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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 6th March 2011

The news headlines:

* Hands-On Experience for National Science Week

* 2011 Dayton Hamvention Awards announced

* New Train the Trainers at Renton

The subject for National Science Week 2011 is Communications. To
support the Week, Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is providing hands-on
experience of amateur radio at a local school as well as to the
community at large. On Saturday 12 March Sheffield ARC will be at
Tapton School at Crosspool, Sheffield, from 10am to approximately 4pm.
Using two temporary radio stations and aerials, they will put the
school on the air for the day using the club callsign GX3RCM/P. Then on
Monday 14 March the club will be holding an open house from 7.30 to
9.30pm at their HQ, Sheffield Transport Sports Club, Greenhill Main
Road, Meadowhead Roundabout, Sheffield S8. The evening will include
demonstrations of short wave and VHF/UHF amateur radio including HF,
VHF satellite communications, datamodes and the state of the art D-Star
repeater system. In addition there will be a display of equipment,
amateur radio videos and printed information. More details at
http://krystynahaywood.co.uk/sarc. Also for National Science Week,
Sands Contest Group is operating from Heron Corn Mill in Cumbria and
will be active on 16 & 17 March using the callsign GB4HCM. The group
will be active on 20, 40 and 80m between 10am and 4pm each day.
Activity will be on SSB and data modes and there will be a number of
interactive displays. For more information visit GB4HCM on QRZ.com.

The winners of the 2011 Dayton Hamvention awards have been announced.
Amongst the various awards, the Technical Excellence Award went to Roy
Lewallen, W7EL for his development of EZNEC, the antenna modelling
software system. This software is now the basis for numerous amateur
radio antenna training courses. The Special Achievement Award goes to
Fred Lloyd, AA7BQ, who developed the QRZ.com website that is used by
amateurs worldwide.

A Train the Trainers day is being organised for 19 March at the Carman
Centre, Renton. The purpose of the Train the Trainers course is to
offer tutors some guidance on running courses and teaching techniques.
If you are interested in attending, please contact GM0ONX by e-mail to
or call 01563 534383. The course will start at 10am
and finish around 6pm.

The YL International Meet 2012 will take place in Adelaide in May 2012.
Those interested in attending, whether licensed or not, should check
out the website www.ylinternational2012.com for full details. The plan
is for delegates to arrive in Adelaide around 3 May. Over the next few
days several tours and outings are planned that will culminate in a 7
or 9 day tour ending in either Alice Springs or Darwin.

If you are planning to visit Cyprus this year, the Pafos Radio Club
would like to welcome you. They meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month
at the Pafos Gardens Hotel at 7pm. They also have a weekly net on
Wednesdays at 7.30pm using the local repeater, 5B4PRC, on 145.750MHz.
More details from Don, 5B4AGQ.

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

Bournemouth Radio Society is holding their 23rd annual sale today,
Sunday 6 March, at The Kinson Community Centre, Millams Road,
Bournemouth. Doors open at 9.30am and the sale closes at 2.30pm.
Admission is £1.50. Refreshments will be available. Further details by
email from .

The Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally will take place today, 6 March, at
America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter, EX4 8PW. Doors open at
10.30am, with disabled access from 10.15. Admission is £2. There will
be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. All profits from the event are
shared between GB3SW, GB3EW and GB3EX, the local 2m and 70cm repeaters.
Contact Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198374.

On 12 March the Dutch National Radio Flea Market will take place at
"Autotron", Rosmalen 's- Hertogenbosch, just off the A59 motorway.
Doors open from 9am to 3.30pm and talk-in is available on 145.250MHz.
Check out www.radiovlooienmarkt.nl for more details.

On 13 March, Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held
at Wood Green Animal Shelter, King's Bush Farm, A1198 London Road,
Godmanchester, Cambs PE29 2NH. Doors open at 10am and admission is £3.
There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Contact John, G0GKP, on
01954 200072.

Also on 13 March, the 26th Wythall RC Radio and Computer Rally will be
held at Woodrush Sports Centre, Shawhurst Lane, Hollywood, Birmingham
B47 5JW. The venue is on the A435, 2 miles from J3 of the M42. Entry is
£2 and there will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Contact Chris,
G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.

Now for the news of special events

GB1OOD has been issued for 2011 by Ofcom as a special event callsign.
It will be used throughout 2011 to celebrate the 100 years of the Derby
Wireless Club, founded in 1911. Until 25 March the station will be
operating from the Silk Mill Museum located in the city centre of
Derby, alongside the River Derwent. The station will have restricted
operation * mostly at weekends * due to the museum's opening hours.
Information on GB1OOD can be found on QRZ.com.

