[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for June 2, 2016

Bill bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Jun 2 19:02:01 EDT 2016



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The ARRL Letter

June 2, 2016
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <mailto:ww1me at arrl.org>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/> 	
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  * Dayton Hamvention General Chairman Believes 2016 Attendance Was Up
    Slightly <#toc01>
  * FCC Denies /Petition for Consideration/ in Vanity Call Sign Dispute
    <#toc02>
  * The Doctor Will See You Now! <#toc03>
  * National Parks on the Air Update <#toc04>
  * Argentine Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio Payload Launched from
    China <#toc05>
  * Geostationary Es'hail-2 Satellite Set to Launch Later this Year <#toc06>
  * A Dozen Schools/Organizations Move Closer to Hosting Ham Radio
    Contacts with ISS Crew <#toc07>
  * Tell Us What You Think! <#toc08>
  * Diana Feinberg, AI6DF, Appointed as Los Angeles Section Manager <#toc09>
  * Signal Bounced Off ISS Heard Across the Atlantic <#toc10>
  * /CQ/ Announces its 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees <#toc11>
  * Don Wallace Museum Foundation Closing; Donates Assets to NCDXF <#toc12>
  * The Yasme Foundation Announces Excellence Awards, Supporting Grants
    <#toc13>
  * ES9C and 9A1A Make Room for Youthful Contesters <#toc14>
  * The K7RA Solar Update <#toc15>
  * Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc16>
  * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions <#toc17>

Dayton Hamvention General Chairman Believes 2016 Attendance Was Up Slightly

Recapping Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>^® 2016, Jim 
Tiderman, N8IDS, who has served as general chairman of the event for the 
past 2 years, said attendance this year may have been up slightly from 
2015. Tiderman, who now passes the baton to a new general chairman -- 
Ron Cramer, KD8ENJ -- said he feels the 2016 show, overall, went well.

*Hamvention 2016 General Chairman Jim Tiderman, N8IDS, appeared on 
"Amateur Radio Roundtable" in May.*

"In my humble opinion, it went smoother than we had a right to think it 
could," Tiderman told ARRL. "The credit for that happening -- this year 
and last -- goes to our volunteer base and returning committee chairs, 
who get their talents in gear and go for it." He said each year's 
innovations feed into the vision that guides the next Hamvention 
administration, which Cramer will head after serving with Tiderman as 
assistant general chairman for the past 2 years.

Tiderman said that while it's still too soon to get an accurate 
attendance count for Hamvention 2016, "indicators we use as a matter of 
course are showing us the slightest increase." He said that while it may 
not have seemed that way to some visitors, he prefers to keep a positive 
mind. Official attendance at the 2015 show was 25,621, up by about 750 
from the previous year.

The weather did provide some momentary excitement, Tiderman said, when a 
microburst occurred in the flea market just north of the Mendelson's 
tent. The strong gust of wind took out two or three vendor tents, 
winding a pop-up tent leg around the fiber cable handling Internet 
service for the flea market office. "This caused stress and strain on 
the cable, and down it came," Tiderman recounted. "It did not break, but 
it did stop activity around the area of the downed cable until the Hara 
crew got it back into the air.

"So, where in other years there have been instances of things erupting 
'from below,' this year it came from above," Tiderman quipped.

Vendor spaces were nearly full, both inside and outside Hara Arena. 
Tiderman said the 525 to 530 booth spaces inside were nearly filled to 
capacity, while first-day occupancy of the 2500 flea market spaces was 
at 96 percent.

Tiderman said he observed an "overall good mood" and "a positive 
attitude," and the Hamvention staff received many upbeat comments. Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/dayton-hamvention-general-chairman-believes-2016-attendance-was-up-slightly>.

FCC Denies /Petition for Consideration/ in Vanity Call Sign Dispute

An Arizona radio amateur has been unsuccessful in convincing the FCC to 
take a 1 × 2 vanity call sign away from its present holder and grant it 
to him. In the process, Joshua Babb, K6FZ, may have learned not to rely 
on informal advice from FCC staffers. Babb, of Maricopa, Arizona, had 
been trying 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-bumping-arizona-radio-amateur-s-license-back-to-former-call-sign> 
to get the initial-suffix call sign W3JB since 2014, and he was briefly 
successful. The prior holder of W3JB, John K. Birch, had died, and the 
2-year waiting period was set to end on August 18, 2014. Babb filed an 
application for W3JB in July 2014, however, claiming an exemption to the 
2-year waiting period on grounds that he was the deceased licensee's 
nephew, and the FCC granted it.

