GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 31st July 2011

The news headlines:

* Slovakian amateurs gain 5MHz band

* Will 800MHz 4G signals interfere with TV?

* Islands On The Air contest active now

Slovakian amateurs have been given access to the 5MHz frequency
allocation for experimental purposes. OM stations can use the band from
5.2585 to 5.2615MHz with a maximum power of 100W ERP. Licences are
valid for 1 year.

Ofcom has extended the period for consultation on proposals for
technical licence conditions for the award of 800MHz and 2.6GHz
spectrum. The new closing date for responses to this consultation is 11
August 2011. Whilst not strictly related to amateur radio, there is an
EMC concern. The new 800MHz 4G signals will fall within the bandwidth
of masthead preamps and TV tuners, adding to an already complex mixture
for TVI complaints.

This weekend sees amateurs around the world involved in the Islands on
the Air contest. Until 1200UTC today you can expect to hear some
unusual island stations on the air. Many will be using their own
callsigns outside the contest hours. Operation is in the 3.5, 7, 14, 21
and 28MHz bands. All radio amateurs in the British Isles are
automatically operating from an island and so will be keenly sought by
others overseas who are taking part in the contest.

Following a request from a club, the graphs from the RSGB Survey are
now available as a PowerPoint presentation. This means it is now
possible to show the results to a group, with the presenter using the
original PDF file as their presentation notes. The files can be
downloaded at www.rsgb.org/survey.

Starting today, 31st July, a GB2RS news reading for the South of
England is being re-introduced on 3640kHz at 9am local time. A team of
five news readers will take turns with this schedule each Sunday. They
will read the National news plus regional news for the South East, East
Anglia and the South West. At around 9.30 the reader will seek
reception reports during an after-news net, which may QSY to a nearby
working frequency. On-air reception reports will be very welcome.

AMSAT-UK has made available a free PDF of the Spring 2011 edition of
their newsletter, OSCAR News. It contains reports on four UK CubeSat
projects currently being developed. There is also news of new South
African CubeSats and details of the telemetry on ARISsat-1, currently
scheduled to be deployed from the International Space Station on
Wednesday 3 August. A printed copy of OSCAR News is posted to members
each quarter. Read the Oscar News PDF at www.uk.amsat.org, just follow
the new and renewing members tab. With only a few weeks to go to the
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on 20 and 21 August, a
total of 290 entries have been received, but many more are expected
before the event. So far this year 13 Lightships are entered, mainly
from Belgium, England, Germany and the USA. There's also one each in
the Netherlands, Sweden and Wales. Since 1998, the event has attracted
more than 440 entrants, from some 50 nations. More information is at
www.illw.net.

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

This weekend, 30 and 31 July, the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium takes place
in the Holiday Inn, Guildford, postcode GU2 7XZ. There is a wide
ranging lecture programme, which will also be streamed at www.batc.tv.
RSGB Amateur Radio Manager Carlos, G0AKI will be on site with GB4FUN.
Details at www.uk.amsat.org.

Horncastle Summer Rally will take place today, Sunday 31 July, in the
Horncastle Youth Centre, Willow Road, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ.
Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £1.50. Information can be
obtained from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527835.

King's Lynn ARC Rally & Car Boot will take place on 7 August at Gaywood
Community Centre, PE30 4DZ. Doors open at 10am and admission is £1.50.
There will be trade stands and a car boot area. Details from Ray,
G3RSV, on 01553671307.

The Lorn Radio Amateur Rally will be held on 7 August at Crianlarich
Village Hall, Crianlarich, near Oban, postcode FK20 8QN. Doors open at
10am and there will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from
GM0ERV by e-mail to .

Now for the news of special events

Hull & District Amateur Radio Society and RAFARS are setting up a
special event station at a veterans weekend today, 31 July, held at
East Park, Holderness Road, Hull. GB2VET will be on the air, using HF,
VHF & UHF and D-Star. There will also be a display of vintage WW2 radio
equipment.

Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Society is operating a GB0YD for
Yorkshire Day on 1 August. Operated from the Club's shack with the
Yorkshire flag flying from the mast, they intend to talk at all
amateurs * whichever side of the Pennines they are located.

GB2SAH is the special event callsign operated by members of the
Felixstowe & District ARS in conjunction with the Suffolk Aviation
Heritage Group. On 31 July the station will be operating from the
Suffolk Aviation Heritage Group's display centre at Kesgrave, Suffolk,
as part of the Military Heritage Weekend. The station will use both
military and amateur radio equipment as well as making good use of the
impressive communications towers on the site.

