GB2RS

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for October 30th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 30th of October 2022
The news headlines:
RSGB Construction Contest
RSGB ICQ Podcast Interviews
Next RSGB Tonight@8 Webinar
 
The RSGB has launched this year’s construction competition. To enable members across the country, and even the world, to take part, entries will be judged over the internet rather than in person. There are four categories – Beginners, Construction Excellence, Innovation, and Software – and the deadline for entries is the 1st of March 2023. Special recognition will be given to entries submitted by radio amateurs under the age of 24, and to those who have just gained their Foundation licence. A cash prize will be awarded to the winner of each section, with a bonus for the overall winner who will also be declared the winner of the Pat Hawker G3VA Trophy. To find out more, including how to enter, see the full details on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/construction-competition
The RSGB President Stewart Bryant, G3YSX and General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB were interviewed by ICQ Podcast at the National Hamfest. Steve talked about this year’s first hybrid RSGB Convention which brought hundreds of people together again. The two days of live stream content is still attracting thousands of views from radio amateurs across the world. The President discussed the RSGB’s international and standards work with the IARU, as well as the need to use and protect the spectrum. You can find Episode 388 at icqpodcast.com and the RSGB interview starts at one hour, thirty minutes and fifty-two seconds.
The next RSGB Tonight@8 webinar will be live-streamed on Monday the 7th of November at 8 pm. Terry, G4POP, will present ‘Log4OM: The first decade’ – a look at the popular free logging software Log4OM. Suitable for all levels of expertise, Terry’s talk will consider the software’s history, its developers and its in-built features. There will be a live demonstration and a chance to ask questions. Tonight@8 webinars are live-streamed on BATC and on the RSGB YouTube channel. For more information about all RSGB webinars go to rsgb.org/webinars
The RSGB VHF Contest Committee is currently planning the rules for next year’s VHF contests. Following some discussion at the RSGB Convention, they have some questions on which they would appreciate feedback from contestants. You can find the survey online at thersgb.org/go/vhf2023. The survey will close on Sunday the 13th of November.
The RSGB is sad to learn of the passing of Richard Brunton, G4TUT. For countless years, Richard was editor of the popular Southgate Amateur Radio News website. Every single day, he searched the world’s amateur radio and technology resources for stories of interest and published them. Richard offered his platform inclusively, commissioning non-commercial podcasts and blogs to promote opinion alongside conventional news items. He also compiled the ‘CQ Serenade’ weekly programme which was broadcast throughout Europe on Shortwaveradio.de and other public-facing media. Richard was an intensely private man who had no close family, but he reached thousands of friends daily through his website. Amateur radio has lost a true communicator.
And now for details of rallies and events
Scotland’s biggest Rally for this year is being held in Galashiels today the 30th of October. The Rally takes place at the Volunteer Hall, St John Street, Galashiels. Admission is £2.50 per person, with free entry for those under 16s. Doors open for general admission at 11 am with disabled and accessible entry and early book-in of bring-and-buy items at 10.45 am. There will be an RSGB bookstall and catering is available on the site.
The Hack Green Radio Surplus Hangar Sale takes place today, the 30th, at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL. The event will include the sale of electronic equipment, amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares. Doors open at 11 am. For more details visit www.hackgreen.co.uk
The British Vintage Wireless Society’s Golborne Swapmeet will take place today the 30th of October. The venue is Golborne Parkside Sports and Community Club, Rivington Avenue, Golborne, Warrington, Cheshire WA3 3HG. Doors open at 10 am with stallholder entry from 9.30 am. Contact Mark Ryding via markryding100@hotmail.co.uk for additional information.
Holsworthy Radio Rally will take place next Sunday, the 6th of November, at Holsworthy Leisure Centre, Well Park, Western Road, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DH. There will be traders, a bring-and-buy sale and catering. The venue has disabled access. Doors open for traders at 8 am and to the public at 10 am. For more information email m0omc@m0omc.co.uk
Now the Special Event News
The Norfolk Tank Museum Radio Group near Long Stratton has been granted the permanent special callsign of GB2NTM and will be on the air for the last day of the Museum’s 2022 season from 11 am until 5 pm today, the 30th of October. Operation is planned on 80, 40 and 20m plus 70.450MHz FM using radios from the museum’s collection. More details via the QRZ.com page for GB2NTM.
Now the DX news
Bill, K9HZ will be active as J68HZ on Saint Lucia, NA-108, until the 5th of November. He will be available for contact during the CQ Worldwide DX SSB Contest. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, Club Log or directly to K9HZ.
Take, JI3DST will be active from Shodo Island, AS-200, until the 4th of November. He will be using SSB and CW. He will operate as JI3DST/5, JJ5RBH and JS6RRR/5 as well as JS6RRR/P on FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World and Club Log.
Tjeerd PE1OJR will be active as PJ4TB from Bonaire, SA-006, until Monday the 31st of October. He will be operating on the 40 to 6m bands using SSB and FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World and Club Log.
HB175RAIL will be active until the 31st of October to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Swiss Railways. Multiple bands and modes will be in operation and a number of certificates will be available. QSL via Logbook of the World.
OR1050HERZ will be active until the 31st of October to mark the 1,050th anniversary of the foundation of the town of Herzele in the Belgian province of Flanders. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via the bureau.
Now the contest news
Today, the 30th, the CQ Worldwide DX Contest ends its 24-hour run at 2359UTC. Using SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone.
On Tuesday the 1st of November, the Silent Key Memorial Contest runs from 0600 to 0900UTC. Using CW only on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is a signal report and a Silent Key callsign.
On Wednesday the 2nd of November, the UKEICC 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB only on the 80m band, the exchange is a six-character locator.
Next weekend, the 144MHz CW Marconi Contest runs for 24 hours from 1400UTC on Saturday. Using CW only, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 28th of October 2022
Good conditions on HF have continued with only a short geomagnetic disturbance to dull things a little. The planetary Kp index got up to five on the 25th, due to plasma from a geo-effective coronal hole, but luckily it recovered quite quickly. Two days later it was back to one and the upper HF bands came alive again.
The ionosphere was disturbed on the 23rd and 24th, with the MUF over a 3,000km path dipping in and out of the 10m band. But by the 25th things were pretty much back to normal.
The solar flux index dropped down to 105 on the 22nd but recovered a little to end at 122 on Thursday.
It has once again been a good week for 10m with openings to the US being commonplace. This is a good opportunity to up your Worked All States score with the 14, 18 and 21MHz bands remaining open long after sunset. 28MHz is also shining during daylight hours.
Other notable contacts were AH7C Hawaii on 10m FT8 long path by Darren, G0TSM. Darren also worked P29RO, the German DXpedition to Papua New Guinea, on all bands from 18 to 28MHz.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the 100-118 range. Unfortunately, the Kp index is expected to rise to five on Saturday the 29th due to an enhanced solar wind stream from a trio of coronal holes on the Sun’s equator. This may no doubt impact conditions for the CQ Worldwide Phone Contest this weekend.
NOAA thinks the unsettled conditions could linger until Thursday, November the 3rd when the Kp index may return to two.
And finally, please note that the data feed from the Chilton Digisonde has not been reliable this week. To circumvent this, on Propquest.co.uk we recommend selecting FF051 Fairford to maintain the graphs.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The autumnal weather remains in control and the basic pattern changes very little over the coming week.
This places low pressure to the southwest of the British Isles and a mild south-westerly wind bringing periods of rain as fronts cross the country with intervening spells of showery weather in between.
The result of all this for VHF and UHF propagation is that rain scatter continues to have a look-in on the GHz bands. But this is very little comfort for tropo operators since high pressure does not really feature at all in the coming week, other than occasional weak transient events alongside weather fronts.
The ever-present chances of aurora are always a possibility, so keep up to date with VHF cluster reports of current activity levels to ensure you don’t miss out on any openings.
The Propquest.co.uk graphs have shown isolated occasions with Sporadic-E recorded on the foEs plots, so always worth a check on 10m and 6m for strong short skip European signals, especially on digital modes.
Random meteor scatter in the hours around dawn is always a banker for propagation and we are still in the tail end of the Orionid and Leonis Minoris showers to add to the mix. Next Sunday, the 6th, marks the onset of the big Leonids shower, peaking around the 16th.
With the Moon at minimum declination this weekend, Moon windows will be short but lengthening as the week progresses. Perigee was yesterday, Saturday, so path losses are at their lowest. 144MHz sky noise is low in the coming week.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for October 23rd 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 23rd of October 2022
The news headlines:
RSGB Tonight at 8 Webinar
EMF Assessments
Ofcom Preparations for WRC-23
The next RSGB Tonight at 8 Webinar will be live-streamed on Monday the 7th of November at 8pm UK local time. Terry, G4POP will present ‘Log4OM: The first decade’ – a look at the popular free logging software Log4OM. Suitable for all levels of expertise, Terry’s talk will consider the software’s history, its developers and its in-built features. There will be a live demonstration and a chance to ask questions. Tonight @ 8 webinars are live-streamed on youtube.com/theRSGB
As of the 18th of November 2022, all UK amateurs are required to have conducted EMF assessments for all the bands they use. The RSGB provides an assessment app which can be found at rsgb.org/emf. This app includes many current antennas. However, if you have one you feel should be added, please email details of the antenna, with a web link if possible, to George, MM0JNL at: dr16@rsgb.org.uk
Over the period June to September 2022, Ofcom consulted on UK provisional views and positions as part of the preparations for WRC-23, the next ITU World Radio Conference. The RSGB has made a comprehensive reply and its volunteers continue to engage actively in national and international preparations. Topics of relevance to amateurs include 50MHz, 1.3GHz and many other amateur allocations from LF to Millimetre Waves. To find out more, visit rsgb.org/wrc-23
December is Youngsters On The Air month. This is an opportunity for individuals, clubs, groups and schools to run an amateur radio station with the aim of getting youngsters active on the air. The RSGB is inviting applications to host the special callsign GB22YOTA. To register your interest email Jamie, M0SDV at yota.month@rsgb.org.uk with details of the activity you are planning. Please include your name, organisation and the callsign of the Full licensee who will host the activation. To see the GB22YOTA activation schedule, visit the GB22YOTA page at qrz.com
And now for details of rallies and events
Scotland’s biggest Rally for this year is being held in Galashiels on Sunday the 30th of October. The Rally takes place at the Volunteer Hall, St John Street, Galashiels. Admission will be £2.50 per person, with free entry for those under 16. Doors open for general admission at 11 am with disabled and accessible entry and early book-in of bring-and-buy items at 10.45 am. There will be an RSGB bookstall and catering is available on the site.
