Podcasts about regional representative

As the FAO celebrates its 80th anniversary, we speak with Viorel Gutu, Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, who took part in our Annual Conference on April 1. We discuss the resilience of agri-food systems in the face of conflict and climate change, and how stronger public-private cooperation can help address these challenges.

Missionary Letter - Regional Representative Emeritus

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.  

This Devotional address with Elder David A. and Sister Susan K. Bednar was delivered on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 5:00 PM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. David A. Bednar was ordained and set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 7, 2004. Prior to his call, Elder Bednar served as an Area Authority Seventy, as an Area Authority, as a Regional Representative, twice as a stake president, and as a bishop. Elder Bednar was born on June 15, 1952, in Oakland, California. He served as a full-time missionary in Southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young University, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees. He also received a doctoral degree in organizational behavior from Purdue University. After completing his education, Elder Bednar was a professor of business management at Texas Tech University and at the University of Arkansas. He then served as the president of BYU-Idaho from 1997-2004. Elder and Sister Bednar were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975, and they are the parents of three sons. Susan Kae Robinson Bednar was born and reared in Afton, Wyoming. She is the daughter of Kay and Nyla Clement Robinson. Sister Bednar graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She taught first grade for two years and was involved with institutions of higher education with her husband at Texas Tech University, the University of Arkansas, and BYU-Idaho. In the Church Sister Bednar has served as Primary president, Primary chorister, Young Women president, Gospel Doctrine teacher, and ward organist.

This Devotional address with Elder Lance B. Wickman was delivered on March 4, 2025, at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Elder Lance B. Wickman is the former General Counsel and an Emeritus General Authority of the Church. Elder Wickman served as a General Authority Seventy from April 1994 until October 2010. He served as General Counsel from January 1996 until November 2023. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1964. He attended law school at Stanford University, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1972. He practiced law as a trial lawyer and partner in the international law firm of Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles and San Diego until his call as a General Authority. Elder Wickman, a U.S. Army Ranger, served as an officer in the United States Army from 1964 to 1969. He served twice in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader and as a military advisor to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, receiving the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals, the Valorous Unit Citation and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. He has held various ecclesiastical positions within the Church, including missionary in the Central British Mission, bishop, stake president and Regional Representative. He and his wife, Patricia, are parents of five children.

Missionary Letter - BIMI Regional Representative Emeritus

GB2RS News Sunday the 16th of February 2025 The news headlines: The RSGB has announced its Scout, Cadet and Girlguiding Youth Champion Listen out for stations operating for World Thinking Day on the Air New resources and ideas have been added to the RSGB British Science Week web pages The RSGB is delighted to announce that Samuel McCutchion, M7UEL will be the RSGB's Scout, Cadet and Girlguiding Youth Champion. Sam brings a wealth of hands-on experience to the role having been part of the Scouts from a young age in Beavers and then working his way up to Network. He then progressed to become an Assistant Section Leader. This knowledge will help the RSGB Youth Team to engage and offer amateur radio support to not only the Scouts but also the Cadets and Girlguiding. If you'd like to congratulate Sam on his role, or if you have any ideas you think would be useful to share, email him via youthchampion.scouts@rsgb.org.uk  Lots of amateur radio stations are on the air this weekend and next weekend for World Thinking Day on the Air. Listen out for them and encourage the young Girlguiding members. You can find details of some of the active stations via rsgb.org/thinking-day  but, if your station isn't listed, please share details on the RSGB social media channels. The event aims to encourage Girlguiding members to make friendships with those in other units, using amateur radio as the means of communication.   Have you visited the RSGB's British Science Week web pages yet? Two new worksheets have recently been added to inspire you to get involved and showcase amateur radio to new audiences. The activities were designed by the RSGB Outreach Team to fit in with this year's British Science Week theme of ‘Change and adapt'. If you'd like to deliver these activities to schools or youth groups, the Society has sample lesson plans, risk assessments and a guide to contacting your local school available on its website. Remember that British Science Week isn't just for younger audiences, it is open to all. If you're looking for ideas to get your friends and family involved or a local community group, go to rsgb.org/bsw  and visit the British Science Week resources page. There is a wealth of ideas available, from looking at the history of radio communications to building a sustainable system using only solar panels. If you have an activity planned for British Science Week, let the RSGB know by emailing the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator, Ian Neal, M0KEO via bsw@rsgb.org.uk  Details of events taking place will be shared on the Society's website.  The deadline for the RSGB Construction Competition is Saturday the 1st of March, which means you have less than two weeks left to submit your entry. The judges will be considering entries in six categories: beginners, construction excellence, innovation, software, antennas and outreach. To find out how to submit your application go to rsgb.org/construction-competition  The results of the competition will be announced during the 2025 RSGB Annual General Meeting on the 12th of  April.  If you are passionate about amateur radio and have some spare time to support fellow radio amateurs, why not become an RSGB District Representative? There are currently 12 vacancies across the United Kingdom, including in Belfast, Cambridgeshire and Lancashire. To find out if there is a vacancy in your region go to rsgb.org/volunteers  and then get in touch with the Regional Representative of the district with the vacancy. Amateur radio operators are reminded to take care when operating on the WRC-15 secondary amateur allocation at 5MHz. The UK still has no access to the full WRC-15 allocation. Despite requests, this seems unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Whilst the UK is fortunate to have more generous licence conditions, these mustn't be put at risk by irresponsible operating in violation of the licence conditions, particularly in the 5358 to 5362kHz gap where there is no UK allocation. The RSGB website has detailed advice for operators, both for SSB and digital modes, on its rsgb.org/5mhz web page. Please take care not to transmit outside of the UK segments even if you hear other amateurs transmitting. Remember that signals heard may be coming from amateurs in other countries with different allocations. The RSGB ARDF Committee is pleased to announce the return of the British ARDF Championships in 2025. The Championships will be held as a three-day festival in early April 2025. Entries open on the 1st of March and will remain open right up until the event itself. Further information and updates can be found at tinyurl.com/ARDF25 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 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 On the 2nd of March, the Exeter Radio Rally is taking place at a new venue. The event will be held at The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE, from 10 am. Traders and catering will be available on-site. For more information phone Pete, G3ZVI on 07714 198 374 or email g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk Now the Special Event news Daren, 2E0LXY is hosting a special amateur radio event to raise funds for the Sheffield Children's Hospital today, the 16th. He will be operating on the 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands using FT8. He will also be active on the 2m and 70cm bands using FM. DMR users can talk to Daren via Brandmeister talk group 23530. More information, including how to donate, is available via Daren's QRZ.com page. Special callsign S5701DX is running during February in memory of Slavko, S57DX who became a Silent Key last February. The station has been heard recently using CW and SSB on the HF bands. For more information visit QRZ.com From the 1st to the 28th of March George, MM0JNL will once again be activating special event station GB0GTS. This year the station is active in support of the Great Tommy Sleepout. This national challenge aims to raise funds and awareness for all former UK service personnel who are living homeless. More details are available at QRZ.com and rbli.co.uk Now the DX news Bob, NC6Q is active as HP1TT from Panama until tomorrow, the 17th.  He is operating CW and some SSB on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands. QSL directly to NC6Q. Datta, VU2DSI is operating from Lonar Lake in India from the 20th to the 24th of February 2025. This unique location was formed by the impact of a meteor around 550,000 years ago. The station will be active on the 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands using SSB. More information can be found at QRZ.com Claudio, HB9OAU is active as D44OA from Sal Island, AF-086, Cape Verde until Tuesday the 18th. He is operating using CW and SSB on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World and Club Log.  Now the contest news The ARRL International DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 15th and runs until 2359UTC today, 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. On Tuesday the 18th, the RGSB 1.3GHz Activity Contest runs from 20:00 to 22:30 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 20th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 20:00 to 22:30 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The CQ 160m DX Contest starts at 22:00 UTC on Friday the 21st and ends at 22:00 UTC on Sunday the 23rd of February. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. USA stations also send their state and Canadian stations send their province. The REF Contest starts at 06:00 UTC on Saturday the 22nd and ends at 18:00 UTC on Sunday the 23rd of February. Using SSB on the 80 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 13th of February 2025 Two large coronal holes on the Sun's surface have been spraying solar material towards Earth, pushing the Kp index to a high of 4.67. The solar wind speed has been consistently higher than 500 kilometres per second and, with a south-pointing interplanetary magnetic field, the plasma has flooded into Earth's magnetic field. There have been a few aurora warnings, but these have only been minor. As a result, the ionosphere has not been too badly affected and daytime maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path have generally remained above 28MHz, with the odd dip towards 24MHz. Coronal mass ejections have not made an appearance and there were only three M-class flares between the 9th and 13th of February. Meanwhile, the solar flux index fell to the 150s and 160s last week. Recent HF DX has included the V73WW DXpedition on the Marshall Islands, which has been worked from the UK, including on the 40, 30 and 20m bands using CW. The TX7N DXpedition to Marquesas Island in French Polynesia has just finished. It wasn't an easy path, but it was worked from the UK on all bands from 30 to 12m using FT8, CW and SSB. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index could rise a little, to be in the 180 to 190 range. Once Earth is free from the effects of the current coronal hole stream, we may expect the Kp index to retreat, perhaps to a maximum of 2. So, DX next week could be quite reasonable but, as always, keep an eye on solarham.com for daily updates. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The lingering high pressure just to the east of the UK is holding weather fronts over western Britain for the time being with any tropo benefits confined to eastern areas and being marginal at best.  During the coming week, changes will be slow but gradually a more determined push on the Atlantic fronts may bring them over most areas, except the extreme southeast of the country. This will make rain scatter more accessible although the models suggest that the fronts are likely to become weaker. So, they will not be especially useful by the time they reach the southeast. Sporadic-E is in its quiet season now, as are the meteor scatter prospects, with no major showers in attendance until the spring Lyrids in late April. Perhaps this quieter time is a chance to do some operating housekeeping. For example, you could update a list of nearby repeaters and beacons to help you track developing openings. Or maybe you could consider trying a new mode or band. Perhaps you could learn to use digital modes for meteor scatter. Maybe consider joining the increasing numbers trying CW on the 2m band. Moon declination went negative again on Saturday the 15th and path losses are rising as the Moon moves away to apogee, its furthest point from Earth, on Tuesday the 18th. 144MHz sky noise is low for most of the coming week but goes high for the weekend of Saturday the 22nd. 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.

Nick interviews David Stockdill, Regional Representative for ND and MN with the Mule Deer Foundation, for updates on North Dakota's muleys and the organization's recent projects. 

Augusto Lim is a former Branch President, Stake President, Mission President, Temple President and Regional Representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines. In 2024, at the age of 90, he celebrates his 60th year as a Church member.I wanted to speak to Brother Lim about what the Church was like in the Philippines when he joined and how he reflects on the Church's meteoric growth since then to almost 1 million members today.Some highlights from this episode include how a 4-year-old instigated Brother Lim's conversion, what it was like to speak in General Conference in the early 90's, and the future of the Church in the Philippines.--Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspodhttps://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Qhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on InstagramConversations to Refresh Your Faith.For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

GB2RS News Sunday the 8th of September The news headlines: Book your RSGB Convention tickets now There are several vacancies in the RSGB's Regional Team Remember to call in to the CHOTA stations on Saturday The RSGB Convention is just five weeks away and an exciting programme of presentations and practical activities is being prepared. The early bird price for day tickets ends on the 15th of September and this year there won't be any extensions to that date! As well as three streams of presentations across the weekend there will be an introductory workshop on microcontroller programming. This workshop is part of the Society's aim to widen the programming skills in the amateur radio community and to introduce people to something new. On Saturday morning RSGB experts will give an EMC and EMF update presentation, followed by an informal EMC and EMF clinic in the afternoon. The RSGB HF and VHF contest forums will take place on Sunday. Throughout the weekend there will be opportunities to talk to RSGB representatives and to members of many special interest groups who could inspire you to try a different aspect of amateur radio. The RSGB 2024 Convention – your convention, your way. To book your day tickets and to book for the workshop, go to rsgb.org/convention The RSGB has 13 regions, each covered by a Regional Representative and a team of District Representatives. This volunteer team is an important link to clubs and a potential source of support and information for individual radio amateurs. There are several vacancies in the Regional Team and this month we're highlighting two regions. In Region 5 there is an opportunity for someone to volunteer as a District Representative covering Gloucestershire, Hereford and South Worcestershire. There are also two vacancies in Region 13 for District Representatives to cover Leicestershire and Rutland, and also North Lincolnshire. If you're interested in supporting local radio amateurs and clubs in those areas, please contact the appropriate Regional Representative. You can find their details by going to our website at rsgb.org/regions and clicking on the region in which you live. Next Saturday, the 14th, lots of amateur radio stations will be on the air to take part in the Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as CHOTA. The event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm and operation will be focused on the 80, 40 and 20m bands. To see the list of churches and chapels taking part visit the ‘CHOTA' tab on the World Association of Christian Radio Amateurs and Listeners website at wacral.org Several changes have been made to the RSGB contest trophies process, for logistical and resource reasons. For example, instead of engraving each trophy, the winner will be presented with a quality certificate at the Trophy Presentations on Sunday morning at the RSGB Convention. For each award, a high-quality photograph will be taken of the winner with their trophy, and that photo will be available for the winner if they would like it. RSGB HQ will now administer all trophies for the AGM event. The full changes are shown in the updated trophy policy on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/trophies  If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the RSGB Trophy Manager Mike Franklin, G3VYI via trophy.manager@rsgb.org.uk Over the course of a year, radio amateur Maggie laquinto, VK3CFI attempted to make contact with Russian cosmonauts on the Mir space station. Maggie used her amateur radio skills and equipment to monitor the orbit of the space station and listen to the frequencies that it used. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Maggie relayed crucial information to cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev. In a recent BBC programme, Maggie's son Ben laquinto speaks to Megan Jones. You can listen to the programme by searching for ‘The woman who spoke to the space station' on the bbc.co.uk website.  And now for details of rallies and events Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally is taking place today, the 8th, at Caister Lifeboat station, Caister on Sea, NR30 5DJ. The doors are open from 9 am to 8 pm and there is no admission fee. Sellers can gain access from 8 am. For more information email Zane, M1BFI via m1bfi@outlook.com or phone 07711 214 790. The Broadcast Engineering Museum near Gainsborough in Lincolnshire is new and a work in progress, so it only opens a few days each year. The next open days are coming up on Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of September from 11 am to 4 pm. 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 on Sunday the 15th of September. The venue will be 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 Now the Special Event news To celebrate Malaysia Day, special callsign 9M61S is active until the 16th of September. Operators will be working on the HF bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. For more information see QRZ.com Special callsign DL250CDF is active until the 30th of September to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of painter Caspar David Friedrich, an icon of the German Romantic movement. The station is operating on the HF bands using CW, digital modes and SSB. All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the Bureau, eQSL and Logbook of World. For details of a certificate that is available visit tinyurl.com/DL250CDF Now the DX news Bob, ZL1RS is active as E51EME from Rarotonga, OC-013, in the South Cook Islands until the 15th of September. He is focusing on operating FT8 on the 6m band, with 6m EME using Q65-60A as a secondary activity. QSL via Club Log's OQRS and Logbook of the World. See QRZ.com for more information and updates. Bernard, DL2GAC is active as H44MS from Malaita, OC-047, in the Solomon Islands, until the 15th of September. He operates SSB and some FT8 on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL via Bernard's home call, directly or via the Bureau. QSOs will be uploaded to Club Log and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 7th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 8th of September. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and your age. SSB Field Day started at 1300UTC on Saturday the 7th and ends at 1300UTC today, the 8th 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 7th and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 8th of September. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 8th, the Worked All Britain 2m QRO Phone Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. Also today, the 8th, the 5th 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 10th, 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 10th, 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 11th, 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 11th, 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 four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. Also on Wednesday the 11th, the Autumn Series CW Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 12th, 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. On Sunday the 15th, the 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1200 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday the 14th and runs until 2359UTC on 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. On Sunday the 15th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using All modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Sunday 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 on Sunday 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 on Sunday the 15th, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m bands, the exchange is your serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 5th of September 2024 Last week was underlined by continued high solar flux indices and excellent 10m band propagation to CY9C on Saint Paul Island near Newfoundland. The DXpedition, which has now ended, was often at S9+ on 28MHz up to two hours after sunset. This may be a sign that better autumnal HF conditions are just around the corner and bodes well for the rest of the year. The average sunspot number has now exceeded 200 for the first time in 23 years. This puts it significantly better than Solar Cycle 24 and it looks like there is more to come. Propquest.co.uk reports that maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path are now often above 28MHz, so look out for DX on the 10m band. This will improve as the month goes on. September is a good month for north-south paths and paths to North America will improve as we head into October. So, get your higher HF band antennas sorted out, as this autumn could be fun! During the week just past, there were 21 M-class flares, but no X-class events. The Kp index has been under 5 all week, which no doubt helped HF propagation flourish. Large coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, did occur on the 1st and 3rd of September, but these appear to be related to far-side events, well beyond the northwest limb and were directed away from Earth. But that active region is now rotating into view so buckle up for potential Earth-directed CME activity. Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre suggests that the solar flux index will remain in the 240 to 250 range. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for today, the 8th of September but, as we always say, keep an eye on solarham.com for up-to-date solar information as things are likely to change each day. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The slightly enhanced Tropo conditions were welcome for the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on the 3rd of September. However, in the coming week, the opposite is now the case for many parts of the country as low pressure is set to dominate the weather charts. There may be some weak ridges of high pressure nearby or even over northern Britain this weekend, but it is not looking great. If pressed for a direction, it looks better across the North Sea to northern Europe and southern Scandinavia in the first part of the week. Much of next week will have low pressure in control, and it will be worth looking for rain scatter on the GHz bands. The solar side of things means that we should be alert to the chance of aurora if the Kp index rises. The autumn is often a good time of the year for these. It will be useful to monitor the Kp index, especially if you hear any signals sounding ‘watery' on the HF and LF bands. It's always worth a reminder that the Sporadic-E season does not drop off a cliff at this time of year.  That said, it does become very infrequent and restricted to lower bands or digital modes under the influence of jet streams.  The southward paths to Iberia and the western Mediterranean look most promising next week for an out-of-season chance Sporadic-E event. There is one small meteor shower this week. The September Epsilon-Perseids peaks with a low zenithal hourly rate of five tomorrow, the 9th. This shower produced unexpected outbursts in 2008 and 2013, but modelling indicates that 2024 activity should be nothing unusual. For EME operators, Moon declination is now negative and falling further, reaching minus 29 degrees next Wednesday. Moon visibility windows continue to fall, as will peak Moon elevation, while path losses are decreasing after apogee. 144MHz sky noise increases from moderate today, the 8th, reaching over 2,500 Kelvin next Wednesday. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Missionary Letter - Regional Representative

