GB2RS News 26th November 1995
David Hough
news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs
and short-wave listeners.
The RSGB Annual Meeting takes place on Saturday the 2nd of December at
the Royal Society of Chemistry, New Burlington Place, London. Doors open
at 12 noon and an RSGB book stall and buffet lunch will be available.
The Annual General Meeting starts at 2.00 pm and members are asked to
take their membership card along as proof of identity. Full details,
including a map, are given in the Annual Report which was posted to all
members with the November RadCom. Non-members are welcome to attend as
observers.
A new GB2RS broadcast starts next Sunday, the 3rd of December, from the
station of G1ZCW near Louth in Lincolnshire. The transmission is on 70
centimetres, channel SU21 at 10.00am. Although initially the broadcasts
will be made with low power, this is an excellent site and is expected
to give wide coverage. Reports either to G1ZCW or to the GB2RS Manager,
Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ, would be much appreciated.
A new permanent special event station will be opened officially by RSGB
President Clive Trotman, GW4YKL, at Bletchley Park next Sunday, the 3rd
of December. The station, which has the callsign GB2BP, will be run
jointly by the Bletchley Park Museum Trust and the Milton Keynes and
District Amateur Radio Society.
The 2 metre beacon at Wrotham in Kent, GB3VHF, which operates on 144.925
MHz, returned to service on the 16th of November. It had been off the
air for a month due to a failure of the electronic keyer.
Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, which
is edited by Chris Page, G4BUE:
The CQ World Wide DX CW contest is taking place this weekend, and there
are many DXpedition stations active on CW from rare locations.
From the American Virgin Islands, WP2AHW is active from now until
Tuesday the 28th of December. After the CQ World Wide contest he will be
active on CW on the LF and WARC bands.
From Panama, AA4LI will sign AA4LI/HP1 from Friday the 1st of December
until the 17th of December. Activity will be mainly on CW.
And from Albania, ZA1NG is a newly-licensed station who will be active
for at least a year. The operator was formerly TL8NG, and his QSL
information is via WA1ECA.
Now news of some special event stations:
GB0KHL will be on the air from Kinnaird Head Lighthouse on Friday the
1st and Saturday the 2nd of December. The station will be operated by
members of the Banff and District Amateur Radio Club and celebrates the
anniversary of the first lighthouse being established at Kinnaird Head.
SP0TPAX is a special event station in Poland which will be on the air
from the 1st to 15th of December. It commemorates the 70th anniversary
of the first amateur radio contact in Poland which took place on the 6th
of December 1925 between Tadeusz Heftman, whose callsign was TPAX, and
Dutch amateur Ten Kate, NOPM. SP0TPAX will be active on all the HF bands
on CW, SSB and RTTY.
Next the Rally News:
The West Manchester Radio Club is holding its winter "Red Rose Rally" at
the Horwich Leisure Centre near Bolton today, Sunday the 26th of
November.
The Bridgend and District Amateur Radio Club Rally also takes place
today at the Bridgend Recreation Centre. RSGB Morse tests are available
on demand and candidates are reminded to take two passport-size
photographs and the appropriate fee. Doors open at 11.00 am, or 10.30 am
for disabled visitors. Talk-in is on 2 metres channel S22.
The Verulam Amateur Radio Club rally takes place at the Watford Leisure
Centre in Horseshoe Lane, Garston, near Watford next Sunday, the 3rd of
December. The event features trade stands, a bring and buy stand and a
grand raffle. Doors open at 10.00 am and further details may be obtained
from Ian, G0PAU, on 01923 222284.
The Thames Valley Electronics Rally also takes place on the 3rd of
December, at Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury on Thames, in Middlesex.
This event features manufacturers and retailers, antenna supplies, a
bring and buy stall, specialist groups, and computer and component
retailers. Doors open at 10.30 am, and for further details ring 01494
450504.
