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G4TNU > NEWS 02.05.90 22:08l 262 Lines 12459 Bytes #-12784 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 03 May 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 3rd of May 2026
The news headlines:
* Ticket sales for the RSGB 2026 Convention are now open!
* RSGB appoints a new volunteer Accessibility Champion
* FCC authorises commercial satellite constellation use in the
70cm band
You can now buy tickets for the RSGB 2026 Convention in Milton
Keynes. The event takes place between the 9th and 11th of October and
is a must for any radio amateur looking to learn, connect and be
inspired. Several lecturers have already been confirmed, and include
Nobby Styles, G0VJG talking about the South Georgia DXpedition in
March 2027, as well as recent Wortley-Talbot Trophy winner Gwyn
Griffiths, G3ZIL on HF propagation studies from the Baldock space
weather station. Ticket sales for workshops taking place over the
weekend are also open. These are sold on a first-come first-served
basis and with only 20 spaces available for each, secure your place
now to ensure you don't miss out. Go to rsgb.org/convention to read
the latest Convention news and purchase your tickets.
RSGB Board Director Nathan Nuttall, MM9OCC has announced that Jane
Joyce, M8WVJ, has been appointed as the new RSGB Accessibility
Champion. Jane brings a wealth of experience in the areas of
disability and accessibility, making her ideally suited to this
important role. As Accessibility Champion, she will share real
stories from members that highlight both the challenges and successes
within the hobby, helping to raise awareness and improve
understanding of accessibility issues. Jane will also be available to
help direct individuals to the support they need, which will help to
improve accessibility across amateur radio as a whole, and she will
advise the RSGB on meaningful improvements. Jane can be contacted via
the email address access.champion<at>rsgb.org.uk
In the USA the FCC has authorised AST-SpaceMobile to launch its full
constellation of 248 large satellites that includes 430-440MHz for
emergency telemetry and control when not over the United States. This
is despite there being no such frequency allocation. However, the FCC
permitted the use of the frequencies using Article 4.4 of the ITU
Radio Regulations. This follows an initial filing and review last
year, and extensive amateur concerns, that resulted in over 2,500
comments being submitted. The IARU has released a statement on the
matter which you can read via tinyurl.com/IARU-AST The RSGB has more
background and earlier responses on its Spectrum Forum web page at
tinyurl.com/RSGB-AST
RSGB club insurance, and beacon and repeater insurance, have now been
renewed for the year from the 30th of April 2026 to April 2027. Club
insurance certificates can be downloaded via
rsgb.org/repeaterinsurance You will need to log in to obtain your
certificate. Beacon and repeater insurance certificates are available
for an admin fee of GBP 15 from the RSGB shop. Please allow a couple
of days after renewal for your certificate to be dispatched.
The Society would like to remind RSGB members with G7 callsigns who
collect QSL cards that they should now send their stamped addressed
envelopes to Mr Anthony Holles [HOLL-ISS], G4AAV. You can find his
details in the sub-manager list of the RSGB QSL Bureau web section
at rsgb.org/qsl
Volunteers at the RSGB National Radio Centre will be operating the
GB2BP special event station on Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th of
May to commemorate the anniversary of VE day. Put the date in your
diary and make sure you add this callsign to your logbook. RSGB
members, don't forget you can receive free entry to Bletchley Park,
which includes the NRC, by downloading and printing your personalised
voucher at rsgb.org/bpvoucher
The annual Mills on the Air event is taking place on Saturday the 9th
and Sunday the 10th of May. Operators will be on the air from a
variety of historic locations so, if you hear them, make sure to give
them a call.
Don't forget to listen out for the stations that are taking part in
this year's Pubs and Clubs on the Air event from the 8th to the 10th
of May. For more information about the event email Chris via
g1puv<at>yahoo.co.uk
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 3rd, the Broadcast Engineering Museum has an open day from
11am. The museum is located at 41 Capper Avenue, Hemswell Cliff, near
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 5XS and is home to one of the largest
collections of historic broadcasting equipment in the world. For more
information visit becg.org.uk/events
Thorpe Camp Hamfest is also taking place today, the 3rd, at Thorpe
Camp Visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, LN4 4PL. Traders can arrive
from 7am and visitors are welcome from 9am. The entry fee is GBP 5
per person. For more information visit thorpecamp.org
Tomorrow, the 4th, Dartmoor Spring Radio Rally will take place at
Yelverton War Memorial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton, Devon, PL20 6AL.
There will be the usual bring and buy, trader stands, refreshments
and free parking available. The doors will be open from 10am to 1pm
and admission costs GBP 3. More details are available at
dartmoorradioclub.uk
On Saturday the 9th of May 2026, Barry Amateur Radio Society Rally
will be held at Sully Sports and Social Club, South Road, Sully,
CF64 5SP. The doors open at 9am for traders and visitors are welcome
from 10am. A large free car park is available and admission costs
GBP 3.
