G4TNU  > NEWS     07.12.25 00:30l 265 Lines 12904 Bytes #183 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 07 Dec 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 7th of December 2025

The news headlines:

* Become an RSGB Regional Representative in your area
* Keep up to date with how technology can be used in amateur 
radio
* 5MHz – an important reminder about FT8 use within allocated 
frequencies


Do you want to make a difference to the amateur radio community in 
your region? The RSGB has three Regional Representative posts that 
are available for nominations in the upcoming 2026 elections. These 
are for Region 2 which covers Scotland North and the Northern Isles, 
Region 7 which represents South Wales, and Region 9 which covers 
London and Thames Valley. As a Regional Representative you will lead 
the team of District Representatives in your area and not only 
represent the Society but also support your fellow radio amateurs. 
Find out more about what it takes to succeed in this role by reading 
the candidate pack at rsgb.org/elections  The deadline for 
applications is the 31st of January 2026.

An increasing number of modern technologies are being used in 
different ways within amateur radio. From artificial intelligence 
that helps you to write software, to a 3D printer that you can use to 
create amateur radio equipment. The RSGB has gathered some of these 
together in a web section called ‘Emerging technologies' and has 
now added to it an overview of the new monthly RadCom column 
‘Experimenters' Corner'. The column was introduced in November and 
is written by RSGB Board Director Mark Jones, G0MGX. The column 
covers everything from setting up your own TinyGS project at home to 
experimenting with Meshtastic. Go to rsgb.org/emerging-technologies  
and be inspired.

The RSGB reminds all radio amateurs that they must only operate 
within the UK allocated bands for each mode. Ofcom has noticed that, 
increasingly, radio amateurs are using FT8 outside of the UK 60m 
allocations. It is monitoring usage and will write to you if it 
observes your callsign operating outside of this band. Please ensure 
the configuration of your FT8 software limits your transmissions to 
frequencies and bandwidth that are fully within the UK allocation. 
For example, when using WSJT-X for digital modes at 5357kHz, it is 
imperative that the transmitted signal is never above 5358kHz. Using 
'Hold TX Freq' can help with this. The Society works hard to protect 
the spectrum for all radio amateurs to use, but that work will be 
made more difficult if radio amateurs continue to stray outside of 
the allocated bands. The Ofcom OFW611 Amateur Radio Licence Terms and 
Conditions document includes an explanation of all the frequencies 
available to radio amateurs in the UK. You can find this on the Ofcom 
website or via the UK amateur licensing link on the RSGB website at 
rsgb.org/licensing

The RSGB National Radio Centre, located at Bletchley Park, will be 
closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's 
Day. There will be reduced hours on New Year's Eve when the Centre 
will be closing at 2pm. In addition to this, it will also be closed 
for essential maintenance works on the 5th and 6th of January 2026. 
Outside of these times, volunteers look forward to welcoming visitors 
as usual. Remember that RSGB members can download a free entry 
voucher for Bletchley Park from the RSGB website at rsgb.org/bpvoucher

Youngsters on the Air Month is well underway with multiple groups 
scheduled to host special event station GB25YOTA this week. Today, 
Sunday the 7th of December, you'll be able to work operators from 
Cray Valley Radio Society, as well as the 2nd Marlborough Scouts. The 
Scout group will also be active tomorrow, Monday the 8th of December. 
Buckie High School in Scotland will be operating on Monday, 
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so listen out and encourage young 
operators in making what could be their first ever QSO. On Tuesday 
the 9th of December, Hilderstone Radio Society members will be 
supervising students from St Peters-In-Thanet Junior School. On 
Wednesday the 10th of December, students from Sunderland College will 
be on the amateur bands with supervision from Ian Bowman, G7ESY. 
Looking ahead to next weekend, the RSGB National Radio Centre will be 
welcoming young people to operate as GB25YOTA. Details of operating 
times, bands and modes can be found at rsgb.org/yota-month

There have been a number of changes to the Region 1 team, which 
covers Scotland South and the Western Isles. To ensure you are 
contacting the correct representative, go to rsgb.org/regions  and 
click the team name from the righthand menu, followed by ‘Meet the 
Region 1 team'.

And finally, a date for your diary. The next in the popular 145 Alive 
series will take place on Saturday the 7th of February from 12pm to 
3pm. The event will include the addition of 144MHz SSB stations with 
vertical polarisation. For more information visit the 145 Alive 
Facebook page.

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 7th of December, Mid Devon Amateur Radio and Electronics 
Fair is taking place at Winkleigh Sports and Recreation Centre. The 
doors will be open from 9am to 1pm. Entry costs GBP 3 per person and 
there is no charge for partners and under 16s. For more details 
contact Phil, G6DLJ on 07990 563 147 or email wrg2024<at>hotmail.com

Sparkford Radio Rally is due to take place on Sunday the 28th of 
December at Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, near Yeovil 
BA22 7QX. The doors will be open from 9.30am and admission will cost 
GBP 2. Refreshments and free parking will be available on site. For 
more details contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email 
luke<at>mymixradio.co.uk. 


