GB2RS News

Sunday, the 7th of September 2025

The news headlines:

The World Radiosport Team Championship 2026 takes place in the United Kingdom, and Mark Haynes, M0DXR, is the Chairman of the Organising Committee. Join Mark at the RSGB Convention on Saturday, the 11th of October, to find out how the team is progressing for the event, which will host 100 operators from all around the world. If operating via QO-100 is something you would like to try, join Paulo, F5VMJ/G0MUW, as he shares his experience of the mode, including his home setup and how to go portable. In a new-style presentation for this year, representatives from four amateur radio clubs will be joining a panel at the Convention. They will each discuss different aspects of their club activities that are contributing to the club’s success and growth. Join the conversation, share your thoughts and experience, and be inspired. If you’d like to get practical during the Convention weekend, there are a variety of opportunities, including three workshops. The majority of workshop tickets are now sold, so book now to avoid disappointment. With only five weeks until the Society’s annual Convention, secure your place via rsgb.org/convention. The RSGB Convention takes place at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between the 10th and 12th of October.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the RSGB’s weekly news broadcast, GB2RS. The celebrations continue with three special broadcasts scheduled from the RSGB National Radio Centre, or NRC, on Sunday, the 28th of September. Three Newsreaders will broadcast GB2RS from the NRC on the 40m band, the 2m band and via the QO-100 satellite. These readings will be in addition to those in the weekly GB2RS broadcast schedule. Special event station GB70RS will be used for pre- and post-News nets. In addition, each Newsreader will start the broadcast with a special message from the RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX. Find out timings and frequencies via rsgb.org/gb70rs 

The RSGB has responded to a further Ofcom consultation, which would see new users sharing spectrum within the 2.3GHz amateur band. The latest proposals would enable a new class of short-notice outdoor deployments in the 2320 to 2340MHz range, for up to 14 days at a time. In its response, the RSGB has taken the opportunity to highlight strong concerns regarding the amateur weak signal segment at 2320MHz. This follows earlier Ofcom proposals last year for indoor use only in this frequency range. The response and background information can be found on the RSGB Spectrum Forum web pages. Go to rsgb.org/spectrum-forum  and choose the ‘Papers and consultations’ tab on the right-hand side.

This month is all about amateur radio and coding for the RSGB. Two exciting activities have been developed for you to get involved with. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced coder, you can get stuck into both the Python Pocket Morse activity and the LoRa high-altitude balloon challenge. Don’t forget to let the Society know how you get on. Share your story and photos with the RSGB Communications Team via [email protected]

RSGB Board Chair Dr Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, has announced that Peter Bowyer, G4MJS, is stepping down from his role as RSGB Director due to an unexpected and significant increase in his professional duties. In addition to this Board vacancy, two further vacancies will arise when the RSGB election cycle starts in a few months. Both Len Paget, GM0ONX and Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, will stand down from the Board due to term limits. Members are encouraged to offer their services to the RSGB for this important duty. If you'd like a chat about the role, contact the Nominations Committee Chair, Will Richardson, 2E0WYA via [email protected]

Royal Air Force Air Cadets Exercise Cloud Warmer is taking place on the 60m band from 7.45 pm to 8 pm until the 31st of December. To operate, you must be a Full licence holder and comply with the Band Plan Licence Schedule Notes. Listeners will note traffic on 5354 and 5363kHz, and amateurs can join in and pass information. Military Radio Exercise, or MRE, callsigns will be in use throughout the exercise period. More details will be available soon via alphacharlie.org.uk

On Saturday, the 13th, lots of amateur radio stations will be on the air to take part in the Churches and Chapels on the Air event, also known as CHOTA. The event will take place from 10 am to 4 pm. Although stations will be working on a variety of bands and modes, most operating will take place on the 40m band using SSB. More details are available at wacral.org

And now for details of rallies and events

On Saturday, the 20th of September, Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally will take place at St Radigunds Community Centre, Poulton Close, Dover CT17 0HL. The doors will be open from 10 am to 2 pm, and the entrance fee is £3.

The East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally is also coming up on Saturday, the 20th. The rally will be held at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane, Beckingham, DN10 4FX. The doors will be open from 9.30 am to 3 pm. For more information and trader booking, visit emerg.uk/rally

Now the Special Event news

On Saturday the 13th, special event station GB5SH will be active from St. Hilda's Church in Hartlepool during the CHOTA event. The operation will be mostly on the 40m band using SSB and the 2m band using FM. You can read more details at QRZ.com

Operators from the Romanian Federation of Amateur Radio are active as YO2025ENESCU  as part of the George Enescu International Festival. Details of certificates that are available for working at the station are available via tinyurl.com/enescu25

Now the DX news

Maxim, OH7O, is active as XW4YY from Laos until the 11th of September. He is operating SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS. For more information and updates, visit oh7o.com

Chas, NK8O, is active as 5H3DX from Tanzania until the 21st of September. He is operating CW, FT8 and FT4 on the 30 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to NK8O.

