| |
G4TNU > NEWS 26.10.25 05:47l 245 Lines 11642 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 5878G4TNU
Subj: RSGB Main News - 26 Oct 2025
Path: IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<PI8ZTM<IR0AAB<I0OJJ<I3XTY<GB7COW<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<
GB7CIP
Sent: 251026/0416Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:5878G4TNU
T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.europe
T:Message-Id: <E1_9043700_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 26th of October 2025
The news headlines:
* Get involved with YOTA Month and book your GB25YOTA operating
slot today
* Photos from the VHF and HF contest trophies presentation are
now on the RSGB website
* RSGB gives an update on the QSL Bureau
Youngsters on the Air Month takes place in December and the RSGB
would love you to take part in this annual event. Special callsign
GB25YOTA will be active throughout the month. Whether you are an
individual, club, school, university or social group, this is a
fantastic opportunity to host the callsign and get young radio
amateurs active on the amateur bands. The Society would love to see
Scouts, Girlguiding and Cadet groups taking part too. The RGSB has
changed the procedure for booking operating slots this year, so it is
easier to see availability. Go to rsgb.org/yota-month and click on
the schedule to see which slots are free. These aren't fixed and can
be adjusted to suit your timings. You'll then need to email RSGB YOTA
Month Coordinator Jamie, M0SDV via yota.month<at>rsgb.org.uk to
register as a GB25YOTA host and book your slot. Jamie can also help
with any questions about taking part for the first time. The Society
is aiming for the callsign to be hosted every day during December to
enable more youngsters to have a taste of amateur radio. Be part of
this great goal and book your operating slot today.
The main VHF and HF contest trophy presentations were held at the
RSGB 2025 Convention on Sunday the 12th of October. A list of the
winners and photos from the presentation can now be seen on the RSGB
website via rsgb.org/trophies and selecting ‘Awards photos
galleries' from the menu on the righthand side. During the
presentation the prestigious ROTAB Trophy was awarded to John
Warburton, G4IRN for outstanding and consistent DX work. The RSGB
would like to congratulate John and all the winners who received a
trophy.
Following the well-deserved retirement of QSL Bureau Manager Richard
Constantine, G3UGF, the RSGB Board is making arrangements to ensure
the continued smooth operation of the QSL Bureau service. Members
should continue to send outgoing QSL cards to PO Box 5, Halifax, as
usual. Similarly, incoming cards will continue to be distributed by
your existing sub-manager, and stamped addressed envelopes should
still be sent directly to them. The Board is currently finalising new
management arrangements for the Bureau and will provide a further
update once these are in place. The Board wishes to record its
sincere thanks to Richard for his many years of dedicated service to
the Society and to the amateur radio community.
Following Ofcom's recent implementation of Phases 2 and 3 of the
amateur radio licence review, it has updated its main guidance
document. Please ensure you use the October 2025 edition so that you
are using the latest information. Ofcom has also clarified that if
you hold a Special Contest Callsign NoV and you change your
individual or club callsign, the SCC NoV is still valid. This is
because your Full Amateur Radio Licence reference number has not
changed. If you do hold an SCC NoV and you have changed your
individual or club callsign, please send an email to
scc<at>rsgb.org.uk stating your old callsign, your new callsign and
your SCC, so the RSGB Contest Support Committee Chair can update the
issued SCC list.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 26th, the Galashiels Radio and Computer Rally is taking
place at The Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, TD1 3JX.
The doors open at 11am and admission costs GBP 3. Disabled access is
available from 10.45am. For more information visit galaradioclub.co.uk
The Thirteenth Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT will take place at
the Museum of Communication in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland on
Saturday the 1st of November from 10.30am to 5pm. An interesting
programme of speakers has been arranged, and microwave test
facilities will be provided. There will be an opportunity to buy
components and microwave-related items. An optional dinner will be
held in the evening at a local hotel. Further information and online
registration are available at gmroundtable.org.uk The event has a
maximum capacity of 50 people and there are only limited places left,
so book now to avoid disappointment.
Now the Special Event news
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Dutch Marine Radio Amateur
Club, special callsign PA40MARAC is active until the 31st of
December. A QSO with this station earns ten points towards the Marine
Amateur Radio Club Award. For more details visit the PI4MRC page at
QRZ.com
Tarragonès [TAH-RAH-GO-NESS] Radio Club, EA3RCY will be on the air
throughout November using special callsign AO25TWHS [ALPHA-OSCAR…].
