[SFDXA] Fwd: The ARRL Letter for April 14, 2016
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Apr 14 20:12:16 EDT 2016
Preview
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The ARRL Letter
April 14, 2016
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me 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/>
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&i=2016-04-14&t=t>
* Youth Rally Will Be a Highlight of ARRL's Hamvention 2016 Activities
<#toc01>
* ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee Calls for Comments on
Proposed UHF and Up Event <#toc02>
* First-Ever D-STAR Satellite to Launch <#toc03>
* Countdown to Jamboree on the Air Under Way, 2016 JOTA Patch Design
Introduced <#toc04>
* "ARRL The Doctor is In" Podcast Guide Now Available <#toc05>
* National Parks on the Air Update <#toc06>
* ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology Application Deadline
is May 1 <#toc07>
* ARRL Rookie Roundup Returns with SSB Event on Sunday, April 17! <#toc08>
* ARRL School Club Roundup Results Posted <#toc09>
* World ARDF Championships Participation Expected to Break Record <#toc10>
* Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Named as IARU Satellite Advisor <#toc11>
* In Brief... <#toc12>
* The K7RA Solar Update <#toc13>
* This Week in Radiosport <#toc14>
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
<#toc15>
Youth Rally Will Be a Highlight of ARRL's Hamvention 2016 Activities
The first-ever ARRL Youth Rally <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-youth-rally>
will be a feature of the League's menu of activities at Hamvention
<http://www.hamvention.org>® 2016. The event is set for Saturday, May
21, and requires advance online registration
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-youth-rally>. Hamvention takes place May
20-22, and the centerpiece of ARRL Hamvention exhibits and activities is
ARRL EXPO <http://www.arrl.org/expo>, a huge exhibit area in one of the
main exhibit halls in Hara Arena. The ARRL Youth Rally is open to youth
and young adults aged 11 to 26. Participants will enjoy a full program
of hands-on ham radio activities, discovery, sharing, and fun!
"ARRL is especially excited to introduce a way for young hams and
soon-to-be hams to meet each other and experience some cool activities,"
said ARRL EXPO Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "The model for the ARRL
Youth Rally is based on a full-day camp program, and our goal is to
encourage young radio amateurs to get active, get involved, and get on
the air." Preliminary Youth Rally agenda and registration instructions
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-youth-rally> are on the ARRL website. The ARRL
Youth Rally is $20 for ages 11-17, and free for young adults ages 18-26.
The fee covers the cost of lunch, a T-shirt, and all Youth Rally materials.
Rally day begins with the annual Dayton Youth Forum -- open to all
Hamvention attendees -- moderated by well-known Amateur Radio educator
Carole Perry, WB2MGP. The forum includes presentations from young hams
covering a variety of Amateur Radio activities, topics, and technology.
Following the forum, Youth Rally registrants will enjoy lunch together,
followed by a full afternoon of activities and hands-on demonstrations.
Youth Rally Leaders Tommy Gober, N5DUX, and Jennifer Gober, KE5LNK, both
education professionals, will guide the program. (Tommy Gober also is an
ARRL Education & Technology Program Instructor.)
The official ARRL Exhibit & Activities Guide
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARRL%20EXPO%20at%202016%20Dayton%20Hamvention%20Program.pdf>
for Hamvention 2016 is available now. ARRL has also announced its lineup
of Dayton Hamvention® forums. A list of /all/ Hamvention forums
<http://hamvention.org> is on the Hamvention website. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/youth-rally-will-be-a-highlight-of-arrl-s-hamvention-2016-activities>.
ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee Calls for Comments on Proposed
UHF and Up Event
The ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization (VCR) Committee has drafted rules
for a proposed new UHF and Up Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Contest%20-%20General/UHF_and_Above_Contest_Proposed_Version_4_4b.pdf>
and now is seeking input from the contesting community. The invitation
follows the Committee's review of "considerable input from the amateur
community."
"In proposing the new rules, the Committee sought to respond to some of
the most frequently received comments and to provide a 'test bed' for
changes that might be considered for other non-HF contests in the
future," ARRL Central Division Vice Director and VCR Chair Kermit
Carlson, W9XA, explained. "At this time, everything is a proposal --
open for comment, and definitely in flux."
