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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 25th January 2009 The news headlines

* Japan to launch amateur satellites

* Danish amateurs on 70MHz

* Full size 3-element 160m beam in use

A constellation of seven tiny Cubesat amateur radio satellites is being
launched by Japan. The satellites are secondary payloads on board the
GOSAT IBUKI satellite. The original launch date of 22 January was
postponed until the 23rd due to weather conditions at the launch site.
We hope to bring you more news of the constellation in a future GB2RS
bulletin.

Danish radio amateurs can now use the 70.225MHz channel with the
segment 70.2125 * 70.2375MHz. This also means that two smaller segments
are now joined into one 100kHz wide segment. For more details see the
Danish bandplan at www.70mhz.org/bandplan_oz.htm.

The world's largest amateur radio antenna is to be been deployed on
160m at OH8X. The group at Radio Arcala will erect a 39-ton, 3-element
full-size monster during the week of January 19, ready for the CQWW
160m Contest. Radio Arcala is cooperating with the University of Oulu
in several areas of HF propagation study. They also welcome and
acknowledge field reports to oh1wzatsral.fi.

Ofcom has published the responses to the consultation on the
licence-exempt use of the 275-3000 GHz band. These include a joint
response from the RSGB, UK Microwave Group, AMSAT-UK and the British
Amateur Television Club. The responses can be seen at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/cond...ghz/responses/

Another round of Advanced classes will be starting in Bath on Thursday
29 January at 1900. Steve Hartley, G0FUW, Mike Coombs, G3VTO and Lewis
Thomas, G4YTN, will be running the classes every Thursday up to the
June examination. Costs are kept as low as possible through generous
support of the City of Bristol RSGB group. Anyone that would like to
join the classes should contact Steve, G0FUW, on 01225 464394, 7-9pm
evenings only please, or via e-mail to G0FUWattiscali.co.uk.

The Newbury and District Amateur Radio Club is holding a Foundation
Licence course and exam on 28 February and 1 March. They are also
holding an Intermediate training weekend on the 21 and 22 March with
the practical and exam on 25 April. For more info or to register your
interest please contact the course organiser, Steve Elliott, M0SEL, on
07799 897 839 or email s_elliott293atbtinternet.com.

An RSGB Train the Trainers session will take place on Sunday, 8
February in Banstead, Surrey. The Train the Trainers scheme helps
tutors enhance the standard of their Foundation, Intermediate and
Advanced licence courses. For more information and to register, contact
Stuart Barber, G6CJR via E-mail to gb4bdsatbtinternet.com, or
telephone 07946 688106.

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Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is running a Foundation course on
28 February and 1 March at the 3rd Worcester Scout HQ, Vicar Street,
off Rainbow Hill, Worcester WR3 8EU. The course will follow its normal
format of theory work on Saturday and Practical work on Sunday,
culminating in the examination Sunday afternoon They will also be
running an Intermediate level examination on the Sunday afternoon, this
is an exam only and is not part of any course running. Deadline date
for the completed candidate paperwork and payment is 14 February at the
very latest, please register early as these courses quickly become
oversubscribed. infoatwraa.co.uk.

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

Today, 25 January, the Horncastle Winter Rally will take place at the
Horncastle Youth Centre, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Entry is £1 and car
parking is free. Contact Tony, G3ZPU, on 01507 527835 or e-mail
.

Sunday 1 February is the South Essex Amateur Radio Society Mobile Radio
Rally at 'The Paddocks', Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex, at the
southern end of the A130. There is free car parking and doors open at
10.30am. Contact Ken, G0BBN, on 01842 861089, for further details.

Now for the news of special events

On 31 January and 1 February Ted Moore, G7AIR will be operating a
special event station on behalf of The Eddystone User Group at the site
of the Point of Ayre Lighthouse on the Isle of Man. The callsigns used
will GT3EUG on 80m, GT7EUG on 40m and GD7AIR on 160m. Special QSLs will
be issued for each band and call. For further info check out Eddystone
User Group website.www.eddystoneusergroup.org.uk.

