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G4TNU > NEWS 19.04.26 02:34l 260 Lines 12883 Bytes #60 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 19 Apr 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 19th of April 2026
The news headlines:
* The RSGB has published a question bank for Full level
examinations
* Catch up with the RSGB 2026 AGM on YouTube
* The RSGB has announced two new youth team volunteers
At its 2024 meeting, the RSGB Examination Standards Committee agreed,
with Ofcom approval, to publish the Full level examination question
bank after a thorough vetting of the questions by the Examinations
and Syllabus Review Group had taken place. ESC Chair Tony Kent, G8PBH
is pleased to announce that the question bank is now available via
rsgb.org/exam-questions It will also be accessible via links on the
RSGB web pages for exam candidates and trainers. The copyright to the
question bank is held by the RSGB. Developed by Aubrey, M8AUB, the
user interface works on PCs and mobile devices with a web browser. It
allows users to access questions in different ways, for example by
syllabus section, and even to create and take their own mock
examinations. The Society believes this initiative will make a
significant contribution to training and should become a valuable
resource for both candidates and trainers. After it has had time to
assess its impact at Full level, the ESC will consider rolling it out
to the other examination levels of Foundation, Intermediate and
Direct to Full. As candidates and trainers will now be able to use
the interface to generate their own mock examinations from the
question bank, the RSGB has removed all the Full level mock papers
currently on its website. If you encounter any issues with the
questions or question bank interface web page, please report them via
the online examination informal query form. You can find this at the
bottom of the exam forms web page at rsgb.org/exam-forms
The RSGB would like to thank everyone who joined the RSGB 2026 AGM
which was held online yesterday, 18 April. If you missed the live
event, you're able to watch the full livestream on the Society's
YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB As well as the formal AGM
business, there was a special message from the RSGB President and the
Board answered questions from RSGB members on a wide range of topics.
The AGM was followed by a presentation on the Society's work to
defend the spectrum and ensure that radio amateurs can enjoy amateur
radio across the bands. If you would like to read more about the
RSGB's work in protecting the spectrum, including successes in
spectrum access and defence, as well as current concerns, visit
rsgb.org/spectrum-protection Winners of the RSGB 2026 Construction
Competition and the RSGB Trophies were also announced. Timestamps
will be available in the video summary on YouTube, allowing you to
skip to particular sections you wish to watch. Go to rsgb.org/agm to
find out more about the AGM, including personal statements from the
new elected and nominated Board Directors, as well as the Regional
Representatives.
The RSGB is delighted to announce two new volunteer youth team roles
as it continues to grow and strengthen its support for young radio
amateurs across the UK. Leon Shaw, M0VUF will be the Youth Vice
Chair, working closely with the Youth Chair Chris Aitken, MM0WIC to
help guide and develop the expanding Youth Team. Sophie Bourne, M9LBW
will collaborate with Chris over the coming months with the intention
of taking on full responsibility for the Youth Champion for Schools
role later this year. Both Leon and Sophie represented the RSGB at
last year's YOTA summer camp, supported the Youth stand at the RSGB
2025 Convention and took part in a Tonight<at>8 episode to share
their experiences of amateur radio and how it has shaped their
interests. Sophie also brought fresh ideas to the recent RSGB
Membership Strategy Workshop, which will help to shape future youth
engagement.
The RSGB National Radio Centre will be closed to visitors on Monday
the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of April 2026 due to essential
maintenance work taking place. RSGB volunteers look forward to
welcoming you on an alternative day. Don't forget that if you are an
RSGB member you can receive free entry to Bletchley Park, which
includes the RSGB National Radio Centre, by downloading and printing
a personalised voucher at rsgb.org/bpvoucher
International Marconi Day is on Saturday the 25th of April. This
world-wide event is organised by the Cornish Amateur Radio Club to
celebrate the birth of Italian radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi.
Stations from around the world are coming together to celebrate the
life of this remarkable man. For more information, including details
of how to take part, visit gx4crc.com/imd
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
Cambridge Repeater Group Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 19th
of April, at Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton CB22 6RN.
Traders can gain access from 7.30am and the doors open to visitors at
9.30am. Entry costs GBP 4 but there will be a discount for
multi-occupancy vehicles. For more information email
rally2026<at>cambridgerepeaters.net and visit cambridgerepeaters.net
The Broadcast Engineering Museum is having an open day on Sunday the
3rd of May from 11am. The museum is located at 41 Capper Avenue,
Hemswell Cliff, near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 5XS. It is home
to one of the largest collections of historic broadcasting equipment
in the world. For more information visit becg.org.uk/events
Now the Special Event news
The Ramsbury Amateur Radio DX Group will be active as GB80RY on
Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of April 2026. The station will
be on the air to commemorate 80 years since the decommissioning of
RAF Ramsbury in Wiltshire. Operators will be using CW, FT8 and SSB on
the 80 to 10m bands.
