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G4TNU > NEWS 23.09.25 18:36l 294 Lines 14483 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 21 Sep 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 21st of September 2025
The news headlines:
* Secure your ticket for the RSGB 2025 Convention before online
ticketing closes
* A reminder to identify yourself clearly when operating
* The RSGB Outreach Team launches its first official DMR Youth
Net
Tickets for the RSGB Convention at Kents Hill Conference Centre in
Milton Keynes are still available to purchase online, but hurry as
advance sales close on Saturday the 4th of October. You will be able
to buy a Convention ticket on the door but not at the reduced rate
that is available now. Your ticket will give you access to numerous
presentations including two on the funding available to interesting
and innovative amateur radio projects. The RSGB Legacy Fund supports
a wide range of projects and Legacy Committee Chair, Richard Horton,
G4AOJ will give some recent examples that have been allocated
funding. He'll also talk you through how the application and approval
process works. The California-based Amateur Radio Digital
Communications foundation has its roots in amateur radio and the
technology of internet communication. Steve Bunting, M0BPQ and Chris
Smith, G1FEF will give an overview of ARDC's grants which are also
open to international charities, non-profits, schools and
universities. If you're thinking of a new project that would benefit
amateur radio or help to bring it to new audiences, these are two
presentations you won't want to miss! Find details on these and all
the other Convention presentations via rsgb.org/convention You'll
also find a new web page outlining what else is happening during the
weekend. If you're attending the Convention for the first time, then
pop along to the RSGB's new ‘welcome desk' on the Friday evening
from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and then from 8pm to 9pm. The desk is aimed at
first-time or solo attendees, although anyone can come and say hello.
A member of the RSGB HQ team and other RSGB volunteers will be on
hand to greet you and introduce you to like-minded people, and act as
a familiar face throughout the weekend if you need any help. The RSGB
Convention takes place between the 10th and 12th of October.
Every radio amateur knows that it is important to identify yourself
clearly when operating. This includes the mandatory use of a Regional
Secondary Locator, or RSL, if you hold an Intermediate callsign in
the 2-series. For example, your callsign would start with 2E0 if
you're in England or 2M0 if you're operating in Scotland. This
mandatory use of the RSL is shown in the Ofcom licence conditions.
You can find a link to that document on the RSGB licence updates web
page at rsgb.org/licence-review
Calling all young radio enthusiasts wherever you are in the world!
The RSGB Outreach Team is thrilled to launch its first official DMR
Youth Net. The first net will be on Tuesday the 30th of September at
1900UTC and the RSGB Youth Talk Group 23554 is available on the DVSPh
and Brandmeister Networks. Whether you're just starting out or
already love getting on the air, this bi-weekly net is your chance to
build confidence speaking on the radio, connect with fellow young
operators from around the world, and join in without needing to set
up antennas at home. Hosted by RSGB Youth Outreach Team Leaders Chris
Aitken, MM0WIC and Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, the net is designed to grow
with you. As your skills and confidence develop, you could even take
the mic and chair future sessions! We're also offering loan kits that
include a DMR handset and hotspot to help schools and home educators
get started. Just fill out the form at tinyurl.com/RSGByouth-net and
we'll be in touch. Tune in, speak up, and be part of something
exciting!
The RSGB National Radio Centre will be hosting the World War Two SOE
station, GB1SOE in the foyer of the Centre on Saturday the 27th of
September. On Sunday the 28th of September, it will also be hosting
three special one-off broadcasts to mark the 70th anniversary of
GB2RS, which will include a special greetings message from the RSGB
President. The special event station GB70RS will be used for the pre-
and post-News nets. Go to rsgb.org/gb70rs for full details. For
those visiting the Centre over the weekend, Bletchley Park is hosting
one of its 1940s weekends. RSGB members can visit the world-famous
estate for free by downloading a voucher via rsgb.org/bpvoucher
The RSGB has several volunteer vacancies within the Regional Team
including District Representative roles in Cambridgeshire, East
Sussex and Lancashire. This is an incredibly rewarding role that
gives you the opportunity to help your fellow radio amateurs. If you
are passionate about the future of amateur radio, support the work of
the Society and are an RSGB member, then apply now by contacting the
Regional Representative in that region. View the full list of
regional team volunteering vacancies via rsgb.org/volunteers
Amateurs are reminded that 7.110MHz is used for emergency
communications. Please be aware that the frequency may be in use by
operators who are passing radio traffic following the unfortunate
flooding in areas of Malaysia. Your cooperation is vital to ensure
effective emergency communication, support and rescue efforts.
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on
Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.
And now for details of rallies and events
Weston-super-Mare Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place today,
the 21st, at The Campus, Highlands Lane, Weston-super-Mare. The doors
open at 7.30am for traders and at 10am for the public. Refreshments
are available on site and a raffle will be held at 11am. For more
information contact Daniel via westonradiosociety<at>gmail.com
On Sunday the 5th of October, the 50th Welsh Radio Rally will take
place at Llanwern High School, Hartridge Farm Road, Newport in South
Wales. The doors open for traders from 7am and for the public from
9.30am. Admission costs GBP 3. For more information email
welshradiorally<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event news
Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society will be running special event
station GB2RMR on Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th of September.
