Newsgroups: uk.radio.amateur,rec.radio.amateur.misc,rec.radio.info
From: dave@llondel.demon.co.uk (David Hough)
Path: news.cs.tut.fi!news.funet.fi!sunic!pipex!demon!llondel.demon.co.uk!dave
Subject: GB2RS News 17th July 1994
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Date: Fri, 15 Jul 1994 18:08:38 +0000
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Good morning. It's Sunday the 17th of July and here is the GB2RS news
broadcast, prepared by the RSGB and intended for all radio amateurs and
short-wave listeners.

First the headlines, all of which concern licence changes:-

Power restrictions have been lifted on parts of the 1.8 and 50MHz bands,

Antenna and ERP restrictions no longer apply on 50MHz,

Unattended digital operation now needs notifying to the RIS, and

There are changes to the computer logging requirements.

With immediate effect, the Amateur and Amateur (Novice) Licences have
been amended by the Radiocommunications Agency. In a Gazette notice,
to be published this Monday, the 18th, the RA announced the following
major changes:

Holders of the full Amateur Licence (A) may use 26dBW (that's 400 watts)
on the whole of the sub-band 1.81 to 1.85MHz, removing the power
restriction on 1.81 to 1.83MHz. The power limit for 1.85 to 2MHz remains
at 15dBW.

Holders of the full Amateur Licences (A) and (B) may use 26dBW between
50 and 51MHz. The maximum permitted power between 51 and 52MHz is still
20dBW. The ERP and antenna height restrictions have been removed from
the whole of the 50 to 52MHz band, allowing the use of any antenna.
Maritime Mobile is now permitted on 50MHz.

Holders of all types of licence, full and Novice, (A) and (B), are now
required to notify their local Radio Investigation Service office of
unattended digital operation. This additional restriction has,
unfortunately, been necessary following a number of problems with
unattended operation. The procedure is far less onerous than that
required for a repeater or beacon on a hilltop site, and requires only
the agreeing of suitable emergency close-down procedures.

The final change, which also affects all licensees, concerns logs which
are kept on a computer. At the main address, a licensee must be able to
provide a print-out of the log on demand. When not at the main address,
it must be possible to provide a copy on disk, followed later by a
print-out.

The full text of these changes is available in the London, Belfast and
Edinburgh Gazettes, obtainable from HMSO stationers. The full text, plus
explanatory notes and a list of RIS addresses will be published in the
August edition of Radio Communication, scheduled to be posted to all
RSGB members in the week commencing the 25th of July. In the meantime,
members should contact their RLO or Headquarters if they have any
queries.

A DXpedition to Lithuania, is scheduled to take place from next Saturday
the 23rd until Monday the 1st of August. David, G0BZF and a multi
national group will operate as LY94BDX. Operation is to be on all bands
CW, SSB and packet but UK stations are recommended to check 14.055,
14.295MHz, 3.555 or 3.72MHz. Skeds can be arranged by contacting G0BZF
on 0932 566435.

Now some items of HF DX news from the weekly RSGB DX News Sheet which is
edited by Brendan McCartney, G4DYO.

From St Pierre and Miquelon, FP/KA1NCN will operate from the 19th, until
the 25th of July on 10 to 160 metres, CW, SSB and RTTY.

From the Maldive Islands, G0PBV will sign 8Q7AE from Tuesday the 26th of
July until Tuesday the 9th of August, on 10, 15, 20 and 40 metres.

And from the Principality of Seborga, some 25km north-east of Monaco,
3A2LF will sign 0S0C from now until Monday the 18th on CW only. I1RBJ is
also active as 0S1A over the weekend.

Now the rallies we know of for today, Sunday the 17th of July:

The McMichael Rally and Car Boot Sale is being held at the Haymill Youth
and Community Centre, Burnham Lane, near Burnham railway station,
Slough. Doors open 10.30am. The event features a car boot sale, no
advanced booking is required. Talk-in will be on 2 metres, channel S22.

The Radio Amateur Invalid and Blind Club (RAIBC) Romsey Picnic is being
held at Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire. All members, families, friends
and supporters are welcome. The event features a junk sale, a bring and
buy stall and a grand draw. Refreshments will be available and talk-in
will be on 2 metres, channel S22. The callsign GB0IBC, will be aired
throughout the event.

Next the two events we know of for next Sunday the 24th of July:

The Colchester Radio and Computer Rally is to be held at St Helena
School, Sheepen Road, Colchester, adjacent to the Colchester inner
bypass.  The event, which opens at 10am, has trade stands featuring a
wide range of radio and computer items, a car boot sale and a bring and
buy stall. RSGB Morse Tests will be available on demand, but remember to
bring two passport size photographs. Talk-in will be on 2 metres,
channel S22. For further details contact Frank, G3FIJ on 0206 851189.