The British Vintage Wireless Society’s Golborne Swapmeet will take place on Sunday the 30th of October. The venue will be Golborne Parkside Sports and Community Club, Rivington Avenue, Golborne, Warrington, Cheshire WA3 3HG. Doors open at 10 am with stallholder entry from 9:30 am. Contact Mark Ryding via markryding100@hotmail.co.uk for additional information.
Bishop Auckland Radio Amateurs' Club is pleased to announce that its annual radio rally has returned after a break. This premiere north-eastern rally will take place at Spennymoor Leisure Centre on Sunday the 27th of November. The usual selection of traders and other stalls will be at the rally. Parking for visitors can be found at the leisure centre or nearby. The postcode for Satnavs is DL16 6DB. Traders who have reserved tables should have received their information already. If you are a trader or wish to book a table then please see the website www.barac.org.uk/rally/traders for more information or contact G0OCB at bdingle@hotmail.co.uk. There are spaces left for the rally but they are selling out fast.
Now the Special Event News
The Norfolk Tank Museum Radio Group near Long Stratton has been granted the permanent special callsign of GB2NTM and will be on the air for the last day of the Museum’s 2022 season from 11 am until 5 pm on the 30th of October. Operation is planned on 80, 40 and 20m plus 70.450MHz FM using radios from the museum collection. More details via the QRZ.com page for GB2NTM.
Now the DX news
Peter, PD1EDS will be active as PD146EU from Schouwe Duiveland, EU-146, until the 30th of October. He will operate SSB and FT8 on 40, 20 and 10m. QSL via QRZ.com.
Berkin, TA3J plans to be active as TA3J/0 from Yassica Island, AS-099, on Saturdays and Sundays until the 31st of October. He will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and FT8 on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Club Log and Logbook of the World.
HB175RAIL will be active until the 31st of October to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Swiss Railways. Multiple bands and modes will be in operation and a number of certificates will be available. QSL via Logbook of the World.
OR1050HERZ will be active until the 31st of October to mark the 1,050th anniversary of the foundation of the town of Herzele in the Belgian province of Flanders. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via the bureau.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 25th of October, the SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130UTC. Using the 2.3 to 10GHz bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The UKEICC DX Contest ends its 24-hour run today at 1200UTC. It is an SSB-only contest on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, where contests are permitted. The exchange is a signal report and serial number. UK and Irish stations also send their District Code.
On Wednesday the 26th of October, the UKEICC 80m Contest takes place between 2000 and 2100UTC. Using CW only, the exchange is a six-character locator.
Next weekend, the CQ Worldwide DX Contest runs from 0000 on Saturday to 2359UTC on Sunday. Using SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 21st of October 2022
We had another great week of HF propagation, helped no doubt by a very low geomagnetic Kp index meaning the ionosphere remained settled.
Despite the solar flux index declining to 113 by Thursday, 10m has been highly active with openings every day. We have had good daily 10m openings, even out as far as the west coast of the USA for well-equipped stations.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will continue to remain in the 110-120 range. This is not extreme but would be enough for good propagation on all of the upper HF bands if we don’t have any geomagnetic disturbances.
A rather large coronal hole is rotating into view and should become Earth-facing on the 21st. This is fairly low on the Sun’s face so might not impact us as badly as a coronal hole on the solar equator would. But, nevertheless, its size suggests that any disturbance might be long-lived. If so, expect its plasma to hit Earth late Saturday or Sunday.
NOAA also predicts that the Kp index will rise on Wednesday the 26th of October with the index rising to five. Quite what will cause this is unclear, although it could be the return of an active region that took the Kp index to six 27 days ago.
Once that clears, we may expect good conditions on 10m to hopefully continue, so make the most of them.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The current transition to changeable autumnal conditions is fully complete and proving very difficult to shift. This means that the breezy unsettled weather with low-pressure systems pushing fronts across the country will continue during the period.
This may produce some rain scatter options, although it's not a big 'shout-out' compared to the intense thunderstorms of high summer.
There will be some high pressure nearby over the continent, but it’s not likely to be a big Tropo player and remains largely out of reach from the UK.
One minor meteor shower, the Leonis Minorids peaks on Tuesday the 24th of October, but the ZHR is low.
Aurora could crop up on occasion during the coming week and, after recent activity levels on 6m, there is still a chance of Sporadic-E. This recent activity just shows that we should probably learn to regard it as an option, especially on FT8, even in the nominal ‘close season’ for Es.
Moon declination goes negative today, Sunday, so Moon windows continue to shorten as the week progresses. With perigee next Saturday, path losses will fall throughout the week. 144MHz sky noise starts low, but there is a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday the 25th so that day will be an EME washout. After the eclipse, the noise rises slowly from 380K to around 3000K next Saturday, making it a noisy week for EME.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for October 16th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 16th of October 2022
The news headlines:
IARU President Keynote Speech at the 2022 RSGB Convention
Celebrating 100 Years of the BBC
New Transponder Bandplan for QO-100
Last weekend the RSGB held its first hybrid Convention which had speakers, attendees and live stream watchers from across the world. The keynote presentation by IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, who also holds the callsign G4HUA, was very thought-provoking. In it, he highlighted the threats to amateur radio as well as the importance of embracing modern techniques, whilst also being willing to adapt and change. The Society has released a standalone recording of Tim’s presentation on its YouTube channel, combined with his interesting Convention Chat with the RSGB and IRTS Presidents. The RSGB would like to thank everyone who gave a presentation, as well as those who attended the Convention, whether in person or online. It is also grateful to the RSGB General Manager and Convention Chair Steve Thomas, M1ACB and his hard-working Convention team who made this such a fantastic event. Individual presentations will be released over the coming months, first on the RSGB website for its members and then on YouTube for everyone to see. The two live streams have already had thousands of views – to see either of those or to watch Tim’s keynote speech, go to youtube.com/theRSGB
On the 18th of October 1922, the Marconi Company and other equipment manufacturers formed the British Broadcasting Company, which became the British Broadcasting Corporation six years later. To mark this momentous date exactly 100 years on, members of the BBC Amateur Radio Group have been invited by Arqiva to operate for the day at the Daventry transmitting station that was home to so much of BBC short-wave broadcasting over the years. Members of the BBC and Arqiva clubs will be operating HF on Tuesday the 18th of October from the Empire Service Building at the Daventry site. As well as GB100BBC, the callsign G2LO will be on air. 2LO was the callsign allocated to the very first BBC transmitter, built by Marconi and located at Savoy Hill in London. Keep an eye on the GB100BBC QRZ page for more information.
At the 2022 AMSAT-UK Colloquium on Saturday 8th October, a new narrowband transponder bandplan for the QO-100 geostationary amateur satellite was announced. Among other changes, AMSAT has allocated a new ‘broadcast’ spot frequency which is intended for the news services of amateur radio organisations. The RSGB’s news service GB2RS has been transmitted via QO-100 for some time and has already clocked up 70 broadcasts. It is very popular, with an audience within the footprint of the satellite which covers almost half of the world’s surface. Following this announcement, GB2RS will be moving to the new broadcast frequency of 10489.855MHz with immediate effect. The transmission is at 0800UTC every Sunday. Perhaps in the future, the news services of other amateur radio organisations will follow the RSGB’s lead and make use of this special allocation to reach a diverse international audience.
Jamboree On The Air is an annual event in which Scouts and Guides all over the world communicate with each other via amateur radio. JOTA 2022 ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC today, the 16th. You can find out more at jotajoti.info
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets will be running the popular Blue Ham Exercise on the 22nd and 23rd of October from 0800 to 1800UTC each day. If you are a UK Full licence holder the hope is that you can set some time aside to take part with the Cadets and Staff Volunteers who will be ready to take your QSOs over the operating period. A Blue Ham participation certificate for amateur operators who contact 20 or more special MRE call signs will be available. Details are on the alphacharlie.org.uk portal.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 16th, the Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place at the Driffield Showground YO25 9DW. More information at hornseaarc.co.uk
Next Saturday, the 22nd of October, the Essex CW Boot Camp and CW Convention take place. The venue will be the 3rd Witham Scout and Guide Headquarters, Powers Hall End, Witham, Essex. Doors open at 8.30 am for registration and the event will run until 4.30 pm. Entry is £10 and parking is free. Free drinks and cakes will be available. If you would like to register, please email G0IBN@yahoo.com
The British Amateur Television Club Convention 2022 takes place next Saturday, the 22nd, from 10 am to 3 pm. The event features online talks about ATV-related topics. More at batc.org.uk/live
Now the Special Event News
Hartlepool Amateur Radio Club will be running GB0TVS on behalf of Tees Valley North Scouts today, the 16th of October, for Jamboree On The Air. They will be based at Hartlepool Scout Centre. The station will be active on HF, VHF and UHF and will welcome any contacts. Visitors are welcome on Saturday and Sunday.
Michel, F8GGZ and other operators will be active as TM100BBC until the 24th of October to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the BBC. Activity will be on all modes, including EME, DMR and C4FM. QSL via F8GGZ, direct or bureau.
Now the DX news
Today, the 16th, JE1HXZ/6 will be active from the Amami Islands, AS-023. He will operate CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8 and FT4 on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via the bureau and Logbook of the World.
A team of 15 plan to set up four HF stations for CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4, and a QO-100 satellite station until Monday the 17th of October on the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean. They will be operating as D60AE. For more information just search online for the callsign.
Gianpi, IK1TTD will be active as 8Q7TD from the Maldives, AS-013, until Monday the 17th of October. Most of his operating will be done on 20m using FT8. QSL direct or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
Today, the 16th, the 50MHz AFS Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Today, the Worked All Germany Contest finishes its two-day run at 1500UTC. Using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also send their DOK.
Also today, the UK Microwave Group 24-76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday, the 1.3GHz UKAC runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday, the 70MHz UKAC contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend the UKEICC DX Contest runs for 24 hours from 1200UTC on the 22nd. Using SSB, the exchange is signal report and serial number. UK and Irish stations also send their District Code.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 14th of October 2022
We had yet another week of good HF propagation, helped by reasonably settled geomagnetic conditions.
