Good morning. It's Sunday the 26th of May and here is the GB2RS news broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and short-wave listeners. The AMTOR Mailbox GB2RS service on the HF Bands has had to be suspended because GM4EMX, who provided this worldwide service, is no longer able to do so. Our thanks to Kit and RSARS for their work, and if anyone else is in a position to take this on, GB2RS manager GI8AYZ would be delighted to hear from them. Also required urgently are an 80 metre main newsreader for the GI service, and reserve readers in the Midlands to assist G3KQF and G4AFJ with their 2 metre SSB and FM broadcasts. There are empty slots in Scotland also. Reserve newsreaders are needed for the Orkney, Elgin, Fort William, and Shetland 2 metre FM services, and to cover the Shetlands on 80 metres and the Aberdeen area on 2 metres SSB. Anyone wishing to offer their services should contact GB2RS Manager Ian Kyle, GI8AYZ, whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. >From Sunday the 16th of June, the Tyne/Tees area GB2RS 2 metre FM broadcast will be at 9.00am instead of 10.00am. This broadcast is from the station of G0IID, with G4OLK as the first reserve newsreader, and is on 2 metres channel S21. >From today, the 26th of May, a new GB2CW slow Morse broadcast will be available on Sunday mornings at 11.00am on 3600kHz. The operator will be GI3USK. Continuation of the broadcast beyond a trial period of one year will be conditional on there being a demand. Anyone using the broadcast is therefore urged to write to GI3USK stating their Morse practice requirements. His address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. It is hoped that this transmission will help to meet the national need for slow Morse broadcasts on HF. Once again, the new broadcast is on Sundays at 11.00am on 3600kHz. The RSGB's Repeater Management Group is now easier to contact thanks to the introduction of a new national helpline phone number. If you require information or help in any repeater matter and have not been able to contact your Zonal Representative, please ring 0956 708873 and your call will be directed to one of the RMG Committee Members. The service is available from 9.00am to 9.00pm, seven days a week. The number again is 0956 708873. The RAIBC in Northern Ireland regrets that, due to circumstances beyond its control, it will not be organising the Belfast Rally in June this year. The group thanks all those who attended the rally in previous years for their support. And we have received notification from RadioSport Limited that, due to other commitments, they have reluctantly decided to cancel the Stafford Amateur Radio and Computer Show. The Stafford show was scheduled for the 16th and 17th of August. Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet: >From the Cocos-Keeling Islands, the Oceania DX Group is now signing VK9CT and should continue until the 31st of May. This is a change to the callsign given last week. The station is on all bands, CW and SSB. >From the Shiant Islands in Scotland, which count as EU-112 for the RSGB IOTA Awards, GM0DEQ and GM0SEI were planning activity from about the 25th to 29th of May, depending on the weather. And from Tunisia, YT1AD was planning a return visit to the 3V8BB club station between the 23rd and 30th of May. Now news of a special event station operating next weekend: On Sunday, the 2nd of June, GB4BKF will be on the air from the Basingstoke Kite Festival at the Down Grange Sports Complex in Basingstoke. All HF bands and 2 metres will be used. The event is open to the public and talk-in will be available on 2 metres channel S22. Next the Rally News: The Plymouth Radio Club annual radio rally is taking place this weekend, the 25th and 26th of May, as part of the club's Carnival Weekend at Tamarside Community College near St Budeaux. The rally features the usual traders and the carnival will be of interest to all family members. The club will be running GB4PLY on all bands, and special QSL cards will be sent to all stations making contact with them. The East Suffolk Wireless Revival takes place today, Sunday the 26th of May, at the Maidenhall Sports Centre, Ipswich, in Suffolk. The event features a bring and buy and car boot sale, a vintage radio display, Novice stall, a rig 'clinic' and antenna testing. Talk-in is on 2 metres channel S22. Next Sunday, the 2nd of June, the Spalding Amateur Radio and Computer Fair will be held at Springfields Exhibition Centre in Spalding. For further details, call 01775 722940. The Northern Mobile Rally, organised by the Ripon and District Amateur Radio Society, takes place at a new venue - Ripon Racecourse - next Sunday, the 2nd of June. The event features the usual traders and a bring and buy stall. Doors open at 11.00am, or 10.30am for disabled visitors, and talk-in will be on 2 metres channel S22 from 9.00am onwards. For further details, contact Gerald Brady, G0UFI, on 01765 640229. The 2 metre FM repeater near Llandrindod Wells in Powys, GB3RA, closed down temporarily on the 20th of May. The group is planning to re-open the repeater from a new site. Further information can be obtained from the repeater keeper William Cook, GW0KQX. The Coventry ATV repeater, GB3RT, which operates on channel RT1-2, returned to service on the 13th of