[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for September 29, 2016
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Fri Sep 30 08:09:53 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 29, 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=2016-09-29&t=t>
* ARRL Acting as Catalyst in College Radio Club Revitalization
Campaign <#toc01>
* Amateur Radio Volunteers Go on Alert during Major Puerto Rico Power
Outage <#toc02>
* Amateur Radio Credited with Role in Helping Injured Cyclist <#toc03>
* "Cows Over the World" DXpedition is "Permantly QRT," KC0W Says <#toc04>
* The Doctor Will See You Now! <#toc05>
* National Parks on the Air Update <#toc06>
* Rules Released for New ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest <#toc07>
* ARRL Outgoing QSL Service to Raise Rates <#toc08>
* ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications for 2017-18
Academic Year <#toc09>
* ARRL Announces Club Competition Changes <#toc10>
* More than 200 US Stations Signed Up for Scouting's Jamboree on the
Air <#toc11>
* Retired Librarian Who Was Maine's First Woman Radio Amateur Turns
108 <#toc12>
* The K7RA Solar Update <#toc13>
* In Brief... <#toc14>
* Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc15>
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions <#toc16>
ARRL Acting as Catalyst in College Radio Club Revitalization Campaign
ARRL is serving as a catalyst in a nascent campaign -- "Ivy + Amateur
Radio" -- to boost college and university Amateur Radio club interest,
membership, and activity. The initiative sprang from a conversation
earlier this year between ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, and retired
Yale University staffer Dr Martin Ewing, AA6E, about how to get colleges
and universities to revitalize their ham clubs. Ewing relayed the
message to the president of the Yale University Amateur Radio Club
(W1YU), who, in turn, contacted the president of the Harvard University
Amateur Radio Club (W1AF).
The two schools subsequently sponsored what turned out to be a
standing-room-only forum at the 2016 ARRL New England Division
Convention in Massachusetts over the September 10-11 weekend, with
representatives from Harvard, Yale, Penn, and MIT on hand.
"They all share common problems, which include finding suitable space,
finding faculty or staff sponsors -- preferably permanent -- and
providing for an orderly succession of student leadership," said
Gallagher, who attended the forum and moderated the hour-long idea
exchange that followed. Gallagher said a college club shouldn't fall
into decline just because students graduate.
"Undergraduates are busy people, they're all competing for the top jobs
and have busy social lives," Gallagher allowed. "Sometimes it's
difficult for Amateur Radio to compete with those other interests."
During the Convention and at the forum, ARRL gave copies of the 2016
/ARRL Handbook/ to all college and university attendees.
*ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, at the New England Division Convention.
[Rick Lindquist, WW1ME, photo]*
Representatives of the Ivy League clubs are planning to meet -- possibly
in New York -- in December. "There's a lot of work to do before that
next meeting," Gallagher said. "We want to create a reflector, we want
to create a mailing list, we want to reach out to all the clubs that did
not show up. And of course we welcome college clubs to join us." He said
a senior member of the Yale team offered a "generous contribution" to
ARRL to support the Ivy + Amateur Radio initiative. Initial efforts will
include a newsletter and a Facebook page.
Gallagher stressed that the outreach initiative is not limited to Ivy
League schools, although that has been the initial focus. "We welcome
the participation of everyone," Gallagher said, "but the Ivies and MIT
stepped up in a leadership role. The Ivy schools are very competitive
with each other, and college students are very competitive with each
other, and what we want to do is to put that competitive energy to work
to fashion wider college Amateur Radio club participation in the
process." Gallagher noted that many state colleges and universities
already have active Amateur Radio clubs. "We hope they'll join us in
what will become an ever-widening circle," he said.
Contact <mailto:tgallagher at arrl.org> Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, for more
information.
Amateur Radio Volunteers Go on Alert during Major Puerto Rico Power Outage
Amateur Radio volunteers went on alert following an afternoon explosion
on September 21 at a power station in Salinas that left some 1.5 million
residents of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico without power. ARRL Public
Information Coordinator Angel Santana, WP3GW, said that as the evening
wore on, the most sought-after items were ice and potable water -- which
depend on electricity to power the pumps that deliver it. The outage
also resulted in traffic jams due to non-functioning signal lights. The
governor of Puerto Rico declared a State of Emergency.