On 1 August, MI0RYL will be activating Scrabo Tower, Newtownards on the
HF bands, propagation allowing. The site is at Locator io74dn and is
being activated as part of the Castles and Stately Homes on the Air
Programme.

On 3 August, MW6GWR will be activating Graig Fach Goch, an Iron Age
hill fort, as part of the Castles and Stately Homes on the Air
Programme. The hill fort is at an elevation of roughly 675ft. On 7
August a few amateurs in the Morecambe Bay area are putting a special
event station on for the Heysham Classic Car Rally. They are trying to
show the fun of amateur radio to a new audience. So if you're in the
Morecambe area, please feel free to drop in or contact them on air.
They will be operating 2m and HF between 10am and 4pm.

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

Ian, G4FSU will be active again as OH/G4FSU from Emsalo Island, which
is IOTA reference EU-097, until 10 August. He will be making an entry
in the RSGB IOTA Contest. QSL via his home callsign either direct or
via the bureau.

NQ6K will be active as stroke VY0 from Devon Island in the Canadian
High Arctic until 5 August. The crew will be primarily using 20, 15 and
10 metres running PSK31 and RTTY and possibly SSB. Other bands will
also be used depending on propagation. Please see
www.devon2011.nq6k.org for current frequency updates and contact
information.

EA3QS, IZ4AKS, IW3SQY, IZ8GCE and IT9YVO will operate as TY1KS from
Benin from 5 to 14 August, on all bands, with three Elecraft K3s and
two Elecraft KPA500 solid state amplifiers. They will focus on the
lower bands and digital modes due to the high demand for those from
Benin. They will also be on SSB on the higher bands, especially during
trans-equatorial propagation openings. QSL via IZ8IYX.

Axel, DL7VEA will be active as OZ7VEA from Bornholm Island, which is
IOTA reference EU-030, until 5 August, including a 12-hour entry in the
IOTA Contest. QSL via DL7VEA, bureau preferred.

Now the contest news

Over the years, Islands On The Air has become the RSGB's flagship
contest. These days it attracts over 2000 entries worldwide. Casual
participants are likely to pick up some new countries and serious
entrants will make thousands of QSOs in the 24 hours, although there
are also 12-hour sections for single-op stations. The IOTA Reference is
part of the exchange; the one for mainland Britain is EU-005. All the
IOTA references can be found on the internet at
www.logiciel.co.uk/iota/shtlist/europe.html. Operations start at 1200
on the 30th, although some of the island DXpeditions will be using
their own callsigns during testing in the days leading up to the
contest. Using the bands 3.5 to 28MHz on CW or SSB, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and IOTA reference.

2 August sees the 144MHz UK Activity Contest taking place from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.

The first weekend of the month is definitely one for low power
enthusiasts. The action on Saturday 6th begins with the fourth 2m
Backpacker Contest from 1100 to 1500UTC. Overlapping with the final
hour is the144MHz Low Power Contest from 1400 to 2200UTC. In each of
them you exchange the usual information, but also the first two letters
of your postcode. Single letter postcodes are padded out to two
letters, see the RSGB Yearbook or www.rsgbcc.org for a full list. Also
on 6 August, the 12-hour European HF Championship takes place. QSOs
within Europe are the only ones that count for points. Exchange a
signal report and a two-digit number corresponding to the year in which
you were first licensed. There are CW only, SSB only and mixed mode
sections for high and low power stations.

The 432MHz Low Power Contest takes place on 7 August from 0800 to
1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number,
locator and the first two letters of the postcode.

Also on 7 August is the 2nd RoPoCo event. It's a 90-minute Sunday
morning event from 0700 to 0830UTC. You really need to be on your toes
to do well, because the rolling exchange of postcodes (PC) is a real
challenge. This is the CW leg, the SSB leg having taken place in April.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 18th to the 24th
of July, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 25th of July.

