Take part in solar eclipse experiments with the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee

There will be a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August 2026 and the RSGB’s Propagation Studies Committee would like your help with some radio experiments.

As the eclipse progresses it will mean that F2/E-layer illumination of the ionosphere is diminished. At the same time, it will also mean that D-region absorption may be reduced. This may affect propagation on the lower bands, including medium wave, 80m and perhaps even 40m.

For stations in the south of England, how will propagation from the BBC Radio Scotland transmitter on 810kHz from Westerglen or Burghead be affected?
For stations in Scotland, how will transmissions on 1089kHz 150kW TalkSport from Brookmans Park or 1051kHz 150kW TalkSport from Droitwich change?
Towards the end of the eclipse how will reception of medium and long wave stations from North Africa change?

If possible, the RSGB would also like you to run WSPR on 80m during the eclipse from 6pm to 9pm (BST). And repeat the exercise either the day before or the day after so comparisons can be drawn.

The Society has also organised two contests on 80m CW and 40m FT8, both to run from 5.30pm to 8.30pm (BST) on 12 August. These are open to non-RSGB members as well. For the FT8 contest, radio amateurs are asked to send their locator rather than skip directly to a signal report.

For more details read the feature in the August edition of RadCom.

You can also watch the July Tonight@8 webinar “The solar eclipse and how you can participate” by Chair of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Steve Nichols, G0KYA.

Take part in solar eclipse experiments with the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee

There will be a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August 2026 and the RSGB’s Propagation Studies Committee would like your help with some radio experiments.

As the eclipse progresses it will mean that F2/E-layer illumination of the ionosphere is diminished. At the same time, it will also mean that D-region absorption may be reduced. This may affect propagation on the lower bands, including medium wave, 80m and perhaps even 40m.

For stations in the south of England, how will propagation from the BBC Radio Scotland transmitter on 810kHz from Westerglen or Burghead be affected?

For stations in Scotland, how will transmissions on 1089kHz 150kW TalkSport from Brookmans Park or 1051kHz 150kW TalkSport from Droitwich change?

Towards the end of the eclipse how will reception of medium and long wave stations from North Africa change?

If possible, the RSGB would also like you to run WSPR on 80m during the eclipse from 6pm to 9pm (BST). And repeat the exercise either the day before or the day after so comparisons can be drawn.

The Society has also organised two contests on 80m CW and 40m FT8, both to run from 5.30pm to 8.30pm (BST) on 12 August. These are open to non-RSGB members as well. For the FT8 contest, radio amateurs are asked to send their locator rather than skip directly to a signal report.

For more details read the feature in the August edition of RadCom.

You can also watch the July Tonight@8 webinar “The solar eclipse and how you can participate” by Chair of the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee Steve Nichols, G0KYA.

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