
Good morning. It's Sunday the 7th of January and here is the GB2RS news 
broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and 
short-wave listeners. And a very Happy New Year to all GB2RS listeners.

Following the main news this week, we will be bringing you a review of 
propagation during 1995, which has been compiled by Charlie Newton, 
G2FKZ, and Neil Clarke, G0CAS. This will be followed by the solar 
factual data and solar forecast, and then the regional news.

The DTI has set up a new telephone advice line service to help 
electrical and electronics equipment manufacturers ensure that they have 
the most up to date technical information on how the new EMC Regulations 
affect their businesses. The EMC regulations, made under the European 
EMC directive, came into effect on the 1st of January and require 
electrical equipment to meet certain requirements to prevent electrical 
interference and improve immunity to interference.

The advice lines will be run by the EMC Clubs, set up as part of the 
DTI-funded EMC Awareness Campaign. They are intended to help, in 
particular, smaller manufacturers who are still unsure of the extent and 
requirements of the regulations. If you are involved with a small 
business manufacturing electrical or electronic equipment and wish to 
take advantage of this advice service, please contact Fiorina Sinapi, 
2E1EJL, at RSGB Headquarters on 01707 659015, who will give you the 
correct regional number to contact.

Another new 70 centimetre GB2RS service starts today, the 7th of 
January. It's an evening broadcast from Portland in Dorset on channel 
SU21, which is being transmitted at 1930 local time from the station of 
G1OCN, with G7OLW as reserve newsreader. Good coverage is expected of 
the south coast area, and reports - especially from Novices - will be 
welcomed.

The Worked All Britain organisation has announced a new award for 
amateurs and listeners which commenced on the 1st of January. The award 
is based on the 10-kilometre squares of the Ordnance Survey national 
grid, but without county boundary complications, and is known as the 
Millennium Award. It has been introduced because of the uncertainty 
regarding the future of local authority and county boundaries following 
the Review of Local Government. The new award will operate alongside the 
existing WAB awards programme. Full details of the requirements are 
available from Brian Morris, G4KSQ, whose address is correct in the RSGB 
Callbook.

Also from the 1st of January, the Worked All Britain Awards Manager is 
Kate Wragg, G0FEZ, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. All 
WAB award claims should now be sent to Kate.

A new HF beacon has joined the wordwide beacon network. YV5B is now 
operational on 14.100, 18.110, 21.150, 24.930 and 28.200 MHz from a site 
1300 metres above sea level near Caracas in Venezuela. The beacon 
transmits in sequence with stepped power outputs from 100 Watts to 1 
Watt to a multiband vertical antenna. The sequence starts at 10 seconds 
to the hour on 14MHz, moving at 10 second intervals to 18, 21, 24 and 
28MHz. The pattern is repeated every three minutes through the hour.

A new 10 metre FM packet mailbox started operation on the 29th of 
December. It is GB7COS, located at St Osyth near Clacton on Sea, and 
operates on 29.250 MHz. Reports will be welcomed by the Sysop, Tony 
Horsman, G0MBA, by packet at GB7COS.

Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, which 
is edited by Chris Page, G4BUE:

The ARRL DX Advisory Committee and the Awards Committee have voted in 
favour of adding Pratas Island - BV9P - to the DXCC Countries List for 
contacts made since the 1st of January 1994. QSL cards from Pratas 
Island can be accepted for credit from the 1st of April this year.

>From Central Kiribati {pronounced "Kirry-bass"}, T30DP is signing 
T30DP/T31 from Kanton Island now. He is active on 20m only and has been 
worked on 14005 kHz CW around 1200 UTC. He is expected to be active for 
"a few weeks".

And from Reunion Island, F6EDF was planning to be active as FR5AK or 
FR/F6EDF from the 1st until the 19th of January, also on 20 metres only.

Now news of a special event station, 

And since 1996 is the 50th anniversary of the International Short Wave 
League, ISWL, GB50SWL will be on the air throughout the year. Anyone 
hearing or working the station who wishes to receive a special QSL card 
should either QSL via the bureau or direct to David Beale, G0DBX, whose 
address is correct in the RSGB Call Book.

