a
different locations all around the UK for the last years and made nearly
8000 QSOs during that time. Special QSLs and awards are available. Check
the BARTG website for full details.

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

Today, 22 August, the Wildern Boot Sale Andover, takes place at Wildern
Village Hall. The nearest postcode for the event is SP11 0JE for satnav
users. Doors open at 10am and the entry fee is ?1.50. Pitches are ?6 and
tables in the hall ?8. Details from Martin Smith on 01980 612 070.

Also on today, 22 August, the Rugby Annual Radio Rally takes place at
Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PX. Doors open from 10am
to 4pm and entry is ?2. Contact Tony on 07759 684 411.

Next Sunday, 29 August, the Milton Keynes ARS Rally takes place at
Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB. There
will be trade stands, special interest groups and entry is ?2 for adults
and 50p for youngsters under 14 years of age. Doors open at 9.30am. Why
not make this a family day and visit the Betchley Park museum too?
Details from Steve Goodall, G6KJU, on 07866 673 192.

On Bank Holiday Monday, 30 August, the Huntingdonshire ARS Rally is
being held at the St Neots Community College, Barford Rd, St Neots, PE19
2SH. Doors open at 10am and you will find trade stands, an RSGB
bookstall and a Bring and Buy amongst the attractions.

Now for the news of special events

Today, 22 August, is the final day for this year's International
Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend event. Listen out for the hundreds of
stations before they go off air for another year. Members of South
Tyneside ARS will be running GB2SJ from Souter lighthouse, working all
modes and bands. They will also have a special event station on the air
to help raise awareness and support for the RNLI and, in particular,
Sunderland lifeboat. This event runs from 11am today, 22 August, until
4pm. The callsign for this event is GB1SLB. Visitors are, as usual,
welcome at both events and the organizers of GB1SLB would like to thank
Snowdonia radio for the donation of antennas for the event. There will
be demonstrations by RNLI lifeboats, lifeguards and RAF rescue
helicopter so it will be a fun day for all the family.

Cray Valley Radio Society will be celebrating a Festival of Amateur
Radio from the highest point in South London on Saturday 28 August
between 12 noon and 6pm, located in the garden of The Bull Hotel,
Shooters Hill, London, SE18. For further information contact Cliff G4HSU
by e-mail to . Please quote GB4SH in the header line.

8J6AIRA will be on the air to celebrate the founding of the city Aira on
Kyushu Island, is IOTA reference AS-077, from 23 to 31 August. QSL via
JARL bureau.

John, G3XYF is coordinating information for the annual Churches and
Chapels on the Air event that takes place this year on Saturday 11
September. If you are planning to put your local church or chapel on the
air, please e-mail John with the information to . For
more information on Churches and Chapels on the Air, go to
www.wacral.org.

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

YJ0VK will be the call of the forthcoming DXpedition to Vanuatu. The
team is made up of four Australian amateurs who will be operating from
27 August to 2 September. They will be operating on HF from Vanuatu's
main Island of Efate and special attention will be paid to the WARC
bands. More information along with QSL routing is available on line at
yj0vk.vkham.com.

GB1OL will be on the air from the island of Westray in Orkney until 27
August. This is IOTA reference EU-009. For QSL information, please check
out qrz.com.

Rolf, SV8/DL6ZFG/P will be operating from Corfu, IOTA reference EU-052,
from 21 to 28 August. He will be operating holiday style with his IC706,
100 watts and a triple-leg for 20m. QSL via DL6ZFG.

Fred, SV8/PA1FJ/P is going to hit the airwaves from Kythira, IOTA
reference EU-113, from 23 to 30 August. QSL via his home callsign either
direct or via the bureau. Fred is also happy to eQSL.

Now the contest news

Today, 22 August, the 4th 2m Backpacker Contest takes place. It is the
contest in which you also have to exchange the first two letters of your
postcode. Activity is between 1100 and 1500UTC and the exchange is
signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

On 24 August it's the 50MHz UK Activity Contest, which runs from 1900 to
2130UTC. You can use any mode and your exchange must be signal report,
serial number and locator.

The RSGB 80m Club Sprint series started this month with the CW leg on
the 12th. Now it's the turn of SSB on 25 August. Work everyone, but
remember that once you have made a QSO as the result of calling CQ, you
have to vacate the frequency. Remember also that the contest exchange is
different for the Club Sprints, being serial number and your name but no
signal report. The event takes place between 1900 and 2030UTC.

The IRTS 2m Counties Autumn Contest takes place on Sunday 29 August. If
you're outside EI/GI, work EIs and GIs only, giving them a signal report
and serial number. Expect to receive a signal report, serial number and
their county. In the 2008 and 2009 running of this contest no entries at
all were received from outside of EI, so if a UK station had made just
one QSO it would have put him in top spot. That said, if any GIs are
active, their proximity to EI means you'll have to do well to beat them.
It's only 2 hours long between 1300 and 1500UTC but you can use all
modes on the 2m band.

31 August sees the 70MHZ UK Activity Contest take place between 1900 and
2130. You can use any mode on the band and your exchange should be
signal report, serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 9th to the 15th
of August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 16th of August.

