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M1CUK > NEWS 31.12.07 00:18l 434 Lines 18697 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 23 December
The news headlines
• Radio amateurs to the rescue
• Historic station activated
• Bouncing signals off the space station
Amateur radio operators on Hawaii sprang into action when an unusually
cold and windy storm hit the islands on 4 and 5 December. The severe
weather front produced flooding and even brought blizzard conditions and
heavy snow to peaks. Many residents of the various islands lost power
and some also lost telephone service. The National Weather Service used
the Emergency Amateur Radio Club and the repeater system to pass severe
weather information during and after the storm. Actual audio of this is
downloadable at www.arnewsline.org. Amateurs continued to provide severe
weather spotting until the all clear was sounded, but they remain on
standby because more Pacific storms are expected to hit Hawaii this
winter.
Storms in several other parts of the USA also saw amateurs providing a
vital public service. The state of Washington was struck by wind gusts
of over 110 miles per hour and torrential rain, resulting in severe
flooding. Members of Amateur Radio Emergency Services provided
communications for various operations and evacuation centres. They also
filled sandbags and manned phones. In Pacific County, ham radio was
the only reliable means of communications once the landline and cell
phones networks failed.
In Oregon, when even state police had difficulty reaching some of their
own troops, amateur radio worked. Networks were set up so that emergency
officials could communicate, and lists of supplies needed were relayed
from stricken areas. State Governor Ted Kulongoski said, "The heroes
were the ham radio operators. These people provided a tremendous
communication link for us."
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The historic VLF station at Grimeton in Sweden will be operational again
on Christmas Eve, Monday 24 December. Using the eighty year old
Alexanderson alternator on 17.2kHz, SAQ will tune up from 0700 UTC.
It will transmit a message at 0800, which will be repeated at 1830.
Reports may be sent by email to info@alexander.n.se, by fax to
+46-340-674195 or via the Swedish QSL bureau. More information about the
station can be found at www.alexander.n.se.
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DF2ZC has claimed a successful CW contact with DH7FB/P by bouncing his
144MHz signal from the structure of the International Space Station. On
Sunday, 9 December he exchanged all data within a minute, and reports of
his 300 watt transmission were about S3 to S5.
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Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has suffered the theft of a trailer used to
assist in raising thousands of pounds for charities. Anyone with
information about the white, four-wheel trailer should contact Sally
Reekie at South Yorkshire Police Crime Management Unit on 01709 832215,
quoting Crime Number C/148558/07. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is now
looking for a kind benefactor to donate a replacement two-axle box
trailer. If you can help, please call Colin Wilson on 0114 274 7844.
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There will be no GB2RS bulletin on Sunday 30 December.
The first GB2RS of the new year will be on Sunday 6 January. The news
team and all the staff at RSGB HQ would like to wish our newsreaders,
listeners and online readers very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Now for the news of special events
Throughout 2008, the Paphos amateur radio club will be running the
special call C4 EURO to celebrate the entry of Cyprus into the Euro
money system. Operation will be on all bands from 160 to 6 metres, using
SSB,
CW and PSK31.
GB1JRC marks the opening of the Pontefract Junior Radio Club on Saturday
5 January. Activity will be during the afternoon on all bands from 160
metres to 70 centimetres.
GB4BLC will be active during January from Warwickshire for Bedworth
Lions Awareness Month. Operation will be on 80 to 10 metres SSB, 2
metres FM and Echolink via GB3DX.
Also active during January are GB1RAF, a Royal Air Force station, GB2SJA
which celebrates the St John Ambulance charity, and GB5OOT for old
timers. All will operate on 160 metres to 70 centimetres.
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And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News, the Ohio-Penn DX
Bulletin and other sources.
F1BCS will be active as 3B8/F1BCS from Mauritius, IOTA reference AF-049,
until 24 December. He plans to operate SSB and digital modes such as
PSK31, JT65, and RTTY on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres.
