Podcasts about qrv

Hello and welcome to episode 69 of The DX Mentor – A discussion with Jim, WB2REM. Thank you for joining us. I'm Bill, AJ8B.If this is the first time you are joining us, Welcome! We have a back catalog covering many aspects of DX. Please check us out. If you like what you find, please subscribe to always be notified of a new podcast!    Another way to keep in touch and to see what we are up to is via the DX Mentor Facebook page. I will be posting aboutupcoming podcasts as well as other DX events so please follow us.  Our guest today is Jim, WB2REM. Jim is an experienced, passionate operator and the conversation should be lively and informative.Here is the Mission Statement for this DXPedition: "In the spirit of the 7163/7156 MHZ DXGroup, this DXpedition was formed to provide the Amateur Radio Community with the opportunity of working the Faroe Islands on 6-160 Meters. We plan to be active on SSB, CW and FT8. We also hope to get to know the Amateur community in the Faroe Islands and when possible, explore the natural wonders of the islands, when not operating. Some members also plan to work SOTA and possiblyPOTA from the Faroe Islands." Jim and the team will be QRV from the Faroe Islands, June 1st to the 10th.Jim exhibited excellent patience when we were trying to schedule this podcast as we had to cancel twice. Unfortunately, the date that we finally agreed upon was adate that Joe had a personal conflict and could not be with us. Boy, did I miss him!Resources mentioned include:DXPedition Website - https://faroeis.com/7163 Net - https://7163net.com/Marlin Brandohttps://greylineperformance.com/blogs/news/famous-ham-radio-prepper-marlon-brando-fo5gj-tropical-south-pacific?srsltid=AfmBOop-SjYxYwMEvIhtp7VhxvI_Gzo0YQdI6M7d-JnJC4ZfMgShBZC3New World of Amateur Radio Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJDz2UlcY58Psychology of a QRMer - Page 13https://www.swodxa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Issue4_03012018A.pdfDX Cop - Page 11https://www.swodxa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Issue5_050118.pdfSouthwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.orgDaily DX https://www.dailydx.com/DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

GB2RS News Sunday the 20th of April 2025   The news headlines: Take advantage of new RSGB membership benefits for 2025! The RSGB Board has announced Directors' liaison roles The RSGB has released a 1925 bulletin containing the original announcement of the formation of the IARU As a new benefit, the Society has teamed up with several museums to offer RSGB members discounted entry for 2025. Members can receive between 20% and 50% off admission fees at Amberley Museum, Bawdsey Radar Museum, Internal Fire Museum of Power, PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications and The National Museum of Computing. So, whether you're into engines, radar, transport, computers or communications there's sure to be something for you. To find out more, visit rsgb.org/partner-museums Following the RSGB 2025 AGM on Saturday the 12th of April, a brief Board meeting was held. The Board elected Stewart Bryant, G3YSX to continue in the role of Board Chair and Peter Bowyer, G4MJS to continue as Vice Chair. Both will remain in these roles until the 2026 AGM. The Board liaison roles with RSGB committees, Honorary Officers and areas of RSGB strategy have also been agreed. To find out more or to see contact details for each Board Director, go to rsgb.org/board World Amateur Radio Day was on Friday the 18th of April. It was also on that day in 1925 that the International Amateur Radio Union was formed in Paris. In celebration of this, the RSGB has shared a T & R Bulletin from 1925 that details the original announcement about the IARU's formation. This unique document has been made publicly available for all radio amateurs to be able to enjoy. To start reading, simply go to rsgb.org/radcom then click on the image to enter the web app and select the ‘RadCom Sample' option in the header. The RSGB website has a wealth of information available to you, and the search function is a useful tool to find what you are looking for. However, to make things as straightforward as possible, the Society has updated the contacts page on its website. If you need to get in touch about something specific, you'll be able to find the correct contact details at a glance. Each Headquarters department is listed with the range of services they offer. For example, you'll see that the Sales Team can also help with club insurance, Membership Services will help with any issues logging into its online membership portal, and that GB2RS news items should be sent to the RadCom Team. Whatever your query, the Team is there to help. If you need more local help, please contact your Regional Team representatives. Head over to rsgb.org/contact  to find out how to get in touch. Professor Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL is a well-known member of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee, as well as someone involved with Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation, also known as HamSCI. In celebration of Citizen Science Month during April, the RSGB has shared Gwyn's HamSCI presentation from the RSGB 2024 Convention on its YouTube channel. In the talk, Gwyn outlines the organisation's activities, particularly during the 2023 and 2024 eclipses. Go to youtube.com/theRSGB  to watch the talk now. If you'd like to find out more, join the RSGB for May's Tonight@8 webinar when HamSCI lead Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF presents ‘Space weather we can do together'. Both Gwyn and Nathaniel recently won awards in the RSGB 2025 AGM Trophy Presentation. You can also get involved with HamSCI's preparations for a series of meteor scatter experiments in August and December. You can find further details via hamsci.org/msqp Have you ever wondered about the origins of the smart doorbell? Although a modern phenomenon, it has a history dating back over 100 years. During the latest series of The Secret Genius of Modern Life, Hannah Fry explores its early origins with a device created by Leon Theremin. During the episode radio amateur Neil, G4DBN, re-creates Leon's device. The episode will air on BBC2 at 20.00 on Wednesday the 23rd of April. Many of you will know Neil from Season One, Episode One of the series when he re-created the Great Seal Bug. Both episodes are available to watch now via BBC iPlayer. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Cambridge Repeater Group Rally is taking place on Sunday the 27th of April at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridge, CB22 6RN. Doors open at 7.30am for traders and 9.30am to the general public. The entrance fee is £4. The event will include a car-boot sale, trade stands, a bring-and-buy area, catering, disabled facilities, an RSGB Bookstall and a free, marshalled car park. A cash and card burger van will open at 8am. The venue rules state strictly no dogs except assistance dogs on the field. Go to cambridgerepeaters.net for further details and bookings. The Dartmoor Radio Rally is taking place on Monday the 5th of May at the Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL. Free parking is available. There will be the usual bring and buy, trader stands and refreshments. Doors open at 10am and admission is £3. For further details, please contact Roger by phone on 07854 088882, or email 2e0rph@gmail.com Now the Special Event news The Spanish national society, URE, is on the air to mark the 100th anniversary of the IARU. Members are active on 160m to 6m until the 30th of April with ten different special event stations, including AO100IARU. Special awards will be available, as well as medals for the top participants from each continent who achieve the highest number of contacts with the stations on different bands and modes. Go to ure.es for further details. The Portuguese national society, REP, is also activating a number of special callsigns as part of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the IARU. This includes CR1IARU from the Azores, CR3IARU from Madeira and CR5IARU from mainland Portugal. Members will be active on multiple bands and modes. Look out for activity until the 24th of April. Full details can be found via tinyurl.com/CR1IARU The Amateur Radio Society of Moldova is operating special event station ER100IARU until Wednesday the 30th of April in honour of the IARU Centenary. Full details can be found via qrz.com The Kuwait Amateur Radio Society is pleased to announce its participation in the IARU centennial celebrations. Members of the Society will be operating special event station 9K100IARU until Wednesday the 30th of April. Ten teams of radio amateurs from around the world are commemorating 80 years since Operation Manna and Operation Chowhound. The two operations were humanitarian food drops that helped to relieve the famine in the Netherlands behind Nazi lines late in World War Two. The teams will be active between the 25th and 27th of April on HF, VHF and the DMR Brandmeister Talk Groups unique to this event. A number of the teams are also welcoming visitors and arranging activities at their locations. To find details of Talk Groups for this event, the teams involved, as well as how to collect a commemorative award, go to manna80.radio Now the DX news Aldir, PY1SAD is active again from Georgetown in Guyana as 8R1TM until the 26th of April. Aldir will be operating on all bands using CW, SSB, digital and satellite. QSL via eQSL and Logbook of The World. Arno, DK1HV is active from Greenland as OX/DK1VK until Sunday the 27th of April. He'll be QRV on 160m to 10m mainly SSB using wire antennas and 100W radio. QSL available via his home callsign. Dom, 3D2USU is active again as 3D2AJT from Nadi in the Fiji Islands until the end of April. The call sign is in memory of JH1AJT, now Silent Key. QSL via Club Log's OQRS and Logbook of The World. Now the contest news On Tuesday the 22nd of April, the 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. On Thursday the 24th of April, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The UK and Ireland DX CW Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 26th of April and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 27th of April. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. UK and Ireland stations also send their district code. The SP DX RTTY Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 26th of April and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 27th of April. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code.   Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 17th of April 2025 Last week was characterised by increased Kp index numbers and severe geomagnetic storms, peaking at G4. These drove down maximum usable frequencies and disrupted DX contacts, especially on the higher HF bands. The solar wind speed increased from 380 kilometres per second to around 500 kilometres per second on the 15th and an increase in plasma density was noted as well. Subsequently, the Kp index peaked at 7.67 on Wednesday the 16th, causing visible aurora alerts in the UK. This was caused by a pair of CMEs that left the Sun on Sunday the 13th of April. We had a total of 22 M-class solar flares over four days, so a CME event was inevitable. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are a feature on the declining side of a solar cycle, so we could unfortunately be in for many more. According to Propquest, MUFs over a 3,000km path fell to below 18MHz for long periods on Wednesday the 16th, before climbing to around 21MHz at the end of the day. Meanwhile, the solar flux index fell from a high of 170 on Friday the 11th of April to a low of 148 on Wednesday the 16th of April. Next week, NOAA predicts that the SFI will start the week around 145 but could increase to 165 as the week progresses. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 22nd to the 24th of April, with a predicted maximum Kp index of four. As always, keep an eye on solarham.com for daily updates, but more importantly, get on the bands, which are a much more effective guide to HF propagation! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The current period of unsettled weather looks likely to continue into the coming week. This does not mean rain every day, but periods of rain or showers with some intervening drier spells. These drier interludes are not really dominated by high pressure, just gaps between the wetter periods, so it's unlikely to produce much significant Tropo. In terms of propagation, there may be some rain scatter, although it won't be very reliable. However, the prospects for meteor scatter are more promising with the peak of the Lyrids due on Tuesday the 22nd of April. It is worth checking up on procedures for meteor scatter working if you've not done it before and you may find a new part of the hobby to add to your operating schedule. The prospects for aurora continue to be raised by what seems like an almost daily supply of aurora alerts. Continue to monitor the Kp index for signs of elevated values, where Kp is above five, for radio activity. Early signs such as fluttery signals on the LF and HF bands may suggest it's worth looking on the VHF bands for auroral activity. As we move towards the new season it is good to get into the habit of looking for Sporadic-E. The Propquest website www.propquest.co.uk shows several useful components for analysing the Es prospects. If you look at the position of the jet streams shown on the Es blog tab, these can produce favourable conditions geographically to give a hint of the right direction in which to listen. The opening season typically favours 10m or 6m. EME path losses are now decreasing towards perigee on Sunday the 27th of April. Last Friday, the 18th of April, saw minimum Moon declination, so Moon windows will lengthen along with peak elevation. 144MHz sky noise starts this week very high but decreases to low as the week progresses. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

  GB2RS News Sunday, the 6th of April 2025   The news headlines: Last chance to submit your question ahead of Saturday's RSGB AGM Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI has been appointed as RSGB Maker Champion Reduced exam slots over Easter weekend The RSGB 2025 AGM is taking place at 10 am next Saturday, the 12th of April. The Society is encouraging RSGB members to take the time to vote for the two resolutions that need your approval. During the AGM, Board members will be answering your questions. Whether your question is about the RSGB, the Board, any of the RSGB services or even the future of amateur radio, your contribution to the discussion is important. Priority is given to questions submitted live by Zoom or by the Society's web form, so get in touch now rather than waiting for the live chat option on the day. The Zoom question deadline is 9 am on Monday, the 7th of April, and the deadline for submitting a written question is when voting ends at 0900 on Thursday, the 10th of April. Following the formal business of the AGM, the RSGB is delighted that RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM will be sharing his review of 2024. There will also be announcements of trophies and awards, the construction competition results, as well as a presentation about the Society's strategy, which will be led by Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX. There will be contributions from Board Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML; Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB; and Bob Beebe, GU4YOX who at that point will be the new RSGB President. Make sure you don't miss out by putting the date in your diary now. Go to rsgb.org/agm  to find further information. The RSGB is pleased to announce that Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI has been appointed as the RSGB Maker Champion. In his role, Tom will assist the RSGB to take amateur radio to new audiences in the hackspace and makerspace communities. Tom will also investigate opportunities to encourage crossover in both directions, offering new areas of experimentation to more traditional license holders. If you have any ideas you'd like to discuss with Tom or would like to congratulate him on his appointment, please email him via maker.champion@rsgb.org.uk A reminder that the RSGB remote invigilation team will be taking a break over the Easter weekend. You will be able to book to take an exam on Friday, the 18th and Saturday, the 19th of April; however, no exam slots will be available on Sunday, the 20th or Monda,y the 21st of April. Exam bookings will resume as normal after that. The next webinar in the RSGB's Tonight@8 series will be live tomorrow, Monday the 7th of April. Nick Wood, M0NTV will show you how to use a regular glue stick housing in a rather novel way to form the basis of a variable tuning inductor in a homemade 40m receiver. Nick has a lifelong fascination with radio and electronics, and an insatiable curiosity to discover how things work. His passion is for designing and building his own radio equipment, particularly SSB transceivers, and he has just completed his sixth. Visit rsgb.org/webinars  to find out more. Join the presentation live on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. The GB3WR VHF Repeater, located on the Mendip Hills in Somerset, was switched back on at 12:30 pm on the 16th of March 2025. The Group is delighted to report that it is working as well as before. It covers a wide area of the South West, and the Bristol Channel area. Amateur stations are regularly heard from the south of the Midlands, South Wales and as far south as Swanage and Basingstoke to the east. The Mendip Repeater Group would like to express its thanks for the generosity of all who have made it possible to put GB3WR back on the air. Find out more via gb3wr.uk One of the GB2RS newsreaders is retiring from reading the news ahead of his upcoming 101st birthday this Saturday, the 12th of April. Peter Valentine, G0NQZ from Eastbourne, remains an active radio amateur and operates daily, as well as taking part in regular nets such as ISWL and RAOTA. The Society would like to thank Peter for his dedication to GB2RS and wishes him a very happy 101st birthday! Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club QRP Convention is taking place on Saturday, the 12th of April at Digby Hall in Sherborne. Doors open at 9.30 am. The convention will include traders, bring and buy, club stalls and a café. For more information, please visit the club's website via yeovil-arc.com The Holsworthy ARC Spring Radio Rally is taking place on Sunday, the 13th of April at the Holsworthy Livestock Market, New Market Road, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7FA. There will be traders and a bring-and-buy. Catering will be available. Doors open to traders from 8 am and to the public from 10 am. Entry costs £3 per person. The venue has disabled access. Also taking place on Sunday, the 13th of April, is the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Exhibition, or NARSA for short. It is also known as the Blackpool Rally. The event will take place at Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool, FY2 9AA. For further details, please go to narsa.org.uk  or contact Dave, M0OBW, on 07720 656542, or via email using dwilson@btinternet.com Now the Special Event news The Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society, also known as RAFARS, has started its popular Airfields On The Air event. RAF Stations are active this weekend as well as on the 12th and 13th of April. More information can be found via rafars.org/rafaota The Polish Amateur Radio Union is celebrating 95 years since its founding, as well as the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union. To mark the occasion, ten special event stations will be active between the 11th and the 25th of April. Full details of the event, as well as available awards, can be found via Hamaward.cloud Now the DX news The Toshiba Fuchu Amateur Radio Club, JA1YVT, is celebrating its 60th anniversary and, as part of the celebration, team members are staging a DXpedition to the Ogasawara Islands. They will be QRV as JA1YVT/JD1 until Thursday, the 10th of April. The operating schedule, frequencies and QSL information are available via QRZ.com DA1DX, DK9IP, DM6EE and DL8LAS will be active from Anegada Island in the British Virgin Islands as VP2VI from the 10th to the 27th of April. Full details via QRZ.com Now the contest news The FT4 International Activity Day started at 12:00 UTC on Saturday, the 5th of April and ends at 12:00 UTC today, Sunday, the 6th of April. Using FT4 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. The SP DX Contest started at 1500 UTC on Saturday, the 5th of April and ends at 1500 UTC today, Sunday, the 6th of April. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code. Today, Sunday the 6th of April, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000 to 1600 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also today, Sunday the 6th of April, the Worked All Britain Data Contest runs from 1000UTC to 1400UTC and from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, FT4, JS8, RTTY and PSK on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number, and your Worked All Britain square. Club and multi-operator stations can only score points in one of the two operating periods. Entries need to be with the contest manager by the 17th of April. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website. On Monday, the 7th of April, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 13:30 UTC. Using FM and SSB on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their country. Also on Monday, the 7th of April, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1330 to 1500 UTC. Using FM and SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their country. On Monday, the 7th of April, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday, the 8th of April, the 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 8th of April, the 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 9th of April, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday, the 9th of April, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Thursday, the 10th of April, the 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.   Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 3rd of April 2025 We had a week of mixed solar conditions, but it ended with an SFI of 182 and a Kp of 3.67 on Thursday, the 3rd of April.   The geomagnetic field declined to quieter levels following a prolonged period of active, Kp4 conditions earlier on Wednesday due to solar wind enhancements. This impacted propagation, with the critical frequency struggling to get much above 7 MHz on Wednesday. Compare this with the following day, when the critical frequency hit 10.4MHz by 0830 UTC. Nevertheless, there was DX to be worked on Wednesday with FT8 allowing signals from Australia, Japan, Indonesia, China, and Surinam to get into the UK on 21MHz. The solar proton flux was also high on Tuesday, the 1st of April, affecting signals passing through the polar regions, but this had declined by Thursday and was heading back to normal levels. This was due to a large CME observed off the east limb of the Sun on Frida,y the 28th of March. If it had been Earth-directed, we may have seen a massive aurora. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will stay in the 175-185 region. A Kp of six was forecast for yesterday, Saturday the 5th of April, followed by a further period of unsettled geomagnetic conditions due to an enhanced solar wind. If this is the case, we may not get more settled conditions until the 14th to the 16th of April. Nevertheless, this remains a good time for North-South HF paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and UK to South America. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The old forecasting maxim that the ‘longer a high lasts, the longer it will last' is built upon the presence of blocked upper air weather patterns. When the jet stream gets so distorted into a high-amplitude north/south wave, its lateral movement, from west to east, becomes very slow. On the upper air charts, this takes the shape of the Greek letter omega, and this is the current set-up. It means that the weather associated with it also lasts a long time. In this case, it's the high pressure and its spell of fine weather that is likely to last for the whole of the coming week. The position of the high will change, though, starting over the North Sea and ending over the UK and the nearby Atlantic. This means that Tropo will be the mode of choice for the coming period, which includes the 70cm UK Activity Contest on Tuesday and the 6m UK Activity Contest on Thursday. Rain scatter is unlikely during this extended period of dry weather. The meteor scatter options are still mainly driven by random meteors for the coming period into next week, but the next important shower, the Lyrids, peaks on the 22nd of April. The auroral alerts continue to come through, raising interest. As usual, the clue will be fluttery-sounding signals on the bands, particularly noticeable on CW, but they can also be pronounced on speech transmissions. Monitor the Kp index for values above Kp5. There have been a few trans-equatorial openings to Southern Africa on 50MHz digital modes for the fortunate few who live in the extreme south and southwest of the UK, but it did extend up to Cambridgeshire and Suffolk briefly on some days last week. The long drought of Sporadic-E will soon be over, but we're still in the realms of very isolated events for 10m and 6m, which will be short-lasting. The jet stream, which can be a good clue as to potential locations, suggests looking to Scandinavia, the Baltic and northern Europe. EME path losses are falling again, but Moon declination has been at its highest this weekend, so we have long Moon windows. 144MHz sky noise is low throughout the coming week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday, the 30th of March 2025   The news headlines: RSGB AGM – your chance to ask the Board a question The RSGB has published new forms for exam question queries The April Tonight@8 webinar – using a glue stick in a homemade 40m receiver Do you have a question about the RSGB's strategy? Perhaps you have a query about recent licence changes? Or maybe you'd like to understand more about membership growth? Whatever the topic, the Society is asking you to get in touch. RSGB Board members will be answering your questions during the RSGB 2025 AGM on Saturday, the 12th of April. You can submit your question in three ways; live via Zoom, send a written question in advance, or during the live chat on the day. If you'd like to ask a question about the formal part of the AGM, you'll need to do this via Zoom or by submitting a written question in advance. Don't miss out on this opportunity to discuss what matters to you. Your participation in the AGM is important, and the Society looks forward to hearing from you. Find out more about how to be involved and the deadlines for submitting questions by going to rsgb.org/agm As part of its modernisation of the exam systems, the RSGB has introduced online forms for reporting possible errors found in exam questions. These forms replace the current procedure of writing to the Exam Department. RSGB Examinations Standards Chair Tony Kent, G8PBH, explained that there are two forms. The first can only be submitted by exam candidates and is to formally challenge questions in actual exams, where the outcome of a challenge may affect a candidate's result. The second form can be submitted by anyone and is for informal queries of published exam questions, for example, in mock exams. A separate form is needed for each question that you challenge. Please check carefully that you are using the correct form, otherwise, it may delay the process. Your query will be considered by the RSGB Examinations and Syllabus Review Group, who will let you know the outcome. For more information and to find the forms, go to rsgb.org/exam-challenges The next webinar in the RSGB's Tonight@8 series will be with Nick Wood, M0NTV, on Monday, the 7th of April. Nick will show you how to use a regular glue stick housing in a rather novel way to form the basis of a variable tuning inductor in a homemade 40m receiver. After a brief description of a Direct Conversion Receiver and a short technical explanation of how it works, Nick will dive into four separate modules. At the end of the webinar, he will string it all together, and you'll be able to see some video footage of how it sounds and what it can do. Visit rsgb.org/webinars  to find out more. Join the presentation live on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. The RSGB is delighted to announce that Chris Aitken, MM0WIC, who is the current RSGB Youth Champion for Schools, is taking on the new position of RSGB Youth Chair. For now, Chris will continue to fulfil his Youth Champion for Schools role but will also take on more responsibilities by leading the Youth Champion team. Chris will work closely with the Board Liaison for Youth, and IARU Youth contacts, to help attract more UK youngsters to amateur radio. Find out more about youth activities by going to rsgb.org/youth If you live in Region 9, London and the Thames Valley, why not support fellow radio amateurs in your area? There are several volunteer vacancies within the region, including several District Representative positions, as well as the Regional Representative role. If you are passionate about amateur radio, enjoy talking with people, and want to give something back to the hobby, get in touch. Go to rsgb.org/volunteers to find out more, and then email the Regional Forum Chair Keith Bird, G4JED, via rr10@rsgb.org.uk SOS Radio Week is an annual event that celebrates the invaluable life-saving work of the volunteers of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the National CoastWatch Institute and the independent lifeboats around the coasts of the British Isles and the Channel Islands. This year, the event starts at 0000 UTC on the 1st of May and concludes at 2359 UTC on the 31st of May. SOS Radio Week stations can be run by individuals or groups, from home or at a special location. To register, go to sosradioweek.org.uk This year's Mills on the Air weekend is taking place on the 10th and 11th of May. Find out more at tinyurl.com/millsontheair  or search Mills on the Air on Facebook. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio Hangar Sale is taking place on Sunday, the 6th of April at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. Items on sale will include electronic equipment, amateur radio gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. For further details, please go to hackgreen.co.uk  or email coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club QRP Convention is taking place on Saturday, the 12th of April at Digby Hall in Sherborne. Doors open at 9.30 am. The convention will include traders, bring and buy, club stalls and a café. For more information, please visit the club's website at yeovil-arc.com Now the Special Event news The Royal Air Force Amateur Radio Society, also known as RAFARS, will be holding its popular Airfields On The Air special event activity from the 1st of April. RAF Stations will be activated primarily during the 5th and 6th of April, as well as the 12th and 13th of April. More information can be found via rafars.org/rafaota The Polish Amateur Radio Union is celebrating 95 years since its founding, as well as the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union. To mark the occasion, ten special event stations will be active between the 11th and 25th of April. Full details of the event, as well as details of available awards, can be found via Hamaward.cloud Now the DX news Alex, K6VHF/HR9 will again be active from the 30th of March until the 6th of April from Roatán island, IOTA reference NA-057. He'll be QRV on 80m to 6m using verticals, Hexbeam, Slopers and a Delta loop using FT8, FT4, SSB, RTTY and CW. QSL direct via K6VHF, OQRS Club Log, and Logbook of The World. Aldir, PY1SAD, is active again from Georgetown in Guyana as 8R1TM until the 26th of April. Aldir will be operating on all bands using CW, SSB, digital and satellite. QSL via eQSL and Logbook of The World. Now the contest news The CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday, the 29th of March, and ends at 2359 UTC today, Sunday, the 30th of March. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday, the 1st of April, the 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 1st of April, the 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 2nd of April, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Also on Wednesday, the 2nd of April, the 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. The UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest is on Wednesday, the 2nd of April and runs from 2000 to 2100 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The FT4 International Activity Day starts at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 5th of April and ends at 1200 UTC on Sunday, the 6th of April. Using FT4 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. The SP DX Contest starts at 1500 UTC on Saturday, the 5th of April and ends at 1500 UTC on Sunday, the 6th of April. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 27th of March 2025 Last week's space weather was dominated by a large coronal hole on the Sun. This was probably one of the largest we have seen for many years. Moderate, G2, geomagnetic storming was observed following the arrival of a solar wind stream from the hole, with the wind speed exceeding 600 km/s on Wednesday, the 26th. This pushed the Kp index to 6.33, depressing the MUF slightly. Luckily, the daytime MUF over a 3,000km path mostly stayed above 28 MHz, but it was slow to rise on Thursday, the 27th, when it took until 0900 UTC to reach 28 MHz. At the time of writing, the solar wind speed was more than 800km/s, so we can expect more disruption until at least Saturday, the 29th. Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined to 152 by Thursday, the 27th, with only four small sunspot regions visible. CDXC members have been discussing working New Zealand in the morning at the ZL sunset, often on low power. Listen and look for ZL4OL and ZL2CC, usually on FT8, but if conditions allow CW and SSB. 20m or 40m seems to be the favourite, and the VarAC data mode seems popular in ZL as well. Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will climb again, perhaps to 180 by the 4th of April. However, unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast again, beginning on the 3rd. We may expect the Kp index to reach six, which could be the start of at least ten days of disruption. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The overall picture for the weather patterns in the coming week is that of high pressure, which means that Tropo should be available as a good mode for VHF bands. There can be quite strong temperature inversions in the region of large well-developed areas of high pressure. The best performance will usually be around the edges of the high where the height of the inversion and ducting layer is typically between 0.5km and 2km above the ground, and can cover large distances for excellent DX prospects. Occasionally, a shallow ducting layer can form near the ground overnight but often disperses by mid-morning. If you are in a good inversion region, try SSB or CW on the VHF/UHF bands, as paths of up to 1,500km can often be achieved from a good ‘tropo lift'. The reverse side of the high-pressure systems is that we will have low pressure nearby, mainly to the north and west of the UK. Any potential for rain scatter will mainly be over northwestern Britain, although an active front that was moving south on Friday, the 28th of March, was a good candidate for chance rain scatter on the GHz bands. The prospects for meteor scatter are still largely dependent upon random meteors, which are usually best in the hours before dawn. Current solar activity will continue to trigger auroral alerts in the coming week. Now onto Sporadic-E, and last week we had a few out-of-season isolated foEs ‘blips' to between 5- 7 MHz, which was enough to produce propagation on 10m and 6m, albeit very fleetingly. There have already been some equinox-related 6m trans-equatorial propagation or TEP workable from the Southern part of the country, so keep an eye open late morning for Africa and late afternoon for South America.  EME path losses have continued to improve until perigee this morning, the 30th of March. Moon declination is still falling, and reached a minimum last Friday, the 28th. Moon windows will increase throughout the coming week. 144MHz sky noise is low, apart from Saturday the 29th when the Sun was close to the Moon in the sky, rising to moderate next Thursday before dropping back to low for the weekend. And that's all from the propagation team this week.  

Hello and Welcome to the DX Corner for your weekly Dose of DX as part of Ham Radios oldest Ham Radio Magazine on the air, “This week in amateur radio.” I'm Bill, AJ8B. I am not sure how many of you are interested in 60M, but overall interest is growing. One of my best friends, Joe, W8GEX, produces a 60-meter newsletter. Joe is considered by many as the godfather of 60m. With almost 250 entities confirmed on 60, I can understand why. New Zealand stations ZL4OL and ZL2CC have been heard around 0700z. Watch your 60m packet cluster for these advid 60M operators. 4U1UN has been on 60m recently. Keep an eye out for that one also. Some of the rare DX on 60 meters recently has included A51AE, 7Q6M, and T77C.Don't forget to have a look at our website 60metersonline.com. There are details about our DXCC and WAS Awards for 60 meters. . Thanks, Joe, for letting me use this information. You can learn more about 60 meters by checking out the DX Mentor podcast, episode 24. (https://youtu.be/Mq7YN6euHHM ) Just go to YouTube or your podcast app and search for The DX Mentor. Episode 24 will give you all the details about getting on 60 meters. This section of DX News comes from Bernie, W3UR, editor of the DailyDX, the WeeklyDX, and the How's DX column in QST. If you would like a free 2-week trial of the DailyDX, your only source of real-time DX information, just drop me a note at thedxmentor@gmail.com Inveterate DXpeditioner IV3FSG, Elvira, will operate D68Z from March 3 until at least March 18. Elvira is currently QRV. She will be operating on 160-6M CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and FT4. Elvira will use three ICOM IC-7300 radios, with one dedicated to 6M (grid locator LH18og) operational around the clock. The antenna setup will include a 6M delta loop, a DX Commander vertical for 30-10M, and an IWØRGN multiband vertical for 160-10M. To minimize duplicate QSOs, please verify Club Log online and Club Log LiveStream. For digital QSOs, monitor D68Z on PSK Reporter. IKØXBX, Francesco, will be the pilot station for this DXpedition. QSL cards are available via OQRS and LoTW. The VK9XU team ended their Christmas Island operation on Tuesday at 0257Z with around 58,000 QSOs, surpassing expectations. They thanked everyone for their discipline in the pileups. The team is now heading to Cocos (Keeling) Island. Arriving after sunset, they will start limited activity the first night and set up antennas the next day. They look forward to working everyone as VK9CU on Cocos. The DX-Adventure team is embarking on a DXpedition to the Andaman Islands (AS-001) as VU4AX from March 10th to March 20th, 2025. The team, consisting of 12 experienced operators, will be active around the clock on multiple bands from 10m to 160m, including WARC + 60m, using CW, SSB, and DIGI modes. They will operate six stations, transporting 1,150kg of meticulously prepared equipment to ensure the best possible experience. The DXpedition aims to provide a rare opportunity for QSOs, especially for USA operators, as VU4 ranks #28 for the USA and #53 worldwide. The team is supported by three experienced Pilot Stations: W2IRT Peter J. Dougherty, E21EIC Champ, and ON9CFG Bjorn. They will closely monitor propagation conditions to maximize the chances of contacts with stations across the United States. Updates and contact details for the Pilot Stations can be found on the DX-Adventure website - https://www.dx-adventure.com The DX-Adventure team looks forward to making a QSO with you from VU4 South Andaman. The DX Mentor podcast recently interview the DX-Adventure team. When that is available, I will let you know, or you can subscribe to the DX Mentor podcast and YouTube Channel to be updated.Until next week, this is Bill, AJ8B saying 73 and thanks to my XYL Karen for her love and support. I Hope to hear you in the pileups!