GB1IMW will be on the air from Mepal & Witcham Primary School, Mepal
near Ely in Cambridgeshire. The operation is part of the children's
study and participation in National Science Week for Communications
from 14 to 18 March, including 'Red Nose Day'. They will be operating
nationally on 80m and 40m HF and locally on 2m, 6m and 70cm. The
organisers ask that amateurs please do answer the children's CQs.

Between 13 March and 3 April GB8HBW and GB0CMR will be on the air
celebrating 85 years of Hospital Radio in the UK. GB8HBW will be
operating in the Newbury area and GB0CMR is in Hinckley for Castle Mead
Radio.

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

Four stations will be active from Port Blair in the Andamans from 15 to
31 March. Details are on the web at
http://arsi.info/dxpeditions/vu4pb-mar-2011.

Frosty, K5LBU, and Wayne, W5KDJ, are heading to Lesotho as 7P8CF and
7P8KDJ from 11 to 20 March. Plans are to have two stations for activity
on 160 through 10m on CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.

Nick, G3RWF, will be returning to Uganda from 20 February until 14
April. This is not a DXpedition as he will be doing voluntary work at a
university, but will include plenty of operating as 5X1NH on 80 through
10m. He does not have room for a 160 metre antenna.

SP5EAQ and SP5DRH will operate from West Kiribati from 1 to 17 March.
Calls will be T30AQ and T30RH. They'll be on 160 to 10m CW, SSB and
RTTY, with a focus on the low bands and 30m.

Now the contest news

The ARRL International DX Contest takes place this weekend, 5 and 6
March, between 0000 and 2359UTC. Work W/VE stations only, in as many of
the 48 contiguous States and Provinces as possible. Send a signal
report and your transmitter power and expect to receive a signal report
and 2-letter State or 3-letter Province code.

Monday 7 March sees the data leg of the 80m Club Championship taking
place between 2000 and 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and
serial number.

The following day, 8 March, is the 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000
to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.

The Commonwealth Contest takes place for 24 hours on 12 and 13 March
from 1000 to 1000UTC. This is a contest that only takes place between
Commonwealth countries, so it is largely free of Continental European
stations. Infrequently activated countries always appear in this
contest and, without the mega pile-ups that occur in many other
worldwide contests, the owner of a modest station in Britain stands a
decent chance of working some real DX. Be aware though that some DX
openings are very short, so it helps to know when to look for
particular areas, especially on the upper HF bands. The exchange is
signal report and serial number.

Finally for this week, 13 March sees the 2nd 70MHz Cumulative contest
taking place from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 21st to the 27th
of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 28th of February.

Solar activity was mostly low with a number of C class solar flares
taking place. Activity increased to moderate when the only M class
solar flare took place on the 24th. Conversely, on the 22nd solar
activity declined to very low levels. None of the solar flares had any
significant effect on propagation. Solar flux levels declined from 97
units on the 21st to 88 by the 25th. The average was 91 units. The 90
day solar flux average on the 27th was 87 units. That's one unit up on
last week. X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and averaged B2.2
units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. The most disturbed day
was the 21st

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with an Ap index of 7 units. The average was only Ap 3 units. Solar
wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from
450 kilometres per second on the 21st to 300 by the 26th. Particle
densities were low throughout. Bz varied no more than minus and plus 6
nanoTeslas during the period.

And now the solar forecast. This week the active side of the Sun is
expected to rotate into view on or around the 6th of March. A lot will
depend on how active the returning region is after spending the last
two weeks on the far side of the Sun. Remember, this is the group that
produced numerous M and one X class solar flares on its last rotation.
Solar activity should be low with a chance that activity could increase
higher than that. Solar flux levels are expected to be about the 100
mark or even higher. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet, however, if
any large solar flares take place and a coronal mass ejection that is
heading our way, then activity could increase. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be about 22MHz for the south and 19MHz
for the north. Darkness hour lows should be around 9MHz. Paths this
week to the east coast of North America should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 20MHz. 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 1400 and 1900 hours.

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 email 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 Monday 7 March Gloucester Amateur Radio &
Electronics Society is having a talk on marine VHF radio by Ian Hewer,
G4CLR. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 7 March Leicester Radio Society is launching its new website,
http://g3lrs.co.uk. Details from Alex, G8FCQ, on 0753 120 1640.

