GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 28th March 2010

The news headlines

* Bletchley Park receives £250,000 Government boost

* German cable operators encouraged to improve their system

* Post Grad students studying for Foundation Exam at Plymouth Uni

Bletchley Park Trust has received a grant of £250,000 from the
Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The money will be used to fund
repairs to the site including work on dilapidated roofs. Announcing the
grant on Thursday 25 March, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said, "I am
delighted to announce this grant which will help renovate the buildings
and ensure that future visitors enjoy a really high quality experience
when they come here."

The Cologne Administrative Court has rejected an action brought by a
German cable company against the auction of 800MHz for wireless
networks saying that if the cable operator was afraid of interference
they could take action to improve their cable system. The Deutscher
Amateur Radio Club views the ruling positively since it will encourage
cable operators to upgrade leaky cable systems. As well as stopping the
pickup of any 800MHz transmissions it should also reduce the
interference that leaky cable systems cause to radio amateurs.

The Mathematics department of the University of Plymouth is teaching a
Physics Enhancement Course to post graduate students who will become
teachers after their physics training. As part of this training, twelve
graduates are doing a radio communication awareness session in order to
get a Foundation License. This awareness session will be an amateur
radio Foundation Course run by the Plymouth Training Team at the
University, which is affiliated to the Plymouth Radio Club. Hopefully,
when these graduates are teaching physics in schools, the seeds of
amateur radio will be sown amongst the future generation. Details of
courses run by the Plymouth Training Team can be found on the website
www.radioclubs.net/plymradiotraining

The National Hamfest organisers are calling for volunteers to deliver
short lectures at the National Hamfest in Newark on 1 and 2 October.
Anyone interested in participating should contact the Hamfest Chairman,
Jonathan Whiting, by e-mail to jonathang6jutatgooglemail.com.

Radio Sweden will end its medium and short wave broadcasts on 31
October in favour of web services because they believe it is the best
use of resources and in line with international trends. The English-
language service is to continue on the web and on national broadcasts.
The Russian output will be available on the web, as is the German
service now.

Solihull Amateur Radio Society will be running a training course for
the Foundation licence during April and May at the Shirley Centre,
Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull. The course is open to all and
suitable for young people of around 12 plus through to those of
pensionable years. The sessions will include classroom tuition and
hands-on radio operation. More details can be obtained from the course
coordinator Roger Hancock, G4BBT, on 0121 743 7277

Jersey repeater GB3GJ could be on the air by the end of May. The
original site at Westmount fell through late in 2009 but a new site on
the Jersey Electricity Companies building has been found. The repeater
group is now putting together the ancillary items needed. Anyone who
can lend their time and assistance will be gratefully received. If you
think you can help please e-mail mj0rzdatrobluscombe.com.

Jim, M0JHW is organising another amateur radio get-together and field
day on 3 and 4 April. It's at the usual venue of the Sports and social
club, Harlaxton, near Grantham, which is postcode NG32 1HX. There will
be amateur radio operations that visitors can join as well as plenty of
tea and coffee. A barbecue is planned for Saturday afternoon.

The Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society will be activating Airfields
On The Air on the weekend 3 and 4 April. All amateur radio stations are
eligible to receive a certificate if they work 5 AOTA stations or more.
It is intended to make this an annual event on the first weekend of
April. Stations will be located at present day or former RAF Airfields
or other establishments. If you wish to activate any location or have
any queries relating to AOTA please contact Vince, G4DQP, QTHR or look
up details on QRZ.com.

Bolsover Amateur Radio Society has an introduction to six meters by
Don, G4KXW on their website, www.g4rsb.org.uk. They are encouraging
amateurs to visit the site and have a go at 50MHz.

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

Today, Sunday 28 March, from 9.30am to 4pm, the Pembrokeshire Radio
Society is holding its annual Bring & Buy sale. Admission is £1 and
includes a free cup of tea or coffee. Tables are still available.
Contact Elwyn, GW0GUY on 01437 760026.

Also today, 28 March, the South Gloucestershire Rally takes place at
the Avon Scouts Activity Centre, Woodhouse Park, Almondsbury BS32 4LX,
which is about 1.5 miles from the M4/M5 junction. Doors open at 9.30am
for disabled visitors and 10am for other visitors. Entry is £2 and no
dogs except assistance dogs are permitted. There will be trade stands,
a flea market and a car boot sale. Contact Peter Cabban, G4OST on 01454
612689.

The Spring Militaria, Electronics & Radio Amateur Hangar Sale takes
place today, 28 March, at Hack Green secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich,
Cheshire CW5 8AP. Doors open at 10am and entry is £2.50. Contact Rod
Siebert, 01270 623353.

