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G4TNU > NEWS 07.12.25 23:08z 266 Lines 12905 Bytes #7 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 07 Dec 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 7th of December 2025
The news headlines:
* Become an RSGB Regional Representative in your area
* Keep up to date with how technology can be used in amateur
radio
* 5MHz – an important reminder about FT8 use within allocated
frequencies
Do you want to make a difference to the amateur radio community in
your region? The RSGB has three Regional Representative posts that
are available for nominations in the upcoming 2026 elections. These
are for Region 2 which covers Scotland North and the Northern Isles,
Region 7 which represents South Wales, and Region 9 which covers
London and Thames Valley. As a Regional Representative you will lead
the team of District Representatives in your area and not only
represent the Society but also support your fellow radio amateurs.
Find out more about what it takes to succeed in this role by reading
the candidate pack at rsgb.org/elections The deadline for
applications is the 31st of January 2026.
An increasing number of modern technologies are being used in
different ways within amateur radio. From artificial intelligence
that helps you to write software, to a 3D printer that you can use to
create amateur radio equipment. The RSGB has gathered some of these
together in a web section called ‘Emerging technologies' and has
now added to it an overview of the new monthly RadCom column
‘Experimenters' Corner'. The column was introduced in November and
is written by RSGB Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX. The column
covers everything from setting up your own TinyGS project at home to
experimenting with Meshtastic. Go to rsgb.org/emerging-technologies
and be inspired.
The RSGB reminds all radio amateurs that they must only operate
within the UK allocated bands for each mode. Ofcom has noticed that,
increasingly, radio amateurs are using FT8 outside of the UK 60m
allocations. It is monitoring usage and will write to you if it
observes your callsign operating outside of this band. Please ensure
the configuration of your FT8 software limits your transmissions to
frequencies and bandwidth that are fully within the UK allocation.
For example, when using WSJT-X for digital modes at 5357kHz, it is
imperative that the transmitted signal is never above 5358kHz. Using
'Hold TX Freq' can help with this. The Society works hard to protect
the spectrum for all radio amateurs to use, but that work will be
made more difficult if radio amateurs continue to stray outside of
the allocated bands. The Ofcom OFW611 Amateur Radio Licence Terms and
Conditions document includes an explanation of all the frequencies
available to radio amateurs in the UK. You can find this on the Ofcom
website or via the UK amateur licensing link on the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/licensing
The RSGB National Radio Centre, located at Bletchley Park, will be
closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's
Day. There will be reduced hours on New Year's Eve when the Centre
will be closing at 2pm. In addition to this, it will also be closed
for essential maintenance works on the 5th and 6th of January 2026.
Outside of these times, volunteers look forward to welcoming visitors
as usual. Remember that RSGB members can download a free entry
voucher for Bletchley Park from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bpvoucher
Youngsters on the Air Month is well underway with multiple groups
scheduled to host special event station GB25YOTA this week. Today,
Sunday the 7th of December, you'll be able to work operators from
Cray Valley Radio Society, as well as the 2nd Marlborough Scouts. The
Scout group will also be active tomorrow, Monday the 8th of December.
Buckie High School in Scotland will be operating on Monday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so listen out and encourage young
operators in making what could be their first ever QSO. On Tuesday
the 9th of December, Hilderstone Radio Society members will be
supervising students from St Peters-In-Thanet Junior School. On
Wednesday the 10th of December, students from Sunderland College will
be on the amateur bands with supervision from Ian Bowman, G7ESY.
Looking ahead to next weekend, the RSGB National Radio Centre will be
welcoming young people to operate as GB25YOTA. Details of operating
times, bands and modes can be found at rsgb.org/yota-month
There have been a number of changes to the Region 1 team, which
covers Scotland South and the Western Isles. To ensure you are
contacting the correct representative, go to rsgb.org/regions and
click the team name from the righthand menu, followed by ‘Meet the
Region 1 team'.
And finally, a date for your diary. The next in the popular 145 Alive
series will take place on Saturday the 7th of February from 12pm to
3pm. The event will include the addition of 144MHz SSB stations with
vertical polarisation. For more information visit the 145 Alive
Facebook page.
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk The deadline for submissions is 10am on
Thursdays before the Sunday broadcast each week.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 7th of December, Mid Devon Amateur Radio and Electronics
Fair is taking place at Winkleigh Sports and Recreation Centre. The
doors will be open from 9am to 1pm. Entry costs GBP 3 per person and
there is no charge for partners and under 16s. For more details
contact Phil, G6DLJ on 07990 563 147 or email wrg2024<at>hotmail.com
Sparkford Radio Rally is due to take place on Sunday the 28th of
December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil
BA22 7QX. The doors will be open from 9.30am and admission will cost
GBP 2. Refreshments and free parking will be available on site. For
more details contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email
luke<at>mymixradio.co.uk.