GB2RS News Sunday the 9th of February 2025 The news headlines: A new RSGB web page focuses on emerging technology An upcoming talk at Bletchley Park Museum aims to widen awareness of the radio spectrum and radio transmission Remember to share your British Science Week ideas The RSGB has launched a new web page on how emerging technology can be used in amateur radio. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing offer the opportunity to broaden the definition of amateur radio. They can also increase appeal and attract a more diverse audience. For existing radio amateurs, they offer the opportunity for progression through learning new skills. You'll also find links to two RSGB Convention presentations, including the newly released talk on 3D printing by Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI. Go to rsgb.org/emerging-technology  to learn more. The Society will be adding more technologies to the web page in the coming months and would love to hear from you if you are involved in amateur radio in any of these areas. Share your stories via comms@rsgb.org.uk  On Saturday the 29th of March, the RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator, Martyn Baker, G0GMB, together with Andy Webster, G7UHN from the Radio Communications Foundation, will be delivering a talk in the Fellowship Auditorium at the Bletchley Park Museum. The presentation will introduce people to the radio spectrum and how to get to grips with the fundamentals of radio transmission. The session is being delivered as part of the RSGB's ongoing strategy to promote amateur radio to wider audiences. The Society is pleased to announce that RSGB members who would like to attend the talk can benefit from a 10% discount, reducing the price to £14.40. To find out more about this talk, go to the ‘What's on' section on the Bletchley Park website via bletchleypark.org.uk  If you'd like to visit the Bletchley Park museum after the talk, don't forget that RSGB members can gain free entry by downloading a voucher from the RSGB website via rsgb.org/bpvoucher British Science Week is less than a month away and the RSGB would love you to use your interest, expertise and enthusiasm for amateur radio to get people involved. The annual event takes place between the 7th and 16th of March and celebrates science, technology, engineering and maths. Perhaps you love going portable and could take a local rambler group on an activation with you, or maybe you're a member of ‘Men in Sheds' and could deliver a soldering demonstration for them. The Society wants to make amateur radio accessible and inclusive for everyone. All ideas are welcome, both big and small. Whatever you are planning, send your ideas to the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator, Ian Neal, M0KEO via bsw@rsgb.org.uk  The RSGB will continue to share resources and ideas for how to get involved via rsgb.org/bsw  A competition has been launched for RSGB Regions 6 and 7 in Wales that will take place throughout March. The aim is to encourage both individual RSGB members, as well as Affiliated Clubs in Wales, to build their own resonant 21MHz antenna and make as many QSOs as possible on the 21MHz band during the month. There are four categories to enter, with certificates issued to the top three stations in each of the categories. A club trophy is also available. To view the full competition rules and to access the submission form, go to tinyurl.com/walescomp  Don't forget that Girlguiding groups will be taking part in World Thinking Day on the Air activities over the weekends of the 15th and 22nd of February. The event aims to encourage Girlguiding members to make friendships with those in other units, using amateur radio as the means of communication. A list of stations that have provided the RSGB with details of their callsign can be found by going to rsgb.org/thinking-day  If you'd like to be added to this list, please email comms@rsgb.org.uk And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 9th, the Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society RadioActive Fair is taking place at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DG. The doors are open from 10 am to 3 pm and admission costs £5. Hot food, refreshments and free car parking are available. For more information contact Patrick, 2E0VGF via info@radioactivefair.co.uk The Red Rose Winter Rally is due to take place on Sunday the 23rd of February from 10 am at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 2PJ. Please note that the maximum number of five-foot tables per trader has had to be reduced from six to five. On a brighter note, the price remains as it has been for several years at £10 per table. For more information visit wmrc.co.uk The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society Annual Rally will take place on Saturday the 1st of March at Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, BT26 6AR. The doors open at 10.30 am. For more details visit lvars.uk Now the Special Event news A series of special event stations is active until the 31st of March to celebrate the city of Chemnitz, one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2025. All QSOs will be uploaded to eQSL, Logbook of the World, Club Log and the DARC Community Logbook. Paper QSL cards will not be issued. For more information about the event, including details of a certificate that is available for working the stations, visit 2025c.de Special callsign A9100IARU is in use by the Bahrain Amateur Radio Society to mark the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union. The callsign will be active for five days during each month of the 2025 year. The station was spotted recently using FT4 on the 10m band. QSL via EC6DX. British Railways Amateur Radio Society is continuing to run special event stations GB0LMR and GB2SDR during 2025 to celebrate 200 years of train travel. Operation is mainly focused on 40m but there may be additional activity on the 10m band using SSB. QSL via the Bureau. To read more about the special event stations, visit QRZ.com A team of operators from DARC is active until the 27th of April using special callsign DA0IARU. The station is operating to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the IARU. The special event team has been in existence for around five years and is led by Ric, DL2VFR. Now the DX news Thierry, TK1CX is active from Cameroon until the end of February. He is QRV as TJ/TK1CX on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands. He operates mainly using FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, or via EA5ZD. Przemo, SP3PS is operating as C5SP from The Gambia until around the middle of March. He operates using SSB and FT8 on the HF bands. QSL via SP3PS. Now the contest news The CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 8th and runs until 2359UTC today, the 9th of February. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The PACC Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 8th and runs until 1200UTC today, the 9th of February. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. PA stations also send their province. On Tuesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 12th, 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 four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 12th, 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. On Wednesday the 12th, the RSGB 80m Club Championship data leg runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 13th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 15th and runs until 2359UTC on Sunday the 16th of February. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmit power. USA stations also send their state and Canadian stations send their province.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Wednesday the 5th of February 2025 Last week went pretty much as predicted. The solar wind from a large coronal hole impacted the Earth on Saturday the 1st of February, pushing the Kp index to four. The hole was so large that the geomagnetic disturbance lasted until the early evening on Sunday. Once the solar wind speed had dropped, things got back to normal and the Kp index has been in the range of 1 to 2 ever since. The event appeared to have had little effect on HF propagation, with maximum usable frequencies over a 3000km path remaining above 28MHz during the daylight hours. So it looks like we dodged a bullet. At the time of writing, we have had 21 M-class flares in three days. A solar flare measuring M8.8 was detected around active region 3981, peaking at 0358UTC on the 3rd of February. This was the strongest flare yet from this region in terms of peak X-Ray flux. However, the flare itself was impulsive and was not the source of a coronal mass ejection. Over the next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index could fall slightly to be in the 180 to 200 range. Make the most of the good propagation as we may be entering a period of unsettled geomagnetic conditions again from the 10th to the 17th of February. NOAA predicts that the Kp index could rise to a maximum of 5 on the 13th but is likely to be in the range of 3 to 5 over the seven days. Part of this may be down to another coronal hole which became Earth-facing on the 6th of February. There is also a good chance that we could get an X-class eruptive flare from active regions 3981 or 3978, which could result in a coronal mass ejection. We recommend you keep an eye on solarham.com for daily updates. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO High pressure during the second half of last week brought some useful tropo conditions. As this week, ending today the 9th comes to a close there are some wintry showers along North Sea coasts, which may produce some snow and rain scatter. However, this may be weakened by the nearby high pressure.  By the end of this week, ending today the 9th, there will be a change of weather pattern as the high, having now migrated to Scandinavia, leaves room for Atlantic weather systems to encroach from the west during the coming week. This could bring rain scatter possibilities to the western side of the country. These should be more useful than the eastern coast ones at the end of last week since the rain will probably be heavier and the fronts slow-moving. This time of year is something of a desert for Sporadic-E propagation although look out for lesser events as a result of jet streams. You can track these on the Propquest website. Keep a look out for auroras during the week beginning tomorrow, the 10th. The likelihood of M-class flares is around 85%, while the chance of X-class flares is approximately 20%. So keep an eye on the Kp index for any potential solar events that could cause auroras. Next week, there are no major meteor showers. The next significant meteor shower, the Lyrids, will become active in April. Keep checking the pre-dawn period for random meteors. Moon declination reached a maximum yesterday, Saturday the 8th. Path losses are still low but will increase throughout the coming week. This means that this weekend, ending today the 9th, should produce good activity for EME, especially on the GHz bands with long Moon windows and high peak Moon elevation. 144MHz sky noise is moderate this weekend, ending today the 9th, but falls to low for the rest of the coming week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 12th of January The news headlines: There are opportunities in the RSGB's Regional Team World Thinking Day on the Air is coming up in February Are you interested in an exciting opportunity to volunteer with the amateur radio maker community? If you're looking to get involved in a different side of amateur radio this year, have you thought about becoming a volunteer RSGB Regional Representative for your area? There are eight Regional Representative posts available for nomination in this year's RSGB elections. This rewarding role will give you the opportunity to represent the views of members in your region to the Board, as well as supporting and advising the District Representatives located within the Region. Regional Representatives are also members of the volunteer Leadership Team and have the opportunity to contribute to the Society's strategy and policy development, as well as to its implementation. If you think this sounds exciting, and you are a confident communicator who has experience in managing people, then go to rsgb.org/election and read the candidate pack now. You'll also find details about how to apply, alongside information on other roles, including the RSGB President and two Elected Board Director vacancies. The closing date for all vacancies is 2359UTC on the 31st of January. So, act now and use your expertise to make an impact on amateur radio in your region. On the 15th of February, Girlguiding members will celebrate World Thinking Day on the Air. The aim of this event is to encourage Girlguiding members to make friendships with those in other units, using amateur radio as the means of communication. On this day, Crawley Amateur Radio Club and RSGB volunteers will be hosting a special event call sign GB1SCG, which relates to Sussex Central Guides. Girlguiding members of all ages will have the opportunity to celebrate by communicating via the amateur bands. If you or your amateur radio club are planning to work with a local Girlguiding group for World Thinking Day on the Air, please get in touch via comms@rsgb.org.uk  so the RSGB can promote your event.  As part of the RSGB's ongoing strategy to take amateur radio to new and diverse audiences, it is delighted to advertise a new volunteer role. This is an opportunity for someone to be an advocate for amateur radio within the maker community. The spirit of experimentation, curiosity and learning is common to both groups and the RSGB would like to foster greater crossover between the amateur radio and modern maker communities. This crossover would be centred around hackspace and maker spaces, as well as larger events, but would also encourage individuals from each community to inspire and learn from each other. This role is intended to help take amateur radio to a new audience with an emphasis on how the licence would support other hobbies, rather than the promotion of traditional amateur radio activities. To carry out this role you'll need to be open to working with different communities, be proactive and organised, and be able to build a team and help it to work to achieve goals. To find full details of the role go to rsgb.org/volunteers and if you're interested in applying or being part of a wider team, contact RSGB Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX via g0mgx@rsgb.org.uk  The RSGB is recruiting volunteers for two roles that are fundamental to the delivery of the Society's Convention. The Convention Chair will be someone who understands the advantages of both online and in-person events. The successful applicant will have an awareness of all aspects of amateur radio and will contribute to shaping the RSGB Conventions of the future to suit the changing amateur radio audience. A second opportunity to be part of the Convention team is as the Society's Lecture Coordinator. This role is part of both the Convention and Tonight@8 teams and requires someone who is proactive and collaborative. The applicant will need to bring ideas for presentations that educate and inspire radio amateurs to try something new, learn more about interesting topics and expand their knowledge of amateur radio. To find out more about either of these roles and how to apply, go to rsgb.org/volunteers  Don't forget that the next event in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday the 26th of January 2025. It will run from 12 pm to 3 pm and there will be nets operating in most Maidenhead Squares across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. To take part in the event, which is designed to promote FM activity on the 2m band, all you need to do is call in and make contact with others. For more information visit the 145 Alive Facebook page. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally is taking place on the 26th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road in Market Rasen. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £3. Hot refreshments and ample free car parking will be available. The cost of a table is £10. To book, please contact Steve Burke, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com On the 9th of February, the Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society Radioactive Rally will take place at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 5DG. The doors will be open from 10 am to 3 pm and admission will cost £5. Hot food, refreshments and free car parking will be available. For more information contact Patrick, 2E0VGF via info@radioactivefair.co.uk The Red Rose Winter Rally is due to take place on the 23rd of February from 10 am at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 2PJ. Please note that the maximum number of five-foot tables per trader has had to be reduced from six to five. On a brighter note, the price remains as it has been for several years at £10 per table. For more information visit wmrc.co.uk On the 1st of March, The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society Annual Rally will be held at Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, BT26 6AR. The doors open at 10.30 am. For more details visit lvars.uk Now the Special Event news The South African Radio League, or SARL, is enjoying its 100th anniversary in 2025. To celebrate the occasion, the SARL Centenary Marathon QSO Party began at 0000UTC on the 1st of January and will run until 2359UTC on the 31st of December 2025. Throughout the year, the League, with the aid of its members and associated clubs, will be on the air using special event callsign ZS100SARL, as well as the permanent callsigns ZS6SRL and ZS9HQ. For details of several awards that will be available, and for more information, go to tinyurl.com/SARL25 The Deutsches Museum in Munich, one of the largest science and technology museums in the world, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Special callsign DL100DM will be active throughout the year from the amateur radio station which is part of the Museum's permanent electronics exhibition. QSL via DL8FA. More information is available at QRZ.com Now the DX news Thierry, TK1CX is active in Cameroon until February 2025. In his spare time, he is QRV as TJ/TK1CX on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands. He operates mainly using FT8 with a solar power supply. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via EA5ZD. Don, KW7R is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. He is there on a work assignment until September 2025 and, in his spare time, he operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World.   Now the contest news Today, the 12th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m Data modes Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 14th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 14th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 16th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 18th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m SSB Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using SSB on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 9th of January 2025. First, let's take a look at last week's solar activity. As predicted, the solar flux index declined to the 160s. We had one X-class solar flare on the 4th and there have been 11 M-class flares since then. The net result was that the ionosphere was unsettled from the 4th to the 6th of January with the Kp index hitting 5 on the 4th. Following this, the Kp index was at 4 on the 5th and 6th of January. There were reports of visible aurora over the UK on Saturday the 4th, but it was nothing like the record-breaking aurora in April 2024. There were coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, over this period but they were mainly facing away from Earth. Maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs for short, held up over this period, although the shorter days meant that the MUF over a 3,000km path didn't stay above 28MHz for long after sunset. MUFs plummeted to below 10MHz by 1800UTC on Sunday the 5th. The message is clear – get your high-band DXing done by sunset! Next week it looks like the Sun is going into hibernation. The main sunspots will be disappearing over the western limb, leaving it looking a little bare. As a result, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain low until the 16th when it is predicted to climb into the 200s once again. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast from the 16th to the 20th of January with a predicted maximum Kp index of 4. There are currently no coronal holes to worry about. So, in conclusion, this weekend ending the 12th looks set to be reasonable for HF operating, barring any X-class solar flares and accompanying CMEs. We predict that MUFs over 3,000km will be above 28MHz from around 0900UTC to 1500 UTC.   And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO. We are in the middle of a proper winter cold spell at the moment, and we are about to see a large high coming over the country. This high is building in cold air and it means sharp frosts and perhaps some fog, so there's a chance of patchy tropo at times. Conditions may further improve as the high slips south after this weekend ending today the 12th. This may allow milder, moister Atlantic air in from the west to improve the refractive index contrast across the inversion, which could lead to tropo. The solar conditions have remained interesting and produced a few aurora alerts, so we can probably benefit from watching the Kp index during the coming week.  Meteor activity has passed its early January peaks, and we are now sliding back into random meteor activity as our best option. These tend to be better just before dawn. There is just one minor shower this week. The Gamma Ursae-Minorids are active from the 10th to the 22nd of January and peak on the 18th. We have mentioned Sporadic-E quite a lot recently but, with the passing of the meteor activity, the chances of it occurring have reduced considerably. Although limited activity may enhance the lower bands, it probably won't feature in the usual high HF and VHF bands. The Moon reaches maximum declination this weekend, ending today the 12th. Moon windows are long and peak Moon elevations are high. Path losses are also high and increasing all week. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team.

GB2RS News Sunday the 15th of December The news headlines: The RSGB 2025 election nominations process is open The Society is advertising for a new Convention Chair YOTA Month is busy this week with more callsign hosts to listen out for The RSGB 2025 elections process has begun, and nominations are open for a range of volunteer roles. The RSGB's President John McCullagh, GI4BWM will reach the end of his second year as President at the AGM and so will stand down. There are also two Elected Board Director vacancies. The Board is looking for people with specific skills to fill these roles. The current President is one of the few at the Board level with extensive experience in spectrum matters and negotiating with the authorities, so that skills gap needs to be filled. Outreach has been an important focus over the last year for the Society, and it would like to support the current activities and expand on them. These developments will include encouraging practical skills amongst the amateur radio community and building links with other organisations. Building those relationships will require someone with drive and determination but also tact and diplomacy. There are eight posts available for RSGB Regional Representatives, ranging from Region 1 in Scotland to Region 11 in the southwest. For more details about the roles as well as application forms and candidate packs, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election The RSGB has been developing its Convention over recent years to suit the changing needs of the amateur radio community. From a face-to-face meeting, it evolved into an online event when we weren't allowed to meet, then changed again into a hybrid event, bringing together the best of both for people in this country and across the world. The Society has also been developing the programme to include practical workshops and forums to support radio amateurs who would like a safe and accessible environment in which to try to develop their practical skills. The RSGB General Manager has been doing the role of Convention Chair for the last three years but has now stepped back from that additional voluntary role, so the RSGB is looking for a new Convention Chair. This role needs someone who understands the advantages of both online and in-person events and who can contribute to shaping the RSGB Conventions of the future to suit the changing amateur radio audience. The RSGB is looking for someone enthusiastic, proactive, collaborative and good at working with others in a strong team. They will also need an awareness of all aspects of amateur radio, including the latest developments and what might be on the horizon. As part of the wider Convention team, they will need to suggest ideas for speakers and practical activities that will attract a range of radio amateurs. If you believe you could contribute to the development of this prestigious annual event, the RSGB would like to hear from you. Please contact the RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB via gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk Youngsters on the Air Month is now halfway through, with plenty more operators booked to host GB24YOTA. There is still time to work the RSGB National Radio Centre's GB3RS station which is hosting the callsign for the duration of today, Sunday the 15th of December. On Wednesday, the 18th of December, the Simon Langton Boys School in Canterbury will be operating between 12 pm and 6 pm. On Thursday, the 19th of December, between 12 pm and 6 pm the Cambridge University Wireless Society will once again be hosting GB24YOTA. To finish up this week, Tommy, M7OMY will be operating on the 20th and 21st of December under the supervision of Las, M0BOY. Tommy is a young radio amateur and has been taking part in YOTA Month for a few years, so be sure to listen out and make a QSO with him. Search GB24YOTA on QRZ.com  to view the full operating schedule. The RSGB's headquarters will close for the Christmas and New Year period from 2pm on Tuesday the 24th of December 2024. It will open again at 8.30am on Thursday the 2nd of January 2025. During that time, if you need information about amateur radio, exams or RadCom, you'll find lots of information on the website via rsgb.org  If you are planning to visit the RSGB's National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park over the holidays, please note that it will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, the NRC will close at 2 pm. The National Radio Centre will also be closed for essential maintenance works on Thursday the 2nd of January 2025. Outside of these times, volunteers look forward to welcoming visitors as usual. Remember that RSGB Members can download a free entry voucher for Bletchley Park from the RSGB website via rsgb.org/bpvoucher On the 6th of December, Ofcom announced an update regarding the timing of phases two and three of its amateur radio licensing framework, including changes to the new intermediate call signs and rules for Special event Stations. These phases were originally planned for December 2024 and March 2025 respectively, but Ofcom now expects to deliver them in the third quarter of 2025. For more information go to ofcom.org.uk  and search for ‘Licensing updates'. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Sparkford Radio Rally is taking place on Sunday the 29th of December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil. Doors are open to traders from 7.30 am and from 9.30 am to the public. Admission is £2. Refreshments and free parking will be available. For more information, please contact Luke via 07870 168197 or email m3vhv@hotmail.co.uk Looking ahead to events coming up next year, the Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally is taking place on the 26th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road in Market Rasen. Doors open at 10 am, and admission is £3. Hot refreshments and ample free car parking will be available. The cost of a table is £10. To book, please contact Steve Burke, M5ZZZ via 07777 699069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Now the Special Event news There is still time to work The Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club which is once again active with special callsign GB0MC until Thursday the 26th of December. The ‘MC' in the callsign stands for Merry Christmas. The Club would like to invite everyone to call in and give them a hearty “HoHoHo” and tell them what radio equipment you would like from Santa this year. The Club will also be live streaming on its YouTube Channel. OR100LGE is the special callsign in use by members of the Liège Radio Club, ON5VL to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The station is active until the end of the year on the 160 to 6m bands using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via ON6YH. QSOs will also be uploaded to Club Log. Starting in January 2025, members of the British Railways Amateur Radio Society will be operating Special Event Station GB0LMR to celebrate 200 years of the modern railway. QSL via the Bureau or direct by sending a Stamped Addressed Envelope to the address given on QRZ.COM. Now the DX news Mike, V47NH is active from St Kitts and Nevis until the 17th of December. The IOTA reference is NA-104. He will operate on the 40 to 10m bands and SSB. QSL via KC1NGS or Logbook of the World. The VP2VMM team is active from Anegada Island in The British Virgin Islands. They will be QRV in the 2024 ARRL 10m Contest which ends at 2359 today, Sunday. Outside the contest, they will be QRV holiday style using VP2V/homecall until Tuesday the 17th of December. QSL via Logbook of the World, Bureau, OQRS or direct to KU9C. Full details via QRZ.com S21DX is active from Bangladesh until the 19th of December. The IOTA reference is AS-140. The team is active on the 160 to 10m bands, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World or direct to EB7DX. A Danish DXpedition will be operating as TO0J from French Guiana between the 20th and 31st of December. They will be active on the 80 to 10m bands, CW, SSB, but mainly FT8. QSL via Clublog OQRS, Logbook of the World or eQSL. Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon started at 0000UTC on Sunday the 1st of December and ends at 2359UTC on Friday the 31st of January 2025. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator. The ARRL 10m Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 14th of December and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 15th of December. Using CW and phone on the 10m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. US, Canadian and Mexican stations will also send their State or Province code. On Tuesday, the 17th of December, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday, the 19th of December, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. 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 Thursday the 12th of December 2024. We had another week with quiet geomagnetic conditions. Other than three hours with a Kp of four on the 9th of December, as of last Thursday when this report was being compiled it had been below three for the past seven days. Active region 3920 produced an impulsive M2.8 solar flare, peaking at 1006UTC on the 11th of December. A quick M2.0 flare was also detected around AR3922 in the southeast quadrant. There was also an M6.4 solar flare at 0648UTC on the 10th of December, but no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed. The solar flux index, despite being predicted to reach 200 again, has been simmering away in the 160s and 170s. Nevertheless, the quieter geomagnetic conditions have helped HF with the extrapolated MUF over a 3,000km path often hitting 40MHz at times. However, the early sunset, which is around 1538UTC to 1621UTC at the moment depending on your location in the UK, means that the MUF drops off quite quickly in the afternoon. The average critical frequency at night is currently about 3.0-3.5MHz, which explains why the HF bands appear to be dead. The winter solstice is on the 21st of December, and we won't see much change until we get to mid-January. There is DX to be had with CDXC members reporting working YJ0CA (Vanuatu) on 15 metres, V73WE (Marshall Islands) on 30 metres and YI1QEA (Iraq) on 10 metres. So, at the moment, make the most of the daytime DX and greyline openings, and reserve the evening for Top Band and perhaps 80 metres. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain around 170 to 175. The Kp index is expected to be around two or three, apart from the 19th of December when it could reach four. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO. The period of enhanced Tropo activity will have faded away by this weekend as the high pressure slips away into Europe and declines. This allowed low pressure to regain control from last Friday through the current weekend. There may be a chance of some rain scatter propagation on the GHz bands, although it doesn't look like a particularly good example.  All is not lost for Tropo followers, since the next high drifts in from the Atlantic early next week. The southern UK will benefit the most with Tropo paths to France and across Biscay. This lasts until midweek, to be followed by a return of low pressure for the second half of the week and probably a better rain scatter option than this weekend. The big Geminids meteor shower peaked yesterday, the 14th of December, but will linger throughout the month. The radiant source rises late afternoon and sets the following lunchtime and is most favourably positioned late evening and early morning, pre-dawn. Next, a consideration of aurora prospects, which are still a little enhanced by solar conditions. So, as usual, stay alert to an increasing Kp index above Kp=4 to keep in the game. Finally, remember that the period of Christmas and early January is well known for producing random out-of-season Sporadic-E. It's not possible to fine-tune Es prospects this far ahead, but it wouldn't hurt to monitor the f0Es traces on the www.propquest.co.uk website between now and mid-January. The Moon's declination is at maximum today, Sunday the 15th of December, and also on Monday, so expect long Moon windows with high peak elevations. Path losses are still low but rising, so it's still a good week for EME. The 144MHz sky noise is moderate to low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 8th of December The news headlines: Take part in the RSGB Construction Competition A new edition of RadCom Basics has been published A busy week with GB24YOTA hosted by many groups for YOTA Month During November, the RSGB used its Photo Friday feature on social media to highlight construction and practical skills. Photos included everything from Construction Clubs for newcomers to ground satellite repairs at university clubs. If these have left you feeling inspired and wanting to get creative, why not submit an entry to the Society's 2025 Construction Competition? There are six categories, including a new Outreach category that gives entrants the opportunity to create a project that can be reproduced in a school or public environment. Whether you are a seasoned constructor, used to building your own projects or a beginner looking to take your first steps in amateur radio construction, the RSGB would love to hear from you. Visit the RSGB website at rsgb.org/construction-competition  for full details of the competition and how to enter. For further inspiration, pick up a copy of the June Edition of RadCom and turn to page 36 to view last year's entries. The November 2024 issue of RadCom Basics is now available on the RSGB website for members to read. The publication is aimed at new licensees or anyone who enjoys reading about the fundamental principles behind the many facets of amateur radio. This issue includes part one of how to get on 40m with a small suburban garden, as well as articles on home construction and using repeaters. If you aren't one of the thousands of members who have done so already, you can subscribe to receive notifications about RadCom Basics via the RSGB Membership Portal. Log in and choose the “Manage preferences” tab. To read the latest edition go to rsgb.org/radcom-basics The RSGB would like to congratulate everyone who operated GB24YOTA last week. There was some brilliant activity on the air, including Wick High School Radio Club which had 12 student operators involved and inspired some to take their Foundation licence. If you missed talking to the group, you've got another chance to make a QSO with them today, Sunday the 8th of December. Taking over tomorrow, Monday the 9th of December is Hilderstone Radio Society, which will be operating between 9 am and 5 pm. Cray Valley Radio Society will host the callsign after 5 pm. The RSGB's National Radio Centre station GB3RS, will be on the air with GB24YOTA for the duration of Tuesday the 10th of December. NRC volunteers will also host youngsters from the 6th Bletchley Guides from 6 pm on that day, so do listen out and get on the air to make a QSO with this group. On Wednesday the 11th of December, Hilderstone Radio Society will be back on the air with the callsign for a second day. Bromsgrove & District Amateur Radio Club will operate as GB24YOTA from 6 pm on Friday the 13th of December. To finish the week, the RSGB's National Radio Centre station GB3RS will once again be on the air as it hosts the callsign over the weekend of the 14th and 15th of December. There are still operating spaces left if you'd like to get involved, but don't delay as GB24YOTA is only operational until the end of this month. Go to rsgb.org/yota-month  to find out more. The RSGB Contest Club recently announced that it is looking for volunteers to take part in the second World Wide Award event taking place in January 2025. To be part of the team you will need to be an RSGB member and hold a Full Licence. QSOs can be made using SSB, CW and digital modes. Foundation or Intermediate licensees can join in under supervision or take part in WWA as award chasers. To be part of the operating team email contestclub@rsgbcc.org  to register your interest. To find out more about the event search ‘RSGB Contest Club' on the RSGB website and scroll down to the section titled World Wide Award 2025. Poldhu Amateur Radio Club is celebrating the 123rd anniversary of the first radio transmission across the Atlantic in 1901. Visitors are invited to join members of the Club at The Marconi Centre in Cornwall between 9 am and 4 pm on Thursday the 12th of December to learn how the location played a crucial part in the history of wireless communication. As part of the celebrations, radio amateurs will be operating on various radio bands throughout the day. If you would like to operate as part of the event email secretary@gb2gm.org  You can find full details on the anniversary celebrations on the Club website via gb2gm.org Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Mid-Devon Amateur Radio and Electronics Fair is taking place today, Sunday the 8th of December, at Winkleigh Sports and Recreation Centre. Doors are open from 9 am to 1 pm. Entry is £3 per person and there is no charge for partners and under 16s. Free parking and Wi-Fi are available, as well as hot food and refreshments. The cost for traders is £5 per 6ft frontage with tables supplied. Booking in advance is recommended. Mains electricity is also available on request. Traders are asked to pre-book as soon as possible. Please contact Phil, G6DLJ via 07990 563147 or email wrg2024@hotmail.com The Sparkford Radio Rally is on Sunday the 29th of December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil. Doors are open to traders from 7.30 am and from 9.30 am to the public. Admission is £2. Refreshments and free parking will be available. For more information, please contact Luke via 07870 168197 or email m3vhv@hotmail.co.uk Looking ahead to events coming up next year, the Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally is taking place on the 26th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road in Market Rasen. Doors open at 10 am, and admission is £3. Hot refreshments and ample free car parking will be available. The cost for tables is £10. To book please contact Steve Burke, M5ZZZ via 07777 699069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Now the Special Event news Ian Astley, M0IAA will be operating as GB1WH on Wednesday the 11th of December. The special event station is being run to support and promote the excellent work done by Wakefield Hospice. To make a donation to the hospice or to hear more from Ian, visit QRZ.com The Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is once again running the special callsign GB0MC until Thursday the 26th of December. The ‘MC' in the callsign stands for Merry Christmas. The Club would like to invite everyone to call in and give them a hearty “HoHoHo” and tell them what radio equipment you would like from Santa this year. The Club will also be live streaming on its YouTube Channel. Special callsign HB50VC is active until the 31st of December to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Swissair Amateur Radio Club, HB9VC. QSOs will be uploaded to the Logbook of the World. QSL cards will not be provided. You can download a certificate for working this special event station from tinyurl.com/HB50VC-24 Now the DX news Carl, 2E0HPI, is in London from Monday the 9th of December until Thursday the 12th of December and will be operating from several Parks on the Air locations each day. He will be active on 10m SSB. eQSL is preferred or direct to the address on QRZ.com The T46W team is active from Cuba until Tuesday the 10th of December. They will be active on the 160m to 6m bands. Parks on the Air activity is also expected from references CU0292 and CU0298. QSL via CO6QK or Logbook of the World. The TO9W team is active from Saint Martin Island until the 13th of December. The IOTA reference is NA-105. The members will operate on the 160m to 10m bands, with a focus on the 40, 80 and 160m bands. QSL via W9ILY, Logbook of the World or ClubLog OQRS. Mike, V47NH is active from St Kitts and Nevis until the 17th of December. The IOTA reference is NA-104. He will operate on the 40 to 10m bands and SSB. QSL via KC1NGS or Logbook of the World. The VP2VMM team is active from Anegada Island in The British Virgin Islands. They will be QRV in the 2024 ARRL 10m Contest.  Outside of the contest, between Monday the 9th of December and Tuesday the 17th of December they will be QRV holiday style using VP2V/homecall. QSL via Logbook of the World, Bureau, OQRS or direct to KU9C. Full details via QRZ.com Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon started at 0000UTC on Sunday the 1st of December and ends at 2359UTC on Friday the 31st of January 2025. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator. The ARRL 160m Contest started on Friday the 6th of December and ends at 1600UTC today, Sunday the 8th of December. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is a signal report for UK stations. US and Canadian stations will also send their ARRL or RAC section number. Also taking place today, Sunday the 8th of December, the RSGB 144MHz AFS Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday, the 10th of December, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday, the 10th of December, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, the 11th of December, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 11th of December, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Thursday, the 12th of December, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The ARRL 10m Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 14th of December and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 15th of December. Using CW and phone on the 10m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. US, Canadian and Mexican stations will also send their State or Province code. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 5th of December 2024. We had another week of high solar activity but limited geomagnetic disturbances. This meant that the upper HF bands were playing ball all week. The Kp index only exceeded four on one occasion, on the 30th of November when it hit 4.67, but otherwise, it has been low. With a solar flux index mainly in the 180s, this allowed the upper HF bands to shine. The maximum usable frequency or MUF over a 3,000km path has been consistently over 35MHz during daylight hours. The MUF over 100km has also been more than 14MHz around midday, making 20 metres almost a local band at times thanks to near vertical incidence skywave signals! If you have worked anyone in the UK on 20 metres let us know. An approaching active region just off the east limb of the sun was responsible for an M2.3 solar flare on the 4th of December, so perhaps increased solar activity is on the horizon. Next week NOAA predicts the week will start with the solar flux index starting in the 180s, perhaps then increasing to 200 as the week progresses. An increased geomagnetic disturbance is forecast for the period of the 10th to the 13th of December when the Kp index could increase to four. If this does come to fruition, we can expect MUFs to drop until the storming has passed. As always keep an eye on Propquest.co.uk for near-real-time MUF figures and solarham.com for Kp indices. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO. Meteor scatter is top of the list this coming week, with the big Geminids shower lasting throughout the month and peaking on Thursday the 14th of December. With a peak zenith hourly rate (ZHR) of 150 it's one of the most active and reliable of the annual showers. Other lesser meteor streams are also in play, so check the meteor scatter frequencies on 144, 50 and 70MHz where digimodes MSK144 and FSK441 will dominate activity. We have another period of primarily unsettled weather for the lead into this weekend, with deep lows bringing heavy rain, and perhaps some snow over northern hills. Watch out for very strong winds with potentially damaging gales in places. By the time many of you hear this on Sunday the 8th of December, we will be mid-way through the main event but hopefully, your antennas have survived. The better news is that the first half of the week is dominated by high pressure, so this brings a chance to repair antennas and get some Tropo time before a slow drift back to unsettled conditions in the second half of the week. For other modes, GigaHertz band rain and snow scatter will be worth considering especially over the weekend and again later in the week. Last Friday afternoon saw another big 50MHz F2 opening to North America, so continue to be vigilant if you're in the shack after lunch and the Kp index is below two. The solar conditions mean that there is still a chance of Aurora, although the Sun has been a bit quieter recently. Some days the f0Es trace on Propquest shows that weak Sporadic-E is still occurring. The Moon's declination is rising again and going positive on Monday. With falling path losses as we approach perigee on Thursday, it's a good week for EME. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 20th of October The news headlines: The RSGB welcomes your feedback on its 2024 Convention Today is the last chance to get involved with JOTA 2024 The RSGB is looking for Youth Champions The RSGB's 2024 Convention took place last weekend and brought together hundreds in person, as well as many more from across the globe who watched via the livestream. The Society is already receiving an overwhelming amount of positive feedback, but if you did attend the Convention and haven't yet completed the feedback form, please go to rsgb.org/feedback and share your thoughts. If you watched the livestream the Society would also love to hear your feedback. Please visit rsgb.org/livestream-feedback and let the team know what you think of the online event. The feedback forms will be closed at the end of October. The live streams for both days will remain available for everyone to watch, so if you'd like to catch up on the selection of presentations that were aired, go to the RSGB website and search for ‘Convention 2024 Livestream'. As well as talks from the weekend, you'll find exclusive special interviews and pre-recorded videos. Today, the 20th, is the last day of Jamboree on the Air, also known as JOTA. The event promotes friendship and global citizenship and is a brilliant celebration of amateur radio among the Scout Association. The Society has compiled a list of Scouting groups that are involved with the annual event and has shared it on its website. The list is available by going to rsgb.org/jota and choosing the ‘JOTA Stations on the Air' link on the right hand side of the page. The RSGB would love to see your photos of Scouts getting involved with JOTA, so tag @theRSGB and also use #JOTAJOTI to be involved in the conversation on social media. If you're not involved with a JOTA station do listen out and encourage the young operators on the air. There will be a report in RadCom so please send details and photos from your event to radcom@rsgb.org.uk by the 15th of November. Following the recent appointment of two Youth Champions for schools and universities, the RSGB is keen to expand the team. The Society is looking for a Youth Champion for scouts, guides and cadets, and another to lead activities and create resources to support young people once they have gained their Foundation licence, motivating them to try new things within amateur radio. The four Youth Champions will work closely as a team, as well as with the RSGB Board Liaison, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML and the RSGB Outreach Team. Together, the Youth Champions will also create a youth team and run a net or sked to involve all youngsters. Do you have what it takes to engage with young people and support them on their amateur radio journey? Another part of each Youth Champion's role is to give input and support for current activities, such as promoting and participating in Youngsters on the Air Month each December. If you are proactive, experienced at managing your own time efficiently, a good leader who can build relationships and mentor young people, and you are passionate about growing the number of young people involved in amateur radio, then one of these roles could be for you! Take a look at the youth activities on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/youth and see some of the great things that are happening already. If you're interested in being part of the team, contact Youth Board Liaison Ben Lloyd, GW4BML via gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk The date has been confirmed for the Twelfth Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT. It will be going ahead on Saturday the 9th of November 2024 at the Museum of Communication, Burntisland in Fife. Lunch will be provided, and an optional dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. The programme is now confirmed and, at the moment, 43 people have booked to attend the event. There are only 7 places left so please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Online booking is available via the GMRT website at gmroundtable.org.uk or by email to Colin, GM4HWO at gm4hwo@gmail.com  Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Part 2 of the British Amateur Television Club Convention for Amateur TV 2024, also known as CAT 24, is taking place on Saturday the 26th of October. The online event will run from 10 am until 3 pm and will feature talks about ATV-related topics. For more information visit batc.org.uk/live Carrickfergus Amateur Radio Group's Rally is also taking place on Saturday the 26th of October at Elim Pentecostal Church, North Road, Carrickfergus. The doors will be open from 11.30 am and refreshments will be available. More information, including contact details, is available on the Group's Facebook page. The next Essex CW Boot Camp is scheduled to go ahead on Saturday the 26th of October. The event is an opportunity to meet your friends and enjoy a day of CW activities, tea, coffee and cakes. If you are interested in attending and have not yet registered, email info@essexcw.org.uk For more information about the event visit essexcw.uk The Galashiels Rally is taking place on Sunday the 27th of October at the Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, TD1 3JX. The doors will be open from 11 am. The admission fee is £3 and there will be refreshments, traders and a bring-and-buy area to enjoy. For more information contact rallyqueries@galaradioclub.co.uk or visit galaradioclub.co.uk Now the Special Event news Special event station PF16F is active to say farewell to the F-16 fighter aircraft, or Fighting Falcon. After 45 years of service, from 1979 to 2024, the F-16 will retire from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Members of Radio Club Limburg will be operating the callsign until the 30th of November 2024 and hope to work as many amateur radio operators across the world as possible. For more information about the station visit rclb.nl/pf16f As part of the celebrations to mark the centenary of the world's first trans-global two-way radio communication, special callsign GB2ZL has been active at times from the UK. This is in addition to the main UK activity from GB2NZ, G2SZ and others. On Tuesday the 15th of October, the GB2ZL station, operated by Chris GM3WOJ from near Inverness, made a remarkable QSO with the ZL4AA team located just North of Dunedin. The ZL4AA station was operated by Dave ZL4DK, Mike ZL4OL and Stephen ZL4BN. This QSO, on the 40m band, long path at 0721UTC, was made using CW. 559 reports were exchanged each way and the operators at both ends were thrilled to make the contact. At each end of the QSO was an 80-year-old all-valve military transceiver from New Zealand, the iconic ZC1. These radios date from 1944, just 20 years after the first UK to New Zealand QSO. For more information about the station and the ZC1 transceiver visit the GB2ZL page at QRZ.com Sylvia, OE5YYN is active as OE20SOTA until the 31st of October to mark the 20th anniversary of Austria joining the Summits on the Air programme. Details of a certificate that is available for working the station are available at QRZ.com Now the DX news Harold, DF2WO is active as 9X2AW from Rwanda until the 22nd of October. He is operating using CW, FT4 and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. You might also catch Harold operating via the QO-100 satellite. When possible, he also hopes to be QRV on the 6m band. QSL via OQRS. Stephane, F5UOW is active as FR/F5UOW from Reunion Island, AF-016, until the 28th of October. He is operating using CW only on the 17 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World only. Now the contest news The Worked All Germany Contest started at 1500UTC on Saturday the 19th and ends at 1500UTC today, the 20th of October. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Today the 20th, the RSGB 50MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 22nd, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 24th, 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. The CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday the 26th and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday the 27th of October. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 17th of October 2024 The past week has been characterised by a low geomagnetic Kp index and excellent conditions on HF, including the 10m band. With a solar flux index between 168 and 195, and a Kp index that never rose above 4, conditions have been better than the previous week, which suffered from the bad effects of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. This came as NASA, NOAA and the International Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which should continue for the next year. The announcement was not unexpected, and the exact period of maximum activity won't be known for some time. But it was a wake-up call for radio amateurs to get on the bands and make the most of the conditions! NOAA anticipates additional solar and geomagnetic storms during the current solar maximum period and during the declining phase of the solar cycle. The solar flux index fell from its 200-plus highs to be in the 160 to 195 range last week. But this was still more than enough to keep the ionosphere running. Maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path have been consistently over 28MHz during daylight, falling to around 11MHz overnight. Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre thinks the solar flux index will rise into the 200s again, but we may also get some geomagnetic disturbances, namely on the 22nd and 23rd when the Kp index might rise to around 4. Meanwhile, October can be one of the best months for HF propagation with good 10m band openings to Australasia in the morning and North and South America in the afternoon. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The current unsettled spell of weather seems likely to continue into next week and is not atypical at this time of year. We should expect a more changeable pattern around the autumn as the main polar front jet stream migrates south across the UK into its winter state over the Mediterranean. That said, there may well be some brief interludes when the extended region of high pressure across Europe influences conditions over the British Isles, more specifically the southeastern corner. This is shown by some models around midweek for potential Tropo from southeastern England into the continent or across the North Sea to northern Europe and southern Scandinavia. The obvious mode to result from this unsettled weather will be rain scatter and it is probable that the GHz bands will enjoy this period of weather. Meteor scatter in October has a few showers to maintain interest. The Orionids and the Taurids are both active during the coming week. In fact, the Orionids, associated with the comet Halley, peak on Monday and Tuesday. Just a final note about Sporadic-E, which is ‘out of season'. Remember that there are no ‘zero Sporadic-E months' and recent indications have tended to show the response of raised critical frequencies of the Sporadic-E layer occurring around the middle of the day on the propquest.co.uk NVIS graphs. You may also see peaks earlier in the day around dawn, which is the peak time for meteor input. Beware, it is easy to get hooked on out-of-season Sporadic-E hunting! For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and rising. Path losses are rising again after the perigee on Thursday the 17th. So, we have increasing peak Moon elevations and longer Moon windows until Tuesday the 22nd. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate for the rest of the week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 22nd of September The news headlines: The RSGB Convention is just three weeks away The RSGB has announced that routine bookings for paper exams will cease Take advantage of group activity opportunities at the RSGB National Radio Centre The RSGB Convention is just three weeks away and there is a fantastic programme planned. Whatever your amateur radio interests or experience there will be something for you. In addition to the presentations, you could take part in a workshop to learn more about microcontroller programming – spaces are limited so make sure you book soon if you want to be part of that event. There will also be an EMF and EMC Clinic, contest forums and a chance to find out more about a wide range of amateur radio special interest groups. The social side of the Convention is important too, whether you're catching up with friends over coffee or enjoying the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening. Day or weekend tickets for the Convention are still cheaper if you buy in advance rather than on the door, and the deadline for advance tickets is Monday the 7th of October. To find out more about the programme, the speakers and to book your tickets, go to the RSGB Convention web pages at rsgb.org/convention The RSGB has announced that from the 29th of November it will stop taking routine bookings for paper exams. Currently 97% of amateur radio licence examinations are taken online using the TestReach platform, either at home under remote supervision or in a club setting. Following the implementation of Syllabus v1.6 on the 1st of September 2024, the new examination question bank will only be maintained online. Generating paper exams will involve significant additional work for the RSGB Examinations Department, with the associated costs. You will be able to apply for a paper exam on the grounds of special educational needs in the same way that you can currently request special requirements such as extra time or a reader. To do that you need to email the Exams Department via exams@rsgb.org.uk  To read the full details of the changes, including the three important dates you need to know, please go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org  and search for ‘Exam Announcements'. Do you work with young people at a school, or perhaps with a youth group such as the Scouts, Guides or Cadets? Are you looking for an activity that provides hands-on learning opportunities for them? The RSGB National Radio Centre currently has availability for two private evening visits in December as part of the Society's activities for Youngsters on the Air month, or YOTA month as it is often called. Sessions typically last two hours and include an introduction to amateur radio, before the youngsters are split into smaller groups to complete a variety of activities. These can include Morse code, VHF communication using handhelds, shortwave radio communication and satellite communication. The group size is limited to a maximum of 12, and there must be one adult accompanying every four students. If you'd like to find out more about this unique learning opportunity, email the RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk The next Bletchley Park 1940s weekend is taking place at the moment. If you are visiting for the event, make sure you drop into the RSGB National Radio Centre where you'll be able to see a number of World War Two receivers on display. Don't forget that RSGB members can get free entry to Bletchley Park, which also includes admission to the RSGB National Radio Centre. You can access this fantastic offer by logging into the RSGB membership portal via rsgb.org/members  and selecting ‘Visit Bletchley Park'. Don't forget that National Hamfest 2024 is coming up on the 27th and 28th of September and promises to be an unforgettable celebration of all things amateur radio. As always, the traders and manufacturers are lining up to bring you the best in amateur radio equipment and accessories. Many exhibitors will be offering exclusive deals, making it the perfect time to upgrade your gear or add new items to your shack. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit nationalhamfest.org.uk  Railways on the Air weekend usually takes place on the weekend closest to the 27th of September. This date celebrates the anniversary of the first steam-powered passenger railway journey which took place on the 27th of September 1825. The first passenger train ran on a line in the North East of England from Darlington to Stockton. Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club coordinates the event and this year it will take place over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of September. For more information visit rota.barac.org.uk The next event in the popular 145 Alive series takes place on Sunday the 29th of September. The event will run from 1 pm to 4 pm and there will be nets operating in most Maidenhead Squares across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. To take part in the event, which is designed to promote FM activity on the 2m band, all you need to do is call in and make contact with others. The organisers are looking for more net controllers. For more information contact Mark Savage, M0XIC via the 145 Alive Facebook page. On Monday the 7th of October the RSGB's Tonight@8 live webinar will be with Ian White, GM3SEK who will give a presentation entitled ‘Aircraft Scatter, the Hitch-Hikers Guide'. Aircraft scatter is about bouncing VHF and UHF radio signals off high-flying aircraft – effectively ‘hitching a ride' with someone else's plane to extend your everyday working range up to 800km. For example, if you are one of the hundreds who get involved in the monthly UK Activity Contests on the 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, you will already be using aircraft scatter routinely and it will be responsible for some of your best QSOs. So how does aircraft scatter work? And if it's so useful, why haven't we heard more about it? Join the webinar live at 8pm on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel. Find out more about this and other webinars on the RSGB website via rsgb.org/webinars Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week And now for details of rallies and events Weston super Mare Radio Society Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place today, the 22nd. The venue is The Campus Community Centre, Worle, Weston super Mare, BS24 7DX. For further information and to book a table email westonradiosociety@gmail.com On Saturday the 5th of October Carmarthen Amateur Radio Society is holding a surplus equipment sale in aid of club funds. The venue will be Cwmduad Community Centre, Cwmduad, Carmarthenshire, SA33 6XN. The doors are open for traders from 8am, and for visitors from 10 am. Disabled access will be available from 9.30 am. The entrance fee for visitors will be £2. For more information, or to book a table, email G0JLX@mail.com The 49th Welsh Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 6th of October at Llanwern High School, Hartridge Farm Road, Newport, NP18 2YE. Traders can gain access from 7am and the doors will be open for visitors from 9.30am. The entrance fee is £3 per person and free parking will be available. For more information email Mike Rackham, GW4JKV via welshradiorally@gmail.com or phone 07976 368 250. Now the Special Event news Today, the 22nd, Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club is active with the callsign GI5LOW from Blacks Farm in Tandragee to celebrate the G-QRP Club's 50th anniversary. The callsign will be active from around 9am and the station is operating using all modes on the HF bands and FM on the 2m and 70cm bands. Also, from 2pm, Philip, MI0MSO will be giving a talk on, and practical demonstration of, programming a LoRa board as a tracking unit on 433MHz. During the annual Railways on the Air weekend on the 28th and 29th of September the British Railways Amateur Radio Society will be operating using the callsign GB1FRT on behalf of the Furness Railway Trust in Preston. Activity will be on the 40m band using SSB. QSL via the Bureau. To read more about the station visit brars.info  and QRZ.com Now the DX news Today, the 22nd, is the last chance to work Harald, DF2WO who is active as XT2AW from Burkina Faso. He is QRV on the 80 to 10m bands using SSB and FT4. You might also be able to catch him via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Listen out for members of Guisborough and District Amateur Radio Club who are active from the Isle of Lewis using their Club callsign MS0NYM. The station will be active from today, the 22nd, to Saturday the 28th of September. Operators will be available on a variety of bands using CW, FT8 and phone. Now the contest news Today, the 22nd, 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. On Tuesday the 24th, the 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. On Wednesday the 25th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. On Thursday the 26th, the Autumn Series Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ World Wide DX RTTY Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 28th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 29th of September. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14. On Sunday the 29th, 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.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 19th of September 2024 It was a topsy-turvy time for HF propagation last week with a declining solar flux index and geomagnetic disturbances thanks to coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, from the Sun. The solar flux index declined to the mid-160s, and the Kp index had a couple of excursions to more than 7. These were due to CMEs and the second, which occurred on Tuesday the 17th, was associated with the X4.5 solar flare on Saturday the 14th. Luckily, it was 0300UTC when the CME hit the Earth, so only die-hard UK DXers were affected. With a G4 geomagnetic storm raging, the maximum useable frequency over a 3,000km path fell to less than 6MHz, but did manage to recover to 8.45MHz by dawn. The rest of Tuesday was subdued with the maximum useable frequency never really getting above 21MHz. This is why the advice is often to avoid DXing when the Kp index climbs high, as the upper HF bands will likely be closed. By comparison, on Thursday the 19th the Kp index was 2.67 and the maximum useable frequency over 3,000km was above 28MHz again. NOAA puts the risk of another X-class flare at 10%, and an M-class event at 55%. So, we are not out of the woods yet. Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre says the solar flux index may decline slightly but could then rise to be in the 232 to 240 range. Geomagnetic storming is predicted for the 26th to the 29th, when the Kp index could rise to 5. Meanwhile, autumnal HF conditions should soon be kicking in with better propagation to North America. If the solar flux stays high, we can expect excellent 28MHz propagation, perhaps to the mid-west and Pacific states. North-South HF paths, such as the UK to South Africa and South America, should also be good around the equinox period. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The last week of Tropo gave us good conditions across the North Sea and up and down the country on the VHF and UHF bands.  It is very likely that there will be a big change of weather type over this weekend, ending today the 22nd, to a much more unsettled pattern with low pressure dominating during the coming week. In fact, there will be a sequence of lows, fronts and showery interludes to set the template for next week. This means that rain scatter is a good candidate for propagation on the GHz bands, which could be useful on the evening of Tuesday the 24th during the SHF UK Activity Contest. Meanwhile, tropo takes a back seat for a while. The solar activity continues to be of interest and, again, the message is to monitor the Kp index to keep one step ahead of events in case any aurora spring up. Meteor scatter is mainly down to random activity, although the daytime Sextantids peaks on Friday the 27th of September, but with a low zenith hourly rate of 5. For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and rising, reaching +29 degrees next Tuesday, so Moon visibility windows will continue to lengthen. Path losses are increasing as we passed perigee last week. 144MHz sky noise is moderate, dropping back to low next Thursday. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 15th of September The news headlines: The RSGB is looking for its next Youth Champion Success for an RSGB member at the IARU ARDF Championship Today is the last chance to book early bird tickets for the RSGB Convention The RSGB is looking for its next volunteer Youth Champion. This could be one role or split between people who focus on different aspects of it. The Youth Champion will work closely with RSGB Board Liaison Ben Lloyd, GW4BML and the RSGB Outreach Team to ignite interest and develop links with schools, universities, Scouts, Guides and the general public. They will also help to support current young amateurs and motivate them to try new things within amateur radio after they gain their license. This role needs someone proactive, good at building relationships with young people, and passionate about inspiring the next generation of radio amateurs. For the full role description go to rsgb.org/volunteers  and if you would like to apply or find out more, contact Ben Lloyd via gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk The 24th IARU Region 1 ARDF Championships in Bulgaria saw an RSGB member on the podium. David Williams, M3WDD took the silver medal position in the M60 category of the 144MHz Classic five-transmitter race at the Championships held at Primorsko, Bulgaria earlier this month. David had come so very close to winning being only 14 seconds behind the winner Jozef Simecek of Slovakia. There were four races altogether. The week of competition started with the Sprint race on 80m followed the next day by the 2m five-transmitter Classic race for the M60 category in which David did so well. A well-earned rest day followed and after that came the 80m five-transmitter race. The week ended with the Foxoring event, a combination of direction finding and orienteering, again using the 80m band. You can see the results in full, and read more about ARDF, at rsgb.org/ardf Don't forget that the RSGB Convention early bird price ends today, Sunday the 15th of September. There's a range of great presentations planned, a fantastic microcontroller workshop to take part in, as well as all the fabulous social opportunities to enjoy like the Gala Dinner. Go to rsgb.org/convention to find out more and book your tickets. Have you ever tried LoRa? Or Node Red? Have you used the Raspberry Pico for coding or played a Morse game with an Arduino? These are just some of the great activities on the RSGB's website that are available for National Coding Week which begins this Monday, the 16th of September. Whether you fancy doing something different for a club night or would like to sample something new just for fun, there's an activity to inspire you! You could even try combining your love of amateur radio with the software interests of a young family member. The RSGB is offering nine activities this year so head over to rsgb.org/coding  and get involved. The next Bletchley Park 1940s weekend is taking place on the 21st and 22nd of September. If you are visiting for the event, make sure you drop into the RSGB National Radio Centre where you'll be able to see several World War Two receivers on display. Don't forget that RSGB members can get free entry to Bletchley Park, which also includes admission to the RSGB National Radio Centre. You can access this fantastic offer by logging into the RSGB membership portal via rsgb.org/members and selecting ‘Visit Bletchley Park'. Don't forget that National Hamfest 2024 is coming up on the 27th and 28th of September and promises to be an unforgettable celebration of all things amateur radio. As always, the traders and manufacturers are lining up to bring you the best in amateur radio equipment and accessories. Many exhibitors will be offering exclusive deals, making it the perfect time to upgrade your gear or add new items to your shack. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit nationalhamfest.org.uk  And now for details of rallies and events The Broadcast Engineering Museum near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire is new and a work in progress, so it only opens a few days each year. Today, from 11 am to 4 pm, the Museum is having an open day. The Museum contains a vast collection of historic broadcasting equipment and memorabilia, some restored and working, on display in a former RAF sergeants' mess. Free parking is available on-site. For more information email contactus@becg.org.uk or visit becg.org.uk The British Vintage Wireless Society is holding a swap meet and auction today, the 15th at the Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JH. Stallholders can gain entry from 9 am. Admission for visitors will be available from 9.30 am for £8. The auction starts at 12.30 pm and hot and cold refreshments will be available all day. For more information visit bvws.org.uk or email Jeremy Owen, G8MLK at secretary@bvws.org.uk The  East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is taking place on Saturday the 21st of September. The venue will be Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Doncaster, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open for visitors from 9.30 am until 4 pm and admission will cost £3 per person. Disabled access will be available from 9.15 am. For more information, including booking and contact details, visit g0raf.co.uk/rally Weston Super Mare Radio Society Radio and Electronics Rally will take place on Sunday the 22nd of September from 10 am. The venue will be The Campus Community Centre, Worle, Weston super Mare, BS24 7DX. For further information and to book a table email westonradiosociety@gmail.com Now the Special Event news To celebrate the G-QRP Club's 50th anniversary special callsign G5LOW, and all its regional variants, will be QRV until the 30th of September. In addition, several overseas stations will be joining in with the event. For more information, including details of commemorative certificates that will be available for chasers, visit tinyurl.com/GQRP50 Advance notice now that during October and November, special callsign PZ5JT will be back on the air from Surinam during the jungle training of the Royal Dutch Army and Marines. The station is operated by personnel from the signal regiment and they will be working on the 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10m bands using SSB. Operators will be using in-service military L3Harris radios from different locations and will welcome your call. Now the DX news Carl Gorse, 2E0HPI will be operating from multiple locations for the Parks On The Air scheme around the Lancashire area from tomorrow, the 16th, to Friday the 20th of September. He will be using Yaesu FT-857d and Xiegu G90 transceivers with 20W. Listen out for Carl on all bands from 160 to 10m using FT4, FT8 and SSB.  Maxim, OH7O will be active as 3D2YY from Viti Levu, OC- 016, on Fiji until the 19th of September. He will operate mostly SSB and some slow CW on the 40 to 10m bands, and possibly the 80m band, from different locations around the island. See QRZ.com for more information. Now the contest news Today, the 15th, the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 14th and runs until 2359UTC today, Sunday the 15th of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Today, the 15th, 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. Also, today, the 15th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county. The IRTS 2m Counties Contest is also taking place today, the 15th, from 1300 to 1500 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county. Also today, the 15th, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial number. Tomorrow, the 16th, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 17th, the 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 19th, 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 22nd, 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. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 12th of September 2024 Last week showed that HF conditions are improving as we head into the autumn. With a solar flux index still above 200, there was plenty of DX available to work. CDXC members reported working VP6WR on the Pitcairn Islands, KH8T on American Samoa and 3D2USU on Fiji, which is not a bad catch for early September. A little closer to home, 9A168TESLA in Croatia has been popping up for short periods celebrating the 168th anniversary of the birthday of electrical pioneer Nikola Tesla. Watch DX Summit closely for operating times. The daylight maximum useable frequency, or MUF, over 3,000 kilometres remains above 28MHz on the whole, although a raised Kp index tends to reduce this. Geomagnetic conditions remained relatively calm with the Kp index below 3 all week. That changed on Thursday the 12th as material from a coronal mass ejection, or CME passed the ACE spacecraft in the early hours. The solar wind speed increased to more than 500 kilometres per second and the Bz swung south. On Thursday the 12th, the Kp index was 5 and the Met Office Space Weather department was forecasting potentially unsettled conditions for this weekend, ending today the 15th. At the same time an X-class flare occurred, with lowered MUFs due to increased D-layer absorption. Two large coronal holes on the Sun's surface are also now Earth-facing and threaten to add to the solar wind this weekend. According to NOAA's predictions, the solar flux index should stay in the 210 to 225 range next week, although a large number of spots are about to rotate off the Sun's visible disk. This may be compensated by an active region that's about to rotate into view. This has been emitting C-Class and lower-level M-flares and could potentially be the same region that produced several energetic eruptions off the far side of the Sun over the past week. Time will tell. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The heavy showers at the end of last week produced some good rain scatter, but no QSOs in the UK were noted due to the showers not coinciding with GHz contests and few suitable home stations were active to take advantage of them. After a gradual build-up of pressure over this weekend, ending the 15th, high pressure is suggested by most models during the coming week. However, there is some uncertainty about the position of the high.   Currently, models are favouring the north of Britain and this means that in the south, although still on the edge of high pressure, there could be a brisk northeasterly breeze, which may weaken the inversion prospects. It's not clear if the Tropo will be functioning in time for the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest today, the 15th, but should be helpful for the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday the 17th and the 70MHz UK Activity Contest on Thursday the 19th. Solar conditions are still likely to offer the chance of the occasional elevated Kp index, which is a good sign of possible aurora. It will be interesting to see how things evolve this weekend, ending the 15th, as a series of expected CMEs are due to reach Earth.  The amateur bands between 10m and 2m are the ones to check as well as looking out for ‘watery' sounding signals on the HF bands. Remember it doesn't have to be dark for radio aurora, so don't wait for dusk before checking. Meteor scatter is mainly down to random activity in the coming week. However, with the September Epsilon Perseids stream still active until the 21st, having peaked on the 9th, conditions may be slightly enhanced. For EME operators, Moon declination is negative but rising and going positive again on Wednesday the 18th. Moon visibility windows will continue to rise while path losses decrease as we approach perigee on Wednesday the 18th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate for the whole of next week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 14th of July 2024   The news headlines: The RSGB is looking for a Company Secretary The RSGB Planning Advisory Committee needs volunteers An RSGB video summarises the Ofcom licence changes   The RSGB is looking to recruit an RSGB Member to be the Society's Company Secretary. This volunteer position plays a key role in the Society's governance and provides vital support in running Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting. Stephen Purser, GW4SHF took on the role temporarily after the previous Company Secretary stepped down. The Board is grateful to Stephen for stepping in at short notice last year and is keen to find a good candidate to take the role forward. If you feel you have the necessary skills to fulfil this important role, would like more information or to discuss what is required, please email gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk in the first instance. The Board Chair will then contact you for a chat. If you email to apply for the position, please include a current CV. In line with all volunteer roles, the Board welcomes applications from people with diverse backgrounds. For full information on the role, please go to rsgb.org/volunteers. The RSGB Planning Advisory Committee still needs additional volunteers to join its advisory panel. Volunteers deal with queries from members about problems they face in getting planning permission for masts and antennas. These enquiries can be for support in making an application to the local council, or in submitting an appeal. If you have a relevant professional background, not necessarily as a planner, or have some knowledge of how the planning system works, please get in touch. Find out more about the committee at rsgb.org/pac and then email the Board Liaison for planning Len Paget, GM0ONX at gm0onx@rsgb.org.uk to arrange a chat. The RSGB has released a video summary of the Ofcom licence changes that came into effect in February this year. This is an extended version of the video shown at the Society's AGM. It covers the range of updates from power increases and callsigns, to additional options for Foundation licensees and new opportunities for sharing amateur radio with people who do not have a license. It also looks at the next phases of Ofcom's licence changes. If you don't feel you're making the most of the new licence conditions, or you're unsure about some of the changes, why not watch this short video and see what you could do! You can find it on the RSGB YouTube channel and on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/licence-review Callum, M0MCX reports that DX Commander is having an open day on Saturday the 17th of August. The event will include operating two amateur radio stations. One will be an HF station with a Kenwood TS-990s transceiver. The other station will be an Icom IC-9700 operating on the VHF bands. The stations are located in a low-noise environment and visitors are welcome to enjoy using them. Attendees are also welcome to visit the new expanded antenna field, check out DX Commander's new secret projects and maybe enjoy some food. The RSGB will be in attendance with Region 5 Representative Mark Savage, M0XIC manning the bookstall. The doors will be open from 12 pm to 4 pm. Numbers are limited so visit the DX Commander website and click the ‘Register' button to book your place. For more information visit dxcommander.com This year, International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend will run from 0001UTC on the 17th of August to 2400UTC on the 18th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. You can read more at illw.net Advance notice now that the next Essex CW Boot Camp and Conference will be held on Saturday the 26th of October at the 3rd Witham Scout and Guide HQ. Spaces are limited so book your place early to avoid disappointment. If you are interested in attending, visit essexcw.uk and follow the ‘Boot Camp & CW Conference' link for more information. And now for details of rallies and events Cambridge Repeater Group Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 14th, at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridgeshire, CB22 6RN. The doors open at 9.30 am for visitors and at 7.30 am for traders. The event features a car boot sale, talk-in, trade stands, clubs and a bring-and-buy area. A free marshalled car park and burger van will be available on site. For more information visit cambridgerepeaters.net and click on the Rally tab. Also, today, Sunday the 14th, Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally is taking place at Rasen Festival Hall, Caistor Road, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10 am and entry will cost £3. Hot refreshments and ample free car parking will be available. More information, including contact details, is available via tinyurl.com/LSWC2024 The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is also taking place today, Sunday the 14th of July. The venue is Reading Rugby Club, Holme Park, Sonning Lane, Reading, RG4 6ST. The doors open at 9 am for visitors and at 8 am for traders. Refreshments and ample parking will be available. For more information visit mcmichaelrally.org.uk Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally is scheduled to take place on Sunday the 21st of July. The venue will be The Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 9.30 am for visitors and at 8 am for traders. Refreshments will be available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors costs £3. For further information email rally2024@bsears.co.uk The Finningley Amateur Radio Society Rally is also set to take place on Sunday the 21st of July at Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster, DN8 5SX. The doors will be open from 10 am. More details are available at g0ghk.com Now the Special Event news During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, look for TM67JO which will be active for 15 days between the 26th of July and the 11th of August. The operators will include F1LFL on SSB, F5PZT using FT8 and FT4, and F5TFW on CW. QSL to F1LFL, via the Bureau or directly. Special callsign HB50VC is active until the 31st of December to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Radio Amateur Club Swissair, HB9VC. QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. QSL cards will not be provided, but details of a participation certificate are available at tinyurl.com/HB50VC Now the DX news Eric, KV1J is active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon Island, NA-032, until Tuesday the 16th of July. Eric is operating primarily using SSB and FT8, plus some CW, RTTY and FT4. He is QRV on the 80 to 6m bands but with a focus on the 12, 10 and 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, eQSL, via Eric's home call directly or via the Bureau. For more information see tinyurl.com/FPKV1J Giovanni, IZ2DPX will be active as TO7PX from Reunion Island, AF-016, until Thursday the 18th of July. He will operate SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL directly to IK2DUW. Now the contest news The IARU HF World Championship started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 13th of July and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 14th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU zone. Today, the 14th, the next session of the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz Cumulative Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Tomorrow, the 15th, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from 1900UTC to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 16th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 18th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 20th, the 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400UTC to 2000UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. On Sunday the 21st, the International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC, and from 1300 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 11th of July 2024 We had another week of reasonably settled geomagnetic conditions and a high solar flux index. The solar flux index was at 214 on Thursday the 11th, while the Kp index has been around 2 to 3 all week. That's generally good news for HF.  However, a small coronal hole is now facing Earth and a solar wind stream flowing from this zone was predicted to reach Earth by the 13th of July. This could result in an elevated Kp index and lower maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs for short. It probably won't last too long, so expect conditions to be back to normal by tomorrow, the 15th. Active region 3738 is dominating the Sun's surface but has only been the source of minor C-class solar flares and will remain a threat for moderate M-class flares. All other regions have been mostly stable. The daytime MUF over a 3,000km path has often exceeded 24.9MHz, with some better-equipped stations reporting contacts into Australasia on the 10m band. Night-time MUFs over a similar distance are still consistently above 14MHz. Make the most of this as they are likely to drop as we head out of summer and into autumnal conditions. The MUF is extrapolated from the Dourbes ionosonde data and should only be used as a guide – it may often be higher, especially in some directions. The most sought-after DX this week has been K8K/K8R in American Samoa. The DXpedition is testing out all systems on all bands, using CW, SSB and FT8, ahead of the upcoming Jarvis Island DXpedition. The station has been worked from the UK on the 30 to 10m bands, mainly by well-equipped stations, and has been testing the FT8 Superfox mode with some success. Otherwise, contestants in the RSGB's 80m SSB Club Championship on Wednesday the 10th reported fair conditions, but a very, very noisy band. Noise is often a limiting factor, especially on the lower HF bands. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to the 180 to 190 range. Geomagnetic conditions may be unsettled today, the 14th, with a Kp index of 4 at times. The second half of the coming week should be more settled, as long as we don't have a coronal mass ejection. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The overall picture is of unsettled weather still being around for the coming week, but there will be some temporary moments of weak high pressure to alleviate incessant rain. As we end the current week, pressure will rise over western areas bringing a chance of Tropo for paths down the Irish Sea and across Biscay. There will also be a second period of high pressure for a time in the middle of next week, favouring the south. This gives us at least a chance of Tropo for this week's UK Activity Contests on the 23cm and 4m bands. The ‘unsettled' part of the story is worth noting, especially if we get some heavy thundery downpours, which should be great for rain scatter. Continuing with scatter modes, there is always meteor scatter as a diversion and the advice is to look in the early hours before daybreak when random meteors are more likely. Solar conditions are still not entirely settled so there remains a chance of aurora should the Kp index rise to 5 or more. The Sporadic-E season is still doing good business within Europe, but it feels as though it's not been quite so noticeable as during June for UK stations. The jet stream pattern is trying to help next week with several useful segments over northwest Europe, which should improve the chances of Sporadic-E paths from the UK into the continent. Moon declination went negative again on Friday the 12th, which also corresponds to apogee, the point at which the Moon is furthest from Earth. So, Moon peak elevation and path losses will continue to fall again next week. 144MHz sky noise starts low early next week rising to a high of 2100 Kelvin on Friday. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 7th of July 2024   The news headlines: A revised Direct to Full examination syllabus has been released The RSGB has announced its representative for the 2024 YOTA camp The RSGB British Science Week Time challenge is an opportunity for constructors The new amateur radio licence has now been in effect for a few months and changes to the licence conditions have necessitated revision to the examination syllabus. Tony Kent, G8PBH, who is the RSGB Examinations Standards Committee Chair, has announced that he is pleased to release version 2.0 of the Direct to Full syllabus, including these revisions. Compared to the version in current use, the only section that has seen major changes is Section 1: “Licensing and station identification”. Section 2: “Operating practices and procedures” has seen some minor changes, for example with regard to suffixes. The RSGB will begin examining to version 2.0 of the syllabus on the 1st of October 2024. It will not be taking any bookings for Direct to Full examinations to take place in September. You can find the syllabus on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/direct-to-full The RSGB is pleased to announce that it will be represented at this summer's Youngsters on the Air camp by Rhys Williams, M0WGY / AJ6XD. The event, which is organised by the IARU Region 1 Youth Working Group together with the Czech Radio Club, will be held between the 16th and 23rd of August 2024 in Prague, Czechia. Rhys is currently studying aerospace engineering at Cambridge University and is going on to do a PhD in engineering at Oxford University from September. He says he has found a lot of joy in the building aspect of amateur radio and enjoys contesting with his university amateur radio club. Find out more about Rhys and this inspirational annual YOTA camp on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/yota-camp Are you looking for your next construction challenge? Then the RSGB British Science Week Time challenge could be for you. The task is to provide a method of either measuring the frequency of a radio frequency source or signal or providing a time reference to a radio operator or radio system. You must use readily available components, materials or other resources. The activity is open to all ages and is divided into three categories: under 18 or still in school; under 21 or an undergraduate up to the age of 23; and a category with no age restriction. You can enter as an individual or as a group. The winner of each category will win a prize of £150 with the winners being announced at this year's RSGB Convention in October. The deadline for entries is the 1st of September. You can find out more, including how to enter, by visiting rsgb.org/bsw and selecting the ‘Time-related challenge' link under the BSW24 header. Don't forget you can get involved in the new GR2HQ Challenge next weekend, the 13th and 14th of July, as part of the IARU HF World Championship contest. You can take part as individuals but also benefit your club, so why not encourage your club members to take part whether they are regular contesters or not? During the contest, Headquarters Stations represent their countries and the RSGB's station GR2HQ will be run by a network of about a dozen stations around the UK and islands. You will be able to submit your log, including QSOs with GR2HQ, to the RSGB contest robot for the GR2HQ Challenge. If you include your club or group name when you submit your log, each QSO with GR2HQ will count towards an aggregate score for your club or team. You can read more in the June RadCom feature on the GR2HQ Challenge and you can see the rules on the RSGB website at thersgb.org/go/gr2hq TX Factor has released its latest episode in which there is a look at the IC-R15 communications receiver, the latest offering from Icom. Bob, G0FGX and Mike, G1IAR discuss how best to configure the Anytone BT-01 Bluetooth microphone with the Anytone AT-D578, which will be a boon for mobile operating. Finally, there is the second part of a feature on operating via the QO-100 satellite with the Groundstation 2 from DX Patrol. Watch this and previous episodes on the TX Factor website at txfactor.co.uk or on its YouTube channel. A reminder that the next RSGB Tonight@8 webinar is tomorrow, Monday the 8th of July when Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs will give a presentation on the QMX+ multi-mode 160 to 6m transceiver kit design and features. This is a great opportunity to find out more and ask questions live on the night. You can watch on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel. Find out more about the webinar on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars  And now for details of rallies and events Barford Radio Rally is taking place today, the 7th, at Barford Village Hall and Green, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors open at 9 am for visitors. The event features trade stands, car boot sales, bring and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking. Entry is £2.50 per person but under 16s will be admitted free of charge. To read more about the event visit norfolkamateurradio.org or email David, G7URP via radio@dcpmicro.com The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally is also taking place today, the 7th, at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN. The doors open at 10.30 am and admission costs £3. Traders bring and buy, club stalls, car parking and catering are all available on-site. Contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821073 for more information. Cambridge Repeater Group Rally will take place next Sunday the 14th, at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridgeshire, CB22 6RN. The doors open at 9.30 am for visitors and at 7.30 am for traders. The event features a car boot sale, talk-in, trade stands, clubs and a bring-and-buy area. A free marshalled car park and burger van will be available on site. For more information visit cambridgerepeaters.net and click on the Rally tab. Also on Sunday the 14th, the Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally is taking place at Rasen Festival Hall, Caistor Road, LN8 3HT. The doors open at 10 am and entry will cost £3. Hot refreshments and ample free car parking will be available. More information, including contact details, is available via tinyurl.com/LSWC2024 The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is also taking place on Sunday the 14th of July. The venue will be Reading Rugby Club, Holme Park, Sonning Lane, Reading, RG4 6ST. The doors open at 9 am for visitors and at 8 am for traders. Refreshments and ample parking will be available. For more information visit mcmichaelrally.org.uk  Now the Special Event news Special callsign OR100LGE is used by members of Liege Radio Club, ON5VL throughout 2024 to celebrate the Club's 100th anniversary. Look for activity on the 160 to 6m bands using CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via ON6YH. QSOs will also be uploaded to Club Log. SK100FRK is the special callsign in use by the Falu Radio Club, SK4AO to celebrate the 100th anniversary since it was founded. The station will be active until the end of 2024 and details of an available award can be found at QRZ.com  Now the DX news Bo, OZ1DJJ is active as OX3LX from Greenland until the 16th of July. He is QRV on the 6 and 4m bands, as well as on the HF bands, often using FT8. QSL via OZ0J. Zsolt, HA8PX is active as S79/HA8PX from Mahe, AF-024, in the Seychelles until Wednesday the 10th of July. He operates mainly CW, but also some SSB and FT8, on various bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, or directly.  Now the contest news VHF National Field Day started at 1400 UTC on Saturday the 6th of July and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 7th of July. Using all modes on the VHF bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 7th, the 3rd 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. On Tuesday the 9th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 9th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 10th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 10th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Wednesday the 10th, the 80m Club Championship Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 11th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The IARU HF World Championship starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 13th of July and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 14th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU zone. On Sunday the 14th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 4th of July 2024 After a rough spot last weekend, the Sun has since behaved itself, allowing HF propagation to get back to normal. To recap, the Kp index hit 7.67 on Friday the 28th of June, thanks to incoming plasma from a coronal mass ejection. For a time, it looked like we might have a repeat performance of the 10th of May when the Kp index hit 9 and there was a visible aurora across the UK. This time around, however, conditions calmed down again and 24 hours later the Kp index was back to 2.33. Since then, the Sun has remained calm with only two M-class and zero X-class flares, and the Kp index is back in the 1 to 3 range. This means that the ionosphere has had a chance to build up and we have been seeing MUFs over a 3,000km path exceeding 21MHz and often reaching 24MHz. That's pretty good considering we are in the Summer HF doldrums. An analysis of the Sun's active sunspot regions shows that two are growing, five are declining and one is stable. WSPRNet.org shows that signals have been getting to the UK from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Far East on the 15m band, while 28MHz is still mainly open to short-hop Sporadic-E contacts across Europe. The solar flux index has declined over the past week and was sitting at 167 on Thursday the 4th of July. Next week, NOAA predicts it will remain around the 170 mark, with quiet geomagnetic conditions. However, solar flares and coronal mass ejections remain hard to predict so keep an eye on Solarham.com and Propquest.co.uk for a real-time view of solar and geomagnetic conditions. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather sequence to the end of next week is much like an autumn pattern in that the story is all about areas of low pressure, showers and weather fronts. None of this suggests that Tropo will be a feature of the weather. In fact, high-pressure systems simply do not appear on the charts at all. We can leave rain scatter on the list and, since it is technically summer, or meant to be, there is a lot of energy in any showers. Indeed, some may be heavy and thundery and are probably good rain-scatter candidates. Meteor scatter, in the absence of major showers, is most likely around the dawn period when random meteors tend to be more prevalent. The solar conditions continue to offer much variability and it is always worth checking for elevated Kp index values, which can be a signal for aurora to occur. As a general guide check the bands when Kp reaches 5 or higher. The Sporadic-E season continues, although recently there have been some higher-than-ideal Kp indices, which unlike for aurora need to be at lower values, say below a Kp index of 3, for ideal Sporadic-E conditions. The other ingredient that tends to promote Sporadic-E is the presence of jet streams in the upper atmosphere around 10 to 15km up. It is believed that these can generate atmospheric gravity waves that can propagate up to the E region at 110km where they become part of the process for making Sporadic-E. This unsettled autumn-like weather is providing plenty of jet streams, so it continues to be worth checking for Sporadic-E. A quick look at the upper air pattern suggests that paths towards Scandinavia and the Baltic may be productive, and perhaps to Iberia later next week. Moon declination is close to maximum positive this coming weekend so Moon peak elevation will be high. Moon apogee is on Friday the 12th so EME path losses continue to increase. 144MHz sky noise is low all week.  And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 16th of June 2024  The news headlines: The RSGB's annual Convention is coming up in October National Coding Week returns in September Exercise Blue Ham is taking place this week  This year, the RSGB's annual Convention will take place from the 11th to the 13th of October. What would you like to see at the Convention? This year the Society is offering everyone the opportunity to propose a presentation, a topic, a practical session or a project to share. Are you involved in some new research? Have you discovered something new in amateur radio that you're keen to share? Are you part of an interesting project that will take amateur radio to new audiences? Or have you helped to make amateur radio more accessible to people with different abilities? If you'd like to offer, or suggest, a presentation on these, or any other topics, please send your proposal to the Convention Team. As part of its strategy, the RSGB wants to ensure that this prestigious annual event not only meets the needs of its members but also helps every radio amateur to share their love of the hobby with others. The deadline for proposals is Wednesday the 3rd of July so it is important to send in your ideas as soon as possible. Email convention@rsgb.org.uk and make sure you put ‘Convention proposal' and the topic in the email title. National Coding Week runs in September. Coding – or programming as it used to be called – is used in a range of amateur radio activities. This year the Society would like to develop its activities further by appointing a volunteer National Coding Week Coordinator. Could you encourage people, help them with their ideas and work with HQ teams to publicise and support activities? If you love computer programming and think you could help others enjoy it through amateur radio, why not think about offering an activity or volunteering to be the RSGB's National Coding Week Coordinator? Get in touch by emailing strategy@rsgb.org.uk RAF Air Cadets are running the ever-popular Blue Ham Radio Communications Exercise, on the 60m band, between the 17th and 21st of June. Subject to your licence conditions, the Blue Ham team hopes that you can put some time aside to join in with the cadets and staff who will be ready to take your calls. The Blue Ham Team will issue you with a participation certificate if, during the period of the exercise, you contact 20 or more special military cadet callsigns with an MRE prefix. For more information visit alphacharlie.org.uk  Please note that only Full licensees may operate on the 60m band. The May 2024 edition of the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System Newsletter is now available. The newsletter contains details of intrusions into amateur bands, and you can access it via tinyurl.com/IARUMAY24 This year, the popular British Inland Waterways on the Air event will take place between the 24th and 26th of August. The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs for work or recreation. Registration for the event is now open. To sign up, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group's website at nharg.org.uk  and follow the BIWOTA 2024 link.  And now for details of rallies and events The East Suffolk Wireless Revival, also known as the Ipswich Radio Rally, is taking place today, the 16th of June. The venue is Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, IP10 0PW, just off the A14. The doors open at 9.30 am and the entry fee for visitors is £3. The site has free car parking and catering is available. For more information, contact Kevin, G8MXV on 07710 046 846 or visit eswr.org.uk The Bangor and District Amateur Radio Society Rally will take place on Saturday the 22nd of June at Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church Halls. The doors open at 11.30 am. For more information, the Society can be contacted via its Facebook page. The Newbury Radio Rally is set to take place on Sunday the 23rd of June. The venue will be Newbury Showground, next to junction 13 of the M4 motorway in Berkshire, RG18 9QZ. There will be a display area with an amateur radio station, exhibits, special interest groups, clubs and societies. The doors open to sellers at 8 am, and to visitors at 9 am. Lots of free parking will be available and entry will cost £3 for visitors. A seller's pitch costs £15. For more information visit nadars.org.uk Dunstable Downs Radio Club would like to remind everyone that its annual boot sale has been postponed until the 30th of June. This is due to the site being used by BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music festival. Updates will be posted to Dunstable Downs Radio Club's Facebook page and reminder emails will be sent out closer to the time. To add yourself to the list, visit ddrcbootsale.org  and sign up for email reminders.  Now the Special Event News Look out for special callsign GB9DAT which is active until the 28th of June to help promote digital modes in amateur radio. Operators are using a variety of digital modes including FT8, FT4, PSK and RTTY, among others. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, or directly to MM0DFV. Special callsign OE20SOTA is active until the 31st of October to mark the 20th anniversary of Austria joining the Summits on the Air programme. Operators have been heard recently on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands using SSB. For details of an available certificate, for making 20 or more contacts with the station, see QRZ.com  Now the DX news Elvira, IV3FSG is active as 5U5K from Niger until the 20th of June. She is operating SSB, FT8, FT4, RTTY and some CW on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL directly to IK2DUW. Erwin, DK5EW is active as SV8/DK5EW from Crete Island, EU-015, until the 20th of June. He is QRV on the 6 and 4m bands only, from grid locator KM15. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, or directly to Erwin's home call.  Now the contest news The 50MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC on the 15th and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 16th of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on the 15th and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 16th of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your signal report and age. Today, the 16th, the Worked All Britain 6m Phone Contest runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using phone on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. More information is available from the Worked All Britain website. Tomorrow, the 17th, the FT4 Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 18th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 19th, the 80m Club Championship CW Contest takes place from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 20th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 23rd, the 50MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 13th of June 2024 No sooner do we say that conditions will remain good than the Sun emits an X-class solar flare! Such is the challenge of writing propagation predictions. Nevertheless, after the X1.5-class flare on the 10th of June, things settled again and, at the moment, there are no incoming coronal mass ejections, or CMEs for short, to report. With a Kp index of less than 1 on Thursday the 13th, and a solar flux index of 165, it looks like HF conditions could be quite good. However, the Sun's proton flux has increased and is close to the 10 million electron volts warning threshold. This means that paths through the polar regions might be disrupted. Protons can herald the arrival of a CME two or three days later, although NOAA is not predicting any disruption. On the 13th of June, the critical frequency was between 7 and 8MHz, meaning a maximum useable frequency over a 3,000km path of around 21 to 24MHz. The 10m band will be open, mainly to Sporadic-E. However, F2-layer propagation on the 10m band will be sparse. NOAA predicts the solar flux index will fall to around 155 today, the 16th, before climbing again to around 195 in a week. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be quiet all week, but that may be because solar flares and CMEs are hard to predict at this point in the solar cycle. As always, make hay on the HF bands while the Sun shines! And make the most of the Sporadic-E propagation on the higher HF bands as June is probably a peak month for this. Finally, the latest sunspot data show that the average sunspot number for May was 171.7, the highest in 22 years. However, the ARRL reports that shortwave conditions were above average on only six days out of the entire month of May, and mostly poor on half of the days due to geomagnetic disturbances and solar flares. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The current spell of seemingly endless, poor weather is struggling to provide much Tropo. The general theme is low pressure bringing weather fronts with rain or, if not that, then scattered heavy showers. This again points to rain scatter for the GHz Bands as the mode worth exploring. There is just one glimmer of Tropo hope in that the latest model predictions are starting to inject the notion of a ridge developing over southern areas, initially around mid-week but perhaps more so at the end of the week. Although, it's fair to say that other models hang on to the low-pressure theme. That said, it's worth checking from the middle of next week onwards. There are no significant meteor showers this week so continue to check for random meteors around dawn. The solar conditions have continued to trickle charge the auroral oval with an occasionally enhanced Kp index indicating possible aurora. This is unlikely to be visible at this time of the year although, if you are outside with a clear view to the north, you might be rewarded with a seasonal look at noctilucent clouds to make up for it. High-summer Sporadic-E propagation is providing daily contacts so it's worth checking the bands each day. The daily blogs always have something to show on the 10m band and many days there are reports of contacts on the 6m band. Remember these openings are not always reachable from all parts of the UK. One of the characteristics of Sporadic-E is that at each end of the path the ‘signal footprint' is very small. Even in a busy opening, signals may still pass you by but you should continue to monitor in case a Sporadic-E path opens up that does include your station at one end! Moon declination is negative again from this weekend, ending today the 16th. EME path loss was at its highest at apogee on Friday the 14th. 144MHz sky noise starts the week low but rises steadily, reaching over 3,000 Kelvin on Friday the 21st. And that's all from the propagation team this week.  

