GB2RS

GB2RS News Sunday, the 28th of September 2025 The news headlines: What are your must-see presentations at this year’s RSGB Convention? The RSGB invited the MP for Buckingham and Bletchley to the RSGB National Radio Centre for a private visit Listen out for today’s special 70th anniversary GB2RS broadcasts Before we begin today’s news bulletin, we would like to share a special message from the RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX, to mark the 70th anniversary of GB2RS. Bob says, “It is with a profound sense of respect and appreciation that today we mark the 70th anniversary of the GB2RS News service. Since 1955, volunteers have given their time and their voice to keep our radio community informed, connected, and inspired. For many of us, GB2RS has been a constant and familiar presence in our radio lives. On behalf of the RSGB, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all who have played a part in this remarkable story for the last seventy years. Today, we honour their legacy and reaffirm our commitment to the values and spirit that the GB2RS News service so proudly represents.”  And now we move to today’s news items. The programme for this year’s RSGB Convention has nearly 50 presentations for you to enjoy, including leading industry speakers such as Mike Walker, VA3MW from FlexRadio and Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs. There will also be well-known names such as Neil Smith G4DBN, RadCom Technical Editor Peter Duffett-Smith GM3XJE, Brian Coleman G4NNS and Walt Hudson K4OGO, known to many as ‘Salty Walt’. This annual RSGB event is your only opportunity within the UK to have access to this level of knowledge, learning and networking opportunities. As well as a packed full lecture programme, there will be nearly 20 special interest groups in attendance, so if you are thinking of pursuing a different area of the hobby, this is the perfect time to explore your options. To guarantee a place, you will need to purchase a ticket online via rsgb.org/convention before advance sales close on Sunday the 5th of October. Buying your ticket online not only guarantees your place, but it also saves you money when compared to on-the-door ticket prices. If you are arriving on Friday, why not join a private tour of Bletchley Park at 2.30 pm, which has been arranged especially for Convention attendees. In addition to this, and new for this year, RSGB National Radio Centre volunteer Patrick, 2E0IFB, will be running an informal introduction on getting started with low-earth orbiting satellites. The RSGB Convention takes place from the 10th to the 12th of October at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. The RSGB was pleased to welcome Callum Anderson, MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park last week. Callum enjoyed seeing the history of radio, watching live CW contacts and listening to his voice coming back from space, having been relayed via a satellite. Callum was invited to meet a small group of senior RSGB representatives who emphasised the important role of amateur radio in encouraging young people into an engineering career. Getting involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths activities gives a great foundation that could lead some young people to follow in the footsteps of radio amateur pioneers who led the development of many wireless technologies that we rely on today. Most importantly, the visit gave the RSGB an opportunity to show the problems that ElectroMagnetic Disturbance can cause to wireless reception. Examples of EMD include household appliances, Broadband FTTC and green energy from solar panels and windfarms, where the signal levels are thousands of times stronger than the expected levels given in ITU recommendations. EMC Chair John Rogers M0JAV and Board Chair Stewart Bryant G3YSX explained that unless the year-on-year increases in background noise are stopped, many critical services and infrastructures could be impacted soon, just as the amateur radio bands are today. The RSGB looks forward to meeting again with Callum, who is the Parliamentary Private Secretary for Science, Innovation and Technology. Don’t forget to listen out for three special one-off broadcasts from the RSGB National Radio Centre today. The broadcasts are part of the celebrations, which are taking place to mark the 70th anniversary of GB2RS. Listen out at 1 pm, 2.30 pm and 4 pm. Go to rsgb.org/gb70rs  for details of frequencies and newsreaders. All listeners are welcome to join the pre- and post-News nets, which will be operating using the special event station GB70RS. The RSGB LoRa high-altitude balloon launch took place on Saturday, the 20th of September and was a great success despite tricky weather conditions, which included rain and high winds. The balloon soared at a peak altitude of 48,556 feet before landing in a remote location in the Thursden Valley. Winners of the competition to win a £200 Moonraker voucher will be announced at the RSGB 2025 Convention on Sunday, the 12th of October. If you’re wondering what you can do with your LoRa tracker now that the RSGB challenge has finished, go to rsgb.org/lora-balloon for a handy guide on how you can continue the fun. If you took part and would like to be included in a special feature in the December edition of RadCom, send your photos and a short summary of your activity to comms@rsgb.org.uk by Wednesday, the 1st of October. The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will be held from the 23rd of July to the 2nd of August 2026. The organisers are looking for amateur radio operators to volunteer and assist with radio, spectrum and other technical tasks. To register as a radio volunteer, email spectrum@glasgow2026.com to be sent a code that you can enter into the volunteer booking portal. For more information and to apply to become a volunteer, visit the ‘Volunteering’ tab at glasgow2026.com Wednesday, the 1st of October, sees the launch of UKBOTA's second annual celebration of the work carried out by the volunteers of the Royal Observer Corps. Activate or hunt any UKBOTA ROC bunker reference during October to qualify. More details are available at ukbota.org Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.  And now for details of rallies and events Carmarthen Amateur Radio Society is holding a surplus equipment sale on Saturday, the 4th of October, at the Cwmduad Community Hall. The doors will be open from 8.30 am for traders, 9.30 am for disabled access and from 10 am for all visitors. All radio amateurs and shortwave listeners are welcome. Limited parking is available outside the hall, and more is available on the main road. For more information, or to book a table, contact Andy, GW0JLX, on 07768 282 880. On Sunday, the 5th of October, the 50th Welsh Radio Rally takes place at Llanwern High School, Hartridge Farm Road, Newport in South Wales. The doors open for traders from 7 am and for the public from 9.30 am. Admission costs £3. For more information, email welshradiorally@gmail.com On Sunday, the 12th of October, the Autumn Dartmoor Radio Club Rally takes place at Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton. The doors open at 10 am and admission is £3. For more information, email 2e0rph@gmail.com Also, on Sunday the 12th, Hornsea Amateur Radio Club’s annual rally takes place at Driffield Showground in East Yorkshire. Exhibitors can gain access from 8 am, and visitors are welcome from 10 am. For more information, email lbjpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk Now the Special Event news Paul, VK5PAS, is active as VI8POL until tomorrow, the 29th, to celebrate Australia's annual National Police Week. Recently, the station was spotted using FT8 on the 20m band. QSL via VK5PAS, Logbook of the World and eQSL. Eight special call signs are in use until the 12th of October to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Swedish Amateur Radio Association. Look for activity on the 160 to 6m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. For details of an award that is available for working the stations, visit tinyurl.com/ssa-100 Now the DX news The Salamis Radio Team is active as SX8AJX from Salamina Island, EU-07, until Tuesday, the 30th of September. Operators are using CW, SSB and digital modes on the HF bands and via satellite. QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World and Club Log.  Janusz, SP9FIH, is active as VK9/SP9FIH from Christmas Island, OC-002, until Friday, the 3rd of October. Look for activity on the 30 to 10m bands using SSB and FT8. QSL via Club Log's OQRS. Now the contest news The CQ World Wide DX RTTY Contest started at 0000 UTC yesterday, the 27th, and ends at 2359 UTC today, the 28th of September. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14. Also, today, the 28th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, the 1st of October, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 1st, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and a four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. Also, on Wednesday the 1st, the United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The Oceania DX SSB Contest runs from 0600 UTC on Saturday, the 4th to 0600 UTC on Sunday, the 5th of October. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Saturday, the 4th of October, the RSGB 2.3GHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 UT

GB2RS News Sunday, the 21st of September 2025 The news headlines: Secure your ticket for the RSGB 2025 Convention before online ticketing closes A reminder to identify yourself clearly when operating The RSGB Outreach Team launches its first official DMR Youth Net Tickets for the RSGB Convention at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes are still available to purchase online, but hurry as advance sales close on Saturday the 4th of October. You will be able to buy a Convention ticket on the door but not at the reduced rate that is available now. Your ticket will give you access to numerous presentations including two on the funding available to interesting and innovative amateur radio projects. The RSGB Legacy Fund supports a wide range of projects and Legacy Committee Chair, Richard Horton, G4AOJ will give some recent examples that have been allocated funding. He’ll also talk you through how the application and approval process works. The California-based Amateur Radio Digital Communications foundation has its roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. Steve Bunting, M0BPQ and Chris Smith, G1FEF will give an overview of ARDC’s grants which are also open to international charities, non-profits, schools and universities. If you’re thinking of a new project that would benefit amateur radio or help to bring it to new audiences, these are two presentations you won’t want to miss! Find details on these and all the other Convention presentations via rsgb.org/convention  You’ll also find a new web page outlining what else is happening during the weekend. If you’re attending the Convention for the first time, then pop along to the RSGB’s new ‘welcome desk’ on the Friday evening from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and then from 8pm to 9pm. The desk is aimed at first-time or solo attendees, although anyone can come and say hello. A member of the RSGB HQ team and other RSGB volunteers will be on hand to greet you and introduce you to like-minded people, and act as a familiar face throughout the weekend if you need any help. The RSGB Convention takes place between the 10th and 12th of October. Every radio amateur knows that it is important to identify yourself clearly when operating. This includes the mandatory use of a Regional Secondary Locator, or RSL, if you hold an Intermediate callsign in the 2-series. For example, your callsign would start with 2E0 if you’re in England or 2M0 if you’re operating in Scotland. This mandatory use of the RSL is shown in the Ofcom licence conditions. You can find a link to that document on the RSGB licence updates web page at rsgb.org/licence-review Calling all young radio enthusiasts wherever you are in the world! The RSGB Outreach Team is thrilled to launch its first official DMR Youth Net. The first net will be on Tuesday the 30th of September at 1900UTC and the RSGB Youth Talk Group 23554 is available on the DVSPh and Brandmeister Networks. Whether you're just starting out or already love getting on the air, this bi-weekly net is your chance to build confidence speaking on the radio, connect with fellow young operators from around the world, and join in without needing to set up antennas at home. Hosted by RSGB Youth Outreach Team Leaders Chris Aitken, MM0WIC and Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, the net is designed to grow with you. As your skills and confidence develop, you could even take the mic and chair future sessions! We’re also offering loan kits that include a DMR handset and hotspot to help schools and home educators get started. Just fill out the form at tinyurl.com/RSGByouth-net  and we’ll be in touch. Tune in, speak up, and be part of something exciting! The RSGB National Radio Centre will be hosting the World War Two SOE station, GB1SOE in the foyer of the Centre on Saturday the 27th of September. On Sunday the 28th of September, it will also be hosting three special one-off broadcasts to mark the 70th anniversary of GB2RS, which will include a special greetings message from the RSGB President. The special event station GB70RS will be used for the pre- and post-News nets. Go to rsgb.org/gb70rs  for full details. For those visiting the Centre over the weekend, Bletchley Park is hosting one of its 1940s weekends. RSGB members can visit the world-famous estate for free by downloading a voucher via rsgb.org/bpvoucher The RSGB has several volunteer vacancies within the Regional Team including District Representative roles in Cambridgeshire, East Sussex and Lancashire. This is an incredibly rewarding role that gives you the opportunity to help your fellow radio amateurs. If you are passionate about the future of amateur radio, support the work of the Society and are an RSGB member, then apply now by contacting the Regional Representative in that region. View the full list of regional team volunteering vacancies via rsgb.org/volunteers Amateurs are reminded that 7.110MHz is used for emergency communications. Please be aware that the frequency may be in use by operators who are passing radio traffic following the unfortunate flooding in areas of Malaysia. Your cooperation is vital to ensure effective emergency communication, support and rescue efforts. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@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 Weston-super-Mare Radio and Electronics Rally is taking place today, the 21st, at The Campus, Highlands Lane, Weston-super-Mare. The doors open at 7.30am for traders and at 10am for the public. Refreshments are available on site and a raffle will be held at 11am. For more information contact Daniel via westonradiosociety@gmail.com On Sunday the 5th of October, the 50th Welsh Radio Rally will take place at Llanwern High School, Hartridge Farm Road, Newport in South Wales. The doors open for traders from 7am and for the public from 9.30am. Admission costs £3. For more information email welshradiorally@gmail.com   Now the Special Event news Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society will be running special event station GB2RMR on Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th of September. The station will operate from 9.30am to 4pm each day at the Riverside Miniature Railway in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire. The team will be using HF, VHF and UHF equipment. More details are available via QRZ.com 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 Tom, OH6VDA is active again as JW6VDA from the Svalbard Amateur Radio club in Longyearbyen [LONG-YEER-BE-IN], EU-026, until tomorrow, the 22nd. The station is active on various HF bands using SSB, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Club Log's OQRS is preferred. More details are available via QRZ.com Rikk, WE9G is active as WE9G/KH2 from Guam, OC-026, until Friday the 26th of September. The station is mostly operating digital FT modes but also some CW and SSB. Listen for activity on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World or via WE9G.   Now the contest news Today, the 21st, the RSGB 70MHz Affiliated Series Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also today, the 21st, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial number. On Tuesday the 23rd, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 24th, the United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. On Thursday the 25th, the RSGB Autumn Series Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ Worldwide DX RTTY Contest runs from 0000UTC on Saturday the 27th to 2359UTC on Sunday the 28th of September. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. The UK is in Zone 14. On Sunday the 28th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.   Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 18th of September 2025. Last week we said that it looked like someone had thrown a switch on the Sun and all the sunspots had vanished. Well, this week we’re pleased to report they’re back! We have eight sunspot groups, spread evenly throughout the Sun’s hemispheres. Interestingly, the northern hemisphere sunspots are close to the equator, which is what you would expect at this point in the latter part of the solar cycle. The southern spots are somewhat higher in latitude, perhaps indicating that there might still be the potential for a double peak. On Thursday the 18th, the solar flux index stood at 147 and the Kp index at 2. This suggests that HF conditions might be pretty good, at least until the next geomagnetic disturbance. There have been no M- or X-class solar flares over the past week. The solar wind speed dropped from a high of 800 kilometres per second on Tuesday the 16th, to a more reasonable 538 kilometres per second on Thursday the 18th. However, the Bz has been pointing south at times, which can cause problems with a raised Kp index. The maximum useable frequency, or MUF, over a 3,000km path generally allows for operation between 21 and 24MHz during daylight and 7 and 10.1MHz at ni

