This is the combined RSGB podcast in iTunes format, compiled by Ed VK2ARE. Please note as the complete text will not be visible on an iPhone/iPOD (limit on device), to read the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com.

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 13th May 2012

The news headlines:

• Special WAB award for Olympic Flame stations

• Volunteers wanted for RSGB Centenary Working Group

• DXCC approves Yemeni and Somali DXpeditions

The Worked All Britain Awards Group has organised special awards to coincide with the passage of the Olympic Flame around the country. Various clubs around the UK will be operating from locations along the route used by the Torch Bearers for that particular day. They will use the callsigns G4WAB and G7WAB. The main call will be G4WAB, the exceptions for this being Shetland and Orkney, Jersey and Guernsey, when both callsigns will be used on the same day. There will be Bronze, Silver and Gold versions of the award, depending on the number of stations worked. Full details of the cost, route and club stations are available on the WAB website, www.worked-all-britain.co.uk.

With the RSGB Centenary now just over 6 months away detailed planning of events to mark the occasion, as well as publicise our hobby to the public, is under way. Rob Harwood, G0HRT has been appointed to chair a Centenary Working Group to lead the work. He is looking for a few volunteers to join the Centenary Working Group to help plan and implement a number of events. The scope for the events is still under consideration, but it is likely to include a yearlong sequence of themed Special Event Stations, local events with clubs, and events to both publicise the hobby to our national and international partners as well as highlight the supporting role that Society plays. Rob is seeking a few volunteers from our membership who can think creatively, work mostly virtually, and have the necessary skills and self-motivation to drive the ideas forward to implementation. Please contact Rob along with a brief CV and interests to centenary@rsgb.org.uk.

The current 7O6T DXpedition to Yemen and the February 2012 6O3A DXpedition to Somalia have both been approved for DXCC credit. If you had cards that were recently rejected for the 6O3A operation, contact the ARRL DXCC Desk. Once your record is updated, results will appear in Logbook of The World accounts or in the live, daily DXCC Standings. On 1 May, YT3PDT, become the 50,000th person to join Logbook of The World.

If you can’t make it to the Dayton Hamvention next weekend but would like to know what is going on, Tom Medlin, W5KUB may be your answer. Since 2002 Tom has run a live web video stream of the event, traditionally starting with his 500 mile drive from Tennessee. The live broadcast starts at around 2pm BST on Wednesday 16 May at www.W5KUB.com.

The life of Tony Sale, who was best-known for his work in re-creating the Colossus computer at Bletchley Park, is to be commemorated by the creation of an award for the best computer restoration project. Overseen by the Computer Conservation Society (CCS) and backed by Google, the award will seek out those projects carried out in the same spirit that Tony Sale brought to his work, said David Hartley, chairman of the CCS. An article in the publication Computer Weekly notes that Tony Sale, who passed away in August 2011, was principal science officer at the Security Service MI5 and says he was also a radio ham, although it is not clear if he actually held a licence.

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

The RSGB will be represented at Dayton Hamvention on 18 to 20 May by RSGB President Dave Wilson, M0OBW and there will also be a RSGB book stall at the event.

The Dunstable Downs Radio Club Boot Sale takes place on Sunday 20 May at Stockwood Park, Dunstable. Entrance and car parking is £2 and the event opens at 9am. More information is at www.ddrcbootsale.org.

Now for the news of special events

Botley Flour Mills near Southampton is one of the UK's oldest known milling sites, is listed in the Doomsday book and is believed to have been a mill site in pre Roman times. The Mill will be activated with the callsign GB0BFM for Mills on the Air weekend on 12 and 13 May from 10am to 4pm. Using 80m, 40m, 2m & 70cm, the station will be run by M0IED and G6FRT and other members of Itchen Valley Radio Club, with added assistance from Southampton University Wireless Society.

Today, 13 May, Shannon Basin Radio Club will operate from Elphin Windmill, Co. Roscommon as part of the Mills on the air weekend. The call will be EI2EWM and will be active on all bands, SSB and CW.

Also today, 13 May, Cray Valley Radio Society will be airing GB6MW from Meopham Windmill, Meopham Green, Kent DA13 0QA as part of the National Mills Weekend. The stations will be active on HF, 2 and 4m. Anyone in the area or planning to visit will be welcome to see the mill and meet some of the CVRS members.

Lincoln Short Wave club will be operating GB5DAM on 16 and 17 May to remember air crew of RAF Bomber Command who lost their lives during the raid by 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, on the great dams of the Ruhr Valley in the early morning of 17 May 1943.

GS5NB will be on the air from Ness Battery, Stromness, Orkney from 0800UTC on 19 May to 2000UTC on 21 May using the 80 through to 10m bands, running SSB, CW RTTY and PSK. Run by Orkney Amateur Radio Club, it celebrates the official opening of this Scheduled Ancient Monument to the public after its restoration by Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership. There will be some activity during set up in the preceding week. QSL is direct only via GM0WED and LoTW. Full details on http://eu009.webplus.net, and qrz.com.

The Geoparks communications weekend this year takes place on 26 and 27 May. South Eastern Amateur Radio Group will again operate from Tankardstown on the Copper Coast Geopark in Co. Waterford. The callsign should be EI2GEO and activity will mainly be on HF.

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

Barry, 9V1FJ will be operating from a number of Caribbean countries in the coming weeks. From 12 to 14 May he will operate from Saba Island signing PJ5/G4MFW. He then plans to appear as FJ/G4MFW from St Barthelemy from 15 – 16 May. Next on the list is Curaçao as PJ2/G4MFW and finally Bonaire as PJ4/G4MFW from 17 – 20 May.

A group of Japanese operators will be on the air from the Maldives until 16 May. Callsigns to look out for are 8Q7NK, 8Q7IC, 8Q7TE, 8Q7CJ and 8Q7ZS. Activity will be on all bands from 160 to 6m using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.

A group of operators from the Charente DX Group will be active as TM0CI from the Chausey Islands (EU-039) on 19-25 May. QSL via F5EOT, direct or bureau, instructions are on qrz.com.

XX9E is the callsign for the 17-23 May DXpedition to Coloane Island (AS-075), Macau. A large team will be active on 6 to 160m using CW, SSB and RTTY with at least three stations. QSL via EB7DX and LoTW. Further information at www.adxg.org/xx9/

Now the contest news

The 70MHz CW Contest takes place from 0900 to 1200UTC today, 13 May. The exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

The Worked All Britain LF phone contest takes place today, 13 May, from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be obtained from the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from the Contest Manager, G3XKT, via e-mail to ataebbooks@ntlworld.com.

On 15 May the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On 16 May the data leg of the 80m Club Championships takes place from 1900 to 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

The weekend of 19 and 20 sees overlapping VHF events. The 144MHz May Contest takes place for 24 hours, with the First 144MHz Backpackers overlapping the final three hours of it and that contest then continues for another hour on its own. The exchange for the 144MHz contest is signal report, serial number locator and postcode, whilst the Backpackers exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 4th to Thursday the 10th of May, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday 11th of May.

First this week the latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers which are for August, September and October 2011 and are 59, 59.5 and 59.9 respectively.

On the 5th a large complex sunspot group rotated into view and with it solar activity increased to moderate levels with M class solar flares taking place every day. In total, 11 M class flares took place, along with dozens of C class solar flares. With these M class solar flares several sudden ionospheric disturbances occurred, which affect the daylight side of the Earth. Also, several coronal mass ejections occurred. Those that were directed towards us were small and weak. Solar flux levels increased from 114 units on the 4th to 131 by the 10th. The average was 121 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 10th was 113, that’s one unit up on the previous week. That’s the first rise so far this year. X-ray flux levels increased from B3.9 units on the 4th to B6.5 by the 10th. The average was B5.1 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet at first with an Ap index of only 4 units for the first 3 days of the period but by the 9th a coronal hole disturbance arrived and the Ap index increased to 25 units. The average was Ap 9 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from a slow 290 kilometres per second on the 4th to a fast 670 by early on the 10th. Particle densities were low every day except for a brief increase to 22 particles per cubic centimetre on the 8th. Bz varied between minus 1 and plus 7 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus and plus 13 nanoTeslas during the disturbance. For most of week propagation reached predicted levels but the magnetic storm reduced MUFs by 5MHz or more, particularly over high latitude paths. Aurora associated with the disturbance during afternoon and evening of the 9th appears to have been confined to high latitudes - but a Canadian 6m beacon was heard in Scotland. Otherwise, sporadic-E reached 60MHz on several days with occasional openings on 70MHz, mainly to southern Europe.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the active side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity is expected to be moderate most days with a slight chance that activity could increase to high with an X class flare taking place. Solar flux levels should increase and be around the 140 mark by midweek. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet most days but a solar flare related coronal mass ejection could increase activity at any time. A weak coronal hole disturbance could arrive right at the end of the period. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 24MHz for the south and 21MHz for the north. Darkness hour are expected to be around 12MHz. Paths this week to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 23MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 18MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1500 hours UTC. Sporadic-E is expected to take place most days with openings up to 50MHz and 70MHz on some days.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 6th May 2012

The news headlines:

• Still time to apply for a Jubilee NoV

• More paperwork for Belgian amateurs

• Club, repeater and beacon insurance news

It’s not too late to apply for a Notice of Variation for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Amateurs in the UK were able to start using the special callsigns with the letter Q added from 4 May. This will continue until 10 June. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee QSO Party has also started, where participants are attempting to work a minimum of 100 special Jubilee callsigns. If you haven’t already applied for your NoV, you can do so at www.rsgb.org/operating/novapp/jubilee. Details of the QSO Party were in the May RadCom or can be found at www.rsgb.org/consultations/docs/pdf/queens-jubilee-qso-party-final-version.pdf. You may also hear some stations in Gibraltar using the prefix ZQ instead of the normal ZB.

The Belgian national amateur radio society’s website has posted an update on the restrictive antenna requirements recently imposed by the Flemish Government. The latest registration seems to apply to antennas that operate between 10MHz and 10GHz. It would appear that Flemish amateurs who transmit less than 175 hours a year at 20 watts ERP or less are now required to submit forms to the government for each antenna they have. Multi-band antennas require multiple submissions of forms. And if any change is made to an antenna, all of the paperwork must be resubmitted. You can find out more at tinyurl.com/NoticeForTxAntennas.

As a result of the recent insurance review the Society has placed the insurance cover for Clubs, Repeaters, Beacons & Packet Nodes with NIG. This took effect from 30 April and will run until 29 April 2013. A new certificate and 'To whom it concerns' letter for Clubs can be obtained from www.rsgb.org/membersonly/clubinsurance. Repeater, Beacon & Packet Node operators who require Public Liability Insurance should contact Carlos Eavis, by e-mail to carlos.eavisrsgb.org.uk or call him on 01234 832 715 to obtain a price and insurance documentation.

The UK RAYNET group and British Association of Public Safety Communications Officials have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It recognises the common objectives of both organisations in the promotion and influencing of public safety, civil contingency, information management and communications. In the Memorandum of Understanding, RAYNET and APCO set out a Schedule of Agreements that sets out some of the ways in which both organisations will work together. This includes networking opportunities and invitations to attend management meetings; website content sharing; joint working and sharing of publications; and engaging RAYNET in regional and national events.

Now that terrestrial TV has been switched off in Portugal, the National Communications Authority of Portugal has agreed to extend the 6m band for radio amateurs. Category 1, A and B amateurs can now use 50 to 52MHz on a secondary basis with a maximum power of 25 watts.

The AMSAT/TAPR Banquet on Friday night, 18 May, is one of the main AMSAT activities during the 2012 Hamvention at Dayton. Howard Long, G6LVB will be the featured speaker for the evening event. Howard will be talking about his FUNcube Dongle, his 64–1700MHz Software Defined Receiver.

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

The Dambusters Hamfest will take place today, 6 May, at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Coningsby, Lincs LN4 4PE. Admission is £3 and there is free parking. Pitches are free but size is limited if not pre-booked. There is a RAF heritage centre on site. Gates open at 10am.

The Dartmoor Radio Club Rally takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, 7 May, at Tavistock College, Crowndale Rd, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8DD. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Details from Viv on 01752 823 427.

The Rochdale & District ARS Flea Market and Junk Sale takes place on 12 May at St Vincent’s Church Hall, Caldershaw Rd, Rochdale OL12 7QL. The doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, car boot sale area and a Bring & Buy. Pitches cost £7.50. Unfortunately, the contact details that appeared in RadCom were incorrect, so to book your place, contact G0PUD on 01706 346 517 or e-mail dave.shaw1@sky.com.

Now for the news of special events

A school in the village of Gresham will be holding an amateur radio special event station using the D-Star digital network for children age 6 to 11 on May 23rd. The callsign will be GB2GVS which stands for Gresham Village School. Andy Johnston, 2E0AIV is the event coordinator. He says that they have already arranged link-ups with schools in Northern Ireland, the USA and England, but are looking for more countries and schools to participate. If anyone is interested, they can contact Andy via e-mail to 2e0avi@2e0aiv.co.uk.

There will be a Vulcan Special Event radio station at Finningley Robin Hood International Airport, with the callsign GB60VUL, from 5 to 12 May. This will be in conjunction with Newbury Amateur Radio Society. The Finningley Amateur Radio Society will be there with their communications van and the radio station will be open from 8am to 9pm. Special QSL cards will be available for all contacts.

Botley Flour Mills near Southampton is one of the UK's oldest known milling sites. It is listed in the Doomsday book and is believed to have been a mill site in pre Roman times. The Mill will be activated with the callsign GB0BFM for Mills on the Air weekend on 12 and 13 May from 10am to 4pm. Using 80m, 40m, 2m & 70cm, the station will be run by M0IED and G6FRT and other members of Itchen Valley Radio Club, with added assistance from Southampton University Wireless Society.

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

The Russian Robinsons are planning the activation of IOTA new one, the Bethel County Group, NA-240 between 10 and 14 May. See www.na-234.com for the latest information.

An international team of operators will be active as 7O6T, that’s 7 Oh 6 tee, from Socotra Island until 17 May. They plan to have six stations on the air at any given time. Activity will be on 10 to 160m using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via UA3DX.

A group of operators from Japan will be operational from the Maldives between 11 and 16 May. Activity will be on 6 to 160m using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via their home callsigns, either direct or via the bureau.

Between 19 and 19 May, the Wessex Contest Group will be operating from the Isle of Skye, which is EU-008. This year they will be operating a variety of equipment including some homebrew radio, a selection of QRP set ups and, for the quiet times, they also have a high power HF station. Their antennas include a W3DZZ, a 3 element HF Yagi, and a variety of wire dipoles. Listen out for MS0WCB or MQ0WCB.

Members of the A DX Group are planning a ten man DXperience to Macau, which is XX9. Plans are to be active with at least three complete stations on all bands CW, SSB and digital from 17 to 23 May. They will be operating from Coloane Island, AS-075. QSL via EB7DX either direct, via the EA bureau or via Logbook of The World.

Now the contest news

The 432MHz to 248GHz trophy finishes its 24 hour session at 1400UTC today, 6 May. Using all modes on the bands between 432MHz and 248GHz, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 80m Club Championships SSB leg takes place on 7 May from 1900 to 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

The 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 8 May from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 70MHz CW Contest takes place from 0900 to 1200UTC on 13 May. The exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

The Worked All Britain LF phone contest takes place on Sunday 13 May from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be obtained from the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from the Contest Manager, G3XKT via e-mail ataebbooks@ntlworld.com.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 27th to Thursday the 3rd of May, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 4th of May.

Several sunspot groups were visible every day. Six new groups appeared during the period. Solar activity on the 27th was moderate when an impulsive M1 solar flare took place. On the remaining days activity was low when several C class solar flares took place. Solar flux levels declined from 121 units on the 28th to 110 by the 1st. The average was 116 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 3rd was 112, that’s the same level as last week. X-ray flux levels declined slightly from B5.8 units on the 27th to B2.8 by the 2nd. The average was B4.1 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. The most disturbed day was the 27th with an Ap index of 8 units. The average was Ap 5 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 520 kilometres per second on the 27th to a slow 260 by the 2nd. Particle densities were very low every day, on some days not even one particle per cubic centimetre was recorded. Bz never varied more than minus 5 and plus 4 nanoTeslas until the 3rd and then between minus 8 and plus 7 nanoTeslas. Sporadic-E took place some days on 28MHz with smaller openings on 50MHz.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the active side of the Sun is expected to rotate into view. Solar activity is expected to be low but could increase to moderate levels on the occasional days. Solar flux levels should increase and by next weekend be in the 130’s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet till around midweek when a disturbance from a recurring coronal hole is expected to arrive. This should last till the start of the weekend. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 25MHz for the south and 22MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 11MHz. Paths this week to the east coast of North America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 21 MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 15MHz. Levels could decline slightly during the anticipated coronal hole disturbance. The best time to try this path will be between 1600 and 2100 hours. Sporadic-E is expected to take place some days on 28MHz and to a lesser extent on 50MHz.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

Listen Now:

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This is the combined RSGB podcast in iTunes format, compiled by Ed VK2ARE. Please note as the complete text will not be visible on an iPhone/iPOD (limit on device), to read the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 29th April 2012

The news headlines:

• New Ofcom Regulations for the Olympic Games

• Dr Marcus Walden, G0IJZ publishes 5MHz paper in Radio Science

• Planned maintenance for Cornish beacons

Ofcom have issued a consultation on regulations that will enable prompt enforcement action for interference cases that affect the Olympics. The draft regulations designate 25-35km radii around all major venues across the UK, including football stadia, where enhanced enforcement could apply. Ofcom’s proposals can be found on their website at http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations. The announcement follows last week’s Ofcom notice of restrictions to the 70cm, 2.3 and 3.4GHz amateur bands.

A paper entitled Comparison of propagation predictions and measurements for mid-latitude HF near-vertical incidence sky wave links at 5MHz has just been published in the peer-reviewed, academic journal Radio Science. The paper, by Dr Marcus Walden, G0IJZ, compares near-vertical incidence skywave, or NVIS, measurements from the UK 5MHz beacon network with HF propagation predictions using VOACAP and ASAPS software. Further information, including a link to the paper, can be found on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/spectrumforum/hf/5mhzintro.php.

The GB3MCB Mid-Cornwall beacons on 6 metres, 4 metres, 2 metres and 70cm will all be switched off between 8am and 7pm on Saturday 5 May. All four beacon antennas and their feeders are being replaced, because they are over 20 years old. The Mid-Cornwall Group apologises for the interruption in service, but it is hoped this will provide improved beacon signals in future on all four bands.

At the end of last year, the Emergency Services Amateur Radio DX Group was born on Facebook. The idea was that serving and retired members of any of the Emergency Services could meet through the Group to discuss their common interest in amateur radio. The Group has been very successful and a net has now started on 40m. The net is run by Jim, GM0GMN and Tony, M6AIV and is open to anyone who serves or has served within one of the services, either full time or as a volunteer. The net takes place on 7.173MHz every Thursday evening at 1800UTC. Further details from Jim or Tony, both are QTHR.