The station will operate from 9.30am to 4pm each day at the Riverside
Miniature Railway in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. The team will be
using HF, VHF and UHF equipment. More details are available via
QRZ.com
Special callsign GB70RS is in use to celebrate the 70th anniversary
of the RSGB's weekly news service GB2RS which has been running
continuously since the 25th of September 1955. A team of amateurs is
using the callsign on a variety of bands and modes. QSL via the
Bureau, Logbook of the World and eQSL. For more information visit the
GB70RS page at QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Tom, OH6VDA is active again as JW6VDA from the Svalbard Amateur Radio
club in Longyearbyen [LONG-YEER-BE-IN], EU-026, until tomorrow, the
22nd. The station is active on various HF bands using SSB, FT8 and
FT4. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred. More details are available
via QRZ.com
Rikk, WE9G is active as WE9G/KH2 from Guam, OC-026, until Friday the
26th of September. The station is mostly operating digital FT modes
but also some CW and SSB. Listen for activity on the 160 to 6m bands.
QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World or via WE9G.
Now the contest news
Today, the 21st, the RSGB 70MHz Affiliated Series Contest runs from
0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also today, the 21st, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint
PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m
bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial
number.
On Tuesday the 23rd, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830
to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 24th, the United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club
80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the
exchange is your six-character locator.
On Thursday the 25th, the RSGB Autumn Series Data Contest runs from
1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange
is signal report and serial number.
The CQ Worldwide DX RTTY Contest runs from 0000UTC on Saturday the
27th to 2359UTC on Sunday the 28th of September. Using RTTY on the 80
to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14.
On Sunday the 28th, 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 18th of September 2025.
Last week we said that it looked like someone had thrown a switch on
the Sun and all the sunspots had vanished. Well, this week we're
pleased to report they're back!
We have eight sunspot groups, spread evenly throughout the Sun's
hemispheres. Interestingly, the northern hemisphere sunspots are
close to the equator, which is what you would expect at this point in
the latter part of the solar cycle. The southern spots are somewhat
higher in latitude, perhaps indicating that there might still be the
potential for a double peak.
On Thursday the 18th, the solar flux index stood at 147 and the Kp
index at 2. This suggests that HF conditions might be pretty good, at
least until the next geomagnetic disturbance.
There have been no M- or X-class solar flares over the past week.
The solar wind speed dropped from a high of 800 kilometres per second
on Tuesday the 16th, to a more reasonable 538 kilometres per second
on Thursday the 18th. However, the Bz has been pointing south at
times, which can cause problems with a raised Kp index.
The maximum useable frequency, or MUF, over a 3,000km path generally
allows for operation between 21 and 24MHz during daylight and 7 and
10.1MHz at night. At 0845UTC on Thursday the 18th, a quick check of
the NCDXF beacons on 21.150MHz showed reception of CS3B in Madeira
and 4X6TU in Israel.
On 24.930MHz, 4S7B in Sri Lanka, ZS6DN in South Africa, and CS3B in
Madeira could be heard. On 28.200MHz the only audible beacon was
4X6TU in Israel.
The NCDXF beacons are a quick way to check worldwide HF propagation
in just three-minutes per band, from 20 to 10m. For more details
visit ncdxf.org/beacon
HF DX this week has included FP5KE on St Pierre [SAN-PE-AIR] and
Miquelon, which is operating until the 26th of September. PJ7K on St.
Maarten, which is active until the 22nd of September, was worked; and
VK9NT on Norfolk Island, which is operating until the 27th of
September, also made it into UK logbooks. Check the DX cluster for
the latest spots.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will remain in the range
of 125 to 135. The Kp index is forecast to remain low at 2 all week.
A coronal hole threatens to push the Kp index higher, perhaps late
today, the 21st, or tomorrow, the 22nd.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The first part of the coming week will be under the influence of the
unsettled weather pattern with lows and fronts affecting the British
Isles. So, it feels like there will be a few more days for the GHz
rain scatter folk to play.
Be aware that even among low-pressure systems there can be fleeting
moments of good Tropo. On Friday the 19th there were ideal Tropo
conditions over southern Britain and south across Biscay to Spain as
well as east across the North Sea.
The big change takes place on Wednesday as an area of high pressure
starts to build over the UK. This could last through to the end of
the week. So, there is plenty of time to develop some good Tropo
conditions over large parts of the UK and near-continent.
There will probably be an elevated inversion some 1 or 2km above the
surface. This will be caused by the high itself and may provide
ducting conditions throughout the 24-hour period. This may be
supported by temporary surface inversions overnight due to the ground
cooling.
These features tend to take a while to establish, which suggests that
the latter part of the coming week may be the best time to operate.
The effect will only just be starting to influence conditions over
the western side of the UK for the SHF UK Activity Contest on Tuesday
the 23rd.
Regarding the aurora prospects, it feels like we should be keeping a
watch throughout this autumn period when the Earth's magnetic field
couples with the solar wind more effectively. Earlier last week the
Kp reached 5, which is a good trigger to get interested in beaming
north for those fluttery auroral signals.
Meteor scatter remains in between events at the moment with no major
showers in the period. So, it's random meteors only which, as we
know, tend to favour the early morning, pre-dawn hours.
We are outside the traditional Sporadic-E season now but, as you may
have noticed on the Propquest graphs, there has been the occasional
spike on the foEs plot up to 5MHz or so. This is plenty to generate
some strong short-skip European signals on the HF bands, especially
10m.
In the morning on Wednesday the 17th, Sporadic-E was probably
triggered by the powerful jet stream moving east over the near
continent. There may well be further occasions with strong jet
streams during the next week, so keep checking the NVIS tab at
propquest.co.uk to see if the foEs trace spikes again.
Now for an EME update. Moon declination is decreasing, from its
maximum on the 14th of September. The Moon's distance from Earth is
also increasing until apogee on the 27th and 28th of September. This
means path losses are growing over the next week. Sky noise will
remain low until the 29th and 30th of September.
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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