GB2RS News Sunday the 17th of December 2023 The news headlines: Ofcom document on changes to amateur radio licensing released YOTA month continues WRC-23 concludes Earlier this week, Ofcom released a document titled “Updating the Amateur Radio Licensing Framework”. The document states that amateur radio licences will be changing in 2024 and provides details of the changes that are planned. These include adjustments to the overall licensing framework and rules in a number of areas including...

GB2RS News Sunday the 10th of December 2023 The news headlines: 23cm recommendation approved at WRC-23 RSGB Examinations Standards Committee report published RSGB Elections process begins   The third week of the WRC-23 World Radiocommunication Conference has seen the approval of a new footnote to the 23cm amateur band at 1240 to 1300MHz under Agenda Item 9.1-b. This draws attention to the recently released ITU-R Recommendation 2164 that provides guidance to avoid interference to radio...

GB2RS News Sunday the 3rd of December 2023 The news headlines: ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 update Youth country representatives sought YOTA month has begun   The 2023 World Radio Conference has reached the halfway point in its four-week deliberations. After numerous meetings, the 23cm topic has made progress at the sub-working group level, and the outcome is expected to progress up the WRC committee structure for adoption. Meanwhile, attention is also being paid to a wide...

GB2RS News Sunday the 26th of November 2023 The news headlines: 2023 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference RSGB 2023 Convention presentation on Ofcom consultation Tonight@8 webinar The first week of the 2023 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference has seen discussions get underway on a wide variety of agenda items. Notably for amateur radio, IARU Region 1 reports that new ITU Recommendation M.2164 on guidance for amateur and amateur satellite usage in the 1240 to 1300MHz range has now been...

GB2RS News Sunday the 19th of November 2023 The news headlines: World Radio Conference WRC-23 VHF Contest Committee survey “Taking Amateur Radio into schools” RSGB presentation released   World Radio Conference WRC-23 opens on Monday the 20th of November. Over the coming four weeks, a wide variety of agenda items will be considered, of which the 23cm band is a high-priority item for amateur radio. IARU volunteers have worked hard over the past four years in preparation for this. The RSGB...

GB2RS News Sunday the 12th of November 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Construction Competition RSGB 2023 Convention videos RSGB QSL Bureau    Now the nights are drawing in, don’t forget about the RSGB Construction Competition. To enable members across the country, and even the world, to take part, entries will again be judged over the internet rather than in person. This year two new categories have been introduced so there are six categories you can enter: Antennas; Beginners; Most creative...

GB2RS NewsSunday the 5th of November 2023 The news headlines:• Exam funding for youngsters• Tonight@8 webinar• RSGB affiliated club Course and Exam Finder map The Radio Communications Foundation, or RCF, is a small charity that seeks to promote radio engineering and amateur radio. Last year, several teachers identified the cost of Foundation exams as a barrier for some young people. The RCF Trustees considered how they might help. Funding exams for every youngster was seen to be unaffordable,...

GB2RS News Sunday the 29th of October 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Convention videos Amateur radio exam dates Tonight@8 webinar   The RSGB has released its first video from the 2023 Convention. RSGB General Manager and Convention Chair, Steve Thomas, M1ACB, talks to RSGB President John McCullagh, GI4BWM and IRTS President Enda Broderick, EI2II. The two Presidents discuss their views on the opportunities, challenges and great things happening in amateur radio at the moment. You can see this...

GB2RS News Sunday the 22nd of October 2023 The news headlines: RSGB 2023 Convention ARISS contact with St Peter-In-Thanet CE Junior School Tonight@8 webinar The RSGB’s 2023 Convention took place last weekend and brought together hundreds of amateurs in person as well as many more across the world who watched the livestream. RSGB General Manager and Convention Chair, Steve Thomas, M1ACB said that in addition to the usual varied programme of lectures, he was delighted as Convention Chair to...

GB2RS NewsSunday the 15th of October 2023 The news headlines:• RSGB Construction Competition• New chair of the RSGB’s Exams and Syllabus Group• RSGB 2023 Convention The RSGB recognises the importance of construction as a key element of amateur radio, whether that is using traditional construction skills or is a software or systems engineering project. The Society has launched its 2024 Construction Competition and the deadline for entries is the 1st of March 2024. To enable members across the...

GB2RS News Sunday the 8th of October 2023 The news headlines: RSGB 2023 Convention New Intruder Watch Coordinator 2m band NoV extension   With just one week to go until the RSGB 2023 Convention, your time is running out to book packages or pre-book day tickets. The deadline is midnight today, Sunday the 8th of October, so head over to rsgb.org/convention and follow the booking links. You will still be able to buy day tickets at the Convention so do go along and enjoy not only the fantastic...

GB2RS News Sunday the 1st of October 2023 The news headlines: RSGB 2023 Convention RadCom Basics Editor retirement RSGB Director Ben Lloyd, GW4BML’s SOTA challenge We’re counting down to the RSGB 2023 Convention and the Society is putting the final touches to the programme. This year there will be a special, hour-long, session with the RSGB Board where the Directors will present the four strategic priorities that the Society will be focusing on until the 2024 AGM. After that, Convention...

GB2RS News Sunday the 24th of September 2023 The news headlines: RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB Board appointment RSGB Trophy Manager   It is just three weeks until the RSGB 2023 Convention so grab a coffee and browse the great line-up of speakers at this year’s event. The keynote and after-dinner speaker is Colonel John Doody, who has the unique experience of having held appointments in Defence, the Intelligence Services and Industry. John will discuss his radio communication experiences across...

