Good morning. It's Sunday the 8th of January and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. Now this week's headlines:- An MBE for Ron Broadbent, The RSGB installs its new President next weekend, and Coventry Raynet were in action before Christmas. Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, was awarded an MBE in the 1995 New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to amateur radio. Ron is secretary of the amateur satellite organisation AMSAT-UK, and is Editor of its monthly magazine OSCAR News. We are sure that all of those listening to this bulletin will join us in congratulating him on this honour. Clive Trotman, GW4YKL will be officially installed as the RSGB's President at an evening reception and dinner to be held next Saturday, the 14th of January, at Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. Coventry Raynet Group was involved in assisting the emergency services in the aftermath of the airplane crash in Coventry just before Christmas. The group would like to thank all radio amateurs who co-operated by keeping frequencies clear during this operation. The next RSGB Microwave Round Table meeting takes place on Sunday the 5th of March at the Rutherford - Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, near Didcot, Oxfordshire at 10am. This year microwave television will be the theme of a joint meeting of the Southern Microwave Group and the British Amateur Television Club. Attractions will include technical talks, a bring and buy sale and a range of test equipment available for calibration and alignment of microwave equipment. For further details contact Mike Scott, G3LYP, on 01494 881298. The secretary of the West Bromwich Central Radio Club is compiling a diary of events for 1995 and is seeking guest speakers. If you are willing to give a talk or presentation to a small, friendly club on a Sunday evening for about one hour, please contact Ian, G0PAI on 0121 561 2884. Mike Shread, GM6TAN, has a new address. He is an RSGB Council Member and the RSGB QSL Bureau Sub-Manager who deals with Novice QSL cards. His address is: 15 Hardie Court, Aberchirder, Huntly, Aberdeenshire AB54 5TG. A new RSGB Liaison Officer (RLO) has been appointed for Lancashire. He is Steve Ireland, G1VRH, and his address is 'Ashlea', 11 Wood Park Road, Marton, Blackpool, Lancashire FY1 6QS. Steve's telephone and Fax number is 01253 695920. RLOs hold a wide range of information and they are available to help any RSGB member seeking advice. A new RSGB Liaison Officer (RLO) has been appointed for West Grampian, Highland and the Western Isles. She is Elaine Shread, 2M1DLV, whose address is: 15 Hardie Court, Aberchirder, Huntly, Aberdeenshire AB54 5TG. Her telephone number is: 01466 780739. The Severnside Television Group 3 centimetre TV repeater GB3XG, became operational on Saturday the 10th of December. The repeater has its output on 10150MHz and its input on 10278MHz. Reports on coverage or requests for details should go to the keeper G8VPG, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. The Wolverhampton 2 metre repeater, GB3BX, was returned to service on Sunday the 20th of November. It now operates on channel R3, which has its output on 145.675MHz and input on 145.075MHz. Reports or requests for details should go to the repeater keeper G4JLI. The Hexham repeater GB3TY, channel R6, was switched off on the 30th of November and is now closed down permanently. Any group or person wishing to continue with the repeater on a new site, should contact Ernie Bailey, G4LUE, Repeater Management Group, Zone 'A' Manager on 01226 716339. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From South Shetland Island, SP2QOH and SP2GOW will sign VP8CQR and VP8CQS respectively from now until November. Activity will be on all bands/modes, including RTTY. From South Georgia, a group of operators is expected to sign VP8SGP from Thursday the 5th of January. Activity will be on all bands 160 to 10 metres using CW, SSB and RTTY. And from Qatar, DL9FCQ, will be active from a camp near Doha from Saturday the 14th until Friday the 27th of January, mainly on 20 to 10 metres CW. His A7 callsign is not yet known. We have no rally news for you this week as the next event notified to us is not until Sunday the 22nd of January. However, here are some dates for your diary: The 1995 RSGB National VHF Convention is to be held at its usual venue at Sandown Exhibition Centre, Esher in Surrey, on Sunday the 19th of February. See January's RadCom page 31 for full details of the event which includes a comprehensive lecture programme. The 1995 RSGB London Amateur Radio and Computer Show is to be held during Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of March, at the Lee Valley Leisure Centre, Picketts Lock Lane, Edmonton, London. Full details of the event will appear in the March edition of Radio Communication. Now this week's contest news: The RSGB CW AFS Team Contest takes place today, Sunday the 8th, and the SSB AFS Team Contest takes place next Sunday the 14th, both from 1400 to 1800 UTC. See the December edition of RadCom for further details. And the RSGB 144MHz CW Single Operator, Fixed and All Others Contest takes place next Sunday the 15th from 1000 to 1600 UTC. See January RadCom page 81 for further details. January's RadCom also includes