[SFDXA] Fwd: The ARRL Letter for September 15, 2016

Thu Sep 15 17:54:02 EDT 2016

Check out :

  * Amateur Radio Parity Act Passes in the US House of Representatives! <#toc01>

No there yet - needs to pass the Senate too!
Kai, KE4PT

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	The ARRL Letter for September 15, 2016
Date: 	Thu, 15 Sep 2016 17:07:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: 	ARRL Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: 	ke4pt at amsat.org

Preview

If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
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The ARRL Letter

September 15, 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=2016-09-15&t=t>

  * Amateur Radio Parity Act Passes in the US House of Representatives! <#toc01>
  * Higher Bands Will Pick Up this Fall, Data Suggest Smaller Solar Cycles Lie
    Ahead <#toc02>
  * Lunar-Orbiting Ham Radio Satellite Could Result from NASA Cube Quest
    Challenge <#toc03>
  * The Doctor Will See You Now! <#toc04>
  * National Parks on the Air Update <#toc05>
  * ARDF Team USA Enjoys Success in Bulgaria <#toc06>
  * ARRL Honors Veteran Section Manager Upon Her Retirement <#toc07>
  * Radio Club of America Announces 2016 Awards, Fellows <#toc08>
  * In Brief... <#toc09>
  * The K7RA Solar Update <#toc10>
  * Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc11>
  * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions <#toc12>

Amateur Radio Parity Act Passes in the US House of Representatives!

/"The bill is passed without objection."/ With those words, Amateur Radio 
history was made on September 12, when the US House of Representatives approved 
<https://soundcloud.com/user-731126960/house-vote-on-hr-1301-sept-12-2016-from-cspan> 
the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301 
<http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-parity-act> on a voice vote under a 
suspension of the rules. The focus of the campaign to enact the legislation into 
law now shifts to the US Senate.

The House victory culminated many years of effort on ARRL's part to gain 
legislation that would enable radio amateurs living in deed-restricted 
communities to erect antennas that support Amateur Radio communication. The 
measure calls on the FCC to amend its Part 97 rules "to prohibit the application 
to amateur stations of certain private land-use restrictions, and for other 
purposes." While similar bills in past years gained some traction on Capitol 
Hill, it was not until the overwhelming grassroots support from the Amateur 
Radio community for H.R. 1301 shepherded by ARRL that a bill made it this far. 
The legislation faces significant obstacles to passage in the US Senate, however.

"This is huge step in our effort to enact legislation that will allow radio 
amateurs who live in deed-restricted communities the ability to construct an 
effective outdoor antenna," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. "Thanks to 
everyone for their help in this effort thus far. Now we must turn our full 
attention to getting the bill passed in the Senate."

*ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, during one of his many 
visits to Capitol Hill. [Kay Craigie, N3KN, photo]*

ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who chairs the ARRL Board's 
Legislative Advocacy Committee, has been heavily involved in efforts to move 
H.R. 1301 forward. "This has been a multi-year effort that is finally seeing 
some light," he said. "The passage of the bill in the House is a major 
accomplishment, due to the hard work of so many -- from the rank-and-file member 
to the officers and directors."

Lisenco said it's not a time to rest on our laurels. "We are only halfway there. 
The focus now shifts to our effort in the Senate," he said. "We are beginning a 
massive e-mail campaign in which we need every member to write their two 
Senators using our simplified process. You will be hearing from President 
Roderick and from your Directors, asking you to go to our Rally Congress 
<https://arrl.rallycongress.net/ctas/urge-senate-to-support-amateur-radio-parity-act> 
page. Using your ZIP code, e-mails will be generated much like our recent letter 
campaign. You'll fill in your name and address and press Enter. The e-mails will 
be sent directly to your Senators without you having to search through their 
websites."

Lisenco said getting these e-mails to members' Senators is a critical part of 
the process. "Those numbers matter! Please help us help you by participating in 
this effort," he said.

