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G4FVG > NEWS 21.12.25 20:18l 258 Lines 12345 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News 21 Dec 2025
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It appears as though the forwarding has been interrupted today,
so here is a backup copy of the [same] RSGB news. This might be
duplicated later via the normal route, but at least two copies are
better than none!
So here is the GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 21st of December 2025
The news headlines:
* A British Science Week opportunity not to be missed
* Could you be the new RSGB Honorary Skills and Career
Development Officer?
* Challenge yourself with the RSGB Construction Competition
The RSGB is giving away 400 FM radio receiver kits and Morse code
tutor kits as part of its British Science Week 2026 activities. The
kits are available for school, university, Scout, Girlguiding and
Cadet groups as well as other youth-related Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics groups. The project is being delivered
thanks to a partnership between the RSGB Outreach Team, the Radio
Communications Foundation and the RSGB Legacy Fund. To be involved,
all you need to do is complete a simple form that you can find at
rsgb.org/bsw If you need support, the RSGB can put you in touch with
local radio amateurs who can help. In exchange for the free kits,
you'll need to send a brief report and photos that the Society can
share afterwards to celebrate the activity and inspire other groups
to try amateur radio. Don't miss out on this opportunity to share
amateur radio with the next generation.
The RSGB is looking for a volunteer Honorary Skills and Career
Development Officer. One of the main responsibilities will be to
build a team to engage with early career engineers, as well as those
making a career transition, in order to encourage them to use amateur
radio to develop their skills and knowledge. As part of this
engagement the Society would like the new team to design and deliver
learning material and courses at a level both just beyond, and
significantly beyond, the Full Licence. Go to rsgb.org/volunteers
for the full role description.
Keep yourself busy over the Christmas holidays by getting involved
with the RSGB Construction Competition. There are seven categories to
enter including ‘Beginners' and ‘Software', which is for designs
that recognise the importance of software technology to all aspects
of amateur radio. A GBP 150 cash prize will be awarded to the winner
of each category, with a GBP 50 cash prize for the runner-up. Find
out more about the other categories and details of how to enter at
rsgb.org/construction-competition
The RSGB is releasing more presentations from its recent Convention.
The lectures range in topics from Polar modulation to engaging young
people with amateur radio. Four further presentations will be
released over the festive season. To make sure you are the first to
receive notifications when they're available, click the subscribe
button on the Society's YouTube channel at youtube.com/thersgb
Young operators continue to host the special callsign GB25YOTA for
Youngsters on the Air Month. Cambridge University Wireless Society is
active today, Sunday the 21st of December and then tomorrow, Monday
the 22nd of December, Jack, M7OFM will be operating under the
supervision of Pete, M0OFM. Jack will also be on the air on Christmas
Day between 10am and 12pm so ensure you listen out and make a
seasonal QSO with him. View the operating times, bands and modes at
rsgb.org/yota-month
The RSGB would like to thank Dr Harry Squance, GI4JTF who has retired
after volunteering for 25 years as a QSL Bureau sub-manager. Most
recently Harry was the GI/MI/2I QSL sub-manager and those callsigns
will now be covered by Lindsay Pennell, GI3KME. All stamped addressed
envelopes and any outstanding QSL cards will be transferred to
Lindsay, but RSGB members in Northern Ireland who collect cards
should, in future, send stamped addressed envelopes directly to
Lindsay. The list of QSL Sub-managers at rsgb.org/qsl has been
updated to reflect the changes.
On the 1st of December 1924, the 200kW Alexanderson alternator, with
the callsign SAQ, was put into commercial operation with telegram
traffic from Sweden to the United States. 101 years later, it is the
only remaining electro-mechanical transmitter from this era and is
still in running condition. At 0800UTC on Christmas Eve, the
transmitter is scheduled to broadcast its traditional Christmas
message using CW on 17.2kHz. Find out more by visiting
tinyurl.com/SAQ25
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions for the GB2RS
News on Sunday the 28th of December is 10am on Tuesday the 23rd of
December. Please note there will be no GB2RS broadcast on Sunday the
4th of January 2026, but many newsreaders will be holding informal
nets in their usual broadcasting slots.
