GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 28th November 2010

The news headlines:

Hull man convicted of radio offences

RSGB Region 4 Election closes soon

RSGB Museum sale drawing to a close

A Hull resident was sentenced at Hull Crown Court on 22 November for
causing deliberate interference to amateur radio users in the Hull
region of Humberside between June and November 2009. The defendant was
also convicted of unlawfully using radio equipment without a licence
from Ofcom, which was installed in his van and driven around the region
to interfere with legitimate users of the local amateur frequencies. He
was sentenced to four months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, a
curfew between 7pm and 7am for 3 months via a means of electronic
tagging and forfeiture of his van and radio transmitters to Ofcom.

Commenting on the sentence, Paul Mercer, Head of enforcement at Ofcom,
said: ``There are around 900 amateur radio users in and around the Hull
area, who have been deliberately disrupted for more than four years.
Ofcom is very pleased with this result, which will hopefully give these
users some welcome relief, as well as sending a very strong signal to
those that abuse the airwaves. This followed a dedicated investigation
by Ofcom involving six enforcement officers working day and night to
bring the culprit to court.''

Mr Sheldon, the Court Recorder commended Ofcom for the quality of the
evidence that had been collated and the quality of file presented in
court. RSGB General Manager Peter Kirby, G0TWW, said "RSGB volunteers
co-operated closely with Ofcom in gathering evidence for this case. This
conviction shows that deliberate interference will not be tolerated and
can have serious consequences for the perpetrator."

RSGB members in Region 4 are reminded that their Regional Election
closes at midday on Thursday 2 December when votes will be counted.
Details of the candidates were published in the November RadCom and the
results will appear online and in the January RadCom. You can vote
online at www.votebyinternet.com/rsgb10, that's rsgb one zero. You will
need your callsign and membership number to vote. Members may instead
vote by post using the envelope that came with November's magazine.

The RSGB Museum Surplus Equipment Sale is set to continue for one more
week. Auctions closing today include a Kenwood TS-950S and an Icom
IC-2KL linear amplifier. The final sale, which will include some
surprise items not previously disclosed, commences later this evening
and finishes next Sunday. All the proceeds of the sale go to the
National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park.

IARU Region 1 reports that the Spanish administration has authorised six
stations to use the band 501-504kHz until 31 May 2011 with a bandwidth
of 100Hz and a power of 5 watts.

Five research satellites were carried into orbit recently aboard a
Minotaur V rocket from Alaska. All the satellites use amateur radio
frequencies and amateurs have been invited to participate in their
missions by monitoring and collecting data. The FASTRACs are two
relatively small nanosatellites built by students at the University of
Texas-Austin. They enter orbit as a single spacecraft, but then separate
into FASTRAC 1, known as Sara Lily and FASTRAC 2, referred to as Emma.
Both satellites use 1200 or 9600 baud AX.25 digital communication and
transmit at 1W output, so they should be receivable with omnidirectional
VHF or UHF antennas and decodable by ordinary packet radio hardware and
software. Full details can be found on the news pages of the ARRL
website.

GB3PF, the 70cm voice repeater near Blackburn in Lancashire on channel
RB0 will shortly be closing down. It is with sadness that the North
Western Repeater Group has had to make this decision. However, as the
site owners, after many years of charging a nominal site fee for radio
amateurs, suddenly decided to increase the site fee to more than ?6000
per annum. Funding continued operation from the same site is beyond the
means of the small group of amateurs. If a suitable alternative site can
be found within a few kilometres of the existing site at NGR SD707313, a
site move may be possible. So, if you live on top of hill within a few
kilometres of the Sunny Bower area of Blackburn and would not mind
hosting a 70cm repeater, please contact Mark Walmsley, G0VOF via e-mail
to or on 01254 245 468.

The RSGB online survey of amateur radio will be collecting data for one
more month. The online questionnaire will be available until midnight on
31 December. All those interested in radio communications within the UK
are invited to participate. You don't have to fill it out in one
session; you can store the questionnaire and return at a later time.
You'll find the survey at www.rsgb.org/survey.

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

The final rally of the year is the Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club
Rally that takes place today, 28 November, at the Spennymoor Leisure
Centre, Co Durham DL16 6DB. There is plenty of car parking and talk-in
is on S22. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is ?1.50, although
accompanied under 14s are free. There will be trade stands and a Bring &
Buy. Details from Mark, G0GFG, on 01388 745 353.

