GB2RS News

Sunday the 14th of June 2026

The news headlines:

IARU President announced as the keynote speaker for the RSGB 2026 Convention
The RSGB has updated its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy
Make use of the RSGB Full question bank

Four years ago, IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA shared his thoughts on the changes and challenges to the amateur service and what the future held for amateur radio. On Saturday the 10th of October 2026, Tim will return to the RSGB Convention and in his presentation he will touch on whether the future turned out as expected! Tim is currently serving his fourth term as IARU President and the RSGB is delighted to welcome him back as the keynote speaker. Buy your ticket for the RSGB Convention by going to rsgb.org/convention As well as the keynote, the Society has a speaker programme that will bring radio amateurs a wide-ranging selection of lectures. Whether you are keen to enhance your knowledge on propagation, FT8, or you want to learn more on VHF and above, there is something for everyone. You can keep up to date with the latest speakers by visiting the Convention speaker page. The RSGB Convention takes place between the 9th and 11th of October 2026 at Kents Hill Conference Centre in Milton Keynes.

The RSGB is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and accessible amateur radio community in which all individuals can participate fully and safely. It aims not only to prevent discrimination, but to actively remove barriers to participation, promote equity, and create an environment where diversity is valued and inclusion is embedded in all that we do. The Society reviews all its policies regularly and this week it has published an updated Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy. The policy has clearer language to explain the responsibilities of Directors, staff, volunteers, RSGB members and affiliated clubs, as well as participants in RSGB events, training, and programmes. The policy also applies to all RSGB platforms and environments. The Society encourages all members and affiliated clubs to read the policy. You can find it on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/policies The RSGB will review this policy at least annually and monitor its implementation to ensure continuous improvement.

In April, the RSGB Exams Team published the entire Full licence exam question bank on the RSGB website. This means that anyone studying for their Full licence has this valuable resource at their fingertips. The interface also allows users to generate their own mock examinations from the question bank. Feedback by radio amateurs has said how useful the resource is and that anyone studying for their exam should take a look. To get started go to rsgb.org/exam-questions The RSGB Examinations Standards Committee has also prepared some FAQs to support the publication of the question bank. You can access these on the Exam FAQs web page.

Have you seen the ‘About the RSGB’ playlist on the Society’s YouTube channel? There are nearly 50 videos to choose from including a number of recently released videos with RSGB representatives. You’ll be able watch RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Chair Steve Nichols, G0KYA talk about a range of propagation topics including the best months for propagation and the possible effect of AI on propagation forecasts. If you’d like to learn more about the work of the RSGB EMC Committee, you can watch Committee Chair John Rogers, M0JAV discuss some of the upcoming projects it has planned. You can watch the full playlist by going to youtube.com/thersgb

The next Bath Based Distance Learning Full Licence course will run between August and December 2026. The course will include weekly tutorials and work packages via an online classroom as well as access to a remote tutor. Applicants must work through pre-course material and complete a quiz to be eligible for a place. To request full details, and an application form, please email Bath Based Distance Learning’s Team Leader, Steve, G0FUW via g0fuw@bbdl.org.uk

If you’re one of the nearly ten thousand HamClock users, please be aware that the original HamClock backend server will stop working sometime in June 2026 following the original developer passing away in January. To continue using HamClock after this date and to keep receiving updates, you must switch the HamClock backend server. To find out more about this and for links to guides for both Raspberry Pi-based HamClocks, or those using an Inovato Quadra, visit hamclockisnotdead.com The replacement open-source HamClock backend server is called ‘OpenHamClock Backend’ and more details can be found at ohb.works Unlike the original, this is completely open source and is run by a team of developers so there is no one particular person responsible. The same team is also providing updates to the HamClock client itself which is now up to version 4.26.

