Good morning. It's Sunday the 15th of May and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. First the headlines:- Israel has signed the CEPT reciprocal licence agreement; fifteen teachers took the RAE last week and there's a vacancy on the RSGB HF Committee. The Radiocommunications Agency has informed the Society that Israel is now participating in the CEPT T/R 61-01 agreement. This means that a reciprocal licence is no longer required for UK amateurs to operate in Israel. The STELAR Group has reported that their first crash RAE course for teachers was a great success. The week-long residential course was sponsored by Trio-Kenwood UK and was held at their Watford Headquarters. The training involved both practical and theoretical aspects of amateur radio. Fifteen teachers took the Radio Amateurs Examination on the 9th of May. They are expected to use amateur radio as a classroom aid. Attention all RAE Tutors and students: the latest issue of 'How to become a radio amateur', published by the RA, no longer contains the licence conditions. These appear in the 'Terms, provisions and limitations' booklet BR68 and it is important to order both booklets at the same time. RAE candidates can obtain them from the Radiocommunications Agency by calling 071 215 2352. A DXpedition to the Shiant Isles, south-east of the Isle of Lewis, is scheduled to take place from the 27th to the 30th of May. The team comprises: GM3NIG, GM3UTQ, GM4FDM and GM4YMA. Operation will be on all bands 160 to 10m, mainly around IOTA and WAB frequencies using the callsign GB8SH. Primary mode will be SSB, but CW, AMTOR, Pactor and RTTY will be available on request. Shiant is IOTA EU 112 and WAB NG49. The HF Committee of the RSGB has a vacancy for a keen HF DXer. The committee, which is responsible to RSGB Council for all HF matters, meets approximately every two months in the London area. If you feel you can help, write, with brief details of any relevant experience, to the committee chairman, David Evans, G3OUF, P O Box 599, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, postcode HP3 0SR. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From Ascension Island, N6TJ will be active as ZD8Z from Friday the 20th of May, until early June. From St Eustatius, K3UOC will sign PJ5/K3UOC from Tuesday the 24th until Tuesday the 31st of May, mainly on CW. During the WPX CW Contest he will sign PJ8H. And from Marianas Islands, JA6VZB and JF6BCC will sign respectively AH0T and KH2GR/KH0 from Thursday the 26th until Monday the 30th of May. Activity will be on all bands 160 to 10 metres on CW, SSB and RTTY, including participation in the WPX CW Contest. We are very sorry to have to report the death of the founder of the DX News Sheet, Geoff Watts, last Monday the 9th. He will be greatly missed. Now the events for today Sunday the 15th of May: The Dunstable Downs Radio Club Annual National Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale is being held at Stockwood County Park, Luton, Bedfordshire, near junction 10 of the M1 motorway. Doors open at 10am. The event features trade stands, clubs and a car boot area. Other attractions include admission to the Environmental Open Day, free entry to the Mossman Collection of Horse Drawn Vehicles, craft museum and carriage rides. The Mid-Ulster Amateur Radio Club Parkanaur Rally is being held at the Silverwood Hotel, Lurgan, County Armagh. Doors open at 12 noon. The event features trade stands, a bring and buy stall and an RSGB Book stand. Refreshments are available. Talk-in is on two metres, channel S22. Next, the one event we know of for next Saturday 21st is the First Ipswich Computer Show which is to be held at Willis Corroon Sports and Social Club, The Street, Rushmere Saint Andrew, Ipswich. Doors open at 10am. For further details telephone 0473 272002. And now two rallies for next Sunday the 22th of May: The Gloucester Radio Rally is to be held at Nass Lane, Quedgeley, Gloucester, located off the old Bristol road: look for the signs for Quedgeley Rally. Doors open at 9am. The event features a car boot sale, a bring and buy stall and a flea market area. Further details from Mike on 0452 503786. The 37th Northern Mobile Rally which is to be held at the Flower Show Hall, on the Great Yorkshire Show Ground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Entry and parking is off the Wetherby to Harrogate road and there are separate arrangements for disabled visitors off Hookstone Wood road. The showground opens at 10.00am and the rally doors open at 10.45am. There are the usual trade stands, a bring and buy stall and refreshments. Talk-in is on channel S22. Further details from Mike, G0MKK on 0423 507653, evenings only or via G0MKK at GB7CYM. Next some dates for your diary: The Plymouth Radio and Electronics Fair, organised by