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G4TNU > NEWS 06.09.90 09:39l 303 Lines 14515 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 06 Sep 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 6th of September 2026
The news headlines:
* Learn about HF propagation studies at the RSGB Convention
* Which coding activities will you be trying?
* WRTC 2026 results have been rescored
Are you aware of the GB0PSC Baldock space weather station? The RSGB
Propagation Studies Committee recently installed a HamSCI HFRx at
Ofcom's spectrum monitoring site at Baldock. The station is part of
HF propagation studies that will allow the Committee to learn more
about space weather and its effects including radio blackouts,
Doppler flashes and travelling ionospheric disturbances. You can find
out how the Committee is progressing with its studies by joining Gwyn
Griffiths, G3ZIL on Saturday the 10th of October at the RSGB
Convention. If amateur radio construction is something you'd like to
find out more about, then join RadCom Plus Editor Paul Marks, G8FVK
on Sunday the 11th of October to learn about his approach to modular
design of amateur radio equipment. In particular, he'll be looking at
QRP HF and VHF gear, using readily available circuit boards and
modules such as the AD831 RF mixer module. You can attend both
lectures at the Society's annual Convention at Kents Hill Conference
Centre in Milton Keynes between the 9th and 11th of October. Secure
your place via rsgb.org/convention
National Coding Week is back this month! To support radio amateurs in
building their digital skills and explore the world of programming,
the RSGB has shared three new activities for you to try. The first
builds on the Python Pocket Morse activity developed last year and
guides radio amateurs to use a BBC Micro:bit to send Morse code
either on a telegraph wire or wirelessly. The second is ‘Ener-G use'
which is great for unlicensed and younger radio amateurs and allows
them to compare increasing forces and energy use with a fun Micro:bit
activity. The third activity is based on the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W. It
is a demonstration of Pulse Width Modulation and uses just a couple
of components, including an LED and a resistor, and will give you a
better understanding of the concept of duty cycle. All three
activities are available via rsgb.org/coding You can try them at
home, set up a practical club night or use them as an activity with a
youth or school group. Let the Society know how you get on by sending
photos and a summary to ncw.coordinator<at>rsgb.org.uk by the 30th of
September.
Following the conclusion of the on-site WRTC 2026 adjudication
process at Wyboston, UK on the 13th of July 2026, significant new
information became available resulting in necessary further work by
the Judging Committee. In order for the WRTC event to be reflective
of the most accurate assessment of contesting conduct and ability,
the Organising Committee and Sanctioning Committee agreed
collectively to support this work and have now published revised
scores. This report voids and replaces the previously announced
results. To read the full report visit wrtc2026.org
Don't forget that the RSGB Tonight<at>8 webinar series is back
tomorrow night, Monday the 7th of September. Join RSGB Board
Director Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB live for a presentation on amateur
radio and the future of satellite communication. You'll also be able
to hear how you can get involved with World Space Week, which takes
place from the 4th to the 10th of October. The webinar will contain
lots of useful information on how your club can host an event and
show that amateur radio is part of space exploration, education and
communication. Watch the webinar and ask questions via the RSGB
YouTube channel or special BATC channel. Find out more at
rsgb.org/webinars
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station programme is an
opportunity for educational organisations to host an amateur radio
contact with a crew member on board the International Space Station.
The window to submit an application is now open and ends on the 23rd
of October 2026. This is for a contact to take place between July to
December 2027. If you are a school, college, university or youth
group, take a look at the information available on the ‘School
Contacts' tab via ariss-eu.org If you would like to view videos of
different contacts, go to the RSGB YouTube channel at
youtube.com/thersgb and search for 'ARISS'.
Don't forget to listen out for the amateur radio stations that will
be on the air during International Air Ambulance Week. The event
started yesterday, the 5th, and runs until Sunday the 13th of
September. For more details visit tinyurl.com/IAAW2026
On Saturday the 12th of September, 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 1000
to 1600UTC. 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
The next in the popular 145 Alive series of events takes place on
Sunday the 13th of September from 1200 to 1500UTC. Many hundreds of
operators are expected to be on the air using 145MHz FM and 144MHz
SSB. For more information, go to the 145 Alive Facebook page or email
145aliveuk<at>gmail.com
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
Today, Sunday the 6th of September, Telford Hamfest is taking place
at Harper Adams University near Telford, TF10 8ND. The doors open at
10.15am. Admission costs GBP 5 but children up to 16 will be admitted
free of charge. For more information contact the Hamfest team via
hamfest<at>tdars.org.uk
On Saturday the 12th of September, East Midlands Ham and Electronics
Rally will take place at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane,
Beckingham, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open from 9.30am to 4pm and
free car parking is available behind the hall. Hot food and
refreshments will be available on site. More information is available
via emerg.uk/rally
On Sunday the 13th of September, Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally will
take place at Caister Lifeboat station, Caister on Sea, NR30 5DJ. The
doors will be open from 10am to 3pm and entrance is free of charge.
