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G4TNU  > NEWS     06.10.12 02:04l 236 Lines 11850 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 07 Oct 2012
Path: IZ3LSV<IV3SCP<SR1BSZ<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
Sent: 121006/0101Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU $:19087G4TNU

T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.europe
T:Message-Id: <E140600_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>


GB2RS Main News for Sunday 7th October 2012 

The news headlines:

* RSGB Convention lectures
* Response to Ofcom's consultation on the future use of VHF spectrum
* CubeSats deployed

The RSGB Convention takes place at Horwood House near Milton Keynes 
next weekend, 12 to 14 October. The final programme is on the website 
at www.rsgb.org/rsgbconvention/. We are pleased to announce that 
Patrick, ON4HIL will be speaking both Saturday and Sunday on the 
recent DXpedition to Rockall and Carlo, ON4BR will be speaking on 
Sunday about the TN2T DXpedition. Howard Long, G6LVB will introduce 
the AMSAT FUNcube Dongle Pro+: a DC-to-Daylight Software-Defined 
Radio on Saturday and Dr Colin Forsyth will look at The Sun and The 
Sky and How Space Weather Affects Radio Signals on Sunday 14th. 
Finally, visitors also have the chance to hear Gregg Marco, W6IZT 
speak about the award winning HK0NA DXpedition on both Saturday and 
Sunday. The RSGB is grateful to all the presenters who take the time 
to speak at the Convention - there should be something for all 
interests. Day tickets for the RSGB Convention are still available at 
the door. Unfortunately, due to illness, the voluntary examiners for 
the US exams will be unable to attend this year. Normal service is 
expected to be available in 2013. The continued success of the RSGB 
Convention is such that we continue to grow year after year and 2012 
looks like being the best yet. 

The RSGB, jointly with the BATC and AMSAT-UK, has submitted a 
response to Ofcom's consultation on the future use of VHF spectrum 
formally used by the Home Office, 143 to 156MHz. The unique nature of 
this spectrum, and that it surrounds our existing 2m band, suggested 
a creative response would be needed in order to be competitive with 
the likely responses from Business Radio (PMR). Details are on the 
Committees section of the RSGB website under Spectrum Forum.

Radio amateurs around the world have been listening for signals from 
the four new amateur radio CubeSats that were deployed from the 
International Space Station on Thursday, 4 October. They could have a 
life-time of 4 or 5 months before they burn-up in the Earth's 
atmosphere. FITSat-1 has a CW beacon on 437.250MHz, 1200 bps AX.25 
packet radio on 437.445MHz and a high-speed data transmitter on 
5840.0MHz. F-1 has the callsign is XV1VN and the communications 
subsystem is built around two Yaesu VX-3R amateur radio handheld 
transceivers. One will transmit 1200 bps packet radio every 30 
seconds on 145.980MHz while in darkness. The other will operate only 
in sunlight sending a 20 second FM transmission of a CW tone on 
437.485MHz followed by a 60 second gap. TechEdSat carries a 1200 bps 
packet radio transmitter on 437.465MHz. WE-WISH transmits CW and 1200 
bps packet radio on 437.505MHz. Due to the effects of Doppler shift 
the 70cm downlink frequencies will vary by +/- 10kHz during an 8 
minute pass. Further information on these satellites can be found on 
the AMSAT-UK website.

The Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group are pleased to report that 
the GB3NC repeater has been successfully repaired and is now back in 
service. The re-alignment of the filters has also allowed the two 
metre beacon, GB3MCB, to be brought back into service. Reports via 
www.beaconspot.eu would be appreciated.

As of 1 October, Swedish radio amateurs are allowed to operate on 
1810 to 1850kHz with a 1kW maximum power and 1930 to 2000kHz with a 
10W maximum. The section of the band between 1850 and 1930kHz is 
unavailable. Sadly, they also lost their access to 2.3GHz, although 
2.4GHz is unaffected.

Between 7 and 13 October, the North American QRP CW Club is 
celebrating their 8th anniversary. There will be 10 special event 
stations on the air that week, one from each USA call area from N1A 
to N0A. Special QSL cards and certificates for anyone who works one 
or more stations are available. Details at http://naqcc.info/.


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

The BATC Convention takes place this weekend at the Everest Community 
Academy, Basingstoke. The event includes BATC Biannual General 
Meeting today, Sunday 7th. More details on the website 
www.batc.org.uk.

The Autumn Militaria & Electronics & Radio Amateur Hangar Sale takes 
place today, Sunday 7 October, at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, 
Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Door open at 10am and there will be 
civil, military and vintage radio equipment plus vehicle spares and 
more. Contact Rod Siebert on 01270 623 353.

Also today, 7 October, the Blackwood and District ARS Rally will be 
held in Coleg Gwent, Risca Road, Cross Keys NP11 7ZA. Doors open at 
10am and admission is GBP 2. There will be trade stands, special 
interest groups and a Bring & Buy. More from Dave, GW4HBK on 
01495 228 516.

The Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on 14 October at 
the Floral Hall, 7 The Esplanade, Hornsea, East Yorks HU18 1NQ. Doors 
open at 10.30am and there will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and 
special interest groups. Details from Rick, M0CZR, by e-mail at, 
R106221<at>aol.com. 