We know of no rallies before the 21st of January.

Now for the HF contest news:

The ARRL RTTY Round-up is taking place this weekend, the 6th and 7th of 
January. Brief rules are on page 23 of the January RadCom.

Next Sunday, the 14th of January, the RSGB Affiliated Societies Contest 
takes place on 80 metres CW between 1400 and 1800 UTC. The rules were 
published in last September's RadCom.

Next some VHF contest news:

We know of no VHF contests this weekend, but the RSGB 144MHz CW contest 
takes place next Sunday, the 14th, from 1000 to 1600 UTC. The rules can 
be found in last September's RadCom.

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 
Tango and G7 Victor Yankee series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa 
November and 2 1 Echo Papa series.

And now a review of propagation in 1995, which has been compiled by 
Charlie Newton, G2FKZ, and Neil Clarke, G0CAS:

During the past year the real value of the 50 MHz band has been shown, 
both in the tropo, ionospheric and sporadic E fields. Although we are 
still awaiting licensing for unattended operation, in order to extend 
tests over the 24 hours, the present weekend tropo tests each hour over 
a 290 kilometre path from G4IFX to G2AHU have clearly shown that 
descending cold air at night inhibits tropo-scatter propagation, while 
warm air and even light rain have no such effect. The tropo tests by 
G4UPS in Devon and G3CCH in South Humberside, a 350 kilometre path, are 
continuing and giving a reliability of 93 per cent at 0900 hours daily.

Field Aligned Irregularity types of propagation have been reported from 
many parts of the world. JE1BMJ has sent us reports of over a thousand 
contacts covering all the Japanese call areas. Beam headings were always 
northerly, much like aurora, with much crumbled signals, but are only 
reported during the sporadic E season.

It is known that around sunspot minimum times multi-hop sporadic E 
improves, but this year some of the openings were exceptional. On the 
21st of June to Texas, the 3rd of July to New Mexico, and on the 7th of 
July the most outstanding opening of all, with contacts over 7,000 
kilometres and with the band open up to midnight for some stations. The 
contact from GM4ILS at Elgin to Minneapolis was outstanding, as the path 
passes near the southern tip of Greenland, an area not well known for 
sporadic E.

The HF band reports of the ITU beacon project have shown that during the 
afternoon periods the LN2A station in Norway operating on 5470kHz to 
10407kHz are 100 per cent reliable, and the best frequency for station 
VIP in Western Australia is 8521kHz with 100 per cent reliability around 
noon. During the last minimum in 1986 ionospheric daytime critical 
frequencies declined to around 5.7 MHz. At present they are around 6.2 
MHz, so it would appear there is still some decline to come.

The SOHO - Solar and Heliospheric Observatory - satellite was launched 
on the 23rd of November. It will be stationed at a Lagrangian point, a 
sort of gravitational equal point between the earth and the sun, about 
1.5 million kilometres from the earth. It will prescribe a 600,000 
kilometre orbit so that it can observe the sun 24 hours a day, every 
day. Its main job will be to investigate the sun's interior workings. It 
is hoped that it will be able to throw light on what the sun's interior 
is like, by recording "sunquakes", when the sun rings like a bell. It 
will also study many aspects of solar wind, it is hoped to provide 
answers about auroras, and disruptions to the ionosphere.

During the year the Ursigram service that provides all our solar data 
has undergone a major change. All the participating observatories have 
changed over to the Internet e-mail system, which caused us some 
problems. We regret the upset in service recently but hope that with the 
changes now in hand this will soon be behind us. There has also been a 
budget problem in the United States which has resulted in the delay of 
some data reaching us.

Many people are asking when the solar minimum will occur. Well, remember 
all the forecasts about cycle 22 up to now have be way out, but for what 
it's worth, it looks like the smoothed minimum for spots will occur 
about June this year, with a smoothed count of about 6. The minimum for 
solar flux is expected to be higher than previous minima: about 71 
units, and is not expected to occur until about February 1997. However, 
we are certain about one thing - cycle 23 has definitely started; a 
bipolar spot of reversed magnetic polarity was observed on the 12th of 
October in region 7192 and confirmed by many observatories. Previous 
cycles have taken about a year to show an upward trend from the first 
sightings.