On Monday 7 March South Birmingham Radio Society is on the air and
reviewing field day. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Monday 7 March South Normanton Alfreton & District Amateur Radio
Club is holding a junk sale. Details from A Lawrence, 2E0BQS, by email
to .

On Tuesday 8 March Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is holding a
committee meeting. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to
.

On Tuesday 8 March Eagle Radio Group is having pictorial presentation
of a year in the life of the Eagle Radio Group by Nevil, G3VDV. Details
from Terry, G0SWS, on 01507 478590.

On Tuesday 8 March Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on portable 2m antennas by Art, G3KWY. More information from
Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 8 March Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is having a
Hamfest committee meeting. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Wednesday 9 March Hinckley Amateur Radio Society is having a
workshop on digital modes. Details from John, M0JAV, on 07836 731544.

On Wednesday 9 March Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a pictorial
presentation on the National Hamfest by Chris, G0IPO. For more
information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Wednesday 9 March Midland Amateur Radio Society is holding a
committee meeting and training classes. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on
01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 9 March Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding its main construction competition. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on
01952 299 677.

On Thursday 10 March South Birmingham Radio Society is having training
classes with Dave Murphy, G8OWL. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

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On Friday 11 March Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a
construction night for Project 2011. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958
777363.

On Friday 11 March Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club is having a
general club meeting. More information from Dave Wilde, G1YAI, on 0844
4355593.

On Friday 11 March Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is having a talk
on the prevention of terrorism by Julie Coulton from Derbyshire
Constabulary. Details from Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332 720976.

On Friday 11 March South Birmingham Radio Society is loading the
trailer with gear for the Wythall rally. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Saturday 12 March Lincoln Short-Wave Club is in the shack and
invites members to try WABing. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Sunday 13 March Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club is having a
foxhunt on foot in Bestwood Country Park. More information from Dave
Wilde, G1YAI, on 0844 4355593.

On Sunday 13 March Midland Amateur Radio Society Club is visiting the
Wythall Radio Rally. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.

On Sunday 13 March South Birmingham Radio Society is at the Wythall
Radio Rally. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Sunday 6 March Macclesfield & District
Radio Society is having a mobile DXing meet at Pym Chair. More
information from Roger Bell, M0GMG, on 0771 258 9163.

On Monday 7 March Macclesfield & District Radio Society is on the air.
More information from Roger Bell, M0GMG, on 0771 258 9163.

On Monday 7 March Scarborough Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
Earth measurements by Dave Smith, G4DAX. Details from Jerry Scarr,
G6LBL, on 01751 476601.

On Monday 7 March Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a social
evening plus club contest night. More information from Peter Day,
G3PHO, by email to .

On Monday 7 March Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
natter night. Details on the web at www.tcars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 8 March Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is holding
a committee meeting. Details from Barbara Green on 07957 870770.

On Tuesday 8 March Otley Amateur Radio Society is having a DXpedition
presentation. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996370.

On Wednesday 9 March Grimsby Amateur Radio Society is having a visit by
the RSGB Region 4 Representative. Contact Cliff, G4YHP, on 01472 328
830.

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On Wednesday 9 March Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
Heathrow communications. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377
240573.

On Wednesday 9 March Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is holding a
committee meeting. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553401.

On Thursday 10 March Ripon & District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Details from Rob Hall, M0RBY, on 0787 608 5631.

On Thursday 10 March South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
a talk on Papua New Guinea by Bill, G4NOL. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on
0161 969 3999.

On Friday 11 March East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air. For
more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND On Sunday 6 March Mid Ulster Amateur Radio
Club has its monthly meeting. Details by email from .

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 8 March Livingston & District Amateur
Radio Society is having an operating evening. Details from Norman, on
07740 946192.

On Wednesday 9 March Ayr Amateur Radio Group is having a presentation
on Bletchley Park. Details from Tom Ferguson, GM1OST, on 01292 532 088.

On Wednesday 9 March Lothians Radio Society is having a talk on getting
started on 70cm and 23cm by Ray James, GM4CXM. Contact Andy Sinclair,
by email to .

On Wednesday 9 March West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having
homebrew projects & licence training by the Solder Group. More
information from Fred Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

On Thursday 10 March Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air and
holding Morse practice. More information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224
575 663.

On Friday 11 March Borders Amateur Radio Society is having a club night
and junk sale. Details from Danny, 2M0CDO, on 01890 882850.

On Friday 11 March West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having
presentations, guest speakers, a quiz and a raffle. More information
from Fred Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

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NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA On Sunday 6 March Worthing &
District Amateur Radio Club Sunday is having a breakfast meeting in
Goring. Contact Phil, G4UDU, on 01903 816684.