The period started with eight sunspot groups visible, most were small
and stable. However, one of these groups produced the only C class
solar flare, which lifted activity to low levels on the 18th. The
remainder of the period saw activity at very low levels. Solar flux
levels declined from 102 units on the 18th to 86 by the 24th. The
average was 95 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 24th was
also 95 units, that's two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels
declined from B2.4 units on the 18th to B1.4 by the 24th and the
average was B1.9 units. Due to a recurring coronal hole geomagnetic
activity was at unsettled levels from the 19th to the 22nd. The most
disturbed day was the 20th with an Ap index of 19 units. The only quiet
day was the 24th with an Ap index of 4 units. The average was 11 units.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase
from 360 kilometres per second on the 18th to 750 by the 21st. Speeds
then declined to 400 kilometres per second by the 24th. Particle
densities were low except for a brief increase to 13 particles per
cubic centimetre on the 18th. Bz varied between minus 8 and plus 10
nanoTeslas during the disturbance and between minus 4 and plus 6
nanoTeslas on the quietest day.

And now the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is
expected to be rotating out of view. Even today an active region could
be rotating into view over the Sun's south east limb. Solar activity is
expected to be very low to low for most of the week. Solar flux levels
should be on the increase and be in the high 90's or even slightly
above the 100 mark, a lot will depend on the active region mentioned
above. Slightly easier to forecast is the geomagnetic activity, which
is expected to be unsettled today and maybe tomorrow, and again by next
weekend. Both disturbances are the result of recurring coronal holes.
However, the midweek period should be at quiet levels. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 19MHz for the south
and 16MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about
12MHz. 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
17MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
should be about 13MHz. The best time to try this path will be between
1900 and 2300 hours. The path will probably open earlier but levels
will consequently be lower. Sporadic-E is expected to take place on
some days.

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 On Monday 1 August South Birmingham Radio Society
is having an open meeting and putting the shack on the air. Contact
Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Tuesday 2 August Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is holding a
junk sale. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to .

On Tuesday 2 August Friskney and East Lincolnshire Communications Club
is discussing the rally. Contact Chris, M0MFP, on 01507 442 240.

On Tuesday 2 August Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a portable night on air at Humble Lane near Sileby. More
information from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Wednesday 3 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the
air. For more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

On Wednesday 3 August Midland Amateur Radio Society is having a general
meeting, training classes and putting the shack on the air. Details
from Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 3 August South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
lecture in the main hall. Contact Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Wednesday 3 August Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a committee meeting at Stafford Park. HQ is closed. Contact
Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 4 August Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is
closed. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548 478, daytime.

On Thursday 4 August Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club is holding
a 10km fox hunt at 7.15 from the club car park at Hucknall. More
information from Dave Wilde, G1YAI, on 08444 355 593.

On Friday 5 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
planning expeditions by Chris Colclough, G1VDP. Contact John, G8SEQ, on
07958 777 363.

On Friday 5 August South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Saturday 6 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is in the shack, putting
GB2CWP on the air. For more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on
01427 788 356. On Saturday 6 August Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio
Society is having a Club Field Day from 10am. Details from Don, G4CYG,
on 01926 424 465.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 1 August Sheffield Amateur
Radio Club is having a talk on therapeutic toy making by Gordon
Leesley, G4WEC. More information from Peter Day, G3PHO, by email to
.

On Monday 1 August Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
natter night. Details on the web at www.tcars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 2 August Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is closed.
Details from Barbara Green on 07957 870 770.

On Tuesday 2 August Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society continues
its Foundation and Intermediate courses and, weather permitting, will
be erecting a temporary aerial and getting on air. Contact Martin,
M0GQB, on 01422 341 317.

On Wednesday 3 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is holding a fox hunt.
Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.

On Thursday 4 August Ripon & District Amateur Radio Society is
encouraging its Foundation licensees onto the air. Details from Rob
Hall, M0RBY, on 07876 085 631.

On Thursday 4 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is
clearing the shack. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 01619 693 999.

On Thursday 4 August Wakefield & District Radio Society is having a
barbecue at HQ with Jason, 2E0RNR. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563
117.

On Friday 5 August East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is holding a
technical forum. For more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642
475 671.

On Friday 5 August Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club is operating, holding
discussions and offering Morse training. Contact Bob, M6KLO, by email
to .

On Saturday 6 August Wakefield & District Radio Society continues its
Foundation and Advanced licence courses from 13:30. Details from David,
G4CLI, on 07748 221 855.

On Sunday 7 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the CW
RoPoCo contest. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND No news items have been received for Northern
Ireland this week.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 2 August Livingston & District Amateur
Radio Society is having a club evening. Details from Norman, on 07740
946 192.

