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G4TNU > NEWS 24.06.26 07:11l 263 Lines 12652 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
BID : 23616G4TNU
Subj: RSGB Main News - 21 Jun 2026
Path: IZ3LSV<ED1ZAC<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 21st of June 2026
The news headlines:
* The RSGB QSL Bureau issues final notice on the use of the old
address
* The RSGB Intruder Watch team is looking for volunteers
* Join the RSGB in commemorating the closure of BBC Radio 4's
Long Wave service on 198kHz
The RSGB QSL Bureau has issued a final notice to those still using
the old QSL Bureau address. A new system was introduced in January
2026 and users of the Bureau were advised that all outgoing QSL cards
now need to be sent to RSGB QSL Bureau, PO Box 73, 20 St. Loyes
Street, Bedford, MK40 1ZL. Anything sent to the old address from
Wednesday the 1st of July 2026 will either be returned by Royal Mail,
where the address is known, or otherwise is likely to be lost or
destroyed. Details of the new RSGB QSL Service can be found at
rsgb.org/qsl The RSGB would also like to remind amateurs with G7
callsigns that the new sub-manager is Anthony Holles, G4AAV. Anthony
has many cards waiting to be sent but has received very few stamped
addressed envelopes, so please make contact with him if you wish to
receive your cards. Contact details for all sub-managers can be found
by selecting ‘List of QSL sub-managers' from the right-hand menu on
the QSL Bureau web pages.
The RSGB Monitoring System, more popularly known as Intruder Watch,
is a service that monitors the primary amateur service allocations.
The team reports any unauthorised transmissions to the IARU Intruder
Watch team and, where appropriate, Ofcom. The RSGB Intruder Watch
Coordinator Ian Suart, GM4AUP is looking for volunteers to assist the
team with this important service. You would monitor the amateur
allocations as required and pass any concerns to Ian. If you'd like
to find out more, contact Ian at iw<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB, together with the BBC Amateur Radio Group, will be marking
the closure of BBC Radio 4's Long Wave service on 198kHz. The Long
Wave transmitting stations at Droitwich in Worcestershire, Westerglen
near Stirling in Scotland and Burghead overlooking the Moray Firth
also in Scotland, will all be closed down on Saturday the 27th of
June 2026. The special event station GB1500M will be active from
today, Sunday the 21st, until Sunday the 28th of June. Three radio
clubs will also be commemorating the closure by activating special
callsigns. A commemorative QSL card is available. You can find out
more by going to rsgb.org/longwave-transmitters You can also find
out how to become a GB1500M activator using the same link.
Ham Radio 2026 takes place in Friedrichshafen this week from the 26th
to the 28th of June. For the first time ever, the event will bring
together amateur radio and astronomy in a single platform as the
Astro trade fair will take place alongside the Ham Radio exhibition.
The opening event will provide information on current developments in
amateur radio and the many connections between radio technology and
astronomy, which are central to this year's trade show focus. RSGB
President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX is one of the guest speakers at the
opening event. He will speak about the collaboration between DARC and
the RSGB in providing an updated QSL Bureau Service for RSGB members
– an innovative project that brings amateur radio together across
borders. If you're going to Friedrichshafen this year, why not come
along to the RSGB stand and say hello – the team would love to see
you!
International Women in Engineering Day is on Tuesday the 23rd of June
and has the theme of Engineering Intelligence. The day is an
opportunity to recognise the women engineers who solve complex
challenges and help drive change. STEM subjects, which include
engineering, can be an effective way for the RSGB to introduce
amateur radio to new audiences and young people. The RSGB has
supported this day over a number of years and has interviewed women
to find out how amateur radio has helped them in their STEM careers.
You can read these profiles by going to rsgb.org/inwed
The RSGB Youth Committee has announced that a fourth person will be
joining the RSGB team at this year's YOTA Summer Camp in Austria.
Henry, M0KUQ is an active radio amateur and was recently involved in
re-forming the Imperial College London Wireless Society, of which he
is President. You can find out more about Henry, as well as the rest
of the team, by going to rsgb.org/yota-camp and selecting YOTA
Austria 2026 from the right-hand menu.
And finally, don't forget to listen out for all the amateur stations
that will be on the air for International Museums on the Air today,
the 21st of June. For more information about the event visit
tinyurl.com/imota2026
Please note that the submission deadline for the GB2RS News on Sunday
the 28th of June is earlier than usual. Please send details of all
your news and events to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk by 12pm on Tuesday the
23rd of June.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 21st of June, the East Suffolk Wireless Revival, also
known as the Ipswich Radio Rally, will be held at Kirton Recreation
Ground, Back Road, Kirton IP10 0PW. The doors open at 9.30am and the
entry fee for visitors is GBP 3. More details are available at
eswr.org.uk
On Sunday the 28th of June, the Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally will
take place at Penair School in Truro. The doors open at 10.15am and
admission costs GBP 3. Traders, bring and buy and refreshments will
be available on site. For bookings contact James on 01209 716 351 or
email janluke1954<at>hotmail.co.uk
Now the Special Event news
Herts and Essex Amateur Radio Society will be active with the
callsign GB0MHF during International Museums on the Air on Saturday
the 27th and Sunday the 28th of June. Operators at Much Hadham Forge
will be waiting to take your call on 40m SSB and 2m FM. See QRZ.com
for more information.
