[SFDXA] The ARRL Letter for October 18, 2018
Bill
bmarx at bellsouth.net
Fri Oct 19 09:24:14 EDT 2018
Preview
If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
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The ARRL Letter
October 18, 2018
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=2018-10-18&t=t>
* ARRL Executive Committee to Meet in Minneapolis <#toc01>
* ARRL Northern Florida Section Seeks Volunteers to Deploy to
Hurricane Zone <#toc02>
* Bidding in ARRL Online Auction Set to Begin on October 19 <#toc03>
* FT8 to be Permitted in 2019 ARRL RTTY Roundup <#toc04>
* The Doctor Will See You Now! <#toc05>
* Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) Looking Forward to Successful
2018 Event <#toc06>
* Philippine Organizations Join Forces for "Robust" JOTA-JOTI Presence
<#toc07>
* VP6D Ducie Island 2018 DXpedition Team Under Way aboard the
/Braveheart/ <#toc08>
* ARRL Website Security Software Update Could Affect Certain LoTW ADIF
Downloads <#toc09>
* Dwingeloo Radio Telescope Receives Dark-Side Lunar Images from
Chinese Amateur Satellite <#toc10>
* In Brief... <#toc11>
* The K7RA Solar Update <#toc12>
* Just Ahead in Radiosport <#toc13>
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions <#toc14>
ARRL Executive Committee to Meet in Minneapolis
The ARRL Executive Committee (EC) is set to meet on Saturday, October
20, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, will
preside. In addition to reports from the President and former Chief
Executive Officer and Secretary, Barry Shelley, N1VXY, the EC will hear
a status report of the ad hoc committee to draft updates/changes to the
/Code of Conduct/.
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, will report on FCC and
regulatory issues, as well as on local antenna and RF interference cases
that ARRL is tracking. He also will offer an update on legislative
matters, including the Amateur Radio Parity Act.
The EC will hear a status report on a pending new memorandum of
understanding on the Amateur Auxiliary between ARRL and the FCC. It also
will receive an update from the ad hoc committee reviewing rules and
regulations for advisory committees to the Board of Directors.
The Executive Committee is tasked by the ARRL /Bylaws/ to address ARRL
matters between regular Board meetings. The Board will meet in January
for its first scheduled meeting of 2019
ARRL Northern Florida Section Seeks Volunteers to Deploy to Hurricane Zone
Northern Florida ARES is seeking volunteers to deploy for up to a week
to areas of the state devastated by Hurricane Michael. Serious
communication issues remain in the Florida Panhandle in the storm's
wake, with the telecommunications infrastructure ravaged and storm
victims unable to communicate with family members outside the region.
The Florida State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is hoping to recruit
eight operators. Section Emergency Coordinator Karl Martin, KG4HBN
<mailto:kg4hbn at arrl.net>, said ARES needs as many volunteers as possible.
"They need to be self-sufficient for 7 days (food, water, place to
sleep, power, radio, etc.)," he said. "HF is highly recommended. The
list of locations needing to be filled continues to grow."
Clay County ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator (AEC) and Public
Information Officer Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, was cited in a news media
account that several counties with damage to critical infrastructure
remain without any form of communication, with Amateur Radio remaining
as the only method of communication between shelters and emergency
management. Roberts said a few volunteers deployed from Duval County to
assist at shelters in the Panhandle, but more are needed to help relay
information and direct resources within affected areas.
"If they need cots, more food, or they're running low on anything, they
would pass that information over radio to the state emergency operations
center, or the resource centers to get them sent to the shelters,"
Roberts told
<https://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/amateur-radio-operators-needed-to-help-communication-after-michael>
News4JAX in Jacksonville this week.
Volunteers must have been vetted by their local county emergency
management agency, have radio equipment and antennas for VHF/UHF
(SARnet), HF, and, if possible, HF Winlink capability, and their own
shelter. Alternate power sources would be needed as well -- including
solar, wind, or generator, as well as food and water for 7 days.