GB2RS News Sunday the 2nd of June 2024  The news headlines: Nominations for IARU President and Vice President have been ratified The next RSGB Tonight@8 webinar is coming up RSGB National Radio Centre to operate D-Day anniversary special event stations   IARU member societies have ratified the nomination of Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA and Thomas Wrede, DF2OO as IARU President and Vice President, respectively, for a five-year term which began on the 9th of May 2024. On starting his 4th term as President, Tim Ellam thanked member societies for their support, congratulated Thomas Wrede on his election as Vice President, and also offered a special and heartfelt thank you to Ole Garpestad, LA2RR who retired as IARU Vice President. You can read more on this story via the IARU website at tinyurl.com/IARU2024 The RSGB Tonight@8 webinar this Monday, the 3rd of June, examines how amateur radio can be accessible and enjoyable even if you have sight, hearing or mobility difficulties. Three radio amateurs will explain how they have adapted their equipment, written software or used extra support from the RSGB or other radio amateurs, to enable them to enjoy all that amateur radio has to offer. There will also be input from Sight Matters, an Isle of Man charity helping to assist over 700 visually impaired members. The charity has recently discovered how much amateur radio can offer people with visual impairments and it has formed the Sight Matters Amateur Radio Club. This aims to encourage new people into the hobby and to help assist existing licence holders back onto the air. Whether this webinar is relevant to you, a friend or colleague, or you're in a club that is wondering how to support all radio amateurs to enjoy the hobby, make a note of the date and be inspired! You can watch and ask questions live on the RSGB special BATC channel or YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB The RSGB's National Radio Centre will be operating a special event callsign GB2DAY to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War Two. 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 gain free entry to Bletchley Park and the RSGB's National Radio Centre by downloading a voucher from the RSGB website: rsgb.org/bpvoucher The RSGB Board recently spent an afternoon visiting RSGB Headquarters, meeting staff and gaining a more detailed understanding of the work of this professional team. Later that day, the Board received training from members of the senior team about their specialist areas. During the Board meeting the following day, the Board decided to continue with its chosen four strategic priorities until the 2025 AGM. These priorities are the growth of amateur radio; membership of the RSGB; spectrum and licensing; and ensuring the continued financial stability of the Society. To make further progress with the outcomes of the recent growth workshop, the Board allocated a member of its team to champion each of the seven workstreams. Each workstream champion will now create a volunteer team, prioritise work tasks, set measurable objectives, define what success looks like, list deliverables and establish reporting mechanisms and frequency. More details will be shared about these over the coming months. Do you have some spare time to support fellow radio amateurs? Are you passionate about the future of amateur radio? Do you like a challenge? The RSGB currently has volunteer vacancies for Regional Representatives in Region 7 South Wales, and Region 12 England East and East Anglia. Could you fill one of those roles? To learn more about being a Regional Representative see the RSGB website or contact the Regional Team Forum Chair, Keith Bird, G4JED via rr10@rsgb.org.uk Next week is the 40th anniversary of Volunteers' Week in the UK. As always, the RSGB will be taking part in this national event and thanking its volunteers for the great work they do for the Society and amateur radio generally. The Society will be sharing stories about some of its volunteers on its social media channels and then you'll be able to read more details on the RSGB website later in the week at rsgb.org/your-stories The May 2024 edition of RadCom Basics is now available. RadCom Basics is aimed at new amateurs and those who wish to refresh their skills and knowledge. Among others, this edition contains articles to help you learn about checking and testing components, how to keep your transmissions clean and how to build and tune an end-fed half-wave antenna for the 40 to 10m bands. Read more via rsgb.org/radcom-basics And now for details of rallies and events Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society's Annual Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 2nd of June. This year sees the event taking place at a new venue: Spalding Rugby and Football Club, Centenary Park, Drain Bank North, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE12 6AF. The event features a free on-site car park, inside and outside traders, an RSGB bookstall and an outside boot area. General admission is £3 per person. For more information visit sdars.org.uk/spaldingrally The Junction 28 Radio Rally is coming up on Sunday the 9th of June at Alfreton Sports Centre, DE55 7BD, one mile from M1 Junction 28. The doors will be open from 10.15 am and admission will be £4. For more information visit snadarc.com or contact j28rally@snadarc.com The Worked All Britain Awards Group will be holding its 2024 AGM from 12 pm at the Junction 28 Rally. Those unable to attend in person but wishing to join online via Zoom should email the Group's secretary at m1aib@worked-all-britain.org.uk The Mendips Rally is set to take place on Sunday the 9th of June. The Rally will be held at Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney, BS39 6UA. The doors will be open from 9 am to 1 pm and admission will be £2. Access for traders will be available from 7.30 am. Inside tables cost £8 and field pitches are £5 each. Free car parking and hot and cold refreshments will be available on-site. For more information contact Luke at 07870 168 197 or email mendipsrally@hotmail.com Now the Special Event News Welland Valley Amateur Radio Society will be active as GB0WVR during Market Harborough Carnival on Saturday the 8th of June. The team of operators is planning to use SSB, FT8 and some CW on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands. There may also be activity on the 40m band, depending on the working conditions. Listen out for the callsign which will be active from 10 am until late in the evening. For more information see QRZ.com Throughout June, Stockport Radio Society will be active with the callsign GB0COL to mark the 80th anniversary of Colossus, the world's first fully electronic computer. Bands and modes to be used include FM on the 2m band, SSTV and VHF digital voice. SSB, CW and RTTY will be used on the HF bands. Operators are also planning to be active via the QO-100 satellite. For more information visit g8srs.co.uk/gb0col Next weekend, Torbay Amateur Radio Society will be active with a special event callsign GB80DCS to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The station will be working from Slapton Sands in Devon from the afternoon of Friday the 7th of June until approximately 1200UTC on Sunday the 9th of June. A team of operators plans to use phone and CW on the HF and VHF bands. More information is available via QRZ.com  Now the DX news Roland, F8EN is active 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. Tosy, JA6VZB is active as JD1BQW from Chichijima, AS-031, in Japan, until the 5th of June. He plans to concentrate on the 12 and 6m bands using FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, Club Log's OQRS, or the Bureau. Now the contest news National Field Day started at 1500UTC on Saturday the 1st of June and ends at 1500UTC today, the 2nd 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 started at 1300UTC on Saturday the 1st and ends at 1300UTC today, Sunday the 2nd of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and membership number. Today, the 2nd of June, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 0900 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on 1.3, 2.3 and 3.4GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The ARRL International Digital Contest started at 1800UTC on Saturday the 1st and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 2nd of June. Using any digital mode, excluding RTTY, on the 160 to 6m bands, the exchange is your four-character locator. On Tuesday the 4th, 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 4th, 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 5th, 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 5th, 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. The IARU ATV Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 8th and ends at 1800 UTC on Sunday the 9th of June. Using TV on 432MHz and up frequencies, the exchange is a serial number, four-digit code and locator. More details on the rules for this contest are available at tinyurl.com/IARUATV On Sunday the 9th, the 2nd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Sunday the 9th of June, the Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using AM, FM, SSB, CW and a maximum of 5W on the 2m band, the exchange is signal, serial number and locator.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 30th of May 2024 Last week was characterised by relatively quiet geomagnetic conditions and a fairly high solar flux. But is that all about to change? Active region 3664 has returned. It is now named 3697 and has already emitted an X1.4-class solar flare. You may recall that it was AR 3664 that caused the aurora that was visible all over the UK around the 10th and 11th of May. As Solarham.com says, “The chances for an Earth-directed eruption will increase with each passing day as the active sunspot region turns into a better geoeffective position.” Scientists now believe that the coronal mass ejection associated with the long-duration X1.4-class flare on Wednesday the 29th may pass close enough to Earth to generate moderate G2 geomagnetic storming beginning on the 31st of May – just in time for this weekend's National Field Day! Otherwise, HF propagation has generally been good with decent F2-layer openings up to 21 and even 24MHz at times. The 17 and 15m bands look to provide the best DX, with paths to the east in the morning, and to the west during late afternoon and early evening. The 10m band is subject to Sporadic-E openings, with F2-layer openings mainly restricted to paths to South Africa and South America. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 165 to 200 range, with quiet geomagnetic conditions. However, that is perhaps a little optimistic as active region 3697, or perhaps 3691, could easily throw a spanner in the works, with a flare and associated CME potentially sending the Kp index skywards. So, as always, keep an eye on the current state of the Sun at solarham.com, and work the bands while they are open! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The close of the current week offers a temporary return of high pressure for this weekend. This should be good for some Tropo conditions for western parts of the UK. The weather turns a bit more unsettled going through the coming week, especially over northern Britain, but also occasionally in the south. Rain at this time of the year can often be heavy and thundery with good prospects for GHz bands rain scatter, but this may have to wait for the end of next week when a low moves north from France towards the southern UK. The early part of June is a time of several minor meteor showers. These should offer scope for meteor scatter operators as well as provide some fuel for Sporadic-E propagation which rocket measurements show consists of long-lived meteor ions. Sporadic-E propagation is often associated with the position of jet streams in the upper troposphere due to the turbulence that these fast-flowing currents of air generate. In the coming week, the jet stream pattern becomes much weaker, although still with a few options. Daily blogs are available at Propquest.co.uk  for those who are interested. Don't ignore the prospects for multi-hop transatlantic paths to the United States and particularly the Caribbean, which are usually well supported in the early part of the season before the upper winds over the Caribbean change over to high-summer slacker flow.  Equally, multi-hop Sporadic-E paths to the Far East are worth checking in the early morning following the effects of the now displaced northerly meandering jet stream flow across northern Russia. Moon declination went positive again on Saturday the 1st of June, so the coming week will see lengthening Moon windows. EME path loss is falling, reaching a minimum at perigee today, Sunday the 2nd of June. 144MHz sky noise is low apart from Thursday when the Sun and Moon are close in the sky. 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.

Doug McKinlay has a masters degree from Brigham Young University in Mass Communications, ran his own successful $35MM company for 17 years, and won national awards for advertising results and creativity. He has also taught as faculty at Brigham Young University for 16 years. Doug loves serving his fellow beings. In the Church, callings have included service as an elders quorum president, ward and stake Young Men president, stake executive secretary, stake high council, stake president and counselor, Regional Representative of the Twelve, mission president, and bishop. Links Watch on YouTube Transcript coming soon BYU Devotional: "The Approachable Master" Highlights Coming soon The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

GB2RS News Sunday the 28th of January 2024 The news headlines: The RSGB election deadline is coming up RSGB Build a Radio workshop planned at Bletchley Park Registration for SOS Radio Week is open The deadline for nominations in the RSGB elections is next Wednesday, the 31st of January. If you would like to stand for the one elected Director role, or any of the eight Regional Representative vacancies, you will need to complete the nomination process by 2359UTC on Wednesday. Full details of the process are on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election  The Society would encourage anyone with a passion for amateur radio, and a desire to support the amateur radio community, to look at the candidate information and consider stepping forward for one of these roles. You'll find full information about the skills and experience needed in the candidate packs, and there is still time for an informal chat about the roles and responsibilities if you'd like one. But don't delay as late applications won't be accepted! As part of its British Science Week activities, the RSGB is organising two build-a-radio workshops at Bletchley Park on Sunday the 17th of March. Funded by the Radio Communications Foundation, these fun workshops are a great way for young people to try a practical amateur radio activity. The sessions are for youngsters aged 11 to 18 who will build their own VHF FM broadcast receiver using simple tools. The workshops cost £11 for the participant, and if you are an adult accompanying a participant who is aged 16 or under, you will receive free admission to Bletchley Park. These workshops are always very popular so book now if you know a youngster who would like to take part. Go to the Bletchley Park website at bletchleypark.org.uk then choose the What's On option from the top right-hand menu. SOS Radio Week is an annual event that takes place throughout May to celebrate the work of the volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Independent Lifeboats and National Coastwatch Stations around the British Isles. Members of these organisations save many people 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, so SOS Radio Week is being 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 Coast watch station, with the appropriate authorisation from the station manager. A commemorative certificate will be 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. Registration for individual and group operators is now open via sosradioweek.org.uk The RSGB has released a further three presentations from its 2023 Convention. In the first, Professor Simon Watts, G3XXH gives a fascinating presentation about VHF airborne radar and the design and performance of these early systems in World War II. The other two presentations focus on the World Radiosport Team Championship which the UK will be hosting in 2026. The WRTC is held every four years and is considered to be the Olympic Games of radio contesting. At the RSGB Convention, WRTC Chair Mark Haynes, M0DXR gave an overview of what is being planned and how people can get involved either as a spectator, volunteer, competitor or referee. John Warburton, G4IRN gave his perspective on what it is like to be a WRTC referee. The full WRTC planning team also gave an update recently on an RSGB Tonight@8 live webinar. You can see all of these presentations on the RSGB YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB RadCom Basics aims to help newcomers to amateur radio develop their knowledge and experience. Others enjoy reading it as it helps remind them of things they have forgotten or practise a skill they have not used for a while. The January 2024 issue of RadCom Basics is now available. It contains articles that provide advice on getting started with Bunkers on the Air, working on the 160 and 80m bands, constructing a multi-band vertical antenna, and more. You can find RadCom Basics at rsgb.org/radcom-basics The latest issue of RadCom Plus, the online magazine for the more technically-minded radio amateur, was published this week. The first article, by Tom Alldread, VA7TA, is about how to make a protection filter for an SDR or VNA. Following this is a contribution from Sheldon Hutchison, N6JJA who discusses how to make an effective antenna noise canceller. You may recall the article by Andy, G0FVI in October's RadCom which discussed the principles of antenna noise cancellation. Sheldon investigates exactly how the canceller should work, and his investigations have resulted in his superior design which you can construct for yourself. The third article, by Michael Toia, K3MT, is all about understanding the relationship between a train of square pulses and the harmonic content of its frequency spectrum, not with complicated mathematics, but by using an entirely diagrammatic approach. Those less familiar with mathematics might especially find this article helpful. This issue of RadCom Plus ends with Andy Nehan, G4HUE discussing the design of analogue power supplies. Members of the RSGB can access RadCom Plus via rsgb.org/radcom-plus  And now for details of rallies and events The Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally is taking place today, the 28th, at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors are open from 9 am and admission is £2. Ample free car parking and hot refreshments are 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 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 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 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. Listen out for special event station TM21AAW which will be on the air from the 4th to the 18th of February 2024. The station is active to celebrate the 21st Antarctic Activity Week. Activity will be on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via F8DVD, directly or via the Bureau. For more information about Antarctic Activity Week, visit waponline.it    Now the DX news Mathias, DL4MM will be active as P4/DL4MM and P40AA from Aruba, SA-036, until Wednesday the 31st of January. He will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the 160 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, or via DL4MM. Elvira, IV3FSG is active as ZD7Z from St. Helena, AF-022, until the 4th of February. She is operating SSB, CW, RTTY, FT8 and FT4 on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. Paper cards can be sent directly to IK2DUW  Now the contest news The CQ 160m DX Contest started at 2200UTC on Friday the 26th and ends at 2200UTC today, 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 started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 27th and ends at 1200UTC today, the 28th. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number. On Wednesday the 31st, 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 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. On Sunday the 4th of February, the 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, 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 January 2024 We dodged a bullet last week when a coronal mass ejection, or CME, was predicted to be heading our way. In the end, it came to nothing. The CME observed on the 20th of January was expected to pass Earth and deliver possible G2 storm conditions. But a solar wind enhancement, possibly associated with the plasma cloud passing near Earth, saw the Kp index rise to only 3.67 on Wednesday the 24th. The many solar flares, and associated coronal mass ejections, over the past few days make it difficult to give a reliable geomagnetic forecast. Over the past seven days, there have been more than 60 C-class and 18 M-class flares, typical for this point in the solar cycle. Sunspot-wise, the solar flux index has remained high, being more than 170 all week. Critical frequencies have often exceeded 11MHz during daylight hours, which means the 30m band, as well as the 40m band, should be open around the UK. However, nighttime critical frequencies have fallen below 4MHz, meaning that even the 80m band struggles at times. We mentioned last week that the NCDXF beacon VK6RBP in Australia had been heard on 28.200MHz. If you've copied VK6RBP you might be interested in trying for some other lower-power Australian beacons on the 10m band. Try listening for the 8W VK4LA/B on 28.206MHz in Brisbane, or perhaps the 10W VK4RST, which is 550km north-west of Brisbane, on 28.266MHz. Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the range of 155 to 175. Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be quiet, other than on the 29th of January when the Kp index is predicted to rise to three. But, as always, keep an eye on solarham.net for a near real-time report. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO Today, the 28th, sees the UK recovering from the two named storms and just getting settled into moving high pressure across northern France, with a second centre crossing central Britain early next week. This offers a chance of Tropo, especially in the south, while fronts continue to affect Scotland. After the middle of the coming week, a more unsettled pattern returns with fronts crossing the country, which might bring some rain scatter for the GHz bands. But, in general, the picture remains unsettled into the end of the week and doesn't look too exciting for the 432MHz Affiliated Societies Contest on Sunday the 4th of February. Other propagation modes that are worth considering are all relatively low-key in the transition into February. This means that meteor scatter is best looked for in the early pre-dawn period when random meteor activity peaks. The other chance might be aurora, and this is simply about checking the behaviour of the Kp index, which measures the disturbance of the earth's magnetic field by solar activity. Kp indices higher than six are a good sign for aurora.  It looks like we are in a quiet period for Sporadic-E propagation. For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and falling, going negative again on the 30th. Path losses reach their maximum at apogee on Monday the 29th, then start to fall again. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. 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 14th of January 2024 The news headlines: RSGB releases new video about changes to amateur radio licensing WRTC 2026 team to appear in an RSGB Tonight@8 webinar Paul Athersmith, M0PLA achieves Mountain Goat award   Following Ofcom's consultation on the amateur radio licence last year, it released a statement in December 2023. The statement outlined its decision to update the amateur radio licensing framework to ensure the policies and licences meet the needs of today's and tomorrow's radio amateurs while streamlining the licensing process. It also published a General Notice, giving notice of its proposal to vary all amateur radio licences. The RSGB has just released a video in which RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB chats to RSGB Spectrum Forum Chair Murray Niman, G6JYB. Murray recaps some of the headline results of the Ofcom consultation, including where changes have occurred to Ofcom's proposals. They also talk about what this could mean for radio amateurs in the future. This is a great example of how the RSGB is working not only to defend the spectrum but also to support all radio amateurs to understand and make use of the privileges they enjoy through their amateur radio licence. You can watch this video on the RSGB's YouTube channel or via the Society's licence review updates page at rsgb.org/licencereview On Monday the 15th of January, join the RSGB's first Tonight@8 live webinar of 2024. Led by Chairman and Project Manager Mark Haynes, M0DXR, the WRTC 2026 team will be presenting and answering questions live on the RSGB YouTube channel and BATC channel. The presentation will explain what WRTC is about and provide an overview of what the UK's Organising Committee is planning for the 2026 event. Find out how you can be part of this once-in-a-lifetime event, either as a spectator, volunteer, competitor or referee. Following Mark's presentation at the RSGB 2023 Convention, this Tonight@8 webinar will bring you up to date with everything that has been happening since. To find out more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars Paul Athersmith, M0PLA of Telford, Shropshire, has achieved the coveted Mountain Goat award for gaining 1,000 activator points in the Summits on the Air scheme. Paul completed his mission on the summit of Pole Bank, on the Long Mynd in Shropshire. The feat took Paul just over seven years, following his debut activation in December 2016. For more information about SOTA, visit sota.org.uk  The deadline for nominations in the RSGB elections is Wednesday the 31st of January. You still have time to stand for the one Elected Board Director vacancy or for one of the eight Regional Representative vacancies. Do you want to support your local radio amateurs? Are you passionate about seeing the amateur radio community grow and attract new people of all ages? Do you understand the RSGB's importance in helping to protect the spectrum and the licence privileges all radio amateurs enjoy? If so, this is the time to step forward! If you don't feel you can volunteer at this time, do you know someone who would be great in one of these roles? Go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election to find out how to get involved before the nomination period closes. RSGB National Radio Centre Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB is a name many will know from visits to the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park. Others will know him from contacts they may have made with him on the radio over the many years that Martyn has been an amateur radio licensee. You can learn more about Martyn, and his love for the hobby, in "The Face Behind the Call" in January's Practical Wireless magazine. Journalist Roger Dowling, G3NKH discovers how Martyn came into the hobby and takes a look at his extensive shack. They also talk about volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre and the impressive equipment that makes up the GB3RS station. Read more at rsgb.org/nrc The deadline for submissions to the RSGB Construction Competition is the 1st of March 2024. To enable members across the country, and even the world, to take part, entries will again be judged over the internet rather than in person. This year two new categories have been introduced so there are six categories you can enter: Antennas; Beginners; Most creative and/or elegant PCB Design; Construction Excellence; Innovation; and Software and Systems. 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 given the Pat Hawker G3VA Award. You can watch an RSGB Tonight@8 presentation featuring winners from previous years, and find out how to enter this year, on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/construction-competition 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 The World Wide Award 2024 has been running since the 1st of January and will finish on the 31st of January. The event is being held in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Guglielmo Marconi. The World Wide Award combines CW, SSB and digital mode activity from special event stations around the world. Real-time award tracking for chasers is available at hamaward.cloud/wwa VI100MB is the special callsign for the Manly-Warringah Radio Society, VK2MB to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its formation. The station will be active until the 25th of February 2024. QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL.   Now the DX news Pierre-Jean, F4GPK will be active as TO2FY from French Guiana until the 16th of January. He will operate SSB only from the facilities at the local radio club, FY5KE. QSL via eQSL, or direct to his home call. He does not use Logbook of the World or Club Log. Yannick, F6FYD will be active as CN2YD from Marrakech, Morocco until the 15th of March 2024. He plans to operate as CN2YD/P from IOTA group AF-065 sometime during his stay. QSL via F6FYD. Now the contest news Today, the 14th, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m Data modes Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 16th, 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 18th, the 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 20th, the Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m SSB Contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using SSB only on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and 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 11th of January 2024 We couldn't have asked for better solar conditions last week. We had a low Kp index that never got any higher than 2.67, and a solar flux index that started the week at 167 and then rose to 186 by Wednesday. So, at first glance, this looks like ideal conditions for HF. However, we are in the middle of winter and therefore the ionosphere is not at its best. The low bands are also being affected by the higher solar flux and, on the whole, the 14MHz band and above are closing as the night draws in. Daytime critical frequencies remain around 9 to 10MHz, so the 40m band should remain useful for inter-UK work. Nighttime critical frequencies are currently falling to 3.5 to 4.5MHz, which means the 40m band is only open to long skip, if at all.   The critical frequency is the highest that still returns a signal from the ionosphere if sent straight up, and is a good guide as to which bands are open to near vertical incidence skywave or NVIS signals around the UK. On the brighter side, 14MHz has been showing signs of DX. The VK6RBP beacon has been heard on 14.100MHz in the afternoon via the short path and 28.200MHz in the morning via the long path. The 12m band has shown international beacons RR90 in Siberia, OH2B in Finland, LU4AA in Argentina and YV5B in Venezuela, on 24.930MHz in the morning. While the 10m band also highlighted YV5B in Venezuela during mid-morning. Not a massive catch, but better than we were getting two years ago! For the coming week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may fall into the range of 150 to 165. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to remain settled with a maximum Kp index of 2. As always, this could easily change if we have a coronal mass ejection, so keep an eye on solarham.net for near real-time solar conditions.   And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The area of high pressure has been working well for some parts of the country, with Tropo conditions lasting into the start of this weekend, but as a cold front moves South on Saturday the 13th, all will change as the high becomes displaced to the Atlantic. Therefore, there is no significant Tropo for the coming week, but there may be some rain scatter from showers, especially around the coasts. We seem to have passed the period of unusual winter Sporadic-E propagation without much evidence of activity so that just leaves meteor scatter. After the Quadrantids last week, we entered a period of low meteor shower activity, leaving just random meteors until the next major shower, the Lyrids in April. For random meteor scatter, the pre-dawn period works best. The solar conditions can still be instrumental in producing extra propagation treats with chance aurora. Probably the best operating policy is to monitor the geomagnetic Kp-index with high values greater than 6 being a good sign for VHF. For EME operators, this week starts with very low Moon declination, low peak Moon elevation and short Moon windows, but declination is rising and goes positive again on Tuesday. Path losses are still low and reached minimum at perigee on Saturday the 13th. 144MHz sky noise is low for all of the 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 December 2023 The news headlines: Examinations and Syllabus Review Group to update syllabus The RSGB election process is underway Volunteer Youth Country Representatives sought   Season's greetings to all our listeners! Today's GB2RS news script will be the final one of 2023. Today's news reading is optional, as the RSGB appreciates that not all newsreaders will be available, but the script will be on the RGSB website so all can see it. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the newsreaders, who read the news on a variety of platforms, for their service to their fellow amateurs throughout the year. We'd also like to remind amateurs that there has been a long-standing convention to listen for news broadcasts on Sundays before transmitting, to allow news reading to go ahead without interference. Thank you to all those who listen on Sunday mornings, and the other times that the news is read, to those who call in afterwards to speak to the newsreaders, and to everyone who listens via various platforms. Please note, there will be no script prepared for broadcast on Sunday the 31st of December 2023 due to RSGB HQ being closed from 4.30 pm on Friday the 22nd of December until 8.30 am on Tuesday the 2nd of January 2024. Newsreaders may, of course, choose to run a net at their normal transmission time, but under their own callsign only. Following its consultation on proposed changes to the amateur radio licence, Ofcom has recently published the “General notice of proposal to vary amateur radio licences”. The timescale for putting the licence changes into effect means that the Examinations and Syllabus Review Group has been working on the revised syllabus, version 1.6, in parallel with the Ofcom consultation. To read the full explanation, and see the draft sections, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/training and choose the ‘Trainer Information' link in the righthand menu. The RSGB election process is underway and the closing date for RSGB Nominated Directors is Wednesday the 3rd of January. In being a Director, you are responsible for taking strategic decisions that steer the direction of the Society and provide leadership and motivation to implement its strategy. If you have the right skills and attributes that you think can help the Society develop for the future, then please get in touch. Contact the Nominations Committee Chair, Bob Beebe, GU4YOX via nomimations.chair@rsgb.org.uk   On the RSGB website there is information about the Elected Director and Regional Representative roles available and the process for standing for those roles. You can also read an important statement from Don Beattie G3BJ, former RSGB President and IARU Region 1 Past-President, in which he outlines what he thinks are the necessary skills for Board Directors and encourages people to play their part in the future of the Society. Go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/election to find out more. A reminder now that the RSGB is looking for four licensed radio amateurs to help raise the profile of wireless communication amongst young people. Initially, we're looking for RSGB members based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to engage young people in the hobby. 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. For full details of these roles, see rsgb.org/volunteers and for an informal discussion, please email RSGB Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML at: gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk If you live in Region 11 you could support your local amateur radio community by becoming an RSGB District Representative. DR111 covers Cornwall and the Scillies, whilst DR114 focuses on Dorset. If you would like to find out more, please contact the Region 11 Regional Representative, Andrew Jenner, G7KNA. There are also District Representative vacancies in Region 3 and Region 10 – find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers Two more RSGB Convention presentations will be published on YouTube over the Christmas holidays. In the first, Nobby Styles, G0VJG describes the challenging and hazardous DXpedition to Europe's rarest IOTA location, Rockall Island. The second presentation, by David Lauder, G0SNO, outlines the RSGB EMC Committee investigations into sources of RF electrical interference from recent developments in electronic equipment, including electric vehicle charging. Subscribe to the RSGB YouTube channel to be notified when these presentations are available and get ready for some great Christmas viewing! Go to youtube.com/theRSGB to subscribe. Youngsters on the Air month is nearly at a close. The month has been filled with some brilliant activity from young people using the special callsign GB23YOTA. Thank you to everyone who has been involved, from those who have been supervising young amateurs, to those making contact on the air. There is more GB23YOTA activity planned before the end of the year, so please continue to listen out and get involved. On Friday the 29th of December, M0YTE will be supervising 2E0YOG between 12 pm and 6 pm. Following this, on Saturday the 30th of December, Hilderstone Radio Society will be back operating the special callsign between 12 pm and 6 pm. If you have been involved with Youngsters on the Air month and have photos and a short report that you'd like to share, there will be a special feature in the March issue of RadCom. Email radcom@rsgb.org.uk by the 21st of January.   And now for details of rallies and events The Sparkford Wireless Group Tabletop Rally, in aid of the RAIBC, will take place on Thursday the 28th of December from 9.30 am to 1 pm. The event will be held at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel near Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Entry is £3 and free parking and refreshments will be available. For more information, email Bob via wjh069@gmail.com 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-in from 1 pm. Contact Steve, M5ZZZ for tables and details via m5zzz@outlook.com or 07777 699 069. Now the Special Event News Once again, Santa Radio, OF9X will be active until the 31st of December on all amateur radio bands using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, or via OH2BH. The activity is organised by the Radio Club of Pusula, OH9W and Radio Arcala, OH8X.  Listen out for members of Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society who are celebrating the festive period with a series of special callsigns including GB0HNY. For more information visit QRZ.com Look for special callsign PC100II which is active throughout December to celebrate the centenary of the third two-way contact between Europe and America conducted by Henk Jesse, PCII in the Netherlands, and 2AGB in the USA during the night of the 26th and 27th of December 1923. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, or via PA1AW. Now the DX news Moise, F4EZG is active as 5R8VE from the main island of Madagascar, AF-013, until the 3rd of January 2024. He is operating using SSB and FT8 on the 20 to 10m bands. QSL via F4EZG, Logbook of the World and eQSL. Now the contest news On Tuesday the 26th, the 50MHz Christmas Contest will take place between 1400 and 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 26th, the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club Christmas Contest runs from 0830 to 1100 UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also send their district or non-member code. It's not a contest but the Worked All Britain Christmas Party runs from Tuesday the 26th of December to Saturday the 6th of January. Using all bands and modes, the exchange is your Worked All Britain book number. On Wednesday the 27th, the 70MHz Christmas Contest will take place between 1400 and 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 28th, the 144MHz Christmas Contest will take place between 1400 and 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Friday the 29th, the 432MHz Christmas Contest will take place between 1400 and 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 21st of December 2023 We filed last week's GB2RS propagation report and, shortly after, we had the biggest X-ray solar flare event this cycle! This just shows how hard it is to predict solar activity and why long-term HF predictions are problematic. Anyway, back to the solar flare which occurred at 1702UTC on the 14th of December. This was an X2.8 event that was also responsible for a coronal mass ejection. Luckily, the Sun had already set in the UK but if you were working the USA, Caribbean or South America on HF, you may have found the path suddenly disrupted. If that did happen to you, please let us know. The full halo coronal mass ejection, or CME, that followed headed mostly to the west, although a glancing blow was predicted to hit us on the 15th or 16th of December. It eventually hit late on the 17th of December, pushing the Kp index to six on the morning of the 18th of December. HF conditions remained fairly unsettled after that. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 140 to 150 range again and that the Kp index will be no more than two. However, that geomagnetic prediction may be wishful thinking. There are a lot of sunspots at the moment and active region 3529 may be a strong candidate for flare and CME action over the coming week. So, our message is: work the DX when you can and don't ignore the lower bands, such as 40, 80 and 160 metres, which may offer some good DX at night in the middle of winter. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The weather pattern over the Christmas period is set up as a teaser between very mild, and cold enough for some wintry weather. However, it probably won't be cold enough – except in the north – to get too excited before the 25th. To set the scene and give you a chance to ‘roll your own forecasts' in view of the long lead time for this forecast, the atmosphere is part way through its normal transition from summer-time Atlantic jet streams over Iceland to winter jet streams over the Mediterranean.  We are currently in the middle, and this puts the main jet stream path across the British Isles. It will produce alternating periods of mild and cold weather – very difficult to pin down even a few days ahead, let alone into the New Year! What we can get from this, in terms of propagation, is a good chance of the meandering jet stream being able to invoke a mid-winter Sporadic-E event for some of us. However, the times are less predictable than in the summer, so just keep a listen out on the 10m and 6m bands for activity, it would be a shame to miss any. Tropo has done well over the last weekend, so a large high to the south of the UK, over the continent, is worth looking out for especially paths south to Iberia or east to the Baltic. Lastly, look out for the lesser modes of scatter from rain or meteors, which will continue to be a random option, as well as the potential for aurora. For EME operators, Moon declination is positive and rising, reaching a maximum on Boxing Day. Path losses are rising to a maximum on New Year's Day. 144MHz sky noise is moderate all week. Finally, a big thank you from the propagation team for the 'fine business' effort you all put into getting on the bands to explore and report these exciting propagation modes… Merry Christmas! And that's all from the propagation team this week.

