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G4TNU > NEWS 18.05.25 02:45l 267 Lines 12719 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 18 May 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 18th of May 2025
The news headlines:
* The RSGB announces new Convention Chair for 2025
* RSGB members can now read over 300 RadCom editions in the
RSGB web app
* Become a volunteer at the RSGB National Radio Centre
RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, is delighted to announce
the appointment of Pete Joyce, M0OFM, as the new volunteer RSGB
Convention Chair. Pete is a regular attendee at RSGB Conventions and
has a keen interest in balancing the different needs of attendees
through a varied programme. He also understands the importance of
making the Convention accessible to everyone, both in person and
online. Pete brings to the role a range of experience in planning and
managing events for other organisations. The RSGB Convention planning
team look forward to supporting Pete as he takes on this challenging
and important role.
The RSGB is excited to announce that more RadCom editions have been
added to its web app. RSGB members are now able to browse back to
January 2000, which is over 300 magazines! Go to rsgb.org/radcom to
explore all the RadCom content from this millennium. You'll need your
RSGB membership portal details to access the editions. If your RSGB
membership is due for renewal soon, why not swap to digital
membership? You'll still get all the great benefits of being a
member, and you'll save money as well as RadCom storage space. If
you're not yet an RSGB member, there's never been a better time to
join the Society. Take out a digital membership and choose to read
RadCom via our app, and you'll have easy access to 25 years of RadCom
editions. The RSGB will be releasing mobile versions of the app soon,
so you'll be able to download copies of its publications and read
them on the go.
Volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre is a wide-ranging and
highly rewarding role. Thanks to the variety of visitors and the
number of events and activities that the Centre is involved with, no
two days at the NRC are the same. If you'd like to join the friendly
and dedicated team, the NRC is currently looking for new volunteers.
Full training is given, including the operation of the GB3RS radio
station. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with
volunteering at Bletchley Park. If all of this sounds like something
you'd like to be a part of, and you can volunteer for one or two days
per month, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB via
nrc.support<at>rsgb.org.uk You can find out more about the RSGB
National Radio Centre by going to rsgb.org/nrc
The RSGB Outreach Team is offering qualified amateur radio operators
under the age of 18 the opportunity to take part in a new DMR
project. The project's aim is to help young people get on the air and
build their confidence in making QSOs. The Team has nine DMR handheld
transceivers and hotspots available to borrow for three months,
completely free. As part of the offering, the Outreach Team will be
hosting regular youth nets that you would be welcome to join. You
can apply for the DMR kit as an individual or as a school group, as
long as one member of the group is licensed. Another part of the
project is to support teachers who would like to take their amateur
radio licence and set up a school club. In collaboration with the
Radio Communications Foundation, the RSGB is offering to pay the
licence exam fee for nine teachers to help get them and their school
club started. If you're a teacher who is interested in discovering
more about amateur radio and sharing that excitement with your
students, get in touch. Once you have your licence you can apply for
the free DMR kit on loan for three months to help set up your club.
If you are interested in applying for a DMR kit, fill out the
application form by going to tinyurl.com/DMRyouth If you are a
teacher interested in starting your own radio club, please email RSGB
Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC via
youthchampion.school<at>rsgb.org.uk
As we come to the end of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, let's
remember to show the very best of amateur radio and make sure we are
there for one another. Let's listen to each other, share our
appreciation for our fellow radio amateurs and celebrate kindness
within our community. You can read how amateur radio helped Lee
Aldridge, G4EJB in the July 2023 edition of RadCom. You can access
mental health support by going to mentalhealth.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
The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is taking place on
Saturday the 24th of May at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane,
Beckingham, DN10 4FX. Traders can set up from 7am, with doors open to
the public between 9.30am and 3pm. There will be hot food and
refreshments available. Free parking is located behind the hall. For
more information and to book, please go to emerg.uk/rally
The Durham & District Amateur Radio Society Radio Rally is taking
place on Sunday the 25th of May at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn,
County Durham, DH6 5AT. Doors will be open from 10.10am to 2.30pm
with disabled visitors gaining access at 10am. Entry is GBP 3. There
will be a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups
and an RSGB bookstall. Catering will be available onsite. For further
information, please call Michael Wright, G7TWX via 07826 924192 or
email dadars<at>gmx.com
Now the Special Event news
Special event station GB0SAR is active until the 30th of May in
support of SOS Radio Week. The station will mostly be using FT4 on
the 20m band, but you might also catch it on the other HF bands using
phone. For more information visit QRZ.com
Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is once again raising awareness
for men's mental health through amateur radio. Club members will be
operating special callsign GB0MMH. Other special callsigns will also
be active. The station is active today Sunday the 18th of May, as
well as the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of June. Please listen out
for the operators and give them a call. Your support will help raise
awareness of men's mental health. If you would like further
information, please contact secretary<at>hfdxarc.com
The International Amateur Radio Club will be active as 4U0ITU until
the end of 2025. The club is celebrating the 160th anniversary of the
International Telecommunication Union. QSL is available via Logbook
of the World, Club Log, or direct to P.O. Box 6, 1211 Geneva 20,
Switzerland.
