GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 22nd May 2011

The news headlines:

* RSGB AGM information
* National Club of the Year winners
* Latest 6 and 10 report available

More than 100 RSGB Members and interested parties were at the RSGB AGM
in Derby last weekend. As well as the formal business of the AGM,
visitors took part in a full day of discussions about the RSGB and
amateur radio. The Board has determined that fundamental changes are
needed in the way the Society operates and received a number of
practical comments on the proposed way ahead. A full report of the AGM
appears in the June RadCom, which should arrive with Members before the
end of the month.

Also at the RSGB AGM, the winners of the National Club of the Year were
announced. The annual competition is sponsored by Waters and Stanton
plc. In third place, Bolton Wireless Club received a certificate and
£250 prize money; second place went to Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club
who also received a certificate plus a cheque for £500. First place
went to Reading & District Amateur Radio Club, who received the trophy,
a certificate and a cheque for £1000. Prizes were presented by RSGB
President, Dave Wilson, M0OBW. The 2011 competition will be open for
nominations later this year.

The Six and Ten Reporting Club is an informal group of radio amateurs.
They are mostly from the UK and interested in propagation studies at
frequencies around the HF to VHF boundary, mainly the 6 and 10 metre
amateur bands. The club produces the Six and Ten Report, a monthly
newsletter, that includes analysis of 28MHz propagation based on beacon
monitoring and analysis of 50MHz activity reports as well as results of
on-going experiments. The latest report from Martin Harrison, G3USF and
the 6 and 10 reporting club has been published and it is available at
http://g7kse.co.uk/6and10.

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Conference takes place
in Sun City, South Africa in August. The papers to be discussed at the
conference are now available online from the IARU Region 1 website.
They can be downloaded from www.iaru-r1.org.

The 21st annual Waters and Stanton Open Day will take place on Sunday,
29 May. Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood will be in attendance as will bhi.
There will also be an RSGB bookstall. Essex CW Club, who won the Region
12 Club of the Year award will collect their trophy from Waters &
Stanton who sponsor both the Region 12 trophy and the national trophy
scheme. A prize raffle in aid of Marie Cure Cancer Care, supported by
W&S and their suppliers, will take place on the day.

Glasgow and Clyde RAYNET Group will be active on the Island of Jura,
which is IOTA reference EU008, from 26 May to 2 June. The group is
providing emergency safety communications for the annual Fell Race on
the 28th. They will also be activating the island on all HF bands using
group callsign GS0RAY/P throughout the week. Reports are most welcome.
For further details please contact group controller, Paul Lucas, on
07768 271736 or by email to .

The Deutsche Amateur Radio Club is sponsoring an award to celebrate the
2011 Women's Football World Cup. Both licensed amateur radio operators
and short wave listeners can apply for this award. Between 1 June and
31 July, the special station DL0YLWM and YL district stations will be
on the air. You need to log the appropriate number of German YL
stations to apply for any one of four awards. Full details at
www.darc.ce, search on the website for DL0YLWM.

The 2011 International Museums Weekend special event will take place on
18 and 19 June as well as 25 and 26 June. Anyone planning to take part
should register their museum via e-mail to .
Full details of the event can be found on the International Museums
Weekend website at www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw.

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

The 1st Leicester RS Grand Clearance and Bring & Buy will be held
today, 22 May, at the Leicester Radio Society HQ in Groby Road,
Leicester. There is approximately £2000 of donated radio equipment for
disposal as well as a Bring & Buy. Doors open 10am to 4pm. Details of
equipment available and further details from Alex on 0753 120 1640.

Also today, 22 May, the Dunstable Downs Radio Club National Amateur
Radio Car Boot Sale will be held at Stockwood Park, Luton LU1 5NR. Talk
in will be on S22 and there is plenty of car parking. Doors open at 9am
and entry is £2.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club
Rally and Boot Sale due to take place today, 22 May, has been
cancelled. The organisers would like to thanks everyone for their
support and hope to see everyone at next year's event.