In 2022, an estimated 100 million people were displaced, and more than 40 million of those were children. Many of these children were displaced for at least five years, often much longer, and most are hosted in low- and middle-income countries, where social protection systems often face many restrictions. In this episode, we discuss how some countries are taking steps towards extending social protection to displaced children and their families, while slowly building systems for host populations. We examine the consequences of displacement for host countries and host communities, the factors leading to children's exclusion in these countries, and some examples of programmes taking an integrated approach. At the end of this episode, in lieu of our usual Quick Wins segment, we're featuring a special update on how cash and voucher assistance is being implemented in the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Meet our guests: Christina Lowe, Research Associate at ODI Nupur Kukreti, Policy Specialist, and lead on social protection in humanitarian and fragile contexts, UNICEF Rana Nassar, Regional Representative in the CALP network in the Middle East and North Africa. Resources: Publication | Strengthening inclusive social protection systems for displaced children and their families. Publication | A promise of tomorrow: the effects of UNHCR and UNICEF cash assistance on Syrian refugees in Jordan. Publication | Improving social protection for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt: an overview of international practices. We have launched the Social Protection Digest, a quarterly compilation that brings together practitioner guides, evidence-based studies, and policy and conceptual discussions on a wide range of topics. Carefully hand-picked by our team at socialprotection.org The digest serves as an essential resource for you to keep up with what's new in social protection. After you have read the Social Protection Digest, let us know what you think by taking our three-minute survey.

GB2RS News Sunday the 23rd of July 2023 The news headlines: Tonight@8 events on Ofcom consultation RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB Region 3 District Representatives   The RSGB is holding two special Tonight@8 events focused on the Ofcom amateur radio consultation. On Monday the 31st of July it 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. We encourage radio amateurs to be part of these events. Questions can be submitted on the night via the 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 include your name and callsign as well as your question. Send questions to comms@rsgb.org.uk or for further information about the Consultation, the events and the panellists go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/licencereview The RSGB's 2023 Convention will be held from the 13th to the 15th of October at Kents Hill Park Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. The Convention packs in a full weekend of the very best amateur radio lectures from around the world. With lecture streams, forums, special interest groups, presentations and all the usual activities, there is something for everyone. Join hundreds of others for what is also one of the best social events in amateur radio. Bookings are open now and you can take advantage of early bird pricing until the end of August. You'll find the booking link and more information on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/convention The RSGB is looking for members in Region 3, the North-West of England, to step forward as volunteer District Representatives. If you'd like to make a difference to other radio amateurs in this area, provide advice and support, represent the RSGB and its Members, and also attend local rallies, please email Region 3 Regional Representative, Martyn Bell, M0TEB at: rr3@rsgb.org.uk The RSGB's Examinations and Syllabus Review Group, or ESRG, has provided an additional set of four mock exam papers. These cover Foundation, Intermediate, Full and Direct to Full exams. You can find the papers on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/mock-exams 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 now open. To sign up, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group's website nharg.org.uk and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2023' link. 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 Finningley Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place today, the 23rd, at the Society's HQ at Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster, DN8 5SX. The doors are open from 10 am and a food bar is available. For more information and directions 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 £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 Special callsign DL0SOP is active until the 31st of July for the 65th edition of the Sea of Peace Award. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World, eQSL or direct to DL4SVA. For more information about the award visit dl0sop.darc.de VX7NA is the special callsign in use by the Nanaimo Amateur Radio Association, until tomorrow 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 The IP1X team will be active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, on the 29th and 30th of July. They will operate CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands and will be active for 24 hours during the IOTA Contest. QSL via IU1JCZ, direct or via the bureau. For more details and updates check QRZ.com MD1U will be active during the IOTA Contest on the 29th and 30th of July during 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 Roland, F8EN is again active as TR8CR from Gabon until the 12th of August. He operates CW only. QSL via F6AJA, direct or via the bureau. 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. Didier, F6BCW is active as FO/F6BCW from Huahine Island, OC-067, in 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 On Tuesday the 25th of July, 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. Thursday the 27th of July sees the data leg of the 80m Club Championships run from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Next weekend is the RSGB IOTA, or Islands On The Air, Contest. It runs from 1200UTC on the 29th to 1200UTC on 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. Please note that the Worked All Britain 144MHz Low Power Contest which was due to be held on Saturday the 29th of July has been moved to Saturday the 5th of August. A further announcement is expected next week. Next Sunday, 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. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 20th of July 2023 The Sun continues to be peppered with spots with a solar flux index of 189 on Thursday the 20th. However, sunspots can bring solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections, or CMEs, which can be detrimental to good HF conditions. We have been relatively lucky over the last week as the flares have mostly been minor C-class and a few M-class events. There have been no X-class flares, so ionospheric disturbances have been minor. A large CME observed from active region 3363 is expected to mostly miss our planet. But the edge of the plasma cloud was still forecast to deliver a glancing blow to our geomagnetic field on Thursday the 20th of July. A Polar Cap Absorption, or PCA, event was also in progress from the morning of Monday the 17th of July. This was caused by the proton flux rapidly increasing and affecting HF paths over the poles. The proton flux is gradually decreasing but may still have a detrimental effect for a while yet. Region 3363, which was massive, has now disappeared behind the southwest limb and will no longer be a threat. That is, at least until its return in about two weeks' time. It will be interesting to see how big it is on its return. Other than the Kp index hitting 4.67 on the 16th and 17th, geomagnetic conditions have been quiet with the Kp index at one or two over the past few days, which means HF conditions have been quite good. Daytime MUFs over a 3,000km path have been consistently above 18MHz and often above 21MHz at times. Nighttime MUFs over the same path have been higher than 14MHz, and often 18MHz, at least during the first part of the night. This means that if you hear signals on 24 or 28MHz the likelihood is that they are due to Sporadic-E propagation. Next week NOAA predicts that the Solar Flux Index will remain at about 160 to 170. It is also predicting a Kp index of two all week. If that happens, we can probably expect good HF conditions for this time of year. However, with this many sunspots, there is always the strong risk of solar flares and CMEs. So, keep an eye on solarham.net for real-time conditions. And now the VHF and up propagation news The continuing spell of unsettled weather will stay with us for the coming week, so any signs of Tropo will be very limited indeed. This means that rain scatter will once again be a predominant propagation mode for those equipped on the GHz bands to use it. Higher temperatures in summer mean strong convective cells, like thunderstorms, and better reflectivity from the larger raindrops, which can be held aloft by the stronger updrafts in the storm clouds. The reflectivity depends upon the 6th power of the diameter of the raindrop and the number of drops in the beam, so even a small increase in drop size gives a big increase in reflectivity. Sporadic-E remains in play for a good while yet, so stay alert to cluster reports and, in particular, 10m and 6m beacons. If time is limited, check 1600 to 1700UTC to gain maximum benefit. The usual other modes are still possibilities, of course. Starting with Aurora, in view of the recently disturbed solar conditions, you should monitor the Kp index for large values above say Kp=5.  Secondly, the Perseids meteor shower will peak between the 12th and 13th of August, but evidence of meteor material from the Perseids is already appearing. Officially, the shower starts to appear from around the 17th of July. The 50MHz and 144MHz bands have already produced some very short-lived bursts of FT8 signals that may be due to meteors.  The Delta Aquariids may also be responsible for these very sporadic bursts. As we move towards the Perseids peak you should expect an increasing number of bursts. As the Moon begins its monthly descent towards minimum declination on the 29th, path loss will decrease. However, the Moon will be close to Sagittarius A on the 28th, leading to very high noise. This will be prevalent on the lower VHF bands. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

From the Chilcotin First Nation in Williams Lake B.C., meet Red Seal Machinist and Machinist Instructor at BCIT, Chelsea Barron. Also a Regional Representative with BCCWITT, Chelsea is a mentor and advocate for all women, indigenous peoples, and other minorities in the skilled trades. 

GB2RS News Sunday the 4th of June 2023 The news headlines: Volunteers' Week New edition of RadCom Basics RSGB Emerging Technology Co-ordinating Committee   The RSGB is in the middle of celebrating Volunteers' Week which runs from the 1st to the 7th of June. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Society and the RSGB wants to thank everyone who gives their time and expertise to support it, and amateur radio, across such a wide range of roles. Head over to the special web page at rsgb.org/volunteers-week to hear from just some of the RSGB's volunteers, keep an eye on the RSGB's social media channels and look out for the special feature in the July issue of RadCom. The new edition of RSGB's RadCom Basics is out now. It includes articles about using FT8 and the Reverse Beacons to gauge HF propagation; repairing circuit board tracks; a compact 160m vertical; basic fault-finding; and the doublet antenna. If you're an RSGB member go to the website at rsgb.org/radcom-basics to read this issue. If you'd like to receive an email as soon as the latest RadCom Basics is available, log in to the RSGB Membership Services portal and go to the Manage Preferences section. The Society is looking for a volunteer to join the RSGB Emerging Technology Co-ordinating Committee, or ETCC, to act as Regional Representative for the Central England region. The function of the ETCC is to assist radio amateurs seeking an NoV to operate repeaters, gateways or beacons within the UK. The successful applicant will have broad experience of radio system engineering, analogue and digital modes, local topography and propagation theory. If you're interested in this role, email ETCC Chair Andrew Barrett, G8DOR by the 9th of July via etcc.chairman@rsgb.org.uk  The RSGB National Radio Centre welcomes thousands of people through its doors each month and needs to expand its team of volunteers. If you are interested in becoming an NRC volunteer, you should enjoy meeting people and be prepared to work a minimum of one – preferably two – days per month. The team is particularly interested in recruiting new volunteers who are able to work at the weekend. 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. For more information about volunteering, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk Don't forget to join the RSGB's live Tonight@8 webinar this Monday, the 5th of June, when Mike Richards, G4WNC will be giving a live 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. 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 The Worked All Britain group will be holding its AGM on Sunday the 11th of June at 12 pm. 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 Spalding Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 4th of June. The venue is 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. The entrance fee 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 Special callsign DR100XRAY is active until the 30th of June. The station is operating to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of physicist Wilhelm C Roentgen. His discovery of X-rays in 1895 earned him the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 and revolutionised diagnostic medicine. QSL via the bureau or directly to DJ6SI. Ninety-five years ago, on the 25th of May 1928, the airship 'Italia' crashed on the ice on its way back from the North Pole. A small tent dyed red for maximum visibility was the only shelter for the survivors. Commemorating the role of radio, and amateur radio, in rescuing the survivors, special callsign II1ITR will be active on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands using SSB and CW until the 12th of July. QSL via IZ1ETD. See QRZ.com for more information.   Now the DX news John, W5JON will be active as V47JA from Saint Kitts, NA-104, until Wednesday the 7th of June. He will operate SSB and FT8 on the HF and 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, or directly to W5JON. Lars, SM6CUK will be active from Ven Island, EU-137, until Sunday the 11th of June 2023 as SA6G/7. He will operate on the 40 to 10m bands using CW. QSL via his home call, Logbook of the World and ClubLog's OQRS. T88PB will be active again from Koror Island, OC-009, until Monday the 19th of June. He will operate on the HF Bands. QSL via JA0JHQ directly.   Now the contest news The ARRL International Digital Contest ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 4th. Using Digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands, the exchange is your four-character locator. National Field Day ends at 1500UTC today, Sunday the 4th. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Today, the 4th, 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. Today, the 4th, the UK Six Metre Group Summer Contest ends at 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and member number. On Monday the 5th of June, the 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 6th of June, the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report serial number. On Tuesday the 6th of June, 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. and locator. On Wednesday the 7th of June, 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 four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 7th of June, 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. On Thursday the 8th of June, 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 11th of June, the 2nd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The IARU ATV Contest starts on Saturday the 10th of June at 1200UTC and ends on Sunday the 11th of June at 1800UTC. Using TV on 432MHz and up frequencies, the exchange is a serial number, four-digit code and locator. On Sunday the 11th of June, the Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest runs from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using a phone mode and a maximum of 5W 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 1st of June 2023 We had a relatively calm period last week with the Kp index remaining below three and plenty of sunspots. Although we started the week with the Solar Flux Index in the low 150s, it quickly picked up to reach 161 by Thursday. As a result, there was DX to be had, although most of the attention was on 6m where some outstanding multi-hop DX contacts were being made. But back on HF and people have been chasing T31TT on the Central Kiribati Islands. Some have made it, but it's a difficult path. Closer to home, Nobby Styles, G0VJG and Emil, DL8JJ have been active on Rockall, which is IOTA EU-189, using the callsign MM0UKI. Rockall is an uninhabitable granite islet situated in the North Atlantic. The nearest permanently inhabited place is North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, 200 nautical miles to the east. They have been worked from the UK mainland on 30m and 20m and heard in the east of England on 15m, possibly via Sporadic-E. They may have been a little too close to northern areas for 20m as you may have been inside their skip zone. One of their aims is to raise as much as possible for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and ABF, The Soldiers' Charity, so please support them if you can. This weekend we may have unsettled geomagnetic conditions partly due to an Earth-facing coronal hole with the Kp index peaking at five. But after the weekend things may settle with a maximum Kp index of two. The solar flux index is predicted to be around 150, declining to 130 as the week goes on, so HF conditions may be down a little on last week.   And now the VHF and up propagation news The weather pattern seems stuck in its typical late spring/early summer state with cold north-easterly winds in eastern areas. There are good prospects for western Britain to shine but leaving eastern areas struggling. The root cause is a large area of high pressure that is over northern Britain, and currently trying to transfer to the east, which could improve things. Either way, it does mean that Tropo was doing a lot of the propagation work last week and will do so for much of next week too. As the high edges east, or splits into one to the west and one to the east of the UK, it could leave room for isolated thundery showers to encroach into southern and southwestern areas and give a chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands. The main mode of interest will probably be Sporadic-E and there have been a few examples in the last week, both single-hop within Europe and multi-hop paths to the States, the Far East and Australia. The first week of June is typically a prime period for Sporadic-E and although the jet stream position suggests mainly paths northeast to Scandinavia and Baltic regions will be best, other multi-hop options farther afield are worth exploring too. Monitor the clusters and band maps to see where the activity is happening. If you hear this in time, you might want to check out the 24-hour UK Six Metre Group Summer Sporadic-E contest which ends at 1300UTC today, the 4th. There should be plenty of activity. Other modes may also pop into view, such as aurora and meteor scatter, so we may be spoilt for choice. Moon declination is negative all week and still falling until Tuesday. We are past apogee so path losses will fall as the week goes on. So we will also have short Moon windows with falling path losses until perigee late Tuesday. 144MHz sky noise is high, reaching a peak of 2700K on Monday and only going below 300K by Friday. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

This week Brandy welcomes Laura Cameron, a heavy-duty mechanic apprentice at Valley Carriers who has also done 10 years as a welder and fabricator! Laura's career has been diverse in industries such as oil &gas, underground mining, agriculture, alcohol, and more. She's a Regional Representative for BCCWITT, a mentor for CWB Women of Steel, and the Recruitment and Outreach Coordinator for Tools To Empower. She is a mom, dog owner and is learning to ride a unicycle! 

Teaching in the Electrical Apprenticeship Program at BCIT for ten years, Anna Lary is an electrician, an instructor and an agent of change! With a Provincial Instructor Diploma and a Master of Education specializing in Curriculum and Instruction, Anna's also the Regional Representative for the British Columbia Centre for Women in Trades and Technology!

