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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 17th May 2009

The news headlines

* Japanese amateurs get LF allocation
* New DRM sought for Region 4 * Lectures booked for the RSGB Convention

Japanese amateurs have been given access to a 3.1kHz wide segment
between 135.7 and 137.8kHz. Only CW or narrow bandwidth data
transmission less than 100Hz may be used in the new band.

A new RSGB Deputy Regional Manager is being sought for the York area of
Region 4. If you are interested in volunteering for this important role
within the local amateur community, please contact Harold Scrivens, the
Region 4 Regional Manager, by e-mail to .

Plans for the lecture streams at the forthcoming RSGB Convention on 9
to 11 October are well under way. Some of the highlights will be
lectures on the KP5 Desecheo Expedition by Bob Allphin, K4UEE, the
International Beacon Project by Leslie Butterfield, G0CIB and a talk on
ATUs by Peter Chadwick, G3RZP. The VHF And Up stream has a theme of
VHF/UHF/SHF/Microwave DXing and Contesting through technical excellence
and development but not forgetting the beginners to these bands. The
very popular Contest University stream that was standing room only at
last year's event will be making a return appearance. For those other
halves not interested in amateur radio, there is a Partners Programme
visit to Cambridge led by popular Blue Badge Guide, Rosie Zanders.

The M1A sub manager, Anthony Nowell, BRS94177, is currently holding
over 2000 uncollected QSL cards for M1AAA-AZZ call holders who have no
stamped addressed envelopes lodged with him. If you hold an M1A call,
or know of a callsign holder in this series, please ask them to check
their envelope status with Anthony, or confirm that they do not wish to
receive QSL cards. His address is available on the members website, or
telephone, 07951 178911. All amateurs are urged to ensure that stamped,
self addressed envelopes are always to hand as QSL sub managers are
only obliged to retain incoming QSL cards for a period of up to 6
months, after which time uncollected cards may be destroyed.

The RSGB QSL bureau would like to hear from any active amateur with a
callsign in the G0H series interested in volunteering as QSL sub
manager for the G0HAA-HZZ series. Please e-mail the bureau at
.

At Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, re-enactors will bring to life
wartime Britain during the colourful and entertaining 1940s Family
Festival on Monday 25 May. The day will include the first of many
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypasts, weather permitting, with a
Hurricane, Lancaster and Spitfire. Your entry fee on the first visit
gets you free entry for a whole year including events like the 1940s
Family Festival. For visitor information, phone 01908 640404 or go to
www.bletchleypark.org.uk.

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Ofcom has been carrying out an exercise to monitor RF spectrum usage
across the country. CRFS was engaged by Ofcom in April 2008 to test the
feasibility of mobile monitoring of spectrum as a concept and, in doing
so, to gather some useful data about spectrum usage around the UK. CRFS
equipped a fleet of commercial vehicles, which travelled around all
parts of the United Kingdom to monitor and record details of spectrum
usage from10MHz to 5GHz. Data was collected and collated over a
five-month period. The data amounted to 4.2 million individual spectrum
measurements, which were gathered in a database. The report titled
Capture of Spectrum Utilisation Information Using Moving Vehicles is
now available on the Ofcom website at
www.ofcom.org.uk/research/technology/research.

On Sunday 21 May, M0NOD from West Sussex will be cycling 54 miles from
Clapham Common in London to Brighton on the south coast in aid of the
British Heart Foundation. He will be taking along his Kenwood handheld
and accessing GB3HY and GB3SR en route. This is his second year
supporting the BHF.

The aim of the Carabinieri Award is for amateurs and SWLs around the
world to contact as many Carabinieri On The Air members between 20 May
at 0700 and 5 June at 1900. Using the 80, 40 and 20m bands with either
SSB, CW, PSK31 or RTTY contact, you are allowed one contact a day for
the same band/mode or member. For the official list of COTA amateurs as
well as details of the points system and award that are available see
www.cota.cc.

The First Class CW Operators Club has two regular QSO parties
celebrating the memory of their Chairman Bill Windle, G8VG. The first
event takes place on 23 May and FOC is actively welcoming anybody at
any speed to enter the event to promote CW across the bands. The event
runs for a 24 hour period from 0000 to 2359 on all bands excluding the
WARC bands and activity takes place around 25kHz up from the band
edges. Non members should send as a minimum RST and name and send the
total number of FOC stations worked to along with any
comments not later than a week after each event.

AMSAT-UK has announced a change of venue for the 2009 Colloquium. It
will now take place at the Holiday Inn Hotel at Guildford, which is
close to the University of Surrey. The event will commence at 10am on
Saturday 25 July and continue until about 4pm on the Sunday. There will
be presentations on all the latest amateur satellite happenings and
developments. The RSGB demonstration vehicle GB4FUN will also be there
and able to demonstrate satellite operations. Full details of booking
arrangements can be found on the AMSAT UK web site, www.uk.amsat.org.