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #Hamradio The W8S DXpedition to Swains took place October 4th to the 17th, 2023. The 10 operators made almost 90,000 QSOs on 160 – 6 meters on CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. Our guests today are Adrian, KO8SCA, Johannes, PA5X, and Joe, W8GEX. This past weekend, the W8S DXpedition was recognized as the 2023 SWODXA DXpedition of the Year! At that time of this recording, we did not know that this group would be the DXpedition of the Year. "From October 4, 2023 until October 17, 2023 an international team of 10 operators will be active from Swains Island as W8S. QRV on all HF bands in CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY with 6 stations from 2 separated camps." Introductions W8GEX – Joe went to Swains in 2012. He is the co-host. I think this will be a great conversation. KO8SCA – Adrian PA5X - Johannes Video of Adrian getting the first 6 M QSO with AJ7QVI Story of Johannes trying to get a spot Swaines Island – 10/4 to 10/17 Why Swains? What was the Island Like? The Team How many stations? Preparation Challenges that you did not expect? Anything you would do differently? Overall thoughts? Success? Goals - 90K QSOs Fund raising - How can listeners contribute? What were your expectations? How can hams donate? What's next? Swains Website https://www.swains2023.com Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org Daily DX https://www.dailydx.com/ DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/ Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

GB2RS News Sunday the 19th of May 2024 The news headlines: RSGB Board liaison roles update The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is closing soon The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon is under way Each RSGB Board Director has a liaison role between the Board and specific aspects of the Society's work. This focuses very much on the work done by RSGB volunteers in committees, groups and teams as well as by the Honorary Officers. The Board has just agreed on the liaison roles for the coming year. To find out more or to see contact details for each Board Director, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/board The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is closing soon. Its final open day will be on the 8th of June 2024. According to the Museum's website, after this time it will start to dispose of its exhibits. The Museum attempts to tell the story of RAF Signals. Among its attractions, it contains a lot of working equipment which can be demonstrated, including transmitters, receivers and radar consoles. To read more about the Museum, and learn how you can visit it before it closes, visit signalsmuseum.uk The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon is underway. The activity is open to all amateur radio operators worldwide and membership of the Group is not required. The objective is to work as many four-digit grid squares as possible between the 4th of May and the 4th of August on the 6m band. Logs can be submitted until the 18th of August 2024. You can find out more at uksmg.org The latest RadCom contesting column is now available for all to read on the RSGB website. Since April 2024 this exclusive content has been shared online each month following the publication of each RadCom issue. This useful resource shares various aspects about contesting including a tip of the month, a featured UK contester, as well as a contest of the month. This month Nick Totterdell, G4FAL​​​​, who is the HF Contest Committee Chairman, looks at the history of contesting. To find out more, and to read this month's column, visit rsgb.org/radcom-contesting A reminder now that International Museums Weekend will be taking place on the third and fourth weekends in June. This year, those weekends are the 15th and 16th, and the 22nd and 23rd of June. Special event stations will be operating from a wide variety of museums from many different countries. To read more about the event, and to register to take part, visit tinyurl.com/IMW2024 Don't forget that lots of stations are on the air to celebrate SOS Radio Week throughout May. The event takes place each year to celebrate the work of the volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Independent Lifeboats and National Coastwatch Stations around the British Isles. A commemorative certificate is available to all official stations that record their contacts on the website together with awards for the top individual and club, or group, stations on each band from 160m to 70cm. To read more about the event visit sosradioweek.org.uk And now for details of rallies and events The Braehead Rally is taking place today, the 19th of May, at the Braehead Arena from 10 am. Free on-site parking, bring and buy and refreshments are available. For more information contact Paul via email at mm3ddq@gmail.com Also today, the 19th of May, the Dartmoor Radio Club Rally is being held at Yelverton War Memorial Hall, PL20 6AL. The doors open at 10 am. For more information, please contact Roger Hann on 07854 088 882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com Durham and District Amateur Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 26th of May at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AT. The doors are open from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. The entrance fee will be £2. There will be a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and a licensed bar will be available on-site. For more information contact Michael, G7TWX, on 07826 924 192, or via email at dadars@gmx.com Dunstable Downs Radio Club would like to remind everyone that its annual boot sale has been postponed until the 30th of June. This is due to the site being used by BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music festival. Updates will be posted to Dunstable Downs Radio Club's Facebook page and reminder emails will be sent out closer to the time. To add yourself to the list, visit ddrcbootsale.org  and sign up for email reminders. Now the Special Event News Today, the 19th, RAF Waddington Amateur Radio Club will be back at the International Bomber Command Centre for its Inspire Ride 2024 event, which this year will pay tribute to the men of Stalag Luft III who took part in the ‘Great Escape' in March 1944. Operators expect to be working on the HF bands, using SSB and some CW, as well as FM on the 2m band. The station will be using a special event call sign GB5ESC, between 10 am and 4 pm. North West Group Amateur Radio Club, MN0NWG is running a special event station GB0AEL until the 31st of May to commemorate the anniversary of Amelia Earhart's transatlantic flight.  On the 20th and 21st of May 1932, Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop and alone across the Atlantic Ocean. Recently, the station has been heard on the HF bands using CW, FT8 and SSB. QSL via MI0HOZ, directly or via the Bureau. The United Nations Global Service Centre Amateur Radio Club, 4U1GSC, in Brindisi, is active as 4U29MAY until the 31st of May. The special callsign is active to promote the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which is on the 29th of May. The station has been worked recently on the 20 and 15m bands using CW. QSL via 9A2AA. Now the DX news Chris, WA7RAR is active as 8P9CB from Barbados, NA-021, until the 26th of May. All of his operations are portable at various locations throughout the island, especially Parks on the Air sites. He is QRV on the 20 to 10m bands using CW and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World, or directly to WA7RAR. Roland, F8EN is active again as TR8CR from Gabon until at least the end of June. He will operate CW only and will celebrate his 96th birthday while there. QSL via F6AJA directly or via the Bureau. Roland can usually be found on the 30 to 10m bands using CW. Now the contest news The 144MHz May Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the 18th and ends at 1400UTC today, the 19th of May. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK stations also send their postcode. Today, the 19th, the 1st 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. UK stations also send their postcode. Tomorrow, the 20th, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 21st, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 22nd, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using data modes on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 25th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 26th of May. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday the 26th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. 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 16th of May 2024 After last weekend's auroral spectacular, it was nice to see the Sun calm down a little and the bands get back to normal. But that didn't last long. To recap, on Friday the 10th of May the Kp index shot up to 9, due to the effects of a number of coronal mass ejections, while the HF bands closed down in the subsequent geomagnetic storm. While there was visible aurora across the UK and Europe, HF propagation suffered and didn't start to recover until the late afternoon on Saturday the 11th. The main culprit, active region 3664, has now rotated out of view, but that doesn't mean we are out of the woods just yet. Solar flares can cause short-term disruption to HF propagation due to their X-rays penetrating deep into the D-region and causing signals to be absorbed. Subsequent coronal mass ejections can cause longer-term degradation of the F2 layer with reduced maximum usable frequencies, noisy bands and auroral conditions.  At the time of writing, the Kp index stood at 6 again so it looks like unsettled geomagnetic conditions are continuing with a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm in progress. Low to moderate activity is now expected, with a slight chance of further strong-class flares. The regions currently on the visible disc are smaller and simpler, with isolated M-flares possible from these. However, a new active region, now rotating into view, has already emitted an X-class solar flare. Next week, the United States Air Force predicts that the solar flux index may remain in the 160 to 180 range. HF conditions remain a lottery as they can be badly affected by solar flares and coronal mass ejections. It is best to keep an eye on solarham.com for updates, and also propquest.co.uk for near real-time reports of the critical and maximum usable frequencies. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather remains on the unsettled side of things with areas of rain and some thunderstorms over the country, especially the south as we end this week. As this report is being read out, high pressure is becoming established over northern and western Britain. This may eventually take a tenuous hold over the rest of the country during the second half of the coming week and into next weekend, the 25th and 26th. This high pressure, although fairly weak, may help with some Tropo for those in northern Britain in the 144MHz May Contest and the Backpackers Contest this weekend, ending on the 19th. It may also be helpful to those taking part in the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest on the 21st. However, the conditions may not be of much use in the south as another low arrives from the continent. Overall, rain scatter on the GHz bands will probably be worth exploring in the rainy areas again, since some of the showers may be heavy and thundery. The prospects for Aurora are still worth keeping in mind despite the recent stunning event. Minor non-visible events can still provide a reasonable radio aurora to explore. The Sporadic-E season continues to develop. And with such unsettled weather, there are plentiful jet streams to act as source regions for turbulence, which can propagate up to the E region where they can generate Sporadic-E. We are currently at the tail end of the Eta Aquariids meteor shower. A few meteors from this shower will continue to appear, but no major shower is expected this week. The lowest Moon declination occurs this coming Friday. With the Moon being full on the 23rd, a clear sky should reveal an impressive ‘Flower Moon'. For EME, path loss will still be relatively high, although the Moon is starting to move back towards its closest point to Earth, or perigee. 144MHz sky noise starts the week low but rises to high on Saturday the 25th. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 12th of May 2024  The news headlines: New RSGB Trophy Manager announced Questionnaire launched to help shape the future of the Commonwealth Contest Learn about designing PCBs using KiCAD during the next Tonight@8 webinar We are pleased to announce that Mike Franklin, G3VYI will be the new RSGB Trophy Manager. He will focus on the Contest Trophy collection and HQ will now manage the AGM Trophies. Jacqui Goodey, G6XSY, the retiring RSGB Trophy Manager, will support Mike's transition into this role. She will also take responsibility for the historical aspect of our trophies. You can contact Mike via trophy.manager@rsgb.org.uk and Jacqui will have the new email address trophy.archivist@rsgb.org.uk  The RSGB thanks Mike and Jacqui for volunteering for this important work. Following the RSGB Commonwealth Contest in March, a small group of representatives have been reviewing possible changes that they hope will encourage more participation in future contests. The group includes representatives from countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The RSGB HF Contest Committee is now calling on both regular entrants and those who have never entered before but may do so in the future, to complete a questionnaire to help shape the next steps in the discussion. The questionnaire is open until Monday the 20th of May and can be found by visiting tinyurl.com/cwctest2024 The latest Tonight@8 webinar is tomorrow, Monday the 13th of May. Mike Willis, G0MJW will be giving an introduction to designing printed circuit boards using the popular open-source KiCAD package. The presentation covers the basics in real time, starting with a circuit sketch, going through the process of converting that into a schematic diagram, and then using that to create a printed circuit board design. It will then conclude with how to send this out for production. Watch this live presentation on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. To find out more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars The RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX has announced that, due to the pressure of work, Paul Nichols, M0PVN has resigned as an RSGB Board Director. Paul runs a busy and growing legal practice which, like many professional roles, requires long hours each day. Paul has offered to be a Legal Adviser to the Board. Stewart has welcomed him to that role and thanked him for his input to the RSGB during the last year. Today, the 12th, lots of amateur radio stations are on the air as part of Mills on the Air Weekend 2024. The event takes place across the UK every May with more than 300 windmills and watermills usually taking part. For more information, and to view a list of registered stations, visit ddars.net/mills.html The date has been confirmed for the 12th Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT. It will go ahead on Saturday the 9th of November 2024 at the Museum of Communication, Burntisland, Fife. Lunch will be provided, and an optional dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. Online booking will open in July 2024. Updates, when available, will be published on the GMRT website at gmroundtable.org.uk  For more information, email Colin, GM4HWO via gm4hwo@gmail.com And now for details of rallies and events The RetrotechUK event is taking place today, the 12th. The venue is Sports Connexion, Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. The doors open at 10.30 am with an entry fee of £10. A fee of £25 applies for early-doors entry at 9 am. This is an annual event organised by the British Vintage Wireless Society. There are almost 200 dealer stalls, clubs and private sellers. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the wide range of retro equipment. For more information email info@retrotechuk.com and visit retrotechuk.com Barry Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place on Saturday the 18th of May. The venue will be Sully Sports and Social Club, South Road, Sully, CF64 5SP. Doors open from 9.30 am and admission is £3. Access for traders is available from 7.30 am. For more information, traders and exhibitors can ring Nigel, GW1CUQ on 02920 892 580. For general enquiries ring Steve, 2W0VOG on 07900 560 080 or email s.cawsey@sky.com The Braehead Rally will be taking place next Sunday the 19th of May at the Braehead Arena from 10 am. There will be free on-site parking, bring and buy and refreshments available. For more information contact Paul via email at mm3ddq@gmail.com Also on Sunday the 19th of May, the Dartmoor Radio Club Rally will be held at Yelverton War Memorial Hall, PL20 6AL. The doors open at 10 am. For more information, please contact Roger Hann on 07854 088 882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com Now the Special Event News Special event station GB1SCW is active today, the 12th, from the National Coast Watch Station at Shoreham by Sea. Operators are celebrating the work of the National Coast Watch and RNLI as part of SOS Radio Week. Listen out for the station on the 40m to 70cm bands using SSB, CW, FM, and digital modes. See QRZ.com for more information. The Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is once again supporting the International Men's Mental Health Month and helping to raise the profile of Men's Mental Health 2024 throughout the international amateur radio community. Club members will be operating from their headquarters at Patrington Haven, East Yorkshire using special callsign GB0MMH. The station will be active throughout the weekends of the 17th to 19th of May and the 14th to 16th of June across all the HF bands. Please listen out for the operators and give them a call. Your support will help raise the awareness of men's mental health. For more information see QRZ.com  Poole Amateur Radio Society, supported by the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, the British Amateur Television Club and the Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society, will be operating GB4PRS to support the RNLI Poole lifeboat festival over the weekend of the 18th and 19th of May. This is a celebration of the RNLI saving lives for 200 years and a full programme of events and visitor attractions has been organised by the RNLI, culminating with a historic ship sail-past on the evening of Sunday the 19th at 4 pm. The free-of-charge event will be open between 11 am and 4 pm and thousands of visitors are expected to visit. The station will be set up on Poole Quay, adjacent to the RNLI HQ. As well as demonstrating the use of radio in emergency situations, the station will also be participating in the SOS Radio Week activity. The station will be contacting other amateur radio stations at various RNLI lifeboat centres around the UK, as well as other lifesaving institutions nationally and internationally. A commemorative QSL card will be available. Anybody with permission to operate adjacent to, or from, a lifeboat station is invited to arrange a scheduled contact and participate in this major RNLI event. For more information, please contact secretary@g4prs.org.uk Also in support of RNLI SOS Radio Week, the Wirral Amateur Radio Society will be active as GB2HLS on Sunday the 19th of May. The station will be operating from the Hoylake Lifeboat Station, Wirral, CH47 3AL from 10 am to 4 pm. More information is available at tinyurl.com/SOSG3NWR or from Bill, G4YWD on 07804 884 245.  Now the DX news Ric, DL2VFR is active as SM2/DL2VFR from Holmon Island, EU-135, until the 14th of May using CW and some SSB. He may also be QRV as SM5/DL2VFR from IOTA group EU-084  on the 15th or 16th. QSL via Ric's home call. QSOs will be uploaded to the Logbook of the World and Club Log. Three amateurs from Stockport Radio Society are hoping, subject to appropriate weather for the crossing, to activate Great Saltee Island, EU-103, from Tuesday the 14th to Friday the 17th of May using the callsign EJ6KP/P. This will be a daylight activity only as the team is not permitted to stay overnight. Listen out for the operators on the 40, 20 and 15m bands using SSB. Harold, DF2WO is active as 9X2AW from Rwanda until the 17th of  May. He is operating CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF and 6m bands. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. Now the contest news Today, the 12th, the 70MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using CW on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK stations also send their postcode. Tomorrow, the 13th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 14th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 14th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 16th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The 144MHz May Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 18th and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 19th of May. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK stations also send their postcode. On Sunday the 19th of May, the 1st 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK stations also send their postcode.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 9th of May 2024 Disrupted solar conditions continued this week with X-class solar flares aplenty. Four X-class events on the 8th and 9th of May prompted coronal mass ejections, which could join together to impact the Earth this weekend. We can expect a strong G3 event with the Kp index rising to 6 and the potential for visible aurora in the UK. It's hard to be positive about this as HF conditions this weekend, ending today the 12th, are likely to be very disrupted with reduced MUFs and noisy bands. But do look out for auroral signals, perhaps on the 10m band, and above, and a potential HF band enhancement just as the plasma cloud hits. The solar flux index hit 227 on Thursday the 9th, which is one of the highest we have had in this cycle. But don't get carried away as it is forecast to decline. Meanwhile, conditions have been typical for this time of year, with reduced F-layer propagation on the 10m band, offset by the start of the Sporadic-E season. The lower HF bands are staying open later in the evening, and may even increase to all night on the 20m band, as we head towards June and July. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will drop below 200, but remain at or above 175 all week. After this weekend's chaotic geomagnetic conditions, we can expect the Kp index to fall to 2, but increase again on the 13th, to perhaps 4. In the meantime, solar maximum is still predicted to be later this year, although geomagnetic disturbances are likely to increase on the downward part of the cycle. So, buckle up for a rough ride! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO We end the current week with high pressure over the country and some occasional Tropo paths, especially over surrounding waters. The high will decline from the west as we progress through this weekend. At the time of reading on Sunday, the transition will be all but complete and low pressure will remain in control for much of the coming week. This means periods of rain, heavy showers or thunderstorms and quite windy weather at times. In terms of propagation, a shift to rain scatter is a good choice for those equipped for the GHz bands for the week ahead. Recent solar activity continues to offer chances of auroras so remember to monitor the Kp index and check for fluttery signals on the HF bands and raspy signals on VHF. The many clusters and band reports should be a good tool for these conditions. Lastly, the Sporadic-E season is having a few starting twitches. Earlier in the evening of Wednesday the 8th there was a short opening of about an hour to Scandinavia on 6m CW from a patch in the middle of the North Sea. The positions of the jet streams may not entirely suit further openings in the shorter term but, as the low-pressure moves in next week, things could improve for Sporadic-E paths to Iberia and central Mediterranean. With the Eta Aquariids peak now past, the next big meteor shower isn't until July with the Delta Aquariids. But before the Delta Aquariids, we can look forward to the Arietiids in late May. However, the Eta Aquariids will continue to produce the odd ping or burst. Last week there was plenty of evidence of meteors continuing to burn up after the peak. There may still be the odd one during the coming week together with the usual background sporadic meteor returns. As the Moon starts to decline this week, the distance between the Moon and Earth is also beginning to increase and with it the path loss increases to a maximum on Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th. However, sky noise will remain low all week. The Moon is favourably placed for daytime operation this week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 5th of May 2024   The news headlines: RSGB insurance update RSGB Legacy Committee Chair appointed SOS Radio Week is under way   RSGB club insurance, and beacon and repeater insurance, have now been renewed for the year to April 2025. Club insurance certificates can be downloaded from the RSGB website. You will need to log in to obtain your certificate. Beacon and repeater insurance certificates are available for an admin fee of £15 from the RSGB shop. Please allow a couple of days after renewal for your certificate to be dispatched. The RSGB Board is pleased to announce it has approved the appointment of Richard Horton, G4AOJ to the role of Legacy Committee Chair. The RSGB Legacy Fund, thanks to the generosity of donors, has significant financial resources available to encourage and develop amateur radio. The Legacy Committee, which is a sub-Committee of the RSGB Board, considers proposals for grants that can be awarded to projects from the RSGB Legacy Fund. The criteria and application form are available on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/legacy  If you have an interesting idea and would like to submit it for funding, you can contact the new Legacy Chair via legacy.chair@rsgb.org.uk SOS Radio Week is underway. It is an annual event that takes place throughout the month of May to celebrate the work of the volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Independent Lifeboats and National Coastwatch Stations around the British Isles. Between them, members of these organisations save many lives who are in danger along and around the thousands of miles of coastline and further out to sea. This year is the 200th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI, and SOS Radio Week is being co-branded SOS Radio Week 200 for those operators who are supporting the RNLI during the event. Participants can operate from home, a public location, or a lifeboat or Coastwatch station, with the appropriate authorisation from the station manager. A commemorative certificate is available to all official stations that record their contacts on the website together with awards for the top individual and club, or group, stations on each band from 160m to 70cm. To read more about the event visit sosradioweek.org.uk The next in the series of the popular 145 Alive events, to promote the use of 145MHz FM, is coming up on Saturday the 11th of May, from 1pm to 3pm. The event and the supporting Facebook Group was started by Tim, G5TM and from the start of 2024 has been organised by Mark, M0XIC and John, M0XJA. The last successful event took place in January this year, when over 30 nets operated simultaneously across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern and Southern Ireland. Over 900 QSOs took place, with many amateurs operating portable, mobile or from their club or home QTH. If you would like to take part, and find out more about the event and 145 Alive in general, then join the 145 Alive Facebook Group. Next weekend, the 11th and 12th, lots of amateur radio stations will be taking to the air as part of Mills on the Air Weekend 2024. The event takes place across the UK every May with more than 300 windmills and watermills usually taking part. For more information, to register, and to view a list of registered stations, visit ddars.net/mills.html Advance notice now that International Museums Weekend will be taking place on the third and fourth weekends in June. This year, those weekends are the 15th and 16th, and the 22nd and 23rd of June. Special event stations will be operating from a wide variety of museums from many different countries. To read more about the event, and to register to take part, visit tinyurl.com/IMW2024 And now for details of rallies and events Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club's 40th Annual Radio Rally is taking place today, the 5th of May. The venue is Share Discovery Village, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, BT92 0JZ. The event features food and drink, bring and buy, RSGB books, the QSL Bureau, and the usual variety of traders. The doors open at 11 am. Traders are asked to arrive around 9 am. Admission, which includes a ticket for the prize draw, will cost £5 or five Euro. Contact Alan at argault91@gmail.com to arrange a table. Thorpe Camp Hamfest is also taking place today, the 5th of May at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire, LN4 4PL. The doors open at 9am for buyers and the entrance fee is £5 per person. The event will finish at 1pm. The RetrotechUK event will be held on Sunday the 12th of May. The venue will be Sports Connexion, Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. The doors open at 10.30 am with an entry fee of £10. A fee of £25 applies for early-doors entry at 9 am. This is an annual event organised by the British Vintage Wireless Society. There will be almost 200 dealer stalls, clubs and private sellers. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the wide range of retro equipment. For more information email info@retrotechuk.com and visit retrotechuk.com Dunstable Downs Radio Club would like to remind everyone that its annual boot sale has been postponed until the 30th of June. This is due to the site being used by BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music festival. Updates will be posted to Dunstable Downs Radio Club's Facebook page and reminder emails will be sent out closer to the time. To add yourself to the list, visit ddrcbootsale.org  and sign up for email reminders. Now the Special Event News Special callsign 9H6HE is in use by the Malta Amateur Radio League to celebrate the swearing-in of Malta's 11th President. Look for activity until the 31st of May on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via Logbook of the World. Paper QSL cards are not available. The RSGB National Radio Centre will be operating a special event callsign GB2DAY to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during the Second World War. The station will be active between the 6th and 9th of June. In addition, volunteers will be hosting the special demonstration station GB1SOE on Saturday the 15th of June. Don't forget that RSGB Members can get free entry to Bletchley Park and the RSGB's National Radio Centre by downloading a voucher from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bpvoucher Now the DX news Bo, OZ1DJJ is active as OX3LX from Greenland until the 9th of May. In his spare time, he operates FT8, RTTY and CW. The station was spotted recently on the 10 and 12m bands using FT8. QSL via OZ0J. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World and Club Log. Tom, NL7RR is active on Wake Island, OC-053, until the 15th of May. Look for KH9/NL7RR to be QRV daily at about 0700UTC on or around 14.200MHz. QSL via Logbook of the World, or direct to Tom's home call. QSOs will also be uploaded to Club Log. Now the contest news Today, the 5th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, today, the 5th, the UK Microwave Group Millimetre-wave Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also today, the 5th, the Worked All Britain 7MHz Phone Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 40m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain Square. The ARI International DX Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 4th and ends at 1159UTC today, Sunday the 5th of May. Using CW, RTTY and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Italian stations also send their province. The 432MHz to 245GHz Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the 4th and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 5th of May. Using all modes on 432MHz to 245GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 5th, the 10GHz Trophy runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using All modes on 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 7th, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 7th, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 8th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 8th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Thursday the 9th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 12th, the 70MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using CW on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK stations also send their postcode. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 2nd of May 2024 What a strange week we had. With the solar flux index in the 167 range, falling to 130, conditions should have been reasonable. But the Kp index hit 4, and even 5.33, on the evening of Friday the 26th of April, which meant propagation on Saturday the 27th was truly dire. Stations taking part in International Marconi Day on the 27th found the 40m band only open to long skip in the morning. This was due to the critical frequency being below 5MHz. The predicted MUF over a 3,000km path fluctuated between 15MHz and 19MHz for the whole day, which meant only 14MHz was open reliably. As a result, QSOs were hard to come by and many stations reported that it was slow going with virtually no signals from outside of Europe. So what happened? Well, it was a combination of factors. The increased Kp index, due to a fast solar wind, took its toll. And we are now moving to a summer ionosphere, where chemical changes make it harder to ionise. This will mean we should see MUFs dropping as the season progresses, at least during the day. Nighttime MUFs will be higher than in winter. So it may be that the glory days of 28MHz F2-layer propagation are on hold until Autumn, with only short-skip Sporadic-E on the 10m band to keep us entertained. F2-layer propagation is still available on the higher HF bands, but it may be patchy. International Marconi Day station GB0CMS in Caister, Norfolk, reported that its 20m signals were picked up by a reverse beacon network skimmer in Utah, despite not working anyone outside of Europe. Meanwhile, on the morning of the 2nd, Laurie, G3UML was quite surprised to work YJ0CA on Vanuatu on the 15m band using SSB. He also worked 3D2CCC on Conway Reef on the 20m band using CW, and JD1BMH in Japan on the 15m band, also using CW. Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the 125 range, rising to 175 as the week progresses. Geomagnetic conditions are dependent on coronal mass ejections. We have had eight M-class solar flares in the past three days, and a Kp index of 5 on Thursday the 2nd, which doesn't bode well for next week. So, keep an eye on solarham.com for current conditions and look for the best HF propagation if the Kp index is low for a day or two. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather pattern remains very unsettled for the whole period with areas of low pressure edging north across the UK from the continent. There will be a risk of thundery weather at times with locally heavy rainfall, which will be good for rain scatter on the Gigahertz bands. Tropo looks to be hard to find as we end the current week dominated by low-pressure systems, but there are signs of high pressure returning after mid-week, but only temporarily. This could produce some Tropo paths, especially across surrounding waters such as the Irish Sea, English Channel and North Sea. The nominal summer season of Sporadic-E propagation is upon us and, from May to early September, daily blogs will be provided on the Propquest.co.uk website highlighting the possible Sporadic-E links to the position of the jet streams shown on the upper air charts. It's well worthwhile getting into the habit of regularly checking the DX clusters and activity maps, since the early season is usually characterised by a complex jet stream pattern with multiple potential locations for Sporadic-E propagation.  Timewise, it eventually settles into a more traditional behaviour with activity often in two phases, one in the morning and the second in late afternoon, early evening. As you listen to this report, the Eta Aquariids meteor shower should be peaking. Unfortunately, the best viewing for the shower, which is part of the debris from Halley's comet, will be in the southern hemisphere. Nevertheless, this is expected to be one of the best showers this century. For those viewing the shower, a waning Moon means that light levels should be low, making for ideal visual sighting. For EME, the Moon will be waning all week with the new Moon around the 8th of May. The Moon will be rising in the sky throughout the week, with zero declination on the 5th of May and peaking at its highest in the sky on Saturday the 11th of May. The lowest additional path loss occurs today and tomorrow, the 5th and 6th, but high Sun noise, with the Moon close to the Sun at new Moon, occurs shortly afterwards. Later in the week, as the Sun 'leaves' the Moon behind, noise levels, at least on the higher bands will fall to around normal. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 28th of April 2024   The news headlines: New mock papers for amateur radio licence exams have been published A revised amateur radio examination syllabus has been released The RSGB has released the video review of 2023 by its President John McCullagh, GI4BWM The RSGB Exam Syllabus Review Group has published a new set of mock papers covering each of the amateur radio licence exams, from Foundation through to Direct to Full. These papers are in addition to those already available. They are each marked as ‘mock exam paper 3' and you can find them on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/mock-exams  The new amateur radio licence has now been in effect for a few weeks. Changes to the licence conditions have made it necessary to revise the examination syllabus. The RSGB is pleased to release version 1.6 of the syllabus which includes these revisions. Compared to version 1.5 in current use, the only section that has seen major changes is Section 1 – “Licensing and station identification”. In Section 7 – “Operating practices and procedures” – there were some minor changes, for example regarding suffixes. Exams will start using version 1.6 of the syllabus on the 1st of September 2024. The Society has released the video review of 2023 by RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM. Filmed at the Ofcom Spectrum Management Centre near Baldock in Hertfordshire, the video covers a wide range of very positive activities, events and achievements. The President also talks about the RSGB's strategic priorities, gaining publicity in the mainstream media, and the important work done by the Society on behalf of all radio amateurs to protect the spectrum. One example is the WRC Conference, where the RSGB Microwave Manager Barry Lewis, G4SJH, led the IARU team responsible for defending amateur use of the 23cm band. You can watch the video on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB At the April Regional Forum meeting, Regional Representative 10, Keith Bird, G4JED was elected as Chair, and Regional Representative 3, Martyn Bell, M0TEB was elected as Secretary. They will both volunteer in these roles until the 2025 AGM. You can find contact details for both Keith and Martyn on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/regions The next in the series of the popular 145 Alive events, to promote the use of 145MHz FM, is scheduled to take place on the 11th of May 2024, from 1 pm to 3 pm. The event and the supporting Facebook Group was started by Tim, G5TM and from the start of 2024 has been organised by Mark, M0XIC and John, M0XJA. The last successful event took place in January this year, when over 30 nets operated simultaneously across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern and Southern Ireland. Over 900 QSOs took place, with many amateurs operating portable, mobile or from their club or home QTH. If you would like to take part and find out more about the event and 145 Alive in general, then join the 145 Alive Facebook Group. If you would like to run a net on the 11th of May, contact Mark, M0XIC or John, M0XJA via the Facebook Group. Mills on the Air Weekend 2024 is coming up on Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of May. The event takes place across the UK every May with more than 300 windmills and watermills usually taking part. For more information, to register, and to view a list of registered stations, visit ddars.net/mills.html The RAF Air Cadets are pleased to announce that they are running the ever-popular Blue Ham Radio Communications Exercise in June on the 60m band. The exercise will take place between the 17th and 21st of June. Subject to your licence conditions, the Blue Ham team hopes that you can put some time aside to join in with the cadets and staff who will be ready to take your calls. The Blue Ham Team will issue you with a participation certificate if you contact 20 or more special MRE callsigns over the period of the exercise. For more information visit alphacharlie.org.uk  Please note that only Full licensees may operate on the 60m band. South Bristol Amateur Radio Club is running a free online Foundation licence course in May. Anyone who is interested in taking part can find out more by emailing training@sbarc.co.uk When emailing, please include your name, postal address and date of birth. Please also indicate which weekday evenings and times you are available. The weekday evening that the course will take place will be decided by majority preference. MFJ Enterprises has announced in a letter to its customers that it will be ceasing its on-site production at its premises in Starkville, Mississippi on the 17th of May 2024. The news also applies to the sister companies Ameritron, Hygain, Cushcraft and others. MFJ Enterprises has been in business for 52 years and will continue to sell its existing stock after the 17th of May. It will also continue to offer a repair service for out-of-warranty and in-warranty units for the foreseeable future. And now for details of rallies and events The Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club's 40th Annual Radio Rally is due to take place on Sunday the 5th of May. The venue will be Share Discovery Village, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, BT92 0JZ. The event will feature food and drink, bring and buy, RSGB books, the QSL Bureau, and the usual variety of traders. The doors open at 11 am. Traders are asked to arrive around 9 am. Admission, which includes a ticket for the prize draw, will cost £5 or five Euro. Contact Alan at argault91@gmail.com to arrange a table. Thorpe Camp Hamfest will also take place on Sunday the 5th of May at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincolnshire, LN4 4PL. Traders are asked to arrive no earlier than 7 am. The doors open at 9 am for buyers and the entrance fee is £5 per person. The Retrotech UK event will be held on Sunday the 12th of May. The venue will be Sports Connexion, Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. The doors open at 10.30 am with an entry fee of £10. A fee of £25 applies for early-doors entry at 9 am. This is an annual event organised by the British Vintage Wireless Society. There will be almost 200 dealer stalls, clubs and private sellers. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the wide range of retro equipment. For more information email info@retrotechuk.com and visit retrotechuk.com Now the Special Event News Special callsign SZ0WARD is in use by the Radio Amateur Association of Greece in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day until the 30th of April. Look for activity on all bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via the Bureau and Logbook of the World. See sv2rck.gr/SZ0WARD for details of an available award. Also in celebration of World Amateur Radio Day, the special callsign TC3WRD is active until the 30th of April. QSL via Logbook of the World. For details of a certificate that is available, see tadx.org/awards The station was spotted recently on the 40m band using FT8. Today is the last chance to work special event station GB6WW which is active from Glasgow, Scotland to commemorate the end of the Second World War. If you have made QSOs with GB6WW on three or more bands, you are eligible to apply for an award. To apply for the award, send an email to gb6ww@ft8.me with the details of your contacts. Please include your callsign, dates of QSOs, and the bands on which they occurred. There is no application fee. Once your QSOs have been verified, the PDF award file will be emailed to you. Now the DX news Jeff, K5WE and Craig, W5CCP are active as TX7W from Raivavae, OC-114,  in the Austral Islands until the 30th of April. They are operating using mainly CW and FT8, with some SSB, RTTY and FT4, on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred but is also available via Logbook of the World, or directly to K5WE. Depending upon a reliable internet connection, logs will be uploaded to Club Log daily, and Club Log's Livestream will be enabled. See k5we.com/tx7w for more information and updates. Listen out for a group of 13 Camb-Hams which is active from the Isle of Mull, EU-008, as GS3PYE until the 3rd of May. The team is QRV on the 80 to 10m bands as well as via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. You can read a report of the team's previous visit to the island in 2015 at tinyurl.com/Mull2015 Now the contest news The UK and Ireland DX CW Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 27th and ends at 1200UTC today, the 28th of April. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. UK and Ireland's stations also send their district code. The SP DX RTTY Contest started at 1200UTC on the 27th and ends at 1200UTC today the 28th of April. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code. The MGM Contest started at 1400UTC on the 27th of April and ends at 1400UTC today the 28th of April. Using machine-generated modes on the 6 and 2m bands, the exchange is your report and four-character locator. Today, the 28th, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint 75 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using 75-baud RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial number. On Monday the 29th, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Wednesday the 1st of May, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 1st of May, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Saturday the 4th, the 432MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The 432MHz to 245GHz Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 4th and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 5th of May. Using all modes on 432MHz to 245GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The UK Six Metre Group's Summer Marathon starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 4th of May and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 4th of August. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is your four-character locator. The ARI International DX Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 4th of May and ends at 1159UTC on Sunday the 5th of May. Using CW, RTTY and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Italian stations also send their province. On Sunday the 5th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Sunday the 5th, the UK Microwave Group Millimetre Wave Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 5th, the Worked All Britain 7MHz Phone Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 40m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain Square. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 25th of April 2024 We had another week with plenty of sunspots, and HF conditions were quite good in the second half. Earlier, the Kp index reached 3 and 4, which didn't help maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs for short. For example, on Sunday the 21st, the Kp index rose to 4 and the MUF over a 3,000km path remained stubbornly below 21MHz until later in the morning. This could have been due to a coronal hole on the Sun's equator, which added to the solar wind. By Wednesday, conditions were nearly back to normal, with a Kp index below 2 and an MUF of more than 24MHz. By Thursday the improvement had continued, giving us an MUF of more than 28MHz by 0900UTC. There have been many reports of 10m band DX being worked, including Sebastien, FK4AX and Pat, FK8HA in New Caledonia in the Pacific on SSB. Sebastien has just got his licence and is keen to work DX from the UK. This shows that it is worth keeping an eye on the CW and SSB portions of the 10m band, which can often throw up surprises. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will decline to around 160. The Kp index is predicted to be around 2 to 3, but that may be wishful thinking. With 16 active regions visible on the Sun's surface on Thursday, anything could happen. Only minor C- and M-class flares have occurred recently but, as we always say, it wouldn't take much for those to turn into X-class events. So, make the most of quiet geomagnetic conditions when we have them as, by the time you read or hear this, we could once again have very unsettled conditions indeed. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The cold, unsettled weather will ease its grip over the last few days of this week, ending the 28th of April, but only because the whole area of low pressure is moving across the country this weekend. Low pressure remains close by for much of the following week and only a hesitant return of high pressure west of Ireland will improve things for western Britain at the end of the week. The result is a chance of Tropo for western Britain next week, but it will probably be of limited quality since it is likely to form in cold, dry air across any temperature inversion.  The remaining option in such weather patterns is primarily rain scatter for those on the GHz bands. The many online weather radar displays can be used to highlight the areas of heaviest rain. We are past the peak of the Lyrids meteor shower, but the Eta-Aquarids, with a Zenithal Hourly Rate of 50, peaks next Sunday the 5th around 2100UTC. Until then, rely upon random activity which tends to be better around dawn. The Sun has been more active again recently, so monitor the clusters and Kp index for signs of geomagnetic activity and the chance of an aurora if the Kp index exceeds 5. Sporadic-E tends to produce a few early examples in May ahead of its June peak. Check the DX clusters during the late afternoon or early evening as openings can be very brief early in the season. Start on the 10m band and, if short skip within Europe is present, move up to the 6m band. Digital modes are more sensitive so check FT8 reports to give clues as to where the chances are greatest. For EME operators, the Moon is at minimum declination today, Sunday the 28th, meaning we'll have short Moon windows to start the coming week. Path losses are falling but perigee, when the Moon is at its closest point, is still over a week away. 144MHz sky noise is high this weekend, ending the 28th of April, but falls too low by the end of the coming week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

