GB2RS

• RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 14th September 2025

  GB2RS News Sunday, the 14th of September 2025 The news headlines: RCF Trustee, Andy Webster, G7UHN, on inspiring the next generation of radio amateurs The RSGB LoRa balloon is to be launched this week Will Richardson, 2E0WYA, has been co-opted to the RSGB Board as Vice Chair Radio Communications Foundation Trustee, Andy Webster, G7UHN, will be at this year’s RSGB Convention to deliver a fascinating lecture on using radio technology to engage and inspire non-radio amateurs. In particular, he will look at this within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education settings, using the subject to connect with young people. Matthew Phillips, G6WPJ, will also be at the Convention, where he will be discussing the use of low-power software-defined radio to rejuvenate medium- and short-wave broadcasting. These are two of nearly 50 speakers who will be delivering engaging and topical presentations for Convention attendees. If this isn’t enough to entice you, visit the Convention web pages via rsgb.org/convention, where you’ll find details on workshops, a drop-in session on the UK Meteor Beacon Project, and information on the AMSAT-UK Colloquium. In addition to the usual GB3HQ operation that will run throughout the event, at this year’s Convention, a special 145 Alive net will be hosted by GB3HQ from 12 pm to 3 pm on the Saturday. You will be able to join the net or simply check in on the day and all callers will be recorded in the log. The Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre between the 10th and 12th of October. Only a few days remain until the RSGB LoRa balloon is launched. If you haven’t already heard about the event, you still have time to take part. Go to rsgb.org/lora-balloon  and download a detailed guide to help you build and code your LoRa tracker board. You can also find a link to a video in which Fraser, MM0EFI, demonstrates the process. The balloon launch takes place on Saturday, the 20th of September, at approximately 11 am BST. The challenge is open to all radio amateurs, but to be eligible to win one of the two available prizes, you must be an RSGB individual member or an affiliated club. The RSGB Board is pleased to announce that it is co-opting Will Richardson, 2E0WYA to the Board to serve until the 2026 RSGB AGM. He will also serve as the Board Vice Chair. Will has significant senior management skills and experience and will be a great asset in helping the Board move forward with the RSGB strategy. The Autumn term is starting at schools and colleges around the country, and the RSGB Outreach Team is continuing its DMR project to help young people get on the air. If you are a teacher who would like to take your amateur radio licence and set up a school club, there is support in place to help you. In collaboration with the Radio Communications Foundation, the RSGB is offering to pay the licence exam fee for nine teachers to help get you and your school club started. In addition, once you have your licence, you can apply for a free DMR kit on loan for three months to help set up your club. If you are a teacher interested in starting a school radio club, please email RSGB Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC, via [email protected] The RSGB regrets that the RSGB National Radio Centre will be closed on Tuesday, the 23rd of September. Volunteers from the Centre will be delighted to welcome you every other day that week. Don’t forget that RSGB members can visit the world-famous Bletchley Park estate and the RSGB National Radio Centre for free. Download your voucher by going to rsgb.org/bpvoucher The Thirteenth Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT will take place at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, on Saturday, the 1st of November, from 10.30 am to 5 pm. An interesting programme of speakers has been arranged, and microwave test facilities will be provided. There will be an opportunity to buy components and microwave-related items. An optional dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. Further information and online registration are available at gmroundtable.org.uk. The event has a maximum capacity of 50 people, and there are only eight places left. So, book now to avoid disappointment.  Please send details of all your news and events to [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.  And now for details of rallies and events On Saturday, the 20th of September, Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place at St Radigunds Community Centre, Poulton Close, Dover CT17 0HL. The doors will be open from 10 am to 2 pm, and the entrance fee is £3. The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is also coming up on Saturday, the 20th. The rally will be held at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Beckingham, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open from 9.30 am to 3 pm. For more information and trader bookings, visit emerg.uk/rally Now the Special Event news The Brazilian Amateur Radio Broadcast League is active with special callsign PV203BR until tomorrow, the 15th. Listen for activity on all bands and modes and via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World. The Dutch Lighthouse Hunt event is running until the 30th of September. Members of the Dutch Radio Group are using 11 special callsigns, each representing a different lighthouse in the Netherlands. For more information and details of awards that are available for working the stations, visit the PA01LH page at QRZ.com Now the DX news Chas, NK8O, is active again as 5H3DX from Tanzania until the 21st of September. He operates CW, FT4 and FT8 on the 30 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to Chas. Harold, DF2WO, is active as 9X2AW from Rwanda until the 27th of September. He usually operates CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on various bands, including 6m and via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news Today, the 14th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 14th, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest runs from 1200 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also today, the 14th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county. The IRTS 2m Counties Contest is also running today, the 14th, from 1300 to 1500 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county. Tomorrow, the 15th, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 16th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 18th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 21st, the RSGB 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1200 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Sunday the 21st, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 11th of September As of Thursday, the 11th of September, it looked like someone had thrown a switch on the Sun to turn off all new sunspots! Unless there is a big change, there will be no sunspots visible on the Sun’s surface today, the 14th. It is clear we are no longer at solar maximum. A bigger problem is a large coronal hole on the Sun’s surface, which is rotating to be Earth facing. It is on the Sun’s equator, so it is ideally placed for maximum disruption to the Earth. A high-speed solar wind stream should reach Earth by the 14th of September, and geomagnetic storming may be possible at higher latitudes. Expect maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, to drop and trans-polar paths to be affected once the Kp index rises. HF is now starting to improve as we head towards mid-September. By 1000UTC, Propquest shows that the MUF over a 3,000km path can be as high as 31MHz, as long as the Kp index stays low. This should continue to improve as we head into October. The best DX last week continued to be T30TTT in Western Kiribati, this time on the 40 and 17m bands using FT8. 