Good morning. It's Sunday the 20th of August and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. We start this week with the news that tropospheric conditions have once again affected all the VHF and UHF bands, due to the anticyclone centred over the UK. Colin, GM0CLN, took advantage of this to work 7S6AG, a special event station at the World Athletics Championships held in Sweden. And G4NVD, a GB2RS newsreader in Grimsby, reports being called back with reception reports from Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and all over the UK after reading the news on the 6th of August. On the 9th of August he also made contact with SM7URN at a distance of 980 kilometres while using less than half a watt of SSB on 2 metres. The RSGB National Convention at the Stafford Amateur Radio and Computer Show is taking place this weekend, the 19th and 20th of August, at the County Showground, Stafford. In addition to a large trade show, the event features on-demand Morse tests, demonstrations, special interest groups and a bring and buy sale. There is a large RSGB book and information stand, including an exhibition of photographs of historic radios and events, with the emphasis on Marconi. RSGB committees are also in attendance. An official show guide is published in the August Radio Communication. The Radio Amateur Invalid and Blind Club, Northern Ireland area, wishes to acknowledge and thank the members of the Mid-Ulster Amateur Radio Club for their co-operation and time in arranging a street collection recently on behalf of RAIBC Northern Ireland. The proceeds will be used to purchase radio equipment in the province. The IEE will be staging an International Conference on 100 Years of Radio at Savoy Place in London between the 5th and 7th of September, at which a number of radio amateurs will be making significant contributions. One of the sessions, entitled "Tuning and the Amateur", is chaired by RadCom 'Technical Topics' columnist Pat Hawker, G3VA. It will include a paper called "Amateur Radio - Past, Present and Future" by G3ZCZ, which will be presented by Richard Limebear, G3RWL. Other contributors include Professor Martin Sweeting, G3YJO, from the University of Surrey UoSAT programme; and Cecil Ramsbottom, G3BZQ, who will present a paper called "The Era of the Home Wireless Constructor". For further details contact IEE's Conference Services on 0171 344 5477 as soon as possible. The RSGB International HF Convention will take place at Old Windsor in Berkshire on the 9th and 10th of September. The event will feature lectures and presentations from some of the world's top HF operators and DXers, including Martin Atherton, G3ZAY, who will give a talk on "Sunspots and Propagation". The talk will describe how sunspots affect HF propagation, why they run in 11-year cycles, how to measure them and how to tell when a new sunspot cycle has started. Martin will also explain the mysteries of the 'A' and 'K' indices. There will be a 48-hour contest station operating in the WAE phone contest and, for the first time, DXCC QSL card checking will be available at the convention. Further details of the RSGB HF Convention and a synopsis of the lectures are published on pages 20 and 93 of the August RadCom. Details of the lecture programme and a booking form can also be obtained from Marcia Brimson at RSGB Headquarters on 01707 659015. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, which is edited by Chris Page, G4BUE: >From West Malaysia, Neville, G3NUG, is signing 9M2/G3NUG until Monday the 21st of August. He is operating from an island which counts as AS-073 for the RSGB IOTA awards. Check around 14260 kHz on SSB. >From Syria, ZP5ALI is planning to be active as YK1/ZP5ALI from Tuesday the 22nd, until the 27th of August on 10, 15 and 20 metres SSB. And from Italy, the special station IY1MR is active now, until the 10th of September, during a Marconi 100th anniversary exhibition organised by the ARI Rapallo Section and the Marconi Foundation. The station is active on VHF and UHF as well as all HF bands. Now news of some special event stations: The North Norfolk Amateur Radio Group is operating GB100NT from Sheringham Park this weekend, the 19th and 20th of August, in order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Trust. Next weekend, the 26th and 27th of August, the Swansea and Port Talbot clubs will operate GB100NT from Aberdulais Falls. GR0VLB will be on the air on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout August, representing the Voluntary Life Brigade in Sunderland. The Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society is operating GB2OAY from Andrews Field Aerodrome from Friday the 18th until Sunday the 20th of August. The club is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and details of a 20th Anniversary Award