As the amended bill 
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/ParityAct-SubstituteBill-Official-2016.pdf> 
provides, "Community associations should fairly administer private land-use 
regulations in the interest of their communities, while nevertheless permitting 
the installation and maintenance of effective outdoor Amateur Radio antennas. 
There exist antenna designs and installations that can be consistent with the 
aesthetics and physical characteristics of land and structures in community 
associations while accommodating communications in the Amateur Radio services."

/Limited Debate/

*H.R. 1301 Sponsor Rep Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) spoke to support his bill on 
September 12. [C-Span video clip]*

During this week's limited debate, the House bill's sponsor, Rep Adam Kinzinger 
(R-IL), thanked ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) for reaching 
an agreement to move the bill forward "in a bipartisan and very positive 
manner." He pointed out to his colleagues that Amateur Radio antennas are 
prohibited outright in some areas.

"For some this is merely a nuisance," Kinzinger said, "but for others -- those 
that use their Amateur Radio license for life-saving emergency communications -- 
a dangerous situation can be created by limiting their ability to establish 
effective communication for those in need."

Kinzinger said that in emergencies, hams can provide "a vital and life-saving 
function" when conventional communication systems are down. He also praised the 
Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS), a US Department of Defense-sponsored 
program, comprised largely of Amateur Radio volunteers, that also supports 
communication during emergencies and disasters.

*H.R. 1301 cosponsor Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT) said the bill would "rebalance 
things" for hams living in deed-restricted neighborhoods. [C-Span video clip]*

Cosponsor US Rep Joe Courtney (D-CT) also urged the bill's passage. "This is not 
just a feel-good bill," Courtney said, recounting how Hurricane Sandy brought 
down the power grid, and "we saw all the advanced communications we take for 
granted...completely fall by the wayside." Ham radio volunteers provided 
real-time communication in the storm's wake, he said, saying the legislation was 
a way "to rebalance things" for radio amateurs who choose to live in 
deed-restricted neighborhoods by enabling them to install "non-intrusive antennas."

Courtney noted that he spoke recently with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, and said 
that Wheeler "strongly supports this legislation."

Leading up to the vote, Rep Paul Tonko (D-NY) also spoke in support of the 
legislation, calling it a common-sense approach that would build "fairness into 
the equation for Amateur Radio operators" in dealing with homeowners associations.

The earlier U.S. Senate version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, S. 1685, no 
longer is in play, and the Senate is expected to vote by unanimous consent on 
the version of H.R. 1301 that the House adopted on September 12.

Higher Bands Will Pick Up this Fall, Data Suggest Smaller Solar Cycles Lie Ahead

Propagation guru Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, says that, while conditions on 12 and 
10 meters will pick up as they always do in the fall, F_2 propagation on those 
bands will decline thereafter, with only sporadic E during the summer months as 
a possible saving grace. On the other hand, the lower bands -- 160, 80, and 40 
meters -- should be good going forward, and 20 and 17 meters will be the 
mainstays of daylight HF propagation. Luetzelschwab offered these observations 
during an August 23 World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF 
<http://www.wwrof.org>)-sponsored webinar 
<http://wwrof.org/webinar-archive/solar-topics-where-were-headed/> "Solar Topics 
-- Where We're Headed." He said data suggest that Solar Cycle 24, the current 
solar cycle, will bottom out in 2020, and he advised that radio amateurs may 
need to lower their expectations on the higher bands (and 6 meters) looking 
beyond that.

*Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.*

"I think the only conclusion we can make with some confidence is that we are 
headed for some small cycles," he told his audience. He cited various evidence 
related to the Sun's polar fields -- which appear to be decreasing in strength, 
A index trends, and cosmic ray data to support his assertion. Luetzelschwab 
cautioned, however, that past performance does not necessarily predict future 
performance.

"There seems to be a good correlation between how long a solar minimum is and 
the next solar cycle," said Luetzelschwab. "The longer you spend at solar 
minimum, the smaller the next cycle."

He observed that hams active since the 1950s and 1960s have experienced short 
inter-cycle solar minimums of approximately 2 years, until the one between Solar 
Cycle 23 and Solar Cycle 24, which lasted about 4 years. He also allowed that 
the science is not fully understood, and that some things appearing to be 
patterns may just be coincidences.

