Good morning. It's Sunday the 14th of April and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. We start with a request for information. RSGB Headquarters is compiling a 1997 calendar of events. Would organisers of all rallies and other events who have already fixed their dates for 1997 please phone Marcia Brimson at RSGB HQ as soon as possible. The number is 01707 659015 and the deadline for inclusion in the listing is this coming Tuesday, the 16th of April. There are two new RSGB QSL Bureau Sub-Managers. For the G0S series, Mr E J Otty, G4XRL, has taken over duties as Sub-Manager; whilst for the new G0X series of callsigns, Frank Stanbridge, G3PZS, has been appointed as QSL Bureau Sub-Manager. The addresses of both G4XRL and G3PZS are correct in the RSGB Call Book. We have received a report on the work of radio amateurs involved in the oil "clean-up" operation following the grounding of the Sea Empress. Forty-three amateurs who are members of Pembrokeshire Raynet, North Dyfed Raynet, the Carmarthen Amateur Radio Society Emergency Team and other radio clubs throughout West Wales took part in three weeks of work providing communications along the 30-mile stretch of coastline. The Dyfed Oil Pollution Officer, Barry Evans, GW0TVY, called out the amateurs when it was realised that the existing VHF communications and Cellphone network did not completely cover the area affected. RSGB Headquarters at Potters Bar will be open next Saturday, the 20th of April, between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. The bookshop and GB3RS shack will be available to visitors, as will the National Amateur Radio Museum and Library. Morse tests are also available on demand between 11.00 am and 12.30 pm but don't forget to bring two passport-size photographs and the appropriate fee with you. The Annual General Meeting of the Worked All Britain Awards Group will be held at the Drayton Manor Rally on the 12th of May. WAB members wishing to make nominations for the committee or proposals for the agenda should do so on forms which can be obtained from the secretary Mr J R Thornnley, G1NUS, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. The forms must be returned by the 27th of April. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, which is edited by Chris Page, G4BUE: >From Ascension Island, N6TJ is planning activity as ZD8Z from Tuesday the 16th of April until Wednesday the 24th. Look for him around 14160kHz at 2000UTC. >From Gibraltar, G3RFX is signing ZB2FX from now until the 1st of May. And from the Isle of Skye, which counts as EU-008 for the RSGB Islands on the Air Awards, the Dengie Hundred Amateur Radio Society plans activity as "GM0UTT Portable" from the 14th to 18th of April. Activity will be on all bands from 160 to 6 metres with two or three HF stations operating simultaneously. Next the Rally News: The Launceston Amateur Radio Rally takes place at Launceston College today, Sunday the 14th of April. The event features traders, a bring and buy stand, an RSGB bookstall and membership information stand and Morse tests on demand. Doors open at 10.30am and talk-in will be on 2 metres channel S22. The Bury Radio Society Rally takes place on the ground floor of the Castle Leisure Centre, Bolton Street in Bury today, Sunday the 14th. Talk-in is on 2 metres channel S22. Also today, the 14th, the Lincolnshire "AMS 96" Computer and Electronics Show takes place at the Springfields Exhibition Centre, Springfields Gardens, Camelgate, Spalding in Lincolnshire. Doors open at 10.00 am. The Cambridgeshire Repeater Group Annual Rally takes place at Philips Telecom Catering Centre, St Andrew's Road, in Cambridge today; And the Swansea Amateur Radio Society Rally also takes place today, the 14th of April, at the Swansea Leisure Centre on the Mumbles coast road. Doors open at 10.30am and talk-in is on 2 metres channel S22. Next Sunday, the 21st of April, the White Rose Amateur Radio Society Rally takes place at Leeds University Conference Centre. The event features traders, a bring and buy stand, an RSGB bookstall and membership information stand and Morse tests on demand. Doors open at 11.00am or 10.15am for disabled visitors and further information may be obtained from Allen, G7ELS, on 0973 189276. Also on the 21st there will be a Microwave Round Table at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Chilton, near Didcot, Oxfordshire. The event features comprehensive test equipment to 24 Gigahertz and above, lectures, a discussion meeting, and a bring and buy stand. There will be no commercial dealers. Doors open at 10.00am. For further information call Geoff Grayer, G3NAQ, on 01488 638792 during the evening. The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club rally takes place in the Killyhelvin Hotel in Enniskillen on Sunday the 21st. Doors open at 12 noon and for further details you may call 01365 327133. And finally the Dunkerque Rally takes place in the Kursaal, Dunkerque, next Sunday the 21st. The location is convenient for visitors from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, and is easily accessible by car from Calais. The event features many European amateur radio dealers. Doors open at 10.00am and further details may be obtained from Michael Moulin, F1PBZ, on 00 33 139 312800. The Amateur Radio