Volunteers should be familiar with message and traffic-handling.
All prospective volunteers should live in Florida. *Do /not/ self-deploy! *
Visit the ARRL Northern Florida Section website <http://arrl-nfl.org/>
for more information or contact Martin.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2018-10-18&p=0>
Bidding in ARRL Online Auction Set to Begin on October 19
More than 230 items will be on the block as bidding gets under way on
Friday, October 19, at 10 AM ET (1400 UTC) for the 13th Annual ARRL
On-Line Auction <http://arrl.auctionanything.com/>. The auction will
continue through Friday, October 26, at 10 PM ET (0200 UTC on Saturday,
October 27). An auction preview opens on Wednesday, October 17.
The 2018 auction includes lab-tested /QST/ "Product Review" gear,
vintage books, used equipment, and one-of-a-kind items, plus the ARRL
Lab team has contributed four of the very popular "mystery boxes."
Some premier "Product Review" items up for bid include the Apache Labs
ANAN-8000DLE HF and 6-meter SDR transceiver, an Icom IC-R8600
communications receiver, a Yaesu FT-991 HF/VHF/UHF transceiver, a
BridgeCom Systems BCM-144 2-meter mobile transceiver, and many more items.
The auction also will offer items donated from the popular television
series "Last Man Standing," starring Tim Allen, an actual radio amateur
who portrays the fictional Mike Baxter, KA0XTT, in the show, which has
featured ham radio in some episodes.
*Some vintage Heathkit gear will be on the auction block.*
Among book offerings in the auction are/History of QRP in the US 1924 -
1960,/ a special defense edition of /The Radio Amateur's Handbook/ from
1942, and a 1958 /ARRL Handbook. /
Proceeds from the annual Online Auction benefit ARRL education programs.
These include activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio
Emergency Service^® training, offer continuing technical and operating
education, and create instructional materials.
All bidders must register (your *arrl.org* user ID and password will not
work on the auction site). If you have registered for a previous ARRL
Online Auction, you may use the same login information. If you have
forgotten your user ID or password, click on the "Help" tab for
instructions on how to retrieve these credentials. Make sure your
correct address and other information are up to date. The auction site
only accepts Visa and Mastercard.
FT8 to be Permitted in 2019 ARRL RTTY Roundup
The ARRL Contest Branch has announced that participants in the 2019 ARRL
RTTY Roundup <http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup> will be permitted to use
the new FT8 protocol, which is part of the /WSJT-X/
<https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html> software suite.
The RTTY Roundup takes place January 5 - 6, 2019.
"Even though digital modes other than RTTY have been permitted in the
RTTY Roundup for 30 years, FT8 was excluded in 2018, because it could
not manage the required exchanges," ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart
Jahnke, W9JJ, said. "Through the work of the /WSJT-X/ development team,
the latest version of FT8 can handle the necessary exchanges that
earlier versions were unable to do."
Some limitations will apply to FT8 entrants. Participants must use
/WSJT-X/ version 2.0
<https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/New_Features_WSJT-X_2.0.txt>
or later to ensure they are able to transmit and receive the exchange
messages the event requires. No unattended operation, including
QSO/macro automations, will be allowed. Neither is FT8's Fox and Hounds
mode; each contact must be carried out in a one-to-one mode, manually
accepting/logging each contact.
Because ARRL contest rules regarding spotting assistance prohibit the
use of "automated, multi-channel decoders" by Single-Operator entrants,
stations using software that decodes /more than one/ FT8 signal at a
time will have to enter as Single-Operator Unlimited or as
Multioperator, just as PSK participants have had to do in the past when
using /fldigi/ or /DigiPan/ software.
The Contest Branch is encouraging participants to spread out to help
increase decoding and contact success.
