GB2RS NEWS BROADCAST
Good morning / evening. It's Sunday the 8th of February [1998] and
here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended
for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners.
Last week's GB2RS broke the news of the release of the 136kHz band to
UK amateurs. During the first few days of availability of the new
band, there has been much activity with most of the experienced 73kHz
operators having a go on 136. Initial findings are that it is a much
easier band than 73kHz.
Peter Dodd, G3LDO, made a number of cross band QSOs on the 30th and
31st of January, the first being with John Moore, G4GVC in Leicester.
And on Sunday the 1st of February G3LDO worked Derek Atter, G3GRO, for
what was probably the first two way contact on the band.
Elsewhere, David Bowman, G0MRF, and Paul Nicholls, G0ONA, were using
an 80 watt beacon transmitter to a 12-metre high Marconi T antenna and
were heard up to 160km away.
The 136kHz band is available in several European countries. Over last
weekend, G3LDO was heard by DL2KCL; two UK stations reported receiving
DA0LF using very narrowband DSP techniques; and the first two-way
Swiss contact took place. EI0CF was operational from Malin Head in the
far north of Ireland, and was heard by several English stations.
G0MRF will be operating on Friday evenings from the Whitton Amateur
Radio Group club station using its 300ft 'Church Steeple' long wire at
2030 and 2230UTC.
At a recent meeting of the RSGB Council, Hilary Claytonsmith, G4JKS,
was elected Executive Vice-President for 1998. Hilary's work in the
education and EMC fields are well known to RSGB members.
Cheltenham Amateur Radio Association is celebrating its 21st
anniversary this year. Having experienced some lean spells over the
years, the club is now flourishing - its membership has risen from
around 30 at the start of 1996 to 60 at the close of 1997. And there
are now several M callsigns among its members. The club plans to hold
several special talks during the year as well as a dinner in May -
past and potential new members are welcome to attend. For further
details of the club's anniversary celebrations contact Patricia, G1NKS
on 01242 241099.
There is a new QSL Sub-Manager for the Novice series. Mike Shread,
GM6TAN, has given up the position and has been replaced by Graham
Morris, M0AXO. His address is 12b Skidmore Road, Coseley, West
Midlands WV14 8SE and his telephone number is 01902 496241.
The 23-centimetre beacon, GB3IOW, was switched off on Sunday, the 1st
of February, for repairs. For further details contact Bob, G8MBU,
whose address is correct in the RSGB Yearbook.
And now news of two big amateur radio events taking place later this
month:
The RSGB National VHF Convention is on Sunday the 22nd of February at
its usual venue, Sandown Exhibition Centre, Esher in Surrey. Full
details, including a timetable of the VHF lecture streams, can be
found in the February RadCom. Further details can also be obtained by
Calling Marcia Brimson, 2E1DAY, at RSGB HQ on 01707 659015.
And the annual Guides Thinking Day on the Air takes place over the
weekend of the 21st and 22nd of February. A pack is available from the
RSGB containing a list of participating special event stations. If you
would like a pack, send an SASE - an A4 size envelope with 38p in
stamps - to Jenny Ward at RSGB HQ.
LATEST CALLSIGNS
SSL has informed the Society that as of last Wednesday morning, the
latest callsigns allocated were in the M0 Bravo November -- and M1
Charlie Quebec -- series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa Romeo --
and 2 1 Golf Kilo -- series.
************************************************************
RSGB News Extra
New Amateur band in the UK from 30 January 1998
- Effective 30 Jan 98
The following was published in the 'Gazette' on Friday 30 January 1998
Department of Trade and Industry
Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949
Notice of Variation of Amateur Radio Licence (A) or (B)
The Secretary of State hereby gives notice to holders of the Amateur
Radio Licence (A) or (B) ("the Licence") pursuant to section
1(4) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 that as from the date hereof,
each Licence shall be varied as follows:
1. In this Notice "the Booklet" means the Amateur Radio Terms,
Provisions and Limitations Booklet BR68, the terms of which form part
of the Licence.
