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G4TNU > NEWS 01.09.25 16:38z 290 Lines 14070 Bytes #198 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 31 Aug 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 31st of August 2025
The news headlines:
* Plan your RSGB Convention weekend with the newly released
programme
* Volunteer for the RSGB as the Honorary Mature Members' Officer
* RSGB representatives and practical activities at the National
Hamfest
Have you bought your ticket for this year's RSGB Convention yet? The
weekend's draft programme has just been released and details all the
inspiring speakers that the Society has lined up for your enjoyment.
If you are wanting to improve your technical knowledge, make sure you
put the presentation by Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs on your
must-see list. Hans will introduce the concept of polar modulation
SSB, along with the story of the practical implementation of polar
modulation SSB in the QRP Labs QMX and QMX+ transceivers. Perhaps
you'd like to get some operating tips? In which case Walt Hudson,
K4OGO is one to add to your weekend schedule. Walt, also known as
‘Salty Walt', will discuss different types of antennas and his
experience with them when operating portable. If you'd like to
discover something new within amateur radio, then join Kjetil
[KEE-ET-AY] Vinorum [VEE-NOR-UM], LB4FH for a presentation on
‘elmering' in an online world. In addition, Mike Walker, VA3MW will
present an exclusive look at the new Aurora transceiver from
FlexRadio Systems and will showcase how the Aurora pushes the
boundaries of software-defined radio. With a wide-ranging programme
to spark your interest, three exciting workshops, the Special
Interest Groups room, GB3HQ and much more, this year's Convention is
one not to be missed. The event takes place between Friday the 10th
and Sunday the 12th of October at Kents Hill Conference Centre in
Milton Keynes. Tickets are selling fast so to view the full programme
and book go to rsgb.org/convention
The RSGB has announced an exciting new volunteer role, which will be
tasked with attracting older people to amateur radio. The Honorary
Mature Members' Officer will also be responsible for retaining and
engaging with our existing senior members. The individual will
research organisations or groups with memberships that include older
people who may be interested in amateur radio as a hobby. They will
also help to identify ways the RSGB can support lifelong enjoyment of
amateur radio, including accessibility, training and social
engagement. If you are an RSGB member and interested in this role, go
to rsgb.org/volunteers to read the full description. If you'd like
to apply or have a chat about the role, email the Nominations
Committee Chair Will Richardson, 2E0WYA via
nominations.chair<at>rsgb.org.uk
The RSGB will have a large presence at the National Hamfest at Newark
Showground on Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of September. In
addition to an extensive book stall and membership stand, the Society
will be running a range of exciting practical activities and
demonstrations. These include a semi-interactive display of the
CubeSat and a web-based dashboard from a Tiny Ground Station running
remotely. There will be the opportunity to play ‘MORSE', a
minimalist, wave-based strategy game operated with just two controls.
You can also have your CW skills tested at a range of speeds. On the
Saturday, there will be an opportunity to get hands on, building a
Kanga FM receiver kit. The activities are all free of charge and
there is no need to book in advance. Members of the RSGB Board, staff
and representatives from specialist committees and teams will also be
in attendance and are looking forward to meeting you, answering your
questions and offering support.
If you know an up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in
the last year and has some real achievements to show, you have until
Friday the 12th of September to nominate them for the RSGB's G5RP
Trophy. The award is not limited to youngsters or the newly licensed
but is open to anyone who has recently discovered and made
significant progress in HF DXing. Please email your nominations to
Ian Greenshields, G4FSU via hf.manager<at>rsgb.org.uk
Worked All Britain's new Summer Saunter award is being extended to
include an Autumn Amble. There is now a rota of volunteers to act as
regular net controllers from 10.30am UK time on the 40m band. Other
nets will run on an ad hoc basis, whenever activity is planned. To
find out more visit the Worked All Britain website.
And now for details of rallies and events
Telford Hamfest is taking place today, Sunday the 31st of August at
Harper Adams University Sports Hall. The doors open at 10.15am.
Admission is GBP 5 but young people up to the age of 16 will be
admitted free of charge. Lots of fascinating titles are available at
the RSGB bookstall on site. More details are available at
tinyurl.com/tdars25
On the 14th of September Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally will be held at
Caister Lifeboat station, Caister-on-Sea, NR30 5DJ. The doors will be
open to visitors from 9am to 2pm and there is no entrance fee. For
more information email Zane, M1BFI via m1bfi<at>outlook.com
Now the Special Event news
Members of Central Uusimaa [OO-SEE-MAH] Radio Amateurs Association,
OH2AP are active throughout 2025 as OF60AP to celebrate their club's
60th anniversary. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. For details of a
certificate that is available for working the station, see
tinyurl.com/oh2ap25
Special callsign GB70RS is in use to celebrate the 70th anniversary
of the RSGB's weekly news service GB2RS which has been running
continuously since the 25th of September 1955. A team of amateurs is
using the callsign on a variety of bands and modes. QSL via the
Bureau, Logbook of the World and eQSL. For more information visit the
GB70RS page at QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Antonio, IK7WUL is active as TY2AA from Benin until the 7th of
September. Recently, the station was spotted on the 10m band using
SSB. For more information visit the TY2AA page at QRZ.com
Domenico, IK1MNF is active as IK1MNF/IA5 from Isola d'Elba [EE-SO-LA
DEL-BA], EU-028, until the end of September. He is mainly using SSB
on the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via Domenico's home call. QSOs will be
uploaded to Logbook of the World and Club Log.