And now for details of rallies and events
Sparkford Radio Rally is due to take place on Sunday the 28th of
December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil,
BA22 7QX. The doors will be open from 9.30am and admission will cost
GBP 2. Refreshments and free parking will be available on site. For
more details contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email
luke<at>mymixradio.co.uk
On the 25th of January 2026, Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio
Rally will be held at Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen,
LN8 3HT. This is an indoor event with ample free parking. The doors
will be open from 10am and admission is GBP 3. Tables cost GBP 10. To
book tables, or for more information, contact Steve, M5ZZZ on
0777 7699 069 or email m5zzz<at>outlook.com
Now the Special Event news
The Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society will be using special callsign
GB100GBR from the 1st to the 4th of January to celebrate the
centenary of the first CW transmissions from the GBR transmitter at
Rugby Radio Station. Operators will begin transmitting from the
historic site at 1200UTC on the 1st of January, the same time as the
original station 100 years earlier in 1926. Listen for activity on
the HF bands using CW, FT8 and SSB. More information about the
station is available at QRZ.com
Simeon, M0VOB in Bradford, West Yorkshire is running special event
callsign GB54NTA until Monday the 5th of January. The station is
active on the HF, 2m and 70cm bands. Recently, the station was worked
on the 40m band using FT8. All QSOs will be logged and confirmed via
QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Roland, F8EN is active as TR8CR from Gabon [GUH-BON] until the 25th
of December. He operates CW only. QSL via F6AJA. For more information
visit QRZ.com
George, VU2DGR is using the AT44I callsign from Bharati [BHA-RA-TEE]
Research Station until the 31st of December. He is a member of the
44th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The station is often
worked using FT8 on the 20m band. QSL via George's home call.
Now the contest news
On Friday the 26th of December, the DARC 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.
The Worked All Britain Christmas Party starts on Friday the 26th of
December and ends on Tuesday the 6th of January 2026. Using all modes
on all bands, the exchange is your Worked All Britain book number.
On Saturday the 27th of December, the RSGB 50MHz Christmas Contest
runs from 1500 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Stew Perry Topband Challenge starts at 1500UTC on Saturday the
27th of December and ends at 1500UTC on Sunday the 28th of December.
Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is your four-character
locator.
On Sunday the 28th of December, the RSGB 70MHz Christmas Contest runs
from 1500 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, 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 December 2025
Last week, we suffered from the double whammy of a reduced solar flux
index and an increased Kp index.
The solar flux index went down to 119 by Thursday the 18th, with the
sunspots looking pretty spartan when compared with just a week or so
ago. Unfortunately, a coronal hole contributed to a fast solar wind
with a south-pointing interplanetary magnetic field or Bz. The net
result was a Kp index of 5 and a minor G1 geomagnetic storm.
Nevertheless, the maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, over a
3,000km path mostly remained above 28MHz, at least during daylight
hours, and there was DX to be worked.
As it's Christmas, let's focus on special calls for the season.
YR0XMAS in Romania has been worked on the 20m band using CW and will
be active until the end of the month.
A little further afield is the 12 days of Christmas event in the US.
It runs until Christmas Day with 12 three-letter callsigns in the W2
and K2 series. You only have to work one to get a certificate, so it
should be possible for most amateurs. If you are lucky enough to work
all 12, plus a bonus station in Puerto Rico, you can get a special
‘Clean Sweep Plus' endorsement. W2S has already been spotted in the
UK, and more details are available by Googling ‘12 days of
Christmas ham radio'.
Next week, we have another large coronal hole to contend with, which
NOAA predicts may push the Kp index to 5 between the 22nd and 26th of
December. The good news is that the solar flux index may increase
over the same period, perhaps up to 180 by the 28th of December.
Make the most of the low bands as we hit the winter solstice, with
its long periods of darkness. And certainly check 14 to 28MHz during
daylight hours.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The tail end of the previous week ended on a dramatically mild, wet
and windy note, with heavy rain and gales in places. It might be good
for the earth, but little else springs to mind other than some chance
rain scatter for the GHz folk. The main feature of this Christmas
propagation report is that we have a major change becoming
established after this weekend.
This change takes the form of swapping out the mild Atlantic pattern
for a blocked, cold easterly flow with high pressure parked to the
north of the British Isles near the Faroe Islands.
If this takes place as suggested by some of the models, then a much
colder easterly wind will remain with us for much of the Christmas
week. The strength of the high means that the flow is only likely to
produce shallow cloud, barely enough for an isolated wintry flurry on
the east coast of England.
Lighter winds over northern Britain, closer to the high, will
possibly allow some tropo, but it is not convincing in view of the
shallow dry layer below the inversion. It will mean some sharp frosts
are possible where skies clear.
Long dark winter nights are potentially good for seeing meteors and
it is worth mentioning two showers this time. The first is the
Ursids, which peak around the 22nd and 23rd of December. The second
shower to be aware of is the Quadrantids which peaks on the 3rd and
4th of January. This is a much larger shower than the Ursids, so
maybe the one to focus on for radio activity.
Aurora remains on the list, especially in view of the large coronal
hole recently. As ever, keep an eye on the Kp index for high values,
but it is even better to note conditions on the LF bands for signs of
‘watery' sounding signals.
The Sporadic-E folklore often speaks of isolated mid-winter events
and, in view of the two meteor showers adding fuel and there being
some useful jet streams, it is certainly worth mentioning. Using the
jet stream over the Pyrenees for paths to Spain early this week is a
good place to start.
For EME operators, Moon declination is rising again and path losses
are decreasing. We are past apogee for the month, the point where the
Moon is farthest from the Earth. 144MHz sky noise is also reducing
again after reaching a peak yesterday, the 20th of December.
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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