Carlson said several common themes stood out among the comments and
suggestions the Committee has already received. These included:
*
Use distance-based scoring rather than a geographic multiplier system.
*
The August timing is too close to other VHF+ contests, and/or it's
too hot for roving.
*
More incentive is needed to invest time and effort in making
higher-band contacts.
*
Existing rover rules are too complicated and too restrictive.
*
Current VHF+ contests have too many entry categories.
*
Scoring potential varies widely from one geographic region to another.
The draft contest proposal uses distance scoring, with point multipliers
for contacts made on higher bands. To encourage roving, it simplifies
rover rules to include those who do not travel great distances, and
mobile stations. It includes just three entry categories and features
regional, rather than national, competition. It adds team competition
for small groups of operators who may not be part of a contest club.
*ARRL Central Division Vice Director and VCR Chair Kermit Carlson, W9XA.*
The event would be held in the spring, between the January and June VHF
contests.
Nothing is final yet -- not even the name of the contest, Carlson
stressed. The Committee would like to hear from veteran and prospective
VHF+ contest participants before it moves ahead with any additional
changes. Submit <mailto:vhf-input at arrl.org> comments by e-mail by June 15.
The Committee also encourages more local outreach -- articles,
announcements, seminars, and mentoring -- to draw new participants into
this and all radiosporting activities. Expanding the pool of potential
contacts will make these contests more enjoyable for everyone, and
Carlson said he hopes that commenters will share their outreach ideas
with the Committee too.
First-Ever D-STAR Satellite to Launch
The first-ever satellite to carry a D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies
for Amateur Radio) Amateur Radio payload into space is expected to
launch on April 22 from Guiana. The OUFTI-1
<https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/202_jun_2013.pdf> (Orbital
Utility For Telecommunication Innovations)//CubeSat is one of three
CubeSats developed by student teams under the European Space Agency (ESA
<http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Launch_campaign_started_CubeSats_arrived_at_Kourou_spaceport>)
Education Office "Fly Your Satellite!
<http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_Satellite/Launch_campaign_started_CubeSats_arrived_at_Kourou_spaceport>"
program, which is aimed at training the next generation of aerospace
professionals. The satellites arrived in South America on March 25,
followed by the student teams a few days later.
*The OUFTI-1 laboratory "twin."*
On March 30 the students pulled the "Remove Before Flight" pins and
successfully verified that their CubeSats were ready for launch before
replacing the access ports on the P-POD, which will secure the CubeSats
prior to and during launch and then will release them into orbit. The
next time the students will have contact with their respective CubeSats
will be through their spacecraft's communication link, after the
CubeSats have been deployed into orbit. Once thermal-optical tape has
been applied to the P-POD to shield the CubeSats from extreme thermal
radiation during the launch phase, the P-POD will be integrated with the
/Soyuz/ launch vehicle.
Constructed by students at the University of Liege in Belgium (ULg),
OUFTI-1 will be the first satellite to carry an Amateur Radio D-STAR
transponder. Developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League, D-STAR enables
the simultaneous transmission of voice and digital data as well as call
sign-based roaming via the Internet.
*Artist's depiction of the AAUSAT4 from Aalborg University. [Aalborg
University graphic]*
"The OUFTI-1 D-STAR repeater will be available either as a direct
communication repeater between two users, and as an extension of the ULg
D-STAR repeater," explains the article
<https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/202_jun_2013.pdf> "D-STAR
digital amateur communications in space with OUFTI-1 CubeSat" by
Jonathan Pisane, ON7JPD; Amandine Denis, ON4EYA, and Jacques Verly,
ON9CWD, all of ULg. The CubeSat's frequencies are 145.950 MHz (FSK
AX.25), and D-STAR down, with an uplink at 435.045 MHz. OUFTI-1 will
carry a CW beacon transmitting on 145.980 MHz.
