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G4TNU > NEWS 22.03.26 02:34l 245 Lines 11658 Bytes #60 (0) @ EU
BID : 25252G4TNU
Subj: RSGB Main News - 22 Mar 2026
Path: ED1ZAC<ED1ZAC<GB7CIP<GB7CIP<GB7CIP
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 22nd of March 2026
The news headlines:
* Put the RSGB 2026 AGM in your diary
* Make your vote count in the RSGB elections
* The RSGB is an official partner for WRTC2026
The RSGB 2026 AGM will take place at 10am on Saturday the 18th of
April and will be held online to ensure as many members as possible
can watch and take part. On the Society's website you can now see
details about the Calling Notice, Resolutions, the elected Board
Director candidates, the Nominated Director candidates, and
information about how to vote. The Society has also announced the
results of the Regional Representative elections where two candidates
have been elected unopposed. There are three ways you can ask the
RSGB Board a question at the AGM. Visit rsgb.org/agm to find out
more.
In this year's RSGB elections, there are two vacancies for Elected
Board Directors and three nominations have been received. The
candidates are Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, Tony Miles, MM0TMZ and John E A
Moss, G0KTW. RSGB members are asked to vote for the two candidates
they prefer to serve the Society as Board Directors for the next
three years. As well as submitting their CV and personal statement in
writing, the candidates have each taken part in a video interview so
that RSGB members can find out more about them. The Society has
separated the questions into an extended video and a short. Watch
these videos by going to rsgb.org/candidates Voting for candidates
is now open and will close at 9am on the 16th of April 2026. By
voting in the RSGB elections you are helping to shape the future of
the Society and how it operates. Have your say and vote today. Go to
rsgb.org/vote
The RSGB is delighted to announce that it is an official partner for
this year's World Radiosport Team Championship, also known as WRTC.
RSGB representatives will attend the event which is being held from
the 8th to the 13th of July 2026 at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire.
They'll meet radio amateurs and spectators from around the world and
the Society has supported the event further by sponsoring one of the
50 competitor tents. RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB has
served on the WRTC UK Organising Committee for the past three years.
RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX will attend WRTC for its duration
and conduct various duties throughout the week. If you'd like to
volunteer and be part of this fantastic event, there are a range of
roles available including Contest Station Managers, Contest Station
Builders and Transport roles. Visit wrtc2026.org/volunteers to find
out more.
Did you know that RSGB membership is open to anyone with an interest
in amateur radio, wherever they are in the world? The Society's
publications are well respected around the globe and the RSGB is
proud to have members in over 50 countries. You can find out about
joining the RSGB's community and meet some of its international
members via rsgb.org/international-members
The RSGB Awards Manager, Lindsay Pennell, GI3KME, has awarded Geoff,
G4FKA the first Supreme level of the Worked All UK and Crown
Dependency Prefixes Award. The award was introduced in 2025 and is
available to all radio amateurs and shortwave listeners in the UK and
worldwide. Read more about Geoff's achievement by going to
rsgb.org/award-stories
A brand new GB2RS broadcast is now available in Wales. Elliot, MW9IQN
is located at the foot of the Cambrian Mountains. He transmits the
RSGB News on 145.525MHz FM each Sunday at 5pm with good coverage to
the west coast. At present, Elliot is using quite low power and is
broadcasting in English. However, a power increase is planned and, if
requested, he would be pleased to additionally broadcast the script
in Welsh. If you are in mid-Wales, do take a listen for this new
GB2RS broadcast and give Elliot a call during his post-News net. A
number of other broadcasts can be received in Wales, notably Brian,
GW6VEI who covers Wales from St Asaph on 3650kHz LSB at 10.30am. The
full Broadcast Schedule can be downloaded at rsgb.org/GB2RSschedule
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
Today, the 22nd, Callington Radio and Electronics Rally is being held
in the Town Hall, New Road, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7BE. The doors
are open to the public from 10am until 1pm. Entry is GBP 2 each with
no charge for those under the age of 16. The rally features a
comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and societies from the
southwest. There is also a bring-and-buy area, a catering service,
disabled access, toilet facilities and ample parking. For more
information visit callingtonradiosociety.org.uk
Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally is also taking place today, the 22nd,
at Eastry Village Hall, High Street, Eastry, Kent, CT13 0QB. The
doors are open from 10am to 2pm and the entrance fee is GBP 3.
Refreshments are available on site. For more details contact the Club
via darc.online
Now the Special Event news
Special callsign GB2TSO will be active from mid-morning on Wednesday
the 25th of March 2026. Marc, 2E0MCJ and Stephen, M0CCA, are taking
part in The Great Tommy Sleep Out from Noon Cregg Veterans Retreat
near Camelford in Cornwall. Listen for activity on the 40m band using
SSB.
