RSGB Headlines

GB2RS NEWS
Sunday 5th June 2011
The news headlines:
• South Coast Olympic comms tests on 70cm this week
• New ARISS contact record
• Luso Tower sold
As previously announced, the RSGB has been approached by Ofcom to determine sections of the 70cm band that could be released for a limited period around the Olympic Games. The RSGB has has now received an update that the first communications tests for the Olympics affecting 70cm will take place in the Weymouth and Portland area between Friday 3 June and Wednesday 8 June. These will take the form of spot frequency telemetry transmissions in the range 431 to 432MHz plus some more limited activity around 436MHz. All amateurs are requested to respect these tests and not interfere with them. We understand that OFCOM have advised the Olympics organising committee that this spectrum should not be used for this purpose during the actual Games, although further tests may take place later this year.

After spending 157 days aboard the International Space Station, ESA Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA answered questions of students from 45 different schools, setting a new ARISS record for a single astronaut. Expedition 26/27 established a new ARISS record, working 77 schools in 68 radio contacts during the mission.

The RSGB is pleased to report a great deal of interest in the Luso tower described in this month’s RadCom. Several members have expressed an interest in the 36m tower and we can report that it has been sold at the price originally paid for it.

The International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter is now available online on the IARUMS website, www.iarums-r1.org. You can see detailed reports from the national coordinators within Region 1.

The RSGB CW National Field Day finishes at 1500UTC today, 5 June, and stations will be looking to collect as many points as possible. QSOs on 160 and 10m count as double points and so expect the 10m band to be particularly popular. Results will appear in due course on the RSGB Contest Committee website.