Good morning. It's Sunday the 23rd of October 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:- Britain has experienced the best tropo conditions for years, The RSGB has published its Annual Report, and Reading has won NFD for the fourth year running. During the week ending the 15th of October, a major tropo opening affected all bands from two metres up to the microwave bands. For much of the week the bands were open right across Europe. Signal levels were the strongest that many people can remember, and even UHF broadcast Television was seriously affected. The lift conditions covered much of the UK and extended into Central Europe and enabled many operators to experience really good propagation for the first time. At its peak many Novices and others were able to work into the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany with a watt or two. The November edition of Radio Communication and the RSGB Annual Report was posted to all RSGB members at the beginning of last week. The Annual Report includes the notice of this years Annual Meeting as well as full details of the RSGB Council Election. Any member who has not received their Annual Report by the end of this week is asked to contact RSGB HQ for a replacement copy. November's RadCom includes a full report on HF National Field Day. And the winner for the fourth year running is the Reading and District Amateur Radio Club. Restricted section winner was Gravesend Radio Society, and Echelford won the QRP section. A view of the Reading NFD station at sunset appears on the cover of this years RSGB Annual Report. The 1995 RSGB President, Clive Trotman, GW4YKL, is to be installed at a reception and dinner during the evening of the 14th of January 1995 at Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan. Anyone requiring tickets should contact Fay Huxley at RSGB Headquarters. The Jersey two metre repeater, GB3GJ, is now operational from a new site, after a long absence. The repeater is on channel R2. Further details and/or reports should go to the repeater keeper GJ0NSG, who is NOT QTHR, but can be reached via PO Box 704, Jersey JE4 8ZZ. Two-metre repeater, GB3HS, operated by the East Yorkshire Repeater Group is now operational. The repeater is located north west of Hull and operates on channel R2. Further details and/or reports should go to the repeater keeper G7JZD via packet @ GB7HUL or to G6JFJ whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. Another repeater operated by the East Yorkshire Repeater Group is GB3HA which is once more operational after a refurbishment. The repeater is located at north east of Hull and operates on channel RB6. Further details and/or reports should go to the repeater keeper G4YTV, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. The Orkneys two-metre repeater, GB3OC, operated by the Orkney and Caithness Repeater Group was returned to service last weekend after undergoing a complete overhaul. The repeater is located near Kirkwall and operates on channel R2. Further details and/or reports to be sent to the repeater keeper GM4TYU 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 Macau, G3SXW and G3TXF will sign XX9TSX and XX9TXF respective from Taipa Island from now until Thursday the 27th of October. Activity will be on all bands, CW only. Check these frequencies:- 1.827, 3.507, 7.007, 10.107, 14.023, 18.073, 21.023 and 24.893MHz. From St Martin, K1VSJ is active as PJ7/K1VSJ from now until Monday the 24th of October on all bands 40 to 10 metres. And from Aruba, N4YKD will be active as either P40KD or P4/N4YKD from next Sunday the 30th, until Saturday the 5th of November. Next the Rally News: We know of no rallies for today, Sunday the 23rd, but the following Sunday, the 30th of October, there is the Hornsea Amateur Radio Club (East Yorkshire) Radio Rally. This is to be held at The Floral Hall, Hornsea, near Kingston upon Hull. Doors open at 11am, or from 10.30am for disabled visitors. The event features trade stands, a bring and buy stall and special interest groups which includes ATV. Refreshments will be available and talk- in will be on two metres, channel S22. Further details from Duncan, G3TLI on 0194 532588. Now news of a Rally cancellation and change of contact details: The Leeds and District Amateur Radio Society wishes to announce that due to circumstances beyond its control the Christmas Rally, scheduled for the 4th of December 1994 has had to be cancelled. Further details from G0IBU who is QTHR. The Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club Radio Rally which is to be held on Sunday the 20th of November has a change of contact person, the new contact is Nick Dingle, G1XNI on 01388 488533. Now for the HF contest news: The CQ Worldwide DX SSB Contest takes place