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G4TNU > NEWS 30.06.25 05:40z 276 Lines 13662 Bytes #29 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 29 Jun 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 29th of June 2025
The news headlines:
* Royal Signals Museum offers discounted entry to RSGB members
* Watch two more 2024 Convention videos and then book for this
year's event
* A reminder about the RSGB Band Plans
Don't forget that the RSGB has partnered with some fantastic museums
to offer its members discounted entry in 2025. The Society has
recently added the Royal Signals Museum in Dorset to the list of
museums offering reduced prices for RSGB members. The interactive
Museum is located within an active Army camp and brings to life the
vital role of military communications. Visit rsgb.org/partner-museums
for more information and to download your personalised discount
voucher for six exciting partner museums. Whether you're heading to
West Wales, Cornwall, West Sussex, Suffolk, Dorset or Milton Keynes,
you'll be able to save between 20% and 50% on standard admission
prices. Start planning your summer adventures now!
Are you thinking about attending the RSGB's Convention this year? Be
inspired to book your place by watching two videos the RSGB has
released from its 2024 Convention, which provide comprehensive
updates on EMC and EMF. The first video is a presentation from
members of the RSGB Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee. EMC
Chair Dr John Rogers, M0JAV, together with Peter Zollman, G4DSE and
Ian White, GM3SEK, summarise reports to the EMC helpdesk and
highlight two of the most commonly raised topics. This includes
advice on how to find, and minimise the impact of, the sources of
RFI. In the second video, RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB
interviews the trio as they explain how the work they have been doing
has helped not only RSGB members, but the wider amateur radio
community. They also explain how their work has supported the new
power levels in the latest licence conditions. Watch both videos by
going to youtube.com/thersgb
The RSGB Band Plans for 2025 were published in the March 2025 issue
of RadCom and are also available on the RSGB website in a variety of
formats. The RSGB would like to remind all radio amateurs to consult
the Band Plans before operating and to refer to the master files on
the Society's website. To ensure you are using the correct data,
please do not copy them onto other websites or use versions that you
find elsewhere. You can find the Plans at rsgb.org/bandplans
The Board has appointed Will Richardson, 2E0WYA as the new
Nominations Committee Chair. If you are interested in joining the
Board as a Nominated Director and have the skills and experience to
help move the Society forward into its next chapter, please contact
Will via nominations.chair<at>rsgb.org.uk The Society would like to
increase the diversity of its Board, and is also looking particularly
for radio amateurs who have knowledge of the science and technology
of amateur radio, and the spectrum it uses.
The International Amateur Radio Union is engaging with member
societies to explore potential changes to its future structure. The
RSGB has contributed to this consultation by raising several concerns
and offering constructive suggestions across a range of topics.
Throughout these discussions, the Society has prioritised the
development of amateur radio and the interests of its members.
Further updates will be shared with members in due course.
The famous Grimeton Radio Station will be celebrating its 100th
anniversary on Wednesday the 2nd of July. The unique Alexanderson
alternator, with the callsign SAQ, is scheduled for two transmissions
on 17.2kHz using CW. At 0830UTC, the alternator will be started up
and at 0900UTC the first transmission will take place. A second
transmission is scheduled for 1300UTC. You can read more about the
event and the historic transmitter at alexander.n.se
Finally, advance notice that the popular Churches and Chapels on the
Air event will take place on Saturday the 13th of September between
10am and 4pm. If you are planning to put a station on the air please
let John, Wresdell, G3XYF know by emailing jhwresdell<at>gmail.com
And now for details of rallies and events
The Cornish Radio Amateur Club Rally is taking place today, Sunday
the 29th of June at Penair School, St. Clement, Truro, TR1 1TN. The
doors open at 10.30am. For more information contact Ken, G0FIC on
01209 821 073.
Saffron Walden Radio Ham and CB Club Rally will take place from
Friday the 4th to Sunday the 6th of July. The venue will be Lovecotes
Farm, Chickney Road, Henham Village, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 6BH.
You can camp on the field from Friday to Sunday and have a table at a
cost of GBP 15. If you are camping, you can arrive from 6pm on
Friday. To book a camping pitch, or arrange tables, email
g8swr1.5<at>gmail.com
Barford Norfolk Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 6th of July
at Barford Village Hall and Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB. The
doors open at 9am for visitors. The event features trade stands, car
boot sales, bring and buy, a charity raffle, repeater groups,
catering and free car parking. Entry costs GBP 3 per person but under
16s will be admitted free of charge. Outside pitches cost GBP 8 and
are available from 8am on the day. Inside tables cost GBP 10 and must
be pre-booked. For more details visit tinyurl.com/Barford2025 or
email David, G7URP at radio<at>dcpmicro.com
Now the Special Event news
Tomorrow, the 30th of June, the 2458 RAF Cadets Air Training Corps
will be on the air from the Cadet Centre in Baildon, West Yorkshire.
The squadron will have the opportunity of operating a HF and Low
Earth Orbit satellite amateur radio station under the supervision of
Simon, M0YKS. The Cadets already have experience operating their own
VHF radio equipment and will now be able to expand their knowledge
and experience within the world of radio communication and amateur
radio. The callsign used by the cadets during the evening event will
be GB0ATC. The station will be active between 7 and 9pm. The
operators are hoping to contact as many radio amateurs as possible
during the event. So, listen out for activity which will mainly be on
the 40m band and any FM satellites in range during the event.
