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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 24 August 2008 The news headlines

* Take your amateur licence at HFC

* E-petition against interference

* Build your own 80m voice transceiver

The RSGB are offering those wishing to obtain a UK Amateur Radio
Licence the opportunity to complete one, or more, of the required
examinations over the weekend of the HF Convention, 10 to 12 October.
Candidates must book their examinations prior to the event and must
provide evidence they have completed the required practical
assessments, although limited facilities to complete assessments can be
arranged at the HFC. The contact for further information and for
booking examinations is John James, john.jamesatrsgb.org.uk, or via
the RSGB HQ switchboard on 01234 832700. Candidates for the Foundation
& Intermediate RCE must contact Brian Reay, G8OSN, by email to
ardc.chairmanatrsgb.org.uk or on 01634 376316 so that their progress
on practical assessments can be verified. If required, Brian can also
advise on finding a local tutor to complete practical assessments in
advance of the HFC or the provision of assessment facilities at the
HFC.

Devices that use the mains to link computers or TV set-top boxes to the
Internet can cause interference to radios in nearby houses. An
E-Petition has been created on the UK government website calling for
such devices to be banned. The petition is at
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveShortwave/. The primary problem seems to
be with the Comtrend devices that BT Vision are offering as part of
their domestic installations. While these appear to be notched for the
HF amateur bands there is no notching for the broadcast bands. Since
the advent of the UKQRM group that we mentioned on last week's news,
there has been a dramatic increase in the number of logged complaints
of 'spectrum abuse' reported to Ofcom. This has resulted in at least
one installation having to be hard wired by BT Vision with other
installations being investigated. The October RadCom will contain more
information on problems with domestic mains networking.

Building on the first Buildathon held in Bath earlier this year, a
second session will be held at this year's RSGB HF Convention at
Wyboston Lakes. The idea is to encourage newcomers to have a go at
constructing. The Buildathon will allow those with limited soldering
experience to develop their skills under the watchful eye of some very
experienced homebrewers. Those taking part will go home with a working
80m voice transceiver. The Buildathon will take place within the HFC on
Saturday and Sunday 11 and 12 October and is planned to run from 10am
to 3pm. All soldering and test equipment will be made available on the
day and refreshments will be provided. All you need to bring is a
bucket full of enthusiasm. The cost of the day will be £65 to cover all
costs. If you are interested in joining in the fun, please contact
Steve Hartley, G0FUW, on 01225 464394 (7 to 9pm weekdays), or by e-mail
at G0FUWattiscali.co.uk. Places will be limited to ensure that
everyone gets good mentoring from one of the local `Elmers' so
interested parties are advised to book early.

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Members will be aware that the September RadCom includes an invitation
for qualifying persons to stand in the RSGB Board and Regional Council
Elections. Election papers can be obtained from Michelina Gramson at
RSGB headquarters, telephone 01234 832 700. Completed papers must be
received at RSGB HQ no later than noon on Wednesday 1 October.

An RSGB Train the Trainers session, hosted by the Norfolk Amateur Radio
Club, will take place on Saturday 6 September near Norwich. For more
information and to register for this session, contact David Palmer,
G7URP, via e-mail to radioatdcpmicro.com or on 01953 457322. A
further session is planned for St Albans, hosted by the Verulam Amateur
Radio Club, on 4th October. For more information and to register for
this session, contact Ralph Nash, G1BSZ via e-mail to g1bszataol.com
or on 01923 265572.

The amateur radio licence issuing authority in Bangladesh has started
holding amateur radio examinations and issuing licenses again. The
Bangladesh Amateur Radio League is offering classes to prepare for the
exam, which will be computer based with 35 multiple choice questions.
In order to receive an amateur radio licence, examinees must achieve 18
correct answers. Examinees are given one hour to complete the test.

Charles, M3XYU has created a web page that uses the Google API to find
your nearest UK amateur radio repeaters. Check out the site at
www.charlescoverley.co.uk/ham.

