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G4TNU > NEWS 06.07.25 02:40l 285 Lines 13864 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 06 Jul 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 6th of July 2025
The news headlines:
* Don't miss tomorrow's RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar on UK Bunkers
on the Air
* Get involved with the GR2HQ challenge
* RSGB appoints a new CW Champion
The next episode in the Tonight<at>8 series is tomorrow, Monday the
7th of July. During the webinar Tony Hodge, M0TNI and Jason Dale,
2E0JIV will discuss their journey into amateur radio, what they enjoy
about it and how they got involved in UK Bunkers on the Air. UKBOTA
[U-K-BO-TA] is a programme and awards scheme that encourages radio
amateurs to activate Royal Observer Corps and other types of bunkers
in the United Kingdom. The webinar will be livestreamed on the
Society's YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing you to
watch and ask questions live. Find out more by going to
rsgb.org/webinars
The IARU HF Championship contest begins in less than a week and the
RSGB Contest Committee is encouraging both individuals and clubs to
get involved. During the contest, Headquarter Stations represent
their countries, with the RSGB's station GR2HQ being run by a network
of about a dozen stations around the UK and islands. Get involved
with the GR2HQ challenge and work the stations between 1200UTC on
Saturday the 12th of July and 1200UTC on Sunday the 13th of July.
Certificates of Achievement will be available for all stations, and
those stations achieving high scores will receive Certificates of
Merit. For the full rules go to the GR2HQ Challenge page on the
Contest Committee website via rsgbcc.org
RSGB Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX is delighted to announce that
Laura Robertson, MM7BFL has agreed to take on the volunteer role of
the RSGB CW Champion. Laura will head up the RSGB's Morse-related
activities and become an advocate for the use of CW. In her role
Laura will also help the Society to take CW to new audiences, with an
emphasis on learning and development to further the skills of its
members. Laura is a member of CWops and volunteers in the CW Academy
team as a co-advisor, primarily assisting EU-based amateurs who are
enrolled on the courses. She is often active on the HF bands using CW
in POTA and SOTA activities, as well as from her home station. You
can contact Laura via cw.champion<at>rsgb.org.uk The RSGB has
received a lot of interest in supporting this role, and in due course
it will be in contact with those who have said they would like to
join a Morse support team.
When was the last time you revalidated your licence? Ofcom notes that
whilst it is a requirement to revalidate your licence every five
years, it is recommended to do it annually. Put a reminder in your
diary to revalidate your licence soon, as Ofcom has stated that it
intends to implement phases two and three of the planned updates to
the amateur radio licensing framework later this year. These phases
include changes to new and Intermediate callsigns and rules for
special event stations. You can find guidance on the process by going
to the RSGB website and searching ‘licence revalidation'. As well
as FAQs, you'll also find a link to a step-by-step video by Ofcom,
which shows you the process of revalidating your licence using the
online licensing portal.
Bawdsey Radar Trust will be holding an event to commemorate the
world's first airborne radar experiments. The event on Friday the
15th of August will take place at Adastral Park, the home to BT's
research and innovation labs at Martlesham Heath in Suffolk.
Presentation topics will include Radar Early Days, Airborne Radar and
Family Histories. There will be two sessions open to members of the
public. The morning session is aimed at people with little technical
knowledge and the afternoon session is for those with some technical
knowledge. To find out more and book your ticket, go to
bawdseyradar.org.uk and click on ‘Radar in the Air'. If you're
unable to attend this event, why not learn about radar history with a
visit to the Bawdsey Radar Museum. Don't forget, as an RSGB member
you can save 20% on the ticket price. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums
to download your voucher.
This year, International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend will run
from 0001UTC on the 16th of August to 2400UTC on the 17th of August.
The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located
in over 40 countries. Registration for the event is open at illw.net
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
Saffron Walden Radio Ham and CB Club Rally is taking place today, the
6th, at Lovecotes Farm, Chickney Road, Henham Village, Bishop's
Stortford, CM22 6BH. Booking a table for today, costs GBP 10 and you
can arrive from 8am onwards. For more information email
g8swr1.5<at>gmail.com
Barford Norfolk Radio Rally is taking place today, the 6th, at
Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors
open at 9am for visitors. The event features trade stands, car boot
sales, bring and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups, catering and
free car parking. Entry costs GBP 3 per person but under 16s will be
admitted free of charge. Outside pitches cost GBP 8 and are available
from 8am. For more details visit tinyurl.com/Barford2025 or email
David, G7URP at radio<at>dcpmicro.com
The McMichael Radio & Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale will take
place on Sunday the 13th of July at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks
Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8am.
The doors will be open for visitors from 9am to 3pm. The entrance fee
is GBP 4 per person. A trader's table costs GBP 15 and this includes
admission for two people.