Now the Special Event news

Celebrating the city of Chemnitz [CHEM-NITZ], one of the European 
Capitals of Culture for 2025, a number of special event callsigns are 
active from Germany until Monday the 15th of December. All QSOs will 
be uploaded to eQSL, Logbook of the World and Club Log. To read more, 
including information about certificates that are available for 
working the stations, visit 2025c.de

The first French satellite, named Asterix, was launched into orbit on 
the 26th of November 1965. To mark the 60th anniversary, members of 
the Wingles [WING-GULLS] Radio Club, F4KLR are active as TM60ATX on 
Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th of December, and again between 
the 19th and 23rd of December. All CW and SSB QSOs will be confirmed 
automatically via the Bureau. FT8 QSOs will be confirmed via eQSL.


Now the DX news

Vlad, OK2WX and Paula, OK2YL are active as HP3/OK2WX and HP3/OK2YL 
from Panama until Wednesday the 10th of December. They are operating 
CW and SSB with a focus on the 160, 80 and 40m bands. See QRZ.com for 
more information.

Pierre, VK3KTB is active as VY0ERC from the Eureka Amateur Radio Club 
station on Ellesmere Island, NA-008, until Wednesday the 10th of 
December. He operates CW, SSB and FT8 on various bands. QSL via OQRS 
and Logbook of the World.

 
Now the contest news

The ARRL 160m Contest started at 2200UTC on Friday the 5th and ends 
at 1559UTC today, Sunday the 7th of December. Using CW on the 160m 
band, the exchange is signal report. American and Canadian stations 
also send their ARRL or RAC section reference.

Today, the 7th of December, the RSGB 144MHz Affiliated Societies 
Contest runs from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, 
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Tuesday the 9th of December, 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 9th, 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 10th of December, 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 10th, 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 11th of December, 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 ARRL 10m Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 13th of 
December and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 14th of December. Using CW 
and phone on the 10m band, the exchange is signal report and serial 
number. American and Canadian stations also send their state or 
province code.


Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO 
on Thursday the 4th of December

The prediction made for last week was for the solar flux index to 
increase, possibly reaching 155 by the 1st of December and 175 by the 
6th.   In fact, it hit 196 on the 1st and 200 on the 2nd. This was no doubt 
aided by three large sunspot groups in the Sun's southern hemisphere.

We also said that the Kp index could hit 5 on the 3rd of December and 
it actually hit 6.67. So well done to the Space Weather Prediction 
Centre for its forecast.

On Thursday the 4th of December, the solar wind speed gradually 
increased from around 360 kilometres per second to 475 kilometres per 
second, thanks to the onset of an enhanced solar wind from a very 
large coronal hole. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic 
field has also been pointing sharply south at times, which means it 
more easily couples with the Earth and the Kp index goes up as solar 
plasma floods in.

Maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, have been affected, but not too 
much. The MUF over a 3,000km path was still above 28MHz on the 3rd of 
December, at least until sunset. Nighttime MUFs are now 
characteristically below 14MHz, leaving only 10MHz and below open to 
DX.

As reported by CDXC's Slack group this week, recent DX included the 
YJ0GC DXpedition to Vanuatu [VAN-OO-AH-TU] and OX7AM in Greenland on 
the 10m band using CW. 5R8IC in Madagascar was noted on the 15m band 
using FT4. And SU8YOTA in Egypt was worked on the 20m band using SSB.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will stay in the 
180 to 190 range and the good news is that the Kp index is predicted 
to remain low, at least until Saturday, the 13th of December, when it 
is forecast to rise once again to 5.

So, get your HF DXing in during the daytime over this coming week!


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

The weather charts for the coming week or more show a very unsettled 
pattern with some deep areas of low pressure, strong winds and heavy 
rain at times. 

Tropo is unlikely in the traditional high-pressure sense, but 
sometimes a strong maritime south-westerly wind can bring a brief 
slight improvement for parts of southeast Britain in the windy warm 
sector of the depression. Watch out for this on Tuesday the 9th of 
December.

Rain scatter remains a good option since there will be numerous bands 
of rain and showers available as scatter elements. The Margate 24GHz 
WebSDR has seen the Flanders beacon ON0HVL 
[OSCAR-NOVEMBER-ZERO-HOTEL-VICTOR-LIMA] for a number of days 
due to rain over the southern North Sea, but the lack of active 24GHz 
stations on the east coast made this a frustrating watch on a WebSDR. 

Aurora is a possibility during the coming week. Look for a Kp index 
above 5 to generate a good radio response. The evening of the 3rd of 
December saw classic fluttery HF signals on the 80m and 40m bands, 
supported by a Kp index of 6.67 and reported auroral QSOs on 70, 144 
and 50MHz. 

Lastly, a consideration of the meteor scatter prospects is more 
promising as we are now in the broader period for the Geminids, which 
is due to peak on Sunday the 14th of December. This shower has a 
maximum hourly rate of 120, so ranks as a joint second after the 
August Perseids.

For EME operators, Moon declination reached a maximum yesterday, the 
6th of December, meaning long Moon windows and high peak elevation. 
Path losses are at their lowest but increasing during the week. 
144MHz sky noise is low for 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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