GB2RS Weekly RSGB News Broadcast read by Jeremy G4NJH.

GB2RS News
Sunday the 9th of June 2024
 The news headlines:
TX Factor is marking its tenth anniversary by launching its 30th episode
Changes to the four-year planning rule in England
Bath Based Distance Learning’s next Full licence course is starting soon
TX Factor is marking its tenth anniversary by launching its 30th episode. It looks at how radio technology has advanced since Marconi conducted some of his early transmissions. The episode includes the first of a two-part feature on operating via the QO-100 geostationary satellite with a look at the hardware and software needed to achieve your first QSO at home or out mobile. Bob, G0FGX reviews the FTM-500D which is the latest mobile transceiver from Yaesu and demonstrates the many advanced features of this versatile FM and digital rig. There is a visit to Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society which secured a derelict former sports social club from the local council and turned it into a community hub and the club’s new QTH. Watch this interesting episode and don’t miss out on the TX Factor free-to-enter draw with a chance to win three RSGB publications. You can see this and previous episodes on txfactor.co.uk
The four-year planning rule has offered a degree of protection for antennas and masts that have been erected without planning permission. Under this rule any installations which had been installed and unchanged for four years or more were protected against planning enforcement action. However, as of the 25th of April 2024, this rule ceased to exist in its current form in England under changes introduced under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. The rule has been replaced by a more stringent ten-year period for the exemption from enforcement for residential dwellings. This change does not affect Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland where the four-year rule will continue to apply. Any installation that was substantially completed before the introduction of the Act will still be subject to the four-year rule meaning, for most radio amateurs, the ten-year rule will not apply until the 24th of April 2028. For more information on planning matters visit rsgb.org/planning
Bath Based Distance Learning’s next Full licence course runs from August to December, with exams in January. There is no charge for the training, but applicants must work through some 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
A reminder that the RSGB is asking radio amateurs to share their ideas on the theme of ‘change and adapt’, as part of plans for British Science Week 2025. The event is run by the British Science Association and celebrates science, technology, engineering and maths. The 2025 theme offers a huge range of opportunities for creativity and discovery. Ideas could cover any area from construction to propagation, from making QSOs under supervision to space and satellites. This is a chance to show young people in schools, or anyone in your local community, just how interesting and enjoyable amateur radio can be. Please send ideas to the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator Ian Neal, M0KEO at bsw@rsgb.org.uk To find out more about the previous year’s activities, or next year’s theme, you can visit rsgb.org/bsw
Don’t forget that you have the opportunity to get even more out of your RSGB membership. If you recommend a friend who hasn’t been an RSGB member during the last 12 months, you will both receive £10 cashback when they become a member paying by direct debit. Whether you’re an individual RSGB member or an affiliated club, you can sign up as many friends as you like. Membership of the RSGB gives you a range of fantastic benefits so why not encourage others to join? Members have access to RadCom, exclusive online resources, RSGB award schemes and contests, as well as advice from the Society’s specia

GB2RS News
Sunday the 2nd of June 2024
 The news headlines:
Nominations for IARU President and Vice President have been ratified
The next RSGB Tonight@8 webinar is coming up
RSGB National Radio Centre to operate D-Day anniversary special event stations
 
IARU member societies have ratified the nomination of Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA and Thomas Wrede, DF2OO as IARU President and Vice President, respectively, for a five-year term which began on the 9th of May 2024. On starting his 4th term as President, Tim Ellam thanked member societies for their support, congratulated Thomas Wrede on his election as Vice President, and also offered a special and heartfelt thank you to Ole Garpestad, LA2RR who retired as IARU Vice President. You can read more on this story via the IARU website at tinyurl.com/IARU2024
The RSGB Tonight@8 webinar this Monday, the 3rd of June, examines how amateur radio can be accessible and enjoyable even if you have sight, hearing or mobility difficulties. Three radio amateurs will explain how they have adapted their equipment, written software or used extra support from the RSGB or other radio amateurs, to enable them to enjoy all that amateur radio has to offer. There will also be input from Sight Matters, an Isle of Man charity helping to assist over 700 visually impaired members. The charity has recently discovered how much amateur radio can offer people with visual impairments and it has formed the Sight Matters Amateur Radio Club. This aims to encourage new people into the hobby and to help assist existing licence holders back onto the air. Whether this webinar is relevant to you, a friend or colleague, or you’re in a club that is wondering how to support all radio amateurs to enjoy the hobby, make a note of the date and be inspired! You can watch and ask questions live on the RSGB special BATC channel or YouTube channel at youtube.com/theRSGB
The RSGB’s National Radio Centre will be operating a special event callsign GB2DAY to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War Two. The station will be active between the 6th  and 9th of June. In addition, volunteers will be hosting the special demonstration station GB1SOE on Saturday the 15th of June. Don’t forget that RSGB members can gain free entry to Bletchley Park and the RSGB’s National Radio Centre by downloading a voucher from the RSGB website: rsgb.org/bpvoucher
The RSGB Board recently spent an afternoon visiting RSGB Headquarters, meeting staff and gaining a more detailed understanding of the work of this professional team. Later that day, the Board received training from members of the senior team about their specialist areas. During the Board meeting the following day, the Board decided to continue with its chosen four strategic priorities until the 2025 AGM. These priorities are the growth of amateur radio; membership of the RSGB; spectrum and licensing; and ensuring the continued financial stability of the Society. To make further progress with the outcomes of the recent growth workshop, the Board allocated a member of its team to champion each of the seven workstreams. Each workstream champion will now create a volunteer team, prioritise work tasks, set measurable objectives, define what success looks like, list deliverables and establish reporting mechanisms and frequency. More details will be shared about these over the coming months.
Do you have some spare time to support fellow radio amateurs? Are you passionate about the future of amateur radio? Do you like a challenge? The RSGB currently has volunteer vacancies for Regional Representatives in Region 7 South Wales, and Region 12 England East and East Anglia. Could you fill one of those roles? To learn more about being a Regional Representative see the RSGB website or contact the Regional Team Forum Chair, Keith Bird, G4JED via rr10@rsgb.org.uk
Next week is the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week in the UK. As always, the RSGB will be taking part in t