Don't miss this week's Joshua Nations Inheritance Podcast with our guest speaker, Tom Brazell. Tom Brazell has served as a church planter and pastor of congregations in New York, Maryland, Georgia, and New Jersey. In his 45 years of ministry with the Elim Fellowship network, he has been a pastor to pastors, serving as an Area Representative in the Maryland and New Jersey Region, and later as a Regional Representative in the Mid-Atlantic Region. He, his wife, Judy, and family, also served as missionaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo (known then as Zaire.) Tom was the International Ministry Director for Elim Fellowship for a total of 18 years. As such, he has traveled extensively to many nations representing Elim Fellowship. Tom has been an Elder of Elim Fellowship since 1994. He retired as the International Ministries Director in 2018, and now he and his wife travel to encourage pastors and leaders in ministry. Tom and Judy will celebrate 50 years of marriage later this year!

GB2RS News Sunday the 8th of January 2023 The news headlines: Marconi international amateur radio award 2023 Tonight@8 series Direct to Full exams 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 10am sharp on Thursday mornings. The GB2RS script is uploaded to the RSGB website by 4.30pm each Friday afternoon. “Marconi Was Here!” is an international amateur radio award organised by ARI Fidenza Radio Club. The main objective of the award is to commemorate historically some of the most important and significant Italian cities where Marconi performed scientific experiments in radio engineering, long distance communications, radio direction-finding and others; experiments that, in the following periods, revealed themselves to be crucial for technical and scientific advancement and the progress of wireless communications. The award period lasts the whole of the 2023 year. Each month is dedicated to a specific Italian city connected to the story of Guglielmo Marconi and is paired to a different special callsign. Further details, special callsigns and award rules can be found at  www.arifidenza.it The RSGB's Spring 2023 series of Tonight@8 webinars kicks off this Monday the 9th of January when Ben Lloyd, GW4BML will be talking about Portable Operating. As well as explaining briefly the definition and benefits of portable operating, Ben will also share a little about his amateur radio adventures. These focus mainly on SOTA, working DX and contesting, but all by operating portable. Ben will run through everything that is packed away in his rucksack to enable successful activation. You can watch and ask questions live on our YouTube channel or special BATC channel. Further information about this and other webinars can be found on the Society's website at rsgb.org/webinars Following the introduction of the Direct to Full syllabus in July, bookings for the Direct to Full exam will begin this week. You can only take the exam online but you can book as an individual or through your club via the RSGB website. The first exam slot will be on Saturday the 21st of January and the exam will last for two-and-a-half hours. The bookings page will be updated with the Direct to Full information on Wednesday the 11th of January. Go to rsgb.org/exampay to make a booking. Are you keen to see amateur radio thrive? Do you have the time and enthusiasm to support other radio amateurs and to help shape the RSGB of the future? If so, you still have the opportunity to be nominated in the RSGB elections. This year there are nine roles to be filled and the results will be announced at the Society's AGM in April 2023. An explanation of how to apply for the various roles, as well as the candidate packs and forms for President, Elected Board Director and Regional Representative, are all on the Society's website. The deadline for the Nominated Board Director role has now passed but the closing date for other roles is the 31st of January 2023. Find out more at rsgb.org/election The RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park will be closed for one day on the 10th of January 2023 to allow electrical maintenance work to be undertaken. When booking a visit on any other day, remember that RSGB members can download a free entry voucher to Bletchley Park from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bpvoucher 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 we will pay authors for any content we use. At the moment, the team is particularly interested in hearing from people who enjoy writing about antennas. To contact the RadCom team please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk There is still time to apply for the volunteer roles of RSGB Lecture Chair and RSGB Social Diversity Officer. You can find out more about both of these important roles on the Society's website at rsgb.org/volunteers The RSGB was sad to learn that Peter Bruce, GM0CXQ recently became a silent key. Peter was very active as a Radio Amateur in Shetland both as a Zetland Amateur Radio Club member, exams officer and as a District Representative for the RSGB. Our thoughts are with his family and many friends. And now for details of rallies and events The Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally will be held on Sunday the 29th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. Doors open at 9.30am and entry is £2. Refreshments are available on site and talk-in is available on 145.375MHz. For more information email Graham via contact@m1dhv.co.uk The Canvey Rally will be held on the 5th 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 and an indoor boot sale. Hot food and drinks will be available. Contact sears.enquiries@gmail.com for further information. The Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society Radioactive Fair will be held on Sunday the 12th of February. The venue will be Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. Doors open at 10am and admission is £5. A wide variety of trader stalls, a bring-and-buy platform and refreshments and snacks will be available. Parking is immediately adjacent to the hall. For more information visit radioactivefair.co.uk Now the Special Event News Special callsign PD23HNY will be active from The Netherlands until the 15th of January in celebration of the New Year. QSL cards will not be issued but a certificate will be available for download. Special callsigns SP90ENIGMA and SP90ENG will be active until the 15th of January. Both stations will be operating to mark the 90th anniversary of Polish cryptologists' first successes in breaking the Enigma code.  Throughout the month of January 2023, Weston super Mare Radio Society will be operating special callsign GB4WSM in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Society's formation on the 3rd of January 1923. Vasteras Radio Klubb in Sweden is celebrating 80 years of existence in 2023. To mark the occasion, the club will be using the callsign 8S80AA throughout 2023 on all bands from 160 to 2m. The special callsign includes a prefix that has never before been assigned. Details of awards connected to the special event can be found by viewing the 8S80AA QRZ.com page. During 2023, the British Railways Amateur Radio Society will be marking 55 years since the withdrawal of steam from the British Railways service in 1968.The callsigns in use during the year will be special event station GB0LMR and the club callsign GX4LMR. The station will be active from Preston and mainly operated by British Railways Amateur Radio Society member Mark, G1PIE. QSL via the Bureau and e-QSL or direct to Pam, 2E1HQY, enclosing a stamped, addressed envelope. More information can be found via the relevant QRZ.com pages. Now the DX news Take, JI3DST will be active from Tanega Island, AS-032, until the 10th of January. He will be operating using SSB, CW and FT8. QSL via Club Log and Logbook of the World. Darren, VK4MAP will be active as FW/VK4MAP from the Wallis and Futuna Islands, in the South Pacific, until the middle of January. He will be operating using SSB on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands. QSL directly to his home call. Earl, WA3DX will be active from Senegal until the 20th of January. He will operate FT8 and some SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World or directly to his home call. Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Thursday the 1st of December. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2023. 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 8th of January, at 2359UTC. Using the 80 to 10m bands, where contesting is permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. American stations also send their state. Canadian stations send their province. On Tuesday the 10th of January, 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. Also on Tuesday the 10th of January, 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. On Wednesday the 11th of January, the 432MHz FT8 Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. On Thursday the 12th of January, 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 Saturday the 14th of January, the Worked All Britain 1.8MHz Phone Contest runs from 1900 to 2300UTC. Using SSB on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. On Sunday the 15th of January, the RSGB Affiliated Societies 80 and 40m Data modes 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 Friday the 6th of January 2023 Firstly, a happy New Year to all our listeners. Let's hope that the propagation gods continue to smile on us in 2023! The solar flux index is back near the 150 mark having seen a low of 128 on December the 23rd and a recent high of 165 on New Year's eve. Geomagnetic conditions had been mainly settled. That was until the Kp index hit five on the fourth thanks to a fast-moving enhanced solar wind. This may have come from an Earth-facing coronal hole on the Sun's equator. Propagation-wise, conditions have been good, but not exceptional. The main DX station on the bands has been Thierry, FT8WW on Crozet Island off the coast of South Africa. Thierry has been very active on FT8 and CW, but the pileups have been massive. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the range of 140-150. Geomagnetic conditions should remain quiet with no visible coronal holes coming into view at the time of writing. Expect the Kp index to be around two to three. And finally, don't forget the low bands, including 160 and 80 metres, which tend to come into their own at this time of year. Look for a night-time path between the UK and the DX, and also consider enhancements just before sunrise for signals from the West. And now the VHF and up propagation news The main weather theme for the next week is once again a continuation of low-pressure systems crossing the country with periods of strong winds and rain. This suggests that tropo produced by high pressure will not feature again this week. It does, however, make rain scatter a possibility on the GHz bands, either from active frontal systems or from showery weather that these systems bring. The unsettled weather is being driven by an active jet stream pattern, which offers good opportunity for ‘out of season' Sporadic-E triggers, particularly towards Italy and round to Scandinavia. These are very rare events in winter, but it will be possible to pick up signs of some Es on the Propquest.co.uk foEs plots on some days. So, don't give up hope and monitor the clusters up to the middle of the month, at least. The disturbed solar conditions put aurora a bit higher up the agenda this week. For meteor scatter enthusiasts, last week's two-hour outburst of the Quadrantids shower was the ‘last hurrah' of showers until the late April Lyrids. We are entering the annual ‘lull' in shower activity, with just the minor Gamma-Ursae-Minorids active from the 10th of January to the 22nd reaching a low maximum on the 18th. Look to benefit from the pre-dawn peak of random meteors. The Moon is at apogee today, Sunday, and declination is positive until late next Friday. Moon windows will slowly shorten and zenith angles decrease, while EME path losses decrease. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Welcome to the final episode of our first season. In this episode, Ulrick converses with Dr. Yap Boum about the importance of identifying and supporting African solutions and innovations to global health challenges. They discuss lessons on African innovation during covid-19, the importance of African-led research, and a new innovation called The Village. Professor Yap Boum II is the Executive Director of the Institute Pasteur of Bangui in Central Africa Republic and the former Regional Representative for Epicentre in Africa, the research arm of Medécins sans Frontieres (MSF). He has implemented several studies on tuberculosis, malaria, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Ebola, COVID-19 in Uganda, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon among others. Boum teaches Public Health and Microbiology at Mbarara University of Sciences and Technology (Uganda) where he has a professorship and at the Universities of Virginia (UVa) and the University ofYaoundé I (Cameroon). He has held an array of leadership and advisory positions on national and international scales. Presently, Boum serves on the International Editorial Board of The Lancet Global Health. Boum is also co-founder of Kmerpad, a nonprofit that developed washable sanitary pads to empower women, allow them to fully participate in their education, and to limit the waste generated by the use of non-reusable sanitary pads. He has also a co-founder of iDocta, a digital platform that takes healthcare services to the community. He recently started Homegrown Solutions for Africa (HS4Africa) which aims to promote the creation of a critical mass of young Africans to find homegrown and innovative solutions for addressing the social and public health challenges Africa's faces. The Village digital platform is the new development of HS4Africa that will brake the barriers and connect scientists to transform Global Health As an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow, Boum is inspired by the vision of a healthy and wealthy Africa.Relevant readings:Who is telling the story? A systematic review of authorship for infectious disease research conducted in Africa, 1980–2016Is Africa part of the partnership?Advancing equitable global health research partnerships in AfricaFollow Yap Boum on Twitter: Follow us on Twitter (@unfiltered_gh), LinkedIn (Global Health Unfiltered!), and Instagram (@ghunfiltered).Keep up with us on Twitter: @desmondtanko @ulricksidney and @DrellaamoakoContact us: unfilteredgh@gmail.comArtwork: Chidiebere IbeAudio editing and social media marketing: Yvan ZoloTheme music: Antidote by Ketsa

GB2RS News Sunday the 25th of December 2022   The news headlines: Coronation of King Charles III RSGB Elections New edition of RadCom Plus released   Season's greetings to all our listeners! Today's GB2RS news script will the final one of 2022. Today's news reading is optional, as the RSGB appreciates that not all newsreaders will be available as normal, but the script will be on the RGSB website so all can see it. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the newsreaders, who read the news on a variety of platforms, for their service to their fellow amateurs throughout the year. We'd also like to remind amateurs that there is a long-standing convention to listen for news broadcasts on Sundays before transmitting to allow news reading to go ahead without interference. Thank you to all those who listen on Sunday mornings, and the other times that the news is read, to those who call in afterwards to speak to the newsreaders, and to everyone who listens via various platforms. Please note, there will be no script prepared for broadcast on Sunday the 1st of January 2023 due to RSGB HQ being closed from 12.30pm on Friday the 23rd of December until 8.30am on Tuesday the 3rd of January 2023. Newsreaders may, of course, choose to run a net at their normal transmission time, but under their own callsign only. The RSGB is making plans to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort in May 2023. The Coronation theme is looking towards the future while being rooted in our traditions, which the Society would like to incorporate in its celebrations. The UK has an ancient chain of fire-based beacons and the RSGB is considering ways that these might be used in the plans. As well as organising events for radio amateurs, this is a great opportunity to demonstrate amateur radio to the public and to gain publicity in the media. If you have any thoughts about how to use the fire beacon chain, or if you have ideas for activities on the Coronation theme that could be used as outreach to the public, please contact the RSGB Coronation Lead, Alan Messenger, G0TLK on special.projects@rsgb.org.uk Are you keen to see amateur radio thrive? Do you have the time and enthusiasm to support other radio amateurs and to help shape the RSGB of the future? If so, you still have the opportunity to be nominated in the RSGB elections. This year there are nine roles to be filled and the results will be announced at the Society's AGM in April 2023. An explanation of how to apply for the Nominated Board Director process, as well as the candidate packs and forms for President, Elected Board Director and Regional Representative, are all on the Society's website. The deadline for the Nominated Board Director role is the 3rd of January 2023 whilst the closing date for other roles is the 31st of January 2023. Find out more at rsgb.org/election The RSGB is pleased to announce that a new edition of RadCom Plus, Volume 7, 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 contains almost forty pages, including an article on an active dipole antenna and another on the construction of a portable dish for operating on the 23 and 13cm bands. RadCom Plus can be accessed via www.rsgb.org/radcom-plus The RSGB is releasing three more 2022 Convention videos between Christmas and New Year to give radio amateurs some great content to watch during the festive season. Dr Colin Forsyth from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory gives a fascinating presentation about Space Weather, whilst Prof Norman Billingham, M0EBI talks about plastics for the radio amateur. Jim Bacon, G3YLA reviews what the 2020s have told us about Sporadic-E. The presentations will be published on three separate days so if you subscribe to the RSGB YouTube channel you will know when they're available. Go to youtube.com/theRSGB   And now for details of rallies and events The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on Thursday the 29th of December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Doors will be open from 9.30am to 1pm and admission is £3. Free parking is available. The event will include bring and buy as well as 20 tables for traders. For more information contact Bob on 01963 440 167. The Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally will be held on Sunday the 29th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. Doors open at 9.30am and entry is £2. Refreshments are available on site and talk-in is available on 145.375MHz. For more information email Graham via contact@m1dhv.co.uk The Canvey Rally will be held on the 5th 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 and an indoor boot sale. Hot food and drinks will be available. Contact sears.enquiries@gmail.com for further information.  Now the Special Event News To celebrate the festive season, the Market Reef DX Association in Finland will be using special callsign OG1XMAS. The team will be active on all bands and modes until Monday the 26th of December. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log or directly to OH1NOA. Special callsign PD22SANTA will be active from The Netherlands until the 31st of December in celebration of the holiday season. QSL cards will not be issued but a certificate will be available for download. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of Summits On The Air France, special callsign TM15SOTA will be active until the 30th of December. QSL via eQSL. Throughout 2022, the BBC Amateur Radio Group has been celebrating the centenary of British broadcasting using the callsign GB100BBC. There is still time to catch the station on air, with the final day of operation being New Year's Eve. Between Christmas and the new year, operation will take place from the club headquarters shack located on the top floor of BBC Broadcasting House in central London. The team hope to work as many stations as possible to wrap up the year of special activity. Throughout the month of January 2023, Weston super Mare Radio Society will be operating GB4WSM in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Society's formation on the 3rd of January 1923.  Now the DX news Lester, W8YCM will be active as W8YCM/6Y from Jamaica, NA-097, until January 2023. QSL directly via his home callsign. Andre, ON7YK will be active in Bijilo, Gambia until the 24th of February 2023. He is available as C5YK on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands using SSB, CW and digital modes. QSL via eQSL, Logbook of the World or directly to his home callsign. Gerard, F2JD will be active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until the 13th of March 2023. He will be operating using CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands. QSL via F6AJA, directly or via the Bureau.  Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon began on Thursday the 1st of December. The contest will run until the 31st of January 2023. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report and locator. On Monday the 26th of December, the Deutsche Amateur Radio Club Christmas Contest runs from 0830 to 1100UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also send their district or non-member code. Also on Monday the 26th of December, the 50MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. It's not a contest but the Worked All Britain Christmas Party runs from Monday the 26th of December to Friday the 6th of January. Using all bands and modes, the exchange is your Worked All Britain Book number. On Tuesday the 27th of December, the 70MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 28th of December, the 144MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 29th of December, the 432MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.  Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Thursday the 22nd of December 2022 The solar flux index stayed around 150 over the last week, bringing some choice DX to the higher HF bands. However, solar flares continue to plague us, bringing short-lived band fade-outs at times. These have all been moderate C- and M-class flares. It is uncertain as to whether or not there will be an X-class flare soon. Meanwhile, try and work some Arctic Circle DX. Santa's broadcasting arm, Santa Radio, OF9X, will be active again, on all amateur radio bands, using CW, SSB and digital modes until the end of the year. On any band, from 10MHz and up, it should be fine to make contact with OF9X during the day, with 80m and 40m being ideal for night-time contact. The DX cluster is probably the best way to find where they are operating. NOAA predicts that the solar flux may decline slightly over the next week, perhaps going down to 125. But then it should rebound, maybe making it to 160 by the first week of January. Unfortunately, solarham.com is currently offline. Kevin, VE3EN, who produces the site, says that hopefully this downtime will be short-lived. Keep an eye on the URL as it remains one of the most useful sites for radio amateurs. And now the VHF and up propagation news There will be a very unsettled flavour to the Christmas propagation weather with many lows tracking across the country into the New Year. There will be spells of strong winds to provide a few nail-biting moments for antennas, but the main theme is for bands of rain and heavy showers. These will be capable of producing some rain scatter on the GHz bands on most days in one part of the country or another. Cold air will be present at times to give some snow scatter in places, although primarily over northern Britain. The chances of traditional high-pressure systems bringing some festive tropo are very low indeed with the nearest high displaced well away over southeast Europe. The solar conditions will doubtless be worth considering as a possible indicator of auroral propagation if the Kp index rises above about five or six. Mid-winter Sporadic-E, can surprise us over the period from now to roughly mid-January. A good example was shown on the Dourbes ionosonde on Monday the 19th of December when the Sporadic-E critical frequency reached 5.45MHz at 2300UTC and coincided with a jet stream nearby. There will be plenty of jet stream activity, so it is well worth checking the clusters. Don't be too fixed upon the usual times for Sporadic-E since these events tend to be driven by the timing of significant weather features. For meteor scatter enthusiasts, the Leonis Minorids are still active but past their maximum, so we await the Quadrantids to peak with a zenithal hourly rate of around 120 between the 3rd and 4th of January. Unlike other meteor showers that tend to stay at their peak for about two days, the peak period of the Quadrantids lasts only a few hours. Moon declination is rising, so Moon windows will continue to lengthen, and zenith angles increase, while EME path losses increase after Christmas Eve's perigee. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 11th of December 2022 The news headlines: RSGB Elections Australian Licensing Changes GB22YOTA at the National Radio Centre The RSGB is calling for volunteers who are willing and able to give their time and enthusiasm to ensure the Society continues to develop and thrive. This year there are nine roles to be filled and the results will be announced at the RSGB's AGM in April 2023. An explanation of how to apply for the Nominated Board Director process, as well as the candidate packs and forms for President, Elected Board Director and Regional Representative, are all on the Society's website at rsgb.org/election At the end of September 2022, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, proposed that Australia's amateur radio operators move to a class-based licensing scheme in July 2023, opening a consultation period that closed at the end of November 2022. The Wireless Institute of Australia has replied to the ACMA proposals with a comprehensive evidence-based response. The ACMA proposes moving Australia's radio amateurs from individual apparatus licences to one licence for the amateur service as a whole. The principal reason cited is a reduction in the administrative burden for both the ACMA and the amateur radio community. The immediate benefit would be that licence and licence-renewal fees would disappear. The Wireless Institute of Australia's response to the consultation can be found at tinyurl.com/WIAsubm The RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park is pleased to announce that it will be hosting GB22YOTA on Saturday the 17th of December. Any young amateurs, or those who are interested to learn more about amateur radio, are welcome. The National Radio Centre is located within the grounds of the Bletchley Park Museum. Entry details and opening times can be found on the Bletchley Park website. RSGB members can download an entry voucher for a free day pass to the National Radio Centre from the members' portal on the RSGB website. The RSGB is looking for volunteers for two new roles: RSGB Lecture Chair and RSGB Social Diversity Officer. The deadline for applications is Monday the 16th of January. Full details of both roles, including how to apply, are on the Society's website at www.rsgb.org/volunteers Does your school or college run an amateur radio club? Or are you interested in setting up a club at your school or college? Following the success of University Corner, the RSGB's online list of universities with amateur radio clubs, the Society has launched School Zone. This brings together details of schools and colleges that have an active amateur radio club. If your school or college has a club and would like to be included in the online list, please send details to comms@rsgb.org.uk Contact details should include the club callsign, if it has one, the school website URL and an email address for the teacher or adult who runs the club. If you are a pupil member of the club, please check those details before you send them to the RSGB. You can find the new School Zone webpage at rsgb.org/school-zone  The RSGB's Transatlantic Centenary Tests is running throughout December to celebrate the Centenary of the first amateur radio signals to cross the Atlantic. There are awards available for working the special stations. Over 40,000 QSOs were made in the first week. There are still opportunities to get involved so go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/tct to book an operating slot. The RSGB's RadCom team is looking for authors to contribute to the magazine. Previously unpublished features and articles are always welcome for consideration. At the moment, the team is particularly interested in hearing from people who enjoy writing about antennas. To contact the RadCom team please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk And now for details of rallies and events The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club Rally will be held on Thursday the 29th of December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, Yeovil, Somerset, BA22 7QX. Doors will be open from 9.30 am to 1 pm and admission is £3. Free parking is available. The event will include bring and buy as well as 20 tables for traders. For more information contact Bob on 01963 440 167. The Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Radio Rally will be held on Sunday the 29th of January at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. Doors open at 9.30 am and entry is £2. Refreshments are available on-site and talk-in is available on 145.375MHz. For more information email Graham via contact@m1dhv.co.uk The Canvey Rally will be held on the 5th 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 and an indoor boot sale. Hot food and drinks will be available. Contact sears.enquiries@gmail.com for further information. Now the Special Event News Datta, VU2DSI will be active as AU2JCB until Tuesday the 13th of December to commemorate the birthday of Indian physicist and radio pioneer Jagadish Chandra Rose. He will be operating on the HF and VHF bands using SSB and FM. QSL directly to his home callsign. Members of Wingles Radio Club in France will be active as TM90GF until Saturday the 17th of December. The special callsign marks the 90th anniversary of the death of General Gustave-Auguste Ferrie, a pioneer in the field of military radio communications. QSL via the bureau, eQSL or directly to F4KLR. The Qatar Amateur Radio Society has announced that nine special event callsigns will be active until Sunday the 18th of December to celebrate the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Look out for the station HQ callsign A722FWC, as well as eight callsigns that contain sequential numbers, from A71FIFA to A78FIFA. The stations are active on the HF bands and via the QO-100 Satellite. QSL via the bureau, Logbook of the World or directly. Special callsign PV22CUP will be active from Brazil until Sunday the 18th of December. The Brazilian Amateur Radio League is using the callsign in celebration of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. QSL via Logbook of the World and eQSL. Now the DX news Ferdy, HB9DSP will be active as 5H3FM from Zanzibar Island, AF-032, Tanzania until Tuesday the 13th of December. He will operate SSB and some FT8 on the 20, 15 and 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World or via his home call. Take, JI3DST will be active from Miyakojima, AS-079, until Thursday the 15th of December. He will be operating SSB, CW and FT8. QSL via Club Log and LogBook of the World. Lester, W8YCM will be active as W8YCM/6Y from Jamaica, NA-097, until January 2023. QSL directly via his home callsign. Now the contest news The ARRL 10m Contest ends today, the 11th, at 2359UTC. Using CW and phone, the exchange is signal report and serial number. American, Canadian and Mexican stations also send their state or province code. On Tuesday the 13th of December, 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. Also on Tuesday the 13th of December, 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. On Wednesday the 14th of December, the 432MHz FT8 Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. On Thursday the 15th of December, the 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. Next Saturday the 17th of December, the Stew Perry Top Band Challenge will start at 1500UTC and run for 24 hours. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is your four-character locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 9th of December 2022 There's an old Chinese curse that says: “May you live in interesting times”. Well, the last week has been very interesting from an HF propagation perspective! The solar flux index increased from 111 on the 30th of November, to 148 on Thursday the 8th. During that time, we had more than 50 C-class solar flares and two M-class flares, while the Kp index ranged from one to five. So, it's been a bit like having all four seasons in one week! HF propagation has varied dramatically as a result, with round-the-world echoes and spotlight propagation being very prevalent at times. Spotlight propagation is defined as a small geographic area that is favoured with good propagation at any given time. The Norfolk Amateur Radio Club operated G6ZZ for 48 hours as part of the transatlantic centenary celebrations and worked more than 1,500 stations. Station manager Chris, G0DWV reports his highlights as: “Hearing my own echo as the signal went around the world on several occasions, being called by VK, Australia, and ZL, New Zealand, at 5/9+30dB with no one else on the band. And hearing echoes that made it impossible to understand the caller's voice.” At the moment, it seems like it would be easy to dismiss an HF band as being closed when it could be wide open half an hour later. The Sun is currently peppered with spots of all sizes. The USAF predicts that the good conditions could continue for a few days yet, with the solar flux index falling from 150 on Sunday to 110 by the end of the week. Calm geomagnetic conditions may continue and there are currently no coronal holes in view. But please note that it only takes a single coronal mass ejection to spoil things. And don't forget that the low bands come into their own in Winter as well. This is a good time to look for DX on 160, 80 and 40 metres, especially in the late afternoon, after dark and at sunrise. And now the VHF and up propagation news This week's VHF propagation highlight is the Geminids meteor shower. This is predicted to reach a broad peak over several days on either side of 1300UTC on the 14th of December. The Geminids zenithal hourly record has reached 140-150 in all recent years so expect a good one with SSB QSOs possible for the better-equipped stations using good operating techniques, and the chance of 70cm digimode QSOs as well. The broad peak has a habit of declining quite quickly once it's over. In this present turn to cold winter conditions, prospects for high pressure and tropo are looking limited, apart from a weak ridge over northern Britain. Although even this is not a strong player. Current weather conditions may appeal to the experimentally minded. Intense cold and snow-covered ground can produce strong shallow surface temperature inversions, so there may be interesting tests to be done in some parts of the country. Also, watch out for snow scatter on the high GHz bands if you see snowstorms around. The solar-driven conditions mentioned in the previous section suggest that further possibilities exist for auroral propagation, given a high Kp index. The dearth of Sporadic-E during the autumn months usually has a brief respite around this time of the year from mid-December to mid-January. It's very random but follow the usual summer routine of checking the clusters and maps to select the right directions. Although these isolated events can occur at the usual afternoon or evening times for Es, they can and do crop up in the morning and around the middle of the day. Moon declination is positive but decreasing this week so Moon windows will shorten and zenith angles decrease. Path losses are at their highest with the Moon at apogee on Sunday night. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