Although the week started relatively poorly with a Kp index of four all day on Sunday, that soon improved slightly and the rest of the week saw the Kp index hit only ones or twos.
The solar flux index declined from 161 on Sunday to 141 on Thursday, which is still more than enough for 10m openings at this time of year.
Solar activity was low. Active region 3112 underwent decay but managed several C-class flares. Region 3119 was stable and also produced a few C-class solar flares. The other regions were unremarkable. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in coronagraph imagery.
Low solar activity is expected to continue, with a chance for M-class flares on 13-15 October.
At the RSGB Convention in Milton Keynes, the special event station just outside the conference centre was able to work a string of US stations on 10m just to prove that this really is the month for Autumn DX.
The KQ2H repeater in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York on 29.620MHz has also given many people their first taste of FM on 10m, along with characteristic phase distortion.
Other DX worked this week by well-equipped stations on 10m include FK4QX in New Caledonia and TX7G on the Marquesas Islands. Hopefully, if conditions remain like this, it will make the CQ Worldwide SSB contest on the 29th and 30th of October very interesting.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may remain in the high 130s. After predicting slightly unsettled geomagnetic conditions on Saturday, NOAA says the Kp index should then fall from four to two until Wednesday the 19th. The latter half of the week may become reasonably unsettled again with a Kp index of four. The US Air Force, however, predicts that this weekend should remain settled geomagnetically – we shall have to wait and see.
And now the VHF and up propagation news
The current spell of unsettled weather will continue through much of the coming week. There may be a hint of a temporary high over the north and east of Britain around midweek, but this is unlikely to benefit western areas.
Any Tropo wins will probably be across the North Sea to Scandinavia and the Baltic region, but only from the easternmost counties of England and Scotland. The low-pressure systems which will dominate are likely to bring spells of heavy rain and passing showers at times. There may be some rain scatter possibilities from this unsettled weather, especially from heavy coastal showers.
The aurora propagation mode is always worth considering around the autumn months, so monitor the Kp index, and meteor scatter, particularly in the hours before dawn. The Orionids meteor shower peaks on Friday the 21st with a medium ZHR of 20 so look out for improved conditions around that date.
The Moon is at maximum declination today, Sunday, so Moon windows are at their longest, shortening as the week progresses. With apogee this coming Monday, path losses are at their highest. 144MHz sky noise is low all week.
Finally, a word about Sporadic-E, of which you may still hear examples on the HF bands as extra-loud short-skip from Europe.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for October 9th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 9th of October 2022
The news headlines:
RSGB Convention 2022
New RSGB Board Member
Celebrating 100 Years of the BBC
The RSGB’s first hybrid Convention is this weekend. A selection of presentations is being live-streamed as well as interviews, videos and live operations by the special event station GB3HQ. You can watch some of the live stream if you want to join this event from where you live. Head over to the RSGB YouTube channel or follow the link from the live stream web page at rsgb.org/livestream.
The RSGB Board is pleased to announce that John McCullagh, GI4BWM has been co-opted as a Board Director until the 2023 AGM. Many members will know John as he was ETCC Chairman from 2005 until 2017 and he is still the Northern Ireland ETCC representative. John worked for almost 40 years as a communications professional in the emergency services in Northern Ireland, retiring in 2005 and being awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to policing. Since then, he has worked as a communications consultant in Eastern Europe and in the past few years has, with his wife, volunteered with a children's charity in Tanzania. John was licensed in 1973 and has been active ever since, mainly on UHF and VHF. He has been involved with the repeater scene since the late 1970s when he installed the first repeater in Northern Ireland. He is also the Controller of a RAYNET Group in County Antrim and has been in that position since 1976.
On the 18th of October 1922, the Marconi Company and other equipment manufacturers formed the British Broadcasting Company, which became the British Broadcasting Corporation six years later. To mark this momentous date exactly 100 years on, members of the BBC Amateur Radio Group have been invited by Arqiva to operate for the day at the Daventry transmitting station that was home to so much of BBC short-wave broadcasting over the years. Members of the BBC and Arqiva clubs will be operating HF on Tuesday the 18th of October from the Empire Service Building at the Daventry site. As well as GB100BBC, the callsign G2LO will be on air. 2LO was the callsign allocated to the very first BBC transmitter, built by Marconi and located at Savoy Hill in London. Keep an eye on the GB100BBC QRZ page for more information.
The Caledonian Rally is an annual event that brings together 13- to 17-year-old Scouts and Guides from all over Scotland. This year the event takes place between the 14th and 16th of October. Inverness Amateur Radio Society will be running GB2CWR for the event as part of Jamboree on the Air. Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society members are helping with the station, but more experienced operators are sought, especially for set up and break down. Email InvernessRadioSociety@gmail.com.
The Royal Air Force Air Cadets will be running the popular Blue Ham Exercise on the 22nd and 23rd of October from 0800 to 1800UTC each day. If you are a UK Full licence holder the hope is that you can set some time aside to take part with the Cadets and Staff Volunteers who will be ready to take your QSOs over the operating period. A Blue Ham participation certificate for amateur operators who contact 20 or more special MRE callsigns will be available. Details are on the alphacharlie.org.uk portal.
Member States of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations' specialised agency for information and communication technologies, have elected Doreen Bogdan-Martin, KD2JTX as the organisation's next Secretary-General. She will assume office on the 1st of January 2023. She will be the first woman to lead the ITU in its 157-year history and only the third Secretary-General to hold an amateur radio licence.
And now for details of rallies and events
The National Hamfest will take place on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th of October at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire. Gates open at 9.30 am and the main hall opens at 10 am. For more information visit nationalhamfest.org.uk.
Next Sunday, the 16th of October, the Hornsea Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place at the Driffield Showground YO25 9DW. More information at hornseaarc.co.uk.
Now the Special Event News
Hartlepool Amateur Radio Club will be running GB0TVS on behalf of Tees Valley North Scouts between the 14th and 16th of October for Jamboree on the Air. They will be based at Hartlepool Scout Centre. The station will be active on HF, VHF and UHF and will welcome any contacts. Visitors are welcome on Saturday and Sunday.
Michel, F8GGZ and other operators will be active as TM100BBC between the 10th and the 24th of October to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the BBC. Activity will be on all modes, including EME, DMR and C4FM. QSL via F8GGZ, direct or bureau.
Now the DX news
A team will be active as TO2DL from Guadeloupe, NA-102, between the 10th and the 23rd of October. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the 10 to 160m bands with three stations. QSL via DL7DF, either direct or via the bureau.
Garry, ZC4GR/2M1DHG has been active as VP8DLB from Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, SA-002, since the 23rd of September. He will remain there until December. QSL via EB7DX.
A team of 15 plan to set up four HF stations for CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, FT4, and a QO-100 satellite station until the 17th of October on the Comoros Islands in the Indian Ocean. They will be operating as D60AE. For more information just search for the callsign.
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same for both, signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the Autumn Series Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK 63, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The 432MHz FT8 Activity Contest also takes place on Wednesday. Running between 1900 and 2100UTC, the exchange is a report and your 4-character locator.
On Thursday the 50MHz UK Activity contest runs between 1900 and 2130UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend the Worked All Germany Contest runs for 24 hours from 1500UTC on the 15th. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. German stations also send DOK.
Next Sunday, the 16th, the 50MHz AFS Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The RoLo CW Contest takes place between 1900 and 2030UTC next Sunday, the 16th. Using the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is signal report and the locator received.
Also next Sunday, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 7th of October 2022
Yet another good week for HF propagation has passed, although it has been borderline in terms of geomagnetic disturbances.
The Kp index hovered around the four mark all week, mainly due to high-speed streams from the solar wind, possibly from slight glancing blows from incoming CME material. There have been a few M-class solar flares, but nothing too violent. The risk of X-class flares though remains relatively high.
The solar flux continued to climb despite pessimistic predictions, ending up at 161 and a sunspot number of 151 on Thursday.
Daytime critical frequencies have been in the range of 7.5 - 8MHz, meaning 40m has been an excellent inter-G band during the day. MUFs over a 3,000km path have been exceeding 24.9MHz, and occasionally 28MHz, especially in the early afternoon.
This has meant that HF propagation has been good with excellent openings on all the upper HF bands. Paul, GM4ULS has even reported hearing what we believe to be round-the-world echoes while listening to high-power European stations on 20m calling for long-path Asia, VK and ZL contacts in the morning.
This is a sure sign that the ionosphere is playing ball!
Next week the US Air Force predicts that the solar flux will remain in the 150s to start with, but may then decline into the 130s as the week progresses. The Kp index is predicted to be no more than three all week, although an incoming CME could soon spoil that.
Coronal hole activity appears to be minimal, once we get past the effects of a small hole on the equator, which became Earth-facing on Wednesday. This could result in the Kp index rising on Friday, although the hole’s size means the effects may be short-lived and perhaps minimal.
So in conclusion, it is Autumn with an SFI in the 150s and an active, but not unsettled, geomagnetic field. In other words, it should be good for HF DX unless a solar flare or CME comes along and spoils things.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The typical Autumn weather will continue over the next week, meaning alternating ridges of high pressure between active weather fronts with rain and strong winds.
There have been some reasonably uplifted Tropo conditions during recent spells of high pressure and no reason to think this won’t be the case over the next week. The two most likely high-pressure transitions across the country are this weekend and again in the first half of next week. Paths to the south into the continent should do well.
In between these events, we find active weather fronts crossing the country with a large low taking up residence by the end of the week. This could lead to a few rain scatter options for GHz bands, but Autumn storms can be fast-moving and hard to track.
The Sun continues to offer support with a high Kp index on occasion so always a chance of aurora.
The Draconids and the Orionids are the major meteor showers this month. The former, peaking today, Sunday, with a typical ZHR of 10, has been known to reach storm level. The Orionids are active from the 2nd of October to the 7th of November peaking on the 21st with a medium ZHR of 20.
Random meteor scatter propagation is always available and rates are high in October, so it’s always a banker if you have a decent system for the low VHF bands.
With all these more exotic modes the best course of action is to monitor the clusters for signs of activity.