GB2RS News
Sunday the 26th of May 2024
 
The news headlines:
The RSGB’s Exams and Syllabus Review Group is seeking volunteers
RSGB representatives had a successful time at Dayton Hamvention
The RSGB Discovery scheme has just been relaunched in a new format
The Exams and Syllabus Review Group – or ESRG as it is often known – is looking for new members to move the group forward. Its current task is to approve a new Direct to Full syllabus and to write and approve new questions for the new exams in September due to licence changes. The group meets online every Tuesday between 3 pm and 4.30 pm, with members of the Exam Standards Committee, but meeting times can be changed to accommodate everyone. ESRG volunteers need to be Full licence holders, members of the RSGB and be able to give a few hours a week. This is your chance to shape the future as we move to Syllabus 2.0 in 2025. To volunteer or find out more, contact the ESRG Chair Andrew Lenton via esrg.chair@rsgb.org.uk
Members of the RSGB Team, including RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas M1ACB and the RSGB President, John McCullagh GI4BWM had a successful time at the Dayton Hamvention last weekend. The event was a brilliant opportunity to engage with radio amateurs from around the world and resulted in 132 people joining or rejoining the RSGB. There were also several podcasters, YouTubers and local news outlets in attendance. This included WHIO, which is a local US news channel, who interviewed RSGB President, John McCullagh GI4BWM. This was shared on local TV news, radio, as well as online. Josh from Ham Radio Crash Course also did a live stream to his 346,000 YouTube subscribers, which included a chat with RSGB General Manager, Steve Thomas M1ACB and the RSGB President. You can find links to view these clips on the RSGB notices section of the RSGB website.
The RSGB Discovery scheme has just been relaunched in a new format. Now called the Discovery Logbook, there are fewer requirements, an easy-to-follow programme and exciting links with external organisations such as Parks on the Air and Worked All Britain. There are also some great RSGB Awards to work towards if you’d like to include those in your programme of activities. The RSGB hopes that these links will enable radio amateurs to discover new ways of enjoying their hobby with the guidance and support of experts in those fields. There are three difficulty levels and the first of these, called Explorer, has just been launched. To see the programme activities, find out how to get involved or talk to the Society about linking your organisation with the Discovery Logbook, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/discovery
British Science Week is an annual event run by the British Science Association celebrating science, technology, engineering and maths. The event, which is taking place between the 7th and 16th of March 2025, will have the theme ‘change and adapt’, which lends itself perfectly to amateur radio in the 21st century. As part of its commitment to encourage new radio amateurs into the hobby, the RSGB will again be providing resources and activities to inspire people of all ages to get involved. The RSGB is now collecting ideas for activities for primary and secondary schools, or for use with the wider community. The 2025 theme offers a huge range of opportunities for creativity and discovery. Ideas could cover any area of the hobby, from construction to propagation, from making QSOs under supervision, to space and satellites. Whatever the idea, the Society would love to hear from you. Please send ideas to the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator Ian Neal, M0KEO at bsw@rsgb.org.uk. To find out more about previous activities you can visit rsgb.org/bsw and britishscienceweek.org
The popular Electromagnetic Field event, also known as ‘EMF Camp’, is taking place between the 30th of May and the 2nd of June. The event is a non-profit camping festival for those with an inquisitive mind. Over 3,000 like-mind