Special callsign YR100RC is on the air until the 30th of September to
celebrate 100 years of amateur radio activity in Romania. Look for
activity on the HF bands using a variety of modes. For details of a
certificate that is available for working the station, visit
tinyurl.com/romania1786
Marking the 70th anniversary of the DARC's weekly news broadcast,
special callsign DB70DLRS will be on the air until the 31st of
December. Look for activity on all bands and modes. QSL via DK5ON,
Logbook of the World and the DARC Community Logbook. More information
is available at QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Olafur [OH-LA-VUR], TF1OL is active as D4OL from Boa Vista Island,
AF-086, in Cape Verde until tomorrow, the 22nd. Look for activity
using FT8 and FT4 on the 80 to 6m bands. QSOs will be uploaded to
Logbook of the World and QRZ.com
Chas, NK8O is operating as 5H3DX from Tanzania until Thursday the 2nd
of July. He is active using CW, FT8 and FT4 on the 40 to 6m bands.
QSL via Logbook of the World or directly to NK8O.
Now the contest news
Today, the 21st of June, the Worked All Britain 50MHz Phone Contest
runs from 0800 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.
The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday, the 20th, and
ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 21st of June. Using CW on the 160
to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and your age.
The RSGB 50MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC yesterday, the 20th,
and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 21st of June. Using all modes
on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
On Tuesday the 23rd of June, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs
from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday the 25th of June, the RSGB 80m SSB Club Championship runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 28th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs
from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on, Sunday the 28th of June, the RSGB 50MHz CW Contest runs from
0900 to 1200UTC. Using CW on the 6m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 18th of June 2026.
We had a quiet week geomagnetically, but the solar flux has also
declined.
Over the past week, the Kp index never rose above 2 or 3, with only
one three-hour excursion to 5 on Thursday the 11th of June. This
bodes well for HF propagation, but the solar flux index has declined
from its recent high of 148 on Thursday the 4th of June to be in the
110 to 120 range over the past week.
As a result, the Sun is looking a little sparse when it comes to
sunspots. This, coupled with the summer doldrums, has seen maximum
useable frequencies, or MUFs, drop and DX has been limited to 21MHz
and below. The 10m band has been mainly open to Sporadic-E, with some
multi-hop openings giving the appearance of F2-region propagation at
times.
DX to be worked over the coming week includes: D44EC from Cape Verde;
PJ2/PH2M from Curacao [CURE-AH-SOW]; 3G0YM on Easter Island; FS/K9EL
operating from St Martin; 5R8EC from Madagascar; and OX3LX working
from Greenland.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may increase
slightly to be in the 130 to 140 range, although this will need some
new additional sunspots. Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be
quiet with a maximum Kp index of 2. We may see a slight upturn on
Tuesday the 23rd of June, when the Kp index is predicted to rise to
4, mainly due to an enhanced solar wind.
To recap, Summer is a time when paradoxically daytime maximum useable
frequencies, or MUFs, tend to be lower than in autumn and winter.
However, nighttime MUFs can be higher, with the potential for the 30
and 20m bands to be open all night. ARRL Field Day will run from
1800UTC on Saturday the 27th of June to 2100UTC on Sunday the 28th of
June. This may be an opportunity to work some US portable stations
who will be very pleased to contact you.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The weather models are a bit undecided about how the coming week will
evolve. One option is for predominantly high pressure and a chance of
some summer tropo, which may persist over the sea, but is limited
inland by daytime heating.
Tropo operators should focus on nighttime conditions, unless located
right on the coasts. The other weather model suggests that low
pressure will probably win out over northern areas and occasionally
in the south, so rain scatter may be likely and it would need some
heavy thundery showers to get the best results.
High summer is not the best for aurora. The Kp index ideally needs to
be at least above 5 before we can get excited.
Meteor scatter operators have been making use of the decaying
Arietids from earlier in June. The second shower of interest this
month is the June Bootids. The window of activity will be from
tomorrow, the 22nd, to Thursday the 2nd of July with the peak on
Saturday the 27th of June.
The Sporadic-E season is progressing with most days offering
something from the 10 and 6m bands within Europe. However, there are
limited possibilities on the 2m band. As usual, digital modes will be
the first to see results, so use the FT8 paths as a guide for the
other modes which should follow as the Sporadic-E intensifies.
Multi-hop paths do happen regularly but require beams and a lot of
luck for several Sporadic-E patches to align. This means the best
policy will be listening at the right time. This is in the morning
for the paths to the Far East and in the evening for those to the
States and Caribbean.
EME now and Moon declination is decreasing again, going negative
today, the 21st, with path losses rising now the Moon is past
perigee. This means shortening Moon windows and lower peak Moon
elevation as the week progresses. 144MHz sky temperature is low,
rising to moderate by Friday the 26th of June.
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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