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G4TNU > NEWS 07.09.25 03:20l 290 Lines 14091 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 7th of September 2025
The news headlines:
* WRTC, QO-100 and how to have a thriving club – be part of
these discussions at the RSGB Convention
* Listen out for special GB2RS broadcasts from the NRC as part
of GB70RS celebrations
* The RSGB replies to the latest Ofcom 2.3GHz consultation
The World Radiosport Team Championship 2026 takes place in the United
Kingdom and Mark Haynes, M0DXR is the Chairman of the Organising
Committee. Join Mark at the RSGB Convention on Saturday the 11th of
October to find out how the team is progressing for the event, which
will host 100 operators from all around the world. If operating via
QO-100 is something you would like to try, join Paulo, F5VMJ/G0MUW as
he shares his experience of the mode, including his home setup and
how to go portable. In a new-style presentation for this year,
representatives from four amateur radio clubs will be joining a panel
at the Convention. They will each discuss different aspects of their
club activities that are contributing to the club's success and
growth. Join the conversation, share your thoughts and experience,
and be inspired. If you'd like to get practical during the Convention
weekend, there are a variety of opportunities including three
workshops. The majority of workshop tickets are now sold, so book now
to avoid disappointment. With only five weeks until the Society's
annual Convention, secure your place via rsgb.org/convention The
RSGB Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton
Keynes between the 10th and 12th of October.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the RSGB's weekly news
broadcast, GB2RS. The celebrations continue with three special
broadcasts scheduled from the RSGB National Radio Centre, or NRC, on
Sunday the 28th of September. Three Newsreaders will broadcast GB2RS
from the NRC on the 40m band, the 2m band and via the QO-100
satellite. These readings will be in addition to those in the weekly
GB2RS broadcast schedule. Special event station GB70RS will be used
for pre- and post-News nets. In addition, each Newsreader will start
the broadcast with a special message from the RSGB President Bob
Beebe, GU4YOX. Find out timings and frequencies via rsgb.org/gb70rs
The RSGB has responded to a further Ofcom consultation, which would
see new users sharing spectrum within the 2.3GHz amateur band. The
latest proposals would enable a new class of short-notice outdoor
deployments in the 2320 to 2340MHz range, for up to 14 days at a
time. In its response, the RSGB has taken the opportunity to
highlight strong concerns regarding the amateur weak signal segment
at 2320MHz. This follows earlier Ofcom proposals last year for indoor
use only in this frequency range. The response and background
information can be found on the RSGB Spectrum Forum web pages. Go to
rsgb.org/spectrum-forum and choose the ‘Papers and consultations'
tab on the right-hand side.
This month is all about amateur radio and coding for the RSGB. Two
exciting activities have been developed for you to get involved with.
Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced coder, you can
get stuck into both the Python Pocket Morse activity and the LoRa
high-altitude balloon challenge. Don't forget to let the Society know
how you get on. Share your story and photos with the RSGB
Communications Team via comms<at>rsgb.org.uk
RSGB Board Chair Dr Stewart Bryant, G3YSX has announced that Peter
Bowyer, G4MJS is stepping down from his role as RSGB Director due to
an unexpected and significant increase in his professional duties. In
addition to this Board vacancy, two further vacancies will arise when
the RSGB election cycle starts in a few months. Both Len Paget,
GM0ONX and Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX will stand down from the
Board due to term limits. Members are encouraged to offer their
services to the RSGB for this important duty. If you'd like a chat
about the role, contact the Nominations Committee Chair Will
Richardson, 2E0WYA via nominations.chair<at>rsgb.org.uk
Royal Air Force Air Cadets Exercise Cloud Warmer is taking place on
the 60m band from 7.45pm to 8pm until the 31st of December. To
operate you must be a Full licence holder and comply with the Band
Plan Licence Schedule Notes. Listeners will note traffic on 5354 and
5363kHz and amateurs can join in and pass information. Military Radio
Exercise, or MRE, callsigns will be in use throughout the exercise
period. More details will be available soon via alphacharlie.org.uk
On Saturday the 13th, lots of amateur radio stations will be on the
air to take part in the Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also
known as CHOTA. The event will take place from 10am to 4pm. Although
stations will be working on a variety of bands and modes, most
operating will take place on the 40m band using SSB. More details are
available at wacral.org
And now for details of rallies and events
On Saturday the 20th of September, Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally
will take place at St Radigunds Community Centre, Poulton Close,
Dover CT17 0HL. The doors will be open from 10am to 2pm and the
entrance fee is GBP 3.
East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is also coming up on Saturday
the 20th. The rally will be held at Beckingham Village Hall,
Southfield Lane, Beckingham, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open from
9.30am to 3pm. For more information and trader booking visit
emerg.uk/rally
Now the Special Event news
On Saturday the 13th, special event station GB5SH will be active from
St. Hilda's Church in Hartlepool during the CHOTA event. Operation
will be mostly on the 40m band using SSB and the 2m band using FM.
