Good morning. It's Sunday the 17th of April and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. It's Scottish Activity weekend and we wish all our Scottish listeners an active day. The organisers of this event, the Scottish Tourist Board (Radio Amateur) Expedition Group, aims to encourage activity by Scottish radio amateurs and to create a worldwide interest in contacts with Scottish stations. The Scottish Century Award is available and further details can be obtained from Robbie Aitkenhead, GM4UQG, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. All GM, GS and 2M stations are invited to participate. Next Saturday the 23rd of April is International Marconi Day. The event is held each year on the Saturday nearest to the birth date of Marconi and is organised by the Cornish Radio Amateur Club. This year is the seventh IMD and is the biggest event to date, with over 35 special event stations taking part from around the world. The Cornish Radio Amateur Club offers an award for working or hearing a minimum of twelve of the participating stations. For details and a list of official stations which count for the award contact the IMD Awards Manager, Sue Thomas, G0PGX at the Cornish Radio Amateur Club, P O Box 100, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1RX. Or send a message via packet to G4USB at GB7AKE. Amongst the International Marconi Day special event stations is GB0IOW which will operate from Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight, described by Marconi as "the World's first permanent wireless station". Another IMD station is GB1IMD which will use amateur satellites only. The station will be operational for the whole of the Saturday. Main activity will be via Oscar 13 mode B, on a down link close to 145.930MHz USB, and with the uplink around 435MHz. Additional operation will take place via the Russian satellite RS10 on a downlink around 28.385MHz, with an uplink on 2 metres. Precise operating times will depend on the satellites in range. The station will operate from a Marconi factory site in Leicester. For further details contact John Heath, G7HIA. From time to time, members of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee produce technical papers for professional conferences. Anyone who would like copies of these papers should contact the committee chairman Charlie Newton, G2AHU, on 0568 780614. The Coventry/ Northampton HF Direction Finding Qualifying event is scheduled to take place next Sunday the 24th of April. It takes place at Irchester Country Park, NGR 912658 using map 152, Northampton and Milton Keynes. Participants should assemble at 1pm for 1.20pm start. Competitors requiring supper should notify George Whenham, tel: 0926 812367 no later than today Sunday the 17th. Attention RSGB members in Scotland: A new RSGB Liaison Officer (RLO) has been appointed for Tayside. He is Alfred Low, GM4UZP, and his address is 21 Earn Crescent, Menzieshill, Dundee DD2 4BS, telephone 0382 644597. RLOs hold a wide range of information and they are available to help any RSGB member seeking advice. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From Montserrat, AA6MV will sign VP2MCO from tomorrow, Monday the 18th until Tuesday the 26th of April on 10 - 80 metre using CW and SSB. From Jerba Island, Tunisia, IK8EVE will sign 3V8TM from Monday the 25th of April until Sunday the 15th of May. From Maldive Islands, HB9DCO is active as 8Q9DX from Mirihi Island. And from Switzerland, I1YRL will operate the Geneva ITU station 4U1ITU during Saturday the 30th of April and the special Geneva ITU callsign 4U9ITU throughout the month of May. Rally news now: Now the Rallies for today Sunday the 17th of April: The Bury Radio Society Radio Rally is being held at the Castle Centre, Bolton Street, Bury, Lancs. Doors open at 11am, or 10.30 for disabled visitors. The event features trade stands and a bring and buy stall. Talk-in will be on two metres, channel S22. The Cambridge Repeater Group Amateur Radio Rally is being held at the Philips Telecom Catering Centre, St Andrews Road, Chesterton, Cambridge. Doors open at 10.30am. The event features trade stands, a bring and buy stall and an auction. Refreshments are available. The Marske-by-the Sea Radio Rally is being held at the Marske Leisure Centre, High Street, Marske-by-the-Sea, near Saltburn, Cleveland. Doors open at 11am. The event features the usual traders and a bring and buy stall and refreshments will be available. Now the only event we know for next weekend, Saturday the 23th and Sunday the 24th of April: The Irish Receiving and Transmitting Society Annual General Meeting and Mobile Rally is to be held at the Jacksons Hotel, Ballybofey, County Donegal, Ireland on Sunday the 26th. This is the first IRTS AGM to be held in Co Donegal. The Hotel is also