GB2RS News Sunday, the 14th of September 2025 The news headlines: RCF Trustee, Andy Webster, G7UHN, on inspiring the next generation of radio amateurs The RSGB LoRa balloon is to be launched this week Will Richardson, 2E0WYA, has been co-opted to the RSGB Board as Vice Chair Radio Communications Foundation Trustee, Andy Webster, G7UHN, will be at this year’s RSGB Convention to deliver a fascinating lecture on using radio technology to engage and inspire non-radio amateurs. In particular, he will look at this within Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education settings, using the subject to connect with young people. Matthew Phillips, G6WPJ, will also be at the Convention, where he will be discussing the use of low-power software-defined radio to rejuvenate medium- and short-wave broadcasting. These are two of nearly 50 speakers who will be delivering engaging and topical presentations for Convention attendees. If this isn’t enough to entice you, visit the Convention web pages via rsgb.org/convention, where you’ll find details on workshops, a drop-in session on the UK Meteor Beacon Project, and information on the AMSAT-UK Colloquium. In addition to the usual GB3HQ operation that will run throughout the event, at this year’s Convention, a special 145 Alive net will be hosted by GB3HQ from 12 pm to 3 pm on the Saturday. You will be able to join the net or simply check in on the day and all callers will be recorded in the log. The Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre between the 10th and 12th of October. Only a few days remain until the RSGB LoRa balloon is launched. If you haven’t already heard about the event, you still have time to take part. Go to rsgb.org/lora-balloon  and download a detailed guide to help you build and code your LoRa tracker board. You can also find a link to a video in which Fraser, MM0EFI, demonstrates the process. The balloon launch takes place on Saturday, the 20th of September, at approximately 11 am BST. The challenge is open to all radio amateurs, but to be eligible to win one of the two available prizes, you must be an RSGB individual member or an affiliated club. The RSGB Board is pleased to announce that it is co-opting Will Richardson, 2E0WYA to the Board to serve until the 2026 RSGB AGM. He will also serve as the Board Vice Chair. Will has significant senior management skills and experience and will be a great asset in helping the Board move forward with the RSGB strategy. The Autumn term is starting at schools and colleges around the country, and the RSGB Outreach Team is continuing its DMR project to help young people get on the air. If you are a teacher who would like to take your amateur radio licence and set up a school club, there is support in place to help you. In collaboration with the Radio Communications Foundation, the RSGB is offering to pay the licence exam fee for nine teachers to help get you and your school club started. In addition, once you have your licence, you can apply for a free DMR kit on loan for three months to help set up your club. If you are a teacher interested in starting a school radio club, please email RSGB Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC, via youthchampion.school@rsgb.org.uk The RSGB regrets that the RSGB National Radio Centre will be closed on Tuesday, the 23rd of September. Volunteers from the Centre will be delighted to welcome you every other day that week. Don’t forget that RSGB members can visit the world-famous Bletchley Park estate and the RSGB National Radio Centre for free. Download your voucher by going to rsgb.org/bpvoucher The Thirteenth Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT will take place at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, on Saturday, the 1st of November, from 10.30 am to 5 pm. An interesting programme of speakers has been arranged, and microwave test facilities will be provided. There will be an opportunity to buy components and microwave-related items. An optional dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. Further information and online registration are available at gmroundtable.org.uk. The event has a maximum capacity of 50 people, and there are only eight places left. So, book now to avoid disappointment.  Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.  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 10 am to 2 pm, and the entrance fee is £3. The 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 9.30 am to 3 pm. For more information and trader bookings, visit emerg.uk/rally Now the Special Event news The Brazilian Amateur Radio Broadcast League is active with special callsign PV203BR until tomorrow, the 15th. Listen for activity on all bands and modes and via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World. The Dutch Lighthouse Hunt event is running until the 30th of September. Members of the Dutch Radio Group are using 11 special callsigns, each representing a different lighthouse in the Netherlands. For more information and details of awards that are available for working the stations, visit the PA01LH page at QRZ.com Now the DX news Chas, NK8O, is active again as 5H3DX from Tanzania until the 21st of September. He operates CW, FT4 and FT8 on the 30 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to Chas. Harold, DF2WO, is active as 9X2AW from Rwanda until the 27th of September. He usually operates CW, SSB, FT8 and FT4 on various bands, including 6m and via the QO-100 satellite. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news Today, 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. Today, 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. Also today, 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. The IRTS 2m Counties Contest is also running today, the 14th, from 1300 to 1500 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county. Tomorrow, the 15th, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 16th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 18th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 21st, the RSGB 70MHz Affiliated Societies Contest runs from 0900 to 1200 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Sunday the 21st, the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint PSK63 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using PSK63 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 11th of September As of Thursday, the 11th of September, it looked like someone had thrown a switch on the Sun to turn off all new sunspots! Unless there is a big change, there will be no sunspots visible on the Sun’s surface today, the 14th. It is clear we are no longer at solar maximum. A bigger problem is a large coronal hole on the Sun’s surface, which is rotating to be Earth facing. It is on the Sun’s equator, so it is ideally placed for maximum disruption to the Earth. A high-speed solar wind stream should reach Earth by the 14th of September, and geomagnetic storming may be possible at higher latitudes. Expect maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, to drop and trans-polar paths to be affected once the Kp index rises. HF is now starting to improve as we head towards mid-September. By 1000UTC, Propquest shows that the MUF over a 3,000km path can be as high as 31MHz, as long as the Kp index stays low. This should continue to improve as we head into October. The best DX last week continued to be T30TTT in Western Kiribati, this time on the 40 and 17m bands using FT8. 9J2FI in Zambia also put in an appearance on the 17m band using FT8. TZ4AM in Mali was spotted on the 15m band using SSB. For Morse enthusiasts, HC5AI in Ecuador was working on the 15m band using CW, according to the CDXC Slack chat group. NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will start the coming week at 125 but then gradually improve to reach 145 by the end of the week. As mentioned earlier, the Kp index is set to reach 4 or 5 between the 14th and 16th of September due to the coronal hole. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The present spell of unsettled weather is likely to remain the main driver of weather-related propagation modes for the next week. Low-pressure systems are following the jet stream across the Atlantic and over the UK, which is a typical track for this time of the year. This means that we should expect to experience the odd example of rain scatter for the GHz operators, and occasional strong winds will start to test that we have our antennas in good order after the quieter weather during the summer. This is not to say that there won’t be any Tropo, but we will have to look for it carefully. In a mobile weather pattern suc

GB2RS News 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@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@rsgb.org.uk Royal Air Force Air Cadets Exercise Cloud Warmer is taking place on the 60m band from 7.45 pm to 8 pm 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 10 am to 4 pm. 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 10 am to 2 pm, and the entrance fee is £3. The 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 9.30 am to 3 pm. 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. The 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  as part of the George Enescu International Festival. Details of certificates that are available for working at 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 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 1400 UTC 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 1300 UTC on Saturday, the 6th, and end at 1300 UTC 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 1855 UTC. 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 2130 UTC. 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 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a 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 2030 UTC. 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 2130 UTC. 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 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 13th and ends at 2359 UTC 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 1700 UTC. 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 1330 UTC. 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 1500 UTC. 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 1600 UTC. 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 2002 UTC on the 30th

GB2RS News 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, detailing all the inspiring speakers that the Society has lined up for your enjoyment. If you want to improve your technical knowledge, be sure to add the presentation by Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs, to 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 Vinorum, 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@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 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@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 10.30 am 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 10.15 am. Admission is £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 9 am to 2 pm, and there is no entrance fee. For more information, email Zane, M1BFI via m1bfi@outlook.com Now the Special Event news Members of Central Uusimaa 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, 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 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 30th and ends at 1200 UTC 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 2030 UTC. 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 1855 UTC. 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 2130 UTC. 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 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a 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 2100 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator. The All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 2359 UTC 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 2359 UTC. 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 1300 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and end at 1300 UTC 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 1400 UTC. 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. On Sunday the 7th, the 5th RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500 UTC. 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 of 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 l

GB2RS News Sunday the 24th of August 2025   The news headlines: Apply to be the RSGB Youth Activities and Engagement Champion The Tonight@8 webinar series is back with a brilliant autumn line-up Hans Summers, G0UPL confirmed as the RSGB Convention after-dinner speaker The RSGB Youth Team is looking for a proactive, enthusiastic and innovative person to join its team as the Society’s volunteer Youth Activities and Engagement Champion. The role will take the lead on youth-focused activities and create resources for young Foundation licence holders. If you would like to help inspire young people to explore new aspects of amateur radio, then read the full role description via rsgb.org/volunteers  and then get in touch with the Youth Board Liaison Ben Lloyd, GW4BML via gw4bml@rsgb.org.uk  This exciting role will be working collaboratively with Ben, as well as the existing Youth Champions and RSGB Outreach Team. You can see some of the amazing projects the team has been working on by visiting the RSGB Youth web pages via rsgb.org/youth The Tonight@8 autumn programme kicks off on Monday the 1st of September with a fascinating presentation from Kristen McIntyre, K6WX. During the 45-minute session Kristen will explain Maxwell's Equations in a visual and relatable way that aims to leave viewers with an understanding of a topic that can often feel impenetrable. Maxwell’s Equations are essential for radio amateurs and explain how RF signals propagate, antennas radiate, and common-mode currents form. By the end of this informative webinar, you’ll be able to see how Maxwell’s four simultaneous differential equations combine to bring the world of radio to life. Kristen discovered amateur radio when she was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1979 and has been active ever since. Among other roles, she is the ARRL First Vice President and has also recently been inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Learn more about Kristen and this not to be missed webinar by going to rsgb.org/webinars  Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs has been confirmed by the RSGB as the after-dinner speaker at its Convention in October. Following the gala dinner, Hans will be sharing the emotions he experienced during the nine months he spent adding SSB to the QMX transceiver. Tickets for the gala dinner, along with those for the full Convention programme and the three exciting workshops, can be purchased via rsgb.org/convention  This year’s RSGB Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between Friday the 10th and Sunday the 12th of October. Book now and join like-minded radio amateurs for an action-packed programme. The RSGB Examination Standards Committee is pleased to announce the publication of an updated version of the Direct to Full syllabus. The significant changes from the previous version are the moving of some points between Section One on Licensing and Section Two on Operating. These changes bring the Direct to Full syllabus into line with the latest version of the three-part syllabus. You can find the updated syllabus and change documentation on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/syllabus  These changes will come into effect from January 2026, so please choose the correct version of the syllabus for the date you plan to take your exam. Four young RSGB members have spent the last week near Paris for this year’s Youngsters on the Air summer camp. The event was a huge success with activities that included group member Sophie, M7IJG asking a question to Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT during the camp’s ARISS contact with the International Space Station. Hear more from the young radio amateurs by reading their blog via rsgb.org/yota-camp RSGB members, and the wider amateur radio community, are invited to a ‘Meet the President Day’ at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre on Thursday the 28th of August. The Society’s President, Bob Beebe, GU4YOX, will be present throughout the day to welcome members, hear their views, and discuss the work of the Society in supporting and promoting amateur radio. RSGB members, don’t forget to download your free entry voucher to Bletchley Park via rsgb.org/bpvoucher The Maritime Radio Historical Society in the United States, in cooperation with the Cipher History Museum, has arranged to transmit an Enigma message via the maritime radio coast station KPH, near San Francisco. The transmission will take place on Saturday the 30th of August at 2000UTC. KPH listeners, intercept operators and codebreakers everywhere are invited to try their hand at receiving the transmission and decrypting the message. For more information, including details of certificates that are available for decrypting the message, visit tinyurl.com/mrhs2025 And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 24th, the Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place at Heron’s Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes. Free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities are available. The entrance fee is £3. The doors open to the public from 9am. For more information visit mkars.org.uk/mkrally The Torbay Amateur Radio Society Rally is also taking place at Newton Abbot Racecourse today, the 24th. The doors open at 10am and entry costs £3. You can find out more via torbayars.org Tomorrow, the 25th, the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society Radio Rally will take place at the Ramsey Rural Museum, Wood Lane, Ramsey, PE26 2XD. For more information visit tinyurl.com/hunts25 Telford Hamfest is taking place on Sunday the 31st of August at Harper Adams University Sports Hall. The doors open at 10.15am. Admission is £5 but children up to the age of 16 will be admitted free of charge. The G-QRP Club will be present again with a Saturday Buildathon. More details are available at tinyurl.com/tdars25 Now the Special Event news In memory of Maximilian Kolbe, special callsign 4A2MAX is active until the 31st of August. Kolbe is venerated by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of amateur radio operators. Activity will be on the 80 to 6m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com or via EA5GL. To celebrate the International Amateur Radio Union's 100th anniversary, members of the Atlantic Coast DX and Contest Group are active as CG9IARU throughout August. The station was spotted recently on the 20m band using SSB. QSL via VE9CF. See QRZ.com for more information.  Now the DX news Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 23rd of September. He is operating CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands and via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com, or directly to PY1SAD. Don, KW7R is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands until September. He operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. Now the contest news Today, the 24th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 26th, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The World Wide Digi DX Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 30th and ends at 1200UTC on 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. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 21st of August Last week was relatively good from an HF propagation standpoint, with only a few periods with an elevated Kp index thanks to a high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole. The Kp index hit 4.67 on the 19th of August and 4 again on the 20th due to the solar wind hitting earth at more than 600 kilometres per second. Luckily, the interplanetary magnetic field remained mostly neutral, or north-facing, and the density was low, saving us from more disruption. Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined to 120 by Thursday the 21st. This is still high enough to affect the ionosphere, but well down on recent highs in the 140s and 150s. The daytime critical frequency has mostly remained above 7.5MHz, meaning the 40m band has managed to remain good for inter-UK contacts. This has also meant that maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path hit 21MHz and even 24.9MHz at times. Nighttime critical frequencies have been around 5MHz, giving an MUF over 3,000km of below 14MHz and sometimes even as low as 10MHz. It may be another month or so before we see daytime F2-layer openings starting again on 28MHz. In the meantime, focus your efforts during daylight on 21MHz and below. T30TTT in Western Kiribati remains one of the DX stations to chase, mostly on 18 and 21MHz. The operators are alternating between using CW, SSB and FT8. Other choice DX worked included Jim, E51JD on South Cook Islands who has been active on the 17m band using SSB. TY5AD in Benin, Africa has been worked on the 10m band using FT8. And 3G1P, an IOTA DXpedition in Chile, was logged on the 15m band using SSB. Closer to home, today, the 24th, is the last chance to work OG0C on the Aland Islands. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the 120s, until the end of the month when it could rise to 130 and even 150. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 28th of August when the Kp index could hit 4. Otherwise, make the most of the relatively settled conditions over the first half of next week to work some choice DX! And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO After this weekend, the weather changes from a Tropo high pressure pattern to an unsettled story with areas of low pressure and fronts together with wind and rain. This will remove any Tropo options and replace them with a possibility of rain scatter on the GHz bands. The auroral conditions have recently produced minor

