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G4TNU > NEWS 10.05.26 02:34l 248 Lines 12054 Bytes #30 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 10 May 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 10th of May 2026
The news headlines:
* RSGB Board liaison roles announced
* Women in amateur radio and STEM
* A message from the RSGB President at the 2026 AGM
Each RSGB Board Director has a liaison role between the Board and
specific aspects of the Society's work. This focuses very much on the
work done by RSGB volunteers in committees, groups and teams as well
as by the Honorary Officers and Champions. In a role swap that has
been planned for some time, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML will become Board
Liaison for the RSGB Regional Team and Nathan Nuttall, MM9OCC will
become Board Liaison for the RSGB Youth Committee. New Board member
Graham Smith, G4NMD has taken on responsibility for the exam
portfolio previously held by retired director Len Paget, GM0ONX.
Other roles and responsibilities will be announced shortly. In the
interim, if you have any doubts as to where to direct an enquiry
regarding a Board Liaison matter, please contact Board Chair Stewart
Bryant, G3YSX. To find out more or to see contact details for each
Board Director, go to rsgb.org/board
This year, International Women in Engineering Day takes place on the
23rd of June 2026. It is a celebration of the amazing work of women
engineers across the globe. People who have an interest in amateur
radio often work in careers related to Science, Technology
Engineering and Mathematics, also known as STEM. STEM subjects can be
an effective way for the RSGB to introduce amateur radio to new
audiences and young people. To mark the day, the Society is planning
to share stories of how amateur radio has helped female engineers in
their lives and careers. The theme for International Women in
Engineering Day 2026 is Engineering Intelligence and is an
opportunity to recognise the women engineers who solve complex
challenges and help drive change. Are you involved in a research
project? Perhaps you are designing something new, or re-working a
project to make it more accessible to others? Maybe you're part of a
team that is analysing data to find a solution to a problem? Whatever
your story, the Society would love to hear from you so it can help to
inspire future generations of girls and young women. If you'd like to
share your story, please send a photo and a summary of what you have
been doing to comms<at>rsgb.org.uk by the 31st of May.
Membership sits at the heart of the RSGB, and at its AGM in April,
RSGB President Bob Beebe, GU4YOX shared a message on this important
topic. During his video message Bob spoke about the wide range of
services that the RSGB offers its members. He went on to explain that
the Society is reviewing its membership offering and how that will be
implemented in the coming months. This important message is available
for all radio amateurs to watch via the RSGB YouTube channel. Go to
youtube.com/thersgb and select the RSGB 2026 AGM playlist to start
watching now. Remember to share this video with your friends, local
club and the rest of the amateur radio community.
The BBC has announced that the Droitwich Transmitter on 198kHz will
be permanently closed down during 2026. The Scottish Long Wave
transmitters at Burghead and Westerglen will also be turned off. The
Droitwich transmitter was commissioned during September 1934. These
transmissions have always been part of our lives as radio
enthusiasts. A date has not yet been formally given, but the BBC is
committing to providing two months' notice to listeners. The RSGB and
the BBC Amateur Radio Group are planning to mark this occasion on the
air. More details of how this will be achieved will be available
soon. Please email ContestClub<at>rsgbcc.org if you would like to
register your interest.
Remember to listen out for the stations that are taking part in the
Mills on the Air event today, the 10th of May. Radio amateurs are on
the air from a wide range of interesting locations and are keen to
take your call.
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
On Saturday the 16th of May, East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally
will take place at Beckingham Village Hall, Southfield Lane,
Beckingham DN10 4FX. The doors will be open from 9.30am to 3pm. Free
car parking is available behind the hall and traders are invited to
set up from 7am. Hot food and refreshments will be available on site.
For more information and booking details visit emerg.uk/rally
Dunstable Downs Radio Rally will be taking place on Sunday the 17th
of May at Stockwood Park in Luton. The boot sale will be open to
traders from 7.30am and to visitors from 9am. The entrance fee, which
includes car parking, is GBP 4 per vehicle. Find out more at
dunstabledownsradioclub.org/bootsale
Now the Special Event news
Special callsign HG333DEB will be active from the 15th to the 24th of
May to celebrate the city of Debrecen [DEH-BRUH-SEN] in Hungary.
Listen out for activity on all bands using CW, digital modes, FM and
SSB. More information, including details of awards that are available
for working the station, is available via QRZ.com
Antwerp Port Contest Club, ON8APC is active with special callsign
OT26EPIC to promote this year's Antwerp Port Epic cycling race. Look
for activity until the 25th of May. QSL via ON8JJ. See QRZ.com for
more details, including how to view a livestream of the event on
YouTube.