May. It had been off the air for maintenance since the 22nd of April. Now for the HF contest news: The CQ WPX CW contest is taking place this weekend, and continues until 2400 UTC tonight, Sunday the 26th. This contest is on all bands from 160 to 10 metres, excluding the three "WARC" bands. Work any station and give an RST report and serial number. Next weekend, the 1st and 2nd of June, the RSGB National Field Day takes place. The contest runs from 1500 UTC Saturday for 24 hours, CW only, on all bands from 1.8 to 28MHz, excluding the "WARC" bands. All groups participating should have registered by the 9th of April. The rules are in the September 95 RadCom. Next some VHF contest news: The first session in the RSGB 10 GHz Cumulative contest is taking place today, the 26th, between 0900 and 2100 UTC. The rules are in the March 1996 RadCom. Next weekend, the IARU 50MHz Contest takes place from 1400 UTC on the 1st of June for 24 hours. The RSGB's 50MHz Trophy contest takes place during the first eight hours of the IARU Contest. And now the solar factual data for the period from the 13th to the 19th of May, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS. Solar flux levels declined slightly from 72 units on the 13th to 69 units by the 19th, and averaged 71 units. The 90-day solar flux average on the 19th was 71 units, the same as last week. X-Ray flux levels declined from A2.4 units on the 13th to A1 by the 19th and averaged A1.3 units. Geomagnetic activity was mostly "unsettled" until the 18th, but on the 19th activity declined to "very quiet" levels, with an Ap index of 1. The average for the period was Ap 9 units. Now the ionospheric data for Central France. The period from the 10th to the 16th saw levels decline to 6.2MHz by the 13th. By the 15th they had increased to give the highest daily figure so far this year: 8.7MHz. The following day they declined slightly to 8MHz. The darkness hour lows declined from 3.5MHz on the 11th to 2.7MHz by the 15th, but then increased to 3.6MHz by the 16th. The daytime highs took place between 1800 and 2000 hours, except on the 13th, when they were at 1000 hours. The average was 7.2MHz. The darkness hour lows took place between 0200 and 0400 hours, and averaged 3.2MHz. Two short periods of blanketing E took place on the 11th and the 13th. And lastly the solar forecast. The quiet side of the sun is expected to be looking our way, and the solar disc is expected to be spotless on most days. Solar flux levels are expected to remain in the high 60s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at "quiet to unsettled" levels throughout. Ionospheric MUFs during daylight hours are expected to be about 18MHz for the south and 15MHz for the north. However these levels could be exceeded on some days. The darkness hour lows are expected to be about 11MHz. 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 Bravo 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 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 today, 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. A map of the venue is published in the June issue of Radio Communication, which is due to be posted to all members of the RSGB this week. For further details of the meeting contact Fred Stewart on 01732 780721. Please note that Brighton and District Amateur Radio Society now meets at a new venue - Meadowview Community Centre - on the first and third Thursday of every month. For more details contact Paul, G7FJC on 01273 689290. Meeting for Monday the 27th of May: Southend and District Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 01268 781126 for more details. Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of May: Dorking and District Radio Society pays an evening visit to the Dorking Museum. For more details telephone 01306 631236. Home Counties ATV Club makes preparations for the 'Middlesex Show'. Contact John, G8MNY on 0181 688 3089 for more details. Horndean and District Amateur Radio Club screens a video on amateur radio satellites. For more details contact Stuart, G0FYX on 01705 472846. Stevenage and District Amateur Radio Society has a project night. Contact Mark, G7SQU on 0956 521459 for further information. Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of May: Cheshunt and District Amateur Radio Club gathers to prepare for National Field Day. Details from G4CJC on 0181 366 0157. Fareham and District Amateur Radio Club has a talk by Chris, G8JFJ entitled 'Digital Telephony and the History of Private Mobile Radio'. For further information contact Andrew, G0AMS on 01329 235397. Meeting for Thursday the 30th of May: Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk on Digital Audio Broadcasting by Martin Cullins from the BBC. For more details contact Derek, G4JLP on 01462 851722. Meetings for Friday the 31st of May: Medway Amateur Receiving and Transmitting Society gathers for a talk by Jim, G0HHQ entitled 'Knots and Splices'. Please bring some rope if you can. Telephone 01634 710023 for more details. Mid Sussex Amateur Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. More details from Mike, G0GNV on 01444 241 407. Whitton Amateur Radio Group has a junk sale. Telephone 0956 203495 for further information. NEWS FOR THE SOUTH WEST Meetings for Sunday the 26th of May: Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society screens a video by John, G4FDS entitled 'World War Two Airfields in the New Forest'. For details telephone 01425 653404. Torbay Amateur Radio Society meets for a talk by John Broadwater entitled 'Weather Satellites'. For further details contact Peter, G4VTO on 01803 864528 during office hours. Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of May: Blackmore Vale Amateur Radio Society has a DF hunt. Contact Stuart, G7JIF on 01747 838554 for further information. Plymouth Radio Club gathers for a talk entitled 'PRC - Acronyms, Radio, Computer and Electronics'. More details from John, G7HIK on 01752 896501. RSGB City of Bristol Group meets for a talk on the Direct Conversion Receiver. Contact Dave, G4NKT on 0117 9672124 for more details. Salisbury Amateur Radio Club meets for a talk by G4ZUP entitled 'Radio Propagation'. Telephone 01722 329398 for more details. Meeting for Wednesday the 29th of May: South Bristol Amateur Radio Club has its annual fox hunt. Telephone 01275 834282 for details. Meetings for Thursday the 30th of May: Bristol Amateur Radio Club has a computers and packet evening. Telephone 0117 9654886 for details. Yeovil Amateur Radio Club has an on-the-air evening. Contact Cedric, G4JBL who is QTHR or telephone 01258 473845. Meeting for Friday the 31st of May: Taunton and District Amateur Radio Club meets to prepare for the Field Day. Telephone 01823 680778 for details. NEWS FOR EAST ANGLIA 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 today, 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. A map of the venue is published in the June issue of Radio Communication, which is due to be posted to all members of the RSGB this week. For further details of the meeting contact Fred Stewart on 01732 780721. Meeting for Wednesday the 29th of May: Norfolk Amateur Radio Club gathers to prepare for the NFD. For details contact John, G0VZD on 01953 604769. Meetings for Thursday the 30th of May: Colchester Radio Amateurs has a constructors evening. Details from Brian, G0GGM on 01206 822547. Yarmouth Radio Club meets to make plans for RSGB National Field Day. More details from G3NHU on 01493 721173. NEWS FOR THE MIDLANDS Meeting for Monday the 27th of May: Leicester Radio Society has an on-the-air evening. Telephone 0116 291 7250 for more details. Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of May: Bromsgrove Amateur Radio Society has its Annual General Meeting. Contact Barry, G0TPG on 01527 542266 for further information. Mid-Warwickshire Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk by Peter, G0HIH entitled 'the Silk Road'. Contact G8HRI on 01926 424465 for details. Wolverhampton Amateur Radio Society has its DF hunt. Telephone 0902 324750 for further information. Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of May: Derby and District Amateur Radio Society meets for an illustrated talk by Dave, G1DHQ entitled 'Packet for the Starter'. Further details from Martin, G3SZJ on 01332 556875. South Notts Amateur Radio Club has a fox hunt. Details from the secretary at PO Box 4, Clifton, Nottingham NG11 9DE. Telford and District Amateur Radio Society has a car boot sale. For further information contact Mike, G3JKX on 01952 299677. Meeting for Thursday the 30th of May: GPT Amateur Radio Club, Beeston, has a junk sale. For details contact Chris, G4VFK on 0115 922 6321. NEWS FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND Meeting for Sunday the 26th of May: Goole Radio and Electronics Society has an amateur radio DF competition. For further information telephone 01757 638539. Meetings for Tuesday the 28th of May: Bridlington and District Amateur Radio Society gathers for a talk entitled 'Bridlington Postal History part 2 - From 1919 and the Sub Offices'. Telephone 01262 671268 for further information. Bury Radio Society meets to prepare for RSGB NFD. For further details telephone 0161 881 1850. Liverpool and District Amateur Radio Society has a surplus sale. Telephone 0151 722 1178 for more details. Wakefield and District Radio Society meets to 'realign its rotators'. Details from G3WWF on 0113 282 5519. Meetings for Wednesday the 29th of May: Hornsea Amateur Radio Club gathers to make preparations for RSGB NFD. Telephone 01964 533331 for more details. Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society meets for a map reading exercise by G1ORS. For more details telephone 01606 592207. Wirral and District Amateur Radio Club has a practice direction finding hunt. For further information contact Bob, G4NCI on 0151 606 8989. Meetings for Friday the 31st of May: North Ferriby Amateur Radio Society has a 'Get to Know Your Chairman' evening. Telephone 01482 656324 for more details. South Manchester Radio Club has a technical topics evening. Contact G7FQY on 0161 969 1964 for further information. NEWS FOR WALES A television programme on the historical connections between Marconi and Wales will be broadcast on HTV Wales region on Tuesday the 28th of May at 7.30pm. For further details telephone 01222 590155. Swansea Amateur Radio Society will be meeting at the club caravan on Thursday the 6th of June. Details from GW4HSH whose address is correct in the RSGB Call Book. -- GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Tel +44 1707 659 015 Fax +44 1707 645 105