Special event station GB2JAF will be active on Saturday the 25th of
April from 10am to celebrate the life and work of Professor Sir John
Ambrose Fleming, the inventor of the Thermionic Valve. Look out for
activity on the 40 and 20m bands using SSB. There will also be some
activity via the GB3LV repeater and EchoLink. More information is
available at QRZ.com
Now the DX news
Phill, FK1TS is active again as C21TS from Nauru [NAA-OO-ROO],
OC-031, until July. He mainly operates using FT8 but may also try
some SSB contacts. QSL via Logbook of the World or OQRS. QSOs are
live streamed on Club Log.
Tom, VK2TBC will be active as VK0TBC from Casey Station in Antarctica
until December. He operates using FT8 and SSB. For more information
and updates visit vk2tbc.com
Now the contest news
On Tuesday the 21st of April, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 22nd of April, the RSGB 80m Club Championship runs
from 1900 to 2030UTC. Using SSB on the 80m band, the exchange is
signal report and serial number.
The United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club DX CW Contest starts at
1200UTC on Saturday the 25th and ends at 1200UTC on Sunday the 26th
of April. Using CW on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Full
rules, including UK and EI area codes, are available via
tinyurl.com/ukeiccrules
The SP DX RTTY Contest starts at 1200UTC on Saturday the 25th and
runs until 1200UTC on Sunday the 26th of April. Using RTTY on the 80
to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal
report and serial number. Polish stations also send their province
code.
On Sunday the 26th of April, the UK Microwave Group EHF Band Contest
runs from 0800 to 2000UTC. Using all modes on 76 to 241GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Sunday the 26th of April, the British Amateur Radio Teledata
Group Sprint 25 Contest runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using 75 baud RTTY
on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is
your six-character locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 16th of April 2026.
Last week was characterised by a low Kp index and an equally low
solar flux index.
The Kp index was predominately below 2 all week thanks to a lack of
Earth-directed CMEs, or coronal holes. Unfortunately, that is about
to change.
The solar index has been consistently around the 100 mark, dipping as
low as 93 on the 11th and only as high as 105 on Thursday the 16th of
April.
This has meant settled ionospheric conditions that have not been
outstanding but have at least been reliable. The maximum useable
frequency, or MUF, over a 3,000km path has reached 24MHz at times,
but often battling to reach 21MHz. This is a taste of things to come
over the next few years as we descend towards sunspot minimum.
The settled conditions mean, however, that there has been DX to work.
The CDXC Slack group reports FT8 and CW contacts with 3X3A in Guinea
on the 17, 15 and 12m bands. 3B9G in Mauritius has been logged on the
15m band using CW. D60DX in Comoros was worked on the 15m band using
CW. Other DX includes 9V1DW in Singapore on the 17m band and TN8GD in
Republic of the Congo on the 20m band using CW.
Now the bad news. A very large coronal hole on the Sun is rotating to
become Earth-facing. A high-speed solar wind stream flowing from this
zone reached the Earth last Friday, the 17th of April. Active Kp4 and
minor G1 geomagnetic storming may be possible today, the 19th of
April. So, we can expect reduced MUFs and poorer HF conditions.
DXpeditions active this week include V47EM on St Kitts and Nevis;
OX3LX from Greenland; T31TTT in Central Kiribati [KI-REE-BAS]; TX9W
from the Marquesas Islands; D60DX in Comoros and 3X3A in Guinea.
NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will climb next week, perhaps
reaching a high of 145 by Thursday the 23rd of April. After the
geomagnetic disturbances from the coronal hole die down, we may have
two or more days of settled conditions before more disruption around
Saturday the 25th of April. This is coupled with a predicted Kp index
of 4 – just in time for International Marconi Day!
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The main note on the weather influence is that once high pressure
becomes established at this time of the year it can be remarkably
persistent. In this case, the high pressure that is now developing
over the UK may remain in control until the end of the month.
Tropo will therefore be a mode of choice, but a cool north or
northeasterly flow over the eastern side of the country will mean
that western Britain fares best for any lift conditions. Over eastern
areas a cool northerly breeze will bring cloud and a few showers.
The prospects for aurora are still worth checking out by noting the
Kp index for values above 5 and preferably above 7. As we reported
earlier, the effects of a large coronal hole may be reaching us
today, the 19th. So, check the Kp index and listen for fluttery
signals on the HF bands. Then get ready to turn your VHF beams
northeast.
As for meteor scatter, we are now coming up to the peak of the April
Lyrids on Wednesday the 22nd of April. We should see some activity
increase to beyond the random fare of recent weeks. In contrast, rain
scatter may not be a good option with high pressure, or just isolated
showers, not offering much for the microwave bands.
We are rapidly heading towards May when the prospects for Sporadic-E
start to be worth checking. In the coming week there are not too many
suitable jet streams, which can be good regions to check for
Sporadic-E. To get into practice for the new season check the
Sporadic-E blog on propquest.co.uk for a jet stream map and look for
spikes in the foEs trace on the graphs. The site is currently being
worked on, so apologies for any dropouts.
An update on EME prospects now. Moon declination reaches a maximum
high on Tuesday the 21st of April. Moon perigee, its closest point to
Earth, is today Sunday the 19th of April, so path losses will be at a
minimum. Sky noise is slightly higher on Tuesday the 21st of April,
but this is minor and returns to low again on Friday the 24th of
April.
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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