NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Monday the 9th of May: Southdown Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Aerial Polar Diagrams and Aerial Modelling' by G3GRO. Details from Bob, G0UOI on 0323 484282. Surrey Radio Contact Club has a Construction Contest. Further details from Berni, G8TB on 081 660 7517. Meeting for Tuesday the 10th of May: Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'Look to the Future', with ideas for Club events. For details phone Neil, 2E1ASZ on 0438 350882. Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of May: Bracknell Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Fire Alarm Systems' by G7IEA plus an Extraordinary General Meeting. Details from Steve, G4AUC on 0344 420577. Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'Silly Contest, 2 metre FM'. Details from Ian, G0RTF on 0494 676391. Darenth Valley Radio Society has a 'Computer Forum'. More details from Len, G0HRD, tel: 0474 703322. Dover Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Squares, WAB Style' by G7NOR. For further details contact Mike, G7NOR on 0304 825030. Farnborough and District Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Morse, the Key to Success'. For further information telephone 0252 715765. Three Counties Amateur Radio Club has a 'Computer night'. Take along your oldest computer. G7CND will take his collection. Details from Tom on 0428 606298. Worthing & District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Antennas and Feeder Systems' by G5RV. Details from Roy, G4GPX on 0903 753893. Meetings for Thursday the 12th of May: Echelford Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Operating from Tristan da Cunha' by G3SXW. Contact Peter, G6PMT on 0344 843472 for details. Edgware and District Radio Society has a talk on 'F J Camm, the Man and his "Comic"' by Steve, G0PQB. Details from G0PQB, on 081 953 2164. Hastings Electronics and Radio Club has a talk by Dr J Craig, G3SGR from the Radiology Department of the new Conquest Hospital. Further details from G3YYF on 0424 830454. Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has an 'HF NFD Planning' evening with G3WGV and G3XTT. Details from G0OPB on 0734 698274 (evenings). Southgate Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Electronics and the Bomber Offensive' by Stan Woods, formerly of the Marconi Company, For further information contact Brian, G0MEE on 081 360 2453. Vange Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Stamps' by Mike, G4NVT. For further details contact Doris on 0268 552606. Meeting for Friday the 13th of May: Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club has a Social Treasure Hunt; intending participants should advise Les, the Club Secretary by Thursday 12th of May. His telephone number is: 0703 732997. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for Monday the 9th of May: Weston Super Mare Radio Society has a talk by Mr W Titmus on 'Radio Operation in the Far East'. Details from Graham, G8WAR on 0934 415700. Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of May: Plymouth Radio Club has a 'Data Transmission' demonstration night. Contact Frank, G7LUL on 0752 563222 for details. Salisbury Radio and Electronic Society has a talk on 'Raynet' by Gordon, G6ZHJ. For further details contact David, G7GWF on 0722 330971. Meeting for Wednesday the 11th of May: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Cellular Radio' by Jan, G0BBL. For more information tel: 0275 834282. Meeting for Thursday the 12th of May: Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has a post mortem on the QRP Convention and an 'Introduction to New Members' evening. Details from Cedric, G4JBL on 0258 473845. Meetings for Friday the 13th of May: North Bristol Amateur Club has a 'Display of Radios for All'. More details from Tony, G4ROX tel: 0272 513573. Shirehampton Amateur Radio Club has an HF NFD Planning evening by G3YHV and G4NAQ. Further details from Ron, G4GTD on 0272 770504. Meeting for next Sunday the 15th of May: Flight Refuelling (Wimborne) Amateur Radio Society has its 'Events Update' and 'FR Railway Society' talk. Details from John, G4POF 0425 653404. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of May: Martlesham Radio Society has a talk on 'Amateur Radio and Multimedia' by Dr J E Thompson. Due to security requirements at BT Labs, contact Darren, G7BKO on 0473 227332 (office hours only) to book a place and for other details. Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Simple Frequency Counter' by Mike, G4EOL. For details contact Sheila, G0KWP on 0603 618810. Meeting for Thursday the 12th of May: Dereham Amateur Radio Club has a visit to Eastern Communications. For further information contact Mark, G0LGJ, tel: 0362 691099. Meeting for Friday the 13th of May: Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club has a demonstration of Contest Scoring Software at 8pm. Contact John, G0GKP on 0954 200072 for details. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meetings for Monday the 9th of May: Radio Society of Bloxwich has a Construction Project, completing the internal wiring. Details from Rob, G0TDF 0902 722830. Mansfield Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting at 7.30pm at The Polish Catholic Club, Off Windmill Lane, Woodhouse Road. For further information contact Mary, G0NZA on 0623 755288. Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society has a visit from Kidderminster Radio Club. Contact James, G7HEZ on 0384 374354 for details. Stratford upon Avon and District Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Old Pye Communications Equipment' by 'The Pyeman' from Bewdley. Details from Clive, G0CHO on 0789 450623. Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of May: Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further information contact Barry, G0TPG on 0527 542266. Buxton Radio Amateurs has a Direction Finding Hunt. Details from Derek, G4IHO, tel: 0298 25506. Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club has a Nostalgia evening; take along your old interesting items. Details from G8SNF on 0509 218259. Meetings for Wednesday 11th of May: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has an illustrated talk: 'AOR - Wideband Receivers' by G4NAD. Details from G7PXA on 0773 856904. Lincoln Short Wave Club has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact Pam, G4STO on 0427 788356. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a demonstration entitled 'Radio Principles' by 2E1AGS. Details from Dave, G4EIX, on 0952 588878. Meetings for Thursday the 12th of May: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has a talk on 'The Secret War' by Henry, G4MHB. Further details from Simon, G0IEG on 0602 501733. Redditch Radio Club has a talk on 'Beginners Steps in Packet Radio' by G4GHL at 8pm at the WRVS Centre, Ludlow Road. Details from G3EVT, tel: 0789 762041. Salop Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale. For details contact Sheila, G0SST on 0743 361935. Meetings for Friday the 13th of May: Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk and slide show entitled 'ZB2 Gibraltar' by Joe, G3MRC. Visitors are welcome. More information from Joe, G3MRC on 0562 710010. South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a Construction evening. Contact Julie, G0SOU on 0602 216342 for further details. Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'The Life of an Auctioneer' by A Porter at 7.30pm. For further details contact G4OO, tel: 0775 750382. Coventry Amateur Radio Society has a Morse Tuition preliminary for VHF NFD. For further information contact David, G1ORG, tel: 0203 311468. Meeting for Sunday the 15th of May: West Bromwich Central Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Just the Tonic' by H Nevett. Further information from Ian, G0PAI, tel: 021 561 2884. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Houghton-le-Spring Amateur Radio Club. With effect from April the club meets every Tuesday evening at the Dubmire British Legion Club, Fencehouses, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear from 7.30pm until 10.30pm. Details from Foster, G0ABF on 091 584 4673. Meeting for Monday the 9th of May: Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has a Surplus Equipment Sale at the Firth Park Pavilion, Firth Park Road, Firth Park. Details from David, G0JJR 0742 446282. Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of May: Bury Radio Society has a presentation talk by Bob Hayter of Nuclear Electric. Further details from Mike, G4GSY on 061 761 5083. Chester and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'The Production of "Practical Wireless"' by Rob Mannion, G3FXD. Further details from G0OXA, tel: 051 608 3229. Wakefield and District Radio Society has a talk on 'Editing QSU - the Trials and Tribulations' by G3WWF. Details from Roy, G0TBY on 0924 893321. Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of May: Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Canals, part 1' by Phil, G0UCQ. Contact Mike, G7LQD on 0606 331210 for details on future activities and Morse/RAE classes. Stockport Radio Society has a Contest Operating and NFD Preparation evening. For details telephone 061 439 4952. Wirral & District Amateur Radio Club has a Quiz Night, radio and general knowledge. Details from Bob, G4NCI on 051 677 0210. Meetings for Thursday the 12th of May: Grimsby Amateur Radio Society has a Bring and Buy Book Sale. For further details contact John, G3DOT on 0472 825899. Hambleton Amateur Radio Society has a Practical night. Further details from Nigel, G0NHM on 0609 776608. Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a visit by D W Allan, G0RZP the RSGB's RLO for West Yorkshire, at 8pm. For further details contact Kathy, G0RLO on 0274 496222. Meetings for Friday the 13th of May: Goole Radio and Electronics Society has a talk on 'Contests'. Further details from Steve, G8VHL on 0405 769130. North Ferriby United Amateur Radio Society has a 'Training' night. Further details from David, tel: 0482 656324. Stockport Radio Society Computer Group has a demonstration of 'How to Apply Applications' by G0NKM. For further details telephone 061 439 4952. South Manchester Radio Club has a talk on 'Absorption Spectroscopy' by G1GOP. For further details contact Edward, G7FQY on 061 969 1964. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Tuesday the 10th of May: Dundee Amateur Radio Club has a talk by C H Matthews, the Curator of The Museum of Communications, Bo'ness. Details from GM4FSB who is QTHR. Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of May: Inverclyde Amateur Radio Group has a talk by the President of the RSGB, Mr Ian Suart, GM4AUP. The venue is The Cardwell Inn, Cardwell Road, Gourock. Further details are available from Jim, GM0GMN who is QTHR. Lothians Radio Society has a 'Rig Tune-up and DF Tune-up' session. Details from Peter, GM4DTH who is QTHR. Paisley (YMCA) Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'The Search and Rescue Dog Association' by J W Armstrong. Details from GM7OIG on 0505 335195. Meeting for Friday the 13th of May: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has an 'Unlucky for Some' evening. Further information from Gordon, GM7PXW, tel 0224 780591. NEWS FOR WALES Meetings for Monday the 9th of May: Cardiff RSGB Group has a visit to Rhoose Air Traffic Control Centre. Further details from GW4HWR on 0222 810368. Rhyl and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Remote Aerial Tuning' by GW3HGL at the Club's new venue which is the Wellington Community Centre, Wellington Road, Rhyl. Details from GW3UTG on 0745 351362. Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of May: Aberystwyth & District Amateur Radio Society has a Direction Finding Hunt by Ray, GW3LNM at 8pm. For details telephone GW0SFO on 0545 580675. West Wales Repeater Group (GB3WW) has its Annual General Meeting at the Pontardulais and District Conservative Club, St Michaels Road, Pontardulais. Members to assemble at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. The venue is located off the M4 motorway from junctions 47, 48 or 49. Further details from John, GW6ZUS, who is QTHR or telephone 0792 790811 or at GB7SWN. -- Good morning. It's Sunday the 8th of May and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. And we start this week with news of a dedicated group from North Wales and the Wirral who have been awarded a prestigious award for outstanding services to amateur radio in the Republic of Ireland. Tony Jones, GW4VEQ; Martin Vernon, GW6HVA and Dave Fernant, G4PGO were awarded the Pat Conway Memorial Cup for designing and building a packet radio mail link. The new link allows amateurs all over Ireland to connect into the European and Worldwide packet radio networks through the Isle of Anglesey, the North Wales coast and Merseyside. The award was presented by the President of the Irish Radio Transmitters Society Jim Ryan, EI3DP at the IRTS Annual General Meeting in Donegal. This is the first time that this special award has ever been made to non Irish Nationals. The Arfon Repeater Group has reported a fault in the link between GB3AR and GB3AN. The fault is not apparent to users of GB3AN as the repeater will initiate the link, but since the audio is not heard on GB3AR, no contact would be made. The Group apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and hopes to rectify the problem shortly. The Bracknell 70 centimetre repeater GB3BN, became operational again on Saturday the 30th of April. The repeater is located north of Bracknell in Berkshire and operates on channel RB0, which has its output on 433.0MHz and input on 434.6MHz. Further details and/or reports should go to the repeater keeper G4DDN, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. Two-metre repeater GB3KN, was scheduled to be switched on last Friday the 6th of May following a site change. The repeater is located north east of Maidstone in Kent and operates on channel R4, which has its output on 145.7MHz and input on 145.1MHz. Reports should go to the repeater keeper G3YCN, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From East Kiribati, JA1WPX will sign T32WP from now until next Tuesday the 10th of May. Activity will be all bands using CW and SSB, but with emphasis on 17 and 30 metres CW. From French Polynesia, N6VO will sign FO5VO on Tahiti, from tomorrow, Monday the 9th for several weeks. Activity will be mainly CW on 80 to 10 metres. And from Market Reef, a group of operators will sign OJ0/Own-call from either Saturday the 15th or Sunday the 16th, depending on the weather, for three days. Operation will be on all bands, CW, SSB with some RTTY. Now the events for today Sunday the 8th of May: The Midland Amateur Radio Society, Drayton Mobile Radio Rally is being held at Drayton Manor Park, Tamworth, Staffordshire, situated off the A4091 road. Doors open 10.30am. The event features trade stands, club stands, a flea market and a car boot area. The Yeovil QRP Convention is being held at the Preston Centre, Yeovil. Doors open at 9am. The event features traders orientated towards QRP, kits, components etc. Also features a club bring and buy stall, QRP station demonstrations, displays of home built rigs and vintage communication equipment. And there are talks covering propagation, construction and RSGB matters. Talk-in will be on channel S22 by GB2LOW. Next the two events we know of for next Sunday the 15th of May: The Dunstable Downs Radio Club 11th Annual National Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale is to be held at Stockwood County Park, Luton, Bedfordshire, located near junction 10 of the M1 motorway. Doors open at 10am. The event features trade stands, club stands 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. Details are available by telephoning 0582 451057 but please phone only between 6 and 8pm. The Mid-Ulster Amateur Radio Club Parkanaur Rally is to be 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 will be available. Talk-in is on two metres, channel S22. For further details contact Bill, GI7BQH on 0693 61298. HF contest news now: The fifth in this year's series of RSGB QRS (Slow Morse) Cumulative Contests will take place tomorrow Monday the 9th from 1900 to 2030 UTC between 3.54 and 3.58MHz. 