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

Today, 17 May, the Dunstable Downs Radio Club National Amateur Radio
Car Boot Sale will take place at Stockwood Park, Luton. Gates open at
9am and car parking is £2. More details at www.ddrcbootsale.org.

The Magnum Radio Rally takes place on 24 May at the Magnum Leisure
Centre, Harbourside, Irvine, Ayrshire KA12 8PP. There is free car
parking and the doors open at 10.30am with entry being £3.50. You can
expect plenty of trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well as Special
Interest Groups. Details from Helen, MM0HLN on 0777 6385247, or on the
web at www.magnumrally.org.

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Now for the news of special events

Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club will be running a Special
Event Station from the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh to
celebrate 10 years of the Scottish Parliament. They will be using the
callsign GB10SP and will be active on 17 May from 9am to 5pm. Special
QSL cards will be sent to acknowledge every contact.

Newbury & District ARS club will be activating the call GB0VUL for
Vulcan to the Sky on 17 May from New Greenham Arts, 113 Lindenmuth Way,
New Greenham Park, Newbury RG19 6HN.

The Craven Radio Amateur Group are to activate the WAB square SD84 from
Bancroft Mill on 17 May using the callsign MX0BCQ/A. The mill will be
open to the public and the engine will be under steam.

Martin, G3VOF and six other radio amateurs will be putting GB6GEO on
the air during the European Geo Parks Communication Event, which takes
place on 23 and 24 May. Activity will be from Kents Cavern in Torquay.
For more details, see GB6GEO at qrz.com.

GB250RB is on air to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of
Robert Burns, Scotland's National Bard. It will be activated throughout
2009. The next event in May will be at the Mauchline Holy Fair,
Mauchline on Saturday 23 May. Members of the Kilmarnock and Loudoun
Radio Club will be running a radio station at this event from 9am and
will be working HF bands.

On 21 May, GB2CT will be on the air for Chalton Telegraph at
Waterlooville in Hampshire.

23 May sees GB2MAC on the air from Marble Arch Caves in County
Fermanagh.

Special callsign OH5POPOV will be aired on 24 May to commemorate
Russian physicist and radio pioneer Aleksandr S Popov. QSL via OH5VX.

The Barry Amateur Radio Society will be active as GB100BP from Sully,
Wales until 31 May. The special callsign celebrates 100 years of
British Petroleum. QSL via GW0ANA.

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

AH2Y and WX8C will be active from Guam as AH2Y during the CQWW WPX CW
Contest that takes place on 30 and 31 May. QSL via Logbook to the World
or direct to HL1IWD.

8N5I will be on the air from Shikoku Island, which is IOTA reference AS
076, until 15 June. QSL via JARL bureau.

YE7M will be active from Payung Payungan Island, which is IOTA
reference OC-268, between 22 and 24 May. Activity will be on 40, 20,
17, 15 and 10m using CW and SSB.

Hermann, DL2NUD and Joachim, DL9MS will be active from Zanzibar Island
as 5H1HP and 5H1MS respectively until 2 June. They will operate on 2m
EME/MS, with activity also on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via their
home calls.

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Terry, BA7NQ will be on holiday on Hainan Island, which is IOTA
reference AS-094 on 24 to 26 May. Depending on local conditions, he
plans to operate holiday style mainly on 20, 30 and 40m metres CW
around 0400, 1000, 1600 and 2300UTC.

Eight operators from the Charente DX Group will be active as TM0M from
Molene Island between 23 and 30 May. They plan to operate SSB, CW, RTTY
and PSK on 80m to 10m and possibly on 6m as well. QSL via F6ANA.

Now the contest news

Today, 17 May, the RSGB 144MHz Backpackers contest takes place between
1100 and 1500. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial
number, locator and postcode, for example MK.

On 19 May the RSGB 1.3GHz/2.3GHz Activity Contest takes place between
1900 and 2130. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.

On 21 May, between 1900 and 2030, the RSGB 80m Club Championships takes
to the air with the CW leg. The exchange is signal report and serial
number.

Over the late May Bank Holiday weekend, the RSGB ARDF Committee are
hosting three days of open ARDF competition in Shropshire. There will
be 2m, 80m and Fox-Oring courses, in addition the 5th British ARDF
Championships will be contested. Both championship races take place on
the slopes of Brown Clee Hill, near Ludlow and the Fox-Oring event is
at nearby Corndon Hill. The 2m competition takes place on Saturday 23
May with 80m following on the Sunday and a Fox-Oring race on Bank
Holiday Monday on the slopes of Cordon Hill, Powys. Although classed as
an international it will be possible for newcomers and beginners to
take part after the main event has started. Entries will be accepted up
until the Thursday before the event, loan equipment and guidance will
be available, see www.ardf.btinternet.co.uk/events.html.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 4th to the 10th
of May, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on 11th of May.

