GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 14th March 2010

The news headlines

* New Zealand amateurs gain access to 600m band

* Sheffield ARC put Tapton School on the air

* New DRM for Northern Ireland

The New Zealand government has granted New Zealand amateurs temporary
access to a slice of the 600m spectrum. The new allocation, 505 to
515kHz, was previously used for Morse code communications with ships.
There are a few restrictions to the use of these frequencies. If these
frequencies are allocated to other services, amateurs must not cause
interference to these services but must accept any interference from
them. Radiated power must not exceed 25 watts EIRP and the bandwidth of
transmissions must not exceed 200Hz. It is hoped that this allocation
will, eventually, be made permanent.

Sheffield Amateur Radio Club will be at Tapton School on Wednesday 17
March using the callsigns G2AS and G3RCM. At the school, there will be
a team of club members giving presentations and demonstrating amateur
radio at HF, VHF and UHF. Where possible students will be actively
involved as much as possible. For further information please contact
the SARC Chairman, Peter Day, G3PHO by e-mail to
.

A new Deputy Regional Manager for County Antrim and North Belfast has
been appointed. Gerry Lynch, GI0RTN has taken up the position and
replaces Charlie, GI4FUE.

Two new volunteer GB2CW Morse tutors have been welcomed to the Morse
Proficiency scheme. They are John Dalgliesh, M0JCD in Cheshire and
Anthony Freeman, M0HAZ in Skegness. Both these stations will be using
145.250MHz FM. John, M0JCD, will be transmitting on Tuesdays and
Fridays from 1930 local time and Ant, M0HAZ, will be transmitting on
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1900 local time. Volunteers for the GB2CW
scheme to encourage newcomers to CW are always welcome. If you feel you
can donate some time to this worthwhile cause, please contact the GB2CW
Co-ordinator Roger, G3LDI by e-mail to for full
details.

BATC members from the Bournemouth Radio Society will be providing
streaming from the Flight refuelling ARS Science and Engineering Week
open day on Saturday 20 March. Activities will start from 11am and a
programme of event times will be displayed on the streamer feed from
earlier. The event will be viewable worldwide to anyone with access to
a computer with a broadband connection. Viewers should enter
www.batc.tv on their browser, then select Live Events where the feed
can be found. For more details look at FRARS.org.uk website or contact
.

The 61st Annual International DX Convention sponsored by the Southern
California DX Club will be held at The Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference
Center in Visalia from 16 to 18 April. Details at www.dxconvention.org.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

On 20 March the Lagan Valley ARS Rally will take place at the Village
Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough. Doors open at 11.30am and
there will be plenty of interesting trade stands. Contact Jim, GI0DVU
on 02892 662270.

On 21 March the 25th Wythall Radio Club Radio and Computer Rally takes
place at Woodrush Sports Centre, Shawhurst lane, Hollywood near
Birmingham B47 5JW. The location is 2 miles from junction 3 of the M42.
Doors open from 10am to 3pm and entry is £1.50. There will be trade
stands and a Bring & Buy. Talk in is on S22. Details from Chris, G0EYO
on 07710 412 819.

The Callington Amateur Radio Society Rally takes place on 21 March at
the Callington Community College, Launceston Road, Callington, Cornwall
PL17 7DR. Doors open at 10am and entry is £2. There will be trade
stands and a Bring & Buy. Contact Chris on 07973 418 371.

Now for the news of special events

There are several special event stations on the air this week for St
Patrick's Day on 17 March. GB2SPD will be one the air from Moneymore.
GB5SPD will be activated by Foyle and District ARC between 15 and 17
March. Also listen out for GB4SPD which will also be using the D-Star
network.

Brickfields ARS will be on air throughout this weekend and until the
end of the month operating from their club headquarters under the
callsign GB4BAR. This special event callsign has been issued to mark
the 25th anniversary of the Society's callsign G0BAR. A special edition
QSL card has been designed and will be sent to all stations worked.
Operations will mainly be confined to 80 and 40m SSB with occasional
use of CW. A 2m FM station will also be on air.

Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society will be activating GB0VUL
throughout March to promote awareness and publicity of the Vulcan
Bomber. The main operation will be 20 and 21 March when a station will
be run by Norman, M0JEC from the ATC Hut in St Michael's Road Newbury.
Visitors most welcome. Full details at QRZ.com.

The Mesilla Valley Radio Club is going to be operating a special event
station, K5B, on 21 March for the Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon.