On the other hand, he said, it looks like the downward trend of disappearing 
sunspots has leveled off, suggesting that Solar Cycle 25 may see a lower 
smoothed sunspot number as opposed to zero or near-zero sunspots.

Counting those sunspots can be a subjective business. "That's a tough job," he 
said of the task, noting that it appears observer bias also has been a factor 
over the years, affecting historical sunspot data. "We now have new corrected 
data that are believed to be more accurate."

*A chart of 10.7 centimeter solar flux from 2000 to 2016. [NOAA Space Weather 
Prediction Center graphic]*

Luetzelschwab's article "The New Sunspot Numbers," appearing in the October 
issue of /QST/, discusses the new sunspot numbers.

Luetzelschwab cited historical sunspot cycle data going back centuries -- 
including the "Maunder Minimum" of zero and near-zero sunspots between the years 
1645 and 1715 and a later, less-drastic "Dalton Minimum." He pointed out that 
over the last 11,000 years, 19 notable grand maximums -- including Solar Cycle 
19 and the cycles around it -- and 27 notable grand minimums were recorded. 
"We're likely to have more of both grand maximums and grand minimums in the 
future," he predicted. The current system of numbering sunspot cycles begins 
with Solar Cycle 1 in the mid-18th century.

"We don't fully understand the process inside the Sun that makes solar cycles," 
Luetzelschwab said. "Thus, you should exercise caution with statements seen in 
the news."

Lunar-Orbiting Ham Radio Satellite Could Result from NASA Cube Quest Challenge

A NASA Cube Quest Challenge (CQC 
<http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/centennial_challenges/cubequest/index.html>) 
team partnered with AMSAT-NA <http://www.amsat.org> is among the five CQC teams 
to receive $20,000 each from the space agency as part of a competition that 
could lead to a lunar-orbiting Amateur Radio satellite. The Ragnarok Industries 
<http://www.ragnarokindustries.com/> Nano-Satellite Company team, comprised of 
former NASA Goddard Space Flight Center PhD engineering interns, is designing 
the 6-unit (6U) /Heimdallr/ CubeSat to test advanced propulsion and 
communication technologies for lunar and deep-space missions.

AMSAT would develop the 5 GHz uplink/10 GHz downlink -- the so-called "five and 
dime" paradigm -- Phase 5 Amateur Radio transponder for the spacecraft, and 
AMSAT's Ground Terminal initiative is supporting the effort. The /Heimdallr/ 
team was among five teams to score highest in the first of four "ground 
tournaments" (GT-1) making up the initial phase of the $5 million CQC, although 
it missed out on another $30,000, because it was not among the top scorers in 
the second ground tournament. The three teams with the highest total cumulative 
scores will be offered rides as secondary payloads on the first Space Launch 
System mission/Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) in 2018.

"Cube Quest is an opportunity for non-government CubeSat developers and builders 
to compete in lunar orbit and deep space for accomplishments in communications, 
navigation, and longevity," said CQC Competition Manager Jim Cockrell of NASA's 
Ames Research Center. Cockrell likened a ground tournament to a "mission concept 
review," where teams present initial spacecraft designs, and no hardware is 
involved.

AMSAT P5 Project Manager Howie DeFelice, AB2S, said that at the end of the SLS 
mission, AMSAT would take control of the satellite and operate it in lunar orbit.

"This will be AMSAT's first P5 satellite," DeFelice said. "It will also be the 
most advanced satellite since AO-40, even though it will be smaller than AO-10 
and AO-13. At 6U it will be about the size of two reams of paper stacked 
together." DeFelice said Ragnarok is in the running for a launch, "but it is 
very competitive, and we are underdogs."

The ultimate goal of the competition is to send CubeSats into lunar orbit or 
deep space. NASA is offering a total of $3 million in prizes in the "Lunar 
Derby" portion of the competition -- both for being able to enter lunar orbit 
and to meet communication and longevity goals.

