GB2RS News - Sunday 7th November 2010

• Ofcom to automatically renew Short Contest Callsigns
• RSGB Museum Surplus Equipment
• 4th Bath Buildathon announced

At the Ofcom and RSGB Forum on 19 October it was agreed that, exceptionally, holders of individual Short
this year. The assessment at the end of the year would also not be applied to clubs holding SCCs. Instead
Ofcom will automatically renew all SCCs for a further 3 years. Any individuals or clubs holding SCCs that
they will not want to renew should inform the Amateur and Maritime Team at Ofcom as soon as possible. All
are reminded that the assessment criteria remains, and that individuals or clubs that envisage requiring
SCCs after 2014 should appraise themselves of, and work toward, meeting the criteria. Ofcom has a detailed
explanation of the criteria for Short Contest Call signs on their website.

The first RSGB Museum Surplus Sale closed last Sunday and the initial items all sold. Several hundred
people registered as watchers of the items and eight lucky people walked away with bargains including an
IC-720 and a Hallicrafters Skyrider SX23. Proceeds of all the sales will be going towards the costs of the
National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. This week over 20 items have been put up for sale and the auction
ends this evening, 7th November. Several hundred people are watching these items too. In the first few days
it was obvious that the Microwave Modules linear amplifier and the Eddystone 960 are on the most-wanted
list. For details of the surplus equipment check out the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/auction.

The date of the 4th Bath Buildathon has been confirmed as Saturday 8 January 2011. For those that are not
familiar with the concept, the basic idea is for a group of radio enthusiasts to lock themselves in a room for a
day and build a radio project under the watchful eye of a few experienced mentors. These events are ideal
for Intermediate students or licensed amateurs who has never raised solder smoke in anger before. This
year the event will cost £55 to include a 20m SSB superhet receiver kit, room hire, tea, coffee, etc. The Bath
Buildathon Crew will be providing all tools and test equipment required and no previous experience is
needed, just a bucket load of enthusiasm! Booking forms for the Buildathon are available on request from
g0fuw@tiscali.co.uk or by post. Steve is QTHR in the Yearbook and on QRZ.com.

On 1 October, at the National Hamfest in Newark, a new Amateur Radio Society was launched for lifeboat
enthusiasts. Called the Lifeboat Amateur Radio Society, membership is open to everyone for a flat
membership fee of just £10 per year for those aged 16 and above; under-16s are free. Clubs may affiliate
themselves with the society for only £40 per year. The club’s website is at
www.lifeboat-amateur-radio.org.uk. The next SOS Day will take place on 28 January 2011 and the Lifeboat
Amateur Radio Society will, once again, be organising SOS Radio Week to coincide with it. Taking part is
easy, you simply register on the event website at www.sosradioweek.org.uk.

A short wave station on the African continent is refusing to leave the amateur-only portion of 40 metres even
after notification from the government. Radio Uganda continues to operate on the amateur radio frequency of
7.195MHz. Uganda radio amateurs have been authorised by Uganda Communications Commission to use
the band 7.1 to 7.2MHz.

Many UK amateurs who operate on 501 - 504kHz have reported over the past month reception of an
wideband signal between 498 and 502kHz. The RSGB is investigating the matter, but it is possible that it is
an early trial of a so called e-Navigation MFSK system that the maritime service is proposing for this part of
the spectrum at WRC-12 preparation meetings.

Lubomir, OK2BVG has been given permission to operate between 501-504kHz with maximum power of 20W
ERP. This permission is valid until the 1 September 2011. Lubomir would like to thank the executive staff of
the Czech Telecommunications Office and OK1HH of the Czech Radio Club for their assistance. This means
that 11 countries in Region 1 are now known to be authorised in this part of the 500kHz band and more
information can be found on the IARU Region 1 website.

Whitton Amateur Radio Group is planning a six week Intermediate course starting 10 November and a
Foundation course early in the New Year. Whitton Amateur Radio Group can be contacted on 0870 760
5082 or by e-mail to g0ofn@msn.com.

