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G4TNU > NEWS 07.11.26 23:34l 230 Lines 10846 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 62866G4TNU
Subj: RSGB Main News - 08 Nov 2026
Path: IZ3LSV<ED1ZAC<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
Sent: 261107/2226Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:62866G4TNU
T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
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RSGB News for Sunday 08 November 2026
The Headlines:
* 146-147MHz NoV extension agreed by Ofcom
* Apply to be the RSGB Outreach Team Chair
* Exam shutdown timings over the festive season
Ofcom has agreed to the RSGB request to extend the 146-147MHz Notice
of Variation for a further year. It is available on a
non-interference basis and the NoV is subject to a 30-day notice
period of change or withdrawal. Ofcom's objective in making this
spectrum available is to encourage radio amateurs to experiment and
test new communications schemes and systems. The RSGB VHF Manager,
John Regnault, G4SWX would welcome reports of innovative use of the
spectrum to support future discussions. You can contact him on
vhf.manager<at>rsgb.org.uk Full licence holders can apply for the
146-147MHz NoV on the RSGB website but please note that your NoV will
only be valid until the 31st of October 2027. To apply, go to
rsgb.org/nov
Could you help to inspire the next generation of radio amateurs? The
RSGB is seeking an enthusiastic and proactive volunteer to lead its
Outreach Team. The role involves coordinating activities for events
such as British Science Week, National Coding Week, Scout and
Jamboree events, the National Hamfest Buildathon, and the RSGB
Convention. The individual will also help to develop new outreach
opportunities and grow public engagement with amateur radio. If you
are passionate about promoting amateur radio, enjoy working with
volunteers, and you have fresh ideas to share, the RSGB would love to
hear from you. You can read the full role description by going to
rsgb.org/volunteers For an informal discussion or to express an
interest, you can contact the RSGB Board Liaison for the Outreach
Team who is Ben Lloyd, GW4BML via gw4bml<at>rsgb.org.uk
If you're thinking of taking an amateur radio exam before Christmas,
you need to be aware that the last date you can take an online exam
either at a club or at home is Monday, the 21st of December 2026. 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
4th of January 2027. The booking system will be available during the
festive season so you can book exams for January onwards. Book online
on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/exampay
Once again, it's the time of year when the RSGB Contest Committees
put together the contest rules for next year and consider any changes
that they think will improve participation and enjoyment. To help
them make the right choices, they like to get the thoughts of contest
entrants. So, if you're an active contester or would like to start
contesting this year, they're asking for a few minutes of your time
to shape the rule changes they're thinking about for 2027. This year,
it is a joint survey covering both the RSGB HF and VHF contests, so
you're welcome only to answer the questions for the contests you're
interested in. The survey will close at midnight on Saturday, the
21st of November and you can find it at tinyurl.com/RSGBContest2027
If you've been involved with Jamboree on the Air this year, the RSGB
would love to hear from you. You have until this Friday, the 13th of
November, to submit your report and photos to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
and be included in the special JOTA report that will feature in the
January 2027 edition of RadCom.
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
Essex CW Activity Week starts tomorrow, the 9th of November and runs
until Sunday, the 15th of November. This is a friendly non-contest
style event to encourage Morse operators old and new. Slow speed QRS
operators are especially welcome. Anyone who works at least 25 other
stations qualifies for a free award certificate. The stations worked
need not be Essex CW members but activity will concentrate on the
Essex CW preferred club frequencies. Find out more about Essex CW
Activity Week at essexcw.uk
The Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Winter Rally is on Saturday,
the 21st of November at St Vincent de Paul's Hall, Norden, Rochdale,
OL12 7QR. Doors open at 10am and admission is GBP 3. Contact Martin
Shore, Treasurer and Rally Organiser, on 07587 709 006 or
email rally.radars<at>hotmail.com
The Bishop Auckland Amateur Radio Club Rally takes place on Sunday,
the 29th of November at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, High St,
Spennymoor Co Durham DL16 6DB. For more details, email Bob Dingle at
bdingle<at>hotmail.co.uk
Now the Special Events news
To celebrate its 15 th anniversary, members of the Croatian Flora
Fauna Amateur Radio Club will be active as 9A44FF and 9A44FF
portable until the 31st of December. For more information, visit the
9A44FF page at qrz.com
Members of Icelandic Radio Amateurs are operating as TF80IRA to
celebrate the society's 80th anniversary. The callsign is active
until the 31st of December. QSL via the bureau, direct and Logbook of
the World.