2009 is the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Bermuda by Sir
George Somers. The Radio Society of Bermuda has been issued with a
special prefix that can be used by all VP9s. The prefix is VP9400xx and
it is valid for the whole year. The xx suffix is the operator's call
letters, for example VP9400LP. There are a few novice licence holders
who will have a 3 digit suffix, ieVP9400NMT.

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

P40PZ will be on the air from Aruba until 28 January. He will operate
80 through to 6m using SSB and the digital modes only. QSL via EA5GVH.

HS0ZGQ will be on the air from Koh Samui Island, which is IOTA
reference AS-101, until 12 February. QSL to DL1MJF.

J79XBI will be on the air until 1 April while on holiday in Dominica.
Activity will be on the HF bands using SSB. QSL via SM0XBI.

To mark the Millennium of Lithuania, a number of club members are QRV
with the prefix LY1000 until 1 March. Activity is on all bands and
modes. QSL via operators' instructions

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F5LGQ will be active from Reunion Island as TO4IPA until 31 January. If
you make contact please QSL as directed on the air.

An international group of YLs are activating the Falkland Islands until
31 January. Each operator will be signing with the callsign VP8YL, plus
a third letter of the suffix that will be assigned at beginning of the
operation. QSL via the operator's home callsign as directed on the air.

Dave, G3TBK, will shortly resume operations from the Caribbean Island
of Saint Vincent, using the callsign J88DR. Operation will continue
until mid-March. Activity will be on CW, SSB, RTTY and SSTV, using all
HF Bands. QSL via G3TBK, either using the Bureau or direct - but note
no further cards will be answered until mid-March. All cards received
for previous operations by J88DR have now been answered.

Now the contest news

Since the January RadCom went to press, the RSGB has been advised that
details of the CQ World Wide 160 metre CW contest have changed. The new
details are that the times are 2200GMT on 23 January to 2200GMT on 25
January. The exchange has also been altered to RST and CQ Zone instead
of country. There are also significant changes affecting the February
SSB contest. Further details of these and other rule changes are on the
official web site at www.CQ160.com/rules.htm.

On 27 January, the RSGB 50NHz Activity Contest takes place from 2000 to
2230. Activity can be on any mode in the 50MHz band. The exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.

The Worked All Britain 1.8MHz Phone contest takes place next Saturday,
31 January from 1900 to 2300UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial
number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be
obtained from the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from the
Contest Manager G0BFJ, QTHR.

On 2 February, the RSGB 80 Club Championship, SSB leg, takes place from
20000 to 2130. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

The World Wide Peace Messenger City Contest takes place on 7 and 8
February from 1200 to 1200 using CW and SSB. The exchange is signal
report and serial number. Do not use separate numbering systems for CW
and SSB. Stations may be contacted on both CW and SSB on each band.
www.s59dcd.si/english.

Now the solar report for the period from the 12th to the 18th of
January, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF.

We start this weeks report with the latest smoothed monthly sunspot
numbers which are for April, May and June 2008, which are 3.3 3.5 and
3.3 respectively.

A small sunspot group disappeared on the 13th leaving the solar disc
spotless for the rest of the period. Solar activity was very low
throughout. Solar flux levels increased from 69 units on the 12th to 72
by the 17th. The average was 71 units. The 90 day solar flux average on
the 18th remained at 69 units for another week. X- ray flux levels
remained below the minimum reporting level everyday. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet

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everyday. The most disturbed day which was the 14th with an Ap index of
only 5 units. The average was Ap 3 units. Solar wind data from the ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 290 kilometres per
second on the 12th to 450 by the 18th. Particle densities increased to
15 particles per cubic centimetre on the 13th and to 10 particles per
cubic centimetre on the 18th. Bz varied between only minus 7 and plus 7
nanoTeslas throughout the period.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
continue at very low levels. Solar flux levels should be around the 70
mark for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be
mostly quiet; however, a short active spell could take place around
midweek due to a small recurring coronal hole. 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 7MHz. Paths this
week to South Africa 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 19MHz. The best time to
try this path will be between 0900 and 1500 hours UTC.

