
Good morning. It's Sunday the 4th of February and here is the GB2RS news 
broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and 
short-wave listeners. 

The RSGB responded quickly to reports on radio and TV, and in 
newspapers, about the Duke of Edinburgh's phone conversation being taped 
by "a radio amateur" or "radio ham". A press release was sent to all 
national newspapers and to radio and TV stations stating that "there is 
no evidence whatsoever" that the telephone conversation was intercepted 
and recorded by a licensed radio amateur. The individual named in the 
newspapers as taping the Duke of Edinburgh's phone conversation is not a 
member of the RSGB and it is firmly believed that he does not hold an 
amateur radio licence. The RSGB press release also pointed out that 
equipment capable of receiving analogue mobile phones is widely 
available and may be purchased quite legally by anyone.

The RSGB General Manager, Peter Kirby, G0TWW, was also interviewed by 
Independent Radio News, Associated Press, Sky TV News, and Channel 1 
Cable TV on Tuesday and Wednesday over the matter.

A new 50MHz GB2RS news broadcast serving Central Scotland is starting 
today, the 4th of February, at 11.30 am. Initially, it will be for an 
experimental period of three months but will be continued if it proves 
to be a success. The transmission will be from the station of Tom 
Menzies, GM1GEQ, and will be on 51.530 MHz with vertical polarisation. 
Reports will be welcome, and should be sent to GM1GEQ via the RSGB QSL 
bureau.

The Barnsley and District Amateur Radio Club is co-ordinating a coach 
trip to Friedrichshafen in June on behalf of the RSGB. The 
Friedrichshafen 'Hamfest' is Europe's largest amateur radio exhibition. 
The coach will depart on Wednesday the 26th of June and return on 
Tuesday the 2nd of July and pick-ups can be arranged at pre-determined 
locations en route. Places are allocated on a first come, first served 
basis so contact the organiser, Ernie Bailey, G4LUE, without delay. He 
is available on 01226 716339, or 0836 748958, between 6.00 and 8.00pm.

There is a new QSL Bureau Sub-Manager for the GM0AAA to LZZ series of 
callsigns. He is Fred Roe, GM0ALS, and his address is 8 South Gyle 
Gardens, Edinburgh. The postcode is EH12 7RZ. The address may also be 
found in the RSGB Call Book under GM0ALS.

The Radio Amateur Invalid and Blind Club Northern Ireland Area is 
holding a flag day collection in the Ballymena town centre shopping 
complex on Friday the 9th of February between about 10.00 am and 9.00 
pm. Anyone who can help for a few hours should contact David Caldwell, 
GI0HOW, on 01232 471370, or send a fax to him on 01232 471980, to 
arrange times and identification permits. 

On Saturday the 10th of February, the Lincoln Short Wave Club is 
celebrating its 75th anniversary. The club was formed as the Lincoln 
Wireless and Scientific Society in 1921. There will be an exhibition and 
special event station at the Lawn Complex, Lincoln, from 12 noon until 
5.00 pm, with a celebratory dinner in the evening. The day's events will 
be opened jointly by the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Geoff Ellis, and 
RSGB President Peter Sheppard, G4EJP. For further details of this, or 
the club's other activities, please contact John Middleton, G8VGF, on 
01522 525760.

The annual Guides 'Thinking Day on the Air' takes place over the weekend 
of the 24th and 25th of February. A pack is available from RSGB HQ 
consisting of a list of participating special event stations and details 
of the countries which permit third party Greetings Messages during this 
event. Groups using a GX or similar prefix instead of a GB call are 
asked to contact Mrs Eva Telenius-Lowe at RSGB Headquarters by this 
Friday, the 9th of February, in order to be included on the list of 
participating stations. If you would like the pack, please send an 
A4-size self-addressed envelope, with 38p in stamps, to Eva at RSGB HQ.

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

>From Cancun in Mexico, three Finnish operators are signing "XF3 stroke 
their own calls" until Monday the 12th of February. Activity is on all 
bands, mainly CW. Please note that this activity counts as Mexico for 
DXCC, and not as Revilla Gigedo as stated in DX News Sheet.

A German group leaves home today for an operation from Christmas Island 
as VK9XY until Tuesday the 13th of February. They then go on to the 
Cocos-Keeling Islands as plan activity as VK9CR between the 14th and 
23rd of February. They will operate CW and SSB on 160 to 6 metres, plus 
RTTY and satellites.