The first Portland Amateur Radio Club Amateur Radio Rally and Craft Fair
will take place at the Burton Cliff Hotel, Burton Bradstock, near
Bridport in Dorset next Sunday, the 3rd of December. The event features
traders; local radio club, RNARS and RAIBC stands; a Novice information
desk; and a bring and buy stall. Doors open at 10.30 am, and for further
information contact Carol Houldon, 2E1DQZ, on 01305 823373.
And next Sunday, the 3rd of December, the SDX Support Group will be
hosting an Amateur Radio and Computing Rally at the Maryhill Community
Central Halls, Maryhill Road in Glasgow. There will be two lecture
streams and a large RSGB presence at this event north of the border.
RSGB Council or Committee members will be represented at a Packet Forum,
and the RSGB VHF Committee Forum, HF Contests Committee Forum and
Council Forum. Contact Raymond James, GM4CXM, on 0141 942 6657 for
further details.
The Caernarfon 2 metre repeater GB3AR, which operates on channel R4, is
still operating without a masthead pre-amplifier. The Arfon Repeater
Group apologises to users and is taking steps to investigate the
problem. For further details contact the repeater keeper, Brian Davies,
GW4KAZ, on 01286 682130 during office hours.
The 70 centimetre voice repeater at Stoke-on-Trent, GB3ST, which
operates on channel RB2, became operational from a new site on the 12th
of November.
Now for the HF contest news:
There are no RSGB HF contests this weekend, but the CQ World Wide DX CW
Contest is taking place over the full 48 hours of the 25th and 26th of
November. Operation can be on any band from 160 to 10 metres, excluding
the three WARC bands. Exchange an RST report and CQ Zone - the UK is in
Zone 14.
The "TOPS" Activity Contest takes place next weekend, from 1800 UTC on
Saturday the 2nd of December, for 24 hours. Activity is between 3510 and
3560 kHz, CW only, and logs should be sent to OE1TKW.
Next some VHF contest news:
We know of no VHF contests this weekend, but the penultimate session of
the RSGB 432 MHz Cumulative Contest takes place tomorrow evening, Monday
the 27th of November. The rules are in the June RadCom. Please note that
this contest takes place between 1930 and 2200 local time, as printed in
the rules, and not at the times stated in the Contest Exchange column in
the November RadCom.
And now the solar factual data:
The period from the 13th to the 19th of November saw solar activity at
very low levels and the geomagnetic field at quiet levels. Sunspot
numbers increased from 12 on the 13th, to 61 by the 18th, with a mean of
37. Solar flux levels increased slightly from 73 units on the 13th, to
77 units by the 15th. The average for the period was 75 units. No solar
flares were reported. The X-Ray flux increased slightly, from A1.0 units
to A3.7 units by the 17th, with an average of A1.7 units. The electron
fluence remained at a moderate level throughout the period. The 90-day
solar flux average on the 19th was 75 units, the same as last week.
Geomagnetic activity was down to very quiet levels, with an Ap index of
3 on the 14th and the 15th. Activity increased slightly, and by the 19th
the Ap index was 10. The average for the period was Ap 5 units. The aa
indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period
from the 6th to the 12th of November, saw levels decline from 'active'
on the 6th - with 38.5 nanoTeslas - to 'quiet' for the rest of the
period. Only 9.4 nanoTeslas was recorded on the 12th with an average of
13.7 nanoTeslas, which is K2.
I'll repeat the figures: spots - 37, flux - 75, Ap index - 5, X-Ray flux
- A1.7.
Now the ionospheric data for Central France:
The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon
for the period from the 10th to the 14th of November, increased from
7.1MHz on the 10th, peaked at 8MHz on the 12th, but then declined to
6.8MHz by the 14th. The average was 7.3MHz. The darkness hour lows were
more stable, and varied little day to day, with an average of 2.8MHz.
The daytime highs took place between 1100 and 1500 hours, with the
darkness hour lows at 0600 hours every day except for the 12th, when it
took place at 1900 hours.