The United Nations through its Food and Agriculture Organisation has described rice production by smallholder farmers in Nigeria as a fantastic job. It stated that though there was still a lot that should be done in the agriculture sector in Nigeria, the country had made considerable progress in rice production. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Abebe Haile-Gabriel, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja. Haile-Gabriel and the FAO Deputy Director of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience, Shukri Ahmed, are in Nigeria on a high-level mission to strengthen solidarity and amplify the voice of humanitarian actors in advocating support to stem food insecurity across the country.

GB2RS News Sunday the 31st of July 2022 The news headlines: Commonwealth Games station on the air Listen out for YOTA Summer Camp stations RadCom Basics available to RSGB Members   The RSGB is excited to be supporting the Commonwealth Games with special event station GB22HQ. This is being activated from the Birmingham Smithfield site where the Beach Volleyball, 3x3 Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball will take place. It is also the starting point for the Marathon. GB22HQ will run for the duration of the Games until the 8th of August. There are two stations using wire aerials for 40m and 30m, plus a Yagi for the five bands from 20m to 10m. During the first day of operation, the station was on the 10 to 40m bands and pile-ups were evident. The operators say 40m SSB during the daytime is probably the best place to look for them. See more at rsgb.org/cwg. As part of the Youngsters On The Air 2022 summer camp from the 6th to the 13th of August, seven call signs will be heard. 9A22YOTA will operate from the camp in Croatia for the full duration. 9A1YOTA will join remotely on the 8th alongside 9A2YOTA on EU-136. 9A3YOTA will be on the air on the 10th, together with 9A4YOTA. 9A5YOTA will be on the air on the 12th. 9A100QO will work the QO100 satellite from all locations. The latest edition of RadCom Basics for July 2022 is now available. There are more topics to help newcomers and those looking to brush-up. You can read articles on setting up a station on a tight budget, and understanding the propagation predictions in RadCom and Inter-G working amongst other topics. To help find topics covered in previous editions, the index of RadCom Basics articles has been updated. To read this edition, go to rsgb.org/radcom-basics and login with your RSGB Membership Services details. The RSGB is pleased to announce the co-option of Karl Bridge M0KHB as Regional Representative for Region 3, the North West, until the 2023 AGM. Also, vacancies currently exist for two District Representatives within the Region 3 team. One to cover the Greater Manchester District and another to represent the Merseyside District. These are worthwhile and rewarding opportunities to assist the RSGB in spearheading the hobby of amateur radio in Region 3. Please contact Karl Bridge, M0KHB for further information by email to rr3@rsgb.org.uk. A date for your diary now. Churches and Chapels On The Air will take place this year on Saturday the 10th of September from 10 am to 4 pm. If you plan to put a station on the air from your local church or chapel, please inform John, G3XYF by email to jhwresdell@gmail.com. He will then add your station to the list on the WACRAL website. The Genesis Radio Group currently operates around North Manchester and the North West. Founded in May 2022, the group wanted a more relaxed approach to talk about, and operate radios without the constraints of the traditional club. They meet on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 pm on the air. The last Wednesday of the month is put aside for a cafe/pub meet, the location of which rotates in order that as many members as possible can have a chance to turn up. For further information please visit genesisradiogroup.org.uk. And now for details of rallies and events Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We'll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online. Today, the 31st of July, the Wiltshire Radio & Car Boot Sale will be at Kington Langley Village Hall and Playing Field, Kington Langley, Wiltshire SN15 5NJ. Doors open at 9 am and admission is free. Hot and cold refreshments will be available on site. Next Sunday, the 7th of August, the 2022 BATC Convention for Amateur TV will take place at Midland Air Museum, Rowley Road, Coventry CV3 4FR. It will be a meet-up, show and tell, test and fix-it, and Bring & Buy event from 10 am to 4 pm. There will be full test facilities available for equipment. Also next Sunday, the 7th, King's Lynn ARC 32nd Great Eastern Radio Rally will be held at Gaywood Community Centre, Gayton Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 4EL. Doors open at 9 am and admission is £2.50. Car parking is free. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy. More information at klarc.org.uk. Now the Special Event news The 1st of August is Yorkshire Day. Members of Denby Dale ARS will be on the air with special event call signs containing the letter YD to celebrate. It is the 78th anniversary of Operation Buick when special forces parachuted into France. TM44PARA will be on the air today and Monday the 1st mainly using the 7MHz band. See qrz.com for more information. Saturday the 6th of August will mark the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Pennsylvania Society of Latin American Amateur Radio Operators. To celebrate this occasion, a special event station will be on the air. More at pasola.org. Now the DX news Elvira, IV3FSG will be active as 5R8LH from Madagascar from the 1st of August to the 9th of September. Usually, she operates SSB and digital modes in her spare time. QSL direct to IK2DUW. Frans, DJ0TP will be active again as TK/DJ0TP from the main island of Corsica, EU-014, until the 3rd of September. QSL via Logbook of The World, or via his home callsign. John, W5JON will be active as V47JA from St. Kitts, NA-104, until the 7th of August. He will operate SSB and FT8 on the HF bands and 6 metres. QSL via Logbook of The World, or direct only to W5JON. Now the contest news This weekend is the RSGB IOTA or Islands On The Air contest. It runs for 24 hours until 1200UTC today, the 31st. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. Today, the 31st of July, the UK Microwave Group's 5.7 and 10GHz contests runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same, signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday it is the 144MHz FT8 Activity Contest that runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. The exchange is your report and 4-character locator. On Saturday it is the 144MHz Low Power Contest that runs from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and your 2-letter postcode. The EU HF Championships also take place on Saturday the 6th of August. It runs for 24 hours and uses CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted. The exchange is signal report and the last 2 digits of the year you were first licenced. Next Sunday, the 7th, the 432MHz Low Power Contest runs from 0800 to 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and your 2-letter postcode. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 29th of July 2022. We've had a week of lower solar flux indices, despite a smoothed sunspot number in the 50s. The sunspots we have had have been relatively small and pretty inconsequential. The week started off with an SFI of 107, but then declined to 98 by Thursday. The good news is that we have had relatively settled geomagnetic conditions after a wobble at the weekend due to a high-speed solar wind stream. Other than Sporadic-E events, the maximum usable frequency over 3,000km has struggled to get up above 18 or sometimes 21MHz during daytime. But, as we have said before, night-time MUFs have remained seasonally high, topping 14MHz over a 3,000km path most nights. Next week, and as we enter August, we can expect more of the same. The solar flux index is predicted to rise slightly to perhaps 115 by next weekend. But the prediction is also for more unsettled geomagnetic conditions with a maximum Kp index of four this weekend and again later in the week. This is most likely due to high-speed solar wind from coronal holes once again. So best of luck with the IOTA contest this weekend, which will probably be dominated by operators on 20 metres with occasional Es openings on the higher bands. And now the VHF and up propagation news. There have been some fleeting signs of the continuing Sporadic-E season, but events are not so commonplace in this second half of the summer. This means being alert to the typical operating windows, which traditionally are early or mid-morning and again late afternoon/early evening. At the heart of these events will usually be a weather feature, such as a jet stream, whose turbulence creates a wave motion in the atmosphere that can cause varying wind flows in the E region some 100km above the weather, and are a big contributor to the formation of Es. In this coming week, the jet streams are very limited so it's not looking too favourable for major Es events. The weather pattern shows lows near the northwest of Britain driving fronts across the north, and at the same time precluding the development of Tropo, since it does not allow the development of high-pressure systems. However, conditions in the south are a bit more supportive, so there could be occasional Tropo, especially over sea paths around the UK. There is a hint that the second half of the week will see the development of a large high more generally over the UK, so that's the time for Tropo to shine. The other modes such as rain scatter are not looking too strong since the frontal cloud bands tend not to be as effective as heavy thundery showers, but it's always worth checking for aurora and meteor scatter as we move into August and within reach of the broad peak of the Perseids meteor shower. It's a good week for EME with positive Moon declination until Tuesday and falling path losses, but we are still more than a week from perigee. 144MHz sky noise is low but slowly increasing all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS News Sunday the 3rd of July 2022 The news headlines: RSGB Regional vacancies Tribute to Zorro, JH1AJT Tonight@8 on Radio waves and antennas The RSGB has vacancies for someone to be co-opted as the Regional Representative for Region 11 until the AGM in 2023. Region 11 covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire and the Channel Islands. There are 13 RSGB Regional Representatives covering the whole of the UK and they must reside in the region they represent. There are also vacances for District Representatives for Dorset, North-East England and Lancashire. Details of the Regional Team can be found on the RSGB website rsgb.org.uk. If you are interested in becoming part of the Regional Team please contact David, M0MBD on 01234 481 412 or rr12@rsgb.org.uk. 3D2AJT is the special callsign that Dom, 3D2USU will be using for one month from Nadi in the Fiji Islands in memory of the late Yasuo ‘Zorro' Miyazawa, JH1AJT. Activity will end on 27 July, which would have marked Zorro's 73rd birthday. Zorro was also known for his DXpeditions and charitable work on behalf of children in Cambodia, Bangladesh, Japan and elsewhere. The special event operators will be on the air using CW, SSB, FT4 and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. You can read more on qrz.com. Tonight @8 will take place on Monday, the 4th of July. This is the final lecture before the summer break. Peter Duffett-Smith, G3XJE will be looking at Radio waves and antennas…and all that. His presentation covers a range of antenna-related information so there should be something for everyone. Tonight@8 webinars are live-streamed on the RSGB's YouTube channel, YouTube.com/thersgb. During the recent HamRadio show in Germany, the IARU Region 1 Spectrum Regulation and Liaison Committee chair took part in a joint session with the R1 Political Relations Committee. The session highlighted the connections the SRLC maintains with Region 1 regulatory bodies and the work carried out since early 2021. This included engagement in the WRC23 preparatory activities in a number of regional bodies and the detailed study work both with the ITU and CEPT. Topics affecting amateur spectrum bands were summarised with particular attention being paid to the 23cm band topic on the agenda of WRC23. The SRLC slide set can be found at iaru-r1.org. The TX5N DXpedition that took place in April from the Austral Islands, OC-114, has updated the information on QSL cards. All TX5N QSL cards were taken to the post office on the 30th of June so please allow sufficient time for the card to reach you. Bureau cards will be shipped to the individual IARU bureaux in the next bureau mailing that is scheduled for Summer 2022. QSL via M0URX. Dennis, G7AGZ has been fundraising for Cornwall Hospice Care since 1991. This year, he will be attempting a six peak Summits On The Air challenge. He will be climbing some of the most popular summits in the UK and hopes to activate an amateur radio station at the top of each summit, subject to the weather. The six peaks will be Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Old Man of Coniston, Helvellyn, Skiddaw and Ben Nevis. Keep an eye on qrz.com under the special event callsign GB0CHC. The DXCC Most Wanted 2022 list has been updated on the 28th of June. The DXCC most wanted countries are North Korea in 1st place, Bouvet Island in second place and Crozet Island in 3rd place. See clublog.org for more information. And now for details of rallies and events Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We'll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online. Today, the 3rd, the Cornish RAC Rally will take place at Penair School, St Clement, Truro, Cornwall TR1 1TN. Doors open at 10am with a £2 admission. There will be a Bring & Buy, traders and local club stands. Refreshments are available on site. Find out more at gx4crc.com. Sunday the 3rd of July is also the date for the traditional Barford Norfolk Radio Rally at Barford Village Hall. Doors open at 9am. Most of the stands are outside but inside the village hall there is a Bring & Buy, RSGB bookstand, Morse display and refreshments. A Norfolk ARC club stand is outside the hall with a radio raffle in aid of the clubs 2022 nominated charity, Cancer Research UK. Admission is £2 per person with under 16s free. Outside selling pitches are £8 and there is no need to prebook. On Saturday, the 9th of July, the Houghton Radio Club Free Radio Rally will be held in the Dubmire Royal British Legion Club, Britannia Terrace, Fencehouses DH4 6LJ. The doors will be open between 10am and 3pm. The rally is open to trade, clubs and private sellers and exhibitors. Table space is limited. There is no charge for tables and entry is free. Donations are welcome to the Royal British Legion Club. Tea and coffees will be available and a licenced bar from 11am. Anyone wishing to book tables please contact Amanda, M6LXK at westona84@gmail.com. Now the DX news Henri, OH3JR and Pertti, OG2M will be operating as OJ0JR and OJ0MR respectively from Market Reef until the 6th of July. They are there on work assignment. Activity will be in their spare time on the HF bands using CW, some SSB, and FT8. QSL OJ0MR direct to OG2M and OJ0JR via OH3JR. Bo, OZ1DJJ will be active as OX3LX from Upernarvik Island, Greenland, NA-134, until the 11th of July. Activity will be on the HF bands with a focus on 6 metres and 4 metres. QSL via OZ0J. Paul, F6EXV and Florian, PB8DX will be active from Monaco between the 6th and 14th of July. They will be using 3A6M on 6 metres, as well as 3A/F6EXV and 3A/PB8DX on the HF bands. QSLs for all callsigns via Club Log's OQRS both direct and via the bureau, and Logbook of The World after six months. Franco, IZ5IUY will be active as IL7/IZ5IUY from San Domino Island, EU-050, until the 21st of July. He will operate SSB, FT8 and FT4 on the HF bands. QSL via his home callsign, the bureau is preferred. Rafael, NN3RP will be active holiday style as YN2RP from Nicaragua between the 5th of July and the 2nd of August. He will operate SSB, CW and digital modes on various bands, and will also be active on FM satellites. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL or direct to NN3RP. Now the Special Event news Durham and District ARS is participating as one of the bonus stations in the 13 Colonies Special Event. GB13COL has been issued for this event and will run from the club station until 0400UTC on Friday, the 8th of July. The primary focus of the event will be the HF bands, including VHF, UHF & Satellite for QSOs using SSB, CW, FM, and various digital modes. More information at 13colonies.us. On Saturday and Sunday the 9th and 10th of July, Bishop Auckland RAC and Wearside Electronics and Amateur Radio Society are activating GB4BM from Beamish Museum at Beamish, Chester-le Street, Durham. Operations start at 10am. If you wish to attend and assist in the event contact Ian, G7MFN at g7mfn@hotmail.co.uk. All are welcome. Now the contest news This weekend is the RSGB VHF National Field Day ending its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the 3rd. The contest uses the 50, 70, 144 and 432MHz bands as well as 1.3GHz. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, Sunday the 3rd of July, the third 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 1000 to 1500UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Monday the 4th, the CW leg of the 80m Club Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number. Tuesday sees the 144MHz FM Activity Contest run between 1800 and 1855UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same, signal report, serial number and locator. The 144MHz FT8 Activity Contest takes place on Wednesday the 6th between 1900 and 2100UTC. The exchange is report and your 4-character locator. Next weekend, the 9th and 10th of July, is the IARU HF Championship. It runs for 24 hours from 1200UTC on the 9th and uses the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted. The exchange is signal report and your ITU Zone. For the UK this is 27. Next Sunday, the 10th of July, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47 and 76GHz contest takes place between 0900 and 1700. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The UK Six Metre Group's Summer Marathon is still taking place, ending on the 2nd of August. Using all modes, stations exchange their 4-character locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 1st of July 2022. Last week was not a good one for HF propagation in general. There were many complaints from amateurs about poor conditions that can be explained by a combination of low solar flux levels and unsettled geomagnetic conditions. The SFI started the week last Sunday at 102 but then dropped to 98 the following day. It subsequently continued to drop, reaching 92 by Thursday. At the same time, the Kp index reached five and it continued to be unsettled into Monday. The effects on the ionosphere were not good, with maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path struggling to reach 18MHz. Conditions improved as the week went on with F2-layer MUFs back into the 21MHz region by Thursday. This is fairly typical of Summer ionospheric conditions, leaving Sporadic-E as the likely main propagation mode on 10 metres until the Autumn. Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will start to climb again, perhaps peaking at 140 by the 11th of July. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be stable with an average Kp index of two, until the 10th when it could reach four. As long as we don't have any coronal mass ejections during this time this could mean slightly better F2-layer conditions next week. As always, Sporadic-E may provide loud short-skip signals on the upper bands. Watch out for multi-hop Es paths which are harder to predict. And now the VHF and up propagation news. With VHF National Field Day, this weekend we would all like conditions at their best, and with the Sporadic-E season still in full swing, that's a possibility. The position of the jet stream is often instrumental in defining the directions that perform for Es and this weekend it looks to be a close-by jet stream over the near continent. This means paths towards central and southeast Europe plus the Baltic and Scandinavia. You might be able to get some notion of how it's developing by Googling and looking at the ionosonde from Dourbes in Belgium for spikes in the foEs trace. With low pressure close to Scotland over the weekend, it's only southern UK under a weak ridge that will see any Tropo. This will typically be better overnight and around the coasts for paths into the continent across the North Sea or the English Channel. So unless you are on the coast, your tropo options will diminish early this Sunday morning once the solar heating starts to break down the overnight temperature inversion. The UKAC 144MHz contest on Tuesday evening looks a better prospect with high pressure nudging towards western Britain and a chance that conditions may be slightly up, even for more northern stations. With some showery episodes likely, rain scatter is always a possibility, but decaying as the high moves in later. The clusters should tell you if aurora or random meteor scatter are viable options. Just one meteor shower this week, the July Pegasids active from the 4th of July to the 14th, but its Zenithal Hourly Rate is low at around five. Meteor showers in July are at their best around the end of the month, particularly the Southern delta-Aquariids, peaking on the 30th of July. The maximum ZHR of this shower is around 25 over two days. The radiant of this shower is above the horizon in the UK during the night and early morning. Moon declination goes negative this coming Wednesday so expect lower peak elevation and shortening Moon visibility windows for EME. Path losses are dropping as we head towards perigee a week on Wednesday. 144MHz sky noise is low all week. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

