[OFARC] This week's ARRL Blurb...

Martin Denning morgancreek at gmail.com
Fri Apr 7 07:23:17 EDT 2023 

[image: The ARRL Letter]
April 6, 2023
John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <news at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> *ARRL Letter* Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/> Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>[image: Ad]
<http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2023-04-06&t=t>



   - NASA Names Three Hams for Artemis II Moon Mission Crew
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc01>
   - Hamvention 2023 Getting Ready
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc02>
   - Time to Get Ready for Field Day
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc03>
   - Amateur Radio in the News
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc04>
   - ARRL Podcasts
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc05>
   - Announcements
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc06>
   - In Brief...
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc07>
   - The K7RA Solar Update
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc08>
   - Just Ahead in Radiosport
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc09>
   - Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
   <https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_2040608596218764322_toc10>

NASA Names Three Hams for Artemis II Moon Mission Crew

NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) announced the four astronauts who
will venture around the moon on Artemis II. This will be the first crewed
mission on NASA's path to establishing long-term moon science and
exploration development. The agencies revealed the crew members on Monday,
April 3, 2023, during an event at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space
Center in Houston, Texas. Three of the four crew members are amateur radio
operators.

The crew of NASA's Artemis II mission (left to right): NASA astronauts
Christina Hammock Koch, Reid Wiseman KF5LKT, (seated), Victor Glover,
KI5BKC, and CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU. Credits: NASA.

"The Artemis II crew represents thousands of people working tirelessly to
bring us to the stars. This is their crew, this is our crew, this is
humanity's crew," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "NASA astronauts
Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Hammock Koch, and CSA astronaut
Jeremy Hansen, each has their own story, but together, they represent our
creed: E pluribus unum - out of many, one. Together, we are ushering in a
new era of exploration for a new generation of star sailors and dreamers -
the Artemis Generation."

The crew will work as a team to execute an ambitious set of demonstrations
during the flight test.

Their assignments are as follows: Commander Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, Pilot
Victor Glover, KI5BKC, Mission Specialist 1 Christina Hammock Koch, and
Mission Specialist 2 Jeremy Hansen, KF5LKU. Koch had planned to study and
take her amateur license exam in 2019, but her flight was suddenly
rescheduled 6 months earlier than originally planned. She had to
immediately begin preparing for her flight instead of studying.

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch in November 2024. The
approximately 10-day flight test will launch on the agency's powerful Space
Launch System rocket, prove the Orion spacecraft's life-support systems,
and validate the capabilities and techniques needed for humans to live and
work in deep space.

For more information, visit the NASA <https://www.nasa.gov/> website.
Hamvention 2023 Getting Ready

Dayton Hamvention® 2023, scheduled for May 19 - 21, is just six weeks away
and preparations are moving forward for the big event.

Tickets are now available online and by mail order. They can be purchased
at https://hamvention.org/purchase-tickets.
<https://hamvention.org/purchase-tickets>

Hamvention, which is amateur radio's largest annual convention, is held at
the Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Xenia, Ohio.

ARRL is readying its large participation at Hamvention. ARRL's exhibit area
will be located in Building 2 and will include program representatives and
volunteers supporting over a dozen booths and activities.

With nearly 700 volunteers, this year's Hamvention will boast more than 500
indoor exhibits and more than 2,500 outdoor exhibits. The event showcases
the latest in amateur radio equipment, technology, and computer software
and hardware, along with hard-to-find radio and computer accessories and
equipment. For the latest information about Hamvention 2023
<https://hamvention.org/>, visit their website.
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Time to Get Ready for Field Day

ARRL Field Day is just over two months away, but like spring cleaning, it
pays to start getting ready now.

2023 Field Day will be held June 24 - 25. It is ham radio's open house.
Every June, hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting
stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and
service to communities and the nation. It combines public service,
emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a
single event. Some participants may also choose to operate from home, using
the exercise to develop and practice their personal radio communications
capability.

Field Day has been an annual event since 1933 and remains the most popular
event in ham radio.

In 2022, 4,929 entries were submitted (including check logs), and there was
a total of 29,679 reported participants.

Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC
Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations
residing in other regions may be contacted for credit and may submit
entries as check logs.

The main focus of Field Day is to work as many stations as possible on the
160-, 80-, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter HF bands, all bands on 50 MHz and
above, and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less-than-optimal
conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges
of emergency preparedness and acquaint the general public with the
capabilities of amateur radio.

For Field Day 2023, several rules changes have been made. It's a good idea
to make sure that your logging software has been updated to the most
current version to incorporate these rule changes including the updated
Canadian sections list. There are many facets to operating on Field Day and
knowing the rules and keeping good logs are paramount to successful
contacts.

