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G4TNU > NEWS 08.04.12 08:03l 248 Lines 12180 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB News - -8 April 2011 (complete)
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 8th April 2012
The news headlines:
* Training and Education Committee
* The 145.500 MHz FM Calling channel
* Free exhibition to commemorate Titanic and Marconi
The RSGB Board has decided to create a Training and Education
Committee, which will take over many of the roles of the former
Amateur Radio Development Committee. Amongst its duties, the new
committee will work with the RCF on the training structure and how it
might be improved as well as investigate, with the RCF, different
ways for training to be provided, including possible extension of
distance learning and internet based technologies. Following a
process of inviting applications and interviews, the Board has
determined that, with immediate effect, Steve Hartley, G0FUW will be
appointed as Chairman of the Training and Education Committee. Steve
brings a vast background of experience and knowledge in the training
and education field to this new role.
The Society has received a number of complaints that relate to an
error in the 2m part of the RSGB Band Plan. This error was mentioned
in the VHF Manager's Annual Report in the April RadCom, page 53. It
concerns the incorrect designation of the 145.500MHz simplex channel
as Mobile Calling and its dual FM/ Digital Voice usage. Whilst these
arrangements were put in place shortly after the 2008 IARU Region 1
General Conference, there have not been many problems reported.
Increased uptake of Digital Voice, coupled with its use on 145.500MHz
in some parts of the country, has highlighted an incompatibility. FM
users monitoring the calling channel get disturbing noise bursts when
a Digital Voice transmission occurs, making background
channel-monitoring unacceptable. The Society will raise this issue
within IARU Region 1 at the next opportunity, meanwhile UK amateurs
using Digital Voice are asked not to use 145.500MHz, and are reminded
that their Digital Voice calling channel is 144.6125MHz. In the
interests of cooperation, both FM and Digital Voice users are asked
to listen before transmitting on the other simplex channels to ensure
that they are clear before use.
From 14 April until 8 July, a free exhibition will take place at
Chelmsford Museum commemorating the centenary of the Titanic disaster
and of Marconi's New Street factory. The Chelmsford Museum is at
Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford CM2 9AQ.
The RSGB AGM will take place on 21 April at the Swan Hotel, Bedford.
Full details are in the April RadCom. The hotel would like some
indication of the numbers who will be having lunch on the day of the
AGM. Lunch will be soup and a sandwich and will cost GBP 8. To
register your intent, please visit www.rsgb.org/agmlunch and submit
your name and callsign.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has announced the launch of
five amateur radio satellites on two launches taking place in May and
July. The first H-IIA launch takes place on 17 May between 1639 and
1642UTC and will carry the amateur radio satellite HORYU-2. The
second launch on 21 July at 0218UTC of the HTV3 will deliver the
JEM-Small Satellite Orbital Deployer to the International Space
Station.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
On 15 April the 50th NARSA Blackpool rally will take place the
Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. There will be
trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well as special interest groups and a
RSGB book stand. Doors open at 10.30am and more details can be
obtained from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608.
Also on 15 April the Cambridge Repeater Groups Rally will be held at
Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton. Doors open at 10am and
admissions is GBP 2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy.
Details from Lawrence, M0CLM on 01223 711 840.
The RSGB Board Proceedings for February 2012 are now available to
Members online. Among topics discussed are the Examination Software
and interviews for the General Manager vacancy that has existed for
the past 14 months. The Minutes are at
www.rsgb.org/membersonly/information/minutes/minutes-2012/feb-2012.pdf
Now for the news of special events
The centenary of the loss of RMS Titanic in 1912 will be commemorated
with many activities taking place around the world, a list of the
stations we have heard about is on the RSGB website at
www.rsgb.org/titaniclist.
GB100MGY will be on the air until 26 April from Fort Perch Rock
Marine Radio Museum, New Brighton, Wirral. They also have special
permission to use this callsign on the 501 to 504kHz band and plan to
transmit and receive on 502kHz. For those without a 500kHz band NoV
they will work crossband to 3566kHz or 7066kHz.
GR100MGY will be on the air from the grounds of Charterhouse school
in Godalming, the birthplace of Titanic's Marconi Radio Officer, Jack
Phillips. Operated by Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group, members of the
public are invited to visit on 14 and 15 April from noon until 4pm.
Visitors should come to the school on Hurtmore Road, GU7 2DX, during
these opening hours and simply follow the parking signs.
Itchen Valley ARC will be operating GB100WSL for White Star Line from
10 to 15 April. The station will operate from berth 42, Ocean Dock,
Southampton. A commemorative flotilla will set sail from berth 43 at
noon on 10 April as part of the city's commemorations. Brian, G0UKB,
club chairman, is the great-grandson of Thomas King, the Master at
Arms of RMS Titanic, who perished in the disaster. During the
evenings when the dock is closed the club hopes to run GB0WSL from
Bartley in the New Forest. This location is close to the home of the
last survivor of the disaster, Millvina Dean.
GI2012MGY, will be located in Belfast onboard the SS Nomadic. It will
be on the air on most HF bands, using CW and SSB, from 12 to 18
April. The SS Nomadic is the only remaining historic link to the
Titanic left afloat, and she is also the last surviving White Star
Line vessel in the world.
The Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club and Dumfries and Galloway RAYNET
will be using GB100MUC for a Special Event Station at Dalbeattie
Museum for the weekend of 14 and 15 April to commemorate the Titanic
disaster 100 years ago. MUC was the callsign of the Titanic before
she sailed. When she sailed, the callsign changed to MGY. All
contacts will be confirmed with a full colour QSL card.
Bob Leask, G3XNG will be using the callsign M0RSE for the weekend of
1 and 15 April. Bob will use CW on all bands from 10 to 80m with as
much activity as he can muster.
During the weekend of the 14 and 15 April, Poldhu Amateur Radio Club
will be operating from the Marconi Centre at Poldhu using the
callsign G3MPD. MPD was the callsign of the Marconi station at the
time of the Titanic disaster. They hope to be operational on as many
of the HF bands as possible.
The Scunthorpe Steel ARC will be running GB4MGY during the weekend 14
and 15 April. They will be active on 10m through to 80m and,
hopefully, on 2m.
The Apeldoorn DX and Contest Crew will be operating PC100T on 14
April. They will be active on 10, 15 20, 40 and 80m CW and SSB.
On Sunday 15 April, amateurs from the Lichfield area will be running
GB0TI from 9am until 7pm to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
loss of the RMS Titanic and its skipper, Captain E J Smith. The venue
is a brand new Discovery Hub building in Beacon Park, Lichfield. As
well as the calls to be put out on 80, 40 and 20 metres, there will
be other activities in the Hub such as involving the public in trying
their hand at sending distress calls with Morse practice units and
keys.
And now the DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Macclesfield & District Radio Society is off on its 2012 DXpedition
to Colonsay off the west coast of Scotland, IOTA reference EU-123,
from 16 to 21 April. The callsign will be GS4MWS/P. QSL cards will be
available via the RSGB Bureau, or direct to QSL Manager Adie Dodd,
M0PAI. Please include a SSAE if QSLing direct.
Jonas, SA0AAZ and Carin, SA0BAC will be active as V63AAZ and V63BAC
from Weno, Chuuk Islands, IOTA OC-011, until 10 April. They will
operate holiday style HF on SSB and CW. QSLs via SA0AAZ.
Giorgio, IZ4AKS, is on Rhodos Island from 9 to 16 April. If holiday
time permits he wants to work as SV5/IZ4AKS on the HF bands every day
using a K3, Yaesu FT-897 and wires. QSL direct to IZ4AKS.
DL7UXG/P will be QRV from Foehr Island from 10 to 12 April. QSL via
his home callsign, bureau or direct.
Francois, ON4LO, will be active as 5P4LO from Romo Island between 15
and 20 April. Activity will be on 10 to 80 meters using SSB, RTTY and
PSK. QSL via ON4LO, direct or via the Bureau.
Now the contest news
The first leg of the SP DX Contest ends at 1500UTC today, 8 April.
Using both CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28m bands, SP stations send a
signal report plus a single character province code, while non-SP
stations send a signal report and a serial number.
The 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 1900 and 2130UTC
on 10 April. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
On 11 April the SSB leg of the 80m Club Championships takes place
between 1900 and 2030UTC. Using SSB, the exchange is signal report
and serial number.
The First 50MHz contest takes place between 0900 and 1200UTC on 15
April. Using all modes on the 6m band the exchange is signal report,
serial number, locator and postcode.
The 4-hour Europe-wide EU Sprint takes place on 14 April from 1600 to
2000. Using CW on the 3.5 to 14MHz bands, the contest exchange is
both callsigns, serial number and name or nickname. Note no signal
report is exchanged.
And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 30th of
March to Wednesday the 4th of April, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS
on Thursday the 5th of April.
Several small and magnetically simple sunspot groups were visible
every day. Solar activity was very low on three days and low on the
other three days when isolated C1 class solar flares took place.
Solar flux levels declined from 111 units on the 30th to 102 by the
4th. The average was 107 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the
4th was 117 units. That's two units down on last week. X-ray flux
levels averaged B2.1 units for the period. Geomagnetic activity was
quiet every day except for the 2nd when activity increased to
slightly unsettled levels with an Ap index of 10 units. This was in
response to a small coronal hole. The average was Ap 6 units. Solar
wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from
310 kilometres per second on the 30th to 450 by the 2nd. Particle
densities were low every day. Bz varied between minus 4 and plus 2
nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 6 and plus 4
nanoTeslas during the 2nd. MUFs reached forecast values most days.
Paths to South America and South Africa were in particularly good
shape.
And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected
to be low as the quiet side of the Sun rotates into view. However,
there is an ‘active region' that should rotate into view later in
the week that could increase activity once in view. Solar flux levels
should be around or slightly above the 100 mark. Geomagnetic activity
should be quiet at fires but from around midweek activity is expected
to increase due to a recurring coronal hole. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be around 27MHz for the south and
24MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 10MHz. Paths
this week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency
with a 50 per cent success rate of around 32MHz. The optimum working
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 27MHz. The
best time to try this path will be between 1200 and 1800 hours UTC.
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 gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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