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

Andrew, G7COD, will be operational every day from Playa Del Cura on the
Island of Gran Canaria, IOTA AF- 004, using the call EA8/G7COD from 20
to 28 March, using SSB and CW on the 20 to 10 metre bands including
WARC frequencies. For comprehensive details of operating times,
suggested frequencies and QSL information, please check his website
www.8q7ak.freewebspace.com.

DL7AFS and DL7ZG will sign V21ZG from Antigua for 18 days starting 16
March. They will concentrate on RTTY, PSK31/63 and SSB. John, G3LZQ
will be active as 3B9WR from Rodrigues Island, IOTA Reference AF-017,
between 3 March and 2 April. Activity will be on the 160 to 10 metre
bands, with a focus on the low bands. John plans to be on the air daily
during his sunrise and sunsets, which is 0145UTC and 1345UTC and
occasionally during his daytime. QSL via home call.

Now the contest news

On 16 March the UHF UK Activity Contest takes place between 2000 and
2230. Using all modes on the 1.3 and 2.3GHz bands, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.

The SSB session of 80m Club Championships will take place on 18 March
between 2000 and 2130UTC. The exchange is the usual signal report and
serial number.

The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group's HF RTTY Contest takes place
on 20 to 22 March. It has an unusual start and finish time of 0200 to
0200UTC. Exchange a signal report, a serial number and the time in GMT.
The multipliers are countries plus call areas for W, VE and JA and VK
and continents. For single- operator stations there are time-limited
6-hour all-band and 30-hour all-band / single-band categories. The only
stations that can operate for the full 48 hours are multi-operator
stations, which may be either single- or multi-transmitter entries.

The Russian DX Contest is on 20 and 21 March on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands
from 1200 to 1200UTC. There are numerous entry categories, for single-
and multi-band, single- and multi-mode, multi-op, various power levels,
clubs, etc. An interesting aspect of this event is the possibility of
submitting two single-band entries, for example 10m and 80m. Work
everyone and send a signal report and serial number, but expect Russian
stations to send you a signal report and a 2-letter Oblast code.

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 1st to the 8th of
March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 8th of March.

The latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers are available for June,
July and August 2009 and are 2.7, 3.6 and 4.8 respectively.

Sunspots were visible every day except for the 6th and the 7th. These
are the first spotless days since the 19th of January and only the
fourth day so far this year. Only one C class solar flare occurred,
this was on the 4th. The remaining day's solar activity was very low.
Solar flux levels varied little and averaged 79 units. The 90 day solar
flux average on the 7th was 81 units, that's the same level as last
week. X-ray flux levels increased slightly from A2.2 units on the 1st
and the 2nd to A6.6 by the 4th. The average was A3.7 units. Geomagnetic
activity was quiet with the Ap index in single figures everyday. The
average was Ap 4 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds vary between 320 and 470 kilometres per second.
Particle densities were low throughout and were never more than 10
particles per cubic centimetre. Bz never varied more than minus 9 and
plus 10 nanoTeslas during the period.

All this added up to stable radio weather, in which the HF bands were
in good shape. North-south paths to Africa and South America were
improved as their seasonal peak approached, while there were also
openings on 24MHz to Hawaii and the US West Coast in the early evening.
Incidentally, even during this geomagnetically quiet period, both
visual and radio aurora were reported on several days * but apparently
much too far north to be accessible to UK operators.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is
expected to be looking our way. Saying that, while the Sun is in its
present state sunspot groups can appear at any time. Solar activity is
expected to be very low to low. Solar flux levels should be in the 80's
for most of the week but could decline into the 70's towards next
weekend. Geomagnetic activity could be unsettled today and tomorrow due
to a recurring coronal hole after which activity should be quiet for
the rest of the period. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes
should be about 23MHz for the south and 20MHz for the north. Darkness
hour lows should be around 8MHz. Paths this week to India should have a
maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around
24MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate
will be about 19MHz. The best time to try this path will be between
1000 and 1400 UTC.

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

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 MIDLANDS On Monday 15 March Gloucester Amateur Radio &
Electronics Society invites members to bring and show their station.
Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478, daytime.

On Monday 15 March South Birmingham Radio Society is getting ready for
the Wythall rally. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Monday 15 March Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is having a
10GHz demo and experiment night. For more information contact Peter D
Rivers, G4XEX, on 01858 432105.

On Tuesday 16 March Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is having a
quiz night. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to .

On Tuesday 16 March Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
looking at its future DF activities and equipment. More information
from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Wednesday 17 March Bolsover Amateur Radio Society is discussing the
art of DF. For details, send an email to .

On Wednesday 17 March Hinkley Amateur Radio Society is having a
personal view of antennas by Steve Boden, G4XCK. Details from John,
M0JAV, on 07836 731544.

