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G4TNU > NEWS 29.08.26 23:45l 266 Lines 12995 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 30 Aug 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 30th of August 2026
* RSGB Board Chair change as part of planned transition
* Tonight<at>8 is back!
* Last chance to buy your RSGB Convention ticket at early bird
prices
The RSGB Board is pleased to announce that, following its meeting on
the 22nd of August 2026, Graham Smith, G4NMD has been appointed Chair
of the Board. This appointment forms part of a planned and orderly
leadership transition agreed by the Board. Stewart Bryant, G3YSX, who
has served as Chair since 2023 with distinction, fully supports the
change and will remain a Director until the 2027 AGM. He will
continue to contribute his considerable experience to the Society and
its activities. Licensed since 1974, Graham has been active in many
areas of amateur radio, including service as an RSGB District
Representative, RAYNET-UK Controller and member of the Emergency
Communications and Resilience Group. Since joining the Board, he has
led work on resilience, volunteer development, and governance
improvement, as well as serving as Board Liaison for Training and
Education. The Board looks forward to continuing its work with
volunteers, members and staff across the Society as it delivers its
strategic priorities and supports the amateur radio community
throughout the UK and beyond. For the full announcement please see
the RSGB Notices section of the RSGB website.
The Tonight<at>8 autumn programme begins on Monday the 7th of
September with an engaging webinar on amateur radio and the future of
satellite communication. RSGB Board Director Patrick Wood, 2E0IFB
will be delivering a presentation that will start with a brief
history on the subject before looking ahead to the future. He will
touch on FUNcube developments, FUNcube+ and missions such as
Jovian-1, whilst also considering how radio amateurs are now using
geostationary satellites like QO-100. He will also ask how radio
amateurs can adapt their skills and equipment for a rapidly changing
communications world. Patrick is an expert in the subject having had
a 38-year career in the aerospace, defence, and space sectors, with
over 30 years dedicated to the space sector. RSGB webinars are live
streamed on its YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing
you to watch the presentations and ask questions online. Find out
more about September's presentation and other upcoming webinars, by
going to rsgb.org/webinars
The RSGB Convention ‘NanoVNA Essentials' workshop has now sold out!
Make sure you don't miss out on the remaining spaces for the two
other workshops by securing your ticket now. On Friday the 9th of
October you can take part in a five-and-a-half-hour workshop offering
practical advice on identifying the sources and mitigating the
effects of Radio Frequency Interference. On the afternoon of Saturday
the 10th of October or the morning of Sunday the 11th of October you
can take part in a two-hour workshop offering practical and
interactive exercises that show you how to use AI more effectively in
your own amateur radio projects. Both workshops are available to
purchase at the same time as your Convention ticket. Go to
rsgb.org/convention-workshops to book your place. Don't forget that
you only have until 9am on Tuesday the 1st of September to purchase
your ticket at the early bird pricing.
Time is running out to submit your nominations for the annual RSGB
G5RP Trophy. You have until Friday the 11th of September to send in a
nominee who has recently discovered and made significant progress in
HF DXing. Perhaps you know someone who has worked a good total of new
countries, or perhaps they have taken part in some substantial HF
DXpedition activity. Please send your nominations to RSGB HF Manager
Ian Greenshields, G4FSU at hf.manager<at>rsgb.org.uk
The DMR Youth Net, organised by the RSGB Youth Committee, is back at
7pm BST on Tuesday the 1st of September following a break over the
summer holidays. Since the launch of the net in 2025, young operators
have joined from across Europe to build confidence speaking on the
radio, connect with fellow young operators from around the world, and
join in without needing to set up antennas at home. The RSGB Youth
Talk Group 23554 is available on the DVSPh and Brandmeister Networks.
The net will take place on the first Tuesday of each month.
We're delighted to announce that Steve Chalk achieved a Bronze Medal
at the IARU Region 1 ARDF Championships in Romania last week. He was
one of a small team competing on behalf of the RSGB. Steve gained his
medal in the M60 category of the Sprint race, in which the
transmissions are just 12 seconds in duration. Congratulations to
Steve!
Don't forget to listen out for the stations that are taking part in
this year's British Inland Waterways on the Air event. Stations have
been operating since yesterday, the 29th, and activity continues
until tomorrow, Monday the 31st of August. To find out more, visit
Nunsfield House Amateur Radio Group's website at nharg.org.uk and
follow the ‘BIWOTA 2026' link.
And now for details of rallies and events
Today, the 30th, Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking
place at Heron's Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road, Loughton
Lodge, Milton Keynes. The doors open to the public from 9am. The
entrance fee is GBP 3 and parking is free of charge. For more
information visit mkars.org.uk/mkrally
Also today, the 30th, Torbay Amateur Radio Society's Annual Rally is
taking place at The Courtenay Centre, Kingsteignton Road, Newton
Abbot, TQ12 2QA. This new venue is a town centre site and is adjacent
to a large car park. The entry fee is GBP 3 and visitors are welcome
from 10am. More details are available at torbayars.org
Tomorrow, Monday the 31st, Huntingdonshire Amateur Radio Rally will
take place at Ramsey Rural Museum, Wood Lane, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire.