"This is a great opportunity for beginners interested in digital mode
contesting," Jahnke said. Complete rules
<http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup> are on the ARRL website. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/ft8-to-be-permitted-in-2019-arrl-rtty-roundup>.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/Short "Practice Contest" Set for ARRL RTTY Roundup Participants
Planning to Use FT8/*
A 1-hour "practice contest" will be held next week on Wednesday, October
24, 0200 - 0300 UTC (Thursday, October 25, in North American time
zones). Use dial frequency 7.078 kHz, moving up in 2 kHz increments if
interference is too great.
To participate, you must use /WSJT-X/ version 2.0.0-rc3
<https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html>, a beta-test
version. Installation packages for Windows, Linux, and macOS are near
the bottom of the page. A full release of /WSJT-X/ 2.0 is targeted for
release on December 10. FT8 co-developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, advises
reading the revised /Quick-Start Guide/
<https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf>
before using /WSJT-X/ 2.0.
Some important reminders:
1.
On the "Settings/Advanced tab", check the boxes that say "Always
generate 77-bit messages," "Decode only 77-bit messages," and "ARRL
RTTY Roundup." In the field labeled "Exch," enter the 2- or 3-letter
abbreviation for your state or province (US/Canadian stations), or
enter DX if you are not in the US or Canada.
2.
Be sure that 7.078 appears in your drop-down frequency list for FT8
mode. You might need to do a reset on the Settings/Frequencies tab.
If the subband starting at 7.078 becomes overcrowded, move to a
higher dial frequency in 2 kHz increments -- 7.080, 7.082, etc. Type
Ctrl+Shift+F12 to move up by 2 kHz, or Ctrl+Shift+F11 to move down
by 2 kHz.
3.
Do not use a compound or nonstandard call sign in this event.
Planning is under way for one or more dedicated FT8 contests to be held
in the next few months./-- Thanks to Joe Taylor, K1JT/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Doctor Will See You Now!
"Winterizing Your Station" is the topic of the current (October 11)
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 email 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: "Do you really need a tower?"
Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) Looking Forward to Successful 2018
Event
Some 450 sites in the US are among nearly 3,000 locations around the
world that will host Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) or Jamboree on the
Internet (JOTI) stations over the October 19 - 21 weekend.
"It looks [like it will] exceed last year's registration number by next
weekend," JOTA Coordinator Jim Wilson, K5ND, said.
One site that will be activated for JOTA is the Voice of America (VOA)
Museum <http://www.voamuseum.org/> in West Chester, Ohio, which hosts
the West Chester Amateur Radio Association's club station WC8VOA
<http://www.wc8voa.org/>. WCARA member Jocelyn Brault, KD8VRX, grew up
in Canada, where, as a 12-year-old, he took part in a JOTA event, making
a friend in France and becoming pen pals. Years later, he became a Scout
leader and a radio amateur. The station in the VOA station has been
hosting JOTA for the past 5 years and allows anyone in Scouting to
participate from the museum.
"For JOTA last year, we had over 100 Scouts stop by and get on the air,"
he recounted. "They could also explore the VOA Museum." Brault said that
at one point, stations in five states conducted an on-the-air
roundtable, sharing stories and experiences. "That was a great way to do
it. It made it much more fun for the Scouts and for us as well. I'm
looking forward to repeating the experience again this year," he said.
Wilson urged JOTA station coordinators to review the best practices
<https://k2bsa.net/jota-station-reports-best-practices/> and to try
taking some video <https://k2bsa.net/tell-your-jota-story-with-video/>
of JOTA-JOTI activity.
"Last year, the event saw 1.5 million Scouts and Girl Scouts on the air
from 150 countries with nearly 17,000 Amateur Radio operators helping to
make that possible," Wilson said. "This is a superb way to introduce
Scouts to the technology, fun, and magic of Amateur Radio." Wilson
suggested that radio amateurs could help by making room for the Scout
stations operating around the JOTA frequencies
<https://k2bsa.net/scout-frequencies> as well as by answering their CQs
and engaging Scouts in conversations.