The first rally of 2011 will be on 16 January. The Red Rose Winter Rally
will be held at the George H Carnall Leisure Centre, Kingsway Park, M41
7FJ. There is free car parking available and doors open at 11am. There
will be trade stands, a Bring and Buy as well as an RSGB bookstall.
Details from Steve on 07502 295 141.

Now for the news of special events

The second day of a weekend of operating GB4CHC by Crewe Heritage Centre
ARC will take place today, 28 November. It's on the air to commemorate
50 Years of the Class 37 locomotive. For more info contact John, M0JCD
on 01270 619034.

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

A SOTA activation will take place from 3 to 5 December from the
Akramitis mountain on the island of Rhodes. Using the callsign J45V, the
Dodecanese DX Group will be using CW and SSB on as many bands as
possible. The SOTA reference for the mountain is SV/AG-055.

Frank, EA8/DH5JG, will be active from Lanzarote until 3 December. Using
mostly CW on the bands between 10 and 80m, with a preference for the
WARC bands, he will also take part in the CQWW DX CW Contest that
finishes at midnight tonight, Sunday 28 November. QSL via the bureau to
his homecall.

Dieter, DJ2EH, is working as ZD9T from Tristan da Cunha until 8
December. QSL via his homecall.

A group of German amateurs will be active as ZL8X from Raoul Island,
also known as Sunday Island until 5 December. More information is
available at www.kermadec.de.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Independence of the Democratic
Republic of Congo, a team of mostly Belgians and one Dutch will be
active as 9Q50ON from the DRC from 3 to 12 December, all bands CW and
SSB. QSL via ON4BR.

Tony, IK1QBT and Emilio, IZ1GAR will be active as IH9/IK1QBT and
IH9/IZIGAR from Pantelleria, which is IOTA reference AF-019, until 30
November. They will participate in the CQ WW DX CW Contest as IH9X on 80
metres and IH9R on 40 metres. QSL via their home calls.

Now the contest news

The CW leg of the CQWW contest finishes at midnight tonight, Sunday 28
November. Expect the CW segments of the HF contesting bands from 80m to
10m to be busy for the whole weekend, even the upper HF bands. Taking
place from 0000 to 2350UTC, the exchange is signal report and Zone, with
the UK being Zone 14.

30 November sees the 70MHz UK Activity Contest taking place between 2000
and 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.

The first event of December is the ARRL 160m contest, taking place on
Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th. It is a slightly unusual event in that the
duration is 42 hours. The good thing is that those 42 hours include two
full nights, which is when there is likely to be propagation between
Britain and North America. There are categories for single-op, QRP,
low-power, high-power and multi-op. At one time you needed a pretty good
160m station to stand a chance of making a transatlantic QSO, but these
days people with modest setups often find themselves able to work the
big boys over there, who have excellent receiving systems. Even so,
trying to work across the pond on 160m QRP is quite a challenge.

The 144MHz Affiliated Societies Contest takes place on Sunday 5
December. It's the first of the new Super League series. If you operate
as a member of a club in an AFS event there's no need to be a member of
RSGB, although the club must be affiliated. However, if you partake as
an individual, you do need to be a member, although check logs from non
members are always welcome. There's a limit of five members per team,
but active and ambitious clubs are welcome to field multiple teams. The
contest takes place between 0900 and 1700UTC and the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 15th to the 21st
of November, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 22nd of November

First this week, the latest smoothed sunspot numbers for February, March
and April 2010, which are 10.6, 12.3 and 14.0 respectively.

The solar disc had several sunspot groups visible every day. One of
these groups produced a C class solar flare on the 15th. Otherwise,
solar activity was at very low levels. Solar flux levels declined from
92 units on the 16th to 78 by the 21st. The average was 86. The 90 day
solar flux average remains at the same level as last week at 81 units.
As the small active region rotated out of view, X-ray flux levels
declined from B1.6 units on the 15th and the 16th to A7.1 by the 21st.
The average was B1.1 units. Despite a small coronal hole disturbance at
the start of the period, geomagnetic activity was quiet every day 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 decline
700 kilometres per second on the 15th to 330 by the 19th. Particle
densities were low every day. On the 19th and the 20th densities were
below 1 particle per cubic centimetre. Bz never varied more than minus
and plus 6 nanoTeslas throughout the period.