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 The social side of the Cambridge Repeater Group, Cambs
Hams, has changed its venue. It now meets at the Blue Lion, Hardwick,
Cambs, from 7pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Details are at
www.cambridgerepeaters.net. On Sunday 25 January Chelmsford Amateur
Radio Society is operating from Sandford Mill using GB0MWT to
commemorate Jack Binns, radio operator on the RMS Republic. Contact
Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008. On Sunday 25 January Hastings
Electronics and Radio Club is having its annual club lunch. Contact
Gordon, on 01424 431 909. On Tuesday 27 January Brede Steam Amateur
Radio Society is operating from the shack. Contact Steve, on 0142
720815. On Tuesday 27 January Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club
is having its annual quiz evening. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247
2846. On Wednesday 28 January Crawley Amateur Radio Club is holding its
AGM. Contact John, G3VLH, on 01342 714 402. On Wednesday 28 January
Dover Radio Club is having a Meet the Members evening. Contact Brian,
G4SAU, on g4sauatDARC.org.uk. On Wednesday 28 January Fareham and
District Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM. Contact Ken, M0KLS, on
02392 797 240. On Wednesday 28 January Hastings Electronics and Radio
Club is having a talk on WWI radios. Contact Gordon, on 01424 431 909.
On Wednesday 28 January Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its surplus equipment sale. Contact Richard, G3ZGC, on 01635
46241. On Wednesday 28 January Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having an
informal, construction, workshop and Bright Sparks evening. Contact
Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099.

On Wednesday 28 January Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
putting GX3WOR on the air and having discussions. Contact Roy, G4GPX,
on 01903 753 893. On Thursday 29 January Bittern DX Group is having an
informal evening. Contact Keith, G0GFQ, on 01263 588 506. On Thursday
29 January King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club night and 2m
club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to ral-g3rsvatsupanet.com.

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On Thursday 29 January Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
announcing its provisional club construction project. Contact David,
G8UOD, on 01234 742 757. On Friday 30 January Cambridge and District
Amateur Radio Club is having an informal evening. Contact David Leary,
G8JKV on 01223 355254. On Friday 30 January Wimbledon and District
Amateur Radio Society is on the air with digital amateur radio. Contact
Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874 7456. On Saturday 31 January Gorleston Amateur
Radio Society is having a lunch time meeting at the Short Blue Public
House. Contact David, G3OEP, on 01493 662 323.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Wednesday 28 January South Bristol Amateur
Radio Club is on the air. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282. On
Wednesday 28 January Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is on the
air and having a Morse class. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.
On Wednesday 28 January Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur
Radio Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.

On Thursday 29 January Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750. On Thursday 29
January Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ,
by email to g.swainattesco.net. On Friday 30 January Jersey Amateur
Radio Society and GB3GJ repeater group are having a quarterly members
meeting. Contact Phil, MJ0JER, on gj3dvcatgj3dvc.org.je.

On Friday 30 January Torbay Amateur Radio Society is awarding its
annual construction cup. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
g6fspattars.org.uk.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 26 January Gloucester Amateur Radio And
Electronics Society is operating the club equipment. Contact Anne,
2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime. On Monday 26 January South Birmingham
Radio Society is removing its 50cm aerial and feeder. Contact Don, on
0121 458 1603.

On Monday 26 January South Normanton Alfreton and District Amateur
Radio Club is having a video night. Contact A J Higton, 2E1GWO, on
01773 783658. On Monday 26 January Stratford Upon Avon District Radio
Society is having a talk on aerial planning applications by 2E0BOT and
another on electrical measurement using a PC by G0CHO. Contact Jack,
G3VYE, on 01926 641 988. On Tuesday 27 January Derby and District
Amateur Radio Society is on the air. Contact Richard Buckby, by email
to radioatdadars.org.uk.