First, the latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers for November,
December 2009 and January 2010 are now available and are 7.6, 8.3 and
9.3. Sunspot minimum took place in November 2008 with a smoothed monthly
sunspot number of 1.7. The smoothed monthly solar flux minimum occurred
a month early with a figure of 68.2 solar flux units. There is also a
geomagnetic cycle which is almost in line with the sunspot cycle. This
minimum took place in August 2009 with a smoothed monthly Ap index of
3.8 unit.

The solar disc had 4 or 5 sunspot groups visible for the first few days.
That's the highest number of groups visible so far this cycle. This
dropped to only 2 groups by the 14th and the 15th. Solar activity
started at very low levels but on the 14th and the 15th increased to low
when C class solar flares took place on both days. The C4 solar flare on
the 14th was associated with a coronal mass ejection. Solar flux levels
hovered around the mid 80's all week and the average was 85 units. The
90 day solar flux average on the 15th was 77 units. That's one unit up
on last week. X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and averaged B1
units. Geomagnetic activity started at just unsettled levels with an Ap
index on 10 units on the 9th and the 11th. The most likely cause was the
arrival of a weak coronal mass ejection that left the Sun on the 7th.
The average was Ap 5 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds increase to 500 kilometres per second on the 10th and
the 11th but then declined to 330 by the 13th. Particle densities were
low every day. Bz varied no more than minus 6 and plus 7 nanoTeslas at
the start of the period and between minus 4 and plus 2 nanoTeslas on the
quiet days.

And now the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to be
at very low levels. There is a slight chance that activity could
increase to low with the occasional C class solar flare taking place.
Solar flux levels should be in the low 80's for most of the week. For
the next couple of days geomagnetic activity should be unsettled due to
a recurring coronal hole. Expect an Ap index in the teens for both days.
Activity is expected to decline to quiet levels for the remainder of the
period. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about
19MHz for the south and 16MHz for the north. Darkness hour low should be
around 10MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum
usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 26MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about
21MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1100 and 1600
hours. The second half of August normally signals the end of the summer
sporadic-E season. Saying that, opening should still take place on some
days, however, openings will be shorter in duration and less intense now
with openings on 144MHz not expected.

And that's all for this week from the propagation team.

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 MIDLANDS

On Sunday 22 August Kettering & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a social meeting. Details on the web at http://kdars.co.uk.

On Sunday 22 August Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is visiting the
Rugby Radio Rally. For more information contact Peter D Rivers, G4XEX,
on 01858 432105.

On Monday 23 August Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is
closed. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 23 August South Birmingham Radio Society is having a contest
planning meeting and aerial review. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Monday 23 August Wythall Radio Club continues its Foundation course.
Details from Christopher Pettitt, G0EYO, by email to
.

On Tuesday 24 August Derby & District Amateur Radio Society has a
technical topics evening. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to
.

On Tuesday 24 August Kettering & District Amateur Radio Society has its
operating night. Details on the web at http://kdars.co.uk.

On Tuesday 24 August Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. More information from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509
504 319.

On Tuesday 24 August Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society has its
chairman's barbecue. Details from Don, G4CYG, on 019 2642 4465.

On Tuesday 24 August Wythall Radio Club is having a natter night and is
on the air. Details from Christopher Pettitt, G0EYO, by email to
.

On Wednesday 25 August Kettering & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a gentleman's group afternoon. Details on the web at
http://kdars.co.uk.

On Wednesday 25 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the
air and planning for contests. More information from Pam Rose, G4STO, on
01427 788356.

On Wednesday 25 August Midland Amateur Radio Society is holding training
classes and planning what rallies to visit. Details from Norman, G8BHE,
on 01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 25 August Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a foxhunt at Telford Town Park. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299
677.

On Thursday 26 August Kettering & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a training night. Details on the web at http://kdars.co.uk.

On Thursday 26 August Wythall Radio Club is holding a Foundation exam.
Details from Christopher Pettitt, G0EYO, by email to
.

On Friday 27 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is operating 6m, 4m
and satellites.. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 27 August South Birmingham Radio Society has a construction
evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Saturday 28 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the air
and doing jobs around the shack. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Saturday 28 August Wythall Radio Club commences its weekend event,
running a special event station at Landrover Show, Stoneleigh. Details
from Christopher Pettitt, G0EYO, by email to .

On Sunday 29 August Kettering & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a social meeting. Details on the web at http://kdars.co.uk.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 23 August Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club is on the air
and having a natter night. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 477 0036.

On Monday 23 August Bolton Wireless Club has a 2m direction finding
event starting from the Britannia Hotel. For details, send an email to
.

On Monday 23 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club has its
monthly technical forum. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Tuesday 24 August Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a
social evening. For more information contact Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on
01524 581381.

On Tuesday 24 August Otley Amateur Radio Society is taking part in the
50MHz UKAC and having a natter night. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768
996370.