On Wednesday 17 March Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a shack
activity and natter night. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Wednesday 17 March Midland Amateur Radio Society is having another
of Ron's film shows and training classes. Details from Norman, G8BHE,
on 01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 17 March South Notts Amateur Radio Club is on the air and
practicing Morse. Details from Terry, M0RIA, via the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc.

On Wednesday 17 March Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a Marconi event with G3UKV in the chair. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on
01952 299 677.

On Thursday 18 March Brigg & District Amateur Radio Club will be having
a talk on 80m DX with limited space antennas by Fred, G0AOJ. Contact
John, M6BBB, on 01652 632038.

On Thursday 18 March Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association is having a
contest seminar at the Brizen Centre. Contact Derek Thom, G3NKS, on
01242 241099.

On Thursday 18 March RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club Shack and chat
night with radio and antenna play. We always welcome new faces. For
more information contact Bob, G3VCA, by email to .

On Thursday 18 March Salop Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night and commences Morse classes with G0EML. Their website is
www.salop-ars.org.uk. On Thursday 18 March Stafford & District Amateur
Radio Society is holding its AGM. Potential new members would be
welcome. Details on 01785 363025.

On Friday 19 March Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a Project
2010 construction night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 19 March Melton Mowbray Amateur Radio Society is looking at
three seriously useful pieces of home-constructed test gear. For more
information contact Geoff, G3STG, on 01664 480 733.

On Friday 19 March South Birmingham Radio Society is holding a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Friday 19 March Spalding & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a DVD night. For more information get in touch with Graham Boor, G8NWC,
on 07947 76448.

On Sunday 21 March Midland Amateur Radio Society is attending Wythall
radio rally. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.

On Sunday 21 March South Birmingham Radio Society is having a club
stand at the Wythall radio rally. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Sunday 21 March South Notts Amateur Radio Club commences its weekend
event, operating GB2GG for Science and Engineering Week. Details from
Terry, M0RIA, via the web at www.radioclubs.net/snarc.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 15 March Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having an open night
for National Science Week. For more information contact Trevor Wood,
M0TWS, by email to .

On Monday 15 March Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is talking
about the Brains Trust with Mick, G4EZM. Details from John Foster,
2E0EZY, on 01253 399377.

On Tuesday 16 March Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk by Dave Ollerhead, G4JMF, on The Racal Story . Details from
Barbara Green on 07957 870770.

On Tuesday 16 March Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society is having
part 2 of the talk on Waterways by Geoff, G0PFH. Contact Anthony
Vinters, on 01422 822636.

On Wednesday 17 March Denby Dale Radio Club is having a talk on
portable operation and equipment by Richard, M0RBG. Contact Gerald,
G3SDY, on 01484 602905.

On Wednesday 17 March Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
Tony, G0AZQ. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

On Wednesday 17 March Otley Amateur Radio Society Foundation Exam.
Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on 07768 996370.

On Thursday 18 March Brigg & District Amateur Radio Club will be having
a talk on 80m DX with limited space antennas by Fred, G0AOJ. Contact
John, M6BBB, on 01652 632038.

On Thursday 18 March Preston Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by
Central Lancs RAYNET. Contact Richard, M0RDZ, on 0785 5873566.

On Thursday 18 March South Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is having a
club net on 145.350 instead of a meeting. Contact Chris Wiseman, G0RDK,
on 01782 773185. On Thursday 18 March South Manchester Radio and
Computer Club is having a PC clinic with Dave, G4UGM. Details from Ron,
G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Thursday 18 March York Radio Club is on the air. Details from Tony
Skaife, G4XIV, on 01904 330502.

On Friday 19 March East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club invites members to
bring in something interesting. For more information contact Alistair,
G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Tuesday 16 March Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a club evening. For more information contact Norman, on 07740
946192.

On Wednesday 17 March Ayr Amateur Radio Group is operating on HF.
Contact Charlie, MM0GNS, on 01563 551704.

On Thursday 18 March Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a video
night. More information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Friday 19 March Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on forensic science by Paul Henderson, 2M0BUY. More information
from Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Sunday 21 March Falkirk & District Amateur Radio Society is holding
its junk and surplus equipment sale at Lodge Zetland Masonic Hall,
Grangemouth FK3 8AN. More details from Peter, GM8GAX, on 01259 761012.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-EAST

and EAST ANGLIA

On Sunday 14 March Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is holding its exam
course. Details from Rich, G4IBW, on 02392 680852.

