Good morning. It's Sunday the 4th of July and here is the GB2RS news
broadcast, prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain.

And we start by saying a special "good morning" to all those listening from
VHF National Field day sites.

Our main story involves a repeater abuser who is this week nearly ten thousand
pounds poorer. On Friday the 25th of June, at Worcester Crown Court, Robert
George Hitchcock, G1MTT, was successfully prosecuted for offences connected
with the transmitting of music, abuse and obscenties on a number of repeaters,
particularly in the West Midlands. It was the activities of Hitchcock and
others which resulted in GB3BM being time and sensitivity limited over the
last few months. At the end of the week-long trial, Hitchcock was fined
three-thousand-five-hundred pounds, and was ordered to pay six-thousand pounds
costs. The case, which was brought by the Radio Investigation Service of the
Radiocommunications Agency, stemmed from considerable work by the RSGB's
Amateur Radio Observation Service working in conjunction with local repeater
groups. Close cooperation between radio amateurs and the RIS over a long
period has resulted in this conviction which, it is hoped, will clean up
several repeaters. It is expected that the substantial fine and costs imposed
on Hitchcock will act as deterrent to would-be abusers of their amateur radio
licences.

The expedition by the Bridgend and District Amateur Radio Club to Tusker Rock
scheduled for late June had to be postponed due to fog. If weather conditions
allow this time, the station will be operating from approx 2pm today using the
callsign GB2TR. Activity will be limited to 2, 20 and 40 metres SSB only and
for a maximum of four hours. The RNLI, Coastguard and Sea Cadets will all be
standing by to evacuate the island if weather conditions deteriorate during
the expedition. Tusker Rock is situated in the Bristol Channel, some five
kilometres south east of Porthcawl. This WAB square (SS87) has never before
been activated. For the IOTA award it is EU-124.

Next Thursday evening, the 8th of July, the callsign GB2BS will be aired by
Brookfield School, near Portsmouth. The operators will be licensed students
and school staff together with members of the Fareham Radio Club. HF operation
will on 40 and 80 metres SSB only, and on 2 metres and 70 centimetres FM from
6pm to 10pm. This is a sponsored event and all monies raised will be donated
to the Colour Scanner appeal for Kidney research.

The Emley Moor 1.3GHz Beacon GB3MLE has been off air for repairs. The Beacon
which operates on 1296.930MHz is expected to be fully operational again by
now. Reports would be welcomed by the keeper G3TSA.

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 from the Project YEAR Coordinator c/o RSGB HQ.

The RSGB Woburn Rally will take place on Sunday the 18th of July at Woburn
Park, near the famous Abbey in Bedfordshire. 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.

Later this month is the AMSAT-UK Colloquium which 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 should contact AMSAT-UK without delay, and certainly
before the 15th of July, 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 St Pierre & Miquelon, a large group
of operators from the USA will sign own-call/FP0 from Friday the 9th until
Tuesday the 13th of July on all bands 10 to 160 metres using CW, SSB and RTTY.
~From Iceland, LA6HL will be active as LA6HL/TF from Friday the 9th until
Thursday the 29th of July. From the British Virgin Islands, K8CFU will sign
VP2V/K8CFU from Thursday the 8th until Thursday the 22nd of July, mainly on
20m. From Greenland, N7PQO will sign OX/N7PQO from now until the 1st of
August, whilst doing scientific research. From Grenada, CT3FN will be active
as J3/CT3FN from today Sunday the 4th until Sunday the 18th of July on all
bands.

We know of three rallies taking place today, Sunday the 4th of July:

The Kings Lynn Amateur Radio Club Rally is being held today at the Cattle
Market, Kings Lynn. No other details are to hand.

The Newport Amateur Radio Society Junk and Boot Sale is being held at the
Brynglas CEC, Brynglas Road, Newport, Gwent. Doors open at 10.30am, or at
10.00am for disabled visitors. Talk-in will be on channel S22.

The York Radio Rally is being held at the Tattershall Building, York
Racecourse. Doors open at 10.30am, or 10.00 for disabled visitors. There are
amateur radio, electronic and computer trade stands plus a bring & buy stall.
Morse tests will be available on demand but only between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm
and remember to bring two passport-size photographs. The car parking space is
described as "ample". Talk in will be on channel S22.

