Solar eclipse experiments by the RSGB Propagation Studies Committee

A partial solar eclipse took place on Wednesday 12 August 2026, during which the RSGB’s Propagation Studies Committee carried out a series of radio experiments.

As the eclipse progressed it meant that F2/E-layer illumination of the ionosphere was diminished. At the same time, it also meant that D-region absorption may have bee reduced. This may have affected propagation on the lower bands, including medium wave, 80m and perhaps even 40m. The Committee posed a series of questions:

• 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?

The RSGB called on radio amateurs to run WSPR on 80m during the eclipse. And repeat the exercise either the day before or the day after so comparisons could be drawn.

The Society also organised two contests on 80m CW and 40m FT8 on 12 August. These were open to non-RSGB members as well. For the FT8 contest, radio amateurs were asked to send their locator rather than skip directly to a signal report.

For more details on the background of the experiment:

• Read the feature in the August edition of RadCom

• 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.

Results of the experiment will be shared in the November edition of RadCom, as well as during a lecture with Steve Nichols, G0KYA  at 14.30 on Sunday 11 October at the RSGB Convention.