Now for the news of special events

Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs Club will be active with the Scouts at 
Moor House, Durham from Friday 12 October to Sunday 14 October on 2m 
and HF using GB2CMH. The following weekend, 20 and 21 October, the 
club will host the Scouts JOTA weekend from the clubhouse with the 
callsign GB1FDS.

Members of the Guernsey Amateur Radio Society and Guernsey RAYNET 
group will be setting up a station and participating in the 2012 
Jamboree On The Air on the weekend of 20 and 21 October. It has been 
many years since the Guernsey Scouts took part in this event and 
interest in this special event is high. The station will be using the 
callsign GB2JTA and will operate throughout the weekend on HF and VHF 
bands as conditions permit. 

GB50WVR will be on the air from the Worth Valley Railway, West 
Yorkshire, over the weekend 12 to 14 October during the 50th 
anniversary autumn steam gala. Eight steam locomotives will be 
running over the weekend including two visiting ones. Direct QSLs to 
Pam, 2E1HQY, QTHR or via the RSGB bureau. More information is on 
qrz.com


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

A three-man team will operate from Niger in West Africa until 15 
October. They will use the calls
5U5U, 5U6E and 5U8NK  and operation will be on all bands from 6 to 
160m. 

A new one for the IOTA chasers will be on the air until 11 October. 
This will be 7Z7AB operating from Al-Dhahrah Island. The IOTA 
reference will be AS-190 and QSL info is via 7Z1CQ.

Arne, OH2NNE will be active as 5H2DK from Moshi, Tanzania until 17 
October. He may also be on the air using a portable setup from 
different locations between 18 and 27 October. He will operate SSB 
only on 10 to 80m. QSL via his home callsign.

Sam, F6AML will be active as TO2M from Mayotte, which is IOTA 
reference AF-027, until 19 October. He will operate CW and SSB on the 
10 to 80m bands. QSL via his home callsign, direct or bureau.


Now the contest news

The 21/28MHz Contest takes place for twelve hours today, Sunday 7th, 
starting at 0700UTC. There are Open, Restricted and QRP categories 
for UK stations; the same again for non-UK stations, plus you can 
enter CW-only, SSB-only or mixed modes. The exchange is signal 
report, serial number and locator.

The Worked All Britain HF Contest finishes at 1200UTC today, the 7th, 
using 20, 15 and 10m. UK stations send a signal report, serial number 
and WAB area, while non-UK stations send report, serial number and 
DXCC country. UK to UK QSOs do not count for points in this event. 
Full details of the rules and also log sheets can be obtained from 
the WAB website at www.worked-all-britain.co.uk. 

The IARU 432MHz-248GHz Contest runs until 1400UTC today, the 7th. The 
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. In theory you 
could submit a log direct to IARU for this event but, in practice, UK 
stations that enter one of the RSGB events allow their logs to be 
forwarded by the Contest Committee. 

On 9 October, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 1900 
to2130UTC. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report, 
serial number and locator.

The following day, 10 October, the 80m Club Sprint takes place from 
1900 to 2000UTC. Using CW the exchange is serial number and name.

Next weekend, 13 October, the EU Sprint takes place from 1600 to 
2000UTC. Using CW only on the 3.5 to 14MHz bands the exchange is both 
callsigns, serial number and name.

Finally, over the weekend 13 and 14 October, the Oceania DX CW 
Contest takes place from 0800 to 0800UTC. On the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, 
the exchange is signal report and serial number. 	


And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 28th of 
September to Thursday the 4th of October, compiled by Neil Clarke 
G0CAS on Friday the 5th of October.

Solar activity started at low levels but, on the 30th, as several 
sunspot groups were rotating out of view, one produced the only M 
class solar flare of the period. This was an impulsive type solar 
flare and no earthward coronal mass ejection was associated with the 
event. Activity declined to very low levels on the 3rd and the 4th. 
Solar flux levels declined from 138 units on the 28th to 110 by the 
4th. The average was 126 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 
4th was 123 units, that's one unit down on last week. X-ray flux 
levels initially increased to peak at B7.6 units on the 1st but as 
the active regions departed the solar disc levels declined sharply to 
B1.8 by the end of the period. The average was B4.5 units. 
Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels but around noon on the 
30th a coronal mass ejection arrived that departed the Sun late on 
the 27th. The disturbance lasted for about 24 hours and the Ap index 
on the 1st was 36 units. Aurora was report on 50 and 144MHz during 
the evening of the 30th. The quietest days were the 28th and the 4th 
with an Ap of 3 units. The average was Ap 10 units. Solar wind data 
from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from a slow 
260 kilometres per second during the morning of the 30th to 460 by 
early the next day. Particle densities were low except for a few 
hours around midnight on the 30th and into the 1st when they 
increased to 20 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between 
minus 1 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 
20 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the disturbance. 


And finally the solar forecast for the coming week. This Week the 
quieter side of the Sun should be rotating into view. Solar activity 
is expected to be at low levels on most days. Solar flux levels 
should start around 100 units with levels increasing slightly towards 
next weekend. Geomagnetic activity should be mostly quiet but a weak 
disturbance could take place around midweek. MUFs during daylight 
hours at equal latitudes should around 27MHz for the south and 24MHz 
for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 10MHz. Paths this 
week to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency with a 
50 per cent success rate of around 25MHz. The optimum working 
frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 20MHz. the 
best time to try this path will be between 1500 and 1900 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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