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G4TNU > NEWS 08.03.26 02:34l 261 Lines 12621 Bytes #52 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 08 Mar 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 8th of March 2026
The news headlines:
* RSGB members - secure your place on the Direct Digital
Synthesizer programming workshop
* The latest edition of RadCom Plus has been published
* Listen out for groups that are active for British Science Week
There's still time for RSGB members to book their place on the Direct
Digital Synthesizer programming workshop, taking place in Blackpool
on Saturday the 11th of April. If you would like a flavour of the
workshop, watch our short video recorded at last year's RSGB
Convention. You can hear from participants who enjoyed exploring new
opportunities with Arduino and appreciated having a full six hours to
see the project through from start to finish. Find the video on our
YouTube channel and Facebook profile, and book the workshop via
rsgb.org/practical-events
The Winter 2025 / Spring 2026 edition of the RSGB's digital technical
supplement, RadCom Plus, is now available via the RSGB app for mobile
and web. RSGB members can enjoy four technical articles including
part five in the 'Operating on the 30THz band' series and
'Understanding Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing'.
You'll also find articles on 'Taming the end-fed half-wave antenna'
and on the construction and use of a 4m solid state linear amplifier.
Don't forget you can save articles in the app by bookmarking them.
Within the mobile app you can also download the edition to read
whilst you're on the go. Members can also browse all the back issues
of RadCom Plus, dating back to 2015, within the app. If you're not a
member yet, you can read a sample edition of RadCom Plus. Go to
rsgb.org/radcom to get started.
British Science Week 2026 began last Friday and a wide variety of
amateur radio activity is taking place throughout the ten days. From
kit building, to Morse-a-thons, from skeds to radio direction
finding, this is a fantastic showcase of amateur radio to wider
audiences. There is still time to get involved in this national event
that celebrates science, technology, engineering and maths by
listening out for operators on the amateur bands. A number of groups
will be active throughout the week including the Royal Signals Museum
Outreach team who will be active on Wednesday the 11th of March as
GB100RSM. The team will be running a day full of activities for 60
pupils from Milldown Academy in Blandford Forum, so listen out for
them and exchange greetings. You can find details of other groups
that will be on the air by going to rsgb.org/bsw and selecting
'Events happening near you' from the righthand menu.
The Full and Direct-to-Full Exam Handouts, references EX309 and
EX320, have been updated with immediate effect, so their 5MHz band
plans now align with the main RSGB band plan which was updated in
January 2026. The new editions can be found at rsgb.org/exam-forms
The changes highlight that caution must be exercised to avoid
out-of-band operation as well as the fact the band is for Full
Licensees only. This follows Ofcom monitoring and warnings to errant
operators.
To encourage activity on the 2m band, the 145 Alive team has
introduced 145 Alive 50. The trial period for this initiative runs
until the 18th of April. The rules are simple. Call CQ on the calling
channel and have at least one QSO per day on the 2m band. Record your
contacts and send your log for 50 or more days, in ADIF format, to
145aliveuk<at>gmail.com Electronic certificates will be supplied by
the 145 Alive team to successful applicants.
145 Alive needs net controllers for its next event on Saturday the
18th of April. Stations will be on the air from 12am to 3pm. The
event predominantly features FM but some SSB stations will also be
operating. If you or your group would like to run a net, email
145aliveuk<at>gmail.com Remember to include your name, callsign,
location and Maidenhead locator.
Today, the 8th, The Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society is
attending the Audiojumble event at K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill,
Crawley, RH11 9BQ. The Society's display and information stand will
be of interest to those who enjoy historic equipment, including
vacuum tubes. Everyone is welcome to drop by and will be made very
welcome.
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 8th, the Hack Green Military Surplus and Military Radio
Hangar Sale is taking place at Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker,
Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL. The sale includes electronic equipment,
amateur gear, components, military radio items and vehicle spares.
For more information visit hackgreen.co.uk
On Sunday the 15th of March, Ripon and District Amateur Radio Society
Rally will take place at Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Lane,
Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RL. The doors open for traders at 7.30am
and to the public at 10am. Admission costs £5. Free parking and
refreshments will be available. Tables are available at a cost of £10
each. Early booking is advised. For more information email
radars.rally<at>gmail.com
Now the Special Event news
To celebrate the centenary of the New Zealand Association of Radio
Transmitters, which was formed on the 16th of August 1926, special
callsign ZL100C will be active until August. QSL via the Bureau and
Logbook of the World.
Special callsign DB100FT is active throughout 2026 to celebrate the
centenary of the Berlin Radio Tower. The 150m-high steel structure is
one of the city's most iconic landmarks and has a prominent place in
German radio broadcasting. Recently, the station was spotted on the
HF bands using FT4 and FT8. QSL via the Bureau, or directly to DO2PZ.
