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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 15th November 2009

The news headlines

Electronic Voting available for the RSGB 2009 elections

Some UK licences get an extended validation period

New allocations for Finnish and Norwegian radio amateurs

An electronic voting system is now up and running for voting in the
RSGB 2009 elections. It is being run by the Electoral Reform Society.
There are four Board places to be filled and Region 9 also has an
election for the Regional Representative position. Full details of all
the candidates and how to vote are in the December RadCom and on the
RSGB website at www.rsgb.org. Members may still send in a postal vote
if preferred and an envelope is included with this month's RadCom.
Please note that RSGB members have until noon on 10 December to
register their vote and you must only use one method of voting.

Ofcom introduced a new, easy online licensing system in 2006 that
requires amateur radio licensees to validate their licence details at
least once every five years. If you have not already got your licence,
you can see how easy it is at Ofcom's website. If your licence has an
issue date between November 2006 and August 2007 and licensing details
have not been amended since then, your licence will be due for
validation around the time of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games
in 2012. During this time, Ofcom will be busy preparing for the event,
making sure that the extra demand for spectrum is met without causing
interference. Therefore, Ofcom has decided this time round to
automatically extend the validation period of these amateur licences
for a further year, giving 6 years from the issue date. After this,
these licence holders will need to update their licences themselves.
Full details can be found in the December RadCom and on the RSGB
website at www.rsgb.org.

The Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority has given stations in
Finland and its territories access to the 70MHz band. This includes
Finland, OH, Aaland Island, OH0, and Market Reef, OJ0. The new
allocation is 70.000 to 70.175MHz and 70.225 to 70.300MHz with 25, 30
or 100 watts depending on licence class. Restrictions apply for
stations closer than 50km to Norwegian and Russian borders.

Updated amateur radio licensing regulations have also come into force
in Norway. New allocations have been made available to all Norwegian
radio amateurs in addition to the 135.7 to 137.8kHz and the 7.1 to
7.2MHz bands. In the LF bands there is a secondary allocation at 493 to
510kHz with 100 watts, CW only. At HF there is a secondary allocation
at 5.260 to 5.410MHz, all modes with a 6kHz maximum bandwidth and
24.740 to 24.890MHz on a secondary basis, with 1kW and 6kHz maximum
bandwidth. In the 70MHz band there are several changes. All allocations
are on a secondary basis with 100 watts maximum and a maximum bandwidth
of 16kHz. Norway has extra allocations at 70.0625 to 70.0875MHz,
70.1375 to 70.1875MHz, 70.2625 to 70.3125MHz, 70.3625 to 70.3875MHz and
70.4125 to 70.4625MHz.

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Thailand's 7MHz expansion has received the go ahead from their
telecommunications regulator. The Thai National Telecommunications
Council has approved the expansion of the 40m band giving Thai radio
amateurs a primary status between 7.0 and 7.2MHz.

The recently postponed Train the Trainer course for Reading, Berkshire
has now been rescheduled for Saturday 21 November 2009. It will be
located in the Boardroom, Nabishi UK Ltd, 16c Upton Road, Reading,
Berkshire RG30 4BJ, starting at 9.30am. For further information please
contact Dr Alison Johnston, G8ROG by e-mail to or by
phone on 0118 954 5368, in the evenings please, or visit the regional
RSGB website www.rsgb-region-9.org.uk.

Castles and Stately Homes OnThe Air have launched a new website for
Northern Ireland. It can be found at www.cashota-ni.org. All
information and details of historical sites and how to activate them
can be found here, including activation forms for those amateurs that
wish to have a go gaining the award. Information can also be obtained
from The Northern Ireland Representative, Bobby 2I0ULL on 0774 701
9438.

Amateur wishing to claim IOTA credit for October 2009 contacts with
C91VM, whilst activating IOTA references AF-061, AF-066 and AF-088,
should be aware that, in response to the operator's current published
QSL policy, these three operations will not be accepted for IOTA
accreditation. Clarification is awaited from the operator that a policy
change will be made immediately to the effect that payment of 5 US
dollars is not obligatory and that cards sent direct with sufficient
return postage will be answered direct in a timely fashion. A prompt
amendment to the policy notice on QRZ.com is therefore required if
accreditation is to be reconsidered.

The ARMMS RF and Microwave Society is an independent professional
society comprised of Electronics Engineers with an interest in RF &
microwave design and measurement. The two-day ARMMS Conference will
take place on 23 and 24 November at the Rockingham Forest Hotel, Corby.
Full details of the conference programme can be found on their website
www.armms.org.

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

Today, Sunday 15 November, the CATS Radio & Electronics Bazaar will
take place at the 1st Coulsdon Scout HQ, at the rear of the Council Car
Park, Lion Green Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. Doors open from 10am to 1pm
and entry is £1. Car parking is free and you will find the usual Bring
& Buy as well as catering. Details from Andy G8JAC, e-mail
.