Subsequently pressed to document that relationship, Babb indicated that 
Birch actually had been his great-great uncle, the FCC recounted in an 
/Order on Reconsideration/ 
<https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-581A1.pdf> released 
on May 25 -- a relationship that did not qualify for an exemption, and 
the FCC proposed to modify Babb's license by replacing W3JB with KD7HLX. 
In September 2015, though, Babb filed to swap W3JB for the available 
K6FZ, which was granted. Under Commission rules, when a call sign is 
granted in error after the 2-year waiting period ends, it becomes 
unavailable for 30 days after the erroneous grant is rescinded.

Babb sought clarification of the W3JB availability date from an FCC 
staff member, who calculated that it was November 2, 2015. Babb filed 
two preference-list applications for W3JB on that date, as well as one 
on November 3 and another on November 5. W3JB instead went to Scott 
Phillips of Plano, Texas, who had filed a competing November 3 
application, granted through the FCC's "standard lottery process." The 
FCC staffer later informed Babb that November 3 actually was the correct 
date. The FCC turned away Babb's subsequent /Petition for 
Reconsideration/ of the grant to Phillips, saying that its Universal 
Licensing System (ULS) had processed the applications correctly.

"[E]rroneous staff advice is not grounds for reconsideration," the FCC 
said in its denial /Order/. "Licensees are obligated to know the 
Commission's rules. It is well established than an applicant acts on 
staff advice at his own risk." In any case, the FCC pointed out, Babb 
did file one application on the correct day.

The Doctor Will See You Now!

"All About Baluns" is the topic of the newest (June 2) episode of the 
"ARRL The Doctor is In <http://www.arrl.org/doctor>" podcast. 
Listen...and learn!

Sponsored by DX Engineering <http://www.dxengineering.com/>, "ARRL The 
Doctor is In" is an informative 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. You can also e-mail your questions to doctor at arrl.org 
<mailto:doctor at arrl.org>, and the Doctor may answer them in a future 
podcast.

Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes 
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arrl-the-doctor-is-in/id1096749595?mt=2>, 
or by using your iPhone or iPad podcast app (just search for "ARRL The 
Doctor is In"). You can also listen online at Blubrry 
<https://www.blubrry.com/arrl_the_doctor_is_in/>, or at Stitcher 
<https://www.stitcher.com/> (free registration required, or browse the 
site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or 
Android devices.

If you've never listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's 
guide <http://www.arrl.org/doctor>.

National Parks on the Air Update

NPOTA <https://npota.arrl.org/> statistics through the end of May show 
that 387,000 contacts have been submitted via Logbook of The World. This 
comes from nearly 6300 activations by 775 different operators. As of 
this week, 422 of the 484 eligible NPS units have been activated. Most 
remaining units are either in Alaska or in urban areas, such as 
Washington, DC, or New York City. Just as with the DXCC program, the 
"rarest of the rare" NPS units are showing themselves. It will take 
considerable planning, logistics, and cooperation with NPS 
administrators for crafty Activators to put these remaining units on the 
air.

Don't forget! National Trails Day is June 4. If you're looking for an 
activation, put an NPOTA trail on the air! There will be plenty of trail 
activations for NPOTA that day, including the big Light Up the Trail 
<http://qsl.net/kd8dku/LightUptheTrail.htm> event on the North Country 
National Scenic Trail. Activations will occur from all seven states 
along the North Country Trail. Check out the Light Up the Trail 
<http://qsl.net/kd8dku/LightUptheTrail.htm> website for complete 
information and to sign up as an Activator.

A whopping 79 activations are scheduled for June 2-8, including the 
Minidoka National Historic Site in Idaho, and the Richmond National 
Battlefield Park in Virginia. Details 
<https://npota.arrl.org/nps-events.php> about these and other upcoming 
activations can be found 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=2016-06-02&p=0>
Argentine Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio Payload Launched from China

The Argentine /ÑuSat-1/ <http://lusex.org.ar/> carrying the LUSEX 
<http://lusex.org.ar/> (LU Satellite Experiment) Amateur Radio U/V 
linear transponder and 436 MHz beacon launched May 30 at 0317 UTC from 
China. With /ÑuSAT-1/ on the launch was sister satellite /ÑuSat-2/, 
which carries a 437 MHz beacon. Gunter's Space Page reports 
<space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/nusat-1.htm> that the Argentine ÑuSat 
Earth-observation satellites form the Aleph-1 constellation developed 
and operated by Satellogic <https://twitter.com/Satellogic> S.A.