Many local amateur radio clubs participate in ARRL Field Day. To start
preparing for Field Day, check out arrl.org/field-day
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day> for the official rules and all the
information you'll need. To find a participating radio club in your area,
use the Field Day Locator on the page.
------------------------------
Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news
<http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

"Western NY ham radio operators prepare to help in emergencies
<https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/human-interest/2023/04/03/western-ny-ham-radio-operators-prepare-to-help-in-emergencies?fbclid=IwAR2ZfGuDGhW64RokiljwuJGGENJJQFzr2-_3zxFLDDSANNSIZrcDKaHjKog>"
/ Spectrum News 1 (Western New York), April 3, 2023 -- The Buffalo Amateur
Radio Repeater Association*.*

"UNCHARTED TERRITORY: New Braunfels doctor assists on 2-month expedition to
Bouvet Island
<https://herald-zeitung.com/community_alert/uncharted-territory-new-braunfels-doctor-assists-on-2-month-expedition-to-bouvet-island/article_5623de62-d323-11ed-be3b-6f16fe5461e2.html>"
/ The Herald-Zeitung (Texas), April 4, 2023 -- Mike Crownover, AD5A,
Boerne, Texas.

"Veteran Allen County storm spotter readies volunteers
<https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/veteran-allen-county-storm-spotter-readies-volunteers/>"
/ WANE -TV (Indiana), April 4, 2023 -- Jay Farlow , W9LW, of Fort Wayne,
Indiana is Net Manager of the Allen County, Indiana SKYWARN Net and
Assistant Emergency Coordinator for SKYWARN of the Allen County Amateur
Radio Emergency Service. He is an ARRL Member.

Share <newsmedia at arrl.org> any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.
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ARRL Podcasts

*On the Air*
*Sponsored by **Icom* <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>

Radio orienteering (aka amateur radio direction finding, or ARDF) is a
radio sport like no other. In this episode, we talk to USA ARDF
Co-coordinator Charles Scharlau, NZØI, about how get involved in what he
calls, "the only *athletic *radio sport." Radio orienteering will get you
out of your shack chair and bounding through the woods or a park, using a
handheld receiver and directional antenna to find a transmitter that's
located somewhere in the vicinity. People of all ages and skill levels can
have fun with radio orienteering -- and you don't even need a ham radio
license to join in.


*ARRL Audio News*Listen to ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>, available every Friday. ARRL Audio
News is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur
radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features.

The On the Air podcast is available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android).
The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are also on blubrry -- On the Air
<https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio News
<https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.
------------------------------
Announcements

T*he Lewis and Clark Trail on the Air special event commemorates the
historic path the explorers took on their trek across the Midwest. *The
trail covers 4,900 miles and 16 states. This includes the disembarkation
from Camp Dubois and what is referred to as the Eastern Legacy
<http://lewisandclarktrail.com/elearningeastern.htm>. The event is
sponsored by the Clark County Amateur Radio Club <https://www.w7aia.org/>,
with support and participation from other clubs in all 16 states along the
historic trail. The 2023 event will run 24 hours per day beginning June 3
and continuing through June 18 (June 2, 5:00 PM Pacific Time to June 18,
5:00 PM Pacific Time). The rules are simple: contact one club in each of
the 16 states on the historic Lewis and Clark Trail. Operating modes
include SSB phone, FM phone, CW, and FT8. Any combination of modes used to
work all 16 states is allowed. The on-air exchange will include the call
sign and name of the operator. Additional information, such as a signal
report or a Parks on the Air park designation, may also be logged but is
not required. Additional information can be found at Lewis & Clark Trail on
the Air (lctota.org) <https://www.lctota.org/>.
------------------------------
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In Brief...

*Canadian amateur radio operators will be able to participate in a special
event honoring the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. *The
coronation takes place on May 6, 2023, and the special event runs from *May
5 to July 2. Operators will be able to use special event call sign
prefixes. *Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED
<https://apc-cap.ic.gc.ca/pls/apc_anon/query_spev$.startup>) has approved
the special call signs, which will correspond to the early summer operating
season. All Canadian amateurs can use the special event call sign prefixes
for all occasions, including Field Day and the Radio Amateurs of Canada Day
Contest. More information about the special event call signs is available
here
<https://www.rac.ca/special-event-call-signs-for-the-coronation-of-king-charles-iii/>.
Additional information about the coronation can be found at King Charles:
When is the coronation and what do we know about it? - BBC News
<https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63543019>.
------------------------------
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL
Propagation Bulletin, ARLP014:

Solar disk image taken April 6, 2023, courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI.

Average solar flux and sunspot numbers went down this week. Sunspot numbers
are down by half, from 112.6 last week to 53.4 this week. Average daily
solar flux declined from 156.1 to 132.5.

Geomagnetic indicators also declined this week. The average daily planetary
A index went from 23.3 last week to 15 this week. Average daily middle
latitude A index went down from 13.7 to 11.7.

The middle latitude A index for April 1 was not available, so my guess for
it is 11.

