Good morning. It's Sunday the 24th of July and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. First the headlines:- The new packet rules are clarified, The very last chance to nominate the Young Amateur of the Year, And we have some awards news. A number of packet radio operators have asked for clarification of how the RA's new unattended operation rules will work in practice. Briefly, it is now necessary for anyone operating an unattended digital station to notify their local RIS office of that operation, and to inform them of how the station can be closed down in an emergency. This could include the telephone numbers of neighbours, or the whereabouts of an external mains switch. The full wording of the new regulations, including the improved licence conditions for the 1.8 and 50MHz bands, is published in the August edition of Radio Communication which will be posted to all RSGB members this week. Non-members who would like a free copy should telephone RSGB Headquarters on 0707 659015 and ask for the Marketing Department. The deadline for nominations for the Young Amateur of the Year is next weekend. If you know of anyone under the age of 18 who could qualify for this prestigious award, contact RSGB Headquarters urgently for an application form. Full details of the award and its rules can be found in the April edition of Radio Communication or from RSGB HQ. Jack Brooker, G3JMB, has received an RSGB award for confirmed contacts on 10GHz with stations in 15 locator squares. This is only the second such award to be issued. Two short-wave listeners have also received notable 50MHz awards: Bob Treacher, BRS32525, has been awarded the RSGB 200 squares certificate. And Netherlands listener, Jan Steenbergen, NL213, has been awarded a certificate for 140 countries confirmed. Also on 50MHz, Robert Tweddell, G1RST, has gained the RSGB Senior transmitting certificate for 60 counties and 20 countries confirmed. He also has a Standard certificate for 40 counties and 12 countries, endorsed: 'All auroral contacts'. Details of the RSGB VHF and UHF awards can be found in the RSGB Call Book or may be obtained from the VHF Awards Manager, Ian Cornes, G4OUT whose address is correct in the Call Book. The Orkney two-metre repeater, GB3OC, will be going off the air for a thorough overhaul on Friday the 5th of August. The estimated time to carry out the work is about two months. For further details contact the repeater keeper GM3IBU, 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 Iceland, DL3LAB and DK2OY will sign own-call/TF from Thursday the 28th until Wednesday the 10th of August on 10 to 80 metres. From the Cayman Islands, JA7KAC/1 will be active from now until Friday the 29th of July on 10 to 80 metres. The "ZF" callsign to be used is not known. From Fiji, the Shizuoka DX Group will be active using the 3D2 callsigns YH, AS, DR, PC and GS from Friday the 29th, until Tuesday the 2nd of August. Operation will be on all bands 10 to 80 metres, running three stations. And from Svalbard, LA4LN and LB3RC will sign JW4LN and LB3RC/JW respective from the 1st to the 20th of August. Both are taking part in a scientific expedition but hope to be active on all bands, 10 to 160 metres on CW, SSB and RTTY. Now the rallies we know of for today, Sunday the 24th of July: The Colchester Radio and Computer Rally is being held at St Helena School, Sheepen Road, Colchester, adjacent to the Colchester inner bypass. The event, which opens at 10am, has trade stands featuring a wide range of radio and computer items, a car boot sale, an RSGB book and information stand and a bring and buy stall. RSGB Morse Tests will be available on demand, but remember to bring two passport size photographs. Talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel S22. The Humber Bridge Amateur Radio Rally is being held at the Exhibition Centre, Freightliner Road, off Clive Sullivan Way, Hull. The site has easy access and is one mile from the bridge. Doors open at 11am, or 10.30 for disabled visitors. The event features a bring and buy stall. Refreshments will be available and talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel S22. We know of only one rally for next Sunday the 31st of July: The Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society sixth Annual Rugby Radio Rally is to be held at the BP Truckstop on the A5, some 2 miles North from junction 18 of the M1 motorway. The rally starts at 10am. The truckstop will be open for catering and other facilities throughout the day. Talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel 22, by GB6CBS. Further details from Peter on 0455 552449. Now for the HF contest news: The Russian DX Contest is scheduled to take place from 2100 UTC on Friday the 29th until 0900 on Saturday the 30th of July on 3.5 to 28MHz, excluding the WARC bands. See June RadCom page 20 for full details. The Islands on the Air (IOTA) CW and SSB Contest runs next weekend from 1200GMT on Saturday the 30th for 24 hours on 3.5 to 28MHz. See March RadCom page 92 for full details. Next some VHF contest news: The RSGB 432MHz Low Power Contest take place today, Sunday the 24th, from 0800 to 1400UTC. It features four entry sections: single operator fixed, single operator portable, all others and Listener. See April RadCom page 80 for details. The fourth RSGB 10GHz Summer Cumulative Contest takes place from 0900 to 2100 UTC, next Sunday the 31st of July. April's RadCom page 82 has further details. The Doncaster 70 centimetre