Now the contest news

The All Asian DX Contest started at 0000UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 2359UTC today, Sunday, the 7th of September. Using SSB on the 160 to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and your age.

Today, the 7th, the Worked All Britain 2m SSB Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain Square. This year, the QRO and QRP contests are combined. The full rules are available on the Worked All Britain website.

Also, today, the 7th, the 5th RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 1100 to 1500 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest started at 1400 UTC on Saturday, the 6th and ends at 1400 UTC today, Sunday, the 7th of September. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Both RSGB SSB Field Day and IARU Region 1 Field Day started at 1300 UTC on Saturday, the 6th, and end at 1300 UTC today, Sunday, the 7th of September. Using all modes on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 9th, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 1800 to 1855 UTC. 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 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and a four-character locator. Also, on Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange is a report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the two-hour contest.

Also, on Wednesday the 10th, the RSGB Autumn Series CW Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Thursday the 11th, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The Worked All Europe DX SSB Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday, the 13th and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, the 14th of September. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Sunday the 14th, the UK Microwave Group 24 to 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 Sunday the 14th, the IRTS 70cm Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1330 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county.

Also, on Sunday the 14th, the IRTS 2m Counties Contest runs from 1300 to 1500 UTC. Using SSB and FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. EI and GI stations also give their county.

On Sunday the 14th, the Practical Wireless 70MHz Contest runs from 1200 to 1600 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Wednesday the 3rd of September

Last week’s aurora may have come as a bit of a surprise! The propagation segment for GB2RS is usually written on a Thursday, but the aurora was sparked by a solar flare that took place two days later, at 2002 UTC on the 30th of August.

As we don’t have a crystal ball, we couldn’t have predicted it!

The Kp index hit 3 late on the 1st of September, with aurora visible over much of the UK. HF propagation was affected with sudden swings in the maximum usable frequency over most of the day on Tuesday, the 2nd of September.

At the time of writing, a geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect with the solar wind speed above 500 kilometres per second. September is a good month for aurora due to the Russell-McPherron effect, when the Earth’s axis aligns perpendicularly to the Sun-Earth line during the equinox. This creates ideal conditions for a reconnection between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field. So, keep an eye on solarham.com for daily updates.

The Sun remains active with plenty of sunspots. The solar flux index stood at 187 on Wednesday, the 3rd, down from 202 the day before.

HF propagation remains good, out of the auroral periods, and as we progress into September, it should improve even more. Some of the best DX this week included VK2/SP9FIH on Lord Howe Island using the Superfox FT8 mode, and T30TTT on Western Kiribati using both CW and FT8. Other choice DX included 3C3W in Equatorial Guinea on FT8, TJ1GD in Cameroon on 20m CW, and 5H8HZ in Tanzania on 30m FT8.

Next week, NOAA predicts the solar flux index will decline to 160, and then perhaps 125. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast until the 10th, with a maximum Kp index of 4 predicted. This may be due to a large elongated coronal hole on the Sun’s surface, which became Earth-facing on Wednesday, the 3rd.

And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO

Rain and sequences of low pressure will drive the weather agenda for much of the coming week.

The only reasonable chance of Tropo appears to be Friday and Saturday with high pressure to the southeast and support for paths to the continent and across the North Sea. It is worth noting that, in general, short-lived highs like this one do not have the necessary time to generate a strong, elevated inversion before declining. So don’t expect too much.

Rain scatter, on the other hand, is much more likely to be worth considering for the gigahertz stations next week, with plenty of rain events coming along.

The Sporadic-E season daily blogs have now finished for this year, but you may still find it worthwhile looking at the Dourbes graph at propquest.co.uk. You will notice the odd blip on the foEs trace, so keep it in mind for the 10 and 6m bands – at least for the next week.

Meteor scatter is still in random territory for this period. We are between the Perseids in mid-August and the Draconids, which peak on the 8th of October. This means that the pre-dawn morning hours will be good times to try.

There were some auroral signals during the 2m UK Activity Contest on Tuesday, the 2nd. We are coming into the autumn season when conditions tend to be more favourable for aurora.

The message is, of course, to monitor the Kp index for values rising above 4 or 5. Remember, these three-hourly planetary readings can smooth out shorter-duration peaks, so maybe don’t wait for it to get to the dizzy heights of 6 or 7 before taking an interest.

Moon declination is still negative, not going positive until Monday, the 8th. So, Moon window lengths and peak elevation will continue to increase. Path losses are still falling until perigee on Wednesday, the 10th. 144MHz sky noise is low all week.

And that’s all from the propagation team this week.