RadCom HF columnist, Don Field, G3XTT took top honours in the first ever LA Contest Club CW Pile Up Competition held at LA Ham Meeting, Letohallen, near Oslo. The competition was organized by Bjørn, LB1GB of LA Contest Club. Begali Keys sponsored the first prize, a fine Morse key, which Don brought home to England.

Over the last few years, GB0VUL has been used by various members of the Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society to promote XH558, the last flying Vulcan bomber. This year the callsign GB60VUL is being used to promote 60 years of the Vulcan Bomber and the Vulcan’s Salute to Her Majesty during her Diamond Jubilee year. The call will be active from 6 different locations from 30 April to 27 May. These include Robin Hood Airport Doncaster, the Control Tower at Greenham Common, and the 211 Squadron ATC in Newbury. Details will appear in GB2RS nearer the time.

And now for the details of forthcoming rallies and events

The Dambusters Hamfest will take place on 6 May at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Coningsby, Lincs LN4 4PE. Admission is £3 and there is free parking. Pitches are free but size is limited if not pre-booked. There is a RAF heritage centre on site. Overnight camping is available by appointment. Gates open at 10am.

The Dartmoor Radio Club Rally takes place on Bank Holiday Monday, 7 May, at Tavistock College, Crowndale Rd, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8DD. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Details from Viv on 01752 823 427.

Advance notice now for the Rochdale & District ARS Flea Market and Junk Sale to be held on 12 May. Taking place at St Vincent’s Church Hall, Caldershaw Rd, Rochdale OL12 7QL, the doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, car boot sale area and a Bring & Buy. Pitches cost £7.50. Unfortunately, the contact details that appeared in RadCom were incorrect, so to book your place, contact G0PUD on 01706 346 517 or e-mail dave.shaw1@sky.com.

Now for the news of special events

There will be a Vulcan special event station at Finningley Robin Hood International Airport, with the callsign GB60VUL, from 5 to 12 May. This will be in conjunction with Newbury Amateur Radio Society. The Finningley Amateur Radio Society will be there with their communications van and the radio station will be open from 8am to 9pm. Special QSL cards will be available for all contacts.

Sherwood Amateur Radio Club are operating GB1TBW for Nottinghamshire Scouts from 4 to 7 May. The organisers are hoping for plenty of contacts as the Scouts will be participating with QSOs. There will also be an ARDF event for them.

On 6 May, Felixstowe & District ARS will be operating GB2CRF using original Clansman radio equipment on HF, 4m and 6m from the Suffolk Aviation Heritage Society's Falklands 30th event at RAF Foxhall Heath. Further details from Iain G0OZS on 07850 424007. QSL cards for GB2CRF should be sent via the RSGB bureau please.

Dengie Hundred Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB0SMA from Stow Maries Aerodrome in Essex from 5 to 7 May to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. They will be active on bands between 160m & 70cm. Stow Maries Aerodrome in Essex is probably the best preserved World War 1 airfield in the UK with over 20 of the original buildings still standing. It was home to 37 Home Defence Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and then after 1 April 1918, 37 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

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

ZS6JR and ZS6DJD will be operating from Mozambique for seven days from 3 or 4 May. The idea is to park next to a small lake in Shai Shai, 400km north of the capital, and operate all vertical antennas with the earth wires in the water. They will operate vertically on most bands 40m to 10m.

Alain, F6HBR lives in Thailand and has been issued a reciprocal Thai callsign. Operating as HS0ZKG he works mainly CW with some PSK and RTTY from Koh Samui, which is IOTA reference AS-101.

Noel, OO4O will be active as OZ/OO4O from Hou Fyr on Langeland Island, which is IOTA reference EU-172, until 5 May. He will operate mainly SSB and CW on the HF bands. QSL via LoTW and the Belgian QSL bureau.

Now the contest news

Today, 29 April, the BARTG Sprint takes place from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using 75 baud RTTY only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is serial number. Please note all entries are single op.

Tuesday 1 May sees the 144MHz UK Activity Contest taking place from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The first leg of the 2E0ITV Commemorative Multi Mode competition takes place on 4 May from 1900 to 2230BST. The event is organised by Friskney & East Lincolnshire Communications Club. The exchange is callsign, locator and serial number. The 4 May event uses BPSK-3 on the HF bands as well as 6, 4 and 2m. QRP entries have a maximum of 5W output and QRO entries 20W output. Further details from the FELCC information line on 0755 436 2020 or from bren.sykes@btinternet.com.

The 432MHz trophy takes place on 5 May from 1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on 5 May between 1400 and 2200UTC, the 10GHz trophy takes place. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Finally, over the weekend 5 and 6 May, the 432MHz to 248GHz trophy takes place between 1400 and 1400UTC. Using all modes on the bands between 432MHz and 248GHz, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 20th to Thursday the 26th of April, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 27th of April.

Despite several large sunspot groups, solar activity remained at low levels. Several C class solar flares took place every day, a couple produced Earth directed coronal mass ejections. Solar flux levels increased to 149 units on the 21st but then declined to 119 by the 26th. The average was 137 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 26th remained at the same level as last week at 112 units. X-ray flux levels increased to B6.4 units by the 22nd but then declined to B4.1 units by the 26th. The average was B5 units. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels with an Ap index of 8 units for the first three days on the period before a coronal mass ejection arrived and activity increased to Ap 30 units on the 23rd and 43 the next day. Just as this storm was subsiding a coronal hole disturbance arrived with an Ap index of 31 and 20 units on the 25th and the 26th respectively. The average was Ap 21 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 290 kilometres per second on the 20th to 800 by the 25th. Particle densities were low except for an increase on the 23rd to 34 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between minus 7 and plus 5 on the quieter days and between minus 16 and plus 14 nanoTeslas during the coronal mass ejection disturbance and between minus 12 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the coronal hole disturbance. The disturbances resulted in degraded propagation on the higher HF bands, with MUFs being down several MHz from late on the 21st to the early hours of the 25th. Aurora was reported between the 21st and the 25th but for much of the time favouring North America. European contacts were largely confined to high latitudes.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity is expected to be low on most days. Solar flux levels should be around the 120 mark for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet every day. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 25MHz for the south and 22MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 11MHz. Paths this week via the short path to Japan will be around 21MHz. 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 1100 and 1400 hours. Occasional Sporadic-E openings will take place with openings up to 50MHz possible.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 15th April 2012

The news headlines:

• Amateur band restrictions during the Olympic & Paralympics Games

• World Amateur Radio Day

• Volunteer for the Training and Education Committee

The RSGB attended a meeting on 5 April at Ofcom for a briefing on Ofcom’s spectrum management proposals for the amateur services for the period 28 June to 23 September 2012. The proposals have yet to receive final drafting revision and approval within Ofcom, before publication on their website. The Society will augment this publicity to help ensure that members are aware of the limitations and the importance of restricting our operating during the Olympic period. Unfortunately, some of the current draft became more widely circulated than was intended during the process of internal consultation. It contains some information that may not be included in the final version. Members are asked to await the formal announcement from Ofcom. The Society will be preparing full coverage of the restrictions that cover 70cm and the two lower microwave bands. This will include the concessions, still being worked upon, for contests during this period.

On 18 April it is World Amateur Radio Day and also the 87th anniversary of the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union. This year’s theme for the World Amateur Radio Day is Amateur Radio Satellites: Celebrating 50 Years in Space, in remembrance the launches of OSCAR 1 in December 1961 and OSCAR 2 in June 1962. There will be several special event stations from IARU Member Societies active on different dates during April including 6H6IARU, 3G73IARU and LZ1WARD. The Portuguese national society will have CR6IARU on the air until 19 April, QSL via CT1REP. The Polish national Society is running an award for World Amateur Radio Day, details can be found at http://suchacz.eu/articles.php?article_id=42.

RSGB Members will by now have seen the announcement about the new Training & Education Committee and the appointment of Steve Hartley, G0FUW, as Chair. Steve now needs to recruit a committee to be Chair of and is seeking volunteers. If you feel you have something to offer and are willing to spend some time on moving things forward, please contact Steve with a brief note about yourself, what you feel you can add to the mix and any specific aspect of the new committee you would be particularly interested in. You can e-mail Steve via hartley_steve@hotmail.com. There are a number of projects on the 'to do' list so please do not be shy in putting your hand up. Without wishing to exclude anyone, Steve would be especially interested to see younger members, female members and those from ethnic groups coming forward to represent the Society as a whole.

Since the start of April, prior to a full allocation, Canadian amateurs have been invited by their regulator to apply for a special interim developmental licence for 5MHz under the VX9 callsign series. The channels and conditions are identical to the current USA 60m allocation. Following discussions, the regulator will publish a consultation document for radio amateurs in the official Canada Gazette. At the successful conclusion of this consultation period the current 60m allocation will be made generally available as part of the requisite Canadian amateur radio licences. In the meantime, the offer of an interim special developmental licence is meant to provide for early access to the 60m channels available. The first to receive one of these licences was Russ Hemphill, VE3FI, who was issued with the call VX9GHD.

Belgium’s national society, UBA, reports on plans to allow Belgian Foundation licence holders to run 50W on the HF bands instead of the current 10W. Belgian Foundation holders are currently permitted 50W only on 144 and 430MHz. UBA says via its website that taking into account the so called 3dB rule, which would permit the use of a standard 100 watt transceiver. The full proposal in electronically translated English is online at tinyurl.com/Belgium50wFoundation.

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 £8. To register your intent, please visit www.rsgb.org/agmlunch and submit your name and callsign.

A new online Software Defined Radio located in Sweden and set for reception of the amateur radio 75, 60, 40 and 20m bands is now available via the internet. Located in the city of Mora and maintained by SM4JLX, the system is made up of three Soft66lite receivers and a bandpass filter. You need both Java and JavaScript enabled for the WebSDR to work properly. You can hear it online at tinyurl.com/sweden-sdr.

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

Today, 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. More details can be obtained from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608.

Also today, 15 April, the Cambridge Repeater Group Rally will be held at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton. Doors open at 10am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from Lawrence, M0CLM on 01223 711 840.

The 28th Yeovil QRP Convention takes place on 22 April in Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA, which adjoins the central shopping car park. Doors open 9.30am and there will trades stands, a Bring & Buy as well as a lecture programme. Contact Derek, M0WOB on 01935 414 452 for more details.

On 22 April the West London Radio & Electronics Show will take place at Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. There is free car parking and doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Details from Paul, M0CJX on 08451 650 351.

The Radio Security Service Reunion will take place at Bletchley Park on 22 April. Starting at 11am, all are welcome to this event commemorating the 1,500+ radio amateurs who monitored German signals in WWII. There will be lectures and a vintage equipment exhibition. The National Radio Centre is also open for visitors until 4pm.

Now for the news of special events

Today, 15 April, is the final day of operation for many stations commemorating the centenary of the loss of RMS Titanic in 1912. A list of the stations we have heard about is on the RSGB website.

On 18 April the Polish National Society will put HF87WARD on the air for World Amateur Radio Day. QSL via eQSL.cc and WFF LogSerach. For those who want to send card direct, please send a SASE to Polish Club Flora & Fauna, Suchacz, Wielmozy 5b, 82-340 Tolkmicko, Poland.

International Marconi Day takes place on 21 April. Details of the many stations taking part can be found at www.gb4ind.com.

North Cork Radio Group will be activating Mizen Head Visitors Centre for Marconi weekend. The callsign, EI0IMD, will be on the air from 20 to 22 April.

Oxford and District Amateur Radio Society will be operating from the Museum of the History of Science in the centre of Oxford with the call sign GB4MHS on 21 April. The museum is the home of the Marconi Collection of his original experimental and production wireless equipment. Other events during the day include a talk by Brian Hawes, G2KQ, on Wireless at the time of the Titanic, sending Morse code and an auction of Marconi memorabilia. For details and times see www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/events.

Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society will be at Sandford Mill for International Marconi Day on 21 April from 10am to 5pm.

Ripon and District ARS are organising the first Inns and Pubs on the Air weekend. Using GB2TH they will be operating from the base of the Tan Hill Inn on 21 and 22 April. The location is the highest licensed premises in Great Britain at 1732 feet ASL. If you have a local licensed meeting place that has a history attached to it and would like to operate for the weekend then please email ipa@waylock.co.uk.

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

Alan, VK4WR and Graeme, VK4FI will be active as E51BKM and E51GMH respectively from Aitutaki, South Cook Islands until 27 April. They will operate CW and SSB, mainly on 6 to 40m. QSL via their home callsigns, direct only.

Wim, ON4CIT and Paul, ON4BEC will be active as TO3X from St Barthelemy, IOTA reference NA-146, from 16 to 30 April. They will be using 6 to 40m, mainly SSB and RTTY with some CW. QSL via ON4CIT, direct or via the bureau, and Logbook of The World.

Members of the Macclesfield and District Radio Society will be active as GS4MWS/Pp from Colonsay, IOTA reference EU-008, from 15 to 21 April. QSL via M0PAI.

Now the contest news

The First 50MHz contest takes place from 0900 to 1200UTC today, 22 April. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

On Tuesday 17 April the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The data leg of the 80m club championships takes place on 19 April from 1900 to 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

The SSB leg of the EU Sprint Contest takes place on Saturday 21 April from 1600 to 2000UTC. Using the 3.5 to 14MHz bands, the exchange is both callsigns, serial number and name.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 6th of April to Thursday the 12th, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 13th of April.

Most days only saw two small visible sunspot groups and with it solar activity was mostly at very low levels. On the 6th, 7th and the 9th activity did just manage to increase to low levels, when a small C class solar flare took place on those days. Solar flux levels declined from 99 units on the 7th to 93 units later in the period. The average was 95 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 12th was 114 units. That’s three units down on last week. It’s hard to believe that at the start of the year the level was at 145 units. X-ray flux levels showed little variation day to day and averaged B1.3 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day except for a small disturbance on the 7th this was due to a sustained period of the Bz remaining southward. During the evening of the 12th when a coronal hole disturbance arrived. The Ap index was 14 units on the 7th and 12th and in single figures on the remaining days. The average was Ap 7 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 290 and 380 kilometres per second but during the 12th speeds increased to around 610 kilometres per second, heralding the start of coronal hole disturbance. Particle densities were low every day except for a brief increase to 31 particles per cubic centimetre during the 11th. Bz varied between minus and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus 8 and plus 7 nanoTeslas on the 7th. MUFs tended to be a shade down on predicted values on most days. The Lyrids meteor shower will be active from the 16th, peaking shortly after dawn on the 22nd. Normally, the second half of April sees the start of the summer sporadic-E season for the northern hemisphere. Therefore, occasional openings could take place during the coming week.

And finally, the solar forecast. This week, solar activity looks set for another quiet week with solar activity at very low to low levels. There is though a slight chance that activity could increase later in the week. Solar flux levels are expected to be slightly below the 100 mark but could rise towards next weekend. The effects of a coronal hole disturbance should have just passed and for most of the coming week geomagnetic activity is expected to be mostly quiet. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 24MHz for the south and 21MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 19MHz. Paths this week to India should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 23MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 18MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1100 and 1600 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 22nd April 2012

The news headlines:

• 2O12xx special prefix stations

• New FAQs section on RSGB website

• Details of Olympics amateur band restrictions announced

The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games provide an outstanding opportunity to publicise amateur radio. To that end, the RSGB negotiated a very limited number of special prefixes, 2O12x (two Oscar one two x), with the intention that these calls are given an extensive airing over the Olympic period this summer. Special stations are already planned for London, 2O12L, and Wales, 2O12W, and there will be a special callsign for the National Radio Centre. Groups in Scotland and Northern Ireland are encouraged to take advantage of the special callsign secured for their region. Groups who would like to use the callsigns for all or part of the Olympic period should bear in mind that public access and good world-wide coverage will be required. Expressions of interest should be sent, without delay, to Bob, G3PJT, by email to G3PJT@btinternet.com.

This week, the RSGB has posted comprehensive sets of frequently asked questions and answers at www.rsgb.org/faq. Amateurs may find that this is a useful first place to look for any questions you have about the hobby, membership of the RSGB or for information on the amateur exam system. The resource will continue to be updated with new answers as necessary.

Details of amateur band frequency restrictions during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have now been released by Ofcom. Parts of the 70cm, 13cm and 9cm bands are affected between 28 June and 23 September 2012. The restrictions only apply in geographically limited areas, with 70cm being particularly affected around London and Weymouth. Full details are on the RSGB website at www.RSGB.org/olympics.

The Radio Communications Foundation is charged by Ofcom with the creation and maintenance of the examination arrangements for the Amateur Radio Examinations in the UK. In discharging its role, the RCF has an agreement with RSGB that the Society handles the administration of the processes involved. Questions of syllabus, examination questions and related policy issues are handled by the RCE Examinations Committee of the RCF. As a result of turnover in Committee membership there are vacancies on this Committee and applications are sought from those with relevant skills and experience. If you have an Advanced licence, a keen interest in training and education, experience of examination processes, syllabus development, examination performance assessment, question development and the time to devote to four meetings a year, plus e-mail working, which will become the more normal way of working, then please express your interest, enclosing a relevant CV, to Professor Simon Watts, Chairman of the RCE Standards Committee, via SC.chairman@commsfoundation.org.

The RSGB has made available a Media Information Pack for affiliated radio clubs because of the expected upswing in interest in amateur radio courtesy of the Olympics. There have been some excellent examples of clubs and societies using special events to promote amateur radio widely and the aim of the pack is to help more clubs achieve this success. You can read details of the media pack at www.tinyurl.com/RSGBmedia, although the downloadable material is in the Members Only area.

Following the recent consultation on the Spectrum Strategy, the final version can now be downloaded from the Spectrum Strategy consultation page as well as from the Spectrum Forum website. Whilst the response to the consultation was small, the quality of comment was good and as a result a number of improvements have been made to the document. As with all strategy statements, it will need to be reviewed and updated every few years to reflect changes in our needs and the spectrum management context. The RSGB would like to thank the members of the Spectrum Forum for developing the strategy and those who responded during the consultation.

The RSGB is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Talbot, G4JNT, as Technical Forum Chair. Andy brings a wide and deep understanding of the technical side of amateur radio to this role.

Changes to the RSGB QSL bureau operation that were detailed in the December 2011 RadCom have now taken effect. Volunteers now despatch, where possible, all available incoming cards to members and pay-to-receive users on a quarterly basis. Currently they are sending out their last batch of cards to non-members, together with the return of unused collection envelopes and details of how to access the new scheme. All members with more than one active callsign, especially those in the M3, M6, 2 and M0 series, urgently need to visit the RSGB website and update their membership details, if they have not already done so. To avoid envelopes being returned incorrectly and cards lost, this information is vital. It would be most helpful if those who do not collect traditional QSL cards change the wording of any QRZ.com entry to include the wording “No bureau cards”. Please note that all NOV holders of GB Special Event and abbreviated single letter callsigns must be registered to a valid member or affiliated Society in order to continue sending and receiving cards. To update your information visit www.rsgb.org/amend or telephone RSGB headquarters, without delay.