The Worked All Germany Contest
<https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/worked-all-germany-contest/en/>
takes place this weekend, and contest sponsors have designated
contest-free frequencies
<https://www.darc.de/fileadmin/filemounts/referate/conteste/contest/wag/Uploads/WAG_-_contestfree_segments.pdf>
to avoid the JOTA frequencies.
Ad <http://www.arrl.org/nladclick.php?n=al&t=i&i=2018-10-18&p=2>
Philippine Organizations Join Forces for "Robust" JOTA-JOTI Presence
The National Headquarters of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and
the Philippine Amateur Radio Association (PARA
<http://www.para.org.ph/>) joined forces to prepare early for the 61st
Jamboree on the Air (JOTA <https://www.scouting.org/jota/>) and the 22nd
Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI <https://www.scouting.org/joti/>). BSP
Vice President for Luzon Vice Governor Nas Ona, DU1ON, and PARA COO
Roberto Vicencio, DU1VHY, have been pushing for a robust Philippine
presence during the joint events.
"This year's JOTA/JOTI will not only be done via the traditional RF, but
also with the use of the new digital modes C4FM, D-STAR, DMR, and
possible demonstration of /JS8Call/," Vicencio said. /JS8Call/ (formerly
/FT8Call/) is a derivative of /WSJT-X/, restructured for
keyboard-to-keyboard messaging. It is neither supported nor endorsed by
the /WSJT-X/ development group. Vicencio said technological advances and
growth in Amateur Radio in the Philippines could make this a breakout
year for JOTA-JOTI there.
"With over a million participants, the Philippine Scouts are looking
forward to [contacting] the Scouts of the world," he said.
"Amateur Radio has proven itself to be an excellent method in sustaining
communications, even in the severest of disasters," Vicencio pointed
out. "Amateur Radio-licensed scouts have operated with disaster teams
during the most recent typhoon and the monsoon season, providing
invaluable, timely, and actionable information."
VP6D Ducie Island 2018 DXpedition Team Under Way aboard the /Braveheart/
After 18 months of intensive planning, the 14-member international VP6D
<https://vp6d.com/> team now is en route on the long voyage
<https://share.garmin.com/VP6D> to Ducie Island from Mangareva, French
Polynesia, aboard the MV /Braveheart/. Team members have been heard
operating as VP6D/mm on 40- and 20- meter CW, according to /The Daily
DX/ <http://www.dailydx.com>. The team rendezvoused in Tahiti before
flying to Mangareva and set sail on October 16. The DXpedition is
scheduled to begin on October 20 and continue until November 3. VP6D
will use DXA <http://www.dxa3.org/vp6d/> to post contacts on a near
real-time basis. Logs will be uploaded daily to VP6D (there is no leader
board) and, ultimately, to Logbook of The World (LoTW
<http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>).
VP6D will be using FT8 protocol (/WSJT-X/ version 1.91) as a "fox" on
all bands except 16 meters, where DXpedition mode will not be used. The
team has posted FT8 operating guidelines
<https://vp6d.com/index.php/dxpedition/ft8-operating-guidelines> on its
website. Software should be configured in "hound" mode. Operators hoping
to work VP6D on FT8 must add the DXpedition's frequencies
<https://www.vp6d.com/index.php/dxpedition/frequencies> to /WSJT-X/.
"Your only email route to VP6D is through the pilot team," a DXpedition
release advised this week. "The pilots do not have the logs. Please
don't ask them about NiL, busted calls, skeds, etc. Do send them helpful
suggestions."
In a first for Ducie Island, VP6D will be active on 6-meter moonbounce.
*The MV /Braveheart/ docked during loading of the VP6D DXpedition gear.*
Among its goals, VP6D has listed conducting extensive digital operation,
logging as many unique call signs as possible, and offering a contact to
as many as possible, including all-time new ones and band fills.