LUSEX is an AMSAT-LU <http://www.amsat.org.ar> project, and AMSAT-LU 
reports that both satellites are sending strong telemetry on 70 
centimeters. Activation of the U/V Amateur Radio transponder will be 
announced on the AMSAT Bulletin Board 
<http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb>.

The transponder, with a 30 kHz bandwidth and transmitting with 250 mW, 
will have an uplink passband (SSB, CW) at 435.935~435.965 MHz, and a 
downlink passband at 145.965~145.935 MHZ. CW telemetry will be 
transmitted on 145.900 MHz. The NuSAT-1 GFSK telemetry beacon is at 
436.445 MHz, and the NuSAT-2 GFSK telemetry beacon is at 437.445 MHz.

Geostationary Es'hail-2 Satellite Set to Launch Later this Year

Launch of the geostationary Es'hail-2 
<https://www.eshailsat.qa/en/satellites/index/> satellite into orbit is 
planned for December 2016. The satellite will be placed in a 25.5° 
orbit. Coverage of the Amateur Radio narrowband (NB) and wideband (WB) 
transponders should extend from Brazil to Thailand.

Es'hail 2 will carry two "Phase 4" non-inverting Amateur Radio 
transponders operating in the 2.4 GHz and 10.45 GHz bands. A 250 kHz 
bandwidth linear transponder is intended for conventional analog 
operation, and an 8 MHz bandwidth transponder is designed for 
experimental digital modulation schemes and DVB amateur television.

The NB linear transponder will have an uplink at 2400.050-2400.300 MHz, 
with a downlink at 10,489.550-10,489.800 MHz. The WB digital transponder 
will uplink at 2401.500-2409.500 MHz and downlink at 
10,491.000-10,499.000 MHz.

AMSAT-DL President Peter Guelzow, DB2OS delivered a presentation 
<http://www.batc.tv/streams/amsat1306> on Es'hail at the 2013 AMSAT-UK 
Colloquium. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/geostationary-es-hail-2-satellite-set-to-launch-this-year>. 
/-- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-DL/

A Dozen Schools/Organizations Move Closer to Hosting Ham Radio Contacts 
with ISS Crew

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS 
<http://www.ariss.org>) program has announced that 12 schools or 
organizations that submitted proposals to host an Amateur Radio contact 
with a member of the ISS crew have moved into the next stage of the 
selection process. The contacts would take place during the first half 
of 2017.

The 12 semifinalists, in eight states, must now submit an acceptable 
equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio 
contact. Once the ARISS technical team approves the equipment plan, the 
selected schools/organizations will be scheduled for contacts, matching 
their availability and flexibility with the scheduling opportunities 
that NASA can offer.

The schools and organizations are:

  *

    Blair Pointe Upper Elementary School, Peru, Indiana

  *

    Brook Haven School, Sebastopol, California

  *

    Greater Niagara Frontier Council BSA, Buffalo, New York

  *

    McBride High School, Long Beach, California

  *

    Palmetto Scholars Academy, North Charleston, South Carolina

  *

    Rainbow Middle School, Rainbow City, Alabama

  *

    SCaN/Glenn Research Center, Brook Park, Ohio

  *

    Space Center Houston, Houston, Texas

  *

    St Joseph School, Ronkonkoma, New York

  *

    Student Space Technology Association, Knoxville, Tennessee

  *

    Virginia Reinhardt Elementary School, Rockwall, Texas

  *

    Warwick Valley Central School District, Warwick, New York

The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in 
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities and to 
raise their awareness of space exploration, space communication and 
related areas of study, and career possibilities.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tell Us What You Think!

We'd like /The ARRL Letter/ <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter> to be your 
first and favorite source of Amateur Radio news. Please let us know how 
we're doing by completing a short online survey 
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-letter-survey>. Thanks!

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Diana Feinberg, AI6DF, Appointed as Los Angeles Section Manager

Diana Feinberg, AI6DF, of Palos Verdes Peninsula, California, was 
appointed ARRL Los Angeles Section Manager, effective on June 1. She 
assumed the Section reins from David Greenhut,

*New ARRL Los Angeles SM Diana Feinberg, AI5DF.*

N6HD, who had announced his resignation from the volunteer post due to 
time constraints. Greenhut had served since October 2009.

