GB2RSNEWS
Sunday11thMarch2018
Thenewsheadlines:
- Changes to Scotland GB2RS readings
- RAYNET active during recent extreme weather
- National Radio Centre open six days a week
Due to antenna damage at the station of GB2RS news reader Jon, GM3JIJ in Stornoway, the news will be read by Jim, GM4NTL from Dumfries at 12.30pm on 3.640MHz each Sunday until the antenna repairs are completed. We thank Jim for stepping in to cover this news reading and hope that Jon can swiftly repair his antennas.
RAYNET groups around the country were activated during the heavy snowfall last weekend.Cardiff District RAYNET were called in to assist with the transportation of key personnel, such as community care workers, as well as assisting stranded motorists to reach safety.Lothian Fife RAYNET groupsprovided a communications net for the local 4x4 Response group, passing over 800 messages during their sixty-five hours of continuous operation.Glasgow Clyde RAYNETassisted Scotserve, a voluntary medical response group, who were transferring staff to and from the children’s hospital in Glasgow, by giving them updates on local road conditions.In West Devon, a network was set up on the usual frequency with twelve operators responding and available within 40 minutes. Virtually all the rest of the group came online within a further 30 minutes. Cornwall Group linked up with them within this time to give a good continuous cover either side of the River Tamar in Devon and Cornwall plus the three operators already covering North Devon.Kent County RAYNET members with 4x4s turned their hand to transport as the County Emergency Centre sought help for stranded health and care workers. Altogether, they drove a total of 350 miles ferrying district nurses and care home staff around Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the Isle of Sheppey. Further details on RAYNET’s activities and how to join can be found at
The RSGB is planning to open the National Radio Centre on a regular basis, every Monday, starting on Monday the 2nd of April which is Easter Monday. This now means that the National Radio Centre, inside Bletchley Park is open to the public six days a week. The National Radio Centre attracts around 26,000 visitors a year and numbers for February are showing an increase over last year. The RSGB are extremely grateful to the existing volunteers and new members of the team who have enabled this growth. Don’t forget RSGB Members can download a free entry voucher from the RSGB website.
Last week, on the 1st of March, an attempt to hack the Echolink computer for GB3NC was made. Because of the attempted hack, there is no Echolink facility currently on the repeater, as a re-engineer of the machine is being conducted. Assuming the re-engineer is successful, it is hoped to restore the facility within the next couple of weeks. Further information from Roger, G4OCO, via
Denby Dale ARS invite registrations for this year'sMillsOn The Air weekend that takes place over the weekend 12 and 13 May. Please visit and follow the links.
Once again during the weekend of the 17thand 18th of March, theCadet Forces will be operating on the UK 5MHz band using the allocated frequencies for the purpose of Exercise Blue Ham. All the usual live logging and map plotting will take place on the Alphacharlie web portal that will allow participants to see up to date information. Upon conclusion of the exercise, amateurs who have met the requirement for number of contacts can submit their log sheet to the Blue HamEx Co-Originator for a certificate to be issued. Please note this year the exercise has different QSL exchange information plus, for the first time, PSK31 mode will be in use, all the details can be viewed on
The D2TI DXpedition to Tigres Island, AF-108, has been cancelled due to a whole host of ongoing factors. The Russian team had hoped to be active mid-March for about a week.
The 91st RSGB AGM takes place on the 21st of April in Birmingham. Voting starts next week and all the relevant information is in the April RadCom that should arrive with UK Members next week and overseas Members shortly after that. RSGB Members have until the 19th of April to cast their votes, or do so in person at the AGM.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, the 11th of March, the Dover Radio Club Rally will be held in Whitfield Village Hall, Sandwich Road, Manley Close, Whitfield CT163LY. There will be a talk-in station. Doors open from 10am and entry is £2. The auction starts at 12.30pm. Catering is available on site. Details from Aaron Coote, 2E0FQRon 0771 465 4267.
On the 18th of March the Hack Green Bunker Rally will take place at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Hack Green, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL.This will be a sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. Doors open 10am and there will be refreshments available onsite. Contact 01270 623 353, for more information.
The Exeter Radio & Electronics Rally planned for the 4th of March was been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. The organisers have re-scheduled for the 29th of April.
