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G4TNU > NEWS 09.11.25 02:45l 253 Lines 12360 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 09 Nov 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 9th of November 2025
The news headlines:
* The RSGB launches its Construction Competition for 2026
* RSGB exam shutdown over the festive season
* The Society appoints a new volunteer Brickworks Champion
Whether you have only recently soldered your first wire in a kit
build or you have experience in designing an advanced software or
systems engineering project, the RSGB Construction Competition is for
you! As part of the RSGB's strategic growth priority, it wants to
inspire people from different communities to find out more about
amateur radio. That is why the Society has introduced a new category
this year called "Reimagination". If you think your project could be
interesting to the maker community, or you have an idea that could
encourage people from groups such as Men's Sheds to try amateur
radio, this is the category for you. If it is radio-related but
motivates non-radio amateurs to find out more, the RSGB welcomes your
entry! There are six other categories which means there really is
something for everyone. You must be an RSGB member to enter but you
can live anywhere in the world, as entries will be judged online to
allow you to participate and demonstrate your creativity remotely.
The deadline for entries is the 1st of March 2026, and you have an
opportunity to win a cash prize. For full details of the competition
including the other categories, visit
rsgb.org/construction-competition
If you're thinking of taking an amateur radio exam before Christmas,
be aware that the last date you can take an online exam either at a
club or at home is Monday the 22nd of December. The RSGB Exams Team
will, where possible, post out exam results before HQ shuts over
Christmas and New Year. Exams will resume on Monday the 5th of
January 2026 and the booking system will be available during the
festive season so you can book exams for January onwards. You can
book your exam online at rsgb.org/exampay
RSGB Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML is delighted to announce Derek
Hughes, G7LFC as the new volunteer RSGB Brickworks Champion. The
Brickworks scheme consists of 23 tasks that give an insight into
different aspects of amateur radio. Derek brings a wealth of
knowledge and experience to this role, having previously been
involved in the development and running of the Brickworks scheme. He
currently serves as Chairman of the Quantum Amateur Radio &
Technology Society. Derek is committed to building strong
relationships with clubs across the UK, including those already
engaged with RSGB initiatives. Individuals and clubs are encouraged
to contact Derek via brickworks.champion<at>rsgb.org.uk with their
suggestions about how to develop the reach of the RSGB's Brickworks
programme. Find out more about the programme by going to
rsgb.org/brickworks
The RSGB has continued to release content from its recent Convention.
Watch the ‘Meet the Board' session and hear an update on the
Society's strategy, as well as an outline of next steps and some
important RSGB roles that need the right volunteers to step forward.
These include four Board Director and three Regional Representative
vacancies, for which nominations open next week. An in-depth
interview about polar modulation is also available to watch; listen
to Hans Summers G0UPL, Mike Walker VA3MW and Stewart Bryant G3YSX
sharing their thoughts about how this exciting technology is being
applied within amateur radio. You can see both in the ‘RSGB 2025
Convention' playlist on the RSGB YouTube channel at
youtube.com/theRSGB
If you've been involved with Jamboree on the Air this year, the RSGB
would love to hear from you. You have until this Thursday, the 13th,
to submit your report and photos to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk and be
included in the special JOTA feature in the January 2026 edition of
RadCom.
Essex CW Activity Week starts today, the 9th, and runs until Saturday
the15th of November. This is a friendly non-contest style event to
encourage both experienced and new Morse operators. Slow-speed Morse
operators are especially welcome. Whilst the aim is to contact as
many radio amateurs as possible in a week, it is hoped that a QSO
goes beyond just an exchange of signal reports and becomes a CW chat
for as long a duration as you wish. Anyone who works at least 25
other stations qualifies for a free award certificate. Lots more
information, including preferred operating frequencies, can be found
via the ‘Activity Week' tab at essexcw.uk
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
Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society Winter Rally is taking
place on Saturday the 15th of November at St Vincent de Paul's Hall,
Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. The doors open at 10am and entry costs
GBP 3. Traders, catering and plenty of free parking will be available
on site. For more information, email rally.radars<at>hotmail.com
On Sunday the 30th of November, Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur's Club
Rally is taking place at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham.