And from Barbados, VE4GV plans to be active as 8P9EN from Thursday the 
8th until the 15th of February on all bands 80 to 10 metres, mostly CW.

Next the Rally News:

The Lancastrian Rally is taking place at the University of Lancaster 
today, the 4th of February. The doors open at 11.00, or 10.30am for 
disabled visitors.

Also today, the South Essex Amateur Radio Society Radio Rally is taking 
place at The Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey Island. The event includes RSGB 
Morse Tests on demand - candidates are reminded that they will need to 
take the test fee and two passport-size photographs along. Doors open at 
10.30 am.

Next Sunday, the 11th of February, the Northern Cross Rally takes place 
at the Thornes Park Athletics Stadium on the A642 Horbury Road in 
Wakefield, which is a new venue for this rally. The event features the 
usual dealers, a bookstall and bring-and-buy stand, an RSGB Propagation 
Studies Committee stand and Morse Tests on demand. Please bring two 
passport-size photographs and the appropriate fee with you if you wish 
to take your Morse test at the rally. Talk-in will be provided on 2 
metres channel S22 and 70 centimetres channel SU22, and further details 
can be obtained from G0FLX on 0113 238 3622.

Also on Sunday the 11th, the Cambridge and District Amateur Radio Club 
Rally takes place at the Ambulance Station at Addenbrookes Hospital. The 
event features trade stands, a bring and buy stall and car boot sale. 
Doors open at 10.00am and talk-in will be on 2 metres channel S22. For 
more details contact John, G0GKP, on 01954 200072.

And now a date for your diary:

The RSGB National VHF Convention takes place at the usual venue - 
Sandown Park in Surrey - two weeks from today, on Sunday the 18th of 
February. The event features a full VHF, UHF and Microwave lecture 
programme, together with a trade show and special interest groups. Full 
details are in the February edition of Radio Communication.

A new award in memory of Cyril James, G3VVB, and aimed at the home 
constructor of microwave equipment, will be presented for the first time 
at the RSGB VHF Convention. If you have an item of home-made microwave 
equipment and you are proud of the way you've constructed it, then why 
not bring it along to the Convention and enter it in the competition? 
The equipment can be constructed from any design, or from a kit - what 
the judges will be looking for particularly is quality of construction 
and finish. If you cannot attend the Convention in person, you may send 
detailed photographs and a written description to Steve Davies, G4KNZ, 
whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book.

Now for the HF contest news:

The final session of the RSGB LF Cumulative is on 80 metres today, 
Sunday the 4th of February, between 16 and 1800 UTC. The rules were 
published in last September's RadCom, but please note that the dates 
were given incorrectly in September. The correct dates are shown in the 
February RadCom.

Next weekend, the RSGB 1.8MHz CW Contest takes place from 2100 UTC on 
Saturday the 10th until 0100 UTC on Sunday the 11th of February. The 
rules are in the September RadCom.

And the Dutch PACC Contest takes place on CW and SSB for 24 hours from 
1200 UTC on Saturday the 10th. Brief rules are on page 22 of the 
February RadCom.

Next some VHF contest news:

The 432 MHz RSGB Affiliated Societies and Fixed Station Contest is 
taking place today, the 4th of February, between 09 and 1500 UTC.

And next Sunday, the 11th of February, the third session out of five in 
the RSGB 70 MHz Cumulative Contests will take place between 10 and 
1200UTC. The rules for all these contests can be found in last 
September's RadCom.

And now the solar factual data:

The period from the 22nd to the 28th of January saw solar activity at 
very low levels and the geomagnetic field at quiet levels. Only one 
small sunspot group remained on the solar disc, and the mean was 7. 
Solar flux levels increased very slightly from 72 units on the 22nd to 
74 units on the 25th. They remained at that level until the 28th and the 
average was 73 units. No solar flares were reported. Electron fluence 
declined slightly but remained at a moderate level. X-Ray flux remained 
at its minimum level of A1.0 every day. The 90-day solar flux average on 
the 28th was 74 units, the same as last week.

Geomagnetic activity was "quiet", with the levels down to only Ap 3 
units on the 25th. The average was Ap 5 units. The aa indices, as 
supplied by the British Geological Survey for the period from the 16th 
to the 22nd of January, increased from "unsettled" on the 16th with 15 
nanoTeslas recorded, to "active" levels which lasted through to the 
20th, when conditions returned to "unsettled". The most disturbed day 
was the 17th, with 26 nanoTeslas. The average for the period was 20 
nanoTeslas, which is just K3.

