1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 26 August

The news headlines

* Ofcom to scrap Frequency Assignment Panel and Site Clearance Working
Group

* Radio Communications Voluntary Service National Coordinator steps
down

* Bumper participation in Lighthouses weekend

Ofcom has announced that it intends to end the National Frequency
Assignment Panel (NFAP) frequency coordination and the Working Group on
Radio Site Clearance (WGRSC) processes.

When applying to use radio spectrum in the UK, applicants are currently
required to complete NFAP frequency co-ordination and WGRSC site
clearance processes. These are operated by Ofcom on behalf of the
Cabinet Office. Ofcom intends to end these processes on 31 August 2007.
From an Amateur Service aspect this should mean that the current
process for repeater and similar applications in amateur primary bands
should be reduced by some weeks. However, Ofcom will continue to carry
out coordination on bands such as 70cm and 23cm in which the Amateur
Service is a secondary user.

More than 380 lighthouses in over 48 countries were on the air for the
2007 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend on 18 and 19
August. The event, now in its ninth year, is organised by the Ayr
Amateur Radio Group. The weekend was more of a QSO party and amateur
radio demonstration than a contest. Its aim was to raise public
awareness of lighthouses and lightships, to promote amateur radio and
foster international goodwill.

Dr Robin Bellerby, GM3ZYE has stood down from the position of Radio
Communications Voluntary Service National Co-Ordinator. This role
encompasses providing radio communications support of local community
events and RAYNET. Until further notice any queries in this area should
be directed to the Amateur Radio Department at the RSGB.

On 12 August, Murray Niman, G6JYB, of the Chelmsford Amateur Radio
Society (CARS) presented two Smith Chart calculators to Trish Robinson
of the Sandford Mill Museum. Smith Charts enable plotting of real and
imaginary impedance for designing matching circuits - a process that is
usually performed by computers now rather than by hand. The chart was
developed by, and named after, Philip H Smith in 1938.

For more information on CARS and the amateur radio courses it offers
contact Clive, G1EUC, on 01245-224577 or e-mail training
.

The Glengormley Electronics Amateur Radio Society, GEARS - GN0XYZ, once
again put MI6X on the air from Ballycarry for the IOTA contest.

This year they smashed their contact tally for 2006 by logging nearly
900 QSO's and 152 IOTA references in just over 18 hours of operation. A
number of English amateurs who took part last year returned again this
year to enjoy the famous 'Craic' before and after the event.

Over the past few years GEARS has become involved in the RSGB's IOTA
contest operating from both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. In
the last two years though they have stayed on home soil using their
contest call of MI6X IOTA reference EU-115 from a community centre in
the village of Ballycarry Co. Antrim.

2 The Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society has revamped and
changed the title of the Tulipland award. It will now be known as the
South Holland award. The club call signs G1DSP and G4DSP are both
regularly on HF and VHF so please look for the call signs on the
clusters. G4OO is used for special club events. For details on how to
be eligible for the South Holland Award check the website
www.sdars.org.uk or e-mail .

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

[Note to newsreaders: Please use your judgement on which of the August
26th items to read out.] On Sunday 26 August the Torbay ARS
Communications Fair takes place from 10am at Newton Abbot Racecourse in
Devon. The show will be attended by RSGB President Angus Annan. Details
from G4FCN, on 01803 812117 or by email to . On Sunday
26 August the Milton Keynes ARS Rally takes place from 10am at Holne
Chase School, Buckingham Rd, Bletchley. Details from Mike, G3LFR, on
07973 264473, or by email to .

On Monday 27 August Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society is having its
Bank Holiday Monday Rally at St Neots Community College, Barford Road,
St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Contact David, G7DIU, on 01480

431 333, or on the web at www.hunts-hams.co.uk. On Saturday 1 September
the Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally takes place at Stanford
Hall,

Lutterworth. Details from T Humphries on 01455 552519, or on the web at
www.rugbyats.co.uk. On Sunday 2 September the Andover Radio Amateur
Club Autumn Boot Sale takes place at Wildhern village hall, SP11 0JE.
Details from Terry, G8ALR, on 01980 629346. On Sunday 2 September the
Newhaven Fort Amateur Radio Group Rally takes place from 10.30 at
Newhaven Fort, Newhaven. Details from Eddie, G0ECW, on 01273 300772, or
by email to . More details of these and
future events can be found on pages 88 and 89 of the September edition
of RadCom. Now for the news of special events The Radio Society of
Harrow is running G3EFX/P at the Harrow in Leaf Show. Activity takes
place on 26 and 27 August. Visitors to the station are welcome. There
will also be activity from GB2DHH. Please check details on the club web
site, www.g3efx.org.uk, before travelling. The Orkney Wireless Museum
will be active as GB2OWM from 31 August to 5 September. Celebrating the
17th Orkney International Science Festival, the station will be at the
Museum's premises at Kiln Corner, Kirkwall. Probable operating periods
will be weekdays and Sunday afternoons between 1430 and 1630 and
Saturday morning between 1000 and 1230pm. Activity will be primarily on
HF SSB. For more information contract Bill, GM3IBU, QTHR or e-mail
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX
News, the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin and other sources.