President/CEO of United Way of Pueblo County, Shanna Farmer shares some experiences from her life to highlight the need to start with leading self and discovering the leader within and then working to see the leader within all the people you encounter. Shanna is a true servant leader who has dedicated her life to the community of Pueblo, Colorado and has worked to create opportunities for others to grow in their leadership ability. She highlights the need to build trust and not just rely on brand recognition, but always be working to be better by being willing to learn. The idea of humility is so important to servant leadership and Shanna reminds us of the need to seek out experts, but also to look at every person and experience as someone or something that we can learn from, learn to be a better leader and a better human. She eloquently states that there is not enough money in the world to address every need, so we need to focus on building the capacity of people, our community, and organizations. We begin by leading self, then leading others, then hopefully leading in our communities and organizations.  Shanna M. Farmer has served as President/CEO of United Way of Pueblo County since 2019 and has extensive experience working in Southern Colorado and has dedicated her career to this community. She was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and has served as a board member for several nonprofit organizations and has volunteered thousands of hours to local and statewide nonprofit organizations. Shanna has a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. During graduate school, she earned a Servant Leadership Certificate from research in service-learning and studies in service-based leadership practices. She received her undergraduate degree from CSU-Pueblo in Political Science with minors in Mass Communication and Leadership Studies.  Since 2015, Shanna has been an Adjunct Faculty member at CSU-Pueblo in the President's Leadership Program. Prior to joining United Way of Pueblo County, Shanna worked as the Director of Advancement at Catholic Charities – Pueblo's Family Resource Center, where she oversaw all fundraising, grants/contracts, marketing, and public relations for the agency. Previously, Shanna was employed at Colorado College as the Community Partnerships Program Coordinator in the Collaborative for Community Engagement. The majority of her work was spent advising students and developing mutually beneficial partnerships between community partners and the campus. Prior to joining Colorado College, Shanna worked at CSU-Pueblo as the Community-Based Research Coordinator for a program aimed at increasing access to and success in graduate school, and she focused on developing partnerships between the University and Southern Colorado nonprofits, businesses, and governmental entities. Before entering the world of higher education, Shanna served as a Regional Representative for the United States Congress, Third Congressional District. This district spanned twenty-nine diverse Colorado counties, which included Pueblo, many rural communities in Southeastern Colorado, the San Luis Valley, and the Western Slope. During her tenure there, she supported constituents and organizations to address issues of concern and helped them navigate the federal government. She specialized in casework related to healthcare, immigration, taxes, education, and Social Security and assisted with several legislative issue areas. Shanna is married to Sean T. Wolff, and they are the proud parents of several rescued special needs dogs and cats. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, bike riding, photography, and traveling. Resources: United Way of Pueblo County - Mission and Values Statements https://www.pueblounitedway.org/about-us Dr. Christa Kirsch & Dr. Janet Peters - Leadership from the Inside Out: Student Leadership Development within Authentic Leadership and Servant Leadership Frameworks https://journalofleadershiped.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/16_1_peters.pdf Colorado State University at Pueblo - President's Leadership Program https://www.csupueblo.edu/center-for-honors-and-leadership/presidents-leadership-program/index.html     

Applying Jesus to New Vision - Interview with Tracie Jae - The Quiet Rebel Today Amy talks with her new favorite friend - Tracie Jae - for the first episode of Season 2. Season 2 is intentionally different than Season 1. In this season, we are talking with folks hard at work re-imagining what it means to respond and reform the issues within our society. These conversations are going to help us, in the Church, re-imagine what it means to be a part of the solution - the Kin-Dom Come. Big Takeaways: Get some bubbles & practice the meditation, follow Spirit and this is a process of becoming aware of others to have transformative conversations. We talk about A LOT in order to give you a lot to think about, in a non-linear way, what it might look like for those of us in the Church to approach the transformative discussions we need to have to begin and continue in the work of changing the world to bring about God's vision. About Tracie Tracie's work in the world is creating incremental and organic shifts to the status quo using conversations as instruments of change. Whether working with individuals, communities or organizations, she creates space to ensure that voices are heard and thoughts are respected. Her proprietary frameworks include 100 Voices Guided Conversations and HUMAN Centered Equity (TM). As often as possible, she incorporates silence in her work to offer participants opportunities to seek their own truths. Tracie holds a BA in Business Management and MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership. What I appreciate is her commitment to service that spans over two decades of volunteerism and vocation in Houston's non-profit sector; including 5 years in education. She currently serves as Regional Representative for The Labyrinth Society and is active on the League of Women Voters Marketing Committee. With all of that, she has successfully launched three daughters into adulthood. She loves hot coffee, recharging so she can slay new dragons and bubble meditation. Find her: https://quietrebellife.com/about-2, @quietrebel.life on Instagram, on Twitter @quietrebelLLC and on Facebook @alwaystraciejae Applying Jesus is hosted and produced by Amy Vogel, Director of Spiritual Growth for Upper Room Heights and our Technical Director is Xach Blunt. We record at the Chapelwood UMC Digital Studio in Houston, TX. We hope something you heard today deepened your faith, opened your eyes and led you to not only knowing God in a more expansive way, but shifts how you connect, especially with those who are easy to overlook. To find out more about Amy and our church community, go to www.urheights.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram & Youtube. Remember we love you – and there is nothing you can do about it!

In this episode we welcome Sandy Pelley, the founder of Creative Music Therapy Solutions and Music Therapy Suite. Sandy shares her experiences with us about her journey to becoming a music therapist along with how she established her two businesses. We also learn more about Sandy's vision for the future of music therapy. A little more about Sandy: Sandy Pelley is a Certified Music Therapist (MTA) who owns and runs Creative Music Therapy Solutions and Music Therapy Suite. She also has a small clinical practice, working mostly with children on the autism spectrum. She graduated in 1989 with a diploma from Capilano, and then returned to Capilano University to receive her degree in 1994. Sandy also has a BA in Psychology from Simon Fraser University. Sandy has been a member of both the MTABC and the CAMT since 1987. She has been the Accreditation Chair for the CAMT, and a Regional Representative, as well as currently sits on the board for the Canadian Music Therapy Fund. Sandy was the recipient of the lifetime achievement award for the MTABC in 2018 and received a lifetime membership. Last year Creative Music Therapy Solutions was the recipient of a CMTF grant to work with front line workers, with Corrections Canada in a pilot project, planning eventually to bring Music Therapy to Corrections Canada across Canada. To join the discussion online, please use hashtag #CanadianMusicTherapy

Justin O'Donnell is an activist, author, former Regional Representative of the Libertarian National Committee, and host of the O'Donnell for Liberty podcast. David and Justin riff on art, freedom, and Libertarian philosophy.   https://odonnellforliberty.wordpress.com/   Thank you for your support.  Please visit https://www.patreon.com/riffsordie to subscribe for free merch, bonus episodes, Zoom hangouts, discounts, patron shout-outs, and more.     Donate PayPal Donate Crypto RiffsOrDie.com youtube.com/c/riffsordie instagram.com/riffsordie_ facebook.com/riffsordie twitter.com/riffsordie_ David's personal Instagram @david_havok

GLRA-India was established over 5 decades ago, in 1966, under the vision of helping leprosy victims. Over the years, GLRA-India has extended their services to those affected by tuberculosis (TB), disabilities, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). During the COVID-19 outbreak that caused havoc in the lives of migrant workers, the non-profit even reached out to this community that was hardest hit by the pandemic, according to International Labour Organization. Today, we have with us Mr Vivek Srivastava, Asia Regional Representative of GLRA-India, to give us insights on the services spearheaded by his organisation.

GB2RS News Sunday the 26th of December 2021   The news headlines: Last News of 2021 Covid closes National Radio Centre Several days of SSTV from the ISS   This is the final GB2RS news reading for 2021 and we start with seasonal greetings to all newsreaders and listeners, both over the air and via other platforms, and not forgetting viewers of the ATV broadcast, which is available via several repeaters and kindly streamed via the batc.tv website, as well as those who receive this news via TX Factor or podcasts. We would like to take this opportunity once again to thank all those who read the news, in whatever format, for their tireless dedication to their fellow amateurs. A full GB2RS service will resume on the 9th of January. A Local News for the 2nd of January will be available on the RSGB website. In light of the rapidly increasing Covid-19 cases and the high transmission rates, the RSGB has reluctantly decided to close the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park temporarily until further notice. The situation will be reviewed in the New Year and announcements about re-opening made via GB2RS News, the RSGB website and social media. During the closure, the RSGB Members' voucher for free entry to the NRC will be taken offline. We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience the closure may cause, but believe it to be in the best interests of the well-being of both volunteers and visitors. During this time the NRC weekday 80m net will be reactivated. The net takes place at 1030UTC on weekdays around 3.727MHz, plus or minus interference. Martyn, G0GMB, the NRC Coordinator, and the NRC volunteers look forward to speaking to as many amateurs as possible over the next few weeks. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station team will support Slow Scan TV transmissions from the International Space Station over the festive period. The images will be related to lunar exploration. Transmissions should be available worldwide on 145.800MHz FM, using SSTV mode PD120. Transmissions are set to start on the 26th of December at about 1825UTC and end on the 31st at about 1705UTC. The signal should be receivable on a handheld transceiver with a quarter-wave whip antenna. Use the widest filter for 25kHz channel spacing. For more information, go to ariss-sstv.blogspot.com. It is the final week of activation for GB21YOTA for Youngsters on the air. Today, the 26th, and again on the 28th, M0YTE will supervise M7FED using the callsign. On the 27th and 29th, Hilderstone Radio Society will be on the air. Then, on the 30th M0BOY will supervise M7OMY operating the YOTA callsign. Finally, on the 31st, it is M0YTE and M7FED operating on the last day of Youngsters on the Air for this year. The Sudan Amateur Radio Association supports their National Day on Saturday the 1st of January from 0000UTC to 2359UTC with amateur radio activities. Some amateur clubs team up to make a big splash with lots of actions, radios and antennas, offering a variety of modes to experience. For others, the National Day provides an opportunity to coach a smaller group of amateurs and to just have fun talking on the radio. You can email sudanamateur195662@yahoo.com for more details. RSGB HQ is closed for the holidays until 8.30 am on the 4th of January. During that time, if you need information about amateur radio, exams or RadCom you'll find lots of information on the RSGB website, www.rsgb.org. You could also contact your Regional Representative if you need local help, you can find their contact details on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/regional-team. And now for details of rallies and events Unless cancelled by Covid, the Sparkford Wireless Group Rally is due to take place on the 2nd of January at Davis Hall near Yeovil, BA22 7QX. There is free car parking; doors open from 9.30 am to 1 pm and admission is £2. Direct any enquiries to wjh069@gmail.com. Now is the perfect time to let us know your group's rally or event plans for 2022. Email radcom@rsgb.org.uk with details and we'll publicise your event for free in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online. There are already over twenty rallies on the calendar for 2022. Now the DX news Tom, OE1TRI will be active holiday style as 8Q7TR from the Maldives, AS-013, from the 28th of December to the 3rd of January. He will run 20W on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m using SSB and FT8. QSL via OE1TRI; he does not use Club Log or Logbook of The World. Now the Special Event news Medway ARTS is putting GB6NU on the air on the 1st of January, celebrating their founder, the late Bill Nutton, G6NU. This is the first of several planned MARTS 2022 Centenary year celebrations. Further details of this event can be found on the GB6NU QRZ page. To mark 100 years of British broadcasting, the BBC will be putting on special events throughout 2022. As part of the celebrations, the staff amateur radio club, the BBC Radio Group, will be active throughout the year using the special callsign GB100BBC. Ofcom has kindly permitted operation from club members' home stations, as well as from BBC premises around the UK, and locations associated with BBC broadcasting such as transmitter sites. In addition to online QSL options, a traditional commemorative QSL card will be available via the bureau. View the GB100BBC page on QRZ.com for more information and look for GB100BBC on all bands and modes. Operations will commence on New Year's Day from the club shack in Broadcasting House, London. GB120MT is being operated by Chelmsford ARS to mark the first successful reception in Newfoundland from the Marconi transmission at Poldhu in Cornwall. The station will be on the air at various times until the 1st of January 2022. During the month of December, Welland Valley ARS is running special call signs GB1XMS, GB2XMS, GB5XMS and GB9XMS to celebrate Christmas and say farewell to 2021. QSL via operator's instructions. Now the contest news When operating in any contests, please keep yourself and fellow amateurs safe by following all relevant pandemic-related government rules. The Christmas Cumulatives take place between the 26th and the 29th of December from 1400 to 1600UTC each day. Using the 50 to 432MHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 26th of December, the DARC Christmas Contest runs from 0830 to 1100UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 and 7MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also send DOK (club code) or NM (non-member). The Worked All Britain Christmas Party runs from the 26th of December to the 6th of January. Using all modes on any band, the exchange is your WAB book number. On the 1st of January, the IRTS 80m Daytime Counties contest runs from 1700 to 1800UTC. Using SSB and CW, the exchange is signal report and serial number, with EI and GI stations, also sending their County. On Saturday the 8th, the CW AFS contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. Using the 3.5 and 7MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The first session of the EUCW 160m CW Party is also on the 8th from 2000 to 2300UTC, with the second session on the 9th at 0400 to 0700UTC. The ARRL RTTY Round-up runs from 1800UTC on the 8th of January to 2359UTC on the 9th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number, with US stations sending their State and Canadians their Province too. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Wednesday the 22nd of December Given that this report has to last two weeks it is difficult to be precise in terms of actual HF conditions. What we can say is that we are in turbulent times, with the solar flux index going up and down, and geomagnetic conditions subject to fluctuations as coronal holes and coronal mass ejections come and go. The NOAA forecast for the next two weeks is that the solar flux index may reduce as we go past Christmas, initially to the 90s and ultimately to the 80s as we head towards the 28th of December. NOAA also predicts we may have unsettled geomagnetic conditions on or around the 28th of December, possible due to the return of a coronal hole and its associated high-speed solar wind stream. This is very much a guesstimate as this recent crop of sunspots arrived with very little warning. In other words, anything could happen over the next two weeks. At the time of writing, there were two active regions on the Sun about to turn to be Earth-facing on the STEREO Ahead spacecraft imagery, but we will have to wait and see how they develop. What we do know is that mid-Winter is the best time for low-band propagation, so keep an eye on Top Band, 80 metres and 40 metres, which can all show signs of DX activity from afternoon onwards at this time of year. Meanwhile, the higher bands have come into their own with the SFI above 100. If it continues, do check on 12 and 10 metres as they can provide the lowest D-layer absorption and best DX, with some real surprises every now and again. For example, 10m has given quite a few contacts into Australia recently. And 12m has shown good conditions into the mid-west of the USA in the late afternoon before sunset. So until our regular bulletins start again in the New Year, have a very merry Christmas, a happy New Year and good DX. And now the VHF and up propagation news. The good tropo conditions just lasted until the 23cm UK Activity Contest last Tuesday, then a gradual advance of milder Atlantic air with weather fronts, rain and strong winds set the tone for the rest of the week. The general thrust of the milder air is limited and a battle between cold air to the north and mild to the south will split the country in two over the Christmas weekend. There will be snow in some places for Santa and probably not a lot of VHF propagation to distract him! As a long shot, it can sometimes be productive to beam parallel to a weather front, in this case, East to West. In the week between Christmas and New Year, there will be a period of calmer conditions with frosts and a weak ridge of high pressure; so a possible tropo window before the whole pattern returns to mild Atlantic unsettled conditions, but probably with snow on the leading edge. Finally, to restate last week's mention; this time of the year can produce surprising out of season Sporadic-E and, with some strong winter jet stream activity, it's worth a look. Favoured options are to Spain on Boxing Day and more generally to the south and south-east in the second half of the week towards the end of the month. Of course, there's always a chance of aurora and meteor scatter to keep you amused if the Sporadic-E doesn't materialise. The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks overnight from the 2nd of January to the 3rd and can produce a ZHR of 50-100 with some big fireballs. The peak of activity is extremely narrow, lasting only a few hours. The Moon still has positive declination until the day after Boxing Day and perigee is on New Year's day, bringing lowest path losses. This day also has high 144MHz sky noise so EME is a bit of "swings and roundabouts" through the holiday period. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Guest: Inga  Jacobs-Mata  | Regional Representative for Southern Africa at International Water Management Institute Wasanga is joined by Dr Inga Jacobs-Mata, Regional Representative for Southern Africa, International Water Management Institute about South Africa's current water crises. She says that South Africa has always been a water-scarce country but the concerning factor has been the severity and frequency of droughts in some parts. The International Water Management Institute is a research-for-development (R4D) organization, with offices in 13 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 30 countries. For over three decades, their research results have led to changes in water management that have contributed to social and economic development. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPECIAL EVENT Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Reflections from a Career in Research for Development Co-Organized by CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH) and IFPRI NOV 22, 2021 - 09:30 AM TO 11:00 AM EST John McDermott, Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), presents experiences and insights gained over four decades of research, including reflections on academia and development in Africa; managing research teams and institutions; and setting the agenda and building partnerships at the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and health. He will also share thoughts about the future of research for development and engage with colleagues and audience members on future efforts toward addressing global development goals. McDermott has served as Director of A4NH since its inception in 2012. He will retire at the end of 2021. Keynote Speaker John McDermott, Director, CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH), IFPRI The political economy of development Amos Omore, Regional Representative, Eastern and Southern Africa, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Jeffrey Mariner, Research Professor, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University Building platforms to engage non-traditional research partners to deliver solutions that benefit the poor Segenet Kelemu, Director General and CEO, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Jemimah Njuki, Director for Africa, IFPRI Agriculture, nutrition, and health agenda setting, including building partnerships and identifying research priorities Inge Brouwer, Associate Professor, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research Jeff Waage, Director of International Development Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Concluding Remarks Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI Moderator Aulo Gelli, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI LINKS CGIAR Research Program On Agriculture For Nutrition And Health (A4NH): https://a4nh.cgiar.org/

Our guest is a certified dream group leader, a marketing strategist AND a musician who writes and performs her own dream-inspired songs (two of which we play on the show). We talk about the visitation dream that inspired her early interest in dreams and what inspired her to go deeper to receive her certification with the Institute for Dream Studies. We also talk about using active imagination for honing brands and envisioning career choices. We take a call from Pamela from Los Angeles who asks if she gets to decide on the meaning of her own dream. BIO: Sharon Pastore is a brand and marketing strategist and a dreams expert. She is a mentor for those in career transition, and she helps mission-driven founders get brilliant ideas out of their heads and out into the world. Her Empassioned Way™ process infuses data with dreams psychology for higher levels of creativity and problem-solving. She also is the founder of the Dream Girl Power project and runs dream groups plus workshops on intuition, dream interpretation, and lucid dreaming. Sharon is a dreamwork professional certified through the Institute for Dream Studies and is a Regional Representative for the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Sharon Pastore is also a singer-songwriter and performs locally in Pennsylvania with her husband in the acoustic duo, Miss Nay and Mr. Maas. You can find Sharon at her two webpages: EmpassionedMarketing.com and DreamGirlPower.com Other pages of interest are the International Association for the Study of dreams at ASDreams.org and the InstituteforDreamStudies.org We play longer than usual clips from the following two songs created and performed by Sharon as part of the musical duo Miss Nay and Mr. Maas: (1) The Devil Takes the Lead and (2) Fear of the Fall. You can find more of their original music at the following link MissNayMrMaas.com Ambient music created by Rick Kleffel new every week. Many thanks to Rick Kleffel for engineering the show and to Tony Russomano for answering the phones. Show aired on November 20, 2021. The Dream Journal is produced at and airs on KSQD Santa Cruz, 90.7 FM, streaming live at KSQD.org 10-11am Saturday mornings Pacific time.  Catch it live and call in with your dreams or questions at 831-900-5773 or at onair@ksqd.org. If you want to contact Katherine Bell with feedback, suggestions for future shows or to inquire about exploring your own dreams with her, contact katherine@ksqd.org, or find out more about her at ExperientialDreamwork.com. The complete KSQD Dream Journal podcast page is found here. You can also check out The Dream Journal on the following podcast platforms:  Rate it, review it, subscribe and tell your friends. Apple Podcasts Google Play Stitcher  Spotify

Firoze Manji, is Adjunct Professor at the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University. He is Kenyan with more than 40 years' experience in international development, health and human rights, and is the publisher of Daraja Press. He is Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy, and Associate Fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies. He is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Pambazuka News and Pambazuka Press. He has previously worked as Africa Programme Director for Amnesty International, Chief Executive of the Aga Khan Foundation (UK), and Regional Representative for Health Sciences in Eastern and Southern Africa for the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC), researcher at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, and lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Nairobi. He has published widely on health, human rights, development and politics. He is co-editor, with Sokari Ekine, of African Awakenings: The Emerging Revolutions and co-editor with Bill Fletcher Jr, of Claim No Easy Victories: The Legacy of Amilcar Cabral. He is a member of the editorial review board of Global Critical Caribbean Thought and member of the editorial board of Nokoko, journal of the Institute of African Studies. He holds a PhD and MSc from the University of London, and BDS from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Subscribe to our newsletter today

Robbie Fisher speaks with FOOLS International President, Ben Fleagle, and other members of the E-board about the decision and process that went into canceling the 2021 FOOLS Convention. They also discuss the new Regional Representative positions, and showcase the Muddy River FOOLS and their President, Dave Dubowski, who is also the FOOLS International Secretary. More: https://www.foolsinternational.com/ Sponsored by the TenCate Made for Life podcast: https://us.tencatefabrics.com/podcast/