Now the DX news
Pascal, F8NQV is active as CN2NQV from Morocco until the 17th of
July. Look for him on the 40, 20, 17, 15 and 10m bands using SSB.
Tom, VK2TBC is on the air as VK0TBC from Casey Station, Antarctica
until December. He operates using SSB and FT8. Updates on Tom's
station are posted at vk2tbc.com
Now the contest news
Today, the 10th, the RSGB 70MHz CW Contest runs from 0900 to 1200UTC.
Using CW on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator. UK stations also send their postcode.
Also today, the 10th, the UK Microwave Group Millimetre Wave Contest
runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and 76GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Tuesday the 12th of May, the RSGB 432MHz FM Activity Contest runs
from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 70cm band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 12th of May, the RSGB 432MHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 70cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 13th, 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 13th, 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 Thursday the 14th of May, the RSGB 50MHz UK Activity Contest runs
from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The RSGB 144MHz May Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 16th
and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 17th of May. Using all modes on the
2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK
stations also send their postcode.
On Sunday the 17th of May, the RSGB 1st 144MHz Backpackers Contest
runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. UK stations
also send their postcode.
On Monday the 18th of May, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900
to 2100UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your report.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 7th of May 2026
We had another mixed week of HF propagation, with a Kp index of 6 one
day and then three days later a Kp of less than 1.
The index hit 6.33 on the evening of Monday the 4th of May, sparking
aurora and poor HF conditions. But by Wednesday the 6th of May it was
back down to 0.67. So, you can see why it is hard to predict what HF
conditions are going to be like with ionospheric propagation being
driven by the geomagnetic status rather than the solar flux index.
According to the CDXC Slack group, DX worked over the past week
included TZ4AM in Mali on 10m CW; T31TTT from Central Kiribati
[KI-REE-BAS] on 12m and 15m FT8; XQ6CF in Chile on 17m CW; VP8A on
the Falkland Islands on 60m CW; 3B9G on 20m CW and TL8BNW from
Central African Republic on 40m SSB.
So, there is DX about if you hunt for it. Interestingly, all of the
above, apart from T31TTT, were on southward paths, perhaps reflecting
poorer conditions on polar paths at times due to the elevated Kp
index.
Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain around
115 to 130 with calm geomagnetic conditions for the first half of the
week. However, unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the
15th to the 18th of May with a possible Kp index of 5.
With five sunspot groups visible on the Sun's surface, and active
region 4419 the source of two X-Flares on Friday the 24th of April,
now about to turn back into Earth's view, it is anyone's guess what
could happen next!
As we enter mid-May we are getting closer to summer HF conditions. So
Sporadic-E on the higher HF bands, lower maximum usable frequencies
overall, but perhaps 14MHz staying open all night, are all features
to watch out for. Also look out for 10m band openings to Southern
Africa around midday and paths to South America during early and late
evening.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The current period of weather seems to be a mix of weak high-pressure
and low-pressure systems vying for dominance. Therefore, it implies a
mix of radio conditions will share our attention, with weak tropo
from ridges of high pressure, but no big highs on the chart; and
frontal rain bands or heavy showers bringing a chance of rain scatter
for GHz operators.
The prospects for meteor scatter may remain elevated for a while
since we have only just passed the peak of the Eta Aquarids on
Wednesday the 6th of May. Remember the early morning hours tend to be
best for meteor activity in general.
The aurora alerts have continued to provide a glimmer of hope, but
mostly for weak enhancements, so look for a Kp value of 5 or greater
and signs of ‘watery' sounding signals on the HF bands before
turning the VHF beams to the north.
As we move into the early part of the Sporadic-E season, it will
become the mode of choice for us during the next few months. The
general rule is to check for the two main periods of activity, in
mid-morning and again late afternoon or early evening. Listen for
strong signals on the 10m band from Europe and then, as the event
develops, the higher frequency bands will open up too. In a strong
event, the 2m band can even show up sounding like 20m. However, early
season events tend to favour the 10 and 6m bands.
EME now. The Moon is past minimum declination and increasing, giving
lengthening Moon windows and increasing peak elevation. Path losses
are decreasing now after apogee on Monday the 4th of May. 144MHz sky
temperature is low all week until Saturday the 16th of May when the
Sun and Moon are close in the sky.
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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