Sunday, the 13th of July 2025
The RSGB is delighted to announce that the Keynote Speaker for its 2025 Convention will be Professor Lucie Green. She is a Professor of Physics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory of the University College London. She has also presented many TV and radio programmes, including The Sky at Night and Stargazing Live. During her talk, Professor Green will provide an update on the proposed Moon-Enabled Sun Occultation Mission, which she is working on with fellow UK researchers. The project will enable the team to study the conditions that create solar storms, leading to improvements in forecasts of space weather on Earth. As well as releasing details of the Keynote Speaker, the RSGB has published a teaser of its Convention programme. This includes Neil Smith, G4DBN, who will share his experience of taking complex ideas and turning them into stories that connect with wider audiences. Many of you will be familiar with Neil from the popular BBC series “The Secret Genius of Modern Life”, for which he recreated a device invented by Leon Theremin. Bill Rothwell, G0VDE, will show you that DXpeditions don’t always need to involve masses of equipment, and that one person can make a successful trip with only the luggage they carry. RSGB Propagation Studies Committee member Gwyn Griffiths, G3ZIL, will explore Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances, whilst Brian Coleman, G4NNS, will give you the latest update on the UK Meteor Radar System. Read the full list of confirmed speakers by going to rsgb.org/convention and selecting the “RSGB 2025 Convention speakers” option from the right-hand menu. The RSGB 2025 Convention is taking place at Kents Hill Conference Centre between the 10th and 12th of October. Book your ticket now and join like-minded people for a fun-filled weekend.
Set yourself a challenge this summer and get involved with awards chasing. The RSGB awards are open to everyone, whatever your age, licence level and personal interests. They encourage you to push yourself further, learn something new and can even help you to make tweaks to your station to maximise performance. If HF is your mode, then visit rsgb.org/awards and get involved with the IARU Region 1 Award, which encourages you to make contacts with member countries. If VHF or UHF is your preference, then challenge yourself to the 50MHz Continents and Countries Award. Several Foundation awards are aimed at getting new licensees on the air and helping build confidence. For younger RSGB members, there are two awards designed to show the breadth that amateur radio offers. The RSGB Scouts, Cadets and Girlguiding Youth Champion, Samuel McCutchion, 2E1UEL, recently completed the Radio Surfer Award and shared his experience with us. Read how he got on by going to rsgb.org/award-stories
At a recent meeting of the RSGB Regional Forum, the RSGB Regional Representatives elected George Crawford, MM0JNL, as the Regional Forum Chair. George represents Scotland South and Western Isles as the Representative for Region 1. He got involved in amateur radio in 2020 and gained his Full licence by March 2021. George has also been a GB2RS Newsreader. Along with the rest of the Regional Team, George is keen to continue to help RSGB members and the wider amateur radio community, and to promote amateur radio and the Society at public events. He will be attending Kirriemuir Show on the 19th of July to showcase amateur radio to the agricultural and rural communities. You can hear more details about that in the Special Event News section of this week’s GB2RS News.
Last week, senior RSGB staff and some members of the RSGB Board met for two days to discuss the next implementation phase of the Society’s strategy. The discussions covered several topics, including how to ensure the Society stays relevant to the modern radio amateur. Those discussions led to some initial plans for the next six months that focus on one or two clear goals. More details of the plans will be shared over the coming weeks, including in strategy updates and at the ‘Meet the Board’ session at the RSGB Convention in October. Following the RSGB’s attendance at Dayton and Friedrichshafen, it was also noted that the Society is held in high esteem around the world and that many other national societies are keen to learn from the RSGB’s achievements.
Ben, M7FRS and John, G0JDL, are hoping to be operating aeronautical mobile in a Cessna 172 for about an hour tomorrow, Monday the 14th, over the skies of Norfolk and Suffolk. The pair will be departing from Beccles Airfield at around midday. They will initially be on the 2m band FM calling frequency of 145.500MHz before changing frequency. As per the new licensing arrangements, they will be using less than 500mW. Listen out for them, as they'd love to get you in their log!
During this weekend’s IARU HF World Championship, five stations will be active on the 80 to 10m bands using SSB and CW and tested under field conditions. They will be using the exact planned equipment for the WRTC 2026 event as a trial. The operating location will be a cluster of sites within the grounds of the Euston Estate in Suffolk. QSL via M0OXO’s OQRS. There will be two awards available for chasers during this event, so listen out for the following callsigns: GB0WR, GB2WR, GB5WR, GB8WR and GB9WR. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/wrtctest
The next in the popular 145 Alive series will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July, from 12 pm to 3 pm. The event will have over 40 stations and 1,000 participants from all over the UK and Ireland. To take part on the day, simply call into a local net and make contact with others. You can find more information, including details of the nets, the operators, their locations and operating frequencies on the 145 Alive Events Facebook page.
And now for details of rallies and events
The McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale is taking place today, the 13th, at Oak Trees Event Field, Cocks Lane, Warfield, Bracknell, RG42 6JE. Traders are welcome from 8 am. The doors will be open for visitors from 9 am to 3 pm. The entrance fee is £4 per person. A trader’s table costs £15 and this includes admission for two people.
