Could you volunteer with the National Coastwatch Institution?
 
 
The National Coastwatch Institution is to start up a new watchstation, manned by volunteers, at Calshot Tower overlooking the Solent. NCI Calshot's primary function will be to provide a visual watch along the main shipping channel down Southampton Water panning across to the Hamble and Portsmouth in the east and over to Cowes and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight together with the more immediate surroundings of Fawley and Calshot itself. To help get the station started, an initial public meeting is being held at the Waterside Sports & Social Club, 179-181 Long Lane, Holbury, Southampton on Tuesday 26 January starting at 7.00pm when there will be an introduction to NCI. All potential volunteer watchkeepers and NCI supporters are welcome and encouraged to attend. No previous maritime experience is required. The most important asset a potential watchkeeper can bring to NCI is a sharp pair of eyes and an inquisitive nature. Progressive training for this vital work is provided in line with nationally agreed standards and includes an introduction to understanding charts and maps, producing weather reports, keeping a log and learning about marine VHF radio procedure 
 
 CW operator needed for rare IOTA DXpedition
An experienced CW operator is needed for rare a IOTA DXpedition. An international group of operators will be active as 3W6C from Con Co Island, Vietnam which is IOTA reference AS-185, between 10 to 18 April. The DXpedition has an opening for one additional experienced CW operator. Full details about the DXpedition are available at www.3w6c.qrv.ch. Interested operators are requested to send details about background and DXing experience to Hans-Peter by e-mail to hb9bxe3w6c.qrv.ch

 
The results of the 2009 RSGB Board and Regional Elections were announced at 3pm on Thursday 10 December. John Gould, G3WKL, Robin Bellerby, GM3ZYE, Don Beattie, G3BJ and Iain Phillips, G0RDI were duly elected to serve as Board members from 1 January 2010. Peter Lowrie, MI5JYK was re-elected to serve as Region 8 Regional Manager. Alison Johnson, G8ROG was elected unopposed as Region 9 Regional Manager. The full results of the election are shown on the RSGB web site at www.rsgb.org/news/article.php?id=0008

Current Solar Data (from NOAA) 

Solar X-rays: Geomagnetic Field:

>

Solar forecast


As happened in recent weeks, active sunspot regions can appear with no notice at all, if this happens then solar activity could increase to moderate levels. However, more likely is that activity will be very low to low. Solar flux levels with a spotless Sun should be in the high 70s, but if spots do appear then could be into the 80s. Geomagnetic activity is expected start at quiet levels but by Tuesday activity could increase due to a recurring coronal hole. Activity should then decline to quiet levels again before next weekend. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 22MHz for the south and 19MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows are expected to be about 8MHz. Paths this week to the east coast of North America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 20MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 15MHz. The best time to try this path will be between 1400 and 1800 UTC.
 

Sheffield Live is listed amongst the Top Ham websites of the World use the search engine below to search for other top ham radio web sites.

Compiled from the 425 DX News and other sources.
DX News 

Phil, G3SWH and Jim, G3RTE will be active from Christmas Island, IOTA reference OC-002, between 20 and 27 February. Both Phil & Jim will use the callsign VK9X/G6AY with activity on CW only using all bands between 80 and 10 meters. No 160m activity is planned. Propagation permitting, they plan to have two stations on air for as many hours every day as possible. QSL via G3SWH.
N7MSU will be on the air as V31SU from Belize between 4 and 23 February in his spare time on 40 and 20m using CW and SSB. QSL vía N7MSU. See QRZ.com for more details.
G3TBK will be reactivating J88DR in St. Vincent from 18 February to 15 March. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. This will include an entry in the Commonwealth Contest. QSL via G3TBK, either via the RSGB Bureau or direct.
Colin G3VCQ will be reactivating J38CW with Sharon J38SW from 11th - 25th March activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY. This will include an entry in the BERU contest on the 13th/14th March as part of the Rest of the World Team.

KC4USV McMurdo Station on Ross Island (AN-011) is active until 20th of Feb 2010.

Callsign prefixes: Olympic Winter Games
To celebrate the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, from 1 February to 1 March, Canadian amateurs may change their prefix. VA stations can use the prefix VG, VE stations may use VX, callsigns starting VO may use XJ and VY stations may use XK.