Now the Special Event news
Celebrating the city of Chemnitz [CHEM-NITZ], one of the European
Capitals of Culture for 2025, a number of special event callsigns are
active from Germany until Monday the 15th of December. All QSOs will
be uploaded to eQSL, Logbook of the World and Club Log. To read more,
including information about certificates that are available for
working the stations, visit 2025c.de
The first French satellite, named Asterix, was launched into orbit on
the 26th of November 1965. To mark the 60th anniversary, members of
the Wingles [WING-GULLS] Radio Club, F4KLR are active as TM60ATX on
Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th of December, and again between
the 19th and 23rd of December. All CW and SSB QSOs will be confirmed
automatically via the Bureau. FT8 QSOs will be confirmed via eQSL.
Now the DX news
Vlad, OK2WX and Paula, OK2YL are active as HP3/OK2WX and HP3/OK2YL
from Panama until Wednesday the 10th of December. They are operating
CW and SSB with a focus on the 160, 80 and 40m bands. See QRZ.com for
more information.
Pierre, VK3KTB is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club
station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until Wednesday the 10th of
December. He operates CW, SSB and FT8 on various bands. QSL via OQRS
and Logbook of the World.
Now the contest news
The ARRL 160m Contest started at 2200UTC on Friday the 5th and ends
at 1559UTC today, Sunday the 7th of December. Using CW on the 160m
band, the exchange is signal report. American and Canadian stations
also send their ARRL or RAC section reference.
Today, the 7th of December, the RSGB 144MHz Affiliated Societies
Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 9th of December, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 9th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 10th of December, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity
four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm
band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on
Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest
runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange
is report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour
contest may also enter the two-hour contest.
On Thursday the 11th of December, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The ARRL 10m Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 13th of
December and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 14th of December. Using CW
and phone on the 10m band, the exchange is signal report and serial
number. American and Canadian stations also send their state or
province code.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 4th of December
The prediction made for last week was for the solar flux index to
increase, possibly reaching 155 by the 1st of December and 175 by the
6th. In fact, it hit 196 on the 1st and 200 on the 2nd. This was no doubt
aided by three large sunspot groups in the Sun's southern hemisphere.
We also said that the Kp index could hit 5 on the 3rd of December and
it actually hit 6.67. So well done to the Space Weather Prediction
Centre for its forecast.
On Thursday the 4th of December, the solar wind speed gradually
increased from around 360 kilometres per second to 475 kilometres per
second, thanks to the onset of an enhanced solar wind from a very
large coronal hole. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic
field has also been pointing sharply south at times, which means it
more easily couples with the Earth and the Kp index goes up as solar
plasma floods in.
Maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, have been affected, but not too
much. The MUF over a 3,000km path was still above 28MHz on the 3rd of
December, at least until sunset. Nighttime MUFs are now
characteristically below 14MHz, leaving only 10MHz and below open to
DX.
As reported by CDXC's Slack group this week, recent DX included the
YJ0GC DXpedition to Vanuatu [VAN-OO-AH-TU] and OX7AM in Greenland on
the 10m band using CW. 5R8IC in Madagascar was noted on the 15m band
using FT4. And SU8YOTA in Egypt was worked on the 20m band using SSB.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will stay in the
180 to 190 range and the good news is that the Kp index is predicted
to remain low, at least until Saturday, the 13th of December, when it
is forecast to rise once again to 5.
So, get your HF DXing in during the daytime over this coming week!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The weather charts for the coming week or more show a very unsettled
pattern with some deep areas of low pressure, strong winds and heavy
rain at times.
Tropo is unlikely in the traditional high-pressure sense, but
sometimes a strong maritime south-westerly wind can bring a brief
slight improvement for parts of southeast Britain in the windy warm
sector of the depression. Watch out for this on Tuesday the 9th of
December.
Rain scatter remains a good option since there will be numerous bands
of rain and showers available as scatter elements. The Margate 24GHz
WebSDR has seen the Flanders beacon ON0HVL
[OSCAR-NOVEMBER-ZERO-HOTEL-VICTOR-LIMA] for a number of days
due to rain over the southern North Sea, but the lack of active 24GHz
stations on the east coast made this a frustrating watch on a WebSDR.
Aurora is a possibility during the coming week. Look for a Kp index
above 5 to generate a good radio response. The evening of the 3rd of
December saw classic fluttery HF signals on the 80m and 40m bands,
supported by a Kp index of 6.67 and reported auroral QSOs on 70, 144
and 50MHz.
Lastly, a consideration of the meteor scatter prospects is more
promising as we are now in the broader period for the Geminids, which
is due to peak on Sunday the 14th of December. This shower has a
maximum hourly rate of 120, so ranks as a joint second after the
August Perseids.
For EME operators, Moon declination reached a maximum yesterday, the
6th of December, meaning long Moon windows and high peak elevation.
Path losses are at their lowest but increasing during the week.
144MHz sky noise is low for the coming week.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Thursday before transmission.
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