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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 29th November 2009

The news headlines

RAYNET on hand in Cumbria

Tragic death of 1996 Young Amateur of the Year runner-up

A DXpedition with a Difference

The flooding in Cumbria has been in the news for several days now.
Following a meeting with Cumbria Police and the Emergency Planning
Unit, North Pennines RAYNET group are on standby. They are expected to
be called in once the anticipated collapse of the Calva bridge happens.
The bridge carries 999 phone lines. Police vehicles would provide
immediate cover but RAYNET would be tasked with providing further cover
of 3 or 4 strategic locations on a 24 hr basis for up to 14 days.

The Society is saddened to report the death of Ben Clarkson, G7WHO, at
the tragically young age of 27. Runner-up 1996 Young Amateur of the
Year, Ben gained his licence on his 14th birthday. An enthusiastic
member of the Reading and District Radio Club and a Scout Leader, Ben
will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Leaving in February 2011, John Edwards, M0JAX, is looking for 22 people
with a full licence to join a DXpedition to Bahrain. He's planning a
two week trip based at the InterContinental hotel with eight stations
on the air 24 hours a day. Operators will be working in three shifts to
keep the station on the air for the two weeks. John is making all the
various arrangements including travel and accommodation but would be
interested in hearing from radio amateurs who have an interest in
making the trip. A preliminary trip is being organised for February
2010 to check suitability for antennas and the stations, including
drawing up a list of the necessary equipment. If you are interested,
send your details and why you think you would be an asset to this
DXpedition to the RadCom offices and your letters will be passed on to
M0JAX.

On Saturday, November 21, the new ARISS VHF/UHF antenna as well as the
Automatic Identification System, or AIS, VHF antenna was installed on
the ISS Columbus module during the second extravehicular activity of
the STS-129 mission. ARISS plans to move an onboard radio to the
Columbus module to make use of its new antenna. The other antenna will
be used to support the AIS maritime experiment to help track the
passage of ships across the world's oceans.

GB3ET went live on 19 November from its new location near the
Hannington TV transmitter north of Basingstoke. It is on RB13, which is
433.325MHz output and 434.925MHz input with either 1750Hz tone burst
access or 71.9Hz CTCSS access. The main service areas are Basingstoke,
Fleet, Newbury, Thatcham and Reading. The Repeater Keeper is Noel
Matthews, G8GTZ and he can be contacted at g8gtz1atgooglemail.com.

Phil Catterall, G4OBK has become the first licensed amateur to claim an
award under the Wainwrights On The Air scheme. On 11 November, after a
walk that started in Patterdale and took in Helvellyn and Striding Edge
via several Wainwright summits, Phil completed activations of all the
summits in Alfred Wainwright's

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Guide to the Eastern Fells. He then became eligible to claim an award.
Wainwrights On The Air was set up in March 2009 by Julian Moss, G4ILO.
More details can be found at www.wota.org.uk.

Martin Lynch & Sons are holding their annual open day on 5 December at
their Chertsey Showroom. Kindly sponsored by Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood,
there will be a free hog roast. Doors open at 8 am and close 4pm. This
will mark the start of the 20th year of trading for ML&S.

Darwen Amateur Radio Club has been re-launched and is looking for new,
or not so new members. The original Darwen club was active for many
years under the leadership of Bill Lishman, G2AKK and a group of local
amateurs decided that the club should be revived. It is still early
days yet but already a chairman, secretary and treasurer have been
elected and the club will be seeking RSGB affiliation very shortly. The
club meets fortnightly on Monday evenings from 7pm at The Golden Cup
public house, Blackburn Road, Darwen BB3 0AJ adjacent to junction 4 of
the M65. The next meeting is on Monday 7 December. All are welcome to
attend.

The Sausage and Scouse Net Christmas Meeting will take place on Sunday
6 December at 12.30pm at The Old Quay in Parkgate, the Wirral. Details
from Bill, G4USW on 07870 325537.

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

Today, 29 November, the Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club Rally will
take place at the Spennymoor Leisure Centre, Co Durham DL16 6DB. There
will be talk-in and plenty of car parking with the doors opening at
10.15 for disabled visitors and 10.30 for other visitors. Admission is
£1.50 and under14s may visit free of charge. Details from Mark, G0GFG,
01388 745 353.

This is the last rally we have details for in 2009. If you would like
your 2010 rally mentioned in RadCom and on GB2RS, please send details
to radcomatrsgb.org.

Now for the news of special events

Aberdare & District ARS will be putting GB0NG on the air throughout
December to celebrate the Nos Galan Races that are held every New Years
Eve at Mountain Ash near Aberdare. More details can be found at
www.radioclubs.net/aadars.