"On the Amateur Radio side, the VHF/UHF linked repeater system of the
Federación de Radio Aficionados de Puerto Rico (FRA), an ARRL-affiliated
club, was the main source of information," Santana told ARRL. "As soon
as the situation began, lots of mobile and portable stations got on the
air from east to west to report on the power loss, and ham radio was
among the first to report the explosion, as smoke was observed soaring
toward the sky."
According to FEMA, the fire at the Salinas switching station caused the
island-wide power generation plant to shut down as a safety precaution.
FEMA said that all critical facilities operated on back-up generators,
and airports, police stations, and water plants received priority as
power was restored. The agency said telecommunications were operating
normally.
*A NASA-provided **view from space* <https://goo.gl/zEFg6b>*shows how
much of Puerto Rico appears dark outside of San Juan during the power
outage.*
Santana said designated repeaters on 2 meters and 70 centimeters that
remained up and running served as the primary network for any emergency
or health care traffic. On HF, Antonio Santiago, KP4IA, in Toa Alta was
"the main source of what was happening even before the situation got to
the mainland news services," checking into nets on 20, 40, and 75 meters
and relaying information about the situation to other amateur stations
on the mainland, Santana said.
Santana said that two cellular phone companies had problems, and at
least one death was reported, due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a
generator. A few vehicle accidents also occurred, he said.
Amateur Radio Credited with Role in Helping Injured Cyclist
Members of the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club (HARC
<http://www.harc.net/>) in Alabama had a role in getting help for a
Louisiana cyclist injured in a September 17 group ride in Madison
County, Alabama.
A representative of the sponsoring Spring City Cycling Club
<http://www.springcity.org/> told WHNT-19 News that a number of riders
-- including Brian Guerrero, who was seriously injured -- fell as a
motor vehicle was passing in the opposite direction. The cycling club
spokesperson said it was unlikely the motorist caused or contributed to
the accident. An investigation continues. The club praised the action of
first responders and first aid from fellow cyclists -- a trauma surgeon
and a nurse.
"Their actions in first aid and in directly calling for MedFlight likely
saved [Guerrero's] life. Huntsville Amateur Radio Club volunteers were
instrumental in coordinating the communications among event organizers
and volunteers, emergency personnel, and law enforcement. We extend our
gratitude to law enforcement, first responders, and HARC for their able
and quick response to this terrible incident," the cycling club said.
/-- Thanks to WHNT-19 News/
"Cows Over the World" DXpedition is "Permantly QRT," KC0W Says
The one-man "Cows Over the World" DXpedition has ended -- prematurely,
abruptly, and on a sour note. Tom Callas, KC0W, reported that a theft
this week in Kiribati has left him with nothing. He told /The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com/>/ that his Cows DXpedition is "permanently QRT."
"Everything I own was stolen on 28 September from here in Kiribati,"
Callas posted on his QRZ.com page <https://www.qrz.com/db/kc0w>. "They
took all the radios, computers, amplifiers, antennas, coax,
/everything/. They even took my clothing and shoes. I have literally
/nothing /left. I type this with tears in my eyes."
The Cows Over the World DXpedition got under way last spring, when the
Minnesota DXer fired up as KH8/KC0W from American Samoa. Other stops
followed, and, after a brief hiatus, Callas last week announced plans to
resume with his T30COW operation from Western Kiribati. He had been
financing the round-robin DXpedition on his own.
All call signs in the all-CW DXpedition tour included a "COW" suffix. In
addition to T30COW, the "Cows" DXpedition has included operations such
as 5W0COW, T2COW, and YJ0COW. Announced plans to operate from the
Solomons, Tokelau, Bangladesh, and other locations now are off the table.
/The Daily DX/ reported on September 29 that Callas had received "a
money transfer" and now will head back to the US. "It's been a major
financial blow, but I will pull through," Callas told /The Daily DX/.
/-- Thanks to The Daily DX for some information/
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-09-29&p=0>
The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Coping with the Solar Minimum" is the topic of the latest (September
22) 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 October 6: "Bits vs Baud."
National Parks on the Air Update
The National Park Service keeps expanding, which means there are more
units to work for ARRL's National Parks on the Air (NPOTA
<https://npota.arrl.org/>) program. In August, Katahdin Woods and Waters
National Monument was added. On September 23, Natural Bridge in Virginia
became an official NPS Affiliated Area, creating the 489th NPOTA unit
(AA26).
