
Good morning. It's Sunday the 11th of July and here is the GB2RS news
broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.

First the headlines: We have news of some 50MHz award successes; the RSGB EMC
Helpline is no longer needed; and deadlines are imminent for Young Amateur of
the Year nominations and for AMSAT-UK Colloquium booking.

The RSGB marks operating successes by sponsoring various award schemes. Among
the Society's VHF and UHF Certificates awarded recently was the first ever
RSGB 50MHz Certificate to go to the holder of a UK Novice License. This was
issued to Pat Williams, 2E1AFN, when she claimed the 50MHz 10 Countries
Two-way Award  Congratulations also go to Geoff Brown, GJ4ICD, who was issued
with the first certificate for having the grand total of 450 squares confirmed
on the 50MHz band. If you would like further details of the VHF/UHF award
scheme, information sheets and application forms may be obtained from the RSGB
VHF/UHF Awards Manager Ian Cornes, G4OUT on receipt of a stamped, self
addressed envelope. G4OUT address is correct in the RSGB Call Book.

Due to the success of the RSGB's EMC Co-ordinator scheme and the publication
of the Society's new EMC manual, 'The Radio Amateurs Guide to EMC', the EMC
Helpline has been found to be no longer necessary. The Helpline will,
therefore be closed down. EMC is Electromagnetic Compatibility or in plain
English not interfering with your neighbours' electronic equipment, or
vice-versa. RSGB members who have EMC problems which they cannot solve
themselves should contact their EMC co-ordinator whose telephone number can be
found in the RSGB Call Book, and also on page 59 of the June 1992 issue of
Radio Communication. If a problem cannot be dealt with by the co-ordinator he
or she will call on the advice of a committee member who specialises in that
particular type of problem.

Now a reminder that the deadline for nominations for the 1993 Young Amateur of
the Year Award is the 31st of July. Full details of this prestigious award,
and the associated prizes, can be found in the April RadCom, or can be
obtained by writing straight away to the Project YEAR Coordinator c/o RSGB HQ.


The AMSAT-UK Colloquium takes place at the University of Surrey on the 29th of
July to the 2nd of August. For reasons of University security, this is an
all-ticket event. Anyone wishing to attend this fascinating event, and who has
not already booked, should contact AMSAT-UK within the next two days on 081
989 6741.

Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is
edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO. From the Cayman Islands, WA6VNR and N6RLE
will sign ZF2AH and ZF2JT respectively from now until Tuesday the 13th of
July. From Tuvalu, JF2MBF will sign T28JJ from now, until Tuesday the 20th of
July on the HF bands, activity to including some RTTY. From the British Virgin
Islands, K8CFU will be active as VP2V/K8CFU from now, until Thursday the 22nd
of July, mainly on 20m. From Liechtenstein, a group of French operators will
be active as HB0/own-callsigns from Saturday the 17th of July for one week, on
80 to 10 metres, but excluding the WARC bands.

We know of two rallies taking place today, Sunday the 11th of July:

The Horncastle Amateur Radio Electronic and Computing Fair is being held at
the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Sports Hall, Horncastle, Lincolnshire. The
event features clubs stands and a bring & buy stall. Catering facilities are
available on site, run by the Horncastle Youth Club staff and members. Talk-in
will be on channel S22. The Sussex Amateur Radio and Computer Fair is being
held at Brighton Racecourse. Doors open at 10.30am. There are trade stands and
a bring and buy stall. Refreshments are available and there is also a picnic
area close by.

We know of only one rally for next weekend:

The Radio Society of Great Britain National Mobile Rally will take place on
Sunday the 18th of July at Woburn Park, near the famous Abbey in Bedfordshire.
Leave the M1 via junction 13, whether arriving from the North or South and not
12 as signposted, and follow the signposts to Woburn Abbey. Watch out for the
RSGB signs. Do not follow the signs to the Game Reserve or the Wild Animal
Kingdom. Doors open at 10.00am. The rally features a large trade exhibition,
an RSGB Bookstall and enquiries stand, a BARTG stall and a members mart area
all under cover. All the normal Woburn attractions will be available at a
small extra charge. Refreshments are available nearby. See July Radcom page 41
for full details and a map of the surrounding area. For further information
contact Norman Miller, G3MVV on 0277 225563.