The station is active to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the
UNESCO World Heritage designation of ancient Tarraco. Operators will
be using a variety of bands and modes. All radio amateurs and
shortwave listeners are invited to take part and earn
a commemorative award certificate. For more information visit
tinyurl.com/AO25TWHS
Now the DX news
Harald, DF2WO is active as XT2AW from Burkina Faso until tomorrow,
the 27th. He usually operates CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB and on various
bands. He also works via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via OQRS and
Logbook of the World.
Mike, VE2XB is active as VY0ZOO from Coral Harbour on Southampton
Island, NA-007, until the 18th of December. Listen for activity on
the 80 to 10m bands using CW and SSB. QSL via VE2XB.
Now the contest news
The CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday, the
25th, and ends at 2359UTC today, the 26th of October. Using SSB on
the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14.
Tomorrow, the 27th, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 2000 to
2200UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your report.
On Tuesday the 28th, 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 29th, 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.
The United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club DX SSB Contest starts at
1200UTC on Saturday the 1st of November and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday
the 2nd of November. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests
are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. UK
and EI stations also send their district code. For full details,
including the team competition and area codes, visit ukeicc.com or
rsgbcc.org Scores from RSGB members operating within the UK and
Crown Dependencies will be included in the HF Championship.
The 144MHz CW Marconi Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 1st
and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 2nd of November. Using CW on the 2m
band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain DX Contest also starts at 1200UTC on Saturday
the 1st and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 2nd of November. Using SSB
on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. Entries
need to be with the contest manager by the 12th of November. Visit
the Worked All Britain website to read more about the rules for the
contest
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 23rd of October.
It looks like Earth dodged a bullet last week when a large coronal
mass ejection, or CME, erupted on the far side of the Sun on Tuesday
the 21st of October.
Had that CME been Earth-directed we could have endured a strong, or
possibly an extreme, geomagnetic storm with dazzling displays of
aurora. The source of the eruption was possibly sunspot region 4246
which is now past the Sun's west limb.
The ACE spacecraft detected high levels of protons streaming past
Earth, but they remained below the minor S1 radiation storm
threshold.
In other news, we have had a quiet geomagnetic week which has allowed
the ionosphere to shine. The solar flux index has been modest,
ranging from 130 to 150, but propagation has been aided by improved
geomagnetic conditions.
During the past week, the 10m band was humming with activity. Lots of
stations were preparing for the CQ World Wide SSB Contest which ends
today, the 26th.
8P5A in Barbados has been romping in during the afternoon, as has
HZ0YL in Saudi Arabia.
Other DX worked last week, according to the CDXC Slack chat group,
includes VK9DX on Norfolk Island on 12m SSB; 6O3T in Somalia on 40m
CW; and PJ6Y on Saba and St Eustatius using SSB on the 12m band. This
last station is a young radio amateurs' DXpedition by the Pacific
Island DX Group.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will stay in the
140 to 150 range with the Kp index starting the week low but then
rising. We may expect a Kp index of 5, or even 6, around the 28th to
the 31st of October. Look for auroral conditions and lower maximum
useable frequencies during this period.
Meanwhile, make the most of the long-range propagation on the higher
bands while the Kp index is low.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The period of weather up to the end of the week ending the 2nd of
November looks distinctly unsettled with the weather pattern driven
by an Atlantic jet stream pointing straight at the British Isles.
This will mean that further periods of stormy weather are possible
with strong winds and heavy rain. This is not a time to expect much
tropo for VHF or UHF but is a good period for the GHz bands to
explore rain scatter propagation.
The foF2 and foEs graphs at propquest.co.uk have been experiencing
some data supply issues recently. It's worth noting that strong jet
streams and fast-moving weather systems, as we have now, can bring a
chance of out-of-season Sporadic-E.
A good example on the evening of Sunday the 19th of October can be
found if you check the archive tab. This four-hour active period was
possibly associated with a slowly advancing jet stream as seen on the
Sporadic-E blog tab for that date.
Meteor scatter operators had the Orionids, which peaked on the 22nd,
to play with last week. The broad zone of activity may continue to
provide weakening interest through the coming week.
The Kp index has been relatively subdued recently but the message is
once again to continue to monitor for the chance openings by noting
when the Kp index reaches 5 or more, or if you start to hear LF CW
signals take on a fluttery note.
For EME operators, the Moon's declination is at a minimum today, the
26th, so Moon window lengths and peak elevation are both low. Apogee
was early on Friday the 24th, so path losses are falling again.
144MHz sky noise rises over the weekend, reaching some 3300K today,
the 26th, before falling steadily to low levels the following Friday.
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.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