  GB2RS News Sunday the 14th of April 2024 The news headlines: RSGB member interviewed by the BBC about the total solar eclipse Ofcom releases video about changes to UK amateur radio licensing World Amateur Radio Day is coming up On Monday the 8th of April, a total solar eclipse gripped North America as radio amateurs worldwide looked on to see its effect on the ionosphere. This included RSGB Propagation Committee associate member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, who was interviewed by BBC news on the topic. The article, which was shared across the world, looked at some of the scientific experiments that took place during the eclipse. You can read the article by searching for “The 4-minute window into the Sun's secrets” on BBC news. The RSGB thanks all the WSPR users who responded to Gwyn's call to action, got involved and shared their results on the RSGB social media channels.  Ofcom has released a video about changes to the UK amateur radio framework covering licensing and callsign changes. It also gives some insight into the forthcoming Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the changes for callsigns and special event stations. You can watch the video at tinyurl.com/ofcomvid World Amateur Radio Day is celebrated each year on the 18th of April. The theme for 2024 is “A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100 Years of Amateur Radio Innovation, Community and Advocacy.” The global event covers all of the IARU regions and runs from 0000UTC on Thursday the 18th of April to 0000UTC on Friday the 19th of April. All radio amateurs are invited to take to the airwaves to show their skills and capabilities to the public. You can read more about the event at tinyurl.com/iaruward During May, the RSGB's Photo Friday feature on social media will highlight radio amateurs who are taking advantage of the new licence conditions. You could be an individual who is discovering different things to enjoy with the new power levels, or who is encouraging friends and family to get on the air under your supervision. You could be a club involved in special events and outreach to the public. In whatever way you're making the most of the new licence conditions, the RSGB wants to hear from you! Send a photo and a short description to comms@rsgb.org.uk and the Society will share as many stories as possible. On the 11th of April, BBC Radio 4 Feedback presenter Andrea Catherwood looked at why the Long Wave frequency is being shut down by the BBC. She interviewed RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM, and in the final programme, a brief clip was used in which John gave his opinion on the possible impact for some listeners. You can listen to the Feedback show on BBC Sounds, by searching for “Feedback and Long Wave” on the BBC website. The feature starts at 19 minutes and 55 seconds, with the RSGB President featuring at 22 minutes and 18 seconds. This year Dennis, G7AGZ is running special event station GB0CHC again in support of Cornwall Hospice Care. This is Dennis' 33rd year of fundraising for the charity. The station will be active until the end of April on all bands from 80m to 70cm using SSB, FM and DMR. If you would like to support the cause, search for GB0CHC on the justgiving.com  website The Cornish Radio Amateur Club has re-launched its sought-after Cornish Award Certificate. The award has been around since the 1960s and is given to amateur radio stations based outside of the County of Cornwall who have contacted 20 Cornish-based amateur radio stations. The new award allows the use of HF, VHF and UHF bands using any mode including FM, SSB, CW, and now digital modes such as FT8. Proof in the form of copies of logbook entries showing the 20 stations worked, dates, times and modes is required to qualify. The new award applies to contacts made on or after the 1st of January 2024, and the certificate will be emailed in PDF format. More information can be found via the “Cornish Award” link at gx4crc.com A reminder now that International Marconi Day is coming up on the 27th of April. Once again, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club is organising and running the event. Lots of amateur radio stations will be operating from sites that Marconi operated from or had a personal connection with. For more information, and to view a list of the stations that are taking part, follow the “International Marconi Day” link on the gx4crc.com  website  And now for details of rallies and events Yeovil Amateur Radio Club's 38th QRP Convention will be held on Saturday the 20th of April at Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA. The doors will be open from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and admission will be £3. The event will feature talks, traders, a bring-and-buy area, club stalls and a café. For more information, see yeovil-arc.com or email derekbowen1949@talktalk.net Andover Radio Amateur Club Boot Sale is due to take place on Sunday the 21st of April at Wildhern Village Hall, Tangley, Wildhern, Andover, SP11 0JE. The doors open at 10 am for visitors and at 9 am for sellers. Entry will cost £2. The fee for a field pitch is £8 and the cost for a table in the hall will be £10. For more information visit arac.org.uk  For table bookings email admin@arac.org.uk Cambridge Repeater Group Rally will take place on Sunday the 21st of April at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridgeshire, CB22 6RN. The doors will open at 9.30 am for visitors and at 7.30 am for traders. The event will be a car-boot sale. The rally will feature talk-in, trade stands, clubs, bring and buy, RSGB books, a free marshalled car park and a burger van. For more information contact Lawrence, M0LCM on 07941 972 724, email rally2024@cambridgerepeaters.net, or visit cambridgerepeaters.net The Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association Rally, also known as both the ‘NARSA Rally' and the ‘Blackpool Rally', will take place on Sunday the 21st of April. The venue will be Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool, FY2 9AA. For more details contact Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608, email dwilson@btinternet.com or visit narsa.org.uk Dunstable Downs Radio Club would like to remind everyone that its annual boot sale has been postponed until the 30th of June. This is due to the site being used by BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music festival. Updates will be posted to Dunstable Downs Radio Club's Facebook page and reminder emails will be sent out closer to the time. To add yourself to the list, visit ddrcbootsale.org  and sign up for email reminders.  Now the Special Event News Special event station 5P0WARD will be active from Denmark on the 18th of April to mark World Amateur Radio Day. QSL via Logbook of the World or via OZ1ACB. For more information, including details of awards that are available, visit QRZ.com Special callsign ER30ARM is active to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Amateur Radio Society of Moldova, ER1KAA. Look for activity until the 30th of April. The station was spotted recently on the HF bands using CW and FT8. QSL via the Bureau, directly, and Logbook of the World.  Now the DX news Willy, ON4AVT is active as 6W7/ON4AVT from Warang, Senegal until the 16th of April. He operates using mainly FT8 on the 80 to 10m bands. He will also be QRV on the QO-100 satellite. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. Bernhard, DL2GAC is active as H44MS from Malaita, OC-047 in the Solomon Islands until the 25th of April. He is QRV on the 160 to 6m bands using SSB and some FT8. QSL via Bernhard's home call or the Bureau. He will upload his log to Club Log and Logbook of the World.  Now the contest news On Tuesday the 16th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 17th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 18th, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. 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 Thursday the 11th of April 2024 The Sun is still looking a little bare, but the solar flux index has climbed back to 131, as of Thursday the 11th, with four active regions. The promise is that things will improve, especially as we will soon see the return of active region 3615, which was the source of numerous M-class and one X-class flare on its last rotation. Things have been a little sparse on the higher HF bands, with only FT8 being audible or visible on the 10m band at times. Having said that there has been some good FT8 DX to be worked on the 10m band, including Angola, Malawi, China, Japan, Taiwan and the Solomon Islands. During the recent solar eclipse event there were also a lot of US stations on the 10m band using WSPR. These included Bob, K6XX in Santa Cruz, California, who was copiable in the UK at around 1850UTC. This just shows how effective WSPR is as a mode on an otherwise quiet band. There have been some early signs of Sporadic-E on the 10m band using digital modes, including some brief openings to Scotland from eastern UK. We can expect these to improve as we head towards May. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 140 to 150 range with a maximum Kp index of three. If this is correct it means that HF conditions will be roughly the same as last week. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather patterns are showing signs of change after being stuck for quite some time, and the main beneficiary will be VHF operators seeing a chance of Tropo returning to the bands.  The initial unsettled weather over the UK, with high pressure fixed over the continent, will take us through to the middle of the coming week. Thereafter, a high will develop to the southwest of Britain midweek and drift northeast across the country, although some models take the high on a more southerly track. In either event, there should be some useful Tropo in the south and possibly northern areas too. This may be limited to southwestern areas for Tuesday's 23cm UK Activity Contest, but will hopefully be more supportive of the 4m UK Activity Contest on Thursday. Meteor scatter is worth a look next week since we are approaching the 21st and 22nd of April peak of the Lyrids shower at the end of next weekend. The quieter solar conditions have taken aurora down the table, but it's still good practice to watch out for if the Kp index goes above five. Gigahertz-band rain scatter certainly drops down the league table next week as high pressure probably takes over. As we said earlier, the next big thing is the start of the 2024 Sporadic-E season, which slowly comes to life during April for the 10 and 6m bands, especially on digital modes, whereas the real shift up in gear often comes during May. As mentioned last week, it's worth updating your list of beacons in your rig's memory while it's still quiet. For EME operators, Moon declination is at maximum this weekend, ending the 14th, so there will be long Moon windows. We are past perigee, so path losses are rising again. 144MHz sky noise is moderate this weekend then low for the rest of the week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 7th of April 2024 The news headlines: The RSGB 2024 AGM is approaching Don't forget about the RSGB's new ‘Join a friend' referral scheme The next Tonight@8 webinar is taking place tomorrow, the 8th of April   Are you an RSGB member? Have you voted on the AGM resolutions? The deadline for voting is 9 am on Thursday the 11th of April. Online voting is available 24 hours a day, so make sure you use your vote before then. Registration for asking a question live via Zoom has now closed but there is still time to submit a written question in advance – this is the only way for members to ask a question during the formal part of the meeting. During the later Q&A sessions, written questions will be answered before any are asked via YouTube live chat. The AGM itself includes the results of the voting, the Honorary Treasurer's report, a video review of the year by the RSGB President, as well as announcements of trophies and construction competition winners. There will also be a presentation by Ofcom Group Director, Spectrum, David Willis who will talk about “Making amateur radio licensing fit for the future”. After this presentation, there will be a live Q&A session on the new licence conditions with four senior RSGB representatives. Be part of this important annual event and take the opportunity to ask questions of the Board and about the licensing conditions. The RSGB AGM will take place at 10 am on Saturday the 13th of April on YouTube – be part of it! Find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/agm Don't forget that the RSGB has launched a new opportunity to get even more out of your RSGB membership. If you recommend a friend who hasn't been an RSGB member during the last 12 months, you will both receive £10 cashback when they become a member paying by direct debit. Whether you're an individual RSGB member or an affiliated club, you can sign up as many friends as you like. Membership of the RSGB gives you a range of fantastic benefits so why not encourage others to join? Members have access to RadCom, exclusive online resources, RSGB award schemes and contests, as well as advice from the Society's specialist committees. The RSGB's representation to Ofcom and its ability to defend the spectrum nationally and internationally is more powerful through strength in numbers. Go to the special RSGB 'Join a friend' web page to find all the information you'll need to take advantage of this offer, including a link to the online form at rsgb.org/join-a-friend The latest Tonight@8 webinar is taking place tomorrow, Monday the 8th of April. Whitham Reeve will be looking at high-frequency aurora reflections observed at Anchorage in Alaska in the United States of America. The presentation will include an overview of early investigations and concepts that underlie the observations of aurora reflections and instrumentation. It will also include a selection of spectrum images from 2020 showing aurora reflections. Watch this live presentation on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. To find out more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars Are you making the most of the new amateur radio licence conditions already? Or are you still discovering what has changed and how it applies to you? The RSGB website has a range of resources about the Ofcom consultation, the new licence conditions and where to find help and guidance. You'll find videos, summaries and links to Ofcom's documentation. This is also a good time to revalidate your licence. Go to rsgb.org/licence-review to find out more and remember to be part of the RSGB AGM if you have a question you'd like to ask.  A reminder that registration is open for Maritime Radio Day 2024 which takes place annually on the 14th and 15th of April. The event is held to commemorate the almost 100 years of wireless telegraphy service for seafarers which ended with the closure in the UK of Portishead Radio on the 30th of April 2000. Commencing at 1200UTC on the 14th of April, and finishing at 2300UTC on the 15th of April, this event is a great opportunity to have a QSO with ex-Marine Radio Officers and Coast Station professionals who exchange details of their previous ships and coast stations. The mode of operation is CW and all of the HF bands are used, including the WARC bands. A certificate of participation will be issued to everyone who submits results. Amateur licence holders are invited to register to take part in Friends of Maritime Radio Day. Shortwave listeners may also submit logs. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/MRD24 Lots of stations are on the air today to join in with this year's Airfields on the Air event. Amateurs are invited to contact as many of the stations as possible. To learn more about the event, and read a list of registered stations, visit tinyurl.com/2024AOTA Tomorrow, the 8th, a total solar eclipse will head toward the UK from the west. While not visible over the UK, it will likely affect transatlantic VLF and HF radio propagation. RSGB Propagation Committee associate member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL has a particular interest in the effect of reduced ionisation during the eclipse on second and third hops on 15 to 10m paths from the UK to North America. He encourages occasional WSPR users to dust off their transmitters to operate on those bands from today, the 7th, through to Tuesday the 9th of April, not just on the 8th, to provide results on undisturbed days.   And now for details of rallies and events Holsworthy Spring Rally is being held today, Sunday the 7th of April, at Holsworthy Livestock Market in Devon. The doors open to traders from 8 am, and to the public from 10 am. Wheelchair access, catering and free parking are available. For more information email m0omc@m0omc.co.uk Yeovil Amateur Radio Club's 38th QRP Convention will be held on Saturday the 20th of April at Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA. The doors will be open from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and admission will be £3. The event will feature talks, traders, a bring-and-buy area, club stalls and a café. For more information, see yeovil-arc.com or email derekbowen1949@talktalk.net Andover Radio Amateur Club Boot Sale is due to take place on Sunday the 21st of April at Wildhern Village Hall, Tangley, Wildhern, Andover, SP11 0JE. The doors open at 10 am for visitors and at 9 am for sellers. Entry will cost £2. The fee for a field pitch is £8 and the cost for a table in the hall will be £10. For more information visit arac.org.uk  For table bookings email admin@arac.org.uk  Now the Special Event News Special event station GB0WYT will be active from RAF Wyton during the Airfields on the Air event on the weekend of the 13th and 14th of April. This is the 12th year that a special event station has marked the event. The callsign will again be operated by RAF Air Cadet Communication Staff and club members from the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society. This year, due to restrictions, the activity will be run from a site just west of the main runway at Wyton. Operators will be active on the HF bands, subject to working conditions, using CW, phone, RTTY, PSK31 and FT8. FM and SSB will also be in use on the 2m band. Lots of special event stations are on the air today for Autism Awareness Week. For more information, including a list of callsigns that will be active, visit the GB2AA page on QRZ.com  Now the DX news A team of amateurs is active from Vanuatu, OC-035, until the 11th of April. Operators will be QRV on the 40 to 6m bands using SSB, CW and FT8. QSL via OQRS. QSOs will be uploaded to ClubLog. Watch the YJ0VK page at QRZ.com for updates. A team of UK amateurs is about to set off on an expedition to the Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides. The IOTA reference for the location is EU008. The team will be on the island on the afternoon of Sunday the 14th of April and is expected to be operating by the evening. The last day of operation will be the 20th of April. Operators expect to be active using CW, FT8 and SSB on most bands from 160 to 10m as well as the 2m band. The team has a portable station and hopes to activate each of the following Worked All Britain Squares: NM 15, 16, 25, and 26. More details are available on GB0SIC's QRZ.com web page.  Now the contest news FT4 International Activity Day started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 6th and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 7th of April. Using FT4 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. The SP DX Contest started at 1500UTC on Saturday the 6th and ends at 1500UTC today, Sunday the 7th of April. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code. Today, the 7th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, today, the 7th, the Worked All Britain Data Contest runs from 1000UTC to 1400UTC and from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, FT4, JS8, RTTY and PSK on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. Club and multi-operator stations can only score points in either one of the operating periods. Entries need to be with the contest manager by the 17th of April. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website. On Monday the 8th, the 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 9th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 9th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using All modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 10th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 10th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Thursday the 11th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.   Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 4th of April 2024 Looking at the Sun on Wednesday the 3rd of April, you might be forgiven for thinking we are near sunspot minimum! With a near-total lack of sunspots and a solar flux index of 112, the solar disk was looking pretty bare. Compare that with just two weeks ago when the solar flux index was sitting at 209 on the 23rd of March. But never fear, there seems to be some activity coming up. Two active regions, AR3627 and AR3628, have just rotated into view, but in the meantime make the most of the geomagnetically-quiet conditions. 10m propagation is still holding up, although you may find that the band opens a little later in the morning and shuts earlier in the afternoon. The 4X6TU and VK6RBP IBP beacons were both audible at 0945UTC on Thursday the 4th, while China, Japan, Mongolia and Thailand were copiable on 10m FT8, even with a lowish solar flux index. Higher HF band propagation from the UK has moved from favouring North America to north-south paths, notably to South Africa and South America. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will rise a little, perhaps starting at around 135 and finishing at around 150. Geomagnetic conditions should be reasonably quiet with a maximum Kp index of 3, unless we get a coronal mass ejection that could send it soaring. As always, keep an eye on solarham.net  for current conditions. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO There have been reports of trans-equatorial QSOs on 144MHz from Southern Africa to the Southern Mediterranean, but here in the UK we can only dream due to our northerly location. The next period of weather is unfortunately shaping up to be the same as most of the recent ones, dominated by low-pressure systems driving active weather fronts across the British Isles. It means that Tropo conditions seem unlikely to feature much through to the end of the coming week. Rain scatter for the GHz bands remains the mode of choice with help from some heavy April showers. Meteor scatter options are still best with random meteors before dawn, but we are getting closer to the April Lyrids shower later this month, so not long to wait now. The solar conditions have subsided a little recently, but we remain in scope for further activity, especially since April can be one of the more active months for Aurora. Watch out for fluttery signals on HF or VHF bands, use the various clusters, or save the frequency of one of the northern beacons in your rig's memory. This is a good time to suggest updating your list of favourite beacons on the 10, 6, 4 and 2m bands since they'll be useful for the upcoming sporadic-E season too. It's a good time to take an early look at the sporadic-E prospects before it gets properly busy.  Some background rules which may help are to use propquest.co.uk to see where the jet streams are since Sporadic-E propagation is often associated with turbulence in regions of jet stream activity. Then look for a relatively low Kp index. The other main rules are related to timing. Usually, there are two windows of opportunity, one in the morning and a second in the late afternoon or early evening. However, at the beginning of the season, these are approximate.  Sporadic-E starts on the lower bands like 10m and, if strong enough, will gradually extend to the higher bands. The 10 and 6m bands are probably the ones to check this month. For EME operators, Moon declination goes positive again on Sunday, which is also Moon perigee, its closest point to Earth, so we'll see lengthening Moon windows, increasing elevation and low path losses. 144MHz sky noise is low until Monday's total solar eclipse, then moderate for the rest of the week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 31st of March 2024 The news headlines: Chris Whitmarsh, G0FDZ's lifetime achievement award The RSGB 2024 AGM is coming up The RSGB is providing regular updates on its strategic priorities   Congratulations to Chris Whitmarsh, G0FDZ who has been presented with an RSGB Lifetime Achievement Award by RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM and RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX. Chris is the only amateur in the UK to have had a two-way QSO on every single amateur band for which we are licensed. Chris has been Vice President of Cray Valley Radio Society for over 20 years, and members of the club turned out in force to see the presentation and celebrate his achievement. A reminder that this year's RSGB AGM will take place at 10 am on Saturday the 13th of April. It is being held online to ensure as many members as possible can watch and take part. The formal business of the meeting will include the results of members' votes on the resolutions, including the endorsement of three Nominated Directors. RSGB members are encouraged to vote on all the resolutions. This year you can ask the RSGB Board a question in one of three ways: by submitting it in advance via an online form; registering to ask a question live on video via Zoom; or asking via the YouTube live chat during the event. There are deadlines for submitting questions via the online form or Zoom so make sure you don't miss those! Find out more on the RSGB AGM web pages at rsgb.org/agm At the Discussion with the Board session at the RSGB Convention last year, President John McCullagh, GI4BWM committed the Board to giving regular updates on work being done to fulfil the RSGB's strategic priorities. Since the beginning of this year, a monthly report has been shared in RadCom and on the RSGB website. These reports have covered a range of activities and achievements involving both staff and volunteers. The Board is committed to continuing this regular communication so look out for the updates in RadCom each month. If you've missed any this year, you can find them all on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/strategy-updates Are you aged 18 to 30? Are you passionate about all things radio? Are you ready for exciting experiences, making new friends and shaping the future of amateur radio? Why not apply to be part of the RSGB YOTA team going to the YOTA Czechia summer camp this year? You can find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/yota-camp  You'll be able to read about the experiences of previous teams and download an application form for the Czechia event. The closing date for applications is the 15th of April for the Team Leader and the 22nd of April for Team Members. The March 2024 edition of RadCom Basics is now available on the RSGB website for members to read. RadCom Basics is aimed at new licensees or anyone who enjoys reading about the fundamental principles behind the many facets of amateur radio. This edition includes articles which cover: the checking and testing of components; working on the 160 and 80m bands with limited space; the importance of antenna radials; what it's like to take up portable operating; and a guide to clean transmissions. To read RadCom Basics visit rsgb.org/radcom-basics At its recent meeting, the CEPT Frequency Management Working Group confirmed that Barry Lewis, G4SJH, in his IARU role, would continue as Chair for a further three-year period, having first been appointed in 2019. The meeting also noted updates to T/R 61-01 that facilitate the temporary operation in a fellow member's country, for Georgia joining the scheme, as well as editorial changes to accommodate Australian licence changes and Canadian provincial prefixes. Barry has also continued his work in CEPT on the 23cm band, following the outcomes from WRC-23. IARU and RSGB volunteers are also starting ITU WRC-27 preparations, where further bands and topics are of concern to amateur radio. Please note that RSGB HQ will be closed for the bank holiday on Monday the 1st of April. Please continue to send all of your news and updates to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for the GB2RS News is 10 am on Thursday before the Sunday broadcast.   And now for details of rallies and events Holsworthy Spring Rally will be held on Sunday the 7th of April at Holsworthy Livestock Market in Devon. The doors open to traders from 8 am, and to the public from 10 am. Wheelchair access, catering and free parking will be available. For more information email m0omc@m0omc.co.uk Yeovil Amateur Radio Club's 38th QRP Convention will be held on Saturday the 20th of April at The Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3AA. The doors will be open from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm and admission will be £3. The event will feature talks, traders, a bring-and-buy area, club stalls and a café. For more information, see yeovil-arc.com or email derekbowen1949@talktalk.net   Now the Special Event News Special event station GB0WYT will be active from RAF Wyton during the Airfields on the Air event on the weekend of the 13th and 14th of April. This is the 12th year that the station has put on a special event station for the event. The callsign will again be operated by RAF Air Cadet Communication Staff and club members from the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society. This year, due to restrictions, the activity will be run from a site just west of the main runway at Wyton. Operators will be active on the HF bands, subject to working conditions, using CW, phone, RTTY, PSK31 and FT8. FM and SSB will also be in use on the 2m band. Special event station OE100RADIO  is active until the 31st of December to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of regular radio transmissions in Austria in 1924. The station was heard recently on the 40m band using CW. QSL via the Bureau.   Now the DX news Felipe, CE3SX will be active as CB0ZIX from Juan Fernández until the 4th of April. He will be QRV almost exclusively on the 6m band using SSB and FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World. Traditional QSL cards will not be available. Thaire, W2APF is active as VP2MDX from Montserrat, NA-103, until the 11th of April. He is operating CW, SSB, FT8 and FM on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or directly to W2APF.   Now the contest news The CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 30th of March and ends at 2359UTC today, the 31st. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Monday the 1st, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330 UTC. Using FM and SSB on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their country. Also on Monday the 1st, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1330 to 1500 UTC. Using FM and SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also send their country. On Tuesday the 2nd, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 2nd, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 3rd, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is the report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 3rd, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Wednesday the 3rd, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The FT4 International Activity Day starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 6th of April and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 7th of April. Using FT4 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. The SP DX Contest starts at 1500UTC on Saturday the 6th and ends at 1500UTC on Sunday the 7th. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. SP stations also send their province code. On Sunday the 7th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 7th, the Worked All Britain Data Contest runs from 1000UTC to 1400UTC and from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8, FT4, JS8, RTTY and PSK on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. Club and multi-operator stations can only score points in either one of the operating periods. Entries need to be with the contest manager by the 17th of April. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website.   Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Wednesday the 27th of March 2024 What a tumultuous time we had last week. Active region 3614 produced an X1.1 solar flare and coronal mass ejection, or CME, in the early hours of the 23rd of March. This impacted Earth's geomagnetic field sending the Kp index to 8 on the 24th of March. There were simultaneous flares from active region 3614 and the larger region AR3615. The solar wind speed reached more than 850 kilometres per second at the height of the geomagnetic storm, peaking at 880 kilometres per second. The CME started to impact the Earth early in the afternoon of the 24th and, according to Digisonde data, its full effects on the ionosphere started to be felt by 1540UTC. The large AR3615 sunspot cluster continues to evolve as it moves into the Sun's southwest quadrant. Moderate flaring will remain likely in the short term with a lower chance for another strong X-class flare, although it is around the side of the Sun and is not considered a threat today, Sunday the 31st. All this was not good news for HF propagation, which saw maximum useable frequencies over a 3,000km path plummet on the 24th to less than 18MHz. The ionosphere didn't fully recover until two days later, with the MUF struggling to get above 18MHz on the 25th. It wasn't until the afternoon of Wednesday the 27th that we saw the 10m band behaving normally again with the Kp index back in the range of 1 to 3. So, this is what can happen if we have an X-class flare and associated CME. We can expect more of the same to come. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain high at around 175 to 190. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast from the 3rd to the 5th of April when the Kp Index could rise to 4. But keep an eye on solarham.net for a near real-time guide to current solar conditions.   And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The period leading up to the Easter Weekend, and the following week shows up on the forecast charts as dominated by low pressure, feeding several periods of rain and showers across the country.  This unfortunately means that Tropo is again off the menu of weather-related VHF propagation. Of course, wet weather is usually very supportive of rain scatter propagation on the GHz bands and this prolonged period of rain or showers will give the UHF and SHF operators something to occupy their time. Meteor scatter prospects are once again just random, which tends to be better in the hours just before dawn. We can start to look forward to the April Lyrids, which are active in the second half of April with a peak around the 22nd. It's worth checking out the operating conventions and frequencies now so that you can be ready. Strong aurora has been reported recently, with a Kp index of 8, and a quick listen for fluttery signals on the 80m or 40m bands is often a good clue if you don't have access to the Kp index at the time. The main mode of interest for the coming months is Sporadic-E and some early propagation is possible, mainly on digital modes on the 10m or 6m bands, but probably very fleeting.  During the summer Sporadic-E season, it's well worth checking the propquest.co.uk  graphs to see what is occurring and get an idea of how it may relate to jet stream weather patterns by cross-checking with the Sporadic-E blog upper air charts. The Sporadic-E Probability Index, or EPI, maps are also potentially useful to see how the favourable regions change with time. In the current pre-season period, it's more typical to find trans-equatorial propagation, or TEP, as an exotic mode offering paths to the south into South Africa and possibly into South America. For EME operators, Moon declination reaches minimum on Easter Monday, so we'll see short Moon windows with low elevation. Path losses are falling all week and 144MHz sky noise is moderate, rising to a peak of more than 3,000 Kelvin on Easter Monday before returning to low levels. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 24th of March 2024 The news headlines: New RSGB ‘Join a friend' referral scheme launched The RSGB's Planning Advisory Committee seeks volunteers The RSGB's 2023 Committee reports are available The RSGB has just launched a new opportunity to get even more out of your RSGB membership. If you recommend a friend who hasn't been an RSGB member during the last 12 months, you will both receive £10 cashback when they become a member paying by direct debit. Whether you're an individual RSGB member or an affiliated club, you can sign up as many friends as you like. Membership of the RSGB gives you a range of fantastic benefits so why not encourage others to join? Members have access to RadCom, exclusive online resources, RSGB award schemes and contests, as well as advice from the Society's specialist committees. The RSGB's representation to Ofcom, and its ability to defend the spectrum nationally and internationally, is more powerful through strength in numbers. Go to the special RSGB 'Join a friend' web page at rsgb.org/join-a-friend  to find all the information you'll need to take advantage of this offer, including a link to the online form. The RSGB Planning Advisory Committee would like additional volunteers to join its advisory panel. Volunteers deal with queries from members about problems they face in getting planning permission for masts and antennas. These enquiries can be for support in making an application to the local council or in submitting an appeal. If you have a relevant professional background, not necessarily as a planner, or have some knowledge of how the planning system works, please get in touch. The Committee Chair will be happy to give you more information about what is involved and how you can help other radio amateurs. Find out more about the Committee on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/pac and then email John Mattocks, G4TEQ via pac.chairman@rsgb.org.uk to arrange a chat. The April edition of RadCom contains the annual reports of the RSGB Committees, Honorary Officers, Teams and Groups. These reports give an overview of activities for the many important areas of the Society that support and develop amateur radio. You can also read them on the RSGB website if you go to rsgb.org/vlt and choose the committee reports section in the menu on the righthand side. The RSGB thanks all its many volunteers who give their time to support the Society and the amateur radio community. Leicester Radio Society has launched an Amateur Radio Clubs on the Air activity this weekend, the 23rd and 24th. The aim of the activity is to encourage amateur radio clubs and societies to get on the air and operate. You can read details about an award that is available to both licensed amateurs and shortwave listeners by visiting the G3LRS page at QRZ.com For more information, contact Sandra, G0MCV on 07930 274 044. International Marconi Day is coming up on Wednesday the 27th of April and, once again, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club is organising and running the event. Lots of amateur radio stations will be operating from sites that Marconi operated from or had a personal connection with. For more information, and to view a list of the stations that are taking part, follow the ‘International Marconi Day' link on the gx4crc.com website. This week, please send all your news and updates to radcom@rsgb.org.uk by 10 am on Wednesday the 27th of March. The GB2RS News will be compiled a day earlier than usual, due to the Easter bank holidays, and will be available for download on Thursday the 28th of March.   And now for details of rallies and events Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally is taking place today, the 24th of March, at Saint Radigunds Community Centre, Poulton Close, Dover, CT17 0HL. The doors are open from 10 am to 2 pm and the entrance fee is £3. Tables cost £15 each with a maximum of two tables per vendor. For more information visit darc.online/rally The Ripon Rally is also taking place today, the 24th of March. The venue is Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Lane, Great Ouseburn, York, YO26 9RL. Lots of parking is available adjacent to the venue. Traders are welcome from 7 am and tables cost £10 each. The doors open for visitors from 10 am and entrance is £3 per person. Visit radars-g4sjm.club for more information. Holsworthy Spring Rally will be held on Sunday the 7th of April at Holsworthy Livestock Market, Holsworth, Devon. The doors open to traders from 8 am, and to the public from 10 am. Wheelchair access, catering and free parking will be available. For more information email m0omc@m0omc.co.uk Dunstable Downs Radio Club boot sale was due to be held in May. It has been postponed until the 30th of June due to the site being used by BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend music festival. Updates will be posted to Dunstable Downs Radio Club's Facebook page and reminder emails will be sent out closer to the time. To add yourself to the list, visit ddrcbootsale.org  and sign up for email reminders.  Now the Special Event News Celebrating the 95th anniversary of the first amateur radio association in Romania's Arad County, a series of special callsigns, including YR95AR, will be active until the 31st of  May.  The event is being organised by Radioclub Admira, YO2KBQ which is the successor of the club that was established almost a century ago. See QRZ.com for more information. Christian, OE5CCN is active as OE24BI until the 30th of June from the city of Bad Ischl, one of the European Capitals of Culture for 2024. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the Bureau and Logbook of the World. Recently, the station was heard on the HF bands using FT8.  Now the DX news Gerard F5NVF, Luc F5RAV and Abdel M0NPT are active as TY5C from Cotonou, Benin until the 29th of March. They are operating CW, SSB and FT8 on various bands, including 6m, and will also be QRV via the QO-100 satellite. QSL directly to F5RAV or via Logbook of the World. Peter, DC0KK is active as 4S7KKG from Sri Lanka, AS-003, until the 30th of March. He operates FT8, FT4, RTTY, and sometimes CW, on the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or directly to his home call.  Now the contest news On Tuesday the 26th, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 27th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. On Thursday the 28th, the 80m Club Championship Contest runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 30th of March and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 31st of March. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 21st of March 2024 As we said last week – what a difference a month makes. Only in this case, what a difference a week makes! On Friday the 15th, the solar flux index, or SFI, was at 129 and the Sun did not look very spotty at all. This week it's all changed. On Thursday the 21st, the solar flux index stood at 176 with seven active regions visible. For HF propagation forecasts, the golden rule is to use smoothed sunspot numbers, or SSN for short, rather than a daily figure – that is, sunspot numbers averaged over the past 12 months. The current SSN is 129, which equates to a solar flux index of about 144. Perhaps the daily figure of 176 has the psychological effect of giving us confidence that the bands will be open! A moderately strong M7.4 solar flare was observed around active region 3615 at 0736UTC on the 20th of March. The region continues to rotate into a better Earth-facing position and will remain a threat for additional solar flares above the M5.0 threshold. If a flare leads to a coronal mass ejection or CME, we could expect a disturbed ionosphere roughly 48 hours later, depending upon the solar wind speed. Also, a large coronal hole on the solar equator became Earth-facing on Thursday the 21st. A coronal hole is a lower-energy area on the Sun with open magnetic field lines that let solar plasma escape. This may lead to a geomagnetic disruption this weekend, ending today the 24th, with increased Kp numbers and a lowering of the maximum usable frequency. Next week, NOAA predicts that the SFI will be in the 155 to 165 range. Geomagnetic conditions are hard to predict, due to coronal hole effects and CMEs, but NOAA puts the Kp figure at two to three. If we get a CME, this could easily rise to five or more. Finally, we are now at the equinox which means that auroras are more likely due to the Russell-McPherron effect. The equinox is also a good time for north-south HF paths. Also, note that the HF bands are staying open for longer with the 4U1UN beacon in New York, the YV5B beacon in Venezuela, and the 4X6TU beacon in Israel audible on 14.100MHz around 2230UTC last week. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO It's not good news for weather-related propagation with a total absence of high pressure on the charts again and a resulting lack of Tropo for the majority of the coming week. But Tropo is not the only mode to be affected by the weather, rain scatter is too. This has been a player quite often recently and, as we move into the spring, the characteristic ‘April showers' can be very useful for rain scatter. Their effectiveness is related to the sixth power of the raindrop diameter, so the larger drops in heavier ‘April showers'  can be increasingly valuable on the GHz bands. Many good online weather radar displays are available to allow you to track them for maximum benefit. Other promising mentions should go to Aurora which, as we said earlier, can be more likely around this time of the year when the Earth's magnetic field is more favourably coupled to the solar wind. Meteor scatter is a lesser option and rests with random chance activity as we are still some way off from any major meteor showers. Sporadic-E and related Trans-Equatorial Propagation, or TEP, in the shorter term during the next month or so, will soon be a major player. For TEP between Europe and southern Africa, check clusters around the middle part of the day. Although usually favouring stations in southern Europe, it can occasionally turn up for UK operators, particularly for those located in the southern half of the country.  As for Sporadic-E, the new season is starting to wake up, so the usual maxim of checking clusters is the best advice, starting with the 10m band and working up to the 6m band. The traditional morning and late afternoon ‘windows' are less reliable in early-season events, so just check anyway if you're in the shack. For EME operators, Moon declination is still positive, but going negative again this coming Monday. Path losses are at their maximum due to apogee on Saturday the 23rd. 144MHz sky noise is low but rising to moderate by the end of the coming week, reaching more than 1,000 Kelvin on Sunday the 31st. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #Hamradio We DF4GV, DL4SVA, DK2AMM, DJ7TO, DL1KWK and DL2AWG want to go Kiritimati OC 024 13th until 27th March 2024 We will be running 3 Stations 24 hours per day. Our main modes will be CW and SSB and RTTY and perhaps FT8 We will be QRV from 160 until 6 meters. No 60m ! Members of our team participated (amongst others) to the following past DXpeditions: 3D2AW, 3D2EU, S7GWG, 4S7RTG, 5B/DJ7TO, 5R8MM, 5R8WG, 5WØGW, 5WØM, 8Q7IO, 9H3O, 9N7AN, A35WG, C21EU, H44WG, HU1DL, J48IO, J48M, J79WG, KH8/DL2AWG, MD/DL4SVA, P29RO, S79GG, TX7EU, T2C, T3ØD, T31EU, V6EU, V73D, VP6EU, XRØYD, XX9D, YJØAWG, ZBØ/DJ7TO, ZK1AWG, ZK3N, ZL/DJ7TO, ZM4T. Guests: DL2AWG Guenter : https://www.qrz.com/db/DL2AWG DF4GV Elmar : https://www.qrz.com/db/DF4GV Resources mentioned include: DX Code of Conduct : https://www.dx-code.com/ Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org Daily DX https://www.dailydx.com/ DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/ Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #Hamradio In this episode of The DX Mentor, our #DX gurus, will discuss CE0Z, JUAN FERNANDEZ. A team with Nick, XQ1KZ, Pablo, CE1KV, Willy, XQ3SA, Willy, XQ3SK, Mike, AB5EB, Ez, HI3R, Otis, NP4G, Mike, AD5A, Zoli, HA1AG, Trey, N5KO, and Marco, CE1EW (Team Leader) will be operating as CB0ZA during February 10-23, 2024. Plans are to be QRV from the Juan Fernandez National Park CA-0022 from 160 to 2 meter using CW, SSB, digi and EME (6 and 2 meter). QSL via HA1AG. http://cb0za.com/: Resources mentioned include: Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org Daily DX https://www.dailydx.com/ DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/ Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/ IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/ IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/ IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/ IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/