 

Click to join SheffieldDXNet

HOT NEWS!
 
Scientists warned yesterday that a peak in solar activity is due to occur in 2012, risking the disruption of television and internet networks during the London Olympic Games. "The Olympics could be bang in the middle of a solar maximum," said Richard Harrison, of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, speaking before the launch this week of Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory. It has long been known that surges in solar activity can cause disruption in satellite and terrestrial communications systems, but, until now, it has been almost impossible to predict solar storms in advance. After the launch of Nasa's solar observatory, scientists say that they will be able to give warning of magnetic storms and solar flares. By turning off sensitive electronic circuits before a storm, damage to satellite transmitters, and the resulting disruption, could be minimised.
The Nasa probe, which is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, will spend five years in orbit around the Earth, investigating the causes of extreme activity, such as sun spots, solar winds and violent eruptions from the Sun's atmosphere known as coronal mass ejections. "Such events can expose astronauts to deadly particle doses, can disable satellites, cause power grid failures on Earth and disrupt communications," Professor Harrison said.
Following a figure-of-eight orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth's surface, the observatory will measure fluctuations in the Sun's ultraviolet output, map magnetic fields and collect images of the atmosphere. The observatory will beam back images more than ten times the resolution of high-definition television every 0.75 seconds. The observatory is likely to transmit up to 50 times more data than any previous Nasa mission, according to scientists on the project. Each day it will send a volume of data back to Earth equivalent to downloading 500,000 music tracks from the internet. The launch comes just as the Sun appears to be stirring, after several years in "deep minimum". Between 2008 and 2009 there were more than 250 "spotless" days — a record low since 1913. However, in the past two weeks two solar flares have developed, indicating that the Sun is likely to be entering a more active phase in its eleven-year cycle. "The launch is absolutely timely," Professor Harrison said.

Advanced exam course at Wakefield & District Radio Society
Wakefield & District RS are planning to start an Advanced course this month with a view to sitting the June/July exam. The course fee, including administration, light refreshments and the exam fee will be £80 and external candidates will be welcome. Any interested parties should register with Dave Lockwood, G4CLI by e-mail to G4ALIwdrs.org.uk or telephone  <�̏>             07748 221 855     

Foundation and Intermediate course places available at Preston
Preston ARS currently has places on both its Foundation and Intermediate courses at the club, which meets every Thursday night from 7pm. If you are interested please contact the lead instructor, Eric, G1WCQ on or by e-mail to secretaryprestonars.co.uk

10GHz beacon on the air at St. Austell
A 10GHz beacon went on the air at St. Austell in early December. GB3MCB transmits on 10.36898GHz and beams East North East with 3dB points from just east of North through East to almost SE. The IARU locator is IO70OJ. Reports can be sent via the Beacon Spot website at www.beaconspot.eu

Special Events 
 
There will be a special event station GG100WD for Wilton Division Guides operating in Batley on the weekend of 20 and 21 February. The station will be operational on HF, 2m and 70cm from 11am on Saturday to 2pm on Sunday. The organisers would appreciate any offers of help to operate the station. Please contact Tony, G4LMS on 01924 467612 for details.
GG100RE will operate from Eltham in south-east London on Saturday 20 February for Thinking Day on the Air, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Girl Guide movement. Two stations will be active throughout the day, with Guides of all ages passing greetings messages on 80, 40 and 20m. The station will be operated by Cray Valley Radio Society. Full details are on qrz.com.
On Saturday 20 February the Sheffield Amateur Radio club will be active as GG100S. Caterham Radio Group are again running a Thinking Day On The Air Station using the callsign GX0SCR for the 25th time from Caterham Surrey on behalf of the Caterham Guide Groups. This is the 14th year the Caterham Radio Group has worked with the 9th Caterham Guide Leader running their Radio Communication Day Event. It is expected licensed Guides with M3 call will be assisting with the operating on 2 metres and LF/HF bands. The Caterham Radio Group team would very much appreciate your calls on 2 metres and the LF and HF bands to assist in the passing of greeting messages to and from the young ladies and making it another successful event.
Coulsdon ATS will have a Thinking Day on the Air station on the air on 21 February. Starting at 8.30am, GB4SUN will be on the air with the South and Upper Norwood Guides.