1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 9 March

The news headlines

* VP6DX breaks expedition records

* D-Star expands on two metres

* Ultra-stable microwave beacon Last month's VP6DX Ducie Island
DXpedition logged nearly 183,700 contacts. This included nearly 7,000
on top band and more than 10,000 using digital modes. They made an
almost equal number of CW and SSB contacts at around 87,000 each. By
the time the south Pacific operation finished on 27 February, the group
had broken several records. One was for the largest number of contacts
made by any radio expedition. Further detailed information is on the
web at www.vp6dx.com. The D-Star system has become accessible to many
more UK stations thanks to several newly operational two meter
repeaters. These include GB7DG in Glasgow, GB7YD in Yorkshire, GB7MI in
Manchester and GB7DE in Fife. D-Star repeaters have already become well
established on the 70cm band but these VHF units will considerably
broaden access to the network. An overview of D-Star was published in
the March edition of RadCom, and coverage information can be found at
www.ukrepeater.net.

Barnsley's new 70cm D-Star repeater has been forced off the air because
interference on its input from unlicensed devices. GB7YD dash C on
433.9125MHz has been removed from service until an alternative
frequency can be found. This part of the band is used by a large number
of licence-exempt micro power consumer electronic devices. These
include vehicle keyless entry systems, wireless door bells and data
links for home weather stations.

Improvements have been made to the 5.76GHz beacon on Bell Hill, near
Blandford in Dorset. GB3SCC has been given a high stability GPS locked
frequency standard and DFCWi keying. The beacon now maintains its
nominal frequency of 5760.905007MHz to an accuracy of a few Hertz.
Reception reports will be gratefully received by G0API, whose address
is correct in the RSGB Yearbook. Alternatively, visit the web site of
the South Coast Repeater and Beacon Group at www.scrbg.org, where full
details of all their beacons can be found. An RSGB Train the Trainers
session takes place on Saturday 5 April at the Worksop Amateur Radio
Society. This scheme helps tutors enhance the standard of their
Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced licence courses. Alan Betts,
G0HIQ, and Brian Reay, G8OSN, will be presenting the all day course,
which is free of charge to instructors. For more information, and to
register, contact Jim Stevenson, G0EJQ, telephone 01522 806935 or email
. Demand is expected to be high, so it is important to
register as soon as possible. Further Train the Trainer sessions are
scheduled for Crawley in April, and Birmingham and Kent in May. A
session is also being planned for Wiltshire. This year's National
Science and Engineering Week runs from Friday 7 to Sunday 16 March.
Organised by the British Association for the Advancement of Science,
the programme has around 2,000 events throughout the UK. Its aim is to
celebrate science, engineering and technology, including of course
amateur radio.

2 Former Sheffield Amateur Radio Club member Howard Booth, VK2AMD
reached the age of 100 on 6 March. He is one of the oldest active radio
amateur in the world. Although he emigrated many years ago, Howard
still holds his UK callsign, G2AS. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club
recently sent him a specially framed group photograph of club members,
along with a birthday card signed by those members. Insurance brokers
Orion Direct Ltd are believed to have gone into liquidation. These
insurance brokers are known to us as the providers of the "The RSGB
Plan", a specialist insurance for radio amateurs. At present their
website is down and the phone goes unanswered. The same is true of the
other Orion businesses in the group. Although the company is FSA
registered, number 306962, as yet the FSA have has not been informed of
the status of the company. The RSGB has tried unsuccessfully to contact
the Orion and will continue to try to establish the status of the
company. It must be remembered that Orion Direct Ltd are only the
brokers they are not the insurers. The scheme itself is underwritten by
Lloyds of London. There is no reason to doubt at this time whether
claims on policies taken out through Orion under the banner of "The
RSGB Plan" will be honoured. When more is known the Society will make a
further announcement. The American radio regulator, the FCC, has denied
two requests from individuals to reinstate the Morse code requirement
for US amateur licensing. Morse testing was dropped in December 2006.
One petitioner made a case for the use of Morse during an emergency but
the FCC felt that national security or emergency communications would
not be affected.

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

[Note to newsreaders: Please use your judgement on whether to read the
9 March event details, based on your distance from the events and your
time slot.]

