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M1CUK > NEWS 20.08.09 16:12l 508 Lines 23210 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 23rd August 2009
The news headlines
" VU2ZH ready as an emergency comms station
" APRS from 30km up
" Cushcraft bought by MFJ
The Amateur Radio Society of India has signed a memorandum of
understanding with the Indian Red Cross Society, Bangalore and an
amateur radio station with the callsign VU2ZH. It will be inaugurated on
12 October by the Governor of Karnataka State. The station will be
available as a club station in Bangalore for amateurs and will also
serve as an emergency communications station. The station is accessible
24-7 and will also have emergency power. It has HF and VHF capability.
Efforts are being made to replicate this elsewhere in India.
Passepartout3 is a stratospheric balloon that is a collaborative project
by the Austrian space forum and the Austrian Radio Amateur Association.
It will be carrying an APRS digipeater with the special callsign OE0S.
The start is planned for Saturday, 22 August at 0800UTC from locator
JN77RB, although that may be delayed until 23 August in the case of bad
weather.
Passepartout3 will be active on 144.390MHz, OE9HFV, APRS beacon every
minute and 432.500MHz, OE0S, APRS digipeater and beacon. The planned
maximum height will be more than 30km and the maximum area within direct
sight will have a radius of more than 600km. More information is
available on the internet, put Passepartout3 into your favourite search
engine.
MFJ Enterprises has announced that the company has purchased Cushcraft
Amateur Radio Antennas. Cushcraft products will continue to be
manufactured in Manchester, New Hampshire. The acquisition will bring
over fifty new products to MFJ's amateur radio product line. Look for
more information at www.mfjenterprises.com.
Many RSGB committees will be exhibiting at the National Hamfest on 2 and
3 October at the Newark & Notts Showground. This will give the visitors
to the show, organised by the RSGB and Lincoln Short Wave Club, the
chance to talk about all aspects of amateur radio from planning to EMC
and propagation to IOTA. We're also able to tell you that RadioWorld
have joined the list of traders attending the show. Details of the
National Hamfest can be found at www.nationalhamfest.co.uk.
Steve Hartley, G0FUW, and his team are about to start their next
Foundation course in Bath. The classes will run from 3 September to 15
October between 7 and 9pm each week. An Intermediate course will follow
on starting on 5 November, with another Bath Buildathon planned for
January 2010. Advanced training will begin in February, aiming for the
June exam. Anyone interested in joining in should contact Steve on 01225
464394 between 7 and 9pm weekdays or via e-mail g0fuw<at>tiscali.co.uk
The Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group are in the process of
transferring all their beacons and repeaters to a new mast at the same
location. The GB3NC 2m repeater and the GB3MCB beacons on 6m, 4m, 2m and
70cm are all now operating successfully from the new mast.
Between the 24 August and 30 September it is intended to move the 23cm
GB3MCB beacon, the GB3HB 70cm repeater and the GB3NQ 23cm TV repeater to
the new mast, and there will be some interruptions to these services
during this period. Up to date details on the operational status of the
beacons and repeaters can be found on the Group's website
www.mcbarg.co.uk.
The Group would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst these
changes are taking place and special thanks to everyone for their
donations, which are making all these changes possible.
SSTL & DMCii, two companies involved in satellite development, are
scheduled to be featured on Discovery Channel's How Do They Do It?
programme on 26th August at 8pm. The programme showcases a wide variety
of technology and inventions from around the world and explains how
things work.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
The Andover Radio Club Boot Sale will take place today, 23 August, at
Wildhern Village Hall and Playing field, SP11 0JE, which is just north
of Andover just off the A343. Entry is £1.50 and there is plenty of
parking available. Details from Martin, M0MWS, 01980-612070 or check out
the website www.arac.co.uk.
On 29 August, the Rugby Radio Rally will take place at Stanford Hall,
Lutterworth LE17 6DH. Doors open at 10am. More information on 07759
684411.
Bank Holiday Sunday, 30 August, sees the Milton Keynes ARS 51st- Annual
Rally take place at Holne Chase School, Buckingham Road, Bletchley MK3
5HP. Doors open from 9am to 4pm. Details from Mike, G3LFR on 07866
673192.