The first Humber Bridge Amateur Radio Rally is to be held at the
Exhibition Centre, Freightliner Road, off Clive Sullivan Way, Hull. The
site has easy access and is one mile from the bridge. Doors open at
11am, 10.30 for disabled visitors. The event features a bring and buy
stall. Refreshments will be available and talk-in will be on 2 metres,
channel S22. For further details and a booking form contact Roly, G0UKS
on 0482 837042.

Now for the HF contest news:

The RSGB Low Power Field Day CW Contest takes place today Sunday the
17th July from 0900 to 1200 and from 1300 to 1600 UTC, using frequencies
in the range 3.510 to 3.560MHz and 7.010 to 7.040MHz. See April's RadCom
page 80 for full details.

Next some VHF contest news:

The RSGB 144MHz Low Power Contest will take place next Saturday the 23rd
from 1400 to 2200 UTC. It features four entry sections: single operator
fixed, single operator portable, all others and Listener.

The RSGB 432MHz Low Power Contest will take place next Sunday the 24th
from 0800 to 1400UTC. April RadCom has further details of both of these
low power events.

Special event stations active this week include:

GB800DON, operated next Saturday the 23rd, by members of RAF Finningley
Amateur Radio Society for Doncaster's 800 years Festival Celebration.
The station will be located at the Gala event at Stainforth Welfare
using HF CW and SSB, plus FM and SSB on 2 metres and 70cm.

GB1WSF, Washington School Festival, will be active from tomorrow, Monday
the 18th until Friday the 22nd of July from Washington School in Tyne
and Wear. Operation will be on VHF, UHF, Packet and SSTV with the
students taking part in the activities and demonstrations of amateur
radio.

During this weekend, many special event stations will be active from
lifeboat stations. This is to raise money for the Worked All Britain
25th Anniversary Lifeboat Appeal. Full details can be found in the July
RadCom.

And now the solar factual data:

The period from the 4th to the 10th of July has seen an increase in
solar activity with an M flare and numerous B flares every day over the
period. The geomagnetic activity has varied between quiet to unsettled
but the general decline has continued and levels are now the lowest
since last November.

The sunspot index meaned at 59, an M1.3/1N flare was reported on the
7th, and B flares up to a B8.2/SF were reported every day. Solar flux
levels did not vary much but tended to rise slightly, averaging 85
units. The 90 day mean flux level was 80 units on the 10th of July.

The geomagnetic Ap indices have continued to decline from very unsettled
down to quiet, with the period averaging 8.7 units. However, the 10th
was down to only 3 units. The state has been 'nil nothing to report'
throughout the period. The aa indices, as supplied by the British
Geological Survey for the 28th of June to the 4th of July, saw a general
quietening with the daily index dropping from around 48 nanoTeslas to 19
by the 4th. The 28th was very disturbed with a midnight period of 102
nanoTeslas. By the 4th, levels had dropped to around 12 nanoTeslas. The
period averaged 35.6 nanoTeslas.

Bartells rotation 2198 began on the 7th July. The X-Ray flux levels have
remained high and averaged A5.8 units. The electron fluence levels of
more than 2 mega electron volts are continuing to decline and were down
to nearly normal levels by the 10th of July; this should help to
stabilise the HF bands.

I'll repeat the figures. Spots - 59; Flux - 85; Ap index - 8.7; X-ray
flux - A5.8 .

Now the ionospheric data for Central France:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Poitiers, as reported by Meudon,
have improved over recent levels and averaged 7.3MHz. The 6th was up to
8.3MHz which was the highest level for the past 2 months. The darkness
hour lows averaged 3.5MHz with periods of blanketing E being reported
some days. The highs are now at about 20.00 hours and the lows 04.00
hours.

I'll repeat the figures. Highs - 7.3MHz; lows - 3.5MHz.

Now the ionospheric data for the north:

The F2 daytime critical frequencies at Ekaterinberg averaged 6.2MHz and
the darkness hour lows 4.3MHz.

The latest forecast for the minimum of cycle 22, based on the time since
the first spotless day reported in the autumn of 1993, will be late
1996.

I'll repeat the figures: Highs - 6.2MHz; lows - 4.3MHz.

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 80s, geomagnetic levels are expected
to be quiet becoming unsettled towards the end of the week. MUFs are
expected to be about 21MHz in the south during daylight, and 14MHz for
the darkness hours. Northern levels will be down on these. Sporadic E is
still present most days on 10 and 6 metres, but the intensity is
declining.

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 issued were in the G0 Uniform
Zulu  and G7 Sierra Lima series, and Novice calls in the 2 0 Alpha India
and 2 1 Delta Delta series.

--

GB2RS is prepared by the Radio Society of Great Britain and is broadcast
in the 80m, 40m, 6m and 2m bands.
Tel +44 707 659015  Fax +44 707 645105