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G4TNU > NEWS 17.11.10 18:52l 280 Lines 13698 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 21 Nov
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 21st November 2010
The news headlines:
* Network and RSGB announce new Agreement
* Amateur radio exam fees set to change
* RSGB Region 4 election closes soon
The Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network, the UK's principal
organisation of volunteers providing radio communications in time of
need, and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), the UK's
national society for Amateur Radio, are pleased to announce the
signing of a formal agreement between the two organisations providing
a framework to progress the closer working relationship between them.
The Network Chairman, Cathy Clark, said “I am delighted to sign
this agreement, which promises to bring the two organisations closer
together for the benefit of our members and the service they provide
to our many User Services.”
RSGB President Dave Wilson, said “I would like to thank all those
who've been working behind the scenes on what was undoubtedly not
an easy task to get us to the position we are today. The signing of
this agreement cements on-going co-operation between the two
organisations. Joint working will continue to ensure the smooth
implementation of the Principles of Co-operation described in the
agreement.”
The RSGB Public Services Co-ordinator, Charlie Morrison, commented
"It was the obvious way forward for our two organisations to work
more closely together, making use of our own capabilities for the
greater good of emergency communications. I am pleased that both
parties found the agreement so easy to accept.”
The agreement, which had unanimous acceptance by both the RSGB Board
and the Network's Committee of Management, was signed on Saturday
20th November 2010 during the RSGB Spectrum Forum meeting in which
all parties consider frequency planning and usage issues.
The cost of UK amateur radio examinations is to rise by £5 from 1st
January 2011. The new fees will be £27.50 for the Foundation,
£32.50 for Intermediate and £37.50 for the Advanced exam. This
applies to all exams falling on or after 1st January 2011.
Instructors need to be aware that any requests for exam papers in the
last three weeks of December 2010 need to be accompanied by the
increased fee.
Following the announcement that the RSGB Board election has been
declared invalid, Members in Region 4 are reminded that their
Regional Election is still going ahead. Details of the candidates
were published in the November 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. Voting
closes at noon on 2nd December.
RSGB Propagation Studies Committee members Steve, G0KYA and Alan,
G3NYK have released a free e-book called Understanding LF and HF
Propagation. In 2008 and 2009, Steve and Alan wrote a series of
features on LF and HF propagation for RadCom, consisting of a
month-by-month look at each HF band in turn. They showed the reader
the propagation modes behind each band and explaining some of the
technicalities of ionospheric propagation. The RSGB has allowed the
PSC to put them together into a single document, which is now freely
available for amateurs worldwide to download. You can download your
free copy of Understanding LF and HF Propagation at
g0kya.blogspot.com.
Last week's RSGB Museum Surplus Equipment sale was yet another very
successful event. This week is a bumper week and the auctions end
today, Sunday 21st, after 8pm. So far the most popular items this
week are a Yaesu FT-200 HF transceiver, which has lots of interest
and bids and the RME 69 HF valve receiver. Check out the RSGB website
www.rsgb.org.uk/auction for details and photographs of the equipment.
All the proceeds from the sale will be going towards funding the
National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. Today, 21 November, also
sees the start of the final auction of RSGB Museum Surplus Equipment.
It will be packed full of star buys and will finish after 8pm on
Sunday 28 November.
The G4M and N series sub Manager recently advised that, as of
January, he needs to remove some 185 envelopes from his files. Most
are stamped with monetary values that no longer apply. Many are very
old. Some larger A4 envelopes cannot be sent as First Class Mail,
being too wide or too thick when folded. In the event of a price
rise, First or Second Class stamps will be honoured by the Post
Office but stamps with a monetary value will not. In order to bring
many M0 callsign holders into line with other UK sort groups, the
grouping has been reorganised. Wayne Thomas, M0WAY will deal with the
group M0M to Z and David Mappin, G4EDR will continue to look after
M0G to L. Outstanding cards and envelopes for these groups have been
transferred to the appropriate manager.
AMSAT-UK's FUNcube is an educational single Cubesat project with
the goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space,
physics and electronics. It will support the educational Science,
Technology, Engineering and Maths initiatives and provide an
additional resource for the GB4FUN Mobile Communications Centre. To
keep up to date with the latest project news, including the ground
station receiver board and the FUNcube Dongle, visit
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/funcube/ or search funcube within
the yahoo groups.
On Saturday 4 December, Wakefield and District Radio Society will
host a Train the Trainers session. The venue is their HQ, 23rd
Wakefield Scouts, rear of the Methodist church, Barnsley Road,
Wakefield WF1 5NU. The course will be run by RSGB President, Dave
Wilson, M0OBW, and there will be no charge for those that attend. A
small buffet will be provided and the kettle will also be on for the
duration. The course commences at 9.30am and candidates would be
advised to arrive by no later than 9.15. Further information can be
obtained by contacting Ken Quinn, 2E0SSQ by e-mail to
kquinn27<at>o2.co.uk r by phone, before 8pm please, on 07900 563117.