Stu Phillips, K6TU, has developed customized propagation prediction
tools <https://vp6d.com/index.php/dxpedition/propagation-prediction>,
available on the VP6D website. Stations may take advantage of these
forecast tools to predict conditions for working Ducie Island based on
your location and your equipment.
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ARRL Website Security Software Update Could Affect Certain LoTW ADIF
Downloads
The ARRL website updated its security software on October 15 in order to
meet standards required to continue accepting credit cards for internet
purchases. ARRL Information Technology Department Manager Mike Keane,
K1MK, said that the upgrade should not affect the vast majority of
members, beyond a guarantee of better security on the website. It's
possible that those using old browsers or running outdated operating
systems could encounter a browser error message when trying to log in or
make a purchase on the website. To check if your browser will be
affected by this change, you can use the "How's My SSL?
<https://www.howsmyssl.com/>" website to advise you of your browser's
version. Also affected by the upgrade was the ability of certain logging
software running under Windows 7, 8, and 10 to continue downloading ADIF
reports from Logbook of The World (LoTW
<http://www.arrl.org/logbook-of-the-world>). Uploads via /TQSL/ are not
affected.
"Affected users should report the issue to their logging application
software vendor," Keane said. "In several cases, logging application
vendors have already released updates of their products that resolve the
problem."
Keane said the security update and any possible disruption in service
are for the sake of progress, "and represent the reasonable efforts that
our members expect from us in order to secure their private
information." The updates completed this week were mandated
security-related changes that allow ARRL to continue to accept credit
cards for purchases and memberships via the website. "These security
changes are no different than what is required by other organizations
and vendors performing online transactions," Keane noted.
The updates were carried out in order to comply with PCI Security
Standards Council requirements.
Among the browsers that are safe to continue using are Google Chrome 30
or higher (version 40 or higher recommended), Mozilla Firefox 27 or
higher (version 34 or higher recommended), Microsoft Internet Explorer
11 or higher, Apple Safari 7 or higher (Safari 5 or higher on mobile),
all versions of Microsoft Edge, and Opera 17 or higher (version 27 or
higher recommended).
Dwingeloo Radio Telescope Receives Dark-Side Lunar Images from Chinese
Amateur Satellite
The 25-meter Dwingeloo Radio Telescope in the Netherlands has received
photos of the dark side of the moon, transmitted by the Chinese
/Longjiang-2/ <http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/wp/?page_id=844> lunar
satellite (DSLWP-B), Lunar-OSCAR 94 (LO-94). One especially dramatic
image shows the far side of the moon with Earth in the background, taken
by the /Longjiang-2/ satellite and transmitted by an onboard Amateur
Radio transceiver. The Dwingeloo Radio Telescope had been restored by
the C.A. Muller Radio Astronomy Station PI9CAM group (CAMRAS
<https://www.camras.nl/en/blog/2018/precious-earth-and-lunar-far-side/>).
*A color-adjusted image received by radio amateurs, including the radio
amateurs of the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope (PI9CAM) operated by Tammo Jan
Dijkema and Cees Bassa.*
"This image represents the culmination of several observing sessions
spread over the past few months where we used the Dwingeloo telescope in
collaboration with the Chinese team from Harbin University of
Technology, who built the radio transceiver on board /Longjiang-2/, and
with radio amateurs spread across the globe," a CAMRAS report said.
"During these sessions, we tested receiving telemetry through low-bit
rate and error-resistant digitally modulated transmissions, as well as
the JT4G modulation scheme designed by radio amateur and Nobel prize
winning astrophysicist Joe Taylor, K1JT, for weak-signal moonbounce
experiments." Other images
<http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/dashboard/pages_en/pics-b.html> are of the
lunar surface, lens flares, and the starry sky as seen from lunar orbit.