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

Today, 7 November, the Kempton Rally is taking place at Kempton Park racecourse, Staines Road East,
Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex TW16 5AQ. There will be a talk-in station on 145.550MHz using the callsign
GB2KRT. Doors open at 10am and there will be trade stands, lectures and an RSGB bookstand. Coulsdon
Amateur Transmitting Society will be running a Bring and Buy stand. Details from Paul, M0CJX, on 0845 165
0351.

Also today, 7 November, the Foyle & District ARC Annual Rally is being held at the Best Western White
Horse Hotel, 68 Clooney Road, Derry BT47 3PA. Doors open at 12 noon and there will be trade stands,
special interest groups and RSGB representation.

On Saturday 13 November, the Rochdale & District RS Traditional Radio Rally will take place at St Vincent's
Church Hall, Caldershaw Road, Rochdale OL12 7QL. Note that this is a Saturday rally. Doors open at
10.30am and admission is £2.50 with concessions for under 12s and seniors. There will be a Bring & Buy.
More details from Dave, G0PUD, on 07710 243 107.

Now for the news of special events

• From 9 November GB2AD will be on the air from Lurgan in County Armagh for Armisitice Day.
• Coventry Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB70CBC for the Coventry Blitz Commemoration from
• Coventry Cathedral during November. Operation will be on an 'as available basis' on 2m and the HF bands between 80 and 10m. Further information from G8GMU on 0247636 4235 or by e-mail to info@andrewphotgraphic.co.uk.

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

DL5MFL, DL4MAQ and DF9MV are planning to be active from Senegal from 8 to 18 November. The group
will be guests of 6W7RV at the Le Calao resort and will operate dedicated holiday style. A 6V7 callsign has
been requested. QSL via DE0MST.

The low band operation at 5R8X in Madagascar is now under way. 160, 80, 40 and 30m will be activated
during the dark hours every night. Activity will run for 8 days, until 9 November. They plan to use 1822.5,
3505.5, 3525, 7005.5 and 7025 and 10105.5kHz, almost exclusively CW.

Ulli, DL2AH is on Tristan da Cunha, IOTA reference AF-029, and will operate as ZD9AH until 6 December.
This is not a DXpedition and he plans to operate mainly SSB on 40, 20, 17, 12 and 10 metres with some
RTTY activity during the last two weeks of November. QSL via DL2AH, direct or via the bureau.

Sigi, DL7DF, will lead 9U0A operations from Burundi until 11 November. One station will be full time on
digital modes. QSL to DL7DF direct or to the German DARC Bureau.

HA5UK and HA5AO will be on Efata Island, OC-035, Vanuatu, until 15 November, signing YJ0HA, all bands
and modes, including SSTV. QSL via HA5UK direct and LoTW.

Now the contest news

The first event this week is the 432MHz UK Activity Contest on 9 November from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using
all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The SSB leg of the 80m Club Sprints on Thursday 11th. The event takes place between 2000 and 2130UTC
and the exchange is serial number and name.

On Saturday 13 November, between 2000 and 2300UTC, we have the annual Club Calls Contest on 160m.
This event often sees clubs making a special effort to get new operators to take part under supervision.
Exchange a report, a serial number and, if you are a member of an RSGB affiliated society, the full official
name of your club and the word ‘member’. For those using a club’s own callsign, say ‘club station’ instead of
‘member’. Some clubs have very long names, so there’s a list on the Contest Committee website at
www.rsgbcc.org/hf/clubcalls.xls of over 100 approved abbreviations for club names to be given in submitted
logs. You still need to give the full name during each QSO. Something important for the contest managers of
clubs to do is ensure that all the members who partake give exactly the same club name. This can done by
giving everyone a cue card to place in a prominent place on their station while the contest is running. A log-
keeping tip for participants is to key in ‘M’ for Member, ‘CS’ for Club Station and ‘NC’ for No Club while
QSOs are taking place, and expand the abbreviations to the full words afterwards.

16 November sees the UHF UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using the 1.3 and 2.3GHz bands
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The RTTY leg of the Worked All Europe DX Contest takes place over the weekend 13 and 14 November
from 0000 to 2359UTC. Unlike the CW leg held in August and SSB leg held in September, in the RTTY leg
everybody works everybody. Single op stations are limited to 36 hours out of 48. The exchange is signal
report and serial number.

