Good morning and a very Merry Christmas. It's Sunday the 26th of December and
here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great
Britain.

First the headlines: The new RSGB President is to be installed in January,
RSGB Headquarters is open during the Christmas holiday and we bring you our
traditional Review of the Year.


The RSGB's 1994 President Ian Suart, GM4AUP, will be officially installed at
an evening reception and dinner in Glasgow on Saturday the 15th of January.
Any RSGB member wishing to attend should contact RSGB HQ without delay.

For those needing to call at RSGB Headquarters or make a telephone enquiry
during the holiday period, HQ will be open this Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday.

The Swindon 70cm Repeater GB3TD returned to service on Saturday the 18th of
December, after a site and channel change. The new channel is RB3 so the
repeater can be heard on 433.075MHz. Reports would be welcomed by the Repeater
Keeper G4XUT, from whom further details can be obtained. His 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 Ascension Island, ZD8M will be very
QRV on the low bands especially 160 metres, from today, Sunday the 26th. From
Martinique, F3WC is signing FM5WC until Saturday the 5th of February. From
Mozambique, SM6DRM is active as C91BH from now until the end of January 1994,
on 10 - 20 metres, including the WARC bands, on CW and SSB.

There's one item of HF contest news:

The first RSGB LF Cumulative 3.5MHz Contest takes place next Sunday the 2nd of
January from 1600 - 1800 UTC. The rules can be found in the December edition
of Radio Communication.

And now our review of the year as brought to you by the RSGB's GB2RS News
Service.  We are very grateful to newsreader Vic Kusin, GM4HCO, for
researching and compiling the review.

This week we deal with January to June, and next week July to December.

On Saturday the 2nd of January 1993, nearly a hundred people attended a dinner
to see Peter Chadwick, G3RZP, formally installed as the 59th President of the
Radio Society of Great Britain. One of his first tasks as President was to
present a certificate to Britain's astronaut Helen Sharman OBE, marking her
election as an Honorary Member of the Society.

The Pentland South Pole Expedition was well under way. Explorers Ranulph
Fiennes and Mike Stroud had already walked over 1,000 miles and crossed the
South Pole at the beginning of January. Their progress was reported by
Lawrence Howell, GM4DMA, whose wife Morag, who was using the callsign
GB4MSS/VP8 from Patriot Base in Antarctica. The aim of the expedition was to
be the first to cross the Antarctic continent on foot and at the same time
raise two million pounds for research into Multiple Sclerosis.

The chairman of the RSGB VHF Committee, Peter Burden, G3UBX, reported that the
United Kingdom, along with other European countries, had agreed to the use of
433.050 to 434.790MHz for 'low power devices' limited to 10 milliwatts.
Following representations from the RSGB, the Radiocommunications Agency had
undertaken to defend the amateur service in the event of problems being
experienced. It was stressed that this allocation should not in any way affect
the present or future status of the amateur service on the band.

At the end of January, the RSGB introduced a premium phone line, carrying a
recording of GB2RS news bulletins, mainly intended for those who were not able
to receive the regular broadcasts. The number is 0336 407394 and calls are
charged at 36 pence per minute cheap rate and 48 pence per minute at all other
times. A proportion of the proceeds goes to the RSGB.

On Sunday the 31st of January, Charlie Suckling, G3WDG, and his XYL, Petra,
G4KGC, made two contacts on the 10GHz band via moon-bounce. These were the
first 10GHz Earth-Moon-Earth contacts made from Britain and were with WA7CJO
in Phoenix, Arizona. Charlie Suckling was at time the RSGB's Microwave
Manager.

In February, the Radiocommunications Agency announced the completion of its
review of the amateur radio Novice Licence Scheme. The allocations to Novices
in the 3.5 and 28MHz bands were increased to enable the use of the accepted
low power frequencies. Also increased was the 50MHz allocation, allowing
Novices the use of Morse, telephony and data. The 70cm band allocation was
extended to include 432 to 440MHz, which allowed the use of SSB telephony,
slow scan and fast scan television.

An excellent tropo event started on Thursday the 4th of February and carried
on into Saturday. GJ4ICD reported that during this period many long distance
stations were worked on 432 and 1296MHz. Of special note was the first Jersey
to Czechoslovakia QSO on 1296MHz. This was between GJ4ICD and OK1FFD.
Conditions were believed to have been the best for many years.