D-Star Northants and UKIT are organising a D-Star Meet and Greet Day on
Sunday 29 May. This will be held in Northampton at Tetra
Communications, Bunting Road, Northampton NN2 6EE. The event will
include help and advice from D-Star Northants and UK IT. Visitors to
the event will also have the opportunity to visit Tetra Communications
warehouse that will be open for the duration of the event. Now for the
news of special events

Castles and stately homes on air will take place on the 21st and 22nd
of the month. Information can be found at www.cashota.co.uk.

GB1LC will be active on the evening of the 24th for the 1st Laindon
Cubs who will be gaining their communicator badge. Activity will be on
2m and HF. Special QSL cards designed by the cubs will be available for
all contacts. For further info please contact G1KOT.

The Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society will run a GB6COD at the open day
in HMS Collingwood on 4 June. The station will be operational on all
amateur bands from 1.8MHz to 440MHz. The Society headquarters station
will be open for viewing from 9.30am to 6pm on the day. Advanced
tickets will be available from Gosport and Fareham Tourist Information
Offices and Portsmouth News Offices from May 2011.

GB0VUL will be on the air promoting and celebrating the continued
flying of XH558, the world's only airworthy Vulcan bomber. The station
will be on the air over the bank holiday weekend of 28 and 29 May, from
the Air Training Corps Hall in Newbury. This is the 3rd consecutive
year this call has been run by members of Newbury and District Amateur
Radio Society. More information can be found at www.vulcantothesky.org.

The Geoparks Communication Weekend will take place over the weekend 28
and 29 May. GB6GEO will be on again this year from Occombe Farm in
Torbay. There will be several other Geopark stations operating around
the world. There is an award available for contacting Geopark stations.
More information on qrz.com.

As part of the Imagineering stand at the Bath and West Show, Weymouth
College are putting on a special event station to demonstrate amateur
radio to visitors. The idea is to particularly allow young people to
send greetings via the HF special event station GB0BAW. If there are
any local amateurs who are planning on visiting the show and would like
to help operate the station that will be on the air for the duration of
the agricultural show between 1 and 4 June, please contact Rob, G0ECX
whose details are on QRZ.com, or telephone on 01305 787120.

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

From 22 to 28 May, Japanese operators JA7HMZ, JA7AGO and JA7ZP are
heading to Pohnpei, Micronesia, which is IOTA reference OC-010, for
activity as V63DX, V63GO and V63ZP respectively. They will be on all
bands and modes. QSL via their home callsigns.

TM0Z will be active from Batz Island, which is IOTA reference EU-105,
until 26 May. They will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK on 6 to 80m with
at least four stations. QSL via F5EOT either direct or via the bureau.

Laci, HA0HW will be active again as SV8/HA0HW from Thassos Island,
which is IOTA reference EU-174 from 26 May to 5 June. He will operate
on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via his home callsign preferably
through the bureau. Henry, TJ3AY has been issued special callsign TJ3IC
to be used until 30 May to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the
independence of Cameroon. QSL via F5LGE.

Sam, K0YAK is based at the US Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal and is active
as 9N7AK during his spare time. It is expected that he will be there
until early July. He is using SSB and PSK31 on 10 to 20m and QSLs
should go via his home callsign.

Three Czech Republic operators will be on the Island of Crete until 28
May and will sign SV9/homecall/P from the main island, which is IOTA
EU- 015. They also plan a few side trips to offshore islands, which
will count as IOTA EU-187.

K6VVA and NI6T will be on the air as K6VVA/6 from Santa Catalina
Island. They plan to work mainly in CW on 15 to 40m from 24 to 26 May.
QSL via N6AWD either via the bureau or direct.

Now the contest news

Tuesday 24 May sees the 50MHz UK Activity Contest taking place between
1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.