It didn't take long for Activators to put the new unit on the air. Just
2 days after the designation, a group led by Todd Lee, N4USS, became the
first to transmit from Natural Bridge. Bob Voss, N4CD, who was already
in the area on one of his long NPOTA activation trips, was a close
second on the same day. They even worked each other for a park-to-park
contact. Look for this new unit to be on more in the coming weeks.
There are 42 activations on tap for September 29-October 5, including
the first-ever activation of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in
New York, and the Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama.
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).
Rules Released for New ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest
The official rules for the new ARRL 222 MHz and Up Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/222-mhz-and-up-distance-contest> have been
released. The contest will debut in August 2017. Participants will
attempt to work as many stations as possible on the 222 MHz through 241
GHz bands, "using any allowable mode." Competing stations will exchange
six-character grid locators (sub-grids
<http://www.arrl.org/about-grid-squares>) at the time of each contact.
Contact point values will be computed on the basis of both the
center-to-center distance in kilometers between the sub-grid square of
each station and an arbitrary "band factor," a multiplier ranging from 1
to 20. For example, contacts made on 222 MHz will have a band factor of
2, contacts on 432 MHz will have a band factor of 1, and contacts made
on 24 GHz and higher will have a band factor of 20.
To promote participation, the new contest encourages the formation of
operator teams. These may be made up of Single Operator, Fixed;
Multioperator, Fixed, and/or Rover category participants operating
within a single Contest Region as defined in the contest rules.
Participants may only be on one team, and the scores of all team members
are combined. This is similar to the approach used for years in the
/NCJ/-sponsored North American QSO Party (NAQP
<http://ncjweb.com/naqp/>) events. Teams must register in advance of the
contest with the ARRL Contest Branch Manager <mailto:bjahnke at arrl.org>.
The contribution of a Rover to a team score is limited to that portion
of the Rover's score achieved from within the team's region. Team
members' scores also count toward a club total in the Club Competition.
The ARRL 222 MHz and Up Contest will kick off the weekend of August 5-6,
2017.
ARRL Outgoing QSL Service to Raise Rates
Although ARRL believes it's important to maintain the long-standing
tradition of the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service
<http://www.arrl.org/outgoing-qsl-service> as a membership benefit,
increased administration costs will require an increase in rates, in
order to keep the Service available and viable.
"The Service has been a member benefit for decades," an ARRL statement
said. "Since its official formation in November 1976, tens of millions
of QSL cards have been shipped from ARRL Headquarters to Amateur Radio
QSL bureaus of other national societies worldwide. At one time, this
benefit offered a safe, reliable, and inexpensive way to exchange QSL
cards for a fraction of the cost of the postal service. What amateurs
saved in financial cost, however, was made up for in time; it could take
months, or even years, to send and receive a QSL through the bureau."
Effective on November 1, the rate for 1 ounce of outgoing QSLs via the
Service will increase to match the 1 ounce USPS international postage
rate. As of September 2016, this rate is $1.15 per ounce -- about 10
cards. An additional service fee of $7 will be charged per individual
transaction, to cover administrative costs.
ARRL said QSLing is very different now, and, while postal services are
generally more reliable than in years past, international shipping costs
have risen significantly. "With the advent of the Internet and online
QSL confirmation services such as ARRL's Logbook of The World, fewer and
fewer paper cards are being exchanged," the ARRL statement observed.
Calling the Outgoing QSL Service "a significant tradition in the world
of Amateur Radio," the League said it's committed to keeping that
tradition and service alive for members who enjoy using it. "We are
committed to ensuring our members will be able to send their QSL cards
through the Service for decades to come."
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-09-29&p=1>
ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications for 2017-18 Academic Year
The ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/the-arrl-foundation> will begin
accepting scholarship applications
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-application> on October 1 from eligible
radio amateurs planning to pursue post-secondary education in the
2017-2018 academic year. Completed applications must be received by
January 31, 2017. Individuals and clubs support many of the more than 80
scholarships <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions>, ranging
from $500 to $5,000, that are awarded annually. Applicants for all
scholarships must be active radio amateurs and must complete and submit
the online application <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-application>.
"The ARRL Foundation Board of Directors is very pleased to be entrusted
with managing this program. The scholarship program is a wonderful way
to encourage students to continue their Amateur Radio activities while
assisting them with the costs of their higher education," says ARRL
Foundation Secretary and ARRL Development Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD.