9J2FI in Zambia also put in an appearance on the 17m band using FT8. TZ4AM in Mali was spotted on the 15m band using SSB. For Morse enthusiasts, HC5AI in Ecuador was working on the 15m band using CW, according to the CDXC Slack chat group. NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will start the coming week at 125 but then gradually improve to reach 145 by the end of the week. As mentioned earlier, the Kp index is set to reach 4 or 5 between the 14th and 16th of September due to the coronal hole. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The present spell of unsettled weather is likely to remain the main driver of weather-related propagation modes for the next week. Low-pressure systems are following the jet stream across the Atlantic and over the UK, which is a typical track for this time of the year. This means that we should expect to experience the odd example of rain scatter for the GHz operators, and occasional strong winds will start to test that we have our antennas in good order after the quieter weather during the summer. This is not to say that there won’t be any Tropo, but we will have to look for it carefully. In a mobile weather pattern such as this, the periods of high pressure tend to act as separators between the lows and, as a result, they usually move with similar speed. This makes them short-lived and thus not particularly good at establishing strong inversions for Tropo. There are two low-grade possibilities. One is around Tuesday the 16th as a weak transient ridge moves across the country. The second will be as another weak ridge moves across on Friday, the 19th. The meteor scatter situation is still pretty much in a random activity state, although there was a minor shower of the Epsilon Perseids, which peaked on the 9th and may have a few left in the tail-off. However, in general, it's more realistic to assume we’re dealing with random activity. Aurora, on the other hand, has been putting in an appearance lately, so keep watching the Kp index for values climbing above 5. Now for an update on EME. Today, the 14th, marks the Moon’s maximum declination – its highest point in the sky. Perigee, when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth, was passed on September the 9th, so path losses are increasing. Sky noise is low and will remain so until the 20th to 22nd, when the new Moon is very close to the Sun. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

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• RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 7th September 2025

  GB2RS News Sunday, the 7th of September 2025 The news headlines: WRTC, QO-100 and how to have a thriving club – be part of these discussions at the RSGB Convention Listen out for special GB2RS broadcasts from the NRC as part of GB70RS celebrations The RSGB replies to the latest Ofcom 2.3GHz consultation The World Radiosport Team Championship 2026 takes place in the United Kingdom, and Mark Haynes, M0DXR, is the Chairman of the Organising Committee. Join Mark at the RSGB Convention on Saturday, the 11th of October, to find out how the team is progressing for the event, which will host 100 operators from all around the world. If operating via QO-100 is something you would like to try, join Paulo, F5VMJ/G0MUW, as he shares his experience of the mode, including his home setup and how to go portable. In a new-style presentation for this year, representatives from four amateur radio clubs will be joining a panel at the Convention. They will each discuss different aspects of their club activities that are contributing to the club’s success and growth. Join the conversation, share your thoughts and experience, and be inspired. If you’d like to get practical during the Convention weekend, there are a variety of opportunities, including three workshops. The majority of workshop tickets are now sold, so book now to avoid disappointment. With only five weeks until the Society’s annual Convention, secure your place via rsgb.org/convention. The RSGB Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between the 10th and 12th of October. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the RSGB’s weekly news broadcast, GB2RS. The celebrations continue with three special broadcasts scheduled from the RSGB National Radio Centre, or NRC, on Sunday, the 28th of September. Three Newsreaders will broadcast GB2RS from the NRC on the 40m band, the 2m band and via the QO-100 satellite. These readings will be in addition to those in the weekly GB2RS broadcast schedule. Special event station GB70RS will be used for pre- and post-News nets. In addition, each Newsreader will start the broadcast with a special message from the RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX. Find out timings and frequencies via rsgb.org/gb70rs  The RSGB has responded to a further Ofcom consultation, which would see new users sharing spectrum within the 2.3GHz amateur band. The latest proposals would enable a new class of short-notice outdoor deployments in the 2320 to 2340MHz range, for up to 14 days at a time. In its response, the RSGB has taken the opportunity to highlight strong concerns regarding the amateur weak signal segment at 2320MHz. This follows earlier Ofcom proposals last year for indoor use only in this frequency range. The response and background information can be found on the RSGB Spectrum Forum web pages. Go to rsgb.org/spectrum-forum  and choose the ‘Papers and consultations’ tab on the right-hand side. This month is all about amateur radio and coding for the RSGB. Two exciting activities have been developed for you to get involved with. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced coder, you can get stuck into both the Python Pocket Morse activity and the LoRa high-altitude balloon challenge. Don’t forget to let the Society know how you get on. Share your story and photos with the RSGB Communications Team via [email protected] RSGB Board Chair Dr Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, has announced that Peter Bowyer, G4MJS, is stepping down from his role as RSGB Director due to an unexpected and significant increase in his professional duties. In addition to this Board vacancy, two further vacancies will arise when the RSGB election cycle starts in a few months. Both Len Paget, GM0ONX and Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, will stand down from the Board due to term limits. Members are encouraged to offer their services to the RSGB for this important duty. If you'd like a chat about the role, contact the Nominations Committee Chair, Will Richardson, 2E0WYA via [email protected] Royal Air Force Air Cadets Exercise Cloud Warmer is taking place on the 60m band from 7.45 pm to 8 pm until the 31st of December. To operate, you must be a Full licence holder and comply with the Band Plan Licence Schedule Notes. Listeners will note traffic on 5354 and 5363kHz, and amateurs can join in and pass information. Military Radio Exercise, or MRE, callsigns will be in use throughout the exercise period. More details will be available soon via alphacharlie.org.uk On Saturday, the 13th, lots of amateur radio stations will be on the air to take part in the Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as CHOTA. The event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm. Although stations will be working on a variety of bands and modes, most operating will take place on the 40m band using SSB. More details are available at wacral.org And now for details of rallies and events On Saturday, the 20th of September, Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place at St Radigunds Community Centre, Poulton Close, Dover CT17 0HL. The doors will be open from 10 am to 2 pm, and the entrance fee is £3. The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is also coming up on Saturday, the 20th. The rally will be held at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Beckingham, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open from 9.30 am to 3 pm. For more information and trader booking, visit emerg.uk/rally Now the Special Event news On Saturday the 13th, special event station GB5SH will be active from St. Hilda's Church in Hartlepool during the CHOTA event. The operation will be mostly on the 40m band using SSB and the 2m band using FM. You can read more details at QRZ.com Operators from the Romanian Federation of Amateur Radio are active as YO2025ENESCU  as part of the George Enescu International Festival. Details of certificates that are available for working at the station are available via tinyurl.com/enescu25 Now the DX news Maxim, OH7O, is active as XW4YY from Laos until the 11th of September. He is operating SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS. For more information and updates, visit oh7o.com Chas, NK8O, is active as 5H3DX from Tanzania until the 21st of September. He is operating CW, FT8 and FT4 on the 30 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to NK8O. Now the contest news The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday, the 7th of September. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and your age. Today, the 7th, the Worked All Britain 2m SSB Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain Square. This year, the QRO and QRP contests are combined. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website. Also, today, the 7th, the 5th RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 1400 UTC today, Sunday, the 7th of September. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Both RSGB SSB Field Day and IARU Region 1 Field Day started at 1300 UTC on Saturday, the 6th, and end at 1300 UTC today, Sunday, the 7th of September. Using all modes on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 9th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 9th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. Also, on Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB Autumn Series CW Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 11th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 13th and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 14th of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday the 14th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 14th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county. Also, on Sunday the 14th, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1500 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county. On Sunday the 14th, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest runs from 1200 to 1600 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Wednesday the 3rd of September Last week’s aurora may have come as a bit of a surprise! The propagation segment for GB2RS is usually written on a Thursday, but the aurora was sparked by a solar flare that took place two days later, at 2002 UTC on the 30th of August. As we don’t have a crystal ball, we couldn’t have predicted it! The Kp index hit 3 late on the 1st of September, with aurora visible over much of the UK. HF propagation was affected with sudden swings in the maximum usable frequency over most of the day on Tuesday, the 2nd of September. At the time of writing, a geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect with the solar wind speed above 500 kilometres per second. September is a good month for aurora due to the Russell-McPherron effect, when the Earth’s axis aligns perpendicularly to the Sun-Earth line during the equinox. This creates ideal conditions for a reconnection between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field. So, keep an eye on solarham.com for daily updates. The Sun remains active with plenty of sunspots. The solar flux index stood at 187 on Wednesday, the 3rd, down from 202 the day before. HF propagation remains good, out of the auroral periods, and as we progress into September, it should improve even more. Some of the best DX this week included VK2/SP9FIH on Lord Howe Island using the Superfox FT8 mode, and T30TTT on Western Kiribati using both CW and FT8. Other choice DX included 3C3W in Equatorial Guinea on FT8, TJ1GD in Cameroon on 20m CW, and 5H8HZ in Tanzania on 30m FT8. Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will decline to 160, and then perhaps 125. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast until the 10th, with a maximum Kp index of 4 predicted. This may be due to a large elongated coronal hole on the Sun’s surface, which became Earth-facing on Wednesday, the 3rd. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO Rain and sequences of low pressure will drive the weather agenda for much of the coming week. The only reasonable chance of Tropo appears to be Friday and Saturday with high pressure to the southeast and support for paths to the continent and across the North Sea. It is worth noting that, in general, short-lived highs like this one do not have the necessary time to generate a strong, elevated inversion before declining. So don’t expect too much. Rain scatter, on the other hand, is much more likely to be worth considering for the gigahertz stations next week, with plenty of rain events coming along. The Sporadic-E season daily blogs have now finished for this year, but you may still find it worthwhile looking at the Dourbes graph at propquest.co.uk. You will notice the odd blip on the foEs trace, so keep it in mind for the 10 and 6m bands – at least for the next week. Meteor scatter is still in random territory for this period. We are between the Perseids in mid-August and the Draconids, which peak on the 8th of October. This means that the pre-dawn morning hours will be good times to try. There were some auroral signals during the 2m UK Activity Contest on Tuesday, the 2nd. We are coming into the autumn season when conditions tend to be more favourable for aurora. The message is, of course, to monitor the Kp index for values rising above 4 or 5. Remember, these three-hourly planetary readings can smooth out shorter-duration peaks, so maybe don’t wait for it to get to the dizzy heights of 6 or 7 before taking an interest. Moon declination is still negative, not going positive until Monday, the 8th. So, Moon window lengths and peak elevation will continue to increase. Path losses are still falling until perigee on Wednesday, the 10th. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