On the same evening, the SHF UK Activity Contest also takes place
between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using the 1.3 to 10GHz bands, all modes, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The CQWW WPX CW Contest takes place for the whole 48 hours of the
weekend of 28 and 29 May. This is a follow-on event from the SSB leg
held at the end of March. Expect the CW segments of the bands to be
packed and some pretty big serial numbers to be handed out by the end,
especially if propagation on the upper HF bands is favourable. Using
the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number

On 29 May from 1000 to 1200UTC the 3rd 70MHz Cumulative contest takes
place. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.

Finally for this week, on 31 May, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest takes
place from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator. And now the solar factual data for
the period from the 9th to the 15th of May, compiled by Neil Clarke,
G0CAS on the 16th of May.

Sunspots groups were visible every day; all were small and most were
quiet and stable. Solar activity was mostly very low, however, activity
increased to low on the 9th, 12th and the 15th when small C class solar
flares took place. These had little effect on propagation. Solar flux
levels declined from 104 units on the 9th to 91 by the 14th. This is
the lowest daily figure since the middle of March. The average was 95
units. The lower flux levels slowed the rate of increase on the 90 day
solar flux average, which remained at the same level as last week at
110 units. X-ray flux levels declined slightly from B2.9 units on the
9th to B1.1 by the 14th. The average was B1.6 units. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet every day, but only just on some days, for example
the Ap index was at 8 units on the 10th and 11 on the 15th. The average
was Ap 6 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind
speeds decline from 410 kilometres per second on the 10th to 290 by the
14th. Speeds then increased to 590 kilometres per second on the 15th.
Particle densities were low every day except for the 19th which
increased briefly to 25 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz on the quiet
days varied between minus 2 and plus 4 nanoTeslas and between minus 9
and plus 11 nanoTeslas during the 14th.

F-layer propagation was up to predicted values. Also strong Sporadic-E
openings within Europe were reported on a daily basis on 28 and 50MHz.
Some areas also had 6 metre propagation to West Africa. Brief openings
were reported on 70MHz.

And now the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to be
at very low levels. The recent spell of increased levels of activity
that started back in February seems to have come to an end. Of course,
the emergence of a new active region could take place and with it
activity could increase but for now that seems unlikely but not totally
ruled out. Solar flux levels are expected to be around the 100 mark.
Geomagnetic activity should start at quiet levels but by midweek
activity is expected to increase due to a recurring coronal hole and
last until the weekend. On its last rotation the disturbance lasted 5
days. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around
22MHz for the south and 19MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are
expected to be about 11MHz. Paths this week to India should have a
maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around
22MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
will be about 17MHz. The best time to try this path will be between
1000 and 1600 hours. Sporadic-E should take place on some days with
opening up to 50MHz and maybe higher on the more intense openings.

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 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 We start with advance news of a weekend
Foundation course by M0OCT ARS. The event will be near Chesterfield on
11 and 12 June. There are plenty of places available at the moment but
booking is essential. For more information contact M0OCT ARS on 01246
275889 or online at www.m0oct.com.

Chorley and District Radio Society has announced that it has a new
website up and running. It is at
www.radioclubs.net/chorleyamateurradiosociety and the club thanks the
RSGB for providing the web hosting facility.

On Sunday 22 May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is taking part in the 144MHz
Post Codes Contest at the portable site. For more information contact
Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Monday 23 May Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is
having a VHF operating and workshop evening. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on
01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 23 May South Birmingham Radio Society is planning for the VHF
field day site and aerials. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Monday 23 May South Normanton Alfreton & District Amateur Radio Club
is at Crich. Details from A Lawrence, 2E0BQS, by email to
.

On Monday 23 May Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is holding
its AGM & surplus sale. Contact G0CHO, on 01608 664488.

On Tuesday 24 May Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on the Cromford canal by Patrick Morriss. Contact Richard Buckby,
by email to .

On Tuesday 24 May Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on software defined radio by John, M0JAV. More information from
Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 24 May Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is having a
shack clean out and tidy up. For more information email Rich Moles,
2E0MOL, via .