Now for the news of special events

GB0AOA will be on the air from the Isle of Man for Airfields on the Air
on 1 April. On the same day, listen out for GB0BME from the Bancraft
Mill Engine in Barnoldswick.

The weekend of 3 and 4 April sees two stations taking to the air from
Grantham. GB0HDX will be on the air for Harlaxton Delta Xray and GB0GRA
will be on the air for Grantham Radio Amateurs. Preston Amateur Radio
Society is running GX3KUE/P from the 400 year old Bank Hall at
Bretherton near Preston on 4 April. Bank Hall appeared on the BBC
programme Restoration. The club will be on 40 or 80m depending on band
conditions.

Over the Easter weekend of 3 to 5 April, Marches ARS will be running
GB2CAM from Chirk Airfield. The station celebrates the opening of the
Chirk Airfield Museum for the 2010 season. The Chirk Airfield and
Museum is a family run aviation facility located approximately half way
between Oswestry and Wrexham adjacent to the A5. They plan to be active
on HF from 80 to 10m, although the actual bands used will depending on
propagation conditions as well as 6m, 2m and 70cm. Further details from
Dave, MW0AYM on 01691 777242.

GB0LAD will be on the air for the United Nations' International
Landmine Awareness Day on 4 April. Operating from the Carpetbaggers
Aviation Museum, the station will be using the 80 to 20m bands using
SSB, CW and Digimodes.

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

DL7AFS and DL7ZG will sign V21ZG from Antigua until 2 April. They will
concentrate on RTTY, PSK31/63 and SSB.

Four amateur radio operators, JD1BNM, JD1BNJ, JD1BNQ and JD1BNK will
activate Chichi-jima Island, which is IOTA reference AS-031 between 28
March and 12 April. The team will be active in CW, SSB and RTTY on 160
through to 6m. The QSL manager for all calls will be K8AQM.

An international team will be operating as 3W6C from Con Co Island,
Vietnam, which is IOTA reference AS- 185, from 10 to 18 April. Plans
are to run four stations 24/7 for two weeks with a goal of 60,000 QSOs.

The YI9PSE DXpedition will operate from the Kurdistan area in Northern
Iraq from 3 to 11 April. This looks like being a big effort.

Now the contest news

On 30 March the 70MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 2000 to
2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.

The ever-challenging RoPoCo 1 is on 4 April. What has often been
challenging in the past is finding enough people to work in the second
hour of what was a 2-hour event, so this year it has been reduced to 90
minutes in duration. RoPoCo isn't the busiest of events, but what it's
all about is logging accuracy, because full postcodes are exchanged.
Times are 0700 to 0830UTC and it's a CW event on 3.5MHz with the
exchange being the signal report and postcode received.

Also on 4 April, the 1st 70MHz Contest takes place, although it is a
little early in the year for there to be a substantial possibility of
any Sporadic-E propagation. The contest takes place between 0900 and
1200UTC using all modes and the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator. On Monday 5 April the 80m Club Championships CW leg
takes place. Times are 1900 to 2030UTC and the exchange is signal
report and serial number.

Internationally, there are two 24-hour contests on 3 and 4 April. The
EA RTTY event is the first. Single-ops can make a single band or
all-band entry, but multi-op stations can only make an all-band entry.
From 1600 to 1600UTC, the bands are 3.5 to 28MHz and the exchange is
signal report and serial number, with EA stations sending their
Province code.

If RTTY isn't your thing, maybe the SP DX CW and SSB Contest will be
more appealing. There are numerous categories, mainly for single ops.
Timings are 1500 to 1500 using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. SP stations also send their Province code.

The 144MHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 1900 and 2130UTC on
6 April. All modes may be used and the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 15th to the 21st of
March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 22nd of March.

First the latest news on the Solar Dynamics Observatory, which is the
latest spacecraft to study the Sun in detail that we have never seen
before. After a series of engine burns the SDO has now reached
geosynchronous orbit. Data will be available after a series of
activities that include powering up the Ka-band transmitter, opening
the instrument doors, and configuring the instruments to start science
observations. All of the EVE subsystems are now turned on and all are
doing very well. We can expect to see the first images after the middle
of April. We wish the SDO team continued success with the mission.