From 28 April to 4 May, the Camb-Hams will be continuing their traditional Scottish Island activation by returning to the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, which is IOTA reference EU-008. All HF bands from 160m to 10m will be covered with five stations on air simultaneously, all capable of running the legal power limit from five linear amplifiers. 6m, 4m and 2m will be active with a great take-off to the UK and Europe, again all at legal limit. 10GHz is also being used, for a first-time activation of IO66 square. There will also be a 24 hour activation from Lunga, IOTA EU-108, using the callsign GS6PYE/P. This will most likely take place from Sunday 29th until Monday 30th and is weather dependent. You can follow the progress at http://dx.camb-hams.com, or on Twitter as @g3pye.

Enrolment for the next Bath-based Distance Learning course for the Advanced exam opens on 1 May. The course will start in June, heading for the December exam. The course is open to anyone that has passed the UK Intermediate exam. Each week students will receive directed reading instructions and a set of revision questions, every three weeks they will also receive a progress test and mock exams at the end of the course. Students' answers are marked and worked solutions are provided. You will need your own copy of the Advanced textbook, a non-programmable scientific calculator and access to the internet; material is distributed via a dedicated Yahoo Group. You will need to set aside at least two hours a week for twenty weeks. Applicants should not underestimate the commitment required to do this home study option, but those that see it through to the end have had a very high pass rate. The course team are based in Bath but have a growing number of remote tutors across the UK. Further details and enrolment forms can be obtained by contacting Steve Hartley, G0FUW, at 5 Sydenham Buildings, Bath BA2 3BS or by email to G0FUW@tiscali.co.uk.

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

The 28th Yeovil QRP Convention takes place today, 22 April, in Digby Hall, Hound Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA, which adjoins the central shopping car park. Doors open 9.30am and there will trade stands, a Bring & Buy as well as a lecture programme. Contact Derek, M0WOB on 01935 414 452 for more details.

Today, 22 April, the West London Radio & Electronics Show takes place at Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. There is free car parking and doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and special interest groups. Details from Paul, M0CJX on 08451 650 351.

The Radio Security Service Reunion takes place today, 22 April, at Bletchley Park. Starting at 11am, all are welcome to this event commemorating the 1,500+ radio amateurs who monitored German signals in WWII. There will be lectures and a vintage equipment exhibition. The National Radio Centre is also open for visitors from 11am.

Moray Firth Amateur Radio Society will be holding their spring junk sale on Saturday 28 April at 12 noon in the Scout Hall, Christie Place, Fochabers. Contact Barry, GM4TOE, on 01807 580376.

Now for the news of special events

Today, 22 April, the North Cork Radio Group will be activating Mizen Head Visitors Centre using the callsign EI0IMD.

Ripon and District ARS are organising the first Inns and Pubs on the Air weekend. Using GB2TH they will be operating from the Tan Hill Inn on 22 April. At 1732 feet ASL, the location is the highest licensed premises in Great Britain.

230 (Congleton) Squadron Air Training Corps will be hosting special event station GB1AC on 28 April. Station operators will include newly licensed Cadets. Visitors and VIPs at the event celebrating the Squadron’s newly enlarged premises will be involved. Contact with current and previous Cadets and service personnel will be much welcomed. The station will be active from 11am to 3pm. Skeds on any bands between 10 and 80m can be arranged via email to rogerm0gmg@gmail.com.

Botley Flour Mills near Southampton is one of the UK's oldest known milling sites and is listed in the Domesday Book. The Mill will be activated with the callsign GB0BFM for Mills on the Air weekend on 12 and 13 May from 10am to 4pm using 80m, 40m, 2m & 70cm. The station will be run by M0IED, his father G6FRT and other members of Itchen Valley Radio Club, with added assistance from Southampton University Wireless Society.

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

JS6RRR and JA5DUR will be active as /JS6 from Miyako Island, AS-079, between 26 April and 7 May. They will operate SSB, CW, FM and some RTTY and PSK31 on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL to their home callsigns, preferably via the bureau.

VA3QSL will be active as KP4/VA3QSL from Puerto Rico, NA-099, from 22 April to 4 May, including a two-day side trip to nearby Isla de Vieques. He will operate SSB and CW on 40, 20 and 6m. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.

Mal, VK6LC will be active again as XV4LC from Vinh Long, Vietnam until 24 April. He will operate holiday style on 20 and 17m CW and SSB. QSL direct only to VK6LC.

F4DTO andF4GFE will be active as ZA100I from Albania until 29 April. They will operate SSB only on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via F4DTO, direct or via the bureau.

Now the contest news

The First 50MHz contest takes place from 0900 to 1200UTC today, 22 April. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and postcode.

It’s busy on 24 April with two contests taking place between 1900 and 2130UTC. The 50MHz Activity Contest uses all modes on the 6m band and the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The SHF UK Activity Contest uses the 2.3GHz and up bands. The exchange is also signal report, serial number and locator.

The weekend of 28 and 29 April is a RTTY contest time. From 1200 to 1200UTC, the SP DX RTTY contest takes place on the 3.5 to 38MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and serial number, with SP stations sending their province code too. The BARTG Sprint takes place from 1700 to 2100UTC on 29 April. It’s 75 baud only and all entries are single op. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is serial number only.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 13th of April to Thursday the 18th, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 20th of April.

This week several sunspot groups were visible every day. As the week progressed, some of the groups increased in size and complexity. At first solar activity was very low on the 13th and the 14th, but by the 16th activity increased to moderate levels when a small M class solar flare took place. The remaining day’s activity was low, with several large C class solar flares taking place. Solar flux levels increased from 98 units on the 13th to 138 by the 19th. The average was 111 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 19th was 112, that’s two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels increased from B1.5 units on the 13th to B5.2 by the 19th. The average was B2.9 units. Geomagnetic activity started at active levels with an Ap index of 22 units on the 13th due to a recurring coronal hole. Activity then declined to quiet levels for the rest of the period. The average was Ap 10 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 690 kilometres per second to 330 by the 18th. Particle densities were low every day. Bz varied between minus 10 and plus 5 nanoTeslas during the disturbance of the 13th and between minus and plus 2 nanoTeslas on the quieter days.

And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity could be slightly higher than recent weeks, especially at first. Solar flux levels should be around 130 for the next few days but then decline towards next weekend. Due to a small coronal hole, geomagnetic activity is expected to be at unsettled levels on Monday and Tuesday, after which, quiet conditions should return for the remainder of the week. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 24MHz for the south and 21MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 10 or 11MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 30MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 25MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1100 and 1600 hours. Occasional small sporadic-E openings should take place, mainly affecting 28MHz and occasionally 50MHz.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

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 £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 £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.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 1st April 2012

The news headlines:

• Did you know Ken Rowell G5RL?

• TEP observation beacons

• RSGB prepared to defend CW

Following the announcement a few months ago of the legacy from the late Ken Rowell, the Legacy Trustees, appointed to consider the way in which the bequest might be used, have held their first meeting. They are now asking for help from anyone who has any information on Ken Rowell, G5RL, his station, or any particular interests he had, that would help the Trustees to develop proposals on how his generous bequest could best be utilised. They are particularly anxious to obtain any photographs, letters or documents that would assist in this work. The Trustees are grateful for all the suggestions that have already been made regarding this legacy and will keep members informed of progress through RadCom. If you can help, please send any information to the Secretary to the Trustees, care of RSGB Headquarters, or to legacysecretary@rsgb.org.uk.

There are two new beacons on air from Namibia for TEP observations. They are active 24 hours a day from JG82IE, callsign V51VHF. Listen out for the 35 watt CW signal on 70.005 that uses a DK7ZB beam headed North, and the 144.430MHz CW signal into a 10 element DK7ZB beam, also heading North.

Some say that CW has been made obsolete by modern digimodes, which work well in conditions far too poor for the older mode. Now that Morse is no longer used in commercial radio traffic, the RSGB confirms that it would fight any moves to prohibit CW on amateur bands. The Society recognises that Morse gives much pleasure to thousands of operators, and will continue to support its use.

The Radio Security Service will hold its 16th reunion at Bletchley Park on Sunday 22 April in the Mansion Ballroom. Gates open at 10am and the meeting starts at 11am. All are welcome. The reunions are held to commemorate the 1,500-plus radio amateurs who used their special skills in the greatest secrecy in WW2 to monitor the German Secret Service, and thus facilitate numerous deceptions contributing to military successes, especially on D-Day. There will be a series of presentations and there will be the opportunity to visit Hut One to view the large collection of communication equipment from the past. Booking is not required, but it will be helpful if you can let Stan Ames know if you hope to attend. You can contact him by email to RSSreunion@aol.com.

Ofcom has announced a GPS jamming exercise between 9 and 20 April near RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria. From 7am to 6pm there will be multiple jammers based within 5km of N55° 04.000’ W002° 34.000’, operating within the 24MHz band centred around 1575.42MHz. The total power used will be up to 10 watts EIRP. It is stressed that, as in previous exercises, Safety of Life operations will, at all times, take precedence over exercise activities.

The Spring Edition of The 5MHz Newsletter has now been published and features information on the recent WRC-12 conference. A subscription is not needed and the Newsletter can be freely read or downloaded from Google documents at http://tinyurl.com/7ylxz9z. A paper copy can be obtained by sending an SASE large enough to take folded A4 to the Editor, G4MWO, who is QTHR and on QRZ.com. A chart is also maintained of current Worldwide 5MHz Amateur Allocations. This can be found at http://tinyurl.com/82rwq2b

On 24 March, sometime between 0230 and sunrise, in Kenninghall, Norfolk, Peter Lock, M0RYB had his red Land Rover Defender 90 X191 FVC stolen. Inside was an Icom IC-7000, serial number 1002538. The crime Number is 12618/12/0. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of the radio, or vehicle, please contact Peter via doc.lock@tesco.net so that he can pass the information onto the police.

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

The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Annual Rally will take place today, 1 April, at The Share Holiday Village, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0EQ. Doors open at 11.30am. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. The RSGB President, Dave Wilson, M0OBW, will also be visiting the rally. Details from Iain on 02866 326 693.

Also today, 1 April, the South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Rally will be held in the Scout Activity Centre, Woodhouse Park, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4LX. Doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Talk in is on S22. More details from Stan Goodwin, G0RYM on 07833 517 370.

From 10 April the Titanic Centenary event will take place from Charterhouse, Godalming. GR100MGY will be active for 6 days. There is free admission and free car parking on 14 and 15 April, 12 to 4pm. Contact G0EFO at michaelgs1@talktalk.net.

Now for the news of special events

On 8 April, GB50WVR will be on the air from the Keighley & Worth Valley railway, which is celebrating 50 years of the Preservation Society. More information, including QSL details, is on qrz.com.

GB100MGY will be on the air from 6 to 26 April from Fort Perch Rock Marine Radio Museum, New Brighton, Wirral in commemoration of the Titanic. They also have special permission from Ofcom to use this callsign on the 501 to 504kHz band. They plan to transmit and receive on 502kHz and, for those without a 500kHz band NoV, it will be crossband on 3566kHz or 7066kHz as propagation conditions determine. More on www.gb100mgy-fortperchrock.co.uk.

The centenary of the loss of RMS Titanic in 1912 will be commemorated with many activities taking place around the world, including a number in Godalming, Surrey, the birthplace of Titanic’s Marconi Radio Officer, Jack Phillips. GR100MGY will be on the air from the grounds of Charterhouse school in Godalming. 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.

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

ON4AEO and several other operators from Belgium and South Africa will be active as 3DA0FC from Swaziland on 6 to 10 April. They plan to operate SSB, RTTY and PSK on 10 to 80m bands. QSL via ON4CJK, direct or bureau.

JA1XGI will be active as A35XG from Tongatapu, Tonga, which is IOTA reference OC-049,

on 2 to 9 April. Activity will be on the 10 to 30m bands, especially 30, 17 and 12 metres using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.

GM6TW will be operating from the Inner Hebrides, IOTA reference EU-008, from 7 to 13 April. The main QTH will be the Isle of Jura, but will also be activations from Islay and Colonsay. QSL via M0UTD.

PJ2/PA7JWC and PJ2/PD7DB will be on the air from Curacao, which is IOTA reference SA-099, on 2 to 9 April. They will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK on the 10 to 80m bands. QSLs via Logbook of The World are preferred or via home callsigns, direct and via the bureau.

Now the contest news

At 90 minutes in duration it may be a short contest, but make no mistake, the 1st RoPoCo contest today, 1 April, is quite challenging. The maximum permitted power is 100 watts with no QRP or high power categories. The basic format is that in your first QSO you send your full postcode and for all subsequent QSOs you send the postcode you received in your previous QSO. If you receive a postcode that you know is erroneous, for example a corrupted version of your own postcode, record it as received and give it to your next QSO partner as-is. Provided you are not the person to introduce an error, you’ll get points for the QSO, because it is the accuracy of the exchange that is important. This all takes place on the 3.5MHz band from 1900 to 2030UTC.

Activity on 70MHz continues to grow with the 1st 70MHz contest taking place today, 1 April, from 0900 to 1200UTC. Last year 156 stations took part from six different call areas. It’s a race to accumulate as many kilometres worked as possible, with no multipliers. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The latest CW leg of the 80m club championships takes place on 2 April from 100 to 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

On 3 April the 144MHz UK Activity contest takes place from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The first leg of the SP DX Contest takes place on 7 and 8 April from 1500 to 1500UTC. 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.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 23rd to the 29th of March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 30th of March.

Several small sunspot groups were visible every day. Only one group was large, which produced an M class solar flare on the 23rd, otherwise solar activity was at low levels every day with just a few C class solar flares taking place each day. However, on the 29th a large group was approaching the north-east limb and produced numerous large C class flares. This is the return of a region that produced 14 M class and two X class solar flares on its last rotation during the first two weeks of March. Solar flux levels increased from 101 units on the 25th to 112 by the 29th. The average was 105 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 29th was 119, that’s three units down on last week. X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and averaged B2.5 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet until a weak coronal hole disturbance arrived around midday on the 27th and lasted for 24 hours. The Ap index on the 27th and the 28th was 15 units. The average was Ap 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 330 kilometres per second on the 23rd to 510 by the 28th. Particle densities were low every day except for an increase to 20 particles per cubic centimetre by the 27th. Bz varied between minus 3 and plus 4 nanoTeslas and between minus 12 and 6 nanoTeslas during the disturbance. MUFs fell below forecast levels on several days, this is due to the coronal hole disturbance and seasonal decline. A radio aurora event took place from the afternoon 27th to the early hours of the 28th but contracts appear to have been confined to high latitudes.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the active side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Depending on how active the old region 1429 is, which is now back in view, that will determine the level of activity for the coming week. Moderate levels are a possibility. Solar flux levels should increase and be in the 130s later in the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet every day. However, there is a chance that later in the week activity could increase due to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 26MHz for the south and 23MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be around 10MHz. Paths this week to Australia should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 27MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 21MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1200 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 25^th March 2012

The news headlines:

• AROS Coordinator appointments

• Questions for the RSGB AGM

• British Legion Special Event

Following the vacancy advertised in RadCom and the RSGB website, Keith Bassett, G7NBU has been appointed as the new AROS Coordinator. Mario Brashill, G2DPA has been appointed as a deputy. Together they bring significant experience and skill to the Amateur Radio Observation Service with its broad challenges of investigating matters that might bring the amateur services into disrepute, The Board would like to thank the other candidates who applied for the position and also John Rogers, M0JAV for his temporary role in managing AROS whilst the vacancy was filled.

For those unable to attend the RSGB AGM on 21 April in Bedford, it is now possible to table a question for the meeting. Whether you would like to ask a question at the AGM or the afternoon discussion session you can now submit the question online. The questions will be tabled, subject to available time, and you will receive a personal reply after the AGM. To place your question, go to www.rsgb.org and click on the appropriate heading under RSGB Articles and Statements. If you are able to attend and wish to stay for lunch, you can also register an interest at www.rsgb.org.

The British Legion was founded on 1 July 1921 and members of South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amateur Radio Group are planning a special event station to mark the event. They are looking for other amateur radio groups to join in. Any club that is interested should contact Jacqui, 2E0JQY by e-mail to m3jqy@netcom.co.uk.

On 9 March the RSGB learnt that Bluefin, also known as Amateur Radio Insurance Services, was leaving the amateur radio insurance market. The RSGB has no direct involvement with amateur radio insurance and this announcement was unexpected. The RSGB is aware that other brokers are interested in offering amateur radio insurance and hopes that an announcement on a new insurance provider might be made by 31 March when Bluefin ceases to take on new business. Any developments will be announced on the RSGB website www.rsgb.org.

The Hermes SDR project that was detailed in RadCom in May 2010 by Phil Harman, VK6APH and Steve Ireland, VK6VZ is one step closer to fruition. There is now an interest list so that the number of boards to be manufactured can be determined. Hermes is a Direct-Down Conversion receiver, a Direct-Up-Conversion 500mW transmitter and a gigabit Ethernet interface all on one board. Also on board is an RF-quiet switch-mode power supply, which allows Hermes to run from a single 13.8V DC source. You can register your interest at www.hansdr.com.

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

Spring Militaria & Electronics & Radio Amateur Hangar Sale will he held today, 25 March, at the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Doors open at 10am and there will be, civil, military & vintage radio equipment, vehicle spares & more. Contact Rod Siebert, 01270 623 353.

The Devon & Cornwall HAMFEST also takes place today, 25 March, at The Engine House, Compton Park, Callington PL17 8EA. There will be trade stands and special interest groups. Compton Park is a peaceful, simple unspoilt site formerly the site of an old Cornish tin mine, with the old Cornish steam engine house and the Engine House Tea Rooms. More information from Dereck, M0YDW, via e-mail to disco5live@btinternet.com.

The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club Annual Rally will take place on 1 April at The Share Holiday Village, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh BT92 0EQ. Doors open at 11.30am. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. Details from Iain on 02866 326 693.

Also on 1 April the South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Rally will be held in the Scout Activity Centre, Woodhouse Park, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4LX. Doors open at 10am. There will be trade stands as well as a Bring & Buy. Talk in is on S22. More details from Stan Goodwin, G0RYM on 07833 517 370.

Now for the news of special events

The Medway Amateur Receiving & Transmitting Society will be on air from Tuesday 27 March to Saturday 31 March activating Fort Amherst in Chatham Kent. This is part of their 90th birthday celebrations and they will be using special callsign GB5MW. More details can be found at www.cashota.co.uk or www.g5mw.org.uk/.