On Monday 15 March Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a talk
entitled "kilohertz to terahertz - you can do it with CW". Details from
Clive, G4ODM, on 01256 326050.

On Monday 15 March Braintree & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk on bats by Mr & Mrs Jiggens. For more information contact John,
M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 15 March Burnham Beeches Radio Club is having a talk about
Pamphonics by Jeremy. Contact Dave, G4XDU, on 01628 625 720.

On Monday 15 March Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society is having a
shack open night. For more information go to www.mkars.org.uk.

On Monday 15 March Surrey Radio Contact Club is having a fix-it and
natter night. More information from Ray, G4FFY, on 01732 357474.

On Tuesday 16 March Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the shack.
For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

On Tuesday 16 March Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a club
net night. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008. On Tuesday 16 March
Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having a hands-on equipment test evening.
Details from Ralph, on 01923 265572.

On Wednesday 17 March Bury St Edmonds Amateur Radio Society is having a
talk by Derek, G3MWO on the PSK31 data mode. Details from George Woods,
G3LPT on 01359 259518.

On Wednesday 17 March Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is
discussing HF mobile whips with Terry G0VFW. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on
01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 17 March Dover Radio Club is having a natter and operating
evening. For more information contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
.

On Wednesday 17 March Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on 2m
and microwaves by Sam Jewell, G4DDK. Details from Chris Danby, G0DWV,
on 01603 419204.

On Wednesday 17 March Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on loops and how antennas really work by Mike Underhill. For
more information contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 18 March Cray Valley Radio Society is taking part in the
RSGB 80m club championship and having a natter night. Details from Bob,
2E0RCV, on 020 8265 7735 after 8pm.

On Thursday 18 March King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club is having a club
night and 2m club net. Contact Ray, G3RSV, by email to
.

On Thursday 18 March Lowestoft & District PYE Amateur Radio Club is
having a club night at shack. Details from Phil, G0JSG, on 01502
585448.

On Thursday 18 March Shefford & District Amateur Radio Society is
having mini talks by members. Details from David, G8UOD, on 01234 742
757.

On Thursday 18 March Sutton & Cheam Radio Society is having a talk on
operating digital modes on HF by Evan Duffield, M0TJU. More information
from John, G0BWV, on 020 8644 9945.

On Friday 19 March Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on understanding radio specifications by Ludovic, M0GDO. Details
from Lawrence Micallef, M0LCM, on 07941 972724.

On Friday 19 March Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
the Volks Electric Railway by Ian Gledhill. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on
01444 239371.

On Friday 19 March Reading & District Amateur Radio Club commences its
Foundation Licence course. Details from Eric Curling, by email to
.

On Friday 19 March Waterlooville Amateur Radio Club is holding its Exam
course. Details from Rich, G4IBW, on 02392 680852.

On Friday 19 March Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a club
night. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 20 March Bittern DX Group is having its annual dinner and
prizegiving at the Feathers Hotel, Holt. Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on
01692 404154.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST

On Monday 15 March Appledore & District Amateur Radio Club is holding
its AGM. Contact Brian Jewell, M0BRB, on 01237 473251 for more
information.

On Tuesday 16 March Blackmoor Vale Amateur Radio Society is having an
HF evening in the club shack. Contact Tony, G0GFL, on 01258 860741.

On Tuesday 16 March West Devon Radio Club is having a radio repair and
valve testing night with Tony Helm. Further information from Jules
Cuddy, M1AGY, on 01752 291588.

On Wednesday 17 March Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is having a video night. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.

On Wednesday 17 March Trowbridge & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a natter night. Details from Ian, G0GRI, on 01225 864 698,
evenings and weekends.

On Thursday 18 March South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a quiz
night. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Thursday 18 March Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk by Bob, G0VTA on Britain's best kept secret, code breaking at
Bletchley Park. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

On Thursday 18 March Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by
G3MYM on coils and inductive coupling. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by
email to .

On Friday 19 March North Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
committee meeting. More information from Dick on 01454 218362.

On Friday 19 March Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Monday 15 March Dragon Amateur Radio Club is having a discussion
evening. More information from Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF, on 01248 362229.

On Tuesday 16 March Wrexham Amateur Radio Society is having a quiz. For
more information contact Glyn, MW0BNB, via the web at www.qsl.net/wars.

On Friday 19 March Newport Amateur Radio Society GB4RC Ryder cup
meeting. Details from Ross Clare, GW3NWS, on 01633 880146.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

As mentioned in the Main News, a new RSGB Deputy Regional Manager has
been appointed for County Antrim and North Belfast. Gerry Lynch, GI0RTN
has taken up the position and replaces Charlie, GI4FUE.