2. The Licence shall be read and construed as if: the following band
were inserted in the schedule to the Booklet before the 1.810-1.830MHz
band:
"
0.1357-0.1378 Secondary. Available 0 dBW erp Morse
on the basis of non- Telephony
interference to RTTY
other services Data
(inside or outside Facsimile
the United Kingdom). SSTV
"
[signed Roger Louth]
On behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
30 January 1998
Note that, although this refers to both the A and B licences, Clause
2.(2) of the Terms and Conditions booklet BR68 states: "If the licence
is an Amateur Radio Licence (B), then the Licensee: (a) shall transmit
only in the frequency bands above 30MHz specified in the first column
of the Schedule"
Therefore the new band is available only to Class A licensees.
************************************************************
PROPAGATION NEWS
Unfortunately, the solar factual data is not available this week. We
will bring you details for the period from the 26th of January to the
1st of February in next week's GB2RS.
For more on Propagation see http://www.rsgb.org/society/psc.htm
You're listening to GB2RS, the news broadcasting service of the Radio
Society of Great Britain, coming to you from the station of [insert
own callsign].
************************************************************
DX News:
>From Morocco, CN2IB will be active until the 10th of February, using
CW and SSB on all bands.
>From Guam, N2NL/KP2 will be active until mid-February, using mainly CW
on 160, 80, 40 and 30 metres.
And from Nicaragua, YN1CB will be operational most days at 0400UTC on
14222kHz, and on Saturdays at 2000UTC on 14215KHz.
These DX news items came from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, edited by
Chris Page, G4BUE.
************************************************************
Contest News:
The first session of the British Young Ladies' Amateur Radio
Association contest is on Thursday the 12th of February and the second
session takes place on Saturday the 14th. This is an HF, VHF and UHF
event. Brief details appear on page 23 of the December RadCom.
Next weekend, the 14th and 15th, the first session of the RSGB 1.8MHz
CW contest runs from 2100UTC until 0100UTC. The full rules of all RSGB
contests may be found in the September 1997 RadCom.
Also next weekend, the 14th and 15th, the Worldwide RTTY WPX contest
takes place. Brief rules can be found on page 67 of the February
RadCom.
************************************************************
=========
SpaceNews
=========
MONDAY FEBRUARY 2, 1998
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It
is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use.
* STS-89 MISSION NEWS *
=======================
Space Shuttle mission STS-89 came to an end on 31-Jan-98 at 2235 UTC with
a smooth landing on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Flordia.
The primary objective of this flight was to rendezvous and dock with the
Russian space station Mir and perform a crew exchange of U.S. astronaut
David Wolf from Mir with Andrew Thomas from the shuttle. Andrew Thomas
is the last U.S. astronaut assigned to visit the Mir complex. Endeavour's
next mission will carry the U.S. Node Module to support the construction
of the International Space Station (ISS) in July.
[Info via the ISIR Newsline Digest]
* MIR 25 CREW LAUNCHED *
========================
French cosmonaut Leopold Eyharts and two Russians, Talgat Musabayev and
Nikolai Budarin, were launched to the Russian space station Mir from the
Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz booster on 29-Jan-98 at 1633 UTC. The
three man crew aboard Soyuz TM-27, known as Mir 25, docked on 31-Jan-98.
Musabayev and Budarin will replace the current Russian crew aboard Mir,
Anatoly Solovyev and Pavel Vinogradov, who will return to earth in a few
weeks with Eyharts.
Soon after the Soyuz lift-off, the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour undocked
from Mir after spending a few days linked to the complex to retrieve U.S.
astronaut David Wolf, and leave astronaut Andrew Thomas and supplies for
the next few months. Thomas is scheduled to remain aboard Mir until May.
