GB2RS NEWS Sunday 15th January 2012
 

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 15th January 2012

The news headlines:

* RSGB representation at World Radiocommunication Conference

* SOS Radio Week coming up

* KA1GMN gets special spread spectrum licence

RSGB Past President Colin, G3PSM will be attending the World
Radiocommunication Conference 2012 from 23 January to 17 February as
part of the IARU Region 1 team. He will be posting up-to-the-minute
news on the RSGB website. More information is at
www.rsgb.org/WRC-12-news.

SOS Radio Week starts at 0000 on Saturday 21 January and concludes nine
days later at 2359 on Sunday 29 January. It is a sponsored operating
event, where registered stations operate for as much time as they can
spare, making as many contacts as they can. All sponsorship money
raised is donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Over the
last two years the event has proven very popular and raised in excess
of £6,500. This year looks like being another bumper year, with over 35
stations registered. Many of these are special event stations operating
on specific days during the event from lifeboat stations around the
country, but there are also several individual stations that will be
operating all week from home and various other locations. Visit
www.sosradioweek.org.uk for a list of participating stations and a
registration form, if you would like to take part yourself, as it's not
too late to register.

The American FCC has granted KA1GMN a Special Temporary Authority to
conduct spread spectrum experiments on 2 to 160m. The 6 month
authorisation starts on 1 February and expires on 31 July. It limits
KA1GMN to a maximum 2.5kHz of signal bandwidths at 100 watts effective
radiated power.

The popular Wainwrights on the Air scheme has been improved to make it
easier to get involved. The Wainwrights are the 214 Lake District
mountains described by Alfred Wainwright in his seven iconic guides.
The WOTA scheme, which runs continuously, involves making contacts from
and to the Lake District summits as an Activator or Chaser. The scheme
now covers Wainwright's additional 116 Outlying Fells. Ascending the
smaller Outlying Fells generally entails relatively easier hiking,
offering visiting amateurs a simple way to sample the scheme as
Activators. 2m FM handheld equipment is most commonly used and a
standard rubber duck antenna usually enables a number of contacts to be
made from the summits. Using vertical and beam types will naturally
increase success. More Chasers will also be welcomed, fixed, mobile or
operating portable themselves. Information is available at the scheme
website, www.wota.org.uk.

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

The Red Rose Winter Rally takes place today, 15 January, at George H
Carnall Leisure Centre, Kingsway Park, M41 7FJ. The venue is easily
accessible from Junction 9 of the M60, opposite the Trafford Centre.
Doors open at 11am. There is free car parking, traders, a Bring & Buy,
special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from Steve, on
07502 295 141.

Also today, 15 January, the Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place
at Whitfield Village Hall, Dover CT16 3LY. There will be trade stands
and a Bring & Buy. The next rally we have details for takes place on 29
January. The Horncastle Winter Rally will be held in the Horncastle
Youth Centre, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Doors open at 10.30am and admission
is £1.50. Details from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527 835.

Advance notice now that the Spring Kempton Rally has moved to 22 April
to avoid a clash with the Blackpool Rally. Details are at
www.radiofairs.org.uk.

Now for the news of special events

Orkney Amateur Radio Club is supporting SOS Radio Week from 21 to 29
January. There will be a special event station at or near each of the
Islands' three lifeboat stations. GB1OL will be in Stromness; GB2OL
will in Longhope, based at the old lifeboat station; and GB4OL will be
at Kirkwall Bay. QSLs should be sent direct with the information on the
website, http://eu009.webplus.net/gb1ol.html. The stations will be
active on most bands, mainly at the weekends, and will concentrate on
80, 40 and 20m.

Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be putting the club callsign,
MN0VFW, on the air in support of SOS Radio Week. The station should be
active on the HF bands between 1100 and 1600 GMT on Saturday 21 January
and between 1000 and 150 GMT on Sunday 22 January. Thanks to the kind
permission of Nigel Sands, 2I0GLY, the club will be operating from the
shores of Lough Neagh at Sands Marine and Leisure at Kinnego Marina in
Lurgan. As with all Mid Ulster events, visitors are more than welcome
to call in person and experience some of the club's legendary
hospitality.

