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G4TNU > NEWS 09.02.25 07:45l 264 Lines 12999 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 09 Feb 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 9th of February 2025
The news headlines:
* A new RSGB web page focuses on emerging technology
* An upcoming talk at Bletchley Park museum aims to widen
awareness of the radio spectrum and radio transmission
* Remember to share your British Science Week ideas
The RSGB has launched a new web page on how emerging technology can
be used in amateur radio. Technologies such as artificial
intelligence and 3D printing offer the opportunity to broaden the
definition of amateur radio. They can also increase appeal and
attract a more diverse audience. For existing radio amateurs, they
offer the opportunity for progression through learning new skills.
You'll also find links to two RSGB Convention presentations,
including the newly released talk on 3D printing by Tom Wardill,
2E0JJI. Go to rsgb.org/emerging-technology to learn more. The
Society will be adding more technologies to the web page in the
coming months and would love to hear from you if you are involved in
amateur radio in any of these areas. Share your stories
via comms<at>rsgb.org.uk
On Saturday the 29th of March, the RSGB National Radio Centre
Coordinator, Martyn Baker, G0GMB, together with Andy Webster, G7UHN
from the Radio Communications Foundation, will be delivering a talk
in the Fellowship Auditorium at the Bletchley Park museum. The
presentation will introduce people to the radio spectrum and how to
get to grips with the fundamentals of radio transmission. The session
is being delivered as part of the RSGB's ongoing strategy to promote
amateur radio to wider audiences. The Society is pleased to announce
that RSGB members who would like to attend the talk are able to
benefit from a 10% discount, reducing the price to GBP 14.40. To find
out more about this talk, go to the ‘What's on' section on the
Bletchley Park website via bletchleypark.org.uk If you'd like to
visit the Bletchley Park museum after the talk, don't forget that
RSGB members can gain free entry by downloading a voucher from the
RSGB website via rsgb.org/bpvoucher
British Science Week is less than a month away and the RSGB would
love you to use your interest, expertise and enthusiasm for amateur
radio to get people involved. The annual event is taking place
between the 7th and 16th of March and is a celebration of science,
technology, engineering and maths. Perhaps you love going portable
and could take a local rambler group on an activation with you, or
maybe you're a member of ‘Men in Sheds' and could deliver a
soldering demonstration for them. The Society wants to make amateur
radio accessible and inclusive for everyone. All ideas are welcome,
both big and small. Whatever you are planning, send your ideas to the
RSGB British Science Week Coordinator, Ian Neal, M0KEO via
bsw<at>rsgb.org.uk The RSGB will continue to share resources and
ideas for how to get involved via rsgb.org/bsw
A competition has been launched for RSGB Regions 6 and 7 in Wales
that will take place throughout March. The aim is to encourage both
individual RSGB members, as well as Affiliated Clubs in Wales, to
build their own resonant 21MHz antenna and make as many QSOs as
possible on the 21MHz band during the month. There are four
categories to enter, with certificates issued to the top three
stations in each of the categories. A club trophy is also available.
To view the full competition rules and to access the submission form,
go to tinyurl.com/walescomp
Don't forget that Girlguiding groups will be taking part in World
Thinking Day on the Air activities over the weekends of the 15th and
22nd of February. The aim of the event is to encourage Girlguiding
members to make friendships with those in other units, using amateur
radio as the means of communication. A list of stations who have
provided the RSGB with details of their callsign can be found by
going to rsgb.org/thinking-day If you'd like to be added to this
list, please email comms<at>rsgb.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 9th, the Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society RadioActive
Fair is taking place at Nantwich Civic Hall, Market Street, Nantwich,
Cheshire, CW5 5DG. The doors are open from 10am to 3pm and admission
costs GBP 5. Hot food, refreshments and free car parking are
available. For more information contact Patrick, 2E0VGF via
info<at>radioactivefair.co.uk
The Red Rose Winter Rally is due to take place on Sunday the 23rd of
February from 10am at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, Lancashire,
WN7 2PJ. Please note that the maximum number of five-foot tables per
trader has had to be reduced from six to five. On a brighter note,
the price remains as it has been for several years at GBP 10 per
table. For more information visit wmrc.co.uk
The Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society Annual Rally will take place
on Saturday the 1st of March at Hillsborough Village Centre, 7
Ballynahinch Road, BT26 6AR. The doors open at 10.30am. For more
details visit lvars.uk
[LIMA-VICTOR-ALPHA-ROMEO-SIERRA-DOT-UNIFORM-KILO]
Now the Special Event news
A series of special event stations is active until the 31st of March
to celebrate the city of Chemnitz [KEM-NITS], one of the European
Capitals of Culture for 2025. All QSOs will be uploaded to eQSL,
Logbook of the World, Club Log and the DARC Community Logbook. Paper
QSL cards will not be issued. For more information about the event,
including details of a certificate that is available for working the
stations, visit 2025c.de
Special callsign A9100IARU is in use by the Bahrain Amateur Radio
Society to mark the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur
Radio Union. The callsign will be active for five days during each
month of the 2025 year. The station was spotted recently using FT4 on
the 10m band. QSL via EC6DX.