He is the last of a series of U.S. astronauts who have been aboard Mir:
Norm Thagard (Feb 95 - Jun 95)
Shannon Lucid (Mar 96 - Sep 96)
John Blaha (Sep 96 - Jan 97)
Jerry Linenger (Jan 97 - May 97)
Mike Foale (May 97 - Sep 97)
David Wolf (Sep 97 - Jan 98)
Andrew Thomas (Jan 98 - Present)
[Info via the ISIR Newsline Digest]
* SKN '98 BEST FIST WINNERS *
=============================
Ray, W2RS, extends his thanks to all who participated in AMSAT-NA's OSCAR
SKN '98. Although activity was down from prior years due to the loss of
RS-10, the temporary loss of Mode K on RS-12 and the unfavorable position
of AO-10, a good time was had by those who took part.
Once again our first-place winner was Rusty, NM1K, who received five
separate nominations. Two more 1998 winners also had been nominated in
previous years: G3RWL and W1NU. Joining the winners' circle for the first
time in 1998 were AG2R, K4IPH and VE5SWL. Heartiest congratulations to all.
* AMSAT-OSCAR-10 STATUS *
=========================
Stacy Mills W4SM, reports that AO-10's signals are improving and are quite
strong even at apogee, except for periods of deep QSB, which can be largely
corrected by changing antenna polarization. These findings suggest strongly
that AO-10 has switched (glitched) itself to its hi-gain antennas. There
is probably a component of Z-axis wobble accounting for the QSB. As
illumination has improved, the FMing heard earlier appears to have
disappeared. The switch to hi-gains would also explain the often poor
signals near perigee when the squint angle is particularly bad.
AO-10 is currently experiencing long (90 minute) solar eclipses with
onset after apogee. The MA of onset will continue to increase and the
length of the eclipse will continue to decrease until the period ends
on 23-Feb-98.
AO-10's apogee has moved into the northern hemisphere (ArgP > 180).
Apogee will continue to rise higher to the north for the rest of 1998,
peaking at ArgP = 270 in December.
Stacey Mills has updated his Web page to include discussions of
AMSAT-OSCAR-10's status as well as smoothed Keplerian elements for the
spacecraft. The URL is:
http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html
[Info via Stacey E. (Chuck) Mills, W4SM]
* MODE-A REQUEST FOR COMMENTS *
===============================
Richard W. L. Limebear, G3RWL, on behalf of AMSAT-UK, is requesting
comments regarding the construction and funding of future OSCAR satellites
carrying Mode A (145 MHz UP, 29 MHz DOWN) communications transponders.
Based on comments and feelings expressed by some satellite users, it is
believed that:
1) There is a need for Mode-A satellites for new satellite operators to
train on, as well as for those amateurs who prefer analogue rather than
digital operations; and
2) The present supply of Mode-A satellites is fast decreasing with the
demise of RS-10/11, problems commanding RS-12/13, battery troubles with
RS-15, and the non-availability of RS-16. No Mode-A spacecraft has been
produced by a Western group for the past 20 years (Oscar-8 in 1978).
AMSAT-UK is giving some consideration to this state of affairs but, before
they go further, they need to determine whether a new Mode-A package would
a) be wanted; b) be used; and c) be supported.
In other words, do satellite operators (ie: YOU) want it to happen? Is
it worth someone's time and effort to design, produce, and launch such a
satellite?
How many people would use a new Mode-A spacecraft? It would be pointless
to spend several hundred thousand dollars if it only attracted a few
hundred users (so the cost is 1000 dollars per user). Would YOU use it?
This several hundred thousand dollars doesn't just appear magically. The
money has to be raised by satellite operators (ie: YOU). Would you give
your own money to a group who promised to develop and launch a Mode-A
transponder?
Richard asks that comments be directed to him by 28-Feb-98 via any of the
following paths:
Packet: G3RWL @ GB7HSN
E-Mail: g3rwl@amsat.org
Satellite: Oscars 16/19/22/23/25
73 de Richard W L Limebear G3RWL
Communications Officer, AMSAT-UK
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John,
KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below:
WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, KITSAT-OSCAR-25
>
>
************************************************************
NEWS FOR WALES
No club news has been submitted for Wales this week.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR SCOTLAND
Meeting for Wednesday the 11th of February:
Lothians Radio Society gathers for a talk by Geoff, GM4FH entitled
'Are Your Keys Really Necessary'. For further details contact Tommy,
GM4DCL on 0131 663 8501.