Moon declination goes positive today (Sunday), so Moon windows will lengthen as the week progresses. We are past perigee so path losses will increase throughout the week. 144MHz sky noise is low all week.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for October 2nd 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 2nd of October 2022
The news headlines:
RSGB Convention 2022
Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet
Three new CW and FT8 Beacons in Service
Booking for the RSGB Convention ends today, Sunday the 2nd of October, so don’t miss out! You will still be able to buy day tickets at the event, but these will be at a higher price. The programme is available on the RSGB website with summaries of some of the presentations. Information is added regularly to help you make the most of the weekend. In addition to over 50 lectures, there are also RSGB sessions on Sunday where you can meet the Regional Team, the Board of Directors and the Contest Committees. Do go along and hear from these volunteer groups, find out their plans for the coming year and ask any questions you may have. DXCC card checking and new user registrations for Logbook of the World will be available on Saturday only. Full information about the Convention is at rsgb.org/convention.
Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet is the world’s largest radio and digital Scout event. It takes place on the air and online between the 14th and the 16th of October. If you or your club are planning to help a local Scout group get on the air, the RSGB would love to hear about it. Email radcom@rsgb.org.uk and also post the details on the RSGB’s Facebook and Twitter profiles. For more information about the worldwide event go to jotajoti.info.
On Sunday the 25th of September, the Mid Cornwall Beacon and Repeater Group brought into service three new CW and FT8 Beacons. These can be found on 28.215MHz, 40.050MHz and 60.300MHz, each using the callsign GB3MCB. The beacons were constructed by Peter, G8BCG and are located at IO70OJ in mid-Cornwall. They are ideally situated for identifying transatlantic and equatorial Sporadic-E as well as F2 propagation. For further information visit gb3nc.org.uk.
 
The next RSGB Tonight@8 webinar is on Monday the 3rd of October when Daimon Tilley, G4USI takes ‘HF on Holiday’. Aimed at everyone, from beginners upwards, Daimon will look at considerations and ideas for those who would like to take HF away with them. Find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars.
The latest edition of RadCom Basics was released on the 29th of September. Each edition of RadCom Basics explores key aspects of amateur radio in a straightforward way. An email alert is sent to subscribers when a new edition of RadCom Basics is published. Topics included in the latest edition include how to start with a tight budget, basic bench fault finding and working towards and claiming awards. For more information visit rsgb.org/radcom-basics.
The RSGB is hosting the Transatlantic Centenary Tests 2022 on the HF bands for the month of December. Unlike those of the 1920s, which consisted of one-way communication, this event will encourage worldwide, two-way communication with UK and Crown Dependency stations. There will be a series of awards available for making QSOs with those who are activating historic RSGB callsigns. The Club Log Team has kindly agreed to provide the supporting infrastructure for this. Taking part is simple and everything you need to know is on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/transatlantic-tests.
And now for details of rallies and events
The 48th Welsh Radio Rally, due to be held on Monday the 3rd of October at Rougemont School, Newport, has been cancelled as previously publicised.
The RSGB Convention will take place between Friday the 7th of October and Sunday the 9th of October at Kent’s Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, Milton Keynes. For more information visit rsgb.org/convention.
National Hamfest will take place on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th of October at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire. Gates open at 9.30 am and the main hall opens at 10 am. For more information visit nationalhamfest.org.uk.
 
Now the Special Event News
ZL75WARC will be on the air from New Zealand between the 1st of October and the 31st of December to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Whangarei Amateur Radio Club. A certificate will be awarded for working any three club members on any two modes.
To celebrate its 45th birthday, Haan Amateur Radio Club, in northern Germany, will be on the air from the 1st of October 2022 to the 30th of September 2023 as DR45HAAN. QSL via the DARC bureau.
Now the DX news
IK1TTD will be active from the Maldives, AS-013, as 8Q7TD between Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 17th of October, mainly on 20m. QSL via his home call either directly, via the Bureau or Logbook of the World.
Didier, F6BCW is active from the Marquesas Islands, OC-027, as TX7G until the 15th of October. He will be available on the 80 to 10m HF bands using CW, SSB and possibly FT8 and RTTY. QSL details via QRZ.com.
Graham, MM0GHM will be active portable or mobile from Barra Island in the Outer Hebrides, EU-010, between the 1st and the 8th of October. QSL via MM0GHM directly, via the Bureau and eQSL.
Now the contest news
Today, the 2nd, the RSGB DX Contest will take place between 0600 to 1800UTC. The operation will take place on all of the HF bands, where contest operation is permitted, using CW and SSB. The exchange is a signal report and serial number.
This weekend the 432MHz to 245GHz Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the 2nd of October. At the same time, the IARU 432MHz to 245GHz contest is also taking place. Using all modes, the exchange is the same for both contests, signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain DX Contest takes place today, Sunday the 2nd of October, between 0500 to 2300UTC. Using SSB on the 80, 40, 20 and 10m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked all Britain square.
On Monday, the RSGB Autumn Series CW Contest will take place between 1900 to 2030UTC. Using the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Tuesday sees the 144MHz FM Activity Contest run from 1800 to 1855UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same, signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the Irish Radio Transmitters Society 80m Evening Counties Contest takes place between 1900 to 2000UTC. Using CW and SSB, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Irish stations also exchange their county code.
On Wednesday, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest will take place from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB, the exchange is your six-character locator.
On Wednesday, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity Contest will take place between 1900 to 2100UTC. The exchange is a report and a four-character locator.
The Oceania DX CW contest will start at 0800UTC on Saturday the 8th and run for 24 hours. Using all of the HF bands, where contest operation is permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 30th of September 2022
The HF bands have been really humming this week, making up for the summer doldrums. A lot of this is due to the seasonal change in the ionosphere that results in more monatomic species and fewer diatomic ones.
These are easier to ionise, which is good news for radio amateurs everywhere as the MUF rises.
A quick check shows that all the HF bands up to 10m have been serving up DX, so make the most of it. There have been 10m openings as far as Wyoming and California. The solar flux index has been static at 135, and that may not change too much as we enter next week with the return of old sunspot region 3098, which still appears to be active.
The Kp index reached six on Tuesday due to the impact of a coronal mass ejection on the Sun. This resulted in widespread visible aurora.
Unfortunately, a large coronal hole will become Earth-centric on Friday the 30th, which may result in a high-speed solar wind stream that is expected to reach Earth beginning late on the 30th of September and into the 1st of October.
If the stream’s Bz is pointing south it could result in minor (G1) to moderate (G2) geomagnetic storming. Visible and radio aurora at higher latitudes may be possible heading into the new month as well.
NOAA predicts that the solar flux will remain around the 130 mark, but that the Kp index may elevate to five or even six over the first half of the week.
So we may have seen the best of the DX for the time being, at least until the Kp index recovers.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The current period of weather is fairly typical of autumn with a mix of fine, settled ridges of high pressure interrupted by some passages of low pressure with their attendant fronts and bands of showers.
These can be very vigorous systems with scope to bring gales to some areas making this a good time of the year to make those final checks of antenna guys and fixings before winter comes.
In terms of propagation, there will be some active rain bands crossing the country, plus a chance of a few showers. This raises the possibility of some rain scatter on the GHz bands, although less intense than summer events.
The shower part of the story tends to favour the seas around our coasts, but in stronger autumn winds you will need to keep on top of the tracking rate which can be quite brisk.
The occasional periods of high pressure bring a good chance of Tropo at times, especially towards the continent from Biscay and France across to Germany and Poland. There will be some overnight mist and fog, which usually gives a boost to Tropo for part of the day at least.
Other exotic modes, like aurora, are certainly worth consideration after recent examples, plus of course, the chance of some random meteor scatter.
The daytime Sextantid meteor shower is still active through to the 9th of October although we are past the peak.
The Moon is at minimum declination today (Sunday) and at perigee on Tuesday. Path losses will be low and Moon windows will lengthen as the week progresses. 144MHz sky noise is high today, but low from Tuesday.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for September 25th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 25th of September 2022
The news headlines:
RSGB Convention 2022
New RSGB EMF Calculator App
Remote Examination Invigilators Wanted
 
The RSGB has published the draft programme for its annual Convention. There are over 50 lectures planned for the weekend so there should be something for everyone to enjoy. This is the Society’s first hybrid event where some of the lectures will also be live-streamed. Further details of that live stream will be added to the RSGB Convention web page over the next few days. All three levels of UK amateur radio exams will be held at the RSGB Convention and the deadline for booking an exam slot has been extended to Sunday the 2nd of October. You won’t be able to book exams on the day and you will need to take your own laptop. For links to the Convention programme and the online exam booking form, go to rsgb.org/convention. The deadline for booking Convention day or weekend tickets, accommodation or complete packages online is also the 2nd of October.
The RSGB has issued a Trial Version 2 of its EMF Calculator App. This version removes the restriction on frequencies below 10MHz and the minimum separation of near field boundary. The app is being released as a trial version as the RSGB would welcome feedback from users. You can find the app and more information about the EMF work on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/emf. There will also be a presentation on the update at the RSGB Convention on Saturday and an EMF support clinic on Sunday morning.
The next RSGB Tonight@8 webinar is on Monday the 3rd of October when Daimon Tilley, G4USI takes ‘HF on Holiday’. Aimed at everyone, from beginners upwards, Daimon will look at considerations and ideas for those who would like to take HF away with them. Find out more on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars.
Remote invigilation and online examinations have been a huge success due to the efforts of the team of invigilators. If you have not previously invigilated an online examination using the TestReach system and would like more information on joining the team, please email eqam@rsgb.org.uk.
The closing date for applications for the RSGB’s Commonwealth Games operating awards is next month. The RSGB Awards Manager must receive your application via awards@rsgb.org.uk by the 31st of October or your application won’t be counted. Further details and application forms for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Award and the GB22 Award are on the Society’s website at www.rsgb.org/cwg.
Andy, G6PJZ has achieved the coveted Summits On The Air Mountain Goat award for reaching 1,000 activator points. Andy started collecting SOTA points in 2015. His Mountain Goat-qualifying activation took place from a summit in the English Lake District recently.
The provisional results for the last IARU Region 1 50 and 70MHz CW and SSB contests are available. Congratulations to GM4ZUK who was placed first in the single operator 70MHz category and G0VHF/P who has been placed first in the multi-operator section. In the 50MHz contest, GM4ZUK was placed second in the single operator category and G8T was placed second in the multi-operator category. Read the full results at iaru-r1.org.
And now for details of rallies and events
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We’ll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online.
