GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 21st August 2011

The news headlines:

* G5RP Trophy nominations sought

* ComReg grants EI amateurs up to 1500 watts in contests

* IARU Region 1 conference concluded

The G5RP Trophy is an annual award to encourage newcomers to HF DXing.
However, the award is not limited to youngsters or the newly-licensed,
the HF DX bug can bite at any age or after many years of experience on
other bands. If you are an established HF DXer and want to recommend
someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2011, now is the time to send
in your nomination. Your nominee should be an up-and-coming HF DXer who
has made rapid progress in the last year and has some real achievements
to show, for example, a good total of new countries worked or some
serious HF DXpedition activity. This prestigious award will be
presented this year at the RSGB Convention on 7 to 9 October. Please
send your nominations to Ian Greenshields, G4FSU, QTHR, or by e-mail to
, to arrive no later than Friday 23
September.

A few months ago the Irish Radio Transmitters Society announced that,
after some two years of negotiations, Irish regulator ComReg had agreed
that EI licensees would be allowed to run high power in specified
contests. Everything then went quiet for a couple of months, but ComReg
has now published a document on their web site implementing the change.
Consequently, suitably equipped Irish contesters are now able to run
1500 watts in major HF contests and 1000 watts in VHF/UHF contests. The
list of permitted events is similar to the one in which UK stations may
use short contest callsigns, although more contests could be added to
the list in due course. Interestingly, the increased power limit
applies to 4m and the whole of the 160m band, but, curiously, not the
10m band.

The 22nd International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 General conference,
held in Sun City, South Africa has now concluded. For details on the
papers, discussions and a gallery of photographs go to the IARU Region
1 website, www.iaru-r1.org.

Thanks to the work of volunteers from the British Amateur Television
Club, videos of the presentations given at this year's AMSAT-UK
International Space Colloquium are now available online at
www.uk.amsat.org.

Telemetry from the recently-launched ARISSAT-1 suggests that the
spacecraft's battery is failing faster than expected. The satellite
works when it is in sunlight but resets itself when it goes into
eclipse. The ARISSAT-1 team is closely monitoring the situation and is
posting news updates at www.arissat1.org.

This weekend the 14th Annual International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend
takes place. Stations will be on the air until 2359UTC on the 21st. The
basic objective of the fun event is to promote awareness of lighthouses
and lightships and their need for preservation, to promote amateur
radio, and to foster International goodwill. For an official lists of
entrants, which total 439 including 18 lightships, check out the
website at www.illw.net.

In addition to scheduled ATV streaming of GB2RS news in the UK via
batc.tv and audio podcasts, scheduled transmissions of the GB2RS News
are now available courtesy of VK7AX in Tasmania. These broadcasts
started on Monday 15 August at 2000hrs local Tasmania time, which is
1000UTC, via voice repeaters, ATV, ATV Video Stream, EchoLink &
Allstar.

A Wainwrights on the Air activity weekend will take place on 27 to 29
August. Stations operating from a number of the Lake District Fells,
mostly using 2m FM, calling S20, will be on the air. New Activators and
Chasers are encouraged to join in. More details can be found at
www.wota.org.uk.

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

The Rugby, Princethorpe, Annual Radio Rally takes place today, 21
August, at Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby CV23 9PX. Doors
open from 10am to 4pm and admission is £2. Contact Tony on 07759 684
411.

Milton Keynes ARS Rally takes place on 28 August at Bletchley Park,
Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB. There will be trade
stands, special interest groups and GB2BP will be on the air. Why not
make this a family day and visit the Bletchley Park museum too? More
details can be seen at www.mkars.org.uk.

On bank holiday Monday, 29 August, Huntingdonshire ARS Rally takes
place at St Neots Community College, Barford Rd, St Neots PE19 2SH.
Doors open at 10am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands, a
car boot sale, Bring & Buy and RSGB bookstall. Contact Clive Burchell,
G3NKQ, on 01480 810 473.

Now for the news of special events

The Radio Society of Harrow will be operating GX3EFX and demonstrating
amateur radio from a 14th Century small barn at the Harrow Museum for
the Harrow in Leaf Show on 28 and 29 August. The museum site consists
of a granary, large 16th century tithe barn, with 12th century moated
manor house built by the Bishop of Canterbury.

For rugby enthusiasts, look out for ZL4RUGBY operated by ZL4PW from 19
August until 31 October. This is to celebrate the 2011 Rugby World Cup
being played in New Zealand.