The Philippine Amateur Radio League is celebrating its golden
anniversary this year. To commemorate this milestone, a commemorative
diploma can be obtained by establishing 2-way QSOs with its members.
The rules to qualify for the award and sample diploma can be viewed at
www.dx1l.dxhams.net/Awards.htm. They will also be putting a special
event callsign, 4G0LD, on air throughout the year.

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

Mike, VE2XB will be on the air from the island of Dominica in the
Caribbean from now until the end of January. He will use the callsign
J79XB.

The Pacific island of Tuvalu will be activated by two Hungarian
operators, HA5AO and HA5UK, from 12 to 26 January. The call to be used
is T2HA.

Francis, F6BLP will be active again as 6W7SK from Senegal from 20
January to 3 February. He plans to focus on the low bands and CW. QSL
via F6BLP.

Six operators will be active as TN2T from Congo from 22 to 31 January.
They will have three stations active on 10 to 160 metres SSB, CW and
RTTY, with a focus on 160 and 80m. Further information can be found at
www.tn2t.be. QSL via M0URX, preferably via the OQRS facility on his
website, http://m0urx.com/oqrs for either direct and bureau requests.

Now the contest news

Today, Sunday 15th, the Super League series continues with 80m CW
Affiliated Societies Contests taking place from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using
CW only, the exchange is signal report and serial number. It is
followed six days later, on the 21st, by the 80m SSB AFS, also a Super
League event. Taking place from 1400 to 1800, inter-UK propagation for
these should be fine for the first couple of hours, but expect the skip
to lengthen significantly as darkness falls. The exchange is signal
report and serial number.

On January 17 the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from
2000-2230. Using all modes on the band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.

The HA DX Contest on 21-22 January has no fewer than 18 entry
categories! Work everyone, giving them a signal report and serial
number, between 1200 and 1200UTC. HAs send a signal report and
Hungarian county code.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 6th to
Thursday the 12th of January, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the
13th of January.

The number of sunspot groups visible this week was well down on recent
weeks. Some days only three groups were visible. Solar activity though
was low, with C class solar flares taking place every day. By far the
most interesting flare of the period was the C2 solar flare on the
12th. Although not very strong, it did last for over six hours. A
coronal mass ejection was associated with this flare. Solar flux levels
declined from 141 units on the 7th to 117 by the 12th. The average was
132 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 12th was 145 units,
that's one unit up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined slightly
from the start of the period to the end and averaged B5.2 units.
Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day; the most disturbed days were
the 9th and the 12th, with an Ap index of only 5 units on both days.
The average was Ap 4 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds vary between 360 and 470 kilometres per second but
increased to 550 during the 12th. Particle densities were low every
day. Bz never varied more than minus 7 and plus 8 nanoTeslas during the
period. Despite falling solar flux levels and thanks to continued low
geomagnetic figures, HF propagation generally reached predicted values,
with 28MHz open every day.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the slightly more active side
of the Sun is expected to be rotating into view. Solar activity is
expected to be mostly low to moderate, with C class solar flares taking
place every day. There is also a chance of an occasional M class flare
taking place. Solar flux levels should increase and be in the 130's
later in the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet every day. MUFs
during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 27MHz.
Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 8MHz. Paths this week to
South Africa should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent
success rate of around 33MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90
per cent success rate will be about 26MHz. The best time to try this
path will be between 1000 and 1600 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 email 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 Sunday 15 January Leicester Radio Society is
taking part in the AFS contest. Details from John, G0IJM, on 07939 121
132.

On Monday 16 January Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is
operating club equipment in the new shack. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on
01452 548 478, daytime.

On Monday 16 January Lincoln Short-Wave Club Lincoln Short Wave Club is
holding a committee meeting. For more information contact Pam Rose,
G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

On Monday 16 January South Birmingham Radio Society is holding a
committee meeting. Contact Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Monday 16 January Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is working
amateur satellites and the International Space Station from Great
Bowden Village Hall. For more information contact Peter D Rivers,
G4XEX, on 01858 432 105.

