[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for September 15, 2016
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Thu Sep 15 17:55:12 EDT 2016
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.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-09-15&p=0>
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>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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