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G4TNU > NEWS 01.02.90 03:05l 244 Lines 12083 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 01 Feb 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 1st of February 2026
The news headlines:
* RSGB Board appoints a Deputy Company Secretary
* Make sure you are aware of changes in the RSGB 2026 band plans
* An opportunity to join the GB2RS Newsreader team
The RSGB Board is delighted to announce that it has appointed Stephen
Ramsden, M0CCA as Deputy Company Secretary. Stephen is a solicitor
and former law firm managing partner, with extensive experience in
governance systems and compliance frameworks. He is a keen HF
portable operator and always interested to learn about, and
experiment with, anything related to amateur radio. Stephen Purser,
GW4SHF has told the Board that he wishes to retire from his role as
Company Secretary and the Board's intention is that Stephen Ramsden
will take on the full Company Secretary role after the AGM. You can
contact Stephen Ramsden via dep.co.sec<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB 2026 Band Plans were published in the recently released
February edition of RadCom. They are now also available on the RSGB
website in a wider variety of formats, including more detailed change
notes. This year's changes address a handful of key topics including
updates to the 5MHz band plan to emphasise correct operating, which
comes in the light of out-of-band FT8 usage and Ofcom monitoring
concerns. Updates at 50MHz have been made to accommodate new repeater
inputs which use a wider 1MHz split, easing the implementation of
their duplex filters. In the 430MHz UHF band, provision for low power
ad-hoc repeaters and some editorial updates have also been made. As
Band Plans change over time, please ensure you only refer or link to
the current ones on the RSGB website and remove any older ones you
have locally. Unfortunately, the RSGB still notes some websites and
unofficial usage charts have obsolete information and urge that these
are all removed. View the 2026 Band Plans at rsgb.org/bandplans
The RSGB is looking for volunteers to join the team of newsreaders
who broadcast the GB2RS news each Sunday. The GB2RS News Manager,
Steve, G4HPE is particularly interested in hearing from people in
Wales and Northern Ireland where he is keen to increase the number of
broadcasts. He'd also like to bolster existing QO-100 and Digital
Voice services and to add new stations to the national teams on the
40, 60 and 160m bands. If you'd like to be involved with any of these
opportunities, or if you have proposals for transmissions using new
modes or bands, get in touch. Read the full role description at
rsgb.org/volunteers
The next Tonight<at>8 webinar will be live tomorrow, Monday the 2nd
of February, from 8pm via the RSGB's YouTube channel and special BATC
channel. RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols,
G0KYA will be showing you how to use the Society's free online HF
propagation tools. He'll explain how you can tailor your predictions
to suit your particular station, including selecting the right mode,
power, noise levels, antennas, and exact location. If you can't wait
until tomorrow to hear from Steve, you can catch up on the
presentation he delivered at the RSGB 2025 Convention. His lecture,
‘Was that solar cycle 25? What did we learn?' is now available to
watch in the RSGB 2025 Convention playlist at youtube.com/thersgb
Chris Flanagan, G7NRO is unfortunately no longer able to continue as
RSGB QSL Bureau sub-manager for the G7 series, and the RSGB thanks
him for the time he has given as an RSGB volunteer. RSGB members with
G7 callsigns who collect QSL cards should now send their
self-addressed envelopes to Mr Anthony Holles [HOLLIS], G4AAV. You
can find his details in the sub-manager list of the RSGB QSL Bureau
web section at rsgb.org/qsl
The January 2026 edition of RadCom Basics is now available for RSGB
members to read via the RSGB mobile and web app. This edition
includes articles on using a multimeter, advice on getting on the
air, and the challenges that face radio amateurs who are new to the
HF bands. RadCom Basics covers key aspects of amateur radio in a
clear, accessible way, and is invaluable for those getting started in
amateur radio or wanting to explore something new. This is why the
Society is delighted to have added to its collection of RadCom Basics
back issues in the RSGB app where RSGB members can now enjoy editions
dating back to May 2019. The publication takes you through topics
ranging from working split frequency to building your own digital
hotspot, and from using FT8 to taking part in a radio net. With the
RSGB mobile app you can download editions to enjoy offline. You can
also browse RadCom Basics on the web via rsgb.org/radcom
And finally, a reminder that the next in the popular 145 Alive series
will take place on Saturday the 7th of February from 12pm to 3pm. The
event will include the addition of 144MHz SSB stations with vertical
polarisation. For more information visit the 145 Alive Facebook page.