from 0001 on Saturday the 29th until 2359 on Sunday the 30th of October. This involves all bands 160 - 10 metres but excluding the WARC bands. See the October RadCom page 18 for further details. The SWL Challenge takes place during the weekend of the CQ WW DX Contest. See October RadCom page 25 for full details. The Worked All Britain LF CW Contest takes place next Sunday the 30th from 1400 to 1800 UTC on the 160, 80 and 40 metre bands. There are sections for Fixed, Portable, Mobile and SWL stations. Full details are available from Gordon, G4SKQ whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book or via packet at GB7SYP. Next some VHF contest news: The next RSGB 432MHz Cumulative Contest is on Thursday, the 27th of October, from 2030 to 2300 local time. See the July edition of RadCom, page 82 for further details. Another RSGB 10GHz Summer Cumulative Contest takes place from 0900 to 2100 UTC next Sunday the 30th. See April's RadCom for details. The second RSGB 1.3GHz and 2.3GHz Fixed and Listeners Contest takes place next Sunday the 30th from 1700 to 2100 local time. See September's RadCom for details. The fifth and final event of the RSGB 144MHz CW Cumulative Contest will take place from 2030 to 2300 local time, on Monday the 31st of October. General rules will apply. Use 4422 summary sheet to show scores for each day, and the best three days will be totalled. Please send all logs plus a single 427 cover sheet for entry. Rule 10 applies. There are two sections; the first for single operator or portable entries, and the other for listeners. The Adjudicator is David Johnson, G4DHF, 65 West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PA. And now the solar factual data: The period from the 10th to the 16th of October saw a slight and very welcome rise in both the sunspot indices and solar flux. The geomagnetic field declined from unsettled to quiet levels. This resulted in a considerable improvement in the higher HF bands. The sunspot indices increased every day and peaked up to 98 on the 15th, the highest level since last July, giving a mean of 84 for the period. The solar flux increased slightly from 87 units on the 9th up to 93 units by the 15th, giving an average of 90 units for the period. On the 12th, two very small class B type flares took place which helped both the solar and x-ray flux levels to increase. The electron fluence has declined by two orders of magnitude and is now about normal for this part of the cycle, the recent very high levels have seriously affected many satellites as well as the higher HF bands. The 90 day average of solar flux on the 16th was 79 units. The geomagnetic field started the period at active levels, with the Ap index being up to 22 units on the 11th before declining to quiet levels of only 3 units by the 16th. The period averaged 13.7 units. The state has been nil nothing to report. The x-ray flux has remained high throughout the period, reaching B1.5 on the 14th, and averaging B1.2 for the period. This has resulted in considerable improvement on the higher HF bands with 21 MHz being open to North America from most of Europe, and 28 MHz being open to Africa most afternoons. The aa indices for the period from the 4th to the 10th of October, as supplied by the British Geological Survey declined from sub storm levels on the 5th of 58.5 nanoTeslas to just unsettled by the 9th of 18.7 nanoTeslas. The average for the period was 42.8 nanoTeslas, about K4. I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 84; Flux - 90; Ap index - 13.7; X-ray flux - B1.2. Now the ionospheric data for Central France. With the seasonal changes now having an effect, the F2 daytime frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon, increased almost every day. The average was 7.0MHz, though the 14th was up to 8.3 MHz, the highest level since last July. The darkness hour lows averaged 2.5 MHz but were down to 1.9 MHz on the 12th. The highs are now taking place between 1200 and 1500 hours, with the darkness hour lows around 0500 hours. I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 7.0MHz; Lows - 2.5MHz. And lastly the solar forecast. This week the quiet side of the sun should be looking our way. Solar flux levels are expected be in the mid 70s. The geomagnetic field is expected to be active due to the passage of a coronal hole today, then declining to just unsettled or quiet levels for the rest of the week. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight in the south are expected to reach 25MHz, with darkness hour MUFs being about 8 MHz. Some east/west openings could occur during the afternoon periods on the higher bands. 