The Huntingdonshire ARS Bank Holiday Monday Rally takes place on 31
August at St Neots Community College, Barford Rd, St Neots PE19 2SH.
Doors open at 10am and there will be a Bring & Buy as well as the usual
trade stands and an RSGB bookstall. More from Julie, M1JUL, on 07905
052127.
The annual Telford Hamfest now takes place on Sunday, 6th September at
Enginuity, the hands-on engineering museum, in Coalbrookdale, Telford,
Shropshire TF87DQ. The usual traders will be in attendance. Also
lectures by GEO, the weather satellite group.
Doors open at 10am and there's on site catering and two pubs very close
by, one with a very good restaurant. The museum also has a cafeteria. A
reduced price admission to the Enginuity Museum is available. There's
also much to see and do nearby where iron engineering on a large scale
first began, including the first Iron Bridge, the Tar Tunnel, Coalport
china works, Tile museum, Victorian Town, the Museum of Iron and more.
More information from Mike, G3JKX on 01952 299677 or Martyn, G3UKV on
01952 255416.
Now for the news of special events
On the air, listen out for PD55EA. That station will be on the air until
28 August to celebrate the 55th birthday of the Ellert and Brammert
Museum in the Netherlands. They group will be active on 40, 20 and 10m
using SSB and the digital modes. There may also be activity on 2m as
well. QSL's will be sent automatically via the bureau. If you want to
QSL direct, please send your QSL via PD7BZ.
PA09WSF, will be on the air until 30 August to celebrate the World
Statues Festival, that is held in Arnhem on 29 and 30 August. This is a
living Statues Festval and a special QSL card will be available via
bureau or direct.
GB2HA will be on the air on 29 and 30 August on 80, 40, 20 and 2m. This
is one of the activities of the HMS Hood Association.
Lincoln Short Wave Club have been given permission to operate GB2CWP
from inside Just Jane', the Lancaster bomber operated by Lincolnshire
Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire. The station will
be on the air on 5 September. Modern equipment will be used in the
Lancaster for safety and practicality, however, when the aircraft is
taxiing, the team will operate GB2CWPs T1154 and R1155 from the museum
shack. Special QSL cards will be available for all stations working
GB2CWP from the aircraft.
July was the first month of activating GB50ATG for the 50th anniversary
of the British Amateur Radio & Teledata Group. Roger, G3LDI, managed to
work around 400 stations. Even though we are still at a minimum as far
as propagation is concerned, lots of JA stations were worked, but few
USA stations. Arthur, G1XKZ, has taken over using GB50ATG until the end
of August. He has already made lots of contacts in the SARTG contest and
will be as active as he can on both RTTY and PSK. At the end of August,
the call will be passed on again, this time to John, GW4SKA.
GB2WZ will be operated by the Weston-super-Mare Radio Society on 29 to
31 August from the Westonzoyland Pumping Station near Bridgwater,
Somerset.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources.
J42ARET will be on the air from one of the Drenia islands from 28 to 31
August. These are six uninhabited islands off the coast of Greece. More
details on http://SX8DI.blogspot.com.
The Scandinavian Young Ladies Radio, is organising the annual
International YL meeting in Oslo, Noway, between 3 and 6 September. A
special callsign LA1SYL will be put on the air. Following, the meeting,
a YL group will sign JW1SYL from Swalbard. For both operations, QSL via
YL op's information. More information : www.sylra.is/.
Rachid, 3B8FQ [425DXN 953] was expected to arrive to St. Brandon
(AF-015) around 2 UTC on 12 August. Barring unforeseen circumstances, he
now expects to extend his stay on the island, and to be operate as 3B7FQ
until sometime on 3 September. Operating time will be shared with
Rachid's maintenance responsibilities at the local meteorological
station. QSL via K5XK, direct preferred. [TNX K5XK]
CT8/DL7JAN and CT8/DL2IX will be active from Faial, which is IOTA
reference EU-175, in the Azores until 31 August. They will operate CW,
SSB and RTTY on 80 to 6m. QSL via their home calls, direct or via the
bureau.