JA6GXK will operate again as JD1BMM from Minami Torishima, IOTA OC-073,
until 27 December. Activity periods are likely to be 0900 to 1300 and
2000 to 2200 UTC. He plans to concentrate on the low bands. QSL to
JD1BMM, via the JARL bureau.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Now the contest news
Christmas Day, the 25th, sees the RSGB 50MHz activity event on all modes
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Exchange RST, serial number and locator.
On Boxing Day, the 26th, the DARC Christmas Contest is held from 0830 to
1059UTC on 80 and 40 metres, CW and SSB. The exchange is RST and serial
number. The rules can be found on the DARC web site at www.darc.de.
The RSGB Christmas Cumulatives take place between 1400 and 1600UTC on 26
to 29 December on the 50 to 432MHz bands on all modes. RST, serial
number and locator make up the exchange.
On 29 December, from 0000 to 2359UTC, there is the RAC Canada Winter
Contest. This is CW and SSB on all bands from top band to two metres.
The rules are on the Radio Amateurs of Canada web site at www.rac.ca.
The Stew Perry Top Band Distance Challenge takes place from 1500UTC on
29 December to 1500 on the 30th. It is a CW only event and the exchange
is the IARU locator grid square.
On Monday 1 January, the RSGB 144MHz activity evening and Club
Championship takes place between 2000 and 2230UTC. All modes are
permitted and the exchange is RST, serial number and locator.
The ARRL RTTY Roundup takes place from 1800UTC on 5 January and end at
2400 on the 6th. All bands from 80 to 10 metres may be used, except the
WARC bands. The rules are at www.arrl.org.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 10th to the 16th
of December, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS.
A plage region is an area on the solar disc where there is an increase
in the Sun’s surface magnetic field where sunspots have not appeared.
They are very common and appear throughout the solar cycle.
However, one rotated into view on the on the 11th. What made this one so
special is that it was located at a high solar latitude and more
importantly it had a reverse magnetic footprint which suggested that it
belongs to the new solar cycle.
Solar activity was very low to low. A number of small C class solar
flares took place on the 13th and the 14th and one again on the 16th.
Solar flux levels increased to 94 units on the 12th and the 13th but by
the 16th had declined to 82. The average was 90 units. The 90 day solar
flux average on the 16th was 71, that’s two units up on last week. X-ray
flux levels averaged A7.8 units and peaked at B1.1 units on the 13th.
This is the highest average this year. Geomagnetic activity was quiet
but on the 11th increased to 12 units due to a small coronal hole. The
average was Ap 5 units. The ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds
increase to 690 kilometres per second on the 11th. Particle densities
were low except for the 11th which saw a brief increase to 19 particles
per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between minus and plus 4 nanoTeslas on
the quiet days and between minus 16 and plus 15 nanoTeslas during the
coronal hole disturbance.
14 and 18MHz benefited from the mix of low geomagnetic activity and
higher solar flux. Little F-layer propagation was reported on 24 or
28MHz, but a short sporadic-E opening occurred on 28MHz on the
morning of the 15th.
And finally the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is
expected to be looking our way. Solar activity should be very low. Solar
flux levels are expected to be in the low 70s. Geomagnetic activity
should quiet throughout the coming week. MUFs during daylight hours at
equal latitudes should be around 19MHz for the south and 16MHz for the
north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be about 7MHz. Paths this
week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50
per cent success rate of around 24MHz. The optimum working frequency
with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 19MHz. The best time to
try this path will be between 1100 and 1700 hours UTC. Most years around
the Christmas and the New Year period a small but reliable winter
sporadic E season takes place on 28 and 50MHz.
The propagation team would like to wish the newsreaders and all our
listeners a very merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful 2008. We would
also like to thank the Space Weather Prediction Centre in Boulder, the
British Geological Survey in Edinburgh, the Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory in Oxfordshire and the ACE and Soho spacecraft teams.