When a Section Manager vacancy occurs between elections, the position is 
filled by appointment. ARRL Field Services and Radiosport Manager Dave 
Patton, NN1N, consulted with ARRL Southwestern Division Director Richard 
Norton, N6AA, before making the appointment. Feinberg will complete the 
current term of office, which extends through September 2017.

Feinberg is the president of the Palos Verdes Amateur Radio Club (K6PV), 
which specializes in public service and emergency communication. She 
also chairs the Los Angeles Area Council of Amateur Radio Clubs, and she 
served as the chair of the 2015 HAMCON and the ARRL Southwestern 
Division Convention. Feinberg is an active DXer and Volunteer Examiner.

Signal Bounced Off ISS Heard Across the Atlantic

A 2 meter signal from the UK, reflected off the structure of the 
International Space Station (ISS) on May 2, was heard across the 
Atlantic. Following 2 weeks of preparation, Tim Fern, G4LOH, in Cornwall 
(IO70jc), and Roger Sturtevant, VE1SKY, in Nova Scotia (FN74iu) 
attempted a FSK441 contact.

Both stations aimed at the calculated grid HO11nl for a 144.175 MHz 
contact attempt with a mutual window of less than 1 minute. VE1SKY was 
able to copy G4LOH at a distance of 4441 kilometers (approximately 2753 
miles). This was the first signal received via ISS bounce from Europe to 
North America, and the first /intentional/ signal heard via ISS 
reflection in any direction across the North or South Atlantic.

While two-way communication did not happen, the reception is being 
verified as a possible DX record for satellite reflection.

Later in May, Fern, operating as GK4LOH and transmitting in CW, was 
received twice in the much-closer GN37 grid by VO1HP at VO1FN in 
Newfoundland.

In 2014, RSGB VHF Manager John Regnault, G4SWX, received 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/view/brendan-quest-team-s-2-meter-signal-copied-in-the-uk> 
a 2 meter signal from VC1T, where a team was trying to win the Brendan 
Trophy for the first transatlantic contact on 144 MHz. Upon 
investigation, it was determined that the VC1T FSK441 signal that G4SWX 
heard also had bounced off the ISS rather than via terrestrial 
propagation and would not qualify for the Brendan Trophy, offered by the 
Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS <http://www.irts.ie/>).The 
Brendan Trophy will recognize the first "traditional mode" two-way 
contact (ie, SSB or CW) capable of being copied without machine assistance.

/CQ/ Announces its 2016 Hall of Fame Inductees

/CQ/ magazine <http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/> announced its 2016 Hall 
of Fame 
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_awards/cq_hall_of_fame_awards/cq_hall_of_fame_awards.html> 
inductees as Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>^® 2016 got under 
way. There are two new inductees to the CQ Contest Hall of Fame 
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_awards/cq_hall_of_fame_awards/2015_cq_contest_hof_and_cq_dx_hof.pdf>, 
and 21 newcomers to the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame 
<http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/cq_awards/cq_hall_of_fame_awards/cq_hof_inductees_complete.pdf>.

/*CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame*/

The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors individuals, licensed or not, 
who have made significant contributions to Amateur Radio, and radio 
amateurs who have made significant contributions to Amateur Radio, to 
their professions, or to some other aspect of life.

  *

    *Bob Arnold, N2JEU (SK):* Co-developer (with Keith Lamonica, W7DXX,
    see below) of the first Amateur Radio remote base controlled over
    the Internet.

  *

    *Grant Bingeman, KM5KG (SK):* Developed "method of moments" antenna
    modeling software for AM broadcast stations and 160 meter amateur
    antennas.

  *

    *Bob Carpenter, W3OTC (SK):* Pioneer of meteor scatter and FM stereo
    broadcast technology and longtime AMSAT volunteer.

  *

    *David Dary, W5ZAX:* Journalist, author, journalism educator, former
    correspondent for CBS and NBC, journalism professor, author of more
    than 20 books on the American West.

  *

    *Matt Ettus, N2MJI:* Software defined radio pioneer; developed first
    universal software radio peripheral (USRP) with GNU radio software
    support.

  *

    *Terry Fox, WB4JFI:* Packet radio pioneer; primary developer of
    AX.25 Amateur Radio packet protocol.