To celebrate the Winter Olympic Games in Canada, from 1 December to 31
January VG7W will be on the air. QSL via VE7OM.

On 5 December GB0RCS will be on the air for Rickmansworth Cub Scouts.

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

An international team is planning to be in Tonga until 1 December.
Plans are to have two stations including amplifiers for all-band
activity. The special contest call A31A has been issued that will be
used in the CQWW CW contest going on this weekend, 28 and 29 November.

Daniel, EI9FHB should be active from the Kish lighthouse until 9
December. The Kish lighthouse marks a sandbank on the route to Wales.
The lighthouse was built in 1965 and is undergoing a major overhaul of

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power systems and navigational aids. Daniel will be operational on HF
voice as well as 2m and 70cm FM. Operating will be mainly on Sundays
and after 7pm other days. The worked all Ireland frequencies will be
used where possible.

G3XAQ will be active from Ghana until 4 December as 9G5XA. He will be
active on all bands using CW. QSL via G3SWH.

YB3MM/P will operate from Bawean Island in Indonesia between 4 and 8
December. Operation will only be on 15m CW in his spare time with
limited electricity. QSL via IZ8CCW either direct or through the
bureau.

Dave Burton, VK4ABD will be operating from the Willis Island Bureau of
Meteorology site in the Australian Coral Sea Territories from early
December 2009 until July 2010 as VK9WBM. Due to shift work commitments
there will be no fixed schedule or pre-arranged contacts. Operation
will be on the 40m band and above. QSL via Bureau or WIA.

Now the contest news

Without doubt November's biggest event of is the 48 hour CQWW DX CW
Contest, which finishes at 2359 today, Sunday 29th. There will be a lot
of DXpeditions, some by well-known operators from Britain. The exchange
is signal report and CQ Zone, which for the UK is 14.

The 144MHz UK Activity Contest will take place on 1 December between
2000 and 2230UTC and the 432MHz event on 8 December from 2000 to
2230UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The VHF next event is the 144MHz AFS Contest on Sunday 6th. If you
operate as a member of a club there's no need to be a member of RSGB,
just the club. However, if you operate as an individual, you do need to
be a member (although check logs from non members are always welcome).
There is a maximum of five members per team, but nothing to prevent a
really active and ambitious club from fielding more than one team. It
takes place between 0900 and 1700UTC and the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.

The ARRL 160m Contest takes place over the weekend 4 to 6 December
between 2200 and 1600UTC. In this event UK stations with modest set-ups
often find themselves pleasantly surprised if they dip their toe in the
water, because there will be a lot of top-notch operators taking part
from the US with excellent antennas and receiving systems. times to be
in the shack are from late evening until just after dawn, and you've
got two nights in which to try.

On the same weekend, the ARRL EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) contest can result
in well-equipped VHF operators making some real DX QSOs. 144.110 to
144.160MHz and 432.000 to 432.025MHz are probably the frequencies that
will yield results easiest, but that's not to say it will be quick or
at all easy to complete a QSO! Expect most DX signals to be very weak.
The times for UK-based stations without elevation control are
approximately 0900 to 1020 and 1940 to 2100 on 5 December and 0935 to
1055 and 2110 to 2230 on 6 December. Those with elevation control get
much bigger bites of the cherry and benefit from lower noise levels.

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Now the solar factual data for the period from the 16th to the 22nd of
November, compiled on 23rd of November by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.

On the 18th two sunspot groups emerged on the solar disc, one a new
group which was the larger of the two and the other spots appeared in
what was the old active region on the last rotation. Solar activity was
very low as neither group produced any solar flares. Solar flux levels
averaged 76 units and varied little day to day. The 90 day solar flux
average on the 22nd was 72, that's the same level as last week. X-ray
flux remained below the minimum reporting level everyday. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet everyday even though a coronal hole disturbance
arrived on the 20th. However, the Ap for that day was only 8 units.
Before that the Ap was at one unit for 3 days and two for 2 days. The
average was Ap 3 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds initially decline to 270 kilometres per second on the
18th. Speeds then increased to 570 by the 21st. Particle densities were
low except for the 19th which increased briefly to 17 particles per
cubic centimetre. Bz varied between minus and plus 2 nanoTeslas on the
quiet days and between minus 7 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the weak
disturbance.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be at very low levels. The solar disc could exhibit some spots
particularly during the first half of the week. Solar flux levels
should decline and be around the 70 mark towards next weekend.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet with maybe some more days
with the Ap index heading towards zero again. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be around 24MHz for the south and 21MHz
for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be about 8MHz.
Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a
50 per cent success rate of around 18MHz. The optimum working frequency
with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 14MHz. The best time to
try the path will be between 0800 and 1100UTC.