GB2RS News
Sunday the 19th of May 2024
The news headlines:
RSGB Board liaison roles update
The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is closing soon
The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon is under way
Each RSGB Board Director has a liaison role between the Board and specific aspects of the Society’s work. This focuses very much on the work done by RSGB volunteers in committees, groups and teams as well as by the Honorary Officers. The Board has just agreed on the liaison roles for the coming year. To find out more or to see contact details for each Board Director, go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/board
The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is closing soon. Its final open day will be on the 8th of June 2024. According to the Museum’s website, after this time it will start to dispose of its exhibits. The Museum attempts to tell the story of RAF Signals. Among its attractions, it contains a lot of working equipment which can be demonstrated, including transmitters, receivers and radar consoles. To read more about the Museum, and learn how you can visit it before it closes, visit signalsmuseum.uk
The UK Six Metre Group Summer Marathon is underway. The activity is open to all amateur radio operators worldwide and membership of the Group is not required. The objective is to work as many four-digit grid squares as possible between the 4th of May and the 4th of August on the 6m band. Logs can be submitted until the 18th of August 2024. You can find out more at uksmg.org
The latest RadCom contesting column is now available for all to read on the RSGB website. Since April 2024 this exclusive content has been shared online each month following the publication of each RadCom issue. This useful resource shares various aspects about contesting including a tip of the month, a featured UK contester, as well as a contest of the month. This month Nick Totterdell, G4FAL​​​​, who is the HF Contest Committee Chairman, looks at the history of contesting. To find out more, and to read this month’s column, visit rsgb.org/radcom-contesting
A reminder now that International Museums Weekend will be taking place on the third and fourth weekends in June. This year, those weekends are the 15th and 16th, and the 22nd and 23rd of June. Special event stations will be operating from a wide variety of museums from many different countries. To read more about the event, and to register to take part, visit tinyurl.com/IMW2024
Don’t forget that lots of stations are on the air to celebrate SOS Radio Week throughout May. The event takes place each year to celebrate the work of the volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Independent Lifeboats and National Coastwatch Stations around the British Isles. A commemorative certificate is available to all official stations that record their contacts on the website together with awards for the top individual and club, or group, stations on each band from 160m to 70cm. To read more about the event visit sosradioweek.org.uk
And now for details of rallies and events
The Braehead Rally is taking place today, the 19th of May, at the Braehead Arena from 10 am. Free on-site parking, bring and buy and refreshments are available. For more information contact Paul via email at mm3ddq@gmail.com
Also today, the 19th of May, the Dartmoor Radio Club Rally is being held at Yelverton War Memorial Hall, PL20 6AL. The doors open at 10 am. For more information, please contact Roger Hann on 07854 088 882 or email 2e0rph@gmail.com
Durham and District Amateur Radio Rally will take place on Sunday the 26th of May at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham, DH6 5AT. The doors are open from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm with disabled visitors gaining access at 10 am. The entrance fee will be £2. There will be a bring-and-buy sale, trade stands, special interest groups and an RSGB bookstall. Catering and a licensed bar will be available on-site. For more information contact Michael, G7TWX, on 07826 924 192, or via email at d

GB2RS News
Sunday the 12th of May 2024
 The news headlines:
New RSGB Trophy Manager announced
Questionnaire launched to help shape the future of the Commonwealth Contest
Learn about designing PCBs using KiCAD during the next Tonight@8 webinar
We are pleased to announce that Mike Franklin, G3VYI will be the new RSGB Trophy Manager. He will focus on the Contest Trophy collection and HQ will now manage the AGM Trophies. Jacqui Goodey, G6XSY, the retiring RSGB Trophy Manager, will support Mike’s transition into this role. She will also take responsibility for the historical aspect of our trophies. You can contact Mike via trophy.manager@rsgb.org.uk and Jacqui will have the new email address trophy.archivist@rsgb.org.uk  The RSGB thanks Mike and Jacqui for volunteering for this important work.
Following the RSGB Commonwealth Contest in March, a small group of representatives have been reviewing possible changes that they hope will encourage more participation in future contests. The group includes representatives from countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. The RSGB HF Contest Committee is now calling on both regular entrants and those who have never entered before but may do so in the future, to complete a questionnaire to help shape the next steps in the discussion. The questionnaire is open until Monday the 20th of May and can be found by visiting tinyurl.com/cwctest2024
The latest Tonight@8 webinar is tomorrow, Monday the 13th of May. Mike Willis, G0MJW will be giving an introduction to designing printed circuit boards using the popular open-source KiCAD package. The presentation covers the basics in real time, starting with a circuit sketch, going through the process of converting that into a schematic diagram, and then using that to create a printed circuit board design. It will then conclude with how to send this out for production. Watch this live presentation on the RSGB YouTube channel or special BATC channel and ask questions via the live chat. To find out more go to the RSGB website at rsgb.org/webinars
The RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX has announced that, due to the pressure of work, Paul Nichols, M0PVN has resigned as an RSGB Board Director. Paul runs a busy and growing legal practice which, like many professional roles, requires long hours each day. Paul has offered to be a Legal Adviser to the Board. Stewart has welcomed him to that role and thanked him for his input to the RSGB during the last year.
Today, the 12th, lots of amateur radio stations are on the air as part of Mills on the Air Weekend 2024. The event takes place across the UK every May with more than 300 windmills and watermills usually taking part. For more information, and to view a list of registered stations, visit ddars.net/mills.html
The date has been confirmed for the 12th Scottish Microwave Round Table GMRT. It will go ahead on Saturday the 9th of November 2024 at the Museum of Communication, Burntisland, Fife. Lunch will be provided, and an optional dinner will be held in the evening at a local hotel. Online booking will open in July 2024. Updates, when available, will be published on the GMRT website at gmroundtable.org.uk  For more information, email Colin, GM4HWO via gm4hwo@gmail.com
And now for details of rallies and events
The RetrotechUK event is taking place today, the 12th. The venue is Sports Connexion, Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. The doors open at 10.30 am with an entry fee of £10. A fee of £25 applies for early-doors entry at 9 am. This is an annual event organised by the British Vintage Wireless Society. There are almost 200 dealer stalls, clubs and private sellers. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the wide range of retro equipment. For more information email info@retrotechuk.com and visit retrotechuk.com
Barry Amateur Radio Society Rally is taking place on Saturday the 18th of May. The venue will be Sully Sports and Social Club, South Road, Sully,