The solar disc had spots visible every day. However, solar activity
remained at very low levels. Solar flux levels varied little day to day
and averaged 85 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 21st was 82
units, that's the same level as last week. X-ray flux levels averaged
A4.7 units and varied little. Geomagnetic activity was quiet everyday
and the average was 5 units. The Ap index on the 21st was only 2 units.
Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary
between 320 and 460 kilometres per second. Particle densities were low
everyday except for a brief increase to 15 particles per cubic
centimetre during the morning of the 16th. Bz varied no more than minus
7 and plus 8 nanoTeslas during the period.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is
expected to be looking our way. Solar activity should be very low to
low. Solar flux levels are expected to be in the 80's for most of the
week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet everyday. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 24MHz for the south
and 21MHz for the north. 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 around 29MHz. The optimum working frequency
with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 23MHz. The best time to
try this path will be between 1000 and 1600 Zulu.

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 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 MIDLANDS On Monday 29 March Gloucester Amateur Radio &
Electronics Society is having an operating evening. Contact Anne,
2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime. On Monday 29 March South Birmingham
Radio Society is planning for field day. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.
On Tuesday 30 March Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to radioatdadars.org.uk. On
Tuesday 30 March Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
practical evening. More information from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504
319. On Wednesday 31 March Bolsover Amateur Radio Society is having a
committee meeting. For details, send an email to
postmasteratg4rsb.org.uk. On Wednesday 31 March Hinckley Amateur
Radio Society is holding a junk sale. Details from John, M0JAV, on
07836 731544. On Wednesday 31 March Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a
talk on Morse code by Ian, G4XFC. For more information contact Pam
Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356. On Wednesday 31 March Midland Amateur
Radio Society is planning for field day and holding training classes.
Details from Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787. On Wednesday 31 March
South Notts Amateur Radio Club is reworking homebrew number 1 with
M0RIA. Details from Terry, M0RIA, via the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc. On Wednesday 31 March Telford & District
Amateur Radio Society is holding its AGM. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952
299 677. On Thursday 1 April Brigg & District Amateur Radio Club is
holding its AGM. Contact John, M6BBB, on 01652 632038. On Thursday 1
April RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club is having a practical night.
For more information contact Bob, G3VCA, by email to
g3vcaatpyewipe.co.uk. On Thursday 1 April Salop Amateur Radio Society
is having a natter night, Morse classes with G0EML and commences its
Foundation Course. Details on the club website at www.salop-ars.org.uk.
On Thursday 1 April Stafford & District Amateur Radio Society is having
an illustrated talk by Gordon Meddings, G4DGM, on HF Beacons in the US
and Canada. Details from Tony Bairstowe, G4RSW, on 01785 363025. On
Friday 2 April Bromsgrove & District Amateur Radio Club is having a QSL
card night. Contact Chris, M0BQE on 01905 776 869. On Friday 2 April
Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by Bob Nash, G4GEE /
7P8DD on the DXpedition to Lesotho. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958
777363. On Friday 2 April Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is having
a shack and natter night. Details from Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332
720976. On Friday 2 April South Birmingham Radio Society is closed for
Good Friday. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603. Over the Easter weekend of
3 and 4 April there will be a family fun field day at the Sports and
Social Club, Harlaxton, near Grantham, postcode NG31 1HX. All are
welcome, amateurs and families alike. There is plenty of space, tea and
coffee and a barbecue on Saturday afternoon. GB0GRA will be on the air
for voice operation and GB0HDX will be running CW. Both stations are
operating on all bands. For more information contact Jim, M0JHW, on
07752 619617.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 29 March Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club continues its
Morse class with Mike Taylor. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 477
0036. On Monday 29 March Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is holding its
AGM. Details from Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by email to
trevorwood6atyahoo.co.uk. On Monday 29 March South Manchester Radio
and Computer Club is holding its monthly technical forum. Details from
Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On Monday 29 March Thornton Cleveleys
Amateur Radio Society is making final preparations for the NARSA Rally.
Details from John Foster, 2E0EZY, on 01253 399377. On Tuesday 30 March
Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on 45 years
of amateur radio by Brian Levett, G3TXH. Details from Barbara Green on
07957 870770. On Tuesday 30 March Otley Amateur Radio Society is taking
part in the 70MHz UKAC. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996370. On
Wednesday 31 March Denby Dale Radio Club is holding a mini-rally and
auction of surplus goods. Contact Gerald, G3SDY, on 01484 602905. On
Wednesday 31 March Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having DF foxhunting
practice with G4YTV and G3RMX. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on
01377 240573. On Thursday 1 April Brigg & District Amateur Radio Club
is holding its AGM. Contact John, M6BBB, on 01652 632038. On Thursday 1
April South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having a shack
workshop night. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On Thursday
1 April York Radio Club is holding Foundation lessons. Details from
Tony Skaife, G4XIV, on 01904 330502. On Friday 2 April East Cleveland
Amateur Radio Club is having a radio component catalogues evening. For
more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

