| |
G4TNU > NEWS 14.12.25 10:30l 250 Lines 12069 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 39014G4TNU
Subj: RSGB Main News - 14 Dec 2025
Path: IZ3LSV<IK6IHL<IK7NXU<HB9ON<DK0WUE<DB0APK<ED1ZAC<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
Sent: 251214/0126Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO $:39014G4TNU
T:From: G4TNU@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EURO <g4tnu@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
T:Newsgroups: ampr.news.europe
T:Message-Id: <E1_6550701_G4TNU@gb7ipf.ampr.org>
GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 14th of December 2025
The news headlines:
* Dr Bob Whelan, G3PJT is now Silent Key
* Two exciting opportunities to make an impact with the RSGB
* Free RSGB club affiliation for schools, universities and
uniformed groups!
It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr Bob Whelan,
G3PJT became a Silent Key on the 4th of December. Bob's contribution
to amateur radio was extensive. First licensed in 1961, his main
interest was in HF and LF CW operation. In this he soon became a
strong supporter of the Commonwealth Contest, operating from a number
of DX locations for the contest over many years. He wrote the book
‘Reflections in a Rosebowl' which covers the history of the
Commonwealth Contest, and he put much effort into building an online
Commonwealth Contest community. Bob also played very significant
roles in the RSGB, the IARU and the First Class Operators Club. For
the RSGB, he started as a volunteer member of the RSGB HF Committee
and later was President from 2002 to 2003 and again from 2013 to
2014. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. You will be able
to read a full tribute to Bob in the February 2026 edition of RadCom.
Are you an experienced operations leader who is passionate about
delivering exceptional membership services and driving commercial
growth? Or are you an advertising agent looking for a new opportunity
where you can demonstrate your strong sales capabilities, excellent
communication skills, and your ability to build
and maintain long-term client relationships? The RSGB
is seeking a full-time, highly motivated Operations Manager to be
part of its senior leadership team, based at the RSGB HQ in Bedford.
This is a key role, responsible for ensuring our members receive
outstanding service, and the successful candidate will need to be
commercially astute, organised, people-focused, and excited by the
opportunity to make a meaningful impact. The Society is also looking
for a new contractor or agency to work with, to support the
development of RSGB advertising and contribute to the growth of its
publications and digital platforms. If you are
professional, proactive and excited by either of these
opportunities, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/careers to find out
more. The application deadline for both is the 4th of January
2026.
Did you know that amateur radio clubs in schools, universities and
uniformed groups can affiliate with the RSGB for free? Your club will
benefit from a copy of RadCom in the post each month, as well as
access to the RSGB app where you can read RadCom, RadCom Basics and
RadCom Plus. You'll also get special book discounts, promotion of
your club's activities, access to RSGB affiliated club contests, and
use of the QSL Bureau. Visit rsgb.org/affiliation and follow the
links.
How about giving back to the amateur radio community in 2026 by
becoming an RSGB Board Director? The RSGB has two Elected Board
Director vacancies and wants to ensure that the voices around the
table understand and reflect the community it serves. You'll need
leadership experience and be keen to play an active part in helping
to support the Society's strategic priorities. The Society is
encouraging candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds to stand
for election. Go to rsgb.org/elections to find out more. The closing
date is the 31st of January 2026, so act now.
The RSGB Contest Club is excited to report that the third World Wide
Award event will be taking place in January 2026. Award hunters can
engage in a very enjoyable competition across all HF bands and modes
with many special international calls to work. The RSGB will be
activating seven callsigns, all with the suffix ‘WWA'. RSGB members
who hold a Full licence may activate the callsign for their country.
To find out more go to rsgb.org/contest-club
YOTA Month continues this weekend with special call sign
GB25YOTA. Listen out for operators from the RSGB National Radio
Centre and the 2nd Marlborough Scouts. Students from Buckie High
School, Wick High School and Simon Langton Boys School Radio Club
will be active during the week, as well as The University of
Sheffield Amateur Radio Club. Next weekend Cambridge University
Wireless Society, along with some young visitors, will be active.
Listen out and encourage these young operators. View the operating
times, bands and modes for each group at rsgb.org/yota-month
RSGB HQ will close on Wednesday the 24th of December 2025 at 2pm and
will open again at 8.30am on Monday the 5th of January 2026. In the
meantime, if you need information about amateur radio, exams or
RadCom you'll find lots of details on the website at rsgb.org To
join the RSGB, renew your membership, or purchase a range of amateur
radio books and other products, go to rsgbshop.org
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
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 Sunday the 25th of January 2026, the 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 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz<at>outlook.com
Now the Special Event news
Special callsign 4T95O is active to celebrate the 95th anniversary of
the Peruano [PEH-ROO-AH-NO] Radio Club, OA4O in Peru. Look for
activity throughout December on the 40 to 10m bands, as well as on
the 6m, 2m and 70cm bands using CW, FT8, FM, RTTY and SSB.