FJ/W2VQ and FJ/WQ2N will be active from St. Barthelemy, which is IOTA
reference NA-146, until 25 August. They plan to operate CW, SSB, RTTY
and possibly PSK31 on 80 to 6m. QSL both calls via WQ2N.
Now the contest news
On 26 August the 80m Club Sprint takes place between 1900 and 2030 on
SSB. The idea is to work everyone, but remember that once you have
called CQ and made a QSO you have to QSY. The exchange is serial number
and name.
The 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 25 August from 1900 to
2130. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On 30 August the IRTS 2m Counties Contest is on between 1300 and 1500.
From the UK you shouldn't need to make many QSOs to win the Outside EI
category, although if there's a GI active he'll probably get top spot.
The exchange is signal report, serial number and EI and GI also give
county.
Now the solar factual data for the period from the 10th to the 16th of
August, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 17th of August.
We start this week with the latest monthly smoothed sunspot numbers
which are for November, December and January and are 1.8, 1.7 and 1.8.
This could suggest that solar minimum as been reached in December 2008.
However, several more monthly figures are required before this will be
confirmed. The present 37 day spell without sunspots could drag this
figure lower. As always, we will just have to wait and see.
The solar disc was spotless everyday. The current stretch of spotless
days on the 17th is now 37 days. Solar activity was very low. Solar flux
levels increased very slightly from 67 units to 69 by the 16th. The
average was 68. The 90 day solar flux average on the 16th was 68 units,
that's one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels remained below the
minimum level everyday. Geomagnetic activity was quiet everyday. The
most disturbed day was the 12th and the 13th with an Ap index of only 5
units. The average was Ap 4 units. Solar wind data from the ACE
spacecraft saw solar wind speeds gradually decline from 400 kilometres
per second to 260 by the 16th. Particle densities remained below 10
particles per cubic centimetre for most of the time. Bz showed little
variation with the quiet geomagnetic field and only varied between minus
4 and plus 4 nanoTeslas at worst.
And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
continue at very low levels. The solar disc could be spotless on most
days. Solar flux levels should be in the high 60's for all of the coming
week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels everyday.
MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 18MHz for
the south and 15MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows should be
about 11MHz. 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 15MHz.
The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1300 hours UTC.
Sporadic-E is expected to take place on some days, saying that, openings
should be brief as we head towards the end of this summers season.
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.
NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-EAST and EAST ANGLIA
On Sunday 23 August Andover Radio Amateurs Club is holding their Boot
Sale at Wildhern. Contact Martin, M0MWS, on 0777 618 1646.
On Sunday 23 August Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society is operating VHF
from Sandford Mill. Contact Martyn, G1EFL, on 01245 469 008.
On Monday 24 August Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a club net. Contact Paul, G4YQC, by email to pjw<at>btinternet.com
.
On Tuesday 25 August Brede Steam Amateur Radio Society is operating from
the shack. Contact Steve, on 01424 720815.
On Tuesday 25 August Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a talk on microcontrollers by Ashfaq Juna. Contact Stuart, G0FYX, on 023
9247 2846.
On Wednesday 26 August Dover Radio Club is having a barbecue at the QTH
of G4IMP and G4RJZ. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
g4sau<at>DARC.org.uk.
On Wednesday 26 August Farnborough and District Radio Society is having
a talk by local historian Mary Bennet. Contact Derek, G3OFA, by email to
mail<at>fdrs.org.uk.
On Wednesday 26 August Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a video show. Contact Richard, G3ZGC, on 01635 46241.
On Wednesday 26 August Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having an informal,
construction, workshop and Bright Sparks evening. Contact Chris Danby,
G0DWV, on 01603 419204.
On Wednesday 26 August Peterborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having an al fresco barbecue and on the air evening. Contact David
Howlett, M0VTG, by email to padarc<at>tesco.net.
On Thursday 27 August Bittern DX Group is making final plans for SSB
Field Day and Transmission 2009. Contact Keith, G0GFQ, on 01263 588 506.
On Thursday 27 August Edgware and District Radio Society is discussing
the autumn programme. Contact Mike, G4RNW, on 020 8950 0658.