For more information email, Zane, M1BFI via m1bfi<at>outlook.com
Now the Special Event news
Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society will be running special event
station GB1PPF on Saturday the 12th of September from 9.30am until
4pm. The station will be located at St Peter and St Paul Church,
Church Lane, Fenstanton, Cambridgeshire PE28 9JS. Listen for activity
on the HF, VHF and UHF bands.
Special event station GB0SXW will be on the air on Saturday the 12th
and Sunday the 13th of September at the Stone Cross Windmill near
Eastbourne BN24 5EA. Operators will be using SSB on the HF bands and
FM on the 2m band. Visitors are welcome. Find out more via QRZ.com
Special event callsigns EO210WLP and EM70WWW are in use until the end
of year to celebrate 210 years of Lviv Polytechnica [LEH-VEEV
POH-LEE-TEKH-NEEK-AH] University and 70 years of the Lviv
Polytechnica [LEH-VEEV POH-LEE-TEKH-NEEK-AH] club station. More
information, including details of awards that are available for
working the stations, is available via QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Gunter, DK2WH is active as V51WH and V55Y from Namibia until the 10th
of October. He is operating using FT8, SSB, RTTY and some CW on the
160 to 6m bands. QSL via Gunter's home call, directly or via the
Bureau.
Now the contest news
RSGB SSB Field Day, IARU Region 1 Field Day and IRTS SSB Field Day
started at 1300UTC yesterday, the 5th, and ends at 1300UTC today,
Sunday the 6th of September. Using all modes on the 80 to 10m bands,
where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and
serial number.
The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC yesterday, the 5th,
and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 6th of September. Using all
modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday, the 5th, and
ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday the 6th of September. Using SSB on the
160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and your age.
Today, the 6th, the RSGB 5th 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from
1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Tomorrow, the 7th, the RSGB Autumn Series SSB Contest runs from 1900
to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report
and serial number.
On Tuesday the 8th, 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 8th, 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 9th, 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 9th, 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 Thursday the 10th, 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 12th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 13th 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 13th, the UK Microwave Group Millimetre Band Contest
runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Sunday the 13th, 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 13th, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1300
to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator. EI and GI stations also give their
county.
Also on Sunday the 13th, 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 Thursday the 3rd of September 2026.
Solar activity has continued to decline, leaving us with a solar flux
index around 100. The upside is we haven't had any solar flares and
associated coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, to contend with.
Over the last week, we had only one M-class flare and no X-class
events. The solar flux index declined to 102 on Thursday the 3rd of
September – down from 122 a week ago.
But the Kp index has been firmly in the range of 1 to 2 which bodes
well for ionospheric stability.
This has led to maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, over 3,000km
being around 21 to 24MHz. However, FT8 has stretched this up to 28MHz
at times. There have been some good 10m band FT8 openings to South
America late in the afternoon. Chile, Brazil and Argentina were
workable during these periods.
DX to be worked this week includes 3W9C from Vietnam; T99PB from
Palau [PUH-LAU]; Z68PX in Kosovo; P29YY in Papua New Guinea; HP/WE9G
from Panama; D44TWO from Cape Verde; T32AZ from East Kiribati
[KI-REE-BAS]; and J38DX and J38LD operating from Grenada
[GRE-NAY-DUH].
V47YA and V47RCX from St Kitts and Nevis [NEE-VIS] will be active
from the 8th of September until the end of the month and KH8WW, in
American Samoa, will be on the air from the 10th to the 24th of
September.
Two rare ones to look for are VK0DS from Davis Station and VK0TBC
from Casey Station, both in Antarctica. Operations are mostly using
SSB and FT8, as time permits. Both stations have been spotted on the
FT8 frequencies of the 20, 15 and 10m bands at times.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain around
the 100 mark. However, the good news is that, barring any flares or
CMEs, the Kp index should remain low, perhaps around 2 all week.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G0KYA.
The weather remains in a rather unsettled state. However, there are
some signs of a transient area of high pressure brushing past the
south of the country today, the 6th. This may create a chance of some
tropo into the continent.
This could tie in very well with the RSGB 144MHz Trophy and
Backpackers Contests, which are taking place today the 6th. The
unsettled pattern returns for the rest of the week and may not
provide much help for the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday
the 8th, or the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest on Thursday the 10th.
In occasional bursts of heavier rain there may be some potential for
rain scatter on the GHz bands.
The prospects of meteor scatter remain in the random territory. So,
it is best to listen just before dawn for the better chances. The
solar conditions have not been very dramatic lately with the Kp index
staying below 3. However, if it perks up a bit, say above 5, there
may be a chance of aurora.
The Sporadic-E season has more or less ended now. The next period to
consider checking usually comes at the end of the year, and the first
week in January, for out-of-season surprise openings.
EME now, and sky noise should remain low during the coming week. Moon
declination remains high. The Moon reached perigee, its closest point
to Earth, yesterday, the 5th, so path losses remain low.
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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