Roland, HB9FMD, will be active as OX/HB9FMD from Ilulissat, Greenland
until 27 August. He plans to operate mainly CW on the WARC bands. QSL
via home call.

3 Jack, RW3QC, Valery, RZ6AU, Yuri, RU6UR and Alexander, RA6UF, will be
active as UE6UFO from the Kharabalinsky district (RDA AO-16) and a few
inland islands until 27 August. They plan to operate SSB and CW on 40,
20 and 15 metres. All of the QSOs will be confirmed automatically via
the bureau. Glyn, GW0ANA, will be cruising the Outer Hebrides (EU-010)
until 28 August. He will be there on holiday with friends and amateur
radio activity will be secondary. He hopes to activate St. Kilda
(EU-059). His call will be GM0ANA/p and he will operate SSB using an
inverted V with battery power from a solar panel. QSL via home call.
The Association of Radio amateurs of Venezuela and the Grupo DX Caracas
will be active as YW5AS from Las Aves Islands (SA-051) on 27 to 31
August. They will operate SSB, CW and digital modes on the HF bands,
plus VHF FM. QSL via DL3AMA. Giovanni, IZ2DPX and Flavio, IW2NEF, will
be active as HB0/IZ2DPX and HB0/IW2NEF from Malbun, Liechtenstein on 1
to 3 September. They will be QRV on HF as well as 2 metres and possibly
70 MHz. QSL direct or via the bureau. W1AI reports he will be active as
VP5/W1AI from Providenciales (NA-002), Turks and Caicos Islands on 1 to
8 September. He plans to operate CW and SSB on 160 to 6 metres. QSL via
home call. Brad Crave, VK2LR, Raffy Shammay, VK2RF, M0GDY, Jim Ayling,
VK2JA, Ras Shammay, VK2FROS, Eddy Hanham, VK2VEH, Grant Hinchcliffe,
VK2TU. Are all operating in the UK from 2 September. They will be
operating with VHF/UHF and HF in holiday mode. Now the contest news The
RSGB 50MHz Activity Contest takes place on 28 August between 2200 to
2230 local on all modes. The exchange takes the form of RST, serial
number and locator. The RSGB SSB Field Day takes place between 1300 on
1 September to 1300 on 2 September on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands. The
exchange takes the form of RST and serial number. The RSGB 144MHz
Trophy contest takes place between 1400 on 1 September to 1400 on 2
September on all modes. The exchange takes the form of RST, serial
number and locator. Now the solar factual data for the period from 13
August to 19 August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS Solar activity was
very low. The solar disc became spotless from the 15th. From mid
evening on the 17th for a 30 hour period several small B class and
numerous minor A class solar flares occurred, suggesting that a sunspot
group was about to rotate into view. However this has not yet happened.
The last flare took place around midnight on the 18th. An explanation
into levels of solar activity and strengths of solar flares can be
found in the propagation section within the RSGB yearbook or at
www.wikipedia.org and type solar flare in the search box. Solar flux
levels averaged 68 units and varied little day to day. The 90 day solar
flux average on the 19th was 71, that's one unit down on last week.
X-ray flux levels remained below the minimum A1 level everyday.
Geomagnetic was quiet. As forecast last week a small coronal hole
disturbance took place on the 15th and the 16th. The `hole' had
decreased in size to such an extent that the Ap index was only 8 units
on the 15th and 7 the next day. The average was Ap 5 units. The ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind

4 speeds increase to 490 kilometres per second on the 15th. Particle
densities increased to 46 particles per cubic centimetre also on the
15th. Bz varied between minus and plus 6 nanoTeslas. The pattern of HF
propagation differed little from the last couple of weeks, though the
appearance of midevening propagation to Hawaii on 14MHz was a useful
reminder that interesting contacts can sometimes be made on an
apparently flat band. Sporadic E was reported on most days on 28MHz,
though less frequently on 50 and 70MHz. And the new GB3RAL 40MHz
beacon, testing on low power, was heard in Germany, Hungary, Sweden and
Portugal, as well as in parts of the UK by tropo. It was also heard in
Portugal on 70MHz. And finally the solar forecast. This week solar
activity is expected to continue at very low levels, however, there is
a slight chance that activity could increase to low on some days. Solar
flux levels could be in the 70's for most of the week. Geomagnetic
activity is expected to be quiet right up to next weekend when a
recurring coronal hole disturbance is expected to commence. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 19MHz for the south
and 16MHz for the north. The 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 about
18MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
should be around 14MHz. The best time to try this path will be 1300 and
2100 hours UTC. Sporadic E could take place on some days.

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 26 August the Radio Society of Harrow is
operating G3EFX/P at the Harrow In Leaf horticultural show and fun
weekend. Contact Linda, G7RJL, on 020 8386 8586, or on the web at
www.g3efx.org.uk or Chris 01895 621 310.

On Sunday 26 August Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating G1KAR
at Beachy Head. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424,424,319, or by email to
.

