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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 24th of August 2025

The news headlines:

* Apply to be the RSGB Youth Activities and Engagement Champion
* The Tonight<at>8 webinar series is back with a brilliant 
autumn line-up
* Hans Summers, G0UPL confirmed as the RSGB Convention 
after-dinner speaker


The RSGB Youth Team is looking for a proactive, enthusiastic and 
innovative person to join its team as the Society's volunteer Youth 
Activities and Engagement Champion. The role will take the lead on 
youth-focused activities and create resources for young Foundation 
licence holders. If you would like to help inspire young people to 
explore new aspects of amateur radio, then read the full role 
description via rsgb.org/volunteers  and then get in touch with the 
Youth Board Liaison Ben Lloyd, GW4BML via gw4bml<at>rsgb.org.uk  This 
exciting role will be working collaboratively with Ben, as well as 
the existing Youth Champions and RSGB Outreach Team. You can see some 
of the amazing projects the team has been working on by visiting the 
RSGB Youth web pages via rsgb.org/youth

The Tonight<at>8 autumn programme kicks off on Monday the 1st of 
September with a fascinating presentation from Kristen McIntyre, 
K6WX. During the 45-minute session Kristen will explain Maxwell's 
Equations in a visual and relatable way that aims to leave viewers 
with an understanding of a topic that can often feel impenetrable. 
Maxwell's Equations are essential for radio amateurs and explain how 
RF signals propagate, antennas radiate, and common-mode currents 
form. By the end of this informative webinar, you'll be able to see 
how Maxwell's four simultaneous differential equations combine to 
bring the world of radio to life. Kristen discovered amateur radio 
when she was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
in 1979 and has been active ever since. Among other roles, she is the 
ARRL First Vice President and has also recently been inducted into 
the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. Learn more about Kristen and this 
not to be missed webinar by going to rsgb.org/webinars 

Hans Summers, G0UPL from QRP Labs has been confirmed by the RSGB as 
the after-dinner speaker at its Convention in October. Following the 
gala dinner, Hans will be sharing the emotions he experienced during 
the nine months he spent adding SSB to the QMX transceiver. Tickets 
for the gala dinner, along with those for the full Convention 
programme and the three exciting workshops, can be purchased via 
rsgb.org/convention  This year's RSGB Convention takes place at Kents 
Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes between Friday the 10th and 
Sunday the 12th of October. Book now and join like-minded radio 
amateurs for an action-packed programme.

The RSGB Examination Standards Committee is pleased to announce the 
publication of an updated version of the Direct to Full syllabus. The 
significant changes from the previous version are the moving of some 
points between Section One on Licensing and Section Two on Operating. 
These changes bring the Direct to Full syllabus into line with the 
latest version of the three-part syllabus. You can find the updated 
syllabus and change documentation on the RSGB website at 
rsgb.org/syllabus  These changes will come into effect from January 
2026, so please choose the correct version of the syllabus for the 
date you plan to take your exam.

Four young RSGB members have spent the last week near Paris for this 
year's Youngsters on the Air summer camp. The event was a huge 
success with activities that included group member Sophie, M7IJG 
asking a question to Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT during the camp's 
ARISS contact with the International Space Station. Hear more from 
the young radio amateurs by reading their blog via rsgb.org/yota-camp

RSGB members, and the wider amateur radio community, are invited to a 
‘Meet the President Day' at the RSGB's National Radio Centre on 
Thursday the 28th of August. The Society's President, Bob Beebe, 
GU4YOX, will be present throughout the day to welcome members, hear 
their views, and discuss the work of the Society in supporting and 
promoting amateur radio. RSGB members, don't forget to download your 
free entry voucher to Bletchley Park via rsgb.org/bpvoucher

The Maritime Radio Historical Society in the United States, in 
cooperation with the Cipher History Museum, has arranged to transmit 
an Enigma message via the maritime radio coast station KPH, near San 
Francisco. The transmission will take place on Saturday the 30th of 
August at 2000UTC. KPH listeners, intercept operators and 
codebreakers everywhere are invited to try their hand at receiving 
the transmission and decrypting the message. For more information, 
including details of certificates that are available for decrypting 
the message, visit tinyurl.com/mrhs2025


And now for details of rallies and events

Today, the 24th, the Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is 
taking place at Heron's Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, 
Loughton Lodge, Milton Keynes. Free on-site parking, catering and 
disabled facilities are available. The entrance fee is GBP 3. The 
doors open to the public from 9am. For more information visit 
mkars.org.uk/mkrally

The Torbay Amateur Radio Society Rally is also taking place at Newton 
Abbot Racecourse today, the 24th. The doors open at 10am and entry 
costs GBP 3. You can find out more via torbayars.org

Tomorrow, the 25th, the Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Society Radio 
Rally will take place at the Ramsey Rural Museum, Wood Lane, Ramsey, 
PE26 2XD. For more information visit tinyurl.com/hunts25

Telford Hamfest is taking place on Sunday the 31st of August at 
Harper Adams University Sports Hall. The doors open at 10.15am. 
Admission is GBP 5 but children up to the age of 16 will be admitted 
free of charge. The G-QRP Club will be present again with a Saturday 
Buildathon. More details are available at tinyurl.com/tdars25


Now the Special Event news

In memory of Maximilian Kolbe, special callsign 4A2MAX is active 
until the 31st of August. Kolbe is venerated by the Catholic Church 
as the patron saint of amateur radio operators. Activity will be on 
the 80 to 6m bands using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via Logbook 
of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com or via EA5GL.