"All ARRL Foundation scholarships are made possible by individuals or
clubs, and we are grateful for their support."
The Foundation reported that 81 radio amateurs were the recipients of
2016-2017 academic year scholarships it administered. Awards totaled
$120,150.
Students planning to apply for 2017-18 academic year awards should first
carefully review the eligibility requirements
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-program> and scholarship descriptions
<http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-descriptions>. Although only one
application per applicant is required, applicants may ask to be
considered for as many of the scholarships for which they are eligible
(some scholarships have geographic criteria or other requirements
<http://www.arrl.org/summary-of-scholarship-requirements>). Check off
only the scholarships for which you would like to be considered. In
addition to completing the online application, applicants must submit
<mailto:foundation at arrl.org> a PDF of their academic transcript from
their most recently completed school year (e-mailed to
foundation at arrl.org <mailto:foundation at arrl.org>).
Applications are due by January 31, 2017, by 11:59 PM ET. /Applications
without accompanying transcripts will not be considered. /Award winners
typically are notified in mid-May by USPS mail and e-mail.
For more information about ARRL Foundation scholarships, e-mail
<mailto:foundation at arrl.org> the ARRL Foundation or call 860-594-0348.
ARRL Announces Club Competition Changes
Earlier this year, following a challenge that resulted in the
realignment of several club scores in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest, it
became clear that the Club Competition rules were not being enforced as
consistently as they should have been. In order to make sure club
results are accurate and fair to all, the ARRL Contest Branch is
renewing its effort to help clubs comply with the rules (See Section 8
of the "General Rules for All Contests
<http://www.arrl.org/general-rules-for-all-arrl-contests>").
It will no longer be necessary to mail, e-mail, or fax the club roster
to the Contest Branch. Clubs now will be able to upload a club roster --
now called an "eligibility list" -- via a web page, just as they do with
contest logs. Information will be time stamped and stored. The club just
has to upload a file containing the current club roster, including the
club's section or the center of the club's eligibility circle.
All members' locations will be entered and displayed as six-character
grid locators, such as FN21aw or DM02ks. It will no longer be necessary
to determine latitude and longitude for members or a club circle center.
The center of the locators will be used to calculate a member's distance
from the club center using a standard algorithm that will also be
public. A member may reside and operate anywhere in a six-digit locator
that satisfies the distance rule. The maximum circle distances are /not/
changing, however.
With the availability of the online service, the deadline of 30 days
following a contest to submit a roster is changing. Putting contests on
the same footing as all other competitions, and to eliminate any
temptation to pick only high scores or to engage in "category shopping,"
the eligibility deadline is being changed to the start of the contest,
effective with the ARRL November CW Sweepstakes -- eg, 2100 UTC on
November 5, 2016 -- and will apply to all nine ARRL contests that have a
Club Competition category (see General Rule 8.1).
Rosters and club circle centers can be changed and uploaded at any time
-- via multiple uploads as needed -- until the contest starts. After a
roster is submitted, it will be available for inspection online The
roster eligibility service will allow other contesters to view the
rosters and to make it easy for clubs to follow the rules. Challenges
may be made through the Contest Branch. Minimum log totals for each club
category will remain the same.
A regularly updated list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-club-tools>) has been posted. For more
information, contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke
<mailto:contests at arrl.org>, W9JJ. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-announces-club-competition-eligibility-changes>.
More than 200 US Stations Signed Up for Scouting's Jamboree on the Air
So far, 219 US stations have registered to take part in Scouting's 2016
Jamboree on the Air (JOTA
<http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota>), which will take place
October 14-16. Registration
<http://jotajoti.info/sign-up-for-jota-joti/> remains open for the 59th
annual event. Last year, 400 US stations signed up. JOTA officials are
asking JOTA 2016 participants not only to register for this year's
event, but to follow up with a post-JOTA report.
"We expect to have several thousand stations around the world signed up
by JOTA weekend," JOTA Coordinator Jim Wilson, K5ND, said in a JOTA-JOTI
(Jamboree on the Internet) update. "Make sure you register your
station." Designated Scouting frequencies are on the "Guidelines for
Amateur Radio Operators
<http://www.scouting.org/jota/operators_guides.aspx>" page. "Twenty
meters is probably the go-to band during the daytime," Wilson said. "Try
moving off the calling frequency and spreading out while making those
contacts." Wilson noted that, in addition to the DX spotting websites,
there's a Scout station spotting cluster
<http://www.pi4raz.nl/jotacluster/cluster.php>.
