GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 25th April 2010

The news headlines

RSGB AGM video available online

International Summits on the Air event

Bedford amateurs welcomed into Region 12

A video of the 2010 RSGB Annual General Meeting is available online at
the British Amateur Television Club website. The BATC streamed the event
live last weekend from the Swan Hotel in Bedford. Go to www.batc.org.uk
and click on the BATC TV Streamer link, followed by the Film Archive
link. This will take you to the recording of the AGM. There are plenty
of other recordings that amateurs may find interesting on the same link.

for details.

Amateurs in Bedfordshire are now part of Region 12 and the new Deputy
Regional Manager for the County is Neil Whiteside, G4HUN. For the past
three years Neil has been the DRM for Cambridgeshire and has now added
Bedfordshire to this responsibility. Neil is already getting in touch
with clubs in the County but he can always be contacted on 07836 617224.
More information about getting in touch with the Region 12 Team is
available on the RSGB Region 12 website at
www.rsgb.org/local/region12.php.

The annual School Club EU Day will take place on 5 May. It is designed
to create contacts with and between school amateur radio clubs and
training centres and give them the opportunity to contact other amateur
stations around Europe. The activity is a great way to get young
operators on the air from their school shacks. An English version of the
rules for this event can be found on the German website
http://www.aatis.de/content/sites/de...010_EN_txt.pdf.

Colchester Radio Amateurs are running a Foundation Course from Thursday
24 June at St Helena School, Colchester. For further details please
contact Brian, G0GGM on 01206 822547 or by e-mail to
.

Manassas City in the USA has decided to abandon their broadband over
power line system as it was not cost effective. The BPL system has been
a thorn in the side of amateurs and SWLs in Manassas and had
substantially raised the overall noise floor of most of the HF bands,
making all but the strongest radio signals impossible to hear.

Radio Amateurs of Canada has filed a request with the telecommunications
regulator for some 60 metre spot frequency allocations. The formal
request was for five 5MHz frequencies and two spot frequencies for
exclusive Canadian amateur use. If all goes well, Canadian amateurs
could see an authorisation to this spectrum within a year.

The newly redesigned American Radio Relay League website is up and
running. Check out www.arrl.org. The new website has been more than two
years in the making.

What is believed to be the world's first solar powered D-Star repeater
has come on the air from Belgium. ON0CPS is designed to operate entirely
on solar energy with an input channel of 431.9625MHz and its output on
439.5625MHz. So far the repeater has been running over a month on this
solar power alone with no failures or problems.

Australia now has a digital amateur television repeater that has full
stereo audio. The VK3RTV repeater in the Melbourne and Geelong area now
has dual channel sound on both its digital and analogue inputs. About
seven stations transmitting digital DVB-S uplink have the capability to
transmit stereo sound through the machine. Experiments are also being
conducted on Internet streaming with the British Amateur TV Club.

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

The Andover Radio Amateur Club Boot Sale takes place today, 25 April, at
Wildhern Village Hall and Playing Field, SP11 0JE, north of Andover just
off the A343. Talk in will be on S22. There is plenty of car parking and
the entry fee is ?1.50. For sellers it is ?6 per boot/table, ?8 inside
the hall. Details from Martin, M0MWS on 01980 612070.

Also on today, 25 April, is the 26th Yeovil QRP Convention which takes
place at Digby Hall, Hound St, Sherborne, Dorset. Digby Hall adjoins the
central shopping car parking. Talk in will be on S22. There is ample car
parking and the doors open at 9.30am. There will be lectures as well as
trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from Robert on 01935 706715.

Church Island Amateur Radio Group will be holding a rally on Friday 30
April at Bellaghy Community Hall, Ballynease Road, Bellaghy BT45 8JS,
which is located beside St Marys Church. Doors will open to the public
at 8pm. Anyone wishing to book a table or for further information can
contact John, MI0MIO on 0771 910 0595.