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

A group of nine operators from the Telford & District ARS are
activating Guernsey under the callsign GP3ZME/P until Wednesday 24
August. They have equipment for all the HF bands, plus 6 and 2 metres,
23cm and all the microwave bands right up to 24GHz. Their locator is
IN89QK and further details can be seen on the Telford club website,
www.TDARS.co.uk. W7GJ plans to be active from Samoa on a 6m EME
DXpedition during the final week of August. His callsign will be 5W0GJ.
QSL direct to W7GJ.

A number of operators from South Korea and Japan will operate from the
South Korean island of Cheju, which is IOTA reference AS-026, from 19
to 26 August using the callsign D9A. The QSL manager is DS4EOI.

Peter, EI7CC is returning to Lesotho for a short holiday from 18 to 30
August and will be active again as 7P8PB. He hopes to upload his logs
to Logbook of the World on a daily basis.

DH2AK and DL1THM will be active as PJ2/DH2AK and PJ2/DL1THM from the
island of Curacao from 21 August to 8 September. They will be using an
IC-7000 and Buddipole and operating holiday style.

Now the contest news

The Brazilian CVADX Contest CW leg takes place this weekend, 20 and 21
August, from 2100 to 2100UTC. There are lots of different categories
and most points to be gained by working Brazilian stations. The SSB leg
takes place next weekend, 28 and 29 August. Full rules are online at
www.craec.info/2010/images/docs_pdf/cvarules.pdf.

23 August sees the 50MHz UKAC taking place between 1900 and 2130UTC.
Using all modes on the band, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.

Also on 23 August, the SHF UK Activity Contest takes place at the same
time, 1900 to 2130UTC, on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands. Using all modes, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 80m Club Sprint takes place on 25 August between 1900 and 2030.
It's the SSB leg and the exchange is both callsigns, serial number and
name.

The IRTS 2m Counties Contest takes place on 28 August from 1300 to 1500
using both FM and SSB. For stations outside EI/GI, work EIs and GIs
only, giving them a signal report and serial number. In return you can
expect to receive a signal report, serial number and County. There are
awards for the highest placed entrant in each section `outside of EI'.
This often results in them going to GI, but not always * indeed, some
sections often have no entries from outside EI. For a list of the 32
Irish counties, see EI8IC's website at
www.mapability.com/ei8ic/contest/eicounty.php.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 8th to the 14th
of August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 15th of August.

Right at the start of the period two of the three large active regions
had rotated out of view, but before the last group disappeared it
produced the largest solar flare so far this cycle. This flare was
rated as an X6/2B, which took place on the 9th, taking solar activity
to high levels. Before this, on the 8th, activity was moderate when a
M3 flare occurred from the same region. By the 14th the visible solar
disc was spotless. This is only the second day with a spotless Sun so
far this year; the other was the 27th of January. Solar activity was
very low from the 12th. Solar flux levels reflected this by declining
from 102 units on the 8th to 83 by the 12th and the 13th. The average
was 90 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 14th remained at the
same level as the previous week, at 96 units. X-ray flux levels
declined from B4.3 units on the 9th to A8.2 by the 13th. The average
was B1.8 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day, except for
the 8th, which was slightly unsettled with an Ap index of 10 units. Due
to the location of the X6 solar flare to the solar limb the ejected
material associated with the coronal mass ejection was directed away
from Earth and did not cause any magnetic disturbance. The average was
Ap 7 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind
speeds decline from 650 kilometres per second on the 9th to 300 by the
13th. Speeds then increased to around 500 kilometres per second during
the 14th. Particle densities were low every day except for late on the
13th and early on the 14th when they increased to 20 particles per
cubic centimetre. Bz varied no more than minus and plus 4 nanoTeslas
except for the 14th which varied between minus 6 and plus 10
nanoTeslas.

And now the solar forecast. The first of the three large sunspot groups
that generated all the solar flare activity on their last rotation are
expected to return. The first should already be in view, however, this
was the least active of the three. The other two more active groups are
expected on the 21st and the 24th. The level of solar activity will
depend on how active these regions are. There is a reasonable chance
that activity could increase to moderate levels on some days. Close
observations of the STEREO behind images will give a clue of their
solar flare potential several days before they rotate into view. Solar
flux levels are expected to be around the 110 mark but levels could be
lower if the returning regions are not active. Geomagnetic activity
could be unsettled today due to a coronal hole and again around Friday
and Saturday due to another coronal hole. In both instances only a mild
disturbance is expected. 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 11MHz. Paths to South America should have a
maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about
27MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
will be around 22MHz. The best time to try this path will be between
1400 and 2100 hours UTC. We are now approaching the end of this
summer's Sporadic-E season, but, saying that, opening are still
expected, but not every day and probably not on 144MHz.