GB2RS News Sunday the 17th of September 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Strategic Priorities RSGB 2023 Convention YOTA month The RSGB Board has chosen four strategic priorities for the Society to focus on until the 2024 AGM. These are the growth of amateur radio; membership of the RSGB; spectrum and licensing; and ensuring the continued financial stability of the Society. These priorities will set the framework for the RSGB’s activities over the coming months. Both HQ staff and volunteers...

GB2RS News Sunday the 10th of September 2023 The news headlines: RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB 2023 outreach and buildathons National Coding Week     The RSGB 2023 Convention will be held this year from the 13th to the 15th of October. It is an action-packed weekend of amateur radio and includes the AMSAT-UK Colloquium which will be held during the Convention again. You can chat to the Special Interest Groups and RSGB Committees over a coffee, browse the latest amateur radio equipment and maybe...

GB2RS News Sunday the 3rd of September 2023 The news headlines: Ofcom Consultation RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB Foundation Awards Time is running out to respond to Ofcom’s consultation “Updating the amateur radio licensing framework”. The deadline is Monday the 4th of September. The RSGB will be sending its own formal response, but Ofcom is interested in the views of every radio amateur. This is the biggest review of amateur radio licensing and callsign policy in a generation and your...

GB2RS News Sunday the 27th of August 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Board Co-option RSGB 2023 Convention IARU Region 1 Conference  RSGB Board Chair Stewart Bryant, G3YSX is pleased to announce that the Board has co-opted Ben Lloyd, GW4BML as a Board Director until the AGM in April 2024. Ben had a significant number of votes in the RSGB 2023 Board elections. Ben brings a fresh perspective together with a very active life as a radio amateur in Wales. The Society hopes you will welcome Ben to his...

GB2RS News Sunday the 20th of August 2023 The news headlines: National Coding Week G5RP Trophy nominations RSGB 2023 Convention   National Coding Week is taking place from the 14th of September, but the RSGB is dedicating the whole of September to amateur radio and coding activities. This is a great way to try something new, extend your skills or share your knowledge with your local club, school or community group. You can find out more on the RSGB’s coding page at rsgb.org/coding  and, if...

GB2RS News Sunday the 13th of August 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Intruder Watch Service volunteer needed New RSGB NRC promotional video International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend   The RSGB Intruder Watch Service is looking for a volunteer to act as Coordinator when Richard Lamont, G4DYA retires from the role in September. The function of the Intruder Watch Service is to monitor and receive reports of intrusions of non-amateur transmissions into amateur radio bands and to collate...

GB2RS News Sunday the 6th of August 2023 The news headlines: Tonight@8 events on Ofcom consultation YOTA summer camp in Hungary RSGB coding resources and activities   A reminder that the second of the RSGB’s special Tonight@8 events on the Ofcom Consultation will take place on Monday the 7th of August. This time the focus will be on Foundation and Intermediate topics including callsign and exam changes, as well as the Consultation clauses that might lead to new opportunities for outreach...

GB2RS NewsSunday the 30th of July 2023 The news headlines:• Tonight@8 events on the Ofcom amateur radio consultation• Bar-coded stamps• GB2RS in Morse code The RSGB is holding two special live Tonight@8 events focused on the Ofcom amateur radio consultation, and it encourages all radio amateurs to take part. On Monday the 31st of July the session will look at contests, operating and callsign policy, in an event that might be of particular interest to Full licensees. On Monday the 7th of...

GB2RS News Sunday the 23rd of July 2023 The news headlines: Tonight@8 events on Ofcom consultation RSGB 2023 Convention RSGB Region 3 District Representatives   The RSGB is holding two special Tonight@8 events focused on the Ofcom amateur radio consultation. On Monday the 31st of July it will look at contests, operating and callsign policy, in an event that might be of particular interest to Full licensees. On Monday the 7th of August the focus will be on Foundation and Intermediate topics...

GB2RS News Sunday the 16th of July 2023 The news headlines: Ofcom consultation video guidance World Radiosport Team Championships RSGB coding activities   The RSGB has just released a video in which RSGB Spectrum and licensing expert Murray Niman, G6JYB, explains more about Ofcom’s Consultation on “Updating the amateur radio licensing framework”. This is the biggest revamp of amateur radio licensing and callsign policy in a generation. The video forms part of the RSGB’s wider guidance for...

GB2RS News Sunday the 9th of July 2023 The news headlines: New ATV display at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre Film award for members of Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend A new amateur TV display has just been installed at the RSGB’s National Radio Centre, with signals received via the wide-band segment of the geostationary satellite QO-100. The Society is delighted to be able to demonstrate amateur TV as a permanent display at the NRC, helping to...

GB2RS News Sunday the 2nd of July 2023 The news headlines: RSGB Tonight@8 webinar High-altitude balloon launch Alexanderson Day     Don’t forget that the RSGB’s next Tonight@8 webinar is this Monday the 3rd of July, when Eric P. Nichols, KL7AJ will be presenting “Receiving antennas are different”. The Tonight@8 webinars are live-streamed for free on the RSGB’s YouTube channel and special BATC channel, allowing you to watch the presentations and ask questions online. You can find out more at...