Advance tickets for the Leicester Amateur Radio Show are available with
savings on those tickets bought before 30 September. Full details are
on their website, www.lars.org.uk. The show will take place at
Donington Park, Leicestershire on 24 and 25 October.

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

The Torbay Annual Communications Fair takes place today, 24 August, at
Newton Abbot racecourse, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 3AF. Doors open 10am
for disabled visitors and 10.30 for other visitors. Entry is £2. There
will be an RSGB bookstall. Details on 01803 864528.

Also today is the Milton Keynes ARS 50th Anniversary Rally at Holne
Chase School, Buckingham Road, Bletchley, MK3 5HP. Doors open at 9am
and entry is £2. Details from Mike, G3LFR on 07973 264473.

The Huntingdonshire ARS Bank Holiday Monday Rally takes place on 25
August in St Neots Community College, Barford Rd, St Neots, PE19 2SH.
Doors open at 10am and there will be an RSGB Bookstall. Entry is £1.50.
Contact Julie, M1JUL, on 07905 052127.

The Rugby Radio Rally will take place on 30 August at Stanford Hall,
Lutterworth LE17 6DH, just off A14 near Rugby. There will be a talk in
station and plenty of car parking with an entrance fee of £2. Doors
open at 10am. Details from Tony, G0OLS, on 07759 684411.

On 31 August it will be the Andover Radio Club Car Boot Sale at
Wildhern Village Hall, SP11 0JE, which is north of Andover just off the
A343. There is plenty of car parking and the entry fee is £1. Details
from Terry, G8ALR, on 01980 629346.

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Now for the news of special events

GB8CMC, celebrating 801 years of The Coleshill Market Charter, will be
on the air from 25 to 31 August on 80m through to 6m on SSB. It could
also be on the air occasionally until 21 September so if listeners
would like a sked, please e-mail john.jacksatbtinternet.com.

GB1CM, which is to commemorate the first anniversary of the loss of the
rally driver Collin McRae, will be on the air during the month of
September on 80m through to 6m on SSB.

GB2TIN will be on the air on 31 August to celebrate the opening on 1
September of the museum of Hard Rock Mining at Geevor Tin Mine in west
Cornwall.

On the weekends of 24 August and 29 to 31 August, the Orkney Amateur
Radio Club will be will be operating GS8R from Scapa Bay as part of a
programme of activities to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the
death of St Rognvald [pronounced Ronald]. In Norway, their sister
special event station will operate from within a few hundred metres of
where Rognvald was born.

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

CN33M will be on the air from Morocco until August 26. QSL via CN2DX.

F5NHJ will be operating as FK/F5NHJ from Grande Terre, New Caledonia
until 29 August. Activity will be mostly on CW and the digital modes on
30m.

Members of the Hong Kong Amateur Radio DX Association, HARDXA,
continued to be active as VR2008O until August 31, to celebrate the
2008 Beijing Olympics. Operations are from 40 to 10 meters and 6
metres, using primarily SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL direct only to VR2XMT,
Charlie Ho, PO Box 900, Fanling Post Office, Hong Kong. There will be
no e-QSL or LoTW.

CU6AY/P will be active from Pico Island until 4 September. QSL direct
to his home callsign, see QRZ.com.

Now the contest news

26 August sees the RSGB 50MHz Activity Contest taking pace from 1900 to
2130 using all modes. The exchange is RS and serial number plus
locator.

On 27 August it's the RSGB 80m Club Sprint on 3.5MHz SSB from 1900 to
2030. The exchange is both callsigns, serial number and name or
nickname.

Over the weekend of 30 and 31 August, between 1200 and 1200, The
International Short Wave Championship of Romania will be taking place
using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is RST and
serial number.