During the year we were able to get data from the new WIND spacecraft, 
which over time will be of considerable use. We receive data on solar 
wind speed, particle density and magnetic orientation. When the wind is 
Bz south, that is magnetically southerly orientated, it couples with the 
earth's northerly orientated magnetic field, and this is when 
disturbances and aurora mainly occur.

And now this week's solar factual data:

First we can announce that Neil Clarke, G0CAS, who produces this solar 
information, is now on Internet and that the daily solar packet service 
started again at the start of the new year. His e-mail address is 
contained within the packet bulletins. We hope that this will also help 
us to provide a more comprehensive report for GB2RS.

The period from the 18th to the 31st of December saw solar activity at 
very low levels and the geomagnetic field quiet to active. Sunspot 
numbers increased from zero on the 18th to 40 by the 26th, but then 
gradually declined to zero by the 31st, with a mean of 20. Solar flux 
levels increased slightly from 69 units on the 18th to peak at 76 units 
by the 29th with an average of 74 units. No solar flares were reported. 
Electron fluence remained at moderate levels until the 26th, increased 
to high, and then declined to moderate levels by the 29th. X-Ray flux 
levels remained at A1.0, but did increase slightly to A3.0 by the 29th 
in response to the increase in sunspots and solar flux. The average was 
A1.2 units. The 90-day solar flux average on the 31st was 75 units.

The geomagnetic activity has been quiet, with levels down to only Ap 3 
units on several days, but it did increase to active levels on the 24th 
with an Ap index of 22. A sudden impulse of 38 gammas was recorded at 
Boulder on the 31st, with an average of Ap 7 units for the extended 
period.

I'll repeat the figures:- spots - 20, flux - 74, Ap index - 7, X-Ray 
flux - A1.2.

Once again, no ionospheric data is available this week, due to the 
industrial unrest in France and the Christmas break.

And lastly the solar forecast.

This week, with the quiet side of the sun rotating into view, solar 
activity is expected to be at very low levels. Solar flux levels are 
expected to decline slightly from around the mid-70s to the low-70s. 
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at quiet levels for most of the 
week, but could increase to active levels towards next weekend. 
Ionospheric MUFs for the south during daylight hours are expected to be 
about 20MHz and the darkness hour lows about 7MHz. Northern levels will 
be about 2 to 3MHz lower than for the south. Also, levels may decline 
towards next weekend, due to the expected higher levels of geomagnetic 
activity.

And that's the end of the solar information.


Next, the local news.



NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST


Meeting for Monday the 8th of January:

Southdown Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For more 
details telephone 01323 899654.


Meeting for Tuesday the 9th of January:

Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 
'Aerial Winterisation' by Rob. For further details contact Paul on 01707 
333542.


Meetings for Wednesday the 10th of January:

Bracknell Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. Telephone 
01344 420577 for more details.

Chesham and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk entitled 
'Recent Technical Disasters' by G0VFW and G0RTF. For further details 
contact Ian, G0RTF on 01494 676391.

Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'DC 
to Light Blue' by G4GPW. For details telephone 01903 753893.


Meetings for Thursday the 11th of January:

Echelford Amateur Radio Society has a bring and buy sale. For details 
telephone 01344 843472.

Edgware and District Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. More 
details from Rod, G0SQL on 0181 204 1868.

Hoddesdon Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For details contact 
Dave, G1CAY on 01992 460841.

Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. 
Further information from Tony, G0OPB on 01734 698274 (during evening 
hours).

Southdown Amateur Radio Society meets to work as many stations as 
possible on 2 metres FM. Telephone 01825 763022 for further information.

Southgate Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk on Bell-ringing by George, 
G0OXH. For further details contact Michael, G0ANN on 01707 850146.