Humber Fortress DX Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place on Saturday, the 19th of July at Welwick Village Hall, North Lane, Welwick, HU12 0SH. The doors will be open from 10 am to 3 pm, and visitor entrance costs £3. Indoor tables are fully booked, but there is still outdoor space available at £5 per table. Please bring your own table. For more information, email [email protected]
Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7 am for traders and 9.30 am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs £3 and £10 for traders. For more details, email [email protected]
The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally will take place on Sunday, the 20th of July at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors will be open from 10 am and admission costs £3. This is an indoor event, and ample free parking will be available. Over 50 tables of traders and special interest groups will be present. Booking a table costs £10. For more information, phone Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email [email protected]
Now the Special Event news
On Saturday, the 19th of July, RSGB Region 1 Representative George, MM0JNL, will be hosting special event station GB4KAS at the Kirriemuir Show in Angus, Scotland, from 10 am to 5 pm. This new venture is intended to showcase the RSGB and amateur radio to the agricultural and rural community. It will also allow unlicensed guest operators to have some supervised radio operating time and, hopefully, have their first international radio contact. The station will be operating using SSB on the HF bands and FM on the 2m band. If you hear the operators on the air, give them a call!
GB70RS is the special callsign helping to celebrate 70 years of the RSGB’s News Service, GB2RS. This coming week, the callsign is being aired by Dave, G4IDF, on all bands from 80 to 6m, plus 4m and 2m, using SSB and FT8. If you hear Dave, give him a call! A special QSL card is available. See QRZ.com for more details.
Eric, KV1J is active as FP/KV1J from Miquelon Island, NA-032, until tomorrow, the 14th. He is operating using CW, FT4, FT8 and SSB on the 80 to 6m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, Club Log's OQRS, eQSL or via Eric’s home call, directly or via the Bureau. For more information visit QRZ.com
Pierre, VK3KTB, is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until the 24th of July. He operates using CW, FT8 and SSB on various bands when time permits. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS and Logbook of the World.
The IARU HF Championship started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27.
The GR2HQ Challenge also started at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 12th and ends at 1200 UTC today, Sunday, the 13th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and ITU Zone. The UK is in Zone 27.
Today, the 13th, the UK Microwave Group 24, 47, and 76GHz Contest runs from 0900 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 15th, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 16th, the RSGB 80m SSB Club Championship runs from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.
On Thursday the 17th, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Saturday the 19th, the RSGB 70MHz Trophy Contest runs from 1400 to 2000 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number, locator and the first two letters of your postcode.
On Sunday the 20th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 10th of July 2025
Last week was characterised by settled geomagnetic conditions, but a relatively low solar flux index.
The Kp index hit 5.33 on the 6th and 7th of July but was otherwise around 1 or 2 for the rest of the week. These settled conditions were helpful to HF propagation, although the maximum usable frequency over a 3,000km path didn’t get much above 21MHz.
This is likely to be due to the HF summer doldrums, and we are unlikely to see it rise much more until September, once the F2 layer has switched to autumnal propagation conditions.
Meanwhile, the solar flux index remained steadfastly in the range of 115 to 120. This is enough to provide fair propagation, but not enough to set new DX records!
But there was DX to be worked, including T30TT in western Kiribati, on the 20 and 15m bands using the FT8 Fox and Hounds mode. Also, ZD7FT was operating on St Helena Island on the 17m band using SSB, and C94RRC was active on the 10m band from Mozambique using FT8.
Laurie, G3UML on the CDXC Slack group, commented that there was a lot of DX around, including FP/KV1J on the 17m band using SSB on Miquelon Island. Additionally, TY5AD was on the 17m band using CW from Benin. And FY4JI was on the 17m band using SSB from French Guiana.
Now the bad news. A very large solar coronal hole will begin to face Earth this weekend. A solar wind stream flowing from this zone is expected to reach Earth with the main influence occurring today, the 13th, and tomorrow, the 14th.
If the Bz of the plasma cloud points south, we can expect disturbed geomagnetic conditions and a reduction in the maximum usable frequency, or MUF for short.
NOAA predicts unsettled conditions, with a Kp index of 4 between the 15th and 16th of July. The solar flux index is expected to be in the range of 105 to 125 for the next week.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The hot weather continues to set the agenda in the short term. Something to note is that for VHF and UHF Tropo ducting, the ideal is for warm, dry air to sit on top of cool, moist air.
These conditions are commonplace over the nearby seas as hot, dry air moves out across the coast to overlay the cool, moist air near the sea’s surface. Think of the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea and Biscay as being very good Tropo paths in high summer. But the award goes to the Mediterranean, where very strong ducting conditions are pretty much a given if you happen to be sitting on an exotic holiday beach.
Back at home... if you live inland, then you will be out of luck during the heat of the day since there is no cool, moist surface air. But in the evening, as the ground cools and perhaps cool sea air moves inland, you could find yourself coupled into the Tropo conditions that those on the coast have been enjoying all day.
In other words, for most of the country, Tropo will be better overnight and early morning.
The other modes are worth checking of course, especially Sporadic-E, which is continuing to give some paths on most days, at least for digital modes, but also for those using SSB or CW.
Most days, there will be some direction available from the UK on the 10m band, and perhaps on the 6m band, with many online clusters to show you where the current paths are located.
We really must get used to the idea that Sporadic-E can be very localised, and you will only know about it if someone calls CQ. If you do that, you may be surprised by how good conditions have been all along!
Disturbed solar conditions should keep aurora as a possibility. Meteor scatter is often worth checking, with two showers peaking later in the month. The middle part of the coming week looks like turning more unsettled for a time, so rain scatter is also an option for the GHz bands.
Moon declination is increasing again, reaching maximum on Tuesday, and path losses are falling. So, it’s time to put the feeder back into the dish. 144MHz sky noise is moderate to start the week but decreasing to low after the weekend.
And that’s all from the propagation team this week.
