GB2RS News

Sunday, the 28th of December 2025

The news headlines:

It is with great sadness that we share the news that Dr Julian Gannaway, G3YGF, is now a Silent Key. He volunteered for the RSGB over many years, most recently on the RSGB Examination Standards Committee and as a corresponding member of the Spectrum Forum. He was made an RSGB Honorary Life President after serving as RSGB President in 1989. Julian’s contribution to amateur radio was widespread, and we will share a fuller tribute in due course.

The RSGB Legacy Fund has resources available to encourage and develop amateur radio. It is overseen by the Legacy Committee, which is a sub-committee of the RSGB Board. The Legacy Committee considers applications from individuals and groups and advises the RSGB Board in reaching its funding decision. It is currently looking for a new member to support this important work to help amateur radio move forward. To find out more, go to rsgb.org/volunteers

Have you been involved in some research or been part of a project that will take amateur radio to new audiences? Maybe your organisation is working to encourage young people into STEM careers and support the radio engineers of the future? Perhaps you have discovered something new in amateur radio or have helped to make the hobby more inclusive and accessible. The Society has started planning its 2026 Convention and is offering radio amateurs the opportunity to propose a presentation or a practical activity and be part of the weekend’s programme. Submit your proposal on these, or any other topics, by sending the title and at least a one-paragraph summary of your suggestion to [email protected]

Time is running out to be part of two exciting opportunities to make an impact with the RSGB. The Society is seeking a full-time, highly motivated Operations Manager to be part of its senior leadership team, based at the RSGB HQ in Bedford. It is also looking for a new contractor or agency to work with, to support the development of RSGB advertising and contribute to the growth of its publications and digital platforms. If you are professional, proactive and excited by either of these opportunities, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/careers  to find out more. The application deadline for both is the 4th of January 2026.

A reminder that RSGB HQ is closed over the festive season and opens again for business at 8.30 am on Monday, the 5th of January 2026. The exams booking system will remain open at rsgb.org/exampay  during the festive season so you can book exams to take on the 5th of January onwards. The RSGB National Radio Centre will be operating reduced opening hours and will shut its doors at 2 pm on New Year’s Eve and remain closed on New Year’s Day. In addition to this, it will be shut for essential maintenance works on the 5th and 6th of January. Outside of these times, volunteers look forward to welcoming visitors as usual.

Youngsters on the Air Month 2025 has been filled with some brilliant activity from young people using the special callsign GB25YOTA. Before the year ends, there is still time to listen out for operators from the RSGB Outreach Team, Bushvalley Amateur Radio Club, the 2nd Marlborough Scouts, Hilderstone Radio Society and Jon, M0NOJ. View the operating schedule at rsgb.org/yota-month  The RSGB would like to thank everyone who has been involved with YOTA Month, from supervising young radio amateurs to making QSOs with them. If you have been involved with the event and would like your activity to be in a special feature in the March edition of RadCom, email your photos and report to [email protected]  by the 23rd of January 2026.

Give something back to the amateur radio community in 2026 by becoming an RSGB volunteer. The Society has several opportunities to suit different interests and experiences. If you would like to use your skills to help strengthen the future of amateur radio and to provide services for other radio amateurs, go to rsgb.org/volunteers

Please send details of all your news and events to [email protected]. Please note there will be no GB2RS broadcast on Sunday, the 4th of January 2026, but many newsreaders will be holding informal nets in their usual broadcasting slots.

And now for details of rallies and events

Sparkford Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 28th of December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil, BA22 7QX. The doors are open from 9.30 am, and admission costs £2. Refreshments and free parking are available on site. For more details, contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email [email protected]

On Sunday, the 25th of January 2026, Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally will be held at Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. This is an indoor event with ample free parking. The doors will be open from 10 am, and admission is £3. Tables cost £10. To book tables, or for more information, contact Steve, M5ZZZ on 0777 7699 069 or email [email protected]

Now the Special Event news

A series of special event stations is on the air from the Netherlands during the festive period. Recently, the PD25HOHOHO station was worked on the 20m band using SSB. More information about this station, and the others in the series, can be found at QRZ.com

Special callsign GB70RS is in use to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the RSGB’s weekly news service GB2RS, which has been running continuously since the 25th of September 1955. A team of amateurs is using the callsign on a variety of bands and modes. QSL via the Bureau, Logbook of the World and eQSL. For more information, visit the GB70RS page at QRZ.com

Now the DX news

Todd, AF4CZ, is active as TG9/AF4CZ from Guatemala until the 5th of January. He is operating mainly using FT8 and FT4 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World, eQSL and Club Log.

