HMCS margaret Brooke off rothera station during the canadian antarctic science research expedition on March 15, 2025 (Courtesy of Dr. kevin wilcox)
A live, off-air, half-hour recording of the BBC World Service special Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on 21 June 2025 beginning at 21:30 UTC.
The broadcast, hosted by Cerys Matthews and which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the first BBC broadcast to Antarctica, featured messages and music for the members of the staff of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) overwintering in Antarctica at the Rothera (Antarctic Peninsula) and King Edward Point and Bird Island (South Georgia) research stations. In addition to personal messages from family and friends, there was a message from Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of BAS, who highlighted the construction of the Discovery Building at Rothera, and a very special message from King Charles III, a first for a monarch, highlighting climate change. He said "Each observation, measurement and calculation you undertake adds to the world's understanding of the Earth's fragile systems."
The recording is of the transmission on 12065 kHz from the BBC's Woofferton, England, transmitting station. The broadcast was received by the Web-interface wideband software-defined radio at the University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands, with a "Mini-Whip" antenna in AM synchronous mode with 5.08 kHz RF filtering. Reception was quite good with little noise or fading and good signal strength. The additional parallel frequencies of 5960 kHz from Al'Dhabbaya, United Arab Emirates, and 9575 kHz from Ascension were heard but not as well as 12065 kHz.
The RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park is hosting another of its popular Build Your Own Radio workshops. Morning and afternoon sessions will be held on Sunday, 23 November 2025 and will offer young people aged between 12 and 18 years the opportunity to learn more about amateur radio and electronics. The workshops will […]
The RSGB VHF Contest Committee is currently planning the rules for the 2026 VHF contests. Following some discussion at the RSGB Convention, the committee members have some questions on which they would appreciate feedback from contestants. The survey will close at 11.59pm on Sunday, 23 November. You can find the survey online via tinyurl.com/vhfsurvey December […]
On Sunday, 30 November, Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur’s Club Rally is taking place at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, County Durham. Traders, catering, ample parking and disabled facilities will be available. For more information and downloadable trader forms, visit barac.org.uk Mid Devon Amateur Radio and Electronics Fair 2025 will be held on Sunday, 7 December at Winkleigh Sports […]
Special callsign GB50AUK is active until 28 November to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AMSAT-UK. QSOs will be uploaded to at least eQSL, Logbook of the World and the QO-100 DX Club. To find out more visit amsat-uk.org To celebrate the 39th anniversary of the European DX Foundation, a number of special callsigns are active until […]
The RSGB HF Contest Committee is looking for your contribution to a survey that will help shape the rules for HF contests in 2026. Included in the survey are questions on “Self-Spotting” and “Slow speed CW”. The survey will close on Monday 24 November. You can find the survey here.
The RSGB VHF Contest Committee is currently planning the rules for the 2026 VHF contests. Following some discussion at the RSGB Convention, the committee members have some questions on which they would appreciate feedback from contestants. The survey will close at 11.59pm on Sunday 23 November. You can find the survey online.
For details of all Ayr Amateur Radio Group’s activities and nets, visit gm0ayr.org Derek, MM0OVD, 0742 899 4614 derek.secaarg@gmail.com Caithness Amateur Radio Society has club nets at 2pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays on 3.740MHz. There are club meetings on Thursdays in the Skirza clubhouse, near John O’Groats. Nigel, MM7BWT, mansfield.n27@gmail.com Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur […]
Banbury Amateur Radio Society has a net on 144.5125MHz FM most evenings. For more information visit banburyares.co.uk Tomorrow, 17 November, Bishop’s Stortford Amateur Radio Society has a meeting at Farnham Village Hall from 8pm. Visitors and new members are welcome. On Wednesday there is a net, starting at 8pm on 145.5625MHz. bsars.org On Thursdays the Bittern […]