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 Sunday 21 August South Birmingham Radio
Society is attending the Rugby Radio Rally. Contact Don, on 01214 581
603.

On Sunday 21 August Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is at the
Rugby Bring and Buy sale. For more information contact Peter D Rivers,
G4XEX, on 01858 432 105.

On Monday 22 August South Birmingham Radio Society is getting ready for
the Telford Rally on 4 September. Contact Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Monday 22 August Sutton Coldfield Amateur Radio Society is holding a
general meeting with discussions and is on the air. More information
from Robert Bird, by email to .

On Tuesday 23 August Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is having a
video show. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to .

On Tuesday 23 August Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
holding a practical evening. More information from Chris, G1ETZ, on
01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 23 August Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is holding
a barbecue from 11am. Details from Don, G4CYG, on 01926 424 465.

On Wednesday 24 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is preparing for SSB
NFD. For more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

On Wednesday 24 August Midland Amateur Radio Society is planning for
its 80th birthday. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 24 August South Kesteven Amateur Radio Society invites
members to bring their DF-100 and show off its progress. Contact Nigel,
M0CVO, on 01476 402 550.

On Wednesday 24 August Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a natter night and putting G3ZME on the air. Contact Mike,
G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 25 August Salop Amateur Radio Society is holding its third
fox hunt. Details on the club website at www.salop-ars.org.uk. On
Friday 26 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
workshop evening. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777 363.

On Friday 26 August South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Saturday 27 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is in the shack. For more
information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 22 August Angel of the North
Amateur Radio Club is on the air and having a natter night. Contact
Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 01914 770 036.

On Monday 22 August Bolton Wireless Club is holding a 2m direction
finding field event, starting from the Britannia Hotel. For details,
send an email to .

On Monday 22 August Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having its summer
junk sale. More information from Peter Day, G3PHO, by email to
.

On Monday 22 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is holding
a technical forum. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 01619 693 999.

On Monday 22 August Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk by Ken, G3RFH. Details on the web at www.tcars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 23 August Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is
closed. Details from Barbara Green on 07957 870 770.

On Tuesday 23 August Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society continues
its Foundation and Intermediate courses, is on the air and will be
investigating EMC issues. Contact Martin, M0GQB, on 01422 341 317.

On Tuesday 23 August Wakefield & District Radio Society continues its
Foundation and Advanced courses from 13.30. Details from David, G4CLI,
on 07748 221 855.

On Wednesday 24 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a visit by
RSGB Representative G2DPA. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377
240 573.

On Thursday 25 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
80m Sprint SSB. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.

On Thursday 25 August Oldham Radio Club is holding its AGM. More
information from Chris Cunliffe, on 07749 347 142.

On Thursday 25 August Ripon & District Amateur Radio Society is
preparing for SSB Field Day. Details from Rob Hall, M0RBY, on 07876 085
631.

On Thursday 25 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is
having a PC Clinic with Dave, G4UGM. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 01619
693 999. On Thursday 25 August Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club is taking
part in the RSGB 80m SSB Club Sprint as G5N. Contact Bob, M6KLO, by
email to .

On Thursday 25 August Wakefield & District Radio Society is having a
talk and demo on the new Society node, MB7IWR, by Dave, G4CLI. Contact
Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563 117.

On Friday 26 August East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
For more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

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

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND First, we have a message from the QSL bureau for
callsign series holders MM0 Maa to Zzz, MM1, MM3, MM5 and MM6. A large
number of QSL cards cannot be forwarded for these callsigns due to the
lack of appropriately stamped envelopes. Anyone wishing to receive
cards via the bureau is asked to send up to 6, correctly stamped, C5
size end fed envelopes to the QSL sub-manager Brian, MM1HMV, in
advance. Listeners are reminded that cards will be held for a maximum
period of three months, after which time they will be discarded without
notification. Further information is available from Brian via email to
.

On Tuesday 23 August Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club is having
a club night. Contact Graham, MM3GDC, by email to
.