To get yourrallyoreventinformationintoGB2RSNews,RadComandontheRSGBwebsite, email details as early as possible to .
AndnowtheDXnewscompiledfrom425DXNewsandothersources
Hartwig, DL7BC will be active again as FY/DL7BC/P from French Guiana until the 26th of March.
Dom, M1KTA will be active as C6AKT from Eleuthera Island, NA-001, in the Bahamas until the 17th of March. He will operate QRP CW on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of The World or via his home callsign.
Ben, DL1RNT will be active holiday style as PJ2/DL1RNT from Curacao, SA-099,until the15th of March. He will operate mainly CW on the HF bands. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.
An Italian DXpedition Team will be operating asTJ3TT from Cameroon from the 15th to the 29th of March. Six operators will be transmitting on the 10 to 160m bands using CW and SSB withthree stations; RTTY will be used on 20 metres only. QSL via I2YSB and eventuallyLogbook of The World. More information at
Ten German operators will be active as XR0YD from Easter Island until the 15th of March. They will be on all bands from 10 to 160m using CW, SSB and Digital. QSL via Club Log OQRS.
A large multi-national team led by Hrane, YT1AD will sign 9M0W from the Spratly Islands until the 13th of March. Activity will be on all bands from 6 to 160m using CW,SSB and Digital. Direct QSLs should be sent to YT1AD.
Iain, G4SGX isoperating from Belize until the 16th of March. His actual location will be Ambergris Caye which counts as NA-073 for the IOTA Award. The callsign to look for is V31GX. He will be mainly on CW with possibly some FT8. QSL via Club Log OQRS.
Nowthespecialeventnews
The Radio Amateur Old Timers' Association will be operating GB60OT during 2018 as a part of its diamond jubilee celebrations. GB60OTwill be active from the 17th to the 25th of March operated by Simon, M0TRJ.
GB0WM will be on the air fromWoolsthorpe Manor as part ofBritish Science Week on the 17th and 18th of March. Woolsthorpe Manor, Water Lane, Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Grantham NG33 5PD is the birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton. Entrance fees will apply at this National Trust property.
Several stations will be on air next weekend as part of the StPatrick’s Award, full details can be found at Two of those stations are GB9SPD that will be active from Kircubbin, County Down BT22 2RP and GB1SPD that will operate from the Ulster American Folk Park, 2 Mellon Road, Omagh BT78 5QU.
Nowthecontestnews
The Commonwealth Contest ends its 24 hour run at 1000UTC today, the 11th. It’s CW only on the 3.5 to 29MHz bands. The exchange is signal report and serial number, with HQ stations also sending the letters HQ.
Today, the 11th, the 2nd 70MHz Cumulative Contest runs from 1000 to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 3.5MHz contest takes place from 1800UTC to 2200UTC today, the 11th of March. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Entries must be with the contest manager by the first of April. Full details of the rules and log sheets may be obtained from
On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2000UTC. It is followed by the 432MHz UK Activity Contest, which uses all modes, from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both is signal report, serial number and locator.
There’s a similar evening on Thursday with the 70MHz FM Activity Contest from 1900 to 2000UTC, then the all-mode 70MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 80m Club Championships takes place from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using CW only the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Next weekend the BARH HF RTTY Contest runs from 0200UTC on the 17th to 0200UTC on the 19th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report, serial number and time.
Also next weekend, the Russian DX contest runs from 1200UTC on the 17th to 1200UTC on the 18th. Using CW and SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands the exchange is signal report and serial number with Russian stations sending the Oblast code too.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Friday the 9th ofMarch.
Quieter geomagnetic conditions helped improve HF propagation this week. At times the K index was actually zero, thanks to a respite from the continual coronal holes on the sun that have caused disruption.The solar flux index continued to hover around the high 60s due to a lack of visible sunspots.
Despite this there was plenty of DX to be had. Chris, G0DWV with a well-equipped station, reports working nearly every state in the US during last weekend’s ARRL International DX Contest. Others were busy chasing 3C3W in Equatorial Guinea, XR0YD on Easter Island, 3D2EU on Rotuma Island and S01WS in Western Sahara among others.This just shows that quiet geomagnetic conditions can benefit DX hunting, even if there are zero sunspots.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be between 68 and 72, and we may have quiet geomagnetic conditions until around the 15th when the effects of a large coronal hole may see the K index rise to four or five. The unsettled conditions are predicted to last until the 19th.
