1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 12 August

The news headlines

* Scout station GB100J talks to astronauts

* OFCOM publishes proposals for 10GHz

* HF Convention approaches On the evening of Saturday 4 August, ten
Scouts spoke to astronaut Clayton Anderson aboard the International
Space Station. The Scouts operated as GB100J from the World Scout
Jamboree camp near Chelmsford. The ISS link was facilitated by Carlos
Eavis, G0AKI, and Howard Long, G6LVB. The Scouts asked Clayton, KD5PLA,
diverse questions including what happens to your tears when you cry in
space.

Running from 27 July to 8 August, the Jamboree attracted over 40,000
Scouts, venturers, leaders and staff. More than 500 packed the tent
where the contact took place. Hundreds more listened to the proceedings
from outside.

OFCOM have recently published proposals with relevance to the 3cm band.
The proposals concern the award and auction of spectrum at 10GHz to
40GHz. One range of frequencies under consideration coincides with the
3cm Amateur Satellite Service allocation. Details are on the Ofcom web
site and specific links can be found in the News section of the RSGB
web site.

A reminder about the RSGB HF Convention on 12 to 14 October. This
year's convention is at a new venue, Wyboston Lakes, in Bedfordshire.
As usual there is a full lecture programme and the chance to meet the
world's top HF operators and DXers. Full details of the convention are
at www.rsgb.org/hfc. Listeners may like to know that the Early Bird
booking discount offer ends on Tuesday 14 August.

The Eastbourne and Wealden RAYNET Group is setting out to find fresh
faces to sign up. It has one of the busiest event calendars in the
country and an active engineering committee. The committee investigates
various operating modes and automatic position reporting systems.

The group itself has been established for many years. Licensed new
members are preferred although SWL's are also needed to assist in
logging and other duties. Age is no barrier to membership.

If you live in East Sussex or the Kent and West Sussex borders and
would like to join, make contact by email to
or telephone to 01323 845418.

On 26 August, 1500 riders are expected to be cycling from Seahouses to
Prior's Haven at Tynemouth for the Chris Lucas Trust in aid of
Children's Cancer. East Durham RAYNET is the control group for the
event, with assistance provided by North West Durham, South West
Durham, Sunderland and Northumberland RAYNET groups. The Group request
additional assistance for this event. Anyone available to help can
contact the Deputy Controller Mr Owen Smith on 0191 569 3484 or 07906
965787 with their details and availability for the event. The
organisers have a website for the event at www.chrislucastrust.com.

Foyle and District Amateur Radio Club recently travelled to St Angelo
airport in Enniskillen to run a station during for the jet world
masters model aircraft competition. The club was there for the final
two days

2 of the event. Propagation conditions were disappointing, but a good
number of contacts were made, mainly on 20m and 40m bands. There were
model aircraft contestants from 33 countries and 115 contestants at the
competition, which was won by the German team.

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

[Note to newsreaders: please exercise your judgement on which of the 12
August events to read out, based on your service area and time of
transmission. No events have been notified to us for the coming week.]
On Sunday 12 August the Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest takes place from
1000 at the Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, Near
Wimborne, Dorset BH21 1RJ. Talk-in will be provided on S22. On Sunday
12 August the Kings Lynn Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place at Kings
Lynn Caravan and Camping Park on the A47 approximately 3 miles east of
Kings Lynn. Details on the web at www.klarc.org.uk. More details of
these and future events can be found on pages 88 and 89 of the August
edition of RadCom. Now for the news of special events

Special event station GB2GSS will be on the air using HF and VHF on 15
August from the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show. As in previous years
the station will be operated by members of the Blackmore Amateur Radio
Society. QSLs via the bureau. Special event station GB2GSS will be on
the air using HF and VHF on 15 August from the Gillingham and
Shaftesbury Show. As in previous years the station is operated by
members of the Blackmore Amateur Radio Society. QSLs via the bureau.
Special event GM1BKF will be operating as GM1BKF/M until 17 August from
Lochaber, Gleneagles and the Cairngorm local areas on 2 metres only. A
special event station GB1SL will be on the air from the Skerries
Lighthouse for this years International Lighthouse and Lighthouse
Weekend on 18 and 19 August. This will be the first activation from the
Skerries, the Lighthouse situated in a group of Islands off the
Anglesey coast in the Irish Sea. Operation on 80 and 40 metres CW and
SSB, 20 metres SSB and 6 metres. QSL via bureau or via GW0VML. Special
event station GB4SML will be on the air on 18 and 19 August. Borders
Rievers Amateur Radio Society will be activating from Saint Mary's
Lighthouse Tynemouth Tyne Wear. Operation will be on the HF, VHF and
UHF bands and they will be allocating 15 to 20 minute periods for M3s
and QRP stations only to call in. All visitors are welcome further
information can be accessed via the web site at www.bras.co.uk. And now
the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News, the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin and
other sources.

Nick, UE1SNA, RA1QQ, Alexey, RA1QY and Dmitriy, RN3GM, plan to operate
as homecall/1 from several Russian islands in the EU-162 IOTA group
until 14 August. QSL via home calls. When operating from a lighthouse,
they will be using UE1RLH/1. QSL via RA1QY.