Today, Sunday 25th of September, the Weston-Super-Mare Radio Society and Electronics Rally will be held at The Campus Community Centre BS24 7DX. It opens at 10 am and entry is £3 per person.
On Sunday the 2nd of October, the Welsh Radio Rally will be held at the new venue of Llanwern High School, NP18 2YE. Doors open at 10 am. More information at gw6gw.co.uk.
Now the Special Event News
Today, the 25th, the South Eastern Amateur Radio Group, EI2WRC will be active from the Suir Valley Railway Station in County Waterford, Ireland for Railways On the Air.
In celebration of the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II, members of the Marconi Amateur Radio Circle will be active as 9H6QE until the 14th of October. The main activity will be on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m bands. QSL direct to 9H1MRC.
Now the DX news
Stephen, M0CYT will be active on Christmas Island between the 24th of September and the 1st of October. He will be operating on the 10 to 80m bands using SSB, FT8 and WSPR, most afternoons and evenings. He will be using the Christmas Island Amateur Radio Club callsign VK9XX.
This week Vincent, K6VVK will be active as FO/K6VVK from French Polynesia. He will operate CW, SSB, FT8, and FT4 on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of The World.
Nathan, 2E0HSV is a technician from Port Stanley's radio station and plans to be active this week as VP8AAE using SSB and various digital modes. He plans to activate some SOTA references along the east and west coast of The Falkland Islands. QSL via operator's instructions.
Now the contest news
The Practical Wireless 70MHz competition will take place today, the 25th, running from 1200 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal strength, serial number and locator.
Today, the 25th, the UK Microwave Group has its 5.7 and 10GHz contest. The contest will run from 0600 to 1800 UTC using all modes. The exchange is signal strength, serial number and locator.
The worldwide RTTY Contest ends its 24-hour run at 2359 UTC today, the 25th of September. Operating will take place on the 80 to 10m bands where contest operation is permitted. The exchange is signal report and CQ zone.
On Monday, the RSGB FT4 Contest will take place between 1900 to 2030UTC. Using the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is a signal report and four-character locator.
On Tuesday, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest will take place from 1830 to 2130UTC using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday, the UKEICC 80m Contest will run from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW, the exchange is a six-character locator.
On Saturday, the 1.2GHz Trophy and 2.3GHz Trophy both run from 1400 to 2200UTC. Using all modes in the respective bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next Sunday, the 2nd of October, the DX Contest takes place between 0600 and 1800UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 3.5 and 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The 77th Oceania DX Contest will start at 0600UTC on Saturday the 1st of October and will run for 24 hours. The exchange is a signal report and serial number.
Next weekend the 432MHz to 245GHz Contest runs from 1400UTC on the 1st to 1400UTC on the 2nd of October. At the same time, the IARU 432MHz to 245GHz contest is also taking place. Using all modes, the exchange is the same for both contests, signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain DX Contest takes place on Sunday the 2nd of October from 0500 to 2300UTC. Entrants can pick any six-hour period to score points in the contest. The 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m bands can be used. The exchange is report, serial number and Worked All Britain square, if applicable.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4DDK on Friday 23rd September 2022.
Last week saw the solar flux index decline very slightly to 137. The good news is that we have had reasonably-settled geomagnetic conditions. The highest Kp index has been three, but it has often been at zero or one. This is good news as it means that the ionosphere has had a chance to develop.
The MUF over a 3,000km path has often exceeded 28MHz, especially in the early afternoons. This will probably improve further as we head into late September and early October.
The result is that some good DX has been available. J20EE in Djibouti, Africa has been workable on 10m CW, as has ZD7BG on St Helena. And ZL7/K5WE on Chatham Island is reported to have been “very easy” to work on 40m. The 4X6TU IBP beacon in Givatayim, Israel on 28.200MHz has been audible down to one watt recently, which is very encouraging. Numerous North American low-power beacons have also been audible, including the five-watt K5TLL on 28.298MHz in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
As we head into next week, the Sun will be dominated by active regions 3105 and 3107. Region 3015 is actually the remains of AR 3089. A cluster of sunspots in 3105 continue to turn into view off the southeast limb and for now, they remain mostly stable, however minor solar flares will be quite possible.
NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may decline to the mid-120s next week. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to remain calm, at least until the 29th when the Kp index is predicted to rise to five or even six. A single CME could soon disrupt the calm so don’t expect the good conditions to last.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The weather has a noticeable autumn flavour to it lately and the coming week is continuing that theme.
As this was being prepared on Wednesday evening, there is a hint of tropo over the southern half of the British Isles, but as soon as a cold front completes its journey south on Thursday, we enter a period of cooler north-westerly winds. This will bring rain and showers and means that for most of this weekend and next week, rain scatter is a good option for the GHz bands.
Late in the week, and probably nearer next weekend, we find another high edging closer to Ireland and western Britain, perhaps bringing some patchy Tropo down the western side of the country.
A further possibility is for meteor scatter and auroral propagation to present themselves as an option, but see the HF section earlier for the solar details and implications. The Kp index rising above five will be a useful guide for the chance of aurora.
There are no major meteor showers in the coming week, although towards the end there may be some early Orionids shower reflections. This shower will peak between the 2nd and 7th of October.
It is also worth watching for reflections during the daytime from the Sextantid meteor shower, which is active until the 9th of October. The peak is expected to be around the 27th of September. Good hunting!
The Moon will be low in the sky throughout this week and as this coincides with the Moon getting closest to the Earth, path losses will be the lowest.
With the equinox now past, the Sun will not appear above the Ecliptic again for another six months. This will make Sun-to-cold-sky noise measurements less easy. If you need to make these measurements, and there are a few EME operators who don’t, now is probably a good time to do them before those horizon trees get in the way!
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for September 18th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 18th of September 2022
The news headlines:
RSGB HQ and the National Radio Centre closed on Monday
Special Regional Secondary Locator
RSGB Convention latest
Our thoughts are very much with the Royal Family as they mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The RSGB will be closing its HQ and the RSGB National Radio Centre on Monday the 19th of September, the day of the Queen’s state funeral, as a mark of respect.
In response to requests from radio amateurs and after contact from Ofcom, the RSGB will be making available the special Regional Secondary Locator of Q. Any licensed radio amateur may choose to use this after their UK callsign prefix to show their respect for the Queen if they wish to do so. For example, GQ4LFM, MQ1ACB or 2Q0ABC. It will be available until the end of official national mourning on Monday the 19th of September. Radio amateurs will need to download the Notice of Variation that is available from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/nov. You may be interested to note that Australian amateurs may use the AX prefix between the 19th and the 23rd of September to commemorate the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
The RSGB Convention will take place from the 7th to the 9th of October. The online booking system for overnight packages, dinners and day tickets will close on the 2nd of October. The latest information can be found at rsgb.org/convention Don’t forget that all three UK amateur radio exams may be taken online at this year’s RSGB Convention. The Foundation and Intermediate exam will take place on Saturday and the Full exam on Sunday morning. You will need to book a place via the online form before the 26th of September. Applications will not be accepted on the day. If you have a question, please email exams@rsgb.org.uk or you can book your place via the link on the RSGB’s Convention web page at rsgb.org/convention.
The RSGB is bringing its Jubilee activities to a close as a mark of respect for the Queen. The Society’s website is being updated and the Innovation 70 award has been cancelled. If you have collected QSOs between the 1st and the 30th of June for the Jubilee Award 70, you may still submit an application to the RSGB Awards Manager before the 31st of October. Details of how to do so will remain on the awards section of the RSGB website at rsgb.org/jubilee.
As the World Radiocommunication Conference 23 approaches, the studies regarding 23cm and RNSS satellites are working towards conclusions. However, the IARU is not content that all the operational aspects of the amateur service usage of the 1240 to 1300MHz band are being properly considered to develop an acceptable compromise for all concerned parties. You can find some more detail on the areas of concern in the discussion paper posted on the global IARU WRC-23 web pages at iaru-r1.org.
On Friday the 23rd of September, a team from hi-impact, based on the Wirral, will be working with Everton Free School on another High Altitude Balloon launch. Launching near Welshpool, at 11 am, you can listen out on 434.250MHz USB and the RTTY transmission will be 300 baud with a 910Hz shift. The callsign will be EVERTONFS. The flight will be SSDV enabled, so there will be pictures being beamed back to earth.
The Radio Amateurs of Canada, the national society in Canada, is holding its AGM today at 1600UTC. The AGM will start with A Fireside Chat on the Future of Amateur Radio. Those involved will be Tim Ellam, VE6SH, President of the IARU, Rick Roderick, K5UR, President of the ARRL, Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, the RSGB President and Phil A. McBride, VA3QR, the President of RAC. You can find out more at rac.ca.
December is Youngsters On The Air month. This brings an opportunity for individuals, clubs, schools and groups to run an amateur radio station with the aim of getting youngsters active on the air. The RSGB is inviting applications to host the special callsign GB22YOTA, pending Ofcom approval. Activations can be big or small and can be made however you wish. To register your interest please email Jamie, M0SDV at yota.month@rsgb.org.uk with details of the activity you’re planning. Please also include your name, organisation and the callsign of the Full licensee who will host the activation.
And now for details of rallies and events
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We’ll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online.
Weston Super Mare Radio Society’s Radio & Electronics Rally takes place on the 25th of September. It will be held at The Campus Community Centre BS24 7DX.
On the 2nd of October, the Welsh Radio Rally will be held at Llanwern High School, Farm Road, Newport, NP18 2YE. The doors open at 10 am. There will be a Bring & Buy as well as traders in the hall. For the latest information see gw6gw.co.uk.
And now for the Special Event news
Paisley Amateur Radio Club will be operating GB0DOD from the Methodist Central Hall, 2 Gauze St, Paisley, PA1 1EP on Saturday the 17th of September. This is for Churches & Chapels on The Air.
Members of South Dorset Radio Society will be active as GB0IOW from the Isle of Wight, EU-120, between the 19th and 23rd of September. They will operate SSB and various digital modes on the HF bands. QSL via Logbook of The World, eQSL, or direct to M0XDL.
F1IEH will be active as TM72WOW for fifteen days between the 17th of September and the 1st of November. QSL via F1IEH. The station is to commemorate the world aeroplane endurance record in September 1908 set by Wilbur Wright.