The Mayo Radio Experimenters in Ireland is holding their annual Radio
Rally on Sunday 22 November, in The Welcome Inn, Castlebar, Co Mayo.
The Mayo Club has also organised Declan Craig, EI6FR to give a talk the
evening before the rally, at 8.30pm. He will have an interesting
account about past expeditions and IOTA activity that he has taken part
in, how to plan future events and what is involved. The hotel is
offering a special rate for those wishing to stay the night before the
rally. More information can be found on their website
http://ei7mre.org/rally.htm.

Also on 22 November, the Plymouth Radio Club Rally will take place at
the Elm Community Centre, Leypark Walk, Estover, Plymouth PL6 8UE.
There is plenty of car parking and the doors open at 10.15 for disabled
visitors and 10.30am for other visitors. There will be trade stands and
a Bring & Buy as well as suitable catering facilities.

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Now for the news of special events

Members of the Galway VHF Group will be operating an HF station for a
24 hour period from lifeboat stations in County Galway. On 15 November
they will operate from the Aran Island Lifeboat station at Kilronan,
Inishmore. There will be a special QSL card for all contacts made and
SWL reports will also be welcomed.

Members of Chorley & District Amateur Radio Society will be operating
GB0LD from the village of Hoghton in central Lancashire. The station
will be celebrating Lancashire Day, the actual date of which is Friday
27 November. However, they are so proud of Lancashire that the station
will be active from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 29 November
inclusive. The station will be operating on the HF bands dependent on
propagation, with activity also planned on 2 metres & possibly 70
centimetres. QSL will be via the bureau. More information can be found
on QRZ.com.

To celebrate the Winter Olympic Games, VG7V will be on the air from
Canada until 30 November. QSL via VE7OM.

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

The Uruguay DX Group Falkland Islands DXpedition will be on the air
from Port Stanley until 21 November. They plan to start operation at
local sunset on the 14th working 40 meters. Listen out for VP8BUH on
SSB and VP8BUG on CW and digital modes. The QSL manager is David,
ED7DX.

DL2RMC, DL2JRM and DM5TI will be on from Christmas Island, the VK9 one,
from 21 November to 5 December. They will be on all bands and modes,
with emphasis on the low bands, mostly operating CW.

An international team is heading to Tonga, prefix A3, from 18 November
to 1 December. Plans are to have two stations including amplifiers for
all-band activity. Full details are on IK1PMR's website, which can be
found using your favourite search engine.

RA9LI will be active from Troynoy Island, which is IOTA reference
AS-086, in Asiatic Russia for about a year using the callsign RA9LI/0.
He will be active on the HF bands. QSL via UA9LP.

WB2IQU will be active from Western Samoa between 18 and 22 November as
5W2IQU. He will be active mainly on 20m. QSL via his home call.

Now the contest news

The UHF UK Activity Contest takes places on 17 November between 1900
and 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 1.3 and 2.3GHz bands, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 2nd 1.8MHz Contest takes place on Saturday 21 November. It's a
4-hour CW `bash' in which entrants can expect to work plenty of
continental stations, as well as the UK. Conditions permitting,
well-equipped stations can also expect to make some QSOs across the
Atlantic and sometimes even further. It takes place between 2100 and
0100UTC and the exchange is signal report, serial number and district.

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Now the solar factual data for the period from the 2nd to the 8th of
November, compiled on 9th of November by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.