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 29 November Bittern DX Group continues its
Foundation licence course. Contact Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154. On
Monday 30 November Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society is
holding a junk sale. Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email to
pjwatbtinternet.com. On Tuesday 1 December Andover Radio Amateurs
Club is holding its AGM and having a talk on digital modes including
Olivia. Contact Martin, M0MWS, on 0777 618 1646. On Tuesday 1 December
Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is operating from the shack. Contact
Steve, on 01424 720815. On Tuesday 1 December Chelmsford Amateur Radio
Society is having a talk on multi Tx radio direction finding by Roy
Emeny, G4JAC. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008. On Tuesday 1
December Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having a natter
night and social evening. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846. On
Tuesday 1 December Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having its Christmas
dinner. Contact Ralph, on 01923 265572. On Wednesday 2 December Chesham
and District Amateur Radio Society is having a general meeting and CW
practice. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491. On Wednesday 2
December Dover Radio Club is having a natter and operating evening.
Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to g4sauatDARC.org.uk. On Wednesday 2
December Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating at the Hailsham
shack. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424 424 319. On Thursday 3 December
Cray Valley Radio Society is having a demonstration of PLT interference
by Colin, G3SPJ and a discussion on the implications for the HF bands.
Contact Bob, 2E0RCV, on 020 8265 7735 after 8pm. On Thursday 3 December
Crystal Palace Radio and Electronics Club is having its Christmas
social. Contact Bob, G3OOU, on 01737 552 170. On Thursday 3 December
Horsham Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM. Details on the web at
www.harc.org.uk. On Thursday 3 December Lowestoft and District Pye
Amateur Radio Club is in the shack. Contact Phil, G0JSG, on 01502
585448. On Thursday 3 December Newbury and District Amateur Radio
Society is having its Annual Christmas Dinner at The Sun in the Wood.
Contact Richard, G3ZGC, on 01635 46241.

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On Thursday 3 December Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk by Ian, G3NRW, on the AIM4170 Antenna Analyzer. Contact
David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757. On Friday 4 December Crawley Amateur
Radio Club is having its annual fish and chip supper. Contact John,
G3VLH, on 01342 714 402. On Friday 4 December Loughton and Epping
Forest Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas buffet and bring
and buy. Contact Marc Litchman, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645. On Friday 4
December Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having its Christmas
dinner at the Gardeners Arms, Ardingly. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273
845 103. On Friday 4 December Reading and District Amateur Radio Club
is having its annual dinner. Contact Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697. On
Friday 4 December Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a club
night. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk. On Saturday 5
December Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the bunker. Contact
Steve, on 01424 720815. On Saturday 5 December Chelmsford Amateur Radio
Society is having its Christmas lunch at The Chimes Restaurant. Contact
Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008. On Saturday 5 December Horsham Amateur
Radio Club is having its Christmas dinner. Details on the web at
www.harc.org.uk. On Sunday 6 December Chesham and District Amateur
Radio Society is taking part in the 144MHz Affiliated Societies
contest. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST On Monday 30 November Bristol RSGB Group is
having a talk by Martyn, G3RFX. Contact Robin, G3TKF, on 01225 420442.
On Tuesday 1 December Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society is having a
VHF evening in the club shack. Contact Tony G0GFL, on 01258 860741. On
Wednesday 2 December Cornish Radio Amateur Club is having a combined
Christmas party. Contact Steve, G7VOH, on 01209 844939. On Wednesday 2
December Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on logic chips and
other ICs by Dean, G0UIL. Contact Mike, G1GZG, on 01395 274172. On
Wednesday 2 December Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on digital modes by Eugene Morgan, G4AIU. Contact William,
G3WNI, on 01823 666 234. On Wednesday 2 December Thornbury and South
Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB,
on 01454 417048. On Wednesday 2 December Trowbridge and District
Amateur Radio Club is having its Christmas social and presentation
night. Contact Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698, evenings and weekends. On
Thursday 3 December South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having an
amateur radio software workshop with David, G7PKJ. Contact Len, G4RZY,
on 01275 834 282. On Thursday 3 December Swindon and District Amateur
Radio Club is having a fun quiz. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.
On Thursday 3 December Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a photo quiz
night with Derek, M0WOB. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to
steveatg7ahp.co.uk.