And that’s all for this year from the propagation team. We wish you good
DX in 2008.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Monday 24 December Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is
running the club net. Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.
On Monday 24 December Verulam Radio Club is having the first of its
Christmas nets on or near 7.150 MHz at 1200 and then on or near 145.375
MHz at 1400. Contact Ralph, G1BSZ, on 01727 869 858, or by email to
g1bsz@aol.com.
On Tuesday 25 December Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club is having the
club Christmas Day net on 145.550. Contact Liz, M0ACL, on 02380 254599.
On Tuesday 25 December Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club is
having its Christmas morning net on 2m from 10am. Contact Roy, G4GPX, on
01903 753 893.
On Friday 28 December Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club is having a
foxhunt. Contact Frank, M0AEU, by email to barc@2lo.info.
On Friday 28 December Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is meeting in a
pub. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845 103, or by email to
sue@figgerit.co.uk.
On Monday 31 December Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society Club
is having a net via GB3BZ. Contact John, M5AJB, on 01787 460 947.
On Tuesday 1 January Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having a field day at Little Tawney Hall Farm, Stapleford Tawney, Essex.
Contact Marc, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645, or by email to
info@lefars.org.uk.
On Wednesday 2 January Dover Radio Club is having a net on GB3KS with
Matt, M1CMN as net controller. Contact Brian, G4SAU, by email to
g4sau@DARC.org.uk.
On Wednesday 2 January Havering and District Amateur Radio Club is
having its AGM and Q4 2007 business review meeting. Contact Dave,
2E0EBV, on 07956 594 514.
On Wednesday 2 January Norfolk Amateur Radio Club is having an informal
evening. Contact Mark Taylor, G0LGJ, on 01362 691099, or by email to
narc@g0lgj.co.uk.
On Wednesday 2 January Southdown Amateur Radio Society is operating at
the Hailsham shack. Contact John, G3DQY, on 01424,424,319, or by email
to vaughdqy@aol.com.
On Thursday 3 January Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club is
having a discussion evening – "how did you survive Christmas?" Contact
John, G8RYW, on 01628 628 463, or by email to g8ryw@tesco.net.
On Friday 4 January Loughton and Epping Forest Amateur Radio Society is
having a talk on TV DXing and satellite TV by Selim Alpuvan, 2E0EKF.
Contact Marc, G0TOC, on 020 8502 1645, or by email to
info@lefars.org.uk.
On Friday 4 January Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society is having a Meet
the Committee and Round Table event. Contact Sue, G6YPY, on 01273 845
103, or by email to sue@figgerit.co.uk.
On Friday 4 January Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society is
having a social evening. Contact Neil, M0ARH, on 01438 217 077.
On Friday 4 January Wey Valley Amateur Radio Group is having a club
night. Details on the web at www.weyvalleyarg.org.uk.
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NEWS FOR THE SOUTH-WEST
The keeper of the GB3JB 2m repeater serving South Wiltshire, South
Somerset and North Dorset has offered to make it available for a weekly
GB2RS news reading on Sundays. Volunteers should be RSGB members and
able to read the script on a turn-by-turn basis with one or two others.
Applicants should contact the GB2RS News Manager Gordon Adams, G3LEQ, on
01565 652 652.
On Wednesday 2 January Bath Amateur Radio Club is having an informal
evening. Contact Rob, M0TFO, on 01225 351 016, or by email to
robpegs@hotmail.com.
On Wednesday 2 January Cornish Radio Amateur Club is having a practical
antenna construction evening with Bob, G4EIK. Contact Ian, 01872 561
058.
On Wednesday 2 January Exmouth Amateur Radio Club is having an operating
night. Contact g0uil@eclipse.co.uk.
On Wednesday 2 January South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is having an on
the air evening. Contact Len, G4RZY, on 01275 834 282.
On Thursday 3 January Yeovil Amateur Radio Club is having a website
update by Derek, M0WOB. Contact Gary, 2E0BFJ or by email to
g.swain@tesco.net.