Now the DX news
Antonio, DL4EA will be active as FY/DL4EA from French Guiana
[GEE-AA-NAH] between the 19th and 21st of May. Antonio plans to be
active on QO-100 and RS-44 and maybe some HF QRP.
Emir, E77DX will again be active as D4DX in Cape Verde on the 24th
and 25th May for the CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest. He'll be operating
as Single Operator All Bands in the high-power category. QSL is
available via E73Y and Logbook of the World.
Morten, LA9GY will be active from Eswatini [ES-WA-TI-NI] between the
22nd of May and the 2nd of June. He plans to be operating
holiday-style as 3DA0GY mainly on CW but also some SSB. QSL is
available via his home call LA9GY.
Now the contest news
Tomorrow, Monday the 19th of May, the FT4 Series Contest runs from
1900 to 2030UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your report.
On Tuesday the 20th of May, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 21st of May, the 80m Club Championship data leg runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using data modes on the 80m band, the exchange
is signal report and serial number.
The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the
24th of May and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 25th of May. Using CW
on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange
is signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 25th of May, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest
runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 15th of May 2025
This week, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Solar Cycle 25
maximum is now over. With a reduced solar flux index, and an almost
blank Sun, there was little to get excited about.
By Thursday the 15th of May, the SFI was 122 but previously, on the
12th, it had been down to 116 which is the lowest it has been for
some time. There is still a lot of solar activity going on, but most
of it is not conducive to good HF propagation.
Over the past week we have had two X-class solar flares and five
M-class events. The X-class events were associated with coronal mass
ejections, but these appear to have been directed away from Earth. A
fast solar wind has resulted in the Kp index standing at four for a
lot of the time, namely on the 9th and 10th of May and again on the
14th and 15th.
Unfortunately, this is not uncommon at this point in the solar cycle
and adds some evidence that we are now in the declining phase of
Cycle 25.
Next week, NOAA predicts that things may improve with the SFI set to
rise from the 19th of May. It forecasts the SFI will start the week
around 115, but then will climb steadily, reaching 145 by the 1st of
June. After a brief rise on the 19th with a Kp of four, things then
become more settled with a Kp of two between the 22nd and the 28th of
May.
A large elongated coronal hole became Earth-facing on 16th May which
could cause raised K indices and lower MUFs from today, the 18th of
May, onwards.
It looks like the best HF F2-layer conditions may occur between the
22nd and 28th of May.
And don't forget, despite the HF doldrums, we are now well into
Sporadic-E season with short-skip occurring, predominately on 10m.
But more of that shortly.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The prolonged spell of high pressure is likely to remain until near
the end of this week so there is plenty of time to get some more
Tropo in the log.
Cloudier and cooler air over eastern Britain at the end of last week
may enhance the Tropo by adding moisture under the inversion. For
most places the strongest Tropo conditions will be overnight and
early morning, then they will degrade as the daytime heating destroys
the surface temperature inversion.
Meteor scatter is declining a little, apart from a few stragglers
from early May showers, so it's probably better to keep to the early
morning period as your go-to time for meteor scatter to focus on any
random input.
Rain scatter is unlikely until next weekend, but it might be worth
thinking about the GHz bands from this Friday, the 23rd of May,
onwards.
Aurora is a different matter, and the solar activity is likely to
keep things interesting as a large sunspot group rotates into an
Earth-facing position.
Strong Es opened on Wednesday the 14th of May, so it's definitely the
season to be checking the upper HF and lower VHF bands for
Sporadic-E. In this recent opening, the Dourbes ionosonde peaked at
an Es critical frequency of 14MHz, which is a very high value, even
for mid-season.
There were strong signals from the central Mediterranean on 6m CW,
and some may have even got some 2m digital mode action from the brief
opening. Check the Propquest NVIS tab for the day to see the details
of this event.
Although weak jet streams were present, the opening may well have
been helped by some very intense slow-moving thunderstorms over
France. Remember to start checking on 10m and, if it's open, look to
the higher bands of 6m, 4m up to 2m.
EME path losses are still falling. Moon declination ended last week
at minimum but goes positive again this Thursday, the 22nd of May.
Moon windows and peak elevation are again rising. 144MHz sky noise is
high this weekend, falling back to low as the week progresses.
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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