On Wednesday 25 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
80m SSB Club Sprint. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

On Thursday 26 August Preston Amateur Radio Society is on the air.
Contact Richard, M0RDZ, on 0785 587 3566.

On Thursday 26 August Ripon & District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air and having a natter night. More information from Rob Hall, M0RBY, on
0787 608 5631.

On Thursday 26 August Scarborough Amateur Radio Society is closed.
Details from Jerry Scarr, G6LBL, on 01751 476601.

On Thursday 26 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
a talk on the Bletchley Park expedition by Dave, G4UGM. Details from
Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Thursday 26 August Wakefield & District Radio Society is having a
talk on antennas by Dave Evans, G0EVA. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900
563117.

On Friday 27 August East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a radio
components catalogues evening. For more information contact Alistair,
G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Saturday 28 August Wakefield & District Radio Society continues its
Foundation course. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117.

On NW Wednesday 25 August Chorley & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on repeaters by RSGB President Dave Wilson, M0OBW. Contact
Alan, G4PF, on 07740 582316.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

No news items have been received for Northern Ireland this week.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Tuesday 24 August Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club is having a
club night. Contact Graham, MM3GDC, by email to .

On Tuesday 24 August Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is
having Morse code practice. Details from Norman, on 07740 946192.

On Wednesday 25 August West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has
construction projects and licence training. More information from Fred
Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

On Thursday 26 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a talk.
More information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Friday 27 August West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having
presentations, guest speakers, a raffle and a quiz. More information
from Fred Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA

On Sunday 22 August Andover Radio Amateurs Club has its autumn boot
sale. Details from Martin, M0MWS, on 07776 181646.

On Sunday 22 August Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in Lighthouse Weekend at Beachy Head lighthouse. For more information go
to www.mkars.org.uk.

On Monday 23 August Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society is having a
portable night. For more information go to www.mkars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 24 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a club
net night. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Tuesday 24 August Dorking & District Radio Society is having a fish
and chip supper. Contact Garth, G3NPC, on 01737 359472.

On Tuesday 24 August Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club has a talk
on interference by Paul, G0VEP. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846.

On Wednesday 25 August Hastings Electronics and Radio Club is looking at
interference problems. Details from Gordon, on 01424 431 909.

On Wednesday 25 August Darenth Valley Radio Society is preparing for HF
field day. For more information send an email to Ray, .

On Wednesday 25 August Farnborough & District Radio Society is having a
club night. Details from Derek, G3OFA, by email to
.

On Wednesday 25 August Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society is
looking at the G6ALU 80m SSB kit. Details from Richard, G3ZGC, on 01635
46241.

On Wednesday 25 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has an informal,
construction, workshop and Bright Sparks evening. Details from Chris
Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 898678.

On Wednesday 25 August Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is putting
GX3WOR on the air for the 80m SSB Sprint contest. For more information
contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 26 August Bittern Dx Group Club meeting planning SSB Field
Day. Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154.

On Thursday 26 August Edgware & District Radio Society is having a
natter night. More information from Mike, G4RNW, on 0208 950 0658.

On Thursday 26 August King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
.

On Thursday 26 August Lowestoft & District Amateur Radio Club is having
a club night at the shack. Details from Phil, G0JSG, on 01502 585448.

On Friday 27 August Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night. Contact Charlie, M0WYM, on 02380 439560.

On Friday 27 August Loughton & Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society has a
visit by RSGB Region 12 Manager Phillip Brooks, G4NZQ and RSGB Essex
Deputy Regional Manager Mark Sanderson M0IEO. Contact Marc Litchman,
G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645.

On Friday 27 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
night and table top sale. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444 239371.

On Friday 27 August Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
electronic warfare. Details from Rich, G4IBW, on 02392 680852.

On Friday 27 August Wimbledon & District Amateur Radio Society is
closed. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874 7456.

On Saturday 28 August Gorleston Amateur Radio Society has its lunch time
meeting at the Short Blue Hotel, Gorleston. Contact David, G3OEP, on
01493 662 323.

On Sunday 29 August Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society is holding its
annual rally at Bletchley Park. For more information go to
www.mkars.org.uk.

On Sunday 29 August Radio Society of Harrow is running its weekend
event, operating GX3EFX/P at the Harrow Museum for the Harrow in Leaf
show. More information from Linda, G7RJL, on 0208 386 8586.

On Sunday 29 August Edgware & District Radio Society is visiting
Bletchley Park for the Milton Keynes ARS rally. More information from
Mike, G4RNW, on 0208 950 0658.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST

On Tuesday 24 August West Devon Radio Club is having a backyard and loft
antenna evening. All are welcome. Further information from Jules Cuddy,
M1AGY, on 01752 291588.

On Wednesday 25 August Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club is
operating the club station. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234 for
more information.

On Wednesday 25 August Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.

On Thursday 26 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has an on the air
evening supervised by David, G7PKJ. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834
282.

On Thursday 26 August Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
natter night. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

On Thursday 26 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact
Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to .

On Friday 27 August North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a t-shirt
and polo shirt printing evening and a committee meeting. Details from
Dick on 01454 218362.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Monday 23 August Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is having a junk sale
and club raffle. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292.