To commemorate the 170th anniversary of engineer and inventor
Nikola Tesla's birth, members of the Amateur Radio Union of Serbia
will be active as YT170TESLA until the 31st of December. QSL via
Logbook of the World.
Now the DX news
Gavin, GM3GAV is active as FW3GT from Futuna Island until Saturday,
the 14th of November. He is operating CW and some FT8 on the 40 to 10
metre bands. QSL via M0OXO on Club Log's OQRS.
Eric, F6ICX is active again as 5R8IC from Sainte Marie Island,
Madagascar until mid-January 2027. He is operating CW, some FT8 and
SSB on the 40 to 10 metre bands until the 20th of December and on
QO-100 from the 21st of December until the 15th of January. QSL via
Logbook of the World or Club Log's OQRS.
Now the Contest news
The RSGB VHF 144MHz CW Marconi Contest continues until 1400UTC today,
the 8th of November. Using CW on 144MHz, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
The RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1900 until 1955 local
time on Tuesday, the 10th of November. Using FM on 432MHz, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The RSGB 432MHz
UK Activity Contest runs from 2000 until 2230 local time on Tuesday,
the 10th of November. Using all modes on 432MHz, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday, the 11th of November, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 four-hour
Activity Contest runs from 1700UTC until 2100UTC. Using FT8 on
432MHz, the exchange is signal report and locator. Also on Wednesday,
the 11th of November, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 two-hour Activity Contest
takes place between 1900UTC and 2100UTC. Using FT8 on 432MHz, the
exchange is signal report and locator.
The RSGB 3.5MHz HF Autumn Series SSB Contest is on Wednesday, the
11th of November, from 2000UTC until 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m
band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Thursday, the 12th of November, the RSGB VHF 50MHz UK Activity
Contest runs from 2000 until 2230 local time. Using all modes on
50MHz, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The RSGB HF Club Calls 1.8MHz Contest takes place on Saturday, the
14th of November, between 2000UTC and 2300UTC. Using CW and SSB on
1.8MHz, the exchange is signal report, serial number and club status.
Now the Propagation News, compiled by G0KYA, G4BAO and G3YLA on
Thursday the 5th of November 2026
As we settle into autumn, the HF bands are really coming alive. Ten
metres has proved to be full of surprises, especially with FT8.
Although we are not getting the high solar flux indices of previous
years, that hasn't stopped 28MHz from opening up to DX from around
the world.
Late afternoon has brought in plenty of FT8 signals from the Southern
Hemisphere on 28.074MHz, including from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and
Ecuador. Look around sunset or just before and see what you can work.
A solar flux of around 110, helped by good, quiet geomagnetic
conditions, has been enough to open up the ten metre band, although
weak signal modes seem to be favourite.
There were other surprises to be had lower down in frequency,
including Franco, 3A2MW in Monaco, on 30m FT8. That's not a million
miles away, but still rare DX from this tiny principality, which
occupies only one square mile. Franco uses 100W maximum, stealth
antennas and has a poor HF take-off due to the terrain.
NOAA forecasts that the Solar Flux Index may climb to 120 before
backing off to 105 as the week progresses. A very large coronal hole
on the solar equator threatens to push the Kp index up to four this
weekend. In fact, poor geomagnetic conditions are predicted for the
first half of next week overall.
North-south paths will probably be less affected than polar ones, so
don't let the higher Kp index put you off trying.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO.
The recent period of Tropo has gone through its decaying phase as of
last Thursday, the 5th of November and the pressure was falling
slowly as the week closed.
Perhaps the high may linger a while over northern UK as we start the
new week, but eventually low pressure will take back control over the
whole country. The unsettled theme brings a chance of rain scatter on
the GHz bands.
On that note, there are hints of a cold northerly at the end of next
week, which could see wintry weather in the north, but also large
cumulonimbus shower clouds rolling down the North Sea.
Meteor scatter is still in the frame from last week's Taurids meteor
shower and by the end of next week, we'll be close to the Orionids
peak.
The Kp index has been fairly restrained recently but a coronal hole
may increase the chances of aurora over this weekend. Look for the Kp
index going above five and listen for flutter on the HF bands.
EME now, and the Moon's declination is negative again and path losses
are rising. The Moon will be visible for a shortening time and its
peak elevation falls as we approach minimum declination on Thursday,
the 12th of November and apogee on Friday, the 13th.
144MHz sky noise is low to moderate, but Monday sees the Sun and Moon
close in the sky for the whole Moon pass, followed by high noise for
the rest of the 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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