GB2RS News
Sunday the 5th of May 2024
 
The news headlines:
RSGB insurance update
RSGB Legacy Committee Chair appointed
SOS Radio Week is under way
 
RSGB club insurance, and beacon and repeater insurance, have now been renewed for the year to April 2025. Club insurance certificates can be downloaded from the RSGB website. You will need to log in to obtain your certificate. Beacon and repeater insurance certificates are available for an admin fee of £15 from the RSGB shop. Please allow a couple of days after renewal for your certificate to be dispatched.
The RSGB Board is pleased to announce it has approved the appointment of Richard Horton, G4AOJ to the role of Legacy Committee Chair. The RSGB Legacy Fund, thanks to the generosity of donors, has significant financial resources available to encourage and develop amateur radio. The Legacy Committee, which is a sub-Committee of the RSGB Board, considers proposals for grants that can be awarded to projects from the RSGB Legacy Fund. The criteria and application form are available on the RSGB website at rsgb.org/legacy  If you have an interesting idea and would like to submit it for funding, you can contact the new Legacy Chair via legacy.chair@rsgb.org.uk
SOS Radio Week is underway. It is an annual event that takes place throughout the month of May to celebrate the work of the volunteers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Independent Lifeboats and National Coastwatch Stations around the British Isles. Between them, members of these organisations save many lives who are in danger along and around the thousands of miles of coastline and further out to sea. This year is the 200th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI, and SOS Radio Week is being co-branded SOS Radio Week 200 for those operators who are supporting the RNLI during the event. Participants can operate from home, a public location, or a lifeboat or Coastwatch station, with the appropriate authorisation from the station manager. A commemorative certificate is available to all official stations that record their contacts on the website together with awards for the top individual and club, or group, stations on each band from 160m to 70cm. To read more about the event visit sosradioweek.org.uk
The next in the series of the popular 145 Alive events, to promote the use of 145MHz FM, is coming up on Saturday the 11th of May, from 1pm to 3pm. The event and the supporting Facebook Group was started by Tim, G5TM and from the start of 2024 has been organised by Mark, M0XIC and John, M0XJA. The last successful event took place in January this year, when over 30 nets operated simultaneously across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern and Southern Ireland. Over 900 QSOs took place, with many amateurs operating portable, mobile or from their club or home QTH. If you would like to take part, and find out more about the event and 145 Alive in general, then join the 145 Alive Facebook Group.
Next weekend, the 11th and 12th, lots of amateur radio stations will be taking to the air as part of Mills on the Air Weekend 2024. The event takes place across the UK every May with more than 300 windmills and watermills usually taking part. For more information, to register, and to view a list of registered stations, visit ddars.net/mills.html
Advance notice now that International Museums Weekend will be taking place on the third and fourth weekends in June. This year, those weekends are the 15th and 16th, and the 22nd and 23rd of June. Special event stations will be operating from a wide variety of museums from many different countries. To read more about the event, and to register to take part, visit tinyurl.com/IMW2024
And now for details of rallies and events
Lough Erne Amateur Radio Club’s 40th Annual Radio Rally is taking place today, the 5th of May. The venue is Share Discovery Village, 221 Lisnaskea Road, Lisnaskea, Enniskillen, BT92 0JZ. The event features food and drink, bring and buy, RSGB books, the QSL Bu