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

Hartwig, DL7BC will operate as TO7BC from the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte until 6 April. QSLs go via his home callsign.

An international team will activate the callsign E51M from the North Cook Islands from 28 March to 10 April. They will operate on all bands, 6 to 160m, using CW, SSB and RTTY. The QSL manager is DJ8NK.

Kevin, 2E0WMG/P, will be active in SSB on 10 to 80m from Lundy Island, which is Worked All Britain square SS14, from 27 to 31 March. QSL via his home callsign either via the bureau or direct.

Retu, OH4MDY will be active as XV2RZ from Vietnam until 16 April. He says that this time he will pay special attention to digital modes. QSL via his home callsign, direct only.

Nine operators from the Verona DX Team will be active from the Franciscan mission at Cumura, Guinea-Bissau until 6 April. The operation will concentrate on 144MHz EME using the callsign J52EME, but a couple of stations will be active on 10 to 80 metres using the callsign J52HF. There will also be 6m activity. HF activity will concentrate on RTTY and CW. QSL via I3LDP, direct or via the bureau.

Now the contest news

This weekend is the SSB leg of CQWW WPX. The 48 hour contest finishes at 2359UTC today, 25 March. Everybody works everybody exchanging a report and serial number. Expect the contesting bands to be congested and some pretty large serial numbers to be exchanged across the 1.8 to 28MHz bands.

The 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 27 March from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on 27 March the SHF UK Activity Contest take place from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

At 90 minutes in duration it may be a short contest, but make no mistake, the 1^st RoPoCo contest on 1 April is quite challenging. The maximum permitted power is 100 watts with no QRP or high power categories and the basic format is that in your first QSO you send your full postcode and for all subsequent QSOs you send the postcode you received in your previous QSO. If you receive a postcode that you know is erroneous, for example a corrupted version of your own postcode, record it as received and give it to your next QSO partner as is. Provided you are not the person to introduce an error, you’ll get points for the QSO, because it is the accuracy of the exchange that is important. This all takes place on the 3.5MHz bands from 1900 to 2030UTC.

Activity on 70MHz continues to grow with the 1^st 70MHz contest taking place on 1 April from 0900 to 1200UTC. Last year 156 stations took part from six different call areas. It’s a race to accumulate as many kilometres worked as possible, with no multipliers. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 16^th to the 22^nd of March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 23^rd of March.

This week was much quieter than recent weeks. Most of the sunspots groups visible were small and mostly quiet. However, some groups did produce several C class solar flares and on the 17^th an impulsive M1 solar flare took place which had very little effect on propagation. Solar flux levels varied little and averaged 101 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 22^nd was 122, that’s three units down on last week. X-ray flux levels for the period averaged B2.1 units with very little daily variation. Geomagnetic activity started at ‘active’ levels with an Ap index of 21 and 22 units on the 16^th and the 17th respectively. Activity then declined to quiet levels for the remainder of the period. The average was Ap 11 units. Solar wind speeds declined from 720 kilometres per second on the 17^th to 360 by the 22^nd. Particle densities were low throughout the period. Bz during the disturbance varied between minus and plus 7 nanoTeslas and on the quieter day between minus and plus 3 nanoTeslas. MUFs tended to fall short of expectations during the past week. For seasonal reasons north-south HF paths held up reasonably well but east-west paths were relatively poor.

And finally the solar forecast. During the second half of the week the return of old region 1429 which produced 14 M class and 2 X class solar flares on its last rotation is expected to rotate into view. Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate at first but could then increase to higher levels later in the week. Solar flux levels should increase from around the 110 mark to into the 130’s by next weekend. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be mostly quiet but a slight increase around midweek could take place due to a small coronal hole. Any Earth directed coronal mass ejections would increase activity. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 26MHz for the south and 23MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be around 9MHz. Paths this week to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about 25MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 20MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1600 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team. 73 de Neil, G0CAS.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 18th March 2012

The news headlines:

• RSGB AGM next month in Bedford

• Birthplace of radio becomes a city

• Optical marking soon for amateur exams

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 £8. To register your intent, please visit www.rsgb.org/agmlunch and submit your name and callsign.

Chelmsford, acknowledged as the birthplace of radio and home to the Marconi Company for many years, is one of three new cities created to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment by Marconi of the first purpose built radio factory in New Street, Chelmsford in 1912. New Street is marked with blue plaque noting the historic significance.

New software will shortly be introduced to handle the administration of amateur radio exams. The design of the software that was commissioned includes optical marking technology. This will greatly improve the speed, accuracy and cost-effectiveness of the overall administration of the examination process. Optical marking will cover all three levels of examination. It will be used for marking the Advanced exam and for validating local marking at Foundation and Intermediate levels. For candidates, optical marking will mean recording their answers on a separate answer sheet. The timescale for introduction of optical marking will be announced once the software has been proven and tested. The RCF will give one months notice of its introduction so that candidates can be advised of the new answer process. Further details will be in the March tutors’ newsletter.

The RSGB is aware that repeater and beacon keepers are frustrated by the lack of progress on the issuing of a number of NoVs. Applications for NoVs going back several years remain outstanding. It appears that some delays have been due to changes in staff in the Licensing Centre; the RSGB has worked with Ofcom to help overcome these problems and offer advice as necessary. As a result, NoVs for repeaters in Primary amateur bands such as 2 metres are now being issued with little delay. This is also the situation with internet gateways and datacomms where, following considerable efforts by the ETCC, delays have now been resolved. Frequency clearances in those bands where the amateur service is secondary have been subject to considerable delay and these delays are likely to continue. To read all the details and learn how the RSGB is working with Ofcom to solve these delays, go to www.rsgb.org.

The AMSAT/TAPR Banquet on Friday night, 18 May, is one of the main AMSAT activities during the 2012 Hamvention at Dayton. Howard Long, G6LVB will be the featured speaker for the evening event. Howard will be talking about his FUNcube Dongle, the 64–1700 MHz software defined receiver. For anyone going to the Dayton Hamvention this year, Banquet tickets are $30 each and available from www.amsat-na.com.

The source of some mysterious weak signals on 29.684MHz with an 81.9 Baud and 130Hz shift has been located. The signals came from the Spanish coastal area and were audible across all of Europe – but only during band openings and then only by directional antennas. It turns out the source of transmissions is Datawell buoys. These buoys, produced in the Netherlands, are used for measuring water temperatures and wave heights. They are designed to transmit with 75 milliwatts on frequencies between 27 and 40MHz. Datawell has been informed them that the transmissions on the amateur service 10 metre band are illegal.

And now for the details of forthcoming rallies

The Spring Militaria & Electronics & Radio Amateur Hangar Sale will he held on 25 March at the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Doors open at 10am and there will be, civil, military & vintage radio equipment, vehicle spares & more. Contact Rod Siebert, 01270 623 353.

The Devon & Cornwall HAMFEST takes place the same date, 25 March, at The Engine House, Compton Park, Callington PL17 8EA. There will be trade stands and special interest groups. Compton Park is a peaceful, simple unspoilt site formerly the site of an old Cornish tin mine, with the old Cornish steam engine house and the Engine House Tea Rooms. More information from Dereck, M0YDW, via e-mail to disco5live@btinternet.com.

Now for the news of special events

The Medway Amateur Receiving & Transmitting Society will be on air from Tuesday 27 March to Saturday 31 March, activating Fort Amherst in Chatham Kent. This is part of their 90th birthday celebrations and they will be using special callsign GB5MW. More details can be found at www.cashota.co.uk or www.g5mw.org.uk.

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

A large group from Germany and Poland plan to be active from the Pacific island of Tonga until 24 March. They are using the callsign is A35YZ. QSL via DL7DF.

David, GI4FUM will be carrying a Blackberry and a 3G iPad2 on the DXpedition to Namibia. They should be on the air on 19 March. The group will be happy to arrange skeds, just e-mail gi4fum@arrl.net. The DXpedition will be operating from the station of Andre, V51B in Oranjemund, locator JK81FK. V5/GI4FUM and V5/GI8MIV should operate SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. V5/GI4DOH will operate CW and V5/DM3BJ will operate PSK31 and RTTY.

Retu, OH4MDY will be active as XV2RZ from Vietnam until 16 April. He says that this time he will pay special attention to digital modes. QSL via his home callsign, direct only. He will upload his log to Club Log.

Esteban, XQ7UP will be on the air from Patagonia until 25 March. He will operate mainly SSB, RTTY and PSK31 and will participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. QSL via his home callsign.

Now the contest news

The Russian DX Contest runs until 1200UTC today, 18 March. There are lots of entry categories, mostly for single ops. An interesting twist is that it is permitted for a single op station to make two single-band entries. Usually this would be to take advantage of bands that aren’t open at the same time, for example 10m and 80m. Using CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Russians send their oblast code.

The 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes lace from 2000 to 2230UTC on 20 March. Using all modes on the band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On 22 March it’s the SSB leg of the 80m Club Championships from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

Next weekend is the SSB leg of CQWW WPX. Taking place from 0000UTC on 24 March until 2359UTC on 25 March. Everybody works everybody, exchanging a report and serial number. Expect the contesting bands to be congested and some pretty large serial numbers to be exchanged across the 1.8 to 28MHz bands.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 9th to the 15th of March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 16th of March.

Solar activity varied between low and high. The large sunspot group mentioned in last weeks report only rotated off the solar disc on the 15^th. Before then, 5 M class solar flares took place, all producing coronal mass ejections and sudden ionospheric disturbances. The largest flare was a M8, which took place on the 10th. Numerous C class solar flares occurred every day, and there were some from other groups as well. Solar flux levels declined from 149 units on the 10th to 111 by the 15th. The average was 130 units. The increase in solar flux levels did nothing to the 90 day solar flux average, which remained unchanged at 125 units on the 15th. X-ray flux levels declined from B8.8 units on the 9th to B4.7 by the 15th and the average was B6.1 units. Geomagnetic activity was up to major storm levels at times, when one coronal mass ejection after another arrived. The most disturbed day was the 9^th, with an Ap index of 94 units. Other disturbed days were the 12th with an Ap of 37 and the 15th with an Ap index of 38 units. The quietest day was the 14^th, with an Ap of 8 units. The average was Ap 31 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase to 650, 770 and 800 kilometres per second on the 9th, 12th and the 15th respectively. Particle densities increased to 52 particles per cubic centimetre during the 12th. Bz on the disturbed days varied between minus and plus 20 nanoTeslas. For much of the period a stable high pressure system led to some excellent tropo openings, right through the VHF and UHF bands into the microwave range. For UK operators the opening favoured mainly the Low Countries, Germany and Switzerland but on 2 metres contacts were reported as far as Hungary. Auroral propagation also took place most days. Unfortunately, at HF, MUFs were at times substantially depressed due to the stormy periods.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity is expected to be at low levels most days. Solar flux levels should be around the 100 mark or slightly higher. Geomagnetic activity could be slightly unsettled today but then decline to quiet levels for the remainder of the period. 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 9MHz. Paths this week to the east coast of North America 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.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 11th March 2012

The news headlines:

• RSGB Olympics Facilitator appointed

• News on RSGB Consultations

• American hams get CW on 60m

The RSGB has announced that Steve Fletcher, G4RFC, has agreed to become the RSGB's Olympic Facilitator. Steve will be drawing together all the information on radio amateur special events associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Steve wants to hear about your plans so the RSGB website can show who is doing what, when and where. The Games are a once off opportunity to demonstrate amateur radio and at the same time have some fun. Steve can be reached at g4rfcinfo@yahoo.co.uk.

The pilots for the recently introduced consultation processes are now reaching their conclusion. The Litmus Test on proposals for a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee QSO Party will be offering an amended version to reflect the consensus that is emerging. The amended proposal will be available on the RSGB website from Monday 12 March, and the Litmus Test will remain open for final comments. All are reminded that the Litmus Test on proposals for a new 5MHz NoV and the consultation on the Society’s draft Spectrum Strategy are also ongoing. All consultations can be reached by following the “We need your views” link on the RSGB website home page.

On 5 March, radio amateurs in the USA were allowed to use CW on 60 metres for the first time. G4BUE, operating as N4CJ, and G3VTT believe they made the first 60 metre CW QSO between the USA and Europe. At 0501UTC on 5 March, just one minute after USA amateurs were allowed to use CW on the five 60m channels for the first time at 0001EST, Colin answered Chris’ CQ on 5373kHz. They exchanged 549 and 339, later changing it to 569 as QSB took effect. They also exchanged details that Chris was using 100 watts from his K3 to an inverted vee at 35 feet and Colin was using 50 watts from an IC-735 to a 120 foot end-fed wire. A good result for the first EU-USA 60m CW QSO.

The RSGB was surprised to learn, on Friday 9 March, that a number of amateurs have received a letter telling them that they would be unable to renew their amateur radio insurance policy after 31 March. The Society had been in discussions with Bluefin, also known as Amateur Radio Insurance Services, as recently as 17 February about a new insurance underwriter taking on the policies. Bluefin have now advised the RSGB that this deal had fallen through, which is why they have been forced to advise their clients of the situation. The RSGB is exploring possible alternative arrangements, and hopes to be able to make further announcements before the 31 March cutoff.

Everyone, whether you are Irish or not, is invited to a party on St Patrick’s Day. The Irish national society, the IRTS is celebrating its 80th birthday and, as part of the fun, have organised a 24 hour contest that begins at noon UTC on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March. This is an everybody works everybody contest .Full rules, including a list of Irish counties, are available on the IRTS website, www.irts.ie/CQIR.

The IARU Region 1 Executive Committee is holding its annual meeting this weekend at the DARC HQ in Baunatal, Germany. The agenda will include outstanding actions from the 2011 General Conference, WRC-12 and WRC-15, spectrum defence, EMC, Youth, Political Relations, Development, Working Groups and Member Societies.

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

The Wythall Radio Club Radio and Computer Rally takes place today, 11 March, at the Woodrush Sports Centre, Shawhurst Lane, Hollywood, nr Birmingham B47 5JW. The venue is on the A435, 2 miles from J3 of the M42. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy, with admission costing £2.50. Contact Chris, G0EYO on 07710 412 819.

The next rallies we have information on take place on 25 March.

The Spring Militaria & Electronics & Radio Amateur Hangar Sale will he held at the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Doors open at 10am and there will be, civil, military & vintage radio equipment, vehicle spares & more. Contact Rod Siebert, 01270 623 353.

The Devon & Cornwall HAMFEST takes place the same date, 25 March, at The Engine House, Compton Park, Callington PL17 8EA. There will be trade stands and special interest groups. Compton Park is a peaceful, simple unspoilt site formerly the site of an old Cornish tin mine, with the old Cornish steam engine house and the Engine House Tea Rooms. More information from Dereck, M0YDW, via e-mail to disco5live@btinternet.com.

Now for the news of special events

Two special event stations are taking to the air for St Patrick’s Day, 17 March. GB5SPD will be on the air from County Tyrone and GB1SPD will be on the air in Omagh. More details on both stations can be found on qrz.com.

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

V5/GI4FUM, V5/GI8MIV, V5/GI4DOH and V5/DM3BJ will be operating from Namibia from the QTH of Andre, V51B starting on 19 March. The team will be QRV for CQWW WPX SSB on 24 and 25 March with the callsign V55B. All QSLs for the operation should go via David, GI4FUM, who is QTHR.

A large group from Germany and Poland plan to be active from the Pacific island of Tonga until 24 March. Callsign is A35YZ and QSL manager is DL7DF.

Willy, ON4AVT will be active as C5AVT from near Banjul, The Gambia until 20 March. He will operate PSK only, mainly on 15 metres. QSL via home call, direct or bureau.

John, W5JON will be active as V47JA from St. Kitts, which is IOTA reference NA-104, until 28 March. He will operate SSB on the 6 to 80m bands. His wife Cathy will also operate occasionally as V47HAM. All QSLs via W5JON.

LA2XNA and LA8HGA plan to be active from Svalbard as JW2XNA and JW8HGA respectively from 16 to 20 March, all bands. JW2XNA will be on SSB and PSK, while JW8HGA will be on CW. QSL via their home calls either direct or via the LA QSL bureau.

Now the contest news

The 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 13 March from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The following day, 14 March, the CW leg of the 80m club championships takes place from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

You will need to be up very early if you want to catch the start of the BARTG HF RTTY Contest at 2am on 17 March. It runs for 48 hours until 0200UTC on 19 March. Exchange signal report, a serial number and the time. Please note that although this event is not run or administered by RSGB, it does count towards the HF Championship.

You can also be Irish for the day by taking part in the CQIR Ireland Calling event, commemorating the 80th anniversary of IRTS. SSB QSOs are worth 2 points, while CW QSOs are worth 3. It runs from 1200UTC on 17 March until 1200UTC on 18 March, using both CW and SSB on all bands from 3.5MHz to 28MHz, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Irish county.

Starting at exactly the same time as the IRTS event is the Russian DX Contest, which runs until 1200 on 18 March. There are lots of entry categories, mostly for single ops. An interesting twist is that it is permitted for a single op station to make two single-band entries. Usually this would be to take advantage of bands that aren’t open at the same time, for example 10m and 80m. Using CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Russians also send their oblast code.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 2nd to the 8th of March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 9th of March.

Warnings were made as recently as last week in this report regarding a sudden upsurge in solar activity. Well, this happened when a large active sunspot region rotated into view. Since then this region as produced 12 M class and 2 X class solar flares during the period, plus numerous C class flares every day. A second group also produced an X class flare. The largest flare of the period was an X5/3B proton flare, which took place early on the 7th. Since then activity has declined. Coronal mass ejections took place along with some of the larger solar flares and are headed our way. Solar flux levels increased from 108 units on the 2nd to 140 by the 7th. The average was 127 units. X-ray flux levels showed an increase also, from B2.6 units on the 3rd to C1.1 by the 7th. The average was B6.6 units. Geomagnetic activity started at just unsettled levels but by the early hours of the 7th activity increased to major storm levels, though activity did not last long at that level. The Ap index on the 7th was 64 units. Again, by mid-morning the next day another CME arrived, this time stronger than the previous day. The Ap index on the 8th was 28 units. However, the Bz remained mostly positive, which explains the lower Ap figure for that day. The average was Ap 20 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 350 and 500 kilometres per second until the early on the 7th. Particle densities were low but increased on the 7th to 22 particles per cubic centimetre. From around 0900 on the 7th solar wind speed and particle data was corrupted due to the proton solar flare several hours earlier. Bz varied between minus 8 and plus 9 nanoTeslas until the 7th when fluctuations to minus 19 and plus 14 nanoTeslas on the 7th and between minus 13 and plus 41 nanoTeslas during the morning of the 8th. Bz data remained unaffected from the protons. For anyone wanting regular daily reports, then enter spots and flares as one word into a search engine. Aurora occurred on 50, 70 and 144MHz extending down to central England during the afternoon and evening of the 7th. MUFs were depressed by several MHz during that phase of the disturbance but recovered enough during the 8th for the 3C expedition to be workable on 28MHz.