Marco, IK1ACX, reports he will operating from Pag Island (EU-170) until
18 August. Special station TM2HRH will be active until 19 August to
celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.
QS via bureau to F6KTN.

3 Fabio, IW1DFU, will be active as IA5/IW1DFU from Elba Island (EU-028,
IIA LI-001) on 12 to 31 August. He expects to operate mainly CW on 20
and 30 metres, with some SSB activity on 20 and 40 metres, running 100
watts into vertical and/or dipole antennas. QSL via home call, direct
or bureau. Marco, IZ6ASI, will participate in the International
Lighthouse Lightship Weekend 18 to 19 August as IZ6ASI/p from the
lighthouse at Senigallia, ARLHS ITA-181, WAIL MA-004. Expect activity
on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 metres SSB. During the lighthouse weekend 18
and 19 August Bekir Kemal Ataman, TA2RX, will be making a dxpedition to
Gelidonia lighthouse in Antalya, Turkey, to operate as TC4LHW. David,
F1JXQ, will be active as FG/F1JXQ from Guadeloupe (NA-102) until 20
August. He operates SSB and is likely to be found on 10 to 6 metres and
2m between 10 and 16 UTC. QSL direct to home call. Now the contest news
The SARTG RTTY takes place on 18 and 19 August at various times on RTTY
mode, on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands. The exchange takes the form of RST and
serial number. The RSGB 432MHz activity evening takes place on 14
August between 2200 to 2230 local on all modes. The exchange takes the
form of RST, serial number, locator and postal district. The RSGB 70MHz
Trophy Contest takes place on 19 August between 0900 to 1500 on all
modes. The exchange takes the form of RST, serial number, locator and
postal district. Now the solar factual data for the period from 30 July
to 5 August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS

The solar disc was spotless until a single spot rotated into view on
the 3rd. Solar activity was very low. Solar flux levels varied between
68 and 70 units and the average was 69 units. The 90 day solar flux
average had remained at 74 units for the last 8 weeks, however, this
week it declined by two units to 72. X-ray flux levels remained below
the minimum A1 level everyday. Geomagnetic activity started at
unsettled levels due to a coronal hole, the Ap on the 1st was 17 units.
Activity then declined to quiet levels. On the 4th and the 5th the Ap
was only 2 units. The average was Ap 7 units. The ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds peak at 660 kilometres per second on the 1st but then
declined to 290 by the 5th. Particle densities remained below 10
Particles per cubic centimetre throughout the period. Bz varied between
minus 7 and plus 8 nanoTeslas on the 1st and between minus and plus 2
nanoTeslas on the quiet days. HF conditions have been unexciting, as
often happens at this time of year, though 14MHz at times sparked into
life, particularly on north-south paths. The band is still staying open
until late evening. Sporadic-E is tailing off, but occurred daily at
28MHz and, less often, on 70 and 50MHz. The new OZ 40MHz beacon was
heard several times. And finally the solar forecast. This week the
quiet side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. The Sun could
become spotless during the week. Solar activity should be very low.
Solar flux levels are expected to be between the mid to high 60's.
Geomagnetic activity should start at quiet levels, however, around
midweek a recurring coronal hole is expected to increase activity. This
particular coronal hole as already lasted 6 solar rotations, with the

4 hole changing shape and size each rotation. Back at the end of April
the disturbance lasted 4 days with the most disturbed day having an Ap
of 26 units. On the last rotation, it only lasted 2 days with an Ap
index of 12 units on both days. Quieter conditions are expected to
return by the weekend. One solar rotation lasts approximately 28 days,
as seen from Earth. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes
should be around 17MHz for the south and 14MHz for the north. The
darkness hour lows should be about 9MHz. Paths this week to South
Africa should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent
success rate of about 22MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90
per cent success rate will be around 18MHz. The best time to try this
path will be between 0800 and 1700 hours UTC. Sporadic-E should take
place on some days, particularly on 28MHz and to a lesser extent on
50MHz and above. And that's all for this week from the propagation
team.

5 Next, the Local News:

Please note that details of all RSGB-affiliated clubs and societies can
be found on the RSGB website, including e-mail addresses

and website links where known.

[Note to newsreaders: Please read the local news items appropriate to
the service area of your

transmission.]

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-EAST

and EAST ANGLIA On Sunday 12 August Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society
is operating from the bunker. Contact Steve, M0SSR, on 01424 720 815.

On Sunday 12 August Harwich Amateur Radio Interest Group is having a
lecture on solar propagation software by Carl Thomson, G3PEM. Contact
James, M0ZZO, on 01255 242 746.

On Sunday 12 August King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having its rally.
Contact Andy, G1KLP, on or on the web at www.klarc.org.uk.

On Sunday 12 August Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating G1KAR
at Beachy Head. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424,424,319, or by email to
.

On Monday 13 August Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a club
meeting. Contact Frank, M0AEU, by email to .

On Monday 13 August Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society is having a
BBQ hosted by G4RWW. Contact Andy, G8JAC, on .

On Wednesday 15 August Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a discussion night. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506 344, or
by email to .