GB2RS News Sunday, the 17th of August 2025 The news headlines: Read daily updates from the RSGB’s YOTA summer camp team ‘Women in amateur radio’ panel to be held at RSGB Convention in October The RSGB Awards Manager announces a new awards series This year’s Youngsters on the Air summer camp begins tomorrow, Monday, the 18th of August, and the RSGB is sending a team of four young members to take part. YOTA camps are an amazing opportunity for young people to operate the latest amateur radio equipment, take part in construction activities and make international friendships. The Society will be keeping you up to date with the group’s progress by sharing daily updates and photos. This year’s camp is taking place near Paris and is being organised by REF, the French national amateur radio society, and the IARU. Read the daily blog updates by visiting rsgb.org/yota-camp  and selecting ‘YOTA Paris 2025’ from the right-hand menu. The Society will also be sharing updates via its Facebook and X channels. If you’d like to get involved with getting young people on the air, why not participate in YOTA Month in December 2025? If you’d like to host special callsign GB25YOTA or if you’d like to find out more, email the YOTA Month Coordinator, Jamie, M0SDV via yota.month@rsgb.org.uk The list of confirmed speakers for this year’s RSGB Convention continues to grow, with a further round of names released. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, be sure to book online now to secure your place and watch Dan McGraw, M0WUT, explain PCB design for low-voltage switched-mode power supplies. You’ll also be able to get an insight into what has been learnt from Solar Cycle 25, with a presentation by the Chair of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee, Steve Nichols, G0KYA. The Society has also confirmed that RSGB RadCom Technical Editor Peter Duffett-Smith, GM3XJE, will be presenting a lecture on the importance of understanding the input impedance of your transmitter. The IRTS Youth Officer Ana Cañizares, EI5IXB, will be sharing her experience of getting young people in Ireland involved in amateur radio. In addition, the RSGB has announced that it will be holding a ‘women in amateur radio’ panel discussion. This exciting session will highlight five women who enjoy different aspects of amateur radio and will discuss the various opportunities, challenges and potential barriers that may exist in engaging more girls and women with amateur radio. Find out more about these thought-provoking presentations by going to rsgb.org/convention  and selecting RSGB 2025 Convention speakers from the right-hand menu. The Convention takes place between the 10th and 12th of October and is a must-do on every radio amateur’s calendar. The RSGB Awards Manager has introduced a new awards series for amateur radio contacts with stations across all UK country and Crown Dependency prefixes. The Worked All UK and Crown Dependency Prefixes Award offers several different sub-sets, with the rules varying slightly for each. The idea for the award was put forward as a way of encouraging, or tapping into, intra-UK activity as well as encouraging contact with UK amateurs. Get involved with this new award by going to rsgb.org/awards  and selecting ‘Worked All UK and Crown Dependency’ from the right-hand menu. You can find details of other awards offered by the Society using the same link. National Coding Week takes place during the third week of September, and the RSGB is dedicating the whole of the month to amateur radio and coding activities. This year, the Society has created two new activities for you to try. Both build on worksheets it shared in previous years; however, you don’t have to have done those first. The Python Pocket Morse activity has been developed by the RSGB Maker Champion Tom Wardill, 2E0JJI and is a low-cost opportunity to learn some Morse and programming together. The exercise will cover using a BBC Micro:bit V2 and the ‘more advanced’ Python programming instead of the previous block programming mode. It is intended as a gentle introduction to both Python and small computer programming and can be done without any previous knowledge of the micro:bit. You can download the full instructions by going to rsgb.org/coding  and selecting ‘Python Pocket Morse’ from the right-hand menu. The other new activity is the LoRa balloon challenge. As well as the manual, which guides you through the process of building your own LoRa tracker and seeing how far your signal can reach, the Society has released a video in which Fraser, MM0EFI, demonstrates the process. Find both on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/lora-balloon International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend started at 0001UTC on Saturday, the 16th and ends at 2400UTC today, the 17th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. To find out more and to view a list of participating stations, visit illw.net This year’s British Inland Waterways on the Air event will run from Saturday, the 23r,d until Monda,y the 25th of August. The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs for work or recreation. To find out more, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group’s website at nharg.org.uk  and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2025’ link. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.   And now for details of rallies and events Today, the 17th, Finningley Amateur Radio Society Rally opens its doors at 10 am. More details are available at g0ghk.com Also today, the 17th, the West Manchester Radio Club Red Rose Summer Rally is taking place at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ from 10 am. More information is available by following the ‘Red Rose Rally’ tab at wmrc.co.uk On Sunday, the 24th the Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place at Heron’s Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes. Free on-site parking, catering and disabled facilities will be available. The entrance fee is £3. The doors open to the public from 9 am. For more information, visit mkars.org.uk/mkrally Also on Sunday the 24th, the Torbay Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place at Newton Abbot Racecourse. The doors open at 10 am and entry costs £3. You can find out more via torbayars.org Now the Special Event news Leicester Radio Society is active as GB8OVJ until tomorrow, the 18th, to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. The station is operating on the HF, 2m and 70cm bands. Operators are using CW, phone, FT4, FT8, SSTV and RTTY. More information is available at QRZ.com 4U0ITU is the callsign in use by the International Amateur Radio Club at ITU HQ in Geneva. The station is active in celebration of the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union. QSL via Logbook of the World and OQRS. Now the DX news Steve, ZL2KE, is active as E51KEE from Rarotonga, OC-013, on the South Cook Islands until tomorrow, the 18th of August. He is operating CW and some SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL directly to IK2DUW. QSOs will be uploaded to Club Log and Logbook of the World. Phill, C21TS, is active in Nauru until September 2025. He has made over 83,000 QSOs so far and hopes to reach 100,000 contacts before leaving the island. Recently, the station was spotted on the HF bands using FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World and OQRS. Now the contest news On Tuesday the 19th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 21st, the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 24th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 14th of August Last weekend was characterised by unsettled geomagnetic conditions caused by a massive coronal hole on the Sun. At one point, the Kp index got up to 6, with a corresponding decrease in maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs. The Dourbes Digisonde failed to record much at all over six hours. Luckily, that disruption had passed by Monday the 11th as the ionosphere started to get back to normal. Meanwhile, the solar flux index reached a peak of 153 on the 10th, before dropping back to 140 on Thursday, the 14th. There have been numerous C-class solar flares and ten M-class events over the past five days, but nothing of note. The MUF over a 3,000km path exceeded 24.9MHz at times, but has generally been between 21 and 24MHz. Another coronal hole is Earth-centric at the moment and could cause some disruption, with increased Kp indices by tomorrow, the 18th or Tuesday the 19th. HF DX has been good at times, with the stand-out station being T30TTT in Western Kiribati. The station has been worked on many bands, including 20, 15 and 10m using CW, as well as FT4 and FT8. After two weeks, there will be just one operator who is there until mid-September. So you have plenty of time to work him. Stanley, AH6KO, in Hawaii, has also been spotted on the 15m band using CW. This is a relatively rare opportunity and good for anyone chasing their Worked All States award. A little closer to home is Henri, OJ0JR on Market Reef, who has been easily workable on the 30m band using FT8. Get in quick, though, as he is only there until tomorrow, the 18th. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the 140 to 150 range. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for tomorrow, the 18th, until Wednesday the 20th, probably caused by the coronal hole mentioned earlier. Better conditions are predicted for the 23rd to the 27th with a maximum Kp index o

GB2RS News Sunday, the 10th of August 2025 The news headlines: Three fantastic workshops have been announced for the RSGB Convention The RSGB National Radio Centre has won a prestigious award Ensure that Ofcom has your correct contact details Discover new skills at this year’s RSGB Convention in October by securing your place in one, or all three, of the workshops that will be taking place. On Friday, the 10th of October, the RSGB is giving you the opportunity to build on the basics of Arduino programming with a six-hour workshop that will cover programming Direct Digital Synthesis for RF generation. This session will also include how to use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to write software. You are welcome to book this workshop even if you’re not able to attend the whole Convention this year. If programming is new to you, then Saturday’s two-hour workshop is a great place to get started. This session will introduce you to microcontroller unit programming through a short presentation followed by practical exercises. Alternatively, on Sunday, you can book into a two-hour antenna building workshop that will guide you through the process of constructing a 49:1 balun for use in a QRP end-fed long-wire antenna. Spaces for the workshops are limited, and pre-booking is essential. The workshops are subsidised by the RSGB Legacy Funds, and every attendee will also receive a £5 RSGB book voucher. Find out more and guarantee your place by going to rsgb.org/convention  and selecting ‘Workshops’ from the right-hand menu. Book your Convention tickets using the same link. Early-bird pricing closes tomorrow, Monday, the 11th of August, so ensure you book now to get the best available price. The Society is proud to announce that the RSGB National Radio Centre has been recognised in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards for 2025. Winners of this award are among the top 10% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor. The award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over 12 months. The award reflects the passion and dedication of the RSGB’s volunteers, and the fantastic role they play in promoting amateur radio. Start planning your visit to the NRC by going to rsgb.org/nrc. If you’re an RSGB member, download your free entry voucher at rsgb.org/bpvoucher The RSGB is encouraging radio amateurs to check that their contact details registered with Ofcom are up to date. As well as confirming your home address and email address are correct, you can also select your communication preferences. Ofcom will use these details to contact radio amateurs about the implementation of phases two and three of its planned updates to the amateur radio licensing framework. This stage will include changes to new intermediate callsigns and rules for Special Event Stations. Find out more about licensing in the UK via rsgb.org/licensing Peter Duffett-Smith, GM3XJE, is retiring as the Editor of RadCom Plus. Peter is staying on in the role of RadCom Technical Editor, which has been keeping him very busy for the last few years. If you are interested in applying for the role of RadCom Plus Editor, please email radcom@rsgb.org.uk International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend will run from 0001UTC on Saturday, the 16th, to 2400UTC on Sunday, the 17th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. To register for the event and view a list of participating stations, visit illw.net The Thirteenth Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT will take place at the Museum of Communication in Burntisland, Fife, Scotland, on Saturday, the 1st of November, from 10.30 am to 5 pm. An interesting programme of speakers has been arranged, and microwave test facilities will be provided. There will be an opportunity to buy components and microwave-related items. An optional dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. Further information and online registration is available at gmroundtable.org.uk. The event has a maximum capacity of 50 people, and over 20% of the tickets are already sold. So, book now to avoid disappointment.  Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.  And now for details of rallies and events Flight Refuelling Amateur Radio Society Hamfest is taking place today, the 10th, at Cobham Sports and Social Club Ground, Merley, near Wimborne, Dorset. The doors are open from 9 am to 4 pm. Admission, which includes parking, is £5. Talk-in is on 145.550MHz. For more information, visit frars.co.uk/hamfest-2025 Also today, the 10th, the Rugby Amateur Transmitting Society Annual Radio Rally is taking place at Princethorpe College, Princethorpe, Rugby, CV23 9PY. More information is available at rugbyats.co.uk On Sunday, the 17th, Finningley Amateur Radio Society Rally will begin at 10 am. The details are available at g0ghk.com Also on Sunday, the 17th, the West Manchester Radio Club Red Rose Summer Rally is taking place at Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. The doors open at 10 am. More information is available by following the ‘Red Rose Rally’ tab at wmrc.co.uk Now the Special Event news Special event station GB1HAF will be active on Saturday, the 16th of Augus,t in support of SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity. Operators will be working on the 40m, 20m, 10m, 2m and 70cm bands using SSB and, possibly, data modes and CW. The East Midlands Electronics and Radio Group will be on the air to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day between the 15th and 17th of August. Using the callsign GB1BK, the Group will operate from the former RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire. Operators expect to be available on the 40 and 20m bands using SSB. They will also be working on the 2m band using FM. If you hear them, give them a call. Now the DX news Don, KW7R, is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands. He is there on a work assignment until September 2025. In his spare time, he operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. George, VU2DGR, is active as AT44I from the Bharati Research Station. He is a member of the 44th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The station was heard recently on the 20m band using SSB. QSL via George's home call. Now the contest news The Worked All Europe DX CW Contest started at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 9th and ends at 2359 UTC today, Sunday, the 10th of August. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The RSGB Machine Generated Modes Contest started at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 9th, and ends at 1400 UTC today, Sunday, the 10th of August. Using machine-generated modes on the 6 and 2m bands, the exchange is your report and four-character locator. On Tuesday, the 12th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 12th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 13th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 13th, the 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Thursday, the 14th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 7th of August Over the last week, we had nearly ideal solar conditions for HF propagation. These included low geomagnetic indices and a reasonable solar flux index, hovering around the 150 mark. Other solar events of note included six M-class solar flares. The only stumbling block is the time of year, with summer seeing lower maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, and poorer propagation due to changes in ionospheric chemistry. We will have to wait another month or so to see conditions pick up. The main HF DX this week has been T30TTT from Western Kiribati, mainly on FT8 and CW and focusing on the 20 and 17m bands. TJ1GD from Cameroon was worked on the 17m band using FT8. E51KEE on the South Cook Islands was logged on the 17 and 15m bands using CW. And finally, AH6KO in Hawaii was worked on the 15m band using CW. But this may all be set to change. A coronal mass ejection observed on Tuesday, the 5th, may deliver a glancing blow to the Earth's geomagnetic field. This may also coincide with an expected high-speed stream from a very large coronal hole on the Sun’s surface. NOAA predicts that the Kp index could rise to 5 or 6. The hole is so large and elongated that we could see unsettled conditions occurring in the coming week. NOAA predicts unsettled geomagnetic conditions from the 11th to the 14th of August. It also predicts more unsettled conditions from the 18th to the 22nd, with a maximum Kp index of 5. Expect reduced MUFs and poor HF conditions, especially for paths over the poles. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The main setting for the weather pattern over the next week is a tendency for high pressure in the south and lower pressure to the north of Britain. There may be some input from a low over France around the middle of the week. This might introduce some thundery showers and a chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands. Meanwhile, occasional weak frontal systems will bring patchy rain to the far northwest, but probably not so good for rain scatter opportunities. The Tropo at this time of year can

GB2RS News Sunday the 3rd of August 2025 The news headlines: Call for G5RP Trophy nominations Get involved with the RSGB National Radio Centre’s Spy Transmitter activities this summer The QSL Bureau has announced an update to the G4M to S series card collection The G5RP Trophy is an annual award to encourage newcomers to HF DXing. 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. If you are an established HF DXer and want to recommend someone to be awarded the G5RP Trophy for 2025, now is the time to send in your nomination. Your nominee should be an up-and-coming HF DXer who has made rapid progress in the last year and has some real achievements to show. For example, they have a good total of new countries worked or some serious HF DXpedition activity. Please email your nominations to Ian Greenshields, G4FSU, via hf.manager@rsgb.org.uk to arrive no later than Friday, the 12th of September. The RSGB’s National Radio Centre has confirmed that the first of its Summer Spy Transmitter events is taking place on Tuesday, the 5th of August. This family-friendly activity will turn you into spy hunters as you explore Bletchley Park looking for hidden transmitters. The event starts at 10.30 am and spaces are limited to 12 groups. If you are unable to make this date, two further events have been confirmed on the 14th and the 20th of August. Full details of the activity are available via the ‘What’s on’ section of the Bletchley Park website via bletchleypark.org.uk  Do you have a callsign in the G4M to S series? If so, the QSL Bureau has announced a change to your card collection group. All cards and envelopes are being transferred to the current G4T to Z manager, Peter, G4XEX to form a new enlarged G4M to Z group. The current manager, Cliff, G4MAR, has retired, and the Bureau thanks him for his service to members. Details of QSL sub-managers and addresses can be found via rsgb.org/qsl  and selecting ‘List of QSL sub-managers' from the right-hand menu. RSGB volunteers will be running Morse activities and operating using DMR at the West Sussex International Jamboree on Thursday, the 7th, and Friday, the 8th of August. Listen out for youngsters operating as GB0WSJ using DMR on RSGB Youth Talk Group 23554, Worldwide Talk Group 91 and UK Call Talk Group 2350. They’d appreciate a call between 9.30 am and 5 pm on Thursday and 9.30 am and 12 pm on Friday. The July 2025 edition of RadCom Basics is now available. RadCom Basics is aimed at new amateurs and those who wish to refresh their skills and knowledge. Among others, this edition contains articles to help you learn about spectrum analysers, Near Vertical Incidence Skywave propagation and using a doublet as a multi-band antenna. To access all RadCom publications, visit rsgb.org/radcom HamSCI – The Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation – is preparing for a series of upcoming meteor scatter experiments. Operating will take place during two well-known meteor showers: The Perseids on the 12th and 13th of August and the Geminids on the 12th and 13th of December. The aim is to collect data during meteor scatter events using the 10 and 6m bands. For more information visit hamsci.org/msqp Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.  And now for details of rallies and events Part 1 of the BATC Convention for Amateur TV 2025 is taking place today, the 3rd, at Midland Air Museum in Coventry. The doors are open from 10 am to 4 pm. The Convention includes show and tell, test and fix-it, and bring and buy. Kings Lynn Amateur Radio Club Rally is also taking place today, the 3rd, at Gaywood Community Centre, PE30 4EL. The doors are open from 9 am and the entrance fee is £2.50. For more information, email rally.klarc@gmail.com or call 07709 074 951. Cockenzie And Port Seaton Amateur Radio Club’s Annual Mini Rally and Junk Night will take place on Friday, the 8th of August. The venue will be Port Seaton Community Centre, South Seaton Park, Port Seaton EH32 0BG. The doors will be open to the public from 6 to 8.30 pm. Now the Special Event news Members of the Radio Amateur Association of Western Greece, SZ1A, are operating a special event station, SX17ASTRO, until the 8th of August. The station is active to celebrate the 17th Panhellenic Expedition of Amateur Astronomers. A number of certificates are available for working the station. For details of these and more information about the station, visit tinyurl.com/SZ1A2025 Special event station 8K3EXPO is active from the 2025 Expo in Osaka, Japan, until the 13th of October. Recently, the station was spotted using FT8 on the HF bands. More information is available at QRZ.com Now the DX news Michel, F5LRL, is active as CN2DX from near Kenitra, Morocco, until the 20th of August. He is operating CW, SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL via Michel’s home call. Special callsign LA100A is active throughout 2025 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first amateur radio two-way contact between Norway and the USA in November 1925. QSL directly, via the Bureau or QRZ.com. Now the contest news The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon started on Saturday, the 3rd of May and ends today, the 3rd of August. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is your four-character locator. Today, the 3rd, the RSGB 432MHz Low Power Contest runs from 0800 to 1200UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. On Tuesday, the 5th, 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 5th, 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 6th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 6th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. The RSGB Machine Generated Modes Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday, the 9th and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday, the 10th of August. Using machine-generated modes on the 6 and 2m bands, the exchange is your report and four-character locator. The Worked All Europe DX CW Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday, the 9th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday, the 10th of August. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 31st of July 2025 Last week was very much a repeat performance of the week before. We had relatively calm geomagnetic conditions and few solar flares to contend with. The only flares were minor C-class events. The Kp index never got above 3, and the solar flux index was in the 140s to 150s. The F2-layer maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path rose to 21MHz but didn’t get much higher, which is normal for the summer period. A team from Norfolk Amateur Radio Club was active as GM0FRT/P from the Shetland Islands for the IOTA contest. They were workable from JO02NN on 14 and 21MHz for much of the contest period. The distance to Shetland from central UK is about 887km, or 551 miles. Given the distance involved, the 21MHz openings were probably Sporadic-E, but they were loud for hours on end. Other DX worked last week included T30TTT from Western Kiribati on the 10m band using FT8 over the North Pole. 9M8A from East Malaysia was also on the 10m band using FT8. XW4KV from Laos was on the 12m band operating FT8. 3B9SP on Rodriguez Island put in an appearance on the 17 and 12m bands using FT8. The station was also worked using CW on the 40, 30, 20 and 15m bands. That’s not a bad haul for summer DX and if the Kp index can stay low, we could get similar next week. Speaking of which, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the range of 150 to 160 next week. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the period of the 7th to the 14th of August, with a maximum predicted Kp index of 5. And finally, there is talk of a possible large sunspot group on the far side of the Sun. The region in question belongs to a cluster of spots, including AR 4136, 4139 and 4143, last seen earlier this month. Solar rotation will carry what remains of these regions back into view next week. So, keep an eye on solarham.com  for up-to-date details. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The slightly unsettled theme to the weather will remain into next week, although there are signs that high pressure will try to return in the middle of the week for a time. Models disagree on details, with some bringing another thundery low into the south later. This means that there will be some Tropo at times and, in high summer, this tends to be generally strongest around the coasts. To benefit from these conditions inland it’s better to wait for night cooling. As usual with thundery weather, it’s a good chance to listen for rain scatter on the GHz bands. Another mode that still deserves attention is meteor scatter. Look out for the early stirrings of the August Perseids, which peak around the 12th and 13th of the month.  Surprisingly, Aurora is staying in the limelight. Periodic alerts are suggesting it's worth turning your VHF beams north if you notice any signs of fluttery HF signals or discover the Kp index has risen to 5 or above. If auroral activity appears on the 10 or 6m bands, then check the higher bands as the event develops. Sporadic-E is now in its occasional