The other two CubeSats are from Italy and Denmark. The CubeSat e-st at r-II
from the Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy, will demonstrate an
attitude control system using measurements of Earth's magnetic field. It
will transmit CW and 1.2 k AFSK on 437.485 MHz. AAUSAT4 from the
University of Aalborg, Denmark, will operate an automated ocean vessel
identification system. It will transmit on 437.425 MHz.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-04-14&p=0>
Countdown to Jamboree on the Air Under Way, 2016 JOTA Patch Design
Introduced
The countdown to the 2016 Jamboree on the Air (JOTA
<http://www.scouting.org/jota.aspx>) is under way, and the Boy Scouts of
America (BSA) are hoping for a more resounding turnout than last year's
for this fall's 59th JOTA. Radio Scouter Don Kunst, W3LNE, told ARRL
that the JOTA committee has expanded, along with efforts to get the word
out and raise awareness of JOTA through news and social media outlets.
In addition, he said, the JOTA organizers will be making it easier for
participants to register and to file their post-JOTA activity reports.
JOTA introduced its 2016 patch earlier this year.
<http://www.scouting.org/jota.aspx>"We've got a lot of things in the
pipeline," Kunst said, adding that he's been working closely with
National JOTA Organizer Jim Wilson, K5ND, and with the international
Scouting organization during the run-up to the October 14-17 event.
Kunst is looking forward to a more prominent presence for JOTA and Radio
Scouting at Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>®, where he
plans to also take part in a couple of Amateur Radio-related webcasts.
Kunst said the JOTA-Radio Scouting booth will be a part of ARRL EXPO at
Hamvention.
JOTA is the largest Scouting event in the world. In a typical year more
than 1 million Scouts participate from some 11,000 stations in 150+
countries. The annual Radio Scouting event uses Amateur Radio to link
Scouts around the world. Held each year on the third full weekend in
October, the worldwide jamboree involves the cooperation of radio
amateurs and clubs willing to make a ham shack and control operator
available for local Scouts to participate.
*Radio Scouter Don Kunst, W3LNE (left), discusses the Boy Scouts' ham
radio programs with new ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, at Orlando
HamCation 2016. [Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, photo]*
"It's actually pretty close," Kunst said in stressing the increasing
urgency of JOTA 2016 preparations. He told ARRL that he will be doing
more "how-to" articles regarding JOTA to help boost participation from
last year and, he said, "to help people feel more comfortable in
promoting the event" locally. "Obviously, at the national level, we
can't run the event. All we can really do is be a resource and a
clearing house of information," Kunst said.
In 2015, the BSA reported <http://www.k2bsa.net/jota-usa-reports/> that
JOTA participation by Scouts was down for the third straight year,
dipping by 8 percent from 2014, although the number of registered
stations and station reports last fall remained about the same. The BSA
said 12,255 Scouts and visitors took part in JOTA 2015. Getting
participating stations to file post-JOTA activity reports was a problem
in 2015, with only 60 percent of registered stations doing so. The 346
total stations registered for JOTA 2015 represented a slight improvement
from 2014, however.
The Scouts have blamed the depressed statistics on persistent challenges
from propagation, other operating events, a lack of council involvement,
and a failure to get information to those needing it.
"ARRL The Doctor is In" Podcast Guide Now Available
ARRL has posted a new guide, "Find a 'Doctor' Near You
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DoctorPodcast/DocFinder.pdf>" to help
"ARRL The Doctor is In" visitors to locate, download, and enjoy the
popular podcast. The inaugural episode on HF Verticals remains
available. "ARRL The Doctor is In" is sponsored by DX Engineering
<http://www.dxengineering.com>.
"ARRL The Doctor is In" is a lively discussion of all things technical.
Listen on your computer, tablet, or smartphone -- whenever and wherever
you like! Every 2 weeks your host, /QST/ Editor in Chief Steve Ford,
WB8IMY, and the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad
range of technical topics. E-mail your questions to doctor at arrl.org
<mailto:doctor at arrl.org>, and they may be answered in a future podcast.
"Does CW Really Get Through When Nothing Else Can?" will be the topic of
the next "ARRL The Doctor is In" audio podcast, available on April 21.
Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arrl-the-doctor-is-in/id1096749595?mt=2>
or on Stitcher <http://app.stitcher.com/> (sign in or use as a guest).