Meanwhile, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud became the first men to have
crossed the continent of Antarctica on foot, entirely unsupported. Not content
with this, and despite failing health, they decided to continue walking to
their final destination, Scott Base, a further 350 miles. The expedition's
communications officers, Morag, GM0MUV, and Lawrence, GM4DMA, were featured in
the national media, explaining the trials of the two explorers. Later in the
year, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Dr Mike Stroud were both awarded OBEs in the
Queen's Birthday Honours List for their achievement in the fields of 'Human
Endeavour and Charitable Services'.

The Radio Society of Great Britain presented a cheque for just over 4,500 to
MENCAP, the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults. The
presentation was made by RSGB President Peter Chadwick, G3RZP, to MENCAP's
Chairman, Lord Rix, G2DQU, at a ceremony held at RSGB Headquarters on the 19th
of February. The money had been raised by RSGB members and staff during 1992.

For several days at the end of February, a special event station, GB0OSH, was
operating at the 'Radio GOSH' studio at Great Ormond Street Hospital in
London. Attending the opening ceremony was His Royal Highness Prince Philip
who is Patron of the RSGB. He was introduced to the event organiser Justin
Johnson, G0KSC; RSGB President Peter Chadwick, G3RZP and RSGB General Manager
Peter Kirby. Prince Philip used a VHF transceiver to talk to a surprised G4IGK
in Aylesbury. Two HF stations were operational during the event and a number
of young patients were able to use the hospital's internal telephone system to
connect with the amateur radio stations and pass greetings messages over the
air.

Amateur radio was in the national news again at the beginning of March. Radio
amateurs provided the sole means of communication between the beleaguered
villages in Bosnia and the United Nations relief agencies. A week later, the
news media continued to give favourable reports of amateur radio being used
inside Yugoslavia to assist the United Nations in their humanitarian relief
efforts. The RSGB heard of one UK amateur who also managed to help - Jim
Atherfold, G0FZB, of Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, was called on 20m by YU1ADJ,
requesting medicine which was urgently needed to save the life of a young man
in a Belgrade Hospital. He was able to pass this message to the Red Cross for
further action. This was followed by a very favourable newspaper report which
praised amateur radio.

At an RSGB Council Meeting held on the 12th of March, an application from RAEN
Limited for Affiliation was discussed, and considered at some length. Council
decided that the Society was able to affiliate RAEN Ltd as the Management
Committee, but not the individual Groups associated with RAEN Limited.
However, the Society saw no reason why individual Groups should not seek
affiliation.

The RSGB's Project YEAR Co-ordinator, Hilary Claytonsmith, G4JKS, was awarded
the title 'Amateur of the Year' by the magazine Ham Radio Today. The
announcement was made at the London Amateur Radio Show on the 14th of March.
Hilary is a member of the RSGB Council and her work in the fields of EMC, HF
Contests and recruiting young people into amateur radio is well known to
members.

On the 1st of April, the Radiocommunications Agency announced additional
frequencies for radio amateurs for unattended digital communications, as well
as the removal of restrictions on amateur radio transmissions on 70cm in the
North East of England. The additional frequencies followed a request from the
RSGB to extend the frequencies available for packet radio in order to enhance
access to packet radio mailboxes.

The RSGB's Monitoring System, otherwise known as the Intruder Watch, had four
successes which benefited all radio amateurs. An Argentinean fax, a naval data
transmission and two diplomatic stations had been removed from the 18MHz band
with the assistance of the RA. The Co-ordinator of the Intruder Watch is David
Owen, G0OES, and details of the role of the Monitoring System can be found in
the RSGB Call Book.

The Royal Grammar School of Guildford became the first school outside America
to have a direct colour TV link to the space shuttle Discovery. In addition to
the video link, there was two-way voice contact between the shuttle and pupils
during two orbits on the 9th of April, using the callsign GB6STS. Deputy Head
of Science Frank Bell, G7CND, said that the equipment worked well and there
was an interference-free six-minute radio contact. When the slow-scan TV image
was sent, KB5AWP on the Discovery reported receiving a good clear picture.
G7CND organised the school's radio equipment for the contact, but it was the
pupils themselves who controlled almost all of the voice and TV exchanges.