On the 8th of May an international panel of experts led by NOAA's Space
Weather Prediction Centre said that an unusually long, deep lull in
sunspots led the panel to revise its 2007 prediction that the next
cycle of solar storms would start in March 2008 and peak in late 2011
or mid-2012. The persistence of a quiet sun since the last prediction
has led the panel to a consensus that the next cycle will be
"moderately weak." The panel predicts the upcoming solar cycle 24 will
peak in May 2013 with a daily sunspot number of around 90. If the
prediction proves true, solar cycle 24 will be the weakest cycle since
sunspot cycle number 16, which peaked at 78 daily sunspots in 1928, and
the ninth weakest since the 1750s, when numbered cycles began. The
strongest solar storm on record occurred in 1859 during another
below-average cycle, similar to the one we are predicting. The 1859
storm shorted out telegraph wires, causing fires in North America and
Europe, sent readings of the Earth's magnetic field soaring, and
produced northern lights so bright that people could read newspapers by
their light.

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Now to the present, during the 5th and the 6th a coronal mass ejection
took place from an active region from just behind the east limb of the
Sun. However, on the 9th it rotated into view as a spotless region.
Several small sub-flares took place reaching the B1 level from the 8th
to the 10th. Solar activity was very low and the solar disc remained
spotless everyday. Solar flux levels increased from 68 units to 72 by
the 9th and the 10th. This is the highest daily figure since the 17th
of January. The average was 70 units. The 90 day solar flux average on
the 10th was also 70 units. X-ray flux levels remained below the
minimum reporting level everyday. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet
levels with an Ap index of 2 units on the 5th. As forecast, a coronal
hole disturbance arrived on the 7th and last for most of the 8th. The
Ap index on the 7th and the 8th was 10 and 13 units respectively. The
average was Ap 6 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds increase from 320 kilometres per second on the 5th to
520 by the 8th. Particle densities were low throughout. Bz varied
between minus and plus 2 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus
and plus 6 nanoTeslas on the most disturbed day.

And finally the solar forecast. For the first time in a long time there
is a moderate chance that sunspots could be visible this week. Saying
that, solar activity should stay at very low levels. Solar flux levels
are expected to be around the 70 mark are slightly higher. Geomagnetic
activity should be mostly quiet. 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 10MHz. Paths this week to Japan
should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate
of around 19MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent
success rate will be about 15MHz. The best time to try this path will
be between 0800 and 1400 hours UTC. Sporadic-E is expected to take
place on some days at HF and the lower VHF bands. Next week the latest
monthly smoothed sunspot numbers and news on the latest orbiting solar
telescope.

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 Bromley and District ARS will be holding a Foundation
Course on Sunday 17 May and Sunday 31 May, with the exam on the 31st.
The venue is the Victory Social Club, Kechill Gardens, Hayes BR2 7NH.
An Intermediate course will be held on Saturdays 27 June, 4 and 11
July. The exam will be on the afternoon of 11 July. Details on the web
at www.bdars.org or by e-mail to courses bdars.co.uk.

On Monday 18 May Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is
holding its AGM. Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 18 May Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it, advice,
chin-wag and move-it-on evening. Contact Ray, G4FFY, on 020 8644 7589.

On Tuesday 19 May Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is operating from
the shack. Contact Steve, 0142 720815, .

On Tuesday 19 May Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on the
mid-Herts Repeater Group. Contact Ralph, 01923 265572.

On Wednesday 20 May Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Contact Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 419204.

On Wednesday 20 May Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a report on the Dayton Hamvention by Phil, G4UDU. Contact Roy, G4GPX,
on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 21 May King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
.

On Thursday 21 May Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a mobile DF hunt. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Thursday 21 May Sutton and Cheam Radio Society is holding its AGM
and construction contest. Contact John, G0BWV, on 020 8644 9945.

On Friday 22 May Hilderstone Radio and Electronics Club is having a
Morse practice and natter night. Contact Mike, G4MIX, on 07732 133230.

On Friday 22 May Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
the VP8YL DXpedition by Liz Jones, M0ACL and Brian Jones, G0UKB.
Contact Charlie, M0WYM, on 02380 439560.

On Sunday 24 May Aylesbury Vale Radio Society is running an exhibition
station at Watermead fete. Contact Roger, G3MEH, on 01442 826 651.

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NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Monday 18 May Appledore and District Amateur
Radio Club is having a talk on PSK 3.1 by Mike, G3PGA and Dave, G3YGJ.
Contact Brian Jewell, M0BRB, on 01237 473251.