GB2RS News Sunday 20th June 2021   The news headlines: Latest rally news Ofcom updates guidance ARISS SSTV from ISS   The organisers of the Dartmoor Radio Rally have revised the date to the 15th of August. It will be held at the new venue of The Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton PL20 6AL. Doors open at 10 am. Details can be found at dartmoorradioclub.uk. The McMichael Rally Committee has announced that this year's rally is, sadly, cancelled. It was due to take place on the 11th of July. They expect to be back in 2022. Keep checking the website for the latest information. With the recent change to the Covid restrictions, the organisers of the East Suffolk Wireless Revival have decided to cancel the event for 2021. This event is popularly known as the Ipswich Rally and was due to take place on the 11th of July. Ofcom has updated the guidance document What you need to know as an amateur radio user and the Ofcom EMF calculator. The guide provides an overview of what you need to do to comply with Ofcom's EMF licence condition and is much simplified from the earlier version. Links to all of the documents and calculators can be found at rsgb.org/emf. A slow-scan television ARISS event is scheduled between the 21st and 26th of June. Transmissions from the ISS will be on 145.800MHz FM using PD120 SSTV mode. The SSTV images will be transmitted continuously. Transmissions will start at or about 0940UTC on the 21st and will end by 1830UTC on the 26th. Signals should be receivable on a handheld with a quarter-wave whip antenna. Use 25kHz channel spacing if available. Since reopening just over two weeks ago, the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park has welcomed more than 3,800 visitors. With the improved signage and Bletchley Park interactive map, the NRC is typically seeing close to 50% of the Park's footfall. The RSGB would like to thank Martyn, G0GMB and the NRC volunteers for making this possible. The NRC is open every day, except Wednesdays, to pre-booked visitors to Bletchley Park. Sad news next, particularly for those in Region 9, as Tom O'Reilly, G0NSY became Silent Key last week. Tom volunteered for the RSGB as Regional Representative 9, covering London and Thames Valley from 2016 and as a District Representative before that. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. The lecture programme for the weekend of the virtual Ham Radio World Weekend has been announced for the 25th to the 27th of June. Go to www.darc.de and click on the advert for the event at the top of the page. There are lectures in English and these can be seen by their English titles. The Summer Sale in the RSGB Shop has started and will run until the 18th of July. Go to rsgbshop.org to find out more. To increase participation in the FMH Portable Operations Challenge in September, parallel regional or local group competitions are being encouraged by Ed, DD5LP. Those who would like to do this for their group or region should send an email to regionalcontestlist@gmail.com. The regional organiser's callsign and the geographic area or group of people to be covered should be in the email. Full details of the Portable Operations Challenge can be found at foxmikehotel.com. Slovenian Amateur Radio Union will celebrate the country's 30 years of independence by issuing a special award. Between the 26th of June and the 31st of December, Slovenian amateur radio stations can add the number 30 into the suffix. For example, S50ZZ would become S5030ZZ. Search for Slovenia Contest Club using your favourite search engine and click on the Union Jack flag to read all the qualifying details in English. Now the DX news Michel, F6GWV and Gildas, F6HMQ will be active as TO11A from Guadeloupe, IOTA reference NA-102, until the 5th of July. QSL via F6HMQ. Paul, G4PVM will be active as GM4PVM from the Isle of Lismore, EU-008, from the 29th of June to the 4th of July. He will operate holiday style on the 40 to 10m bands using CW and SSB. QSL via Logbook of The World and eQSL. A team will be active as 7D9BA from Lembongan Island, OC-022, between the 25th and 28th of June. They will operate CW, SSB, FT8/FT4 and some RTTY on the 80, 20, 17, 15 and 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World or direct to EA7FTR. Now the Special Event news Kent Weald Radio Club will be at the Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent today, the 20th, and next weekend, the 26th & 27th, for Museums on the Air. They will operate as GB1HA. Harlow and District ARS will be operating today, the 20th and on the 26th of 27th from their clubhouse for Museums on the Air. The museum is Harlow Museum and Gardens and is next door to the clubhouse. Using GB0HMG on HF and 2m, operations are expected from 9.30 am to 4 pm each day. QSL cards will only be sent out on receipt of a card. GB0UTA will be on the air until the 28th of June promoting the University of the Third Age. This special event station will be operating on behalf of the Honiton, Devon branch. GB5UTA will be on the air during the same period on behalf of the Cirencester and Tetbury branches of the U3A. See the QRZ.com entries for more information. Now the contest news With different parts of the UK having different lockdown restrictions, please make sure you follow the appropriate regulations. Several contests now accept portable entries, so please check the contest rules. Above all, please follow relevant national and local restrictions. The 50MHz Trophy contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the 20th. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also this weekend, the All Asian DX contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC today, the 20th. Using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and age. The Worked-All-Britain 50MHz phone contest will take place today, Sunday the 20th of June, from 0800 to 1400UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Entries to be with the WAB Contest Manager by 30th of June. Due to the easing of restrictions, the mobile and portable categories will be resumed; but please act sensibly. Today, the 20th, the UK Microwave Group 122 to 248GHz contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday it is the SSB leg of the 80m Club Championships from 1900 to 2030UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number. Next Sunday, the 27th, the 50MHz CW contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The 4th 70MHz Cumulative contest also takes place on the 27th, from 1400 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 27th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon runs until the 1st of August. Just exchange your 4-character locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Friday the 18th of June. A large coronal hole returned last week and started to become Earth-facing on Monday the 14th. The high-speed solar wind stream from the hole impacted the Earth on Tuesday evening, pushing the Kp index to five. Luckily, conditions returned to normal by late Wednesday and the Kp index was down to two or three thereafter. It now looks like we are free of coronal hole effects for the time being. Sunspot-wise, region 2833 put in an appearance. Its effects on the ionosphere have been minimal with the solar flux index stuck at 76 on Thursday the 27th and the sunspot number at 11, representing one spot in one group. HF propagation has been adequate rather than outstanding, with the real talking point remaining Sporadic-E. Conditions on 10 metres have been good with long, solid openings to Europe popping up each day. Do make the most of these, as F2-layer openings on 10m may be harder to find once the Sporadic-E season ends. Next week NOAA has the SFI at around 80 and quiet geomagnetic conditions with a Kp index of two. We are still not seeing the ramp-up in sunspot activity that we would like, although fingers are crossed that this Autumn might be more positive. In the meantime, make the most of the Sporadic-E openings, particularly on the higher bands such as 12 and 10 metres. These openings can affect lower HF bands too, although it is sometimes hard to distinguish them from F2-layer openings. So please don't ignore 15 metres and lower at this time and look for short-skip contacts on these bands as well. And now the VHF and up propagation news. It looks like the majority of next week will see low pressure predominating with further periods of unsettled and potentially thundery weather. The pattern places the main area of low pressure over or just west of the UK, forcing a thundery showery southerly flow across the country. There will be some interludes when brief ridges of high pressure show up, especially in southeastern areas, but overall Tropo will not be high on the list. So, apart from some rain scatter prospects and the occasional extended sea path Tropo across the North Sea or English Channel, it will mostly be a week for chasing Sporadic-E. The northern part of Europe and Scandinavia have a good jet stream flow and this extends into northern Russia, making it worth checking those DX paths into the Far East and Japan. The other region looking well favoured with jet stream patterns is to the south into Spain and Portugal. We are in peak season for Sporadic-E, so keeping a regular routine of checking the bands mid-morning and early evening is the best procedure to follow. The Moon is at perigee on Wednesday so path losses will be at their lowest. Sadly, with minimum Moon declination on Friday, visibility windows and peak Moon elevations will also be at their shortest and lowest of the month. The June Bootids meteor shower peaks on Sunday 27th. This shower, although normally small, has a reputation for outbursts of activity. Until then, continue to look for the best random meteor scatter propagation around dawn. And that's all from the propagation team this week.

Al “Hondo” Handy, Mid-Atlantic Regional Representative for National Alliance for Youth Sports discuss the programs that NAYS offers for sports programs.

GB2RS NEWS Sunday the 7th of February 2021 The news headlines: New GB2RS Newsreaders hamradio.org URL donated to IARU New short RSGB video The RSGB is delighted to announce some enhancements to the GB2RS News service. Kelvan, M0KEL is now broadcasting the news via GB3IW on the Isle of Wight at 1015UTC each Sunday. The repeater is on 433.225MHz FM with a sub-audible access tone of 71.9Hz. The repeater has an impressive coverage on the south coast too, and our thanks go to the repeater-keeper Paul, G4IKI who has kindly granted permission for this broadcast. And a new digital amateur television broadcast is being made on 1308MHz at 1000UTC each Sunday via GB3EY, located in a commanding position near Hull 155 metres above sea level. The newsreader Clive, G3GJA also listens for reports on the ATV talkback frequency of 144.775MHz. The latest GB2RS Broadcast Schedule can be downloaded from rsgb.org/gb2rsschedule. We’re always looking for new readers to join the teams around the UK and Crown Dependencies. If you would like to find out more, and you are an RSGB member with a Full or Intermediate licence, please contact the GB2RS Manager via email to gb2rs.manager@rsgb.org.uk. Andrew, KI7RYC has donated the hamradio.org domain to the International Amateur Radio Union for non-profit educational use to promote the amateur and amateur satellite services. In accepting the gift, IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH said, “The hamradio.org domain offers a unique opportunity for which we are deeply grateful to Andrew. It is our intention to develop a website that can serve as a focal point for anyone, anywhere, who may be seeking information on amateur radio.” The RSGB represents UK radio amateurs both nationally and internationally. Strengthening this representation is part of the Society’s strategic goals. A short video explaining more about this has been added to the Spectrum Forum web page at rsgb.org/spectrum-forum. Girl Guides from Australia will be operating the ALARA Echolink conference station, node 286905, from 2200UTC to 2359UTC on Saturday the 20th of February for their International Thinking Day activities. Contacts from Girl Guides and Leaders would be appreciated. The preparatory work for WRC-23 has started across all regions in both the ITU R and the Regional Telecommunications Organisations. The IARU has representatives contributing to the studies and helping to develop the regional positions on all the WRC agenda items. The IARU Administrative Council has agreed the first preliminary positions covering the six most important agenda items for the amateur and amateur satellite services. Read more at iaru-r1.org. The RSGB nominations process has closed for its forthcoming elections. Only the current co-opted Regional Representatives in Regions 6 and 12 were nominated in those areas, so they have been elected unopposed. We congratulate Liz Cabban, GW0ETU and David de la Haye, M0MDB who will continue in their roles. No nominations were received for the Regional Representative in Region 2, which covers Scotland North and the Northern Isles. The UK and Ireland Contest Club has been assigned the historic callsign EI5G as its club call. Its previous holder was the late Pete Daly, who held the call from the early 1930s until 1961. He was a keen participant in field days and contests. Reviving the callsign honours the memory of its previous holder and, with its EI and G components, captures the ethos of the UK and EI Contest Club. The WSJT Development Group has announced the general availability release of WSJT-X Version 2.3.0. A summary of new features can be found in the User Guide. The Release Notes offer additional information, including a list of important program changes since the WSJT-X 2.2. Upgrading from earlier versions of WSJT-X should be seamless and it’s not necessary to uninstall a previous version or move any files. Just search online for WSJT-X 2.3 User Guide. Congratulations to Lincoln Short-Wave Club, whose 100th birthday is on Wednesday this week. Due to current Covid restrictions, the celebratory dinner will be delayed, but members will probably raise a glass at home. Now the DX news Gareth, M0MOL will be active as MM0MOL/P from the main island of Shetland, IOTA reference EU-012, in February and March. He will operate QRP with what he refers to as a typical portable setup and he will be QRV mainly in the evenings after work. Kang, DS4DRE will be active as DS4DRE/4 from Komun Island, AS-060, until the 31st of January 2022. He plans to operate SSB and CW on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. Now the Special Event news Hull & District ARS is continuing to celebrate 100 years of amateur radio clubs in the Hull area with its year-long special event station, GB1OOH. The station operates most days on bands ranging from 160m to 70cm using different modes. Further details about the operation can be found on QRZ.com. IQ3DD will be active during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina, Italy from the 7th to the 28th of February. A special QSL card will be available. More information on qrz.com. TM18AAW will be on air from the 14th to the 28th of February to celebrate the 18th Antarctic Activity Week. All information is on QRZ.com. The operation will be on the 10 to 40m bands. Now the contest news Please remember to check before the contest for any new rules due to lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world. The RSGB strongly advises obeying your national and local government’s advice. Today, the 7th of February, the 432MHz AFS contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The first European Union DX Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1800UTC today, the 7th. A variety of operating categories are offered, including SWL, and everybody works everybody. Just search for European Union DX Contest Club to obtain full details. On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange is the same for both, signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the data modes leg of the 80m Club Championships runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 50MHz UK Activity contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday the 13th, the 1st 1.8MHz contest runs from 1900 to 2300UTC. It’s CW only and the exchange is signal report, serial number and District code. Next weekend the CQ World Wide WPX RTTY contest runs from 0000UTC on the 13th to 2359UTC on the 14th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Also next weekend, but running for 24 hours, is the PACC Contest. It starts at 1200UTC on the 13th. Using CW and SSB on the 1.8 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Note that PA stations also send their Province code. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Friday the 5th of February. Last week was dominated by unsettled geomagnetic conditions. These were due to the effects of a high-speed stream from a solar coronal hole. The stream resulted in a co-rotating interaction region or CIR. CIRs are transition zones between slow- and fast-moving streams of solar wind. Solar wind plasma piles up in these regions, creating density gradients and shock waves that can affect Earth’s magnetic field much like a coronal mass ejection, or CME. The net result was a Kp index that hit four with widespread visible aurora in the early hours of February 2nd. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions continued until at least Thursday with the Kp index eventually settling back to two. Propagation wise, Tuesday morning saw 10 metres alive with FT8 signals. There was short-skip to Scotland, Wales and Ireland as well as longer paths to Croatia and the Canary Islands. Wednesday saw 4X4DX in Israel coming through. Chris, G0DWV managed to work Namibia and South Africa on 10 metres from his well-equipped station. He then moved to 12 metres and bagged the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Venezuela, Ecuador and numerous North American stations. And all this with virtually no sunspots! Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the range 72-76. But a high-speed stream from another solar coronal hole may impact the Earth this weekend, sending the Kp index up to four. It will be interesting to see if we have an enhancement to the upper HF bands again. Keep an eye on 10 and 12 metres and also for a rapid rise in the real-time solar wind speed at solarham.com. And now the VHF and up propagation news. A disturbed end to this week with rain and snow giving us plenty to do without worrying about band conditions. There’s always GHz bands snow and rain scatter to try if you have the equipment. 10GHz rain scatter QSOs can be made over short ranges using high elevation, so put that tripod out in the back yard, chuck something waterproof over the equipment and make a sked! On the Tropo front, there’s a hint of a temporary weak ridge down the spine of the country at the start of next week, and it may produce some sharp nocturnal temperature inversions over snow cover to bring up the odd distant repeater. Thereafter another low moves up the Channel with rain and snow for the south, while wintry showers affect northern areas. Later in the week a more vigorous Atlantic low pushes active fronts across the whole country. For VHF/UHF propagation this is not a good period, apart from some scattering on the GHz bands. February is the minimum month for Sporadic-E. The Moon is at minimum declination on Monday, so visibility windows are at their shortest and peak Moon elevations are minimum. Perigee was last week so path losses are still low. 144MHz sky noise is high, over 2000K on Monday. On Thursday afternoon the Sun and Moon are within a few degrees of each other so Sun noise will dominate. The Alpha Centaurids meteor shower peaks tomorrow, Monday, but with a zenithal hourly rate of just six, you’ll only see a slight enhancement on meteor scatter conditions. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

Shelly Churchill Regional Representative - War Amps Key Tag Service 75th Anniversary by VOCM

Labor Radio Podcast Network’s Weekly Wednesday Livestream interviews labor leaders about current labor issues with rotating hosts made up of network members. Guests for January 20, 2021 of LRPN Livestream included Joe McCartin (Kalmanovitz Initiative at Georgetown University),  Mark McDermott (Labor Activist), Marc Dann (Former Attorney General Ohio), Kurt Stand (Portside), Danny Schur (Composer/Producer) LRPN Hosts: Chris Garlock (Union City Radio in Washington, DC); Kris LaGrange, (UCOMM Live); Joe Cadwell, (GRIT podcast); Patrick Dixon, (Labor History Today podcast), Alan Wierdak (Labor History Today podcast), Sound engineer, broadcast producer, and editing by Evan Matthew Papp of Empathy Media Lab. Additional Guest information: JOE MCCARTIN, on the firing of Peter Robb from the National Labor Relations Board. Joe is author of Collision Course, Ronald Reagan, the Air Traffic Controllers, and the Strike that Changed America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_A._McCartin  MARK MCDERMOTT, a longtime economic justice and labor educator; he served as Regional Representative for the Pacific NW and northern plains states under U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. http://www.markmmcdermott.com/  MARC DANN, served as Attorney General of the State of Ohio and now leads DannLaw, which specializes in protecting consumers from various forms of predatory financing. Recent column in Working-Class Perspectives: Time to Deliver: How Biden Should Respond to the Insurrection. https://workingclassstudies.wordpress.com/2021/01/18/time-to-deliver-how-biden-should-respond-to-the-insurrection/ KURT STAND, contributor to Portside, which is celebrating 20 years: Multiracial Democracy or Fascist-Like Autocracy? https://portside.org/2021-01-18/multiracial-democracy-or-fascist-autocracy DANNY SCHUR, composer/producer of Stand! (both the 2005 hit musical and the new movie), now available for streaming. https://internationalmusician.org/danny-schur-and-stand/ Credits: Produced by Chris Garlock; Executive Producer and engineer and editor is Evan Matthew Papp from Empathy Media Lab.  About the Labor Radio Podcast Network The Labor Radio Podcast Network is both a one-stop shop for audiences looking for labor content and a resource for labor broadcasters and podcasters. Resources include a weekly podcast summarizing shows produced by network members, marketing on social media, a website listing network shows and how audiences can find them, a database for contacting expert guests, access to a private listserv for Network members, and a weekly video call to increase solidarity and support amongst members. Launched in April 2020, the Labor Radio Podcast Network focuses on working class issues that are often overlooked in the corporate-controlled media. The goal of the network is to help raise the voices of working people and strengthen organized labor to demand and achieve better treatment from workplaces and elected officials. If you are a journalist interested in learning more or if you’re a labor radio or podcast producer and want to join the network, contact us at info@laborradionetwork.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtag #LaborRadioPod or visit the website at: https://www.laborradionetwork.org/. FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LaborRadioNet/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/laborradionet INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/laborradionet/ WEEKLY PODCAST NETWORK SUMMARY: https://laborradiopodcastweekly.podbean.com/ #LaborRadioPod #1U #UnionStrong