You can also listen to the current episode on Blubrry
<https://www.blubrry.com/arrl_the_doctor_is_in/>.
Podcast episodes will be archived <http://www.arrl.org/doctor> on the
ARRL website.
National Parks on the Air Update
On Saturday, April 9, the first EME (moonbounce) contacts in the ARRL
National Parks on the Air event (NPOTA <https://npota.arrl.org/>) were
made from Lake <https://npota.arrl.org/>Dardanelle State Park in
Arkansas, which counts for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.
The two operators, Dennis Schaefer
<https://www.facebook.com/dennis.schaefer.18>, W5RZ, and George Cotton,
WB5JJJ, set up near the lake and ran 50 W into a K1FO design 22 element
Yagi on 432 MHz, using JT65B digital mode. Power was supplied by eight
sealed lead-acid batteries. They worked four European stations -- DK3WG,
OK1DFC, HB9Q, and DL7APV. "I've planned this for a couple of months, so
it was gratifying to see it work!" said Schaefer.
National Parks Week <http://www.nationalparks.org/national-park-week> is
April 16-24, and World Amateur Radio Day
<http://www.iaru.org/world-amateur-radio-day.html> is April 18. Listen
for NPOTA activity from 71 different activations during the week of
April 14-20, including Sequoia National Park (NP50) in California, and
Russell Cave National Monument (M64) in Alabama.
Details <https://npota.arrl.org/nps-events.php> about these and other
upcoming activations are on the NPOTA Activations calendar.
Keep up with the latest NPOTA news on Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/NPOTA/>. Follow NPOTA on Twitter
<http://www.twitter.com/> (@ARRL_NPOTA).
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-04-14&p=1>
ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology Application Deadline is May 1
Time is running short to apply for a spot in the ARRL Teachers Institute
this summer. Now in its 13th year, the Teachers Institute is an
intensive /expenses paid/ professional development opportunity for
educators who want to receive training and resources to explore wireless
technology in the classroom. The deadline to apply is May 1.
*ARRL Teachers Institute Instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX (holding
antenna), demonstrates Amateur Radio satellites to members of a
class***in 2014*.*
Topics at the /Introduction to Wireless Technology/ (TI-1) course
include basic electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming,
and basic robotics. The advanced Teachers Institute on /Remote Sensing
and Data Gathering / (TI-2) is available to those who have completed TI-1.
Visit the ARRL Teachers Institute <http://www.arrl.org/ti> web page for
more details and to download an application.
The article
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Teachers%20Institute/Teachers%20Institute-Igniting%20STEM-Mar%202016-QST.pdf>
"ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology," in the March /QST/
offers a schedule and more information on the courses.
Read the article <http://www.omagdigital.com/publication?i=294969>
"Amateur Radio in the STEM Classroom," by Edith Lennon on page 11 of the
April issue of /Tech Directions/ to learn what other ARRL Teachers
Institute participants have initiated in their classrooms.
Contact ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson
<mailto:djohnson at arrl.org>, K1DMJ, with questions or to request a
brochure. Spaces are limited! Apply now!
ARRL Rookie Roundup Returns with SSB Event on Sunday, April 17!
The SSB edition of ARRL Rookie Roundup
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup> returns on Sunday, April 17,
getting under way at 1800 UTC and continuing through 2359 UTC. For the
purposes of this operating event, a "Rookie" is any radio amateur
licensed within the current calendar year or in the previous two
calendar years, regardless of license class. The goal of Rookie Roundup
is to encourage recently licensed operators in North America (including
territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience
competitive Amateur Radio operating.
Rookie Roundup events take place three times a year: SSB in April, RTTY
in August, and CW in December. Experienced operators are encouraged to
participate and help new operators -- either on the air or in person.
Old Timers may want to consider making their stations available to
rookies and serving as contesting mentors.
Rookies call "CQ Rookie Roundup," while veteran ops call "CQ Rookies."
Exchange the call sign of the station you're working, your call sign*,
*your first name, the two-digit number of the year first licensed, and
your state, Canadian province, Mexican call area, or DX. Rookies
exchange information with as many other stations as possible on 80, 40,
20, 15, and 10 meters.
Contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke
<mailto:bjahnke at arrl.org>, W9JJ, for more information. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-rookie-roundup-returns-with-ssb-event-on-sunday-april-17>.
ARRL School Club Roundup Results Posted
The results <http://www.b4h.net/arrlscr/scr_scores201602.php> are in for
the February 2016 ARRL School Club Roundup
<http://www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup>. Turnout for the winter event
was very good, especially by college-level clubs. There's also growing
digital activity.
Topping the Elementary/Primary School field was the Dresden Elementary
Amateur Radio Station (DEARS) team at KD8NOM. The Ohio school racked up
102,828 points, mostly on SSB but with a handful of CW/digital contacts.
*KF5CRF sponsor Clifton Harper, KE5YZB, mentors students in the Mangum
Public Schools, where he teaches a World Communications class.*
The Schofield Middle School Radio Club, operating N4SMS, had the top
score in the Middle/Intermediate/Junior High School category. The South
Carolina school ran up 428,808 points in an all-SSB effort that included
contacts with 49 states.
In the Senior High School category, the Tiger Radio Club, KF5CRF, of the
Mangum, Oklahoma, Public Schools, took 1st place with 268,793 points.
Texas A&M University had the top score in the College/University
category, achieving 428,544 points from W5AC. The team had 1016
contacts, 50 of them on CW or digital modes.
Besting the field in the Club/Multi-Op category (W/VE) was the Duluth
Children's Museum's N0DCM, with 34,572 points, mostly from phone
contacts but with 59 CW/digital QSOs as well.
Congratulations to all! See the complete results
<http://www.b4h.net/arrlscr/scr_scores201602.php>. /-- Thanks to Ward
Silver, N0AX/
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-04-14&p=2>
World ARDF Championships Participation Expected to Break Record
According to a post on the IARU Region 1 <http://www.iaru-r1.org/>
website from Don Beattie, G3BJ, the 2016 World Amateur Radio Direction
Finding Championships <http://ardf2016.com/> are expected to attract a
record-breaking number of participants. The World ARDF Championships
will take place in the Black Sea resort of Albena, Bulgaria, on
September 3-9.
The Championships are expected to be a huge event, and so far 374
participants from 33 countries on four continents have declared their
intentions to take part in the events. The tally is expected to reach
400 participants from 39 countries, which would top the current record.
Details <http://ardf2016.com/> -- including those for some preliminary
events -- are on the World ARDF Championships website. /-- Thanks to
IARU Region 1/
Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Named as IARU Satellite Advisor
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU <http://www.iaru.org>) has
announced the appointment of Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, as IARU
Satellite Advisor, effective immediately. Blondeel Timmerman succeeds
Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, who had served as IARU Satellite
Advisor since 1994. Van de Groenendaal established many of the Amateur
Satellite frequency coordination procedures and has been a critical
contributor to the IARU coordination process.
*Newly appointed IARU Satellite Advisor Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T.*
The IARU Satellite Advisor represents the IARU to the satellite
community and the various amateur satellite organizations and handles
satellite frequency coordination. In addition, the Satellite Advisor
maintains a database of coordination requests and letters, reports to
the IARU Administrative Council on issues related to satellites and
satellite frequency coordination, and, if requested, provides technical
and operational advice to assist in representing the Amateur Satellite
service to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). A panel of
volunteer satellite advisory members assist the Satellite Advisor.
Licensed since 1980, Blondeel Timmerman served VERON
<https://www.veron.nl/> as its HF Manager from 2000 until 2001 and as
Vice President from 2001 until 2008. He was a member of the IARU Region
1 Executive Committee from 2002 until 2008 and served as IARU Region 1
President from 2008 until 2014. He has been European DX Foundation
(EUDXF <http://www.eudxf.eu/>) President since 2004, and is a member of
the YASME Foundation Board of Directors. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hans-blondeel-timmerman-pb2t-named-as-iaru-satellite-advisor>.
In Brief...