The near real-time critical frequency and computed MUF charts at propquest.co.uk show that 20 and 17 metres remain the best daytime DX bands, with occasional openings on 15m. Eighty and 60 metres remain the best bands for inter-G working.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
Next week will bring little in the way of Tropo, with low pressure and windy conditions at times throughout the week.If we were another month ahead in our journey into Spring, the other item on the agenda would be Sporadic-E. Sadly we’re not, so this month it’s very much a long shot.
Since jet streams are involved in Es, we are in fair shape in this unsettled weather type, but the jet stream is still well south of us. This favours paths across the Mediterranean, rather than any within reach of the UK.
This is all a bit speculative really, and in this sense if anything does occur, it’s more likely to be of benefit to those low-signal digital modes like FT8, rather than more traditional CW or SSB.
Of course we’re never completely without hope of getting Gigahertz bands rain scatter in such unsettled weather. Now land temperatures are picking up we are testing those April showers, which are more likely within reach overland.
Today the Moon is at apogee and minimum declination so EME path losses are at their highest and Moon windows shortest. We are seven days away from positive declination so this week is probably best spent checking your antennas after the cold weather.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.
Next, the Local News:
Please note that details of all RSGB-affiliated clubs and societies can be found on the RSGB website, including email addresses and website links where known.
[Note to Newsreaders: Please read the local news items appropriate to the service area of your transmission.]
NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS
We start with news from clubs that have several events this week. Burton Amateur Radio Club has a club net on 145.575MHz at 10am today and next Sunday. On Wednesday there’s a shack night and Thursday sees a club net on 145.575MHz from 7.30pm. Details from Mike Lewis, M0XMX on 0785 068 5961.
Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association has a net from 8.30am on 50.220MHz USB today and next Sunday. Tuesday sees QRS CW from 8pm on 3540-3550kHz and on Thursday it’s the Constructors’ Exhibition. Contact Derek, G3NKS, on 01242 241 099.
Salop Amateur Radio Society has its club net on GB3LH from 8.30pm today and next Sunday. Monday sees a club equipment maintenance session and on Saturday there’s a CW net from 4.30pm on 144.070MHz. For details, email .
Wythall Radio Club has its net on 145.225MHz or GB3WL from 8pm today and next Sunday. Tuesday sees a Morse class and preparations for Hamfest. Details from Chris, G0EYO, on 07710 412 819.
On Monday Coventry Amateur Radio Society has an open net at 8pm on 145.375MHz FM and or 7.16MHz ± QRM SSB. The Thursday open net is at 8pm on 50.175MHz SSB. Friday sees a digital radio workshop. Contact John, G8SEQ, on 07958 777 363.
Gloucester Amateur Radio & Electronics Society is having an informal and operating evening.The main net is on 145.475MHz FM from 7.30pm on Wednesday. The Thursday net starts on 145.475MHz FM at 7.30pm then normally moves onto 80m SSB. On Friday there’s a net at 7.30pm on 432.220MHz USB. Contact Anne, 2E1GKY, on 01242 699 595, daytime for details.
Leicester Radio Society has a Morse class, free ’n easy evening and a committee meeting on Monday. Thursday sees the Foundation course continue. For details contact Sandra Morley, G0MCV, on 0793 027 4044.
Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group has a shack night on Monday. Thursday sees the club net from 8pm on 145.325MHz. On Friday there’s a shack night and committee meeting. On Friday there’s a surplus sale. Contact Paul, G1SGZ, via email to .
RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club has its net on Monday from 8pm on 145.325MHz. On Friday there’s a club night and Saturday sees another session refurbishing and extending the shack. Contact Bob, G3VCA, on 07971 166 250.
South Birmingham Radio Society is checking equipment for Field Day on Monday and has its regular coffee morning in the shack from 11am on Tuesday. Thursday sees training classes with Dave Murphy, G8OWL. Contact Gemma, M6GKG, by email to .