And now the solar factual data for the period from the 25th to the 31st of October, compiled by Neil
Clarke, G0CAS on the 1st of November.

The solar disc had sunspots visible every day. Solar activity increased to low on four days when in total six C
class solar flares occurred. The largest was a C5 which took place early on the 31st. Several coronal mass
ejections also took place but had very little effect. Solar flux levels varied little day to day and averaged 85
units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 31st remained at 81 units for another week. X-ray flux levels also
varied little and averaged A9.9 units. Geomagnetic activity was quiet every day. The average was Ap 4 units.

The most disturbed day was the 26th with an Ap of 8. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar
wind speeds decline from 670 kilometres per second on the 26th to 330 by the 320 by the 31st. Particle
densities were very low with only 2 particles per cubic centimetre except for the 31st when around midday
there was a brief increase to 10 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz never varied more than minus 5 and plus
8 nanoTeslas during the period.

And now the solar forecast. Later this week the more active side of the Sun is expected to rotate into view.
Solar activity could increase after midweek. Solar flux levels should increase and by next weekend be in the
mid 80’s, or even higher. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet every day. MUFs during daylight
hours at equal latitudes should be around 26MHz for the south and 23MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows
should be about 9MHz. Paths this week to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency of
around 25MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 19MHz. The
best time to try this path will be between 0900 and 1400 hours.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

Next, the Local News

• On Monday 8 November Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club is on the air and having a natter night. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 0191 477 0036.
• On Monday 8 November Bolton Wireless Club is having a talk on HF digimode operation, including the new APSK mode, by Chris, G4HYG et al. For details, send an email to boltonwireless@gmail.com.
• On Monday 8 November Macclesfield & District Radio Society is having an introduction to VHF contesting. More information from Roger Bell, M0GMG, on 0771 258 9163.
• On Monday 8 November Scarborough Amateur Radio Society is watching the Red Arrows 1983 American tour Classic Manoeuvres DVD. More information from Jerry Scarr, G6LBL, on 01751 476601.
• On Monday 8 November Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is having a demo of the dip and loading tuning technique. More information from Peter Day, G3PHO, by email to sarc@g3pho.org.uk.
• On Monday 8 November Workington and Distrct Radio and IT Group has its monthly meeting and is in the air. For more information get in touch with Barry Easdon, G0RZI, on 01946 812092.
• On Tuesday 9 November Halifax & District Amateur Radio Society continues its Foundation and Intermediate training, looking at PSK31 interfaces, using the club's rig and Morse practice. Contact Martin, M0GQB, on 01422 341317.
• On Wednesday 10 November Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is having a talk on audio recording by G4YTV. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.
• On Wednesday 10 November Maltby & District Amateur Radio Society is on the air. Contact Keith, G1PQW, on 07701 156 678.
• On Wednesday 10 November Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society is etching circuit boards for the frequency counter project. Contact Peter Paul Fox, G8HAV, on 01606 553401.
• On Thursday 11 November Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is participating in the 80m Sprint, Home stations. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.
• On Thursday 11 November Preston Amateur Radio Society is having a talk on 4m and 6m DX by Neil, G0JHC. Contact Richard, M0RDZ, on 0785 587 3566.
• On Thursday 11 November Ripon & District Amateur Radio Society Club is on the air. Details from Rob Hall, M0RBY, on 0787 608 5631.
• On Thursday 11 November Wakefield & District Radio Society is having a talk and slide show by John Carter, G7JTH, entitled When I Was At Sea. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117.
• On Friday 12 November East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club has its technical forum. For more information contact Alistair, G4OLK, on 01642 475 671.
• On Saturday 13 November Hornsea Amateur Radio Club is taking part in the Top Band Club Calls contest, Home stations. Contact Gordon MacNaught, G3WOV, on 01377 240573.
• On Saturday 13 November Wakefield & District Radio Society continues its Foundation and Advanced courses. Contact Ken, 2E0SSQ, on 07900 563117.