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GB2RS > NEWS 19.11.04 22:56l 111 Lines 5209 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : GB2RS211104A
Read: GUEST
Subj: MAIN NEWS - 21st Nov 1/11
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Sent: 041119/2036Z @:GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU #:13300 [Hastings] FBB7.00i $:GB2RS21110
From: GB2RS@GB7SXE.#38.GBR.EU
To : NEWS@WW
The main news headlines:
Changes Announced to Advanced Licence Exam
UK-USA Team Active from Niger for CQ World Wide CW
SEANET Convention Chairman Seriously Ill in Hospital
Low Power 'Candlelight Tests' by Belgian Society
GB2RS Newsreader Ties the Knot
Special Event News
The news in detail:
Changes Announced to Advanced Licence Exam
Following discussions between the RSGB and Ofcom, changes will be made
in the Advanced Radio Communications Examination, the examination that
qualifies amateurs for the Full licence. The changes have been made
following the current pilot scheme, which has been in effect since the
exam’s introduction in February 2004. To bring it into line with current
educational practice, a Formula Sheet will be included in the exam material.
This will allow candidates to concentrate on the concepts required,
rather than having to memorise equations. In addition, the number of
questions will be reduced to 62 from the current 68, to shift the emphasis
more towards operating rather than electronic theory. The changes will
come into effect from the beginning of 2005.
RSGB Board member Ed Taylor, G3SQX, said, 'We proposed some amendments
in the operation of the Advanced exam, following comments that the new
exam was more technical than the old RAE. Ofcom agreed, and we are pleased
that a way was found to implement changes without reducing the rigour
of the system.'
To allow for the proposed changes to be implemented in March 2005, the
Exam Group has requested that the previously-advertised exam timetable
for 2005 be amended. The revised dates for the Advanced exam are now:
Wednesday 16 March, 1830 start
Tuesday 17 May, 1830 start
Saturday 9 July, 1430 start
Monday 22 August, 1830 start
Sunday 9 October, 1030 start
The dates of all Intermediate and Advanced examinations can be found
on the RSGB website. The Foundation exam is available at 10 days short
notice.
UK-USA Team Active from Niger for CQ World Wide CW
The CQ World Wide DX CW Contest is on 27 and 28 November, and numerous
contest DXpeditions are expected to be on the bands during the weekend
and also in the days leading up to the contest. One such group is the
‘VooDoo Contest Group’, which will be active from Niamey, the capital
of Niger, as 5U5Z during the contest. Activity is in the Multi-Multi
category with seven stations. Operators are G0MTN, G3PJT, G3SXW, G4BWP,
G4PIQ, K5VT, KC7V and N7NG. Immediately before the contest there may
be some activity, perhaps including 10, 18 and 24MHz and 6 metres, using
personal 5U callsigns. There is also the possibility of some activity
from Burkina Faso, XT2, while in transit.
SEANET Convention Chairman Seriously Ill in Hospital
The chairman of the SEANET Convention organising committee, Ray Gerrard,
G3NOM, HS0ZDZ, suffered a severe heart attack on 11 November while travelling
into Bangkok city from his home. Ray is now lying in a coma in a Bangkok
hospital. The 32nd annual SEANET (South-East Asia Network) Convention
is taking place in Bangkok over the weekend of 19 to 21 November. Ray
Gerrard has lived in Thailand and Malaysia for many years, becoming
well known as a DXer thanks to his operations from rare countries such
as Cambodia, Laos and the Spratly Islands. He also works as the international
vice-president for the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand. We all join
in wishing Ray a speedy recovery.
Low Power 'Candlelight Tests' by Belgian Society
The Belgian national society UBA is arranging a series of very low power
tests on HF, known as the 'Candlelight Tests'. The challenge is to copy
correctly the code words embedded in the transmitted messages. A number
of stations transmit simultaneously on 80, 40 or 30 metres running power
levels from 100mW down to 5mW. The first test is on Sunday 21 November
between 0800 and 1800UTC, with subsequent tests taking place on 26 December
and 16 January 2005. Full information is on the UBA website.
GB2RS Newsreader Ties the Knot
Well-known GB2RS newsreader Laurie Bradshaw, G0MRL, and his new bride
Marilyn, M3LBQ, recently held a party to celebrate their wedding, which
took place at the end of October. No fewer than 16 radio amateurs attended
the party, and the entertainment was provided by a jazz band led by
saxophonist and clarinettist Howard Murray, G3NBY.
Special Event News
TM6OSA is on the air now until 28 November to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the liberation of the town of Saverne, 30 kilometres from
Strasbourg. Activity is on all bands and modes.
HE3RSI is on the air now until 3 December on bands from 40 to 10 metres
using the facilities of the former Swiss Radio International broadcast
station, including a 62-metre high curtain antenna array weighing 135
tonnes. The station is being operated by members of the HB9MM club station
from Lausanne. The HE3 prefix has never been used before.
Members of the Hoover (Merthyr Tydfil) Amateur Radio Club are operating
as GW3RDB in a 24-hour sponsored radio marathon from 0900 on 27 November,
using 10 to 160 metres SSB, CW and RTTY, as well as 2-metres SSB. Further
details from Jimmy, MW0EQL, on 01685 350594.
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