And now the DX news
SV5/LA6OP will be active from Rhodes, EU-001, from the 18th of September to the 9th of October. He will operate mainly FT8 and SSB on the 4 to 40m bands. QSL only via Logbook of the World.
SP9FIH will be active as SP9FIH/VP9 from Bermuda, NA-005, from the 23rd of September to the 2nd of October. He will operate SSB, RTTY and FT8 on the 30, 17, 15 and 12m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS.
Members of the Dateline DX Association will be active as JW0A from Svalbard, EU-026, between the 19th and 26th of September. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes with three stations as propagation allows. QSL via the operator’s instructions.
Now the contest news
Today, the 18th is the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest that runs from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.
Also today, Sunday the 18th is the IRTS 2m Counties Contest that runs from 1330 to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.
The BARTG Sprint PSK63 contest takes place today, the 18th, from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is a serial number.
Today, Sunday the 18th, the 70MHz AFS Contest takes place between 0900 and 1200UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the all-mode 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest takes place between 1900 and 2130UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Thursday it is the Autumn Series Data contest running from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK on the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Next weekend the CQ WW DX RTTY runs for 48 hours from 0000UTC on the 24th to 2359UTC on the 25th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. For the UK, this is 14.
Next Sunday, the 25th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz contest takes place between 0600 and 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also next Sunday, the Practical Wireless 70MHz contest runs from 1200 to 1600UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday 16th September 2022.
We had an expected boost to the solar flux index last week, thanks to a returning sunspot group. This, when added to sunspot region 3098, pushed the SFI to 152 on the 11th. The returning group, which has now been updated to active region 3102, isn’t quite the threat it was on its last visit, but may still be capable of M-class solar flares.
The good news is that an SFI of up to 150+, coupled with better Autumnal propagation, has seen the HF bands come alive at times.
Jeff, ZL7/K5WE on Chatham Island has been workable on 40m CW and FT8. He is due to be on air until the 21st of September. Brian, 9J2BO in Zambia, a regular in the Commonwealth Contest, has also been worked on 10 metres CW. It is worth noting that this is a good month for north-south paths, such as the UK to South Africa, and the UK to South America.
The beginning of last week was better than the second half, which suffered from an elevated Kp index due to an enhanced solar wind. Also, a high-speed stream from a high-latitude coronal hole on the Sun was forecast to batter the Earth from the 16th onwards.
The critical frequency over the UK has fluctuated from less than 5MHz at sunrise to more than 7MHz around lunchtime and later. If you are looking for good inter-G conditions you are better off waiting until the afternoon.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the SFI will decline into the 120s. This weekend may also be unsettled on the geomagnetic front as well. Expect the Kp index to rise to four or five, with a characteristic drop in the MUF. Hopefully, conditions will improve after the weekend with the Kp index forecast to drop to around two.
As always, things can change very quickly, thanks to solar flares and CMEs, so keep an eye on solarham.com and propquest.co.uk
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
There should be some useful Tropo about in the coming week, initially over western Britain at first, but gradually extending across most areas as high pressure moves in across the British Isles.
The eastern side of the country will start this weekend in a more showery northerly flow down the east coast, so Tropo is unlikely here until we are into next week. Once established it should bring enhanced conditions to most areas and into the near continent, but limited options across the North Sea where the cool showery weather retains control and limits the potential for QSOs to the east.
The other modes to have in mind are meteor scatter, particularly in the early mornings. The Sextantids meteor shower is underway but doesn’t reach its peak until the 27th.
In the disturbed sequence of solar conditions, an aurora is always a possibility so keep an eye on the Kp index; anything above five should be worth checking out.
The Moon is at maximum positive declination at the moment, so is visible for long periods. Apogee is the point at which the Moon is furthest from Earth. It takes place on Monday when path losses are at their highest for the month. 144MHz sky noise starts the week at a moderate 500 Kelvin but quickly falls low for the rest of the week.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for September 11th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 11th of September 2022
The news headlines:
The death of Queen Elizabeth II
Bletchley Park and NRC open
EMF lecture and workshop at the RSGB Convention
We are deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with the King and all members of the Royal Family at this sad time.
Bletchley Park Museum, and hence the National Radio Centre, will remain open in the coming days but will be closed for the day of the funeral. More information will follow once the date of the funeral has been announced.
There will be EMF Compliance events at the RSGB Convention on the 8th and 9th of October. On the morning of Saturday the 8th, John Rogers, M0JAV of the RSGB, ARRL and IRTS EMF team will give an update on EMF compliance developments. This will include the updated RSGB EMF Compliance App and the results of some measurements made. Then, on Sunday morning, team members Peter Zollman, G4DSE and Ian White, GM3SEK will run an open Compliance Clinic. If you have already carried out an EMF compliance assessment but are not sure how the results relate to your situation, they will work through some site-specific cases to put the principles into practice. Please check the Convention timetable for final details. You can email your questions in advance to emc.chairman@rsgb.org.uk.
The July edition of the IARU Monitoring Service Region 1 Newsletter is now available. In this issue, you can read more about how ‘Over the Horizon’ radars were the most obvious transmissions causing harm to our amateur radio HF bands. The front runner was the Russian ‘Contayner’ with a bandwidth of 12kHz at 40 symbols per second, received in all bands from 40 to 12m. The others sending short bursts with bandwidths of 10kHz at 50 symbols per second, were also very active and were mostly observed on the 20m and 15m bands. To read the full report go to iaru-r1.org. Word has just arrived via the South African Radio League that three new African countries have joined the ranks of 5MHz or 60m operators. They are Botswana, Lesotho & eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland. Each has the new WRC-15 Amateur Secondary Allocation of 5351.5 to 5366.5kHz. This makes a total of 89 countries now on the band worldwide. Thanks to ZS4BS and SARL for the information.
All three UK amateur radio exams may be taken online at this year’s RSGB Convention. The Foundation and Intermediate exam will take place on Saturday and the Full exam on Sunday morning. Places must have been booked prior to the 26 September cut-off date and applications will not be accepted on the day. For booking enquiries, please email exams@rsgb.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
Following the sad news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the RSGB recommends that anyone attending amateur radio rallies or events should check before travelling.
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We’ll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online.
Also, today the 11th, the Ripon Radio Rally will be held at Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, HG4 2PT. Doors open for traders from 7 am and to the public at 10 am. Admission is £3 per person. Please note that the Bring & Buy is upstairs. The cost for Bring & Buy is £1 per item to a local charity, sold or not.
Weston Super Mare Radio Society’s Radio & Electronics Rally on the 25th of September. It will be held at The Campus Community Centre BS24 7DX.
As a mark of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally, which was due to be held this coming Sunday 11th September, has been postponed.
Please note also that the Angel of the North Rally, due to be held on the 17th of September has also been postponed.And now for the Special Event news
Paisley Amateur Radio Club will be operating the special event station GB0DOD from the Methodist Central Hall, 2 Gauze St, Paisley, PA1 1EP on Saturday the 17th of September. It is part of Paisley Doors Open Day when historic buildings throughout the town will be open to the public. Club members will be demonstrating voice, digital and morse modes on HF, VHF and UHF.
Chris, PA2CHR and Lins, PA3CMC will be active from 4U1ITU, the International Amateur Radio Club's station at the ITU HQ in Geneva from the 13th to the 16th of September. They will be operating from 1800 to 0600UTC with JT65B as their preferred mode on 144MHz, and probably Q65-60B on 432MHz. QSL via Logbook of The World, Club Log's OQRS, or direct to IARC, P.O. Box 6, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland.
Remaining in Switzerland this week we go back in time to 1847 when Switzerland's first train connection from Zurich to Baden in south Germany began its service. To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Swiss Railways, a special call sign HB175RAIL will be active from the 1st of September to the 31st of October. QSL via Logbook of The World. Certificates will be available, search for HB175RAIL on QRZ.com for more information.
And now the DX news
A team will be active as 5R8CG, 5R8MM, 5R8WG and 5R8WP from Nosy Be island, AF-057, in Madagascar from the 11th to the 22nd of October. They will operate CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8 on the 6 to 160m bands with two stations. The logs will be uploaded to the Logbook of the World system when they return.
Daniel LU9FHF, Pablo LU7MT, Jose Luis LU1FM and Alejandro LU8YD will be active from San Andres Island, NA-033, from the 16th to the 25th of September. They will operate using SSB, FT8, FT4 and CW on the 6 to 160m bands. FM satellite operations are also planned. QSL 5J0DX direct to LU9FHF.
Mike, VE6TC is active as ZL4/VE6TC from Stewart Island, OC-203, until early October. He is on the air most days between around 0300 and 0800UTC on the 20m band using SSB and CW. QSL via VE6TC, direct or bureau. Mike will upload his log to Logbook of The world and eQSL when he gets back to Canada.
Masa, JA0RQV expects to be active again as A35JP from OC-049, Tonga from 20th August until the 24th of September. He will operate CW, SSB, and FT8 on 80-6 metres in his spare time. QSL via LoTW, Club Log's OQRS, or via the bureau to JA0RQV.
This weekend the WAE DX SSB Contest runs for 48 hours ending at 2359UTC today the 11th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, EU stations should only work non-EU stations. The exchange is a signal report and serial number. Today Sunday the 11th of September, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number, and locator.
Now the contest news
This weekend the WAE DX SSB Contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTc today the 11th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, EU stations should only work non-EU stations. The exchange is a signal report and serial number.
Today, Sunday the 11th of September, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 432MHz FM Activity Contest takes place from 1800 to 1855UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 432MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same, signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the CW leg of the 432MHz FT8 Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC takes place, the exchange is your report and 4-character locator.
On Thursday the 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next Sunday, the 18th, is the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.
Also, next Sunday is the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1500UTC. Using SSB and FM, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Irish stations also give their county.
The BARTG Sprint PSK63 contest takes place next Sunday, the 18th, from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is the serial number.
The 70MHz AFS Contest takes place between 0900 and 1200UTC next Sunday the 18th. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday 9th September 2022.
What a week we have just had! The Kp index stayed at four or more for most of the week thanks to an enhanced solar wind stream. This continued to stir up geomagnetic activity with minor, G1, storm conditions.
Visible aurora has been reported at higher latitudes.
Sunspot region 3089 has now rotated behind the Sun’s west limb, which may help with conditions as it was responsible for an M-class solar flare on the fifth.
