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G4FVG > NEWS 01.03.90 10:11l 310 Lines 13227 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News 01 March 2026
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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 1st of March 2026
The news headlines:
- British Science Week starts on Friday - what are your plans?
- Listen out for the RSGB President operating as GB5CC
- Make the most of the RSGB National Radio Centre's extended
summer opening hours
British Science Week starts this Friday, the 6th of March, and
finishes on Sunday the 15th of March. The annual event celebrates
science, technology, engineering and maths, and is the perfect
opportunity to share amateur radio with new audiences. A number of
clubs are hosting events that are open to the public, ranging from a
practical skills night with Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society through
to the Lincolnshire Portable Radio Group which is delivering a youth
event with the International Bomber Command Centre. Several groups
and organisations are looking to arrange skeds during the week. These
include Crowthorne and Wokingham Without Men's Shed with Bracknell
Amateur Radio Club and also South Derbyshire and Ashby Woulds Amateur
Radio Group. Get involved with British Science Week by attending an
event, or by arranging a sked with one of these groups. Find out more
by going to rsgb.org/bsw and selecting 'Events happening near you'
from the righthand menu. If you haven't planned anything yet, you can
get involved by doing the RSGB 'Riding the wave' activity with your
friends and family. Find this worksheet, along with numerous other
ideas and resources by going to the RSGB British Science Week web
page.
The President of the RSGB, Bob Beebe, GU4YOX, will be operating as
GB5CC for this year's Commonwealth Contest, which takes place on the
14th and 15th of March. He will be doing so in memory of former RSGB
President, Bob Whelan, G3PJT who sadly became a Silent Key at the end
of last year. Bob Beebe looks forward to making contacts across the
Commonwealth and sharing time on the amateur bands to reflect the
fellowship, tradition and sense of community that Bob Whelan valued
so deeply. Find out more about the contest at rsgbcc.org/hf
If you are planning a visit to the RSGB National Radio Centre, you'll
be pleased to hear that, in line with Bletchley Park's summer opening
hours, the Centre is now open for an extra hour and will close at 5pm
each day. Remember that RSGB members can download a free entry
voucher for Bletchley Park at rsgb.org/bpvoucher
Did you know that each RSGB region has a Facebook page that has a
focus on regional amateur radio communities? The majority of the
posts are from clubs, individual licensees and event organisers from
that area, and the content is moderated by members of the RSGB
Regional Team. Some RSGB news content is also shared that will be of
interest to amateurs in that particular region. These pages can also
be used to ask for help about any aspect of amateur radio. Whether
you're an individual or a club, make use of this resource! You can
find the pages on Facebook - go to facebook.com/groups/rsgbregion1
for Region 1 or substitute the region number for your local region.
The 235 Alive DMR net takes place on TGIF Talk Group 235 on Mondays
and Fridays from 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome. For details of how to
connect, visit the 235 Alive Facebook page or 235alive.com
International Women's Day YL Parks on the Air Party takes places
annually on the 8th of March. This isn't a contest. The main goal is
to encourage women to get out, get on the air, and be more active in
amateur radio. For more information visit the International Women's
Day YL POTA Party Facebook page.
SOS Radio Week is an annual event that takes place throughout the
month of May to celebrate the work of the volunteers from the Royal
National Lifeboat Institution, Independent Lifeboats and National
Coastwatch Stations around the British Isles. Registration is now
open via sosradioweek.org.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
Today, the 1st of March, the Exeter Radio Rally is taking place at
The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE. The rally includes a bring-and-buy area,
disabled facilities, catering and free car parking. The entry fee is
£3. Traders can gain entry from 8am and the doors open to the public
at 10am. For more information email Bill, G7AKJ via
billwrench213<at>btinternet.com
On Sunday the 22nd of March, Callington Radio and Electronics Rally
will be held in the Town Hall, New Road, Callington, Cornwall,
PL17 7BE. The doors will be open to the public from 10am until 1pm.
Entry is £2 each with no charge for those under the age of 16. A
comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and societies from the
Southwest will be present along with a bring-and-buy stall and the
usual catering service. Pre-booking is essential, so contact
Alastair, M0KRR via alastair.kerr1<at>btinternet.com or by phone on
01503 262 755 with your requirements as soon as possible. Visit
callingtonradiosociety.org.uk for more information.
Now the Special Event news
Experimental Danish Radio Amateurs are celebrating the centenary of
Denmark's first licensed amateurs. To mark the occasion, special
callsign OZ100OZ [OSCAR-ZULU-ONE-ZERO-ZERO-OSCAR-ZULU] will be on the
air from 0000UTC on the 1st of March until 2359UTC on the 8th of
March. For more information, including details of an award that is
available for working the station, visit QRZ.com
Special callsign ZL100C is active to celebrate the centenary of the
New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters which was formed on the
16th of August 1926. The callsign will be active until the 6th of
August 2026. QSL via the Bureau and Logbook of the World. For more
information visit QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Arno, DL1CW is active as 9G5ZZ from Ghana until Tuesday the 3rd of
March. He operates on the 80 to 6m bands mainly using CW. QSL via
Logbook of the World, the Bureau and Arno's home call.