In May, the Arfon Repeater Group announced that, for the first time in the UK,
a 2m and a 70cm repeater were to be cross-linked. Under a special licence
granted to the group issued following negotiations between the RSGB and the
RA, GB3AR on R4 could be linked with GB3AN on RB4 by means of DTMF tones, with
the result that the two repeaters operate as one. The Repeater Group pointed
out that the set-up was experimental and invited everyone to make good use of
the linking system and to report results, good or bad to Brian Davies, GW4KAZ.

On Saturday the 19th of June the RSGB held an Open Day at its Headquarters in
Potters Bar. Over 200 members attended, many bringing with them their families
and friends. They were treated to a guided tour of the RSGB's offices, had a
chance to operate in the GB3RS shack and to visit the QSL Bureau, Library and
Museum. Also at the Open Day was a team from the BBC's Arena programme who
were researching for a feature on amateur radio.

One of the best known radio amateurs in the world is King Hussein of Jordan,
who is frequently active as JY1. In an interview given exclusively to the
RSGB's Radio Communication magazine, His Majesty revealed his wish to promote
amateur radio in Jordan. He also explained how he became interested in the
hobby and his belief that amateur radio contacts provide a wonderful way to
make friends.

And that concludes our review of the first half of 1993, as reported by GB2RS.


And now the solar factual data:

This week due to GB2RS being prepared early we are short of data. For the
period 13th to 16th solar activity has declined to very quiet levels; this was
not expected. There have been no flares reported. The spot indices have
declined and meaned at only 29. The solar flux has also declined and averaged
only 85 units. The geomagnetic activity was quiet up to the 16th, when a
magnetic storm was reported affecting mainly the higher latitudes. The period
averaged an Ap of 10.7 units. However the indices rose from 3 on the 14th up
to 28 by the 16th. This is believed to be due to the passage of a coronal
hole. The state has been 'nil, nothing to report'. The radio quality indices
have been at normal levels all the period, there being no very good or bad
paths on any circuit. We do not have the aa indices to hand. The X-Ray Flux
averaged B1.0, about the level it has been since last October. However,
completely unexpectedly it collapsed on the 16th to only A4.5 units the lowest
level since this data has been given on GB2RS. Bartells rotation 2191 begins
on December 30th.


Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon,
averaged 8.7MHz. The daily highs are now occurring around 12.00 hours. The
darkness hour lows are almost steady and averaged 2.7MHz. There have been
periods of Spread F, blanketing E and other phenomena but only lasting for
around 2 hours daily.

Now the ionospheric data for the north:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg have been affected by
whatever magnetic activity was about, and levels have been depressed averaging
only 5.5MHz. The darkness hour lows were also down and averaged only 2.2MHz.
At last the seasonal changes in IF2 critical frequencies can now be seen; if a
mean line is drawn through the data, levels have risen from about 7.5MHz last
June up to 8.25MHz at present. This is lower than expected; last year at this
time levels were up to 11MHz.

And lastly the solar forecast:

This week, the more active side of the sun will be looking our way, and solar
flux levels are expected to be about 100. The geomagnetic activity is expected
to be very unsettled, possibly up to sub storm on the 28th to 30th then
declining to quiet levels. The Ionospheric Radio Quality Indices are expected
to decline down to poor by the 29th.

And that is the end of the solar information.


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.


Next, the local news.



NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST


Meeting for Monday the 27th of December:

Basingstoke Amateur Radio Club has a Two Metre Direction Finding Competition
'The Turkey Settler' Map OS-185(SE) with Alan, G8FMH as the Fox. Further
details by telephoning 0256 25517. NEWS FOR SOUTH WEST


Meeting for Wednesday the 29th of December:

South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has 'Greetings to old Friends on 2m and 70cm
from the Club station'. For further information tel: 0275 834282.



NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS


Meeting for today Sunday the 26th of December:

Charnwood Amateur Radio Contest Club has a Club Net. For further information
telephone 0509 232927.


Meeting for Wednesday 29th of December:

Telford and District Amateur Radio Society will hold an 'On the Air, Christmas
Time Net' on 144.600MHz, starting at 8pm. Contact Dave, G4EIX, on 0952 588878
for details.



NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND


Meeting for Monday the 27th of December:

Goole Radio and Electronics Society has a Video - a look back at 1993, hosted
by Jim, 2E1BHL. Further details from Steve, G8VHL on 0405 769130.


Meeting for Tuesday the 28th of December:

Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has an Open Night. Further
details from Ian, G4WWX who is QTHR.


And that's the end of this week's GB2RS news broadcast, which was prepared by
the Radio Society of Great Britain.