A significant space weather event took place during the week, but luckily it was on the far side of the Sun. A large, full halo coronal mass ejection, CME, became visible on imagery courtesy of both the LASCO and STEREO Ahead spacecraft. This was possibly connected with active region 3088, which will rotate back into view next week so perhaps look out for more disturbed conditions.
News of sunspots has become almost secondary to the geomagnetic reports, but at the time of writing, there were five active regions facing the Earth and a solar flux index of 126. This has remained roughly static all week.
Despite the disturbed conditions, ionospheric propagation has remained good at times, with MUFs over 3,000km exceeding 21MHz according to Propquest.co.uk. This may be mainly due to a seasonal change in the ionosphere, which may see MUFs rising as we go further into Autumn. Meanwhile, fourteen megahertz may remain more reliable for DX, while the higher bands may provide more fleeting openings.
A quick tip - the feed from the Chilton Digisonde on Propquest has not been terribly reliable recently so we recommend switching to Fairford data and refreshing the display for the best results.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux may remain in the mid-120s. Geomagnetic conditions are due to be unsettled again and we may see the Kp index rise to four, especially around the 13th-15th. Otherwise, expect it to be around two to three.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The large slow low pressure that brought numerous heavy showers and thunderstorms to dent the drought has started to drift away to the east and will allow one more low and area of rain to affect the country at the end of this weekend and early this coming week.
There is still an opportunity for some good rain scatter on the GHz bands, but eventually, it seems that high pressure may try to return around the middle of the week. Not a very strong signal and the models suggest that low pressure is back again by the end of the week, meaning not an especially good, and probably short-lasting, Tropo event.
So, rain scatter on the GHz bands is the primary mode, followed by a hint of Tropo midweek and then don’t forget about meteor scatter and aurora as occasional "long-shots".
The Epsilon-Perseids meteor shower is still active and the Sextantids shower gets underway this week.
The geomagnetic field has been very disturbed lately and there have been some good aurora openings recently, so you've probably already been keeping an eye on the Kp index; anything above five should be worth checking out.
With the Moon at positive declination from today, and past last Wednesday’s perigee, expect low but increasing path losses and lengthening Moon windows. 144MHz sky noise is low all week, not exceeding 500 Kelvin until next Saturday night.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for September 4th 2021.

   GB2RS News
Sunday the 4th of September 2022
The news headlines:
Syllabus 1.5 checks finished
Tonight @8 restarts for a new season
Regional hub for makers to meet
The Examinations and Syllabus Review Group has just completed an editing and checking exercise for all the v1.5 syllabus content on the RSGB website. The single-tier and three-tier versions should have exactly the same content and, by majority request, Oxford commas have been removed. The old syllabuses can still be found on the RSGB website, while the new syllabuses can be found at rsgb.org/syllabus2019. The Group has also been working on the sample examination papers and sample questions on the RSGB website in order to bring them into line with version 1.5. As the majority of candidates will now be taking examinations online, as opposed to paper-based exams, the front sheets of the sample papers have been adapted to reflect this transition. The sample questions are now shown using an Excel spreadsheet rather than a pdf. The updated sample examination papers can be found at rsgb.org/mock-exams.
The first Tonight@8 talk of the new season will be on Monday the 5th of September. Mike Richards, G4WNC will talk about going Back to the keyboard! He says that now we have filled our logbooks with FT-8 contacts, maybe it’s time to move on and start communicating again. In an illustrated talk, he will introduce you to the best data modes for keyboard QSOs with a special focus on VarAC. In addition to explaining their operation, Mike will run through some operating techniques to take the strain out of keyboard QSOs. It will be streamed live on the RSGB’s YouTube channel and via the BATC allowing you to watch the presentation and ask questions online. To watch the Tonight @8 talk, go to youtu.be/SC0UxNG2itE.
A regional hub for makers and home brewers of radio-related projects is proposed by Eric, M0REQ and Graham, G4NMD. The idea is for a club that co-operates with knowledge, experience and test gear to support those who are already building or wishing to build radio-related projects. The inaugural meeting is set for Wednesday the 7th of September at 7.30 pm at Grafham Rooms, Grafham, Surrey GU5 0LJ. More details by e-mail to HamRadioBuilders@gmail.com.
The CQ Contest policy has been updated. It will be effective with the upcoming CQ WW RTTY DX contest on the 24th and 25th of September, and all CQ contests going forward. CQ will resume accepting Russian or Belorussian log entries as regular logs and publish their scores. However, plaques will not be awarded to otherwise-eligible Russian or Belorussian stations but to the top-scoring non-Russian or non-Belorussian entry in that category. Online certificates will not be awarded to any Russian or Belorussian entry, either as a participant award or based on ranking. You can read more about the policy at cq-amateur-radio.com.
Churches and Chapels On The Air will take place next Saturday the 10th of September between 10 am and 4 pm. Stations will be operating mainly on the 20, 40 and 80m bands usually using SSB. If you would like to register your special event station, please email John, G3XYF at jhwresdell@gmail.com. The latest list of stations taking part can be found at wacral.org.
SN0ZG will be on the air until 2359UTC on the 15th of September using the 3.5MHz, 7MHz and 144MHz bands with a variety of modes. An award certificate will be issued in electronic PDF form for making at least two QSOs on any band and in any mode on different days. All QSOs will be uploaded to the qrz.com log once a week.
And now for details of rallies and events
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We’ll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online.
Today, the 4th of September, the Telford HamFest takes place at the Harper Adams University, TF10 8NB. Three excellent speakers will give presentations in a reserved room. For other details see the website telfordhamfest.org.uk.
Also today, the 4th, the Andover Radio Club Spring Boot Sale will be held at Wildhern Village Hall, SP11 0JE. It will open for sellers at 9 am and buyers at 10 am. More at arac.org.uk.
Next Sunday, the 11th, Caister Lifeboat Radio Rally will take place at Caister Lifeboat station, Caister on Sea, NR30 5DJ. The entrance is via the car park on Beach Road and is free for the public. Doors are open from 9 am to 2 pm.
Also next Sunday, the 11th, the Ripon Radio Rally will be held at Hugh Ripley Hall, Ripon, HG4 2PT. Doors open for traders from 7 am and to the public at 10 am. Admission is £3 per person. The Bring & Buy is upstairs, please take note. The cost for Bring & Buy is £1 per item to a local charity, sold or not.
Please note the Angel of the North Rally due to be held on the 17th of September is cancelled.
Now the Special Event news
The final day of the 3-day GB1SAK operation takes place today, the 4th, from the International Kite Festival at Lytham St Annes. Using SSB and CW, mostly on the 40 and 20m bands, the station will use a variety of wire antennas, supported by kites. Further details are on QRZ.com
A special event station to draw attention to Dementia Awareness Week, GB2DAM, will be on the air next weekend, the 10th and 11th of September. It will be operated by Windmill Amateur Radio DX Group, from Nr Ramsbury, Wiltshire. Talk-in will be available on GB3TD.
Now the DX news
Jeff, K5WE will be active as ZL7/K5WE from Chatham Island, OC-038, between the 9th and the 21st of September. He will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on the 10 to 160m bands. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of The World or via his home call.
Tina, HB0/DL5YL and Fred, HB0/DL5YM will be active from Liechtenstein between the 7th and the 27th of September. They will operate CW, some RTTY and some SSB on the 6 to 160m bands. QSL via their home calls, direct or via the bureau. They do not use Logbook of The World.
Rene, DL2JRM will be active as Z68XX from Kosovo between the 9th and the 12th of September, including an entry in the WAE DX SSB Contest. QSL via DL2JRM, direct or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
The RSGB HF SSB Field Day ends its 24-hour run at 1300UTC today, the 4th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day runs for the same 24-hour period as the RSGB HF Field Day. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The 144MHz Trophy Contest ends its 24-hour run at 1400UTC today, the 4th. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The All Asian DX contest ends its 48-hour run at 2359UTC today, the 4th of September. It is SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted. The exchange is signal report and your age, but ladies may opt for 00.
Today, the 4th of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 144MHz QRO contest takes place today, the 4th of September, from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is a report, serial number and WAB square if applicable. For the full rules please see the WAB website. Entries to the contest manager by the 14th of September.
On Monday the Autumn Series SSB Contest runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using the 3.5MHz band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
Tuesday sees the 144MHz FM Activity Contest run from 1800 to 1855UTC. It is followed by the all-mode 144MHz UK Activity Contest from 1900 to 2130UTC. The exchange is the same, signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday it is the 144MHz FT8 Activity Contest. It runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. The exchange is your report and 4-character locator.
The UK EI Contest Club 80m contest takes place on Wednesday from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB only the exchange is your 6-character locator.
The all-mode 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC on Thursday. The exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend the WAE DX SSB Contest runs for 48 hours from 0000UTC on the 10th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, EU stations should only work non-EU stations. The exchange is a signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 11th of September, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 2nd of September 2022.
Many amateurs thought Christmas had arrived early when a solar flux index of 252 was posted on the 28th of August. This would have been representative of a very good solar maximum. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as the previous day’s SFI had been 128 and the following day it was 131.
Solarham.com reported that the figure had been ‘contaminated’ by solar flaring just before the measurement was taken and the lack of excellent DX reports on the higher bands seems to support this. Sorry if you got your hopes up, but meanwhile it is back to sunspot normality, at least for a few years yet!
If we exclude the anomaly, the solar flux varied from a low of 113 on the 31st to a high of 131 on the 29th. Region 3089 has probably contributed most to this but will be rotating out of view this weekend. It does look as though there are some active regions lurking just over the Sun’s eastern limb, which could push the SFI up over the next week.
There were multiple R1/R2 radio blackouts on Monday the 29th due to M-class solar flares. Unfortunately, a large coronal hole on the Sun’s equator will become Earth-facing on Friday, which could result in the Kp index rising as the plasma hits the Earth, perhaps late on Sunday. This could bring a short-lived ionospheric enhancement, followed by a decline in the MUF as any geomagnetic storm progresses.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the range 108-124, so expect similar conditions to last. This may be better later in the week once the geomagnetic conditions settle.
As we head into Autumn, we can expect a general improvement in HF conditions and hopefully the return of trans-Atlantic DX on the higher bands.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The weather this week could become very unsettled. Most models agree on the overall trend towards wetter weather, but the details are going to prove difficult except on a day-by-day basis.