We know of three rallies for next weekend:

On Saturday the 10th of July, the Cornish Rally is to be held at the Penair
School, Truro. Doors open at 11.00am, 10.30 for disabled visitors. There are
the usual trade stands. Ample parking space and refreshments are available.
Further details from Barrie, G0NNR on 0872 862046.

And on Sunday the 11th of July, the Horncastle Amateur Radio Electronic and
Computing Fair is to be held at the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Sports
Hall, Horncastle, Lincs. 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. Further details from
G6CZV on 0507 522482.

Also on Sunday, the Sussex Amateur Radio and Computer Fair is to be held at
Brighton Racecourse. Doors open at 10.30am There will be trade stands and a
bring and buy stall. Refreshments will be available and there is also a picnic
area close by. Further information from Ron, G8VEH, on 0903 763978 evenings or
0273 415654 during office hours.

HF contest news now:

The Venezuela SSB Contest is taking place this weekend finishing at 2400
today. See June RadCom page 16 for further information. The RSGB SWL Contest
will take place from 1200GMT on Saturday the 10th to 1200GMT on Sunday the
11th of July for CW or SSB on 160 to 10 metres, excluding the WARC bands. See
July RadCom page 21 for the rules.

Now some VHF contest news:

The largest VHF contest of the calendar takes place this weekend. The RSGB VHF
National Field Day Contest started at 1400GMT yesterday, Saturday the 3rd and
ends at 1400GMT today. Activity is on the 70, 144, 432 and 1296MHz bands. See
March RadCom page 82 for the detailed rules. The next scheduled RSGB Contests
are the 144MHz Low Power on Saturday the 24th and the 432MHz Low Power on
Sunday the 25th of July. See February RadCom on page 66 for details.

And now the solar factual data

With the more active side of the sun coming into view, the period from the
21st to the 27th of June saw a considerable increase in solar activity, with
spot counts back to more like what we would expect. There has been a number of
M type flares and a considerable number of Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances,
mostly lasting only a short time. Spot counts increased every day and meaned
about 63, though by the 27th the count reached 80. The solar flux also
increased from 91 units on the 21st, up to 128 units by the 27th, giving an
average of 112 units for the period. The geomagnetic activity was affected by
at least seven M-type flares, the largest being an M9.7/2B on the 24th causing
a magnetic storm at high latitudes. However it did not last long and activity
had declined to quiet levels by the 27th. The period averaged an Ap index of
11.8 units. The state has been 'mag storm warning' at first then 'nil' from
the 25th. The radio quality indices were very good up to the 24th but with the
large M9.7 flare they collapsed to very poor. A recovery was under way by the
27th with levels being back to normal. The aa indices, as supplied by the
British Geological Survey for the period 15th June to the 21st June, were at
quiet levels, with the daily averages being only 8.3 nanoTeslas, about K1.
There was no disturbed period but many quiet ones down to only 2 nanoTeslas;
this is the quietest period so far since June 1991 when this data was first
broadcast. The X-Ray flux increased very considerably, reaching B6.4 on the
24th and remaining high. It was still B4.7 on the 27th. The period averaged
B3.7 units.

Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon,
averaged 7.9MHz, with the 22nd being up to 8.7MHz but dropping to only 6.5MHz
with the mag storm on the 24th. However levels quickly recovered and were back
to 8.2MHz by the 27th. The darkness hour lows have not varied much and
averaged 4.7MHz. Maximum frequencies are around 21.00 hours and the lows 04.00
hours UTC.

Now the ionospheric data for the north:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg have been affected by the
high latitude magnetic storm and averaged 6.9MHz. The darkness hour lows
averaged 5.2MHz.

The sun spot count for cycle 22 is declining much faster than the predictions
and are leading these by at least 6 months. A recent review of past cycles
gives a mean rise of 3.8 years to the maximum and a fall of 6.9 years to the
minimum. Cycle 22 beat these means on the way up taking only 2.75 years to
reach the maximum - it looks as though it will beat the decline time as well.

And lastly the solar forecast:

This week, the active side of the sun will be rotating away, solar flux levels
are expected to be about the 95s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet
to just unsettled. The radio quality indices are expected to be at normal
levels.

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 V 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.