Traders, catering, ample parking and disabled facilities will be
available. For more information and downloadable trader forms, visit
barac.org.uk
Now the Special Event news
Members of the Tarragonès [TARRA-GON-ESS] Radio Club in Spain are
active with special callsign AO25TWHS until the 30th of November. The
station is often spotted on the HF bands using FT4. More information,
including DX Cluster spots and a link to a diploma that is available
for working the station, is available at QRZ.com
Special event station V84SRU is active from Brunei on all bands and
modes until the 26th of November to mark the centenary of the
International Amateur Radio Union. Recently, the station was spotted
on the 15m band using SSB. For more information visit QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Members of the Italian DXpedition team are active as 5R8TT and 5R8XX
until Wednesday the 12th of November from Nosy Be [NOSSY-BAY], AF-057
in Madagascar. Four stations are active on the 160 to 6m bands using
CW, FT8, SSB and RTTY. QSL directly to I2YSB. To find out more visit
i2ysb.com/idt
Members of the Yaguarete [YA-GWA-REH-TEH] DX Group are active as
CP7DX from Tarija [TAH-REE-HAH] in Bolivia until tomorrow, the 10th
of November. They are operating FT8 and SSB on the 160 to 6m bands,
as well as via EME. QSL via OQRS or directly to LU1FM. More details
are available via QRZ.com
Now the contest news
The Worked All Europe DX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday,
the 8th, and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 9th of November. Using
RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
Today, the 9th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from
1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 12th, the RSGB Autumn Series SSB Contest runs from
2000 to 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number.
On Wednesday the 12th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest
runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange
is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 12th, the
RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC.
Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is report and four-character
locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the
two-hour contest.
On Thursday the 13th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 15th, the 2nd RSGB 1.8MHz Contest runs from 2000 to
2300UTC. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and district code.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 6th of November 2025
Last week was a mixed bag in terms of HF propagation. Earlier in the
week, the 10m band was working very well, with Australia romping into
the UK by mid-morning. But later in the week, everything had changed.
Solar activity was high with multiple X-class and strong M-class
solar flares. At least three coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, were
expected to graze or directly hit Earth, sparking strong geomagnetic
storms on the 6th and 7th of November.
The X-ray flare on the 4th of November was the first seen since June
and came from active region 4274 – a large sunspot group which
helped push the solar flux index to 147.
The Kp index climbed to 6.67 in the early hours of the 6th of
November. Later that morning maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs,
were badly affected, with a maximum of 18MHz over a 3,000km path as a
strong G3 geomagnetic storm was in progress. So, it looks like good
DX on the higher bands may be off the cards for a few days.
However, one interesting contact was noted on the CDXC Slack chat
group when ZL7/LZIGCC was spotted on 14.005MHz using CW at 10.30am on
Thursday the 6th.
Interestingly, the current solar activity is nearly all in the Sun's
northern hemisphere, so are we heading for a second peak in Cycle 25?
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to be
in the 130 to 145 range. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to
remain unstable until around the 12th of November.
With active region 4274 rotating to be more Earth-facing we may
expect more solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass
ejections, before things quieten down.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
We are becoming well acquainted with mild, unsettled weather and as a
result there were plenty of rain scatter options on the GHz bands in
the last week. These are likely to continue through the coming week.
Tropo is not completely out of the frame in the extreme south and
east, albeit fleetingly, but for most of the UK it is unlikely to be
a strong feature.
As in recent weeks, there are a few auroral alerts coming through but
so far nothing too dramatic showing up on the VHF bands. Meteor
scatter looks more interesting as we move into mid-November. The
Leonids, one of the more important meteor showers in the calendar,
peaks just after next weekend on Monday the 17th and Tuesday 18th, so
we should expect to see some increasing activity as we progress
through the coming week.
The UK Activity Contest events feature 432MHz on Tuesday 11th when
the eastern side of the UK may have one of the fleeting moments of
tropo to the east and south. Later in the week, on Thursday the 13th,
it's the turn of 50MHz.
Conditions look weaker for tropo for the 50MHz UK Activity Contest,
but still favour the extreme east of England, if there is any left by
then. It is possible that meteor scatter or even aurora might come to
the rescue for this one.
For EME operators, the Moon's declination is at its highest this
weekend, ending today the 9th, so Moon window lengths and peak
elevation are also at their greatest. Path losses are now increasing
as we passed perigee on the 5th of November. 144MHz sky noise is low
and at its lowest midweek.
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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