GB2RS News Sunday the 27th of July The news headlines: RSGB confirms more speakers for its Convention in October Get involved with the RSGB LoRa high-altitude balloon challenge The RSGB releases a high-contrast logbook to improve accessibility  The RSGB has shared details of more presentations that you can enjoy at its Convention in October. If you’d like to broaden your technical knowledge, you’ll enjoy presentations by Bob Burns, G3OUU, on ‘Getting the most from an oscilloscope’ and ‘Ladder crystal filter design’. As part of the Society’s focus on supporting modern amateur radio operating practices, Paul Galwas, M0WLG, will be discussing ‘Can we ‘DX’ over an IoT mesh?’. The comprehensive programme of speakers also includes Dr Marcus Walden, G0IJZ, who will explain the numerical modelling of the historical Grimeton VLF antenna, and Paul Beaumont, G7VAK, who will take ‘A brief look at Number Stations: 1950 to the present’. With even more captivating and thought-provoking speakers already confirmed, you’ll need to purchase a ticket to guarantee attendance. Buy your tickets before Monday, the 11th of August, to ensure you receive early-bird ticket pricing. Tickets are available to purchase via rsgb.org/convention National Coding Week takes place in the third week of September, and the RSGB is once again dedicating a whole month to amateur radio and coding activities. As part of the Society’s strategy to encourage practical skills development, it is inviting you to take part in its LoRa high-altitude balloon challenge. The project has been developed by the RSGB Outreach team and takes place on Saturday, the 20th of September. The balloon will be equipped with a LoRa digipeater, and your challenge is to follow the instructions provided and build a LoRa tracker. If your tracker build is successful, it will beam up packets to the airborne relay, which will transmit them to a local i-gate. Your goal is to get your signal the furthest distance from the launch. Anyone can enter, but to win one of the prizes, you need to be an RSGB member. Get involved as a single operator or as a team in your RSGB-affiliated club. The RSGB is delighted that Moonraker is sponsoring this event and will award a £200 Moonraker voucher to the winner of each category. Find out how to get involved with this exciting LoRa event by going to rsgb.org/lora-balloon The RSGB is proud to announce the release of a new high-contrast logbook designed to support amateur radio operators with visual impairments or learning difficulties. Responding to feedback from members and accessibility advocates, the RSGB developed the logbook with wider spacing and a high-contrast black-and-yellow design to improve ease of use. This release reflects the RSGB’s wider commitment to improving accessibility across all areas of the Society and amateur radio as a whole. The organisation continues to explore ways to make the hobby more inclusive and user-friendly for all participants. This version will be available through Amazon and is expected to be a useful addition for both seasoned operators and newcomers looking for a more accessible logging option. As part of its long-term vision, the RSGB is looking to recruit a dedicated team to assess and enhance accessibility throughout the Society and help shape a more inclusive future for amateur radio. If you’re interested in contributing to this important initiative, please email RSGB Board Director Nathan Nuttall, 2M0OCC, via 2m0occ@rsgb.org.uk Since the launch of its DMR project in May, the RSGB Outreach team is delighted that four schools and one homeschool have signed up. The project aims to help young people get on the air and build their confidence in making QSOs. Each of the successful applicants will be loaned a TYT DMR handheld radio and a Pi-Star-based hotspot. The RSGB Youth Chair and Youth Champion for Schools, Chris Aitken, MM0WIC, is supporting two new school amateur radio clubs that have chosen this as an entry-level activity for their club members. DMR is particularly useful in a school club scenario where antenna placement is a challenge and can be easily deployed, giving young people access to the world. During the summer holidays, the DMR handsets will be used at the West Sussex International Jamboree with Regional Representative 10, Simon Harris, G4WQG, attending the event and Wick High School Radio Club member Jacob, MM7IFL, supporting remotely via DMR. Listen out for further updates after the summer when the RSGB plans to get a youth net operational on Brandmeister Talk Group 23554. The net aims to encourage young operators to get on the air and become comfortable with QSO structure and general rag-chewing. If you want to start a school club or are interested in being part of the DMR project, email Chris via youthchampion.school@rsgb.org.uk The prospect of a USA constellation of 240 commercial satellites that would use 430 to 440MHz for wideband control and telemetry has prompted an unprecedented response from the amateur radio community to a Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, consultation. FCC Proceeding 25-201 would see AST SpaceMobile utilise much of 430 to 440MHz for downlinks, as well as a series of ground stations around the world. The RSGB and several other IARU member societies, along with the ARRL and over 2,000 individuals, have submitted comments to this consultation. The IARU itself has also issued a statement on the matter. Links for this, including the RSGB response, can be found on the RSGB website. Go to rsgb.org/spectrumforum and then choose the ‘Papers and consultations’ option in the right-hand menu. Following the main submission deadline of the 21st of July, the FCC process has further phases to go through. Amateur radio operators are invited to take part in a special operating event in August, celebrating the rich history of the UK’s wartime and Cold War airfield bunkers. AFB25 – that’s Airfield Bunkers 2025 – is a nationwide activity taking place from Friday the 1st to Sunday the 31st of August. Organised by UK Bunkers on the Air, or UKBOTA, the event encourages amateurs to activate historic airfield sites with known bunker installations. All bands and modes are welcome. Special recognition awards will be given for activators, hunters and shortwave listeners' efforts. To learn more, including how to participate and which locations qualify, visit tinyurl.com/AFB-2025  And now for details of rallies and events Wiltshire Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 27th, at Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. The doors open for traders at 7 am and 9 am for visitors. Refreshments are available on site. You can find out more by visiting chippenhamradio.club Part 1 of the BATC Convention for Amateur TV 2025 is taking place on Sunday, the 3rd of August at Midland Air Museum in Coventry. The doors will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. The Convention will include show and tell, test and fix-it, and bring and buy. Also, on Sunday, the 3rd of August, King's Lynn Amateur Radio Club Rally is taking place at Gaywood Community Centre, PE30 4EL. The doors will open at 9 am and the entrance fee will be £2.50. An outdoor trader’s stall costs £8, and an indoor one is £10. To book, email rally.klarc@gmail.com or call 07709 074 951. Now the Special Event news Special callsign 5P0TA will operate from Bornholm Island, EU-030, from the 31st of July to the 3rd of August in connection with this year's European Ham Radio Show meet-up event. Both presenters and viewers of The European Ham Radio Show on YouTube will gather with the goal of activating all of the POTA parks on Bornholm Island within four days. Both 5P0TA and the participants' own call signs will be used. They are aiming to use as many modes and bands as conditions allow. Attending from the UK are Charlotte, 2M0LVY and Steve, M1SDH. If you hear them on the air, give them a call! Throughout 2025, José, HP2AT, is using the special callsign H82AT to celebrate his 35th anniversary in amateur radio. Recently, the station has been spotted on the HF bands using CW, FT4 and FT8. All QSOs will be uploaded to QRZ.com, Club Log, eQSL and Logbook of the World. Paper cards will not be available. Now the DX news Today, the 27th, is your last chance to catch the IP1X team, which is active from Gallinara Island, EU-083. The team is using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS, via the Bureau or directly to IU1JCZ. More information is available at QRZ.com Red, DL1BUG is active as TY5FR from Cotonou, Benin, in West Africa until the 6th of August. He is operating using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World or via Red’s home call. Now the contest news Today, the 27th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The RSGB IOTA Contest started at 1200UTC on Saturday, the 26th and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday, the 27th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. On Monday, the 28th, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Saturday, the 2nd of August, the EU HF Championship runs from 1200 to 2359UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and the last two digits of the year you were first licensed. Also on Saturday, the 2nd of August, the RSGB 4th 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and two-letter postcode. On Saturday, the 2nd, the 144MHz Low Power Contest runs from 1400 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial nu

GB2RS News Sunday the 20th of July 2025 The news headlines: The RSGB launches GB70RS awards to celebrate 70 years of GB2RS New volunteer RSGB STEM Champion announced Visit the RSGB National Radio Centre during the summer holidays The RSGB’s weekly news broadcast, GB2RS, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the Society is inviting you to collect awards for listening and logging GB2RS News broadcasts between Friday, the 1st of August and Tuesday, the 30th of September. There are four categories, including a basic listener award and a regular listener award. Full details of the programme, the rules and how to apply for your certificate are available by searching GB70RS at QRZ.com. To read about the awards and wider celebrations that are taking place for the 70th anniversary of GB2RS, go to rsgb.org/gb70rs RSGB Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, has appointed Ian Stevenson, G3YNU, as the volunteer RSGB STEM Champion. This new role fits with the RSGB’s strategy to bring amateur radio to new audiences and to highlight the link between amateur radio and science, technology, engineering and maths. Ian brings a wealth of experience to this role, having been a mathematics teacher for ten years, with a further 23 years in Higher Education as a Senior Lecturer in ICT and Education. Ian also played a pivotal role in establishing the RSGB School Links Project, which introduced classroom activities that connect amateur radio with the school curricula. The project was established following Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the International Space Station, which included ten UK ARISS school contacts during Tim’s time in space. In his new RSGB role, Ian is enthusiastic about fostering close ties with STEM organisations and STEM ambassadors across the UK, including those already engaged with the RSGB. If you’d like to contact Ian to share suggestions that may enhance the RSGB’s STEM outreach programme, you can contact him via stem.champion@rsgb.org.uk If you are looking for an activity to keep the children busy during the summer holidays, why not plan a visit to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park? The knowledgeable and welcoming volunteers will be on hand to give an introduction to radio technology, how it works and why it is still relevant today. There are interactive displays as well as the opportunity to get a certificate for sending your name in Morse code. There will also be three more of the successful Spy Transmitter events during the summer, so keep an eye on the Bletchley Park website and the RSGB comms channels if you’d like to take part. Start planning your visit by going to rsgb.org/nrc. Don’t forget that as a membership benefit, RSGB members can visit the world-famous Bletchley Park estate, including the RSGB National Radio Centre, for free. Download your voucher by going to rsgb.org/bpvoucher Did you know that the Radio Communications Foundation offers funding to young people who need help with the Foundation licence exam fee? They need to be under the age of 21 and in full-time education. If you know someone who may be eligible, help spread the word and promote this programme. To find out more and submit an application, go to commsfoundation.co.uk  and select ‘RCF Grants’ from the sub-menu. This year marked the centenary of the unique mechanical Alexanderson Alternator transmitter at Grimeton near Varberg in Sweden. GB2RS Newsreader and NRC volunteer Brian Hardy, G4BIP, travelled to Sweden for a special 70th birthday trip with his partner Hilary, G7SOI. On the 2nd of July, they were able to watch SAQ being operated on a frequency of 17.2kHz as part of the celebration. Brian was even allowed to key up the station in advance of the formal transmission and send some test messages. Despite SAQ having a power output of 80kW, nobody came back to his CQ call! However, it was a big tick on his 'bucket list'! The station is usually fired up twice a year and is well worth a visit. You can discover much more, including a fascinating YouTube video of the centenary event, via alexander.n.se The UK Six Metre Group’s AGM will be held via Zoom on Sunday, the 27th of July 2025 at 17:00 UTC. The AGM will include receiving the Group’s financial report, presentation of officers’ reports and elections. For more information about the Group, visit uksmg.org Don't forget that 145 Alive is taking place today from 12 to 3 pm. According to the organisers, there will be 47 individual nets on the air from diverse high points all over the UK and Ireland with over 1,000 participants! To take part, all you need to do is call into a local net and make contact with others on the 2m band. You can find more information on the 145 Alive Facebook page. Alternatively, you can email 145aliveuk@gmail.com And now for details of rallies and events Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally is taking place today, the 20th, at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7 am for traders and at 9.30 am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs £3 and is £10 for traders. For more details, email secretary@bsears.co.uk The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally is taking place today, the 20th, at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors are open from 10 am and admission costs £3. This is an indoor event, and ample free parking is available. For more information, phone Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Wiltshire Radio Rally will take place on Sunda,y the 27th of July at Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. The doors open for traders at 7 am and at 9 am for visitors. Refreshments will be available on site. You can find out more by visiting chippenhamradio.club Now the Special Event news Special callsign DL0SOP is active until the 31st of July for the 67th edition of the Sea of Peace Award. More details about the award are available via tinyurl.com/seaofpeace  QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World and eQSL. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Singapore becoming an independent republic on the 9th of August 1965, Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society's members are allowed to replace their normal prefix, 9V1, with the special prefix S60 until the 9th of August. So if you want to put some S60 calls in your log, now is the time! Now the DX news Michael, VE2XB is active as TF/VE2XB from Olafsvik, Iceland, EU-021, until the 25th of July. He is operating CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Michael’s home call. The IP1X team will be active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, on the 26th and 27th of July. The team will operate CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS, via the Bureau or directly to IU1JCZ. More information is available at QRZ.com. Now the contest news Today, the 20th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. On Tuesday the 22nd, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 24th, the RSGB 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The RSGB IOTA Contest starts at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 26th and ends at 1200 UTC on Sunday, the 27th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. On Sunday the 27th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 17th of July. Space weather has been a bit like our terrestrial weather this week. We have had sunspots, some C-class solar flares, some coronal mass ejections and a large coronal hole – unsettled, you could say! Luckily, the coronal mass ejections were not Earth-directed, but the Kp index did rise to 5 on the 15th of July and again late on the 16th of July. The large coronal hole, which may have been responsible, is well south on the Sun’s surface and should rotate out of Earth’s view by the beginning of the coming week. Meanwhile, the Sun appears to have woken up, spot-wise, with 11 groups on the 17th of July, four of which are classed as growing, while two are stable and three are declining. Two groups are unclassified at this time. This resulted in an increase in the solar flux index to 152 on Thursday, the 17th. Overall, this means quite reasonable HF conditions considering the time of year. Recent DX spots included the JW0V DXpedition to Svalbard on both SSB and FT8, and C93RRC in Mozambique on 17m CW, plus 30, 20 and 10m FT8. Conditions have been up and down, with daytime maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path reaching 28MHz at times, but then quickly declining to 18 or 19MHz ten minutes later. All we can advise is to keep listening! Nighttime MUFs over a 3,000km path have generally been exceeding 10MHz, and occasionally reaching 14MHz. We may start to see nighttime 14MHz openings tailing off as we head into late July. Next week, NOAA is a little pessimistic with a predicted solar flux index in the range of 118 to 130. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions, with a possible Kp of 4, are forecast for Tuesday, 22nd of July. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The unsettled weather over this weekend will continue through the first part of the coming week. Some of the rain will be heavy and possibly thundery, so there is a good chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands. After mid-week, the pattern may change enough for a weak ridge of high pressure to build close to the UK and this may offe