On Monday 7 March Braintree & District Amateur Radio Society is having
four short talks by club members. For more information contact John,
M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 7 March Burnham Beeches Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Contact Dave, G4XDU, on 01628 625 720.

On Monday 7 March Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the RSGB
Data Club Contest. Details from Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 898678.

On Monday 7 March Southdown Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
clouds to rain by John Flude. Details from John, G3DQY, on 01424 424
319.

On Monday 7 March Surrey Radio Contact Club is holding a surplus sale.
Contact John, G3MCX, on 020 8688 3322.

On Tuesday 8 March Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a club
net night. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Tuesday 8 March Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society invites
members to bring their own radio equipment along. More details from
Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Tuesday 8 March Harwell Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
Smith Charts by Ron, G7DOE. Contact Malcolm, G8NRP, on 01235 524844.

On Wednesday 9 March Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is holding a
committee meeting at Danbury Village Hall. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on
01245 469 008.

On Wednesday 9 March Harwich Amateur Radio Interest Group is having a
talk on model trains by John G3YYZ. Details from Kevan, 2E0WMG, on
07766 543784.

On Wednesday 9 March Havering & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on top tips for working DX stations by Fred Curtis, G3SVK. Details
from John, M0UKD, on 07890 222111.

On Wednesday 9 March Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on DIY
digital aerial photography by John Goldsmith, M6JAU. Details from Chris
Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 898678.

On Wednesday 9 March South Essex Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on life as a ship's radio officer by Dave, G4AJY. Contact Norman,
M0FZW, on 01268 692776.

On Wednesday 9 March Southgate Amateur Radio Club is holding its spring
junk sale. Contact David Sharp, M0XDS, by email to
.

On Wednesday 9 March Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
discussion evening. Contact Phil, G4UDU, on 01903 816684.

On Thursday 10 March Bittern DX Group is having an informal club
meeting. Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154.

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On Thursday 10 March Echelford Amateur Radio Society is holding its
construction contest. Contact John, G4GSC, on 01784 451898.

On Thursday 10 March Edgware & District Radio Society is having part 2
of the presentation on the secret wireless war. More information from
Mike, G4RNW, on 0208 950 0658.

On Thursday 10 March King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
.

On Thursday 10 March Lowestoft & District PYE Amateur Radio Club is
holding a junk and table top sale. Details from Lee, 2E1LJL, on 01502
564242.

On Thursday 10 March Reading & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on the weather balloon telemetry project by Daniel Richman, 2E0DRX
and colleagues. Details from Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697.

On Thursday 10 March Shefford & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding its AGM. Details from David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Friday 11 March Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
rally planning evening. Details from Ron Huntsman, on 012233 501712.

On Friday 11 March Loughton & Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having a committee presentation on the club's first 50 years. Contact
Marc Litchman, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645.

On Friday 11 March Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
earthing, radials and PME by Peter, G4AKG. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on
01444 239371.

On Friday 11 March Radio Society of Harrow is having a talk and demo of
the Excalibur software defined receiver by Brian, G3YKB. More
information from Linda, G7RJL, on 0208 386 8586.

On Friday 11 March Wimbledon & District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air and holding Foundation training. Contact Andrew Maish, G4ADM, on
020 8335 3434.

On Sunday 13 March Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club is holding
its rally. Details from Ron, G3KBR, on 01223 501712.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST On Tuesday 8 March Mid Somerset Amateur Radio
Club is having a talk on the GB3JB & GB3WX repeaters by Dave, G3ZXX.
Contact Nick, M6NJB, on 01749 346320.

On Wednesday 9 March Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.

On Thursday 10 March South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is watching the
South Atlantic DXpedition video with Adrian, 2E0JUW. Details from
Andrew Jenner, G7KNA, on 07838 695471.

On Thursday 10 March Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is holding
its construction contest. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

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On Thursday 10 March Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
tracking satellites by G3RTD. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to
.

On Friday 11 March Mid Somerset Amateur Radio Club is visiting
Rampisham Transmitting Station. Contact Nick, M6NJB, on 01749 346320.

On Friday 11 March North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
construction evening. Contact Dick, on 01454 218362.

On Friday 11 March Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

On Saturday 12 March Cornish Radio Amateur Club is running its
Foundation course. Details from Steve, G7VOH, on 01209 844939.

NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 7 March Dragon Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on feeding antennas by Simon Poyser, MW0GSR, of the Snowdonia
Radio Company. More information from Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF, on 07833
620733.

On Monday 7 March Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is on the air as
GB4SD. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292.