Sunday 9 March sees the Bournemouth Radio Society's 20th Annual Sale.
It is at the Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park, Millhams Road,
Kinson, Bournemouth. Doors are open from 9.30. Further details are
available from John, G0HAT on 07719 700771. The Wythall Radio Club
Radio and Computer Rally takes place from 10am on Sunday 9 March. The
venue is the Woodrush Sports Centre. Shawhurst Lane, Hollywood, near
Birmingham. Details can be found on the web at www.wrcrally.co.uk, or
from Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412819, email . On
Saturday, 15 March, Lagan Amateur Radio Society holds its rally at the
Conference Centre, Lagan valley Hospital. Doors open at 11.30. For more
information contact Jim, GI0DVU on 02892 662270, or email
. Sunday 16 March sees the Norbreck Amateur
Radio, Electronics and Computing exhibition. The venue is the Norbreck
Castle Exhibition Centre, Balckpool. Details are available from Peter,
G6CGF, telephone 0151 630 5790. More details of these and future events
can be found in the March edition of RadCom. Now for the news of
special events Until 16 March, GB4IPY will be operational as part of
International Polar Year. The reference number is WAP-098 which is
valid for WAP Awards. Further information can be found at
www.charlesm0oxo.piczo.com.

3 And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources.
The major DXpedition to Clipperton Island should be well under way now.
TX5C was expected to run six stations simultaneously on CW, SSB and
digital modes using all bands between 160 and 10 metres. The operation
should last until 17 March. Their aim is to make more than 100,000
contacts, worldwide. More information is on the web at
www.clipperton2008.org. From Sunday 9 March, a week-long expedition
will operate from various castles and forts on the Isle of Man. Club
calls GT4KPT, GT8LED and GT3GWB will used. They expect to activate
several WAB areas during the week. DL2GAC is active once again as H44MS
from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon Islands, IOTA OC-047. Operation
will continue until the end of April. He and DL2NUD, who arrives on 7
April, plan to operate 2 metre EME WSJT from grid locator QI90XN.
Chris, M0AJT will be signing V26CC from Antigua, which is IOTA
reference NA-100, from 1 to 14 March. He plans to operate mainly CW
with some SSB, using 100 watts to a multiband vertical. 9X0R will
operate from Rwanda from 16 to 27 March. Three stations will be active
from 10 to 160 meters on SSB, CW and digital modes. Rwanda is number 45
in the DX Magazine's most needed list. The group will donate a new HF
radio and power supply to the Kigali Radio Club and will helping to set
up the Rwanda Amateur Radio Union. Further details are available from
www.9x0r.com. Now the contest news [Note to newsreaders: Please use
your judgment on whether to read the item for 9 March, based on your
time slot.] On Sunday 9 March, a session in the RSGB 70MHz Cumulative
contest runs between 1000 and 1200UTC. All modes are permitted and the
exchange is RST, serial number and locator. Tuesday 11 March sees the
RSGB 432MHz Activity Contest. All modes are permitted and the exchange
is RST, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, 12 March, the RSGB 80
metre Club Championship takes place from 2000 to 2130UTC. This is a
CW-only event and the exchange is RST plus serial number. The weekend
of 15 and 16 March sees the Russian DX Contest. This starts at 1200 on
the Saturday and ends at 1200 Sunday. All HF bands are included on CW
and SSB. The exchange is RST and serial number. And now the solar
factual data for the period from the 25th of February to the 2nd of
March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

4 Only one small sunspot group was visible, and this group belonged to
the old cycle. Solar activity was very low with no solar flares taking
place. The only event of interest was a coronal mass ejection that
occurred on the back of the Sun on the 27th. Solar flux levels fell
slightly from 71 units to 69 by the 1st. The average was 70 units. The
90 day solar flux average on the 2nd was the same level as last week at
75 units. X-ray flux levels remained below the minimum reporting level.
Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels with an Ap index of only 3
units on the 25th and the 26th. However, due to a large coronal hole,
activity increased for the rest of the period. The most disturbed day
was the 29th with an Ap of 27 units. The average was 13 units. The ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 340 kilometres per
second to a very fast 840 kilometres per second by the 1st. Particle
densities were low except for the 27th and the 28th when they increased
to 28 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between minus and plus
3 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 11 and plus 9
nanoTeslas during the height of the disturbance. HF propagation was
fairly buoyant at first, but as the geomagnetic field reached minor
storm level at times from the 27th onwards, HF propagation
deteriorated. This was particularly noticeable on the higher bands and
over east-west and high latitude paths. VHF auroral propagation was
reported on the afternoon and evening of the 28th and 29th. However,
although it is known to have provided some excellent visual displays,
and to have reached Scotland at times, few contacts were reported. And
finally the solar forecast. With no sign of an end to the present lack
of solar activity, the coming week's activity will continue at very low
levels. As reported before, when activity does increase it will be
sudden and very difficult to predict. Solar flux levels should be
around the 70 mark for most of the week. Due to a recurring coronal
hole, geomagnetic activity should be at active levels until around
midweek after which activity should decline to quiet levels. MUFs
during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 18MHz for the
south and 15MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to
be around 8MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum
usable frequency, with a 50 per cent success rate, of about 24MHz. The
optimum working frequency, with a 90 per cent success rate, will be
around 19MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and
1600 hours UTC. 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 Monday 10 March Braintree and District Amateur Radio
Society is running its club net. Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.