Jose, HP2AT is active as H82AT until the 31st of December to
celebrate his 35th anniversary in amateur radio. Recently, the
station has been spotted using FT8 on the HF bands. All QSOs will be
uploaded to QRZ.com, Club Log, eQSL and Logbook of the World.
In celebration of the GB2RS News service's 70th anniversary, Sean
G7NJX will be active with the GB70RS callsign from the 15th to the
21st of December. Sean will be working on the 80, 40 and 20m bands
using CW, FT4, FT8, PSK31, RTTY and SSB. There is a schedule of
bands, modes, and operating times for the week on Sean's QRZ.com
page. He will also do his best to spot his activity on the DX cluster.
Now the DX news
Roland, F8EN is active as TR8CR from Gabon until the end of December.
He is operating using CW only. QSL via F6AJA.
Now the contest news
The ARRL 10m Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday, the 13th, and ends
at 2359UTC today, the 14th of December. Using CW and phone on the 10m
band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. American and
Canadian stations also send their state or province code.
Tomorrow, Monday the 15th of December, the RSGB FT4 Contest runs from
2000 to 2200UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your report.
On Tuesday the 16th of December, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 18th of December, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. 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 11th of December
We had a bit of everything last week including increased Kp indices,
a high solar flux, an X-class solar flare and coronal mass ejections.
The solar flux index hit a maximum of 220 on Thursday the 4th of
December. This brought good HF conditions until Sunday the 7th. The
index declined to 169 on Thursday the 11th, which was still more than
enough to excite the ionosphere.
We had an X-class solar flare at 0501UTC on Monday the 8th of
December. This originated from large active region 4298, which has
now rotated out of view. We also had more than ten M-class solar
flares over the past week, showing that the prediction of disturbed
conditions on the downward part of the solar cycle still holds true.
The Kp index hit 6.33 on Wednesday the 10th, which disrupted maximum
useable frequencies, or MUFs. The net result was that digisonde
traces were missing at times, with the MUF over 3,000km being in
single figures on Thursday the 11th of December.
To cap it all, we now have a very large Earth-facing coronal hole
that threatens HF propagation today, the 14th of December.
There has been DX around, but mostly on the lower bands. CDXC's Slack
group reports that KP2B on St Croix was worked on the 80m band using
FT8 on the morning of Thursday the 11th of December. TO9W on St
Martin was logged on the 40 and 30m bands using CW on Tuesday the 9th
of December. TT1GD in Chad also appeared on the 40m and 20m bands
using CW on Monday the 8th of December.
Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will be in the 130 to
140 range. However, as was mentioned earlier, geomagnetic conditions
may be disturbed today, the 14th, due to a fast solar wind stream
from a coronal hole.
Conditions might calm down from the 15th to the 20th, before the Kp
index hits 5 around the 21st to the 26th of December.
In summary, get your HF DXing in during next week, before auroral
conditions take their toll over the Christmas period.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The present period of unsettled weather will remain the driving force
for weather conditions for most of the country for the period up to
Christmas.
This will mean that there are likely to be some very windy spells
with extensive rain and squally showers. It offers scope for rain
scatter operators on the GHz bands, but scarcely any hint of good
tropo conditions.
One item of interest is the meteor scatter prospects from the
Geminids, which peak today, the 14th of December. It is one of the
busiest showers of the calendar with a peak hourly rate of 120, so it
should provide plenty of opportunities and is worth exploring during
the week before and following the peak.
The solar conditions have again remained interesting enough with a
red alert on the evening of Wednesday the 10th of December, and there
is always the potential for the Kp index to produce signs of auroral
radio activity once it goes above 5.
Finally, a reminder that this winter period, from mid-December to
mid-January, can produce some surprisingly effective Sporadic-E. It's
possibly easiest to see by checking the propquest.co.uk graphs to
see if the foEs trace is showing any sharp spikes.
The 10 and 6m bands are probably the more likely bands to show signs
of activity in these winter events, but it's certainly worth checking
if the graphs show any promising signs.
For EME operators, Moon declination went negative on Friday the 12th
of December, meaning shortening Moon windows and decreasing peak
elevation. We are past perigee for the month, so path losses are
increasing. 144MHz sky noise starts low but increases to high by
Friday the 19th of December when the Sun and Moon are close in the
sky.
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.
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