I'll repeat the figures: spots - 7, flux - 73, Ap index - 5, X-Ray flux 
- A1.0.

Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon 
for the period from the 19th to the 25 of January, improved every day 
from 5.1MHz on the 19th, to 6.7MHz by the 25th. The average was 6.1MHz. 
The darkness hour lows decreased slightly from 2.2MHz on the 19th to 
1.9MHz by the 23rd, but then increased to end the period at 2.5MHz. The 
average was 2.2MHz. The daytime highs took place between 0900 and 1400 
hours. The darkness hour lows took place between 0400 and 0600 hours 
every day. Two short periods of sporadic E took place on the 22nd and 
the 24th.

I'll repeat the figures: highs - 6.1MHz, lows - 2.2MHz.

And lastly the solar forecast:

This week the quiet side of the sun is expected to rotate into view and 
later in the week the solar disc could become spotless. Solar flux 
levels are expected to decline to the high 60s. Geomagnetic activity is 
expected to be very quiet, but later in the week activity could increase 
to "active" conditions. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight hours are 
expected to be about 18MHz for the south and 15MHz for the north, but 
levels could decline towards next weekend. The darkness hour lows are 
expected to be about 7MHz.

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 Whisky 
Victor and G7 Whisky Alfa series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa 
November and 2 1 Echo Quebec series.

Next, the local news.



NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST


Meetings for Monday the 5th of February:

Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. 
For further details contact John, G1WQQ on 01787 460947.

Maidstone YMCA Amateur Radio Society has an RAE talk on semiconductors. 
Details from Graham, G4AXD on 01622 729462.

Southdown Amateur Radio Society meets for an amateur TV demonstration by 
Keith, G8HGM and friends. For details telephone 01825 763022.


Meetings for Tuesday the 6th of February:

Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society has a 'Chairman's Forum - a technical 
debate on members' concerns'. Telephone 01245 360545 for more details.

Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has an 'Open Night'. For 
further details contact Paul on 01707 333542.


Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of February:

Aylesbury Vale Radio Society gathers for a talk on 'Operating 
Techniques' by Ivan, G3KLT. For further details contact G3KLT on 01296 
437720.

Brighton and District Amateur Radio Society has a transmitter testing 
evening. Contact Paul, G7FJC on 01273 689290 for further information.

Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'HF 
RF Measurements' by G0AMS and G4ITF. For further details contact Andrew, 
G0AMS on 01329 235397.

Surrey Radio Contact Club gathers for a talk entitled 'More Propagation' 
by Raymond, G3LTP. More information from Berni, G8TB on 0181 660 7517.

Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 
'Confessions of a Morse Examiner' by G3LQI. For details telephone 01903 
753893.


Meetings for Thursday the 8th of February:

Colchester Radio Amateurs meets for a talk entitled 'Holograms: A Search 
for a True Light' by Dave, G7VBM. Details from Brian, G0GGM on 01206 
822547.

Echelford Amateur Radio Society meets to appoint the question setting 
committee for its quiz night and computer question time. For details 
telephone 01344 843472.

Edgware and District Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'The East 
Coast Floods of 1953 and the Beginning of Raynet' by Stephen, G0PQB. 
More details from Stephen, G0PQB on 0181 953 2164.

Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has a quiz night for clubs in 
and around the Thames Valley area. Further information from Peter, G0PUB 
on 01734 617388.

Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a Constructors contest. 
More details from Paul, G1GSN on 01462 700618.

Three Counties Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'Thinking 
Day on the Air - What's it all About?' Telephone 01428 606298 for 
details.


Meetings for Friday the 9th of February:

Itchen Valley Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Then, Now 
and to Come' by Mike, G6AIQ. Telephone 01703 813827 for more details.

Medway Amateur Receiving and Transmitting Society meets for a talk by 
Ray, G0OAT entitled 'Writing and Publishing a Textbook for the RAE'. 
More details from George, G7CEL on 01634 685585.

Mid-Sussex Amateur Radio Society has a project evening. Telephone 01444 
241407 for further details.

Silverthorn Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. For further details 
contact Dave, G0KHC on 0181 505 1871.

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 Tuesday the 6th of February:

West Somerset Amateur Radio Club has an Extraordinary General Meeting 
and rig testing session. Details from Alan, G7RSU on 01643 707207. 


Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of February:

South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a 10 metres activity evening. 
Telephone 01275 834282 for further information.

Trowbridge and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by G0FUW on 
'QRP Construction and Operation'. For details contact Ian, G0GRI on 
01225 864698 during evening hours.





Meetings for Thursday the 8th of February:

Bristol Amateur Radio Club has an VHF SSB/CW evening. Telephone 0117 
9654886 for details.

Yeovil Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Flint Stone 
Radio' by G7LNJ. Contact Cedric, G4JBL who is QTHR or telephone 01258 
473845.



NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA


Meeting for Tuesday the 6th of February:

Leiston Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled "Something 
'NYK-ed" by Alan, G3NYK. Contact Dave, G6FS on 01728 832924 for more 
details.


Meeting for Wednesday the 7th of February:

Norfolk Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Steve, G0UYA entitled 
'Surplus PMR Conversion'. For details contact Mike, G4EOL on 01603 
789792.



NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS


Meetings for Monday the 5th of February:

Derby and District Amateur Radio Society has an amateur television group 
meeting. Further details from Richard, G3VGW on 01773 852475.

Leicester Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 0116 291 
7250 for more details.

Maxpak has a PC and packet radio using evening plus a demonstration of 
black and white and colour bubble jet printers. 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.


Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of February:

Oswestry and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Stan, G4LU 
on 'The History of International HF Radio'. Telephone 01691 830328 for 
details.

South Birmingham Radio Society screens an RSGB video entitled 'VHF - 
Then and Now'. Details from G8ACR on 0121 474 3784.

South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a junk sale. For details telephone 
01509 672734.

Wolverhampton Amateur Radio Society has a committee meeting. Telephone 
0902 324750 for more details.


Meeting for Thursday the 8th of February:

Amateur Radio Club of Nottingham has an on-the-air evening. Further 
details from Simon, G0IEG on 0115 950 1733.


Meeting for Friday the 9th of February:

Bromsgrove and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for an 'Aerial Design 
Discussion' by G4AHK and G4BBU. Details from G3RLF on 01905 796718.



NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND


Please note that the secretary of Leeds and District Amateur Radio 
Society, Malcolm Robertson, G7VCK, formerly 2E1CRL, has a new home 
telephone number. He can now be contacted on 0113 2253379.

Meeting for Sunday the 4th of February:

Wakefield Repeater Group holds for its Annual General Meeting at 2.30pm 
at the Community Centre, Prospect Road, Ossett, near Wakefield.


Meetings for Monday the 5th of February:

Isle of Man Radio Society meets for a talk by Dave, GD4HOZ on the 'Past, 
Present and Future GD Repeaters'. For details telephone 01624 842786.

Sheffield Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'I Invented 
Radio' by Peter, G4MRU. Telephone 0114 244 6282 for more details.

Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has a business meeting. 
Telephone 01253 853554 for more details.


Meetings for Tuesday the 6th of February:

Eccles and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a discussion on its 
stand at the Norbreck Rally. For further details contact G8KRG on 0161 
773 7899.

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

Wakefield and District Radio Society meets to make final preparations 
for the Northern Cross Rally. Details from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519.


Meetings for Wednesday the 7th of February:

Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk entitled on 'Radio 
Astronomy' by Malcolm, G8RWN. Contact G8RWN on 01484 861782 for details.

Hornsea Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'Video Editing 
Technique' by G4YTV. Telephone 01964 533331 for details.

Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 
01606 592207 for more details.


Meeting for Thursday the 8th of February:

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



Meetings for Friday the 9th of February: 

East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club has a rig check night. Details from 
Alistair, G4OLK on 01642 475671.

North Ferriby United Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General 
Meeting. Telephone 01482 656324 for details.

South Manchester Radio Club has a talk entitled 'An Introduction to 
Internet'. Telephone 0161 969 1964 for details.

Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club has a 'Construction Race' organised by 
G0MKG and G4PSL. Contact Terry, G8EZL on 0191 2570799 for details.



NEWS FOR WALES


Meeting for Wednesday the 7th of February:

Conwy Valley Amateur Radio Club gathers for an evening with Professor 
David Last, GW3MZY. Details from GW6PMC on 01745 855068.



NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND


Meeting for Friday the 9th of February:

The Ballymena Radio Club holds its annual winter sale at Balee High 
School. For details contact David, GI0HOW on 01232 471370.

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

