1 GB2RS NEWS Sunday 15 April

The news headlines *

Train the Trainers in the East Midlands * Guidance issued for CW on
5MHz * Maritime officers honoured

The RSGB's Train the Trainers scheme continues to help tutors enhance
the standard of their Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced licence
courses. Alan Betts, G0HIQ and Brian Reay, G8OSN will be presenting the
course, which is free of charge to Instructors. The all day event takes
place on Saturday 2 June from 10am at Finningley ARS, located at
Sandtoft, near Doncaster. For more information contact RSGB Region 13
Manager Jim Stevenson, G0EJQ, by email to or Region 4
Manager Geoff Dalby, G7GJU, by email to . Demand is
expected to be high, so it is important to register as soon as
possible.

A question has arisen with respect to CW on the 5MHz channels and it
has been suggested by the 5MHz Working Group that the edges of Channel
FC could be used. The Group suggests that 5.289 or 5.291MHz are used,
as CW transmissions on these frequencies should not affect the beacon
monitoring and they would be easily monitored by any casual listeners
in SSB mode. On either of these frequencies the transmissions would be
500Hz from the FC channel-edge. CW should not go closer to 5.290MHz, as
this could upset the beacon monitoring.

The important role played by merchant marine radio officers will be
commemorated by a special radio event in April this year. During Radio
Maritime Communication Day, merchant navy radio officers will be active
on the HF bands between 1200UTC on 14 April and 1200UTC on 15 April.
Awards and certificates will be available to amateur who make contact
with the merchant navy stations. You can find out more on the web at
www.radiomaritimeday.org.

Silcoates School in Wakefield, in association with the RSGB, will host
a seminar on amateur radio direction finding on 21 April. The aim of
the event is to raise the profile of amateur radio direction finding in
the north of England. The seminar will be lead by Bob Titterington,
G3ORY, and a team from the RSGB ARDF committee. Amateur radio direction
finding is a sport where the object is to seek out up to five hidden
transmitters, orienteering style.

Nigel Wears, M0NJW, who set up the amateur radio club at Silcoates
school, said: "ARDF activity has really taken off in Europe, and here
is a good chance for people in the north to learn from the best. The
day will include class based sessions and videos, as well as a couple
of taster sessions in the school grounds. There will also be an
opportunity to purchase DF equipment."

The seminar is free but it is vital that people pre-book as there are
only a limited number of places available. Application forms are
available by emailing . The organisers suggest that no
more than three delegates should come from any one club, in the hope
that the information given at the seminar can filter to as many people
as possible.

2 International Marconi Day will take place on Saturday 28 April this
year. Although the event is not a contest, participants can qualify for
award certificates by contacting special stations. These stations must
operate on or close to a site where Guglielmo Marconi carried out
experiments or where Marconi equipment was used prior to his death in
1937. If you would like to operate one of these special award stations,
it is essential that you register the station by emailing
prior to the event with full details of the
station. Further information can be found on the web at
www.gb4imd.org.uk.

The seventh International Museums Weekend special event will take place
on 16 and 17 June 2007. Radio amateurs are encouraged to participate in
this event by setting up stations in their local museums. Harry, M1BYT,
who is organising the event, asks that all those intending to join in
should please register their museum via the International Museums
Weekend website. He also requests that they send their details to him
by e-mail to .

The International Amateur Radio Union has announced that the third
Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference - or GAREC, as
it is more commonly called - will take place on 16 and 17 August 2007
at the Huntsville Hamfest in the US. This will be the first time that
the event has been held in the US.

Now the rallies and events for the coming week.

On Sunday 15 April the West London Radio & Electronics Show takes place
at Kempton Park racecourse, Sunbury-on-Thames from 10.00. Apart from
the usual trade stands, special interest groups, lectures and so forth,
the rally will be hosting the new RSGB Top Ham quiz competition. More
details on the web at www.radiofairs.co.uk.