Meeting for Friday the 13th of February:
Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by British Red Cross
entitled 'Safety in the Shack'. For information contact Robert on
01224 896142.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
Meeting for Friday the 13th of February:
Ballymena Amateur Radio Club has its winter bring and buy sale. For
further details contact Jeff, GI4HCN on 01266 659769.
And that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast, which was
prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA
Meeting for Monday the 9th of February:
Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air
evening. For further details contact Paul, G4YQC on 01394 273507
during the evening.
Meeting for Wednesday the 11th of February:
Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For more details
contact John, G0VZD on 01953 604769.
Meeting for Friday the 13th of February:
Yarmouth Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For further details
contact G3NHU on 01493 721173.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND
The Northern Cross Rally take place next Sunday, the 15th of February,
at Thornes Park Athletic Stadium, Wakefield, just out of town on the
Horbury Road. Doors open 11am and 10.30am for disabled visitors. For
further details telephone 01924 379680.
Meetings for Monday the 9th of February:
Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society meets to plan the stand for
Norbreck Rally. For more information write to: 8 The Grove, Thornton
Cleveleys, Lancashire, FY5 2JD.
Grimsby Amateur Radio Society has a computer night. For further
details contact G4EBK whose details are in the RSGB Yearbook.
Leicester Radio Society has a committee meeting and on-the-air
evening. For more details telephone 01162 313194.
Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of February:
Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air
evening. For more information telephone 0151 722 1178.
Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club has a 'vintage equipment
night'. For further details contact Ian, G8SNF on 01509 218259.
Wakefield and District Radio Society meets for a Northern Cross Rally
planning meeting. For more details contact Ian, M0BFO on 01924 216502.
Warrington Amateur Radio Society meets to plan the club's stand at the
Norbreck Rally. More details from John, G0RPG on 01925 762722.
Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of February:
Hornsea Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by G3RMX entitled
'Transistor Biasing'. For further details telephone 01964 562258.
Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has an activity evening. For
further details contact Ted on 01606 592207.
South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a shack construction and on-the-air
evening. For further details telephone 01509 672846.
Stockport Radio Society meets for 'Anything Data - Show Me Event'. For
further details contact David on 0161 285 0017.
Meetings for Friday the 13th of February:
East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk and demonstration
by Robert, M0BJX entitled 'Radio Direction Finding'. For more details
contact Alistair, G4OLK on 01642 475671.
North Ferriby Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting.
For further information contact G7PER on 01482 656324.
South Manchester Radio Club meets for a talk by G3ZDM entitled
'Digital Telephones Uncovered'. For details contact G7FQY on
0161 969 1964.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS
Kidderminster Radio and Electronics Fair takes place today, Sunday the
8th, at the Kidderminster College, Hoo Road, Kidderminster. Doors open
at 10am and features include trade stands, a bring and buy sale and
flea market.
Meetings for Monday the 9th of February:
Leicester Radio Society has a committee meeting and on-the-air
evening. For more details telephone 01162 313194.
Mansfield Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Paul, G7WKH
entitled 'Induction Loop Systems'. For further details contact David,
G0RDP on 01623 631931.
Stratford upon Avon and District Radio Society has a test equipment
evening. For more details contact J Porter, G4OHJ on 01789 773286.
Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of February:
Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has an equipment on show evening. For
further details contact Barry, G0TPG on 01527 542266.
Buxton Radio Amateurs meets for a talk entitled 'Data Related'. For
further details contact Derek, G4IHO on 01298 25506.
Malvern Hills Radio Amateurs Club gathers for a talk by Dave, G4EYJ;
Steve, G1KWF and Dave, G4IDF entitled 'PCBs My Way'. For further
information contact Dave, G4IDF on 01905 351568 evenings and weekends.
Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of February:
Lincoln Short Wave Club meets for an RSGB video entitled 'Basic Radio
Measurements'. For details contact G1TSL on 01522 793751.