And finally the solar forecast. With a very active region already in view solar activity this week is expected to up to moderate levels on some days and high levels on the occasional day. Solar flux levels should decline towards next weekend as the active region nears the north-west limb and rotates out of view. Levels should be around the 120’s by then. Geomagnetic activity could increase around midweek when a small recurring coronal hole disturbance arrives. However, there is a good chance that a coronal mass ejection associated with any large solar flares could increase activity substantially within 24 to 48 hours after a large solar flares takes place. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 27MHz for the south and 24MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be around 9MHz. A warning though, levels could be much lower on any days when high geomagnetic activity is taking place. Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 22MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 17MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0800 and 1100 hours. This path should be difficult to work this week.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 4th March 2012

The news headlines:

• Senegal to gain access to the 6m band

• New Planning Advisory Committee Chairman

• Notice of Variations available

Following an application to the Regulatory Agency, Senegal has gained access to the 6m band. 50 to 51MHz has been officially allocated to that nation’s amateur service on a Primary basis. This allocation becomes effective when the new ITU Radio Regulations come into force. Any contacts made on 6m before that date have to be considered as unauthorised.

As already announced in RadCom, Len Paget, GM0ONX has asked to stand down from Chairmanship of the Planning Advisory Committee to allow him to concentrate on his Regional role. The Society is grateful to Len for his contribution in the planning role over a number of years. Len will be succeeded by Stephen Purser, G4SHF, who takes up his role with immediate effect. We welcome Stephen back to the PAC and wish him success in the role. He can be contacted by email to PAC.Chairman@RSGB.org.uk.

You can now obtain your Notice of Variation to allow you to use the special prefixes for Queen's Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. After completing the simple web forms, your NoV will be immediately e-mailed back to you in PDF format. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee NoV applies from 0000BST on 5 May 2012 to 2359BST on 10 June 2012 inclusive. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games NoV applies from 0000BST on 21 July 2012 to 2359BST on 9 September 2012 inclusive. Fill in the forms on the RSGB website, www.rsgb.org.

Notices of Variation to amateur radio licences for special research permits to operate in the band 501 to 504kHz have been extended to 31 December 2012. They had been due to expire on 29 February 2012. Ofcom has started discussions with the Radio Society of Great Britain about the timescales for implementing the new secondary allocation to the amateur service, between 472 and 479kHz, that WRC-12 agreed would be effective from 1 January 2013.

The International Museums Weekend special event will this year take place on the weekends of 16 & 17 June and 23 & 24 June. Radio amateurs are encouraged to participate in this event by setting up stations in their local museums. Organiser Harry, M1BYT asks that all those intending to take part in the event should register at www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw.

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

We start with advance notice of a change to a rally date. The East Suffolk Wireless Revival will now take place on 1 July. Contact Steve, M1ACB on 07711 329624.

The Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place today, 4 March, at the Wood Green Animal Shelter, King's Bush Farm, on the A1198 London Road at Godmanchester PE29 2NH. Doors open at 10am and entry is £3. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy with talk in on S22. Contact John, G0GKP, on 01954 200 072.

Also today, 4 March, the Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally takes place in America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. More information from Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198 374.

The Wythall Radio Club Radio and Computer Rally takes place on 11 March at the Woodrush Sports Centre, Shawhurst Lane, Hollywood, near Birmingham B47 5JW. The venue is on the A435, 2 miles from J3 of the M42. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy with admission costing £2.50.Contact Chris, G0EYO on 07710 412 819.

Now for the news of special events

The Irish national society, IRTS, is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a special event callsign, EI80IRTS. IRTS members and affiliated clubs are taking part in the celebrations. A certificate for working EI80IRTS is sponsored by Dundalk Amateur Radio Society. Details are online at www.ei7dar.com/ei80irts.html.

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

IK2GZU, will sign 5H3MB from Tanzania from 4 March to 4 April while he is there doing work at the new hospital and orphanage. He will do some HF operating with his own FT-100 rig and the TS-850 that belongs to the Mission. There is a tribander fixed on Europe, a vertical and a dipole. He will put the log on LoTW when he’s back home. QSL via IK2GZU.

Nine operators from Germany and Poland will sign A35YZ from Tonga from 7 to 24 March. They will be on all bands and modes with several stations, including one dedicated to digital. QSL direct or bureau to DL7DF. Tonga is usually a tough one from the UK, being almost directly over the pole.

David, VO1AU will be active as ZL7/VO1AU from the Chatham Islands, which is IOTA reference OC-038, between 8 and 13 March. Activity will be on CW and SSB. He will also participate in the Commonwealth Contest. QSL via VO1MX.

DL7AFS will sign V21FS and DJ7ZG will sign V21ZG from Antigua from 5 March for a few weeks. They will focus on 15, 12 and 10m. QSL to DL7AFS or via the DARC QSL bureau.

A Polish team will activate Sint Maarten as PJ7PT from 5 to 18 March. They will be on all bands, CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via SP9PT.

JI3DST will be on the air signing portable 9M2 from West Malaysia between 0000UTC on 10 March and 0900UTC on 11 March. His activity will be on 6 through to 80m, including most of the WARC bands. Modes to be used will include CW, SSB and FM. QSL via JI3DST.

Now the contest news

The 144/432MHz Contest takes place for 24 hours this weekend, ending at 1400UTC today, 4 March. There are Open and Single-op categories and 6-hour and 24-hour sections, with 6-hour entrants being able to split their operating into two sessions if they wish. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The ARRL International DX contest runs for the full 48 hours of this weekend ending at 2359 today, 4 March, on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. Work US stations in the contiguous 48 States, plus Canadians. Send a signal report and your transmit output power. There are sections for QRP as well as low and high power. US stations send a signal report and 2-letter State abbreviation, while Canadian stations send a signal report and 3-letter Province code.

Monday 5 March sees the data leg of the 80m Club Championships taking place from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

Tuesday 6 March is the 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Next weekend, on 11 March, the 2nd 70MHz Cumulative contest take place from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On 10 and 11 March, the 75th Commonwealth Contest will take place from 1000 to 1000UTC. To celebrate it there is going to be a prize draw into which every entrant making more than 75 valid QSOs will be entered. The prize will be an RFSpace SDR-IQ Software Defined Radio, generously donated by Martin Lynch of ML&S. All entrants who have, after adjudication, 75 or more valid QSOs will automatically be entered for the draw, so entrants need do nothing more than submit their log – but please make sure you make more than 75 QSOs, to leave some margin in case any of your QSOs are disallowed. Using CW on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 24th of February to the 1st of March, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 2nd of March.

Only a small number of sunspot groups were visible every day. All were small and quiet. Solar activity was very low every day, except for the 26th when activity increased to low when two small C class solar flares took place, and again on the 1st. Solar flux levels declined from 109 units on the 24th to 102 by the 29th. The average was 105 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the on the 1st was 127, that’s three units down on last week. X-ray flux levels declined slightly over the period and averaged B2 units. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels but on the 27th and the 28th activity increased due to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection. The most disturbed day was the 27^th, with an Ap index of 19 units. Activity then increased again on the 1st with an Ap of 15 units. The average was Ap 9 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 370 kilometres per second to 520 by the 26th. Particle densities were low, except for a brief increase to 21 particles per cubic centimetre early on the 27th. Bz varied between minus 5 and plus 6 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus and plus 11 nanoTeslas during the disturbance. On most days MUFs reached or even slightly exceeded forecast levels, with the exception of the 27th, when MUFs were depressed by several MHz. Auroral propagation was reported on 50, 70 and 144MHz. While high latitude stations were, as usual, the main beneficiaries, at the height of the disturbance, around 1700 hours, contacts were made as far south as the Midlands. A weaker event also occurred during the evening of the 1st.

And finally the solar forecast. There as been a dramatic decline in solar activity since the start of the year and in solar flux levels. This is well illustrated in the 90 day solar flux averages that have declined almost 20 units since the start of the year. There are no real signs that activity will increase during the coming week. As always though, when solar activity increases it will happen with very little warning. Therefore, solar flux levels are expected to be around the 100 mark or slightly higher. Geomagnetic activity should be at ‘unsettled’ levels for the next couple of days due to a small recurring coronal hole and then decline to quiet levels for the remainder of the period. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 28MHz for the south and 25MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 8MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about 35MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 28MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1500 hours. With this path crossing the equator it should not be affected by the coronal hole disturbance.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 26^th February 2012

The news headlines:

• National Radio Centre opens its doors

• Improved access at 5MHz

• New RSGB VHF Manager

The National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park opened its doors for the first time on Saturday 25 February. It is initially operating for three days a week, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, while the displays and exhibits are put through their paces. The formal opening is expected to take place in late spring. The date will be announced later.

Following proposals from the RSGB to Ofcom, aimed at harmonising NoV access to 5MHz with that access enjoyed by radio amateurs in other countries, the Society has received an offer from the MoD. It was reported earlier that the MoD were unable to meet our request for access over a continuous range, ie a band, so at our request have offered a number of small frequency blocks, which include all of the present 3kHz wide channels. Since the response is quite complex, the Society is to seek views using its new Litmus Test process on how it should respond. This Litmus Test will be open to all UK radio amateurs and will commence on 1 March. More information can be found on the RSGB website, following the link on the home page to Consultations.

The Society is pleased to announce that Terry Stevens, G8DKS has been appointed VHF Manager, with immediate effect. The role covers the development of the hobby and spectrum management issues, both nationally and internationally, on frequencies between 30MHz and 1GHz.

In the March edition of RadCom it was announced that the Society is about to start a month's consultation on the draft Spectrum Strategy that has been prepared by the RSGB Spectrum Forum. The consultation will go live on Thursday 1 March. The draft strategy and links to the online response form can be found by following the We Need Your Views link on the right hand side of the RSGB home page. We hope that as many amateurs as possible will provide us some feedback on this important subject, and that where possible people will help others who are not familiar with the web or have a disability that otherwise would make it difficult to participate.

Ofcom has today published an addendum to the second consultation on assessment of future mobile competition and proposals for the award of 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum. The addendum clarifies proposals for the spectrum portfolios that would be available to opted-in bidders if Everything Everywhere was to divest its 1800MHz spectrum before the planned auction at the end of 2012.

Ofcom has announced a GPS jamming exercise between 5 and 9 March near RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria. From 8am to 6pm there will be multiple jammers based within 5km of N55° 04.000’ W002° 34.000’, operating within the 24MHz band centred around 1575.42MHz. It is stressed that, as in previous exercises, Safety of Life operations will, at all times, take precedence over exercise activities.

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

Today, 26 February, the Rainham Radio Rally takes place at the Rainham School for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 0BX. The opening time is 10am. Details from Trevor, G6YLW on 07717 678 795.

The Cambridge & District Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on 4 March at the Wood Green Animal Shelter, King's Bush Farm, on the A1198 London Road at Godmanchester PE29 2NH. Doors open at 10am and entry is £3. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy with talk in on S22. Contact John, G0GKP, on 01954 200 072.

Also on 4 March, the Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally takes place in America Hall, De La Rue Way, Pinhoe Exeter EX4 8PW. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £2. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. More information from Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198 374.

Now for the news of special events

On Saturday 3 March, the Northampton Radio Club will be activating special event station GB5XX at Daventry Town Council Museum, from 10am to 4pm. The station is commemorating 80 years since the first short wave broadcasts to the Empire from Daventry radio station, 5XX. Operation will be on 20m, 17m, 2m and 70cm. More information from John Cockrill, G4CZB on 01604 832 584, in the evenings only please.

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

Jean-Pierre, F6ITD will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF bands from Guadeloupe, which is IOTA reference NA-102, until 13 March. QSL via his home callsign, either direct or via the bureau.

DJ0IF and SP7VC will be on the air from Madeira Island, which is IOTA reference AF-104, from 29 February to 7 March as CT9/home callsign. They will be in ARRL DX SSB Contest on 3 and 4 March as CR3L. QSL for CR3L is via DJ6QT and for CT9/DJ0IF and CT9/SP7VC via their home callsigns.

Phil, G3SWH and John, G3OLU/EA5ARC will be operating as 3DA0PW from the well-equipped Hawane Resort in Swaziland. The station includes Elecraft K3 transceivers, Icom IC-2KL amplifiers, an A4S at 24m and an A3WS at 20m, a wire 4-square for 40m and a vertical for 80m complete with thirty 20m long radials. The two will active until 29 February, CW only, on 80 through to 10 metres. Plans are to have two stations active as much as possible each day. Subject to a good internet connection, there will be an online log on Phil's website and daily uploads to LoTW. QSL via G3SWH either direct, via OQRS or via the bureau.

Now the contest news

Sunday 26 February sees the first 70MHz Cumulative, which runs from 1000-1200, 70MHz only, on all modes. The exchange is RST plus serial number and locator.

The 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 2000 to 2230UTC on 28 February. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

At the same time the SHF UK Activity Contest takes place on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 144/432MHz Contest takes place for 24 hours on 3 and 4 March. There are Open and Single-op categories and 6-hour and 24-hour sections, with 6-hour entrants being able to split their operating into two sessions if they wish. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The ARRL International DX contest runs for the full 48 hours of the weekend of 3 and 4 March on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. Work US stations in the contiguous 48 States, plus Canadians. Send a signal report and your transmit output power. There are sections for QRP as well as low and high power. US stations send a signal report and 2-letter State abbreviation, while Canadian stations send a signal report and 3-letter Province code.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 10th to Thursday the 16th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 17th of February.

Only a small number of sunspot groups were visible this week. Most of these were small and quiet with only a couple of groups producing small C class solar flares on the 19th, 20th and the 21st. The remaining days activity was at very low levels. Solar flux levels varied little day to day and averaged 105 units, however, on the 20th flux levels increased to 111 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 23rd was 130 units, that’s two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels averaged B2 units and varied little. Geomagnetic activity started at very quiet levels with an Ap index of only 2 units on the 17th but by the 19th and the 20th activity increased due to a small coronal hole disturbance. The most disturbed day was the 20th with an Ap index of 17 units. The average was Ap 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 280 kilometres per second on the 18th to 650 by the 20th. Particle densities were low every day except for the 18th and the 19th which increased to 32 and 19 particles per cubic centimetre respectively. Bz varied between minus and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 12 and plus 10 nanoTeslas during the disturbance. Aurora was noted late on 19th and during the afternoon on the 20th, though mainly on 50MHz. The higher HF bands were patchy, though on a couple of days MUFs were comfortably above predicted values.

And finally the solar forecast. Later this week the quiet side of the Sun is expected to be rotating into view. Therefore, solar activity is expected to be very low to low. Solar flux levels should be not much higher than 100 units. Geomagnetic activity is expected to very quiet for the first half of the week but towards next weekend activity could increase slightly due to a small 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 8MHz. Paths this week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 19^th February 2012

The news headlines:

• New worldwide 472kHz band created

• David Aslin, G3WGN leaves RSGB Interim Board

• GI HF Conference and DiGIcon announced for June

After more than ten years work by the RSGB, other national societies and a huge effort by IARU, the World Radio Conference has created a new amateur band at 472 to 479 kHz. In addition, the Amateur Service has secured an agenda slot for WRC 2015 to consider a band near 5.3MHz. These achievements are in the same category as work which, in past years, resulted in the WARC bands, the extension of 7MHz, and the 136kHz band. The Society is beginning discussions with Ofcom on how and when the new 472kHz band might be implemented. We will also address the question of the existing 500kHz NoVs that expire at the end of February. The Society will shortly begin work with the IARU to prepare for the 5MHz agenda item.

RSGB Chairman Bob Whelan, G3PJT, reports that David Aslin, G3WGN, has decided to leave the Interim Board. David has reluctantly concluded that the heavy demands of the RSGB cannot be reconciled with his other responsibilities. During his short time on the Board, David has been able to bring his wide experience to bear on the challenges facing the Society, for which we are grateful. He leaves with our very best wishes for the future.

Following the success of DiGIcon in 2009 and last year’s GI HF Conference, West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club is planning another Conference. It will be held on Saturday 16 June 2012. A number of speakers have already been secured for the Conference, and the organisers are currently working on the programme. There are still a few slots available. Do you feel that you could enhance the program by giving a talk, demonstration or workshop? If so, contact Philip, MI0MSO on 07793 386 795, or email mi0mso@yahoo.co.uk to express your interest.

ESA’s Vega launcher made its maiden flight at 10:00 UT on Monday 13 February. The payload included eight Cubesats with amateur radio downlinks. Reception reports started coming in within two hours of launch; the first reports from the UK were at about 12.07. One of the Cubesats, PW-Sat, includes a voice repeater. Its uplink is on 435.020MHz and the downlink is at 145.900MHz. More details on the satellite missions, including operating frequencies, can be found at www.uk.amsat.org.

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

We are not aware of any rallies planned for this weekend.

On Sunday 26 February the Rainham Radio Rally takes place at the Rainham School for Girls, Derwent Way, Rainham, Gillingham ME8 0BX. The opening tim is 10am. Details from Trevor, G6YLW, on 07717 678 795.

A reminder that the Swansea Rally, planned for 26 February, has been cancelled. Details from Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404 422.

Now for the news of special events

GB2PP will be operating today on 80, 40 and 2m from Co Londonderry, in support of the Phoenix Project for ADHD. Details can be found on QRZ.com.

Coventry Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB4WWR on 26 February to commemorate the Daventry Experiment. The station will be at the Birth of Radar memorial in Litchborough, on the Northampton Road, approximately 2.5 miles South of Weedon. The NGR is SP650 557. Activity will be on 80, 40 and 20m, SSB. More information from G8GMU on 07801 862 686.

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

Chris Dimitrijevic, VK3FY, has announced the permanent cancellation of the 2013 VK0HI Heard Island DXpedition.

Dave, G3TBK will be active from the Caribbean Island of St Vincent as J88DR until 15 March. This will include an entry in the Commonwealth Contest, as well as both the CW and SSB sections of the ARRL DX Contest. Operation will be on CW, SSB and RTTY, on all bands from 1.8 to 28MHz. QSL to G3TBK, either direct or through the RSGB Bureau. Please ensure bureau cards are marked via G3TBK.

Laura, F4GEJ, Mathias, F0GQX and Eric, F5NBK will be on a family DXpedition to the Dominican Republic from 22 to 29 February. They will be signing HI7/homecall. Operation will be mainly SSB and digital, from Punta Cana on the island’s east coast. QSLs to home call, direct or via the French bureau. Details are on QRZ.com.

Now the contest news

Today is the second day of the ARRL International DX Contest, which takes place for the whole 48 hours of the weekend. Operation is CW only, from the 1.8 to 28MHz bands. The exchange is RST plus TX power, although W stations send their State and VE stations send their Province.