Due to a very kind gesture, the Bath Buildathon Crew are able to
offer a free place at the 4th Bath Buildathon to someone who would
benefit from the experience but maybe cannot afford the cost. The
lucky person will build a 20m superhet receiver kit under their
watchful eyes and take it away at the end of the day on Saturday 8
January 2011. The organisers cannot run to paying transport costs,
but the venue is within walking distance of the train station and,
with advanced booking, the travel should not be too expensive. If you
know of a youngster who is studying for their Intermediate exam, or
maybe someone who has a Full licence but needs a helping hand to get
some construction experience, please send details to
g0fuw<at>tiscali.co.uk. The Buildathon Crew will then ask the sponsor
of the place make the decision on who should get it. Closing date for
nominations is 11 December. In addition to the Buildathon, the Bath
group will be carrying out Intermediate Practical Assessments and the
written exam on the same day. If anyone is interested in the exams
the contact is also Steve, G0FUW, who must have your details by 11
December.
The Wakefield & District Radio Society's IRLP and Echolink Node
MB7IWR, which operates on 145.3375MHz from Dewsbury has had an
antenna upgrade. Thanks to the generosity and work of both Michael,
G1XCC and Nathan, M0KKH, the new antenna seems to be performing well.
Reception reports would be appreciated to the node keeper, Dave,
G4CLI by e-mail to g4cli<at>wdrs.org.uk. Further improvements are
planned with the acquisition of an embedded node and a new rig. More
information about the node can be found on the society website at
www.wdrs.org.uk.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, 21 November, the 33rd CATS Radio & Electronics Bazaar takes
place at the 1st Coulsdon Scout HQ, which is at the rear of the
Council Car Park, Lion Green Road, Coulsdon, Surrey. The event is
open from 10am to 1pm and admission is £1. There will be a Bring &
Buy. Details Andy, G8JAC, by e-mail to secretary<at>catsradio.org.
Also today, 21 November, the Plymouth Radio Club Rally will take
place at the Elm Community Centre, Leypark Walk, Estover, Plymouth
PL6 8UE. Doors open at 10am and the admission is £2. There will be
trade stands and a Bring & Buy.
The final rally of the year is the Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs
Club Rally that takes place on 28 November at the Spennymoor Leisure
Centre, Co Durham DL16 6DB. There is plenty of car parking and
talk-in 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.
Now for the news of special events
On Saturday 27 November, Preston Amateur Radio Soceity is running
GB1LD for Lancashire Day. The main bands of operation will be 80 and
40m. Further details are on qrz.com.
Chorley & District Amateur Radio Society will be running GB0LD again
this year to celebrate Lancashire Day on 27 November. The callsign is
valid from Monday 22 November to Sunday 28 November inclusive and
will be operating on all bands from 2m to Top Band.
On 27 and 28 November, Crewe Heritage Centre ARC will be putting on a
special event station, GB4CHC, to commemorate 50 Years of the Class
37s. For more information, contact John M0JCD on 01270 619034.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Halifax Amateur Radio Society will be active from Mull of Galloway
lighthouse and Corsewall Point lighthouse in Scotland from 22 to 26
November. They will be using the callsign GS2UG and full details are
on www.qrz.com.
Tony, IK1QBT and Emilio, IZ1GAR will be active as IH9/IK1QBT and
IH9/IZIGAR from Pantelleria, which is IOTA reference AF-019, from 23
to 30 November. They will participate in the CQ WW DX CW Contest as
IH9X on 80 metres and as IH9R on 40 metres respectively. QSL via
their home calls.
Look for Hennie, PJ4/PE1MAE to be active from Bonaire, which is IOTA
reference SA-006, for about four months. QSL via bureau or direct to
PA2NJC.
Now the contest news
Advance notice first. The Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club is hosting an
inter-membership HF contest on Sunday 9 January 2011. All modes and
HF frequencies are allowed, so if you hear any of their members, as
listed at www.muarc.com, then please talk to them, as they would
appreciate the points.
On 23 November the 50MHz Activity Contest will take place from 2000
to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 50MHz band the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The following day, 24 November sees the CW leg of the 80m Club Sprint
from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is serial number and name.
Morse enthusiasts get their slice of the action on the last weekend
of the month, 27 and 28 November, when the CW leg of CQWW takes
place. 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 14.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 8th to the
14th of November, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 15th of
November
Up to four sunspot groups were visible on some days. Two groups
produced C class solar flares from the 11th which increased solar
activity to low levels. In total fourteen C class solar flares took
place. Several sudden ionospheric disturbances and coronal mass
ejections were also observed. Solar flux levels showed little daily
variation and averaged 85 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the
14th was 81 units. That's the same level as last week. X-ray flux
Averaged A9.8 units which also showed little variation day to day.
Geomagnetic activity started at very quiet levels with an Ap index of
only 3 units on the 8th and the 9th. During the evening of the 10th a
magnetic disturbance arrived and lasted for the next two days when
the Ap was 15 units. The average was Ap 8 units. Particle densities
were low except for a brief increase to 14 particles per cubic
centimetre during the 10th. Bz varied between minus 4 and plus 3
nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 10 and plus 12
nanoTeslas during the disturbance.
And now the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to
be very low to low. If any large, active sunspot groups appear then
activity could increase to moderate. Solar flux levels should be in
the 80's for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity could be
unsettled today but the decline to quiet levels for the rest of the
week. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around
26MHz for the south and 23MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are
expected to be about 8MHz. Paths this week to South America should
have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of
about 29MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success
rate will be around 22MHz. The best time to try this path will be
between 1100 to 1600 hours.
And that's all for this week from the propagation team.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to newsdesk<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
09:00 on the Tuesday before transmission.
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