*Successful projects would go into space as secondary payloads on the first 
Space Launch System mission/Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) in 2018 [NASA graphic]*

The /Heimdallr/ satellite -- named for a Norse deity -- plans to test advanced 
propulsion and communication technology. According to information filed for 
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Satellite Frequency Coordination 
<http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/>, /Heimdallr/ would be a 3-axis stabilized 6U 
CubeSat weighing approximately 8 kg. It would have a cold-gas thruster and a 
star tracker for navigation. Deployable, gimbaled solar panels would produce up 
to 100 W of dc power. Electric propulsion will be used to achieve lunar orbit. 
The onboard communication gear would use a combination of omnidirectional and 
directional patch antennas on one side of the spacecraft.

The first part of the /Heimdallr/ mission is to provide telemetry, tracking, and 
command to obtain lunar orbit, the second is the data downlink experiment, and 
the final component is to provide a two-way regenerative repeater and analog 
repeater in lunar orbit for the lifetime of the satellite. The omnidirectional, 
directional, and analog transponders would downlink in the 10 GHz band, while 
the uplinks would be in the vicinity of 5.6 GHz.

"/Heimdallr/ will feature non-volatile and non-energetic electric propulsion to 
reach lunar orbit," Ragnarok Industries explains on its website. "By not having 
a pressurized vessel nor carrying dangerous chemicals, /Heimdallr/ will be one 
of the safest 6U CubeSats" aboard NASA's EM-1 Mission in 2018.

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The Doctor Will See You Now!

"Coaxial Connectors" is the topic of the current (September 8) 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>.

Just ahead on September 22: "Coping with the Solar Minimum."

National Parks on the Air Update

Two radio amateurs are putting on a real back-country adventure for ARRL's 
National Parks on the Air (NPOTA <https://npota.arrl.org/>) program. Dave 
Swanson, KG5CCI, and Wyatt Dirks, AC0RA, will be backpacking their way across 
the Channel Islands National Park (NP11) over the September 16-18 weekend. Their 
primary goal is to give out the park unit, along with the rare CM93 grid square, 
on Amateur Radio satellites. The team will also have QRP HF and VHF/UHF 
terrestrial gear. Swanson and Dirks both have extensive experience working the 
satellites under portable conditions and have secured the special event call 
sign K6R for their expedition. Detailed information <https://www.qrz.com/db/k6r> 
is on the K6R QRZ.com page.

Thirty-eight other activations will take place between September 15-21, 
including Saint Croix Island International Historic Site in Maine, and the Mount 
Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. 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).

ARDF Team USA Enjoys Success in Bulgaria

Fifteen of the best on-foot hidden transmitter hunters in the US are back home 
after picking up seven medals in the 18th World Amateur Radio Direction Finding 
(ARDF) Championships <http://ardf2016.com/> and World Cup events in Bulgaria. As 
reported <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2016-09-01> in /The ARRL Letter/ 
for September 1, Vadim Afonkin, KB1RLI, of Massachusetts, earned a bronze medal 
in the M40 class of the 80 meter classic event during the ARDF World Cup, an 
optional competition for individuals that preceded the Championships. Alla 
Mezhevaya of Illinois won silver in the World Cup 2 meter classic competition in 
the W35 class.

In the September 1 World Cup sprint <http://www.homingin.com/sprints.html> 
event, Afonkin took gold in the M40 category, while Team USA Captain Ruth 
Bromer, WB4QZG, of North Carolina, took bronze in the W60 category. The next 
day, she won a second bronze medal in the foxoring 
<http://www.homingin.com/sprints.html#foxoring> event.

On September 8 during the World Championship events for national teams, Afonkin 
won an individual bronze medal on a 5.85 kilometer 2 meter classic course, 
finishing in 1:11:52. Bromer and Karla Leach, KC7BLA, took home a team bronze 
medal that same day in the W60 category, on a 4.25 kilometer 80 meter classic 
course.