repeater GB3DV on 433.025MHz, channel RB1, was returned to service on Friday the 15th of July. For further details and/or reports regarding the repeater, contact G4LUE whose address is correct in the RSGB'93 Call Book. Special event stations active this week include: GB4GS which will be aired from the Goodwin Sands, WAB square TR45, tomorrow, Monday the 25th, by members of the Radio Club of Thanet. Operation will be on 80 and 40 metres, from approximately 0815 UTC, depending on the tide. Another operation is planned for Friday the 12th of August. GB5AC, Air Cadets and GB5ATC, Air Training Corps, will be operational from town of Ayr during the RAF Display being held this weekend. They will use 40 metres SSB and 2 metre FM on channel S21, until 6pm, today Sunday the 24th. The Air Training Corps will also be active as GB4ATC, G3ATC and G8RT at the Royal Tournament, held at London's Earls Court throughout this week. GB4SFC will be aired by the Peterlee Amateur Radio Club for the Cleveland Scouts "Friendship 94 Camp" at Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire. The event takes place from Friday the 29th of July to Saturday the 6th of August, during which some 1500 Scouts, many from around the world, are expected to be attending. Operation will be on all HF bands, CW and SSB and packet on 2 metres. Visitors will be most welcome. For further information contact Bill, G4RXR on 091 586 7725. And now the solar factual data: The period from the 11th to the 17th of July has seen the passage of a coronal hole but, in the main, solar activity has been moderate. There was a B4.4/SF flare on the 13th and the X-Ray flux has risen to reasonably high levels. The overall geomagnetic activity continues to decline. Sunspot indices have been high reaching 101 on the 12th, the highest count since last March. The period meaned at 80. A B4.4/SF solar flare on the 13th pushed up the solar flux which averaged 82 units. The 90 day flux average on the 17th was 80 units. The geomagnetic levels have been affected by the passage of a coronal hole which raised levels up to a sub-storm level of 26 units from the 15th to the 17th. Up to the 15th it was very quiet with levels down to only 2 units. The period averaged Ap 13.7 units. The state has been 'nil nothing to report' throughout the period. The daily aa Indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey for the 5th to the 11th of July, have been mainly quiet with periods down to only 2 nanoTeslas. The only unsettled day was the 7th, with periods up to 59 nanoTeslas. However, the average of the daily indices for the period was 13.6 nanoTeslas, about K2. The X-Ray flux has risen to quite high levels reaching B1.1 on the 15th and 16th with the period averaging a level of A7.8 units. The monthly average geomagnetic Ap for June was 15 units. The smoothed level for December 1993 was 17.6 units. I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 80; Flux - 82; Ap index - 13.7; X-ray flux - A7.8. We regret that a technical failure on our telex link has resulted in the absence of the ionospheric data this week. And lastly the solar forecast: This week, the more active side of the sun will be looking our way. Solar flux levels are expected to be about 85, with geomagnetic levels possibly up to sub storm with an Ap of about 25 units. Ionospheric MUFs are expected during daylight to be about 21MHz in the south, but northern stations may be affected by the geomagnetic activity. Darkness hour levels are expected to be about 14MHz. 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 Victor Alpha and G7 Sierra Lima series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha India and 2 1 Delta Delta series. -- NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Tuesday the 26th of July: Dorking and District Radio Society has a 'Portable Activity Evening' at Devils Dyke on 2, 4, and 6 metres and 70cm. Contacts most welcome. Talk-in on 2 metres, on S18, call S20. Take your own refreshments. Further details from John, G3AEZ on 0306 631236. Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'General Get-Together to check project progress, working etc'. Further details from Neil, tel: 0438 350882. Verulam Amateur Radio Club meets for a 'Packet Radio for Beginners' evening. More details from Walter, G3PMF on 0923 262180. Waterside Amateur Radio Society has a Social evening at 7.30pm. All members and non-members welcome. For details contact G1AEH on 0703 783170. Meetings for Wednesday the 27th of July: Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a "Morse - talk and practice evening". Details from Ian, G0RTF on 0494 676391. Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club has a Open Air meeting, at Baas Hill Common. Details from Roger, G4OAA on 0992 464795. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk and slide show on 'Ordnance Survey Map Making, Past and Present". For further details contact Roy, G4GPX on 0903 753893. Meetings for Thursday the 28th of July: Crowborough and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'The Biggest Aspidistra in the World, part 2' by Les, G3FET. Details from Mick, G6UUO on 0892 661807. Echelford Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'The Work of the Radiocommunications Agency' by a member of the RA. Contact Pete, G6PMT on 0344 843472 for details. Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'DXing from ZD9 (Tristan Da Cunha)', by Roger, G3SXW. Further details from Tony, G0OPB on 0734 698274 (evenings). Southgate Amateur Radio Club has a tutorial and demonstration of 'Managing CW Pile-ups' by Ron, G3KTZ. Further information from Brian, G0MEE on 081 360 2453. Vange Amateur Radio Society has a 'How it Works - an Infra Red demonstration' by Roy, G3ASH. For further details contact Doris on 0268 552606. Meetings for Friday the 29th of July: The Radio Society of Harrow has a Test Equipment evening. Further details from Jim, G0AOT whose daytime telephone number is 071 251 2700. Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society has a Camp Briefing evening. There will be no meetings in August. Further details from George, G3DWW on 081 540 2180. Meeting for Sunday the 31st of July: Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club has a 2 metre Direction Finding Competition, using map OS175. The Fox is Dave, G4NIP. For further details telephone 0256 25517. NEWS FOR SOUTH WEST Meeting for Tuesday the 26th of July: RSGB City of Bristol Group has a talk entitled 'RAF Bomber Operations' by Mr Williams. For further information contact Dave, G4NKT on 0272 62124. Meeting for Wednesday the 27th of July: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a 'Magazine Exchange - or for SBARC Rally Table' evening. For more information telephone 0275 834282. Meetings for Sunday the 31st of July: Flight Refuelling (Wimborne) Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Bats and Ultrasonics' by G3VPF. Further details from John, G4POF who is QTHR. Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club has a Barbecue at Somerton with Yeovil Club members. Details from G3WNI on 0823 680778. Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has a 'Social Get Together' with local clubs at the QTH of G3PCJ, starting at 10.30am. This will feature a Bring and Buy stall, a demonstration of Home-brew equipment and a Barbecue. Families are welcome. Details from Cedric on 0258 473845. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for Monday the 25th of July: Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society has a Visit to Sizewell Nuclear Plant. For further information contact Paul, G4YQC on 0394 273507 (evenings). Meeting for Wednesday the 27th of July: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Construction evening. For further details contact Sheila, G0KWP on 0603 618810. Meeting for Friday the 29th of July: Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a 'Preparations for IOTA HF Contest' evening. Call John, G0GKP on 0954 200072 for further information. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meeting for Monday the 25th of July: Stratford upon Avon and District Radio Society has its Annual Construction Competition. Further details from Martin, G3XZO on 0789 740073. Meetings for Tuesday the 26th of July: Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has a Technical Topic talk. Contact Barry, G0TPG on 0527 542266 for further details. Buxton Radio Amateurs have a talk entitled 'Power Supplies'. Further details from Derek, G4IHO, tel: 0298 25506. Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club has a 'Wymswold on Air' and a Barbecue evening. For further details contact G8SNF, tel: 0509 218259. Meetings for Wednesday 27th of July: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'Shareware Swap' evening. Further details from Hayley, G7PXA on 0773 856904. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has its 'New Club Project' evening. For further information contact Dave, G4EIX, on 0952 588878. Meeting for Thursday the 28th of July: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has a Construction evening. Further details from Simon, G0IEG on 0602 501733. Meeting for Friday the 29th of July: Coventry Amateur Radio Society has a 'Project and Night on Air'. More details are available from David, G1ORG, tel: 0203 311468. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meeting for Monday the 25th of July: Sheffield Amateur Radio Club meets to 'Organise future club events, talks etc'. More details from David, G0JJR Tel: 0742 446282. Meetings for Tuesday the 26th of July: Chester and District Amateur Radio Society has a Surplus Equipment Sale. Further details from G0OXA, tel: 051 608 3229. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a Surplus Sale. Details from Ian, G4WWX QTHR. Wakefield and District Radio Society has an evening of 'Preparations for the Two Metre Contest'. The Morse class starts again this evening. Further details from Roy, G0TBY on 0924 893321. Meeting for Wednesday the 27th of July: Stockport Radio Society has a talk on 'The Mechanics of Radiation and Propagation, part 2' by G3LX. For details telephone 061 439 4952. Meeting for Thursday the 28th of July: Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'The History of Radio' by G0BZH. For further details contact Kathy, G0RLO on 0274 496222. Meeting for Friday the 29th of July: South Manchester Radio Club has a Discussion night. Contact Edward, G7FQY, tel: 061 969 1964, for details Meeting for Saturday the 30th of July: Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club has a Direction Finding Hunt, starting at 8pm in Heswall lay-by. Details from Bob, G4NCI 051 677 0210. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Friday the 29th of July: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has its 'Wet String' Listening Competition, round 5 by GM0LNQ. Details from Gordon, GM7PXW, tel 0224 780591. -- 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