G4TNU  > NEWS     02.11.25 00:30l 260 Lines 12452 Bytes #194 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 02 Nov 2025
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 2nd of November 2025

The news headlines:

* The RSGB National Radio Centre wins the 2025 Sir Arthur 
Clarke Education and Outreach Team Award
* The RSGB releases two panel discussions from its recent 
Convention
* Learn how to improve speech clarity with DSP in November's 
Tonight<at>8


At a glittering awards ceremony in London this week, the RSGB 
National Radio Centre team beat two other finalists to win the 2025 
Sir Arthur Clarke Education and Outreach Team Award. The NRC team was 
recognised "For inspiring all Generations about Amateur Satellites by 
providing a unique insight into the world of radio communications". 
The awards are organised by the British Interplanetary Society. The 
award was accepted by RSGB General Manager Steve Thomas, M1ACB; NRC 
Coordinator Martyn Baker, G0GMB; and NRC thanked Martyn and the 65 
volunteers for the work that they do in welcoming over 80,000 
visitors to the NRC each year. He also said that through the 
Society's public outreach and STEM activities, it aims to help 
generate and support future RF engineers who may one day 
work in the space or related industries. Congratulations to the whole 
NRC team for this fantastic recognition of the great work you do!
Have you ever considered how to engage more girls and women with 
amateur radio? This question was discussed by a panel of female radio 
amateurs at the RSGB Convention last month. The group touched on 
topics including accessibility to in-person activities, support and 
encouragement, as well as the potential obstacles to attracting more 
women into amateur radio. The discussion is now available to watch in 
the RSGB 2025 Convention playlist on the RSGB's YouTube channel via 
youtube.com/thersgb  and would be great to use for a club night to 
start conversations and to help inspire new plans. You can also see 
the "How to encourage thriving clubs" panel discussion in the same 
playlist, where four clubs shared the activities that are helping 
them to gain members. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel to be 
the first to hear about new videos when they are released.

Tomorrow, the 3rd of November, join Graham Somerville, M3ZGS, owner 
and managing director of DSP noise cancellation specialists bhi 
[B-H-I] Ltd, for November's Tonight<at>8 webinar. The presentation 
will give viewers an insight into how to improve speech clarity with 
Digital Signal Processing technology and which products are best 
suited to specific applications and setups. Graham will also explain 
how noise cancelling will help those with hearing loss to enjoy 
amateur radio more. You can join the webinar and ask questions via 
the live chat on both the RSGB YouTube channel and special BATC 
channel. To find out more go to rsgb.org/webinars

If you are planning a visit to the RSGB National Radio Centre, please 
note that it will be closing at 4pm over the winter months, in line 
with Bletchley Park's operating hours. Volunteers from the Centre 
look forward to welcoming visitors. Remember that RSGB members can 
download a free entry voucher for Bletchley Park at rsgb.org/bpvoucher

The Memorial Day QSO Party is an activity providing participants with 
an opportunity to honour amateur radio operators who are now Silent 
Key. The event is being sponsored and managed by the First Class CW 
Operators' Club and is open to all licensed amateurs. The event began 
at 0900UTC yesterday, the 1st, and ends at 0859UTC today, the 2nd of 
November 2025. More information is available by following the ‘On 
Air' tab at g4foc.org 

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

Rochdale and District Amateur Radio Society Winter Rally is taking 
place on Saturday the 15th of November at St Vincent de Paul's Hall, 
Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. The doors open at 10am and entry costs 
GBP 3. Traders, catering and plenty of free parking will be available 
on site. For more information email rally.radars<at>hotmail.com

On Sunday the 30th of November, Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur's Club 
Rally is taking place at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham. 
Traders, catering, ample parking and disabled facilities will be 
available. For more information and downloadable trader forms, visit 
barac.org.uk


Now the Special Event news

Members of the Latvian Radio Amateur League are active with special 
callsign YL100LR to mark the centenary of Latvijas [LAH-TVEE-YAHS] 
Radio's first broadcast on the 1st of November 1925. Today, the 2nd, 
is your last chance to put the callsign in your log. Look for 
activity on the HF bands using FT8. QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook 
of the World, eQSL, QRZ.com  and Club Log. 

The East Midlands Electronics and Radio Group will be on the air with 
the GB1BK callsign to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. Operators 
expect to be active on at least the 8th and 9th of November during 
daylight hours. The team may also be active on Armistice Day, the 
11th of November. The station will operate from former RAF Binbrook 
in Lincolnshire. Listen for activity on all bands, but in particular, 
the 40 and 20m bands using SSB, and the 2m band using FM.


Now the DX news

The 5K0UA team is active from San Andres Island, NA-033, until 
tomorrow, the 3rd. Operators are using CW, FT8 and SSB on the 160 to 
10m bands. QSL via OQRS and Logbook of the World. For more 
information visit imdx.org

Edgar, K2IN is operating CW with the HC8M callsign from San Cristobal 
in the Galapagos Islands, SA-004, until Tuesday the 4th of November. 
QSL via OQRS.