Tuesday the 21st sees the 1.3GHz UKAC, running from 2000 to 2230 on the 23cm band. Operation is all mode, and the exchange is RST, serial number and locator.

The 80m Club Championships CW leg continues on Thursday 23rd from 2000 to 2130. RST and serial number form the exchange.

The CQ WW 160m DX Contest runs for 48 hours from 2200 on Friday 24th. Operation is on 160m only, SSB, and the exchange is RS, serial number and CQ Zone, which is 14 for the UK. W stations send their State and VE stations send their Province.

The French REF Contest runs for 36 hours from 0600 on Saturday 25th. Work French stations only, sending a report and serial number. Expect to receive a report and a Department code, or a prefix from French overseas territories.

Sunday 26 February sees the first 70MHz Cumulative, which runs from 1000-1200, 70MHz only, on all modes. The exchange is RST plus serial number and locator.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 10th to Thursday the 16th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on Friday the 17th of February.

First this week the latest smoothed monthly sunspot numbers which are for May, June and July 2011 and are 47.6, 53.2 and 57.2 respectively.

Sunspot groups were visible every day, with five visible on the 12th. Most groups were small and quiet, even the larger groups were magnetically simple. Due to this solar activity was only low at first and then declined to very low levels from the 13th. Solar flux levels declined from 112 units on the 11th to 103 by the 16th. The average was 108 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 16th was 132 units, that’s four units down on last week. In fact, at the start of the year the 90 day solar flux average stood at 145 units. X-ray flux levels averaged B2.1 units and varied little day to day. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels with an Ap index of only 3 units on the 12^th, but by the 14th a coronal mass ejection had arrived and lasted all of the next day. Even thought the disturbance was weak, a respectable Ap index of 25 units was recorded on the 15th, this was due to a long period of southward orientation of the magnetic Bz component of the solar wind. The average was 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 300 and 470 kilometres per second. Particle densities were very low every day throughout the period. Bz varied between minus 3 and plus 5 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 9 and plus 4 nanoTeslas on the 15th. From early evening of the 14th and again from noon to late evening on the 15th, a radio aurora took place for European operators, though largely confined to high latitudes. MUFs dropped by some 30 per cent below recent values, with east-west and high-latitudes paths particularly degraded. Recovery was under way during the 16th, though the higher bands were still very patchy.

And finally the solar forecast. This week will see the quiet side of the Sun rotating into view. Therefore, solar activity is expected to be very low to low. Solar flux levels should be not much higher than 100 units. Geomagnetic activity is expected to very quiet for the first half of the week but towards next weekend, activity could increase slightly due to a small 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 8MHz. Paths this week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of about 31MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be around 25MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1200 to 1700 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 12th February 2012

The news headlines:

• RSGB launches two consultations

• Warrington club gains Olympic callsign

• Dominican Republic amateurs get 5MHz allocation

The RSGB will shortly be introducing two new consultations to draw Members into the RSGB policy creation process. Some topics will also be open to non-Members. The processes are being piloted on two issues and we hope that many people will feel able to contribute. The first consultation looks at the RSGB’s Spectrum Strategy. The second seeks views on how we could celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with some form of QSO Party.

The proposed Spectrum Strategy is being developed by the RSGB Spectrum Forum. It will take into account the outcomes of the current World Radiocommunication Conference, which is due to end on 17 February. It is expected that the Spectrum Strategy consultation will commence on 1 March. All UK amateurs are invited to read and comment on the proposals and post their responses online.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee QSO Party consultation uses a different approach. People will be invited into an internet discussion list to seek a consensus on a proposed draft for the QSO Party. We have called this approach a Litmus Test. The QSO Party Litmus Test will go live on Wednesday 15 February.

Further information and access to the consultations can be found at www.rsgb.org.uk/consultations.

Warrington Amateur Radio Club has been granted the Olympic call sign GB2012MV, for Manchester Venue. The station will be located at the Salford University campus and will operate on VHF, HF and D-STAR. Old Trafford will be a venue for the Olympic football competition.

Amateur Radio operators in the Dominican Republic have recently been granted permission to use seven 5MHz channels. These are the same channels as used in the UK. Modes currently permitted are SSB and CW.

Following the recent earthquake in the Central Philippines, communications have been set up on HF as the emergency activity of amateur radio becomes established in the earthquake and landslide hit areas. Eddie Valdez, DU1EV, Chief Operating Officer for IARU society PARA, said that Ham Emergency Radio Operations (HEROs) has activated the emergency frequencies of 144.740MHz and 7.095MHz.

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

The Harwell Radio & Electronics Rally will take place today, 12 February, at Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot. Doors open at 10.30am and there is plenty of free car parking. Admission is £2.50, with accompanied under 12s free. There will be trade stands and a flea market as well as special interest groups at the event. More details from Ann, G8NVI on 01235 816 379.

The Northern Cross Rally will take place at Thornes Park Stadium, Horbury Road Wakefield WF2 8TY today, Sunday 12 February. The usual mix of traders and groups will attend, including the RSGB bookstall and a local wind up mast manufacturer. Entrance is £3 per person and refreshments are available. Doors open at 10.30am. You are advised NOT to park on the road outside as it has double yellow lines on it, but use the available car parks. For more information, contact Ken 2E0SSQ on 07900 563117, before 8pm hours please.

The organisers of the Swansea Rally, planned for 26 February, have been obliged to cancel it. They hope to be able to re-schedule it later in the year. Details from Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404 422.

Bournemouth Radio Society regrets to announce that, due to circumstances beyond their control, it has been necessary to cancel this year’s sale, originally scheduled for Sunday 11 March. Please contact John, G0HAT on 07719 700 771 with any enquiries.

Now for the news of special events

On 18 February, the Surrey Radio Contact Club is activating a Thinking Day On The Air station. Using the callsign GB4ADD for the 4th. Addiscombe Girl Guides, the station will be in the Church Hall at Christ Church Methodist, 114, Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 6AD. They will be there from around 10.30am and expect to stay for around three hours. There is ample on site parking.

Itchen Valley Amateur Radio club is helping Girlguiding Chandlers Ford Division celebrate World Thinking Day, over the weekend of 18 and 19 February, with the callsign GB0CFG. Visitors are always welcome at the Scout Hut, Brickfield Lane, Chandlers Ford. Further details from Liz, M0ACL, on 02380 254 599.

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

Francois, F8DVD will be active as TM8AAW until 26 February, including the 9th Antarctic Activity Week of 20 to 26 February. He will operate on 10 to 40 metres, mostly SSB, from his home QTH in Macon, France. QSL via home callsign, direct or bureau.

Jean-Pierre, F6ITD will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF bands from Guadeloupe, which is IOTA reference NA-102, until 13 March. Look him for as FG/F6ITD from Basse-Terre until 19 February and then from La Desirade. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.

Al, W6HGF will be active as FP/W6HGF from Miquelon Island, IOTA reference NA-032, until 20 February. Operation is planned to be focused on digital, mostly RTTY, including an entry in the CQ WW WPX RTTY contest. QSL via W6HGF, either direct or via the bureau.

Now the contest news

The first of this year’s CQWW WPX contests is RTTY, which takes place for the entire 48 hours of the weekend of the 11th and 12th. There are categories for QRP, low and high power, single or multi-operator stations, various numbers of transmitters and even single-operator stations where the operator has been licensed for less than three years. With the HF bands now in good shape, 10m could well be busy for long hours. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

For 24 hours this weekend, the PACC Contest will be running on CW and SSB. Work as many Dutch stations as possible per band, giving RST and serial number. Dutch stations give RST + two-letter Province abbreviation, of which there are twelve in all. The multiplier is the number of provinces worked per band and, once again, there are numerous entry categories.

The RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 14 February between 2000 and 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The following day, 15 February, the RSGB 80m club championships data leg takes place between 2000 and 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

The ARRL International DX Contest takes place for the whole 48 hours of the weekend of 18 and 19 February. This event has a loyal band of followers in the UK and is a great one in which to build up your list of States contacted, if you are working towards the Worked All States Award. On the final weekend of the month there are two major international SSB events, but no clash of bands. Using CW only, the exchange is signal report and transmit power, although W stations send their State and VE stations send their Province.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 3rd to Thursday the 9th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 10th of February.

There were fewer sunspot groups visible during the period with only 3 groups visible on the 5th and the 6^th. On the remaining days only 2 groups were visible. Solar activity declined to very low levels for the first three days but then, on the 6th, an M1 class solar flare took place unexpectedly. Solar flux levels, as expected, declined from 111 units on the 3rd to 97 by the 8th. This is the first time that the solar flux levels were below the 100 mark since August last year. The average was 105 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 9th was 136 units, that’s five units down on last week. X-ray flux levels averaged B2.3 units, which is well down compared to previous weeks. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels, but on the 7th and the 8th a weak coronal hole disturbance took place with an Ap index of 15 and 10 units respectively. The average was Ap 6 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 390 kilometres per second on the 3rd to 540 by the 7th. Particle densities were low every day. Bz varied between minus and plus 5 nanoTeslas on the quiet days and between minus and plus 7 nanoTeslas during the most disturbed day.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the more active side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. However, looking at the latest images from the STEREO Behind spacecraft, this side of the Sun is not as active now compared to the last rotation. Therefore, solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with only a small chance of activity increasing higher than that. Solar flux levels should be around the 120’s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet every day unless a coronal mass ejection heads our way. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 28MHz for the south and 25MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 8MHz. Paths this week to Australia should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 28MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 22MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1300 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 5th February 2012

The news headlines:

• The first two weeks of WRC-12

• Using Olympics logos, also called Games Marks

• Advanced exam processed in record time

Colin Thomas, G3PSM, is the RSGB representative on the UK Delegation to WRC-12. He reports here on the first two weeks of work.

After two weeks of intense discussions, the 3000 plus delegates at the World Radio Conference 2012 are slowly but surely coming to consensus on many of the agenda items. A number of items have been finalised, including agenda item 1.22 that looked at the subject of Short Range Devices. It was decided that no changes were necessary to the Radio Regulations with regard to this subject.

Unfortunately no such consensus has yet been reached on agenda item 1.23, which proposes an allocation to the amateur service in the region of 500kHz. After 12 meetings of the sub working group dealing with this matter, the segment 472-479kHz has been identified as the most suitable band. This represents a very small compromise from the European proposal of 472-480kHz. It is however a major compromise by those administrations and regional groups who proposed 461-469 plus 471-478kHz or 472-487kHz. Despite this, and considerations taking into account the protection of aeronautical non-directional beacons, the Arab Spectrum Management Group and Iran still maintain a position of no allocation to the amateur service. This agenda item will next be discussed next Tuesday in a higher authority committee.

Another agenda item taking up a lot of talk time is 1.15, which deals with allocations for HF Oceanic Radars. While not directly affecting existing amateur services, there have been discussions around a possible allocation around 5MHz. This is the frequency area in which many countries, including the UK, have agreed channels for the amateur service. The original proposal from the United States for a 200kHz allocation has been drastically reduced to a 25kHz allocation in this area, but discussions continue.

Under agenda item 8.2, Future Conference Agenda Items, Cuba has proposed a 50kHz allocation to the 5MHz amateur service. This proposal was unexpected and has little support from other administrations; however, the International Amateur Radio Union has pledged their support and is lobbying administrations to support it.

The conference still has two weeks to run and nothing concerning the amateur service has yet been decided.

Colin Thomas is posting daily reports from WRC-12 on the RSGB website.

Although Ofcom has now granted permission for UK radio amateurs to use special prefixes over this summer, this permission does NOT extend to use of the various logos associated with the Games on QSL cards etc. These logos, or Games Marks as they are called, are strictly controlled by LOCOG and are not free for individuals and organisations to use without express permission. You can read about their use at the Frequently Asked Questions on the www.london2012.com website. Project ECHO, concerned with the two main special stations, is the exception and has been granted permission to use the Inspire logo in a limited way. If any further information emerges we will inform members.

An Advanced licence exam took place across the country on the evening of Tuesday 31 January. By 3pm on Friday 3 February, all papers that had arrived back at RSGB HQ had been processed and the results uploaded to Ofcom. A few papers have not yet reached RSGB HQ; these will be processed when they arrive.

Provisional results of the 2011 Islands On The Air contest have now been published. Despite low sunspot levels, the contest organisers received over 2,300 logs, the highest number yet. More than 632,000 QSOs were made and this has enabled them to adjudicate 75% of all QSOs. The highest scoring station in the contest was the Bristol Contest Group, GJ6YB, who operated from Jersey and achieved a score of just under 15 million points from over 3,300 QSOs. The 2012 contest takes place on 28 and 29 July. The contest organisers have indicated that there will be a number of significant rule changes in 2012, notably to the scoring to emphasise island QSOs. For the same reason, there will no longer be a World multi-op category, as they are anxious to refocus the contest on working islands, rather than building points through non-island stations working other non-island stations.

On 12 February, amateurs worldwide will be able to enjoy a virtual tour of the station at ARRL HQ in a live webcast starting at 2200UTC. W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, at ARRL Headquarters in Connecticut has appeared in many logs. Anyone with an internet connection will be able to watch the tour at www.awecast.tv/channels/arrl/.

The FCC Spread Spectrum tests have got off to a good start. At 0052UTC on 1 February, Jose Ros, EA5HVK made the opening decode of the first FCC – SS authorised experimental station, WF9XJD, on 10.132MHz, at a rock bottom level of -22dB S/N. With worsening conditions and after a change to 7.055MHz, the QSO was completed using MF-4 mode. Taking advantage of the north-south propagation, a 10 minute QSO with YV5MM followed at substantially higher signal levels. A further eight or more experimental stations are due on the HF bands over the next few weeks, taking the first steps to clarify the data mode designations applicable to the USA amateur radio data mode operators.

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

Today, 5 February, the 27th Canvey Radio & Electronics Rally will be held at The Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0JA, which is at the southern end of A130. Doors open at 10.30am. Details from Dave, G4UVJ, on 01268 697 978 during the evening please.

Also today, 5 February, the Radio-Active Rally will take place in the Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5DG. Doors open at 10.30am and there will be trade stands and Bring & Buy. More information from Simon Chettle, G8ATB, on 01270 841 506.

The G3TFC Silent Key Auction of ex military & commercial radio equipment will take place on 11 February in the Coventry area. Admission is by ticket only. Details and lists of the equipment for sale can be obtained from Stuart J Mckinnon, G0TBI on 07860 496 516, or by email to stuartjmckinnon@aol.com.

The Harwell Radio & Electronics Rally will take place on 12 February at Didcot Leisure Centre, Mereland Road, Didcot. Doors open at 10.30am and there is plenty of free carparking. Admission is £2.50 with accompanied under 12s free. There will be trade stands and a flea market as well as special interest groups at the event. More details from Ann, G8NVI on 01235 816 379.

The Northern Cross Rally will take place at Thornes Park Stadium, Horbury Road, Wakefield WF2 8TY on Sunday 12 February. The usual mix of traders and groups will attend, including the RSGB bookstall and a local wind up mast manufacturer. Entrance is £3 per person and refreshments are available. Doors open at 10.30am. You are advised NOT to park on the road outside as it has double yellow lines on it, but use the available car parks. For more information, contact Ken, 2E0SSQ on 07900 563117, before 8pm please.

The organisers of the Swansea Rally, planned for 26 February, have been obliged to cancel it. They hope to be able to re-schedule it later in the year. Details from Roger, GW4HSH, on 01792 404 422.

Now for the news of special events

GB80PW will be on the air on 9 February to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Practical Wireless magazine. On air on the 2nd Thursday of the month throughout 2012, Rob Mannion, G3XFD and Phil Ciotti, G3XBZ plan to be active from 10am to 4pm. They will be concentrating on 7MHz, mainly SSB and PSK31, with some operation on 14MHZ SSB and PSK 31.

GB50WVR will be on the air, starting on Friday 10 February, and then throughout 2012 on various dates, to celebrate 50 years of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. Full details are on qrz.com.

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

W6HGF will be on the air stroke FP from Miquelon Island between 10 and 20 February. Activity will be on 10 through to 160 metres but focused on the digital modes, mostly RTTY. QSL via Logbook of the World or to W6HGF, direct or via the bureau.

HU2DX will be on the air from El Salvador until 10 February. The usual prefix in El Salvador is YS so this operation will also be of interest to prefix hunters. The QSL manager is DH7WW.

3B8GY will be on the air from Mauritius Island, IOTA reference AF-049, from 5 to 25 February. They will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. They will participate in the ARRL DX CW Contest on 18 and 19 February. QSL via SP2JMB.

Expect quite a bit of activity to take place from Guantanamo Bay in February. KN4KL will operate as KG4KL until 18 February using SSTV, RTTY, SSB, PSK and maybe CW. WB4DNL will operate as KG4DL from 6 to 14 February using mostly CW. Finally, W4WV will operate as KG4WV from 6 to 23 February using SSB, PSK, RTTY and maybe CW. QSL via their home callsigns.

DO5ALX, operating as V31RU and DG7RO, operating as V31TF plan to be active from Belize until 26 February. They plan to concentrate on 30, 17 and 12 metres RTTY and SSB and to take part in the CQ WW WPX RTTY Contest as a Multi-Two entry. QSL via home calls.

Now the contest news

The 432MHz AFS contest is the final Super League event of the 2011/2012 season. It takes place for four hours today, Sunday 5th, from 0900 to 1300UTC. A French contest coincides with the first couple of hours, so don’t forget to take advantage of the activity by beaming that way early on. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The European Phase Shift Keying Club’s PSK63 Contest finishes today, 5 February, at 1200UTC. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The wait for the start of the new 80m Club Championship series is over and it begins this month with an SSB session on the 6th. Remember please that for the entire Club Championship series the maximum power that should be run is 100 watts output. For Foundation licensees and those who welcome an additional challenge, there is also a QRP, 10 watt output, section. Look out for SSB activity from 2000 to 2130UTC, with the exchange being signal report and serial number.

The 144MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 2000 to 2230 on 7 February. Using all modes on the band the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The First 1.8MHz Contest takes place for four hours, from 2100 on the evening of the 11th to 0100 on the 12th. Entries can be CW-only, SSB-only or mixed mode. Exchange a signal report, serial number and your District Code, which is the first two letters of your postcode. For those who live in postcode areas that begin with a single letter, these are padded out to two letters. A full list of District codes can be found on the Contest Committee website or in the RSGB Yearbook.

The first of this year’s CQWW WPX contests is the RTTY, which takes place for the entire 48 hours of the weekend of 11/12th. There are categories for QRP, low and high power, single or multi-operator stations, various numbers of transmitters and even single-operator stations where the operator has been licensed for less than three years. With the HF bands now in good shape, 10m could well be busy for long hours. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

For 24 hours of the same weekend the PACC Contest will be running on CW and SSB. Work as many Dutch stations as possible per band, giving RST and serial number. Dutch stations give RST + two-letter Province abbreviation and there are twelve in all. The multiplier is the number of provinces worked per band and once again there are numerous entry categories.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 27th of January to the 2nd of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 3rd of February.