On Tuesday 23 August Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is
having Morse code practice. Details from Norman, on 07740 946 192.

On Thursday 25 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a VHF
fox hunt and preparing for SSB Field day. More information from Lewis,
GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA Crawley Amateur Radio Club will
be running a Foundation course on the weekend of 15 and 16 October,
from 9.30am at Hut 18, Tilagate Recreational Park, Crawley. The closing
date for entries is Friday 23 September. Crawley ARC will also be
running an Advanced exam on Monday 5 December at 7pm, which will be
preceded by four or five weekly seminars to help bring students up to
speed. Applications for the exam need to be received by 7 November. For
further information and details of how to apply, please contact
Malcolm, G3NZP who is QTHR and can be reached on 01342 713 573. On
Sunday 21 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is spending the
afternoon operating SSB using GB100MWT from the Marconi Hut at Sandford
Mill. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Monday 22 August Felixstowe & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding a holiday season club net on 145.400MHz from 8pm. More
information from Paul, G4YQC, by email to .

On Tuesday 23 August Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack.
For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720 815.

On Tuesday 23 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a club
net night. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Tuesday 23 August Dorking & District Radio Society is holding a
social evening. Contact Garth, G3NPC, on 01737 359 472.

On Tuesday 23 August Harwell Amateur Radio Society is having a shack
activity night. Contact Malcolm, G8NRP, on 01235 524 844.

On Wednesday 24 August Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on early days in radio telegraphy by Chris, M0GVT. More
details from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 24 August Hastings Electronics and Radio Club is having a
club meeting. Details from Gordon, on 01424 431 909.

On Wednesday 24 August Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on the Mozambique DXpedition by Tony, G4LDL. For more
information contact Rob, G3LMW, on 01635 862 737.

On Wednesday 24 August Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk by John, G4BLJ on his recent trip to VK/ZL. Contact Phil, G4UDU,
on 01903 816 684.

On Thursday 25 August Bittern DX Group is meeting at Pinewood Park
Leisure Club. Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404 154.

On Thursday 25 August Edgware & District Radio Society is discussing
the autumn programme and having an informal evening. More information
from Mike, G4RNW, on 02089 500 658.

On Thursday 25 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
RSGB 80m Club Sprint SSB contest. Details from Chris Danby, G0DWV, on
01603 898 678.

On Friday 26 August Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on the techniques of radio repairs by Mark, M1MPW. Contact Ron,
G3KBR, on 01223 501 712.

On Friday 26 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on windmills by Keith Cook. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444 239 371.

On Friday 26 August Wimbledon & District Amateur Radio Society is
closed. Contact Andrew Maish, G4ADM, on 02083 353 434.

On Saturday 27 August Bedford and District Amateur Radio Club is
holding a special event to celebrate Glenn Miller's contribution to
morale and music. Details from Bob Leask, G3XNG, by email to
. On Sunday 28 August Bedford and District Amateur
Radio Club is exhibiting at the MKARS annual rally & boot sale. Details
from Bob Leask, G3XNG, by email to .

On Sunday 28 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is spending the
afternoon operating CW as GB100MWT from the Marconi Hut at Sandford
Mill. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Sunday 28 August Coalhouse Fort Amateur Radio Society is holding an
open day. Contact John Parker, M1DUC, by email to
.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Plymouth Training Team will be starting an
Intermediate training course on Monday 5 September at the Cherry Tree,
Ham Drive Plymouth, PL2 3NT. The course will be from 7 until 9pm and
will last for ten Mondays. The exam is planned for Monday 7th November,
but may be varied to suit candidates or availability of the exam
centre. For more information contact Bob Griffiths on 01752 343 177 or
via .

On Monday 22 August Exeter Amateur Radio Society is having a club night
at the Moose Centre. More information from Nick, M6NRJ, on 01363
775756.

On Tuesday 23 August Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio Society is having an
HF evening. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860 741.

On Wednesday 24 August Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417 048.

On Thursday 25 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Details from Andrew Jenner, G7KNA, on 07838 695 471.

On Thursday 25 August Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having
an activity night. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317 750.

On Thursday 25 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is holding a committee
meeting & putting the club station on the air. Contact Steve Crask,
G7AHP, by email to .

On Friday 26 August North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is performing
antenna maintenance. More information from Dick on 01454 218 362.

On Friday 26 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
radio in far away places by Roger Western, G3SXW. For more information
contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

NEWS FOR WALES No news items have been received for Wales this week.