And now the solar forecast. Looking back over the last six solar
rotations when this side of the Sun is looking towards Earth it has
produced at least C class solar flares and, on occasions, M class
flares. Even though this does not guarantee more of the same for this
week, the signs are there. Solar activity is expected to be at low
levels on some days. Solar flux levels should be in the 80s for most of
the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet everyday. MUFs
during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 25MHz for the
south and 22MHz for the north. 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 1300 hours.

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

M0OCT Amateur Radio Society is holding an Advanced exam next year close
to Chesterfield and places are still available for external candidates.
Applications will be accepted up to 10 January 2011. Contact Steve,
G6IBQ on 01246 205072 for more information.

On Monday 29 November Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is
having an informal evening. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452 548478,
daytime.

On Monday 29 November South Birmingham Radio Society is having an aerial
working party. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Tuesday 30 November Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. More information from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509
504 319.

On Wednesday 1 December Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the
air and having a natter night. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788356.

On Wednesday 1 December Midland Amateur Radio Society is on the air in
the shack and running training classes. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on
01214 229 787.

On Wednesday 1 December South Birmingham Radio Society is having an open
meeting, ragchew and planning the Christmas party. Contact Don, on 0121
458 1603.

On Wednesday 1 December Telford & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a committee meeting. HQ is closed. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952
299 677.

On Thursday 2 December Salop Amateur Radio Society is having a mini talk
on frequency standards and a calibration night for radios with Ken,
G8DIR & Richard, G3VZG. Details on the club website at
www.salop-ars.org.uk.

On Thursday 2 December South Birmingham Radio Society continues its
Foundation training classes with Dave, G8OWL. Contact Don, on 0121 458
1603.

On Friday 3 December Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a talk by
the Projected Picture Trust. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.

On Friday 3 December Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group is holding a
junk sale. Details from Ken Frankcom, G3OCA, on 01332 720976.

On Friday 3 December South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.

On Saturday 4 December Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the
air and working around the shack. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788356.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Monday 29 November Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club is on the
air and having a natter night. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 477
0036.

On Monday 29 November Macclesfield & District Radio Society is having a
film night. More information from Roger Bell, M0GMG, on 0771 258 9163.

On Monday 29 November Scarborough Amateur Radio Society is having a talk
by G0WHO on constructing the Elecraft K2 transceiver. Details from Jerry
Scarr, G6LBL, on 01751 476601.

On Monday 29 November South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having
its monthly technical forum and invites members to bring along their
projects and problems. Details from Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Monday 29 November Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk by Colin, G0EPY, entitled My Darker Side. Contact Colin Hirst,
G0EPY, by e-mail to .

On Tuesday 30 November Chester & District Amateur Radio Society is
conducting radio operations at Waverton Institute. Details from Barbara
Green on 07957 870770.

On Tuesday 30 November Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society
continues its Foundation and Intermediate Licence training, and looks at
the continuing development of PSK31 interfaces, using the club's rig on
the air and Morse practice. Contact Martin, M0GQB, on 01422 341317.

On Wednesday 1 December Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.

On Wednesday 1 December Maltby & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk by Keith, G1PQW, entitled Morse's Code - or was it?
Contact Keith, G1PQW, on 07701 156 678.

On Wednesday 1 December Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is holding a
committee meeting. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553401.

On Thursday 2 December Ripon & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a discussion on the perfect shack toys for Christmas. Details from Rob
Hall, M0RBY, on 0787 608 5631.

On Thursday 2 December South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is
having a talk on heterodyne frequency meters by Ged, G8RSI. Details from
Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.

On Friday 3 December East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
For more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be running a 12 week Intermediate
course from January 2011. It is essential that any interested persons
register on Wednesday 15 December 2010 between 7pm and 8.30pm. More
information can be found on the club website, www.muarc.com or by
contacting the exam secretary, Martin, MI0YMF, on 02838 348451.

On Monday 29 November Greenisland Electronics Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on EMC, PLA and PLT. Details from MI5JYK, by e-mail to
.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Tuesday 30 November Livingston & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a club evening. Details from Norman, on 07740 946192.

On Wednesday 1 December Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is having a
training evening. Contact Bill Anderson, 2M0BZZ, on 01505 613633.

On Wednesday 1 December West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is
working on construction projects and licence training. More information
from Fred Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

On Thursday 2 December Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is holding a junk
sale. More information from Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.

On Friday 3 December Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club a normal
club night. More information from Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Friday 3 December West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society is having
presentations, guest speakers, a raffle & quiz. More information from
Fred Coombes, 2M0BIN, on 01415 715512.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA

On Sunday 28 November Bittern DX Group commences its Foundation course.
Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154.