On 2 May, the Dambusters Hamfest will be held at Thorpe Camp Visitor
Centre, Coningsby, Lincs LN4 4PE. Talk in will be on S22, GB4FR & GB3FJ.
Admission is ?3 with under 12s admitted free. Pitches are free but the
size of the pitch will be limited if not pre-booked. Car parking is free
too. There is a WWII museum on site. More details from Tony, G3ZPU, on
01507 527835.

The Dartmoor Radio Rally takes place on Bank Holiday Monday at Tavistock
College, Crowndale Rd, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8DD. Doors open at 10.15am
for disabled visitors and 10.30am for others. There will be trade stands
as well as a Bring & Buy. Details can be obtained from Peter, M1AYI on
01822 860277.

Now for the news of special events

GN4KPT/P will be on the air on 2 and 3 May from Shanes Castle for the
Steam Rally. This is a joint venture between Antrim & District Amateur
Radio Society & Ballymena Amateur Radio Club. The station will be on the
air on 2 May between 1400 and 1700 and 3 May 1000 to 1600.

From 24 to 27 April there will be an IOTA activation from The Isle of
Eigg on the west coast of Scotland. This is a joint activation by
members of Kilmarnock and Loudoun ARC and South Cheshire ARS. The
callsign will be GM6TW/P, the club call of SCARS. Info is at QRZ.com.
QSL via Paul, G0UZP.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the closure of the world's largest
maritime radio station, Portishead Radio, GB10GKA is being activated
from 30 April to 27 May. Hours of operation will be dependent on
individual operators' free time and operation will be primarily on CW.
Rick, G3YEC will operate 30 April until 6 May from this QTH near
Colchester. Special Anniversary QSL cards will be produced to mark this
historic event. eQSL will also be used. Certificates for contacting
GB10GKA on more than four HF bands will be available. Contact Tony
Roskilly, G3ZRJ by e-mail to

On 30 April, GG100GCC will be on the air for the Gordon Centenary Camp
in Tarves, Aberdeenshire and GG100LNG will be on the air for
Lincolnshire North Guides in Market Rason.

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

ZL7J will be on the air from Chatham Island between 28 April and 3 May.
All bands from 1.9MHz to 28MHz will be used with SSB and CW. QSL via
JH1HRJ.

Members of the F6KOP Team will be active as IS0R from Isola Rossa,
Sardinia, which is IOTA reference EU-024, between 7 and 15 May. Activity
will be on 160 to 6 metres, using 3 stations on HF and 1 station on 6
metres. They plan to use CW, SSB and RTTY. Each station will be a FT450
with an Acom 1010 using Micro Ham and PC.

The Camb-Hams are the social side of the Cambridgeshire Repeater Group
and the third annual DXpedition will be from 1 to 15 May on the Isle of
Harris, which is IOTA reference EU-010. They plan HF using voice and
data, 6m, 4m and VHF/UHF satellite operation. Experienced IOTA
DXpeditioner Martin Atherton, G3ZAY, will be joining the trip. More
information can be found at http://dx.camb-hams.com.

Geoff, M5GAC and his wife will operate as MM5GAC/P from Skye from 8 to
22 May. They will probably be active early mornings and late evenings on
80 and 40, and on 20 at times during the day.

Now the contest news

On 27 April, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest & Club Championship takes
place between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal
report, serial report and locator.

On Saturday 1 May the 432MHz Trophy Contest and the 432MHz to 248GHz
contest start simultaneously at 1400UTC. The 432MHz Trophy Contest ends
at 2200, while the 432MHz to 248GHz Contest continues for 24 hours. The
exchange in both events is the same, signal report, serial number and
locator.

The first international contest in May is the ARI International DX on
1st and 2nd between 2000 and 2000UTC. Work anyone on CW, SSB or RTTY and
give them RS(T) and a serial number. Expect Italians to give you a
2-letter Province code instead of the serial.

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 12th to the 18th of
April, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 19th of April.

The latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers are available and are for
July, August and September 2009 and are 3.6, 4.8 and 6.1 respectively.

Only one small sunspot group was visible until the 14th then the solar
disc became spotless for the rest of the period. Solar activity was very
low. Several coronal mass ejections could be seen from over the west
limb but they were not Earth directed. Solar flux levels remained steady
at 75 units except for the 17th which was 74. The 90 day solar flux
average on the 18th was 82 units. That's one unit down on last week.

X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and averaged A2.5 units.
Geomagnetic activity started at `active' levels with an Ap index of 22
units on the 12th. The disturbance was probably due to a coronal mass
ejection from the 8th. The remainder of the period was quiet and the
average was Ap 7 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
increase from 360 kilometres per second to 530 by the 15th. Particle
densities were low except for a brief increase to 16 particles per cubic
centimetre during the afternoon of the 16th. Bz varied between minus 11
and plus 7 nanoTeslas on the 12th and between minus 4 and plus 5
nanoTeslas on the quiet days.

One of the biggest news stories of the past week was the volcanic
explosion in Iceland. Some listeners have wondered whether this carried
any implications for radio propagation. The provisional answer is that,
while many places have enjoyed spectacular sunsets, as yet no
radio-related reports have come to hand. On balance, it seems unlikely
that any will. But if there were to be any they seem most likely to
occur at UHF.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be very low with only a small chance of a C class solar flare taking
place, providing that no new large sunspot group emerges, as sometimes
happen. Solar flux levels are expected to be in the high 70's for most
of the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet everyday. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 20MHz for the south
and 17MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be around
10MHz. Paths this week to Australia should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate well be about 21MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around
17MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0700 and 1100
hours.

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 26 April Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is
holding its construction competition. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452
548478, daytime.

On Monday 26 April South Birmingham Radio Society is planning for field
day. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Monday 26 April Stratford Upon Avon District Radio Society is having
a walking HF ARDF session with G6MMD. Contact G0CHO, on 01608 664488.

On Tuesday 27 April Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to .

On Tuesday 27 April Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is having
a practical evening. More information from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504
319.

On Tuesday 27 April Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is holding a
used equipment and book sale night. Details from Don, G4CYG, on 019 2642
4465.

On Wednesday 28 April Bolsover Amateur Radio Society is having a
committee meeting. For details, send an email to
.

On Wednesday 28 April Hinckley Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by
John Naylor, G4KLX on D-Star and his PC software for repeaters. Details
from John, M0JAV, on 07836 731544.

On Wednesday 28 April Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a talk and
presentation by Roy, G4WPW on the development of telegraphy. Contact Pam
Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Wednesday 28 April Midland Amateur Radio Society is having a laptop
computer evening and training classes. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on
01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 28 April South Notts Amateur Radio Club is reworking
homebrew No. 1 with M0RIA. Details from Terry, M0RIA, via the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc.

On Wednesday 28 April Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding a local 2m fox hunt with G3JKX as the fox. Contact Mike, G3JKX,
on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 29 April RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club is having a shack
and chat night with radio and antenna play. Details from Judy Rowlands,
M6LQO, on 07544 456422.

On Thursday 29 April Salop Amateur Radio Society continues its
Foundation course, Morse send & receive classes with G0EML and a natter
night. Details on the club website at www.salop-ars.org.uk.

On Friday 30 April Bromsgrove & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on remote operation. Contact Chris, M0BQE on 01905 776 869.

On Friday 30 April Coventry Amateur Radio Society is operating HF, VHF,
UHF, 6m, 4m and satellites. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 30 April Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is having a
surplus sale. Details from Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332 720976.

On Friday 30 April South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Saturday 1 May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the air.
For more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 26 April Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk by Zoltan Derzsi, M0MDP, on the radio amateur and the computer -
logging, digital modes and interfaces. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on
0191 477 0036.