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• RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 31st August 2025

  GB2RS News Sunday the 31st of August 2025 The news headlines: Plan your RSGB Convention weekend with the newly released programme Volunteer for the RSGB as the Honorary Mature Members’ Officer RSGB representatives and practical activities at the National Hamfest  Have you bought your ticket for this year’s RSGB Convention yet? The weekend’s draft programme has just been released, detailing all the inspiring speakers that the Society has lined up for your enjoyment. If you want to improve your technical knowledge, be sure to add the presentation by Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs, to your must-see list. Hans will introduce the concept of polar modulation SSB, along with the story of the practical implementation of polar modulation SSB in the QRP Labs QMX and QMX+ transceivers. Perhaps you’d like to get some operating tips? In which case, Walt Hudson, K4OGO, is one to add to your weekend schedule. Walt, also known as ‘Salty Walt’, will discuss different types of antennas and his experience with them when operating portable. If you’d like to discover something new within amateur radio, then join Kjetil Vinorum, LB4FH, for a presentation on ‘elmering’ in an online world. In addition, Mike Walker, VA3MW, will present an exclusive look at the new Aurora transceiver from FlexRadio Systems and will showcase how the Aurora pushes the boundaries of software-defined radio. With a wide-ranging programme to spark your interest, three exciting workshops, the Special Interest Groups room, GB3HQ and much more, this year’s Convention is one not to be missed. The event takes place between Friday the 10th and Sunday the 12th of October at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. Tickets are selling fast, so to view the full programme and book, go to rsgb.org/convention  The RSGB has announced an exciting new volunteer role, which will be tasked with attracting older people to amateur radio. The Honorary Mature Members’ Officer will also be responsible for retaining and engaging with our existing senior members. The individual will research organisations or groups with memberships that include older people who may be interested in amateur radio as a hobby. They will also help to identify ways the RSGB can support lifelong enjoyment of amateur radio, including accessibility, training and social engagement. If you are an RSGB member and interested in this role, go to rsgb.org/volunteers  to read the full description. If you’d like to apply or have a chat about the role, email the Nominations Committee Chair, Will Richardson, 2E0WYA via [email protected] The RSGB will have a large presence at the National Hamfest at Newark Showground on Friday, the 5th and Saturday, the 6th of September. In addition to an extensive book stall and membership stand, the Society will be running a range of exciting practical activities and demonstrations. These include a semi-interactive display of the CubeSat and a web-based dashboard from a Tiny Ground Station running remotely. There will be the opportunity to play ‘MORSE’, a minimalist, wave-based strategy game operated with just two controls. You can also have your CW skills tested at a range of speeds. On Saturday, there will be an opportunity to get hands-on, building a Kanga FM receiver kit. The activities are all free of charge, and there is no need to book in advance. Members of the RSGB Board, staff and representatives from specialist committees and teams will also be in attendance and are looking forward to meeting you, answering your questions and offering support. If you know an up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in the last year and has some real achievements to show, you have until Friday, the 12th of September, to nominate them for the RSGB’s G5RP Trophy. The award is not limited to youngsters or the newly licensed but is open to anyone who has recently discovered and made significant progress in HF DXing. Please email your nominations to Ian Greenshields, G4FSU, via [email protected] Worked All Britain’s new Summer Saunter award is being extended to include an Autumn Amble. There is now a rota of volunteers to act as regular net controllers from 10.30 am UK time on the 40m band. Other nets will run on an ad hoc basis, whenever activity is planned. To find out more, visit the Worked All Britain website.  And now for details of rallies and events Telford Hamfest is taking place today, Sunday, the 31st of August, at Harper Adams University Sports Hall. The doors open at 10.15 am. Admission is £5, but young people up to the age of 16 will be admitted free of charge. Lots of fascinating titles are available at the RSGB bookstall on site. More details are available at tinyurl.com/tdars25 On the 14th of September Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally will be held at Caister Lifeboat Station, Caister-on-Sea, NR30 5DJ. The doors will be open to visitors from 9 am to 2 pm, and there is no entrance fee. For more information, email Zane, M1BFI via [email protected] Now the Special Event news Members of Central Uusimaa Radio Amateurs Association, OH2AP, are active throughout 2025 as OF60AP to celebrate their club's 60th anniversary. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. For details of a certificate that is available for working the station, see tinyurl.com/oh2ap25 Special callsign GB70RS is in use to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the RSGB’s weekly news service GB2RS, which has been running continuously since the 25th of September 1955. A team of amateurs is using the callsign on a variety of bands and modes. QSL via the Bureau, Logbook of the World and eQSL. For more information, visit the GB70RS page at QRZ.com Now the DX news Antonio, IK7WUL, is active as TY2AA from Benin until the 7th of September. Recently, the station was spotted on the 10m band using SSB. For more information, visit the TY2AA page at QRZ.com Domenico, IK1MNF, is active as IK1MNF/IA5 from Isola d'Elba, EU-028, until the end of September. He is mainly using SSB on the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via Domenico’s home call. QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World and Club Log. Now the contest news The World-Wide Digi DX Contest started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 30th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 31st of August. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your four-character locator. On Monday the 1st, the RSGB Autumn Series SSB Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. Also, on Wednesday the 3rd, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 7th of September. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and your age. On Saturday the 6th, the CWops CW Open takes place in three four-hour sessions between 0000 and 2359 UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number and name. The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday, the 7th of September. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Both RSGB SSB Field Day and IARU Region 1 Field Day start at 1300 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and end at 1300 UTC on Sunday, the 7th of September. Using all modes on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday the 7th, the Worked All Britain 2m SSB Contest runs from 1000 to 1400 UTC. Using SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain Square. This year, the QRO and QRP contests are combined. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website. On Sunday the 7th, the 5th RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 28th of August 2025 This week saw a change in HF propagation with a perceptible move towards more autumnal conditions. The 10 and 12m bands have started opening up to the USA, at least on FT8. As we move into September, this will improve further. Also, as we head towards the Autumnal Equinox, we can expect better conditions on north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa. The week saw the solar flux index climb to 226 on Thursday, the 28th, thanks to a host of sunspots, mainly in the Sun’s southern hemisphere. Over the last seven days, the Sun also provided us with 12 M-class solar flares. Any associated coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, were not Earth-directed, so these had little effect, and the Kp index stayed firmly at 3 or below. The latest updates suggest that there is only a ten per cent chance of a strong X-class solar flare. FT8 continues to be the preferred HF mode, or so it seems, with stations in China, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon making their way into UK logs on the 12m band. The 10m band has also been humming with South America rolling in during late afternoon and early evening. This can only get better as we move into September and October. NOAA predicts that the coming week will start with a solar flux index of 155 tomorrow, the 1st. This may be a little pessimistic, but we’ll see. It also predicts that the solar flux index will drop off as the week progresses, ending the week at 125. Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be good for the first half of the week, but then decline from the 4th of September. Batten down the hatches as a Kp index of 6 is forecast for the 5th, with unsettled conditions lasting until the 10th of September. Check for auroral HF signals on the 5th, or even the possibility of visible aurora from the UK. We recommend you get your HF DXing in early next week! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO Last week saw some lovely late-season Sporadic-E on the 6 and 4m bands, including Spain, Italy, and east into Ukraine. There was an opening to Brazil on the 24th that reached as far as East Anglia, but, as usual, stations on the south coast and west of the country had the best of the transatlantic QSOs.   This is the last bulletin in the nominal 2025 Sporadic-E season, which lasts from May to August. However, last week was a good reminder not to give up too soon, as there were several CW and SSB paths showing up, particularly on the 10 and 6m bands. There were also a few reports on the 4m band. The daily Sporadic-E blogs on propquest.co.uk  come to an end today, the 31st, but the site will continue to provide the maps as usual. To help you, notes on how to interpret the maps are available on the website. Thanks to all the Sporadic-E operators who have submitted logs to the various clusters this year. The change over to unsettled weather is now complete, and we will see rain and thunderstorms in most areas from time to time. It’s a good period to check out rain scatter propagation if you are set up for the gigahertz bands. The heavier rain is well-captured by the many online rain radar displays to help you track the most active scattering volumes, which move with the stronger winds quite high up in the atmosphere. Speeds of 30 to 60 miles per hour are common. There is one note of contrast with the model evolution after midweek. One branch sticks with low pressure to the following weekend, while another outcome tries to bring in a ridge of high pressure and a chance of Tropo propagation. If the latter turns out to be the actual evolution, it may prove useful for the 144MHz Trophy and Backpackers Contest next weekend. However, it may not have arrived in time for the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday. The solar conditions are still providing some interest for auroral propagation, but with a Kp index less than 3, nothing of use radio-wise. Look for a Kp index increase beyond 7 for that. Meteor activity is currently between major showers, so expect random activity, which suggests early mornings for checking out meteor scatter prospects. Moon declination is negative, reaching a minimum on Monda,y the 1st. So, it’s a week to check out your equipment rather than to operate. With the Sun still high in the sky, it’s easy to check system performance with Sun noise. Path losses started to fall after apogee on Friday the 29th. 144MHz sky noise is close to 3,000 Kelvin on Monday, dropping back to moderate on Wednesday. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

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• RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 24th August 2025

  GB2RS News Sunday the 24th of August 2025   The news headlines: Apply to be the RSGB Youth Activities and Engagement Champion The Tonight@8 webinar series is back with a brilliant autumn line-up Hans Summers, G0UPL confirmed as the RSGB Convention after-dinner speaker The RSGB Youth Team is looking for a proactive, enthusiastic and innovative person to join its team as the Society’s volunteer Youth Activities and Engagement Champion. The role will take the lead on youth-focused activities and create resources for young Foundation licence holders. If you would like to help inspire young people to explore new aspects of amateur radio, then read the full role description via rsgb.org/volunteers  and then get in touch with the Youth Board Liaison Ben Lloyd, GW4BML via [email protected]  This exciting role will be working collaboratively with Ben, as well as the existing Youth Champions and RSGB Outreach Team. You can see some of the amazing projects the team has been working on by visiting the RSGB Youth web pages via rsgb.org/youth The Tonight@8 autumn programme kicks off on Monday the 1st of September with a fascinating presentation from Kristen McIntyre, K6WX. During the 45-minute session Kristen will explain Maxwell's Equations in a visual and relatable way that aims to leave viewers with an understanding of a topic that can often feel impenetrable. Maxwell’s Equations are essential for radio amateurs and explain how RF signals propagate, antennas radiate, and common-mode currents form. By the end of this informative webinar, you’ll be able to see how Maxwell’s four simultaneous differential equations combine to bring the world of radio to life. Kristen discovered amateur radio