He also suggested taking advantage of "modes that don't require radio
waves," including the dedicated D-STAR
<http://k2bsa.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=56ce1526bb2372707f5868e21&id=7cc0fed104&e=f04efd1977>
Scouting reflector 033A, as well as DMR
<http://k2bsa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=56ce1526bb2372707f5868e21&id=421db65e29&e=f04efd1977>,
IRLP
<http://k2bsa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=56ce1526bb2372707f5868e21&id=e3d587bc59&e=f04efd1977>
with topic channel 9091, and Echolink
<http://k2bsa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=56ce1526bb2372707f5868e21&id=187b9d8805&e=f04efd1977>,
with conference node JOTA-365. Doug Crompton, WA3DSP, and Elliott
Liggett, W7QED, have set up Allstar
<http://k2bsa.us5.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=56ce1526bb2372707f5868e21&id=caae1429b5&e=f04efd1977>
node 41760 for JOTA/Scouting conversations, Wilson added. In addition to
social media, ScoutLink
<http://k2bsa.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=56ce1526bb2372707f5868e21&id=933a8aeee2&e=f04efd1977>
is an excellent way to connect to Scouts around the world with only an
Internet connection, he said.
"Dave Edwards, KD2E, and Andy O'Brien, K3UK, have developed a Scout
scheduling page
<http://www.obriensweb.com/sked/index.php?board=scouts>," Wilson said.
"You can use this to post your frequency and to pick up on other
stations as well."
More than 1 million Scouts in 150+ countries -- at nearly 18,000
stations -- are expected to take part in JOTA 2016, engaging with other
Scouts to talk about Amateur Radio and their Scouting experiences. "JOTA
is about conversations across town and around the world, rather than
about contacts," Wilson said.
Retired Librarian Who Was Maine's First Woman Radio Amateur Turns 108
Mary Cousins, ex-W1GSC, who was the first woman in Maine to obtain an
Amateur Radio license, celebrated her 108th birthday on September 20.
Now a resident of a care facility in the coastal fishing village of Deer
Isle, Cousins was treated to a party complete with a
*Mary Cousins, ex-W1GSC, admires her 108th birthday cake. [Island
Nursing Home and Care Center photo]*
cake decorated with images of local newspaper articles from 1908, the
year she was born. The confection also bore an image of her 1933
"Amateur First" radio license, issued to Mary Sibyl Wallace -- her
maiden name -- by the old Federal Radio Commission, when Cousins was 24.
The FCC came into being the following year. Cousins' old call sign has
since been reissued at least once. Cousins said she operated Morse,
although she does not remember the code anymore, and used to relay
weather information using that mode.
Cousins, a native of nearby Stonington, Maine, worked as the town's
librarian, a school bus driver, and a telephone operator. She said she
never stops learning new things.
*The "Amateur First" Radio Operator License issued by the Federal Radio
Commission in 1933 to Mary Sibyl Wallace.*
Cousins told Bangor TV station WFVX that in the 1930s, ham radio "was
something that the girls did not do, and the boys were all doing it at
the time, and I said, 'I can do it too.' And I did."
Her cake also bore images of Stonington as it looked in 1908, when Teddy
Roosevelt was the US president. Enlivening the party were 108 balloons
and live piano music. Cousins received and read cards from many
well-wishers.
Her son John told WFVX, "When she decides she's going to do something,
she's going to do it. I think 100 was going to be the goal. She wanted
to reach 100. She did. And then she said, 'Well, might as well go for
105.' I think she's working on 110 now."
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2016-09-29&p=2>
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Australia's Space Weather Services
issued a geomagnetic warning
<http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Space_Weather/1/1>, calling for variable
geomagnetic conditions -- from active to major storms -- for the next 3
days.
Average daily sunspot numbers and solar flux changed little for
September 22-28 from the previous 7 days. Average daily sunspot numbers
went from 29.7 to 29.9, and the average daily solar flux declined from
83.4 to 81.4. The average planetary A index was much higher, rising from
8.9 to 19.7. The average mid-latitude A index increased from 7.6 to 12.3.
Projected solar flux for the near term is 85, 80, and 78 for September
29-October 1; 80 on October 2-3; 85 on October 4-7; 90 on October 8-14;
95 on October 15-18; 90 on October 19-21; 85 on October 22-27; 80 on
October 28-31; 85 on November 1-3, and 90 on November 4-10.
