Good morning. It's Sunday the 12th of May and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. The International Telecommunication Union celebrates World Telecommunication Day next Friday the 17th of May. The event - which this year focuses on the link between telecommunications and the Olympic Games - commemorates the founding of the ITU in Paris 131 years ago. The function of the ITU, which is part of the United Nations Organisation, is to co-ordinate telecommunications worldwide. For those who missed last week's GB2RS bulletin, we repeat the news that the Radiocommunications Agency has announced a new frequency band for British radio amateurs. The allocation is in the LF part of the spectrum and runs from 71.6 to 74.4 kilohertz. This new '73kHz' band is available to any holder of the Class A Amateur Radio Licence who wishes to investigate LF propagation, including transmission to underground caves. An effective radiated power of one watt may be transmitted using any mode from the Main Station Address only. No mobile or maritime mobile operation is permitted, and use of a Temporary Location requires seven days notice to the District office of the Radio Investigation Service. Use of the 73kHz band will require a Notice of Variation to an individual's licence, and the RA has asked the Radio Society of Great Britain to process the applications. Requests for an NoV must include: Name, Callsign, Main Station Address, Modes to be used, and whether the applicant intends to operate at a temporary address. The request must also include some background information explaining the reason for making the application and the intended uses of it. Applications should be sent to: LF Allocation, HF Committee, RSGB, Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Herts. The postcode is EN6 3JE. This is yet another service made available to all UK amateurs following negotiations between the Radio Society of Great Britain and the licensing authority. Full details will be published in the June edition of RadCom. RSGB Headquarters at Potters Bar will be open next Saturday, the 18th of May, 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. An RSGB Regional Open Meeting has been arranged by Fred Stewart, G0CSF, Council Member for Zone C, which covers the south-east of England and East Anglia. The meeting will take place on Sunday, the 26th of May, at 2.30pm at Rivenhall Village Hall, Church Road, Rivenhall, Witham, Essex. RSGB President Peter Sheppard, G4EJP, is due to attend, along with Executive Vice President Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ. For further details contact G0CSF on 01732 780721. An RSGB QSL Bureau Sub-Manager has been appointed for the new M1AAA to M1AZZ series of callsigns. He is Mr M Marriott, G0OPC, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. Mr Marriott is also the Sub-Manager for the G1 series of callsigns. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet, which is edited by Chris Page, G4BUE: >From Malawi, WF5A is signing 7Q7KH from now until Saturday the 18th of May. Activity is on most bands, CW and SSB. >From Nepal, Kyoko, 9N1KY is active now until July. She has been worked on 15, 20, 40 and 80 metres SSB. And from the Bahamas, KM1E is active as C6AGN until the 12th of June, concentrating on the WARC bands. Now news of some Special Event Stations: More than 30 'GB10' stations will on the air this weekend, the 11th and 12th of May, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the RSGB Morse tests. A "Morse Test Anniversary" certificate is available to any station providing log extracts of contacts with 10 'GB10' stations using CW only. The award is also open to listeners. For more details contact Roy Clayton, G4SSH, whose address is correct in the current RSGB Call Book. And 33 special event stations are on the air today, Sunday the 12th, from windmills and watermills around the country. This is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Windmills and Watermills Section of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings. These stations will run in conjunction with the Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society. QSL cards will be available, featuring line drawings of each of the mills involved. Also, certificates will be awarded to those stations which contact more than 10 mills. For further details contact Jasmine Marshall, G4KFP, on 01274 869849. Next the Rally News: The Drayton Manor Radio and Computer Rally is held at Drayton Manor Park near Tamworth, in Staffordshire, today, Sunday the 12th of May. There will be trade stands plus a bring and buy sale. The Annual General Meeting of the Worked All Britain Awards Group is also being held at this rally. The Yeovil QRP Convention takes place at a new venue: Digby Hall in Sherborne, next Sunday the 19th of May. Please note that only the Convention Dinner takes place on Saturday the 18th: the convention proper starts at 9.00am on the Sunday morning. Contact Peter Burridge, G3CQR, on 01935 813054 for full details. The Trafford Rally also takes place at a new venue next Sunday the 19th. It will be held at the George H Carnall Leisure Centre, off Lostock Road in Urmston, Manchester, near junction 4 of the M63. Doors open at 10.30 and talk-in will be on channel S22. For further details telephone 0161 748 9804. The Dunstable Downs Radio Club Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale takes place on Sunday the 19th at Stockwood Country Park, Luton, near junction 10 of the M1. The event starts at 10.00am and talk-in will be on 2 metres channel S22. For more details, ring 01582 613899. The SDX Support Group holds its bring and buy and junk sale next Sunday, the 19th of May, at the Maryhill Central Hall, Maryhill Road, Glasgow. Doors open at 10.30 am. For details call Ray, GM4CXM, on 0141 942 6657. And the Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place at the Silverwood Hotel in Lurgan, County Armagh, next Sunday. Doors open at 12 noon and talk-in will be on S22. Call 