Please send details of all your news and events to radcom@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

The Junction 28 Radio Rally is taking place today, Sunday the 14th of June, at The Post Mill Centre, South Normanton, Derbyshire, DE55 2EJ. The doors open at 10.15am and admission is £4. For more information visit snadarc.com or contact j28rally@snadarc.com

Also today, Sunday the 14th, the Mendips Radio Rally is taking place at Farrington Gurney Memorial Hall, Church Lane, Farrington Gurney BS39 6UA. The doors open at 7.30am for traders and at 9.30am for visitors. Entrance costs £3. For more information contact Luke on 07870 168 197 or email luke@mymixradio.co.uk

On Wednesday the 17th of June, the Lincoln Short Wave Club Used Equipment Sale will take place at the Village Hall, Aisthorpe, Lincoln, LN1 2SG. Booking in will be open from 6pm and the auction starts at 7pm.

On Saturday the 20th of June, Inverness and District Amateur Radio Society GM North Radio Rally will be held at Glachbeg Croft Centre, Allanglach Wood, North Kessock, IV1 3XD. The doors will be open from 10am. For more information email invernessradiosociety@gmail.com

Also on Saturday the 20th of June, Rochdale and District Amateur Society Summer Rally will take place at St. Vincent de Paul’s Hall, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QR. The doors open at 10am and entry costs £3. For more information call 07587 709 006 or email rally.radars@hotmail.com

On Sunday the 21st of June 2026, the East Suffolk Wireless Revival, also known as the Ipswich Radio Rally will be held at Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton IP10 0PW. The doors open at 9.30am and the entry fee for visitors is £3. More details are available at eswr.org.uk

Now the Special Event news

Special event station GB8GAW will be active from Monday the 22nd of June until Sunday the 12th of July to promote Glaucoma Awareness Week. Look for activity on the HF bands using FT8, FT4 and SSB.

Special event station GB1SCW will be on the air on Sunday the 21st of June from the Shoreham by Sea National Coast Watch Station, BN43 5HY. The station will be operated by members of Rustington Amateur Radio Group and Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club to celebrate the work of coastal communities. Activity is expected to be mostly on the 40m band using SSB. See QRZ.com for more information.

Members of the Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society will be at this year’s Military Vehicle Trust Show at Badsey Farm in Evesham. They will be operating special event station GB26WVE from Wednesday the 17th until Tuesday the 23rd of June. Several ex-Military Signals vehicles will be operating on the VHF, UHF and HF bands. The operators are keen to make lots of contacts so if you hear the station give it a call.

Now the DX news

Paul, MM0ZBH is active as 5Z4/MM0ZBH from Kenya until tomorrow, Monday the 15th of June. He operates using CW, FT8 and SSB. QSL via Logbook of the World and OQRS.

Rafal, SQ4O is a member of the 50th Polish Antarctic Expedition to the Henryk Arctowski Station on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, AN-010. He will be working there until October. In his spare time, he is operating as HF0PAS on the HF bands using CW and SSB. Rafal may also be active on the 6m band using FT8.

Now the contest news

The IARU ATV Contest started at 1200 UTC yesterday, the 13th, and ends at 1800UTC today, Sunday the 14th of June. Using TV on frequencies from 432MHz and up, the exchange is picture quality, serial number, four-digit code and locator.

Today, Sunday the 14th of June, the RSGB 2nd 144MHz Backpackers Contest runs from 0900 to 1300UTC. Using all modes on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

Also today, Sunday the 14th of June, the Practical Wireless 2m QRP Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using AM, FM, SSB and CW on the 2m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. A maximum of 5W of power can be used in this contest.

Tomorrow, Monday the 15th of June, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from 1900 to 2100 UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is your report.

On Tuesday the 16th of June, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Thursday the 18th of June, the RSGB 70MHz UK Activity Contest runs from 1900 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on the 4m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The RSGB 50MHz Trophy Contest starts at 1400UTC on Saturday the 20th of June and runs until 1400 UTC on Sunday the 21st of June. Using all modes on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

The All Asian DX Contest starts at 0000 UTC on Saturday the 20th and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday the 21st of June. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and your age.