On Monday 26 April Bolton Wireless Club is having an activity night,
looking at techniques for the forthcoming 2m DF hunts. For details, send
an email to .

On Monday 26 April Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having part four of
its contest workshop and its first VHF NFD planning meeting. For more
information contact Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by email to
.

On Monday 26 April South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is holding
its monthly technical forum. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Monday 26 April Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk by Alan, G4EWS on the history of the RIS to OFCOM . Details from
John Foster, 2E0EZY, on 01253 399377.

On Tuesday 27 April Chester & District Amateur Radio Society Radio is
having an operating evening. Details from Barbara Green on 07957 870770.

On Tuesday 27 April Otley Amateur Radio Society is taking part in the
50MHz UKAC. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996370.

On Wednesday 28 April Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having an activity,
shack, workshop and DVD evening. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on
01377 240573.

On Wednesday 28 April Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society asks "what is a
small HF antenna?" Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553401.

On Thursday 29 April Brigg & District Amateur Radio Club will be having
a talk by John, G0JRB, on the VTS Humber VHF radio system. Contact John,
2E0III, on 01652 632038.

On Thursday 29 April Preston Amateur Radio Society is on the air.
Contact Richard, M0RDZ, on 0785 587 3566.

On Thursday 29 April South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
a talk on tuning your valve power amplifier by Bill, G4EDM. Details from
Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Thursday 29 April Wakefield & District Radio Society is having a talk
and demonstration by Dave, G4CLI on the club node MB7IWR. Contact Ken,
2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117.

On Thursday 29 April York Radio Club is running Foundation lessons.
Details from Tony Skaife, G4XIV, on 01904 330502.

On Friday 30 April East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a radio
magazines evening. For more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on
01642 475 671.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Church Island Amateur Radio Group will be holding a rally on Friday 30
April at Bellaghy Community Hall, Ballynease Road, Bellaghy BT45 8JS,
which is located beside St Marys Church. Doors will open to the public
at 8pm. Anyone wishing to book a table or for further information can
contact John, MI0MIO on 0771 910 0595.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Monday 26 April the Grampian Repeater Group is holding its AGM at the
'22' Club, 55b Rose Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1UB.š Doors open at 7pm and
all are welcome. Details on the web at
http://grampianrepeatergroup.co.uk.

On Tuesday 27 April Kilmarnock & Loudoun Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk by Lyn Smith of the British Astronomical Association on the Sun and
in particular sun spots cycles. Contact Graham, MM3GDC, by email to
.

On Tuesday 27 April Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding Morse code practice. For more information contact Norman, on
07740 946192.

On Wednesday 28 April Ayr Amateur Radio Group is having a talk on plasma
in cosmology. Contact Charlie, MM0GNS, on 01563 551704.

On Wednesday 28 April Lothians Radio Society is having a talk on the
DXpedition to Antarctica VP8 by Gavin Taylor, GM0GAV. Contact Andy
Sinclair, by email to .

On Wednesday 28 April Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is holding the
Advanced Licence exam. Contact Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on 01505 613633.

On Thursday 29 April Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a
beginner's night, concentrating on construction techniques. More
information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-EAST

and EAST ANGLIA

On Sunday 25 April Andover Radio Amateurs Club is running its car boot
sale. Details from Martin, M0MWS, on 07776 181646.

On Sunday 25 April Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society is at the
Andover Radio Club boot sale. Details from Richard, G3ZGC, on 01635
46241.

On Monday 26 April Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
SSTV by Peter, M1DGQ. Details from Clive, G4ODM, on 01256 326050.

On Monday 26 April Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it and
natter night. More information from Ray, G4FFY, on 01732 357474.

On Tuesday 27 April Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack.
For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

On Tuesday 27 April Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a club
net night. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Tuesday 27 April Dorking & District Radio Society is having a talk on
direction finding techniques and events by Alister Watt, G3ZBU. Contact
Garth, G3NPC, on 01737 359472.