On Wednesday 25 May Hinckley Amateur Radio Society is preparing for
Field Day. Details from John, M0JAV, on 07836 731544. On Wednesday 25
May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a talk on the workings of the QSL
Bureau by Richard Constantine. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Wednesday 25 May Midland Amateur Radio Society is holding training
classes and examining laptop computers. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on
01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 25 May Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a 2m DF hunt. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 26 May Salop Amateur Radio Society is holding a fox hunt.
Details on the club website at www.salop-ars.org.uk.

On Thursday 26 May South Birmingham Radio Society is having training
classes with Dave Murphy, G8OWL. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Thursday 26 May Burnley & District Amateur Radio Club is hosting a
visit by RSGB President Dave Wilson and North West Regional Manager
Kath Wilson. All local radio amateurs are welcome. The Club meets from
7.30pm at Higham Village Hall, Higham Hall Road, Higham BB12 9EU. More
information from Vincent Greatwood, 2E0HRD, on 01729 840312.

On Friday 27 May Bromsgrove & District Amateur Radio Club is having an
HF night. Contact Chris, M0BQE on 01905 776 869.

On Friday 27 May Coventry Amateur Radio Society has a radio workshop
evening. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 27 May Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is planning its
forthcoming programme. Details from Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332
720976.

On Friday 27 May South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Saturday 28 May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is in the Shack and running
GB2CWF at Ellis Mill for Mills OTA. For more information contact Pam
Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 23 May Angel of the North
Amateur Radio is on the air and having a natter night. Contact Nancy
Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 477 0036.

On Monday 23 May Bolton Wireless Club is holding a 2m DF event starting
from the Britannia Hotel. For details, send an email to
.

On Monday 23 May Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a pre-course
Foundation taster evening plus a talk on the Windom and Inverted L
antennas by Peter, G3PHO. More information from Peter Day, G3PHO, by
email to . On Monday 23 May South Manchester Radio and
Computer Club is holding a technical forum. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on
0161 969 3999.

On Monday 23 May Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on spy radio by John, G8RDP. Details on the web at
www.tcars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 24 May Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is
conducting radio operations at Waverton Institute. Details from Barbara
Green on 07957 870770.

On Tuesday 24 May Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society is having a
/P evening. Member and guests should check www.hadars.org.uk for venue
details before travelling. Contact Martin, M0GQB, on 01422 341317 for
more information.

On Wednesday 25 May Hambleton Amateur Radio Society is having an
operating night. More information from Tony Wilson, G3MAE, on 01609
881530.

On Wednesday 25 May Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
Clansman radio by G8YQN. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377
240573.

On Thursday 26 May Grimsby Amateur Radio Society is holding a junk
sale. Contact Cliff, G4YHP, on 01472 328 830.

On Thursday 26 May Keighley Amateur Radio Society is conducting RAYNET
Training. More information from Shirley, M6SAK, on 01535 65278.

On Thursday 26 May South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is holding
its AGM. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Thursday 26 May Wakefield & District Radio Society is having a talk
by Geoff, G0PFH. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117.

On Friday 27 May 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 May Wakefield & District Radio Society continues its
Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced courses. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on
07900 563117.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND On Monday 23 May Greenisland Electronics
Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on HF propagation and solar
cycle 24. Details from Peter Lowrie, MI5JYK, by email to
.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 24 May Livingston & District Amateur Radio
Society is holding Morse code practice. Details from Norman, on 07740
946192.

On Wednesday 25 May Glenrothes & DRC is having a talk by Dave Francis,
MM0DYX, on transformers from the junk box and how to test them safely.
Details from Dave Francis, on 01383 823878.

On Wednesday 25 May Lothians Radio Society is having a DF Hunt with
Peter Dick, GM4DTH. Contact Andy Sinclair, by email to
.