Solar activity was very low with no solar flares taking place. The
solar disc was spotless till the 5th when a small sunspot group
emerged. It had no effect on solar flux levels which remained steady
all week. The average was 71 units. The 90 day solar flux average on
the 8th was 71, that's the same level as last week. X-ray flux levels
remained below the minimum reporting level throughout the period.
Geomagnetic activity was extremely quiet until a small coronal hole
disturbance arrived early on the 8th. There was three days with the Ap
index at zero units. The Ap index is calculated from 8 three hourly
measurements which is called the Kp index. This is on a scale from zero
to nine, zero equals very quiet levels and nine equals extreme storm
conditions. For the first 6 days of the period all the Kp indices were
zero except for 4. The Ap on the 8th increased to 6 units. The average
was Ap 1 unit. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind
speeds decline from 390 kilometres per second on the 2nd to 233 by the
7th. On the 8th speeds increased to 450 kilometres per second. Particle
densities were very low, often below one particle per cubic centimetre
until the 8th when they increased to 16 particles per cubic centimetre.
Bz showed little variation and was around plus 3 nanoTeslas for long
periods. On the 8th fluctuations to minus 9 and plus 8 nanoTeslas took
place during the slight disturbance. One parameter not used before in
this section of the news is the temperature of the solar wind. This
week temperatures where the lowest that I have seen.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be very low. There is a slight chance that a small C class solar flare
could take place. However, the sunspot group that was visible a few
weeks back could be visible again if it as survived its transit on the
far side of the Sun. Solar flux levels are expected to be around the
mid 70's. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be mostly quiet. Activity
could increase slightly after midweek due to a small coronal hole. MUFs
during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 23MHz for the
south and 20MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows should be about
8MHz. Paths this week to India should have a maximum usable frequency
with a 50 per cent success rate of around 25MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 20MHz. The best
time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1400 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 On Sunday 15 November Bittern DX Group continues its
Foundation Licence course. Contact Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154. On
Sunday 15 November Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a morning fox
hunt. Details on the web at www.harc.org.uk. On Monday 16 November
Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a base line session on PIC
processors. Contact Clive, G4ODM, on 01256 326050. On Monday 16
November Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on computer software for satellite working. Contact John, M5AJB, on
01787 460 947. On Monday 16 November Felixstowe and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk by a Microwave Round Table speaker.
Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email to . On Monday 16
November Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a talk on digital
photography by Ray Howells, G4FFY. Contact Ray, G4FFY, on 020 8644
7589. On Tuesday 17 November Andover Radio Amateurs Club is having a
talk on the Falklands 2009 expedition. Contact Martin, M0MWS, on 0777
618 1646. On Tuesday 17 November Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is
operating from the shack. Contact Steve, on 01424 720815. On Tuesday 17
November Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on 21st century
amateur radio terminology by Chris, G6CMD. Contact Ralph, on 01923
265572. On Wednesday 18 November Chesham and District Amateur Radio
Society is on the air and having CW practice. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on
01442 831 491. On Wednesday 18 November Dover Radio Club is having a
natter and operating evening. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
. On Wednesday 18 November Havering and District
Amateur Radio Club is holding the M3KNL Memorial Quiz. Contact John,
M0UKD, on 07817 365354. On Wednesday 18 November Worthing and District
Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by Peter, G4PAP, entitled Just a
Few Quick Shots. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893. On Thursday 19
November Cray Valley Radio Society is having a visit by RSGB Regional
Manager Alison Johnston G8ROG, speaking on the RSGB, training and the
future. Contact Bob, 2E0RCV, on 020 8265 7735 after 8pm. On Thursday 19
November Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a social evening at The
Frog and Nightgown, Wimlands. Details on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

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On Thursday 19 November King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
. On Thursday 19 November Lowestoft and District
Pye Amateur Radio Club is having a club night at the shack. Contact
Phil, G0JSG, on 01502 585448. On Thursday 19 November Shefford and
District Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by Dick, G4LBH on 24GHz
equipment. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757. On Thursday 19
November Sutton and Cheam Radio Society is having a talk on WSPR by
Walter Blanchard, G3JKV. Contact John, G0BWV, on 020 8644 9945. On
Thursday 19 November Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is having a talk
by Dr N Lutte. Contact Rich, G4IBW, on 02392680852. On Friday 20
November Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having a talk and
demo on PSK31 and other digimodes. Contact Lawrence Micallef, M0LCM, on
07941 972724. On Friday 20 November Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur
Radio Society is having a review of 2009 by the Committee. Contact Marc
Litchman, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645. On Friday 20 November Mid-Sussex
Amateur Radio Society is having a radio night. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on
01273 845 103. On Friday 20 November Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is
having a talk by Patrick Arnold on SOE and local connections. Details
on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Monday 16 November Appledore and District
Amateur Radio Club is having a bring and buy auction. Contact Brian
Jewell, M0BRB, on 01237 473251. On Tuesday 17 November Blackmore Vale
Amateur Radio Society is having an HF evening in the club shack.
Contact Tony G0GFL, on 01258 860741. On Wednesday 18 November Exmouth
Amateur Radio Club is having an operating and mystery night. Contact
Mike, G1GZG, on 01395 274172. On Wednesday 18 November Thornbury and
South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Club is having a video night.
Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048. On Wednesday 18 November
Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having a natter night.
Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, evenings and weekends. On
Thursday 19 November South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is holding its
AGM. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282. On Thursday 19 November
Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is having radio tales from the
Sultanate of Brunei by Ian, G3YBY. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.
On Thursday 19 November Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
basic filters by Chris, G4DCH. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to
.