Caravan and Camping Club's next rally will be in the New Forest, over the May Day Bank Holiday period from the 2nd to 7th of May. There is no trading at ARCC rallies, but any amateur wishing to attend as a caravanner or tent camper is invited to send an SAE for details and a booking form. These must be returned at least one week before the event. Write to the membership secretary, Alan Gard, G4LWA, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book, or telephone 01462 811208. Now news of a special event station: GB60BBC will be in use from Barry, South Wales, this weekend, from Friday the 12th of April until the end of Sunday the 14th of April. The station celebrates 60 years of television broadcasting and is operated by members of the BBC's Ariel Radio Group. Operation will be on HF, VHF and UHF, and it is hoped to include Amateur TV. The Bristol Channel 2 metre repeater, GB3BC, which operates on channel R6, returned to service at the end of March. It had been off the air for about two months due to receiver and transmitter problems. Now for the HF contest news: The "His Majesty the King of Spain Contest" is taking place this weekend, the 13th and 14th of April, for 24 hours from 1800 UTC Saturday. Separate CW and SSB contests run concurrently. Brief rules are on page 21 of the April RadCom. The third of five sessions in the RSGB Slow Speed Cumulative Contest takes place on Wednesday evening, the 17th of April, from 1900 until 2030 UTC. Send CW no faster than 12 words per minute - and never faster than the other station is sending - between 3540 and 3580 kHz. Novices are particularly encouraged to take part. The fourth session is on Thursday the 25th of April. The rules are in last September's RadCom. The European Sprint SSB Contest takes place next Saturday the 20th of April. Brief rules are on page 21 of the April RadCom. The Holyland DX CW and SSB Contest takes place next weekend, the 20th and 21st of April. Brief rules are on page 21 of the April RadCom. And the RSGB Low Power Fixed Station contest takes place on 80 and 40 metres next Sunday, the 21st, from 0700 to 1100 UTC. The rules are in last September's RadCom. Next some VHF contest news: The third and final session in the RSGB 144MHz SSB Fixed Station Cumulative Contest takes place on Thursday the 18th of April, from 1900 until 2100 UTC. The rules are in last September's RadCom. And now the solar factual data compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. The period from the 1st to the 7th of April saw solar activity at very low levels and the geomagnetic field also at "very low" levels. Sunspot numbers declined from 14 on the 1st, until by the 5th the solar disc became spotless. The mean was 7. Solar flux levels increased from 68 units on the 1st, to 71 units on the 2nd and the 3rd. By the 7th, levels had declined to 68 again and the average was 70 units. One small and insignificant B class solar flare took place late on the 4th. Electron fluence levels declined to moderate levels from the 3rd. X-Ray flux levels increased very slightly on the 5th in response to the flare the previous day and averaged A1.1 units. The 90-day solar flux average on the 7th was 71 units, one unit down on last week. Geomagnetic activity was at "quiet" levels all week except for the 4th, when the Ap index was 11 units. Activity was down to "very quiet" levels on the 2nd, 6th and the 7th with an Ap index of 3. The average of Ap 5 is the lowest for some time. The following data covers the 26th of March to the 1st of April: the aa indices, as supplied by the British Geological Survey, were mostly at "unsettled" levels. The 29th and 30th were the quietest days, with only 11 nanoTeslas on both days. The average was 16 nanoTeslas, which is K1. Solar wind speed and particle densities were average. Since the 3rd of April, the G.O.E.S.9 satellite became the primary satellite for X-Ray flux, particle flux and satellite magnetometer data for the Space Environment Laboratory at Boulder, Colorado. Bartel's rotation number 2222 starts tomorrow, the 15th. I'll repeat the figures: spots - 7, flux - 70, Ap - 5, X-Ray flux - A1.1. Now the ionospheric data for Central France: The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon, averaged 5.8MHz. This is for the 29th to the 31st of April, a shorter period than normal, due to the Easter holidays. The darkness hour lows increased from 3MHz to 3.2MHz and averaged 3.1MHz. The daytime highs took place at 1400 and the darkness hour lows took place between 0200 and 0500 hours. I'll repeat the figures: highs - 5.8MHz, lows - 3.1MHz. And lastly the solar forecast: This week solar activity is expected to continue at very low levels. Later in the week the slightly more active side of the sun will be rotating into view. Solar flux levels are expected to be about the 70 mark but may increase slightly towards next weekend. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be mostly "unsettled", but with some days up to "active" levels. Ionospheric MUFs for the south during daylight hours are expected to be about 17MHz and the darkness hour lows about 11MHz. Levels for the north will be down by 2 to 3 MHz. The April Lyrid meteor shower starts today but is not expected to peak till the 21st to the 23rd of April. 