On Tuesday 17 January Derby & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a video night. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to .

On Tuesday 17 January Lincoln Short-Wave Club is taking part in the
VHF/UHF/SHF Cumulative Club Contest. For more information contact Pam
Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

On Tuesday 17 January Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on simple circuits by Ian, G8SNF. More information from
Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.

On Tuesday 17 January Wythall Radio Club is having a visit from RSGB
President, Dave Wilson M0OBW. Details from Colin, M0GJM, on 07598 540
507.

On Wednesday 18 January Lincoln Short-Wave Club is having a formal
meeting and putting G5FZ on the air. For more information contact Pam
Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

On Wednesday 18 January Midland Amateur Radio Society is having a
review of the Christmas meeting and 80th birthday exhibition. Details
from Norman, G8BHE, on 07808 078 003.

On Thursday 19 January South Birmingham Radio Society is having
training classes with Dave Murphy, G8OWL. Contact Don, on 01214 581
603.

On Friday 20 January Bromsgrove & District Amateur Radio Club is
holding a committee meeting. Contact Chris, M0BQE on 01905 776 869. On
Friday 20 January Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a video
night. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777 363.

On Friday 20 January South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 01214 581 603.

On Saturday 21 January Leicester Radio Society is taking part in the
AFS contest. Details from John, G0IJM, on 07939 121 132.

On Saturday 21 January Lincoln Short-Wave Club is in the shack. For
more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND On Thursday 19 January North Wakefield
Radio Club is holding an open evening showing what amateur radio is,
details of training courses and having a talk by an RSGB
representative. For more details email to .

On Sunday 15 January Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
AFS Contest. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.

On Monday 16 January Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club is on the
air. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 01914 770 036.

On Monday 16 January Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
the DXpedition to T32C by Nick, G4FAL. More information from Peter Day,
G3PHO, by email to .

On Monday 16 January Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk on solders and soldering by M Green, G4EZM. More information
from J Duddington, G4BFH, on 01253 853 554.

On Tuesday 17 January Chester & District Radio Society is having a talk
by David, G3UFO on his time as a radio officer. Contact Bruce
Sutherland, M0CVP, on 01244 343 825.

On Tuesday 17 January Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding Foundation and Intermediate examinations. Details from Anthony
Vinters, G0WFG, on 01422 822 636.

On Tuesday 17 January Stockport Radio Society is having an explanation
of PSK31 and data operations by Evan, M0TJU. More information from
Nigel Roscoe, on 07973 312 699.

On Wednesday 18 January Chorley and District ARS is holding its AGM.
Details from Nessie, M0NES by email to .

On Wednesday 18 January Denby Dale Radio Club is holding its
constructors' competition. Details from Richard, M0RBG, on 07976 220
126.

On Wednesday 18 January Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a mystery
object night. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.

On Wednesday 18 January Maltby & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding an On Air Night. More information from Keith, G1PQW, on 07801
156 678.

On Thursday 19 January Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
80m CC Data contest. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.
On Thursday 19 January Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is taking part in
the RSGB 80m Club Contest from the club station, G3RCM. More
information from Peter Day, G3PHO, by email to .

On Thursday 19 January South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is
having part 2 of the Great Train Robbery talk by Doug, G8ILW. Details
from Ron, G3SVW, on 01619 693 999.

On Friday 20 January East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is having a
bring in something interesting evening. For more information contact
Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.

On Friday 20 January Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club is having Morse
tuition and is putting G0NWM on the air. Contact Bob, M6KLO, by email
to .

On Saturday 21 January Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the
AFS Contest Phone. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240 573.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND No news items have been received for Northern
Ireland this week.

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND On Tuesday 17 January Livingston & District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk on the RSGB of the future by RSGB
Regional Manager Len, GM0ONX. Details from Norman, on 07740 946 192.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST and EAST ANGLIA On Sunday 15 January Loughton &
Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is having its New Year's carvery
dinner. Contact Marc Litchman, G0TOC, on 02085 021 645.