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NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS On Monday 30 November Gloucester Amateur Radio
And Electronics Society is having a workshop and HF operating evening.
Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime. On Tuesday 1 December
Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is having a junk sale. Contact
Richard Buckby, by email to radioatdadars.org.uk. On Tuesday 1
December Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is having a
practical evening. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 1 December South Notts Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
the 2m Contest. Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc. On Wednesday 2 December Lincoln Short-Wave
Club is having its Christmas dinner at the Carpenter's Arms, Fiskerton.
Contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788356. On Wednesday 2 December
Midland Amateur Radio Society is having an open meeting and training
classes. Contact Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 2 December South Notts Amateur Radio Club is having a
radio quiz. Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc. On Wednesday 2 December Telford and District
Amateur Radio Society is closed. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.
On Friday 4 December Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a review of contests and special events. Contact Chris, M0BQE,
on 01905 776 869. On Friday 4 December Cheltenham Amateur Radio
Association is holding its AGM. Contact Derek Thom, G3NKS, on 01242
241099. On Friday 4 December Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk on APRS by Iain Young, G7III. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958
777363. On Friday 4 December Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is
having a talk by Ken Clarke. Contact Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332
720976. On Friday 4 December South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
Construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

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NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Monday 30 November Angel Of The North
Amateur Radio Club continues its Advanced licence course and is having
a session on learning how to operate the club radios with Chris
Herring, G7AQY. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 4770036. On Monday
30 November Sheffield Amateur Radio is having a social and video night.
Contact Trevor Wood, M0TWS, by email to trevorwood6atyahoo.co.uk. On
Monday 30 November South Manchester Radio And Computer Club has its
monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On
Monday 30 November Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
technical talk by John, G8RDP. Contact John Foster, 2E0EZY, on 01253
399377. On Tuesday 1 December Chester and District Radio Society is
having its Christmas social evening at Whitby Sports and Social Club,
Ellesmere Port. Contact Barbara Green on 0151 339 9183.

On Tuesday 1 December Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a
social evening. Contact Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on 01524 848193. On
Tuesday 1 December Otley Amateur Radio Society is taking part in the
144MHz UKAC from the shack and having technical chatter in the village
hall. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996370. On Wednesday 2 December
Denby Dale Radio Club is having a presentation on the RSGB Club Calls
Contest by Richard, M0RBG. Contact Gerald, G3SDY, on 01484 602905.

On Wednesday 2 December Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having an
activity night. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573. On
Thursday 3 December Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
on laser communications by M0STR and G8ATB. Contact Peter Paul Fox,
G8HAV, on 01606 553401. On Thursday 3 December South Manchester Radio
And Computer Club is having a talk on digital photography techniques by
Robin, G3RJQ. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999. On Thursday 3
December Wakefield and District Radio Society is having a general
knowledge and radio quiz with Dave, G4CLI. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on
07900 563117. On Friday 4 December East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is
on the air. Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

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NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 1 December Livingston and District Amateur
Radio Society is holding its AGM. Contact Norman, on 07740 946192. On
Wednesday 2 December Ayr Amateur Radio Group is having a talk on the
Isle of Coll Mini DXpedition by GM4ZNC. Contact Charlie, MM0GNS, on
01563 551704, cgnstewartathotmail.com. On Wednesday 2 December
Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is having a training evening. Contact
Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on 01505 613633.

On Thursday 3 December Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is holding a junk
sale. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663. On Thursday 3 December
Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society is having a 10GHZ night with GM4TOE.
Contact Jim, MM0SMD, on 01340 820 134. On Friday 4 December Cockenzie
and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is having a normal club night.
Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

NEWS FOR WALES On Monday 30 November Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is
having a junk sale. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292. On Tuesday
1 December Wrexham Amateur Radio Society is having a planning meeting
for 2010. Contact Glyn, MW0BNB, via the web at www.qsl.net/wars. On
Thursday 3 December Meirion Amateur Radio Society is having a rag chew
night and looking back on 2009. Contact John, MW0VTK, on 07868 738016.

On Thursday 3 December Swansea Amateur Radio Society is holding its
AGM. Contact Nick Lewis, MW0JGE, on 01792 402035.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND On Thursday 3 December Bangor and District
Amateur Radio Club is having talks by Harry, GI4JTF, on "QSO bureau
updated" and by Richard, GI4DOH on "Morse Runner". Contact Mike,
GI4XSF, on 028 4277 2383. On Sunday 6 December Orchard County DX Club
will be holding its first Christmas dinner from 1pm at the Lough Neagh
Discovery Centre, Lurgan. Mambers and their families are welcome. Menus
and information are on the club web site at www.MN0OCG.co.uk. Now some
advance information for next week. On Saturday 12 December the Mid
Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be holding its Christmas dinner from 1pm
at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre. This replaces the normal monthly
meeting. The next formal meeting will take place on Sunday 10 January
at 3pm. More information on the club web site at www.muarc.com.

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

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.