On Tuesday 27 April Harwell Amateur Radio Society is having a shack
activity night. Contact Malcolm, G8NRP, on 01235 524844.

On Tuesday 27 April Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on 160m mobile and fixed station antennas by John, G3MYI. Contact
Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846.

On Wednesday 28 April Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a construction project evening. More details from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442
831 491.

On Wednesday 28 April Crawley Amateur Radio Club is having an antenna
measuring instruments evening, and invites members to bring along your
VNA, noise bridge, GDO etc and put them through their paces.. More
information from John, G3VLH, on 01342 714 402.

On Wednesday 28 April Darenth Valley Radio Society is on the air and
having a natter night. For more information send an email to Ray,
.

On Wednesday 28 April Dover Radio Club is holding its AGM. For more
information contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to .

On Wednesday 28 April Farnborough & District Radio Society is having a
skittles evening at Blacknest. Details from Derek, G3OFA, by email to
.

On Wednesday 28 April Hastings Electronics and Radio Club is having a
talk on practical magnetism by Tony, G0EYE. Details from Gordon, on
01424 431 909.

On Wednesday 28 April Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding an ask the experts evening. Details from Richard, G3ZGC, on
01635 46241.

On Wednesday 28 April Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a table top
sale, construction and workshop evening plus Bright Sparks. Details from
Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 419204.

On Wednesday 28 April Peterborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk by Ron, G8GRT, on early amateur television. Details from
David Howlett, M0VTG, by email to .

On Wednesday 28 April Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is putting
GX3WOR on the air and having a discussion evening. For more information
contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 29 April Bittern DX Group is making arrangements for
training days and events in May. Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692
404154.

On Thursday 29 April King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
.

On Thursday 29 April Shefford & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk on Windows 7 by Nigel Leany. Details from David, G8UOD, on 01234
742 757.

On Thursday 29 April Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is having a CW
night. Details from Rich, G4IBW, on 02392 680852.

On Friday 30 April Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
night and table top sale. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444 239371.

On Friday 30 April Whitton Amateur Radio Group is having an RSGB update
by Alison Johnston, G8ROG, the RSGB Regional Manager for London and
Thames Valley. Details on the web at www.warg.info.

On Friday 30 April Wimbledon & District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874 7456.

On Saturday 1 May Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack. For
more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST

On Sunday 25 April Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio Society is at the Yeovil
QRP Rally in Sherborne. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860741.

On Sunday 25 April Cornish Radio Amateur Club is dismantling after
International Marconi Day. Details from Steve, G7VOH, on 01209 844939.

On Sunday 25 April Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is holding its QRP
Convention at Digby Hall, Sherborne. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by
email to .

On Monday 26 April Bristol RSGB Group is having a talk on GB3WX, the
first UK 6m - 10m cross band repeater. Details from Robin, G3TKF, on
01225 420442.

On Tuesday 27 April Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio Society is planning
events for 2010 and 2011. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860741.

On Wednesday 28 April Taunton & District Amateur Radio Club is operating
the club station. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234 for more
information.

On Wednesday 28 April Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.

On Thursday 29 April South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having an on
the air evening supervised by David, G7PKJ. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275
834 282.

On Thursday 29 April Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk by Richard, M1CFW, about the move to electronic ciphers after
Enigma. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

On Thursday 29 April Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to .

On Friday 30 April North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
committee meeting. Details from Dick on 01454 218362.

On Friday 30 April Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a 90/10 sale.
For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

NEWS FOR WALES

On Monday 26 April Llanelli Amateur Radio Society Club is having a
raffle. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292.

On Tuesday 27 April Marches Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
EchoLink or PSK31. For more information contact Dave, MW0AYM, on 01691
777242.

On Friday 30 April Aberdare & District Amateur Radio Society is putting
club call MC0TTR on the air. Details at www.radioclubs.net/aadars.

On Saturday 1 May Meirion Amateur Radio Society commences its weekend
special event at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Porthmadog.
Contact John, MW0VTK, on 07772 720099 for more information.