4 days ago
RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for 29th June 2025
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 sunspot groups facing Earth. None are ground-breaking, but they are at least helping to keep the solar flux index relatively high.
Daytime F2 MUFs over a 3,000km path have been reaching 18MHz and even 21MHz at times, with 14MHz being more reliable. Sporadic-E continues to make 28MHz a useful band for short-skip, with much of Europe being workable mid-morning on the 25th, at least using FT8.
Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Finland were all easily worked on FT8, but nothing was heard on the usual 10m CW and SSB frequencies.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 140 to 150 range. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 1st to the 3rd of July, when the Kp index could reach 4. And conditions may become unsettled again on the 6th and 7th, again with a predicted Kp index of 4.
But in the meantime, make the most of the Sporadic-E on the 10m band, as it won’t last forever!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The more traditional summer weather, with patchy rain and showers, is likely to continue for a bit longer. The more persistent rain is likely in the north, closer to low pressure near Iceland, whereas the rain may be more intermittent in southern areas, closer to high pressure over France.
This probably rules out any significant Tropo in northern Britain over the coming week but does allow for the occasional enhancement in the southern half of the country. Most areas will have some rain scatter opportunities for the GHz band operators, although perhaps fewer in the south than in the north.
The solar conditions have quietened down a little in terms of aurora recently but as we said last week, don’t forget to look north in the twilight sky for signs of the pale noctilucent cloud. This is a high-summer phenomenon. See if you can detect any wave patterns, like ripples on a sandy beach, in the cloud.
The month of June tends to be quite good for meteor input, and the last of the set, the June Bootids, peaked on Friday the 27th. So, there should be some good chances for hearing the odd ping or two or even seeing one in the evening sky after dusk.
The primary mode of interest is still Sporadic-E, which is in full swing and doubtless being topped up by the Bootids meteors, which produce the main ingredient of Sporadic-E propagation – long-lived ions as they ablate, or burn up, upon entering the atmosphere.
In terms of the usual search for the placement of Sporadic-E events geographically, the main jet stream interest is likely to be across the northern part of Europe for the coming week. This suggests trying paths to Scandinavia and the Baltic states, whereas for triggers due to upper air ridge patterns, use the more southern routes.
The Moon has passed perigee for this month, so path losses are rising. Moon declination is still high, not going negative until Tuesday, the 1st of July. 144MHz sky noise is low, increasing to moderate by next weekend.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.
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