On Thursday 1 April Bangor & District Amateur Radio Club is holding its
annual constructors competition. Bring along something you've built and
you may win a great prize. Contact Mike, GI4XSF, on 028 4277 2383. Mid
Ulster Amateur Radio Club will, in future, be operating under the new
callsign MN0VFW. The previous call, GI3VFW, kindly donated to the club
by Stanley Eakins, will now be the club's historical callsign. The club
members hope to have as much success and enjoyment with the new call as
they had with the old call. Dr David Hutchinson, GI4FUM, who used to be
a GB2RS newsreader for Northern Ireland on 80m a few years ago, has
offered to try and resurrect the schedule. However, he would need one
or two volunteers, who must be RSGB members, to take turns with him. If
you live in Ulster and are suitably equipped, then kindly contact the
GB2RS News Manager Gordon Adams, G3LEQ on 01 565 652652 for more
details. Alternatively you may e-mail him via gb2rsatntlworld.com.
The time slot available would be 10am on Sunday mornings, with the
reading lasting about twenty minutes. We also take this opportunity to
encourage club secretaries and event organisers in Northern Ireland to
continue to submit news items to RSGB HQ for publication on GB2RS and
in RadCom. Please email your information to .

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Tuesday 30 March Ayr Amateur Radio Group is having a DVD night.
Contact Charlie, MM0GNS, on 01563 551704. On Tuesday 30 March
Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is having a club evening.
For more information contact Norman, on 07740 946192. On Thursday 1
April Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a junk sale. More
information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663. On Friday 2 April
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 28 March Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is having a talk.
Details from Rich, G4IBW, on 02392 680852. On Monday 29 March Milton
Keynes Amateur Radio Society is having a shack open night. For more
information go to www.mkars.org.uk. On Tuesday 30 March Brede Steam
Amateur Radio Society is at the shack. For more information contact
Steve, on 01424 720815. On Tuesday 30 March Chelmsford Amateur Radio
Society is running a club net. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.
On Wednesday 31 March Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a QSL card evening. More details from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831
491. On Wednesday 31 March Dover Radio Club is having a talk on APRS by
Matt, M1CMN and Declan, M0TMX. For more information contact Brian,
G4SAU, by email to g4sauatdarc.org.uk. On Wednesday 31 March Norfolk
Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on square bashing via Sporadic-E by
Jim Bacon, G3YLA. Details from Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 419204. On
Wednesday 31 March Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
discussion evening and putting GX3WOR on the air. For more information
contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893. On Thursday 1 April Cray Valley
Radio Society is having a talk by Malcolm, G8MCA on 20 years in the
Royal Signals, Territorial Army. Details from Bob, 2E0RCV, on 020 8265
7735 after 8pm. On Thursday 1 April Horsham Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk by Brian Kendal, G3GDU, on the beginnings of airborne
communication and navigation. Details are on the web at
www.harc.org.uk. On Thursday 1 April King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is
having a club night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
ral-g3rsvatsupanet.com. On Thursday 1 April Lowestoft & District PYE
Amateur Radio Club is having a club night at the shack. Details from
Phil, G0JSG, on 01502 585448. On Friday 2 April Mid-Sussex Amateur
Radio Society is closed for Good Friday. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444
239371. On Friday 2 April Whitton Amateur Radio Group is having an
introduction to digital modes. Details on the web at www.warg.info. On
Saturday 3 April Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack. For
more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST

On Sunday 28 March Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Club
is running its rally at Woodhouse Campsite. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on
01454 417048. On Sunday 28 March Trowbridge & District Amateur Radio
Club is running a club table at the South Gloucestershire Rally.
Details from Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, evenings and weekends. On
Monday 29 March Bristol RSGB Group is having a talk on espionage and
covert communications by Ian Foulkes. Details from Robin, G3TKF, on
01225 420442. On Tuesday 30 March Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio Society
is watching the K5D video. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860741. On
Wednesday 31 March Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club is watching a
video. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234 for more information.
On Thursday 1 April South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a talk
on open wire feeders by Len, G4RZY. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834
282. On Thursday 1 April Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is
closed for Easter. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750. On Friday 2
April North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is closed for Good Friday but
will be having a club net on 145.450MHz. More information from Dick on
01454 218362. On Friday 2 April Torbay Amateur Radio Society is closed
for Good Friday. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
g6fspattars.org.uk. On Sunday 4 April Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio
Society is having an 80m fox hunt with G0GFL. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on
01258 860741.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Thursday 1 April Meirion Amateur Radio Society Club is holding its
construction competition. Contact John, MW0VTK, on 07772 720099 for
more information.