the Plymouth Radio Club for the 29th of May, has changed venue to Coombe Dean School, Charnhill Way, Elburton, Plymouth. This is due to circumstances beyond the club's control. Further details available from Derek, G7ESZ on 0752 364150. This year's RSGB Headquarters Open Day is scheduled for Saturday, the 4th of June. Further details can be found in the May RadCom. The next RSGB Regional Meeting takes place at Brighouse in West Yorkshire on Sunday the 5th of June. These meetings are for members and non-members of the Society to meet Council Members, Society Officers and staff to discuss the workings of the Society and amateur radio related matters. For further details, contact RSGB Zonal Council Member Peter Sheppard, G4EJP, on 0964 550397. The Annual Conference of the World Association of Christian Radio Amateur and Listeners takes place from the 7th to the 9th of October in Merseyside. The notice in the May edition of RadCom was incorrect. Further details can be obtained from Geoff Peterson, G4EZU, on 0474 533686. HF contest news now: The CQ-M Mixed Mode (Russian) Contest finishes today, Sunday the 15th at 2100. The contest uses CW and SSB from 1.8MHz to 28MHz but excluding the WARC bands. See May RadCom page 20 for details. Next some VHF contest news: The RSGB 144MHz Single, Others and SWL Contest takes place next weekend, from 1400 UTC on Saturday the 21st until 1400 UTC on Sunday the 22nd of May. There are four sections, Single operator fixed, Single operator Portable, Others and Listeners. Another category is Single operator fixed, operating for 6 hours continuously, but starting at any hour on the hour. See the February edition of RadCom for further details. The first of the RSGB Back-Packers 144MHz Contests is scheduled to take place next Sunday the 22nd of May from 1100 until 1500 UTC. This is a new type of contest and full details can be found in January's RadCom. Special event stations this week include: GB0HSM which will be aired by the Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club from High Salvington Mill today Sunday the 15th. GB500JC will be aired from Bristol for the keel laying ceremony for a replica of John Cabot's ship "Matthew" on Friday the 20th by the Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of the Project. Operation will be on 80, 40 and 20 metres. See May RadCom page 6 for further information. Two-metre repeater GB3SA, was scheduled to be switched on last Saturday the 14th of May following a site change. The repeater is located east of Swansea and operates on channel R3, which has its output on 145.675MHz and input on 145.075MHz. Reports should go to the repeater keeper GW6KQC, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. And now the solar factual data: As expected, the period from the 2nd to the 8th of May saw magnetic storms every day with generally poor HF band conditions. However, for those lucky enough to catch the Sporadic-E on the 6th and 9th, both the 28 and 50MHz bands gave good contacts all over Europe. Solar activity has remained very low; no M or X flares have been reported since February the 27th and no active regions are at present on the disk. The sunspot indices meaned about the 45s. Solar flux levels have averaged 74 units and hardly varied from day to day. The 90 day flux average on the 8th of May dropped to 88 units, which is now reflecting the long period of very low solar activity. The geomagnetic Ap indices have been up to storm levels every day, seriously affecting the higher latitudes. The period averaged 35.7 units, and was affected by the high solar wind speed due to the passage of repeated coronal holes. The electron fluence level which is a measure of this activity, has been very high all the period but was starting to decline as this bulletin was being prepared. The state has been 'nil nothing to report' throughout the period. The daily aa indices as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period from the 26th of April to the 2nd of May averaged 22.2 nanoTeslas, but the 30th was very quiet, down to only 4.5 nanoTeslas with the pre auroral enhancement. The levels were up to 136 nanoTeslas on the 1st of May with the aurora. The X-Ray flux has declined again and averaged only A1.1 units, hardly varying day to day. The monthly spot indices for April were RI 16.7 with the maximum of 40 on the 24th, and the minimum of zero on the 3rd, 6th, and 7th. The smoothed number for October 93 is 45 +/-5. Bartells rotation 2196 starts on the 14th May. I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 45; Flux - 74; Ap index - 35.7; X-ray flux - A1.1. Now the ionospheric data for Central France: The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon, have been very depressed due to the magnetic storms, with the period average being only 6.7MHz. The level on the 7th was down to only 4.9MHz. The darkness hour lows averaged 2.5MHz with periods of spread F, and at times only the F1 layer was detectable. I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 6.7MHz; lows - 2.5MHz. Now the ionospheric data for the north: The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg averaged 4.9MHz and the darkness hour lows 2.5MHz. I'll repeat the figures: Highs - 4.9MHz; lows - 2.5MHz. And lastly the solar forecast: This week the quiet side of the sun will be looking our way. Solar flux levels are expected to be about the 85s, and the magnetic activity is expected to be quiet to just unsettled. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight are expected to be about 24MHz for the south, and 21MHz for the north. East/west paths will be difficult due to the seasonal changes now taking effect. Darkness hour MUFs for north/south paths are expected to be around 14MHz in the south. And that's 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 Victor and G7 Sierra India series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha Hotel and 2 1 Charlie Yankee series. -- NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Monday the 16th of May: Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting at Bocking Hockey Club at 8pm. Details from Margaret on 0376 327431. Sevenoaks and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Electronics Repairs' by John, G1TVJ. Details from the Secretary, SADARS, c/o Council Offices, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HG. Welwyn Hatfield Amateur Radio Club has a talk and demonstration entitled 'The Rocketer' by Bob, G4CQF. Details from Gary, G0ETA, tel: 0831 136353. Meetings for Tuesday the 17th of May: Andover Radio Amateur Club has a Model Control evening, which will include a flying display). Details from G8ALR on 0264 773547 (evenings). Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society has an evening of short talks. For details telephone 081 777 0420. Chichester and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Navigation' by Ieuan. Further details from G0KNU, Tel: 0243 573541. Dacorum Amateur Radio and Transmitting Society has a Radio Junk Sale and Barbecue. For more information contact Nick, G7KFQ on 0582 766973. Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club has a Field Days Preparations evening. For more details contact Neil, G0SVN on 0628 25952. Reigate Amateur Transmitting Society has its Annual General Meeting at Tilgates, Bletchingley at 8pm. For further details telephone 0342 325322. Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of May: Aylesbury Vale Radio Society has a Discussion evening. For further details contact Martyn, G4XZJ, on 0296 81097. Brighton and District Amateur Radio Society has an illustrated talk on "The Channel Tunnel" by Colin, G3WKZ, Engineering Director of Transmanche Link. Other clubs are invited. Details from Harold, G3WR, tel: 0273 501100. Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Computers in Amateur Radio, part 3' by G6CDV. Details from Ian, G0RTF on 0494 676391. Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club has a open air meeting at Baas Hill Common, Broxbourne. For details contact Roger on 0992 464795. Dover Radio Club has a Discussion and Operating night. For further details contact Mike, G7NOR on 0304 825030. Hastings Electronics and Radio Club has a talk on 'The Images of Man' by Dr John Craig, G3SGR. Further details from G3YYF on 0424 830454. Kingston and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Siberian Adventures' by Paul, G0BXC. Details from Ray, G0KXK on 081 398 1128. Meetings for Thursday the 19th of May: Colchester Radio Amateurs has a talk on 'Electronics and the Bomber Offensive' by Stanley Wood. Further details from Trevor, G0URJ on 0206 764034. Cray Valley Radio Society has a talk on 'RadCom' by the Editor Mike, G3XDV. Contact Bob on 081 850 1386 for details. East Kent Radio Society meets at Icom UK for a talk on 'How I Became a Radio Amateur' by Nick, G7FUM. Details from Paul, G3VJF on 0227 364606. Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Television Detection'. Further details from Paul, G1GSN on 0462 700618. Sutton and Cheam Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For details contact John, G0BWV, tel: 081 644 9945. Vange Amateur Radio Society has a Technical Talk by Peter, G7JRK. For further details contact Doris on 0268 552606. Meetings for Friday the 20th of May: Medway Amateur Receiving & Transmitting Society has a talk on 'Air Traffic Control and Airband Radio' by Dave, G6HXR. For details contact Gloria, G7OVI, tel: 634 710023. Southend & District Radio Society has a talk on 'Crime Prevention' by Rayleigh Police at Rocheway Centre at 8pm. Further details from Stephen, G1XGP whose daytime number is 071 623 9611. Winchester Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'A Homebrew 40m Transceiver' by G3MEV. Contact John, G4AXO on 0962 860807 for details. Meeting for next Sunday the 22nd of May: Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club has a 2m DF Competition using Map OS174, with G4SQZ as the Fox. For further details telephone 0256 25517. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meetings for Monday the 16th of May: Appledore and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Radio Operating' by G0DLC, G0FCL and G0KKG. Details from Reg, G4ETJ, tel: 0237 477301. Weston Super Mare Radio Society has a Workshop night. Details from Graham, G8WAR on 0934 415700. Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of May: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Simple Computer Programming - Logging' by G4RZY. For more information tel: 0275 834282. Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club has a Direction Finding Planning evening. Further details from Ian, G0GRI on 0225 864698 (evenings). Meeting for Thursday the 19th of May: Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Negative Resistance Oscillators' by G3MYM. Further information from Cedric, G4JBL on 0258 473845. Meetings for Friday the 20th of May: Shirehampton Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'The Use of the EI5DI Software for NFD' by G4NAQ. Details from Ron, G4GTD on 0272 770504. North Bristol Amateur Club has an Open Forum. Further details from Tony, G4ROX tel: 0272 513573. Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk: 'Aerial Radiations Patterns' by G3GC from the Yeovil Club. Details G3WNI on 0823 680778. Torbay Amateur Radio Society has a Second-Hand Sale. Further details from Walt, G3HTX on 0803 526762. Meeting for Saturday the 21st of May: Saltash and District Amateur Radio Club has a Field Day at Stoketon Trematon near Saltash, off the A38, using HF and VHF from 10am to 4pm. All are welcome. Contact Brian on 0752 844321 for details. Meeting for next Sunday the 22nd of May: Flight Refuelling (Wimborne) Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled "Dreaded dBs and Fickle Filter" by G0MDK. Contact John, G4POF on 0425 653404 for details. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for Monday the 16th of May: Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society has its Rally (ESWR) Planning evening. For details contact Paul, G4YQC on 0394 273507 any evening. Meeting for Tuesday the 17th of May: Bury St Edmunds Amateur Radio Society has a talk by a member of the Radio Investigation Service. Further details from G6TJH on 0284 728418. Meetings for Wednesday the 18th of May: Ipswich Radio Club has a Rally (ESW) Planning meeting. For further details contact Sheila, G8HYE on 0473 742072. Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Construction QRP evening. For further details contact Sheila, G0KWP on 0603 618810. Meeting for Thursday the 19th of May: Yarmouth Radio Club has a Caravan Maintenance night. For further details contact Tony, G3NHU, on 0493 721173. Meeting for Friday the 20th of May: Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Home Brew HF/VHF Antennas, including Loops' by Brian, G3WQF. Contact John, G0GKP on 0954 200072 for details. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meeting for Monday the 16th of May: Dudley Amateur Club has a talk entitled 'Describing the Installation and Controls at the QTH of Bill, G3CAQ'. During the meeting a date for the visit to Bill's QTH will be announced. Further details from Tony, G4LVA on 0384 277925. Meetings for Tuesday the 17th of May: Kettering and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk by a member of the Radio Investigation Service. Further details from Chris, G4RPG on 0536 523230. Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club has a Night at Wymswold. For further details contact G8SNF on 0509 218259. Meetings for Wednesday 18th of May: Bolsover Amateur Radio Society has its second Direction Finding Contest. Details from Colin, G0RXT, tel: 0246 822856. Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has a Practical demonstration of the 'Cairo System' by Peter, G8CQH. Contact Hayley, G7PXA on 0773 856904 for details. Lincoln Short Wave Club has a talk entitled 'Japanese Morse' by Norman, G3CSG. For more details contact Pam, G4STO on 0427 788356. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale, at the Red Lion, Wellington. Details from Dave, G4EIX on 0952 588878. Meetings for Thursday the 19th of May: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has its second Fox Hunt. Further details from Simon, G0IEG on 0602 501733. Salop Amateur Radio Society has its second Fox Hunt, starting from The Oak Hotel car park at 7.30pm. Further details from Sheila, G0SST on 0743 361935. Solihull Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk entitled '10GHz SSB' by Paul Gaskin, G8AYY. Contact Paul, G8AYY on 021-783 2996 for details. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 16th of May: Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'PMR Gear' by G0GNR. More details from Brian, G0GNR on 061 653 8316. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club is at its new meeting place, the Sheffield University Lecturers' Club, Club 197, Brook Hill, Sheffield S10. There will be talk-in by G0TYO/P on 145.35MHz and through UHF repeater GB3US. Details from David, G0JJR on 0742 446282. Woodford (RATEC) has a talk entitled 'Amateur Satellites' by Neville, G3AUB at 8.30pm. Visitors welcome. Further details from Don, G4SFU on 061 485 3912. Meetings for Tuesday the 17th of May: Bury Radio Society has a 'NFD discussion' evening. Further details from Mike, G4GSY on 061 761 5083. Chester and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Satellite TV' by Paul, G3TZO. Details from G0OXA, tel: 051 608 3229. Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Receiver Construction' by Rev George Dobbs, G3RJV. Contact David, G0DLM on 0422 202306 for further details. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a Quiz evening. Further details from Ian, G4WWX, who is QTHR. Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has a 'Bring your Computer Along' evening. Further details from G4BFH who is QTHR. Wakefield and District Radio Society has a talk on 'Deep Space Astronomy' by Malcolm McKenzie, G8RWN. Further details from Roy, G0TBY on 0924 893321. Meeting for Wednesday the 18th of May: Tyneside Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Details from Stuart, G0BEV on 091 281 0999. Meetings for Thursday the 19th of May: Hambleton Amateur Radio Society has a Club Aerial Project evening. Further details from Nigel, G0NHM on 0609 776608. Hornsea Amateur Radio Club has an ATV Link Quiz. For details contact from Edward, G4UOZ on 0964 534283. North Wakefield Radio Club has the official opening of its new Shack by Peter Sheppard, G4EJP, Zone "A" Council Member, at 8.30pm. The venue is the East Ardsley Cricket Club, East Ardsley, near Wakefield, half a mile from junction 41 of the M1 motorway. Everyone is welcome. A Barbecue to be held, weather permitting. Contact John, G4RCG on 0924 362144 for details. Spen Valley Amateur Radio Society has a Visit to North Wakefield ARS new Shack Opening at 8pm. Members wishing to attend contact Russell, G0FOI on 0274 875038. This replaces the advertised event. Meetings for Friday the 20th of May: Goole Radio and Electronics Society has a Direction Finding practice evening. Further details from Steve, G8VHL on 0405 769130. North Ferriby United Amateur Radio Society has a Discussion on 'Issues Affecting Amateur Radio and the RSGB Locally' by Clive, G8EQZ, RSGB's RLO for North Humberside. Details from David, G7PER on 0482 656324. Stockport Radio Society Computer Group has a talk on 'Easy Home Brew' by G3URW. For further information telephone 061 439 4952. South Manchester Radio Club has its AGM. Member are asked to attend if possible. For further details contact Edward, G7FQY on 061 969 1964. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Tuesday the 17th of May: Dundee Amateur Radio Club has its Club Awards Evening. Details from GM4FSB who is QTHR. The Telegraph Radio Club has a visit to the Museum of Communications at Boness. Details from John, GM0RSF on 0506 31645. Meeting for Thursday the 19th of May: Dunfermline Radio Society: The Demonstration on logging programs has now been postponed until the 9th of June. Meetings for Friday the 20th of May: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Building the Yearling, part 3'. Further information from Gordon, GM7PXW, tel 0224 780591. Ayr Amateur Radio Group has its Annual General Meeting at 7.30pm. Details from Ian, GM43VMG 0292 260870. West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Contact Jack, GM4COX on 0698 350926 for further details. NEWS FOR WALES Meeting for Monday the 16th of May: Newport Amateur Radio Society has a Construction Night. Further details from Pat, GW7MVQ whose work number is 0633 250017. Meeting for Thursday the 19th of May: Porthmadog Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'The History of Radio' by Pat, GW3KJW. Further details from GW6IMS on 0766 770546. NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Meeting for Wednesday the 18th of May: Belfast RSGB Group has a visit to Ulster Television Studios at 6.50pm. Numbers will be limited, so please notify Carolyn, GI4XFS if you wish to attend. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain and is broadcast in the 80m, 40m, 6m and 2m bands. Tel +44 707 659015 Fax +44 707 645105