You can read more details at QRZ.com
Operators from the Romanian Federation of Amateur Radio are active as
YO2025ENESCU [YANKEE-OSCAR-TWO-ZERO...] as part of the George Enescu
[EH-NEH-SKOO] International Festival. Details of certificates that
are available for working the station are available via
tinyurl.com/enescu25
Now the DX news
Maxim, OH7O is active as XW4YY from Laos until the 11th of September.
He is operating SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS. For
more information and updates visit oh7o.com
Chas, NK8O is active as 5H3DX from Tanzania until the 21st of
September. He is operating CW, FT8 and FT4 on the 30 to 10m bands.
QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to NK8O.
Now the contest news
The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday the 6th and
ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 7th of September. Using SSB on the
160 to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and your age.
Today, the 7th, the Worked All Britain 2m SSB Contest runs from 1000
to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and Worked All Britain Square. This year the QRO and
QRP contests are combined. The full rules are available on the Worked
All Britain website.
Also today, the 7th, the 5th RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs
from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday the 6th
and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 7th of September. Using all
modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
Both RSGB SSB Field Day and IARU Region 1 Field Day started at
1300UTC on Saturday the 6th and end at 1300UTC today, Sunday the 7th
of September. Using all modes on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests
are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 9th, 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 9th, the RSGB 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 10th, 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 10th, 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.
Also on Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB Autumn Series CW Contest runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Thursday the 11th, 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 Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday
the 13th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 14th of September. Using
SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 14th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs
from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 14th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to
1330UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county.
Also on Sunday the 14th, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1300
to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county.
On Sunday the 14th, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest runs from
1200 to 1600UTC. 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 Wednesday the 3rd of September
Last week's aurora may have come as a bit of a surprise! The
propagation segment for GB2RS is usually written on a Thursday, but
the aurora was sparked by a solar flare that took place two days
later, at 2002UTC on the 30th of August.
As we don't have a crystal ball we couldn't have predicted it!
The Kp index hit 3 late on the 1st of September, with aurora visible
over much of the UK. HF propagation was affected with sudden swings
in the maximum usable frequency over most of the day on Tuesday the
2nd of September.
At the time of writing, a geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect
with the solar wind speed above 500 kilometres per second. September
is a good month for aurora due to the Russell-McPherron effect, when
the Earth's axis aligns perpendicularly to the Sun-Earth line during
the equinox. This creates ideal conditions for a reconnection between
the solar wind and Earth's magnetic field. So, keep an eye on
solarham.com for daily updates.
The Sun remains active with plenty of sunspots. The solar flux index
stood at 187 on Wednesday the 3rd, down from 202 the day before.
HF propagation remains good, out of the auroral periods, and as we
progress into September it should improve even more. Some of the best
DX this week included VK2/SP9FIH on Lord Howe Island using the
Superfox FT8 mode, and T30TTT on Western Kiribati [KIRIB-ASS] using
both CW and FT8. Other choice DX included 3C3W in Equatorial Guinea
on FT8, TJ1GD in Cameroon on 20m CW, and 5H8HZ in Tanzania on 30m FT8.
Next week NOAA predicts the solar flux index will decline to 160, and
then perhaps 125. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast until
the 10th, with a maximum Kp index of 4 predicted. This may be due to
a large elongated coronal hole on the Sun's surface which became
Earth-facing on Wednesday the 3rd.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
Rain and sequences of low pressure will drive the weather agenda for
much of the coming week.
The only reasonable chance of Tropo appears to be Friday and Saturday
with high pressure to the southeast and support for paths to the
continent and across the North Sea. It is worth noting that, in
general, short-lived highs like this one do not have the necessary
time to generate a strong, elevated inversion before declining. So
don't expect too much.
Rain scatter, on the other hand, is much more likely to be worth
considering for the gigahertz stations next week, with plenty of rain
events coming along.
The Sporadic-E season daily blogs have now finished for this year,
but you may still find it worthwhile looking at the Dourbes graph at
propquest.co.uk You will notice the odd blip on the foEs trace, so
keep it in mind for the 10 and 6m bands – at least for the next
week.
Meteor scatter is still in random territory for this period. We are
between the Perseids in mid-August and the Draconids which peak on
the 8th of October. This means that the pre-dawn morning hours will
be good times to try.
There were some auroral signals during the 2m UK Activity Contest on
Tuesday the 2nd. We are coming into the autumn season when conditions
tend to be more favourable for aurora.
The message is, of course, to monitor the Kp index for values rising
above 4 or 5. Remember these three-hourly planetary readings can
smooth out shorter duration peaks, so maybe don't wait for it to get
to the dizzy heights of 6 or 7 before taking an interest.
Moon declination is still negative, not going positive until Monday
the 8th. So, Moon window lengths and peak elevation will continue to
increase. Path losses are still falling until perigee on Wednesday
the 10th. 144MHz sky noise is 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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