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G4TNU > NEWS 01.06.25 08:23z 281 Lines 13625 Bytes #1 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 01 Jun 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 1st of June
The news headlines:
* Volunteers' Week begins tomorrow, Monday the 2nd of June
* Be part of the RSGB 2025 Convention and put the date in your
diary now
* Don't miss tomorrow's Tonight<at>8 webinar on Morse code
Volunteers' Week 2025 begins tomorrow, Monday the 2nd of June. As
part of this national event, the RSGB will share a number of
volunteers' stories on its website and social media channels to
recognise their hard work and contribution. Go to
rsgb.org/volunteers-week to find out what inspires people to get
involved and what they gain from volunteering. During the week, the
Society will also release a video about the volunteer team at the
RSGB National Radio Centre, where they welcome over 80,000 visitors
every year. If there is a volunteer you would like to thank, or you'd
like to share your own volunteering story, please add a comment on
the daily social media content that the RSGB will be posting on
Facebook and X. You can also read about a few of the RSGB's amazing
volunteers in the July edition of RadCom. Whether a volunteer's'
involvement is behind the scenes or front and centre, the RSGB would
like you to know that your work makes a real difference, not only to
the Society, but to every radio amateur who benefits from your
efforts.
The RSGB is delighted to announce that its annual Convention will
take place from the 10th to the 12th of October at Kents Hill
Conference Centre in Milton Keynes. Whether you want to discover
something new, learn more about an aspect of amateur radio, or
progress and develop your skills, you'll find something at the RSGB
2025 Convention to explore and enjoy. The Society is giving you the
chance to help shape this year's programme by suggesting a
presentation, a topic, a practical session or a project. Are you
involved in some new research or an interesting project that will
take amateur radio to new audiences? Have you helped to make amateur
radio more accessible to people with different abilities? Or have you
heard a brilliant speaker who has inspired you? Get involved by
sending your proposals to convention<at>rsgb.org.uk If you've never
been to an RSGB Convention, or you'd like a reminder of what happened
in 2024, go to youtube.com/thersgb and choose from the wide
selection of presentations and videos from last year. The Society is
pleased that AMSAT-UK will, once again, be holding its Colloquium at
the Convention.
Don't forget to join the RSGB for the next Tonight<at>8 webinar which
will be going live tomorrow, Monday the 2nd of June. The presentation
will include an introduction to Morse code, how to start learning it,
the different types of Morse keys and the Achillies heels that can
occur when learning this mode. The webinar will be livestreamed on
the Society's YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing you
to watch and ask questions live. Find out more by going to
rsgb.org/webinars
The RSGB National Radio Centre will be involved in a radio sked as
part of the opening ceremony for the ENTER Technology Museum in
Switzerland on Saturday the 7th of June. The museum is opening a
radio room that will operate the amateur radio station HB9E.
Volunteers from the NRC will be operating GB3RS to deliver the first
radio message in the sked, which is scheduled for 1145CET on the 40
or 20m bands using SSB. Find out more about the ENTER museum by going
to enter.ch
Radio amateurs have long been interested in the mystery and
phenomenon of spy communications, and many will be aware of number
stations. If you'd like to discover more on the topic you can attend
a talk at Bletchley Park on Saturday, the 28th of June. RSGB National
Radio Centre volunteer Paul Beaumont, G7VAK will be delivering the
engaging session on ‘Number Stations, 1950 to the Present'. He will
look at modes used, the different styles of sending and will present
several examples where number stations were used and stated in the
prosecution of the recipients. The session is being delivered as part
of the RSGB's ongoing strategy to promote amateur radio to wider
audiences. RSGB members who would like to attend the talk can benefit
from a 10% discount, reducing the price to GBP 14.40. To find out
more, go to the Bletchley Park ‘What's on' web pages via
bletchleypark.org.uk
The May 2025 edition of RadCom Basics is now available. RadCom Basics
is aimed at new amateurs and those who are wishing to refresh their
skills and knowledge. Among others, this edition contains articles to
help you learn about getting the maximum signal to an antenna,
constructing an 80m band receiver and making an audio amplifier. To
access RadCom publications visit rsgb.org/radcom
Please send details of all your news and events to
radcom<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
Spalding and District Amateur Radio Society's annual radio rally is
taking place today, Sunday the 1st of June. The venue is Spalding
Rugby and Football Club, Centenary Park, Drain Bank North, Spalding,
Lincolnshire. Free car parking is available, as well as traders,
on-site catering and a bar. For more information visit sdars.org.uk
Mendips Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 8th of June at
Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney. The
doors will be open from 9.30am and free parking and refreshments will
be available on site. For more details contact Luke on 07870 168 197.
On Saturday the 14th of June the Rochdale and District Amateur Radio
Summer Rally will take place at St Vincent de Paul's Hall, Norden,
Rochdale, OL12 7QR. The doors will open at 10am and entry will cost
GBP 3. The usual traders and caterers will be in attendance and
plenty of free parking will be available. For more information
contact Martin Shore on 07587 709 006 or email
rally.radars<at>hotmail.com
Now the special event news
Special callsign HS30DXA is active until the 21st of June to
commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Thailand DX Association. Look
out for activity on all HF bands, the 2m band and the amateur radio
satellites. QSL via HS6MYW.