GB2RS News Sunday, the 13th of July 2025   The news headlines: The RSGB announces speakers for its annual Convention in October Get involved with chasing awards this summer RSGB Regional Representatives elect a new Regional Forum Chair The RSGB is delighted to announce that the Keynote Speaker for its 2025 Convention will be Professor Lucie Green. She is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory of the University College London. She has also presented many TV and radio programmes, including The Sky at Night and Stargazing Live. During her talk, Professor Green will provide an update on the proposed Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation Mission, which she is working on with fellow UK researchers. The project will enable the team to study the conditions that create solar storms, leading to improvements in forecasts of space weather on Earth. As well as releasing details of the Keynote Speaker, the RSGB has published a teaser of its Convention programme. This includes Neil Smith, G4DBN, who will share his experience of taking complex ideas and turning them into stories that connect with wider audiences. Many of you will be familiar with Neil from the popular BBC series “The Secret Genius of Modern Life”, for which he recreated a device invented by Leon Theremin. Bill Rothwell, G0VDE, will show you that DXpeditions don’t always need to involve masses of equipment, and that one person can make a successful trip with only the luggage they carry. RSGB Propagation Studies Committee member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, will explore Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances, whilst Brian Coleman, G4NNS, will give you the latest update on the UK Meteor Radar System. Read the full list of confirmed speakers by going to rsgb.org/convention  and selecting the “RSGB 2025 Convention speakers” option from the right-hand menu. The RSGB 2025 Convention is taking place at Kents Hill Conference Centre between the 10th and 12th of October. Book your ticket now and join like-minded people for a fun-filled weekend. Set yourself a challenge this summer and get involved with awards chasing. The RSGB awards are open to everyone, whatever your age, licence level and personal interests. They encourage you to push yourself further, learn something new and can even help you to make tweaks to your station to maximise performance. If HF is your mode, then visit rsgb.org/awards  and get involved with the IARU Region 1 Award, which encourages you to make contacts with member countries. If VHF or UHF is your preference, then challenge yourself to the 50MHz Continents and Countries Award. Several Foundation awards are aimed at getting new licensees on the air and helping build confidence. For younger RSGB members, there are two awards designed to show the breadth that amateur radio offers. The RSGB Scouts, Cadets and Girlguiding Youth Champion, Samuel McCutchion, 2E1UEL, recently completed the Radio Surfer Award and shared his experience with us. Read how he got on by going to rsgb.org/award-stories  At a recent meeting of the RSGB Regional Forum, the RSGB Regional Representatives elected George Crawford, MM0JNL, as the Regional Forum Chair. George represents Scotland South and Western Isles as the Representative for Region 1. He got involved in amateur radio in 2020 and gained his Full licence by March 2021. George has also been a GB2RS Newsreader. Along with the rest of the Regional Team, George is keen to continue to help RSGB members and the wider amateur radio community, and to promote amateur radio and the Society at public events. He will be attending Kirriemuir Show on the 19th of July to showcase amateur radio to the agricultural and rural communities. You can hear more details about that in the Special Event News section of this week’s GB2RS News. Last week, senior RSGB staff and some members of the RSGB Board met for two days to discuss the next implementation phase of the Society’s strategy. The discussions covered several topics, including how to ensure the Society stays relevant to the modern radio amateur. Those discussions led to some initial plans for the next six months that focus on one or two clear goals. More details of the plans will be shared over the coming weeks, including in strategy updates and at the ‘Meet the Board’ session at the RSGB Convention in October. Following the RSGB’s attendance at Dayton and Friedrichshafen, it was also noted that the Society is held in high esteem around the world and that many other national societies are keen to learn from the RSGB’s achievements. Ben, M7FRS and John, G0JDL, are hoping to be operating aeronautical mobile in a Cessna 172 for about an hour tomorrow, Monday the 14th, over the skies of Norfolk and Suffolk. The pair will be departing from Beccles Airfield at around midday. They will initially be on the 2m band FM calling frequency of 145.500MHz before changing frequency. As per the new licensing arrangements, they will be using less than 500mW. Listen out for them, as they'd love to get you in their log!  During this weekend’s IARU HF World Championship, five stations will be active on the 80 to 10m bands using SSB and CW and tested under field conditions. They will be using the exact planned equipment for the WRTC 2026 event as a trial. The operating location will be a cluster of sites within the grounds of the Euston Estate in Suffolk. QSL via M0OXO’s OQRS. There will be two awards available for chasers during this event, so listen out for the following callsigns: GB0WR, GB2WR, GB5WR, GB8WR and GB9WR. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/wrtctest The next in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July, from 12 pm to 3 pm. The event will have over 40 stations and 1,000 participants from all over the UK and Ireland. To take part on the day, simply call into a local net and make contact with others. You can find more information, including details of the nets, the operators, their locations and operating frequencies on the 145 Alive Events Facebook page. And now for details of rallies and events The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is taking place today, the 13th, at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8 am. The doors will be open for visitors from 9 am to 3 pm. The entrance fee is £4 per person. A trader’s table costs £15 and this includes admission for two people. Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Saturday, the 19th of July at Welwick Village Hall, North Lane, Welwick, HU12 0SH. The doors will be open from 10 am to 3 pm, and visitor entrance costs £3. Indoor tables are fully booked, but there is still outdoor space available at £5 per table. Please bring your own table. For more information, email rally@hfdxarc.com Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7 am for traders and 9.30 am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs £3 and £10 for traders. For more details, email secretary@bsears.co.uk The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 10 am and admission costs £3. This is an indoor event, and ample free parking will be available. Over 50 tables of traders and special interest groups will be present. Booking a table costs £10. For more information, phone Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Now the Special Event news On Saturday, the 19th of July, RSGB Region 1 Representative George, MM0JNL, will be hosting special event station GB4KAS at the Kirriemuir Show in Angus, Scotland, from 10 am to 5 pm. This new venture is intended to showcase the RSGB and amateur radio to the agricultural and rural community. It will also allow unlicensed guest operators to have some supervised radio operating time and, hopefully, have their first international radio contact. The station will be operating using SSB on the HF bands and FM on the 2m band. If you hear the operators on the air, give them a call! GB70RS is the special callsign helping to celebrate 70 years of the RSGB’s News Service, GB2RS. This coming week, the callsign is being aired by Dave, G4IDF, on all bands from 80 to 6m, plus 4m and 2m, using SSB and FT8. If you hear Dave, give him a call! A special QSL card is available. See QRZ.com for more details. Now the DX news Eric, KV1J is active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon Island, NA-032, until tomorrow, the 14th. He is operating using CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, eQSL or via Eric’s home call, directly or via the Bureau. For more information visit QRZ.com Pierre, VK3KTB, is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 24th of July. He operates using CW, FT8 and SSB on various bands when time permits. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The IARU HF Championship started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. The GR2HQ Challenge also started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. Today, the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 15th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm ban

GB2RS News Sunday, the 6th of July 2025 The news headlines: Don’t miss tomorrow’s RSGB Tonight@8 webinar on UK Bunkers on the Air Get involved with the GR2HQ challenge RSGB appoints a new CW Champion The next episode in the Tonight@8 series is tomorrow, Monday, the 7th of July. During the webinar, Tony Hodge, M0TNI and Jason Dale, 2E0JIV, will discuss their journey into amateur radio, what they enjoy about it and how they got involved in UK Bunkers on the Air. UKBOTA  is a programme and awards scheme that encourages radio amateurs to activate Royal Observer Corps and other types of bunkers in the United Kingdom. The webinar will be livestreamed on the Society’s YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing you to watch and ask questions live. Find out more by going to rsgb.org/webinars The IARU HF Championship contest begins in less than a week, and the RSGB Contest Committee is encouraging both individuals and clubs to get involved. During the contest, Headquarters Stations represent their countries, with the RSGB’s station GR2HQ being run by a network of about a dozen stations around the UK and islands. Get involved with the GR2HQ challenge and work the stations between 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th of July and 1200 UTC on Sunday, the 13th of July. Certificates of Achievement will be available for all stations, and those stations achieving high scores will receive Certificates of Merit. For the full rules, go to the GR2HQ Challenge page on the Contest Committee website via rsgbcc.org RSGB Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX, is delighted to announce that Laura Robertson, MM7BFL, has agreed to take on the volunteer role of the RSGB CW Champion. Laura will head up the RSGB’s Morse-related activities and become an advocate for the use of CW. In her role, Laura will also help the Society to take CW to new audiences, with an emphasis on learning and development to further the skills of its members. Laura is a member of CWops and volunteers in the CW Academy team as a co-advisor, primarily assisting EU-based amateurs who are enrolled on the courses. She is often active on the HF bands using CW in POTA and SOTA activities, as well as from her home station. You can contact Laura via cw.champion@rsgb.org.uk. The RSGB has received a lot of interest in supporting this role, and in due course, it will be in contact with those who have said they would like to join a Morse support team. When was the last time you revalidated your licence? Ofcom notes that whilst it is a requirement to revalidate your licence every five years, it is recommended to do it annually. Put a reminder in your diary to revalidate your licence soon, as Ofcom has stated that it intends to implement phases two and three of the planned updates to the amateur radio licensing framework later this year. These phases include changes to new and Intermediate callsigns and rules for special event stations. You can find guidance on the process by going to the RSGB website and searching ‘licence revalidation’. As well as FAQs, you’ll also find a link to a step-by-step video by Ofcom, which shows you the process of revalidating your licence using the online licensing portal. Bawdsey Radar Trust will be holding an event to commemorate the world’s first airborne radar experiments. The event on Friday, the 15th of August, will take place at Adastral Park, the home to BT's research and innovation labs at Martlesham Heath in Suffolk. Presentation topics will include Radar Early Days, Airborne Radar and Family Histories. There will be two sessions open to members of the public. The morning session is aimed at people with little technical knowledge, and the afternoon session is for those with some technical knowledge. To find out more and book your ticket, go to bawdseyradar.org.uk  and click on ‘Radar in the Air’. If you're unable to attend this event, why not learn about radar history with a visit to the Bawdsey Radar Museum? Don't forget, as an RSGB member, you can save 20% on the ticket price. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums  to download your voucher. This year, International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend will run from 0001 UTC on the 16th of August to 2400 UTC on the 17th of August. The event usually attracts more than 500 lighthouse entries located in over 40 countries. Registration for the event is open at illw.net Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Saffron Walden Radio Ham and CB Club Rally is taking place today, the 6th, at Lovecotes Farm, Chickney Road, Henham Village, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6BH. Booking a table for today costs £10, and you can arrive from 8 am onwards. For more information, email g8swr1.5@gmail.com Barford Norfolk Radio Rally is taking place today, the 6th, at Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors open at 9 am for visitors. The event features trade stands, car boot sales, bring and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking. Entry costs £3 per person, but under 16s will be admitted free of charge. Outside pitches cost £8 and are available from 8 am. For more details visit tinyurl.com/Barford2025  or email David, G7URP at radio@dcpmicro.com The McMichael Radio & Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale will take place on Sunday the 13th of July at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8 am. The doors will be open for visitors from 9 am to 3 pm. The entrance fee is £4 per person. A trader’s table costs £15 and this includes admission for two people. Now the Special Event news 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 rsgb.org/gb70rs Members of Central Uusimaa 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 Now the DX news Don, KW7R, is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands. He is there on a work assignment until September 2025. In his spare time, he operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. George, VU2DGR, is active as AT44I from Bharati Research Station. He is a member of the 44th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The station was spotted recently on the 20m band using SSB. QSL via home call. Now the contest news Today, the 6th, the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. RSGB VHF National Field Day started at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 5th and ends at 1400 UTC today, Sunday, the 6th of July. Using all modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The RSGB VHF Fixed Station Contest started at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 5th and ends at 1400 UTC today, Sunday, the 6th of July. Using all modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Tomorrow, the 7th, the RSGB 80m CW Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW 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 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday, the 8th, the 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. 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 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 9th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a 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 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The GR2HQ Challenge starts at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC on Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. The IARU HF Championship starts at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC on Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27. On Sunday, the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, 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 July 2025 It looks like the Space Weather Prediction Centre, which supplies the forecasts for NOAA, were overly cautious last week. Despite predicting geomagnetic disturbances, we had quite a calm week. The Kp index rose to 3.33 on a few occasions, but that was it. We ended up with settled geomagnetic conditions and a solar flux index in the 120s to 130s. A warning about the impact of a coronal mass ejection, or CME, which left the Sun on the 28th of June, appeared to come to nothing. This made a much-needed change to the unsettled conditions of previous weeks. As a result, maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs for short, over a 3,000km