British Railways Amateur Radio Society is continuing to run special
event stations GB0LMR and GB2SDR during 2025 to celebrate 200 years
of train travel. Operation is mainly focused on 40m but there may be
additional activity on the 10m band using SSB. QSL via the Bureau. To
read more about the special event stations, visit QRZ.com
A team of operators from DARC is active until the 27th of April using
special callsign DA0IARU. The station is operating to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the IARU. The special event team has been in
existence for around five years and is led by Ric, DL2VFR.
Now the DX news
Thierry, TK1CX is active from Cameroon until the end of February. He
is QRV as TJ/TK1CX on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands. He operates
mainly using FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, or via EA5ZD.
Przemo [SHAH-MO], SP3PS is operating as C5SP from The Gambia until
around the middle of March. He operates using SSB and FT8 on the HF
bands. QSL via SP3PS.
Now the contest news
The CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the
8th and runs until 2359UTC today, the 9th of February. Using RTTY on
the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
The PACC Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the 8th and runs
until 1200UTC today, the 9th of February. Using CW and SSB on the 160
to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. PA stations also send their province.
On Tuesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 12th, 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 12th, 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 Wednesday the 12th, the RSGB 80m Club Championship data leg runs
from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using PSK63 and RTTY on the 80m band, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Thursday the 13th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from
2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The ARRL International DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the
15th and runs until 2359UTC on Sunday the 16th of February. Using CW
on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange
is signal report and transmit power. USA stations also send their
state and Canadian stations send their province.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Wednesday the 5th of February 2025
Last week went pretty much as predicted. The solar wind from a large
coronal hole impacted the Earth on Saturday the 1st of February,
pushing the Kp index to four. The hole was so large that the
geomagnetic disturbance lasted until the early evening on Sunday.
Once the solar wind speed had dropped, things got back to normal and
the Kp index has been in the range of 1 to 2 ever since.
The event appeared to have had little effect on HF propagation, with
maximum usable frequencies over a 3000km path remaining above 28MHz
during the daylight hours. So it looks like we dodged a bullet.
At the time of writing, we have had 21 M-class flares in three days.
A solar flare measuring M8.8 was detected around active region 3981,
peaking at 0358UTC on the 3rd of February. This was the strongest
flare yet from this region in terms of peak X-Ray flux. However, the
flare itself was impulsive and was not the source of a coronal mass
ejection.
Over the next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index could
fall slightly to be in the 180 to 200 range. Make the most of the
good propagation as we may be entering a period of unsettled
geomagnetic conditions again from the 10th to the 17th of February.
NOAA predicts that the Kp index could rise to a maximum of 5 on the
13th but is likely to be in the range of 3 to 5 over the seven-day
period.
Part of this may be down to another coronal hole which became
Earth-facing on the 6th of February. There is also a good chance that
we could get an X-class eruptive flare from active regions 3981 or
3978, which could result in a coronal mass ejection.
We recommend you keep an eye on solarham.com for daily updates.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
High pressure during the second half of last week brought some useful
tropo conditions. As this week, ending today the 9th, comes to a
close there are some wintry showers along North Sea coasts, which may
produce some snow and rain scatter. However, this may be weakened by
the nearby high pressure.
By the end of this week, ending today the 9th, there will be a change
of weather pattern as the high, having now migrated to Scandinavia,
leaves room for Atlantic weather systems to encroach from the west
during the coming week. This could bring rain scatter possibilities
to the western side of the country. These should be more useful than
the eastern coast ones at the end of last week since the rain will
probably be heavier and the fronts slow-moving.
This time of year is something of a desert for Sporadic-E propagation
although look out for lesser events as a result of jet streams. You
can track these on the Propquest website.
Keep a look out for auroras during the week beginning tomorrow, the
10th. The likelihood of M-class flares is around 85%, while the
chance of X-class flares is approximately 20%. So keep an eye on the
Kp index for any potential solar events that could cause auroras.
Next week, there are no major meteor showers. The next significant
meteor shower, the Lyrids, will become active in April. Keep checking
the pre-dawn period for random meteors.
Moon declination reached a maximum yesterday, Saturday the 8th. Path
losses are still low but will increase throughout the coming week.
This means that this weekend, ending today the 9th, should produce
good activity for EME, especially on the GHz bands with long Moon
windows and high peak Moon elevation.
144MHz sky noise is moderate this weekend, ending today the 9th, but
falls to low for the rest of the coming 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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