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Now the solar report for the period from the 11th to the 17th of
August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

First, a look at the monthly smoothed sunspot numbers. The figures are
for November and December 2007 and January 2008 which are the latest
available, which are 5.7, 5.0 and 4.2 respectively. By the 17th of
August we have had 28 days with the solar disc void of any spots. This
equals the same number of days for this minimum without sunspots which
took place between the 9th of October and the 5th of November 2007.
Solar activity was very low. The solar flux increased slightly from 65
units to 67 by the 17th. The average was 66 units. The 90 day solar
flux average was 66 units, that's one unit down on last week. The
lowest 90 day solar flux average last minimum was 69 units. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet everyday. The average was

th Ap 6 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from
660 kilometres per second on the 11 to 310 by the 16th. Particle
densities were low except for the 16th which increased to 29 particles
per cubic centimetre on the 16th. Bz varied between minus 5 and plus 4
nanoTeslas, however, on the 16th varied between minus 7 and plus 6
nanoTeslas.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
continue at very low levels with no end in sight of the present lack of
sunspots and activity. Solar flux levels are expected to remain within
the 60's all week. Presently there are only two coronal holes on the
Sun and this week neither will be looking Earthward. Therefore,
geomagnetic activity should be quiet all week. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be about 18MHz for the south and 15MHz
for the north. The darkness hour lows should be around 9MHz. Paths this
week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50
per cent success rate of about 23MHz. 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 1200 and 2000 hours UTC. During the past
week there were good sporadic-E openings on several days, at times
reaching 70MHz. However, we are now well past the seasonal peak. So,
while there is a good possibility of further openings during the coming
week, they are likely to be briefer and less intense.

And that's all for this week from the propagation team.

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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 24 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is
attending the open afternoon at Sandford Mill Radio Museum. Contact
Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Monday 25 August Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is
attending the Huntingdon rally. Contact David Leary, G8JKV on 01223
355254.

On Monday 25 August Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society is running
the Bank Holiday Monday Rally at St Neots Community College, Barford
Road, St Neots, Cambridgeshire. Contact Julie, M1JUL, on 07905 052 127.

On Monday 25 August Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
attending the Huntingdon rally. Contact John McCutcheon, on 01462
459254.

On Tuesday 26 August Home Counties ATV Club meets at the GB3HV shack
for a gardening evening and general tidy up. Contact Dave, M0SAT, by
email to m0satatgb3hv.com.

On Tuesday 26 August Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having
an illustrated talk by Vic Bryant, G3NVB, on Naval Communications.
Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846.

On Tuesday 26 August Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
taking part in the 50MHz UK Activity Contest. Contact John McCutcheon,
on 01462 459254.

On Wednesday 27 August Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society is
planning for contests. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 27 August Dover Radio Club is having a net on GB3KS.
Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to g4sauatDARC.org.uk.

On Wednesday 27 August Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a technical topics talk by Oliver, G3TPJ. Contact Dave, 2E0EBV,
on 07956 594 514.

On Wednesday 27 August Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a report on IOTA 2008 by Kevin, G6FOP. Contact Richard, G3ZGC,
on 01635 46241.

On Wednesday 27 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a bright
sparks informal evening. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099.

On Wednesday 27 August Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
putting GX3WOR on the air. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 28 August Bittern DX Group is having its final planning
meeting for the RSGB SSB field day. Contact Keith, G0GFQ, on 01263 588
506.

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On Thursday 28 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society starts its
Advanced Amateur Radio Training Course. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245
469 008.

On Thursday 28 August 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 Friday 29 August Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having
an informal evening. Contact David Leary, G8JKV on 01223 355254.

On Friday 29 August Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having a members' consultation night. Contact Marc, G0TOC, on 020 8502
1645.

On Friday 29 August Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a debrief after the Summer Camp with Eric, G0KRT. Contact Jim,
M0CON, on 020 8874 7456.

On Sunday 31 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is attending the Police
Gala Day. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099.

On Sunday 31 August Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its Chairman's barbecue. Contact John McCutcheon, 01462 459254.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Sunday 24 August Torbay Amateur Radio
Society is at the Torbay Annual Communications Fair. Contact Dave,
G6FSP, by email to g6fspattars.org.uk.

On Wednesday 27 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 27 August Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is having a Geocaching planning meeting. Contact Tony,
G0WMB, by email to tonytsgarcatbeeb.net.