can be found in the May edition of RadCom. The Bangor and District Amateur Radio Society in Northern Ireland is operating GR4GPF from Grey Point Fort between 10.00 am and 4.00pm this weekend, the 19th and 20th of August. The Leicester Radio Society is operating GB5VJ during its open days this weekend, the 19th and 20th. The Aberystwyth and District Amateur Radio Society is operating GR0ARA today, Sunday the 20th, from the Aberystwyth Model Club's annual event at Blaendolau Fields, Aberystwyth. GB2SGS will be on the air from "MOOT 95", a camp for over one thousand Scouts and Guides at the Suffolk Show Ground, near Ipswich, from Friday the 25th until Monday the 28th of August. The station will be mainly on 80 and 40 metres SSB and CW, and on 2 metres and 70cm SSB and FM. The Barry Amateur Radio Society will be operating GB5FI from Flat Holm Island in the Bristol Channel, along with members of the Passau Radio Club from Bavaria, from Friday the 25th of August, for five days. The station will be active on HF and VHF, and modes will include Amtor and Pactor. Next weekend, the 26th and 27th of August, is the Northern Lighthouse Weekend, when eleven Scottish special event stations will be active from lighthouses. The stations will be located in the Shetlands, Orkneys, Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, and will use the callsign GB2L followed by one or two letters indicating the name of the lighthouse. Activity will be between 0800 UTC on Saturday and 1700 UTC on Sunday, on 10 to 40 metres, SSB only. A list of the stations participating can be found on page 33 of the August RadCom and further information can be obtained from Mike, GM4SUC, on 01292 443127. And a special event station in Queensland, Australia with the unusual callsign "VI50 Peace", that's "V I Five Zero P-E-A-C-E", is active throughout August, September and October. Next the Rally News: The Great Eastern Rally takes place at The Cattle Market, Hardwick Narrows, near King's Lynn in Norfolk today, Sunday the 20th of August. The event features a car boot sale, and a spacious indoor area with national exhibitors and a bring and buy stall. Talk-in will be on 2 metres channel S22. Also today, the 20th, the West Manchester Radio Club is holding the Red Rose Rally at Silverwell Street, Bolton. Doors open at 11.00 am, or 10.30am for disabled visitors, and talk-in is on 2 metres channel S22. The Amateur Radio Caravan and Camping Club rally takes place at Stratford upon Avon between the 25th and 28th of August. For further details telephone 01462 811208. A computer and radio rally will take place on Saturday the 26th of August at Manchester University Refectory Hall, Oxford Road, Manchester. For further details call 0161 627 2502. The Galashiels and District Amateur Radio Society will hold an open day and radio rally at the Focus Centre, Livingstone Place, Galashiels next Sunday, the 27th of August. The event features traders, club stalls, a bring and buy stand, raffles and refreshments. For further information contact John Campbell, GM0AMB, on 01835 822686. The Coleraine and District Amateur Radio Society's annual rally will take place at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine, next Sunday, the 27th. The event features a large number of traders, and doors open at midday. For further details, contact GI8LTB on 01265 58664. And the Torbay Amateur Radio Society rally will also take place on Sunday the 27th, at Clenon Valley Leisure Centre, Paignton, in Devon. The event features traders, special interest stands, a bring and buy stand, and a restaurant and bar. Details from John, G3YCH, on 01803 842178. The Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society Bank Holiday Monday Rally will take place on the 28th of August at St Peter's Road, Huntingdon. The event features two halls and a car boot sale. For further details contact David, G7DIU, on 01480 431333. And the annual Wight Wireless Rally will take place on Saturday the 2nd of September at the National Wireless Museum, Arreton Manor, Newport, Isle of Wight. The event features traders, a bring and buy stand, and free admission to the National Wireless Museum. The doors will open at 11.00 am and talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel S22. Further details are available from Douglas Byrne, G3KPO, on 01983 567665. There is a proposal for a new 70 centimetre speech repeater. The proposal is for GB3TC to operate on channel RB1 from Wincanton, Somerset. Now for the HF contest news: There are no RSGB HF Contests either this weekend or next weekend, but the Japanese KCJ CW contest is taking place this weekend, the 19th and 20th of August. Brief rules are on page 22 of the August Radcom. And the South-East Asian "SEANET" SSB contest is also taking place this weekend. Brief rules are on page 20 of the