The /Longjiang-2/ transceiver was designed to allow radio amateurs to
downlink telemetry and relay messages through a satellite in lunar
orbit, as well as to command it to take and downlink images. Some
Earth-bound radio amateurs and sky watchers have already received images
from the moon-orbiting satellite.
/Longjiang-2 /was launched last May into a lunar transfer orbit (a
companion /Longjiang-/1 microsat ended up in Earth orbit), deployed as a
secondary payload with the /Queqiao/ relay satellite as part of the
Chang'e 4 mission. The satellite will test low-frequency radio astronomy
and space-based interferometry; no transponder is aboard.
*From left to right, Jan van Muijlwijk, PA3FXB, of CAMRAS; Hu Chaoran,
BG2CRY, and MingChuan Wei, BG2BHC.*
In preparation for the mission and discussion of the possibilities of
the antennas and receivers in the radio telescope, MingChuan Wei,
BG2BHC, and Hu Chaoran, BG2CRY, both of the Harbin Institute of
Technology, visited Harry Keizer, PE1CHQ, and Jan van Muijlwijk, PA3FXB,
of CAMRAS.
The Chang'e 4 mission will mark the first-ever attempt at a soft landing
on the far side of the moon. The Chang'e-4 lander and rover are
scheduled to launch in December.
The spacecraft transmits on 70 centimeters (435.400/436.400 MHz) with
250/500 bps GMSK using 10 kHz wide FM single-channel data, with
concatenated codes or JT4G.
Cees Bassa and Tammo Jan Dijkema have written a slightly more detailed
blog post, "Imaging the Earth from Lunar Orbit
<http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/imaging-the-earth-from-lunar-orbit.html>,"
in /The Planetary Society/.
In Brief...
*US Senator Again Spotlights Ham Radio's Disaster Response Role.* US
Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi has tweeted
<https://twitter.com/SenatorWicker/status/1052262347992178689> about the
work radio amateurs have been doing in assisting with disaster response
efforts in Florida after Hurricane Michael. Wicker noted that the
trained volunteers help maintain critical communication to areas with no
electricity, phone, or internet service. Wicker, a Republican, and
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, sponsored the US
Senate version of the Amateur Radio Parity Act (S. 1534). "Amateur Radio
continues to be a critical part of our emergency communications
operations," Wicker said at the time. "Mississippians learned firsthand
after Hurricane Katrina how Amateur Radio operators can provide a
resilient, distributed network to first responders and disaster relief
organizations when other communications tools fail."
*SAQ Alexanderson Alternator Transmission to Celebrate UN Day.* An
Alexanderson alternator transmission from Sweden's Grimeton Radio
Station, SAQ, will be part of UN Day festivities on October 24 at the
World Heritage Site in Grimeton, Sweden. A "Peace Party" at the site
will feature Irish folk music from the Swedish band Green Hill. The
music style honors the first transatlantic telegraph cable between
Ireland and Newfoundland, which opened for telegram traffic in August
1866. "We celebrate this great event in international relations by
sending out a peace message to the world with the long-wave transmitter
SAQ, and then a concert in the Irish folk spirit with the Varberg band
Green Hill," the announcement explained. The SAQ CW transmission will be
on 17.2 kHz and start at 16:30 UTC. A live video stream
<http://www.alexander.n.se/> of the transmission will be available. SAQ
will accept listener reports via email <mailto:info at alexander.n.se>.
*US Coast Guard Auxiliary to Hold "Radio Day" on the /Lilac/.*//To
commemorate the 79th anniversary of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary
<http://www.cgaux.org>, the uniformed volunteer component of Team Coast
Guard, members of the Lower Manhattan (NY) Flotilla will conduct a
nationwide Radio Day on Saturday, October 20, aboard the retired cutter
/Lilac/, America's only surviving steam-powered lighthouse tender.
Members of the Auxiliary will operate communications equipment onboard
the /Lilac/, docked on the Hudson River, to communicate with other
Auxiliary Flotillas across the country. Some operation will be on
Amateur Radio digital modes. /Lilac/ is the oldest and most intact
lighthouse tender surviving in America and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. It's currently being restored
<http://www.lilacpreservationproject.org> for maritime education and
community activities.