On Wednesday 25 May West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has Solder
Group homebrew projects & licence training. More information from Fred
Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

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

On Friday 27 May 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.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA On Sunday 22 May Bedford and
District Amateur Radio Club will be putting on its mobile operation at
the Dunstable Downs Radio Club boot sale. Details from Bob Leask,
G3XNG, by email to g4ceotalk21.com.

On Sunday 22 May Loughton & Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is at
the Dunstable Downs boot sale. Contact Marc Litchman, G0TOC, on 020
8502 1645.

On Monday 23 May East Kent Radio Society is having an introduction to
frequency selective surfaces by Paul, G0ILO. Details from Karl Davies,
M1DFM, on 01227 710120.

On Monday 23 May Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it, advice,
chin wag and move-it-on evening. Contact John, G3MCX, on 020 8688 3322.

On Tuesday 24 May Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack.
For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

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

On Tuesday 24 May Dorking & District Radio Society is having a personal
challenge evening with David Smith ,M0SXD. Contact Garth, G3NPC, on
01737 359472.

On Tuesday 24 May Harwell Amateur Radio Society is having a shack
activity night. Contact Malcolm, G8NRP, on 01235 524844. On Wednesday
25 May Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is looking at getting
started on the air, with particular emphasis on computer interfacing &
CW practice. More details from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 25 May Hastings Electronics and Radio Club is having a
construction evening. Details from Gordon, on 01424 431 909.

On Wednesday 25 May Havering & District Amateur Radio Club is having an
informal evening. More information from John, M0UKD, on 07890 222111.

On Wednesday 25 May Norfolk Amateur Radio Club Norfolk Repeater Group
is holding the AGM for GB3NB and GB7NB. Details from Chris Danby,
G0DWV, on 01603 898678.

On Wednesday 25 May Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club Dayton is
having a report on Hamvention 2011 by Phil, G4UDU. Contact Phil, G4UDU,
on 01903 816684.

On Thursday 26 May Bittern DX Group is meeting at Pinewood Park.
Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154.

On Thursday 26 May Echelford Amateur Radio Society is having a bring &
buy, CW practice, a natter night and details of the forthcoming field
day activities by Olof, G0CKV. Contact John, G4GSC, on 01784 451898.

On Thursday 26 May Edgware & District Radio Society is holding its
Constructors Cup competition. More information from Mike, G4RNW, on
0208 950 0658.

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

On Thursday 26 May Reading & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
son et lumière by Dr Graeme Creasey. Details from Pete, G8FRC, on 01189
695 697.

On Thursday 26 May Shefford & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk on Clansman military radio by Don, G4LOO. Details from David,
G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Friday 27 May Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on kite and pole photography by Clive, M5CHH. Contact Ron, G3KBR,
on 01223 501712.

On Friday 27 May Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
trams by Ian Gledhill. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444 239371.

On Friday 27 May Wimbledon & District Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on developments at the Valve Museum and demonstration of Audio
Amplifiers by Allan Wyatt. Contact Andrew Maish, G4ADM, on 020 8335
3434.

On Sunday 29 May Coalhouse Fort Amateur Radio Society is holding an
open day. Contact John Parker, M1DUC, by email to
.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST On Monday 23 May Exeter Amateur Radio Society
is having a club night and CW practice. More information from Nick, on
01363 775756.

On Tuesday 24 May Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio Society is having a
natter night. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860741.

On Tuesday 24 May West Devon RC General is having a natter night and
open evening with tea and biccies. Further information from Jules
Cuddy, M1AGY, on 01752 291588.

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

On Thursday 26 May South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Details from Andrew Jenner, G7KNA, on 07838 695471.

On Thursday 26 May Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is holding its
AGM. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

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

On Friday 27 May North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is inspecting and
repairing its antennas. More information from Dick on 01454 218362.

On Friday 27 May Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a 90/10 auction
night. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

On Saturday 28 May Torbay Amateur Radio Society commences its weekend
event running Geo Parks special event station GB6GEO from caves in
Torbay. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 23 May Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is
holding a junk sale & club raffle. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269
840292.