July RadCom. Next some VHF contest news: The RSGB 432 MHz Fixed Station and 432 MHz Listeners contests takes place today, the 20th of August, between 1700 and 2100 UTC. The rules are in the May edition of RadCom. And now the solar factual data: The period from the 7th to the 13th of August saw solar activity at very low levels, and geomagnetic levels quiet to unsettled. The mean Sunspot number for the period was 17, but on the 9th the solar disc was spotless. Solar flux levels declined slightly from 74 units on the 7th, to 71 units by the 13th, with an average of 73 units. No solar flares were reported. The electron fluence increased from moderate levels to high levels on the 9th, whilst the X-Ray flux remained steady and averaged A2.6 units. The 90-day solar flux average on the 13th was 75 units. Geomagnetic conditions increased from quiet levels on the 7th to active levels, with an Ap index of 19 units, on the 9th. This was due to a recurring coronal hole. Levels then declined to quiet conditions for the rest of the period, with an average of Ap 13 units. The aa indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period from the 1st to the 7th of August, saw conditions at very quiet levels, with only 6.1 nanoTeslas on the 6th. The most disturbed day was the 7th, with 13.0 nanoTeslas. The average for the period was 10.2 nanoTeslas, just K2. I'll repeat the figures: spots - 17, flux - 73, Ap index - 13, X-Ray flux - A2.6 Now the ionospheric data for Central France. The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon for the period from the 4th to the 10th of August, averaged 6.7MHz. Levels increased from 6.3MHz on the 4th, to 7.8MHz on the 7th, before declining to 6.1MHz by the 10th. The darkness hour lows remained steady and averaged 3MHz. The daytime highs took place between 1900 and 2000 hours, with the darkness hour lows between 0300 and 0400 hours every day. Very little sporadic E was reported as we approach the end of the summer 1995 season. Also, seasonal effects will begin to take place with the daytime highs taking place earlier in the evening as the days shorten in the northern hemisphere. I'll repeat the figures: highs - 6.7MHz, lows - 3MHz. And lastly the solar forecast. This week the quieter side of the sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity should be very low, and solar flux figures around the low 70s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be very quiet, but could be up to active levels today or tomorrow. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight hours are expected to be about 18MHz for the south and 16MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be about 11MHz. Only small sporadic E openings, particularly on 28 and 50MHz, are expected in the coming week. 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 allocated were in the G0 Whisky Juliet and G7 Victor Oscar series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa Mike and 2 1 Echo India series. Next, the local news. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meeting for Monday the 21st of August: Welwyn and Hatfield Amateur Radio Club has a 'fun night'. The club is also holding an RAE course which starts on the 6th of September. For more information contact Keith, G7PLJ on 01920 462241 (evenings). Meeting for Tuesday the 22nd of August: Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by Ian, G2BDV on HF propagation. For details contact Stuart, G0FUX on 01705 472846. Meetings for Wednesday the 23rd of August: Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk entitled 'Switch-mode Power Supplies' by Mike, G0DNJ. Further details from Ian, G0RTF on 01494 676391. Grafton Radio Society has an on the air evening. For details contact John, G0DFZ on 0171 272 2328. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has a barbecue. For details telephone 01903 753893. Meetings for Thursday the 24th of August: Echelford Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk on Sun Dials by G3MCK, and another by G3KKQ entitled 'Slim Jim'. For details call 01344 843472. Edgware and District Radio Society has an SSB Field Day briefing. Contact Rod, G0SQL on 0181 204 1868 for details. Southgate Amateur Radio Club has a DF equipment check and night on the air. Further details from Mick, G0ANN on 01707 850146. Meetings for Friday the 25th of August: Radio Society of Harrow has a junk sale. Further information from Jim Ballard on 0171 251 2700 (office hours) or 01895 632377 (evenings). Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society has an on the air evening. Contact Mike, G0AWQ on 0737 351313 for details. Meeting for Saturday the 26th of August: Waterside Amateur Radio Society has its annual gala. For details telephone 01962 714585. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for Sunday the 20th of August: Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society gathers to make preparations for National Field Day. Telephone 01425 653404 for details. Meeting for Tuesday the 22nd of August: Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society meets to prepare for the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show. Details from Stuart, G7JIF on 01935 814055. Meeting for Wednesday the 23rd of August: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club meets for an aerial emissions check. Telephone 01275 834282 for details. Meetings for Thursday the 24th of August: Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a barbecue. Telephone 0117 9654886 for details. Yeovil Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Microwave Background to the Big Bang Theory' by G0PWJ. Contact Cedric, G4JBL who is QTHR or telephone 01258 473845. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for Wednesday the 23rd of August: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'Packet for Beginners' by John, G4VEL. For details contact Mike, G4EOL on 01603 789792. Meeting for Friday the 25th of August: Yarmouth Radio Club gathers to make field day preparations. For further information contact G3NHU on 01493 721173. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meetings for Monday the 21st of August: Leicester Radio Society takes a look at the GB3GV TV repeater. Telephone 0116 2917250 for details. South Normanton, Alfreton and District Amateur Radio Club has a quiz night. Contact Helen, 2E1AWJ on 01332 881549 for details. Meetings for Tuesday the 22nd of August: Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has a DF hunt. For further information contact Barry, G0TPG on 0527 542266. Worksop Amateur Radio Club has a family picnic. Telephone 01909 487741 for details. Meetings for Wednesday the 23rd of August: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'the History of the Telephone' by Simon Bullimore. For details contact Richard, G3VGW, on 01773 852475. Lincoln Shortwave Club meets for a talk by Russell Johnson entitled 'Using Windows'. Contact Terry, G4XMQ on 01522 549531 for details. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a nostalgia evening. For further information contact Paul, G2RSA on 01952 261923. Meetings for Thursday the 24th of August: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham gathers for a talk on the Friedrichshafen rally by Simon, G0IEG and Ed, G0INA. Details from G0IEG on 0115 9501733. Salop Amateur Radio Society has a Telford Rally preparation night. Details from Ian, G7SBD whose address is correct in the current RSGB Call Book. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 21st of August: Barnsley and District Amateur Radio Club has an on the air evening. For further information contact Ernie, G4LUE on 0836 748958. Dronfield and District Amateur Radio Club has an on the air evening. For details telephone 01246 415784. Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk by Les, G0ETV. Telephone 01253 853554 for details. Meetings for Tuesday the 22nd of August: Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has an RAE discussion. Telephone 0151 722 1178 for more details. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club goes on a swimming trip. For more details telephone 0114 244 6282. Wakefield and District Radio Society meets to make preparations for the September 144MHz Trophy Contest. Further details from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519. Warrington Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'How to Give a Talk' by Jim, G3NFB. Further details from John, G0RPG on 01925 762722. Meetings for Wednesday the 23rd of August: Hornsea Amateur Radio Club has a test equipment evening' For further details telephone 01964 562258. Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has a quiz night. For details telephone 01606 592207. Meeting for Friday the 25th of August: South Manchester Radio Club gathers for a talk on Signalling by G4JLG. Telephone 0161 969 1964 for details. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Friday the 25th of August: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a fox hunt. Further details from Stuart, GM4AFF on 01244 628005 (office hours) or 01569 731407 (evenings). NEWS FOR WALES Meeting for Monday the 21st of August: Dragon Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Functions of an Evacuation Hospital in the Gulf War' by Ieuan, GW4FQU. Contact Tony, GW0FMQ on 01248 600963 for details. NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group will be holding enrolment for RAE, Novice and Morse classes on the 5th and 12th of September. For details contact Ian, GI0JPR on 01960 361627. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Tel +44 1707 659 015 Fax +44 1707 645 105