Yannick, F6FYD, is active as CN2YD from Marrakech, Morocco, until the 31st of March 2026. You can find him using SSB on the 20 to 10m bands. QSL via F6FYD directly or via the Bureau.

Now the contest news

The Stew Perry Top band Challenge started at 1500UTC yesterday, the 27th, and ends at 1500 UTC today, the 28th of December. Using CW on the 160m band, the exchange is your four-character locator.

Today, the 28th of December, the RSGB 70MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1500 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Tomorrow, the 29th of December, the RSGB 144MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1500 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also, tomorrow, the 29th of December, the RSGB Youth team will be active with the GB0Y callsign during the IARU Youth on the Air Contest. The exchange is a signal report and operator age. More information about the contest is available at ham-yota.com/contest

On Tuesday, the 30th of December, the RSGB 432MHz Christmas Contest runs from 1500 to 1700 UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Saturday, the 3rd of January, the RSGB 80 and 40m CW Contest runs from 1300 to 1700 UTC. Using CW on the 80 and 40m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

On Saturday, the 3rd of January, The Marconi Club’s QSO Party runs from 0700 to 2100 UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Listen for operators calling ‘CQ MCD’.

Now the radio propagation report compiled by G0KYA and G3YLA on Thursday, December 23rd, 2025.

We have had some solar ups and downs over the past week. A high-speed stream from a large coronal hole has kept the Kp index high at times, plus the solar flux index has been relatively low due to a lack of sunspots.

The coronal hole has been massive, covering from the Sun’s south pole right up to and past the solar equator.

Nevertheless, there has been DX about, including PZ3OZ in Surinam on 80m FT8 and 40m CW, ZS7ANF in Antarctica on 30m CW, and TG9ADM in Guatemala on 10m CW.

Also spotted have been some of the ‘12 Days of Christmas stations in the US’, including W2R/5 in Arizona on 15m CW.

Let’s take a look at HF propagation over the next two weeks.

According to NOAA, we may be in for a bumpy ride. The Kp index is predicted to rise to six on the 30th of December and stay high until early January. Meanwhile, at the same time, the SFI is predicted to rise to 170.

The best time for HF may be after the 3rd of January, when the Kp index is predicted to fall to a more reasonable two to three, while the SFI remains in the 150-160 range.

There should be plenty of activity on HF, with the G-QRP club’s Winter Sports running up until the 1st of January, and a whole range of contests, from the RSGB’s AFS CW Contest from 1300hrs UTC - 1700hrs UTC on the 3rd of January, to the Marconi Club ARI Loano QSO Party from 0700hrs UTC - 2100hrs UTC, also on the 3rd of January. Keep an eye on www.contestcalendar.com for updates.

We hope you have a happy New Year and look forward to bringing you more HF propagation news in 2026.

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

The Christmas week saw a brief cold easterly around Christmas Day, then milder air returned around the top of the large area of high pressure. We go through the next week with the high pressure just to the north or west of Britain, and this will bring a more northerly flow across the country and, although initially milder, will become much colder again for the second half of next week.

Since it is primarily a high-pressure week, there’s always a chance of Tropo, but not everywhere. It’s suggested you look for regions of cloud and fog for the best paths since it shows there is moisture under the inversion … a good thing for Tropo.

The solar conditions are likely to offer prospects for aurora, and since this period is between two meteor showers, with the second one, the Quadrantids, peaking on the 4th at the end of the week. 

Finally, a note to follow up on last week’s heads-up for mid-winter Sporadic-E. It’s certainly worth checking for digital modes and quite possibly for SSB/CW on 10m and 6m if there are signs of activity.

For EME operators, Moon declination is rising again, and path losses are decreasing as we head towards perigee on the 2nd of January, the point where the Moon is closest to Earth. 144 MHz sky noise remains low until the 14th to 18th of January.

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