On Sunday 15 April the Yeovil QRP Convention takes place at Digby Hall,
Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset. Details from George Davis on 01935
425669 or on the web at www.yeovil-arc.com. On Sunday 22 April the
Lough Erne Amateur Radio Show takes place from 12.00 at the Share
Centre, Lisnaskea. Details from Alan, GI6PYP, on 0286 635 1108. On
Sunday 22 April the Nantwich Bunker Trust surplus sale of military and
commercial radio equipment takes place from 10am at The Secret Nuclear
Bunker, French Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire. Details are on the web at
www.hackgreen.co.uk. On Sunday 22 April the Andover Radio Amateur Club
Spring Boot Sale takes place from 10am at Wildhern Village Hall.
Details from Brian, G0KIC, on 01264 357628. More details of these and
future events can be found on pages 96 and 97 of the April edition of
RadCom. Now for news of special events.

The Scarborough Special Events Group will kick off their 2007 season of
special events stations with GB2EXP over the weekend of 28-29 April.

Special event station ON50EU is active until 31 December to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

3 Look for special event station OX60AD to be on air throughout April
to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the US Air Force and the 56th
anniversary of the Defence Treaty between the US and Denmark for the
Protection of Greenland. Activity will be on 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10m
using CW, SSB and RTTY.

The Flight Refuelling ARS is operating special event station GB2FRA
from 7 April to 4 May to commemorate its 25th anniversary. Activity
will be on HF, VHF and UHF using CW, SSB and FM.

Special event station OX60AD (OX Sixty AD) will be active on 1-30 April
to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the US Air Force base at Thule.
Expect activity on 6, 10, 15, 17, 20, 40 and 80m using CW, SSB and
digital modes.

Special station EV5IPY is on the air to celebrate the participation of
Belarus in the 4th International Polar Year. Operations are conducted
under the aegis of the newly born Department of Polar Researches at the
Belorussian Geographic Society.

Special callsign, HF40PAZ, will be aired until 30 April and again on
1-30 September, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of club station
SP6PAZ.

Special event station GB75PW will be active from various sites and
locations until 31 December to mark the anniversary of Practical
Wireless magazine.

Francois, F8DVD, has been issued the special callsign TM4IPY to
celebrate the beginning of the 4th International Polar Year, and will
be active between 1 and 14 April. Activity will be on all bands, SSB
and CW. A special QSL card will be available. And now the HF DX news
compiled from 425 DX News, the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin and other sources.


DL9MWG will be active from Malta as 9H3RT from 18 April to 11 May.
Activity will be on HF, mainly CW.

PA5CW, will be active portable YB9 from Bali from 25 April to 10 May.

Mart, DL6UAA, will be active as 3B8MM from Mauritius starting on 5
April for a few weeks. He will operate mostly CW, but will also give
SSTV a try.

Bernard, DL2GAC, expects to be active from the Solomon Islands until 25
April.

Tony, 3D2AG, is active mostly on 40 and 20m CW as FK/FO5RK from Noumea,
New Caledonia until the end of April.

Kang, DS4DRE, is currently active as DS4DRE/4 from Hong Island until 30
June. Activity will be on 80-10m, CW and SSB Now the contest news.

The RSGB 80m Club Championship data section takes place between
2000-2130UTC on 19 April on the 3.5MHz band. The exchange takes the
form of RST and serial number.

Look out for the EU Sprint Contest between 1600 and 1959UTC on 21 April
on the 3.5 to 14MHz bands, SSB mode only. The exchange comprises both
callsigns, serial number and name.

4 RSGB 1.3 and 2.3GHz Activity takes place on all modes between
1900-22130UTC on 17 April. The exchange is made up of RST, serial
number and locator.

The RSGB 1st 50MHz Contest is on the air between 0900-1200UTC on 22
April on all modes. RST, serial number, locator and postcode make up
the exchange.

You can find out more about contesting, including a calendar of events
and rules, on the HF Contest Committee and VHF Contest Committee
websites. Links to these can be found on the RSGB website. Suitable
freeware logging programs for RSGB HF and VHF contests are available
from a variety of sources - see the links section of the contest
committee website. Now the solar factual data for 2 to 8 April,
compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.