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 M0 Alfa Bravo and M1 Alfa Alfa series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa Oscar and 2 1 Echo Whiskey series. Next, the local news. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meetings for Monday the 15th of April: Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society has a construction contest. For further details telephone 01787 460947. Burnham Beeches Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Digital Pictures' by G4DQA. Further details from Eileen, G6EIL on 01628 25720. Meetings for Tuesday the 16th of April: Bromley and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Alan, G0TLK entitled 'Practical EMC'. More details from Alan, G0TLK on 0181 777 0420. Chichester and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk on Oscilloscopes by Henry, G1NBX. For details telephone 01243 573541 Dacorum Amateur Radio Transmitting Society gathers for a Red Cross talk on 'Radio Related Injuries'. For details telephone 01582 620507. Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk on Yagis by Ian White, G3SEK. Contact Dave, G3SET on 01628 486554 for more details. Reigate Amateur Transmitting Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Siberian Adventure' by Pat, G0BCX. Details from G6GSF on 01342 325322. Meetings for Wednesday the 17th of April: Aylesbury Vale Radio Society meets for a talk on 'Operating Techniques' by Ivan, G3KLT. For further details contact G3KLT on 01296 437720. Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Audio Filtering' by Bob, G8VOI. Details from Andrew, G0AMS on 01329 235397. Hastings Electronics and Radio Club has a Spring auction of equipment. For further details contact Reg, G3YYF on 01424 721524. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has its annual dinner. Contact Roy, G4GPX on 01903 753893 for details. Meetings for Thursday the 18th of April: Colchester Radio Amateurs gathers for a talk entitled 'the Vodaphone Digital Experience' by Colin, G4IIK. Details from Brian, G0GGM on 01206 822547. Cray Valley Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further information contact Tony, G4WIF on 0171 739 5057 during office hours. Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society has a junk sale. For further details contact Derek, G4JLP on 01462 851722. Sutton and Cheam Radio Society meets for a talk by Richard, G4PRI on World War 2 German Radio. For details call John G0BWV on 0181 644 9945. Meetings for Friday the 19th of April: East Kent Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Writing a Book on RAE Questions and the Problems Encountered' by Ray, G0OAT. Contact Paul, G3VJF on 01227 742288 for further details. Maidstone YMCA Amateur Radio Society has a junk sale. For further details contact Graham, G4AXD 0n 01622 729462. Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society has its annual construction contest. Telephone 01444 241407 for more information. Radio Society of Harrow meets for a talk by the West London Repeater Engineering Group. For details telephone 0171 251 2700 during office hours. Winchester Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Vintage Radio Revisited' by David, G0OZD. Telephone 01962 865814 for details. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for Sunday the 14th of April: Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society meets for a look at 'Aerial Mast Rigging - in Theory and Practice'. Telephone 01425 653404 for more details. Meetings for Monday the 15th of April: Sedgemoor Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'QRP Kits and Construction' by Tim Walford, G3PCJ. For further details telephone 01278 455923. Wincanton Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Airborne Navigation Equipment in World War II' by Jim, G3OOL. For further details contact Tim, G6RCT on 01963 31788. Meetings for Tuesday the 16th of April: Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further details contact Stuart, G7JIF on 01747 838554. Plymouth Radio Club has a 'Rally Update' meeting. Contact John, G7HIK on 01752 896501 for more details. Meeting for Wednesday the 17th of April: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a quiz night. Telephone 01275 834282 for more details. Meetings for Thursday the 18th of April: Bristol Amateur Radio Club meets for a round table discussion on aerials and propagation. Telephone 0117 9654886 for more information. Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club has a used equipment sale. For further details contact Den, G7PDV on 01793 822705. Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has its 50th Annual General Meeting. For details contact Cedric, G4JBL on 01258 473845. Meetings for Friday the 19th of April: Torbay Amateur Radio Society has a surplus equipment sale. Contact Peter, G4VTO on 01803 864528 for more details. Winchester Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by David, G0OZD entitled 'Vintage Radio Revisited'. Details from John, G4AXO on 01962 860807. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meeting for Monday the 15th of April: Felixstowe and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk on the Internet. Further information from Paul, G4YQC on 01394 273507 during evening hours. Meetings for Wednesday the 17th of April: Ipswich Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting and awards evening. For further details contact Andy, G7SMN on 01473 212891. Lincoln Short Wave Club gathers for a slide presentation and talk by Ken, G3RRN entitled 'A Touch of the Sun - the sun, solar activity and radiation, and their significance for radio propagation'. Details from Pam, G4STO on 01427 788356. Norfolk Amateur Radio Club has a surplus equipment sale. Telephone 01603 789792 for more details. Meetings for Thursday the 18th of April: Colchester Radio Amateurs gathers for a talk entitled 'the Vodaphone Digital Experience' by Colin, G4IIK. Details from Brian, G0GGM on 01206 822547. Yarmouth Radio Club meets for a talk by G3IOR on 'Coastal Erosion'. For further details contact G3NHU on 01493 721173. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meetings for Monday the 15th of April: Leicester Radio Society has a junk sale. Telephone 0116 291 7250 for details. Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a practical demo and a talk on the design of PCBs by G4EEM. For further details contact Gordon, G0TZV on 01384 395206. Meetings for Tuesday the 16th of April: Kettering and District Amateur Radio Society has a junk sale. For details contact 2 Kettonby Gardens, Headlands, Kettering, Northants. Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'Electricity'. Contact Alan, G0PHT on 01509 231289 for more details. Meetings for Wednesday the 17th of April: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk on "the Oddfellows". Further information from Martin, G3SZJ on 01332 556875. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a 'Direct Conversion Receivers' night. Details from Paul, G2RSA on 01952 261923. Meeting for Thursday the 18th of April: Solihull Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'the Care of HF Linear Amplifiers' by Ray, G3RGD. Telephone 0121 783 2996 for details. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meeting for Sunday the 14th of April: Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society has an 'afternoon of practical training and demonstrations'. Telephone 01624 842786 for more details. Meetings for Monday the 15th of April: South Normanton and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk on 'Bee Keeping' by Mr Barker. For further details telephone 01773 863892. Thornton Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society has a video show. Telephone 01253 853554 for details. Meetings for Tuesday the 16th of April: Bridlington and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Other Forms of Communication' by G3POC. Telephone 01262 671268 for details. Bury Radio Society has a 'rally update'. More details telephone 0161 881 1850. Chester and District Amateur Radio Society has a surplus equipment sale. For further information telephone 0151 608 3229. Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Mike, G3IGW entitled 'the first 45 years'. Details from David, G0DLM on 01422 202306. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a quiz. Telephone 0151 722 1178 for more details. Manchester and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Arnold, G8VF entitled 'the Early Days of Amateur Radio'. Telephone 0161 338 4412 for more details. Wakefield and District Radio Society meets for a talk and exhibition of vintage RAF VHF radio equipment by Vernon, G1FDL. Further details from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519. Warrington Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Counting Fish' by Chris, G6DSP. Contact John, G0RPG on 01925 762722 for more details. Meetings for Wednesday the 17th of April: Hornsea Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk entitled 'the Spectrum Analyser' by G3RMX. For further details telephone 01964 533331. Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 01606 592207 for further information. Meeting for Thursday the 18th of April: Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a demonstration on Morton Fingerprinting. Details from Kath, G0RLO on 01274 496222. Meetings for Friday the 19th of April: East Cleveland Amateur Radio Club has a rally planning evening. Details from Alastair, G4OLK on 01642 475671. South Manchester Radio Club has a quiz. Telephone 0161 969 1964 for details. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Tuesday the 16th of April: Dundee Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk on packet radio by Drew, GM1JTK. For details contact Allan, GM7ONJ on 01382 739179. Meeting for Wednesday the 17th of April: Lothians Radio Society pays a visit to the Blackhill Transmitter Site, Midlothian. Telephone 0131 445 3505 for more details. NEWS FOR WALES Meeting for Monday the 15th of April: Cardiff RSGB Group meets for a talk by GW3UZS entitled 'Memories'. Contact GW4HWR on 01222 810368 for more details. NEWS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND Meeting for Tuesday the 16th of April: The GI Packet Working Group has an open meeting. Further details from Hugh, GI3TLT on 012477 38756. Meeting for Wednesday the 17th of April: Belfast and District RSGB Group has its annual quiz night. For further details contact Richard, GI0OUM whose address is correct in the latest RSGB Call Book. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Tel +44 1707 659 015 Fax +44 1707 645 105