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NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 16 November Gloucester Amateur Radio
And Electronics Society is having a DF Hunt. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on
01452 548478, daytime. On Monday 16 November South Birmingham Radio
Society is having a committee meeting. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.
On Tuesday 17 November Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a video show. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to
. On Tuesday 17 November Loughborough and District
Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on surround sound by Ian, G8SNF.
Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319. On Wednesday 18 November
Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a shack activity and natter night.
Contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356. On Wednesday 18 November
Midland Amateur Radio Society is having a laptop computer evening and
training classes. Contact Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787. On Wednesday
18 November Telford and District Amateur Radio Society continues its
winter projects. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677. On Thursday 19
November Solihull Amateur Radio Society is having a surplus sale.
Contact P T Gaskin, G8AYY, on 0121 783 2996. On Friday 20 November
Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is having a committee
meeting. Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776 869. On Friday 20 November
Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a skittles night. Contact
John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363. On Friday 20 November Nunsfield House
Amateur Radio Group is planning the club programme. Contact Ken
Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332 720976. On Friday 20 November South
Birmingham Radio Society is having a construction evening. Contact Don,
on 0121 458 1603. On Saturday 21 November South Notts Amateur Radio
Club is running an Intermediate weekend with M0BWY, G4NSP and M0RIA.
Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the web at www.radioclubs.net/snarc.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 16 November Angel Of The North
Amateur Radio Club will is having a talk on the Enigma Machine and how
it helped win the War by Mike Stott, G0NEE. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR,
on 0191 4770036. On Monday 16 November Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio
Society is having a talk on the ionosphere by Peter, G4JGC. Contact
John Foster, M3WAZ, on 01253 399377. On Tuesday 17 November Chester and
District Radio Society is visiting Urenco of Capenhurst. Contact
Barbara Green on 0151 339 9183. On Tuesday 17 November Morecambe Bay
Amateur Radio Society is having a social evening. Contact Martin Hazel,
M0ZIF, on 01524 848193. On Tuesday 17 November Otley Amateur Radio
Society is having a member's presentation. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on
07768 996370. On Tuesday 17 November Warrington Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on amateur satellites by Mike, G4VSS. Contact Roger,
M0DWQ, on 07868 000 705.

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On Wednesday 18 November Denby Dale Radio Club is visiting LAM
Communications. Contact Gerald, G3SDY, on 01484 602905. On Wednesday 18
November Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM. Contact Gordon
MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573. On Wednesday 18 November
Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is planning for Radioactive and is
on the air. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553401. On Thursday
19 November South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is watching a
video on "Balloon Borne Amateur Radio" by Peter, G0BHP. Contact Ron,
G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On Thursday 19 November Wakefield and District
Radio Society is on the air and preparing for Children in Need. Contact
Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117. On Friday 20 November East Cleveland
Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475
671. On Friday 20 November Mexborough and District Amateur Radio
Society is having a talk by Chris Colclough, G1VDP, on HF DXing and
contesting. Contact Sharon, M0BOH, by email to . On Friday
20 November Tynemouth Radio Club is having an operating night,
technical topics and Morse Class. Contact Graham Errington, on 07812
172136. On Friday 20 November Wakefield and District Radio Society is
operating GB1CIN in support of Children In Need from the ASDA
Supermarket, Asdale Road, Wakefield, WF2 7EQ. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on
07900 563117.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 17 November Livingston and District
Amateur Radio Society is having a club evening. Contact Norman, on
07740 946192. On Wednesday 18 November Ayr Amateur Radio Group is
having a talk and demo of EMC by MM6YET. Contact Charlie, MM0GNS, on
01563 551704. On Wednesday 18 November Kingdom Amateur Radio Society is
holding its AGM. Contact Brian, MM0XBD, on 01383 738905. On Wednesday
18 November Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is having a training
evening. Contact Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on 01505 613633. On Thursday 19
November Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air and having a
construction evening. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

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NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 16 November Dragon Amateur Radio Club is
having a discussion night. Contact Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF, on 01248
362229. On Monday 16 November Llanelli Amateur Radio Society Club is
having a raffle and social night. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269
840292. On Tuesday 17 November Carmarthan Amateur Radio Society is
having a regular meeting plus intermediate exam tuition. Contact
Alastair Underwood, GW0AJU, on 01267 290822. On Tuesday 17 November
Wrexham Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on the Screwdriver
Antenna. Contact Glyn, MW0BNB, via the web at www.qsl.net/wars. On
Thursday 19 November Swansea Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
television by Tim Davies, GW4ADL. Contact Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792
404422. On Friday 20 November Newport Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Gareth Price on 01633 880081.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND RSGB General Manager Peter Kirby will be
visiting two clubs in Northern Ireland this week. On Tuesday 17
November he will be at GEARS, who meet from 8pm at The Knockagh Lodge,
236 Upper Greenisland Road, Greenisland, County Antrim. On Wednesday 18
November he will be at West Tyrone ARC, who meet at 8pm in the
Technology Centre, 2 Spillers Place, Omagh, County Tyrone. GB2RS
welcomes program information from all RSGB affiliated clubs. We invite
club secretaries to email details of forthcoming meetings to
. Any information for January meetings that arrives
before 29 November will also appear in the Club Calendar section of the
January RadCom.

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

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.