The doors will be open to traders from 7am and to visitors from 9am.
Hot and cold refreshments will be available on site. For more
information email harsrally2026<at>hotmail.com
On Sunday the 6th of September, Telford Hamfest will take place at
Harper Adams University near Telford, TF10 8ND. The doors open at
10.15am. Admission costs GBP 5 but children up to 16 will be admitted
free of charge. The G-QRP Club Convention will be held at the same
venue on Saturday the 5th of September. For more information contact
the Hamfest team via hamfest<at>tdars.org.uk
Now the Special Event news
REP, Portugal's national amateur radio association, is active with
special callsign CT100REP until the 31st of December. The station is
operating to mark the group's 100th anniversary. Look for activity on
the HF, VHF, and UHF bands using CW, digital modes, SSB and
satellites.
Now the DX news
Mark, WB2OIL is active as WB2OIL/VY0 from Broughton Island, NA-130,
until Tuesday the 1st of September. He is operating using CW, FT8 and
SSB on the 40 to 10m bands. More information is available via QRZ.com
Now the contest news
The World Wide Digi DX Contest started at 1200UTC yesterday, the
29th, and ends at 1200UTC today, Sunday the 30th of August. Using FT4
and FT8 on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the
exchange is your four-character locator.
On Tuesday the 1st of September, the RSGB 144MHz FM Activity Contest
runs from 1800 to 1855UTC. Using FM on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Also on Tuesday the 1st of September, the RSGB 144MHz UK Activity
Contest runs from 1900 to 2130UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band,
the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
On Wednesday the 2nd, 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 2nd, 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 2nd, the UK 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 All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday the 5th and
ends at 2359UTC on Sunday the 6th of September. Using SSB on the 160
to 10m bands, the exchange is signal report and your age.
On Saturday the 5th, the CWops CW Open takes place in three four-hour
sessions between 0000 and 2359UTC. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands,
where contests are permitted, the exchange is serial number and name.
On Sunday the 6th, the Worked All Britain 144MHz SSB Contest runs
from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using SSB on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.
RSGB SSB Field Day, IARU Region 1 Field Day and IRTS SSB Field Day
start at 1300UTC on Saturday the 5th and end at 1300UTC on Sunday the
6th of September. Using all modes on the 80 to 10m bands, where
contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial
number.
The RSGB 144MHz Trophy Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 5th
and ends at 1400UTC on Sunday the 6th of September. Using all modes
on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and
locator.
Also on Sunday the 6th, the 5th RSGB 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs
from 1000 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 27th of August 2026.
Last week we said there were no coronal holes to threaten HF
propagation. However, guess what appeared just after the time of
writing.
Coronal holes can appear at any time, which is why we recommend going
to solarham.com for daily updates.
This week another coronal hole has appeared and this one really does
look like it could threaten Earth. This, coupled with coronal mass
ejections, means that today, the 30th, could see the Kp index rise
and maximum useable frequencies, or MUFs, fall.
On a brighter note, the Kp index has been very low this past week,
mostly below 2, with the result that HF propagation has been very
good. Top DX being worked includes RI1FJL on Franz Josef Land in the
Arctic Circle, which has been loud on many bands, right up to the 12
and 10m bands.
Other DX to be worked in the coming week includes V5/HB9BFM from
Namibia; J38DX and J38LD from Grenada [GREN-AYDA]; and P29YY working
from Papua New Guinea.
A quick check of the NCDXF beacon chain revealed very good
propagation on 14MHz and 21MHz. This includes reception of the
following beacons: CS3B in Madeira; RR90 in Siberia; 4S7B in Sri
Lanka; 4X6TU in Israel; and 4U1UN in New York.
So, it looks like we are starting to leave the summer doldrums and
entering better autumnal HF conditions.
Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be around 120,
falling to 90 as the week progresses. After the potential for
geomagnetic disruption this weekend, ending today the 30th, the
forecast is good with a Kp index of around 2.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The weather has changed to autumnal conditions with lows bringing
periods of rain or showers and quite windy conditions at times. The
coming week will turn out in similar fashion and means that we won't
be dealing with much, if any, tropo for VHF. The main
weather-dependent mode will be rain scatter for GHz band operators.
The chances of aurora will need to show a Kp index above 5 to be of
much interest, and probably a bit higher for southern areas. The
prospects for meteor scatter are likely to be reduced to random
activity which tends to give better results in the early morning
hours before dawn.
Lastly, we are coming to the close of the Sporadic-E season and, with
probably a week or so to play out, any openings will be few and far
between. Try checking during the main operating windows of
mid-morning and late afternoon. As a back-up, consider the middle of
the day since towards the edges of the season the traditional timings
are less reliable.
For EME operators, Moon declination went positive again yesterday,
the 29th, with increasing peak elevation and lengthening Moon
windows. Path losses are falling all week towards perigee on Sunday
the 6th of September. 144MHz sky noise is low, increasing to medium
by Friday the 4th of September.
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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