Also in GB2RS this week…

| August 28, 2015

In 2015, a new IARU Region 1 Youth Contesting Programme was created. Youth members from IARU Region 1 member societies were invited to take part in a contest from so-called ‘Top Gun’ stations. These young amateurs will learn how to operate the contest station, improve their contest skills and will aim for the best results together as a team. From the UK, Dan McGraw, M0WUT has been selected to take part in the CQWW RTTY contest on 25 and 26 September from the 4O3A contest station in Montenegro.

Following representations from the Hungarian national society, the Hungarian telecoms regulator, NMHH, has been issuing temporary permits for operation in the band 5.350-5.450MHz on a Secondary basis for propagation research. The permits are valid for three months and can be reapplied for at the conclusion of the period. All modes are permitted, with a maximum power of 100W, currently in a nominal maximum bandwidth of 3kHz. Activity days are being organised and there is a CW beacon on 5.357MHz, at present using the callsign HA7SO, but this will change in due course to HG7BHB. It is hoped that the situation may become more permanent later in the year.

The RSGB Convention takes place 9 to 11 October at Kent’s Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. The provisional programme for Saturday and Sunday is now on the RSGB website. The early booking discount for weekend packages has been extended to 31 August, so there’s just time to book your weekend at the lower price. Day tickets are also available online and savings are available on those until 30 September. Go to www.rsgb.org/convention for all the information. Places are still available at the RSGB Buildathon taking place on Saturday at the Convention, see the website for details.

Jamboree on the Air, or JOTA, takes place from 16 to 18 October this year. The RSGB would like to support any clubs or groups who will be taking part and members of the Youth Committee are keen to visit as many events as possible. Please let us know if you’re planning a JOTA event—send us your details via the form on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org/jota.

Churches and Chapels on the Air will take place on Saturday, 12 September from 10am to 4pm. Stations mainly use the 40 and 80m bands, SSB. A full list of CHOTA stations can be found on the WACRAL website.

Over 500 stations from 32 countries took part in International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend. The greatest participation was seen in England, Australia and Germany. Other nations showing increased growth in participants including Canada, Bulgaria, France, Portugal, Scotland and Cuba, which had 13 stations take part. Next year’s event will be held on 20 and 21 August and 30 stations have already registered.

Jeremy Boot, G4NJH has for many years produced a weekly recording of the GB2RS News broadcast. For over three years Ed Durrant, VK2JI/DD5LP/G8GLM has been converting the file and posting it on iTunes, The Lounge and at gb2rs.podbean.com. TX Factor has also been podcasting the weekly GB2RS national news for nearly 18 months. You can find this version by visiting www.txfactor.co.uk or searching iTunes for TX Talk.

Category: GB2RS Headlines