Telford and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk by G3JKX
entitled 'SSB. How it's Done'. For details contact Mike, G3JKX on
01952 299677.
Meetings for Thursday the 12th of February:
Salop Amateur Radio Society has a quiz versus Telford and District
Amateur Radio Society. For further details contact G7SBD whose details
are in the RSGB Yearbook.
Meeting for Friday the 13th of February:
Coventry Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For further
details contact Robin, G4JDO on 01203 673999.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST
Meetings for Monday the 9th of February:
Exeter Amateur Radio Society has a surplus sale. For further
information telephone 01392 875498.
Gloucester Amateur Radio and Electronics Society meets for a talk
entitled 'Classic Receivers part 1 - the RA 17'. For further details
telephone 01452 618930 during office hours.
Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of February:
Plymouth Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'Fort Bouisand
Underwater Centre'. For further information contact Den, G7NMA on
01752 346158 before 9pm.
Poldhu Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk and video by George,
G3AHX entitled 'Visit to Sweden - Early Transmitters'. For more
details contact David, G3PLE on 01326 240738.
Salisbury Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Rod, G4ZUP entitled
'Aeronautical Radio'. For details call Jamie. G7WAA on 01722 334935.
Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of February:
Exmouth Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For more
details telephone 01395 271880.
South Bristol Amateur Radio Club meets for an amateur radio software
demonstration. For further information telephone 01275 834282.
Meeting for Thursday the 12th of February:
Yeovil Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by various club members
entitled 'My Antenna System'. For further information telephone
01460 54657.
Meeting for Friday the 13th of February:
Devizes and District Amateur Radio Club meets for licence conditions.
For more information contact Noel, G4TIX on 01380 724533.
************************************************************
NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST
The Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club rally takes place next
Sunday, the 15th of February, at the Ambulance Station, Addenbrooks
Hospital. Doors open at 10am and features include trade stands, a car
boot sale and a bring and buy. For further details telephone
01954 200072.
Meeting for Sunday the 8th of February:
Radio Society of Harrow meets for an antenna erection day. For further
details contact Jim on 0171 278 6421 during office hours.
Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of February:
Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk entitled
'First Aid in the Field'. For details contact Peter, 2E1CRK on
01462 674505.
Verulam Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For more
information contact Walter, G3PMF on 01923 262180.
Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of February:
Bracknell Amateur Radio Club meets for a radio software session. For
more details contact Steve, G4AUC on 01344 420577.
Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club screens the VK0IR video. For
more details contact G3WFM on 01707 651532.
Dover Radio Club has a 'Maidstone Fire Brigade visit'. For further
details contact Brian, G3NPM on 01304 821007.
Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For
more details contact Andrew, G0AMS on 01329 235397.
Farnborough and District Radio Society meets for a talk entitled 'The
Comet'.
Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by G3LQI
on contests. For further information contact Roy, G4GPX on
01903 753893.
Meeting for Thursday the 12th of February:
Edgware and District Radio Society has a video evening. For more
details contact Stephen, G0PQB on 0181 953 2164.
Meetings for Friday the 13th of February:
Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club meets to make rally
preparations. For further details telephone 01223 872258 during
evenings.
Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by Ian, G2BDV
entitled 'Introduction to Ionospheric Propagation'. For further
details contact Sheila, G0VNI on 01703 813827.
Maidstone Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk about EMC. For further
details contact Mike, G0VQB on 01634 856765.
Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk by
G3ZOJ about photocopiers. For details contact G4WYJ on 01737 356745.
*********************************************************************
Many Thanks To Dr Ron Heywood SysOp at GB7FYL for Making the
RSGB and "OTHER" news available to me to post in the Networks.
"RSGB & Other NEWS" is Now Posted in to the Amateur Radio echo
The Packet Radio echo, Ham and in to B_Ham_Radio on BBS Net..
If there are OTHER echos that would like to recive this weekly
posting Please contact Trevor Bates at Crock's Corner BBS 2:250/607
BBS Tel Number +44(0)1253-305040.
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* Origin: > Crock's Corner BBS Tel+44(0)1253-305040 24hrs< (2:250/607)
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