The reason is that the mechanism of change brings a large slow-moving low over the country at the weekend where it remains for much of next week. For many areas, particularly the east, the rain will be in the form of showers, some heavy, thundery and localised rather than widespread.
For propagation, this means that rain scatter is a good mode to look at for the GHz bands and the various online radars will tell you where the big storms are, and their movement.
It does suggest that VHF/UHF Tropo will not be a big player, which presents challenges for those on the 144MHz contests this weekend and the UKAC next week. It is possible that we may find a return of high pressure and perhaps some Tropo from the northwest during the following weekend.
The Sporadic-E season has all but faded away, but keep a watch on 50MHz especially as we approach the UK Activity Contest on Thursday evening since Es have been known to crop up in the first week of September.
Despite there being no big meteor showers in September, random meteor rates are at their maximum, providing relatively good propagation, especially around dawn. That said, the Aurigids shower reached its peak last week, and the Epsilon-Perseids peaks this coming Friday night. This shower has a history of surprising outbursts.
The Moon is at minimum declination today and at perigee on Wednesday, so expect the lowest path losses, but short Moon windows. 144 MHz sky noise is high until Tuesday but low after that.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

RSGB GB2RS News Bulletin for August 28th 2022.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 28th of August 2022
The news headlines:
Get ready for the Transatlantic tests
National Radio Centre contacts the ISS
GB3HA is back on air in Northumberland
The RSGB is hosting The Transatlantic Centenary Tests on the HF bands, for the entire month of December 2022. This is to commemorate the centenary of the achievement of amateur transatlantic communication, during the tests that were held between 1921 and 1923. Unlike the tests of the 1920s, which consisted of one-way communication, the 2022 tests will encourage worldwide two-way communication with UK & Crown Dependency-based stations. For those activating special stations, there will be a series of awards available. With the assistance of Ofcom, the RSGB has reactivated five callsigns that it held in the 1920s. These historic callsigns will be activated by RSGB Members and clubs. You can read more about the original transatlantic tests and how to participate in 2022 at rsgb.org/transatlantic-tests.
RSGB National Radio Centre volunteer Steve, 2E0YBJ, was able to show the visiting public a live radio contact with the International Space Station using GB3RS. He was using the demonstration station at the NRC, running SatPC32. This is used to track Earth Low Orbit satellites and, more recently, the onboard ISS repeater. Steve put his success down to two factors; the excellent NRC station set-up and the fact that the ISS approaches the UK from the West. This enables UK stations to ‘see’ the ISS before its communications footprint passes over mainland Europe. It was an unexpected treat for the Bletchley Park visitors, a super result for Steve and a first for GB3RS.
The Northumberland 2m repeater, GB3HA, is operational again serving the northeast of England. To celebrate the switch on, a short check-in net will be held on Tuesday the 30th of August at 7.30 pm. Net control will be Roy, M0TKF, and all radio amateurs within the repeater coverage are welcome to call in for a quick hello. Please check the GB3HA page on QRZ.com for frequencies and access information.
NASA is well known for communicating with astronauts on space missions, but radio amateurs may also contact NASA centres around the world. Until the end of this year, NASA will mark several past and present-day key milestones. NASA Amateur Radio Clubs at the agency’s centres and support facilities across the United States plan to participate with ‘NASA on the air’ special event stations. Look out for events to celebrate the Artemis launch over the next few days. The 22nd of September is National Astronomy Day and special event stations will be on the air for that too. To learn more about NASA on the Air events, go to nasaontheair.wordpress.com.
The cross-band voice repeater and the APRS node aboard the International Space Station can now be used simultaneously. The FM repeater uplink is on 145.990MHz and a 67Hz PL tone is needed to activate the downlink transmitter on 437.800MHz. APRS and packet mode uses 145.825MHz for uplink and downlink. The Columbus module radio uses the callsign NA1SS and the new service module radio uses the callsign RS0ISS. Both radios are expected to be operational at all times, except during school contacts, spacewalks and docking manoeuvres. The operational state of the ISS ham-radio station can be found on the ARISS website at ariss.org.
And now for details of rallies and events
Please send your rally and event news as soon as possible to radcom@rsgb.org.uk. We’ll publicise your event in RadCom, on GB2RS, and online.
Today, Sunday the 28th, the Milton Keynes ARS Rally will be held at The Irish Centre, Manor Fields, Watling Street, Bletchley, MK2 2HX. There is free onsite parking, catering and disabled facilities. Entry is £3 and the doors open at 9 am. See mkars.org.uk for more information.
The Torbay Annual Communications Fair also takes place today, the 28th, at Newton Abbot Racecourse, Devon TQ12 3AF. Doors open at 10 am with disabled visitors gaining access at 9.30 am. It is an indoor event with plenty of free parking on site. There will be a Bring & Buy as well as an RSGB bookstall. Catering will also be available on-site.
Tomorrow, Monday, the 29th, the HARS Annual Rally will be held at Ernulf Academy, St Neots PE19 2SH. Gates open at 9 am. There is free car parking, a Bring & Buy as well as indoor and outdoor stalls. Catering is available on-site. Talk-in will be on 145.550MHz using GX0HSR. More at hunts-hams.co.uk.
A date for your diary now. Churches and Chapels On The Air will take place on Saturday the 10th of September between 10 am and 4 pm. Stations will be operating mainly on the 20, 40 and 80m bands usually using SSB. If you would like to register your special event station, please email John, G3XYF at jhwresdell@gmail.com. The latest list of stations taking part can be found at wacral.org.
Now the Special Event news
GB1SAK will be active from the International Kite Festival at Lytham St Annes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of September. Using SSB and CW, mostly the 40 and 20m bands, the station will use a variety of wire antennas, supported by kites. Further details are on QRZ.com
Now the DX news
IK5WWA will be operating from the island of La Maddalena, EU-041, between the 1st and the 13th of September. Using the 80 to 2m bands he will use the special callsign IM0M. This operation also qualifies for the Italian Island Award. QSL details are on qrz.com.
Keith, GU6EFB will be active as GJ6EFB from Jersey, EU-013, from the 29th of August to the 1st of September. He will be using SSB via the QO-100 satellite in his spare time. QSL via Logbook of The World, direct or via the bureau to GU6EFB.
Col, MM0NDX and Jonathan, MM0OKG will be active as OY/MM0NDX and OY/MM0OKG from the Faroe Islands, EU-018 between the 1st and the 5th of September. They will operate on various bands and modes using vertical antennas next to the sea. QSL via EB7DX.
Now the contest news
The CQ RTTY ops WW RTTY Contest has its second session of activity between 1200 and 2359UTC today, the 28th. Using RTTY only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and the 4-digit year of your first licence.
The Worldwide Digi DX contest ends its 24-hour run at 1200UTC today, the 28th of August. Using FT4 and FT8 on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is your 4-character locator.
Today, Sunday the 28th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7GHz and 10GHz contest runs from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Next weekend is a busy one for contests.
The RSGB HF SSB Field Day runs from 1300UTC on Saturday the 3rd to 1300UTC on Sunday the 4th. Using the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The IARU Region 1 Field Day runs for the same 24-hour period as the RSGB HF Field Day. Using SSB only on the 3.5 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
The 144MHz Trophy Contest also runs for 24 hours next weekend from 1400UTC on the 3rd of September. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The All Asian DX contest runs for 48 hours starting at 0000UTC on the 3rd of September. It is SSB only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted. The exchange is signal report and your age, but ladies may opt for 00.
On Saturday the 3rd of September, the CWops CW Open contest runs for 24 hours from 0000UTC. Using CW only on the 1.8 to 28MHz bands where contests are permitted, the exchange is the serial number and your name. There are three 4-hour sessions in this contest.
Next Sunday, the 4th of September, the 5th 144MHz Backpackers contest runs from 1100 to 1500UTC. Using all modes, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 144MHz QRO contest takes place on Sunday the 4th of September from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is a report, serial number and WAB square if applicable. For the full rules please see the WAB website. Entries to the contest manager by the 14th of September.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA, and G4BAO on Friday the 26th of August 2022.
There was a welcome upturn in ionospheric propagation this week, with much DX being worked. While the solar flux index remained mainly in the low 100s, quieter geomagnetic conditions, with the Kp index at one or two, helped a lot. We are also heading towards September and better propagation conditions as the ionosphere cools down, resulting in more monatomic elements and fewer diatomic ones. The monoatomic elements in the ionosphere are easier to ionise so MUFs go up accordingly.
Along with daytime critical frequencies above 6MHz, we have seen 40m opening up to shorter distances too, sometimes down to 100km, but mainly in the range 100-500km.
Over longer distances, there have been reports of some choice DX being workable, including KH6KB in Hawaii on 17m CW, 9V1YC in Singapore on 12m FT8 and A35JP in Tonga on 15m FT8.
As long as the Kp index stays low we can expect a lot more like this over the coming months.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may climb a little, perhaps ending the week in the range of 110-116. Geomagnetic conditions are unlikely to be as good next week, with the 27th of August being the most disturbed with a predicted Kp index of four.
A large coronal hole is moving to be Earth-centric on Friday, although it is largely at one of the Sun’s poles. This means that any fast solar wind might be directed away from Earth, but we could get a glancing blow late on Sunday or early Monday.
Watch for a rise in the Kp index and a general lowering of the MUF if it does.
And now the VHF and up propagation news.
The end of last week finally brought some heavy rain and thunderstorms to some eastern areas and weakening weather fronts to the northwest. This may have given some rain scatter opportunities, but only temporarily.
As we head through this weekend high pressure starts to rebuild over the UK and will dominate the weather over the British Isles over the coming week. This will make Tropo a principal player for the next week. In early September it's still plenty warm enough that inland areas could see the temperature inversions breaking down during the daytime heating, so for best results make the most of the nighttime and early morning lifts.
We may have a few days left when Sporadic-E could occur before the transition away from high summer weather patterns, but it is getting much harder to find now. Focus on 10m or perhaps 6m digital modes for best results and, of course, check the usual DX clusters.
Don’t forget aurora and meteor scatter modes, however this week, these modes will be overshadowed by the Tropo characteristics as the high builds.
Moon declination goes negative again late Monday, so shortening Moon windows this week. Path losses continue to fall throughout the week and 144MHz sky noise is low until next weekend.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.