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NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS
On Thursday 27 December Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having a talk.
Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, or by email to
colin.marks2@ntlworld.com.
On Friday 28 December Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having its
Christmas quiz. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 02476 273 190, or by email to
johng8seq@ntlworld.com.
On Friday 28 December Hucknall Rolls-Royce Amateur Radio Club is having
a quiz night. Details on the web at www.hrrarc.com.
From the 1st to the 28th January the QTH of G8GMU will be open the
public as part of Bedworth Lions Awareness Month. This event promotes
the work of Lions Clubs international & amateur radio, and will be
operating under special callsign GB4BLC. The official opening is on 2
January, when the Mayor, Councillor Bill Shepard, will attempt a QSO
with the Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Jennie Bailey, G0VQH, the only
radio amateur to be a Mayor this year. For more information contact
G8GMU, on 02476 364 235, or on the web at www.bedworthlionsclub.co.uk.
On Tuesday 1 January Derby and District Amateur Radio Society is having
its new year junk sale. Contact Martin, G3SZJ, on 01332 556 875.
On Wednesday 2 January Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is running its
Intermediate Course. Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893,
colin.marks2@ntlworld.com.
On Wednesday 2 January Telford and District Amateur Radio Society is on
the air on HF and having an open house. Contact Mike, G3JKX, on 01952
299 677, or by email to mjstreetg3jkx@blueyonder.co.uk.
On Thursday 3 January Salop Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Details on the web at www.salop-ARS.org.uk.
On Thursday 3 January Tamworth Amateur Radio Society is having a natter
night. Contact Colin Marks, G4ZPJ, on 01827 700 893, or by email to
colin.marks2@ntlworld.com.
On Friday 4 January Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association is having its
annual quiz with G3IKR. Contact Pat, G3IKR, on 01386 792 542.
On Friday 4 January Coventry Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on
alternative energy by Dr Hobina Rajakaruna. Contact John, G8SEQ, on
02476 273 190, or by email to johng8seq@ntlworld.com.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
On Thursday 27 December Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a
Christmas evening. Contact Trevor, M0TWS.
On Wednesday 2 January Great Lumley Amateur Radio and Electronics
Society is on the air. Contact Nancy, 0191 477 0036, 07990 760 920, or
by email to nancybone2001@yahoo.co.uk.
On Thursday 3 January North Wakefield Radio Club is having its happy new
year natter night. Contact Nigel,0113 253 0558.
On Friday 4 January Tynemouth Radio Club is having a 'what I got from
Santa' chat night. Contact Tony, G8YFA, on tony.regnart@gmail.com.
On Saturday 5 January Pontefract Junior Radio Club is launching the
Pontefract Junior Radio Club at the Pontefract Scout Centre, Bondgate.
Contact Chris, 07970 479 200.
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NEWS FOR SCOTLAND
On Wednesday 26 December Paisley YMCA Amateur Radio Club is on its
Christmas break. Contact Jim, GM3UWX.
On Thursday 27 December Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having its
Christmas holiday. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on the
web at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.
On Thursday 3 January Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society is having its
Hogmanay holiday. Contact Lewis, GM4AJR, on 01224 575 663, or on the web
at www.aars.freeserve.co.uk.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS FOR WALES
On Friday 4 January Dragon Amateur Radio Club is having a talk by Tony
Wilkinson, GW4PVU, on "a life on the ocean wave". Contact Martin,
GW3PRL.
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NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
On Thursday 3 January Bangor and District Amateur Radio Club is having
its annual quiz. Contact Mike, GI4XSF, on 028 4277 2 383.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And that’s the end of this week’s GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dont Forget, There will be no GB2RS bulletin on Sunday 30 December.
The first GB2RS of the new year will be on Sunday 6 January. The news
team and all the staff at RSGB HQ would like to wish our newsreaders,
listeners and online readers very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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