Two small sunspot groups disappeared on the 3rd. The solar disc then
remained spotless for the remainder of the period. Solar activity was
very low with no solar flares taking place at all. Solar flux levels
were static everyday at 71 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the
8th was 76 units, that's one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels
remained well below the minimum A1 level throughout. Geomagnetic
activity started at `active' levels with an Ap index of 24 units on the
2nd. This was the due to a coronal hole. The geomagnetic field then
became quiet for the remainder of the period. However, late on the 8th
the arrival of yet another coronal hole disturbance took place. The Ap
index on the 7th and the 8th was only 3 units. The average was Ap 8
units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 670
kilometres per second on the 2nd to 290 by the 7th. With the arrival of
the coronal hole disturbance speeds then increased to 400 kilometres
per second late on the 8th. Particle densities were low throughout
except for an increase to 48 particles per cubic centimetre during the
evening of the 8th. Bz varied between minus 2 and plus 2 nanoTeslas on
the quiet days and between minus 5 and plus 13 nanoTeslas late on the
8th.

HF propagation improved by midweek, with all continents workable on
14MHz. The higher bands showed signs of life and there were even some
brief afternoon openings to Africa on 28MHz. There were scattered
reports of VHF aurora on the 2nd but, as is so often the case, they
were confined to high latitudes.

And now the solar forecast. This week seems set to continue with solar
activity at very low levels. The solar disc could be spotless on some
days. How long will this present minimum phase last? Who knows, but
when it does come to an end it will be rather sudden with only a few
days notice at best. Solar flux levels are expected to be around the 70
mark for most of the week. For the first half of the week geomagnetic
activity is expected to be quiet, however, from around Thursday
activity should increase due to a recurring coronal hole. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 18MHz for the south
and 15MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be
about 9MHz. Paths this week to Australia should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about 19MHz. The optimum
working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 15MHz.
The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1300 hours UTC.


And that's all from the GB2RS propagation team.

5 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 Wednesday 18 April Chesham and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk by Jeremy, G3XZG on 'my amateur radio
station'. Contact Terry, G0VFW, on 01442 506 344, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 18 April Dover Radio Club is having its AGM. Contact
Brian, G4SAU, by email to .

On Wednesday 18 April Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on DFing by Graham, G0UUS and Steve, G7HEP. Contact Jim, M1JJN
for more information.

On Wednesday 18 April Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having its AGM.
Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 18 April Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a talk on flat panel loudspeakers. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on 01903
753 893.

On Thursday 19 April Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is running an
Intermediate Licence training course from 7pm at Danbury Village Hall.
Contact Clive, G1EUC, on 01245 224 577, or on the web at
www.g0mwt.org.uk/training. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Thursday 19 April Cray Valley Radio Society is having its AGM.
Contact Bob, BRS32525, on 020 8265 7735 after 8pm.

On Thursday 19 April Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a skittles evening at Wickham. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023 9247 2846,
or on the web at www.hdarc.co.uk.

On Thursday 19 April Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having its spring junk sale. Contact David, G8UOD, on 01234 742 757.

On Thursday 19 April Sutton and Cheam Radio Society is having a talk on
the work of the RSGB EMC Committee by Colin Richards, G3YCR. Contact
John, G0BWV, on 020 8644 9945, or by email to .

On Friday 20 April Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a radio
night and table top sale. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by
email to .

On Friday 20 April Radio Amateur Old Timers' Association is having a
Get-Together in London Colney from 11am to 4pm. Details from Mavis,
G0XBY or Adrian, M0ABY on 01582 833451.

On Friday 20 April Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having an operating
night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to .

6 On Friday 20 April Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a review
of GB95MGY activities. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.

On Saturday 21 April Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is attending
Sandford Mill Open Day. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.

On Saturday 21 April Dorking and District Radio Society is having its
60th Anniversary Reunion. Contact Mr Blanchard, G3JKV, or look on the
web at www.ddrs.org.uk.

On Sunday 22 April Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a foxhunt
to find Alan, G8FMH. Contact Frank, M0AEU, by email to .

On Sunday 22 April Radio Society of Harrow is having an operating day
for GB2DHH at the DeHavilland Heritage Museum, London Colney from10am -
2.30pm.

NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST

On Wednesday 18 April Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is looking at its
capacitance and inductance meter project. Contact .

On Wednesday 18 April South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having a
horticultural evening with Mrs Susan Grace. Contact Len, G4RZY, on
01275 834 282.

On Wednesday 18 April Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is
watching a Dxpedition video. Contact William, G3WNI, on 01823 666 234,
or by email to .

On Wednesday 18 April Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is having a video night. Contact Tony, G0WMB, by email to
.

On Thursday 19 April Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on club projects from the past by Deryck, G3YKC. Contact Mike,
M5CBS, on 01793 826 465.

On Thursday 19 April Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having its AGM.
Contact Derek, 01935 414 452, or by email to .

On Friday 20 April Bournemouth Radio Society is having an illustrated
talk on 'a vertical aerial for the 17 metre band by David Wright,
G4BKE. Contact John, G0HAT, on 07719 700 771.

On Saturday 21 April Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society is running
its Foundation training course. Contact Chuck on 01202 881421 for more
information.

NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS

On Wednesday 18 April Hinckley Amateur Radio and Electronics Society is
having an open evening. Contact Sam, M1FJB, on 01158 718 449.

On Wednesday 18 April Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
discussing operating abroad. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952 299 677, or
by email to .

On Thursday 19 April Salop Amateur Radio Society is having its first
fox hunt. Contact Glenda, G1YJB, on 01939 235 412.

7 On Friday 20 April Coventry Amateur Radio Society is running a 2m
direction finding event from 8.00, starting at St Bartholomew's church
hall, Brinklow Road, Coventry. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476 273 190,
or by email to .

On Friday 20 April Hucknall Rolls-Royce Amateur Radio Club I having a
talk by Jeff Lashley on amateur radio astronomy. Contact Carl, M0XBE,
on 07979 092 447, or on the web at www.hrrarc.com.

On Friday 20 April Melton Mowbray Amateur Radio Society is having an
emergency planning meeting with Melton Borough Council. Contact Phil,
G4LWB, on .

On Sunday 22 April Worcester Radio Amateurs Association is having a
talk on portable operation and kite aerials. Request details by email
to .

NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

On Wednesday 18 April Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics
Society is having a talk by David Barclay on leaky feeders. Contact
Nancy, on 0191 477 0036, 07990 760 920, or by email to
.

On Wednesday 18 April Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is preparing
the equipment and club stand for Radio Active. Contact Richard, G0JIT,
by email to .

On Wednesday 18 April Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club is meeting
at The Ring O'Bells, West Kirby. Contact Tom, G4BKF, on 07050 291 850.

On Friday 20 April South Manchester Radio and Computer Club is having a
talk on Heathrow's Terminal 5 construction. Contact Ron, on 0161 969
3999.

On Friday 20 April Tynemouth Radio Club is preparing for International
Marconi Day. Contact Tony, G8YFA, by email to
.

On Saturday 21 April Silcoates School Amateur Radio Club is running its
Direction Finding Seminar. Contact Nigel, M0NJW, by email to
.

On Sunday 22 April Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics Society
is running its Foundation course. Contact Nancy on 0191 477 0036, 07990
760 920, or by email to .

NEWS FOR SCOTLAND

On Wednesday 18 April Paisley (YMCA) Amateur Radio Club is having part
3 of its home brew QRP transmitter project. Contact Jim, GM3UWX.

On Thursday 19 April Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having a
construction and on the air evening. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224
575 663, or on the web at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.

On Saturday 21 April Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club is
having a 10 pin bowling night from 8pm at Megabowl, Kinnaird Park.
Contact Bob, GM4UYZ, on 01875 811 723.

On Sunday 22 April Central Scotland FM Group is having its AGM in
Bathgate Guide Hall, Mid Street, Bathgate, West Lothian. Details on the
web at www.csfmg.com.

8 NEWS FOR WALES On Friday 20 April Blackwood and District Amateur
Radio Society is having a talk on Marconi and early radio by Glyn,
GW0ANA. Contact Robert, MW0CVT.

NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

No news items have been received for Northern Ireland this week. And
that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast,

prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.