01693 61298 for further details. The Plymouth Radio Club Carnival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, the 25th and 26th of May, at Tamarside Community College near St Budeaux. For more details ring 01752 563222. Two of the Emley Moor beacons, operating as GB3MLE on 1296.930 and 10,368.930 MHz, are back on the air after a break of several weeks caused by a relocation of the equipment rack. The output of the 23 centimetre beacon is about 6 dB lower than before the break, due to additional temporary feeder. The co-sited 70 centimetre beacon, GB3MLY on 432.910 MHz, is off the air for one or two months because the antenna needs replacing - not a simple procedure when it is about 2000 feet above sea level! Next some contest news: The second of four RSGB 24GHz Cumulatives is taking place today, Sunday, the 12th of May. Rules are on page 84 of the March RadCom. And a series of 2 metre Contests take place next weekend. The main event is the 24-hour 144MHz contest which runs from 1400 UTC on Saturday the 18th. A six-hour single-operator contest also takes place within this period. Finally, the first 144MHz "Backpackers" contest takes place from 1100 to 1500 UTC on Sunday the 19th. The rules for these contests are in the September 1995 RadCom. And now the solar factual data for the period from the 29th of April to the 5th of May compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS: Solar flux levels increased slightly to 71 units and averaged 68. The 90-day solar flux average on the 5th was 70 units, one unit down on last week. X-Ray flux levels remained at A1 units but increased to A1.3 on the 5th. Also on the 5th, a series of small B class sub-flares and a C3 solar flare took place. Geomagnetic activity was at "quiet" levels throughout and averaged Ap 6 units. The mean sunspot number for April 1996 was 5.1 with 17 days in which the solar disc was spotless. The smoothed sunspot number for October 1995 was 12.2. Now the ionospheric data for Central France. The period from the 26th of April to the 2nd of May saw a dramatic increase in F2 daylight critical frequencies. Levels at first declined from 6.2MHz on the 26th to 5.7MHz by the 29th, but then the dramatic rise took place and levels were up to 7.3, 7.4 and 7.1MHz on the 30th, 1st and 2nd respectively. The average for the period was 6.7MHz, almost 1MHz higher, which gives an MUF about 3MHz higher than last week. The darkness hour lows averaged 2.8MHz. The daylight highs took place between 1700 and 2000 hours every day with the darkness hour lows between 0100 and 0400 hours. A short spell of blanketing E took place at midday on the 28th. And lastly the solar forecast. Later this week the slightly more active side of the sun is expected to rotate into view, but solar activity is expected to remain at very low levels. Solar flux levels are expected to increase slightly to the low 70s later in the week. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at "sub-storm" levels for most of the week due to a recurring coronal hole. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight hours are expected to be about 18MHz for the south and 15MHz for the north. The darkness hour lows are expected to be about 10MHz. 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 Delta and M1 Alfa Alfa series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alfa Oscar and 2 1 Foxtrot Alfa series. Next, the local news. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH EAST Meeting for Monday the 13th of May: Southdown Amateur Radio Society has a talk by Eric, G3TXZ on aerials. Telephone 01323 899654 for more details. Meeting for Tuesday the 14th of May: Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society reminds those interested to bring in their equipment for the sale at Dunstable. For further details contact Mark, G7SQU on 0956 521459. Meetings for Wednesday the 15th of May: Aylesbury Vale Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For further details contact G3KLT on 01296 437720. Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk: 'HM Signal School at Waterlooville' by Dick, G0PBX. Details from Andrew on 01329 235397. Hastings Electronics and Radio Club gathers for a talk on packet radio by Martin, G1DVU. For further details contact Stan, G4ITM on 01424 430579.. Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a discussion and talk on printed circuit boards. Contact Roy, G4GPX on 01903 753893 for details. Meetings for Thursday the 16th of May: Cray Valley Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For further information contact Tony, G4WIF on 0171 739 5057 during office hours. Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society meets for: 'Unisat - a Talk (with a few secrets)' by Vincent Reynolds. For details call Derek on 01462 851722. Sutton and Cheam Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Contact John, G0BWV on 0181 644 9945 for more details. Meetings for Friday the 17th of May: Dunstable Downs Radio Club has a car boot sale preparation night. For details telephone 01582 451057. East Kent Radio Society gathers for a talk by Paul, G3VJF entitled 'An Introduction to the Internet'. Contact G3VJF on 01227 742288 for details. Medway Amateur Receiving and Transmitting Society has its Annual General Meeting. For further information telephone 01634 710023. Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Joe, G0SQF on 'Power Boosting for 2m Handhelds'. Phone 01444 241407 for details. Meetings for Saturday the 18th of May: The GB7RMS BBS Support Group holds a surplus equipment sale. For further information contact Martin, G1DVU on 01424 755192. Reading and District Amateur Radio Club provides emergency communications for St John Ambulance as part of the annual walk for Christian Aid. More details from Peter, G0PUB on 0118 961 7388. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meeting for Sunday the 12th of May: Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society showcases some classic and vintage rigs. Telephone 01425 653404 for more details. Meetings for Monday the 13th of May: Weston-Super-Mare Radio Society meets for a talk on 'Health and Electric Fields'. Details from Graham, G8WAR on 01934 415700. Wincanton Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by Mike, G7SDD on 'six metre equipment'. For further details contact Tim, G6RCT on 01963 31788. Meetings for Tuesday the 14th of May: Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by G1THG entitled 'Six - Are You Prepared?'. For further details contact Stuart, G7JIF on 01747 838554. Plymouth Radio Club gathers for the 'selection of rally jobs'. Contact John, G7HIK on 01752 896501 for more details. Salisbury Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 01722 329398. Meetings for Thursday the 16th of May: Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a VHF evening. Telephone 0117 9654886 for more information. Swindon and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Dick Wall on EMC. For details contact Den, G7PDV on 01793 822705. Yeovil Amateur Radio Club meets to make preparations for the QRP convention. For details contact Cedric, G4JBL on 01258 473845. Meetings for Friday the 17th of May: Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled '20 Years Before the Mast or How to Get by in Amateur Radio' by Pete, G0PKS. Telephone 01823 680778 for further information. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA Meetings for Wednesday the 15th of May: Ipswich Radio Club meets to make preparations for the East Suffolk Wireless Revival rally. For further details contact Andy, G7SMN on 01473 212891. Norfolk Amateur Radio Club gathers for a talk by Arnold, G3PTB entitled 'Science for All'. Telephone 01603 789792 for more details. Meetings for Thursday the 16th of May: Colchester Radio Amateurs meet for a talk: 'Astronomical Thoughts' by Bernard Soley. Contact Brian, G0GGM on 01206 822547 for details. Yarmouth Radio Club meets for a talk by G3YYQ entitled 'Food Technology'. For further details contact G3NHU on 01493 721173. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meetings for Monday the 13th of May: Leicester Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 0116 291 7250 for details. MAXPAK meets for a talk and demonstration entitled 'BBSs, Nodes and the Maxpak LAN'. For details telephone 01902 741877 during evening hours. Stourbridge and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. For further details contact Gordon, G0TZV on 01384 395206. Stratford upon Avon and District Radio Society meets for a talk on astronomy. For further details telephone 01789 773286. Meetings for Tuesday the 14th of May: Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has a DF hunt. For further details contact Barry, G0TPG on 01527 542266. Buxton Radio Amateurs have a quiz night. Contact Derek, G4IHO on 01298 25506 for further information. Loughborough and District Amateur Radio Club has a 160m DF competition. Contact Alan, G0PHT on 01509 231289 for more details. Malvern Hills Radio Amateurs Club has a construction contest. More details from Jim, G0OWS on 01684 576538. Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk by Geoff, G8UKT entitled 'Aurora'. Contact G8HRI on 01926 424465 for further details. Wolverhampton Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by Bill, G3CAQ on 'Early SSB Equipment'. Telephone 0902 324750 for more details. Meeting for Wednesday the 15th of May: Telford and District Amateur Radio Society meets to make preparations for the Telford Radio Rally. Details from Mike, G3JKX on 01952 299677. Meeting for Thursday the 16th of May: Salop Amateur Radio Society meets to make preparations for the Telford Radio Rally. For details write to Ian Davies, G7SBD, 56 Roselyn, Shrewsbury SY1 4LP. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meetings for Monday the 13th of May: Mansfield Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting followed by a surplus equipment sale. Telephone 01623 423697 for details. South Normanton and District Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by Alan Dunford entitled 'Court in the Act'. For further details telephone 01773 863892. Meetings for Tuesday the 14th of May: Bridlington and District Amateur Radio Society has a quiz. Telephone 01262 671268 for details. Bury Radio Society gathers for a talk by G0OCI entitled 'Amateur Radio and the Internet'. For more details telephone 0161 881 1850. Hornsea Amateur Radio Club has a quiz. Telephone 01964 533331 for details. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 0151 722 1178 for more details. Wakefield and District Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Power from the Moon' by G2FKZ. Further information from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519. Meetings for Wednesday the 15th of May: South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a construction session. For details write to PO Box 4, Clifton, Nottingham NG11 9DE. Wirral Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by G4OAR and G6IIM entitled 'Packet Radio part 2'. Telephone 0151 336 3247 for more details. Meetings for Thursday the 16th of May: Isle of Man Amateur Radio Society has its spring fete. Telephone 01624 842786 for more information. Keighley Amateur Radio Society has a packet on the air night. Details from Kath, G0RLO on 01274 496222. Meetings for Friday the 17th of May: Goole Radio and Electronics Society meets for a VHF NFD planning meeting. For more details contact Ken, G6YYN on 01757 638539. South Manchester Radio Club has its Annual General Meeting. Telephone 0161 969 1964 for details. Meeting for Saturday the 18th of May: Wakefield and District Radio Society has a fox hunt. Telephone 0113 282 5519 for further details. NEWS FOR SCOTLAND Meeting for Thursday the 16th of May: Dunfermline Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 01383 735967 for further details. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Tel +44 1707 659 015 Fax +44 1707 645 105