On Thursday 28 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is spending the evening
discussing Bakelite and associated equipment. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by
email to g.swainattesco.net.

On Friday 29 August Guernsey Amateur Radio Society is having an antenna
evening with a talk on building an inverted L by Phil, GU0SUP. Contact
Phil, GU0SUP.

On Friday 29 August North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having
questions on the Brains Trust. Contact Dick Elford, G0XAY, by email to
G0XAYataol.com.

On Friday 29 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
DXpeditions by Derrick, G3LHJ. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
g6fspattars.org.uk.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 25 August Gloucester Amateur Radio And
Electronics Society is on the air from Crickley Hill Country Park.
Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478.

On Monday 25 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is operating GB2CWP at East
Kirkby. Contact John, G1TSL, on 01526 323 153.

On Monday 25 August Sandwell Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact
Dave, G4JSR, on 0121 552 1820.

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On Tuesday 26 August Derby and District Amateur Radio Society Night on
the Air. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.

On Tuesday 26 August Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 26 August Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is having a
morning barbecue. Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913.

On Tuesday 26 August Wythall Radio Club is having a practical
demonstration on using a spectrum analyser by Chris, G0EYO. Contact
Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.

On Wednesday 27 August Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a competition run by G3UKV. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299
677.

On Thursday 28 August Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having a talk.
Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893.

On Friday 29 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a night
out, operating Bunkers on the Air. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476 273
190.

On Saturday 30 August Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is attending
the RATS Rally at Stanford Hall. Contact Simon G8PAN, on 07977 266643.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND The Scarborough Amateur Radio Training
Group will be starting a course leading to the Advanced Amateur Radio
Licence commencing on September 28th 2008 and on every subsequent
Tuesday evening between 7 and 9 pm at the Crossgates (Scarborough)
Community Centre until the examination on April 1st 2009. There will be
an informal get-together for prospective students to meet the tutors on
August 26th 2008 commencing at 7 pm and all are welcome. Full details
are obtainable from G4YKO on 01723 352823 or G4WHO on 01723 352879.

On Sunday 24 August North Wakefield Radio Club is attending Leeds Steam
Rally at Temple Newsam Park. Contact Richard, M0RBG, on 07976 220 126.

On Monday 25 August Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club is supporting
RAYNET for the Great North Bike Ride. Contact Mark, G0GFG, on 01388
745353.

On Monday 25 August Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having an HF
portable evening. Details on the web at www.sheffieldarc.org.uk.

On Tuesday 26 August Pontefract District Amateur Radio Society is
having an introduction to creating a web site and web pages with Chris,
M0JRQ. Details on 07594 596 040.

On Tuesday 26 August Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
John, M0ANM. Contact Roger, M0DWQ on 01925 813 558.

On Wednesday 27 August Maltby and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air. Contact Keith, G1PQW, on 07801 156 678.

On Thursday 28 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
80m club SSB contest. Contact Sue, G6UQA, on 01482 668 041.

On Thursday 28 August North Wakefield Radio Club is having a club
night. Contact Richard, M0RBG, on 07976 220 126.

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On Friday 29 August East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Friday 29 August South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is looking
at members' favourite websites. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 29 August Tynemouth Radio Club is playing Morse bingo with
G0SBN. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to mailatg0nwm.com.

On Saturday 30 August Pontefract District Amateur Radio Society is
running the second part of its Foundation Course. Details on 07594 596
040.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Brian Shearer, MM1HMV is the new DRM for Region 01,
District 14, covering Dunbartonshire, Argyll & Bute, and the Western
Isles. His email address is mmihmvathamcall.co.uk and home telephone
number is 01369 705333. The retiring DRM Jim Stirling, GM3UWX, has been
in the position since the inception of the Regional Scheme and the
Society wishes to thank Jim for his commitment to the DRM position.

On Tuesday 26 August Livingston and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a Morse code evening. Contact Norman, on 0131 449 7641.

On Wednesday 27 August Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is having an
evening of teaching, practical work and general discussion. Contact
Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on 015050 613633.

On Thursday 28 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is constructing
antennas for club use. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

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

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.