Andre, PD1DRE is active as PJ2/PD1DRE from Curacao [CURE-UH-SOU],
SA-099, until Wednesday the 4th of March. He operates using FT4, FT8
and SSB on the HF bands. QSL via eQSL.
Now the contest news
Today, the 1st of March, the Worked All Britain 3.5MHz Phone Contest
runs from 1800 to 2200UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and your Worked All Britain area.
Tomorrow, the 2nd of March, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs from
2000 to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the exchange
is signal report and signal number.
On Tuesday the 3rd of March, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 3rd of March, the RSGB UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 4th of March, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour
Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the
exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the
4th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to
2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and
four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may
also enter the two-hour contest.
On Wednesday the 4th of March, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m
Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the
exchange is your six-character locator.
The RSGB March 144 and 432MHz Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday
the 7th and runs until 1400UTC on Sunday the 8th of March. Using all
modes on the 2m and 70cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the
7th and runs until 2359UTC on Sunday the 8th of March. Using SSB on
the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
RST and Tx power. American stations also send their state and
Canadian stations send their province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 26th of February 2026
We have just had a period of zero sunspots - the first time since
June 2022. However, don't worry. This may be a sign of things to
come, but this zero-spot period was short-lived.
There are now signs of sunspots appearing over the Sun's eastern limb
with old region 4366, last seen on the 11th of February, making its
return. It is now renamed 'active region 4378'. This is helping to
boost the solar flux index, which stood at 125 on Thursday the 26th
of February. This is a long way off the usual solar flux index lows
we experience at sunspot minimum when it can be as low as 66 to 70.
As we are now entering March and, with the hours of daylight
increasing, we are seeing a change in HF propagation. The Spring
equinox is a time for good North-South propagation, especially on the
higher HF bands, although we may see the 10m band tailing off a
little as we head towards summer. For the best overall DX HF
propagation, head to 21MHz or higher where you may get maximum global
coverage.
Propagation has been reasonable, but a high-speed solar wind stream
from a coronal hole pushed the Kp index to 4 for long periods. This
has not helped HF propagation although its effects are not as bad as
a Kp index of 6 or higher.
DXpeditions to be worked this week include Bouvet Island, 3Y0K;
Guinea Bissau [GI-NEE-BUH-SAU], J51A; and the final days of Desecheo
[DEH-SEH-CHAY-OH] Island, KP5/NP3VI which is due to end around the
3rd of March. Lubo, OM5ZW and Laco, OM4WM will also be active from
Thulusdhoo [TOO-LOOS-DOO] Island in the Maldives as 8Q7ZW from the
28th of February until the 12th of March 2026.
Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Center predicts that the
solar flux index will remain in the 120 to 130 range.
The solar wind model predicts that a cloud of plasma may hit Earth
today, the 1st of March, so watch out for an increased Kp index.
Otherwise, the first half of the coming week may be quiet,
geomagnetically. However, the Kp index is predicted to rise to 4 on
the 5th and 6th of March.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The early part of last week saw brief 50MHz FT8 spots of the J51A
DXpedition to Guinea Bissau [GI-NEE-BUH-SAU] in the southern part of
the UK. As with TZ1CE last week, stations much further south
benefitted from the best propagation. As of Thursday the 26th of
February, Clublog showed no UK stations in their log yet. Earlier in
the week the station was an easy catch using FT8 on all the lower
bands.
The current spell of very unsettled weather will last into the early
part of the coming week. Thereafter it seems likely that high
pressure will start to build over the country, possibly with another
weak front after mid-week. This may soon be followed by another high
before the end of the week. In terms of radio propagation, although
some further rain scatter is probable at first, as we head into the
coming week, there is every chance of tropo becoming a mode of choice.
It's important to remember that not all highs are equal and, although
they all tend to produce a strong temperature inversion, they may not
be good for tropo if the air near the surface is too dry. Ideally, we
need to see some misty low cloud or early morning fog trapped under
the inversion for the better-quality lifts. This is because a change
in moisture across the top of the inversion produces the biggest
change to the refractive index.
Other modes to consider, though not too seriously, are aurora after
the recent coronal hole stream. The indication you are looking for is
a high value Kp index, say 5 or greater, up to the maximum of 9.
With meteor scatter, we are in the long gap in shower activity until
the Lyrids in late April, so relying on random meteor activity is the
best we can expect.
Lastly, the prospects for Sporadic-E are not necessarily zero but are
unlikely to be too exciting in this part of the year. The main summer
season is normally considered to run from late April to
mid-September. In the interim, the occasional burst of activity is
possible, but probably limited to the 10 or 6m bands.
For EME, Moon declination has started to fall again, going negative
on Wednesday the 4th of March. This means shortening Moon windows and
lower peak elevation. Path losses are rising again after perigee.
144MHz sky noise is low throughout the coming week.
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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