On Sunday the 21st of June, the Worked All Britain 50MHz Phone Contest runs from 0800 to 1400 UTC. Using SSB on the 6m band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and Worked All Britain square.

Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 11th of June 2026

Last week we warned you about a potential geomagnetic disturbance caused by a triple coronal mass ejection, or CME, from the Sun. As it turned out, the Kp index rose to 6.33 and poor HF conditions ensued, just in time for RSGB National Field Day.

Luckily, Sunday the 7th wasn’t quite so bad, but it did show how a Kp index rise can damage HF propagation.

A further CME warning has since been cancelled, but we are not out of the woods just yet. A long-duration mid-level C-Flare was observed in the northeast quadrant of the Sun, peaking at just after midnight on Thursday the 11th of June. A CME with a possible Earth-directed component is possible, which could lead to a Kp index rise.

Meanwhile, the solar flux index declined to 124 on Thursday the 11th, as predicted, but that’s still enough for some DX potential.

Sporadic-E has been providing lots of entertainment, so make the most of it during June, which is one of the best months for Sporadic-E activity. Settled geomagnetic conditions, with a low Kp index, appear to provide the best time for Sporadic-E.

DX to be worked this week includes 5Z4/MM0ZBH in Kenya which is active until the 15th of June. The station has been spotted on the 10m band using FT8 and on the 20m band using CW and SSB. PJ2/PH2M is active from Curacao until the 29th of June using mainly FT8 and some SSB. D4OL from Cape Verde is active on FT8 and FT4 until Friday the 22nd of June. Finally, look out for the FS/K9EL station from St Martin which is active until Wednesday the 24th of June.

While we are in this period of Summer thunderstorms, a reminder that it may be a good idea to unplug the antennas from your HF radios when not in use. But make sure you do this before any storm approaches!

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will be in the 120 to 130 range. Quiet geomagnetic conditions are forecast all week, with a maximum Kp index of 3. But be aware of CMEs which are not easily predicted. Any solar flare and subsequent CME could upset the apple cart, so keep an eye on solarham.com for up-to-date news.

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

There have been some very good Sporadic-E conditions recently. This was particularly true at 50MHz with openings at lunchtime and into the evening towards the USA on Tuesday the 9th and Wednesday the 10th. There was also an opening into Japan during the morning of Thursday the 11th of June.

70MHz has seen openings, mainly to eastern Europe and Spain. Notably we haven’t seen much in the way of 144MHz Sporadic-E yet, but QSOs have been made by a lucky few. All this Sporadic-E activity has probably been aided by the extra long-lived metallic ions from meteors of the daytime Arietids, an important shower in early June.

The other ingredient often associated with Sporadic-E is the presence of jet streams, which are very effective at generating turbulence that can propagate up to the E region and aid Sporadic-E formation. The coming week looks to be reasonably set up with jet stream activity. This is probably more relevant for the northern half of Europe so may favour Scandinavia and the Baltic, with the occasional opportunity farther south.

As for meteor scatter, there is a gap in the calendar and it's probably a case of relying upon random activity which tends to peak around dawn. Rain scatter may fare better with a chance of showers, especially in northern parts of the country. The solar conditions have recently been at the low end of the scale, with a Kp index between 1 and 3 which is typical of high summer. This also reduces the chances of radio auroras.

There will be a period of high pressure today, the 14th, before low pressure returns to northern Britain next week, although the south may stay close to higher pressure. This offers a chance of some tropo conditions.

EME now, and Moon declination continues to increase to a maximum tomorrow, the 15th, with path losses falling towards minimum at perigee. 144MHz sky temperature is moderate, becoming high tomorrow, the 15th, with the Sun close to the Moon, before falling back to low again from Wednesday.

And that’s all from the propagation team this week.

GB2RS

Episodes 20

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