Now the contest news
The World Wide Digi DX Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday the
30th and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 31st of August. Using FT4
and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is your four-character locator.
On Monday the 1st, 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 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 3rd, 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 3rd, 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 3rd, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m
Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the
exchange is your six-character locator.
The All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 6th and
ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 7th of September. Using SSB on the 160
to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and your age.
On Saturday the 6th, the CWops CW Open takes place in three four-hour
sessions between 0000 and 2359UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands,
where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number and name.
The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 6th
and ends at 1400UTC on 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 start at 1300UTC
on Saturday the 6th and end at 1300UTC on 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 Sunday 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 together. The full rules are
available on the Worked All Britain website.
On Sunday 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.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 28th of August 2025
This week saw a change in HF propagation with a perceptible move
towards more autumnal conditions.
The 10 and 12m bands have started opening up to the USA, at least on
FT8. As we move into September this will improve further. Also, as we
head towards the Autumnal Equinox, we can expect better conditions on
north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa.
The week saw the solar flux index climb to 226 on Thursday the 28th
thanks to a host of sunspots, mainly in the Sun's southern hemisphere.
Over the last seven days the Sun also provided us with 12 M-class
solar flares. Any associated coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, were
not Earth-directed, so these had little effect and the Kp index
stayed firmly at 3 or below. The latest updates suggest that there is
only a ten per cent chance for a strong X-class solar flare.
FT8 continues to be the preferred HF mode, or so it seems, with
stations in China, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon making their way
into UK logs on the 12m band.
The 10m band has also been humming with South America rolling in
during late afternoon and early evening. This can only get better as
we move into September and October.
NOAA predicts that the coming week will start with a solar flux index
of 155 tomorrow, the 1st. This may be a little pessimistic, but we'll
see. It also predicts that the solar flux index will drop off as the
week progresses, ending the week at 125.
Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be good for the first half of
the week, but then decline from the 4th of September. Batten down the
hatches as a Kp index of 6 is forecast for the 5th, with unsettled
conditions lasting until the 10th of September. Check for auroral HF
signals on the 5th, or even the possibility of visible aurora from
the UK.
We recommend you get your HF DXing in early next week!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
Last week saw some lovely late season Sporadic-E on the 6 and 4m
bands including Spain, Italy, and east into Ukraine. There was an
opening to Brazil on the 24th that reached as far as East Anglia but,
as usual, stations on the south coast and west of the country had the
best of the transatlantic QSOs.
This is the last bulletin in the nominal 2025 Sporadic-E season,
which lasts from May to August. However, last week was a good
reminder not to give up too soon as there were several CW and SSB
paths showing up, particularly on the 10 and 6m bands. There were
also a few reports on the 4m band.
The daily Sporadic-E blogs on propquest.co.uk come to an end today,
the 31st, but the site will continue to provide the maps as usual. To
help you, notes on how to interpret the maps are available on the
website. Thanks to all the Sporadic-E operators who have submitted
logs to the various clusters this year.
The change over to unsettled weather is now complete and we will see
rain and thunderstorms in most areas from time to time. It's a good
period to check out rain scatter propagation if you are set up for
the gigahertz bands.
The heavier rain is well-captured by the many online rain radar
displays to help you track the most active scattering volumes, which
move with the stronger winds quite high up in the atmosphere. Speeds
of 30 to 60 miles per hour are common.
There is one note of contrast with the model evolution after midweek.
One branch sticks with low pressure to the following weekend while
another outcome tries to bring in a ridge of high pressure and a
chance of Tropo propagation. If the latter turns out to be the actual
evolution, it may prove useful for the 144MHz Trophy and Backpackers
Contest next weekend. However, it may not have arrived in time for
the 144MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday.
The solar conditions are still providing some interest for auroral
propagation, but with a Kp index less than 3, nothing of use
radio-wise. Look for a Kp index increase beyond 7 for that. Meteor
activity is currently between major showers so expect random
activity, which suggests early mornings for checking out meteor
scatter prospects.
Moon declination is negative, reaching a minimum on Monday the 1st.
So, it's a week to check out your equipment rather than to operate.
With the Sun still high in the sky, it's easy to check system
performance with Sun noise. Path losses started to fall after apogee
on Friday the 29th. 144MHz sky noise is close to 3,000 Kelvin on
Monday, dropping back to moderate on Wednesday.
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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