GB2RS News Sunday the 25th of February 2024 The news headlines: New amateur radio licence conditions are effective Amateurs are reminded to carry out EMF assessments The 2024 Band Plans have been published Ofcom has released its final decisions following its consultation on the amateur radio licensing framework last year. Revised licence conditions became effective on Wednesday the 21st of February 2024. The changes to licence conditions include the optional use of Regional Secondary Locators, increased transmitter power levels and provide a greater opportunity to bring newcomers into amateur radio. There are approximately 100,000 amateur radio licences issued by Ofcom in the UK. Ofcom says that it will shortly be contacting all licensees to provide each with their new licence document. Ofcom is aiming to reissue all UK amateur radio licences by the autumn of 2024. To help this process run as efficiently as possible, please ensure that your contact details are up to date in the Ofcom licensing system. Further updates to the amateur radio licensing framework, including the issuing of M8 and M9 Intermediate callsigns, will be rolled out in two more phases later this year and in the 2024/25 year. A video entitled ‘Updating the amateur radio licensing framework: RSGB overview of key changes' is available in the Ofcom playlist on the RSGB's YouTube channel which you can find at youtube.com/theRSGB  In it, RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB and RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB discuss the impact of the new rules. They also describe how the RSGB worked with Ofcom before and during the consultation period to arrive at the best outcome for all UK amateurs. Steve, Murray, and many people across the RSGB have also worked hard to engage with individual amateurs, and amateur radio clubs and groups, to help them prepare for the licensing changes. The RSGB will continue to release information and support for radio amateurs as we all adapt to the new arrangements. You can read more details and guidance on the Ofcom website at tinyurl.com/ARFEB2024 or via the RSGB website at rsgb.org/licensing Given that increased transmitter power limits are now available to UK licensees, all amateurs are reminded that they are required to carry out EMF assessments. To help you do this, advice and an online EMF calculator can be found at rsgb.org/emf The RSGB Band Plans for 2024 were published in the March issue of RadCom. They are also available via the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bandplans  This year's changes support the new Ofcom licensing framework and guidance, particularly in the VHF and UHF bands. All amateurs are reminded to consult the Band Plans before operating. The list of amateur radio events taking place in British Science Week and the resource suggestions are growing. GB3RS, the radio station at the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park could be available for QSOs with stations operating as part of British Science Week. Contact the RSGB's BSW coordinator, Ian Neal, M0KEO at bsw@rsgb.org.uk and he will link you with the NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB to make your arrangements. Please continue to send to Ian the resources you'd like to share and details of British Science Week events you're organising, including the times you'll be on the air. The RSGB would like to inspire as many people and groups as possible to get involved! You can access all event and resource details on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bsw The RSGB has been trialling paper wrappers for RadCom as part of its plans to be more environmentally friendly. The Society has been collating feedback and is aware that there have been particular problems with the glueing of the RadCom wrappers this month. Please be assured that the RSGB is discussing this with its supplier to try to resolve the problem before the next issue. During a year when the global landscape shifted once more, with conflicts across the world and economic difficulties touching the lives of individuals, the RSGB was pleased to see that the amateur radio community continues to thrive. It may have changed shape and adapted with the times, but the Society has been there not only to support its members but to defend the spectrum and provide information for all radio amateurs. In the March RadCom, there is a feature called ‘A year in numbers' which shows some of the great things to celebrate, in which RSGB HQ staff have often led the way. There is an infographic and a short video with the highlights, and you can read the fuller story from page 40 in RadCom and on the website. Go to rsgb.org/strategy-updates and click on “2023 - a year in numbers”. The April RadCom will show in detail the work of the RSGB committees and other specialist volunteers. The amateur radio licence exams will be updated in line with the new licence conditions decided by Ofcom this week. Further information about the timing of those changes can be found on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/syllabus2019 Registration is open for the Mills on the Air event which will take place on Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of May. To read more about the event, register and view a list of stations that are taking part, visit ddars.net  and follow the “mills on the air” link. And now for details of rallies and events The British Vintage Wireless Society Biggleswade Swapmeet and AGM is taking place today, the 25th. The venue is The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JH. A bring-and-buy stall is available with a 10% commission on sales going to the British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. Stallholders can gain entry from 9 am. The doors open to the public at 9.30 am and admission is £8. For more information visit bvws.org.uk or email secretary@bvws.org.uk The Red Rose Winter Rally is also taking place today, the 25th. The venue is St Joseph's Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Access for exhibitors is available from 8.30 am and the event will be open to the public from 10 am. Hot and cold refreshments are available. Further details can be found via West Manchester Radio Club's website at wmrc.co.uk  Send enquiries to Les, G4HZJ via lesjackson@ntlworld.com or phone 07796 264 569. The Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally will take place on Sunday the 3rd of March from 10 am to 1 pm. The event will be held at America Hall, Pinhoe, EX4 8PX. For more information, contact Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198 374 or email g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk  Now the Special Event News In celebration of World Radio Day, and the 100th anniversary of the start of regular radio broadcasting in Spain, special callsign AO100RADIO will be active until the 29th of February. QSL requests should be sent via the Bureau to EA4URE. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand, RAST members are active as HS60RAST until the 10th of March. QSL via HS6MYW.  Now the DX news Bernhard, DL2GAC will be active as H44MS from Malaita, OC-047, in the Solomon Islands, until the 25th of April. He will be QRV daily, with activity on the 160 to 6m bands using SSB and some FT8. QSL via Bernard's home call, directly or via the Bureau.  He will upload details of his contacts to Club Log and Logbook of the World. Francis, F6BWJ is active as FM/F6BWJ from Martinique, NA-107, until roughly the middle of March. He is operating CW on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or via the Bureau to his home call.  Now the contest news The French HF Championship, also known as the REF Contest, started at 0600UTC on Saturday the 24th and ends at 1800UTC today, Sunday the 25th. Using SSB on the HF bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. French stations send their department number or overseas territory prefix. The CQ 160m DX Contest started at 2200UTC on Friday the 23rd and ends at 2200UTC today, the 25th. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province. On Monday the 26th, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 27th, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 13cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 28th, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The 144 and 432MHz Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 2nd of March and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 3rd of March. Using all modes on the 2m and 70cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 3rd, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000UTC to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the microwave bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The Worked All Britain 80m Contest will take place on Sunday the 3rd of March from 1800 to 2200UTC. Please note that this is an SSB-only contest, and the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain area. All entries need to be with the contest manager by the 13th of March. Full Contest rules are available on the Worked All Britain website at worked-all-britain.org.uk The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 2nd of March and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 3rd of March. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmitter power. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 22nd of February 2024 We've had two X-class solar flares over the past few days. The first occurred at 2307UTC on the 21st of February, so didn't affect the UK at all. The second erupted at 0632UTC on the 22nd of February and was too early to affect the ionosphere in this region. However, HF paths to the east may have been affected. However, active region 3590 could cause more problems as it rotates into an Earth-facing position. Look out for more flares and potential coronal mass ejections as we head into the weekend. Another problem is a coronal hole on the solar equator, which was Earth-facing on Friday the 23rd and could lead to an increased Kp index today, the 25th if its associated Bz magnetic field points south. Although there are only two sunspot groups visible, the solar flux index is 170, showing just how potent these spots are. Daytime MUFs over a 3,000km path are still exceeding 35MHz, while nighttime MUFs over a similar distance struggle to get above 10 to 11MHz. With the daytime MUF so high, it is a good opportunity to check for low-power 10m beacons. The RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee has just released a new 10m beacon list, which has been created from scratch using the reverse beacon network and help from amateurs around the world. The new beacon list, which can be found under the Propagation section of the RSGB website at rsgb.org/beacons should be more useful than its predecessor as it is based on actual beacons that have been received. But if you hear any beacon that is not on the list, please inform Steve, G0KYA at psc.chairman@rsgb.org.uk Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline a little into the 160s. As for geomagnetic conditions, it all depends upon what happens with active region 3590. We could be in for a rough ride, or things could be fine – let's wait and see. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The current spell of unsettled weather continues, and this means that Tropo won't be worth waiting for, other than any temporary short-lived early morning temperature inversions, especially if accompanied by misty low cloud or fog. The main part of the story is again rain scatter, which will have plenty of opportunity to shine in the period to the end of the coming week. Summer thunderstorms are usually full of large raindrops, while winter systems are generally less intense but, in the absence of much else, it's still worth considering for those on the GHz bands. The other propagation modes of meteor scatter or aurora are even longer shots, but they may still crop up. The best time for random meteor scatter QSOs is around dawn. Lastly, the doldrums for Sporadic-E propagation are still with us and don't expect too much until we are well into April, even on the 10m band. The high solar flux could see some trans-equatorial 50MHz openings if the Kp index remains low, especially for the far south and west of the UK.   For EME operators, Moon declination starts the weekend positive but drops negative again on Monday. With apogee, when the Moon is at its furthest point from Earth, occurring yesterday, Saturday the 24th, path losses are at their highest for the month this weekend. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 18th of February 2024 The news headlines: Ask the RSGB Board a question during the Society's 2024 AGM Get involved with British Science Week Registration is now open for Maritime Radio Day 2024   Over the last few years, the RSGB has been developing the way in which the Board can be asked questions at the Society's online AGMs. Last year people were able to ask questions via the YouTube live chat as well as submitting written questions in advance. This year, in response to members' feedback, there will be an opportunity to ask a question on video via Zoom. The RSGB Board will still take written questions in advance and will also answer as many questions on the day via the live chat as possible, depending on the time. The RSGB AGM will be held on Saturday the 13th of April and you can find more information about how to take part on the Q&A subpage of the RSGB AGM web section at rsgb.org/agm The RSGB has a collection of resources to help you get involved with British Science Week, which runs from the 8th to the 17th of March this year and has the theme of ‘Time'. If you already have something planned, please let the RSGB know. This will be useful for others to see and might inspire them! There are already several events for British Science Week on the RSGB website. Some of these are open to everyone, so please show your support for them. If you're going on the air, tell everyone when to listen out for you by sending the RSGB dates, times, bands and modes. The RSGB's British Science Week coordinator is Ian Neal, M0KEO and you can contact him via bsw@rsgb.org.uk  Please send Ian the resources you'd like to share and your event details including the times you'll be on the air. All details are on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bsw Registration is now open for Maritime Radio Day 2024 which takes place annually on the 14th and 15th of April. The event is held to commemorate the almost 100 years of wireless telegraphy service for seafarers which ended with the closure in the UK of Portishead Radio on the 30th of April 2000. Commencing at 1200UTC on the 14th of April, and finishing at 2300UTC on the 15th of April, this event is a great opportunity to have a QSO with ex-Marine Radio Officers and Coast Station professionals who exchange details of their previous ships and coast stations. The mode of operation is CW and all of the HF bands are used, including the WARC bands. A certificate of participation will be issued to everyone who submits results. Amateur licence holders are invited to register to take part in Friends of Maritime Radio Day. Shortwave listeners may also submit logs. For more information and to register, visit tinyurl.com/MRD24 There are less than two weeks to go until the deadline for the RSGB Construction Competition. There are six categories to enter this year: Antennas; Beginners; Most creative and/or elegant PCB Design; Construction Excellence; Innovation; and Software and Systems. To enable members from across the country, and even the world, to enter, entries will again be judged over the internet rather than in person. Special recognition will be given to entries submitted by radio amateurs under the age of 24, and to those who have just gained their Foundation licence. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner of each section, with a bonus for the overall winner, who will also be declared the winner of the Pat Hawker G3VA Award. You can find out more, including how to enter, on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/construction-competition  Don't forget, the deadline for entries is the 1st of March 2024 so get your entry in before it's too late. Many amateur radio stations have been on the air this weekend, in conjunction with The Guide Association, to celebrate World Thinking Day on the Air. The aim of World Thinking Day on the Air is to encourage Guides to make friendships with members of other units, using amateur radio as the means of communication. If you, or your club or society, were on the air during the event don't forget to send your pictures and stories to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  Please send your reports in by the 23rd of March. And now for details of rallies and events The British Vintage Wireless Society Biggleswade Swap meet and AGM will take place on Sunday the 25th of February. The venue will be The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JH. A bring-and-buy stall will be available with a 10% commission on sales going to the British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum. Stallholders can gain entry from 9 am. The doors open to the public at 9.30 am and admission will be £8. For more information visit bvws.org.uk or email secretary@bvws.org.uk The Red Rose Winter Rally will take place on Sunday the 25th of February. The venue will be St Joseph's Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Access for exhibitors will be available from 8.30 am and the event will be open to the public from 10 am. Hot and cold refreshments will be available. Further details can be found via West Manchester Radio Club's website at wmrc.co.uk  Send enquiries to Les, G4HZJ via lesjackson@ntlworld.com or phone 07796 264 569. The Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally will take place on Sunday the 3rd of March from 10 am to 1 pm. The event will be held at America Hall, Pinhoe, EX4 8PX. For more information contact Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198 374 or email g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk  Now the Special Event News Today is the last chance to work Francois, F8DVD who is active as TM21AAW to promote the 21st Antarctic Activity Week. He is QRV from his home QTH in France. QSL via Logbook of the World, his home call or the Bureau. Listen out for members of Radio Club Jean Bart, F6KMB who are active today, the 18th, as TM6C during the traditional Dunkirk Carnival. Operators will be working on the HF and VHF bands using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via F6KMB. Celebrating the Scandinavian CW Activity Group's 50th anniversary, special callsign SC50AG is active on the HF bands during February. All QSOs will be confirmed via the Bureau and Logbook of the World. Now the DX news Antonio, IK7WUL is active as TY2AA until Tuesday the 20th of February while on a humanitarian mission to Benin. In his spare time, he operates SSB on the HF bands. QSL via IZ8CCW and Logbook of the World. Chuck, KG9N is active as V26CV from Antigua, NA-100, until Tuesday the 20th of February. He is operating mainly using CW and SSB on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or his home call.  Now the contest news The ARRL International DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 17th and ends at 2359UTC today, the 18th. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and transmitter power. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province. On Tuesday the 20th, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 22nd, the 80m Club Championship runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ 160m DX Contest runs from 2200UTC on Friday the 23rd to 2200UTC on Sunday the 25th. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province. The French HF Championship, also known as the REF Contest, starts at 0600UTC on Saturday the 24th and ends at 1800UTC on Sunday the 25th. Using SSB on the HF bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. French stations send their department number or overseas territory prefix. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 15th of February 2024 We had an interesting week with the threat of a major coronal mass ejection at any time with so much sunspot activity. In the end, it pretty much amounted to nothing, with the highest Kp index only reaching 4.33 on February 11th. That's not to say we didn't have solar activity. Far from it, as the solar flux index reached 208 on the 12th and has been consistently above 180 all week. We also had high proton levels as the positively charged particles streamed past Earth. This was the result of an eruption early on Monday morning from beyond the southwest limb. This may have affected HF signals going over the poles. Otherwise, we had numerous low-level solar flares to contend with, but none of them were stronger than M-class and so of little consequence. So where did this leave us in terms of HF propagation? All in all, not bad with maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs for short, over 3,000km consistently above 28MHz in daylight hours. Daytime MUFs were peaking above 33MHz according to the Dourbes ionosonde. Looking further ahead, we are now heading towards the equinox period, so we can expect MUFs to fall from their winter highs. The good news is that we can expect north-south paths to improve. The equinox is traditionally a better time for auroral conditions. If you want to work the USA on 28MHz you still have a couple of months left to do so, but expect transatlantic propagation conditions to decline by the time April arrives. The good news is that propagation to South Africa, South America and the Caribbean may improve. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may reduce and be in the range of 155 to 165. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be quiet but, as always, keep an eye on solarham.net for a near real-time update as the risk of a coronal mass ejection, or CME, remains high. To recap, an Earth-facing CME could increase the Kp index, reduce MUFs and generally give poor HF propagation for up to a day.   And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The basic weather pattern remains unsettled with a series of frontal systems crossing the country during the period. This leaves little room for any Tropo other than the occasional transient ridge of high pressure between successive weather systems. It does however give plenty of scope for rain-scatter enthusiasts to try their luck on the GHz bands. The solar conditions continue to give hope for an increased geomagnetic Kp index, which would be a good signal for potential aurora if it goes above 5 as evidenced in visual displays over northern Britain last Tuesday night, the 13th and 14th of February. As usual, the other propagation modes can still surprise us, even though this is not strictly the best time of year. The large number of satellites in operation means that QSOs can be guaranteed even with simple hand-held equipment. So, have a look at the AMSAT-UK pages and the RSGB website for details and give it a go! Also, a reminder that the best time for random meteor scatter QSOs is around dawn and that the high solar flux could see some 50MHz openings if the Kp index remains low, especially for the far South and West of the UK.   For EME operators, the moon reaches peak declination today, Sunday the 18th, so activity should be higher with high peak moon elevations and long moon windows. Path losses are moderate but rising and 144MHz sky noise is moderate, but falling after Monday. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 21st of January 2024 The news headlines: British Science Week is approaching Updates on the RSGB's Strategic Priorities RSGB election deadline reminder   This year's British Science Week runs from the 8th to the 17th of March with the theme of Time. This event is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of amateur radio in your local area. The RSGB has some great activity ideas you could try at your local school, Scout or Guiding group or local youth club. Go to the web page at rsgb.org/bsw and click on the activity titles to find everything you need to know to be able to run that activity. Several radio clubs from across the UK have already planned outreach activities for British Science Week and the RSGB hopes its resources will inspire you to get involved too! RSGB volunteer John Hislop, G7OHO has provided these ideas but the Society would love to add other activities to enthuse young people about wireless communication. If you have an amateur radio activity on the theme of Time that you'd like to share, or if you'd like to get involved but aren't sure how to start, please direct enquiries to the RSGB British Science Week contact, Ian Neal, M0KEO. Ian's contact details will soon be available at rsgb.org/bsw At the Discussion with the Board session at the RSGB 2023 Convention, the RSGB President, John McCullagh, GI4BWM confirmed that the Board would keep members updated regularly on progress with the new strategic priorities. Two updates have now appeared in the January and February issues of RadCom and they are also available to read on the RSGB website. These updates highlight some important activities and achievements as well as new plans, so the Society encourages every member to take the time to read them. Go to rsgb.org/strategy and choose the ‘Strategy priorities updates' option from the righthand list. Further updates are being prepared so do check back regularly or look out for them in each RadCom. You can also watch the Discussion with the Board Convention session on the RSGB's YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB The deadline for applications for the one elected RSGB Board Director position and eight Regional Representative roles is Wednesday the 31st of January. Amateur radio needs a strong and active national society so don't leave it to everyone else, step forward for one of these roles and play your part in the future of the RSGB. You'll find guidance and candidate forms on the RSGB elections web page at rsgb.org/election as well as contact details if you want an informal chat before standing for election. A reminder that the RSGB is looking for four licensed radio amateurs to help raise the profile of wireless communication amongst young people across the UK. We have had a good response, but we'd still like to hear from prospective volunteers in Northern Ireland and Wales. These volunteer Youth Country Representatives will represent the RSGB at externally organised events and will plan and deliver outreach activities. If you have plenty of ideas, a passion for getting young people involved in amateur radio and experience of running small-scale events, we would be very keen to hear from you. The deadline is Friday the 16th of February. For full details, see rsgb.org/volunteers and for an informal discussion, please email RSGB Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML at gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk GB2RS began broadcasting via the Es'hail-2 amateur satellite in May 2021. Every Sunday at 0800UTC you can hear the latest RSGB news on the dedicated narrow-band QO-100 transponder frequency of 10489.855MHz. This has proved so popular that, by the kind permission of AMSAT-DL, from the 4th of February 2024 we're introducing a second reading at 2100UTC. This will suit our international audience in the western lobe of the footprint. The existing team of three Newsreaders is looking for another volunteer to join them. If you are an RSGB member with a good QO-100 facility and would be interested in broadcasting the news, please contact the GB2RS Manager, Steve, G4HPE at gb2rs.manager@rsgb.org.uk for further details. During February, the RSGB's Photo Friday focus on social media is all about clubs. If you'd like your club to be included, let the RSGB comms team know what you've been up to and who's been involved and share all the brilliant things you've been doing. Email comms@rsgb.org.uk by the 31st of January with a brief summary of the activity and some photos, and please make sure that everyone in the photo is happy to have their face on social media! Chris Deacon, G4IFX has been awarded a PhD from the University of Bath after completing research on propagation. His thesis was entitled: “Radio propagation through ionospheric Sporadic-E”. This part-time work over many years involved looking at Sporadic-E on the 6m band, including making novel measurements of signal amplitude, phase, derived Doppler, polarisation and potential time delay to discover the nature of sporadic-E propagation at VHF frequencies. The RSGB Propagation Studies Committee congratulates Chris on this fantastic achievement. You can find out more by searching for Chris' name on the University of Bath research portal at researchportal.bath.ac.uk  Chris has done a number of presentations about propagation at RSGB Conventions over the years, which you can see on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB And now for details of rallies and events The Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 28th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 9 am and admission is £2. Ample free car parking and hot refreshments will be available. The tables cost £10 each. At 2 pm, after the Rally, there will be a used equipment auction. Items for the auction will be booked from 1 pm. Contact Steve, M5ZZZ for tables and details via m5zzz@outlook.com or 07777 699 069. The Canvey Rally will be held on Sunday the 4th of February at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. The Rally is expected to be the usual hive of activity with plenty of traders on site. For more information contact Richard Stanley at 07725 551 263 or email g7oed@icloud.com  The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11th of February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue. Now the Special Event News A team of German amateurs is operating a special event call sign DM24EHF until the 28th of January. The EHF suffix stands for European Handball Federation. The 16th edition of the European Men's Handball Championship is being hosted in Germany from the 10th to the 28th of January. QSL via the bureau, or directly to DL2VFR. The Straight Key Century Club's Straight Key Month is currently underway. The annual on-air event commemorates the Club's founding in 2006 and celebrates the original instruments of early radiotelegraphy including straight keys, bugs and ‘cootie' keys. Listen out for the K3Y callsign which is being aired from the ten US call areas. Information on the event and QSL instructions can be found at skccgroup.com/k3y “Discovering Marconi” is an international amateur radio diploma organised by the ARI Radio Club of Fidenza in Italy. Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian scientist in 1874, this award aims to delve deeper into the thought, vision, capacity and character of Guglielmo Marconi. More details of special callsigns and award rules can be found at arifidenza.it Now the DX news Chris, WA7RAR will be active as 8P9CB from Barbados, NA-021, until the 25th of January. Most of his operations will be portable at various locations, especially Parks on the Air sites. He will be QRV on the 20 to 10m bands using CW and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World, or directly to WA7RAR. Listen out for Bob, V4/N4RF who is active from Saint Kitts, NA-104, until the 25th of January. He will operate mainly CW, with some FT8 and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World is preferred but is also available directly via his home call. Now the contest news On Tuesday the 23rd, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 13cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The CQ 160m DX Contest starts at 2200UTC on Friday the 26th and ends at 2200UTC on Sunday the 28th. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. American stations send their state and Canadian stations send their province. The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group RTTY Sprint starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 27th and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 28th. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is a serial number. The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Friday the 1st of December 2023. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2024. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 18th of January 2024 We had yet another week with good solar conditions which, at this point in the cycle, is good news. The solar flux index remained in the 170s to 180s range and the Sun is currently peppered with spots. The Kp index never got above 3.33 and that was only for one three-hour period on January the 16th. We were also lucky with solar flares in that we only had minor C-class flares to contend with. An eruption was observed beyond the west limb on January 14th. The event generated a fast-moving coronal mass ejection or CME, but it was directed away from our planet. Daytime MUFs over 3,000km remain high at more than 28MHz. At night this reduces to around 6.9 to 9.5MHz, meaning only the 40m band is mainly open to DX, if at all. HF-wise, this is the best time for low-band DXing, such as 40m band contacts with New Zealand around sunrise, and overnight QSOs on the 80m band with the USA. Other DX being worked by members of CDXC includes XU7AKU in Cambodia on 40m CW in the early evening; V31XX in Belize, VP9KF in Bermuda, on 30m CW around 1000UTC; and E20AX in Thailand on 40m CW around 0930UTC. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may remain in the 160 to 170 range with a maximum Kp index of 2. As always, take that Kp prediction with a pinch of salt as a single Earth-facing coronal mass ejection could send it sky-high with an accompanying lowering of the MUF and generally poor conditions. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The main theme of the VHF and up propagation options is that we have three distinct phases coming up. The first phase is set to end today, the 21st. This will be the final blast of the cold northerly wind, which may produce some rain scatter near coasts from snow showers. It is probably not especially useful for Tropo, even inland, except perhaps for local overnight temporary short-distance enhancements due to surface cooling and night frosts. Phase two is the transition to very unsettled, wet and windy weather, which starts to arrive during this weekend, ending the 21st, and generally sets the pattern for much of the coming week. Maybe it will be a rain scatter option for the GHz bands, but the main radio consideration will be wind potentially damaging antennas, particularly in the south. Phase three will be the introduction of a weak ridge of high pressure over southern Britain in the second half of the coming week and the following weekend. This could bring some more productive Tropo to southern parts of the UK, especially into the last weekend of the month. Other propagation modes are available but don't seem to be elevated beyond chance occurrences for meteor scatter or aurora. There is a vanishingly small chance of Sporadic-E, as we are in the minimum period for this sort of propagation until after Easter. For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and rising, reaching a maximum on the 23rd. Path losses increase all week until apogee on Monday the 29th. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate this coming week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 7th of January 2024 The news headlines: RSGB Regional Team vacancies RSGB volunteer interviewed by the BBC RSGB National Radio Centre seeks to expand its team of volunteers   The news team and all the staff at RSGB HQ would like to wish our newsreaders, listeners and online readers a very happy New Year. We would like to remind everyone that we always welcome your news, by email, to radcom@rsgb.org.uk and the deadline is 10 am sharp on Thursday mornings. The GB2RS script is usually uploaded to the RSGB website by 4.30 pm each Friday afternoon. Are you interested in supporting your local radio amateurs and promoting amateur radio where you live? The RSGB Regional Team has eight Regional Representative vacancies across the UK where you could make a difference. Last year, Regional Reps got involved in a variety of activities including British Science Week and YOTA Month to help spread the word about amateur radio in their regions. If you have the passion to do this, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election to find out how to apply. The deadline for applications is the 31st of January. It was great to hear RSGB volunteer Peter Marcham, G3YXZ on BBC Radio Oxford on New Year's Day. Peter volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre, as well as being a tour guide at Bletchley Park. He spoke to radio presenter Sophie Law about his volunteering after sending the words "Bletchley Park Guide" to a three-word, text-in feature on why listeners were up early on New Year's Day. Search for Sophie Law on BBC Sounds, choose the New Year's Day programme and listen from 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 25 seconds. There is so much happening at the RSGB National Radio Centre that it needs to expand its team of volunteers! If you can volunteer on a Friday or Saturday, you will be particularly welcome. The NRC has a fabulous set-up, and full training on using the GB3RS radio station will be given. You should enjoy meeting people and be able to volunteer for one or two days per month as part of a friendly and dedicated team. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. For more information, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk We have received the sad news that both Mick Senior, G4EFO and Martyn Vincent, G3UKV have become Silent Keys recently. Mick was a former Regional Representative for Region 10, and the keeper of a number of local repeaters. Martyn was the District Representative for Shropshire, North Worcestershire and West Birmingham. Previously, he volunteered for the RSGB as the Regional Representative for Region 5 and as a member of the Nominations Committee. He was also a very well-respected member of the microwave and contesting communities. Our thoughts are with their families at this difficult time. This year marks 150 years since the birth of Guglielmo Marconi in 1874. The Cornish Radio Amateur Club will be organising International Marconi Day this year on the 27th of April. For more information and updates, visit the GB4IMD Facebook page. The RSGB's RadCom team is looking for authors to contribute to the magazine. Previously unpublished features and articles are always welcome for consideration, and authors are paid for any content that is used. To contact the RadCom team please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk And now for details of rallies and events The Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 28th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 9 am and admission is £2. Ample free car parking and hot refreshments will be available. Tables cost £10 each. At 2 pm, after the Rally, there will be a used equipment auction. Items for the auction will be booked in from 1 pm. Contact Steve, M5ZZZ for tables and details via m5zzz@outlook.com or 07777 699 069. The Canvey Rally will be held on Sunday the 4th of February at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Dinant Avenue, Canvey, Essex, SS8 9QS. The Rally is expected to be the usual hive of activity with plenty of traders on site. For more information contact Richard Stanley on 07725 551 263 or email g7oed@icloud.com  The MIDCARS Radioactive Rally will be held on Sunday the 11th of February at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £5. There will be a wide variety of trader stalls covering every aspect of amateur radio. Raffles will be held throughout the Rally. Refreshments and snacks will be available in the hall and parking is immediately adjacent to the venue. Now the Special Event News Today, the 7th is the last chance to work special callsign EH5XMAS. The station is operated by members of Radio Club Lliria, EA5RCL in celebration of Christmas and the New Year. QSL via the bureau to EA5RCL, Logbook of the World and eQSL. On the 14th of January 2024, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the Second will abdicate and leave the throne to her son who will become His Majesty King Frederik the Tenth, when he is sworn in as the new King of Denmark. For this reason, amateur radio associations FRA and EDR will activate Special Event Stations within The Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. OZ24QUEEN will be active from 0000UTC on the 12th of January until 2359UTC on the 14th of January. OZ24KING will be active from 0000UTC on the 14th of January until 2359UTC on the 16th of January. These callsigns, and others, will be active on many amateur radio bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and several digital modes. All amateur bands and all modes may be used. For more information see QRZ.com The Radio Club of Haïti is on the air until the 31st of January with special callsign HH220Y. The station is active to celebrate Haïti's 220th anniversary of independence. Operators are active on the 160 to 10m bands using CW, FT8 and SSB. QSL via N2OO. Now the DX news Eric, F5LCX will be active as V5/F5LCX from Namibia until the 11th of January. He plans to operate with both mobile and fixed stations for a few hours on a daily basis – probably during the evening hours. QSL via Logbook of the World. Brad, VK2BY will be active again as HS0ZNR from the Nam Yuen district in northeastern Thailand until the 14th of January. He will be QRV on the 160 to 10m bands. QSL directly to VK2BY and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Friday the 1st of December 2023. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2024. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator. The ARRL RTTY Roundup ends its two-day run today, Sunday the 7th of January, at 2359UTC. Using the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. American stations also send their state. Canadian stations send their province. On Tuesday the 9th, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 9th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 10th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 10th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Thursday the 11th, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 14th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m Datamodes Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 4th of January 2024 Welcome to the first HF propagation report of 2024 – it looks like it will be business as usual! A massive X5-class solar flare occurred on the 31st of December. Luckily, this happened at 2155UTC so didn't affect the ionosphere over the UK. But it did launch a large coronal mass ejection, which was forecast to possibly hit the Earth on the 2nd of January. It looks like it largely missed us, although low-energy proton levels streaming past Earth continued to rise and were at the minor S1 radiation storm threshold on Wednesday the 3rd. Had active region 3536 been directly facing Earth when the flare was observed, a stronger proton event and geomagnetic storm would have been very likely. Only minor HF signal degradation through the polar zones should be expected because of the minor S1 storm. So, it looks like we dodged the bullet again, but this is a warning that there could be more to come. Otherwise, the solar flux index declined to the 140s over the Christmas period, although it looks like it may increase over the coming week. NOAA predicts it could be in the range of 150 to 160 next week, with a maximum Kp index of 3 on Monday the 8th, or Tuesday the 9th. However, this could soon change if we have another solar flare and subsequent coronal mass ejection, which could see the Kp index rise two days later. So, make the most of HF when the Kp index is low! Otherwise, the winter period is when the low bands, from 160 to 40m, come into their own. While solar maximum is not the best time for low-band propagation, there will still be plenty of DX to be worked. Generally speaking, winter is a good time for east-west paths on HF too. Taking a closer look at 40 metres, the band should open for DX in an easterly direction during the late afternoon and towards the south at sunset. Paths during the afternoon may also include West Coast USA in mid-winter. Relatively local contacts should be possible during the day, as the critical frequency remains above 7MHz during daylight. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO A new year brings a change of weather type and, after some residual rainfall events at the tail end of the previous week, we should be seeing a marked improvement in the weather as high-pressure returns fairly generally across the country by this first weekend of January, ending today, the 7th. This will remain near, or very close by, for much of the coming week and into the following weekend. It is good news for Tropo, initially over the North Sea towards southern Scandinavia and the Baltic region, but will probably change to favour the western side of Britain in the second half of the week. This is nice timing to coincide with the 70cm band RSGB contests during the week on Tuesday the 9th and Wednesday the 10th of January. Up until the middle of the month, we should be alert to rare mid-winter sporadic-E propagation. With a very contorted jet stream pattern during the whole period, the chances are better than average. This is another piece of good timing for the 50MHz UK Activity Contest on Thursday the 11th. We were going through the Quadrantids meteor shower as this report was being written, so this may provide a little boost to meteor scatter into some of the coming week. Rain scatter will be a rapidly diminishing option during the period as high pressure builds next week. The solar conditions continue to produce elevated Kp index events. So, again, check for auroral openings although, generally, aurora is usually better towards the Spring. For EME, this week we see a negative Moon declination, falling to a minimum by Wednesday. So, Moon windows will be short and peak Moon elevation will be low. Path losses are also low, but we are still over a week away from perigee, the closest approach of the Moon to the Earth. 144MHz sky noise increases all week culminating in the Sun and Moon being close in the sky on the 11th. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 24th of September 2023 The news headlines: RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB Board appointment RSGB Trophy Manager   It is just three weeks until the RSGB 2023 Convention so grab a coffee and browse the great line-up of speakers at this year's event. The keynote and after-dinner speaker is Colonel John Doody, who has the unique experience of having held appointments in Defence, the Intelligence Services and Industry. John will discuss his radio communication experiences across the frequency spectrum from VLF, LF, HF, VHF and SHF to satellite communications from 1965 to today. He will also talk about how amateur radio skills can help people make the most of the many career opportunities within the RF Spectrum. During the rest of the weekend, you will have a wealth of topics and speakers to choose from, ranging from DXpeditions and SOTA to 23cm, aircraft scatter, 30THz cutting-edge technology and everything else in between! AMSAT-UK is also holding its Colloquium at the RSGB Convention again. Find out more at rsgb.org/convention and book your place at this fantastic amateur radio event. The RSGB Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Horton, G4AOJ as a co-opted Director to assist it in its duties until the RSGB 2024 AGM. After serving for nine years, the RSGB Trophy Manager is retiring and the Society is looking for a new volunteer for this role. Although traditionally an individual role, the tasks of the Trophy Manager could also be carried out by a small team. Working in close relationship with the three Contest Committees and the RSGB General Manager, the Trophy Manager looks after the RSGB trophies arranges for their engraving and presentation to recipients, and maintains the trophies' history. Currently, the trophies are stored in a commercial storage facility, paid for by the RSGB, and this can be moved near to the location of the new Trophy Manager or team. If you are interested in applying for the role as an individual or a small team, please email gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk or you can find out more about the role on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers For the whole month of October 2023, a new event known as ‘UK Bunkers On The Air' will be taking place. The event is now a standalone activity and this year it is dedicated to the memory of the late Chris Darlington, M0DOL. It recognises his work to establish Bunkers On The Air within the former Castles And Stately Homes On The Air, or CASHOTA, team. This is a brand new activity with a fully revamped register of former Royal Observer Corps bunkers, with more than 1,500 potential references to activate or chase. Activities are planned for the HF and VHF bands. This is a good opportunity to get out and do some portable activity before the winter closes in. Awards will be available for chasers, activators and short-wave listeners. Overseas amateurs and short-wave listeners will be very welcome to chase activators and apply for awards. For more details, search for ‘Bunkers On The Air' on Facebook, visit bunkersontheair.org or email bunkersontheair@gmail.com Lots of operators are taking part in Railways on the Air weekend. Today, the 24th, is the last day of the event, so log the participating special event stations while you can! For more information, and to see a list of stations taking part, visit rota.barac.org.uk This is the last call for volunteers to apply to be the new Intruder Watch Coordinator when Richard Lamont, G4DYA retires from the role in a few weeks. If you're interested in finding out more, email RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB at spectrum.chairman@rsgb.org.uk or look at the volunteer description on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers  And now for details of rallies and events The Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio Hangar Sale is taking place today, Sunday the 24th of September. The venue is Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 8AL. The sale includes electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. For more information visit hackgreen.co.uk or contact coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk Any last-minute news will appear on facebook.com/HGsecretbunker The Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 24th of September. The venue is Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors are open from 8 a.m. for traders and from 9.30 a.m. for the public. The entrance fee is £3. The event features trade stands, tabletop sales, bring and buy, local radio clubs' displays, an RSGB book stall and Raynet. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Please direct enquiries to rally2023@bsears.co.uk The Weston Super Mare Radio Society Radio and Electronics Rally is being held today, the 24th of September. The venue is The Campus Community Centre, Worle, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 7DX. The doors are open from 10 am and entry is £3 per person. Under 16s will be admitted free of charge. Free parking and refreshments are available. For more information, email westonradiosociety@gmail.com or call 07871 034 206. Biggleswade Swap-meet and Auction is taking place today, Sunday the 24th of September. The venue is The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JH. The doors are open from 9.30 am and entry is £8. The auction starts at 12.30 pm. Bring and buy, hot food and ample parking are available. For more information, email Jeremy, G8MLK via Jezzer3@hotmail.com Now the Special Event News Special callsign OQ95RCL is in use throughout 2023 by Radio Club Leuven, ON4CP, in Belgium, to celebrate its 95th anniversary. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, the bureau, or direct to ON3AR. VI10VKFF is the special callsign in use to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the World Wide Flora and Fauna programme in Australia. It will be used from Australian parks until the end of 2023. QSL via Logbook of the World,  eQSL, or via VK5PAS, direct or via the bureau.   Now the DX news Darren, VK4MAP will be active as 3D2RAT from Rotuma Island, OC-060, until the 29th of September. He operates SSB on the 80, 40, 20, 15, 12 and 10m bands. QSL direct to home call. Holger, ZL3IO will be active as ZL7IO from Waitangi, Chatham Islands, OC-038, until the 29th of September. He is QRV on the 160 to 10m bands using CW, RTTY, SSB, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or via DK7AO. Don, M0CVZ will be active as 6Y5DH from Jamaica, NA-097, until the 30th of September. He will operate SSB on the 40, 20, 17, 12 and 10m bands. QSL via Club Log and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The CQ Worldwide DX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 23rd of September and ends at 2359UTC today, the 24th of September. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14. 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. Also, today, the 24th, 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. On Tuesday the 26th of September, the 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. On Wednesday the 27th of September, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. On Thursday the 28th of September, the Autumn Series Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The UK and Ireland Contest Club DX SSB Contest runs from 1200UTC on Saturday 30th of September to 1200UTC on Sunday the 1st of October. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Stations from the UK and Ireland also send their District Code. This event replaces the original RSGB DX contest. It is listed on the RSGB contest calendar and, for entrants from the UK and Crown Dependencies, counts towards the HF Championship. This international DX SSB contest also has a Teams section. Team members, with a maximum of three members, can be from different DXCCs and can enter different sections. Rules, in English and eight other languages, can be found under the "DX CONTESTS" menu at ukeicc.com The Worked All Britain DX Contest runs from 1200UTC on Saturday the 30th of September to 1200UTC on Sunday the 1st of October. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 21st of September 2023 Last week's space weather was very disturbed from a geomagnetic point of view. The Kp index hit 6.67 on the 19th of September, spawning reports of visible aurora from around the UK once again. This was the result of a coronal mass ejection passing Earth, which caused a period of strong G3 storming very early that morning. The ionosphere was badly affected with MUFs over a 3,000km path down below 18MHz for most of the day. By Wednesday the 20th, things began to improve and MUFs were back to 21MHz, and sometimes even 24MHz, by late morning. By Thursday the 21st, the Kp index was down to 2.67. Meanwhile, we had numerous C- and M-class solar flares to contend with as well – a total of 39 from the 18th to the 20th. So, last week was not exactly a good time for HF operations! This week, commencing today the 24th, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the range of 135 to 145 although, if the past month is anything to go by, it could easily be higher. The Kp index is forecast to be 2, apart from on the 28th and 29th when it could rise to 4. In reality, with so many sunspots, we could have a solar flare and associated coronal mass ejection at any time, so take these predictions with a pinch of salt! The good news is that we are now past the autumnal equinox, so the ionosphere is improving. Expect better worldwide HF conditions as we head towards October and November. And now the VHF and up propagation news The recent unsettled weather seems to have set a trend for us with a likely repeat process through the coming week, although there may be a few drier interludes. The next low in the sequence will soon be arriving to keep the rather unsettled theme in play. This means that rain scatter is a good choice for operators during the period. There is usually some uncertainty in such a complex pattern, and recent model runs have been alternating between a return of high pressure during the next week, with a chance of Tropo, and the continuation of lows with fronts bringing rain and showers. We are, however, in a ‘keep the lows coming' mindset at the moment, so don't build your hopes of Tropo too high. Such uncertainties in long lead-time forecasts are quite typical at this time of the year when ex-hurricanes can get involved in the Atlantic flow pattern and disrupt the forecasts very easily. The other modes to monitor are aurora, which has been seen recently from southern Britain, so definitely one to keep in mind, and meteor scatter, which can be productive. We are approaching the ‘busy season' for meteors with several good showers between early October and December. However, the last week in September does not hold much promise. There are always random meteors to keep interest alive, but this week might be better used getting equipment ready for the next few months of activity. Having reached its lowest declination of the lunar month, the Moon is now beginning its slow climb back up. With the Moon out of Sagittarius, sky noise will decrease and is at its lowest mid-week. Path loss, or degradation, will be lowest on the 27th with the Moon at perigee, its closest point to Earth. The full Moon is on the 29th. Altogether, it looks like a good week for EME operations, especially if you can elevate your antenna or dish reflector. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 3rd of September 2023 The news headlines: Ofcom Consultation RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB Foundation Awards Time is running out to respond to Ofcom's consultation “Updating the amateur radio licensing framework”. The deadline is Monday the 4th of September. The RSGB will be sending its own formal response, but Ofcom is interested in the views of every radio amateur. This is the biggest review of amateur radio licensing and callsign policy in a generation and your response will count. Please remind your amateur radio friends and colleagues to make time to send in their response so their views are heard too. The RSGB has information, videos and guidance on its website at rsgb.org/licencereview Have you booked for the RSGB 2023 Convention yet? The ‘early bird' booking price has been extended to the 14th of September, so join hundreds of others at this fantastic amateur radio event over the weekend of the 13th to the 15th of October. The keynote speaker will be Colonel John Doody who will discuss his radio communication experiences across the frequency spectrum from HF, VHF, SHF and satellite communications from 1965 to the present day. Colonel Doody is a retired officer of the UK Royal Corps of Signals, the author of “From Stripes to Stars” and he served at GCHQ and the former Communications-Electronics Security Group for ten years as Head of Information Assurance Customer Services. John has a wealth of knowledge across the whole spectrum of cyber security, information assurance, cryptography and radio communications. The rest of the Convention programme is nearly complete and includes expert speakers on a wide range of amateur radio topics. From portable contesting and SOTA, to antennas, radio astronomy, and developments in electronic equipment to detect RF electrical interference, you will be spoilt for choice! More details will appear in the October issue of RadCom and the RSGB will be publishing the draft programme on its website soon. For more information and to book go to rsgb.org/convention Have you just passed your Foundation licence? Or are you an established Foundation licence holder who is looking for a new challenge? The RSGB has just launched a new range of Foundation Awards that are available to UK Foundation licence holders from September 2023. There is an HF Award, a VHF Award and a third Award where you can choose to use a mix of any bands permitted by the licence, but you need to gain a larger number of contacts on a greater number of bands. These Awards give you plenty to choose from whatever you enjoy within amateur radio. For more information see the RSGB website at rsgb.org/foundation-awards The RSGB's autumn Tonight@8 programme kicks off at 8pm on Monday the 4th of September with a presentation on MINOS Contest Logging Software by Peter Burton, G3ZPB. Peter will look at what MINOS does in terms of contest logging, installation and set-up, plus how to get hands-on when using it in a contest. You can find out more about the presentation and Peter on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars and you can join the presentation and ask questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB Air Ambulance Week 2023 is taking place across the UK from Monday the 4th to Sunday the 10th of September. Lots of amateur radio stations will be on the air to help raise awareness of the lifesaving work that is carried out by the UK's air ambulance charities, so please give them a call. More information about Air Ambulance Week 2023 can be found by visiting airambulancesuk.org The popular Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as ‘CHOTA', will be taking place next Saturday the 9th of September from 10am to 4pm. All bands and all modes will be in use. For more information about the event, and to see a list of registered stations, visit wacral.org or email John, G3XYF at jhwresdell@gmail.com   And now for details of rallies and events Telford Hamfest is taking place today, Sunday the 3rd of September. The venue is Harper Adams University campus near Telford, Shropshire, TF10 8NB. Talk-in is available on 145.550MHz FM. Further details are available at telfordhamfest.org.uk If you have any questions, contact Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255416 or John, M0JZH on 07824 737716. Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 3rd of September. The venue is Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL. The usual bring and buy, trader stands and refreshments are available. The doors open at 10am and admission is £2.50. Free parking is available. For more information email Roger via 2e0rph@gmail.com or phone 07854 088 882. Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 10th of September. The venue will be Caister Lifeboat station, Caister on Sea, NR30 5DJ. The doors will be open from 9am to 2pm. Access for traders is available from 8am. Admission is free. Inside tables cost £10 each. Outside tables cost £5 each. Contact Zane, M1BFI via email on m1bfi@outlook.com or phone  07711 214 790. The Angel of the North Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on Saturday the 16th of September. The venue will be Whitehall Road Methodist Church, Whitehall Road, Bensham, Gateshead, NE8 4LH. The doors are open to traders from 7.30am and tables cost £6. The event will be open to the public from 10am to 2pm and admission will be £2.50. Bacon butties and hot drinks will be available to purchase. There will be a bring-and-buy and a raffle on the day. Please contact anarc.club@gmail.com for further information. Now the Special Event News Special callsign VI7ALARA is active on the HF bands until the 8th of November to mark the Australian Ladies Amateur Radio Association's meeting in Hobart this year. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. For more information visit alara.org.au OQ95RCL is the special callsign in use throughout 2023 by Radio Club Leuven, ON4CP to celebrate its 95th anniversary. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, the bureau, or direct to ON3AR. Now the DX news Today, the 3rd, is the last chance to work Matt, AF2F while he is active as K4H from Hatteras Island, NA-067. He is using CW and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. Christo, LZ3FN and Thomas, SV2CLJ are QRV from Skyros Island, EU-060, in Greece, as SV8/LZ3FN and SV8/SV2CLJ. They are operating on the 80 to 2m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes until the 7th of September. Now the contest news IARU Region 1 Field Day and RSGB SSB Field Day both started at 1300UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and end at 1300UTC today, the 3rd of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of September. Using All modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of September. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number and age. Today, the 3rd of September, the Worked All Britain 2m QRO Phone Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using phone, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. Today, the 3rd of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Monday the 4th of September, the Autumn Series SSB Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 5th of September, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 5th of September, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 6th of September, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 6th of September, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Wednesday the 6th of September the United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest runs from 0000UTC on Saturday the 9th of September to 2359UTC on Sunday the 10th 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 10th of September, 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. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 31st of August 2023 We had another week of relatively settled solar conditions. The Kp Index never really got above three and the Solar Flux Index flattened to be below 140. Solar flares were nominal with only minor C-class events occurring and with no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections. The solar wind speed remains low as does its density. The all-important Bz has headed south at times meaning it more easily couples to the Earth's magnetic field, but the solar wind's low speed and density means we have not suffered from geomagnetic disturbances. As a result, ionospheric conditions were quite good with much DX romping in on 21MHz, including Mongolia on FT8 during the afternoon. On the 10m band Vlad, 9Q2WX in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Robert, 9N7AA in Nepal, were both logged around lunchtime on CW. At the same time, Ravi, S79VU in the Seychelles could be heard on SSB. The Chilton and Fairford Digisondes remain down, but Dourbes remains online which is still driving propquest.co.uk Daytime maximum useable frequencies over a 3,000km path are currently peaking above 28MHz at times, although you may find 21 and 24MHz more usable. Daytime critical frequencies remain above 7MHz making the 40m band very useful around the UK. Next week, NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will remain in the range of 140 to156. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be quiet, apart from an excursion between September the 6th to the 8th when the Kp index could rise to three. And now the VHF and up propagation news There will be some GHz bands rain scatter on offer as we end this current week, but it's ‘all change' by the weekend. The prospects for VHF and UHF, then, are looking very promising indeed, especially good for those out working portable in the 144MHz Trophy Contest today, the 3rd of September. After lots of uncertainty in the forecast during the last week, there is now plenty of support from the models that the high-pressure version is the favoured outcome. This should be very encouraging for 2m band contesters hoping to get some enhanced Tropo propagation. Paths across the southern North Sea to Denmark and southern Sweden look good throughout. It would also be worth looking to the south across the Channel and, for some southwestern parts of the UK, down across Biscay to Spain. There are two very useful websites that detail the expected Tropo prospects using the weather forecast model data to calculate the vertical changes in the refractive index of the air and hence Tropo. These are dxinfocentre.com and tropo.f5len.org Remember that Tropo improves as you move from HF to 2m, to 70cm and 23cm. So, give CW or SSB a try and don't just stay on FT8 or over-crowded repeater channels during lift conditions. These enhanced Tropo conditions will likely extend well into next week, but with a chance of low pressure bringing unsettled weather back to the south by the end of next week. The daily Sporadic-E blogs have finished for this year, but the jet stream charts will still be available on propquest.co.uk and of course, random meteor scatter and chance aurora are still there if you are lucky. For EME stations, Moon declination is positive again but reaches maximum late at night initially moving to early morning as the week progresses. Last Wednesday's perigee means path losses are still low but increasing daily. 144MHz sky noise is low, rising to moderate by next weekend. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 27th of August 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Board Co-option RSGB 2023 Convention IARU Region 1 Conference  RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX is pleased to announce that the Board has co-opted Ben Lloyd, GW4BML as a Board Director until the AGM in April 2024. Ben had a significant number of votes in the RSGB 2023 Board elections. Ben brings a fresh perspective together with a very active life as a radio amateur in Wales. The Society hopes you will welcome Ben to his new role. The RSGB 2023 Convention is just seven weeks away and the Society is delighted that AMSAT will be holding its Colloquium during the event again. The RSGB's programme includes a fantastic range of expert speakers and amateur radio topics. You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about the Rockall DXpedition 2023 and the Bouvet 3Y0J DXpedition; Cathy Clarke, G1GQJ will share the history of RAYNET and its importance in the modern world; and there are presentations on aircraft scatter, PCB Building plus working FM satellites on a budget. Following the exciting news that the UK will be the hosts for the World Radiosport Team Championship in 2026, you'll hear from competitors and referees who took part in the 2022 Championship and gain an insight into the preparations for the 2026 event. For the first time, the Convention will also have a clear focus on outreach and practical activities as the RSGB provides opportunities for individuals and clubs to ‘have a go' and be inspired to try new things in their local areas. These are just some of the many highlights and the RSGB will be publishing full details in the October RadCom. Keep an eye on rsgb.org/convention for more details over the next couple of weeks. Also, the RSGB is delighted to announce that Keith Hotchkiss, G0FEA has been appointed as the RSGB's volunteer Lecture Coordinator for the 2023 Convention. Keith will be working with General Manager and Convention Chair Steve Thomas, M1ACB and the rest of the Convention team to create another fantastic event. IARU Region 1 will hold its next General Conference from the 1st to the 4th of November 2023 in Zlatibor, Serbia. A wide range of papers and proposals are now available online and the RSGB welcomes comments on these. Topics include: general reports; organisational and budget proposals; the new HF Bandplan; VHF, UHF and SHF changes; and consideration of WRC-23, the World Radiocommunication Conference, which follows shortly afterwards. Other themes include: strategic projects and progress, accommodating digital technologies, contests, EMC and other spectrum matters. Comments should be forwarded to the relevant HF, VHF or Microwave spectrum manager, by Thursday the 12th of October, in order to allow time to finalise the RSGB position. You can find a link to the consultation via thersgb.org/go/iaruconsult Have you replied to the Ofcom consultation about amateur radio yet? And have you read the article by Ofcom Director for Spectrum, David Willis, in the September edition of RadCom? In it, David says: “We fully recognise the contribution amateur radio has made to developing radio technologies over the years, including in the development of radar and LTE. We know how important amateur radio is as a hobby to those who are involved, and that it plays an important role in nurturing the next generation of radio engineers.” This recognition of the importance of amateur radio skills for careers in engineering dovetails with the RSGB's strategic priority to grow and develop amateur radio. You can read David's full article on the RSGB website and watch three RSGB presentations that give information and guidance about the Ofcom Consultation. The Society encourages every radio amateur to submit their views about the Consultation proposals – go to rsgb.org/licencereview A reminder now that the popular British Inland Waterways on the Air event is taking place this weekend and will finish tomorrow, Monday the 28th. The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs for work or recreation. Lots of stations are active, so why not give them a call? To find out more about the event visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group's website nharg.org.uk and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2023' link. It has been announced this week that the UK will host the world's first summit on artificial intelligence safety in November. The summit will be held at the iconic Bletchley Park, which is one of the birthplaces of computer science. To be able to host an event of this global importance, Bletchley Park and the RSGB National Radio Centre will be closed to the public from Saturday the 28th of October to Friday the 3rd of November inclusive. If you have pre-booked a visit for during that time, Bletchley Park will contact you. For more information see bletchleypark.org.uk And now for details of rallies and events Torbay Annual Communications Fair is taking place today, Sunday the 27th of August. The venue is Newton Abbot Racecourse, TQ12 3AF. This is an indoor event with free parking. The doors open at 10am. A bring-and-buy area, on-site catering, and an RSGB bookstall are available. For more information contact Pete, G4VTO on 01803 864 528, Mike, G1TUU on 01803 557 941 or email rally@tars.org.uk Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is also taking place today, Sunday the 27th of August. The rally is being held at a new venue this year – Heron's Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes, MK8 9AA. The venue is opposite the National Badminton Centre and has excellent modern amenities together with free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities. The entrance fee is £3 and doors are open to the public from 9am. Outdoor pitches and indoor tables are available. For trader and exhibitor enquiries please email rally@mkars.org.uk  For more information see mkars.org.uk The Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society Annual Rally will take place tomorrow, Monday the 28th of August. The venue will be Ernulf Academy, St Neots, PE19 2SH. The gates open for traders at 7am and for the public at 9am. The entrance fee will be £3 and free car parking will be available. The event will feature an RSGB bookstall and bring and buy. For more information, email Malcolm, M0OLG via events@hunts-hams.co.uk or phone 01480 214282. On Saturday the 2nd of September, the G-QRP Club Convention, featuring its famous Buildathon, will take place at the Harper Adams University campus near Telford, Shropshire, TF10 8NB. The following day, Sunday the 3rd of September, Telford Hamfest will take place at the same venue. Talk-in will be available on Sunday morning on 145.550MHz FM. Further details are available at gqrp.com/convention.htm and telfordhamfest.org.uk  If you have any questions, you can contact Martyn, G3UKV on 01952 255416 or John, M0JZH on 07824 737716. Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 3rd of September. The venue will be Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL. There will be the usual bring and buy, trader stands and refreshments available. The doors will open at 10am and admission will be £2.50. Free parking will be available. For more information email Roger via 2e0rph@gmail.com or phone 07854 088882. Now the Special Event News PG100N is the special callsign in use to celebrate the centenary of the lighthouse located at Noordwijk aan Zee. Look out for activity until the 11th of September, especially during Open Monument Day on the 9th and 10th of September. QSL via the bureau to PA7DA. Special callsign LX90RTL is active in celebration of the 90th anniversary of Radio Luxembourg's first long wave broadcast. It is being used by various LX operators until the end of the 2023 year.  Look for activity on the HF bands. QSOs are possible via SSB, CW, digital modes and satellite. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the DARC bureau. The logs will be uploaded to  Club Log, Logbook of the World and eQSL on a regular basis. See QRZ.com for more information. Now the DX news Frans, DJ0TP will be active as TK/DJ0TP from the main island of Corsica, EU-014, until the 3rd of September. QSL via his home call and Logbook of the World. From the 1st to the 7th of September, Christo, LZ3FN and Thomas, SV2CLJ will be QRV from Skyros Island, EU-060, in Greece, as SV8/LZ3FN and SV8/SV2CLJ. They will be operating on the 80 to 2m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. Now the contest news Today, the 27th, 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. Also today, the 27th, the CQ RTTYops Contest is running from 1200 to 2359UTC. Using RTTY only on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and the four-digit year of your first licence. The World Wide Digi DX Contest ends today, the 27th, at 1200UTC. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your four-character locator. The All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 3rd of September. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number and age. On Saturday the 2nd of September, the CWops CW Open will run from 0000 to 2359UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number and name. IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day starts at 1300UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and ends at 1300UTC on Sunday the 3rd of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The 144MHz Trophy Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 2nd of September and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 3rd of September. Using All modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 3rd of September, the Worked All Britain 2m QRO Phone Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using phone, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. On Sunday the 3rd of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. 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 24th of August 2023 Last week saw plenty of DX being worked, thanks to quiet geomagnetic conditions and a seasonal change to a more autumnal ionosphere. Although we are still in August, there are signs that the ionosphere is moving away from its summer doldrums as its chemical composition changes to more monatomic species, which ionise more easily. Another bonus is that there has been a big reduction in the size and number of coronal holes on the Sun, which again leads to lower Kp indices. Mike, G8AXA reports that, for the first time in a long while, his Faros IBP beacon monitoring software recorded the VK6RBP beacon on 28.200MHz between 0857 and 1000UTC, via short path, just making S1 on his long wire and Yaesu FT-991A. On 21.150MHz, he also recorded hearing the ZL6B beacon between 0757 and 0909UTC up to S3. Conditions should continue to improve as we move towards September and October. Last week, the solar flux was in the 140s and 150s. The Kp index never rose above three, meaning the ionosphere was quite stable. The proton flux was also very low. FT8 on the 15m band was humming in the afternoon with the Far East and Caribbean both being workable at the same time. Next week we have active regions 3413 and 3415 rotating to be more Earth-centric. NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will rise to the 160s again and the quiet geomagnetic conditions may continue with a predicted Kp index of two. So, as long as we don't get any solar flares, or CMEs erupting from sunspot groups 3413 and 3415, we could have a good week again for HF DX. And now the VHF and up propagation news The current spell of unsettled weather looks likely to stay with us for most of next week, in fact until around Friday when there are signs of a ridge building in for next weekend, although mainly for southern areas. This could be in time for some Tropo over the weekend of the 144MHz Trophy Contest. However, the models are a bit uncertain this far out, so keep a watch for changes during the week. The remaining mode in such unsettled weather is of course rain scatter and most of the period until the end of the week should provide many opportunities. As we approach the close of the traditional Sporadic-E season, although it can still occur in any month, the activity levels are much reduced after the end of August and certainly tail off sharply after the first week in September. We are still getting the occasional flurry of activity for multi-hop paths on 10m to the Far East and the States, so don't abandon it just yet. Remaining modes such as meteor scatter are still available via random meteor activity and there are always chances of a higher Kp index with its implications for aurora. Note that the autumn and spring months are typically a preferred time for aurora. This Saturday sees minimum Moon declination with the Moon not getting above 10 degrees elevation. It goes positive again next Friday. As the Moon's perigee is on Wednesday, path losses are at their lowest. 144MHz sky noise is high this weekend, but falling to low levels by next Friday.    And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 20th of August 2023 The news headlines: National Coding Week G5RP Trophy nominations RSGB 2023 Convention   National Coding Week is taking place from the 14th of September, but the RSGB is dedicating the whole of September to amateur radio and coding activities. This is a great way to try something new, extend your skills or share your knowledge with your local club, school or community group. You can find out more on the RSGB's coding page at rsgb.org/coding  and, if you would like to get involved, please contact ESRG member John Hislop, G7OHO via g7oho@rsgb.org.uk  If you are taking part, whether on your own or in a group, the RSGB would love to share what you're doing so that you can inspire others. Please email details to comms@rsgb.org.uk The G5RP Trophy is an annual award designed to encourage newcomers to HF DXing. The award is not limited to youngsters or the newly licensed. It is open to anyone who has recently discovered and made significant progress in HF DXing. If you are an established HF DXer and want to recommend someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2023, now is the time to send in your nomination. Your nominee should be an up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in the last year and has some real achievements to show, for example, a good total of new countries worked or some HF DXpedition activity. Please send your nominations to Ian Greenshields, G4FSU by email via hf.manager@rsgb.org.uk  Nominations should arrive no later than Friday the 15th of September 2023. The RSGB Convention is being held between the 13th and 15th of October. The programme is nearly finalised and contains some fantastic speakers on a range of amateur radio subjects. In addition, there will be a buildathon where you will also gain invaluable advice about how to run a similar event at your club, local school or community group. The early bird booking price has been extended to the 14th of September so don't miss out – book now! Full details of the programme will be published soon. For more information and to book, visit rsgb.org/convention Today, Sunday the 20th of August, John, GW3JVB is operating from Steep Holm Island in the Bristol Channel. The Worked All Britain square for the location is ST26 and the IOTA reference is EU-120. John hopes to be operational from approximately 1000UTC to 1930UTC. Using SSB, he is most likely to be working on 40 and 20m, but may also be available on other bands, depending on the weather and conditions. If you hear John on the air, please give him a call. You can read more about John's amateur activities on his blog via gw3jvb.uk International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is taking place this weekend. There are lots of stations on the air waiting for your call. To see a list of registered stations, visit illw.net Neil Bauers, G4JUV has created ‘Camper Ham UK' on Facebook. It is for anyone who likes camping and operating their radios, both licensed and shortwave listeners. Motorhomes, vans, caravans, tents and bivvy bags are all OK. Just take a radio! As well as the usual technical discussions about radios and antennas, the group is interested in antenna-friendly camping sites and good spots for portable operation. In the future, there may be meetups organised by group members. For more information search for ‘Camper Ham UK' on Facebook. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 20th of August. The venue is Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9PY. The event begins at 10 am. For more details contact Steve, G8LYB on 07956 855 816, email rally@rugbyats.co.uk or visit rugbyats.co.uk Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally is also taking place today, Sunday the 20th of August. The venue is The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors are open from 9.30 am and admission is £2. Free car parking and refreshments are available. Tables cost £10. For more information, contact Steve via m5zzz@outlook.com or phone 07777 699 069. The Red Rose Summer Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 20th of August. The venue is St Joseph's Hall, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. The event features free parking, a café, traders, individual stands, club stands, low-cost bring and buy, and a raffle for a new digital radio. For more information visit wmrc.co.uk Torbay Annual Communications Fair will take place on Sunday the 27th of August. The venue will be Newton Abbot Racecourse, TQ12 3AF. This will be an indoor event with free parking. The doors will open at 10 am. A bring-and-buy area, on-site catering, and an RSGB bookstall will be available. For more information contact Pete, G4VTO on 01803 864 528, Mike, G1TUU on 01803 557 941 or email rally@tars.org.uk Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally will take place on Sunday the 27th of August. The rally will be held at a new venue this year – Heron's Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes, MK8 9AA. The venue is opposite the National Badminton Centre and has excellent modern amenities together with free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities. The entrance fee is £3 and doors will be open to the public from 9 am. Outdoor pitches and indoor tables are available. For trader and exhibitor enquiries please email rally@mkars.org.uk  For more information see mkars.org.uk Now the Special Event News Celebrating the centenary of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise, special callsign II6PN is in use until the 31st of October. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, eQSL, or via IK6IHU. For details of a certificate that is available, see QRZ.com 8S80AA is the special callsign in use throughout 2023 by Vasteras Radio Klubb, SK5AA to celebrate its 80th anniversary. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred but is also available via the bureau to SK5AA, or direct to SM5FUG. More information about the club can be found at sk5aa.se  LA100K is the special callsign in use by Akademisk Radioklubb, LA1K to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its foundation. Based in Trondheim, it is the oldest amateur radio club in Norway. The special callsign will be in use until the 31st of December. QSL via the bureau, or direct. Now the DX news Laurens, PF3X will be active as TF/PF3X while touring Iceland until the 25th of August. He will operate SSB and digital modes on the HF and 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL, or direct to his home call. Chris, OE6CUD plans to visit the Lofoten Islands, EU-076, the Vesteralen Islands, EU-033, and Senja Island, EU-046, while touring Norway by car until late October. He will be QRV as LA/OE6CUD and will operate mainly CW on the HF bands. He might also give QO-100 a try. QSL via home call, direct or bureau, Logbook of the World and eQSL. Now the contest news On Tuesday the 22nd of August, the 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. Next weekend, the CQ RTTYops Worldwide RTTY Contest has two sessions between the 25th and 27th of August. The first session is between 2200UTC on the 25th and 1200UTC on the 26th. The second session is from 1200 to 2359UTC on Sunday the 27th. Using RTTY only on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is a signal report and the four-digit year of your first licence. The Worldwide Digi DX contest runs from 1200UTC on the 26th to 1200UTC on the 27th of August. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your four-character locator. Next Sunday, the 27th, 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. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 17th of August 2023 Sunspot activity continues as we head towards the solar maximum. We have had a reasonably settled Sun over the past week. The Kp index never exceeded 3.33 and was generally in the ones and twos all week. We also had no M- or X-class flares to worry about with only minor C-class events occurring. The solar flux index stayed in the 140s and 150s, only topping out at 160 on Wednesday and Thursday. So, it was not a bad week for HF propagation as we head towards the end of August. There are signs that propagation is improving due to the seasonal change in the chemistry of the F2 layer. With a move towards more monoatomic species and fewer diatomic ones, it means that it is becoming easier to ionise. Daytime critical frequencies are currently around 6 to 7MHz according to the Dourbes Digisonde, giving a maximum usable frequency over 3,000km of between 18 and 21MHz. 28MHz Sporadic-E contacts have all but finished, but don't write the 10m band off as you may get the odd surprise. 20m still seems to be the best DX band this week, according to the Chiltern DX Club, with 17 and 15m also contributing. FO/F4FJH in French Polynesia; E51JD in the South Cook Islands; and FH4VVK in Mayotte have all been heard on 20m SSB, while 3D2AG in Fiji has been worked on 15m CW.   And now the VHF and up propagation news The fine summer-like weather has returned, at least for this weekend and up to about mid-week before it becomes more unsettled again. So, Tropo will be worth exploring, especially this weekend and during the first part of next week. Note that, in these warmer summer months, Tropo is often better overnight and early morning, especially those misty ones, but tends to decay as the ground warms in the morning sunshine. However, coastal paths often remain good throughout the day so Tropo paths across the North Sea or English Channel could be worth a look from your holiday deck chair! The Sporadic-E season is slowly coming to a close, but it is still worth a check in the evening tea-time activity window to make sure nothing is missed, and even better if you can add a morning check-up at around 1030UTC. The recent Perseids meteor shower may have added some useful meteor debris as fuel, so it is certainly not time to give up checking just yet. However, you may have to manage your expectations on the higher VHF bands. Meteor scatter is still a good bet in the tail end of the Perseids shower and the usual random meteors increase around dawn. Rain scatter is always an option in the summer months so keep a watch on weather radar displays for the brighter thundery rainfall echoes, especially later next week. There have been some interesting propagation on 50MHz down to the equatorial belt in the late evenings with D2UY in Angola working FT8 stations in an arc from the Canaries around through Northern Scotland, and the whole of the UK to Turkey with ‘Trans-equatorial sounding' fading patterns, making decodes difficult sometimes. Moon declination goes negative again this Sunday, shortening Moon visibility windows and, as we are past apogee, path losses will fall all week. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate until next Friday peaking at 2900 Kelvin on Saturday morning.    And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 13th of August 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Intruder Watch Service volunteer needed New RSGB NRC promotional video International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend   The RSGB Intruder Watch Service is looking for a volunteer to act as Coordinator when Richard Lamont, G4DYA retires from the role in September. The function of the Intruder Watch Service is to monitor and receive reports of intrusions of non-amateur transmissions into amateur radio bands and to collate reports and alert Ofcom to persistent and regular intruders. The responsibilities of the volunteer include: submitting details of intruders to the IARU Monitoring Service on behalf of the UK; membership of the RSGB Spectrum Forum; and providing reports for the Spectrum Forum, RadCom and the RSGB Yearbook. The successful applicant for the position will have a station capable of reliable monitoring of amateur bands, up-to-date knowledge of transmission modes and modulation methods in order to be able to identify transmissions, and the ability to receive reports of intruders from other amateur stations by email. If you're interested in finding out more about this role, please email the RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair, Murray Niman, G6JYB at spectrum.chairman@rsgb.org.uk  Have you been to the RSGB National Radio Centre? Would you like to encourage your family and friends to visit and find out more about amateur radio? We've just released a promotional video that gives a whistle-stop tour of all the fantastic things at the NRC in just one minute. Find it on the RSGB's YouTube channel or on the National Radio Centre web page on our website at rsgb.org/nrc International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is coming up soon. The event is usually held on the third weekend of August which this year is the 19th and 20th. It is one of the most popular amateur radio events in the calendar and in past years there have been over 500 entries from more than 40 different countries. More details about the event and a registration form can be found at illw.net A reminder now that the popular British Inland Waterways on the Air event will take place between the 26th and 28th of August. The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs for work or recreation. Registration for the event is still open. To sign up, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group's website nharg.org.uk and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2023' link. The RSGB is reminding all radio amateurs that they are required to revalidate their licence with Ofcom at least every five years. If it has been a while since you did that, go to ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence or email spectrum.licensing@ofcom.org.uk The date has been confirmed for the 2023 Scottish Microwave Round Table, or GMRT. It will be held between 10.30 am and 5 pm on Saturday the 11th of November at the Museum of Communication, Burntisland, Fife in Scotland. An interesting programme of speakers has been arranged. Microwave test facilities will be provided, and the event will be an opportunity to purchase components and microwave-related items. The cost is £12 and this includes a buffet lunch. A dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. Full information and online registration are available at gmroundtable.org.uk/about  Please email Colin, GM4HWO via gm4hwo@gmail.com for more information. Don't forget that booking is open for the RSGB Convention which is being held between the 13th and 15th of October. For more information visit rsgb.org/convention   And now for details of rallies and events The Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society Hamfest is being held today, Sunday the 13th of August from 9 am to 4 pm. The venue is Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 3DA. Admission is £5 and this includes parking. Talk-in will be on 145.550MHz. On-site catering, bar facilities and an RSGB Bookstall will be available. Indoor and field pitches are available and car-boot traders are welcome from 7 am. For more information, email tbaker@tiscali.co.uk, visit frars.co.uk or phone 07743 475 018. The Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Rally will take place on Sunday the 20th of August. The venue will be Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV23 9PY. The event will begin at 10 am. For more details contact Steve, G8LYB on 07956 855 816, email rally@rugbyats.co.uk or visit rugbyats.co.uk Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Rally will take place on Sunday the 20th of August. The venue will be The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 9.30 am and admission will be £2. Free car parking and refreshments will be available. The tables cost £10. To book, contact Steve via m5zzz@outlook.com or phone 07777 699 069. The Red Rose Summer Rally will take place on Sunday the 20th of August. The venue will be St Joseph's Hall, Leigh WN7 2PJ. The event will feature free parking, a café, traders, individual stands, club stands, low-cost bring and buy and a raffle for a new digital radio. For more information visit wmrc.co.uk Now the Special Event News Special event station PA14JAMBO will be active until Thursday the 17th of August from Spaarnwoude for the 14th Haarlem Jamborette, a large international scout camp that takes place in the Netherlands every four years. Look for activity on SSB, CW, and digital modes. QSL via PA9LUC and eQSL. Special event station CX90RCU will be operating until Thursday the 31st of August to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio Club Uruguayo, CX1AA, founded on the 23rd of August 1933. QSL via the bureau, direct, or via Logbook of the World. Now the DX news Josiah, KI5UBT and John, N5VOF will be active as VP5/KI5UBT and VP5/N5VOF from Providenciales, NA-002, on the Turks and Caicos Islands, until tomorrow, the 14th of August. They are operating SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 2m bands. QSL direct-to-home calls. Bo, OZ1DJJ  will be active again, from Greenland, as OX3LX from Tasiilaq on Ammassalik  Island, NA-151, until the 15th of August. He will focus on the QO-100 satellite and the 6 and 4m bands, but he will also be QRV on the HF bands. He will then go to Ittoqqortoormiit, on the main island of Greenland. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or direct to OZ0J. Also active from Tasiilaq will be Emil, DL8JJ, operating as OX/DL8JJ until tomorrow, the 14th of  August. In his spare time, he will operate CW with 10W. Frans, DJ0TP will be active as TK/DJ0TP from the main island of Corsica, EU-014, until the 3rd of September. QSL via DJ0TP's home call and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news Today, the 13th of August, the Worked All Europe DX CW Contest ends its 24-hour run at 2359UTC. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 15th of August, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 17th of August, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. 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 Thursday the 10th of August 2023 Sunspot activity continues as we head towards the solar maximum. Or have we already gone past that point? Identifying solar maximum can only really be done in retrospect. That is after we have already had it! Solar maximum is now forecast for early to mid-2025 so we still have some way to go. Last week the Solar Flux Index declined from 176 on the 5th, to 153 on the 10th. Geomagnetic conditions were mainly settled, other than a Kp index of 6.67 on the 5th. This was due to an incoming plasma cloud from a coronal mass ejection, or CME, that left the Sun on the 2nd of August. We had not one, but two X-class flare events recently. These occurred on the 5th and the 7th. The event on the 5th was long in duration with a peak flux at 2221UTC. Luckily it was from active region 3386, which was right on the edge of the visible solar disk, so any associated CME was directed away from Earth. The second event at 2046UTC on the 7th was also from AR3386, which by now had rotated just out of view of the Earth, so again its associated CME was not Earth-directed. So, we were lucky on both counts. If this sunspot region is still active on its return, we could be in for a rough ride. Keep an eye out from around the 20th of this month when it should reappear. HF conditions have been variable, with occasional F2-layer openings on the 10m band. The 15m band has produced some good DX including 5W1SA in Samoa on FT8. The 17m band produced Roland, TR8CR in Gabon on CW for Laurie, G3UML. S79KW in Seychelles was worked by Hugh, EI2HI on 10m SSB, but it has otherwise been quite quiet. Expect more HF DX activity later next month. Next week, NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will be in the low 160s, with a maximum Kp index of two. If that does pan out, we can expect fairly good HF conditions. But as always, watch out for solar flares and CMEs that can't be predicted terribly well. A solar flare could result in a sudden ionospheric disturbance but that would be relatively short-lived. A CME, which might follow a flare in about two days, could see the MUF drop for a day or more. And now the VHF and up propagation news The brief period of high pressure around the middle of last week will be long gone by the weekend and new Atlantic lows will again dominate the UK weather. At first, this will be mainly over the northern half of Britain before moving to the western side of the country later in the week. This means that any Tropo at the end of the previous week is not here to stay. The low-pressure input will bring rain scatter propagation modes and, since we are supposedly in the summertime, the rainfall events may be quite heavy or even thundery in places, so there may be good scattering for the GHz bands. The Sporadic-E season is still simmering with a few brief moments of single hop within Europe, but also some longer multi-hop paths including to the Far East and VK on 10m. The upper air pattern of jet streams may still be able to trigger a few openings during the coming week, although it is looking much weaker than last week and possibly mainly biased towards northern areas like the Baltic and Scandinavia. Meteor scatter is one mode that should do well, especially at first with the peak of the Perseids this weekend. It can be quite interesting to monitor the 2m meteor scatter calling channel and stand outside watching for meteors, especially if it's a bit warmer! The shower has a broad peak so should still provide activity during the coming week. Lastly, the Sun continues to offer occasional disturbed conditions with a chance of high Kp indices and possible aurora. The easiest solution is to monitor the Kp index and perhaps your favourite Scottish beacon for signs of auroral flutter. With the Moon at maximum declination this weekend, with long Moon visibility windows, it's the Microwave EME contest. Moon apogee is next Wednesday so path losses are at their highest until then. 144MHz sky noise is moderate until late Tuesday when the Sun and the Moon are close in the sky until Thursday when levels drop back to low.    And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 30th of July 2023 The news headlines: • Tonight@8 events on the Ofcom amateur radio consultation • Bar-coded stamps • GB2RS in Morse code The RSGB is holding two special live Tonight@8 events focused on the Ofcom amateur radio consultation, and it encourages all radio amateurs to take part. On Monday the 31st of July the session will look at contests, operating and callsign policy, in an event that might be of particular interest to Full licensees. On Monday the 7th of August, the focus will be on Foundation and Intermediate topics including callsign and exam changes, as well as the Consultation clauses that might lead to new opportunities for outreach activities for everyone. Instead of the usual webinar style, these events will be forums where, after a short introduction, a panel of RSGB experts will answer your questions. Questions can be submitted on the night of the event via live chat, or you can send in a question in advance. Advance questions can be by email or a short, clear video of you asking your question. In either case, please keep the question short and include your name and callsign. Send questions, by 12 noon on the Friday before the event, to comms@rsgb.org.uk and find out more about the events and the consultation on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/licencereview  From tomorrow, the 31st of July, you should not apply non-bar-coded stamps with Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's image to any mail. In doing so the sender or recipient may have to pay a surcharge. This news is highlighted to radio amateurs who use stamped-addressed QSL card envelopes. Please ensure all stamped-addressed envelopes have valid bar-coded stamps on them. This only applies to stamps with Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's image on them and does not apply to stamps which have other pictures on them. These can continue to be used. Royal Mail will exchange all non-barcoded stamps with new bar-coded ones for free. To do this, download a form from the Royal Mail website, complete it and include it alongside the stamps that are being returned. For more information, and to download a form, visit royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps GB2RS newsreader Graham, G4JBD has developed an online tool which plays Morse code based on the current GB2RS News script at a variety of different speeds. To help simulate a realistic HF-operating environment, the system can be set to include man-made band noise, or QRM, and/or natural band noise, or QRN. To try the system for yourself, visit thersgb.org/go/gb2rsmorse The July 2023 edition of RadCom Basics is now available and includes more topics to inspire those who are new to amateur radio and those who want to refresh their skills and knowledge. This edition includes the stories of the winner and runner-up in the RSGB Construction Competition Beginners' category; Part 2 of ‘Repairing circuit board tracks'; a design for a simple multi-band vertical HF antenna; Part 6 in the ‘Basic fault-finding series; and an account of Lee, G4EJB's recent visit to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. To view RadCom Basics visit rsgb.org/radcom-basics The RSGB is also pleased to announce that a new edition of RadCom Plus, Volume 8, Issue 1, is out now. RadCom Plus is the RSGB's digital technical supplement and RSGB Members can read it in HTML5 flipbook, PDF and Epub formats. This issue includes an article on a compact broadband active antenna for VHF and UHF and another on operating on the 30THz band. RadCom Plus can be accessed via rsgb.org/radcom-plus And now for details of rallies and events  Wiltshire Radio and Car Boot Sale is taking place today, Sunday the 30th of July at Kington Langley Village Hall and Playing Field, Kington Langley, Wiltshire SN15 5NJ. The event starts at 9 am and finishes at 1 pm. There is a £3 entry fee. Indoor tables are sold out, but there is plenty of Car Boot space available. Admittance for car booters is £10, and for vans, it is £15. For further information please contact rally@chippenhamradio.club Part 1 of the British Amateur Television Club's Convention for Amateur TV 2023, or CAT 23, will take place on Sunday the 6th of August at Midland Air Museum, Coventry. It is a meet-up, show and tell, test and fix-it, and bring-and-buy event from 10.30 am to 4 pm. There will be full ATV and Microwave test facilities available for QO-100, 5.6GHz FM, Portsdown, MiniTiouner, Ryde, and power amplifiers and preamps. King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club's 33rd Great Eastern Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 6th of August. The venue will be Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 4EL. The doors open to visitors at 9 am and admission is £2.50. The doors open to traders from 7 am. An outdoor pitch costs £8 and an indoor table costs £10. Car parking is free. There will be trade stands and a bring-and-buy area. On-site catering will be available. For more information email rally.klarc@gmail.com or visit klarc.org.uk Now the Special Event News DR45HAAN is the special callsign for DARC's Ortsverband Haan to celebrate its 45th anniversary. The station will be active until the 30th of September. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau and direct cards via DL7ET. Special callsign LX90RTL is in use to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Radio Luxembourg's first long-wave broadcast. It will be used by various LX operators until the end of the year. Listen for the callsign on the HF bands on SSB, CW, digital modes and via satellite. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the DARC bureau. The logs will be uploaded to  Club Log, Logbook of the World and eQSL on a regular basis. For more information see QRZ.com Now the DX news Today is the last chance to contact Giuseppe, IK5WWA who is active as IM0C from San Pietro Island, EU-165. He is QRV on the 40 to 2m bands. QSL via his home call. The IP1X team is active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, today, the 30th. They are operating CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands in the IOTA Contest. QSL via IU1JCZ, direct or via the bureau. For more details and updates check QRZ.com MD1U is active in the IOTA Contest today, the 30th, as part of a DXpedition to Scarlett Point Tower on the Isle of Man. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS page and Logbook of the World. For more information see QRZ.com Sunny, VU2CUW, a member of the 42nd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica, will be based at Maitri Station, Antarctica for around one year. In his spare time, he will be active as AT42I. QSL via VU2CRS.  Ersoy, TA2OM has been active as 3C3CA from Bioko Island, AF-010, in Equatorial Guinea since October 2022. His current plans are to stay there until sometime in August. He uploads his log to Club Log and Logbook of the World on a regular basis. Now the contest news The RSGB IOTA, or Islands On The Air, Contest will end at 1200UTC today, the 30th of July, Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. Today, the 30th of July, 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 1st of August, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 1st of August, the 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 2nd of August, the 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 2nd of August, the 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Saturday the 5th of August, the EU HF Championship runs from 0000 to 2359UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, the exchange is a signal report and the last two digits of the year you were first licensed.  On Saturday the 5th of August, the 4th 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. Also on Saturday the 5th of August, the 144MHz Low Power Contest runs from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. The Worked all Britain 144MHz Low Power contest takes place on Saturday the 5th of August from 1400 to 1800UTC. Please note that the maximum power that can be used in this contest has been increased to 25W. The exchange is a report, serial number and Worked all Britain square, if applicable. Entries should be submitted to the contest manager by the 15th of August. For full details of the rules please see the Worked all Britain website. On Sunday the 6th of August, the 432MHz Low Power Contest runs from 0800 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon ends its three-month run on Sunday the 6th of August. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is your four-character locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 27th of July 2023 It was a mixed bag last week with periods of settled conditions, but two periods when the Kp index was above four. These unsettled geomagnetic conditions impacted HF, subduing signals and generally not helping at all. The cause was a coronal mass ejection, or CME, that passed Earth late on Tuesday the 25th of July. This triggered a minor G1 geomagnetic storm with the solar wind speed above 500km/s and the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field pointing south.  By the early hours of Thursday morning, the Kp index was down to 2.33, but there was talk of another CME threatening to push it up again.  We ‘dodged a bullet' on the 24th of July when a large halo CME was observed leaving the Sun. It was so powerful that, despite taking place on the other side of the Sun, energetic proton levels streamed past Earth. By Wednesday lunchtime things were back to normal. By Thursday there were ten active regions visible on the Sun, with a solar flux of 167. Daytime HF conditions are still relatively poor, although the evenings are beginning to show an improvement. We probably won't see a return to excellent HF conditions until September or October. Having said that, at 1230UTC on Thursday, there were openings on 15m FT8 to Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Anguilla, despite the predicted MUF over 3,000km being around 19MHz. In other words, make sure you actually listen to the bands! Next week NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will be in the range of 155 to 170. The Kp index is forecast to be around two. There may be a blip on Wednesday the 3rd of August when it is forecast to rise to three.  As always, this is likely to change if we get more solar flares and associated CMEs. And now the VHF and up propagation news The coming week is likely to continue its unsettled theme although, unlike last week, this time we may find a temporary ridge of high pressure building over southern England at the end of the week.   It's some way off and much could change before we get there, but there is a hint of some Tropo next Friday, perhaps lasting into the Saturday afternoon for the 144MHz Low Power Contest.  The rest of this week and much of next will, however, stay firmly in the unsettled pattern with just rain scatter to console us. The Sporadic-E season often provides activity on the 6m band into the first week of September, so plenty of time to look for those chance QSOs. Last week saw a huge opening to Japan and a smaller opening to North America so there is still plenty to look for.  The current spell of unsettled weather is driven by a strong jet stream across the Atlantic into northern Europe and maybe a positive sign for Sporadic-E paths that cross it, say to Iberia, round through Italy to the Balkans. Other modes are relatively-low probability when compared with Sporadic-E, but the disturbed solar conditions could make Aurora a contender on those occasions when the Kp index is above five. Meteor scatter activity continues to increase as we head into the August Perseids, which peak around the 12th and 13th of August. The Moon reaches minimum declination on Sunday, becoming positive again late next Saturday so there will be short Moon windows early in the week. Perigee is on Wednesday so path losses are low. 144MHz sky noise is high this coming weekend turning low late Monday. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 9th of July 2023 The news headlines: New ATV display at the RSGB's National Radio Centre Film award for members of Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend A new amateur TV display has just been installed at the RSGB's National Radio Centre, with signals received via the wide-band segment of the geostationary satellite QO-100. The Society is delighted to be able to demonstrate amateur TV as a permanent display at the NRC, helping to highlight yet another exciting aspect of our technical hobby. A special configuration, developed in conjunction with the British Amateur Television Club, incorporates a touch screen from which visitors can select a signal to be tuned, decoded and displayed on the large monitor. The RSGB would like to thank Justin, G8YTZ for designing the display and working with the BATC for the specially adapted configuration. A short film produced by members of the Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society has won a top award at the 2023 Doric Film Festival. The film was the joint winner in the ‘Groups' category of the prestigious festival that showcases the distinctive Doric language and culture, most closely associated with North-East Scotland. The film includes a specially written fiddle music theme, based on Morse code. You can find the film by searching for ‘Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society Groups DFF Entry' on YouTube. A reminder now that International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is coming up soon. The event is usually held on the third weekend of August which this year is the 19th and 20th. It is one of the most popular amateur radio events in the calendar and in past years there have been more than 500 entries from over 40 different countries. More details about the event and a registration form can be found at illw.net There is so much happening at the RSGB's National Radio Centre that it needs to expand its team of volunteers! If you can volunteer at weekends, you will be particularly welcome. The National Radio Centre has a fabulous set-up and full training on using the GB3RS radio station will be given. You will be joining a friendly and dedicated team. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. You should enjoy meeting people and be able to volunteer for one or two days per month. For more information please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 9th of July, at Penair School, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TN.  The doors open at 10.30 am and admission is £3. There are traders, bring and buy and club stalls. Car parking and catering are available on-site. Contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821073 for more information. The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday the 16th of July. The venue will be Reading Rugby Club which offers a bar and catering facilities and has ample free parking. Admission will be £3 per person and £10 per table for traders. Visit mcmichaelrally.org.uk for more information and contact details. The Finningley ARS Rally 2023 will take place on Sunday the 23rd of July at Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster, DN8 5SX. The doors will be open from 10 am and a food bar will be available. For more information visit g0ghk.com Wiltshire Radio and Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday the 30th of July at Kington Langley Village Hall and Playing Field, Kington Langley, Wiltshire SN15 5NJ. The event will start at 9 am and finish at 1 pm. There is a £2 entry fee for traders. Indoor tables cost £10. Admittance for car booters is £10, and for vans, it is £15. For further information please contact Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club Now the Special Event News Guernsey Amateur Radio Society is running a special event station GB5IG until the 14th of July to celebrate the 19th Island Games, which is held every two years. The station will be active using SSB, digital modes, possibly satellite and CW, on HF, VHF and UHF bands. More information is available on QRZ.com VX7NA is the special callsign in use by the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association, until the 24th of July, to celebrate its 75th anniversary. The Association is based on Vancouver Island, NA-036. QSL via VE7NA. Now the DX news Pierre, VK3KTB will be active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 12th of July. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. Rag, LB3RE will be active on the 40 to 6m bands as DU1/LB3RE from Luzon Island, OC-042, until the 18th of July. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or via his home call. Bo, OZ1DJJ will be active as OX3LX from Qaanaaq, on the main island of Greenland, NA-018, until the 18th of July. He will focus on the 6 and 4m bands but will also be QRV on the HF bands. A side trip to Herbert Island, NA-134, or Meteorite Island, is possible. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or direct to OZ0J.  Now the contest news Today, Sunday the 9th of July, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The IARU HF Championship ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 9th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU zone. The UK is in zone 27. In particular, listen out for the RSGB HQ station operating as GR2HQ from a variety of different locations using CW and SSB. A team of operators at different stations will be on the air simultaneously on all the available contest bands. On Tuesday the 11th of July, the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 11th of July, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Wednesday the 12th of July, the 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 12th of July, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 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. On Wednesday the 12th of July, the 80m Club Championship SSB Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 13th of July, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 15th of July, the 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. On Sunday the 16th of July, the International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and TX power.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 6th of July 2023 NOAA's prediction that the Solar Flux Index, or SFI, would decline last week didn't come to fruition. In fact, the SFI stayed in the 160s and 170s until Thursday, when it declined to 155. The Sun produced more than 160 sunspots in June, the highest monthly number in more than two decades. This has led some newspapers to run more doom and gloom stories about solar Armageddon, while we amateurs look forward to some F2-layer DX! Unfortunately, more sunspots do mean more chance of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, but we have to take the rough with the smooth. As an example, we had an X1-class solar flare on the 2nd of June. This occurred at 2314UTC so didn't affect the UK, but did cause an R3 radio blackout over the west coast of the USA and Pacific. Otherwise, there is still DX to be bagged for well-equipped stations, such as Eric, FP/KV1J on St Pierre and Miquelon islands on 12m FT8, and Marek, FH4VVK, on Mayotte island, on 10m FT8. Other DX worked this week by CDXC members includes the 4W6RU DXpedition on Timor Leste on various bands; Robert, 9N7AA in Nepal on 12m FT4; and V31XX in Belize on 20m CW. Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre has the SFI at 155, rising to 175 by the end of the week. Unfortunately, the Kp index is forecast to rise to four over the weekend, possibly due to a large Earth-facing coronal hole, and again up to Kp five on the 12th and 13th. If it happens, expect noisy bands and a decline in the maximum usable frequency. As always, we encourage you to get on the HF bands, in the evening, nighttime and especially around dawn, which is when a lot of HF DX is being worked. And now the VHF and up propagation news Low pressure dominates the whole weather pattern this coming week, driven by an active meandering jet stream across the Atlantic. This provides several regions where the turbulence, generated on the edge of these strong winds up at 10km, can propagate upwards to trigger Sporadic-E propagation at about 110km height in the E region. So, unsurprisingly, Sporadic-E will feature as a ‘go-to mode' for the coming week. Typically, single-hop paths within Europe will produce very strong signals, whereas multi-hop paths, for example across the Atlantic, will require several such refraction points from Sporadic-E patches, plus intervening reflections from the sea surface, and will have much higher losses. These will usually be weak signals and probably very fleeting in view of the complex geometry of such paths. Tropo need not concern us this week, but rain scatter is worth a look since the unsettled weather will provide several heavy rainfall events in some areas. Look for the brighter echoes on the rainfall radar displays, especially those associated with thunderstorms. Random meteors could be useful in the early morning hours. We also have the start of two showers, Alpha Capricornids and Delta Aquarids, during next week, which don't actually reach a peak until the end of July. So prospects for meteor scatter and Sporadic-E propagation are improving this month. The aurora chances may be reasonable initially in view of the recent coronal hole transition, so keep an eye on the Kp index. Moon declination goes positive on Sunday so there will be lengthening Moon windows. Path losses are currently low but will rise all week. 144MHz sky noise is low to moderate all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 28th of May 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Tonight@8 webinar RSGB Beaconnect loop experiments RSGB School Zone web page   On Monday the 5th of June, the RSGB's Tonight@8 live webinar will feature Mike Richards, G4WNC who will give a presentation on Node-RED for radio amateurs. Node-RED is a visual programming language that is very powerful but surprisingly easy to use. The language has matured over recent years and has the potential to be a valuable tool for radio amateurs. In this talk, Mike will provide an introduction to Node-RED programming techniques. He will conclude with a live demonstration to show just how easy it can be to add extra facilities to your rig. Watch and ask questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel. For more information see the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars Three weekends have been identified for some RSGB Beaconnect loop experiments. On the 3rd and 4th of June, there will be some regional loops and nets. On the 10th and 11th of June, there will be an England-only loop and net based round the activators who have registered for Beaconnect callsigns so far, but the Society would welcome new activators in the West of England and East Anglia. Finally, on the 24th and 25th of June there will be an attempt at a multiple nations loop, although to do so the Society will need activators in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. If you want to join in with these activities, register for a Beaconnect callsign via the RSGB website. Go to rsgb.org/coronation and choose the Beaconnect information page. The RSGB's School Zone web page brings together radio amateurs in schools and colleges. The Society wants to help people to share their experience and expertise in establishing and running a radio club for young people. The RSGB has just launched a new page as part of this section called ‘School Zone stories' where it is highlighting some of the great amateur radio activities that are happening in these, and other, schools. If you're a school with an amateur radio club and want to be added to the list, or a radio amateur or club that is linking with local schools, the RSGB would love to add your information and stories to School Zone. Go to rsgb.org/school-zone to find out more, or send your stories and photos to comms@rsgb.org.uk Have you seen the RSGB Live News web page? It brings together the Society's social media feeds, latest YouTube videos and front-page news in one place. Launched a few years ago, people found it very useful, so the RSGB is highlighting it again now for those who have become radio amateurs or returned to amateur radio more recently. Take a look at rsgb.org/live for a taster and then go to the individual comms channels to find out more. The Worked All Britain group will be holding its AGM on Sunday the 11th of June at 12pm. The venue will be the meeting room of Alfreton Leisure Centre Bowls Hall, Church Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BD. For further information contact Paul, M1AIB via: m1aib@worked-all-britain.org.uk or visit the Worked All Britain website.   And now for details of rallies and events The Durham and District Amateur Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 28th of May. The venue is Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AT. The doors are open from 10.10 am to 2.30 pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. Admittance is £2. There is a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and a licensed bar are available on-site. For more information, contact Michael Wright, G7TWX on 07826 924 192, or on email via dadars@gmx.com Spalding Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 4th of June. The venue will be Holbeach United Youth Football Club, Pennyhill Road, Holbeach, Lincolnshire, PE12 7PR. The doors open at 10 am. Disabled access is available from 9.30 am. Admittance is £3. The event will feature a car boot area, catering, a flea market and trade stands. For more information Contact Graham, G8NWC on 07754 619 701, email rally2023@sdars.org.uk or visit: sdars.org.uk/spaldingrally The Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Summer Rally will take place on Saturday the 10th of June. The venue will be Saint Vincent de Paul's Hall, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. Doors open at 10 am and entry is £3. Refreshments and plenty of free parking are available. For further information, or to book a stall, contact either Roz Worrall via rozallin@gmail.com, or Dave Carden via dave@cardens.me.uk The Mendips Rally will take place on Sunday the 11th of June. The venue will be Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney, Somerset, BS39 6TY. Entrance is £2. The doors open at 7.30 am for traders and 9.30 am for visitors. For bookings and enquiries please contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email mendipsrally@hotmail.com The Junction 28 Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 11th of June. The venue will be Alfreton Leisure Centre Bowls Hall, Church Street, Alfreton, DE55 7BD. The doors open at 10.15 am and admission is £4. There is a fee of £12 to book a table in advance. A bar and refreshments will be available on-site. For more information, directions, and the booking form, visit snadarc.com Alternatively, email secretary@snadarc.com   Now the Special Event News OL100RADIO, OL100RJ, OL23RADIO and OL23RJ are the special callsigns for the Czech Radio Club to mark 100 years of broadcasting in Czechoslovakia. Look for activity on all bands and modes until the 18th of June. A certificate will be available. For more information visit the QRZ.com pages associated with each of the special callsigns. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Trans-Tasman amateur radio contact,  members of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters will be operating special callsign ZL100 until the 25th of July. North Bristol Amateur Radio Club, in partnership with South Bristol Amateur Radio Club, is holding a special event to commemorate the loss of flight 777a on the 1st of June 1943. The flight was en route from Portugal to Whitchurch Airport, now defunct, in Bristol. The event has been granted the rare callsign GB80AGBB. The station will be active from 10 am until 5 pm from the 30th of May to the 3rd of June on the 20 and 40m bands and on the Southwest DMR Cluster Talk Group 950. Contact can also be made via the FreeDMR Network on Talk Group 777. For more information, visit the GB80AGBB page on QRZ.com or email gb80agbb@gb7bs.com   Now the DX news To raise money for charity, a team of three amateurs is visiting Rockall Island, EU-189, in the North Atlantic Ocean almost 200 miles west of Scotland. The team will be operating using the callsign MM0UKI and plans to be QRV between Monday the 29th of May and Friday the 2nd of June. The team is expecting to be active on the 40 to 10m bands using CW, FT8 and SSB. The QSL manager for the DXpedition is Charles, M0OXO. For more information visit rockallexped.com Jack, M0PLX will be active from Unst and six other islands in the Shetlands, EU-012, until Friday the 2nd of June. He will operate using SSB on the HF bands and will also monitor the 6m band. Updates will be posted to M0PLX's Facebook page. Vincent, HB9VCJ will be active as 8Q7VJ from the Maldives, AS-013, until Sunday the 4th of June. He will operate QRP SSB, and various digital modes, on the 40 to 6m bands, and also FM on the 10m band. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or via his home call. Didier, F6BCW is active as FO/F6BCW from Huahine Island, OC-067, French Polynesia until the 25th of October. He operates CW and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via F6EXV, Club Log and Logbook of the World.   Now the contest news Today, the 28th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 28th, the CQ Worldwide WPX CW Contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. National Field Day will start at 1500UTC on Saturday the 3rd of June and end at 1500UTC on Sunday the 4th of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The UK Six Metre Group Summer Contest starts at 1300UTC on Saturday the 3rd of June and ends at 1300UTC on Sunday the 4th of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and member number. The ARRL International Digital Contest starts at 1800UTC on Saturday the 3rd of June and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 4th of June. Using digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands, the exchange is your four-character locator. On Sunday the 4th of June, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 1000 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on 1.3, 2.3 and 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 25th of May 2023 The Sun currently has an equal number of spots in both its Northern and Southern hemispheres. The Solar Flux Index was consistently in the 150 to 160s range last week, with a total of eight M-class flares. We had unsettled geomagnetic conditions on the 21st and 22nd when the Kp index hit six, but things then settled down again to a more manageable two to three. There are times when the F-layer critical frequency is lower than the E-layer critical frequency due to Sporadic-E. This means that HF signals can't reach the F2-layer, basically blocking off DX, but leaving Sporadic-E short skip available. So, make the most of these short-skip contacts to the continent and multi-hop Sporadic-E skips to further afield. Conditions in the F2-layer will improve in the autumn, so don't worry! There is still HF DX to be had, but you may have to hunt for it. Recently, Laurie, G3UML worked BD4VGZ in China on the 15m band using CW and Stuart, M1SMH worked YG2ALQ in Indonesia as well as A71UN in Qatar, on the 10m band using FT8. Meanwhile, Andy, M0NKR worked VK on the 15m band using SSB long path. Namibia, Malawi and Equatorial Guinea have all been workable from the UK using FT8 on the 10m band during late morning. Next week NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will remain in the same range. That is, in the 150 to 160s. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast from the 2nd to the 4th of June when the Kp index might reach four. Otherwise, it suggests that conditions will be mainly settled with the Kp index around two to three. So, make the most of the elusive HF F2-layer openings and the various opportunities available during this peak time for Sporadic-E propagation. And now the VHF and up propagation news The broad scale pattern is still dominated by a large area of high pressure over the country with its centre mostly to the northwest of the British Isles. The whole period through to the end of the coming week should offer some good tropo prospects, so why not try using CW or SSB to add some extra squares to your log? Under lift conditions, even a halo antenna can be surprisingly effective. The weather variety will remain until the end of next week when low pressure over France tries to push some thundery showers northwards into southern Britain after midweek, and perhaps then northwards as far as western Scotland. This brings a chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands. There is, as usual, always a chance of aurora and meteor scatter to bring additional options, but the main mode of interest this week will be Sporadic-E as we head into the peak of the season. With tropo also in play, it's worth a quick note for those not used to working Sporadic-E; Tropo tends to be long-lasting and usually better on the higher bands. That is to say, the 70cm band is often better than the 2m band whereas Sporadic-E is usually brief and better at lower frequency bands. So, the 10m band is better than the 6m band. This time of the year it can reach up to 2m on rare occasions. If you do nothing else, simply check the bands and clusters at the end of the afternoon to maximise your Sporadic-E chances. Moon declination is positive but falling this weekend, going negative on Tuesday. We are past apogee so path losses will fall as the week goes on. We'll see shortening Moon windows with falling path losses. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.