when she was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979 and has been active ever since. Among other roles, she is the ARRL First Vice President and has also recently been inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Learn more about Kristen and this not to be missed webinar by going to rsgb.org/webinars  Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs has been confirmed by the RSGB as the after-dinner speaker at its Convention in October. Following the gala dinner, Hans will be sharing the emotions he experienced during the nine months he spent adding SSB to the QMX transceiver. Tickets for the gala dinner, along with those for the full Convention programme and the three exciting workshops, can be purchased via rsgb.org/convention  This year’s RSGB Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between Friday the 10th and Sunday the 12th of October. Book now and join like-minded radio amateurs for an action-packed programme. The RSGB Examination Standards Committee is pleased to announce the publication of an updated version of the Direct to Full syllabus. The significant changes from the previous version are the moving of some points between Section One on Licensing and Section Two on Operating. These changes bring the Direct to Full syllabus into line with the latest version of the three-part syllabus. You can find the updated syllabus and change documentation on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/syllabus  These changes will come into effect from January 2026, so please choose the correct version of the syllabus for the date you plan to take your exam. Four young RSGB members have spent the last week near Paris for this year’s Youngsters on the Air summer camp. The event was a huge success with activities that included group member Sophie, M7IJG asking a question to Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT during the camp’s ARISS contact with the International Space Station. Hear more from the young radio amateurs by reading their blog via rsgb.org/yota-camp RSGB members, and the wider amateur radio community, are invited to a ‘Meet the President Day’ at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre on Thursday the 28th of August. The Society’s President, Bob Beebe, GU4YOX, will be present throughout the day to welcome members, hear their views, and discuss the work of the Society in supporting and promoting amateur radio. RSGB members, don’t forget to download your free entry voucher to Bletchley Park via rsgb.org/bpvoucher The Maritime Radio Historical Society in the United States, in cooperation with the Cipher History Museum, has arranged to transmit an Enigma message via the maritime radio coast station KPH, near San Francisco. The transmission will take place on Saturday the 30th of August at 2000UTC. KPH listeners, intercept operators and codebreakers everywhere are invited to try their hand at receiving the transmission and decrypting the message. For more information, including details of certificates that are available for decrypting the message, visit tinyurl.com/mrhs2025 And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 24th, the Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place at Heron’s Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes. Free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities are available. The entrance fee is £3. The doors open to the public from 9am. For more information visit mkars.org.uk/mkrally The Torbay Amateur Radio Society Rally is also taking place at Newton Abbot Racecourse today, the 24th. The doors open at 10am and entry costs £3. You can find out more via torbayars.org Tomorrow, the 25th, the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society Radio Rally will take place at the Ramsey Rural Museum, Wood Lane, Ramsey, PE26 2XD. For more information visit tinyurl.com/hunts25 Telford Hamfest is taking place on Sunday the 31st of August at Harper Adams University Sports Hall. The doors open at 10.15am. Admission is £5 but children up to the age of 16 will be admitted free of charge. The G-QRP Club will be present again with a Saturday Buildathon. More details are available at tinyurl.com/tdars25 Now the Special Event news In memory of Maximilian Kolbe, special callsign 4A2MAX is active until the 31st of August. Kolbe is venerated by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of amateur radio operators. Activity will be on the 80 to 6m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com or via EA5GL. To celebrate the International Amateur Radio Union's 100th anniversary, members of the Atlantic Coast DX and Contest Group are active as CG9IARU throughout August. The station was spotted recently on the 20m band using SSB. QSL via VE9CF. See QRZ.com for more information.  Now the DX news Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 23rd of September. He is operating CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands and via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com, or directly to PY1SAD. Don, KW7R is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands until September. He operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. Now the contest news Today, the 24th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 26th, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The World Wide Digi DX Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 30th and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 31st of August. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your four-character locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 21st of August Last week was relatively good from an HF propagation standpoint, with only a few periods with an elevated Kp index thanks to a high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole. The Kp index hit 4.67 on the 19th of August and 4 again on the 20th due to the solar wind hitting earth at more than 600 kilometres per second. Luckily, the interplanetary magnetic field remained mostly neutral, or north-facing, and the density was low, saving us from more disruption. Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined to 120 by Thursday the 21st. This is still high enough to affect the ionosphere, but well down on recent highs in the 140s and 150s. The daytime critical frequency has mostly remained above 7.5MHz, meaning the 40m band has managed to remain good for inter-UK contacts. This has also meant that maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path hit 21MHz and even 24.9MHz at times. Nighttime critical frequencies have been around 5MHz, giving an MUF over 3,000km of below 14MHz and sometimes even as low as 10MHz. It may be another month or so before we see daytime F2-layer openings starting again on 28MHz. In the meantime, focus your efforts during daylight on 21MHz and below. T30TTT in Western Kiribati remains one of the DX stations to chase, mostly on 18 and 21MHz. The operators are alternating between using CW, SSB and FT8. Other choice DX worked included Jim, E51JD on South Cook Islands who has been active on the 17m band using SSB. TY5AD in Benin, Africa has been worked on the 10m band using FT8. And 3G1P, an IOTA DXpedition in Chile, was logged on the 15m band using SSB. Closer to home, today, the 24th, is the last chance to work OG0C on the Aland Islands. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the 120s, until the end of the month when it could rise to 130 and even 150. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 28th of August when the Kp index could hit 4. Otherwise, make the most of the relatively settled conditions over the first half of next week to work some choice DX! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO After this weekend, the weather changes from a Tropo high pressure pattern to an unsettled story with areas of low pressure and fronts together with wind and rain. This will remove any Tropo options and replace them with a possibility of rain scatter on the GHz bands. The auroral conditions have recently produced minor enhancements, although nothing too exciting so far radio-wise. It’s worth noting that the autumn, along with spring, are times of the year when auroras are more likely. So, it’s a good time of the year to keep abreast of the Kp index, especially if the Kp index goes above 5. We are at the tail end of the broader period of the Perseid meteor shower, ending today, the 24th. This leaves random meteor activity as the only option for a while. As those of you who are active in the mode already know, it tends to favour the early pre-dawn period for better chances of catching meteor scatter. Sporadic-E is hanging on for the last week or two of the 2025 season, but opportunities become much rarer. You’ll need to keep a close watch on band reports to capture these increasingly fleeting events. In the main Sporadic-E season, there are usually two well-defined peaks of activity in the morning and late afternoon. However, in the tail of the Sporadic-E season you are just as likely to find it around the middle of the day as at any other time. The daily Sporadic-E blogs at propquest.co.uk  finish at the end of August, but in some years the last events have extended into the first week of September.  Moon declination is still positive, but falling, going negative on Monday. So, Moon window lengths and peak elevation will follow suit. Path losses are rising again as we approach apogee on Friday the 29th. 144MHz sky noise was low until lunchtime on Friday the 22nd, when the Sun and the Moon were very close in the sky. This continued throughout the Moon window on yesterday, the 23rd, and will revert to moderate-to-low next week.  And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

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• RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 17th August 2025

  GB2RS News Sunday, the 17th of August 2025 The news headlines: Read daily updates from the RSGB’s YOTA summer camp team ‘Women in amateur radio’ panel to be held at RSGB Convention in October The RSGB Awards Manager announces a new awards series This year’s Youngsters on the Air summer camp begins tomorrow, Monday, the 18th of August, and the RSGB is sending a team of four young members to take part. YOTA camps are an amazing opportunity for young people to operate the latest amateur radio equipment, take part in construction activities and make international friendships. The Society will be keeping you up to date with the group’s progress by sharing daily updates and photos. This year’s camp is taking place near Paris and is being organised by REF, the French national amateur radio society, and the IARU. Read the daily blog updates by visiting rsgb.org/yota-camp  and selecting ‘YOTA Paris 2025’ from the right-hand menu. The Society will also be sharing updates via its Facebook and X channels. If you’d like to get involved with getting young people on the air, why not participate in YOTA Month in December 2025? If you’d like to host special callsign GB25YOTA or if you’d like to find out more, email the YOTA Month Coordinator, Jamie, M0SDV via [email protected] The list of confirmed speakers for this year’s RSGB Convention continues to grow, with a further round of names released. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, be sure to book online now to secure your place and watch Dan McGraw, M0WUT, explain PCB design for low-voltage switched-mode power supplies. You’ll also be able to get an insight into what has been learnt from Solar Cycle 25, with a presentation by the Chair of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee, Steve Nichols, G0KYA. The Society has also confirmed that RSGB RadCom Technical Editor Peter Duffett-Smith, GM3XJE, will be presenting a lecture on the importance of understanding the input impedance of your transmitter. The IRTS Youth Officer Ana Cañizares, EI5IXB, will be sharing her experience of getting young people in Ireland involved in amateur radio. In addition, the RSGB has announced that it will be holding a ‘women in amateur radio’ panel discussion. This exciting session will highlight five women who enjoy different aspects of amateur radio and will discuss the various opportunities, challenges and potential barriers that may exist in engaging more girls and women with amateur radio. Find out more about these thought-provoking presentations by going to rsgb.org/convention  and selecting RSGB 2025 Convention speakers from the right-hand menu. The Convention takes place between the 10th and 12th of October and is a must-do on every radio amateur’s calendar. The RSGB Awards Manager has introduced a new awards series for amateur radio contacts with stations across all UK country and Crown Dependency prefixes. The Worked All UK and Crown Dependency Prefixes Award offers several different sub-sets, with the rules varying slightly for each. The idea for the award was put forward as a way of encouraging, or tapping into, intra-UK activity as well as encouraging contact with UK amateurs. Get involved with this new award by going to rsgb.org/awards  and selecting ‘Worked All UK and Crown Dependency’ from the right-hand menu. You can find details of other awards offered by the Society using the same link. National Coding Week takes place during the third week of September, and the RSGB is dedicating the whole of the month to amateur radio and coding activities. This year, the Society has created two new activities for you to try. Both build on worksheets it shared in previous years; however, you don’t have to have done those first. The Python Pocket Morse activity has been developed by the RSGB Maker Champion Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI and is a low-cost opportunity to learn some Morse and programming together. The exercise will cover using a BBC Micro:bit V2 and the ‘more advanced’ Python programming instead of the previous block programming mode. It is intended as a gentle introduction to both Python and small computer programming and can be done without any previous knowledge of the micro:bit. You can download the full instructions by going to rsgb.org/coding  and selecting ‘Python Pocket Morse’ from the right-hand menu. The other new activity is the LoRa balloon challenge. As well as the manual, which guides you through the process of building your own LoRa tracker and seeing how far your signal can reach, the Society has released a video in which Fraser, MM0EFI, demonstrates the process. Find both on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/lora-balloon International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend started at 0001UTC on Saturday, the 16th and ends at 2400UTC today, the 17th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. To find out more and to view a list of participating stations, visit illw.net This year’s British Inland Waterways on the Air event will run from Saturday, the 23r,d until Monda,y the 25th of August. The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs for work or recreation. To find out more, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group’s website at nharg.org.uk  and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2025’ link. Please send details of all your news and events to [email protected]. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.   And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 17th, Finningley Amateur Radio Society Rally opens its doors at 10 am. More details are available at g0ghk.com Also today, the 17th, the West Manchester Radio Club Red Rose Summer Rally is taking place at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ from 10 am. More information is available by following the ‘Red Rose Rally’ tab at wmrc.co.uk On Sunday, the 24th the Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place at Heron’s Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes. Free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities will be available. The entrance fee is £3. The doors open to the public from 9 am. For more information, visit mkars.org.uk/mkrally Also on Sunday the 24th, the Torbay Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place at Newton Abbot Racecourse. The doors open at 10 am and entry costs £3. You can find out more via torbayars.org Now the Special Event news Leicester Radio Society is active as GB8OVJ until tomorrow, the 18th, to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. The station is operating on the HF, 2m and 70cm bands. Operators are using CW, phone, FT4, FT8, SSTV and RTTY. More information is available at QRZ.com 4U0ITU is the callsign in use by the International Amateur Radio Club at ITU HQ in Geneva. The station is active in celebration of the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union. QSL via Logbook of the World and OQRS. Now the DX news Steve, ZL2KE, is active as E51KEE from Rarotonga, OC-013, on the South Cook Islands until tomorrow, the 18th of August. He is operating CW and some SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL directly to IK2DUW. QSOs will be uploaded to Club Log and Logbook of the World. Phill, C21TS, is active in Nauru until September 2025. He has made over 83,000 QSOs so far and hopes to reach 100,000 contacts before leaving the island. Recently, the station was spotted on the HF bands using FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World and OQRS. Now the contest news On Tuesday the 19th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 21st, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 24th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 14th of August Last weekend was characterised by unsettled geomagnetic conditions caused by a massive coronal hole on the Sun. At one point, the Kp index got up to 6, with a corresponding decrease in maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs. The Dourbes Digisonde failed to record much at all over six hours. Luckily, that disruption had passed by Monday the 11th as the ionosphere started to get back to normal. Meanwhile, the solar flux index reached a peak of 153 on the 10th, before dropping back to 140 on Thursday, the 14th. There have been numerous C-class solar flares and ten M-class events over the past five days, but nothing of note. The MUF over a 3,000km path exceeded 24.9MHz at times, but has generally been between 21 and 24MHz. Another coronal hole is Earth-centric at the moment and could cause some disruption, with increased Kp indices by tomorrow, the 18th or Tuesday the 19th. HF DX has been good at times, with the stand-out station being T30TTT in Western Kiribati. The station has been worked on many bands, including 20, 15 and 10m using CW, as well as FT4 and FT8. After two weeks, there will be just one operator who is there until mid-September. So you have plenty of time to work him. Stanley, AH6KO, in Hawaii, has also been spotted on the 15m band using CW. This is a relatively rare opportunity and good for anyone chasing their Worked All States award. A little closer to home is Henri, OJ0JR on Market Reef, who has been easily workable on the 30m band using FT8. Get in quick, though, as he is only there until tomorrow, the 18th. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the 140 to 150 range. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for tomorrow, the 18th, until Wednesday the 20th, probably caused by the coronal hole mentioned earlier. Better conditions are predicted for the 23rd to the 27th with a maximum Kp index of 3. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO Last week’s propagation highlights were SSB and CW QSOs between the UK and Las Canarias on both the 23 and 13cm bands between G4GLT, EA8DMF, ED8BRZ and EB8AYA.  There may be more Tropo next week with high pressure close to, or over, the British Isles. However, at this time of the year, any Tropo will be due to temperature inversions. These can be at the surface and are especially persistent over water, so look for marine paths across the North Sea or up the east coast to Scotland. Other potentially good marine paths might be across the Channel or Biscay to Spain and beyond. The hot days of high summer break down these surface inversions over the land during the day so, if your station is inland, your best chances of Tropo in summer will often be overnight and until mid-morning. Inversions can also be elevated in the region of the high pressure, say between 1 and 2km above ground, giving good DX prospects that are not affected by the heating of the summer day. In this high-pressure period, it is much more likely to be a surface inversion that drives the Tropo. There will be little rain in prospect except for parts of Ireland, South Wales and southwest England, where a few thundery showers are possible. However, these will not be particularly good for rain scatter. There continue to be some aurora alerts, so monitor the Kp index and if it is rising to, say, 6, try beaming north on the 10, 6, 4 and 2m bands in turn to see if any genuine auroral signals are coming back. Lastly, the Sporadic-E season is coming into its closing weeks. 10m is a good band to check first. If Sporadic-E is very short-skip there, try moving up to 6m or beyond for a strong event. Digital modes are best, so use these to get clues as to where the CW and SSB paths might show up next. Meteor scatter operators have been very busy during the Perseids meteor shower. The Perseids should still provide some activity in the coming week. Moon declination is positive and rising until Tuesday the 19th, so Moon window lengths and peak elevation will follow suit. Path losses are rising again as we are now past perigee. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate all next week. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

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