On Tuesday 19 May Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on PMR programming. Contact Nick Perrin, G3NRH, by email to
.

On Wednesday 20 May Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is having an operating
and mystery night. Contact Mike, G1GZG, on 01395 274172.

On Wednesday 20 May South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a table
top sale with Len Baker, G4RZY. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 20 May Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is watching
a video. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.

On Wednesday 20 May Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a natter night. Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, E/W.

On Thursday 21 May Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

On Thursday 21 May Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on going
out and about with the Yaesu FT817 by M0WOB. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ, by
email to .

On Friday 22 May Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having an operating
night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS The Leicester DX Team would like to thank
everyone who helped out and visited their field day at Tilton on the
Hill. The group is hoping to reactivate itself and get its own club
callsign. The club meets every Monday at Blaby Golf Centre, and more
details are on the club web site at www.leicesterdx.co.uk.

On Monday 18 May Gloucester Amateur Radio And Electronics Society is
operating club equipment. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478,
daytime.

On Monday 18 May Leicester Amateur Radio Society is on the air. Contact
Linda, G8VQM, on 07804 595749.

On Monday 18 May South Normanton Alfreton and District Amateur Radio
Club is having its junk sale. Contact A J Higton, 2E1GWO, on 01773
783658.

On Monday 18 May Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is having an open
discussion on problem solving. Contact Simon, G8PAN, on 07977 266643.

On Tuesday 19 May Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is having an
illustrated talk on the VO2A expedition to Labrador by Ken, G3OCA.
Contact Richard Buckby, by email to .

On Tuesday 19 May Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on soldering by Andrew, G7SEG. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on
01509 504 319.

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On Wednesday 20 May Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a natter night
and on the air evening. Contact Pam Rose, on 01427 788356.

On Wednesday 20 May South Notts Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
Linux and amateur radio by 2E0XIK. Details are on the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc.

On Wednesday 20 May Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on ATV by G8VZT. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.

On Thursday 21 May Solihull Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
RF impedance measurement by Tony Plant, G3NXC. Contact P T Gaskin,
G8AYY, on 0121 783 2996.

On Friday 22 May Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
chat evening. Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776 869.

On Friday 22 May Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a wine and
cheese evening. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 22 May Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club is having a
member's forum. Contact Dave Wilde, G1YAI, by email to
.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 18 May Angel Of The North
Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on RAYNET by Geoff Darby with a
practical example to show how it copes with a disaster. Contact Nancy
Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 4770036.

On Monday 18 May Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has its home construction
competition. Contact Mike Gordon G0TKO, on 01709 382479.

On Monday 18 May South Manchester Radio And Computer Club has its
monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Monday 18 May Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
NARSA visit with Dave Wilson. Contact John Foster, M3WAZ, on 01253
399377.

On Tuesday 19 May Chester and District Radio Society is having a talk
on Urenco of Capenhurst by Peter Kilfoyle. Contact Barbara Green on
0151 339 9183.

On Tuesday 19 May Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society is giving
members a chance to show off their pet projects. Contact Anthony
Vinters, on 01422 822636.

On Tuesday 19 May Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a
social evening. Contact Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on 07852 200232.

On Tuesday 19 May Stockport Radio Society is having a presentation on
Raynet by Roger Alexander, 2E0WZZ. Contact David, M1ANT, on 0161 456
7832.

On Tuesday 19 May Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on "An
Alternative System" by Paul, M3YRO. Contact Roger, M0DWQ, on 07868 000
705.

On Wednesday 20 May Goole Radio and Electronics Society Is having a
natter night. Contact Ken G6YYN, on 01757 638539.

On Wednesday 20 May Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a fox hunt.
Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

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On Wednesday 20 May Tynemouth Radio Club is visiting TVLB. Contact
Graham Errington, on 07812 172136.

On Thursday 21 May Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the 80m
CW club contest. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

On Thursday 21 May South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having
its AGM. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 22 May East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a radio
components catalogues evening. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475
671.

On Saturday 23 May Finningley Amateur Radio Society commences its
weekend event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Sandtoft Trolleybus
Museum. Contact Colin, 2E0UBT, on 0172 471 1686.

On Saturday 23 May Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is holding an open day at
the clubhouse. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 19 May Livingston and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a club evening. Contact Norman, on 0131 449
7641.

On Wednesday 20 May Kingdom Amateur Radio Society is having a
presentation by GM3TAL on the effect of ground on antennas. Contact
Brian, MM0XBD, on 01383 738905.

On Thursday 21 May Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society meeting is cancelled.
Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

NEWS FOR WALES On Tuesday 19 May Wrexham Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on Raynet by Malcolm Bobby. Details on the web at
www.qsl.net/wars.

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.