On Monday 10 March Coulsdon Amateur Transmitting Society is having a
talk by Steve, G3WZK, on "My 40 years in Amateur Radio". Contact Andy,
G8JAC, by email to .

On Wednesday 12 March Aylesbury Vale Radio Society is holding its AGM.
Contact Roger, G3MEH, on 01442 826 651, or by email to .


On Wednesday 12 March Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506 344, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 12 March Dover Radio Club is having an operating and
natter night. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to .

On Wednesday 12 March Harwich Amateur Radio Interest Group is having
part 2 of the lecture on NVIS by Arthur, M1FFU. Contact James, M0ZZO,
on 01255 242 746.

On Wednesday 12 March Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a beginners guide to contesting. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV, on 07956
594 514.

On Wednesday 12 March Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having an informal
evening. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 12 March South Essex Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on climate changes by Brian, G7IIO. Details on the web at
www.southessex.ARS.btinternet.co.uk, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 12 March Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a surplus equipment sale. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 13 March King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2 metre club net on 145.350. Contact Andy, G1KLP, on or on
the web at www.klarc.org.uk.

On Thursday 13 March Radio Society Of Harrow is having an operating
experiences and open evening. Contact Linda, G7RJL, on 020 8386 8586,
or on the web at www.g3efx.org.uk or Chris 01895 621 310.

On Thursday 13 March Reading and District Amateur Radio Club is having
its spring junk sale and component source night. Contact Pete, G8FRC,
on 01189 695 697, or on the web at www.radarc.org.

On Friday 14 March Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Contact Liz, M0ACL, on 02380 254599.

On Friday 14 March Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having an HF night on the air. Contact Marc, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645,
or by email to .

6 On Friday 14 March Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
night. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by email to
.

On Friday 14 March Radio Society Of Harrow is having talks on members'
operating experiences, at St Lawrence Centre, St Lawrence Church,
Bridle Road, Eastcote, HA5 2SJ. Contact Linda, G7RJL, on 020 8386 8586,
or on the web at www.g3efx.org.uk or Chris 01895 621 310.

On Friday 14 March Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

On Friday 14 March Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on VHF DFing antennas by Jim, G4WYJ. Contact Jim, M0CON,
on 020 8874 7456.

On Saturday 15 March Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society is
running its Foundation course at Victory Social Club, Kechill Gardens.
Details on the web at www.bdars.org, or by email to .

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Sunday 9 March Bournemouth Radio Society is
having its 20th annual sale at the Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams
Park. Contact John, G0HAT, on 07719 700 771.

On Monday 10 March Cornish Radio Amateur Club is having a computer
section meeting with a talk by Peter, G3WKP on finding family history
using the internet. Contact Ian, 01872 561 058.

On Tuesday 11 March Poldhu Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by Bob
McCready, G0FGX, of Pirate FM. Contact Keith, G0WYS, on 01326 574 441.

On Wednesday 12 March South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a club
open night with Fred, G7LPP. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 12 March Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is
operating the club station. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234,
or by email to .

On Wednesday 12 March Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
.

On Thursday 13 March Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on how
ATUs work by G3MYM. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by email to
.

On Saturday 15 March Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society is having
an open day for the public to view the HQ shack and workshop
facilities, and to see demonstrations of amateur radio in action..
Contact G0API, on 01202 691 649, or by email to .

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Sunday 9 March Wythall Radio Club is running
the Wythall Radio Rally. Contact Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819, or by
email to , or on the web at
www.wythallradioclub.co.uk.