To celebrate the International Amateur Radio Union's 100th 
anniversary, members of the Atlantic Coast DX and Contest Group are 
active as CG9IARU throughout August. The station was spotted recently 
on the 20m band using SSB. QSL via VE9CF. See QRZ.com for more 
information. 


Now the DX news

Aldir, PY1SAD is active as 8R1TM from Guyana until the 23rd of 
September. He is operating CW, SSB and digital modes on all bands and 
via satellite. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com, or 
directly to PY1SAD.

Don, KW7R is active as V73KW from the Marshall Islands until 
September. He operates CW and FT8 on various bands. QSL via Logbook 
of the World.

 
Now the contest news

Today, the 24th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs 
from 0600 to 1800UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, 
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Tuesday the 26th, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 
to 2130UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange 
is signal report, serial number and locator.

The World Wide Digi DX Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 30th 
and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 31st of August. Using FT4 and FT8 
on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange 
is your four-character locator.


Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO 
on Thursday the 21st of August

Last week was relatively good from an HF propagation standpoint, with 
only a few periods with an elevated Kp index thanks to a high-speed 
solar wind stream from a coronal hole.

The Kp index hit 4.67 on the 19th of August and 4 again on the 20th 
due to the solar wind hitting earth at more than 600 kilometres per 
second. Luckily, the interplanetary magnetic field remained mostly 
neutral, or north-facing, and the density was low, saving us from 
more disruption.

Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined to 120 by Thursday the 21st. 
This is still high enough to affect the ionosphere, but well down on 
recent highs in the 140s and 150s.

The daytime critical frequency has mostly remained above 7.5MHz, 
meaning the 40m band has managed to remain good for inter-UK 
contacts. This has also meant that maximum usable frequencies, or 
MUFs, over a 3,000km path hit 21MHz and even 24.9MHz at times. 
Nighttime critical frequencies have been around 5MHz, giving an MUF 
over 3,000km of below 14MHz and sometimes even as low as 10MHz.

It may be another month or so before we see daytime F2-layer openings 
starting again on 28MHz. In the meantime, focus your efforts during 
daylight on 21MHz and below.

T30TTT in Western Kiribati [KIRIB-ASS] remains one of the DX stations 
to chase, mostly on 18 and 21MHz. The operators are alternating 
between using CW, SSB and FT8. Other choice DX worked included Jim, 
E51JD on South Cook Islands who has been active on the 17m band using 
SSB. TY5AD in Benin, Africa has been worked on the 10m band using 
FT8. And 3G1P, an IOTA DXpedition in Chile, was logged on the 15m 
band using SSB.

Closer to home, today, the 24th, is the last chance to work OG0C on 
the Aland Islands.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will remain in the 
120s, until the end of the month when it could rise to 130 and even 
150. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 28th of 
August when the Kp index could hit 4.

Otherwise, make the most of the relatively settled conditions over 
the first half of next week to work some choice DX!


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

After this weekend, the weather changes from a Tropo high pressure 
pattern to an unsettled story with areas of low pressure and fronts 
together with wind and rain. This will remove any Tropo options and 
replace them with a possibility of rain scatter on the GHz bands.

The auroral conditions have recently produced minor enhancements, 
although nothing too exciting so far radio-wise. It's worth noting 
that the autumn, along with spring, are times of the year when 
auroras are more likely. So, it's a good time of the year to keep 
abreast of the Kp index, especially if the Kp index goes above 5.

We are at the tail end of the broader period of the Perseid meteor 
shower, ending today, the 24th. This leaves random meteor activity as 
the only option for a while. As those of you who are active in the 
mode already know, it tends to favour the early pre-dawn period for 
better chances of catching meteor scatter.

Sporadic-E is hanging on for the last week or two of the 2025 season, 
but opportunities become much rarer. You'll need to keep a close 
watch on band reports to capture these increasingly fleeting events. 
In the main Sporadic-E season, there are usually two well-defined 
peaks of activity in the morning and late afternoon. However, in the 
tail of the Sporadic-E season you are just as likely to find it 
around the middle of the day as at any other time.

The daily Sporadic-E blogs at propquest.co.uk  finish at the end of 
August, but in some years the last events have extended into the 
first week of September. 

Moon declination is still positive, but falling, going negative on 
Monday. So, Moon window lengths and peak elevation will follow suit. 
Path losses are rising again as we approach apogee on Friday the 
29th. 144MHz sky noise was low until lunchtime on Friday the 22nd, 
when the Sun and the Moon were very close in the sky. This continued 
throughout the Moon window on yesterday, the 23rd, and will revert to 
moderate-to-low next 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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