*Mike Goode, N9NS. [Tom Roscoe, K8CX, hamgallery.com photo]*
*DXer, DXpeditioner Mike Goode, N9NS, SK:* Well-known DXer and
DXpeditioner Michael C. "Mike" Goode, N9NS (ex-WN9RJI), of Carmel,
Indiana, died on April 11. An ARRL Life Member, he was 68 and had been
undergoing post-surgical treatment for cancer. Goode had retired in 2015
as transmitter supervisor from WFYI Public Media in Indianapolis after
40 years of service. Licensed in 1966, DXing and DXpeditions were his
primary Amateur Radio interests. He attended Indiana University,
majoring in geology and engineering. As a geologist and mineralogist, he
attended many gem shows across the country. He also enjoyed hunting
gems, rocks, and minerals and had visited volcano eruption sites to
collect geological samples. His DXpedition travels included stops as
N9NS/KH5K, E30GA, T31A, T33A, FO0CI, and FO0AAA (Clipperton), 3A/N9NS,
KH8Q, VP2MNS, K7K (Kure), and W1AW/KH8, to name a few. He served as
secretary/treasurer of the Hoosier DX and Contest Club and was a member
of the South West Ohio DX Association. Goode had 336/356 confirmed in
the ARRL DXCC Mixed standings. He also was a DXCC card checker. A
service is set for April 16./-- Thanks to Brian Smith, W9IND, and /The
Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>
*AMSAT Phase 4 Ground Team Leader Michelle Thompson, W5NYV.*
*Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Speaker is Michelle Thompson, W5NYV:* The
10th annual joint AMSAT/TAPR Banquet held in conjunction with Dayton
Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org>® will be on Friday, May 20, 6:30
PM, at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4572 Presidential Way,
Kettering, Ohio. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased from the AMSAT
store <http://www.amsat.org> until May 17. The keynote speaker will be
AMSAT Ground Terminal Team Leader Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, whose topic
will be "It's Just Software, Right?" The Ground Terminal project is a
component of the so-called "five and dime" (5 GHz and 10 GHz) Phase 4B
geosynchronous satellite project. Seating is limited. Pick up tickets at
the AMSAT booth at Hamvention. For a small sample of Michelle Thompson's
wit and style, view this recent Phase 4B video report
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXYGvl8t7do> on YouTube. /-- AMSAT News
Service/
*Iran DXpedition Set:* If you missed out on the EP6T DXpedition last
year, another is expected on the air from Iran April 16-25. The EP2A
<http://www.lral.lv/exped/ep2a/index.html> operation, headed by Yuris
Petersons, YL2GM, initially was planned for last fall, but the paperwork
reportedly took longer than expected. Others on the team
<http://www.lral.lv/exped/ep2a/team.html> include YL3CW, YL2KA, UT7UJ,
US7UX, UT7UV, UX0LL, EP3MIR, and EP2LMA. EP2A plans to be on all bands
160 to 6 meters (excepting 60 meters). EP2A will be running high power
and appears to be well equipped for antennas.
*Two New Iraqi Hams...and a Persistent Pirate:* Iraq has two new hams --
Salam, YI1SAL, and Wahhab, YI3WHR. YI1SAL has been active on 20 and 40
meters SSB, apparently using dipoles. YI3WHR has been active on 20 meter
SSB. Both operators are likely not yet used to pileups. In the meantime,
the YI1IRQ club station call sign continues to be bootlegged, reportedly
by someone calling himself Hassan. For years now "Hassan" has been using
multiple unauthorized call signs, including, but not limited to YI1HR,
YI1H, YI1HRP, and YI1HI. More recently, he has also pirated YI1BGD,
YI1IRQ, and YI1DZ, all legitimate call signs. The real YI1DZ has been
out of the country for quite a while now. Elsewhere, someone has been
pirating the call sign EP3FS. This bogus station has been reported since
early March on SSB on 40, 20, and 15 meters./-- Thanks to/ The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com>
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: There was an upward bump in recent
solar activity, with average daily sunspot number for the April 7-13
period at 32 (compared to 19.1 for the previous 7 days) and average
daily solar flux rising 23 points to 106.1.
The average daily planetary A index rose 3 points to 12.4, and the
average daily mid-latitude A index went from 7.6 to 8.3.