GB2RS NEWS Sunday the 17th of January 2021 The news headlines: RSGB publishes EMF Calculator New AllStar Gateway in North Lancashire Enter Construction Competitions! As agreed with Ofcom last month, the RSGB’s EMC Committee has published its EMF calculator, which incorporates the Ofcom calculator but adds a front end specifically for radio amateurs. It is currently an evaluation version, so the EMCC welcomes feedback to help it move towards a final one. You can download the calculator from the EMF page at www.rsgb.org/emf. Recently, the MB7IMB repeater came on the air in North Lancashire. It is a simplex AllStar gateway on 145.2375MHz narrow FM, with a CTCSS access tone of 110.9Hz. The North West AllStar Group has been formed, linking AllStar nodes and repeaters throughout north-west England. The group is encouraging the use of the repeater. All that’s needed is a standard 2m FM transceiver with CTCSS capabilities. If you have a node or gateway they welcome links to the system. The group has a Facebook page where you can find out more. Have you entered the RSGB’s ‘Get on the air to care’ construction competition? The deadline is the 1st of February. Your project can be hardware, software or a system and may be based on a kit. If you made something during the autumn lockdowns, over the holiday season, or are in the middle of something during the current restrictions, you could win £100 if you enter the competition. Send a short description of your project to gm.dept@rsgb.org.uk and include a few photographs, a video if possible and any related circuit diagrams. Whether you’ve just got your licence or you’ve been a radio amateur for years, you’re encouraged to take part. If you enter this competition you can also resubmit the same project to the 2021 RSGB Annual Construction Competition. Very low frequency enthusiast Joe, VO1NA reports that Stefan, DK7FC copied his 50-character EbNaut message transmitted from Newfoundland on 8.271kHz, with a radiated power of 10mW. We believe this is a new record for amateur transatlantic VLF. Joe’s tower supports a VLF rotated L, which is 10 metre average height and 100 metres long. The RSGB is delighted that 4,000 people have taken amateur radio exams via remote invigilation. This number covers exams at all three licence levels. We know that all radio amateurs will be encouraging as people progress and enjoy the diversity of amateur radio. Could you be the RSGB’s next President? Do you have the time and skills to serve on the Society’s Board of Directors? We’re into the final weeks of the nominations process for the RSGB elections, which will end at 2359UTC on the 31st of January. In addition to these two roles, there are three Regional Representative vacancies in Regions 2, 6 and 12. Each post-holder has indicated their willingness to stand for election but applications are also welcome from all RSGB Members living in these particular Regions. For more information visit www.rsgb.org/election. The results will be announced at the RSGB’s online AGM on Saturday the 24th of April. The Dayton Hamvention will not take place for a second year. Sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, it was set to take place between the 21st and 23rd of May in Ohio. The committee said the show would return in 2022 and hinted at a QSO party for Hamvention weekend. The 80m RSGB National Radio Centre net continues to run each weekday at 10.30 am on 3.727MHz. The NRC volunteers have run 260 of these nets since March 2020 to support radio amateurs. They are keen for people to call in during the current lockdown. Get on the air and have a chat – they’d love to hear from you!   South Dublin Radio Club hosted Michael O’Connell from the I87 Astroshot Observatory to the club’s first online live lecture of 2021, via Zoom. The lecture is titled Amateur Observations of Meteors and is now available to view on the club’s YouTube channel. Michael’s presentation covers Meteors, Meteor related radio phenomena and how radio techniques are used by amateurs to detect and track meteors. Now the special event news Hull and District Amateur Radio Society is celebrating 100 years of amateur radio clubs in the Hull area with a year-long special event station, callsign GB1OOH. The station will operate most days throughout 2021 on bands ranging from 160m to 70cm and using different modes. Further details about the station and QSL options can be found on QRZ.com. During 2021, the British Railways ARS will be celebrating its 55th anniversary. They will be running the special event call GB0LMR, operated by BRARS member Mark, G1PIE from Preston in Lancashire. Bands of operation will be 40 to 10 metres using PSK-31, PSK-63 and SSB, plus VHF/UHF. Further information is on QRZ.com and www.brars.info. Now the DX news 4L1PJ is the callsign issued to Peter, 4L/G4ENL. He expects to operate SSB on various HF bands for the next few years while on work assignment in Svaneti, Georgia. QSL via N4GNR. Bo, OZ1DJJ will be active in his spare time as OX3LX from Tasiilaq Island, IOTA reference NA-151, until the 30th of January. QSL via Logbook of The World, Club Log’s OQRS or direct to OZ0J. Garry, 2M1DHG is active as ZC4GR from the UK Sovereign Base Area of Dhekelia for the next two and a half years. He operates SSB and digital modes on the 40, 20 and 10m bands, typically between 1700 and 1900UTC a few nights a week. QSL via EB7DX. Now the contest news Please remember to check before the contest for any new rules due to lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world. The RSGB strongly advises obeying your national and local government’s advice. On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday it’s the all-mode 70MHz UK Activity Contest. Running between 2000 and 2230UTC, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Next weekend the BARTG RTTY Sprint runs from 1200UTC on the 23rd to 1200UTC on the 24th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is simply the serial number. The UK EI Contest Club DX CW contest starts at 1200UTC on the 23rd and runs for 24 hours. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz contest bands, the exchange is signal report and District Code. Don’t forget, the UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon runs until the end of this month. Just exchange a signal report and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Thursday the 14th of January. Well, no one predicted last week’s geomagnetic disturbance. In case you missed it, the Kp index rose to four on Monday the 11th January. This was caused by the arrival of an interplanetary shock wave from a coronal mass ejection on the Sun, which occurred on Thursday the 7th. NOAA had been predicting a settled Sun, which shows just how unpredictable our nearest star can be. The CME’s effects on the ionosphere were quite startling. The Chilton Digisonde data, as plotted at propquest.co.uk, shows that the predicted MUF over a 3,000km path dropped to below 14MHz by 1530UTC, although it did recover to more than 18MHz within an hour. That night there were widespread reports of visible aurora, but the ionosphere had recovered by Tuesday afternoon with the Kp index back to one by 1500UTC. Other than that element of ionospheric excitement there has been little to report, with the solar flux index down as low as 72 by Thursday the 14th with zero sunspots. The only other noteworthy event has been widespread winter Sporadic-E, which saw 12, 10 and six metres become wide open to Europe this the week. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the mid to high 70s. The STEREO spacecraft show a coronal hole is about to rotate into view around the Sun’s eastern limb. The high-speed solar wind from this, and other polar coronal holes, may cause the Kp index to rise to four by Sunday the 17th and we may not see a recovery back down to two until the 21st. So it looks like the latter half of the week may be best for HF DX. And now the VHF and up propagation news. The current unsettled spell of weather should have taken a brief pause on Friday but may have returned this weekend, with an active front crossing the country, followed by a transient ridge in the second half of the weekend. These ridges are rarely good for widespread Tropo and the unsettled regime returns for the bulk of the coming week. Strangely enough, you can find temporary enhancements of Tropo conditions parallel to, and just ahead of, approaching weather fronts. It’s marginal but can make a difference to scores in the VHF/UHF UK Activity Contests. But GHz band rain scatter is probably a more reliable mode for the next week. The unsettled story also implies some strong jet stream activity, so it’s still worth a look at the usual Sporadic-E bands of 10m and 6m for one more week, although this is probably our last chance before the mode returns in force in April. Moon declination turns positive again on Tuesday, so we’ll have increasing Moon windows and peak Moon elevations this week. With apogee on Thursday though, path losses will be high. This trend of high declination and path loss only starts to reverse from May 2022, so get used to it! 144MHz sky noise is low. There are no significant meteor showers this week so continue to check pre-dawn for the best random meteor contacts. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS NEWS Sunday the 10th of January 2021 The news headlines: Happy New Year from RSGB Volunteers invited to stand for election Celebrating 200 years of Greek independence 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 uploaded to the RSGB website by 4.30 pm each Friday afternoon. We’re into the final weeks of the nominations process for the RSGB elections, which will end at 2359UTC on the 31st of January. The Society is looking for its next President as Dave Wilson, M0OBW will retire at the AGM. There is also a place for one elected Board Director. In addition, there are three Regional Representative vacancies in Regions 2, 6 and 12 because the current post holders were co-opted into a vacancy after the last AGM. Each one has indicated their willingness to stand for election but applications are also welcome from all RSGB Members living in these particular Regions. For more information about any of these roles, how to nominate someone or for information about the election process, visit www.rsgb.org/election. The results will be announced at the RSGB’s online AGM on Saturday the 24th of April. To commemorate the 200th anniversary, the Greek Independence Award will run throughout 2021. Anyone can take part and all mode and types of QSO are valid. The website https://sv2rck.gr/200YEARS lists a number of award stations. Get on the air for Christmas finished yesterday, Saturday the 9th of January, but you still have time to enter the construction competition. Projects can be hardware, software or a system and may be based on a kit. There is a prize of £100 and the winning entry will be featured on the Society’s website and in RadCom. The deadline for entries is the 1st of February. See the details at www.rsgb.org/gota4c. Elettra is the vessel on which Marconi conducted many experiments. The Elettra: the miracle ship award commemorates the centenary of the ship's official registration under the name of Elettra. The award period lasts the whole year and there will be a different special event callsign each month. Detail at www.arifidenza.it. Were you one of the 19,000 people who enjoyed the RSGB’s Tonight @ 8 webinars last year? The 2021 series starts tomorrow, Monday the 11th of January, when Steve Hartley, G0FUW and Pete Juliano, N6QW will talk about amateur radio construction. Despite what many people think, building your own radio equipment is still a very popular aspect of amateur radio. This presentation will share some ideas on how to get started and provide some examples of homebrew gear, using hardware and software. Watch live and ask questions on the RSGB YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/theRSGB. A QSO Party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Marconi Club AR Loano will take place on the 16th of January. Running from 0800 to 2200UTC using the 20, 40 and 80m bands with CW only, you can find out the rules at www.ariloano.it/marconiclub. Permission has been announced for Category 1 Uzbek licensees to operate in the new WRC-15 Amateur 60m Secondary Allocation of 5351.5 – 5366.5kHz with a maximum power of 100W. Now the special event news Hull and District Amateur Radio Society is celebrating 100 years of amateur radio clubs in the Hull area with a year-long special event station, callsign GB10OH. The station will operate most days throughout 2021 on bands ranging from 160m to 70cm and using different modes. Further details about the station and QSL options can be found on QRZ.com. During 2021, the British Railways ARS will be celebrating its 55th anniversary. They will be running the special event call GB0LMR, operated by BRARS member Mark, G1PIE from Preston in Lancashire. Bands of operation will be 40 to 10 metres using PSK-31, PSK-63 and SSB, plus VHF/UHF. Further information is on QRZ.com and www.brars.info. Now the DX news Grant, VK5GR will be active as VK5KI from Kangaroo Island, OC-139, until the 22nd of January. He plans to operate holiday style on the 80 to 6m bands using CW, SSB and FT8, possibly with some RTTY and PSK. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. Seba, SQ1SGB and Will, M0ZXA expect to be active as VP8/SQ1SGB or VP8HAL and VP8DOI from Halley VI Research Station, Antarctica until the 4th of February. In their spare time, they will operate SSB and digital modes FT8 and JT65 on 40 and 20 metres. Now the contest news Please remember to check before the contest for any new rules due to lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world. The RSGB strongly advises obeying your national and local government’s advice. Today, the 10th, the Datamodes AFS contest runs from 1300 to 1700UTC. The SSB AFS contest takes place on Saturday from 1300 to 1700UTC. Both use the 3.5 and 7MHz bands, and the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Monday and Tuesday, the 2nd Christmas Hope QSO Party has two sessions. The first is 0930 to 1100UTC on the 11th using FT4 on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, with an exchange of your 4-character locator. The second is 1100 to 1230UTC on the 12th using CW on the same bands with an exchange of signal report and serial number. Tuesday sees the 432MHz FM Activity Contest run from 1900 to 1955UTC. It is followed by the All-Mode UKAC from 2000 to 2230UTC. The exchange for both is signal report, serial number and locator. Wednesday and Thursday see two more sessions of the 2nd Christmas Hope QSO Party. The first is on the 13th from 1230 to 1400UTC using RTTY. The second session is on the 14th from 1400 to 1530UTC using SSB. The exchange is the same for both, signal report and serial number, as are the bands to be used, 3.5 to 28MHz. On Thursday, the 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Saturday, the Worked All Britain 1.8MHz Phone Contest runs from 1900 to 2300UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and WAB square. Don’t forget, the UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon runs until the end of January 2021. Just exchange a signal report and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Thursday the 7th of January. We start by welcoming in 2021, and here’s hoping that it proves to be more fruitful than 2020 in terms of HF propagation. We’ve started the New Year with zero sunspots and a solar flux index back in the mid-70s on Thursday the 7th. The STEREO Ahead spacecraft is not showing anything of note around the back of the Sun, but we know that spots can suddenly appear. HF propagation has been relatively poor, but with seasonal ionospheric changes mainly being responsible for an uplift in daytime critical and maximum usable frequencies. Daytime critical frequencies have generally been in the range of 4.5 to 5.5MHz, falling to below 3.5MHz by 1930UTC on most evenings. This means that 80m is ceasing to be suitable for local NVIS contacts as the evening progresses, which is normal for this time of year. Daytime maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path have exceeded 18 and even 21MHz on most days, with winter Sporadic-E being the main DX mode on the higher 12 and 10 metre bands. There has been the odd F2-layer opening on 28MHz, but we will need some more sunspot activity to make band openings more reliable. NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain in the high 70s at the beginning of next week, reflecting the lack of sunspot activity. The Kp index is predicted to reach a maximum of only two, due to a lack of coronal hole and coronal mass ejection activity. This means we may have a more settled ionosphere, which may be good for HF DX. So in summary, it's more of the same in terms of HF propagation next week, with no real highlights. But don’t ignore the lower bands, such as 1.8, 3.5, and 7MHz, which can really come into their own in mid-winter. And now the VHF and up propagation news. Despite no Tropo for a number of weeks, there has been high pressure to the west of Britain for some time. During the weekend and next week, it will become more dominant over much of the country, initially favouring Tropo for the south-western parts, but perhaps more generally later. This may be temporarily curtailed by frontal systems moving across the country around midweek and thus add some options for GHz rain scatter, but some models bring a ridge of high pressure back later in the week. As hinted at in the last bulletin, a sudden stratospheric warming did indeed develop on the 4th of January 2021. As mentioned, it can have impacts on not just the stratospheric flow but can influence weather patterns nearer the surface about a couple of weeks later. In a related note, it appears the models, after a milder next week, are hinting at a colder northerly spell again after the following weekend. Staying with the stratospheric wind flow changes, these may have a possible link to winter Sporadic-E events and it’s worth monitoring 10m and 6m for activity in the next couple of weeks or so, especially FT8, but CW and SSB are not impossible. After the excitement of the Quadrantids meteor shower we are now entering the annual quiet period in meteor activity with just two significant showers between now and the April Lyrids, so back to pre-dawn random meteors for the best chance of DX. The Moon was at perigee yesterday, so path losses are at their lowest, but it’s at minimum declination on Tuesday meaning Moon windows are short and low elevation. The Moon only reaches 12 degrees elevation on Tuesday, meaning horizon noise will be an issue all week at VHF. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS NEWS Sunday the 13th of December 2020 The news headlines: New RadCom Basics released Awards Manager appointed Charity auction for special Morse key   The next edition of RadCom Basics is now available. Articles include Are you making full use of the RSGB? Antennas and planning matters, Metal bashing with basic workshop practices, the FT8 digital mode and Revisiting a Start Here article on How filters can help remove interference from outside the amateur bands. RSGB Members can read previous editions of RadCom Basics by going to www.rsgb.org/radcom-basics. You can register at the same address to receive notification of subsequent issues as they become available. The RSGB Board has appointed a new Awards Manager, Lindsay Pennell, G8PMA. An avid award collector himself, Lindsay already volunteers as an RSGB QSL Bureau Sub-manager and has recently served on the Legacy Committee. He will start his new role next week. He can be contacted then via email to awards@rsgb.org.uk. The RSGB and NHS Campaign ‘Get on the air for Christmas’ is off to a great start this week with the launch of a charity auction to raise money for NHS Charities Together. Roy Bailey, G0VFS created his beautifully-engineered VirusPerpleXed Bug CW Key during the first lockdown and has kindly donated it for the auction. You can bid for the item on eBay by going to https://tinyurl.com/RSGB-charity-auction before 7.30 pm on Saturday the 19th of December, which is when the auction ends. On Sunday the 20th of December, GB1NHS will be on the air from the RSGB National Radio Centre to raise awareness of ‘Get on the air for Christmas’ and to chat to as many radio amateurs as possible. Listen out for them and give them a call. The world’s largest solar observatory, located on the island of Maui in Hawaii, has released its first image of a sunspot, which captures the phenomenon in striking detail. The image, taken last January, is among the first solar images of the new Solar Cycle 25 and can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/gb2rs-sunspot. The telescope’s 4m primary mirror will give the best views of the sun from Earth throughout the next solar cycle. Thanks to the National Solar Observatory for the story. Gremlins got into the January 2021 edition of RadCom. A draft version of G4JNT’s Coherent ADC article was inadvertently printed, for which we apologise. A corrected version can be found on the RSGB website – go to www.rsgb.org/radcom and click on Supplementary material and errata. Sadly, the Australian regulator, ACMA has decided against permitting that country’s amateurs a 5MHz/60m allocation. It says, in balancing defence’s existing use of the 5351.5–5366.5kHz band against the impacts of introducing use by the amateur service, the ACMA has decided not to support amateur use in the band. The ACMA recognises the high level of interest shown by the amateur community in adding this band and understands there will be disappointment. You can read the full document at https://tinyurl.com/gb2rs-acma. The 80m RSGB National Radio Centre Net continues to run each weekday at 10.30 am on 3.727MHz. The NRC volunteers are keen for radio amateurs to call in. So get on the air and have a chat – they’d love to hear from you. Would you like to volunteer for the RSGB? Its President Dave Wilson, M0OBW will retire at the AGM and the Society is looking for one elected Board Director. In addition, there are three Regional Representative vacancies in Regions 2, 6 and 12 because the current post holders were co-opted into a vacancy after the last AGM. Each one has indicated their willingness to stand for election but applications are also welcome from all RSGB Members living in these particular Regions. The nomination process must be completed by 2359 on 31 January 2021 and the results will be announced at the RSGB AGM, which will be held online on 24 April 2021. For more information about any of these roles, how to nominate someone or for information about the election process, visit the Society’s election web page, www.rsgb.org/election. Listen out for Youngsters On The Air stations around the world. GB20YOTA will be operating throughout December. M0SDV will operate the station today, the 13th; then M0KDS takes over on Monday. Tuesday sees the callsign under G4DJX and GW1YQM’s guidance, with GW1YQM picking up the call on Friday. G7OHO will be operating on Saturday and Sunday and then it goes to M0NCG, also on Sunday. The calendar is shown on the GB20YOTA page on QRZ.com. To reserve an operating slot, contact Jamie, M0SDV via email to yota.month@rsgb.org.uk. Now the special event news Thurrock Acorns ARC members will be on the air as GB4XMS from the 20th of December to the 3rd of January. During the month of December, Welland Valley ARS will be running GB1XMS, GB2XMS, GB5XMS and GB9XMS from the shacks of various members. QSL via eQSL and Logbook of The World. Now the DX news The 6V1A expedition to the island of Goree, IOTA reference AF-045, will be between the 18th and 20th of December. Activity will be on various bands SSB and CW. QSL via Logbook of The World. Now the contest news Please remember to check before the contest for any new rules due to lockdown and social distancing, which may differ around the world. The RSGB strongly advises obeying your national and local government’s advice. As per tradition, December is a quiet month for traditional contests, with no RSGB HF contests, but look out for the RSGB Hope QSO Parties. There are two series, which run from 21 December to 14 January, with a short break over Christmas. You can find out details at https://tinyurl.com/RSGB-Christmas-Hope-QSO. The Second Machine Generated Mode contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the 13th. Using any machine-generated mode on the 50 and 144MHz bands, the exchange is signal report and your 4-character locator. The ARRL 10m Contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC today, the 13th. The contest is CW and phone only. The exchange is signal report and serial number with US stations sending their State code and Canadians their Province code. On Tuesday the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The UK Six Metre Group Winter Marathon runs until the end of January 2021. Just exchange a signal report and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA & G4BAO on Friday the 11th of December. We said last week that it would be hard to predict what would happen over the next seven days – and that turned out to be true. The coronal hole we mentioned last week didn’t really amount to much, and sunspot region 2790 didn’t either. As a result, the solar flux index fell to 82 by Thursday, with region 2790 shrinking and with no other sunspots on the visible face of the Sun. A B-class solar flare on the 7th of December resulted in a coronal mass ejection that impacted the Earth in the early hours of the 10th. This pushed the Kp index to four, but the effects were relatively short-lived and the index was back down to one by midday. Propquest’s ionosonde readings reflected the CME’s effects in the early hours but showed the MUF over a 3,000km path was back to 21-24MHz by mid-morning. There were other minor solar flare events during the week, but nothing as intense as the flare on the 7th. There was DX around last week. Bob, VP8LP in the Falkland Islands and numerous Brazilian stations have been audible in the afternoon on 10m FT8. Australia and New Zealand have both been workable on 20m FT8 in the morning as well. NOAA got its SFI prediction pretty much spot-on last week. It said we could expect to see it in the low 80s by the end of the week and so it was! Next week NOAA says it will be around 86, but we can expect poorer conditions around the 18th and 19th due to a geomagnetic disturbance. Region 2783 returns again this week, but the prediction is that is unlikely to be that active. So this week, focus your DXing efforts at the beginning of the week as conditions may be worse by next weekend. And now the VHF and up propagation news. It will be another quiet week for Tropo propagation, with the next few days looking to be once again dominated by unsettled weather. Low pressure mostly to the northwest of Britain will feed a succession of fronts and bands of rain across the country. This makes rain scatter a probable mode for the GHz bands, and not much chance to cheer up any Tropo operators. It may also be rather breezy in some areas and mostly milder again. The Geminids meteor shower is well underway and peaks tomorrow on the 14th, so expect high activity on the digimode frequencies on all the VHF bands. If you have 100 watts and a beam on two or six metres, why not try an SSB sked at the peak? All that chanting of callsigns and “Roger, Roger” can be very therapeutic! The high ZHR of 150 means that this is quite possible. Also, look for signal bursts around 49.750MHz from the few remaining Eastern European TV carriers, and on 143.050MHz for the Graves bistatic radar from France. The Moon is at minimum declination on Tuesday so there are short visibility windows all week. Losses are low with the Moon at perigee today. 144MHz sky noise is high and increasing and the Sun and Moon are very close tomorrow and low, not falling below 500 kelvin until Wednesday. And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

Tonight I sat down with John Wallace and Brandon Wilmoth. We spent the day chasing wild pheasants and quail in western KS. John & Brandon brought their sons along and I got to watch John's kids shoot and flush their first wild upland birds. It was awesome. For a change of Pace, John even cooked most of the dinner.John Wallace wears many hats including Regional Representative for Pheasants Forever out of Ohio, Wild Game Cook (On Instagram), Dad, Awesome Beard Grower. He is a super cool driven dude that I am fortunate to call a friend.Brandon was incredible and hosted us in his hometown this hunt and we had a ball! Brandon was formerly with Pheasants Forever but now works for the National Wild Turkey Federation as the Regional Representative for Kansas. Both these guys are great and I picked up a bunch of tips from them about hunting, cooking, and how to get your kids into hunting. Listen in and make sure you check out the links below!Brandon's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/bmwilmoth/John's Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wildgamecook/Pheasants Forever:https://pheasantsforever.org/The National Wild Turkey Federation:https://www.nwtf.org/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/_hunt_fish_eat_/?hl=enFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/hntfsheatYoutube:https://youtube.com/channel/UCsngsHDDYKZny29ix3ekbqgSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/HuntFishEat)

MATT LENZ (Director) is a New York City based, free-lance theatre director. RECENT credits include: The East and West coast premieres of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, the US national tours of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Venus in Fur. BROADWAY: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can, The Velocity of Autumn (Associate Director on original productions), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Original Resident Director). OFF-BROADWAY: Pageant: The Musical (Drama Desk nomination), The Irish Curse, Idaho! The Comedy Musical, The Great Daisy Theory, Fingers and Toes, and Alan Ball’s Tense Guy. NATIONAL TOURS: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story: The Musical (2014 -’19), Cheers: Live Onstage, Catch Me If You Can, The Who’s Tommy and Hairspray. INTERNATIONAL: Charlie in Australia and productions of Hairspray in South Africa, the UK, Toronto, and Germany. REGIONAL: (Representative plays and musicals); Paper Mill Playhouse (Hairspray), George Street Playhouse ([title of show]), the MUNY (Beauty, Aida Hairspray, Grease, etc), Ogunquit Playhouse (Victor/Victoria, Grumpy Old Men), Cape Playhouse (Art, Sylvia, Earnest), The Alliance Theatre (Elaborate Lives), La Mirada (Grumpy Old Men), North Carolina Theatre (Full Monty, Beauty, South Pacific), Maltz Jupiter Theater (Billy Elliot, The Foreigner), Zach Theatre (Les Miserables, Love! Valor! Compassion!, God of Carnage), Gulfshore Playhouse (Fox in the Fairway), Casa Manana (South Pacific), Gateway Playhouse (Aida), Short North Stage (The Irish Curse), Forestburgh Playhouse (Idaho, Venus in Fur). www.mattlenzdirector.com