Now the contest news

The United Kingdom and Ireland Contest Club DX SSB Contest started at 
1200UTC yesterday, the 1st, and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 2nd 
of November. Using SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are 
permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. UK and EI 
stations also send their district code. For full details, including 
the team competition and area codes, visit ukeicc.com  or rsgbcc.org  
Scores from RSGB members operating within the UK and Crown 
Dependencies will be included in the HF Championship.

The Worked All Britain DX Contest started at 1200UTC yesterday, the 
1st, and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 2nd of November. Using SSB 
on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is 
signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain area.

The RSGB 144MHz CW Marconi Contest started at 1400UTC yesterday, the 
1st, and ends at 1400UTC today, the 2nd of November. Using CW on the 
2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Tomorrow, the 3rd, the RSGB Autumn Series Data Contest runs from 2000 
to 2130UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is 
signal report and serial number.

On Tuesday the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest runs from 
1900 to 1955UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is signal 
report, serial number and locator.

Also on Tuesday the 4th, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity Contest runs 
from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is 
signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday the 5th, the RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity four-hour Contest 
runs from 1700 to 2100UTC. Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is 
report and four-character locator. Also on Wednesday the 5th, the 
RSGB 144MHz FT8 Activity two-hour Contest runs from 1900 to 2100UTC. 
Using FT8 on the 2m band, the exchange is report and four-character 
locator. Stations entering the four-hour contest may also enter the 
two-hour contest.

Also on Wednesday the 5th, the United Kingdom and Ireland Contest 
Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using SSB on the 80m 
band, the exchange is your six-character locator.

The Worked All Europe DX RTTY Contest runs from 0000UTC on Saturday 
the 8th to 2359UTC on Sunday the 9th of November. Using RTTY on the 
80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal 
report and serial number.

On Saturday the 8th, the RSGB 1.8MHz Affiliated Societies Contest 
runs from 2000 to 2300UTC. Using CW and SSB on the 160m band, the 
exchange is signal report, serial number and your club information.

On Sunday the 9th, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest runs from 
1000 to 1400UTC. 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 30th of October

Last weekend saw HF shine as stations took part in the CQ World Wide 
SSB Contest. Geomagnetic conditions remained settled and DX was 
plentiful, with contacts possible as far afield as Alaska to the west 
and China to the east.

Given the unsettled conditions we have had recently, it was a welcome 
break as radio amateurs filled their logs with far-flung DX.

As we enter November, we can still expect the fine autumnal 
conditions that made October so good. However, as the month 
progresses, we can also anticipate improvements in LF band DX. So 
keep an eye on the 80 and 40m bands.

The solar flux index has declined somewhat and is now standing at 
118. This is still enough to get the 10m band humming, but it is a 
far cry from the 200-plus we saw at sunspot maximum. Nevertheless, 
get on the bands and work the DX while you can.

Two large coronal holes, one in the Sun's northern hemisphere and one 
in the southern hemisphere, have been the sources of a fast solar 
wind stream. We may expect more geomagnetic disturbances today, the 
2nd.

Also, active region 4246 is now coming around the Sun's limb again 
and could be worth keeping an eye on. It has been emitting solar 
flares while behind the Sun, so look out for more activity upon its 
return.

For the coming week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index could 
increase, perhaps starting the week at around 135 and increasing to 
150 by the 9th of November. 

The first half of the week should be quiet geomagnetically, but we 
may expect more unsettled geomagnetic conditions around the 7th to 
the 9th of November, when the Kp index could increase to 5. Expect 
maximum usable frequencies to be depressed until the Kp index 
recovers.


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

The current spell of unsettled weather remains the focus for the 
foreseeable future. Previous model runs had suggested the possibility 
of high pressure returning by the end of the coming week, but this is 
no longer the case. 

The RSGB 144MHz CW Marconi Contest, which ends at 1400UTC today, the 
2nd, looks to be under the influence of low pressure rather than any 
tropo-producing highs. With the unsettled pattern continuing, the 
optional modes might be rain scatter for the GHz bands, but not tropo.

The chances of aurora are there and, after a very auroral-sounding 
40m band on Wednesday the 29th of October when the Kp index hit 4, we 
should remain alert to changed conditions on the high HF and VHF 
bands. However, it probably needs something higher, like a Kp index 
between 5 and 7, before getting excited about radio effects.  

The meteor scatter options look reasonable as we move into November 
but the next important shower, the Leonids, doesn't peak until the 
17th. We do, however, enter the edge of the stream later in the 
coming week.

A final note of caution is that this unsettled type of weather 
pattern can produce rapidly developing lows and bring damaging winds 
to some parts of the country. So, take the opportunity on the quieter 
days to check antennas are secure.

For EME operators, the Moon's declination is negative and rising, 
going positive today, the 2nd of November. So, Moon window lengths 
and peak elevation are both rising. Path losses are still falling as 
we approach perigee on the 5th of November. 144MHz sky noise is low 
all week, rising to medium 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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