GB2RS NEWS

Sunday 17th June 2018

The news headlines:

• Three balloons go up on Thursday

Three high altitude balloon launches will take place from a site in Welshpool on Thursday 21st of June, conditions permitting. Starting between 10.30 and 11.30am, the balloons will have a number of experiments on to look at various aspects of space flight. Involving a number of schools in the north west, the launches are by a team from Hi-Impact Consultancy, based on the Wirral, as part of their SpaceCamp event, and take place in association with AirProducts UK. The organisers ask as many amateurs and SWLs to get involved and track the flight using FL-DIGI. The balloons will transmit on 434.650MHz USB with callsign SPACECAMP. They use 50 baud RTTY, 450Hz shift, 7N2. Details about the flights will be posted via Twitter @hiimpactconsult and on www.facebook.com/hiimpactconsultancy

Following agreement with Ofcom, the RSGB is pleased to announce that a new much faster online process is now available for all Full Licensees to access the 70.5-71.5MHz experimental band. Applications can now be made online for a new, annually-renewable Notice of Variation. It works in a similar way to the 146-147MHz NoV. This replaces the previous Special Research Permit process  and is expected to spur digital innovation at VHF. Prospective applicants should ensure they read the supplementary information and must observe the NoV power and geographic restrictions. See www.rsgb.org/nov for details.

The Reverse Beacon Network is beta-testing a separate Telnet feed for FT8 spots. You can find it at telnet.reversebeacon.net port 7001. This is in addition to the existing feed on port 7000, which has been re-purposed as CW-only. Also, Aggregator version 5 has been developed as a beta that can handle FT8 spots received from WSJT-X. This will be available, with instructions, from the Reverse Beacon Network website.

Preparations for the next World Conference in 2019 have continued over the past few weeks with meetings at ITU in Geneva and CEPT Project Team D in Estonia. Volunteers from IARU and Member Societies have been engaged on two key agenda items of interest to amateur radio; regarding a potential 50MHz allocation for Region 1, and Wireless Power Transfer for charging electric vehicles. For the latter topic, the RSGB has provided further information on Wireless Power Transfer, including IARU briefing slides and links to Ofcom measurements, on our WRC-19 focus page at tinyurl.com/GB2RS-0617A

The Chinese amateur satellite organisation, CAMSAT, has released more details about their satellites planned for launch later this year. CAS-5A will carry two HF and two VHF-UHF transponders. CAS-6 will include a CW telemetry beacon on VHF, a 20kHz wide UHF-VHF linear transponder and AX.25 4.8k baud GMSK telemetry. Meanwhile, two Russian CubeSats will be deployed during a spacewalk from the International Space Station. SiriusSat-1, callsign RS13S, will beacon on 435.570MHz and SiriusSat-2, callsign RS14S, will beacon on 435.670MHz.

And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week

The West of England Radio Rally takes place today at the Cheese & Grain, Market Yard, Bridge St, Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE. This, the fifteenth occurrence of the event will see inside & outside traders, free car parking, disabled access, a café, plus an RSGB bookstall. Doors open from 10am to 2pm and admission is £3, with accompanied under 14