Special callsign SZ40A is in use by the Radio Amateur Association of
Western Greece, SZ1A to celebrate 40 years of continuous presence,
service and contribution to amateur radio. Look for activity across
multiple HF bands and modes until the 31st of May. QSL via ON3UN. To
see if you qualify for an award for working the station visit
awards.sz1a.org
Now the DX news
Gunter, DK2WH is active as V51WH and V55Y from Namibia until Tuesday
the 24th of March 2026. He is operating using FT8, RTTY, SSB and some
CW on the 160 to 6m bands. QSL via Gunter's home call, directly or
via the Bureau.
Haluk, TA2LE is active as J79H from Dominica, NA-101, until Thursday
the 26th of March. Look for activity using CW, FT8 and SSB on the 40
to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS, Logbook of the World and Club Log. For
more information and updates visit tinyurl.com/J79H-2026
Now the contest news
The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group HF RTTY Contest started at
0200UTC yesterday, the 21st, and runs until 0200UTC tomorrow, the
23rd of March. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and time.
On Tuesday the 24th of March, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs
from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 25th of March, the United Kingdom and Ireland
Contest Club Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m
band, the exchange is your six-character locator.
On Thursday the 26th of March, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs
from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
The CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the
28th and runs until 2359UTC on Sunday the 29th of March. Using SSB on
the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 29th of March, the UK Microwave Group Millimetre Band
Contest runs from 0800UTC to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24 to 76GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 19th of March
Last weekend's Commonwealth Contest got off to a bad start, thanks to
a Kp index of 6 that really affected the ionosphere. As a result, HF
conditions were not good with the maximum useable frequency over a
3,000km path below 21MHz until 1700UTC.
Luckily, things improved a little on Sunday, but overall scores were
down compared with previous events.
The Kp index increase was due to a coronal hole stream which reached
600 to 700 kilometres per second and a Bz that pointed south. The
equinox period hasn't helped due to the Russell-McPherron effect, a
phenomenon that occurs when the Earth's magnetic field aligns with
the Sun's magnetic field during equinoxes, creating ‘cracks' in the
magnetosphere.
Otherwise, the week has been unremarkable. The solar flux index has
remained firmly in the 110s and there have been no X-class solar
flares, only a few M and lesser C-class events.
Next week, HF propagation may be dominated again by the solar wind.
Coronal hole number 33 will begin to face Earth and a high-speed
stream was predicted to reach us this weekend, ending today, the
22nd. A coronal mass ejection was also predicted to arrive around
Thursday the 19th.
NOAA predicts the Kp index will rise to 5 this weekend and not
decline to 3 until the 26th of March. Meanwhile, the solar flux is
predicted to remain in the 105 to 120 range until the 27th of March.
It may then increase slightly to be in the 120s until the end of the
month.
As a result, expect lower maximum usable frequencies and poorer HF
conditions until around next Thursday the 26th and Friday the 27th of
March.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The high pressure that developed during the second half of last week,
formed on the warmer side of the front and as a result produced
slightly better tropo conditions than looked possible the previous
week.
The weather is probably going to try to change to a colder air high
in the coming week, so expect conditions to decline. However, that's
not the only reason for a decline. As the main high centre displaces
west of Britain, we will find a colder and unsettled west or
north-westerly pattern affecting the UK next week. So less tropo, but
more chance of some rain scatter for the upper GHz bands.
Meteor scatter remains in the random activity domain, although we are
edging closer to the next major shower of the late April Lyrids. It's
not to say that exciting things can't happen, however. Just after a
HamSCI workshop on the subject of meteor scatter last weekend, a
multi-ton meteoroid was reported from Cleveland, Ohio, on the HamSCI
Google groups at around 1300UTC on the 17th of March. This produced a
sonic boom and was visible in broad daylight.
All is quiet on the Sporadic-E front although we are slowly moving
towards a period when the first glimmers of activity show themselves,
particularly on digital modes.
Lastly, a comment on the chances of aurora. These are usually
enhanced due to solar-terrestrial alignment around the equinoxes and
with two coronal mass ejections predicted to arrive at the tail end
of last week, ending today the 22nd. As usual, check for an
increasing Kp index above 5.
For EME, yesterday saw the 5.7GHz section of the Dubus CW and SSB EME
contest and associated all-mode activity weekend. With Moon
declination positive and rising, and path losses still low, it
hopefully produced some nice contacts. On VHF, 144MHz sky noise is
low in the coming week.
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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