the host to the IRTS Dinner Dance to be held on Saturday the 23rd. For ticket information and other details contact Ken, EI4DW on 010 353 74 31109. Now some dates for your diary: The RSGB National Mobile Rally is to be held at its usual venue on Sunday the 7th August at Woburn Park, Bedfordshire. For further information contact Norman Miller, G3MVV on 0277 225563. The next RSGB Regional Meeting will be held on Sunday the 5th of June in Brighouse, West Yorkshire. For further details, contact RSGB Zonal Council Member Peter Sheppard, G4EJP, on 0964 550397. HF contest news now: The RSGB Low Power Contest is taking place today, Sunday the 17th from 0700 to 1100 UTC using CW between 3.510 - 3.560MHz and 7.010 - 7.040MHz. See the February edition of Radio Communication, for the rules and further details. Clubs wishing to enter the RSGB's HF National Field Day should note that the deadline for registration is next Saturday, the 23rd of April. Further information can be found on page 82 of the February edition of RadCom. The third in this year's series of RSGB QRS (Slow Morse) Cumulative Contests will take place next Thursday the 21st of April from 1900 to 2030 UTC between 3.540 - 3.580MHz. See April RadCom page 8, for further details and January's RadCom, page 83 for the rules. Novice licensees are particularly encouraged to participate as contacts with Novice calls are worth quadruple points. The Helvetia Contest takes place during next weekend, starting at 1300 on Saturday the 23rd and finishing at 1300 on Sunday the 24th of April. Use CW only on 1.8MHz, and CW and SSB on 3.5 to 28MHz but excluding the WARC bands. The contest is rather complex so participants are advised to consult the rules which can be found in the April edition of RadCom on page 19. A special event station active today is GB2AMN, which will be aired by members of RAF Finningley Amateur Radio Society from the Newark Air Museum, from 10am to 6pm on the HF bands and two metres. And now the solar factual data The period from the 4th to the 10th of April has seen continuing magnetic storms, particularly at high latitudes, due to the passage of coronal holes. The HF bands continued to be very poor. Solar activity has remained very low with the sun spot indices down to zero on some days and the mean for the period being only 7. There was only one flare reported which was a sub-flare. This has less energy than a C-class flare, and would not normally be reported. The last M flare reported was on the 27th of February, and solar rotation 1880 has passed without any flares at all. The solar flux levels have also taken a knock and averaged only 74.4 units, being depressed throughout the period. The 90 day mean flux on 9th April was 96 units. The geomagnetic activity was expected to die down but alas it remained as bad as ever, and was at storm levels every day. Since February the storms have raged almost continuously making this period the stormiest of solar cycle 22. The Ap indices averaged 40.7 units. The main effects of the storms have been at the higher latitudes with complete ionospheric blackouts. The state has been 'mag storm at high latitudes' all the period. The aa indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period 29th March to the 4th April, gave daily averages ranging from the only quiet day on the 29th at only 11.1 nanoTeslas, up to the full storm days of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, with daily levels up to 98 nanoTeslas. During the auroras of the 2nd and 3rd, there were periods of 137 nanoTeslas. The weekly average was 41 nanoTeslas, about K4, with the storm periods up to K6. The X-Ray flux has dropped to very low levels and averaged only A1.1 units, the lowest levels since we have been bringing you this data. The Electron Fluence at greater than 2 Mega-electron-volts has remained at a very high level, probably the result of the outpourings from the coronal holes. The sunspot mean for March was RI 31.7 with a maximum of 62 on the 3rd and a minimum of 8 on the 20th. The 6 month smoothed level for September 1993 was 48.5 plus or minus 5. Bartells rotation 2195 starts today, the 17th. I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 7; Flux - 74.4; Ap index - 40.7; X-ray flux - A1.1; March spot mean 31.7. Now the ionospheric data for Central France: The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon, averaged only 6.1MHz, with the 7th being down to only 4.6MHz. Again, this is the lowest level since we have been bringing you this data. The darkness hour lows have also been depressed, averaging 2.1MHz. However, spread F has been bad, lasting up to 8 hours on some days. I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 6.1MHz; lows - 2.1MHz. Now the ionospheric data for the north: The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg have been severely affected by the magnetic storms. Readings have not been possible on some days but what we have gives levels of around 4.7MHz. The darkness hour lows were about 2.3MHz. I'll repeat the figures: Highs - 4.7MHz; lows - 2.3MHz. Recent times have very clearly shown that it is not only flare activity that can cause magnetic storms. Coronal holes which are magnetic holes in the sun's outer corona have the effect of guiding the solar material out into space. These holes are always present at the sun's poles, but at times such as now, tongues extend down to the solar equator and it is this outpouring which affects the earth. And lastly the solar forecast: This week, the quieter side of the sun will be coming into view, and based on past history the magnetic activity should be just about unsettled. It would appear that some solar restructuring is taking place and the solar flux levels are likely to remain low at about the 80s. Ionospheric MUFs in the south during the daytime are expected to reach about 21MHz, and darkness hour lows about 7MHz. Best contacts should be over north/south paths. For the north, daytime levels will be lower, possibly only 18MHz. Seasonal effects will depress the east/west paths. And that is the end of the solar information. Finally in the main news, SSL has informed the Society that as of last Wednesday morning, the latest callsigns issued were in the G0 Uniform Sierra and G7 Sierra Hotel series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha Hotel and 2 1 Charlie Uniform series. --- NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Monday the 18th of April: Bishop Stortford Amateur Radio Society has its Annual Junk Sale. Further details can be obtained from Neville, G4MIS on 0279 722622. Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk. For details telephone Margaret on 0376 327431. Sevenoaks and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Police Radio'. Details from Mrs A Dawson, c/o Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HG. Welwyn-Hatfield Amateur Radio Club has a Junk Sale. Further details from Gary, 0831 136353. Meetings for Tuesday the 19th of April: Andover Radio Amateur Club has a Demonstration of 'Live Amateur TV' by Steve, G7DVK. For further details contact G8ALR, whose evening telephone number is 0264 773547. Chichester and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Map-making, Past and Present' by Ray Tarling of the Ordnance Survey. Further details from G0KNU Tel: 0243 573541. Dacorum Amateur Radio and Transmitting Society has a talk. For more information contact Nick, G7KFQ on 0582 766973. Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'DIY Satellite TV' by Mike, G3VXZ. For details contact Neil, G0SVN, tel: 0628 25952. Maidstone YMCA Amateur Radio Society has a Dummy Morse Test evening from 8 to 10pm. Contact Colin, G0SFC on 0622 670936 for further details. Reigate Amateur Transmitting Society has a talk entitled 'Early TV - the Radio Hams Contribution' by G2KU. For further details telephone 0342 325322. Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a Discussion and Morse Instruction evening. For further details contact Neil, 2E1ASZ on 0438 350882. Thames Valley Packet Radio Group has its Annual General Meeting at Woodford Park Pavilion, Haddon Drive, Woodley at 8pm. Details from Graham, G8DMR on 0256 59773. Meetings for Wednesday the 20th of April: Aylesbury Vale Radio Society has a Discussion evening. For further details contact Martyn, G4XZJ, on 0296 81097. Brighton and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Network - Nodes and BBS' by Martin, G1DVU at 8pm. Details from Harold, G3WR, tel: 0273 501100. Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Computers in Amateur Radio (part 2)' by Alan, G6CDV. Details from Ian, G0RTF on 0494 676391. Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'An Introduction to TCP/IP' by Dave, G4POI. For further information contact Roger, G4OAA on 0992 464795. Dover Radio Club has a Video evening. For further details contact Mike, G7NOR on 0304 825030. Hastings Electronics and Radio Club has a Junk Auction at West Hill Community Centre at 7.30pm. (Doors open 6pm). Further details from G4VBK on 0424 428428. Kingston and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'The 7th Cavalry, the Pogo Stick and a Guide to Personal Communications' by Brian, G8DIU. Further details from Ray, G0KXK on 081 398 1128. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has a Discussion evening. Further details from G4GPX on 0903 753893. Meetings for Thursday the 21st of April: Cray Valley Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Contact Bob on 081 850 1386 for details. Crowborough & District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Concorde' by Keith, G8HGM. Contact Mick, G6UUO on 0892 661807 for further information. Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Notable Computer Networks' by Gareth, G6KVK. Further details from Paul, G1GSN on 0462 700618. Sutton and Cheam Radio Society has a Junk Sale. For further details contact John, G0BWV, tel: 081 644 9945. Vange Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Ultra Sound' by G7KCO. For further details contact Doris, Club Secretary. Tel: 0268 552606. Meetings for Friday the 22nd of April: Clifton Amateur Radio Society has a Quiz Evening. Further details from Keith, G4TJE on 081 859 7630. The Radio Society of Harrow has its Annual Dinner. For further details contact Jim, G0AOT on 0895 632377 evening or 071 251 2700 daytime. Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club has a visit from the RSGB General Manager, Peter Kirby, G0TWW. Visitors and members of other clubs are welcome. Contact Les, G3ABA on 0703 732997 for further details. Whitton Amateur Radio Group has its Annual General Meeting. For further details telephone 081 995 6553. Meetings for next Sunday the 24th of April: East Kent Radio Society has a short talk on 'How I became a Radio Amateur' by Nick, G7FUM at Icom, starting at 8pm. Further details from Paul, G3VJF on 0227 364606. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has a Treasure Hunt. For further details contact G4GPX on 0903 753893. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for today Sunday the 17th of April: Flight Refuelling (Wimborne) Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'The Little Brown Book' by G4VCQ. For further details contact John, G4POF on 0425 653404. Meetings for Monday the 18th of April: Appledore and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Tesla' by Ian Moore. For further details contact G4ETJ, tel: 0237 477301. Weston Super Mare Radio Society has a Workshop evening. Details from Graham, G8WAR on 0934 415700. Meetings for Tuesday the 19th of April: Plymouth Radio Club has a Discussion evening. Contact Frank, G7LUL on 0752 563222 for details. Salisbury Radio and Electronic Society has a Construction evening and Advice Clinic. For further details contact David, G7GWF on 0722 330971. Meeting for Wednesday the 20th of April: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has an Exhibition of Radio Controlled Model Boats by Ralph Fletcher. For more information tel: 0275 834282. Meetings for Friday the 22nd of April: North Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'How to Use an SWR Meter'. Further details from Tony, G4ROX tel: 0272 513573. Torbay Amateur Radio Society has a Talk. Contact Peter, G4UTO on 0803 864528 for details. Meeting for next Sunday the 24th of April: Flight Refuelling (Wimborne) Amateur Radio Society has its Construction Trophy Competition. Contact John, G4POF on 0425 653404 for further details. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meetings for Wednesday the 20th of April: Ipswich Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For further information contact Sheila, G8HYE, tel: 0473 742072. Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Construction and Morse practice evening. For further details contact Sheila, G0KWP on 0603 618810. Meetings for Thursday the 21st of April: Kings Lynn Amateur Radio Club has a Junk and Surplus Equipment Sale at the Scouts Hut, Chequers Lane at 7.30pm. Contact Ian, G0BMS on 0553 765614 for details. Yarmouth Radio Club has a film show of 'Old Yarmouth' by G3IOR. Details from Tony, G3NHU, on 0493 721173. Meeting for Friday the 22nd of April: Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Measurement of Time' by Ian, G4AKD. Contact John, G0TIL on 0763 243570 for details. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meetings for Monday the 18th of April: Dudley Amateur Club has a demonstration of 'The Use of "Grip-Dip Meter" and other Meters' conducted by Bill, G3CAQ. Details from Tony, G4LVA on 0384 277925. Leicester Radio Society has a Junk Sale. Further details from Wayne, G6NGV on 0533 546851 (evenings). Meeting for Tuesday the 19th of April: Grantham Radio Club has a visit to the Lincolnshire Police Headquarters at Nettleham, meeting there before 7.30pm. Further details from John, G8WWJ, 0476 65743. Meetings for Wednesday 20th of April: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has a illustrated talk on 'Showing the Flag' by John Dominy. Further information from Hayley, G7PXA on 0773 856904. Lincoln Short Wave Club has a Trip to Clayton Forge. For more details contact Pam, G4STO on 0427 788356. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'The RSGB' by, Zone B Council Member Dave Gourley, G0MJY at 8pm. Details from Dave, G4EIX, on 0952 588878. Meetings for Thursday the 21st of April: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has a Direction Finding Hunt. Further details from Simon, G0IEG on 0602 501733. Salop Amateur Radio Society has a Direction Finding Hunt, 1st chase, starting at 7.30pm at the Oak Hotel car-park. Further details from Sheila, G0SST on 0743 361935. Solihull Amateur Radio Society meets for a 'Rig Check' evening. More details from Mr P T Gaskin, G8AYY, tel: 021-783 2996. Meeting for Friday the 22nd of April: Coventry Amateur Radio Society has its Second-round Indoor Direction Finding Contest. Further details from David, G1ORG, tel: 0203 311468. Meeting for next Sunday the 24th of April: West Bromwich Central Radio Club has a talk on 'Cairo Revisited' by John, G8NZO. Further details from Ian, G0PAI, tel: 021 561 2884. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 18th of April: Barnsley and District Amateur Radio Society has a visit by M J Components. Details from Alan, G4JKW on 0226 299031. Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Contests' by G3RTU. Further information from Brian, G0GNR on 061 653 8316. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has a talk by Ron, G4UMQ. For further details contact David, G0JJR, Tel: 0742 446282. Meetings for Tuesday the 19th of April: Bury Radio Society has a Rally Discussion evening. For further information contact Mike, G4GSY 061 761 5083. Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Valves' by Jim, G4MH at the West End Hotel at 7.30pm. Contact David, G0DLM on 0422 202306 for further details. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a Demonstration by the Radiocommunications Agency. Further details from Ian, G4WWX, who is QTHR. North Wakefield Radio Club has a visit to Radio Aire FM, Leeds. Contact John, G4RCG on 0924 362144 for further details. Meeting for Wednesday the 20th of April: Denby Dale and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'A Day in the Life of the Wakefield Coroner' by David Hinchliff. Details from Des, G3ABS on 0484 606542. Meeting for Thursday the 21st of April: Spen Valley Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'ATV on Air' by the "ET" Group. For further details contact David, G1CTO on 0924 497767. Meetings for Friday the 22nd of April: Goole Radio and Electronics Society has a Construction Evening. For further information contact Steve, G8VHL on 0405 769130. Stockport Radio Society Computer Group has a talk entitled 'DX Packet Cluster' by G0CMM. For further information telephone 061 439 4952. South Manchester Radio Club has a Debate on 'High Power Should be Banned'. For further details contact Edward, G7FQY on 061 969 1964. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for today Sunday the 17th of April: Central Scotland FM Group has its Annual General Meeting at the Golden Circle Hotel, Bathgate, West Lothian. Features a trade show from 11am to 2pm, open to all. AGM from 2.15pm, for CSFMG members and those joining at the door. Talk-in on S22. For further details contact GM3AXX on 0560 482720. Meeting for Tuesday the 19th of April: Dundee Amateur Radio Club has a Construction night at 7.30pm in the College of Further Education, Graham Street, Dundee. Details from GM4FSB who is QTHR. Meeting for Thursday the 21st of April: Dunfermline Radio Society has a Demonstration of 'JVFAX, a Weather Fax Program' by Graham, GM6WBV. For further details contact Wallace, GM0GNT who is QTHR. Meetings for Friday the 22nd of April: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Surface Mount Devices'. For further information contact Gordon, GM7PXW, tel 0224 780591. Ayr Amateur Radio Group has a technical evening on 'Power Supply Units'. Details from Ian, GM43VMG 0292 260870. West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'VLC CAD/CAM 40/30M Tx' by Alasdair, GM3AXX. Contact Jack, GM4COX on 0698 350926 for further details. NEWS FOR WALES Meeting for Monday the 18th of April: Dragon Amateur Radio Club has the VK2WAH video and preparation for GB4MD International Marconi Day Station. Details from Tony, GW0FMQ on 0248 600963. Meeting for Tuesday the 19th of April: Wrexham Amateur Radio Society has a Quiz night. For further details contact Ian, GW1MVL on 0978 845858. Meeting for Thursday the 21st of April: Porthmadog Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Moon Bounce'. Contact GW6IMS on 0766 770546 for further details. NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Meeting for Tuesday the 19th of April: Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group has a Quiz Night at Downshire Secondary School at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Details from Hugh, GI0JOF on 0960 351807. Meeting for Wednesday the 20th of April: Belfast RSGB Group has a talk entitled 'Satellites, part 2' by Ian, GI8AYZ. Further details from Richard, GI0OUM, who is QTHR.