Also in GB2RS this week…

| March 24, 2017

The 90th RSGB AGM will be held at the Angel Hotel, Castle St, Cardiff CF10 1SZ on Saturday, 22 April, commencing at 12 noon. Details of those standing for elections, the accounts and the Minutes of the 2016 AGM appear in the April RadCom. Votes must be received by the ERS before 12 noon on Thursday, 20 April 2017, as described in RadCom. Lunch will be provided at the AGM for Members who notify their attendance in advance. Please register using the form at rsgb.org/attendagm.

The new Bletchley Park website has officially launched. It includes details of a booked event happening on 2 April between 2 and 4pm. Visitors can experience an intimate Q & A session with Bletchley Park veterans in celebration of the Off Duty exhibition that gives a look into the recreational activities the codebreakers and their colleagues enjoyed outside of work. RSGB Members can gain free admittance to Bletchley Park using an individualised voucher that you download from RSGB membership services.

The 2016 RSGB Convention lecture The Rise and Rise of 5.7GHz EME by Peter Blair, G3LTF has been released for RSGB Members to view. To watch this video and others go to rsgb.org/videos.

Amateurs in the UK have been very fortunate in having early access to 5MHz, with 5 spot frequencies 15 years ago and more than 70kHz of spectrum made available in 2013. This was a result of close cooperation with Ofcom and the MoD, who is primary user on the band. The UK currently has an arrangement that gives us more spectrum and a higher power allowance of 100W at 5MHz, however it does not cover all of the WRC-15 band of 5351.5 to 5366.5kHz. The Society played a very active role in the WRC-15 process and continues to work with Ofcom to gain access to all of the WRC-15 band, however this is not expected to change in the foreseeable future as there are on-going assignments within the band. The RSGB will implement the IARU Region 1 band plan for 5MHz within the segments allocated to us. In common with other Region 1 societies with allocations greater than 15kHz, we will recommend that frequencies within the WRC-15 band that are allowed under the UK Amateur Radio Licence only be used for international contacts, or for stations with no other option.

All radio amateurs are invited to participate in Portugal’s National SOTA Day on 1 April. This is not a contest. Diplomas, sent electronically, will be available to activators, chasers and SWL registered on the SOTA database and after the upload of their logs. More information from Pedro, CT1DBS/CU3HF by email to diasotaCT@gmail.com.

The Palestine, E44CM DXpedition that took place in November 2016 has now been approved for DXCC credit. Follow the usual procedures or, for new participants, go to arrl.org/dxcc.

At 01.00 Sunday, 26 March, the clocks go forward one hour, signalling the start of British Summer Time. It means that there’s more daylight in the evenings and less in the mornings. Most radio amateurs leave their shack clocks to GMT or UTC but some programs may need the time changed.

Category: GB2RS Headlines