GB2RS News Sunday the 29th of June 2025 The news headlines: Royal Signals Museum offers discounted entry to RSGB members Watch two more 2024 Convention videos and then book for this year’s event A reminder about the RSGB Band Plans  Don’t forget that the RSGB has partnered with some fantastic museums to offer its members discounted entry in 2025. The Society has recently added the Royal Signals Museum in Dorset to the list of museums offering reduced prices for RSGB members. The interactive Museum is located within an active Army camp and brings to life the vital role of military communications. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums  for more information and to download your personalised discount voucher for six exciting partner museums. Whether you’re heading to West Wales, Cornwall, West Sussex, Suffolk, Dorset or Milton Keynes, you’ll be able to save between 20% and 50% on standard admission prices. Start planning your summer adventures now! Are you thinking about attending the RSGB’s Convention this year? Be inspired to book your place by watching two videos released by the RSGB from its 2024 Convention, which provide comprehensive updates on EMC and EMF. The first video is a presentation from members of the RSGB Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee. EMC Chair Dr John Rogers, M0JAV, together with Peter Zollman, G4DSE and Ian White, GM3SEK, summarise reports to the EMC helpdesk and highlight two of the most commonly raised topics. This includes advice on how to find and minimise the impact of the sources of RFI. In the second video, RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB, interviews the trio as they explain how the work they have been doing has helped not only RSGB members but the wider amateur radio community. They also explain how their work has supported the new power levels in the latest licence conditions. Watch both videos by going to youtube.com/thersgb The RSGB Band Plans for 2025 were published in the March 2025 issue of RadCom and are also available on the RSGB website in a variety of formats. The RSGB would like to remind all radio amateurs to consult the Band Plans before operating and to refer to the master files on the Society’s website. To ensure you are using the correct data, please do not copy it onto other websites or use versions that you find elsewhere. You can find the Plans at rsgb.org/bandplans The Board has appointed Will Richardson, 2E0WYA, as the new Nominations Committee Chair. If you are interested in joining the Board as a Nominated Director and have the skills and experience to help move the Society forward into its next chapter, please contact Will via nominations.chair@rsgb.org.uk  The Society would like to increase the diversity of its Board, and is also looking particularly for radio amateurs who have knowledge of the science and technology of amateur radio, and the spectrum it uses. The International Amateur Radio Union is engaging with member societies to explore potential changes to its future structure. The RSGB has contributed to this consultation by raising several concerns and offering constructive suggestions across a range of topics. Throughout these discussions, the Society has prioritised the development of amateur radio and the interests of its members. Further updates will be shared with members in due course. The famous Grimeton Radio Station will be celebrating its 100th anniversary on Wednesday, the 2nd of July. The unique Alexanderson alternator, with the callsign SAQ, is scheduled for two transmissions on 17.2kHz using CW. At 0830UTC, the alternator will be started up, and at 0900 UTC, the first transmission will take place. A second transmission is scheduled for 1300UTC. You can read more about the event and the historic transmitter at alexander.n.se Finally, advance notice that the popular Churches and Chapels on the Air event will take place on Saturday, the 13th of September, between 10 am and 4 pm. If you are planning to put a station on the air, please let John, Wresdell, G3XYF know by emailing jhwresdell@gmail.com And now for details of rallies and events The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 29th of June, at Penair School, St. Clement, Truro, TR1 1TN. The doors open at 10.30 am. For more information, contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821 073. Saffron Walden Radio Ham and CB Club Rally will take place from Friday, the 4th to Sunday, the 6th of July. The venue will be Lovecotes Farm, Chickney Road, Henham Village, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6BH. You can camp on the field from Friday to Sunday and have a table for £15. If you are camping, you can arrive from 6 pm on Friday. To book a camping pitch or arrange tables, email g8swr1.5@gmail.com Barford Norfolk Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 6th of July at Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors open at 9 am for visitors. The event features trade stands, car boot sales, bring and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking. Entry costs £3 per person, but under 16s will be admitted free of charge. Outside pitches cost £8 and are available from 8 am on the day. Inside tables cost £10 and must be pre-booked. For more details visit tinyurl.com/Barford2025  or email David, G7URP at radio@dcpmicro.com Now the Special Event news Tomorrow, the 30th of June, the 2458 RAF Cadets Air Training Corps will be on the air from the Cadet Centre in Baildon, West Yorkshire. The squadron will have the opportunity to operate an HF and Low Earth Orbit satellite amateur radio station under the supervision of Simon, M0YKS. The Cadets already have experience operating their own VHF radio equipment and will now be able to expand their knowledge and experience within the world of radio communication and amateur radio. The callsign used by the cadets during the evening event will be GB0ATC. The station will be active between 7 and 9 pm. The operators are hoping to contact as many radio amateurs as possible during the event. So, listen out for activity which will mainly be on the 40m band and any FM satellites in range during the event. A series of special event stations is on the air to celebrate the Deutsche Amateur Radio Club's 75th anniversary. Four special call signs are active until the 31st of October. You can find details about the stations, as well as information on a diploma that is available for working them, at tinyurl.com/DARCIS75. An English version of the information can be found by scrolling down the web page. QSL via the Bureau or directly to DL2VFR. Durham and District Amateur Radio Society is participating again as one of the bonus stations in the popular 13 Colonies event. Special callsign GB13COL has been issued for the occasion and will run from the club station at 1300UTC on the 1st of July until 0400UTC on the 8th of July. Listen out for the station on the HF, VHF and UHF bands, and on the amateur satellites. Operators will be using SSB, CW, FM and various digital modes. And finally, don’t forget to listen out for all the amateur stations that will be on the air today, Sunday the 29th, for Museums on the Air. Find out more by visiting tinyurl.com/IMOTA2025   Now the DX news Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 8th of July. He operates CW, SSB and digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands and via satellite. During weekdays, he is available between 2300 UTC and 0200 UTC. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com Logbook or directly to Aldir’s home call. Domenico, IK1MNF, is active as IK1MNF/IA5 from Isola d'Elba, 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 Today, the 29th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, today, the 29th, the RSGB 50MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200 UTC. Using CW on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 1st, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 1st, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and a four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. RSGB VHF National Field Day starts at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 5th and ends at 1400 UTC on Sunday, the 6th of July. Using all modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The RSGB VHF Fixed Station Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday, the 5th and ends at 1400 UTC on Sunday, the 6th of July. Using all modes on the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 6th, the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500 UTC. 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 Wednesday the 25th of June. Last week was good from a geomagnetic disturbance point of view. Up until Wednesday the 25th, the Kp index had not been higher than 3.67 and had mostly been in the ones and twos. This helped HF propagation to a great extent. Sunspots have been present with the solar flux index sitting at 120 on Wednesday, the 25th. A look at the visible disk at solarham.com  shows five

GB2RS News Sunday, the 22nd of June 2025 The news headlines: Introducing the RSGB’s team of young radio amateurs for YOTA Paris The RSGB celebrates International Women in Engineering Day The RSGB Exam Standards Committee publishes its annual report The RSGB has announced the team of young members who will be representing the Society at this summer’s Youngsters on the Air camp. The event, hosted by the French national amateur radio society and the IARU, will take place at the historic Château de Jambville near Paris between August 18th and 25th. The team is comprised of team leader Leon, 2E0VUF, and team members Sophie, M7IJG, and Emily, M7HPU. You can read more about the camp and the team on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/yota-camp The RSGB knows that amateur radio is a great foundation for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM as it is often known. That’s why, for International Women in Engineering Day tomorrow, Monday the 23rd of June, the Society is sharing stories of female radio amateurs involved with STEM. From a young radio amateur who was inspired by an ARISS contact, through to a Professional Transmitting Engineer at Woofferton Transmitting Station, each one of them has a love for amateur radio and STEM activities and the career opportunities they present. Read more about them on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/inwed. The Society will also be sharing the profiles on its X and Facebook pages throughout the day tomorrow, the 23rd. Get involved by liking and sharing these motivational stories. The RSGB Examinations Standards Committee, or ESC, has published its annual report, relating to activities in 2024. The report shows that overall candidate numbers have increased to above pre-pandemic levels and are well above the extrapolation of the declining trend over the decade before the pandemic. The ESC believes that this is probably due to the availability of remote invigilation for online examinations taken at home and the increase in provision of distance learning courses, making the hobby much more accessible than in the past. You can read the full report on the RSGB website by going to rsgb.org/esc  and choosing the ‘Minutes, papers and reports’ option in the right-hand menu. Whether you are just starting to learn Morse code or are already an experienced operator, the GB2RS Morse Practice web page is just what you need to brush up on your skills! Created by GB2RS Newsreader Graham, G4JBD, you can select different sections of the latest RSGB news, which are then played in Morse code at the pitch and speed of your choosing. What makes this resource unique is that you can also add in different degrees of man-made noise and natural band noise, which gives you a very realistic experience of copying Morse code under poor propagation or contest conditions. Graham has recently updated the page with more options. One of these is the Farnsworth timing, which can play the individual characters at a selectable speed while allowing separate adjustment of the gap between the characters. The new version works well on smartphones and displays the text with a real-time pointer as the Morse code is sent. The GB2RS Morse Practice page can be found at tinyurl.com/gb2rsmorse Bath Based Distance Learning’s next Full licence course runs from August to December, with exams in January. There is no charge for the training, but applicants must work through some pre-course material and complete a quiz to be eligible for a place. To request full details and an application form, email Bath Based Distance Learning’s Team Leader, Steve, G0FUW via g0fuw@bbdl.org.uk           The next in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July. The event will run from 12 pm to 3 pm. There will be nets on the 2m band operating in most Maidenhead Squares across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. To take part on the day, all you need to do is call into a local net and make contact with others. The organisers are looking for more net controllers. If you are interested, email 145aliveuk@gmail.com. You can find more information, including details of the nets, the operators, their locations and operating frequencies on the 145 Alive Events Facebook page. Today, the 22nd,  is the last chance to take part in Gateways on the Air 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just love the thrill of the chase, Gateways on the Air is your invitation to step outside, power up your gear, and connect via simplex gateways from a park bench, hillside, or anywhere that captures your sense of adventure. To find out more, visit gota.org.uk Don’t forget to listen out for all the amateur stations that will be on the air during Museums on the Air today, the 22nd. Remember that the fun doesn’t stop today as the event continues on Saturday, the 28th and Sunday, the 29th of June. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/IMOTA2025 And now for details of rallies and events The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally will take place on Sunday, the 29th of June at Penair School, St. Clement, Truro, TR1 1TN. The doors open at 10.30 am. For more information, contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821 073. Saffron Walden Radio Ham and CB Club Rally will take place from the 4th to the 6th of July. The venue will be Lovecotes Farm, Chickney Road, Henham Village, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6BH. You can camp on the field from Friday to Sunday and have a table at a cost of £15. If you are camping, you can arrive from 6 pm on Friday. To book a camping pitch or arrange tables, email g8swr1.5@gmail.com Barford Norfolk Radio Rally will take place on the 6th of July at Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The doors open at 9 am for visitors. The event features trade stands, car boot sales, bring and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking. Entry costs £3 per person, but under 16s will be admitted free of charge. Outside pitches cost £8 and are available from 8 am on the day. Inside tables cost £10 and must be pre-booked. For more details visit tinyurl.com/Barford2025  or email David, G7URP at radio@dcpmicro.com Now the Special Event news Special event station 9A2025HWC is active until the 30th of June to celebrate the 29th World Men's Handball Championship. The station was spotted recently on the 80 and 40m bands using SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World. QSOs are also uploaded to QRZ.com, Logbook and Club Log. As part of International Museums on the Air Weekend 2025, the Grampian Hilltoppers Contest Group is operating special event station GB2KDR from the Keith and Dufftown Heritage Railway in Moray, Scotland. The station is active on the HF bands using SSB and digital modes, as well as via the amateur satellites when conditions permit. QSL via OQRS. For more information, visit the GB2KDR page at QRZ.com  Now the DX news Nobby, G0VJG, is active as FO/G0VJG from Bora Bora, OC-067, in French Polynesia until Thursday, the 26th of June. He is operating using CW, FT8 and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World. Bob, ZL1RS is active as YJ0RS from the island of Efate, OC-035, until Saturday, the 28th of June. Bob is mainly operating on the 6m band using FT8. There may also be some activity on 10m when the 6m band is closed. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or via Bob’s home call. More information is available on the YJ0RS page at QRZ.com Now the contest news The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday, the 21st and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday, the 22nd of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and your age. The RSGB 50MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400UTC on Saturday, the 21st and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday, the 22nd of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Today, the 22nd, the Worked All Britain 6m Phone Contest runs from 0800 to 1400 UTC. Using SSB on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. On Tuesday the 24th, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 26th, the RSGB 80m SSB Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday the 29th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 29th, the RSGB 50MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200 UTC. Using CW on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 19th of June 2025. Last week, we mentioned a large coronal hole on the Sun that might cause problems. The hole is so large that it is still Earth-centric seven days later. We had expected the hole to increase the Kp index due to the solar wind emanating from it. However, as of Thursday, the 19th of June, conditions remained quiet with a Kp index of 2. As geomagnetic conditions have remained calm this past week, it has been quite good for HF. 15m has been one of the better bands, with openings to both the east and west, depending on the time. As is the way nowadays, most of the activity has been on FT8, but it has opened up opportunities to work the Far and Middle East, as well as South America. The solar flux index has generally been in the range of 130 to 150, with a peak of 161 on the 15th of June. The Sun has been active, with a near X-class solar flare being observed around sunspot region 4114. This peaked at 1805 UTC on the 15th of June. There was also an X-class solar flare at 21:49 UTC on the 17th of June. This latter event was late in the evening, so it had little impact on the UK, other than to potential paths to the west.