On Thursday 27 August Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society is having an
informal evening. Contact Gerald, G8AKL, on 01487 740794.
On Friday 28 August Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club is having
a shack evening. Contact David Leary, G8JKV on 01223 355254.
On Friday 28 August Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
satellites by Noel Mathews, G8GTZ. Contact Charlie, M0WYM, on 02380
439560.
On Friday 28 August Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a VHF direction finding contest. Contact Jim, M0CON, on 020 8874
7456.
NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST
On Tuesday 25 August Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society is having an
HF evening in the club shack. Contact Tony G0GFL, on 01258 860741.
On Wednesday 26 August Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club is
operating the club station and having a Morse class. Contact William,
G3WNI, on 01823 666 234.
On Wednesday 26 August Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio
Club is on the air. Contact Tony, G0WMB, on 01454 417048.
On Thursday 27 August South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.
On Thursday 27 August Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club Is having
a natter night. Contact Den, M0ACM, on 07810 317750.
On Thursday 27 August Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is on the air and having
a committee meeting. Contact Steve Crask, G7AHP, by email to
steve<at>g7ahp.co.uk.
On Friday 28 August Cornish Radio Amateur Club commences its weekend
event, operating the August Volkswagen Jamboree Station. Contact Steve,
G7VOH, on 01209 844939.
On Friday 28 August Torbay Amateur Radio Society is having an operating
night. Contact Dave, G6FSP, by email to g6fsp<at>tars.org.uk.
NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS
Listeners in the Lincoln area may remember that Bill Felton G3XZF used
to read the GB2RS news on 145.525MHz FM on Sunday mornings. He has now
volunteered to do so again starting at 10.30am this Sunday. He would
however like another volunteer, who must be an RSGB member, to act as a
reserve reader when he is not available. In the meantime Jim Stevenson
G0EJQ, the RSGB Regional Manager for the East Midlands, has kindly
agreed to assist with some of the readings. Volunteers should contact
Gordon Adams G3LEQ, the GB2RS News Manager, for more details on 01 565
652 652.
On Monday 24 August Gloucester Amateur Radio And Electronics Society is
not meeting because the school is closed. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01452
548478, daytime.
On Monday 24 August Hastings Electronic & Radio Club is having a social
evening discussion and question time. Contact Gordon, on 01424 431 909.
On Monday 24 August Leicester DX Group is having a talk by Gaz M3PCB
about an antenna analyser . Contact Clive, M3CGH via the web at
www.leicesterdx.co.uk.
On Monday 24 August South Birmingham Radio Society is having a barbecue
outside, weather permitting. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.
On Monday 24 August South Normanton Alfreton and District Amateur Radio
Club is on the air at Crich Stand. Contact A J Higton, 2E1GWO, on 01773
783658.
On Tuesday 25 August Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is on the
air. Contact Richard Buckby, by email to radio<at>dadars.org.uk.
On Tuesday 25 August Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a practical evening. Contact Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.
On Wednesday 26 August Lincoln Short-Wave Club is putting G5FZ on the
air and having a natter night. Contact Pam Rose, on 01427 788356.
On Wednesday 26 August Midland Amateur Radio Society Club is on the air
and having an equipment check. Contact Norman, G8BHE, on 01214 229 787.
On Wednesday 26 August South Notts Amateur Radio Club is having a talk
on Morse by G4NSP. Contact Terry, M0RIA, on the web at
www.radioclubs.net/snarc.
On Wednesday 26 August Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is
having an organisation and briefing meeting for Hamfest. Contact Mike,
G3JKX, on 01952 299 677.
On Friday 28 August Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club is
planning its winter programme. Contact Chris, M0BQE, on 01905 776 869.
On Friday 28 August Coventry Amateur Radio Society is operating 6m, 4m
and satellites. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777363.
On Friday 28 August Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club is making
final preparations for the Moorgreen Country show. Contact Dave Wilde,
G1YAI, on webmaster<at>hrrarc.com.
On Friday 28 August South Birmingham Radio Society is having a
construction evening. Contact Don, on 0121 458 1603.