the General Rules which cover all RSGB HF, VHF and ARDF contests during 1995. This week sees the end of an era for the solar factual data. Charlie Newton, G2FKZ, has handed over his GB2RS work to Neil Clarke, G0CAS. Charlie, who will continue to chair the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee, has provided the GB2RS solar report without fail every week for 18 years on a purely voluntary basis. We thank him for this work. And now this week's solar factual data: Due to the Christmas holidays, we have an extended report this week. First a quick summary from the 12th to the 25th of December and then the normal report covering the period from the 26th of December to the 1st of January. The period from the 12th to the 25th of December saw sunspot numbers decline from 82 to 48. Solar flux levels also declined from 99 units down to 80 units. Flares were reported on most days, the largest being an M2.5/1N on the 14th. Geomagnetic levels were mostly quiet over the period. They did, however, increase to active levels on the 24th and the 25th and rose to an Ap index of 23 units. The daily aa index on the 22nd was only 6.5 nanoTeslas, the lowest daily figure since the 4th of May last year. The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers averaged 7.1MHz. The 20th was the best day at 8.8MHz. The period from the 26th of December to the 1st of January saw solar activity at very low levels and with the geomagnetic activity at mostly quiet levels. Sunspot numbers declined from 46 on the 26th to zero on the 1st. The mean for the period was 23. Solar flux also declined from 80 units on the 26th to 75 by the 1st. The average for the period was 78 units. Several very small B class flares were reported on the 26th. The electron fluence levels declined but are still at high levels. The x-ray flux levels declined from A4.4 units to A1.2 units by the 1st, the average for the period being A2.6 units. The geomagnetic activity was at mostly quiet levels and averaged an Ap of 9 units. The most disturbed day was the 26th with an Ap index of 13 units. The state has been 'nil, nothing to report'. The aa indices, as reported by the British Geological Survey for the period from the 20th to the 26th, started at quiet levels with the 22nd being down to only 6.5 nanoTeslas, the quietest day since the 4th of May last year. Levels increased up to 64.6 nanoTeslas on the 24th but declined back to unsettled levels the following day. The daily average for the period was 26.2 nanoTeslas, about K3. I'll repeat the figures: Spots - 23, Flux - 78, Ap index - 9, 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 23rd to the 29th of December, averaged 6.9MHz, with the darkness hour lows averaging 2.3MHz. The highs were between 11.00 and 14.00 hours and the darkness hour lows occurred around 06.00 hours. The daytime highs have declined to the levels seen over the last few weeks. I'll repeat the figures: Highs - 6.9MHz, Lows - 2.3MHz. And lastly the solar forecast. This week the more active side of the sun should be looking our way. Solar flux levels are expected to be at about the 80s and there is also the possibility of flare activity. Geomagnetic levels are expected to be mostly quiet, but may increase to unsettled by next weekend. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight hours are expected to be about 21MHz in the south and only 18MHz in the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be about 8MHz. 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 Victor Oscar and G7 Tango X-Ray series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha Juliet and 2 1 Delta Oscar series. -- NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Now news of a Morse class in the Newbury area. Morse classes to prepare for the RSGB Amateur Radio 12 WPM Morse test will commence next Friday the 13th at Newbury College from 6 to 7.30pm. Further details from Ray, G3NDS on 01672 870892. Meeting for Monday the 9th of January: Southdown Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Detail from Tony, G1SHH on 01825 753027. Meeting for Tuesday the 10th of January: Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a discussion on which contests to enter in 95. Further details from Peter, G7HCL on 01438 724509. Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of January: Bracknell Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. Details from Steve, G4AUC on 01344 420577. Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Six Metre Repeaters' by Ian, G0RDI. For further details contact Ian on 01494 676391. Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club has a video on 'Dud Charman's Aerial Circus'. Details from Roger, G4OAA on 01992 464795. Grafton Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Further information from John, G0DFZ, tel: 0171 272 2328. Meetings for Thursday the 12th of January: Colchester Radio Amateurs have a talk on 'The Ultimate Ultimate Challenge' by Alan Hardy. For further details contact Adrian, G0APP on 01206 383510. Edgware and District Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Details from Rod, G0SQL on 0181 204 1868. Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has a Construction Contest plus the 3Y0PI video. Further details from Tony, G0OPB on 01734 698274 (evenings). Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk: 'The National Grid' by Don, G4LOO. For information contact Paul, G1GSN on 01462 700618. Southgate Amateur Radio Club has a talk:'Receiving Weather Satellite Pictures' by Keith, G3MCD. Further details from Brian, G0MEE 081 360 2453. Meetings for Friday the 13th of January: Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'The Radio Spectrum' by Mike, G6AIQ. Contact Les, G3ABA on 01703 732997 for further details. Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society has a general activity and on air night. For further details contact Mike, G0AWQ on 01737 351313. Meeting for Saturday the 14th of January: Crystal Palace & District Radio Club has a talk on 'Backyard Antennas' by George, G3DWW. For further details tel: 0181 699 5732 or 01737 552170. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for Monday the 9th of January: Weston Super Mare Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact Graham, G8WAR on 01934 415700. Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of January: Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Confessions of a Radio Ham!'. Further details from Stuart, G7JIF on 01963 362766. Plymouth Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Home Security'. Contact Frank, G7LUL on 01752 563222 for details. Salisbury Radio and Electronic Society has its Annual General Meeting. Further details from David on 01722 330971 (weekends only). Meeting for Wednesday the 11th of January: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a talk: 'Don't Be a Victim of Crime' by PC Chisholm. For more information telephone 01275 834282. Meeting for Thursday the 12th of January: Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has a Surplus Equipment Sale. For further details contact Cedric, G4JBL on 01258 473845. Meeting for Friday the 13th of January: Poole Radio Society has a 'Top Band' activity evening. For more information contact Vernon, G3BCI on 01202 762110. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for Tuesday the 10th of January: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Construction QRP evening. For further information contact Mike, G4EOL on 01603 789792. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meeting for today Sunday the 8th of January: West Bromwich Central Radio Club has a talk entitled 'Worked All Britain' by Graham, G4JZF. Details from Ian, G0PAI on 0121 561 2884. Meeting for Monday 9th of January: Mansfield Amateur Radio Society has its Sherwood Forest and other Awards evening. Further information from Howard, G1JGY on 01623 423697. Meetings for Tuesday the 10th of January: Gloucester Amateur Radio Society has its Construction Group evening. Further details from Les, G0ULH on 01452 421510. Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society has a 'Five minutes talk from each member' night. Details from Don, G8HRI on 01926 424465. Meeting for Wednesday the 11th of January: Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has its GB0AA Preparation night. Details from Dave, G4EIX, on 01952 588878. Meetings for Thursday the 12th of January: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has a talk entitled 'The Light Fantastique' by Tim, G0MLM. Further details from Simon, G0IEG on 0115 950 1733. Salop Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Airband and Aircraft' by John, G0GTN. Details from Ian, G7SBD who is QTHR or @ GB7PMB. Meetings for Friday the 13th of January: South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a Construction evening. Contact Julie, G0SOU on 01509 672734 for further information. Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Further details from G4OO on 01775 750382. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 9th of January: Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has its 'Post Christmas Blues Counselling' session. Further details from David, G0JJR, Tel: 0114 244 6282. Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has a Quiz organised by Ben, G7SOG. Further details from G4BFH who is QTHR. Meetings for Wednesday the 11th of January: Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has a Video entitled 'Past Club Events' by Ted, G0RBA. For further details contact Ted on 01606 592207. Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact Bob, G4NCI on 0151 606 8989. Meetings for Friday the 13th of January: North Ferriby United Amateur Radio Society has a Construction evening. For further details contact David, tel: 01482 656324. South Manchester Radio Club has a Mini Lecture Contest evening. More information from Edward, G7FQY, tel: 0161 969 1964. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Tuesday the 10th of January: Dundee Amateur Radio Club has a Construction Night. For further details contact Alan, GM7ONJ who is QTHR. NEWS FOR WALES Meetings for Thursday the 12th of January: Aberystwyth and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Aerials and Whatnot'. For further details contact Katy, GW0SFO on 01545 580675. Tenby Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting at the Village Hall, Penally at 8pm. For further details contact John on 01834 842238. /EX -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain and is broadcast in the 80m, 40m, 6m and 2m bands. Tel +44 1707 659015 Fax +44 1707 645105