On Tuesday 30 November Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the
shack. For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

On Tuesday 30 November Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is having a club
net night. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Wednesday 1 December Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a general meeting and planning for the AFS Contest. More details
from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Wednesday 1 December Havering & District Amateur Radio Club awards
its Constructors Cup 2010. Contact John, M0UKD, on 07817 365354.

On Wednesday 1 December Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
basic aerial theory, use and practice by Pat Gowen, G3IOR. Details from
Chris Danby, G0DWV, on 01603 898678.

On Wednesday 1 December Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating at
the Hailsham shack. Details from John, G3DQY, on 01424 424 319.

On Wednesday 1 December Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club has its
annual what-is-it quiz by Peter, G8MSQ. For more information contact
Roy, G4GPX, on 01903 753 893.

On Thursday 2 December Cray Valley Radio Society is having a look back
at CVRS special events M2000A, GB50 and GB200T by Bob, M0MCV and Dave,
G4BUO. Details from Bob, M0MCV, on 020 8265 7735 after 8pm.

On Thursday 2 December Horsham Amateur Radio Club is holding its AGM.
Details are on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 2 December Lowestoft & District PYE Amateur Radio Club is
having a club night at the shack. Details from Lee, 2E1LJL, on 01502
564242.

On Thursday 2 December Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having an informal
social at the Queens Head, Sandridge. Details from Ralph, on 01923
265572.

On Friday 3 December Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
talk on the vibration of aerials by Arthur, G3BMI. Details from Lawrence
Micallef, M0LCM, on 07941 972724.

On Friday 3 December Crystal Palace Radio and Electronics Club is having
a seasonal evening on the air. Contact Bob, G3OOU, on 01737 552 170.

On Friday 3 December Loughton & Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society has
its Christmas buffet and bring & buy table top sale. Contact Marc
Litchman, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645.

On Friday 3 December Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society Club is having its
Christmas dinner. Contact Peter, G4AKG, on 01444 239371.

On Friday 3 December Radio Society of Harrow is holding its Construction
Contest. More information from Linda, G7RJL, on 0208 386 8586.

On Friday 3 December Reading & District Amateur Radio Club has its
annual Dinner. Places should be booked with Vin, G4JTR. Details from
Pete, G8FRC, on 01189 695 697.

On Friday 3 December Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a talk on
Australia, food, antennas and crocodiles by David Jefferies. Details on
the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 4 December Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the
shack. For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720815.

On Saturday 4 December Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club Training
weekend Foxton. Details from Lawrence Micallef, M0LCM, on 07941 972724.

On Saturday 4 December Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society CARS Christmas
Lunch at The Glades Restaurant. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Saturday 4 December Horsham Amateur Radio Club Christmas Dinner.
Details are on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

On Sunday 5 December Bittern DX Group continues its Foundation course.
Details from Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404154.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST

On Monday 29 November Bristol RSGB Group is having a talk on the air
interface of cellular phones by Matt Besant, G4RKY. Details from Robin,
G3TKF, on 01225 420442.

On Tuesday 30 November West Devon Radio Club is having a talk on radio
maintenance and repair by Jules Cuddy, M1AGY. Further information from
Jules Cuddy, M1AGY, on 01752 291588.

On Wednesday 1 December Cornish Radio Amateur Club has its Christmas
party. Details from Steve, G7VOH, on 01209 844939.

On Wednesday 1 December Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.

On Wednesday 1 December Trowbridge & District Amateur Radio Club has its
Christmas social and presentation night. Details from Ian, G0GRI, on
01225 864 698, evenings and weekends.

On Thursday 2 December South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
workshop on amateur radio software with David, G7PKJ. Contact Len,
G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.

On Thursday 2 December Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having a
fun quiz. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.

On Thursday 2 December Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
WSPR and JT65A by G7AHP. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to
.

On Friday 3 December Callington Amateur Radio Society is having a
Christmas quiz, mince pies and seasonal treats. More information from
Chris Harris, G7UDX, on 07973 418 371.

On Friday 3 December Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

NEWS FOR WALES

On Monday 29 November Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is having a junk
sale and raffle. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292.

On Thursday 2 December Swansea Amateur Radio Society is holding its AGM
at 7.30 pm in the Merino Room, Fulton House, Swansea University. Details
from Nick Lewis, MW0JGE, on 01792 402035.