More than 400 competitors representing 39 nations took to the courses near 
Varna, a popular resort on the Black Sea coast. Competitors were divided into 
six age categories for men and five for women, in accordance with rules 
<http://www.homingin.com/intlfox.html#rules> established by the International 
Amateur Radio Union (IARU <http://www.iaru.org>).

Team USA team members included nine men and six women from eight states, ranging 
in age from 26 to 74. They qualified for the team owing to their excellent 
performance in the 2016 USA ARDF Championships 
<http://www.homingin.com/farsnews.html#texas> in Texas and the 2015 USA ARDF 
Championships <http://www.homingin.com/elbert15.html> in Colorado.

Visit the Homing In <http://www.homingin.com/> website of ARRL Amateur Radio 
Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, for more information on ARDF. -- 
Read more 
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ardf-team-usa-enjoys-success-in-bulgaria-with-seven-medals>.

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-09-15&p=1>
ARRL Honors Veteran Section Manager Upon Her Retirement

Retiring ARRL Connecticut Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, was honored on 
September 10 at the New England Division Convention in Boxboro, Massachusetts, 
for her many years of service. At the Convention's ARRL Forum, New England 
Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, presented a plaque to Doane, who is 
believed to be the dean of the current roster of Section Managers by dint of her 
25 years of continuous service in that post. She decided this year not to seek 
another term of office.

*ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, presents a plaque to 
outgoing Connecticut SM Betsey Doane, K1EIC. [Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, photo]*

"Betsey has been a true pleasure to work with over the years she has been 
Section Manager," Frenaye said afterward. "She seems to know almost every ham in 
Connecticut and usually has a story to tell about them. As a former professor, 
she knows how to work with students and volunteers and developed a great Field 
Organization team. I know she'll continue to contribute after she retires."

Doane was first appointed as Connecticut's SM in December 1991, after the 
resignation of Caesar Rondina, N1DCS. She has been elected and re-elected as 
Connecticut Section Manager continuously ever since. Her current term of office 
concludes on September 30, and Chuck Motes, K1DFS, will succeed her. Doane said 
she has enjoyed her time as SM.

Doane's plaque -- in print and in Braille -- recognizes her "25 years of 
dedicated and honorable service" as Connecticut SM. Frenaye and New England Vice 
Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, signed the plaque.

In addition to her quarter-century as Connecticut SM, Doane served the ARRL 
Field Organization as Connecticut Section Traffic Manager from 1982 through 
1991. She has remained very active in the ARRL National Traffic System^™ and 
especially in the NTS^™ Eastern Area. She is currently daytime cycle manager of 
the First Region Net.

She continues to hold an appointment as an Official Relay Station and has been 
an ORS for nearly as long as she has been a radio amateur. Betsey Doane and her 
twin sister Barb Lombardi, K1EIR, were licensed in 1958, and both began handling 
message traffic soon after. She has been an Official Emergency Station since 
April 2010.

Doane not only has the longest tenure among current SMs, she is in the Top 5 of 
all SMs and SCMs (Section Communication Managers) past and present in terms of 
years of service, ARRL Field Organization Team Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, 
said. (The SCM/SM with the longest tenure in recent ARRL history was Bob 
Summers, K0BXF [SK], who headed the Kansas Section for 40 years -- from 1965 
until 1995.)

Radio Club of America Announces 2016 Awards, Fellows

Several radio amateurs were among the 2016 Radio Club of America (RCA 
<http://www.radioclubofamerica.org/>) award recipients 
<http://www.radioclubofamerica.org/about-us/awards/> and Fellows. Winners will 
be honored at RCA's 107th Banquet & Awards Presentation on November 18 in New 
York City. The awards spotlight outstanding achievements in the field of 
wireless communication. The 2016 award winners are:

*Armstrong Medal:* Morgan E. O'Brien for outstanding achievement and lasting 
contributions to the radio arts and sciences and wireless communication.

*Sarnoff Citation:* William T. Murphy, W0RSJ, for exceptional contributions of a 
technical or non-technical nature to the advancement of electronic communication.