GB2RS News Sunday, the 15th of June 2025 The news headlines: Book now to secure your place at the RSGB 2025 Convention The RSGB launches the “SES Cookbook” The RSGB Operating Advisory Service issues advice The RSGB annual Convention is a fantastic opportunity for radio amateurs to meet, learn and share experiences. Whether you’re newly licensed or have years of experience, there is always more to discover. That’s why the Society is excited to introduce this year’s theme: “Discover, Learn, Progress”. Whether you want to discover something new, learn more about a particular aspect of amateur radio, or progress and develop your skills, you’ll find something at the Convention to explore and enjoy. The prestigious event will take place between October 10th and 12th at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. Book now to secure your place in joining like-minded people for what is also one of the best social events in amateur radio. Take advantage of the early-bird prices by going to rsgb.org/convention. The Society is delighted that the event will be sponsored again by Martin Lynch and Sons. Special event stations are popular around the world and a great source of fun and excitement for organisers and QSO chasers. They can also be a fantastic tool for outreach, allowing you to demonstrate amateur radio and encourage people to find out more. But how do you organise an event to achieve all those objectives? The RSGB has just launched a new web section that focuses on special event stations. For RSGB members and Affiliated Clubs, there is an online guide called the SES Cookbook, which offers a wide range of practical guidance to help you deliver the best experience for your visitors and the organisers. The guide covers a wide range of topics, including how to apply for a special event station callsign, the stages of the planning process, publicising your event to attract visitors and how to make a good number of contacts. For non-RSGB members, there is a simple guidance document that outlines the main things to consider when planning this type of event. The new section also draws together existing information about permanent special event stations as well as QSL guidance. If you’re planning an event for this year, or even for next year, now is the time to make the most of this comprehensive guide. Go to rsgb.org/ses  to find out more. The RSGB Operating Advisory Service, or OAS, provides advice to members on dealing with situations that are not within the spirit of amateur radio. From time to time, this activity goes beyond what is classed as acceptable behaviour and requires action to be taken. In these circumstances, the OAS recommends reporting the matter directly to Ofcom and to the police in the case of issues which could be classed as harassment, stalking or hate crimes. Experience has shown that this carries more weight coming directly from the people hearing or suffering the problem rather than a third party, such as the RSGB. If you hear anything that is not acceptable behaviour, contact the RSGB OAS first, and the team will suggest the correct course of action. Once Ofcom and the police have issued reference numbers, these should be passed to the Operating Advisory Service. You can contact OAS via oas@rsgb.org.uk The RSGB has submitted responses to a pair of Ofcom consultations. The first considered a series of licence exemption updates, including arrangements for some visiting radio amateurs to the UK. The second concerned filing procedures for the growing number and variety of satellites. Both replies were developed by the RSGB Spectrum Forum, drawing on its members’ wide breadth of expertise. The Spectrum Forum expects that there will be further updates to both topics. Find the full replies by going to rsgb.org/spectrumforum  and selecting the ‘Papers and Consultations’ option from the right-hand menu. The RSGB recently announced two new volunteering opportunities. The RSGB CW Champion will help the Society in taking Morse code to new audiences. Tasks will vary from developing the CW content on the RSGB’s website through to developing and supporting a team of enthusiastic individuals who can support CW-related activities. The second role requires an individual with experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The RSGB STEM Champion will help the Society to reach new audiences, build relationships with related organisations and encourage more young people into STEM careers. Go to rsgb.org/volunteers  to read the full role descriptions and learn how to apply. And now for details of rallies and events The East Suffolk Wireless Revival, also known as ‘The Ipswich Radio Rally’, is taking place today, the 15th, at Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, IP10 0PW. The doors open at 9.30 am and the entry fee for visitors is £3. The venue has free car parking. Visitors can enjoy trade stands, a car-boot sale, a bring-and-buy area and special interest groups. An HF station is operating with the callsign GB4SWR. Catering and an RSGB bookstall are available on site. For more details, contact Kevin, G8MXV, on 07710 046 846 and visit eswr.org.uk Bangor and District Amateur Radio Society’s Annual Radio Rally is due to take place on Saturday, the 21st of June, at Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church Hall. The doors will open at 11.30 am and admission costs £5. The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally will take place on Sunday, the 29th of June at Penair School, St. Clement, Truro, TR1 1TN. The doors open at 10.30 am. For more information, contact Ken, G0FIC on 01209 821 073. Now the Special Event news Special callsign HS30DXA is active until the 21st of June to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Thailand DX Association. Look for activity on all HF bands and the amateur radio satellites. QSL via HS6MYW. The Amateur Radio Society of India, VU2ZH, is celebrating the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union by activating special callsign VU1IARU until the 29th of June. The Indian Society has been a member society of IARU Region 3 since 1958. The station has been spotted recently using CW and FT8 on the HF bands. QSL via VU2ZH. And finally, don’t forget to listen out for all the amateur stations that will be on the air during International Museums on the Air weekend on the 21st and 22nd of June. For more information about the event, visit tinyurl.com/IMOTA2025 Now the DX news Gerry, G3WIP is active as VP8DPD from Port Stanley, in the Falkland Islands, until the 12th of July. Recently, the station was spotted on the HF bands using FT8. QSL via EA5GL and Logbook of the World. Don, KW7R, is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands. He is there on a work assignment until September 2025. In his spare time, he operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. Llanelli Amateur Radio Society is operating with special callsign GB1BAF during June to honour the British Armed Forces. Look for activity on the HF, 6 and 2m bands using CW, FT8 and phone. For more information, visit the GB1BAF page at QRZ.com  Now the contest news Today, the 15th, the RSGB 2nd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 0900 to 1300 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also today, the 15th, the Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using AM, FM, SSB and CW on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Note that 5W is the maximum power allowed in this contest. On Monday the 16th, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday the 17th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 19th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 21st and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 22nd of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and your age. The RSGB 50MHz Trophy Contest starts at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 21st and ends at 1400 UTC on Sunday, the 22nd of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Sunday the 22nd, the Worked All Britain 6m Phone Contest runs from 0800 to 1400 UTC. Using SSB on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 12th of June 2025 Propagation was a mixed bag last week, with occasional Kp index rises but a solid solar flux index, which hit 141 on Thursday, the 12th. We also had some sporadic-E short-skip conditions on the HF bands, which brought some surprises. We are now in June, so the summer HF doldrums are well underway. But that doesn’t mean that the fun has gone from the HF bands. Daytime maximum usable frequencies over a 3,000km path have been around 18 to 20 MHz, so the main active band has been 20m. Paul, GM4ULS, reports that there was a spectacular inter-G event on the morning of Tuesday, the 10th of June. Whilst activating special event station GB70RS from Perth, he worked a mini pile-up of English stations from anywhere between Southampton and Manchester. This was between 0949 and 1022 UTC on 14.210 MHz. He said it sounded like the 40m band at times! We think this was probably a Sporadic-E event, which often creates strong but short-lived paths across the UK on the HF bands in the summer. We normally think of Sporadic-E as affecting the 10m band, but the lower bands are also often implicated. Have you worked anything unusual via Sporadic-E? If you have, please send your reports to radcom@rsgb.org.uk Otherwise, DX on the HF bands has be

GB2RS News Sunday, the 8th of June 2025   The news headlines: The RSGB releases a video to celebrate Volunteers’ Week Get involved with the GR2HQ contest challenge Join the RSGB Regional Team   As Volunteers’ Week comes to a close, the RSGB would like to thank its volunteers once again for all they do. As part of the week-long event, the Society released a video about the volunteer team at the RSGB National Radio Centre. These volunteers welcome over 80,000 visitors to the Centre every year and share amateur radio with them. Watch the video to discover the variety of things that they do as well as what they enjoy most about their role. You’ll find the video at rsgb.org/volunteers-week, and on that web page, you’ll also be able to read about several volunteers in other RSGB roles. If their stories have inspired you and you would like to give some time to support the RSGB and amateur radio, look at the vacancies on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers The RSGB Contest Committee is looking forward to the IARU HF Championship contest on the 12th and 13th of July. This is a great opportunity for both individuals and clubs to get involved. During the contest, Headquarters Stations represent their countries, and the RSGB’s station GR2HQ will be run by a network of about a dozen stations around the UK and its islands. Building on the success of last year's GR2HQ Challenge, the RSGB Contest Committee has made some changes to encourage individual stations to work the GR2HQ station on each band-mode slot. Sharing your QSOs for scoring has also been made easier. The contest is open to both individuals and clubs, so why not encourage your club members to take part, whether they are regular contesters or not? Last year, thanks in part to those entering the GR2HQ Challenge, the RSGB Contest Committee improved its position from third to second and would like to improve that result even further. Could you take part and make a difference? For the full rules, go to the GR2HQ Challenge page on the Contest Committee website via rsgbcc.org The RSGB has several volunteer vacancies within the Regional Team. If you are passionate about the future of amateur radio and support the work of the Society, then apply now. These rewarding roles are an opportunity to support fellow radio amateurs in your area. Vacancies include District Representative positions in Staffordshire, Oxfordshire and Dorset. To view the full list of regional team volunteering vacancies, go to rsgb.org/volunteers. If you have questions about the District Representative roles, contact the Regional Representative in that region, or you can contact Board Liaison Nathan Nuttall, 2M0OCC, for a chat via 2m0occ@rsgb.org.uk A special interactive spy event is taking place on Father’s Day, Sunday the 15th of June, at the RSGB National Radio Centre. You’ll have the opportunity to become a spy hunter and, using your special gadget, will be tasked with finding hidden transmitters located around Bletchley Park. You’ll need to decode Morse signals and uncover the location of the secret spy base. Two time slots are available, however, spaces are limited to 12 groups for each. Secure your place and treat your Dad, Grandad, or a father figure to a fascinating day out by going to bletchleypark.org.uk  and selecting the ‘What’s on’ option in the main menu. The activity is free to take part in, however, entry to Bletchley Park is required. Don’t forget that RSGB members get free access to the historic site as a membership benefit. Download your voucher via rsgb.org/bpvoucher  BunkerFest 2025 is taking place on the 14th and 15th of June. This exciting international festival will bring together amateur radio operators from over 13 national Bunkers on the Air schemes. For rules and activation details, visit wwbota.org/bunkerfest25 The British Inland Waterways on the Air event will take place between Saturday, the 23rd and Monday, the 25th of August. The event is open to amateurs who use canals, towpaths, rivers, lakes or reservoirs for work or recreation. Registration for the event is now open. To sign up, visit Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group’s website at nharg.org.uk  and follow the ‘BIWOTA 2025’ link. Are you called Nigel? If so, you can join other amateur Nigels who are making plans to operate a special event station at what is hoped to be the largest ever gathering of Nigels in the world. The event will run from the 20th to the 21st of September in Worcestershire. Details on how to get involved are on the GB1NN page at QRZ.com And now for details of rallies and events Mendips Radio Rally is taking place today, the 8th of June, at Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney, BS39 6UA. The doors open at 9.30 am and refreshments and free parking are available on site. For more details, contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email luke@mymixradio.co.uk On Saturday, the 14th of June, Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Summer Rally will take place at St. Vincent de Paul’s Hall, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. The doors open at 10 am and entry costs £3. The usual traders and caterers will be on site, and plenty of free parking will be available. For more information, contact Martin Shore on 07587 709 006 or email rally.radars@hotmail.com The East Suffolk Wireless Revival, also known as ‘The Ipswich Radio Rally’, is due to take place on Sunday, the 15th of June at Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, IP10 0PW. The doors open at 9.30 am and the entry fee for visitors is £3. The venue has free car parking. Visitors will be able to enjoy trade stands, a car-boot sale, a bring-and-buy area and special interest groups. An HF station will be operating with the callsign GB4SWR. Catering and an RSGB bookstall will be available on site. For more details, contact Kevin, G8MXV, on 07710 046 846 and visit eswr.org.uk Now the Special Event news The A.R.I. Fidenza Radio Club is operating today, the 8th, as IY4RXO. The station is active to raise awareness of the historical value of Guglielmo Marconi's steam yacht ‘Elettra’. A number of important radio communication experiments were conducted on board the vessel. For more information, visit IY4RXO at QRZ.com Members of The James Clerk Maxwell Radio Society will be active with special callsign GB2JCM, from Parton Kirk near Castle Douglas in Dumfriesshire, on the 14th and 15th of June. The station will be active to commemorate the birth of the Society’s namesake. Operators will be waiting for your call on the 40 and 20m bands. For more information, visit the GB2JCM page at QRZ.com Now the DX news Martin, MW0BRO, is active again as ZC4GW from Dhekelia on Cyprus until tomorrow, the 9th.  He is operating using CW and some SSB on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL via M0URX's OQRS. Remo, HB9SHD is active as V51/HB9SHD while touring Namibia until the 15th of June. He is using SSB and digital modes on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. Now the contest news RSGB National Field Day started at 1500 UTC on Saturday, the 7th and ends at 1500 UTC today, Sunday, the 8th of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Today, the 8th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 0900 to 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 23, 13 and 9cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.  On Tuesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Tuesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. On Wednesday the 11th, the RSGB 80m CW Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Thursday the 12th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. The IARU ATV Contest starts at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 14th and ends at 1800 UTC on Sunday, the 15th of June. Using TV on the 70cm band and up, the exchange is picture quality, serial number, four-digit code and locator. On Sunday the 15th, the 2nd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 0900 to 1300 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also, on Sunday the 15th, the Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using AM, FM, SSB and CW on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Note that 5W is the maximum power allowed in this contest. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 5th of June Last week’s HF propagation was heavily influenced by unsettled geomagnetic conditions. This was caused by a combination of coronal mass ejections and a strong solar wind from a coronal hole. The coronal mass ejection, or CME for short, followed a solar flare from sunspot 4100 on the 31st of May at 0005 UTC. The explosion lasted more than three hours. Type 2 radio emissions from shock waves within the CME cloud suggested it was travelling at 1,938 kilometres per second, or 4.3 million miles per hour! Eventually, the Bz swung south. This meant that the interplanetary magnetic field more easily coupled with the Earth’s magnetic field. The result was that the Kp index got up to 7.67 on the 1st of June. The auroral effects were reported as be

GB2RS News Sunday the 1st of June The news headlines: Volunteers’ Week begins tomorrow, Monday the 2nd of June Be part of the RSGB 2025 Convention and put the date in your diary now Don’t miss tomorrow’s Tonight@8 webinar on Morse code   Volunteers’ Week 2025 begins tomorrow, Monday, the 2nd of June. As part of this national event, the RSGB will share a number of volunteers’ stories on its website and social media channels to recognise their hard work and contribution. Go to rsgb.org/volunteers-week  to find out what inspires people to get involved and what they gain from volunteering. During the week, the Society will also release a video about the volunteer team at the RSGB National Radio Centre, where they welcome over 80,000 visitors every year. If there is a volunteer you would like to thank, or you’d like to share your own volunteering story, please add a comment on the daily social media content that the RSGB will be posting on Facebook and X. You can also read about a few of the RSGB’s amazing volunteers in the July edition of RadCom. Whether a volunteer’s involvement is behind the scenes or front and centre, the RSGB would like you to know that your work makes a real difference, not only to the Society, but to every radio amateur who benefits from your efforts. The RSGB is delighted to announce that its annual Convention will take place from the 10th to the 12th of October at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. Whether you want to discover something new, learn more about an aspect of amateur radio, or progress and develop your skills, you’ll find something at the RSGB 2025 Convention to explore and enjoy. The Society is giving you the chance to help shape this year’s programme by suggesting a presentation, a topic, a practical session or a project. Are you involved in some new research or an interesting project that will take amateur radio to new audiences? Have you helped to make amateur radio more accessible to people with different abilities? Or have you heard a brilliant speaker who has inspired you? Get involved by sending your proposals to convention@rsgb.org.uk  If you’ve never been to an RSGB Convention, or you’d like a reminder of what happened in 2024, go to youtube.com/thersgb  and choose from the wide selection of presentations and videos from last year. The Society is pleased that AMSAT-UK will, once again, be holding its Colloquium at the Convention. Don’t forget to join the RSGB for the next Tonight@8 webinar, which will be going live tomorrow, Monday the 2nd of June. The presentation will include an introduction to Morse code, how to start learning it, the different types of Morse keys and the Achilles heel that can occur when learning this mode. The webinar will be livestreamed on the Society’s YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing you to watch and ask questions live. Find out more by going to rsgb.org/webinars The RSGB National Radio Centre will be involved in a radio sked as part of the opening ceremony for the ENTER Technology Museum in Switzerland on Saturday, the 7th of June. The museum is opening a radio room that will operate the amateur radio station HB9E. Volunteers from the NRC will be operating GB3RS to deliver the first radio message in the sked, which is scheduled for 1145 CET on the 40 or 20m bands using SSB. Find out more about the ENTER museum by going to enter.ch Radio amateurs have long been interested in the mystery and phenomenon of spy communications, and many will be aware of number stations. If you’d like to discover more on the topic, you can attend a talk at Bletchley Park on Saturday, the 28th of June. RSGB National Radio Centre volunteer Paul Beaumont, G7VAK, will be delivering the engaging session on ‘Number Stations, 1950 to the Present’. He will look at modes used, the different styles of sending and will present several examples where number stations were used and stated in the prosecution of the recipients. The session is being delivered as part of the RSGB’s ongoing strategy to promote amateur radio to wider audiences. RSGB members who would like to attend the talk can benefit from a 10% discount, reducing the price to £14.40. To find out more, go to the Bletchley Park ‘What’s on’ web pages via bletchleypark.org.uk The May 2025 edition of RadCom Basics is now available. RadCom Basics is aimed at new amateurs and those who wish to refresh their skills and knowledge. Among others, this edition contains articles to help you learn about getting the maximum signal to an antenna, constructing an 80m band receiver and making an audio amplifier. To access RadCom publications, visit rsgb.org/radcom Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk  The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week. And now for details of rallies and events Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society’s annual radio rally is taking place today, Sunday, the 1st of June. The venue is Spalding Rugby and Football Club, Centenary Park, Drain Bank North, Spalding, Lincolnshire. Free car parking is available, as well as traders, on-site catering and a bar. For more information, visit sdars.org.uk Mendips Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 8th of June at Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney. The doors will be open from 9.30 a,m and free parking and refreshments will be available on site. For more detail,s contact Luke on 07870 168 197. On Saturday, the 14th of June, the Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Summer Rally will take place at St Vincent de Paul’s Hall, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. The doors will open at 10 am and entry will cost £3. The usual traders and caterers will be in attendanc,e and plenty of free parking will be available. For more information contact Martin Shore on 07587 709 006 or email rally.radars@hotmail.com Now the special event news Special callsign HS30DXA is active until the 21st of June to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Thailand DX Association. Look out for activity on all HF bands, the 2m band and the amateur radio satellites. QSL via HS6MYW. In celebration of this year's German World Heritage Day, special callsign DM0LIMES is active until the 1st of July. The Limes was the border line of the Roman Empire at its greatest extent. In 2005, the remnants of the Upper German-Raetian Limes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire’. The station was spotted recently on the 40m band using SSB. QSL via the Bureau and eQSL. Now the DX news Morten, LA9GY is active as 3DA0GY from Eswatini until tomorrow, the 2nd. He will operate CW and some SSB with a focus on the 20, 15 and 10m bands. There may also be activity on the 80, 40, 30, 17 and 12m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World or directly to Morten’s home call. Roland, F8EN, has extended his stay in Gabon and now expects to be operating as TR8CR until the middle of June. He operates CW only. QSL via F6AJA. Now the contest news Tomorrow, the 2nd, the RSGB 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs from 19 00 to 2030 UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Tuesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Also on Tuesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and a four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and a four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest. The IARU ATV Contest starts at 1200 UTC on Saturda,y the 7t,h and ends at 1800 UTC on Sunda,y the 8th of June. Using TV on the 70cm band and up, the exchange is picture quality, serial number, four-digit code and locator. The UK Six Metre Group Summer Contest starts at 1300 UTC on Saturday, the 7th, and ends at 1300 UTC on Sunda,y the 8th of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and Group member number. RSGB National Field Day starts at 1500 UTC on Saturda,y the 7t,h and ends at 1500 UTC on Sunda,y the 8th of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The ARRL International Digital Contest starts at 1800 UTC on Saturday, the 7th, and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 8th of June. Using digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your four-character locator. On Sunday the 8th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 0900 to 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 23, 13 and 9cm bands, 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 May 2025 Last week’s high-speed solar wind, from a massive coronal hole on the Sun, took its toll on the HF bands. However, this week has been little better. Another coronal hole running diagonally across the Sun has been emitting particles that have pushed the Kp index up to a maximum of 6.67 w,hich puts us into visible aurora territory. Nevertheless, some DX has been worked, including CP4BT in Bolivia, ZP5KP in Paraguay and V44KAI in St Kitts and Nevis. These were reported by Karl, G0SKW on the CDXC Slack alerting system. BA100IARU, a special event station celebrating the 100th anniversary of the International Amateur Radio Union, has been active from Beijing, China and has been worked on 20m CW. The station’s QRZ.com page provides real-time updates on which band the operators are working on.