  *

    *Elmer "Bud" Frohardt Jr, W9DY (SK):* The original "Elmer," for whom
    ham radio mentors are named (courtesy of a 1971 /QST/ "How's DX?"
    column by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD/VA3ZBB).

  *

    *Fred Gissoni, K4JLX (SK):* Adaptive technology pioneer;
    co-developer of the Porta-Braille and Pocket-Braille note-taking
    devices for the visually impaired and of many other devices.

  *

    *Ken Kellerman, K2AOE:* Radio astronomer; pioneer of radio
    interferometry; co-developer of very long baseline interferometry
    (VLBI), which permits multiple telescopes to function as a single
    instrument.

  *

    *Keith Lamonica, W7DXX:* Co-developer (with the late Bob Arnold,
    N2JEU) of the first Amateur Radio remote base controlled over the
    Internet.

  *

    *George Mitchell, K6ZE (SK):* Member of the Tuskegee Airmen in World
    War II and 2007 recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal for his
    wartime service.

  *

    *Les Mitchell, G3BHK (SK):* Founder of Jamboree on the Air (JOTA),
    annual event to introduce Amateur Radio to Boy Scouts and guides
    around the world.

  *

    *William Moerner, WN6I:* Co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Prize in
    chemistry for his work in high-resolution microscopy.

  *

    *Leigh Orf, KG4ULP:* Co-developer of tornado simulator using
    computer modeling to simulate conditions under which tornadoes form.

  *

    *Joe Rudi, NK7U:* Former Major League Baseball player and three-time
    All-Star.

  *

    *Wes Schum, W9DYV (SK):* Co-founder of Central Electronics, which
    developed the first commercially manufactured Amateur Radio SSB
    transmitter.

  *

    *Garry Shandling, ex-KQ6KA/KD6OY (SK):* Well-known comedian, actor,
    writer, and television personality.

  *

    *Mason P. Southworth, ex-W1VLH (SK):* Head of ARRL International
    Geophysical Year (IGY) Propagation Research Project in 1958-59;
    conducted additional research at Stanford.

  *

    *Boris Stepanov, RU3AX (ex-UW3AX):* Deputy editor of /Radio/
    magazine; computerized contest logging and checking pioneer;
    developed prototype for World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC);
    first to propose combining frequency readout and spectrum scope on
    transceiver front panel.

  *

    *Rufus Turner, W3LF (SK): *Believed to be the first African-American
    radio amateur in the US; helped to develop 1N34 germanium diode;
    wrote 1949 article in /Radio-Electronics/ magazine, "Build a
    Transistor."

  *

    *Perry Williams, W1UED (SK):* Longtime ARRL Washington Coordinator
    and League archivist; helped to convince Congress not to charge
    amateurs a license application fee, instead arguing convincingly in
    favor of creating a vanity call sign program; persuaded FCC to
    retain large amateur microwave allocations and to create a primary
    amateur allocation at 2.4 GHz.

/*CQ DX Hall of Fame*/

The CQ DX Hall of Fame honors amateurs who excel not only in personal 
performance as DXers, but who give back to the hobby in outstanding ways.

  *

    *Nigel Jolly, KC3HAE, and the Crew of the R/V /Braveheart/: *Jolly,
    his crew, and the /Braveheart/ have transported -- and assured the
    safety of -- many major DXpeditions over the past 15 years,
    DXpeditions that likely would not have taken place otherwise.

  *

    *Roger Balister, G3KMA:* As manager of the Islands on the Air
    program since 1985, Balister has seen IOTA grow from a few hundred
    early participants to more than 10,000 today.

/*CQ Contest Hall of Fame*/

The Contest Hall of Fame honors amateurs who excel not only in personal 
performance as contesters, but who give back to the hobby in outstanding 
ways.

  *

    *Tod Olson, K0TO: *Founding editor of /National Contest Journal/;
    past ARRL Section Manager, Vice Director, Director, and
    International Affairs Vice President.

  *

    *Richard Strand, KL7RA (SK):* A radio astronomer, he took advantage
    of the quiet northern latitudes, building and maintaining highly
    competitive contest stations in a very difficult environment. For
    many hams, he was their only CQ Zone 1 contact.

Formal inductions to the CQ Contest and DX Halls of Fame took place in 
conjunction with Dayton Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>^® . Read 
more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/cq-announces-its-2016-hall-of-fame-inductees>.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don Wallace Museum Foundation Closing; Donates Assets to NCDXF

The Don Wallace Museum Foundation (DWMF) is shutting down, as the famous 
W6AM Rhombic Ranch in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, has been subsumed 
by residential development. The DWMF has donated $29,000 to the Northern 
California DX Foundation (NCDXF <http://ncdxf.org/>).