On Monday 10 March Gloucester Amateur Radio And Electronics Society is
having a VHF Operating and Morse practice evening. Contact Anne,
2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime, or on the web at www.g4aym.org.uk.

On Monday 10 March Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is having
a test equipment evening. Bring along your rig and have it checked out
with professional test equipment, courtesy of John G0JUQ. Contact Jack,
G3VYE, on 01926 641 988, .

7 On Tuesday 11 March Eagle Radio Group is having an auction. Contact
Terry, G0SWS, on 07979 733 640. On Tuesday 11 March Loughborough and
District Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on hidden aerials by Art,
G3KWY. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 11 March Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is holding
its AGM. Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913.

On Wednesday 12 March Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its main construction competition. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952
299 677, or by email to .

On Thursday 13 March RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club is having a
demonstration of Judo by Andrew, M0OOO. Contact Martin, M0MDF, on 01522
752 785, or by email to .

On Thursday 13 March Salop Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by
Ron Stone, GW3YDX. Details on the web at www.salop-ARS.org.uk&.

On Thursday 13 March Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having a
construction night. Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, or by
email to .

On Friday 14 March Coventry Amateur Radio Society is working on its
Project 2008 with a construction night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476
273 190, or by email to .

On Saturday 15 March Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is running its
Foundation Course. Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, or by
email to .

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 10 March Bolton Wireless Club
is meeting at the Britannia Hotel for an activity night. Contact
.

On Monday 10 March Macclesfield and District Radio Society is having a
talk on the Pennine Way - with a radio - by Tom Read, M1EYP and Jimmy
Read, M3EYP. Contact Tom, M1EYP, on 01625 612 916, or by email to
, or on the web at www.gx4mws.com.

On Monday 10 March Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a National
Science Week open evening and will be running other events throughout
the week. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.

On Monday 10 March Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk, "Am I hearing things?" by John, G8RDP. Contact Jack, G4BFH, by
email to .

On Tuesday 11 March Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
Ernie M0GEM - "Another 15 minutes and I would have been dead". Contact
Roger, M0DWQ on 01925 813 558, or by email to .

On Wednesday 12 March Maltby and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a practical workshop on soldering. Contact Keith, G1PQW, on
07801 156 678, or on the web at www.maltbyradio.org.uk.

On Wednesday 12 March Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on wind farms by Steve, G7BBF. Contact Tom, G4BKF, on 07050 291
850.

On Friday 14 March East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club Night is on the
air. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671, or by email to
.

On Friday 14 March Mexborough and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk by Sheffield Raynet. Contact Sharon, M0BOH.

On Friday 14 March South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is holding
a review of the club's SDR project. The club is closed on Good Friday.
Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

8 On Friday 14 March Tynemouth Radio Club is having a silent key sale.
Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to .

On Sunday 16 March Angel Of The North Radio Amateur Radio Club is
attending the NARSA Rally at Blackpool. Contact Nancy, G7UUR, on 07990
760 920 (day), 0191 477 0036 (night), or by email to
, or on the web at www.anarc.net.

On Sunday 16 March Great Lumley Amateur Radio And Electronics Society
is organising a bus to the Blackpool Rally. It leaves Great Lumley
Community Centre at 8am and returns from Blackpool at 4pm. For further
details contact David M0BPM on 0191 3888113 or e-mail
.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Wednesday 12 March Lothians Radio Society is
having a talk on software defined radio by Peter Waters. Contact Toby,
MM0TSS, on 07739 742 367, , or on the
web at www.lothiansradiosociety.com.

On Thursday 13 March Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is watching a
video. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on the web at
www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

On Thursday 13 March Renfrew Amateur Radio Society is having a
demonstration and talk on D-star by John, GM0OPS and Robert, 2M0IZC.
Contact Robert, 2M0IZC, on 01418 480 876.

On Friday 14 March Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk by Tom, GM4FDM entitled "DXpedition to Brunei V8".
Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Friday 14 March West Of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk by David, MM0EAI on his sailing excursions round Scandinavia.
Details on the web at www.wosars.org.

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

On Saturday 15 March Foyle and District Amateur Radio Club is running
its annual special event for St Patrick's Day, operating GB5SPD.
Details on the web at www.mn0aku.org.

On Saturday 15 March Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society is running the
Lagan Valley ARS Rally. Contact Jim, GI0DVU, on 02892 662 270,
.

And that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast,

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.