*Lifetime Achievement Award:* Joseph H. Taylor, K1JT, recognizing his 
significant achievements and a major body of work accomplished over a lifetime 
that has advanced the art and science of radio and wireless technology.

*Henri Busignies Memorial Award:* Mischa Schwartz for achievements in the field 
of communication equipment and contributions to the advancement of electronics 
for the benefit of humanity.

*Fred M. Link Award:* Dan Clark, W9VV, for notable achievements in land mobile 
radio communication.

*Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award:* Stanley Reubenstein, WA6RNU, for unique 
contributions to the field of Amateur Radio.

*Edgar F. Johnson Pioneer Award:* John S. Oblak, in recognition of noteworthy 
contributions to the success of RCA or to the radio industry.

*Ralph Batcher Memorial Award:* Marc F. Ellis, N9EWJ, for significant work in 
preserving the history of radio and electronic communication.

*Frank A. Gunther Award:* Robert A. Rude, K0RAR, for his dedication to the field 
of military communication.

*Vivian A. Carr Award:* Mercy S. Contreras, to recognize outstanding 
achievements by a woman in the wireless industry.

*President's Award:* John E. Dettra Jr, WB4NBF, for unselfish dedication to the 
work of the Radio Club of America.

Elevation to Fellow is made by nomination only to members in good standing for 
at least the previous 5 years and whose contributions to the art and science of 
radio communication, broadcasting, or the Radio Club of America are deemed 
outstanding. The 2016 RCA Fellows are Robert J. Hobday, N2EVG*; *James H. 
Kreuzer, N2GHD*; *Robert E. LaRose, W6ACU; W. Brent Lee; Andrew C. Maxymillian; 
Stephanie McCall; Thomas L. Morrow; Edward F. O'Connor; Sandra J. Wendelken, and 
Walt Stinson, W0CP, a former ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Director.

In Brief...

*Former Radio Amateurs of Canada President Patrick Doherty, VE3PD, SK:* Past 
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC <http://www.rac.ca/>) President Patrick G. 
Doherty, VE3PD, of Murillo, Ontario, died on September 5. He was 81. Doherty was 
licensed in 1974 and enjoyed taking ham radio along on trips to such disparate 
locations as Siberia and the South Pacific. /-- Thanks to Lee Hatfield, K2HAT /

*RadFxSat/Fox-1B Launch Set for March 2017:* AMSAT has announced that the launch 
of RadFxSat/Fox-1B has been rescheduled for March 16, 2017. RadFxSat will ride 
as one of the NASA Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa 
<https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/elana/>) XIV secondary payloads 
aboard a NASA Delta II launch from Vandenberg AFB in California. The RadFxSat 
mission is a partnership with Vanderbilt Institute for Space and Defense 
Electronics (ISDE) that will study space radiation effects on commercial 
off-the-shelf memory. The experiments are carried aboard the AMSAT Fox-1B 
CubeSat, and experiment data will be transmitted via the sub-audible telemetry 
stream of the Fox-1B FM repeater along with the CubeSat telemetry data. The 
telemetry can be decoded and displayed with the AMSAT /FoxTelem/ software./-- 
Thanks to AMSAT News Service via AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, 
N0JY/

Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-09-15&p=2>
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Over the September 8-14 reporting week, the 
average daily sunspot number rose from 46.4 to 50.1, and average daily solar 
flux declined from 95.1 to 88.9. This is just the opposite of what occurred the 
previous week, when sunspot numbers declined and solar flux rose. Normally, we 
would expect solar flux and sunspot numbers to track one another.

Geomagnetic indicators were very quiet, with the average daily planetary A index 
declining from 26.6 to 6.7, and the mid-latitude A index dipping from 18.1 to 6.1.

