| |
N9PMO > LETTER 04.12.14 22:28l 688 Lines 30458 Bytes #999 (0) @ ARRL
BID : ARRL3249
Read: GUEST
Subj: ARRL3249 ARRL Letter
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<IK6ZDE<F1OYP<JH4XSY<JM1YTR<JE7YGF<N9PMO
Sent: 141204/2120Z 4213@N9PMO.#SEWI.WI.USA.NA BPQ1.4.62
ARRL Members Elect Division Director, Two Vice Directors
SKYWARN Recognition Day 2014 is December 6
QST Centennial Photo Contest Now Under Way!
Mammoth New York Snowfall Put Amateur Radio Volunteers on Alert
ARRL 2014 International Humanitarian Award Nominations Due by December
31
W1AW Centennial Operations Shift to Indiana and Montana
Time to Tune Up on Top Band: The ARRL 160 Meter Contest is December
5-7
Conditions Look Good for ARRL 10 Meter Contest December 13-14
December is Youngsters On The Air Month!
Japanese Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio Payloads are Launched into
Deep Space
IARU Wants Member Societies "Engaged" in Seeking Support for
5.275-5.450 MHz Amateur Allocation
Deadline Looms to Apply for ARISS Educational Ham Radio Contacts with
the ISS
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
The K7RA Solar Update
Just Ahead in Radiosport
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
ARRL Members Elect Division Director, Two Vice Directors
The ballots have been counted, and ARRL members have determined that
the Atlantic Division's new Director starting January 1 will be
current Vice Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM. Abernethy outpolled Phil
Theis, K3TUF, 1400 to 1168, to succeed outgoing Atlantic Division
Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, who opted not to run for another term.
ARRL Atlantic Division Director-Elect Tom Abernethy, W3TOM.
Abernethy was Maryland Section Manager from 2001 until 2005, when he
was appointed Vice Director, filling a vacancy. He also served
previously as an ARES Emergency Coordinator.
There was a three-way race to fill the Atlantic Division Vice
Director's seat, and current Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Bob
Famiglio, K3RF, topped the field. Famiglio polled 1583 votes to 503
for former Western New York Section Manager John Mueller, K2BT, and
470 for Scott Bauer, W2LC, also a former Western New York SM.
Famiglio was first elected as Eastern Pennsylvania SM in 2012 and was
re-elected earlier this year. His election as Vice Director will
create a vacancy in the SM position that will be filled by
appointment. He is an ARRL Volunteer Counsel, and he served as a
District Emergency Coordinator from 2006 until 2011.
The only other contest was in the ARRL Great Lakes Division, where
current Vice Director Tom Delaney, W8WTD, received 822 votes to 517
cast for Steve Putman, N8ZR, who died earlier this fall while
balloting already was underway. Delaney, who served for several years
previously as a Public Information Officer, was appointed as Vice
Director earlier this year to succeed the former Vice Director, Dale
Williams, WA8EFK. Williams moved into the Director's chair after Jim
Weaver, K8JE, resigned from the Board. Williams was the only candidate
for Great Lakes Division Director and has been declared elected.
Midwest Division Director Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, also decided not to run
for another term. Succeeding him on January 1 will be current Vice
Director Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, the sole candidate for the position. He
has served as Vice Director since 2010, when he was appointed to
succeed Ahrens. No candidates stepped forward to run for the Vice
Director's slot that Blocksome is vacating, however, so ARRL President
Kay Craigie, N3KN, will appoint someone to the post. Ahrens was
appointed in 2010 to succeed Director -- and now Honorary Vice
President -- Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, in the Midwest Division.
Incumbents in the Dakota and Delta divisions ran unopposed and have
been declared elected. They are Dakota Division Director Greg Widin,
K0GW, and Vice Director Kent Olson, KA0LDG, and Delta Division
Director David Norris, K5UZ, and Vice Director Ed Hudgens, WB4RHQ.
Ballots in the contested races were counted November 21, with Director
Widin observing at the offices of Survey & Ballot Systems in Eden
Prairie, Minnesota. Those elected take office for 3-year terms
starting at noon Eastern Time on January 1, 2015.