On Thursday 4 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is holding a junk
sale. More information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Friday 5 August Borders Amateur Radio Society is holding an open
meeting. Members please note the change of date. More information from
Danny, 2M0CDO, on 01890 882 850.

On Friday 5 August Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is having
a normal club night. More information from Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811
723.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA On Sunday 31 July Coalhouse
Fort Amateur Radio Society is having a classic vehicles meeting.
Contact John Parker, M1DUC, by email to .

On Monday 1 August Braintree & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk on VLF and LV by Roger, G3XBM. For more information contact
John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 1 August Burnham Beeches Radio Club is having a pub meeting.
Contact Dave, G4XDU, on 01628 625 720.

On Monday 1 August Southdown Amateur Radio Society is meeting at
Chaseley. Details from John, G3DQY, on 01424 424 319.

On Monday 1 August Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it,
advice, chin wag and move-it-on evening. Contact John, G3MCX, on 02086
883 322.

On Monday 1 August Verulam Amateur Radio Club is holding a committee
meeting. Details from Tony, 2EOWAP, on 01727 853 087.

On Tuesday 2 August Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack.
For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720 815.

On Tuesday 2 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is holding its
constructors competition. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Wednesday 3 August Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a general meeting and CW training session. More details from
Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 3 August Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating at
the Hailsham Shack. Details from John, G3DQY, on 01424 424 319.

On Wednesday 3 August Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is holding
a discussion evening. Contact Phil, G4UDU, on 01903 816 684.

On Thursday 4 August Cray Valley Radio Society holding a planning
meeting for the 2012 event from 8pm at Progress Hall, Admiral Seymour
Road, Eltham. Details from Bob, M0MCV, on 02082 657 735 after 8pm. On
Thursday 4 August Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
natter night and social evening. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 02392 472
846.

On Thursday 4 August Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
repairing vintage radios by David Smith, M0SXD. Details are on the web
at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 4 August Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having a social
evening from 7.30pm at the Queens Head, Sandridge. Details from Tony,
2EOWAP, on 01727 853 087.

On Friday 5 August Crystal Palace Radio and Electronics Club is holding
its summer barbecue. Contact Bob, G3OOU, on 01737 552 170.,


On Friday 5 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
night and table top sale. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444 239 371.

On Friday 5 August Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a club
night. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Friday 5 August Wimbledon & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a barbecue at its summer camp. Contact Andrew Maish, G4ADM, on 02083
353 434.

On Saturday 6 August Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack.
For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720 815.

On Saturday 6 August Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society commences
its weekend event, taking part in the RSGB VHF/UHF Low Power Contest.
More details from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Saturday 6 August Loughton & Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
holding its summer get-together at the Rainbow and Dove, Hastingwood.
Contact Marc Litchman, G0TOC, on 02085 021 645.

On Sunday 7 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is spending the
afternoon operating SSB as GB100MWT from the Marconi Hut, Sandford
Mill. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Sunday 7 August Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is holding
its breakfast meeting in Goring. Contact Phil, G4UDU, on 01903 816 684.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST On Tuesday 2 August Blackmoor Vale Amateur
Radio Society is having a VHF evening. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258
860 741.

On Tuesday 2 August West Devon Radio Club is having a natter night and
open evening. Further information from Jules Cuddy, M1AGY, on 01752 291
588.

On Wednesday 3 August Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is holding a pedestrian fox hunt with Peter, G4OST. Contact Tony,
G0WMB, on 01454 417 048.

On Wednesday 3 August Trowbridge & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a natter night and a committee meeting. Details from Ian, G0GRI,
on 01225 864 698, evenings and weekends. On Thursday 4 August Cornish
Radio Amateur Club is having a talk on Photoshop by Ian Williams.
Details from Steve, G7VOH, on 01209 844 939.

On Thursday 4 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is holding its
summer table top sale. Details from Andrew Jenner, G7KNA, on 07838 695
471.

On Thursday 4 August Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having an
activity night. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317 750.

On Thursday 4 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on ATU
design by G3MYM. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to
.

On Friday 5 August North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
construction evening. More information from Dick on 01454 218 362.

On Friday 5 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 1 August Dragon Amateur Radio Club is holding
a barbecue and social evening, weather permitting. More information
from Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF, on 07833 620 733.

On Tuesday 2 August Wrexham Amateur Radio Society is having a build
night. More information from Patrick, 2W0HUU, on 07947 701 927.