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G4TNU > NEWS 19.01.26 16:41l 257 Lines 12531 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 18 Jan 2026
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday the 18th of January 2026
The news headlines:
* RSGB announces important changes to its QSL Bureau Service
* RSGB Regions 6 and 7 launch a new challenge for February
* Could you be the RSGB Youth Activities and Engagement
Champion?
The RSGB is pleased to announce the next stage in developing its QSL
Bureau Services following the retirement of the RSGB QSL Bureau
Manager Richard Constantine, G3UGF. After a comprehensive review of
long-term options, the Society has entered into a formal Contractual
Agreement with the German National Radio Society, Deutscher
[DOYT-SHER] Amateur Radio Club, to process all incoming and outgoing
RSGB QSL cards. DARC [D-A-R-C] operates a modern, high-capacity QSL
bureau. Its systems already support a number of national societies
and offer industrial-scale reliability, digital processing capability
and long-term resilience. This partnership will provide a robust and
effective QSL bureau service for RSGB members. Volunteers remain
central to the RSGB QSL Bureau Service and the RSGB extends its
thanks to all sub-managers, whose dedication forms the backbone of
the service. The new arrangements are designed to support volunteer
involvement, not replace it, and to ensure volunteers have a strong
infrastructure behind them. The new service preserves the traditional
bureau structure but will offer additional options for RSGB members
who send cards. Find out more about these developments on the newly
updated QSL Bureau pages on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/qsl
RSGB Regional Representatives in North and South Wales have launched
a new challenge. The 40 Metre Challenge encourages radio amateurs to
make as many QSOs as possible on the 40m band between the 1st and
28th of February. The event has six categories to enter and is open
to individual RSGB members living in Wales and members of RSGB
Affiliated Clubs located in Wales. Certificates will be awarded to
the top station in each category, as well as a 7MHz Challenge Trophy
for the RSGB Affiliated Club with the most QSOs submitted by its
membership. Find out more by searching ‘40 Metre Challenge' in the
search bar on the RSGB website at rsgb.org
Have you got ideas for activities that will inspire and engage young
Foundation licence holders? The RSGB is looking for an enthusiastic
and innovative person to become its volunteer Youth Activities and
Engagement Champion. The role will take the lead on youth-focused
activities and help in promoting and supporting events such as YOTA
Month and the annual IARU YOTA Summer Camp. Read the full details on
this exciting role and how to apply at rsgb.org/volunteers
The RSGB is seeking to appoint a new Advertising Agent to take over
from the current contractor upon their retirement. This is an
exciting opportunity to work with the UK's national amateur radio
society and manage advertising sales across a diverse portfolio of
respected publications and digital platforms. If you are a contractor
or agency and can support the development of RSGB advertising and
contribute to the growth of its publications and digital platforms,
this opportunity could be for you. Go to the RSGB website at
rsgb.org/careers to find out more. Applications are closing soon so
don't delay if you're interested!
YOTA Month took place in December and was full of young radio
amateurs having fun on the air. If you were involved with the event,
don't forget to share your experience by featuring in a YOTA Month
special in the March edition of RadCom. To be included, email your
photos and a short report to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk by the 23rd of
January at the latest and please make it clear if the photos can also
be used on social media.
A reminder that the RSGB will stop offering the Intermediate 100
award and the VHF/UHF Activity award at the end of 2026. Anyone
working towards these awards will have until the end of the year to
complete the necessary QSOs. The RSGB has numerous other awards for
you to chase, so get started by going to rsgb.org/awards
The Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys is having a ‘What is my
STEM future' conference for Canterbury school pupils aged between 10
and 13. The event aims to give students a sense of what Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is, and to help them plan for
their futures. The conference programme includes four workshops, one
of which will be on amateur radio and Morse. Under supervision,
students will have the opportunity to operate the school's amateur
radio club callsign, G3OSL. Listen out between 10am and 1pm on
Wednesday the 21st of January when pupils will be active using CW on
the 40 and 20m bands. Read more about the event via
rsgb.org/school-zone
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
On Sunday the 25th of January 2026, the Lincoln Short Wave Club
Winter Radio Rally will be held at Festival Hall, Caistor Road,
Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. This is an indoor event with ample free
parking. The doors will be open from 10am and admission is GBP 3.
Tables cost GBP 10. To book tables, or for more information, contact
Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz<at>outlook.com
The Red Rose Winter Rally, organised by West Manchester Radio Club,
will take place on Sunday the 8th of February at Mather Hall, Mather
Lane, Leigh, WN7 2PJ. Exhibitors can gain entrance from 8.15am and
the doors open to visitors at 10am. A large car park, catering, bring
and buy, raffle, improved disabled access and a seating area will be
available on site. For more information and booking, visit wmrc.co.uk
Now the Special Event news
The Royal Association of Radio Amateurs in Morocco is active as
CN35CAN during the 35th Africa Cup of Nations. The competition sees
African national football teams compete against each other every two
years. Recently, the station was worked on the 20m band using SSB.