A series of special event stations is on the air to celebrate the
Deutsche [DOY-CHUH] Amateur Radio Club's 75th anniversary. Four
special callsigns are active until the 31st of October. You can find
details about the stations, as well as information on a diploma that
is available for working them, at tinyurl.com/DARCIS75 An English
version of the information can be found by scrolling down the web
page. QSL via the Bureau or directly to DL2VFR.
Durham and District Amateur Radio Society is participating again as
one of the bonus stations in the popular 13 Colonies event. Special
callsign GB13COL has been issued for the occasion and will run from
the club station at 1300UTC on the 1st of July until 0400UTC on the
8th of July. Listen out for the station on the HF, VHF and UHF bands,
and on the amateur satellites. Operators will be using SSB, CW, FM
and various digital modes.
And finally, don't forget to listen out for all the amateur stations
that will be on the air today, Sunday the 29th, for Museums on the
Air. Find out more by visiting tinyurl.com/IMOTA2025
Now the DX news
Aldir [AL-DEER], PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 8th
of July. He operates CW, SSB and digital modes on the 160 to 6m bands
and via satellite. During weekdays he is available between 2300UTC
and 0200UTC. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com Logbook or
directly to Aldir's home call.
Domenico, IK1MNF is active as IK1MNF/IA5 from Isola d'Elba [EE-SO-LA
DEL-BA], EU-028, until the end of September. He is mainly using SSB
on the 20 to 6m bands. QSL via Domenico's home call. QSOs will be
uploaded to Logbook of the World and Club Log.
Now the contest news
Today, the 29th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs
from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also today, the 29th, the RSGB 50MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to
1200UTC. Using CW on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 1st, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from
1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 1st, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 2nd, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest
runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 2nd, 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.
RSGB VHF National Field Day starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 5th and
ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 6th of July. Using all modes on the 6m,
4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report, serial
number and locator.
The RSGB VHF Fixed Station Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the
5th and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 6th of July. Using all modes on
the 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm and 23cm bands, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
On Sunday the 6th, the 3rd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100
to 1500UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal
report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Wednesday the 25th of June.
The last week was good from a geomagnetic disturbance point of view.
Up until Wednesday the 25th, the Kp index had not been higher than
3.67 and had mostly been in the ones and twos. This helped HF
propagation to a great extent.
Sunspots have been present with the solar flux index sitting at 120
on Wednesday the 25th. A look at the visible disk at solarham.com
shows five sunspot groups facing Earth. None are groundbreaking, but
they are at least helping to keep the solar flux index relatively
high.
Daytime F2 MUFs over a 3,000km path have been reaching 18MHz and even
21MHz at times, with 14MHz being more reliable. Sporadic-E continues
to make 28MHz a useful band for short-skip, with much of Europe being
workable mid-morning on the 25th, at least using FT8.
Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Finland were all easily worked on FT8,
but nothing was heard on the usual 10m CW and SSB frequencies.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 140
to 150 range. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the
1st to the 3rd of July, when the Kp index could reach 4. And
conditions may become unsettled again on the 6th and 7th, again with
a predicted Kp index of 4.
But in the meantime, make the most of the Sporadic-E on the 10m band,
as it won't last forever!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The more traditional summer weather, with patchy rain and showers, is
likely to continue for a bit longer. The more persistent rain is
likely in the north closer to low pressure near Iceland, whereas the
rain may be more intermittent in southern areas, closer to high
pressure over France.
This probably rules out any significant Tropo in northern Britain
over the coming week but does allow for the occasional enhancement in
the southern half of the country. Most areas will have some rain
scatter opportunities for the GHz band operators – although perhaps
fewer in the south than in the north.
The solar conditions have quietened down a little in terms of aurora
recently but, as we said last week, don't forget to look north in the
twilight sky for signs of the pale noctilucent cloud. This is a
high-summer phenomenon. See if you can detect any wave patterns, like
ripples on a sandy beach, in the cloud.
The month of June tends to be quite good for meteor input and the
last of the set, the June Bootids [BO-AH-TIDS], peaked on Friday the
27th. So, there should be some good chances for hearing the odd ping
or two or even seeing one in the evening sky after dusk.
The primary mode of interest is still Sporadic-E, which is in full
swing and doubtless being topped up by the Bootids meteors, which
produce the main ingredient of Sporadic-E propagation – long-lived
ions as they ablate, or burn up, upon entering the atmosphere.
In terms of the usual search for placement of Sporadic-E events
geographically, the main jet stream interest is likely to be across
the northern part of Europe for the coming week. This suggests trying
paths to Scandinavia and the Baltic states, whereas for triggers due
to upper air ridge patterns use the more southern routes.
The Moon has passed perigee for this month, so path losses are
rising. Moon declination is still high, not going negative until
Tuesday the 1st of July. 144MHz sky noise is low, increasing to
moderate by next weekend.
And that's all from the propagation team this week.
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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