Now the Special Event news
On Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of May, Harlow and District
Amateur Radio Society will be taking part in Mills on the Air from
John Webb's Windmill in Thaxted, Essex. The station will use special
event callsign GB0TWM and operate between 8.30am and 4pm. Amateurs,
shortwave listeners and visitors are welcome to join in with the fun.
For more information visit QRZ.com
To celebrate his 50th anniversary in amateur radio, Nick, US8AR is
active throughout 2026 using special callsign EM50AR. Look out for
activity on the HF and VHF bands using all modes. Electronic QSL
cards can be downloaded from em50ar.pp.ua
Now the DX news
TJ, PE1OJR is active as PJ4TB from Bonaire, SA-006, until tomorrow,
Monday the 4th of May. He operates FT4, FT8 and SSB on the 40 to 6m
bands. QSL via Logbook of the World.
Paul, MM0ZBH is active as 5Z4/MM0ZBH from Kenya until the 15th of
June. He operates using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL via Logbook of the World
and OQRS.
Now the contest news
Today, Sunday the 3rd of May, the UK Microwave Group Low Band Contest
runs from 0900 to 1400UTC. Using all modes on 1.3 to 3.4GHz
frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The ARI International DX Contest started at 1200UTC yesterday,
Saturday the 2nd, and ends at 1159UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of May.
Using CW, RTTY and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is signal report and serial number. Italian
stations also give their province code.
The RSGB 432MHz to 245GHz Contest started at 1400UTC yesterday,
Saturday the 2nd and ends at 1400UTC today, Sunday the 3rd of May.
Using all modes on 432MHz to 245GHz frequencies, the exchange is
signal report, serial number and locator.
The Worked All Britain 7MHz Contest takes place today, Sunday the 3rd
of May, from 1000 to 1400UTC. Entries need to be with the contest
manager by Wednesday the 13th of May 2026. Please note that SSB only
is used in all Worked All Britain contests. Full details of the rules
can be found on the Worked All Britain website.
On Tuesday the 5th of May, 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 5th of May, 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 6th, 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 6th, 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.
On Sunday the 10th of May, the RSGB 70MHz CW Contest runs from 0900
to 1200UTC. Using CW on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report,
serial number and locator. UK stations also send their postcode.
Also on Sunday the 10th of May, the UK Microwave Group Millimetre
Wave Contest runs from 0800 to 1700UTC. Using all modes on 24, 47 and
76GHz 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 April
Last week was about as good as it gets at this point in the solar
cycle. We had a solar flux index in the 140s and a Kp index that was
pretty flat, often below 2.
That's good news for HF as it means the ionosphere had a chance to
settle and, although not record-breaking, a solar flux index of 140
to 150 is very usable.
There were numerous C and M-class solar flares, but these were
relatively minor and the latest forecasts show a 70% chance for
additional M-flares and a 20% chance for an isolated strong X-flare.
This all came together to give a maximum usable frequency over a
3,000km path of around 21 to 24MHz, often just peaking around 28MHz.
This gave the odd 10m band opening, but these were sparse and not
very strong.
DXpeditions to be worked this week, according to DXWorld.net, include
E51TLM in the South Cook Islands; T31TTT from Kanton Island; FO/F6BCW
in French Polynesia; XT2AW from Burkina Faso and 3G0Z on Robinson
Crusoe Island.
So, which bands should you be looking at? The 20, 17 and 15m bands
will probably give the best results, but don't completely rule out
the two higher bands that may show occasional surprises.
We are now starting the Sporadic-E season, so look out for
short-lived but strong openings around Europe on the 12 and 10m bands.
Next week, NOAA predicts a solar flux index of between 130 and 140,
with a Kp index of 2 or 3. Unsettled conditions are forecast for the
7th and 8th of May with a potential Kp index of 5. As always, keep an
eye on solarham.com for almost real-time reports of solar activity.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The excellent tropo conditions for some parts of the country recently
are likely to be slightly subdued over this weekend, but there are
signs that another period of high pressure weather will return as we
move through the coming week.
Unlike the recent dry weather, there are likely to be a few showery
spells with a chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands. Meteor scatter
is probably enhanced next week by the Eta Aquarids, which peak on
Wednesday the 6th of May and are associated with Comet Halley. The
aurora prospects are probably moving away from their spring activity
period but check the Kp index as usual for high values above 5.
The Sporadic-E season is slowly limbering up and it's well worth
checking for activity, initially on the 10 and 6m bands. Check for
SSB and CW activity as well as digital modes. Work continues on the
propquest.co.uk website. There are still some missing elements but
it is hoped that these will be back soon.
EME now. The Moon is moving towards minimum declination today, Sunday
the 3rd of May, so there will be short Moon windows and low peak
elevation. Path losses are still increasing until apogee on Monday
the 4th of May, when the Moon is at its furthest from Earth at
405,840km. 144MHz sky temperature reaches a maximum of more than
2,800 Kelvin on Wednesday the 6th of May.
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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