For more information visit QRZ.com
The Straight Key Century Club's Straight Key Month is currently
underway. The annual on-air event commemorates the Club's founding in
2006 and celebrates the original instruments of early radiotelegraphy
including straight keys, bugs and ‘cootie' keys. Listen out for the
K3Y callsign which is being aired from the ten USA call areas.
Information on the event and QSL instructions can be found at
tinyurl.com/skcc2026
Now the DX news
Jonathan, W5GI is active as VP2V/W5GI from Anegada [AH-NUH-GAH-DUH]
in the British Virgin Islands, NA-023, until Tuesday the 20th of
January. He operates SSB and FT8 on the 40 to 10m bands. QSL via
Logbook of the World.
Andre, ON7YK is active as C5YK from The Gambia until Sunday the 25th
of January. He operates using SSB, digital modes and some CW on the
20 to 10m bands. QSL via Logbook of the World, eQSL or directly to
Andre's home call.
Now the contest news
Tomorrow, the 19th of January, the RSGB FT4 Series Contest runs from
2000 to 2200UTC. Using FT4 on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your report.
On Tuesday the 20th of January, the RSGB 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest
runs from 2000 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 23cm band, the
exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.
The CQ World Wide 160m DX Contest starts at 2200UTC on Friday the
23rd and runs until 2200UTC on Sunday the 25th of January. Using CW
on the 160m band, the exchange is signal report and CQ Zone. American
stations also send their state and Canadian stations send their
province.
The British Amateur Radio Teledata Group Sprint starts at 1200UTC on
Saturday the 24th and runs until 1200UTC on Sunday the 25th of
January. Using RTTY on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are
permitted, the exchange is your serial number.
Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO
on Thursday the 15th of January 2026
The Solar Flux Index increased a little last week but was never
exceptional. We started at 111 on the 11th of January and ended at
127 on Thursday the 15th – hardly much to get excited about.
The 11th of January also marked the most geomagnetically disturbed
day of the week, with the Kp index hitting 5.33. Luckily, the rest of
the week was more settled with the Kp index not getting above 3 for
the three days up until Thursday the 15th.
The Sun also produced two M-class solar flares in that time, but
there were no X-class events.
This has meant reasonable HF propagation, with the maximum useable
frequency over 3,000km climbing steadily after sunrise, often
reaching more than 30MHz at times. But it has been choppy, with many
falls below 25MHz during the day. So, if you are a 10m band operator,
stick with it as you may find conditions improve after 10 minutes or
so.
Nighttime maximum useable frequencies are still falling to around 7
to 9MHz over a 3,000km path, often dropping further, leaving the 40m
band closed to many.
A quick check of the NCDXF IBP beacon chain around midday on Thursday
the 15th showed that the 24.930MHz beacons were probably the most
active, but DX signals were still a little watery.
The lower bands are still coming up with the goods though, with Hong
Kong being reported on 80m using CW. 3D2USU in Fiji has also been
worked on the 20m band using CW, according to the CDXC Slack Group.
The KP5/NP3VI Desecheo [DEH-SEH-CHOH] Island DXpedition has been
another sought-after entity this month. The station has been reported
as being worked from Europe on the 30m band using FT8, on the 80m
band using CW and on the 40m band using USB.
Next week's DXpeditions include 9X2AW in Rwanda, 5H3DX in Tanzania,
P40AA in Aruba, and PJ2ND on Curacao Island. Also reported to be
active are VE3VSM/HR9 on Roatan Island in the Caribbean, Z81D in
South Sudan, H44MS on the Solomon Islands and FT4YM in Antarctica. If
you work any of them, send your reports to radcom<at>rsgb.org.uk
Next week, the solar flux index is predicted to climb slightly,
perhaps peaking at 140, before heading back down to the 120 to 130
range at the end of the month.
Geomagnetic conditions are forecast to be settled next week, before
becoming unsettled again on the 28th of January.
And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO
The current unsettled pattern looks likely to continue for the next
week with low pressure nearby for much of the time, driving a series
of rain-bearing fronts across the country.
This will provide some opportunities for rain scatter, although these
fast-moving winter systems may need some delicate rotator work to
keep track of them. Tropo seems unlikely to feature much, if at all,
during the period.
The prospects for meteor scatter are best for random meteors around
dawn since we are now entering a long period between important meteor
showers. This will last through to the Lyrids in late April.
The solar conditions may be interesting due to a large sunspot group
moving into view as the previous week closes, so don't abandon hope
of potential auroral activity and, as usual, monitor the Kp index for
enhanced values above 5, ideally reaching 7 or better.
A final note about Sporadic-E which, last week, provided some
mid-winter QSOs, including on the 4m band. This was encouraged by the
stronger winter jet streams, although we are now moving out of that
traditional winter window of activity.
Check the foEs trace on the propquest.co.uk graphs to be sure you
don't miss any final throes of the winter Sporadic-E season.
For EME operators, Moon declination is at minimum over this weekend
and negative all next week, going positive again on Friday the 23rd.
Path losses are falling and Moon window length and peak elevation are
increasing. 144MHz sky noise was high from Friday the 16th and the
Sun and Moon are close in the sky today, the 18th. Sky noise will be
low from tomorrow, the 19th, onwards.
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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