On Wednesday 15 August Dover Radio Club is having a school holiday BBQ
at Kearsney Abbey. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to .


On Wednesday 15 August Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club is doing
its initial planning for JOTA. Contact Jim, M1JJN.

On Wednesday 15 August Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on everything you ever needed to know about repeaters.
Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on 07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 15 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having its antenna
erection challenge with Rex, G0CLR. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on
01362 691099, or by email to .

On Wednesday 15 August Southdown Amateur Radio Society Operating at
Halisham. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424,424,319, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 15 August Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a BBQ evening. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 16 August Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a social
evening at The Cricketers' Arms, Wisborough Green. Contact or on the
web at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 16 August Sutton and Cheam Radio Society is having a talk
on the history of Decca by Peter Skinner, G7MLJ. Contact John, G0BWV,
on 020 8644 9945, or by email to .

6 On Friday 17 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a
radio night and table top sale. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103,
or by email to .

On Friday 17 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is preparing for its
rally. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

On Friday 17 August Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a club
night and putting G6XN on the air. Details are on the web at
www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 18 August Andover Amateur Radio Club is running its
foundation licence course. Contact G0HKC on 01980 594 892.

On Saturday 18 August Dover Radio Club is taking part in International
Lighthouse and Lightship weekend, operating GB2SFL at South Foreland
Lighthouse. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to .

On Saturday 18 August Harwich Amateur Radio Interest Group activating a
special event station for the Harwich Low Light as part of lighthouses
weekend. Contact James, M0ZZO, on 01255 242 746.

On Saturday 18 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in lighthouses on the air. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by
email to .

On Saturday 18 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
lighthouses on the air weekend at Happisburgh. Contact Mark Taylor,
G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to .

On Saturday 18 August Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating
GB2BTL at Belle Toute Lighthouse. Contact John, G3DQY, on
01424,424,319, or by email to .

On Sunday 19 August Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a foxhunt.
Contact Frank, M0AEU, by email to .

On Sunday 19 August Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is operating from
the bunker. Contact Steve, M0SSR, on 01424 720 815.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST

On Monday 13 August Cornish Radio Amateur Club is having a computer
section meeting. Contact Ian on 01872 561 058.

On Wednesday 15 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having its
summer darts match. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 15 August Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
.

On Thursday 16 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a Discussion
on construction led by G6LLP. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ by email to
.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

On Monday 13 August Gloucester Amateur Radio and Electronics Society is
having a walk and picnic at Newnham. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452
548478, daytime.

On Monday 13 August Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society is
having an open shack night. Contact John, M1EJG, on 01562 700 513.

7 On Tuesday 14 August Eagle Radio Group is having a talk by Olga
Olshvang on the City of Yekateringburg in Russia. Contact Terry, G0SWS,
on 07979 733 640.

On Tuesday 14 August Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on the history of television by Barry, G8YGT. Contact
Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Wednesday 15 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a news and
views evening. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526 323 153.

On Wednesday 15 August Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a local area walking DF hunt on 2 metres. Contact Mike, G3JKX,
on 01952 299 677, or by email to .

On Thursday 16 August Salop Amateur Radio Society is having its summer
social. Contact Glenda, G1YJB, on 01939 235 412.

On Friday 17 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a 2m DF
and portable night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476 273 190, or by email
to .

On Friday 17 August Hucknall Rolls-Royce Amateur Radio Club is having a
2m VHF mobile fox hunt. Details on the web at www.hrrarc.com.

On Saturday 18 August Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is having a
family day at Blackrock car park. Request details by email to
.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 13 August Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having an open
table meeting. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 13 August Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having
a computer CW night with Ted, G3WBB. Contact Jack, G4BFH, by email to
.

On Tuesday 14 August Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a technical evening and natter night at Rishworth. Contact
Brenda, 2E0YKS, by email to .

On Tuesday 14 August Pontefract District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on erecting and using your doublet with a portable
station. Contact Colin, G0NQE, on 01977 677 006,
.

On Tuesday 14 August Wakefield and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a construction evening with the shack manager Dave, G6SSF.
Contact Dave, G4CLI, on 07748 221 855, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 15 August Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics
Society is on the air. Contact Nancy, 0191 477 0036, 07990 760 920, or
by email to .

On Friday 17 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
a talk on satellite working by G3ZDM and G4EDM. Contact Ron, on 0161
969 3999.

On Friday 17 August Tynemouth Radio Club is having an operating and
Morse night. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to
.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Thursday 16 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on printed circuits by Tony, GM4HTU. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224
575 663, or on the web at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

8 On Saturday 18 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in the International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend by operating
GB3GNL at Girdleness Lighthouse. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575
663, or on the web at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

On Saturday 18 August Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is
taking part in the Lighthouse Weekend from Barns Ness, operating
GB2LBN. Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Saturday 18 August Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in the Lighthouse Weekend. Contact Jim, MM0SMD, on 01340 820 134.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Saturday 18 August Swansea Amateur Radio Society is taking part in
International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend from the Helwick light
vessel, Swansea marina. Contact Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404422.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

No news items have been received for Northern Ireland this week. And
that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast,

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.