Meetings for Friday the 12th of January:

Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Computers 
in the Shack' by Brian, G0VNI. Telephone 01703 813827 for more details.

Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 
01444 241407 for further details.

Wimbledon and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. 
For more information telephone 0181 679 1387.



NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST


Meeting for Sunday the 7th of January:

Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'My 
Adventures' by Rob, G3XFD. Telephone 01425 653404 for details.


Meeting for Monday the 8th of January:

Wincanton Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'Aerials 2 - the 
Sequel' by Dave, G3ZXX. Telephone 01963 370352 for more details.


Meeting for Wednesday the 10th of January:

South Bristol Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by Terry, G4YTH 
entitled 'Build Your Own Power Supply'. Telephone 01275 834282 for 
further information.


Meetings for Thursday the 11th of January:

Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a round table session on members' radio 
problems and queries. Telephone 0117 9654886 for details.

Plymouth Radio Club has a committee meeting. For more information 
telephone 01752 563222.

Yeovil Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Antenna Radiation 
Patterns' by G3MYM. Contact Cedric, G4JBL who is QTHR or telephone 01258 
473845.



NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA


Meeting for Wednesday the 10th of January:

Norfolk Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Tropo 
Propagation' by Jim, G3YLA. For details contact Mike, G4EOL on 01603 
789792.


Meeting for Thursday the 11th of January:

Yarmouth Radio Club meets to make contest plans. Contact Tony, G3NHU on 
01493 721173 for further information.



NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS


Meetings for Monday the 8th of January:

"Maxpak" meets for an 'Evening with BAYCOM'. For further details contact 
Edward Loach on 01902 741877.

Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air 
evening. For further details contact Gordon, G0TZV on 01384 395206.


Meeting for Tuesday the 9th of January:

Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For further 
details telephone 01527 542266.


Meetings for Wednesday the 10th of January:

Derby and District Amateur Radio Society pays a visit to the Nynex 
headquarters in Derby. For details contact Richard, G3VGW on 01773 
852475.

South Notts Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. For 
details telephone 01509 672734.



NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND


Meetings for Tuesday the 9th of January:

Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a construction contest. 
Telephone 0151 722 1178 for more details.

Wakefield and District Radio Society makes preparations for the Northern 
Cross Rally. Details from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519.

Warrington Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk by Graham Barker of 
the Radiocommunications Agency. For further details contact John, G0RPG 
on 01925 762722.


Meetings for Wednesday the 10th of January:

Stockport Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'CQ Machine' by 
G0HJQ. Telephone 0161 439 4952 for further information.

Wirral Amateur Radio Society has a committee meeting. Telephone 0151 336 
3247 for more details.


Meetings for Thursday the 11th of January:

Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham gathers for a talk entitled 'Simplified 
Connections' by Tony, G7HWU. Telephone 0115 950 1733 for more details.

Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a packet on-the-air evening. Details 
from Kathy, G0RLO on 01274 496222.

Oldham Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Broadcasting from 
the 1930s to the Cold War Years' by Gordon, G3LEQ. Details from Nick, 
G0ULA on 0161 627 1639.

Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. 
Telephone 0151 606 8989 for more information.


Meetings for Friday the 12th of January: 

Goole Radio and Electronics Society meets for a talk on HF Broadcasts. 
For details telephone 01757 638539.

South Manchester Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'RF 
Pre-Amplifiers' by G0KJK. Telephone 0161 969 1964 for details.






NEWS FOR SCOTLAND


Meeting for Tuesday the 9th of January:

Telegraph Radio Club pays a visit to the BBC at Blackhill. More details 
from John on 01506 462518.


Meeting for Thursday the 11th of January:

Dunfermline Radio Society has a HF operating evening. Telephone 01383 
735967.



NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND


The recently-formed Glengormley Electronics and Amateur Radio Society - 
"GEARS" - meets on the 8th of January. The club will meet fortnightly on 
Mondays at Glengormley High School, Ballyclare Road, beside Northcott 
Shopping Centre, between 7.00 and 9.00 pm.

-- 
GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.
Tel +44 1707 659 015   
Fax +44 1707 645 105