SKYWARN Recognition Day 2014 is December 6
SKYWARN Recognition Day 2014 gets under way at 0000 UTC on Saturday,
December 6 (Friday, December 5 in US time zones). This will be the
16th annual event. Co-sponsored by ARRL and the National Weather
Service (NWS), the 24-hour event recognizes the vital public service
contribution that Amateur Radio operators make while working with NWS
offices during severe weather events. It also is aimed at
strengthening the bond between Amateur Radio operators and local NWS
offices.
The volunteer SKYWARN program comprises nearly 290,000 trained severe
weather spotters -- many of them radio amateurs -- who identify severe
storms and provide NWS forecasters with reports of local weather
conditions during severe weather events. On SKYWARN Recognition Day,
Amateur Radio operators visit National Weather Service offices and
contact other stations in the US and around the world. WX4NHC at the
National Hurricane Center in Miami will be among the NWS sites on the
air for the occasion.
SKYWARN Recognition Day is not a contest. The object is for stations
to exchange some basic information with as many NWS stations as
possible on 80 meters through 70 centimeters (excluding 1.25 meters).
Repeater contacts are permitted. Stations exchange call signs, signal
reports, locations, and a one- or two-word description of the weather
at their respective locations.
At KC0NWS in Kansas City, Missouri, SKYWARN Recognition Day 2013
participants included a mix of CW, phone, and PSK.
More than 70 amateur stations are expected to be on the air from
National Weather Service offices across the US, and some will use
special event call signs. They will operate on various modes including
SSB, FM, AM, RTTY, CW, and PSK31. While working digital modes, these
special event stations will append "NWS" to their call signs (eg,
N0A/NWS). It is suggested that a licensed non-National Weather Service
volunteer serve as a control operator for stations set up at NWS
offices.
The VoIP SKYWARN and Hurricane nets will participate in SKYWARN
Recognition Day. The weekly VoIP SKYWARN/Hurricane Preparation Net
will meet 1 hour earlier on December 5, prior to the official start of
SKYWARN Recognition Day. The weekly net and net activations for
hurricanes employ the EchoLink *WX-TALK* Conference server Node #:7203
which is integrated with IRLP Reflector 9219.
Additional details about SKYWARN Recognition Day are available on the
SKYWARN Recognition Day web page.
QST Centennial Photo Contest Now Under Way!
On December 1 the QST Centennial Photo Contest kicked off, to
celebrate the 100th year of the ARRL's membership journal. The first
issue of QST was published in December 1915.
Between December 1, 2014, and August 1, 2015, ARRL members are invited
to submit photos for consideration as possible 2015 QST covers. In
addition to having their photos grace the cover of QST, each winner
will receive $250.
Contest Rules
Images must be submitted by e-mail to upfront@arrl.org. Only one image
can be submitted per e-mail message. You may submit multiple images
during the contest period, but you can win only once.
Images must be in JPG or TIF format at high resolution. Image file
sizes must not exceed 5 Mbytes.
Do not send ZIP files. These will be rejected by the Headquarters
e-mail system. Links to file download sites will also be rejected.
Include a few sentences with each e-mail describing the scene(s)
shown, including names and call signs of individuals shown (if any).
Images must not include text overlays of any kind, such as date or
time stamps.
Each submission e-mail must include the name and call sign of the
photographer. Photographers must be ARRL members.
If a photo includes anyone under the age of 18, you must submit proof
(in writing, such as an e-mail) that the minor's parents have granted
permission for the image to be published.
Photographers will retain all copyrights, but by submitting the image
to the ARRL, the photographer grants the ARRL non-exclusive rights to
the use of the image for any lawful purpose in any media now existing
or yet to be invented. This applies to both winning and non-winning
images.
The QST Editorial Staff will select the winning images.