In celebration of this year's German World Heritage Day, special
callsign DM0LIMES is active until the 1st of July. The Limes was the
border line of the Roman Empire at its greatest extent. In 2005, the
remnants of the Upper German-Raetian [RAY-SHEE-UHN] Limes were
inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as ‘Frontiers of the
Roman Empire'. The station was spotted recently on the 40m band using
SSB. QSL via the Bureau and eQSL.
Now the DX news
Morten, LA9GY is active as 3DA0GY from Eswatini until tomorrow, the
2nd. He will operate CW and some SSB with a focus on the 20, 15 and
10m bands. There may also be activity on the 80, 40, 30, 17 and 12m
bands. QSL via Logbook of the World or directly to Morten's home call.
Roland, F8EN has extended his stay in Gabon and now expects to be
operating as TR8CR until the middle of June. He operates CW only. QSL
via F6AJA.
Now the contest news
Tomorrow, the 2nd, the RSGB 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the
exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Tuesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 3rd, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest
runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 4th, the
RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC.
Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character
locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the
two-hour contest.
The IARU ATV Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 7th and ends
at 1800UTC on Sunday the 8th of June. Using TV on the 70cm band and
up, the exchange is picture quality, serial number, four-digit code
and locator.
The UK Six Metre Group Summer Contest starts at 1300UTC on Saturday
the 7th and ends at 1300UTC on Sunday the 8th of June. Using all
modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number,
locator and Group member number.
RSGB National Field Day starts at 1500UTC on Saturday the 7th and
ends at 1500UTC on Sunday the 8th of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m
bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report
and serial number.
The ARRL International Digital Contest starts at 1800UTC on Saturday
the 7th and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 8th of June. Using digital
modes on the 160 to 6m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is your four-character locator.
On Sunday the 8th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from
0900 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 23, 13 and 9cm bands, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 29th of May 2025
Last week's high-speed solar wind, from a massive coronal hole on the
Sun, took its toll on the HF bands. However, this week has been
little better. Another coronal hole running diagonally across the Sun
has been emitting particles that have pushed the Kp index up to a
maximum of 6.67 which puts us into visible aurora territory.
Nevertheless, some DX has been worked including CP4BT in Bolivia,
ZP5KP in Paraguay and V44KAI St Kitts and Nevis [NEEVIS]. These were
reported by Karl, G0SKW on the CDXC Slack alerting system.
BA100IARU, a special event station celebrating the 100th anniversary
of the International Amateur Radio Union, has been active from
Beijing, China and has been worked on 20m CW. The station's QRZ.com
page provides real-time updates on which band the operators are
working on.
Most of the DX has been worked on 21, 18 and 14MHz with the 10m band
mostly closed due to the summer doldrums. There have not been too
many Sporadic-E openings on the 10m band. Instead, most of the
Sporadic-E reports have been on the 6m band.
The solar flux index has increased, standing at 144 on Thursday the
29th of May, which is always a good sign. In fact, the solar disk is
looking quite healthy at the moment with spots in both hemispheres.
As of last Thursday, the 29th of May, there had been 43 C-class
flares over the previous five days, as well as six more potent
M-class events and one X-class flare. So, the Sun is still very
active.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will reduce again,
perhaps going as low as 110 by Wednesday the 4th of June. It does
look like we are in for a rough ride with unsettled geomagnetic
conditions forecast for the coming week. Looking further ahead, the
13th and 14th of June seem to be the worst days, when a Kp index of
five is forecast.
As usual, a high Kp index can result in lowered maximum useable
frequencies and aurora-like conditions, with a slow recovery.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The weather continues to be unsettled into the coming week,
especially for northern areas, but with some drier and warmer spells
in the south.
There does not appear to be strong signs for any Tropo success, but
there should be a chance of occasional rain scatter on the GHz bands.
Some models suggest we are on the edge of high pressure over the
North Sea. Others drive a deep low right across the country. This
will resolve itself next week, but for now it's not at all clear
which forecast will win through.
The prospects for meteor scatter are mostly random meteors but
towards the end of this week the daytime Arietids [AIR-EE-TIDS] will
peak to enhance chances further.
The solar auroral alerts keep coming, so it's reasonable to expect
the chance of some radio response such as watery-sounding signals on
HF, even if we don't go to the full effects on VHF. It's certainly
worth watching for those increasing Kp values.
The Sporadic-E prospects often burst into life about now. So, after a
few reasonable 6m band openings, like the one into southeast Europe
on Wednesday the 28th, make sure you are ready for the first week in
June – one of the prime weeks for Sporadic-E opportunities.
This is partly due to meteor input and the fact that the tidal winds
in the E region are taking on their summer pattern. The long polar
days mean that the low-pressure weather patterns are also beginning
to affect the northern polar routes to China and Japan across
northern Russia with their possible weather triggers, like jet
streams.
EME path losses are increasing again. Moon windows shorten, and peak
elevation is falling as the Moon declination goes negative again on
Wednesday the 4th of June. 144MHz sky noise is low and remains low as
the week progresses.
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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