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar activity increased last week.
Compared to the previous 7 days, the average daily sunspot number
increased from 1.6 to 12.6, while average daily solar flux rose from
68.9 to 71. Geomagnetic indicators were quieter. The average daily
planetary A index dropped from 14.1 to 7.4, and the average mid-latitude
A index went from 10.3 to 7.3.
Predicted solar flux is 70 on October 18 - 23; 68 on October 24 - 25; 69
on October 26 - November 4; 70 on November 5 - 7, rising to 72 on
November 8 - 17; 70 on November 18 - 20, and 69 on November 21 - December 1.
Predicted planetary A index is 8, 18, 10, and 8 on October 18 - 21; 5 on
October 22 - 25; 10 on October 26; 5 on October 27 - November 2; 22 and
20 on November 3 - 4; 15 on November 5 - 6; 8, 5, 12, 8, and 10 on
November 7 - 11; 5 on November 12 - 13; 12, 18, 10, 5, 10, and 8 on
November 14 - 19; 5 on November 20 - 21; 10 on November 22; 5 on
November 23 - 29, and 22 and 18 on November 30 - December 1.
Sunspot numbers for October 11 - 17 were 0, 11, 22, 22, 11, 11, and 11,
with a mean of 12.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 70.9, 71.6, 72.4,
71.5, 70, 69.7, and 70, with a mean of 71. Estimated planetary A indices
were 9, 5, 14, 6, 10, 5, and 3, with a mean of 7.4. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 7, 14, 12, 4, 7, 4, and 3, with a mean of 7.3.
Share <mailto:k7ra at arrl.net> your reports and observations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just Ahead in Radiosport
*
October 20 -- Feld Hell Sprint
*
October 20 - 21 -- Araucaria World Wide VHF Contest (CW, phone)
*
October 20 - 21 -- JARTS WW RTTY Contest
*
October 20 - 21 -- 10 - 10 International Fall Contest (CW)
*
October 20 - 21 -- New York QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
*
October 20 - 21 -- Worked All Germany Contest (CW)
*
October 20 - 21 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
*
October 21 -- Asia - Pacific Fall Sprint (CW)
*
October 21 -- RSGB RoLo (CW)
*
October 21 -- UBA ON Contest, 2 Meter (CW, phone)
*
October 21 - 22 -- Illinois QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
*
October 22 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
*
October 24 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
*
October 25 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (SSB)
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
email preferences.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
*
October 19-20 -- New Mexico State Convention
<http://socorroara.org/hamfest.html>, Socorro, New Mexico
*
October 19-21 -- Pacific Division Convention
<http://www.pacificon.org/>, San Ramon, California
*
October 20 -- Tennessee State Convention <http://www.w4am.net/>,
East Ridge, Tennessee
*
October 21 -- Connecticut State Convention
<http://nutmeghamfest.com/>, Meriden, Connecticut
*
November 2-4 -- AMSAT Symposium
<https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symposium/>, Huntsville, Alabama
*
November 3-4 -- Georgia Section Convention
<http://stonemountainhamfest.com/>, Lawrenceville, Georgia
*
November 10 -- Alabama Section Convention
<http://www.w4ap.org/Events/Hamfest.htm>, Montgomery, Alabama
*
November 10 -- HamJam 2018 Convention <http://hamjam.info/>,
Alpharetta, Georgia
*
November 17-18 -- Central Division Convention
<http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com/>, Fort Wayne, Indiana
*
December 1 -- Arkansas DX Association Conference
<http://www.adxa.org/>, North Little Rock, Arkansas
*
December 7-8 -- West Central Florida Section Convention
<http://fgcarc.org/>, Plant City, Florida
Find conventions and hamfests in your area <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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