Mammoth New York Snowfall Put Amateur Radio Volunteers on Alert
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service (RACES) volunteers activated a net and went on alert
in mid-November, even as they and their neighbors were digging out
from several days of unprecedented snowfall in New York's Niagara
Frontier. The severe weather in the Buffalo area was blamed for at
least a dozen deaths. Western New York Section Emergency Coordinator
Joe Tedesco, KC2DKP, said SKYWARN nets were very active over the
course of two snowfall events during the week of November 17, and
Amateur Radio was credited with relaying reports to the National
Weather Service. Tedesco, who is also Assistant Erie County RACES
Officer and a Military Auxiliary Radio Service (MARS) member, said he
lives in a direct line from Lake Erie, where most lake-effect snow
bands get started.
A National Weather Service map indicates predicted snowfall amounts
between November 19 and 21. [NWS graphic]
"Although we always do see heavy snows, I have never seen anything
close to the amount we saw yesterday," Tedesco said on November 19.
His area received some 4 feet of snow.
According to Weather.com, Wales Center, New York, recorded the highest
combined snowfall, with 85 inches on the ground. No communication
issues resulted from the weather emergency, Tedesco said. The heavy
snow did cause roof collapses, however, and emergency crews faced
challenges when responding to calls over largely impassable roads and
highways.
Ad
ARRL 2014 International Humanitarian Award Nominations Due by December
31
The deadline to accept nominations for the 2014 ARRL International
Humanitarian Award is December 31. This prestigious award is conferred
upon an amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human welfare,
peace, and international understanding through Amateur Radio. The
League established the annual prize to recognize individuals who have
used Amateur Radio to provide extraordinary service to others in times
of crisis or disaster.
A committee appointed by the League's President recommends the award
recipient(s) to the ARRL Board, which makes the final decision. The
committee invites nominations from Amateur Radio, governmental, or
other organizations.
Nominations should include a summary of the nominee's qualifying
actions and statements from at least two people having first-hand
knowledge of the events warranting the nomination. These verifying
statements may be from an official of a group (for example, the
American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, or emergency management
agency) that benefited from the nominee's particular Amateur Radio
contribution. Nominations should include the names and addresses of
all references.
Submit nominations and supporting materials in writing (in English) to
ARRL International Humanitarian Award, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111 USA. Nominations are due by December 31, 2014. Read more.
Find ARRL on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter!
W1AW Centennial Operations Shift to Indiana and Montana
The ARRL Centennial W1AW portable operations taking place throughout
2014 from each of the 50 states are now in Maine and Illinois. They
will transition at 0000 UTC on Wednesday, December 10 (the evening of
December 9 in US time zones), to Indiana (W1AW/9) and Montana
(W1AW/7). W1AW has visited each of the 50 states once, and by December
31 W1AW will have been on the air from every state at least twice.
The ARRL Centennial QSO Party kicked off January 1 for a year-long
operating event. The event is open to all, although only ARRL members
and appointees, elected officials, HQ staff, and W1AW are worth ARRL
Centennial QSO Party points. Working W1AW/x from each state is worth 5
points per mode/contact, even when working the same state during its
second week of activity.
To earn the "Worked all States with W1AW Award," work W1AW operating
portable from all 50 states. (Working W1AW or W100AW in Connecticut
does not count for Connecticut. Participants must work W1AW/1 in
Connecticut.) A W1AW WAS certificate and plaque will be available.
An ARRL Centennial QSO Party leader board shows participants how many
points they have accumulated in the Centennial QSO Party and in the
W1AW WAS operations. Log in using your Logbook of The World (LoTW)
username and password.
Time to Tune Up on Top Band: The ARRL 160 Meter Contest is December
5-7
It's December, and once again time for the ARRL 160 Meter Contest. The
action gets under way at 2200 UTC on Friday, December 5, and wraps up
at 1559 UTC on Sunday, December 7. This is a 42-hour event with no
operating time limit. If you have ever yearned to try your hand at Top
Band contesting, this is the perfect opportunity! The ARRL 160 Meter
Contest is an all-CW event, with ARRL/RAC Sections and DXCC entities
serving as multipliers.
Now this is a serious 160 meter contesting operation! At WB9Z for the
2012 ARRL 160 Meter Contest (L-R), Jerry, KE9I; Don, K9NR; Val, NV9L;
Mike, K9XZ, and Carl, K9CS. [Jerry Rosalius, WB9Z, photo]
In this contest, both DX and US/Canada stations can work Alaska (KL7)
and Hawaii (KH6), as well as the US Caribbean (KP1-KP5) and Pacific
territories (KH0-KH9). Contacts with US/Canada stations are worth 2
points, while DX contacts are worth 5 points.