Predicted solar flux is 140 on April 6 - 8; 135 on April 9 - 11; 140 on
April 12 - 13; 130 on April 14; 135 on April 15 - 17; 140 on April 18 - 20;
135 on April 21 - 23, then 130, 125, and 120 on April 24 - 26; 115 on April
27 - 29; 125 on April 30; 120 on May 1 - 2; 115 on May 3 - 4, and 110 on
May 5 - 7.

Predicted planetary A index was 8 on April 6; 5 on April 7 - 10, then 8, 8,
and 5 on April 11 - 13; 8 on April 14 - 15, then 12, 10, and 15 on April 16
- 18, then 5, 20, 15, and 10 on April 19 - 22; 5 on April 23 - 25, then 15
and 18 on April 26 - 27; 15 on April 28 - 29; 8 on April 30; 10 on May 1 -
2; 8 on May 3, and 5 on May 4 - 6.

This video from Tamitha Skov features flares and wind, and came out right
after last week's bulletin:

https://youtu.be/F8ERhLiOK88

Sunspot numbers for March 30 through April 5, 2023, were 99, 61, 23, 54,
56, 44, and 37, with a mean of 53.4. 10.7-centimeter flux was 140.3, 129.3,
125.3, 126.9, 133.6, 135.7, and 136.6, with a mean of 132.5. Estimated
planetary A indices were 17, 21, 13, 15, 15, 13, and 11, with a mean of 15.
Middle latitude A index was 11, 17, 11, 13, 11, 10, and 9, with a mean of
11.7.

Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra at arrl.net.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website.
For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
<http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals> the ARRL Technical Information
Service, read <http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere> "What the
Numbers Mean...," and check out <http://k9la.us/> the Propagation Page of
Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive
<http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available. For
customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio
<https://www.voacap.com/hf/> website.

Share <k7ra at arrl.net> your reports and observations.

A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News <http://www.arrl.org/news>.
------------------------------
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Just Ahead in Radiosport

The Yearlong -- ARRL Volunteers On the Air <https://vota.arrl.org/> (VOTA)
event continues. At their website you can see the State Activations
Schedule for weekly W1AW Portable Operations
<https://vota.arrl.org/w1awPortable.php>, including:


   -

   April 5 - April 11 Pennsylvania W1AW/3
   -

   April 5 - April 11 Oregon W1AW/7
   -

   April 12 - April 18 Massachusetts W1AW/1
   -

   April 12 - April 18 North Carolina W1AW/4


Upcoming Contests:

   -

   April 6 - 7 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
   -

   April 8 -- QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party (CW)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- JIDX CW Contest (CW)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- DIG QSO Party, (CW)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- OK/OM DX Contest, SSB (phone)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- IG-RY World Wide RTTY Contest (digital)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- New Mexico QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- Georgia QSO Party (CW, phone)
   -

   April 8 - 9 -- Yuri Gagarin Int'l DX Contest (CW)
   -

   April 9 -- WAB 3.5/7/14 MHz Data Modes (digital)
   -

   April 10 -- 4 States QRP Group 2nd Sun Sprint (CW, phone)
   -

   April 10 -- DARC Easter Contest (CW, phone)
   -

   April 10 -- 144 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
   -

   April 12 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)


Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> for
more events and information.
------------------------------
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

   -

   April 8 | Raleigh Hamfest
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/raleigh-hamfest-arrl-north-carolina-state-convention>,
   hosting the ARRL North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
   -

   April 15 | Sussex Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/sussex-amateur-radio-and-electronics-expo-arrl-delaware-state-convention>,
   hosting the ARRL Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware.
   -

   May 7 | Warminster Amateur Radio Club Hamfest
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/warminster-arc-hamfest-arrl-eastern-pennsylvania-section-convention-1>,
   hosting the ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Bristol,
   Pennsylvania
   -

   May 13 | ARRL Nebraska State Convention
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-nebraska-state-convention-2>,
   Lincoln, Nebraska
   -

   May 19 - 21 | Dayton Hamvention
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-arrl-great-lakes-division-convention>,
   hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention, Xenia, Ohio
   -

   June 2- 4 | SEA-PAC
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/sea-pac-arrl-northwestern-division-convention-1>,
   hosting the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon
   -

   June 3 | Atlanta Hamfest
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/atlanta-hamfest-arrl-georgia-section-convention>,
   hosting the ARRL Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia
   -

   June 4 | BreezeShooters Hamfest
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/breezeshooters-hamfest-arrl-western-pennsylvania-section-convention>,
   hosting the ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,
   Pennsylvania
   -

   June 17 | Knoxville Hamfest and Electronics Convention
   <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/knoxville-hamfest-and-electronics-convention-arrl-tennessee-state-convention-1>,
   hosting the ARRL Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee


Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests> to find events in your area.
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