Predicted planetary A index is 44, 38, 30, 20, 14, 12, and 8 for
September 29-October 5; 5 on October 6-14; 8, 10, 20, and 8 on October
15-18; 5 on October 19-22; 18 and 12 on October 23-24; 35 on October
25-27; 25, 20, 16, 10, and 8 on October 28-November 1, and 5 on November
2-10.
Sunspot numbers for September 22 through 28 were 30, 49, 47, 18, 23, 21,
and 20, with a mean of 29.7. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 85.1, 85.5,
84.9, 84.6, 86.8, 85.6, and 84.4, with a mean of 81.4. Estimated
planetary A indices were 4, 4, 5, 23, 22, 38, and 42, with a mean of
19.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 3, 4, 12, 18, 21, and 24,
with a mean of 12.3.
Send <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> me your reports and observations.
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In Brief...
*ARRL to Host /CHIRP/ Radio Programming Webinar:* ARRL will host a
/CHIRP/ <http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home> Radio
Programming webinar
<https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/693479953177190401> on
October 19 at 8 PM ET (0000 UTC on October 20 in US time zones). This
presentation will offer a brief overview of the free, open-source
/CHIRP/ software, which can be used to program most radios. Attendees
will learn: What /CHIRP/ is, which radios are supported, how to get
/CHIRP/, and how to troubleshoot /CHIRP/. Presenter James Lee, N1DDK,
became active in /CHIRP/ development for the initial TYT9800 driver. He
is a hardware development engineer for Qualcomm. Register
<https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/693479953177190401> now!
Those signing up will receive a confirmation e-mail containing
information about joining the webinar.
*SEDCO Contributes $1,000 to ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund:* The
SouthEastern DX and Contesting Organization (SEDCO
<http://www.w4dxcc.com/the-sedco-story.html>) has once again presented
ARRL with a check for $1,000 at the recent W4DXCC
<http://www.w4dxcc.com/> convention it sponsors, to support the Spectrum
Defense Fund <http://www.arrl.org/spectrum-defense-fund>. SEDCO has
supported the Spectrum Defense Fund every year since 2009, except for
2012, when it gave $1,000 to the Second Century Campaign
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-second-century-campaign>. With this check,
SEDCO has given a total of $3,700 to support Spectrum Defense. The 12th
W4DXCC convention took place September 23-24 in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Contributions to the Spectrum Defense Fund ensure that ARRL will have
the resources to meet future challenges as they arise, and to protect
Amateur Radio operating privileges.
*Logbook of The World to No Longer Accept Contacts Signed by /TQSL/
Versions Earlier Than 2.0*: As of 1400 UTC on January 16, ARRL's Logbook
of The World (LoTW) no longer will accept contacts that have been
digitally signed by versions of /TQSL/ earlier than version 2.0. Users
of earlier versions are encouraged to upgrade as soon as possible, as
older /TQSL/ versions contain uncorrected defects and display inaccurate
error messages. The current versions of TQSL for Windows, OS X, and
Linux are available online at
https://lotw.arrl.org/lotw-help/installation/. /-- Thanks to Norm
Fusaro, W3IZ/
Just Ahead in Radiosport
*
October 1 -- TARA PSK Rumble Contest
*
October 1-2 -- 15 Meter SSTV Dash Contest
*
October 1-2 -- Oceania DX Contest (Phone)
*
October 1-2 -- Russian WW Digital Contest
*
October 1-2 -- GTC CW Cup
*
October 1-2 -- TRC DX Contest (CW, phone)
*
October 1-2 -- WAB HF Phone
*
October 1-2 -- International HELL-Contest
*
October 1-2 -- California QSO Party (CW, phone)
*
October 1 -- FISTS Fall Slow Speed Sprint (CW)
*
October 2 -- UBA ON Contest (SSB)
*
October 2 -- RSGB International DX Contest (CW, phone)
*
October 3 -- German Telegraphy Contest
*
October 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
*
October 5 -- 432 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
*
October 5 -- UKEICC 80 Meter Contest (Phone)
*
October 6 -- SARL 80 Meter QSO Party (Phone)
*
October 6 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
*
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
*
December 9-10 -- West Central Florida Section Convention
<http://www.tampabayhamfest.org/>, Plant City, Florida
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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