The latest NOAA/USAF forecast has solar flux at 85 on September 15-17; 80 on 
September 18-19; 75 on September 20-24; 72, 78, and 80 on September 25-27; 78 on 
September 28-30; 82 on October 1-2; 80 on October 3-7; 82, 86, and 82 on October 
8-10; 80 on October 11-12; 75 on October 13-14; 70 on October 15-16, and 75 on 
October 17-21.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on September 15-17; 5, 18, 20, 12, and 10 on 
September 18-22; 5 on September 23-25; 15, 8, 38, 40, and 42 on September 26-30; 
30, 18, 15, 12, and 10 on October 1-5; 5 on October 6-8; 15 on October 9; 8 on 
October 10-11; 5 on October 12-13; 12 on October 14-16; 15 and 10 on October 
17-18, and 5 on October 18-22.

Sunspot numbers for September 8 through 14 were 49, 65, 66, 63, 57, 27, and 24, 
with a mean of 46.4. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 94.5, 91, 93, 86.4, 86.5, 86, 
and 85.2, with a mean of 95.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 14, 5, 5, 4, 
6, 5, and 8, with a mean of 26.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 12, 6, 
4, 3, 6, 4, and 8, with a mean of 18.1.

This weekly Solar Update is a preview of the Propagation Bulletin issued each 
Friday. The latest bulletin and an archive 
<http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> of past propagation 
bulletins is on the ARRL website.

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

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Just Ahead in Radiosport

  *

    September 16 -- AGB NEMIGA Contest (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 17 -- QRP Afield (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 17 -- Feld Hell Sprint

  *

    September 17-18 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest
    <http://www.arrl.org/10-ghz-up> (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 17-18 -- SARL VHF/UHF Contest (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 17-18 -- All Africa International DX Contest (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 17-18 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW)

  *

    September 17-18 -- New Jersey QSO Party (CW, phone)

  *

    September 17-18 -- New Hampshire QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 17-18 -- Washington State Salmon Run (CW, phone, digital)

  *

    September 18 -- North American Sprint (RTTY)

  *

    September 18 -- BARTG Sprint 75

  *

    September 19 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

  *

    September 19 -- 144 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)

  *

    September 22 -- NAQCC CW Sprint

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

  *

    September 16-17 -- W9DXCC Convention <http://w9dxcc.com/>, Schaumburg, Illinois

  *

    September 16-18 -- ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
    <http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html>, St Petersburg, Florida

  *

    September 17-18 -- Illinois State Convention <http://www.w9uvi.org/>,
    Peoria, Illinois

  *

    September 23-24 -- W4DXCC Convention <http://www.w4dxcc.com/>, Pigeon Forge,
    Tennessee

  *

    September 24 -- San Joaquin Valley Section Convention
    <http://www.fcemcomm.org/>, Modesto, California

  *

    September 24 -- North Dakota State Convention <http://www.rrra.org/>, West
    Fargo, North Dakota

  *

    September 24 -- Washington State Convention <http://kbara.org/>, Spokane
    Valley, Washington

  *

    October 7-8 -- Florida State Convention <http://pcars.org/>, Melbourne, Florida

  *

    October 7-8 -- Pacific Northwest VHF Conference <http://pnwvhfs.org/>, Bend,
    Oregon

  *

    October 13-15 -- Microwave Update Conference
    <http://www.microwaveupdate.org/>, St Louis, Missouri

  *

    October 14-16 -- Pacific Division Convention <http://www.pacificon.org/>,
    San Ramon, California

  *

    October 16 -- Connecticut State Convention <http://nutmeghamfest.com/>,
    Meriden, Connecticut

  *

    October 21-22 -- Arizona State Convention <http://copahams.org/>, Maricopa,
    Arizona

  *

    October 22 -- Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference
    <http://www.wi-aresraces.org/>, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

  *

    November 5 -- TechFest Convention <http://na0tc.org/>, Lakewood, Colorado

  *

    November 5-6 -- Georgia State Convention
    <http://www.stonemountainhamfest.com/>, Lawrenceville, Georgia

  *

    November 12-13 -- Indiana State Convention
    <http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com/>, Fort Wayne, Indiana

  *

    November 19 -- Alabama State Convention
    <http://www.w4ap.org/news/Hamfest.htm>, Montgomery, Alabama

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

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

*ARRL *-- *Your One-Stop Resource for *
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