And now for details of rallies and events
The Red Rose Winter Rally, organised by West Manchester Radio Club,
will take place on Sunday the 8th of February at Mather Hall, Mather
Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Exhibitors can set up from 8.15am and the doors
open to visitors at 10am. A large car park, catering, bring-and-buy
sale, improved disabled access and a seating area will be available
on site. For more information and booking, visit wmrc.co.uk
On Sunday the 15th of February, Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society's
Radioactive Fair will take place at Nantwich Civic Hall, Cheshire
CW5 5DG. The doors will be open from 10am to 3pm. The event will
feature a bring-and-buy sale, RSGB bookstall and raffle. Catering,
parking and disabled facilities will be available on site. For more
details visit radioactivefair.co.uk
Now the Special Event news
Operators from the DARC special event team are active as DH2026EM
[DELTA-HOTEL-TWO-ZERO...] until the 10th of February to celebrate the
Men's European Handball Championship. QSL via DK5ON, Logbook of the
World and the DARC Community Logbook. Look for activity on the HF
bands using CW, digital modes and SSB. See QRZ.com for more
information.
Phil, ZL3PAH is active as ZL60PAH until the 22nd of February to mark
his diamond jubilee in amateur radio. He is operating using CW, RTTY
and some SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World.
For more information see QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Chas, NK8O is active as 5H3DX from Tanzania until the 9th of
February. In his spare time, he operates CW and digital modes on the
20 to 10m bands. If conditions allow, Chas may also be active on the
6m band. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, or directly to NK8O.
Harald, DF2WO is active as 9X2AW from Kigali [KUH-GAA-LEE] in Rwanda
until the 9th of February. He is operating on the 160 to 6m bands
using CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB as well as via the QO-100 satellite. QSL
via OQRS.
Now the contest news
Tomorrow, the 2nd of February, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs
from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 3rd of February, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 3rd of February, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity
Contest runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 4th of February, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity
four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m
band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on
Wednesday the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs
from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour
contest may also enter the two-hour contest.
Also on Wednesday the 4th of February, the United Kingdom and Ireland
Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the
80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator.
On Sunday the 8th of February, the RSGB 432MHz Affiliated Societies
Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 29th of January 2026
We had a much quieter week Sun-wise, with fewer geomagnetic
disturbances and a decreasing solar flux index. Last week started at
153 but decreased to 133 by Wednesday.
The Kp index started the week at 2.33 and, apart from an excursion to
5.33, was below 4.33 all week. The 5.33 value was due to an enhanced
solar wind stream flowing from a small coronal hole.
The lower Kp indices have meant that the ionosphere has had a chance
to recover and we have been seeing maximum useable frequencies, or
MUFs, over a 3,000km path reaching 35MHz at times.
The 10m band has been coming up quite nicely, with the RR90 beacon in
Eastern Russia audible on 28.200MHz mid-morning. On Thursday the 29th
of January, the band was otherwise quite bare, apart from EM0WWA in
Ukraine on 28.480MHz with some sort of digitised voice. Also, PP8ZAC
in Brazil was loud on 28.025MHz using CW.
A quick scan of the 28MHz low-power beacons revealed PY4YYF Brazil on
28.115MHz, YM7TEN in Turkey on 28.225MHz, and that was it. Hopefully
28MHz will improve as we head towards Spring.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 120
to 140 range, with the Kp index set to remain low until the 4th of
February when it is predicted to rise to 4.
So, if this goes to plan, we can expect reasonable conditions on the
HF bands. However, you might be better off on 18, 21 or 24MHz as the
10m band may not be as active as we would like.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The recent pattern of low pressure close to the southwest of the
British Isles has staked its claim for another week. This means
further spells of rain, especially in the south and west.
The cold southeasterly wind over the northeastern half of the UK will
persist, but any high pressure will stay well to the north and east
of us, so tropo will probably be hard to find.
Rain scatter, on the other hand, may be more productive, especially
for the south and west. Some periods of rain, sleet or snow are
possible in the northeast where there may also be some snow static on
antennas from time to time.
Meteor scatter will have to rely upon random meteors for the next few
weeks and, as most of you who follow these bulletins will remember,
are at a peak in the pre-dawn hours.
There has been a steady stream of auroral alerts recently. These have
been mostly minor events, but it reinforces the notion that it is
worth monitoring the Kp index which gives a sense of the Earth's
geomagnetic activity. High Kp values are a useful indicator of a
potential auroral event.
Sporadic-E usually takes a break at this time of the year, but if you
make a point of checking the foEs trace at propquest.co.uk you may
see that there are occasional spikes in the graph of the data from
Dourbes in Belgium. This suggests that, although rare, out-of-season
Sporadic-E does occur, especially on the lower bands such as 10 and
6m.
This week, Moon declination is positive and falling, going negative
again on Thursday. Moon window length and peak elevation are falling.
Path losses are rising again as we passed perigee on the 29th of
January. 144MHz sky noise will be low all 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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