HF contest news now:

The Colombian Independence Contest will take place from 0000 to 2400 hours on
Saturday the 17th of July. Contest exchange is the report plus the serial QSO
number from 001, on 3.5 to 28MHz. Categories are SSB or CW but not mixed. See
July RadCom page 12 for further information. The RSGB Low Power Field Day
Contest will take place on Sunday the 18th of July, from 0900 to 1200GMT and
1300 to 1600GMT. This is CW only on 3510 to 3560kHz and 7010 to 7040kHz. See
July RadCom page 81 for the power output categories and equipment special
conditions

VHF contest news:

The RSGB 144MHz Low Power Contest will take place on Saturday the 24th from
1400 to 2200GMT. It features four entry sections: single operator fixed,
single operator portable, all others and short wave listener. The RSGB 432MHz
Low Power Contest will take place on Sunday the 25th of July from 0800 to
1400GMT. February RadCom on page 66 has further details of both of these
events.

News now of a special event station:

Starting on Thursday the 22nd of July, for six days the callsign GB70CT will
be aired by the Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Society. The occasion
is the 70th anniversary of the Loughborough Carillon War Memorial, a free
standing bell tower 152 feet high. Further details can be obtained from Alan,
G0PHT who address is correct in the Call Book. This event is also featured on
page 5 of the July RadCom.

And here is the solar factual data

The period from the 28th June to the 4th of July saw an enhancement of the HF
bands up to the 30th. This was followed by a collapse to poor conditions due
to the passage of coronal holes and a series of M type flares. The largest was
an M4.3/2B on the 2nd July. A magnetic sub-storm resulted which depressed the
HF bands. The sun spot count has generally declined and meaned at 99. There
has been a similar decline in solar flux which averaged 114 units. The
geomagnetic Ap indices started at quiet levels but, with the flares, levels
climbed to sub-storm reaching 27 units on the 2nd. The period averaged 16.4
units. The state has been 'quiet' then later in the period 'Magstorm in
progress'. The radio quality indices improved to very good up to the 30th with
the enhancement, then collapsed to poor levels with the 2nd and 3rd being down
to very poor on all circuits. For the 22nd to the 28th of June the geomagnetic
aa indices ranged from quiet to unsettled. The 22nd and 28th were at quiet
levels, down to 9 nanoTeslas, and the 24th and 25th were unsettled up to 47.2.
The period averaged 20.6 nanoTeslas. The X-Ray flux has been reasonably steady
and averaged B3.0. The sun spot count for June was RI 49.1 with the smoothed
index for December 1992 being 73.1+-5.

Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

There has been a series of equipment breakdowns so data this week is not
complete. The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers as reported by
Meudon averaged 7.2MHz though levels ranged from 8.8MHz on the 29th down to
6.1MHz on the 4th. The darkness hour lows averaged 4.7MHz.

Now the ionospheric data for the north:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg averaged 6.7MHz and the
darkness hour lows 5.3MHz. Solar cycle 22 is declining so rapidly that the
official forecasting of the ionospheric IF2/12 and the IG/12 spot index is
causing concern. The answers coming out based on comparison with previous
cycles shows that the rate of decline of cycle 22 is at least ahead by one
year. The importance of this is considerable as the basis of almost all CCIR
based ionospheric forecasts use these parameters.

And lastly the solar forecast:

This week, the quiet side of the sun will be looking our way, and no flares
are expected. Flux levels are expected to be about the 85s. The geomagnetic
activity is expected to be quiet. Ionospheric radio quality indices are
expected to be normal based on previous rotations.

And that is 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 T W and G7 O X
series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 A F and 2 1 B Y series.

You're listening to GB2RS, the news broadcasting service of the Radio Society
of Great Britain, transmitting in the 80, 40, 6 and 2 metre bands.