For the near term, predicted solar flux is 105 on April 14-16; 100 on
April 17-19; 90 on April 20-21; 100 on April 22-23; 95 on April 24-29;
90 on April 30-May 3; then 95, 100, 105, and 110 on May 4-7; 112 on May
8-13, and 115 on May 14-17. Solar flux then drops below 100 on May 21
and beyond.
Predicted planetary A index is 30, 12, 8, 5, 8, and 12 on April 14-19; 8
on April 20-21; 5 and 12 on April 22-23; 10 on April 24-25; 8 on April
26; 5 on April 27-28; then 20, 15, and 8 on April 29-May 1; 5 on May
2-3; 12 and 8 on May 4-5; 5 on May 6-7; 8 on May 8-9, then 18, 30, and
10 on May 10-12; 5 on May 13-16, and 8 on May 17-18.
Sunspot numbers for April 7 through 13 were 26, 27, 29, 26, 41, 34, and
41, with a mean of 32. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 92.3, 98.3, 105.5,
110.6, 116.6, 111.3, and 108.2, with a mean of 106.1. Estimated
planetary A indices were 17, 9, 3, 7, 6, 19, and 26, with a mean of
12.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 10, 6, 3, 6, 5, 12, and 16,
with a mean of 8.3.
Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me your reports and observations!
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Week in Radiosport
*
April 15-16 -- Holyland DX Contest (CW, SSB, digital)
*
April 16 -- TARA Skirmish Digital Prefix Test
*
April 16 -- ES Open HF Championship (CW, SSB)
*
April 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint
*
April 16-17 -- Worked All Provinces of China (CW, SSB)
*
April 16-17 -- CQ Manchester Mineira DX Test (CW)
*
April 16-17 -- Nebraska QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
*
April 16-17 -- Michigan QSO Party (CW, phone)
*
April 16-17 -- EA-QRP CW Contest
*
April 16-17 -- Ontario QSO Party (CW, phone)
*
April 16-17 -- North Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
*
April 16-17 -- YU DX Contest (CW)
*
April 17 -- WAB 3.5/7/14 MHz Data Modes
*
April 17 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB)
<http://www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup>
*
April 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
*
April 19 -- 222 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
*
April 21 -- RSGB 80 Meter Data Club Championship
See the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar> for
more information. For in-depth reporting on Amateur Radio contesting,
subscribe to /The ARRL Contest Update/
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-update-issues> via your ARRL member profile
e-mail preferences.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
*
April 15-17 -- International DX Convention
<http://dxconvention.org/>, Visalia, California
*
April 15-17 -- VHF Super Conference
<http://vhfsuperconference.com/>, Sterling, Virginia
*
April 16 -- Delaware State Convention
<http://www.radioelectronicsexpo.com/>, Georgetown, Delaware
*
April 22-24 -- Idaho State Convention <http://voiceofidaho.org/>,
Boise, Idaho
*
April 23 -- Aurora '16 Conference <http://www.nlrs.org/>, White Bear
Lake, Minnesota
*
April 23 -- Nebraska State Convention
<http://www.lincolnhamfest.org/>, Lincoln, Nebraska
*
April 29-May 1 -- Nevada State Convention <http://www.nvcon.org/>,
Las Vegas, Nevada
*
May 7 -- South Carolina Section Convention <http://brars.org/>,
Spartanburg, South Carolina
*
May 13-15 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://www.hamconcolorado.org/>, Keystone, Colorado
*
May 14 -- Iowa State Convention <http://3900club.com/>, Boone, Iowa
*
May 20-22 -- Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>, Dayton,
Ohio
*
June 3-5 -- Northwestern Division Convention
<http://www.seapac.org/>, Seaside, Oregon
*
June 4 -- Georgia Section Convention
<http://www.atlantahamfest.com/>, Marietta, Georgia
*
June 5 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention
<http://breezeshooters.org/>, Prospect, Pennsylvania
*
June 10-11 -- West Gulf Division Convention
<http://www.hamcom.org/>, Irving, Texas
*
June 18 -- Tennessee State Convention <http://www.w4bbb.org/>,
Knoxville, Tennessee
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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