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 Juliet and G7 Tango Uniform series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha Juliet and 2 1 Delta Lima series. -- NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meeting for Monday the 24th of October: Milton Keynes and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a discussion with the local Repeater Group. All future meetings will now be in Room 202, Falkener House, Bletchley Park. For details contact Verdun, G0RKV on 01908 762920. Meetings for Tuesday the 25th of October: Dorking and District Radio Society has a Demonstration of Software Applications for the PC Computer by Ian, G1GUB. For further information contact John, Tel: 01306 631236. Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a Video Night. Further details from Peter, G7HCL on 01438 724509. Waterside Amateur Radio Society has an Operations Night. Details from Brian, G1AEH on 01703 783170. Meetings for Wednesday the 26th of October: Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'The Building of the Post Office Tower' by George, G0OXH. Further details from Roger, G4OAA, tel: 01992 464795. Darenth Valley Radio Society has a talk entitled 'Audio' by Peter, G0GIR. More details from Len, G0HRD, tel: 01474 703322. Newbury & District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Computerised Radio Contest Logs'. For details contact Norman, G0HFU tel: 01635 863310. Three Counties Amateur Radio Club has a lecture entitled "The first year of operation of Thorp" by Dr Stephen Harrison of British Nuclear Fuels. For further details contact Frank, G7CND on 01483 416897. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Droitwich Standard Phase Lock Loop' by G8JVE. For further details contact Roy, G4GPX on 01903 753893. Meetings for Thursday the 27th of October: Crowborough & District Amateur Radio Society has an Antenna Modelling evening. Contact Mick, G6UUO, tel: 01892 661807 for details. Echelford Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Direction Finding' by Peter, G2HS. Contact Peter, G6PMT on 01344 843472 for further details. Hoddesdon Radio Club has an illustrated talk on 'The SS Titanic' by G0BXL. All are welcome. Further details from John, G7OCI on 01920 466639. Oxford & District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Alternative Energy Sources' by Dr I Blair at 7.30pm. Telephone 01865 247311 for further details. Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society has a Surplus Equipment and Junk Sale. Details from Phil, G3LCF on 01444 831400. Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk entitled 'You are Here - The Global Positioning System (GPS)' by David Rumble from Andrews Hydrographics. For further details contact Tony, G0OPB on 01734 698274 (evenings). Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale. Contact Paul, G1GSN on 01462 700618 for further information. Southgate Amateur Radio Club has a tutorial on 'A Brief Outline of TCP/IP' by G4POI. Details from Brian, G0MEE on 0181 360 2453. Vange Amateur Radio Society has an illustrated talk on 'My First Transmitting Station' by G4BQF. For details contact Doris on 01268 552606. Meetings for Friday the 28th of October: Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club has a talk on 'Radio Wave Propagation, Band by Band' by Nigel, G7CAW. Contact Les, G3ABA on 01703 732997 for further details. Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Details from George, G3DWW on 0181 540 2180. Meeting for Sunday the 30th of October: Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club has a 2m Direction Finding Competition using Map OS185. For further details telephone 01256 25517. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meetings for Tuesday the 25th of October: RSGB City of Bristol Group has its Annual General Meeting. Contact Dave, G4NKT by telephoning 0117 962124 for further information. Salisbury Radio and Electronic Society has a Project Evening - Constructing a Magloop Antenna. Contact David on 01722 330971 for further details. Meeting for Wednesday the 26th of October: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a Workshop on 'Simple Computer Programming' by Len, G4RZY. For more information tel: 01275 834282. Meeting for Thursday the 27th of October: Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has the Club Station on Air and committee meeting. Contact Cedric, G4JBL on 0258 473845 for further information. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for today Sunday the 23rd of October: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Used Equipment Sale at The Miller Hall, Norman Centre. Doors open at 10.30am and Sale starts at 2pm. For details telephone 1603 789792. Meeting for Wednesday the 26th of October: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a Construction Contest. Further details from Mike, G4EOL on 01603 789792. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meetings for Monday the 24th of October: Stratford on Avon and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk entitled 'QRP' by Norman, G4LQF. For further details contact Martin, G3XZO on 01789 740073. Sutton Coldfield Amateur Radio Society has a Project Evening - CT2's. Contact Tony, G0FEO on 01827 874010 for further details. Meetings for Tuesday the 25th of October: Radio Society of Bloxwich has a Bring and Show your Home-built Gear. For more information contact Chris, G0MLY on 01922 683877. Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has a Surplus Sale. Details from Barry, G0TPG on 01527 542266. Buxton Radio Amateurs has a talk on 'PMR Conversion'. For further details contact Derek, G4IHO, tel: 01298 25506. Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society has a Members' Home- Brew evening. For details contact Don, G8HRI on 01926 424465. Meeting for Wednesday the 26th of October: Bolsover Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further information contact Colin, G0RXT, tel: 01246 822856. Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk 'The Mysteries of TCP/IP - All is Explained' by Mike, G2SP. Details from Hayley, G7PXA on 01773 856904. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a Demonstration of Basic Shack Measurements and the Use of Various Test Equipment. Further details from Dave, G4EIX, on 01952 588878. Meetings for Friday the 28th of October: South Notts Amateur Radio Club has an Open Forum - members only evening. Contact Julie, G0SOU on 01509 672734 for further details. Spilsby Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale. Details from Clive, G6HYF on 01790 752712. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 24th of October: Radio Amateur Technical Engineering Club (RATEC) has a talk on 'Vintage Radios' by G6TKV at 8.15pm. Visitors are welcome. Details from Don, G4SFU on 0161 485 3912. Sheffield Amateur Radio Club has a talk by the British Nuclear Fuels Organisation. For further details contact David, G0JJR, Tel: 0742 446282. Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has its AGM, Old-timers' evening and Two Ten-minute talks. Details from G4BFH who is QTHR. Meetings for Tuesday the 25th of October: Bury Radio Society has a Video Evening. For further information contact Laurence, G4KLT on 0161 762 9308. Chester and District Amateur Radio Society has a Surplus Equipment Sale. Further details from G0OXA, tel: 051 608 3229. Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society has a talk on 'Novice Training' by Esde, G0AEC. Contact David, G0DLM on 01422 202306 for further details. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale. Further details from Ian, G4WWX who is QTHR. Meetings for Wednesday the 26th of October: Mid-Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has a Silent Key Junk Sale (G3THL). Details from Ted, G0RBA, tel: 01606 592207. Stockport Radio Society meets for the G3FYE Memorial lecture: 'The History of Stockport Radio Society' by G4ZDO. For details telephone 0161 439 4952. Meetings for Thursday the 27th of October: Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has a Construction/ Activity night. Further details from Simon, G0IEG on 0115 950 1733. Grimsby Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale at Cromwell Road Social Club. For further information contact John, G3DOT, 0472 825899. Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a Junk Sale. For further details contact Kathy, G0RLO on 01274 496222. Meetings for Friday the 28th of October: East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club has a Junk Sale. Details from Alistair, G4OLK on 01642 475671. Goole Radio and Electronics Society has a Social evening and trophy presentation at the Old George Inn. For further details contact Steve, G8VHL on 01405 769130. South Manchester Radio Club has a Hallowe'en Direction Finding evening. Further details from Edward, G7FQY on 0161 969 1964. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meetings for Tuesday the 25th of October: Dundee Amateur Radio Club has a Construction Night. Further details from GM4FSB who is QTHR. Edinburgh University Amateur Radio Club has a Video entitled 'Bending the Beams' on the breaking of the Enigma Code. For further details contact Alison, GM0UGG on 0131 668 4618. Meeting for Wednesday the 26th of October: Lothians Radio Society has a Junk Sale. Details from Brian, GM4DIJ on 0131 337 7311. Meeting for Friday the 28th of October: Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has a 'Repairing the Sea Cadets' Equipment' night by GM4LNQ. Further details from Gordon, GM7PXW, tel 01224 780591. -- 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