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 CQ-M Mixed Mode (Russian) Contest takes place during next weekend, starting at 2100 on Saturday the 14th and finishing at 2100 on Sunday the 15th of May. The contest uses CW and SSB on all bands from 1.8MHz to 28MHz but excluding the WARC bands. May RadCom page 20 gives some rules and entry details. Next some VHF contest news: The RSGB 432MHz to 24GHz Contest will finish today Sunday the 8th at 1400 UTC. See February RadCom, page 83 for further details. The RSGB 144MHz Single, Others and SWL Contest takes place 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 from 1100 until 1500 UTC on Sunday the 22nd of May. This is a new type of contest and full details can be found in January's RadCom. Special event stations active in May include: GB0CT, Channel Tunnel, will be aired by members of the British Rail Amateur Radio Society from New Romney Railway Station, near Folkestone, Kent. At the same time TM5TSM, will be operational from Wimereux Town Hall near Boulogne. Both stations will be operational until today, Sunday the 8th of May, on 80, 40, 20 and 2 metre and 70 centimetre bands. GB2PW will be operated today, Sunday the 8th, by members of the Southdown Amateur Radio Society from Polegate Windmill. This celebrates Windmills Day. GB0SND, Special Needs Activities, will be operated by members of the Havering and District Amateur Radio Club from the Hargreaves Campsite, Little Heath, Romford. The occasion is the Ilford East Scouts Special Activities day for physical and mentally handicapped members during today Sunday the 8th, from locator JO01BN, WAB Square TQ48. Next Saturday, the 14th, members of the Barking Radio and Electronics Society will operate GB2WBD and GB4WBD to commemorate the twinning of Witten in Germany with Barking and Dagenham. Operation will be on HF, VHF and on packet. And now the solar factual data The period from the 25th of April to the 1st of May saw enhanced conditions on the HF bands up to the 1st of May. Then, as forecast, a magnetic storm occurred, seriously affecting the higher latitudes. Only one very small flare was reported on the 28th - a B3.9. The spot indices tended to rise over the period with the mean being 48. The solar flux levels declined slightly from 83 units on the 25th down to 75 units on 1st May, with the period averaging 78 units. There has been a rapid general decline in solar flux levels since last December, when the mean levels were about 100, down to present levels about 80 units. The 90 day flux mean on April 27th was 91. The geomagnetic Ap indices were quiet for most of the period, with the 30th of April being very quiet with an Ap index of only 2 and with HF band conditions being excellent. It had all the indications of a pre-auroral enhancement. The 1st of May saw a magnetic storm commence, taking levels up to 34 units. The period averaged an Ap of 8.8 units. The X-Ray flux is only slowly recovering from the collapse at the end of March; the period averaged A4.6 units, but varied considerably day to day. The state has been 'nil nothing to report' throughout the period. The aa indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period 19th to 25th April, were very quiet giving daily averages of only 17.7 nanoTeslas, about K2, with many periods of only 8 nanoTeslas. I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 48; Flux - 78; Ap index - 8.8; X-ray flux - A4.6. Now the ionospheric data for Central France: Due to the holiday we have data only for the 25th to the 28th. The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon, averaged 7.4MHz. The darkness hour lows averaged 3.4MHz. I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 7.4MHz; lows - 3.4MHz. Now the ionospheric data for the north: During the period of available data, the F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg were about 6.9MHz, and the darkness hour lows about 4.5MHz. I'll repeat the figures: Highs - 6.9MHz; lows - 4.5MHz. And lastly the solar forecast: This week, the quieter side of the sun will be looking our way, solar flux levels are expected to be at about the 80s. The geomagnetic levels are expected to be just unsettled. Ionospheric MUFs for north/south paths in the south are expected to be about 24MHz during daylight, and 14MHz for the darkness hours. East/west paths will be well down on these levels due to the seasonal changes now taking effect. Northern stations may be affected by the passage of a coronal hole on the 13th and 14th, but HF conditions are expected to be generally better than of late. 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 Victor and G7 Sierra India series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha Hotel and 2 1 Charlie Yankee series. GB2RS, the news broadcasting service of the Radio Society of Great Britain, is transmitted in the 80, 40, 6 and 2 metre bands. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain Tel +44 707 659015 Fax +44 707 645105