"The donation comes with /no/ restrictions or caveats," DWMF Board Chair 
Joe Locascio, K5KT, said. "As I strongly suspect, Don (the original) 
W6AM would favor such a donation to an organization dedicated to DXing!"

Locascio said the foundation is in the final phase of closing down after 
nearly 30 years of existence. "The W6AM Radio Club will continue as long 
as needed to support the W6AM call sign," he noted. Locascio said the 
Board was making the donation to NCDXF "on behalf of previous donors," 
who had hoped to see some radio activity at the old W6AM Rhombic Ranch.

"Unfortunately, we were not able to achieve our long term goal of an 
actual museum with an active radio station on the property," Locascio 
said. A 18 × 24 bronze plaque on a large rock, unveiled in March 2015 
and dedicated to the memory of Don Wallace, W6AM, remains at the entry 
to the Wallace Ranch (see Sept 2015 /QST/, p 20), where more than 80 
homes now sit. Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/don-wallace-museum-foundation-closing-donates-assets-to-northern-california-dx-foundation>.

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The Yasme Foundation Announces Excellence Awards, Supporting Grants

The Yasme Foundation <http://www.yasme.org> has announced three 
Excellence Award recipients and several supporting grants. The 
Excellence Award is presented to individuals who, through their own 
service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made significant 
contributions to Amateur Radio in terms of technical, operating, or 
organizational achievement. The Yasme Excellence Award consists of a 
cash grant and an individually engraved crystal globe. The recipients are:

  *

    *Tim Duffy, K3LR*: "While Tim is involved in many facets of Amateur
    Radio, the Yasme Excellence Award is made in recognition of his
    adaptation and development of the Contest University (CTU), now in
    its 10th year," The Yasme Foundation said in announcing his award.
    "CTU has not only reached hundreds of amateurs around the world, but
    it has also inspired others to create their own CTU-format training
    programs in other fields. Tim's dedication to CTU is in the finest
    traditions of Amateur Radio's self-teaching and training." Duffy is
    ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Manager. His award was presented
    at the Dayton Contest University (CTU) session.

  *

    *Carole Perry, WB2MGP*: "The Yasme Excellence Award is made in
    recognition of Carole's many years of contributions to teaching and
    mentoring youth interested in Amateur Radio and her efforts in
    organizing and promoting the interests of young operators," the
    announcement said. "This youth-oriented work becomes more and more
    important to Amateur Radio with every passing year. Carole's
    dedication to this work, including through the Radio Club of
    America, is in the finest traditions of Amateur Radio's
    self-teaching and training." Perry's award was presented at Hamvention.

  *

    *Tom Rauch, W8JI*: "The Yasme Excellence Award is made in
    recognition of Tom's many contributions to the technical advancement
    of the Amateur Service," the announcement said. "Tom's willingness
    to provide education and direction to amateurs through his website
    <http://www.w8ji.com> and other communications is a prime example of
    hams mentoring, teaching, and training each other in the finest
    traditions of Amateur Radio."

Yasme Foundation grants support the Foundation's aim to encourage youth 
participation in Amateur Radio and operating activities. To support 
scholarships and youth programs, grants will go to the ARRL Foundation 
<http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation>, to fund the Yasme Foundation 
scholarship and to the Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR 
<http://www.farweb.org/>) to support its 2017-2018 scholarship program. 
A third Yasme Foundation grant made it possible for two young Ethiopian 
amateurs to take part in the Youth Contesting Program in Estonia. To 
support HF operating around the world, additional Yasme Foundation 
supporting grants went to the /DX Code of Conduct/ 
<http://www.dx-code.org> founder and website operator and to the 2016 
Friendship Radio Games.

ES9C and 9A1A Make Room for Youthful Contesters

IARU Region 1 reports that young operators participated as "Big Guns" in 
recent contests from both ES9C, the station of ES5TV in Estonia, and 
9A1A, the Croatian DX Club station, as part of the Youth Contesting 
Program (YCP <http://www.ham-yota.com/youth-contesting-program/>). All 
operators are 26 years of age, or younger. The team at ES9C took part in 
the ARI International DX Contest over the May 7-8 weekend, while the 
second group at 9A1A operated in the CQ-M International DX contest over 
the May 14-15 weekend.

