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G4TNU > NEWS 13.07.25 05:47l 316 Lines 15675 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 13 Jul 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 13th of July 2025
The news headlines:
* The RSGB announces speakers for its annual Convention in
October
* Get involved with chasing awards this summer
* RSGB Regional Representatives elect a new Regional Forum Chair
The RSGB is delighted to announce that the Keynote Speaker for its
2025 Convention will be Professor Lucie Green. She is a Professor of
Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the Mullard
Space Science Laboratory of the University College London. She has
also presented many TV and radio programmes including The Sky at
Night and Stargazing Live. During her talk, Professor Green will
provide an update on the proposed Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation
Mission, which she is working on with fellow UK researchers. The
project will enable the team to study the conditions that create
solar storms, leading to improvements in forecasts of space weather
on Earth. As well as releasing details of the Keynote Speaker, the
RSGB has published a teaser of its Convention programme. This
includes Neil Smith, G4DBN who will share his experience of taking
complex ideas and turning them into stories that connect with wider
audiences. Many of you will be familiar with Neil from the popular
BBC series "The Secret Genius of Modern Life" for which he recreated
a device invented by Leon Theremin. Bill Rothwell, G0VDE will show
you that DXpeditions don't always need to involve masses of
equipment, and that one person can make a successful trip with only
the luggage they carry. RSGB Propagation Studies Committee member
Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL will explore Travelling Ionospheric
Disturbances, whilst Brian Coleman, G4NNS will give you the latest
update on the UK Meteor Radar System. Read the full list of confirmed
speakers by going to rsgb.org/convention and selecting the "RSGB
2025 Convention speakers" option from the right-hand menu. The RSGB
2025 Convention is taking place at Kents Hill Conference Centre
between the 10th and 12th of October. Book your ticket now and join
like-minded people for a fun-filled weekend.
Set yourself a challenge this summer and get involved with awards
chasing. The RSGB awards are open to everyone, whatever your age,
licence level and personal interests. They encourage you to push
yourself further, learn something new and can even help you to make
tweaks to your station to maximise performance. If HF is your mode,
then visit rsgb.org/awards and get involved with the IARU Region 1
Award, which encourages you to make contacts with member countries.
If VHF or UHF is your preference, then challenge yourself to the
50MHz Continents and Countries Award. There are also several
Foundation awards that are aimed at getting new licensees on the air
and help build confidence. For younger RSGB members, there are two
awards designed to show the breadth that amateur radio offers. The
RSGB Scouts, Cadets and Girlguiding Youth Champion, Samuel
McCutchion, 2E1UEL recently completed the Radio Surfer Award and
shared his experience with us. Read how he got on by going to
rsgb.org/award-stories
At a recent meeting of the RSGB Regional Forum, the RSGB Regional
Representatives elected George Crawford, MM0JNL as the Regional Forum
Chair. George represents Scotland South and Western Isles as the
Representative for Region 1. He got involved in amateur radio in 2020
and gained his Full licence by March 2021. George has also been a
GB2RS Newsreader. Along with the rest of the Regional Team, George is
keen to continue to help RSGB members and the wider amateur radio
community, and to promote amateur radio and the Society at public
events. He will be attending Kirriemuir [KEY-REE-MUIR] Show on the
19th of July to showcase amateur radio to the agricultural and rural
communities. You can hear more details about that in the Special
Event News section of this week's GB2RS News.
Last week, senior RSGB staff and some members of the RSGB Board met
for two days to discuss the next implementation phase of the
Society's strategy. The discussions covered several topics, including
how to ensure the Society stays relevant to the modern radio amateur.
Those discussions led to some initial plans for the next six months
that focus on one or two clear goals. More details of the plans will
be shared over the coming weeks, including in strategy updates and at
the ‘Meet the Board' session at the RSGB Convention in October.
Following the RSGB's attendance at Dayton and Friedrichshafen, it was
also noted that the Society is held in high esteem around the world
and that many other national societies are keen to learn from the
RSGB's achievements.
Ben, M7FRS and John, G0JDL are hoping to be operating aeronautical
mobile in a Cessna 172 for about an hour tomorrow, Monday the 14th,
over the skies of Norfolk and Suffolk. The pair will be departing
from Beccles Airfield at around midday. They will initially be on the
2m band FM calling frequency of 145.500MHz before changing frequency.
As per the new licensing arrangements, they will be using less than
500mW. Listen out for them as they would love to get you in their
log!
During this weekend's IARU HF World Championship, five stations will
be active on the 80 to 10m bands using SSB and CW and tested under
field conditions. They will be using the exact planned equipment for
the WRTC 2026 event as a trial. The operating location will be a
cluster of sites within the grounds of the Euston Estate in Suffolk.
QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. There will be two awards available for chasers
during this event, so listen out for the following callsigns: GB0WR,
GB2WR, GB5WR, GB8WR and GB9WR. For more information visit
tinyurl.com/wrtctest
The next in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday
the 20th of July from 12pm to 3pm. The event will have over 40
stations and 1,000 participants from all over the UK and Ireland. To
take part on the day, all you need to do is call into a local net and
make contact with others. You can find more information, including
details of the nets, the operators, their locations and operating
frequencies on the 145 Alive Events Facebook page.
And now for details of rallies and events
The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is taking
place today, the 13th, at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks Lane,
Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8am. The
doors will be open for visitors from 9am to 3pm. The entrance fee is
GBP 4 per person. A trader's table costs GBP 15 and this includes
admission for two people.
Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on
Saturday the 19th of July at Welwick Village Hall, North Lane
Welwick, HU12 0SH. The doors will be open from 10am to 3pm and
visitor entrance costs GBP 3. Indoor tables are fully booked, but
there is still outdoor space available at GBP 5 per table. Please
bring your own table. For more information email rally<at>hfdxarc.com
Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 20th of
July at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7am for
traders and 9.30am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the
Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs
GBP 3 and GBP 10 for traders. For more details email
secretary<at>bsears.co.uk
The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place on
Sunday the 20th of July at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market
Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 10am and admission costs
GBP 3. This is an indoor event and ample free parking will be
available. Over 50 tables of traders and special interest groups will
be present. Booking a table costs GBP 10. For more information phone
Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz<at>outlook.com
Now the Special Event news
On Saturday the 19th of July, RSGB Region 1 Representative George,
MM0JNL will be hosting special event station GB4KAS at the Kirriemuir
[KEY-REE-MUIR] Show in Angus, Scotland from 10am to 5pm. This new
venture is intended to showcase the RSGB and amateur radio to the
agricultural and rural community. It will also allow unlicensed guest
operators to have some supervised radio operating time and,
hopefully, have their first international radio contact. The station
will be operating using SSB on the HF bands and FM on the 2m band. If
you hear the operators on the air, give them a call!
GB70RS is the special callsign helping to celebrate 70 years of the
RSGB's News Service, GB2RS. This coming week, the callsign is being
aired by Dave, G4IDF on all bands from 80 to 6m, plus 4m and 2m,
using SSB and FT8. If you hear Dave, give him a call! A special QSL
card is available. See QRZ.com for more details.
Now the DX news
Eric, KV1J is active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon [MEE-KUH-LON] Island,
NA-032, until tomorrow, the 14th. He is operating using CW, FT4, FT8
and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club
Log's OQRS, eQSL or via Eric's home call, directly or via the Bureau.
For more information visit QRZ.com
Pierre, VK3KTB is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club
station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 24th of July. He
operates using CW, FT8 and SSB on various bands, when time permits.
QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World.
Now the contest news
The IARU HF Championship started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 12th and
ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on
the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27.
The GR2HQ Challenge also started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 12th and
ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on
the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27.
Today, the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest
runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 15th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 16th, the RSGB 80m SSB Club Championship runs from
1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
On Thursday the 17th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 19th, the RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to
2000UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number, locator and the first two letters of your
postcode.
On Sunday the 20th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs
from 0900 to 1600UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 10th of July 2025
Last week was characterised by settled geomagnetic conditions, but a
relatively low solar flux index.
The Kp index hit 5.33 on the 6th and 7th of July but was otherwise
around 1 or 2 for the rest of the week. These settled conditions were
helpful to HF propagation, although the maximum usable frequency over
a 3,000km path didn't really get much above 21MHz.
This is likely to be due to the HF summer doldrums, and we are
unlikely to see it rise much more until September, once the F2 layer
has switched to autumnal propagation conditions.
Meanwhile, the solar flux index remained steadfastly in the range of
115 to 120. This is enough to provide fair propagation, but not
enough to set new DX records!
But there was DX to be worked, including T30TT in western Kiribati
[KI-REE-BAS], on the 20 and 15m bands using the FT8 Fox and Hounds
mode. Also, ZD7FT was operating on St Helena Island on the 17m band
using SSB and C94RRC was active on the 10m band from Mozambique using
FT8.
Laurie, G3UML on the CDXC Slack group, commented that there was a lot
of DX around including FP/KV1J on the 17m band using SSB on Miquelon
[MEE-KUH-LON] island. Additionally, TY5AD was on the 17m band using
CW from Benin. And FY4JI was on the 17m band using SSB from French
Guiana.
Now the bad news. A very large solar coronal hole will begin to face
Earth this weekend. A solar wind stream flowing from this zone is
expected to reach Earth with the main influence occurring today, the
13th, and tomorrow, the 14th.
If the Bz of the plasma cloud points south we can expect disturbed
geomagnetic conditions and a reduction in the maximum usable
frequency, or MUF for short.
NOAA predicts unsettled conditions, with a Kp index of 4 between the
15th and 16th of July. The solar flux index is expected to be in the
range of 105 to 125 for the next week.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The hot weather continues to set the agenda in the short term.
Something to note is that for VHF and UHF Tropo ducting, the ideal is
for warm dry air to sit on top of cool moist air.
These conditions are commonplace over the nearby seas as hot dry air
moves out across the coast to overlay the cool, moist air near the
sea's surface. Think of the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and
Biscay as being very good Tropo paths in high summer. But the award
goes to the Mediterranean where very strong ducting conditions are
pretty much a given if you happen to be sitting on an exotic holiday
beach.
Back at home... if you live inland, then you will be out of luck
during the heat of the day since there is no cool, moist surface air.
But in the evening, as the ground cools and perhaps cool sea air
moves inland, you could find yourself coupled into the Tropo
conditions that those on the coast have been enjoying all day.
In other words, for most of the country, Tropo will be better
overnight and early morning.
The other modes are worth checking of course, especially Sporadic-E
which is continuing to give some paths on most days, at least for
digital modes, but also for those using SSB or CW.
Most days there will be some direction available from the UK on the
10m band, and perhaps on the 6m band, with many online clusters to
show you where the current paths are located.
We really must get used to the idea that Sporadic-E can be very
localised, and you will only know about it if someone calls CQ. If
you do that, you may be surprised by how good conditions have been
all along!
Disturbed solar conditions should keep aurora as a possibility.
Meteor scatter is often worth checking, with two showers peaking
later in the month. The middle part of the coming week looks like
turning more unsettled for a time, so rain scatter is also an option
for the GHz bands.
Moon declination is increasing again reaching maximum on Tuesday and
path losses are falling. So, it's time to put the feeder back into
the dish. 144MHz sky noise is moderate to start the week but
decreasing to low after the weekend.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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