On the 27th, as one of the large active sunspot groups was rotating out of view, it produced an X1 solar flare. This is the first X class solar flare since the beginning of November. Associated with this flare was a coronal mass ejection and a sudden ionospheric disturbance. After this flare, solar activity was very low to low, with only small C class solar flares taking place on some days. Solar flux levels on the 27th were 142 units, this figure was enhanced due to the X class solar flare, a more realistic figure would have been around 120 units. Levels then declined to 110 units by the 29th but then recovered to 118 units by the 2nd. The average was 119 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 2nd was 141 units, that’s two units down on last week. X-ray flux levels declined from B5.9 units on the 28th to B2.2 units by the 1st. The average was B3.3 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. The coronal mass ejection from the X1 solar flare missed planet Earth and headed for the STEREO ahead spacecraft. The solar wind measuring equipment there detected the blast as it passed. Back here, the average for the period was Ap 5 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 580 kilometres per second on the 27th to 330 by the 31st. Particle densities were low except for the morning of the 31st, which increased briefly to 23 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between minus and plus 8 nanoTeslas on the 30th and between minus 4 and plus 3 nanoTeslas on the quieter days.

And finally the solar forecast. The slightly more active side of the sun is expected to rotate into view as the week progresses. At first solar activity is expected to be at low levels but activity could increase to moderate levels later in the week. Solar flux levels should increase and by next weekend be around the 130s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be mostly quiet but could increase slightly around the 12th when a weak coronal hole disturbance could take place. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 29MHz for the south and 26MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 8MHz. Paths this week to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 30MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 24MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1400 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 29th January 2012

The news headlines:

• Logbook of the World to support CQ awards

• Latest news from the World Radiocommunications Conference

• Acting Chairman for ARDC announced

CQ Communications and the Amateur Radio Relay League in the USA have signed an agreement to begin providing support for CQ-sponsored operating awards by the ARRL's Logbook of the World electronic confirmation system. CQ's awards are the first non-ARRL awards supported by Logbook of the World and will be phased in, beginning with the CQ WPX award. Amateurs will be able to use Logbook of the World logs to generate lists of confirmed contacts to be submitted for WPX credit. Standard Logbook of the World credit fees and CQ award fees will apply.

RSGB Past President, Colin, G3PSM is attending the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 as part of the UK delegation until 17 February. He is posting daily news on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/WRTC-12-news/. Over 3000 participants, representing more than 150 out of the ITU’s 193 Member States are attending the four-week conference, making it one of the most significant ITU events. About 100 Observers from among ITU’s 700 private sector members, along with international organisations are also attending.

As notified in the February edition of RadCom, the RSGB is seeking a new Chairman for the Amateur Radio Development Committee. Until that appointment is made, Steve Hartley, G0FUW, has been appointed Acting Chairman, ARDC with immediate effect.

The Chibis-M microsatellite, also known as RS-39, was jettisoned from the Progress M-13M cargo spacecraft Tuesday 24 January. The satellite is designed to study atmospheric phenomena such as Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes associated with lightning. RS-39 has CW beacons on 435.315 and 435.215MHz and amateurs are asked to submit reception reports via e-mail to the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences at amateur-rs39@chibis.cosmos.ru. Each report will be acknowledged with a special QSL.

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society was founded 1932 and, as part of the 80^th anniversary celebrations, the IRTS will be using the special callsign EI80IRTS. A certificate will be available to all amateurs and SWLs with bronze, silver and gold levels for contacting the station during 2012. The certificate is sponsored by Dundalk Amateur Radio Society and details can be seen at www.ei7dar.com/ei80irts.html.

You can now read about some of the activities and decisions of the RSGB Board in a new running log on the RSGB website. Check out www.rsgb.org/boardprogress/.

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

The Horncastle Winter Rally will take place today, 29 January, in the Horncastle Youth Centre, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £1.50. Details from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527 835.

Next weekend, 5 February, the 27^th Canvey Radio & Electronics Rally will be held at The Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0JA, which is at the southern end of A130. Doors open at 10.30am. Details from Dave, G4UVJ, on 01268 697 978 during the evening please.

Also on 5 February, the Radio-Active Rally will take place in the Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5DG. Doors open at 10.30am and there will be trade stands and Bring & Buy. More information from Simon Chettle, G8ATB, on 01270 841 506.

Now for the news of special events

Listen out for stations taking part in SOS Radio Week in conjunction with the RNLI. Lots of stations will be on the air fund raising for the charity. See www.sosradioweek.org.uk/stations/ for details of those taking part.

Station personnel at 4U1ITU, the amateur radio station at the International Telecommunication Union in Geneva, have installed a webcam in the station, allowing anyone with an Internet connection to view live happenings at the station. 4U1ITU will be signing as 4U1WRC during the 2012 World Radio Communication Conference that runs until 17 February. The station will revert back to 4U1ITU just in time for the ARRL International DX CW Contest on 18 and 19 February.

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

Members of the Buddies in the Caribbean will mount a mini-DXpedition to Grenada between 1 and 9 February. The team specialises in 100 watts or less low power radios and the Buddipole portable antenna systems. Modes used will be CW, SSB, and the digital on 10 through to 160 metres. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, or regular mail to operator's home callsign and include a self addressed stamped envelope if you go the postal route.

JA1XGI will be active from Hawaii as W8XGI/KH6 between 31 January and 4 February just prior to his upcoming trip to Tonga. Operations will probably be on 6 through to 20 metres with an emphasis on 30, 17 and 12 metres. He is expected to operate mainly CW, with some SSB and the digital modes. QSL via JA1XGI, direct or by via the Bureau. QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World.

Laci, HA0NAR is leading a small group that will be on the air as FW0R from the Pacific islands of Wallis and Futuna until 23 February. QSL Manager is HA0NAR.

Dennis, WA2USA/4, will be active from St. George Island from 1 to 27 February. More information can be found at: www.wa2usa.com. QSL via his home callsign either through the bureau or direct.

Now the contest news

The CQWW 160m DX Contest takes place for 48 hours ending at 2200 today, 29 January, using CW only. The UK is CQ Zone 14. USA stations will send a signal report and their 2-letter State code, while Canadian stations will send a signal report and their 3-letter Province code. Accurate logkeeping is a must in this event, because there are penalties for bad or busted QSOs.

The BARTG RTTY Sprint finishes at 1200UTC today, 29 January. Since last year it has become an event in the HF Championship, but it is still adjudicated by BARTG and competing stations need to submit their entries to BARTG. Single band entries are not allowed and the contest uses the bands from 3.8 to 28MHz. The contest exchange is serial number only. Stations who have been placed in the Top 10 of any BARTG event in the past three years must enter the Expert category

The 70MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 31 January from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The 432MHz AFS contest is the final Super League event of the 2011/2012 season. It takes place for four hours on the morning of the 5^th from 0900 to 1300UTC. A French contest coincides with the first couple of hours, so don’t forget to take advantage of the activity by beaming that way early on. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The European Phase Shift Keying Club’s PSK63 Contest takes place next weekend on 4 and 5 February. Last year there was a big increase in participation but in several of the categories there were no entries at all from parts of the UK. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands between 1200 and 1200UTC, the exchange is signal report and serial number

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 20^th to Thursday the 26^th of January, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 27^th of January.

The two large sunspot regions mentioned in last week’s report continued to dominate the solar disc and solar activity. Numerous C class solar flares took place on a daily basis but the largest event was a long duration M8 proton solar flare during the morning of the 23^rd. Associated with this event were multi-frequency radio emissions spanning from 25MHz through to 15.4GHz, a fast moving large coronal mass ejection and a sudden ionospheric disturbance. Solar flux levels declined from 142 units on the 21^st to 126 by the 25^th. The average was 137 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 26^th was 143, that’s one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels varied little day to day and averaged B5.8 units. Geomagnetic activity started at quiet levels but during the early hours of the 22^nd a coronal mass ejection arrived from the solar flare of the 19^th. The Ap index for the 22^nd was 24 units. This was the first disturbed day since the 1^st of November last year. Then around 1500 hours on the 24^th a second, faster coronal mass ejection arrived associated with the M8 flare from the 23^rd. This disturbance did not last as long but the Ap index for the 24^th was also 24 units. Activity then declined back to quiet levels by the 26^th. The average was Ap 13 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds increase from 290 kilometres per second on the 21^st to 650 by the 25^th. Particle densities increased to 63 particles per cubic centimetre during the 22^nd. Bz varied between minus 4 and plus 6 nanoTeslas on the quietest day and between minus 29 and plus 28 nanoTeslas on the 22^nd and between minus 18 and plus 29 nanoTeslas during the 24^th.

Radio aurora took place on four consecutive days from the 22^nd. By far the strongest was the evening of the 22^nd, which lasted into the 23^rd, when stations on the south coast could participate. Northern England and Scotland also had the pleasure of an exceptional visual aurora, where skies were clear of clouds. Further down the radio spectrum, the HF bands were badly degraded especially the high latitude paths. However, they recovered quite rapidly with MUFs back up to 27MHz or higher with paths to Africa and South America on 28MHz better than expected considering magnetic levels.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the slightly quieter side of the Sun is expected to be facing our way. Solar activity should be low on most days with only a slight chance that activity will increase to moderate levels. Solar flux levels should be in the 120s for most of the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet everyday. This week there is only a small chance that any coronal mass ejections will head our way. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 29MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 8MHz. Paths this week to the east coast of North America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 28MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 50 per cent success rate will be about 21MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1300 and 1800 hours UTC.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 22 January 2012

The news headlines:

• New RadCom Band Plans show substantial changes

• D-Star node test in London

• Leap Day and Leap Second in 2012

The latest edition of RadCom features the 2012 RSGB Band Plans and a background article on the substantial changes that have occurred. This information is now also available to all amateurs online at www.rsgb.org/operating/bandplans. In particular, please note that there have been major changes in the 40m, 10m, 6m, 4m and 23cm bands, so please ensure that any older editions are discarded.

The digital node test for the pending London 2012 Olympic Simplex D-Star Nodes is planned for this weekend, 21 and 22 January. The test will be carried out both on 2m and 70cm in Echo Test Mode only, without D-Star gateway, between hours of 1000 and 1600UTC. The D-Star node will record your digital test transmission and then retransmit it back to you and, at the same time, you will then be able to see what type of coverage will be available. Today, 22 January, the test will be on 145.3125MHz. Gary, 2E0ULA and Michael, 2E0MRE will be on hand for assistance and talk back will be on to be GB7OK. For more info visit www.gb7ok.com.

The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service has decided that a positive leap second will be added to Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC, at the end of June 2012. While a leap second can be added and taken from any month, it has only occurred at the end of December and June. The most recent leap was added on December 31, 2008. A leap second is necessary because of the Earth's unpredictable rotation. UTC is based on atomic clocks, but has been kept more or less synchronised with mean solar time by way of leap seconds.

The Six and Ten Reporting Club is an informal group of amateurs, mostly from the UK, who are interested in propagation studies at frequencies around the HF-VHF boundary, mainly the 6 and 10 metre amateur bands. The club produces a monthly newsletter, the Six and Ten Report, that includes analysis of 28MHz propagation based on beacon monitoring, analysis of 50MHz activity reports broken down by propagation mode, reports and discussions on unusual propagation events, compilations of solar and geomagnetic data, lists of activity world-wide, beacon news, and results of on-going experiments.

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

The Horncastle Winter Rally will take place on 29 January in the Horncastle Youth Centre, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £1.50. Details from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527 835.

Now for the news of special events

In addition to the clubs mentioned in previous weeks’ news, the Riviera Amateur Radio Club will be supporting SOS Radio Week. GB4TBL will be operating on HF and 2m from Beacon Quay, Torquay Harbour on Saturday, 28 January between 1100 and 1600GMT. For full details see www.rivieraarc.org.uk/events/gb4tbl/.

Special event station DL150BH is active on all bands and modes until 31 December to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the city of Bad Honnef. QSL via the bureau.

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

F8APV will be active from Reunion Island from 22 January until 10 February, signing portable FR. QSL as directed on the air.

Take, JG8NQJ will be back to Minami Torishima, OC-073, for three months. In his spare time he will operate mainly CW with some SSB as JG8NQJ/JD1, running 50 watts in order not to interfere with the weather station equipment. QSL via the bureau to JG8NQJ or direct to JA8CJY.

The website for the Kiritimati DXpedition is now up and running at www.t32kiritimati2012.com. Look for T32AU, T32CO, T32LJ, T32TR, T32TX, T32WW and T32WW to be on the air on 6 to 160 metres CW, SSB and RTTY.

Six operators will be active as TN2T from Congo from 22 to 31 January. The will have three stations active on 160 to 10m SSB, CW and RTTY, with a focus on 160 and 80m. Further information can be found at www.tn2t.be. QSL via M0URX, preferably via the OQRS facility on his website, http://m0urx.com/oqrs for either direct and bureau requests.

Now the contest news

The 50MHz UK Activity Contest takes place on 24 January from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also on 24 January the SHF UK Activity Contest takes place at the same time, 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The CQWW 160m DX Contest takes place for 48 hours, starting at 2200 on the 27th, using CW only. Work only the contiguous 48 States plus Canada, giving a signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is Zone 14. USA stations will send a signal report and their 2-letter State code, while Canadian stations will send a signal report and their 3-letter Province code. Accurate log keeping is a must in this event, because there are penalties for bad or busted QSOs.

The BARTG RTTY Sprint takes place for 24 hours on 28-29th from 1200 to 1200UTC. Since last year it has become an event in the HF Championship, but it is still adjudicated by BARTG and competing stations need to submit their entries to BARTG. Single band entries are not allowed and the contest uses the bands from 3.8 to 28MHz. The contest exchange is serial number only. Stations who have been placed in the Top 10 of any BARTG event in the past three years must enter the Expert category.

The Worked All Britain 1.8MHz phone contest takes place next Saturday, 28 January, from 1900 to 2300UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be obtained from the WAB website www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from the Contest Manager, G3XKT, by email to aebbooks@ntlworld.com.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 13th to Thursday the 19th of January, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 20th of January.

On the 14th two new sunspot groups rotated into view and since then solar activity increased to moderate levels with M class solar flares taking place. The largest was a long duration M3 solar flare on the 19th. This flare lasted for just over four hours and was accompanied by a large coronal mass ejection. Several other flares produced sudden ionospheric disturbances and coronal mass ejections. Solar flux levels increased from 124 units on the 13th to 157 by the 19th. The average was 139. The 90 day solar flux average on the 19th was 144, that’s one unit down on last week. X-ray flux levels increased to peak at C1 units on the 16th but declined back to B5.9 by the 19th. The average was B6.4 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. A very small disturbance arrived on the 16th with an Ap index of 8 units, which was the most disturbed day. The average was 4 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 560 kilometres per second on the 13th to 350 by the 19th. Particle densities were low except for an increase to 15 particles per cubic centimetre late on the 15th and early on the 16th. Bz showed little variation on most days but varied between minus 9 and plus 10 nanoTeslas on the 16th. A small aurora was reported during the afternoon and evening of the 16th but was restricted to stations in the far north. Lower down the spectrum, on 28MHz, all continents were worked every day. A small Sporadic-E opening was reported during the evening of the 19th.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the active side of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity is expected to be at moderate levels on some days. Solar flux levels should be around 150’s or even slightly higher. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet every day, however, if a large solar flare takes place and an associated coronal mass ejection heads our way then activity would increase. A disturbance is expected to arrive late on the 21st or the 22nd from the M3 solar flare of the 19th. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be about 29MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to be around 8MHz. Paths this week to Japan should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 27MHz. 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 0700 and 1000 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 15th January 2012

The news headlines:

• RSGB representation at World Radiocommunication Conference

• SOS Radio Week coming up

• KA1GMN gets special spread spectrum licence

RSGB Past President Colin, G3PSM will be attending the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 from 23 January to 17 February as part of the IARU Region 1 team. He will be posting up-to-the-minute news on the RSGB website. More information is at www.rsgb.org/WRC-12-news.

SOS Radio Week starts at 0000 on Saturday 21 January and concludes nine days later at 2359 on Sunday 29 January. It is a sponsored operating event, where registered stations operate for as much time as they can spare, making as many contacts as they can. All sponsorship money raised is donated to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Over the last two years the event has proven very popular and raised in excess of £6,500. This year looks like being another bumper year, with over 35 stations registered. Many of these are special event stations operating on specific days during the event from lifeboat stations around the country, but there are also several individual stations that will be operating all week from home and various other locations. Visit www.sosradioweek.org.uk for a list of participating stations and a registration form, if you would like to take part yourself, as it's not too late to register.

The American FCC has granted KA1GMN a Special Temporary Authority to conduct spread spectrum experiments on 2 to 160m. The 6 month authorisation starts on 1 February and expires on 31 July. It limits KA1GMN to a maximum 2.5kHz of signal bandwidths at 100 watts effective radiated power.

The popular Wainwrights on the Air scheme has been improved to make it easier to get involved. The Wainwrights are the 214 Lake District mountains described by Alfred Wainwright in his seven iconic guides. The WOTA scheme, which runs continuously, involves making contacts from and to the Lake District summits as an Activator or Chaser. The scheme now covers Wainwright's additional 116 Outlying Fells. Ascending the smaller Outlying Fells generally entails relatively easier hiking, offering visiting amateurs a simple way to sample the scheme as Activators. 2m FM handheld equipment is most commonly used and a standard rubber duck antenna usually enables a number of contacts to be made from the summits. Using vertical and beam types will naturally increase success. More Chasers will also be welcomed, fixed, mobile or operating portable themselves. Information is available at the scheme website, www.wota.org.uk.

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

The Red Rose Winter Rally takes place today, 15 January, at George H Carnall Leisure Centre, Kingsway Park, M41 7FJ. The venue is easily accessible from Junction 9 of the M60, opposite the Trafford Centre. Doors open at 11am. There is free car parking, traders, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from Steve, on 07502 295 141.

Also today, 15 January, the Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place at Whitfield Village Hall, Dover CT16 3LY. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy.

The next rally we have details for takes place on 29 January. The Horncastle Winter Rally will be held in the Horncastle Youth Centre, Lincolnshire LN9 6DZ. Doors open at 10.30am and admission is £1.50. Details from Tony, G3ZPU on 01507 527 835.

Advance notice now that the Spring Kempton Rally has moved to 22 April to avoid a clash with the Blackpool Rally. Details are at www.radiofairs.org.uk.

Now for the news of special events

Orkney Amateur Radio Club is supporting SOS Radio Week from 21 to 29 January. There will be a special event station at or near each of the Islands’ three lifeboat stations. GB1OL will be in Stromness; GB2OL will in Longhope, based at the old lifeboat station; and GB4OL will be at Kirkwall Bay. QSLs should be sent direct with the information on the website, http://eu009.webplus.net/gb1ol.html. The stations will be active on most bands, mainly at the weekends, and will concentrate on 80, 40 and 20m.

Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club will be putting the club callsign, MN0VFW, on the air in support of SOS Radio Week. The station should be active on the HF bands between 1100 and 1600 GMT on Saturday 21 January and between 1000 and 150 GMT on Sunday 22 January. Thanks to the kind permission of Nigel Sands, 2I0GLY, the club will be operating from the shores of Lough Neagh at Sands Marine and Leisure at Kinnego Marina in Lurgan. As with all Mid Ulster events, visitors are more than welcome to call in person and experience some of the club’s legendary hospitality.

The Philippine Amateur Radio League is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. To commemorate this milestone, a commemorative diploma can be obtained by establishing 2-way QSOs with its members. The rules to qualify for the award and sample diploma can be viewed at www.dx1l.dxhams.net/Awards.htm. They will also be putting a special event callsign, 4G0LD, on air throughout the year.

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

Mike, VE2XB will be on the air from the island of Dominica in the Caribbean from now until the end of January. He will use the callsign J79XB.

The Pacific island of Tuvalu will be activated by two Hungarian operators, HA5AO and HA5UK, from 12 to 26 January. The call to be used is T2HA.

Francis, F6BLP will be active again as 6W7SK from Senegal from 20 January to 3 February. He plans to focus on the low bands and CW. QSL via F6BLP.

Six operators will be active as TN2T from Congo from 22 to 31 January. They will have three stations active on 10 to 160 metres SSB, CW and RTTY, with a focus on 160 and 80m. Further information can be found at www.tn2t.be. QSL via M0URX, preferably via the OQRS facility on his website, http://m0urx.com/oqrs for either direct and bureau requests.

Now the contest news

Today, Sunday 15th, the Super League series continues with 80m CW Affiliated Societies Contests taking place from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using CW only, the exchange is signal report and serial number. It is followed six days later, on the 21st, by the 80m SSB AFS, also a Super League event. Taking place from 1400 to 1800, inter-UK propagation for these should be fine for the first couple of hours, but expect the skip to lengthen significantly as darkness falls. The exchange is signal report and serial number.

On January 17 the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 2000-2230. Using all modes on the band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The HA DX Contest on 21-22 January has no fewer than 18 entry categories! Work everyone, giving them a signal report and serial number, between 1200 and 1200UTC. HAs send a signal report and Hungarian county code.

And now the solar factual data for the period from Friday the 6th to Thursday the 12th of January, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 13th of January.

The number of sunspot groups visible this week was well down on recent weeks. Some days only three groups were visible. Solar activity though was low, with C class solar flares taking place every day. By far the most interesting flare of the period was the C2 solar flare on the 12th. Although not very strong, it did last for over six hours. A coronal mass ejection was associated with this flare. Solar flux levels declined from 141 units on the 7th to 117 by the 12th. The average was 132 units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 12th was 145 units, that’s one unit up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined slightly from the start of the period to the end and averaged B5.2 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day; the most disturbed days were the 9th and the 12th, with an Ap index of only 5 units on both days. The average was Ap 4 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 360 and 470 kilometres per second but increased to 550 during the 12th. Particle densities were low every day. Bz never varied more than minus 7 and plus 8 nanoTeslas during the period. Despite falling solar flux levels and thanks to continued low geomagnetic figures, HF propagation generally reached predicted values, with 28MHz open every day.

And finally the solar forecast. This week the slightly more active side of the Sun is expected to be rotating into view. Solar activity is expected to be mostly low to moderate, with C class solar flares taking place every day. There is also a chance of an occasional M class flare taking place. Solar flux levels should increase and be in the 130’s later in the week. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet every day. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 27MHz. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 8MHz. Paths this week to South Africa should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 33MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 26MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1000 and 1600 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 8th January 2012

The news headlines:

• Happy New Year

• ARISSat-1 falls to Earth

• Prestigious award for IOTA heads

The news team and all the staff at RSGB HQ would like to wish our newsreaders, listeners and online readers a very Happy New Year. We would like to remind listeners that some of the arrangements for GB2RS have changed. Now that postal copies are no longer being sent, the deadline has been changed to 10am on Thursday morning. The GB2RS Script will now be uploaded to the Members Only area of the RSGB website on Friday afternoons, and placed in the public area on Mondays. These changes mean that GB2RS will be able to being you much fresher news than ever before.

According to the AMSAT website, ARISSat-1 stopped transmitting shortly after 0600UTC on Wednesday 4 January. It is believed that the satellite re-entered the atmosphere and burned up at around 0700 over the South Atlantic. Full details are at www.arissat1.org.

Roger Ballister, G3KMA and Martin Atherton, G3ZAY are recipients of the Yasme Excellence Award for 2011. This award is for their dedicated work for the Islands on the Air programme. The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct scientific and educational projects related to amateur radio, including DXing and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in underdeveloped countries. Everyone at the RSGB would like to congratulate both Roger and Martin on this well deserved award.

Two UK amateurs have reported hearing strong echoes on their 80m CW signals in the evening last week. Tony, G3ZRJ in Herefordshire and Andrew, GW3OQK in Swansea were in QSO on 1 January when they could hear another signal underneath theirs. It turned out to be an echo of their own signals. Tony said the echoes were initially so strong that he had trouble monitoring his CW keying. The delay in the echoes was of the order of 0.25 to 0.5 seconds and the echo strength hit S9. Tests by Andrew on the evening of 3 January revealed the same phenomena at around 2100Z, albeit weaker. Steve, G0KYA, chairman of the RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee, said that these were unlikely to be round-the-world echoes, but could be due to a form of magnetospheric ducting where signals follow the earth's magnetic field lines down to the southern hemisphere before being bounced back along the same duct. Steve said that this was quite rare and not really understood. UK amateurs are being urged to look out for any echoes on their 80m signals and report any findings to G0KYA@QSL.NET.

An agreement has now been reached with ISIS Launch Services BV, who are based in Delft in the Netherlands, for them to provide a launch of the FUNcube-1 CubeSat. It is anticipated that FUNcube-1 will be launched with a number of other spacecraft from a DNEPR rocket, sometime in the third quarter of 2012. The orbit is still to be defined precisely but it is expected to be nearly circular and approximately sun synchronous. The FUNcube-1 spacecraft will transmit signals that can be easily received directly by schools and colleges for educational outreach purposes. In addition to providing educational outreach for schools and colleges around the world, the spacecraft will also provide a U/V linear transponder for radio amateurs during local night, at weekends and during holiday periods. The production and testing of the spacecraft itself has already been funded via a legacy and other sources. For more information, check out www.funcube.org.uk.

Dutch amateurs have been granted access to two new bands. They now have 501kHz to 505kHz on a secondary basis with power and mode restrictions, plus 70 to 70.5MHz, also on a secondary basis with power restrictions.

Denmark has the Presidency of European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2012 and the callsign 5P12EU will be activated during this period. QSL cards will be available and there is an award scheme for working or hearing this callsign. For all details on QSLing, the award scheme and logs, check out www.5p12eu.dk.

Using the new OPERA datamode, Gary, G4WGT successfully transmitted a signal to Joe, VO1NA on 137.5kHz, a distance of 3,500km. Gary transmitted six full callsigns in a two hour period, which is a big time saving over modes like QRSS. The OPERA mode was envisaged by Graham, G0NBD and coded by Jose Ros, EA5HVK, as a way of providing data operations for stations who only had the CW capability. The most up to date information on this mode can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/O_P_E_R_A_/.

The Winter edition of the 5MHz Newsletter has just been published and includes news and features about 5MHz, including a chart of the current 5MHz allocations worldwide. You can freely access this latest edition of the 5MHz Newsletter from Google Documents at http://tinyurl.com/72mozfx. Although originating in the UK, the 5MHz Newsletter invites worldwide interest, both in readers and contributors. For those without internet access who want a paper copy, send a self-addressed envelope big enough to take folded A4 sheets, together with adequate postage, or IRCs in the case of outside of the UK. Requests should be addressed to the Editor, G4MWO, who is QTHR in the UK Callbook and on QRZ.com

The International Museums Weekend special event will this year take place on the double weekends of 16 & 17 and 23 & 24 June. Radio amateurs are encouraged to participate in this event by setting up stations in their local museums. Organiser Harry, M1BYT asks that all those intending to take part in the event should register their museum via the from on the International Museums Weekend website, www.ukradioamateur.co.uk/imw. He can be contacted via e-mail to harry.m1byt@tiscali.co.uk, or on 075111 28933.

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

The Red Rose Winter Rally will take place on 15 January at George H Carnall Leisure Centre, Kingsway Park, M41 7FJ. The venue is easily accessible from Junction 9 of the M60, opposite the Trafford Centre. Doors open at 11am. There is free car parking, traders, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Details from Steve, on 07502 295 141.

Also on 15 January the Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place at Whitfield Village Hall, Dover CT16 3LY. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy.

Now for the news of special events

Orkney Amateur Radio Club is supporting the SOS fundraising week from 21 to 29 January. There will be a special event station at or near each of the Islands’ three lifeboat stations. GB1OL will be in Stromness; GB2OL will in Longhope, based at the old lifeboat station; and GB4OL will be at Kirkwall Bay. QSLs should be sent direct with the information on the website. http://eu009.webplus.net/gb1ol.html. The stations will be active on most bands, mainly at the weekends, and will concentrate on 80, 40 and 20m.

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

PA8A will be active as PJ4B from the island of Bonaire. Listen out for him between 8 and 22 January. His operation will be holiday style on the high frequency bands only. QSL direct only via PA8A.

VE2XB will be active as J79XB from Dominica for several weeks. His operation will be holiday style on all bands from 10 to 160m and possibly 6 meters if there are openings. QSL via VE2XB as listed on QRZ.com.

On 12 January the VP6T team will start the journey to French Polynesia, with the first stop in Tahiti, which is IOTA OC-046, for 3 days. They will then take a small airplane to Mangareva Island, OC-063. They plan to be active from Tahiti and, if time permits, also from Mangareva as TX6T. QSL via G3TXF.

Now the contest news

This weekend the ARRL RTTY Roundup will be making the datamode portions of the HF bands busy. Activity is on all datamodes. Check out the ARRL website for full rules.

10 January sees the 430MHz UK Activity Contest take place from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Sunday 15th the Super League series continues with 80m CW Affiliated Societies Contests takes place from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using CW only the exchange is signal report and serial number.

And now for the solar factual data for the period from Friday 30 December to Thursday 5 January, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS, on the 6th January.

The solar disc had numerous sunspot groups visible every day. Most were stable and quiet but a couple of groups produced small C class solar flares every day except for the two days when none took place. These flares had very little effect on propagation. Solar flux levels declined from 141 units on the 30th to 130 by the 1st but then recovered to 136 by the 4th. The average was 135. The 90 day solar flux average on the 5th was 144, that's two units down since the last report. X-ray flux levels declined slightly from B5.6 units on the 30th to B3.9 by the 4th. The average was B4.3 units.

Geomagnetic activity was quiet with the Ap index in single figures every day. The average was Ap 5 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds vary between 310 and 430 kilometres per second. Particle densities on some days were moderate, with levels of 20 particles per cubic centimetre on the 30th and 3rd. Bz varied between minus and plus 9 nanoTeslas on the 30th and the 2nd and less than that on the quieter days.

And finally, the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity should be mostly at low levels, with C class solar flares taking place on most days. Solar flux levels should be around the 120s every day. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels every day. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes are expected to be around 27MHz. Darkness hour lows should be around 8MHz. Paths this week to India should have a maximum useable frequency with a 50 percent success rate of around 29MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 percent success rate will be about 23MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1200 hours.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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This is the combined RSGB podcast in iTunes format, compiled by Ed VK2ARE. Please note as the complete text will not be visible on an iPhone/iPOD (limit on device), to read the complete text please go to http://gb2rs.podbean.com.

PLEASE NOTE – this is the last GB2RS broadcast for 2011, the next is scheduled for 8^th. Jan 2012

GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 18th December 2011

The news headlines:

• New version of ROS released

• A Ham’s Night Before Christmas

• PW-Sat to launch in January

A new version of the ROS data software has released by author José, EA5HVK. The updates include improved performance for HF NVIS communications. On 1 December the code structure of ROS HF was changed in order to support mid to low band NVIS propagation. Versions prior to 6.8.4 will be incompatible with the latest version. There is no change to the medium frequency and EME modes. You can download the new version of ROS from www.rosmodem.wordpress.com.

Just in time for the Christmas season, Gary, KN4AQ, has created a video version of Clement Clark Moore's poem The Night Before Christmas. But Gary’s version has a decidedly amateur radio twist. Entitled A Ham's Night Before Christmas, it features QST magazine covers and Christmas-themed advertisements from days gone by. You can see the video at tinyurl.com/KN4AQ-Night-Before-Christmas.

PW-Sat, a 1U CubeSat to be launched on the first VEGA flight in January, will carry a 145 to 435MHz amateur radio transponder with an FM uplink and DSB downlink. More information can be found at www.uk.amsat.org.

Bookings are now being taken for the Northern Cross Rally run by Wakefield and District Radio Society, which will take place on Sunday 12 February 2012. Full details and bookings can be accessed online at www.northerncrossrally.com or by phoning Ken, 2E0SSQ on 07900 563117, before 8pm please.

The actor Tim Allen of Toy Story, The Santa Clause and Galaxy Quest fame, stars in a new American TV series called Last Man Standing. It’s an ABC comedy where Tim Allen plays Mike Baxter, KA0XTT, a married father of three and the director of marketing at an outdoor sporting goods store in Colorado. No news whether it will air on this side of the Atlantic yet.

This is the last GB2RS broadcast of 2011. There will be no news readings on 25 December or 1 January. But we will be back in the New Year, bringing you the all the latest amateur radio news. Transmissions re-start on Sunday 8 January. We would like to take this opportunity to send warm season's greetings to all our listeners and wish everyone a prosperous New Year.

And now for the details of rallies and events

The Friskney & East Lincolnshire Communications Club Mid-Winter Tabletop Sale and Auction will take place on 3 January at the Friskney Village Hall, Church Road, Friskney, Lincolnshire PE22 8RR. The event includes the Special Event Station GB2YR. Doors open 7pm and entry is £1.50. Tables are 2 for £4 and there will be free tea & coffee. Details from Ian Donnelly, 2E0XOD, 07554 362 020.

We have no news of any special events for the next three weeks, so now the HF DX news, compiled from 425 DX News and other sources

SM6CPY will be active as 9X0PY from Rwanda between 24 December and 7 January 2012. His operation will be holiday style on all bands but with a focus on 20 through 10 metres. QSL to his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.

KH0UY and KH0K will be operational from Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands between 7 and 10 January. Their activity will be on 6 to 80m, plus the satellites. QSL via their home callsigns of JO3FRH and JE4SMQ, either direct or by the bureau.

Members of the Russian Robinson Club will attempt to activate another all-time IOTA new one in Alaska, the Bethel County group, NA-240, between 5 and 8 January 2012. They will concentrate on 20, 30 and 40m.

Now the contest news

On 20 December, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 2000 to 2230. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Spread across the four days that follow Christmas Day, the Christmas Cumulatives are an opportunity to take part in four quick-fire contests. Activity is on 6m, 4m, 2m and 70cm simultaneously on all four days, so to do well you not only need to be QRV on all four bands, you need to engage in a lot of band hopping in each of the 2-hour sessions. The 6m and microwave UKACs take place on the 27th and round out the year.

The DARC Christmas Contest takes place for 2½ hours on 26 December using the 3.5 and 7MHz bands. It promises every participant a downloadable certificate. All entry categories are single-op, but the options are then low/high power and CW-only or mixed mode. It is a sprint event in which the DLs get multipliers for working different prefixes, so they will certainly be on the lookout for non-domestic QSOs. Non-DL to non-DL QSOs are valid, so for UK stations there’s no need to concentrate on working Germany.

27 December sees the 50MHz UK Activity Contest and the SHF UK Activity Contest taking place from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange is the same for both contests, signal report, serial number and locator.

Internationally, the New Year begins with a lot of contests. On Bank Holiday Monday, 2 January, it's the ITRS 80m Counties Contest from 1400 to 1700UTC. For those not in Ireland, work EIs and GIs only, giving them a report and serial number. EI and GI stations send a report, serial number and County code, and work everyone. There are various sections to enter.

On 3 January, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest takes place from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On the weekend of 7-8th, the ARRL RTTY Roundup will be making the datamode portions of the HF bands busy. Activity is on all datamodes. Work everyone, but operate for no more than 24 of the 30 hours. There are low- and high-power categories for single- and multi-operator stations. Entrants are limited to a single transmitter, irrespective of section, and there are no single-band entries. Send a signal report and serial number. US stations will send a signal report and their 2-letter State code, while Canadian stations will send a signal report and their 3-letter Province code.

If Morse is your thing, on the same weekend you might like to entry the EUCW 160m CW Party. There are two 3-hour sessions, the first late on Saturday night and the second early the following morning. Members of clubs affiliated to the European CW Association send RST + name + club + membership number, while others send RST + name + ‘NM’ for non member.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 5th to the 11th of December, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 12th of December.

Numerous sunspot groups were visible every day with up to eleven groups visible on the 8th. Most were small and quiet but a few groups produced a small number of low level C class solar flares every day except for the 6th. This was the first day when solar activity was at very low levels since the 28th of August. Solar flux levels declined every day from 158 units on the 5th to 134 by the 11th. The average was 146. The 90 day solar flux average on the 11th was 146, that’s two units up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined from B5.2 units on the 5th to B3.9 by the 9th, the average was B4.5 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day, the most disturbed day was the 10th with an Ap index of 8 units. The average was Ap 3 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds decline from 410 kilometres per second on the 5th to 280 by the 7th, after which speeds recovered to around 500 kilometres per second on the 10th and 11th. Particle densities remained low every day. Bz showed little variation on the quiet days and between minus and plus 9 nanoTeslas on the most disturbed day.

Finally, a word about these reports. Up to now they have been produced in two versions. One, for the postal version of the script, prepared by Neil, G0CAS, covering the week up to the Sunday before transmission. A second, updated, version edited by Martin, G3USF, was circulated on Saturdays. From the New Year a single version, edited by G0CAS, will carry material from the Friday to the following Thursday. This will be dispatched to HQ on a Friday morning. The Saturday version will be discontinued. However, should a major development occur on a Saturday, we will do our best to post a late revision onto the Society's website.

Many thanks are due to the organisations where we use their data on a regular daily basis, without which it would be impossible to compile this report, Also to the staff at RSGB HQ and the GB2RS newsreaders and listeners, Martin and myself would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year with lots of DX. See you on the 8th of January.

And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

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