Now the Special Event news
Special callsign GB70RS is in use to celebrate the 70th anniversary
of the RSGB's weekly news service GB2RS which has been running
continuously since the 25th of September 1955. A team of amateurs is
using the callsign on a variety of bands and modes. QSL via the
Bureau, Logbook of the World and eQSL. For more information visit
rsgb.org/gb70rs
Members of Central Uusimaa [OO-SEE-MAH] Radio Amateurs Association,
OH2AP are active throughout 2025 as OF60AP to celebrate their club's
60th anniversary. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. For details of a
certificate that is available for working the station, see
tinyurl.com/oh2ap25
Now the DX news
Don, KW7R is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands. He is there
on a work assignment until September 2025. In his spare time, he
operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World.
George, VU2DGR is active as AT44I [ALPHA-TANGO-FOUR-FOUR-INDIA] from
Bharati [BAH-RUH-TEE] Research Station. He is a member of the 44th
Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The station was spotted
recently on the 20m band using SSB. QSL via home call.
Now the contest news
Today, the 6th, the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to
1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
RSGB VHF National Field Day started at 1400UTC on Saturday the 5th
and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 6th of July. Using all modes on
the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The RSGB VHF Fixed Station Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the
5th and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 6th of July. Using all
modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Tomorrow, the 7th, the RSGB 80m CW Club Championship runs from 1900
to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report
and serial number.
On Tuesday the 8th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 8th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 9th, 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 9th, 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 10th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The GR2HQ Challenge starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 12th and ends
at 1200UTC on Sunday the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to
10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27.
The IARU HF Championship starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 12th and
ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the
160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27.
On Sunday the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest
runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 3rd of July 2025
It looks like the Space Weather Prediction Centre, which supplies the
forecasts for NOAA, were overly cautious last week.
Despite predicting geomagnetic disturbances, we had quite a calm
week. The Kp index rose to 3.33 on a few occasions, but that was it.
We ended up with settled geomagnetic conditions and a solar flux
index in the 120 to 130s. A warning about the impact of a coronal
mass ejection, or CME, which left the Sun on the 28th of June,
appeared to come to nothing.
This made a much-needed change to the unsettled conditions of
previous weeks.
As a result, maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs for short, over a
3,000km path have been above 21MHz at times. At night, MUFs over the
same path have been consistently above 14MHz, which is normal for
this time of year.
In the summer we can expect to see nighttime MUFs being consistently
higher than in the winter, due to a change in ionospheric chemistry.
Unfortunately, this also means that daytime MUFs are lower than in
winter, leaving 28MHz open to Sporadic-E instead.
According to DXMaps.com, it appears that most Sporadic-E openings on
the 10m band have favoured the southeast of the UK towards Italy,
Turkey and Greece.
Back to F2-layer propagation now. On the 20m band, E51JD, operating
from the South Cook Islands, was spotted on SSB by Laurie, G3UML on
Thursday morning. KH7AL/KH9 on Wake Island, and T30TTT on Kiribati
[KI-REE-BAS], have also been worked on the 20m band using FT8.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 125
to 145 range. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to be quiet, apart
from the period around the 11th and 12th of July when the Kp index
may rise to 4.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
This hot weather has provided some nice marine Tropo around the
coasts recently as hot dry air advects across the cooler moist
surface layer.
We have also been able to see the duct move inland in the evenings.
The hybrid weather pattern of low pressure to the north of Britain
and high pressure to the south will continue to produce some Tropo
paths, particularly across the Channel, Biscay and North Sea.
Northern areas of Britain will see occasional fronts and active
weather systems, together with breezier weather, making Tropo
unlikely here. The higher pressure to the south means that rain
scatter may not feature much unless isolated thunderstorms develop
when weak weather fronts eventually reach these southern areas.
In the north it's a different matter and there could be some heavier
rain that might produce some rain scatter on the GHz bands.
Meteor scatter did well during June with several important showers to
boost chances. July offers two showers. The first is the
low-hourly-rate Alpha Capricornids and the second is the Delta
Aquariids. Both of these peak around the 30th of July so we have a
while to wait.
There have been some minor auroral events recently and it's always
possible that solar activity could lift the Kp index high enough, but
we are not expecting great things. Keep a check on the Kp index at
spaceweather.com to see if anything is happening.
The Sporadic-E season has had occasional good days but, for much of
the time, the focus of activity has been too far into Europe for the
whole country to take advantage of it. To begin the coming week, the
position of the jet streams suggests paths to northern Europe and the
Baltic will offer best results. Later in the week, the emphasis
shifts to the Balkans and Italy, and then to Iberia.
The Moon reaches apogee tomorrow, the 7th, where path losses are at
their highest. Moon declination is negative all week with the lowest,
or the most negative, on Wednesday the 9th. 144MHz sky noise is
moderate but increasing to a high of around 2,300 Kelvin on Wednesday.
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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