On Sunday 26 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is holding its rally
at the Newton Abbot Race Course with RSGB President Angus Annan,
MM1CCR, attending the event. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

On Monday 27 August Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society is having its
Bank Holiday Monday Rally at St Neots Community College, Barford Road,
St Neots, Cambridgeshire.. Contact David, G7DIU, on 01480 431 333, or
on the web at www.hunts-hams.co.uk.

On Tuesday 28 August Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk by historian Madeleine Selby on 'Wickham - past and present'.
Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846, or on the web at
www.hdarc.co.uk.

On Wednesday 29 August Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
planning for HF Field Day. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506 344, or
by email to .

On Wednesday 29 August Dover Radio Club is having its school holiday
net on GB3KS. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to .

On Wednesday 29 August Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club is
having its junk sale. Contact Jim, M1JJN.

On Wednesday 29 August Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
operating GB4HRC to celebrate over 40 years of the club. Contact Dave,
2E0EBV, on 07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 29 August Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
planning for SSB Field Day. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Friday 31 August Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
night. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by email to
.

On Friday 31 August Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a summer camp feedback discussion, led by Eric, G0KRT. Contact
Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874 7456.

On Saturday 1 September Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
taking part in the HF Field Day. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506
344, or by email to .

6 On Saturday 1 September Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is taking
part in the HF Field Day. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by
email to .

On Saturday 1 September Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
the SSB Contest with Police Gala Day on the Sunday. Contact Mark
Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to .

On Sunday 2 September Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society
is operating GB2EFF (Epping Forest Festival). Contact Marc, G0TOC, on
020 8502 1645, or by email to .

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST

On Wednesday 29 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having
session 6 of its Project OSS. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 29 August Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
.

On Thursday 30 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a committee
meeting and putting the club station on the air. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ
).

On Friday 31 August Guernsey Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by
GU0UJC on an easy to build 2m antenna. Contact Phil, GU0SUP.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

On Monday 27 August Gloucester Amateur Radio And Electronics Society is
operating from the Escarpment. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478,
daytime.

On Monday 27 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting GB2CWP on the
air at East Kirkby. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526 323 153.

On Monday 27 August Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society is
having an open shack night. Contact John, M1EJG, on 01562 700 513.

On Tuesday 28 August Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.

On Tuesday 28 August Wythall Radio Club is having a talk by Chris,
G1VDP, on the Worked All Britain Awards. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710
412 819, or by email to , or on the web at
www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

On Wednesday 29 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a video night.
Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526 323 153.

On Wednesday 29 August Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on weather satellite reception by G8UGL. Contact Mike,
G3JKX, on 01952 299 677, or by email to .


On Thursday 30 August Salop Amateur Radio Society is having an
equipment sale. Contact Glenda, G1YJB, on 01939 235 412.

On Friday 31 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a video
night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476 273 190, or by email to
.

7 On Friday 31 August Hucknall Rolls-Royce Amateur Radio Club is having
an internal quiz night. Details on the web at www.hrrarc.com.

On Friday 31 August Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is on
the air. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Saturday 1 September Hucknall Rolls-Royce Amateur Radio Club is
taking part in the RSGB SSB HF Field Day at Crich, Derbyshire. Details
on the web at www.hrrarc.com.

On Saturday 1 September Wythall Radio Club is taking part in the HF SSB
NFD. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819, or by email to
, or on the web at www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 27 August Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a VHF
operating evening. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 27 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
its monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, on 0161 969 3999.

On Tuesday 28 August Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air at Rishworth with GX2UG. Contact Brenda, 2E0YKS, by email to
.

On Tuesday 28 August Wakefield and District Amateur Radio Society is
preparing for the weekend's IARU Field Day with the contest manager
Ken, 2E0SSQ. Contact Dave, G4CLI, on 07748 221 855, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 29 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 31 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
a natter night BBQ. Contact Ron, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 31 August Tynemouth Radio Club is having a Morse and
operating night. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to
.

On Friday 31 August Wakefield and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a summer camp feedback session led by Eric, G0KRT. Contact Dave,
G4CLI, on 07748 221 855, or by email to .

On Saturday 1 September Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
the SSB Field Day Contest. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Thursday 30 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air and
having Morse practice. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on
the web at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

On Friday 31 August Banff and Buchan Amateur Radio Club is having an
evening of technical topics. Contact .

On Saturday 1 September Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in the RSGB SSB Field Day 2007 as GM3BSQ/P at Walker Park. Contact
Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on the web at
www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

8 On Saturday 1 September Dundee Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
SSB Field Day. Contact Martin, MM0DUN, on
, or on the web at
www.dundee-amateur-radio.co.uk.

On Saturday 1 September West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society Club is
taking part in SSB NFD. Details on the web at www.wosars.org.

On Sunday 2 September Dundee Amateur Radio Club is taking part in SSB
Field Day. Contact Martin, MM0DUN, on
, or on the web at
www.dundee-amateur-radio.co.uk.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Saturday 1 September Swansea Amateur Radio Society is participating
in the RSGB SSB Field Day. 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.