On Saturday 29 August Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society is attending
the Rugby car boot sale. Contact Peter D Rivers, G4XEX, on 01858 432105.
On Sunday 30 August Hucknall Rolls Royce Amateur Radio Club will have a
stand at the Moorgreen Country Show. Contact Dave Wilde, G1YAI, by email
to webmaster<at>hrrarc.com.
NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
Since July 1994 Clive Reynolds G8EQZ has been reading GB2RS News from
Hull on 145.525MHz FM at 10.00hours. He is the only reader for this
schedule, but needs a volunteer to take on the occasional readings when
he is not available. Any RSGB member in the Hull area, who might
consider volunteering, is asked to contact the GB2RS News Manager,
Gordon Adams G3LEQ, on 01 565 652 652 for more information. Clive has
also advised the RSGB that he has acquired recently his late Father's
callsign G3GJA, and will be using this in future during his news nets.
On Monday 24 August Angel Of The North Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 4770036.
On Monday 24 August Bolton Wireless Club is having a 2m DF hunt at the
Britannia Hotel at 7:30pm. Contact boltonwireless<at>gmail.com.
On Monday 24 August Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a video
presentation on the VK/ZL trip by Peter, G3PHO. Contact Trevor Wood,
M0TWS, by email to trevorwood6<at>yahoo.co.uk.
On Monday 24 August South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is holding
its monthly technical forum. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on 0161 969 3999.
On Monday 24 August Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society is having a
CW night with Ken, G3RFH. Contact John Foster, M3WAZ, on 01253 399377.
On Tuesday 25 August Morecambe Bay Amateur Radio Society is having a
social evening. Contact Martin Hazel, M0ZIF, on 07852 200232.
On Tuesday 25 August Otley Amateur Radio Society is contesting the 50MHz
activity night from the Shack, all welcome. Contact Paul, 2E0PAK, on
07768 996370.
On Tuesday 25 August Warrington Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on
unusual homebrew antennas by Ron, W6WO. Contact Roger, M0DWQ, on 07868
000 705.
On Wednesday 26 August Goole Radio and Electronics Society is having a
social evening. Contact Ken, G6YYN, on 01757 638539.
On Wednesday 26 August Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having an activity
night. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.
On Wednesday 26 August Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society ia having an
on-air antenna testing night. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on
01606553401.
On Thursday 27 August South Manchester Radio And Computer Club is having
an update on sun spot cycle 24 by Ron, G3SVW. Contact Ron, G3SVW, on
0161 969 3999.
On Friday 28 August East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club is on the air.
Contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.
On Friday 28 August Tynemouth Radio Club is having an operating night
with technical topics and a Morse Class. Contact Graham Errington, 07812
172136.
On Sunday 30 August Blyth Radio Club is operating G4VKY from 10 amto
4pm. Contact K Stewart, G0TWV, on 01670 545261.
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND
Scottish radio amateurs are reminded about the variation to their
licence available for Homecoming Scotland. Individual qualifying
licensees will be able to obtain a variation to their amateur radio
licences, enabling them to use the Regional Secondary Locator A for Alba
to identify their station as being situated in Scotland. This RSL will
be available in addition to the existing identifier M, though only one
RSL should be used in a callsign. The facility will not be valid for
stations situated outside Scotland. Applications for the variation must
be made on an individual basis at www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/variation.
On Tuesday 25 August Livingston and District Amateur Radio Society is
having Morse Code Practice. Contact Norman, on 07740 946192.
On Wednesday 26 August Kingdom Amateur Radio Society is having a shack
night. Contact Brian, MM0XBD, on 01383 738905.
On Thursday 27 August Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is on the air and
having a construction evening. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663.
NEWS FOR WALES
On Monday 24 August Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is having a junk sale
and social night. Contact Craig, MW0MXT, on 01269 840292.
-------------------------------------------
73
Trev,
SysOp gb7fcr.#16.gbr.eu
E-Mail trev@gb7fcr.co.uk
Packet Radio <-> InterNet Gateway
RF & Telnet access
BBS Web Site http://www.gb7fcr.co.uk
WinPack Web Site http://www.winpack.org.uk
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