I'll repeat the figures: highs - 7.3MHz, lows - 2.8MHz.
And lastly the solar forecast:
This week, with the quiet side of the sun looking our way, solar
activity is expected to remain at very low levels. Solar flux levels are
expected to decline slightly and be at the low 70s for most of the week.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at mostly unsettled levels, but
there is an outside chance that levels could increase to sub-storm
levels around midweek. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight hours are
expected to be about 23MHz for the south and 20MHz for the north. The
darkness hour lows are expected to be about 9MHz.
And that's the end of the solar information.
Finally in the main news, SSL has informed the Society that as of last
Wednesday morning, the latest callsigns allocated were in the G0 Whisky
Quebec and G7 Victor X-Ray series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa
November and 2 1 Echo Papa series.
--
GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.
Tel +44 1707 659 015
Fax +44 1707 645 105
David Hough
Meeting for Sunday the 26th of November:
Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club has a fox hunt. For further details
telephone 01256 25517.
Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of November:
Dorking and District Radio Society gathers for a talk and demonstration
of fast and slow scan TV by Alvin, G6DTW. Contact John, G3AEZ on 01306
631236 for more information.
Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk on Digital
TV by Bruce Randall. For further details contact Stuart Swain on 01705
472846.
Verulam Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk on Raynet by Trevor,
G4KUJ. For further details contact Walter, G3PMF on 01923 262180.
Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of November:
Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a construction contest.
For further details contact Ian, G0RTF on 0494 676391.
Chiltern Amateur Radio Club has a surplus equipment sale. More
information can be obtained from Ron, G4YAN on 01494 534216.
Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For
details telephone 01903 753893.
Meetings for Friday the 1st of December:
Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association has its Annual General Meeting.
Telephone 01242 242336 for further information.
East Kent Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Playing with
Antennas' by Erwin, G4LQI. Telephone 0227 743070 for more details.
Maidstone YMCA Amateur Radio Society has a Christmas social gathering.
Telephone 01622 729462 for further details.
Medway Amateur Receiving and Transmitting Society gathers for a talk
entitled 'Microwave Ovens' by Peter, G0GIR. Contact Gloria, G3VUN on
01634 710023 for more information.
Radio Society of Harrow has a demonstration of Cellular Radio Data by
Chris, G4AUF. Details from Jim, G0AOT on 01895 632377.
Silverthorn Radio Club has a junk sale. Contact Dave, G0KHC on 0181 505
1871 for further details.
NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST
Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of November:
Plymouth Radio Club meets for a talk by Trevor, G3ZYY on the
'Presentation of Talks'. Telephone 01752 563222 for details.
RSGB City of Bristol Group has a construction contest. Contact Dave,
G4NKT on 0117 9672124 for more details.
Meeting for Wednesday the 29th of November:
South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a QSL card evening. Telephone 01275
834282 for details.
Meetings for Thursday the 30th of November:
Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a VHF evening. Telephone 0117 9654886 for
details.
Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. Details from Cedric
White on 01258 473845.
NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA
Meeting for Monday the 27th of November:
Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society has an RSGB video night.
Further details from Paul, G4YQC on 01394 273507 (evenings).
Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of November:
Ipswich Radio Club has a CW practice evening. For details contact Andy,
G7SMN on 01473 212 891.
Norfolk Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'SWR
Measurements' by Stuart, G3XYO. Telephone 01603 789792 for more
information.
Meetings for Thursday the 30th of November:
Colchester Radio Amateurs meets for a talk on computers by Jonathan,
G0DVJ. Telephone 01206 383510 for details.
Kings Lynn Amateur Radio Club has a surplus equipment sale. Details from
Ian, G0BMS on 01553 765614.
Yarmouth Radio Club has a used equipment sale. Contact Tony, G3NHU on
01493 721173 for more details.
Meeting for Friday the 1st of December:
Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Test
Equipment and Surface Mount Devices' by John, G0JLF. Telephone 01775
750382 for details.
NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS
Meetings for Monday the 27th of November:
Leicester Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For details telephone
0116 2917250.
Stratford upon Avon and District Radio Society gathers for a talk
entitled 'Baluns and Matching' by David, G3PDQ. Telephone 01789 773286
for details.
Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of November:
Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has its Christmas Dinner. More details
from Barry, G0TPG on 01527 542266.
Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled
'Amateur Radio Satellites - Are They Still Up There?' by Art, G3KWY. For
further details contact G0PHT whose address is correct in the latest
RSGB Call Book.
Worksop Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. Telephone
01909 487741 for more information.
Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of November:
Derby and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Tim, G7GFW
entitled 'Hard Disk Drives - Their Internal Mysteries Explained'. For
details contact Richard, G3VGW on 01773 852475.
South Notts Amateur Radio Club pays a visit to a Royal Mail Sorting
Office. For details telephone 01509 672734.
Telford and District Amateur Radio Society meets for an open forum
entitled 'Where Do We Go from Here?'. Contact Paul, G2RSA on 01952
261923
NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
Meetings for Monday the 27th of November:
Barnsley and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a demonstration on
Transmitter Fingerprinting by Ernie, G4LUE. For further details contact
Ernie, G4LUE on 0836 748958.
Sheffield Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk on map reading.
Telephone 0114 2446282 for more details.
Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of November:
Chester and District Amateur Radio Society has a construction contest.
For more information telephone 0151 608 3229.
Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a surplus sale.
Telephone 0151 722 1178 for more details.
Wakefield and District Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Further
details from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519.
Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of November:
Hornsea Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. Telephone
01964 562258 for details.
Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society meets for a lecture and slides about
'Mute Swans'. For details telephone 01606 592207.
Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club has its Christmas Dinner. Contact
Bob, G4NCI on 0151 606 8989 for further information.
Meeting for Thursday the 30th of November:
Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a 'films' night. Details from Kathy,
G0RLO on 01274 496222.
Meetings for Friday the 1st of December:
East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk on the Internet by
Matthew, 2E1CIQ. Details from Alistair, G4OLK on 01642 475671.
South Manchester Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Practical PCs'
by G0AOV. Telephone 0161 969 1964 for details.
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND
Meeting for Sunday the 26th of November:
Paisley (YMCA) Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Life
Before the Licence' by Alistair, GM3AXX. For details contact GM0PYM at
90 George Street, Paisley.
Meeting for Tuesday the 28th of November:
Dundee Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk on packet radio by Drew,
GM1JTK. Telephone 01382 739179 for more details.
Meeting for Wednesday the 29th of November:
Falkirk and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk and
presentation on the Radiocommunications Agency. Further information from
John, GM6WQH on 01324 861708.
David Hough
Ian Wade <i...@dowrmain.demon.co.uk> writes:
> In article <30B5A6...@dra.hmg.gb> rta...@dra.hmg.gb "Roger Taylor" writes:
>
> > David Hough wrote:
> > >
> > > This week's news was put on the internet with the assistance of a 5/32"
> > > drill, which I had to use to drill a hole in the disk case to convince
> > > my disk drive to read a 1.44MB format instead of the 720K format.
> > >
> > Glad to read that some people are still resourceful.
> >
>
>
> All he needs now is a "Plastic Fragment Removal Kit" for his
> disk drive ..... :---)(
>
I only used it once and then binned it. One thing I am not short of is
720K disks - I don't use them that often and over the last 18 months or
so I have received one a week. I also have an impressive collection of
A6 size Jiffy bags :-)
Dave
--
da...@llondel.demon.co.uk My other .sig is a work of art
Neil Lasher
One thing I am not short of is
>720K disks - I don't use them that often and over the last 18 months or
>so I have received one a week. I also have an impressive collection of
>A6 size Jiffy bags :-)
>
I have cheap A6 envelopes too.
Neil