On Tuesday 27 January Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

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On Tuesday 27 January Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is having
a club net on145.225MHz. Contact Bernard, M1AUK, on 01926 420 913. On
Wednesday 28 January Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a quiz
night. contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363. On Wednesday 28 January
Midland Amateur Radio Society is running training classes. Contact
Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787. On Wednesday 28 January Telford and
District Amateur Radio Society is having an update on D-Star by M0FHM.
Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677. On Thursday 29 January Salop
Amateur Radio Society is having a chairman's discussion night. Details
on the web at www.salop-ARS.org.uk. On Friday 30 January Bromsgrove and
District Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on operating in Malawi.
Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776 869. On Friday 30 January Coventry
Amateur Radio Society is having a video night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on
07958 777363. On Friday 30 January South Birmingham Radio Society is
having a construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 26 January Bolton Wireless Club
is having a talk on simple wire antennas for portable and fixed station
use by Bill G3NQX. Contact boltonwirelessatgmail.com. On Monday 26
January Macclesfield and District Radio Society is having a talk and
demonstration on digital modes. Contact Tom, M1EYP, on 01625 612 916.
On Monday 26 January South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having
its monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On
Monday 26 January Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on the Fisherman's Friend by Chris Rotherham and Dennis Walker.
Contact John Webb, G8RDP, on 01253 876313. On Tuesday 27 January
Chester and District Radio Society is having a talk on Eddystone radios
by David Oakden. Contact Barbara Green on 0151 339 9183. On Tuesday 27
January Pontefract Junior Radio Club is working on the VHF vertical
antenna project. Contact Chris, 07970 479 200. On Tuesday 27 January
Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk entitled My Part in
1940s Communications by John, G7SF. Contact Roger, M0DWQ, on 07868 000
705. On Wednesday 28 January Maltby and District Amateur Radio Society
is having an antenna workshop. Contact Keith, G1PQW, on 07701 156 678.
On Wednesday 28 January Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on the importance of phase noise by G8ATB. Contact Peter Paul Fox,
G8HAV, on 01606 553401. On Wednesday 28 January South Notts Amateur
Radio Club continues its Advanced course. Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the
web at www.radioclubs.net/snarc.

On Thursday 29 January North Wakefield Radio Club is having a club
night. Contact Jim Thornton, G3YDL, by email to eventsatg4nok.org.

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On Thursday 29 January York Radio Club is having Morse lessons and exam
instruction. Contact Tony Skaife G4XIV, on 01904 330502. On Friday 30
January East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact
Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671. On Friday 30 January Hull and
District Amateur Radio Society is holding its AGM at 7.30pm. Details
from the chairman on 01482 376835. On Friday 30 January South
Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having a talk on "My Introduction
to Amateur Radio" by G3SVW. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On
Friday 30 January Tynemouth Radio Club is having an Extraordinary
General Meeting to discuss the Constitution. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by
email to mailatg0nwm.com. On Saturday 31 January Grimsby Amateur
Radio Society is running special event station GB2RNLI at Cleethorpes
Lifeboat Station for RNLI "Save our Souls" weekend. Contact Brian
Chester, G4DXB by email to g4dxbatgars.org.uk.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 27 January Dundee Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on D-Star radio by Martin Higgins, MM0DUN. All visitors
are welcome. Contact 0844 884 3449,
mm0dunatdundee-amateur-radio.co.uk. On Tuesday 27 January Livingston
and District Amateur Radio Society is having a Morse practice evening.
Contact Norman, on 0131 449 7641. On Wednesday 28 January Lothians
Radio Society is having a talk on antenna tuning units by Ian White,
GM3SEK. Contact Colin, GM4HWO, by email to
enquiriesatlothiansradiosociety.com.

On Thursday 29 January Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air.
Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663. On Thursday 29 January
Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club is having a natter and on the air
night. Contact Ellis Gaston, GM0HPK, on 01776 820413. On Friday 30
January West Of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having a club night.
Contact Fred Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415715512.

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

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND On Monday 26 January Glengormley Electronics
Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on interfacing radios to
computers by Charlie, GI4FUE. Contact Peter Lowrie, MI5JYK, by email to
mi5jykatrsgb.org.uk.

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

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.