On Sunday 15 January Southdown Amateur Radio Society is taking part in
the CW AFS contest. Details from John, G3DQY, on 01424 424 319.

On Monday 16 January Braintree & District Amateur Radio Society is
having an equipment safety testing evening.. For more information
contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.

On Monday 16 January Burnham Beeches Radio Club is having a talk on
oscilloscopes by G8MLK. Contact Dave, G4XDU, on 01628 625 720.

On Tuesday 17 January Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is at the
shack. For more information contact Steve, on 01424 720 815.

On Tuesday 17 January Bromley & District Amateur Radio Society is
holding its AGM. Details from Andy, G4WGZ, on 01689 878 089.

On Tuesday 17 January North Kent Radio Society is having a talk on
digital photography. For more information contact Dave Collings, by
email to .

On Tuesday 17 January Verulam Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
RAYNET by the Mid Herts Group. Contact Ralph, G1BSZ, on 01923 265 572.
On Wednesday 18 January Chesham & District Amateur Radio Society is
having a look at satellite communications with Paul Jay. More details
from Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 831 491.

On Thursday 19 January Colchester Radio Amateurs is having a show and
tell night. More information from Kevan, 2E0WMG, on 07766 543 784.

On Thursday 19 January Cray Valley Radio Society Club is holding an
open forum to plan activities and events for 2012. Details from Malcolm
Bryan, G8MCA, on 07906 433 965.

On Thursday 19 January Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club is
holding its annual quiz trophy evening. Other clubs are invited to
attend. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 02392 472 846.

On Thursday 19 January Horsham Amateur Radio Club is having a social
evening. Details are on the web at www.harc.org.uk.

On Thursday 19 January Lowestoft & District PYE Amateur Radio Club is
having a club night at the shack. Details from Lee, 2E1LJL, on 01502
564 242.

On Thursday 19 January Sutton & Cheam Radio Society is having a talk on
the Radio Olympics by Roger Western, G3SXW. Details from Darren, M0PRV,
on 07525 753 702..

On Friday 20 January Bromley & District Amateur Radio Society is having
its annual dinner. Details from Andy, G4WGZ, on 01689 878 089.

On Friday 20 January Harlow & District Amateur Radio Society is having
a talk by Justin, G0KSC of InnovAntennas. Contact Mike, G7OBS on 07549
941 570.

On Friday 20 January Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is holding a club
night. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 21 January Bittern DX Group commences its weekend event for
RNLI SOS week, running GB5SLB for Sheringham Lifeboat. Details from
Linda, G0AJJ, on 01692 404 154.

On Saturday 21 January Southdown Amateur Radio Society is taking part
in the SSB AFS contest as G3WQK from Hailsham. Details from John,
G3DQY, on 01424 424 319.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST On Monday 16 January Appledore & District
Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on QSLing by Don, G0RQL. Contact
Brian Jewell, M0BRB, on 01237 473 251 for more information.

On Wednesday 18 January Thornbury & South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is having a video night. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417 048.

On Thursday 19 January Cornish Radio Amateur Club is holding a workshop
evening. Details from Steve, G7VOH, on 01209 844 939.

On Thursday 19 January South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is planning for
the South Gloucestershire Rally with Ken, G4XCB. Details from Andrew
Jenner, G7KNA, on 07838 695 471.

On Thursday 19 January Swindon & District Amateur Radio Club is having
an activity night. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317 750. On Friday 20
January Bournemouth Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
transmission lines by Chuck Hobson, G0MDK. Visitors are welcome.
Details from Russell Saunders on 01202 885 278.

On Friday 20 January Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. For more information contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to
.

NEWS FOR WALES We start with advance notice that the Blackwood club,
GW6GW, will be starting a Foundation Course on Friday 3 February from
7pm at Oakdale Comprehensive School. Contact details are on the club
website, http://gw6gw.co.uk.

On Monday 16 January Dragon Amateur Radio Club is having a presentation
on QRP. More information from Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF, on 07833 620 733.

On Tuesday 17 January Wrexham Amateur Radio Society is having a DVD
night. Details from Carl Morris, MW0TBB, by email to
.