*Some of the young operators at ES9C for the ARI International DX 
Contest in early May.*

At ES9C were youths from Sweden, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, and Italy, as well 
as two young Estonian operators and a few older local operators to help 
the youngsters experience radiosport. At 9A1A in Croatia were a couple 
of young ops from Hungary as well as several young Croatian hams, and 
some veteran 9A1A team members to mentor.

A summary 
<http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/general/1567-youth-contesting-at-es9c-and-9a1a> 
of the activities at ES9C and 9A1A appears on the IARU Region 1 website. 
YCP operators are expected at SK3W/SK9HQ for the IARU HF Championship in 
July, and at 4O3A for the CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest in September./-- 
Thanks to IARU Region 1/

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

,

------------------------------------------------------------------------
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar indices barely changed over the 
past week, with average daily sunspot numbers rising from 25.3 to 33, 
and the average daily solar flux dropping from 97 to 87.4. The average 
daily planetary A index rose from 7.1 to 8.9, and the average daily 
mid-latitude A index rose from 7 to 9.

Predicted solar flux for the near term is 85, 80, and 75 on June 2-4; 80 
on June 5-17; 85 on June 18-21; 80 on June 22-26; 75 on June 27-July 4, 
and 80 on July 5-14.

Predicted planetary A index is 5, 10, 35, 26, and 14 on June 2-6; 8 on 
June 7-8; 5 on June 9-10; 12 on June 11-13; 8 on June 14-15; 5, 15, and 
10 on June 16-18; 5 on June 19-22; 10, 12, 8, 20, and 12 on June 23-27; 
5 on June 28-29; 8, 15, 20, and 15 on June 30-July 3; 5 on July 4-7; 12 
on July 8-10, and 8 on July 11-12.

A few days ago the predicted solar flux numbers over the 6 weeks dropped 
significantly. More on this in our Friday bulletin.

Sunspot numbers for May 26 through June 1 were 30, 19, 31, 25, 56, 40, 
and 30, with a mean of 33. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 91.7, 90.4, 
87.7, 83, 86.2, 86.6, and 86, with a mean of 87.4. Estimated planetary A 
indices were 4, 10, 14, 7, 11, 10, and 6, with a mean of 8.9. Estimated 
mid-latitude A indices were 4, 12, 13, 8, 9, 10, and 7 with a mean of 9.

Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me your reports and observations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Ahead in Radiosport

  *

    June 4 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)

  *

    June 4-5 -- PVRC Reunion (CW, phone)

  *

    June 4-5 -- 10-10 International Open Season PSK

  *

    June 4-5 -- DigiFest

  *

    June 4-5 -- SEANET Contest (CW, phone)

  *

    June 4-5 -- UKSMG Summer Contest (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    June 4-5 -- IARU Region 1 Field Day (CW)

  *

    June 4-5 -- Dutch Kingdom Contest (CW, phone)

  *

    June 4-5 -- RSGB National Field Day (CW)

  *

    June 4-5 -- Alabama QSO Party (CW, phone)

  *

    June 6 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (Data)

  *

    June 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

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

  *

    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

  *

    July 2 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention
    <http://www.w3uu.org/>, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

  *

    July 8-9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention
    <http://www.miltonarc.org/>, Milton, Florida

  *

    July 8-9 -- Utah State Convention
    <http://thegreatsaltlakehamfest.org/>, Sandy, Utah

  *

    July 22-23 -- Oklahoma Section Convention
    <http://www.hamholiday.com/>, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

  *

    July 29-31 -- Central States VHF Conference
    <http://2016.csvhfs.org/>, Rochester, Minnesota

  *

    August 5-6 -- Texas State Convention
    <http://www.austinsummerfest.org>, Austin, Texas

  *

    August 5-7 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention
    <http://pacificnwdxconvention.com>, Portland, Oregon

  *

    August 12-14 -- New Mexico State Convention
    <http://dukecityhamfest.org>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

  *

    August 19-21 -- West Virginia State Convention
    <http://www.qsl.net/wvsarc/>, Weston, West Virginia

  *

    August 20-21 -- Southeastern Division Convention
    <http://hamfest.org>, Huntsville, Alabama

  *

    August 21 -- Kansas State Convention <http://www.w0cy.org>, Salina,
    Kansas

Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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*Amateur Radio News and Information*.

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