Now the DX news
Jozef, ON6HX is active again as YB9/ON6HX from Mataram on Lombok
Island, OC-150, until Wednesday the 11th of March. The station is
operating using CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8 and FT4. QSL via Logbook of the
World, eQSL, or via Jozef's home call.
Gerard, F2JD is active as HR5/F2JD from Copan, Honduras until
Thursday the 12th of March. He is operating using CW, SSB, FT8 and
FT4 on the HF bands. QSL to F6AJA directly or via the Bureau.
Now the contest news
The RSGB March 144 and 432MHz Contest started at 1400UTC yesterday,
the 7th, and runs until 1400UTC today, Sunday the 8th of March. Using
all modes on the 2m and 70cm bands, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator.
The ARRL International DX Contest started at 0000UTC yesterday, the
7th, and runs until 2359UTC today, Sunday the 8th of March. Using SSB
on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange
is RST and transmit power. American stations also send their state
and Canadian stations send their province.
On Tuesday the 10th of March, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 10th, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the exchange
is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 11th of March, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity
four-hour Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm
band, the exchange is report and four-character locator. Also on
Wednesday the 11th, the RSGB 432MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest
runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 70cm band, the exchange
is report and four-character locator. Stations entering the four-hour
contest may also enter the two-hour contest.
On Wednesday the 11th of March, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs
from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Thursday the 12th of March, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The Commonwealth Contest starts at 1000UTC on Saturday the 14th of
March and ends at 1000UTC on Sunday the 15th of March. Using CW on
the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
On Sunday the 15th of March, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest
runs from 1000 to 1500UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 5th of March 2026.
What a difference a week makes! In our last report we mentioned that
there were zero sunspots and a solar flux index of 130. This week has
seen a turnaround with five active sunspot regions and a solar flux
index of 144.
HF propagation has been reasonable with openings up to 10m to various
parts of the world. We have only seen M-class solar flares, although
there have been around 40 of them in the past five days.
We had a brief excursion in the Kp index when it went to 5 during one
three-hour period, late on the 3rd of March. However, it soon
recovered and has been at 2 or lower for the past two days at the
time of writing.
The effects of a small Earth-facing coronal hole started coming past
the Earth on Friday the 6th of March and is expected to be the source
of a solar wind stream. According to NOAA and the Space Weather
Prediction Centre, Active to Minor G1 geomagnetic storming will be
possible today, the 8th of March.
We have now seen the start of the 3Y0K Bouvet Island DXpedition,
which is due to run until around the 17th of March. It has already
been worked from the UK on bands from 40 to 12m. Bouvet is virtually
due south from the UK and the higher bands should be open from around
0700 to around 1900UTC. The 40 and 30m bands should open from around
2000 to 0400UTC. So, there are plenty of opportunities to work the
station.
Next week, the Space Weather Prediction Centre in the US forecasts
that the solar flux index may be around 156 today, the 8th, but will
then decline to be in the 120s or even 110s later in the week.
We may have slightly unsettled geomagnetic conditions around the 10th
to the 12th of March and again on the 14th and 15th of March, with an
estimated Kp index of 4.
In summary, HF conditions are not bad. Keep an eye on solarham.com
for daily updates.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The recent change of weather to introduce high pressure onto the
scene provided some welcome enhanced tropo conditions in the last
week.
The March RSGB 144 and 432MHz Championship should still be able to
benefit, except perhaps for the northwestern fringe of the UK where
the next Atlantic fronts will be making an intervention. It looks a
little more problematic for the 432MHz UK Activity Contest on Tuesday
the 10th of March. The same is true for the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity
Contest on Thursday the 12th of March as the low-pressure pattern
returns and offers a chance of rain scatter for the microwave bands.
The meteor scatter prospects are still driven by random activity, so
as usual a preference for the early hours of the morning are called
for on this mode.
It has been mentioned before that the Spring and Autumn are periods
when auroras are more likely. This is known as the Russell-McPherron
effect when the Earth's magnetic field is better coupled to the solar
wind. So, keep monitoring the Kp index for signs of it going above 5.
Then check the bands for fluttery signals, even on the LF bands. CW
can be used as an early 'heads up' for potential activity on the VHF
bands.
Lastly, thoughts about Sporadic-E should be kept in check for a while
yet since we are still very far away from the usual start of the
season.
For EME, Moon declination is negative and falling to a minimum next
Thursday meaning shortening Moon windows and lower peak elevation
until then. Path losses are falling until apogee on Tuesday the 10th
of March. 144MHz Sky noise is moderate, rising to a high of more than
3000 Kelvin on Thursday and falling back 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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