Sutton Coldfield Amateur Radio Society is closed on Monday. Tuesday sees an open net on 70.475MHz from 7.30pm. Details from Robert Bird, via email to .
March Malvern Hills RAC has a talk on Tuesday by Matt, G8XYJ and Dave, G4OYX on getting going with microwaves. On Wednesday the club net is on 145.350MHz FM from 8pm. Contact Dave, G4IDF, on 01905 351 568.
Rugby ATS is taking part in the 432MHz UKAC on Tuesday, alongside CW practice, training, radio operation and projects. On Saturday the shack is on the air along with radio operation and projects. Contact Steve, G8LYB, on 01788 578 940.
Worksop ARS is having a club night and taking part in the 2m UKACand FMAC on Tuesday. Thursday sees a technical night and the 4m UKAC plus FMAC. Details on 0789 062 6684.
Lincoln Short-Wave Club is watching the RSGB video on HF & VHF Propagation on Wednesday. On Thursday it’s the club net from 8pm on GB3LS and next Saturday sees new member inductionplus the shack open from 9.30am. For more information contact Pam Rose, G4STO, on 01427 788 356.
South Kesteven Amateur Radio Society has its net on Wednesday from 8pm on GB3GR. On Friday there’s a club meeting. Contact Andrew, M0NRD, on 0796 906 2859.
Telford & District Amateur Radio Society has its main construction competition on Wednesday. On Friday there’s a surplus sale. Details from John Humphreys, M0JZH, on 07824 737 716.
Now we return to the traditional listing in date order. On Monday 12 March South Normanton Alfreton & District Amateur Radio Club is having a natter night. Contact A Lawrence, 2E0BQS, on 01246 456 625.
On Tuesday Dudley and District Amateur Radio Society is having a club night. Details from Graham, 2E0GIJ, on 0783 120 1407.
On Tuesday Loughborough & District Amateur Radio Club is having part 1 of a talk on crystal radio sets. More information from Chris, G1ETZ, on 01509 504 319.
On Wednesday Midland Amateur Radio Society is holding a committee meeting and training classes. Details from Norman, G8BHE, on 0780 807 8003.
On Wednesday Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society is holding a Used Equipment and Book Sale. More information from Don, G4CYG, on 01926 424 465.
On Thursday Kettering & District Amateur Radio Society has its net from 7pm on 145.300MHz FM. Details from Ed O’Neill, via email to .
On Thursday Solihull Amateur Radio Society is having a club night. Details from Roger Hancock, G4BBT, on 0121 743 7277.
On Friday Bromsgrove & District Amateur Radio Club is having a club night. Contact John, G4OJS, on 0788 9678 303
On Friday Melton Mowbray Amateur Radio Society is having part two of the talk on radars and microwaves by Howard, G6KQP. Details from Phil, G4LWB, on 01664 567 972.
On Friday Spalding & District Amateur Radio Society is holding its construction contest. More information from Graham Boor, G8NWC, on 0775 461 9701.
NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
We start with clubs that have several events this week. Denby Dale Radio Club is taking part in the WAB Contest today, and has its net on GB3HD from 10.30am today and next Sunday. The Foundation course is on Wednesday. Details from Darran, G0BWB, on 0797 442 3227.
Stockport Radio Society continues its Intermediate course on Monday. Tuesday sees a net from 7.30pm on 51.550MHz FM. Thursday sees a net from 7.30pm on 145.375MHz FM and on Friday there’s a net from 2pm on 433.525MHz FM. Contact Heather Stanley, M6HNS, on 0750 690 4422.
Wirral Amateur Radio Society is having a natter night on Tuesday and putting G3NWR on the air. Wednesday sees a practical night. On Thursday there’s an ATV night on the air. Details from William Davies, G4YWD, on 0780 488 4245.
Hartlepool Amateur Radio Club has its net on Wednesday on 145.575MHz. Friday sees a club night. Contact Anthony Elliott, M0VED, on 0792 699 8014.
Now we return to the traditional listing in date order.
On Monday Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club has an aerials demo on how to start by David Stansfield, G0EVV. Contact Nancy Bone, G7UUR, on 01914 770 036.