GB2RS News Sunday, the 25th of May 2025 The news headlines: Apply to become the RSGB’s new CW Champion The Tonight@8 series continues in June with Morse code Could you be the RSGB’s new STEM Champion? As part of the RSGB’s ongoing strategy to take amateur radio to new and diverse audiences, it is seeking to appoint a volunteer CW Champion. Whilst the need for a CW test has been removed from the licensing requirements, there is still a strong interest in the mode. Recent communications and activity involving Morse have received high levels of interest, and the Society would like to do all it can to encourage and promote CW within the hobby. This new role will take the lead with activities including managing RSGB web content relating to Morse code and contributing to the GB2CW broadcasts. The volunteer will also be tasked with building a team of enthusiastic individuals who can support CW-related activities undertaken by the Society. This role is intended to help take Morse to new audiences with an emphasis on learning and development to further the skills of RSGB members. Read the full role description, as well as details of how to apply, by going to rsgb.org/volunteers The next webinar in the Tonight@8 series is on Monday, the 2nd of June. The RSGB’s Morse Test Coordinator, Eric Arkinstall, M0KZB, will lead the webinar and will be joined by a panel of Morse experts, including RSGB Morse Assessor and GB2CW broadcaster Michael Topple, GM5AUG. The presentation will include an introduction to Morse, how to start learning the code, the different types of Morse keys and the Achilles heels that can occur when learning Morse. There will also be a panel discussion on how they each became interested in the mode and how they overcame any problems they have encountered along the way. Find out more about this and future webinars on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars Would you like to become the RSGB STEM Champion? This new volunteer role is part of the Society’s strategic plans to encourage more young people into STEM careers and to demonstrate the contribution that amateur radio can make to those careers. The focus of the role will also be to develop and strengthen the Society’s relationship with the STEM Learning organisation. The Champion will need to work closely with licensed STEM Ambassadors, attend STEM events to promote amateur radio, and support radio amateurs who would like to become STEM Ambassadors. The STEM Champion will work closely with the Board Liaison, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML and members of the RSGB Outreach team. To make the most of the role, you will need to have the right skills and experience. This includes being a STEM Ambassador with involvement in the STEM sector, and also being proactive, enthusiastic, organised and willing to find new ways to achieve the role’s objectives. For full details of this challenging but rewarding role and how to apply, see the RSGB website at rsgb.org/volunteers Staff and volunteers from the RSGB had a successful time at the Dayton Hamvention last weekend. The event was a brilliant opportunity to engage with radio amateurs from around the world and resulted in 134 people joining the RSGB or renewing their membership. These included ARRL First Vice President, Kristen McIntyre, K6WX and ARRL CEO, David Minster, NA2AA, as well as Phil Karn, KA9Q and many more who took advantage of the new RSGB Digital Membership. Members of the RSGB team are always delighted to hear how much the Society’s publications, videos and other content are appreciated by radio amateurs in other countries. Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is 10 am on Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.   And now for details of rallies and events The Durham and District Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place today, the 25th, at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham. The doors are open from 10.10 am to 2.30 pm, with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. Entry costs £3. There is a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups, an RSGB bookstall and catering available on site. For more information, phone Michael, G7TWX, on 07826 924 192 or visit the sdars.org.uk  website. Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society’s annual radio rally is set to take place on Sunday, the 1st of June. The venue will be Spalding Rugby and Football Club, Centenary Park, Drain Bank North, Spalding, Lincolnshire. There will be free car parking available, traders, on-site catering and a bar. For more information, visit sdars.org.uk Mendips Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 8th of June at Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney. The doors will be open from 9.30 a,m and free parking and refreshments will be available on site. For more details, contact Luke on 07870 168 197. Now the Special Event news Special event station YO160ITU is active throughout the month of May to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the ITU. See QRZ.com for details of diplomas that are available for working the station. The North West Group, MN0NWG, is running special event station GB0AEL until the 31st of May to commemorate the anniversary of Amelia Earhart's transatlantic flight. In May 1932, Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop and alone across the Atlantic. She left Harbor Grace in Newfoundland and landed 15 hours later in Northern Ireland. QSL via MI0HOZ directly or via the Bureau. Now the DX news Frank, PH2M is active as PJ4M from Bonaire, SA-006, until the 29th of May. He is operating mainly FT8 and some SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. There may also be some 6m band work, if conditions allow. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, or Frank's home call. Remo, HB9SHD is active as V51/HB9SHD, while touring Namibia, until the 15th of June. He is operating using SSB and digital modes on the 40 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. Don, KW7R, is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands. He is there on a work assignment until September. In his spare time, he operates using CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook of the World. Now the contest news The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest started at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 24th of May and ends at 2359 UTC today, Sunday, the 25th of May. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Today, the 25th, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on the 3 and 6cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Tuesday the 27th, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 3 and 13cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday, the 29th of May, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.    Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 22nd of May 2025 A high-speed solar wind, originating from a massive coronal hole, took its toll on HF this past week. During the weekend of the 17th and 18th, the Kp index was above four for nine of the three-hourly recording periods. Unfortunately, the feed from the Dourbes Digisonde failed over this period, so we can’t comment on what effect this had on maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs for short. Later in the week, geomagnetic conditions improved, despite the coronal hole still being Earth-centric, and the Kp index fell to more reasonable levels, sometimes in the ones and twos. An M3.2 solar flare was observed at 08:21 UTC on the 19th of May. The source was located off the northeast limb, so perhaps we can expect more as it turns to become more Earth-facing. Unfortunately, the solar flux index also fell to lower levels, reaching 119 by Thursday, the 22nd. In fact, on that day, it had been below 120 for more than seven days. But all is not lost, as a solar flux of more than 100 is usually enough to keep the HF bands open. MUFs over a 3,000km path have generally reached 21 MHz and have often peaked at 24 MHz at times. It is quite normal for the F2-layer MUF not to reach 28MHz due to a change in the ionospheric chemical make-up in the summer – the so-called summer doldrums. However, Sporadic-E may keep 10m alive, so don’t write the band off. Propagation, at the moment, favours paths into the southern hemisphere, although each band can have different characteristics at different times. A quick play with the propagation tool at tinyurl.com/propcharts  will show you what we mean. Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain around 120 until the 27th of May, after which it could rise to 140 by the end of the month. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the period from the 28th of May to the 2nd of June. This could see the Kp index peak at five or six with corresponding drops in the MUF and DX. As we are now on the downward portion of this solar cycle, we may expect more geomagnetic disturbances from coronal holes and coronal mass ejections. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The long run of fine settled weather seems to have drawn to a close. We have a period of changeable and, at times, wet and windy weather to deal with over the coming week. I doubt we will see much, if any, Tropo except perhaps towards the end of the week as some models show a new high building as we move into June.  Before then, the various fronts and showers will bring several spells of rain and a much greater chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands than recently. The solar conditions have again provided weak auroral events, with fluttery signals on the HF bands being a good indicator, since the bright evenings and early dawns leave little chance of any visual clues. As usual, the measure to follow is the Kp index. So, look out for values of Kp going above five to generate interest. Meteor scat

GB2RS News Sunday, the 18th of May 2025   The news headlines: The RSGB announces new Convention Chair for 2025 RSGB members can now read over 300 RadCom editions in the RSGB web app Become a volunteer at the RSGB National Radio Centre RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, is delighted to announce the appointment of Pete Joyce, M0OFM, as the new volunteer RSGB Convention Chair. Pete is a regular attendee at RSGB Conventions and has a keen interest in balancing the different needs of attendees through a varied programme. He also understands the importance of making the Convention accessible to everyone, both in person and online. Pete brings to the role a range of experience in planning and managing events for other organisations. The RSGB Convention planning team look forward to supporting Pete as he takes on this challenging and important role. The RSGB is excited to announce that more RadCom editions have been added to its web app. RSGB members are now able to browse back to January 2000, which is over 300 magazines! Go to rsgb.org/radcom to explore all the RadCom content from this millennium. You’ll need your RSGB membership portal details to access the editions. If your RSGB membership is due for renewal soon, why not swap to a digital membership? You’ll still get all the great benefits of being a member, and you’ll save money as well as RadCom storage space. If you’re not yet an RSGB member, there’s never been a better time to join the Society. Take out a digital membership and choose to read RadCom via our app, and you’ll have easy access to 25 years of RadCom editions. The RSGB will be releasing mobile versions of the app soon, so you’ll be able to download copies of its publications and read them on the go.   Volunteering at the RSGB National Radio Centre is a wide-ranging and highly rewarding role. Thanks to the variety of visitors and the number of events and activities that the Centre is involved with, no two days at the NRC are the same. If you’d like to join the friendly and dedicated team, the NRC is currently looking for new volunteers. Full training is given, including the operation of the GB3RS radio station. NRC volunteers also enjoy numerous benefits associated with volunteering at Bletchley Park. If all of this sounds like something you’d like to be a part of, and you can volunteer for one or two days per month, please email NRC Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB, via nrc.support@rsgb.org.uk. You can find out more about the RSGB National Radio Centre by going to rsgb.org/nrc The RSGB Outreach Team is offering qualified amateur radio operators under the age of 18 the opportunity to take part in a new DMR project. The project’s aim is to help young people get on the air and build their confidence in making QSOs. The Team has nine DMR handheld transceivers and hotspots available to borrow for three months, completely free. As part of the offering, the Outreach Team will be hosting regular youth nets that you would be welcome to join. You can apply for the DMR kit as an individual or as a school group, as long as one member of the group is licensed. Another part of the project is to support teachers who would like to take their amateur radio licence and set up a school club. In collaboration with the Radio Communications Foundation, the RSGB is offering to pay the licence exam fee for nine teachers to help get them and their school club started. If you’re a teacher who is interested in discovering more about amateur radio and sharing that excitement with your students, get in touch. Once you have your licence, you can apply for the free DMR kit on loan for three months to help set up your club. If you are interested in applying for a DMR kit, fill out the application form by going to tinyurl.com/DMRyouth. If you are a teacher interested in starting your own radio club, please email RSGB Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC, via youthchampion.school@rsgb.org.uk As we come to the end of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, let's remember to show the very best of amateur radio and make sure we are there for one another. Let's listen to each other, share our appreciation for our fellow radio amateurs and celebrate kindness within our community. You can read how amateur radio helped Lee Aldridge, G4EJB, in the July 2023 edition of RadCom. You can access mental health support by going to mentalhealth.org.uk Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@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 The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is taking place on Saturday, the 24th of May at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Beckingham, DN10 4FX. Traders can set up from 7 am, with doors open to the public between 9.30 am and 3 pm. There will be hot food and refreshments available. Free parking is located behind the hall. For more information and to book, please go to emerg.uk/rally The Durham & District Amateur Radio Society Radio Rally is taking place on Sunday, the 25th of May at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AT. Doors will be open from 10.10 am to 2.30 pm, with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. Entry is £3. There will be a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering will be available on-site. For further information, please call Michael Wright, G7TWX, on 07826 924192 or email dadars@gmx.com Now the Special Event news Special event station GB0SAR is active until the 30th of May in support of SOS Radio Week. The station will mostly be using FT4 on the 20m band, but you might also catch it on the other HF bands using phone. For more information, visit QRZ.com Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club is once again raising awareness for men’s mental health through amateur radio. Club members will be operating special callsign GB0MMH. Other special call signs will also be active. The station is active today, Sunday the 18th of May, as well as the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of June. Please listen out for the operators and give them a call. Your support will help raise awareness of men’s mental health. If you would like further information, please contact secretary@hfdxarc.com The International Amateur Radio Club will be active as 4U0ITU until the end of 2025. The club is celebrating the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union. QSL is available via Logbook of the World, Club Log, or direct to P.O. Box 6, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. Now the DX news Antonio, DL4EA, will be active as FY/DL4EA from French Guiana between the 19th and 21st of May. Antonio plans to be active on QO-100 and RS-44 and maybe some HF QRP. Emir, E77DX will again be active as D4DX in Cape Verde on the 24th and 25th May for the CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest. He’ll be operating as Single Operator All Bands in the high-power category. QSL is available via E73Y and Logbook of the World.  Morten, LA9GY will be active from Eswatini between the 22nd of May and the 2nd of June. He plans to be operating holiday-style as 3DA0GY mainly on CW but also some SSB. QSL is available via his home call LA9GY. Now the contest news Tomorrow, Monday, the 19th of May, the FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report. On Tuesday, the 20th of May, the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 1.3GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Wednesday, the 21st of May, the 80m Club Championship data leg runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using data modes on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 24th of May and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 25th of May. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. On Sunday, the 25th of May, the UK Microwave Group High Band Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 15th of May 2025 This week, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Solar Cycle 25 maximum is now over. With a reduced solar flux index and an almost blank Sun, there was little to get excited about. By Thursday, the 15th of May, the SFI was 122, but previously, on the 12th, it had been down to 116, which is the lowest it has been for some time. There is still a lot of solar activity going on, but most of it is not conducive to good HF propagation. Over the past week, we have had two X-class solar flares and five M-class events. The X-class events were associated with coronal mass ejections, but these appear to have been directed away from Earth. A fast solar wind has resulted in the Kp index standing at four for a lot of the time, namely on the 9th and 10th of May and again on the 14th and 15th. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon at this point in the solar cycle and adds some evidence that we are now in the declining phase of Cycle 25. Next week, NOAA predicts that things may improve with the SFI set to rise from the 19th of May. It forecasts the SFI will start the week around 115, but then will climb steadily, reaching 145 by the 1st of June. After a brief rise on the 19th with a Kp of four, things then become more settled with a Kp of two between the 22nd and the 28th of May. A large elongated coronal hole became Earth-facing on 16th May, which could cause raised K indices and lower MUFs from today, the 18th of May, onwards. It looks like the best HF F2-layer conditions may occur between the 22nd and 28th of May. And don’t forget, despite the HF doldrums, we are now well into Sporadic-E season with short-skip occurring, predominantly on 10m. But more of that sho