Three new Single Operator, Unlimited categories have been added: QRP,
Low, and High Power. Single Operator entrants now may use spotting
assistance without having to compete in the Multioperator category.
Some successful operators even venture forth each year with just 5 W!
Complete rules and entry forms are on the ARRL website. Logs must be
e-mailed or postmarked no later than 1600 UTC on January 6, 2015. Read
more.
Ad
Conditions Look Good for ARRL 10 Meter Contest December 13-14
Always a favorite among serious and casual contesters alike, the 2014
ARRL 10 Meter Contest may enjoy excellent worldwide openings, plus a
record number of participants! Activity in the CQ World Wide CW
contest in late November was through the roof, with some operators
reporting better 10 meter conditions than they could ever remember.
"Don't miss out on this opportunity to work the world, before the Sun
works its way back into a slumber," ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt
Wilhelm, W1MSW, urged.
LU/K3ZJ and LW3DG at LW3DG's station in Buenos Aires Province,
Argentina, during the 2013 ARRL 10 Meter Contest. [Photo courtesy
LW3DG.]
There are a few new twists this year. Single Operator stations using
assistance will no longer be categorized as Multioperator entries.
Also, nine new Unlimited categories have been added: Single Operator
QRP, Low Power, and High Power CW Only, Phone Only, or Mixed Mode.
Single or Multioperator stations may operate for up to 36 hours.
Technicians have phone privileges from 28.300 to 28.500 MHz, so
operators new to contesting, or even to HF operating, can take part.
All stations will send a signal report as part of the contest
exchange. Stations in the US (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada,
and Mexico will send their state or province abbreviations as part of
the exchange; stations in the District of Columbia stations will send
"DC." DX stations (including KH2, KP4, etc) will also send a
sequential serial number starting with 001.
The 2014 ARRL 10 Meter Contest gets underway at 0000 UTC on Saturday,
December 13 (Friday, December 12, in US time zones). It concludes at
2359 UTC on Sunday, December 14. Logs should be e-mailed or postmarked
by 0000 UTC Wednesday, January 14, 2014. Mail paper logs to ARRL 10
Meter Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Read more.
December is Youngsters On The Air Month!
During December, special event stations around the world are taking
part in the first worldwide Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) activity.
Stations using YOTA-suffix call signs are expected to be active from
all three International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) regions. Although
most YOTA stations are in Region 1, one YOTA station will be on the
air from St Lucia in the Caribbean (Region 2), and another will be
active from the Philippines (Region 3). IARU Region 1 Youth Working
Group Chair Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, said YOTA Month is an opportunity to
give individuals aged 25 and younger a chance to make contact via
Amateur Radio in all available modes.
"With this event we are trying to get more youth activity on the air,"
Leenders told ARRL. "In addition to licensed younger radio amateurs,
unlicensed young people will be able to get behind the mic together
with a [control operator] to experience a possible new hobby. YOTA
month is not a contest, but a friendly way of making radio contacts."
She suggested that, in addition to names and signal reports,
participants exchange other information, including age, location, and
additional interests. A Youngsters On The Air Award will be available.
Additional information is available in the most recent YOTA Month
bulletin. Read more.
Japanese Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio Payloads are Launched into
Deep Space
This week, Japan successfully launched its Hayabusa 2 asteroid
sample-return mission into deep space, and with it, two satellites
carrying Amateur Radio payloads. A Japan Aerospace Exploration
The Hayabusa 2 launch from Japan on December 3. [JAXA photo]
Agency (JAXA) rocket lifted off on schedule early on December 3 (UTC),
carrying the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft on the first leg of its journey to
Asteroid 1999 JU3. Along for the ride into deep space are two Amateur
Radio satellites, Shin'en 2 (Abyss 2) and ARTSAT2: DESPATCH. The
launch had been postponed twice owing to unfavorable weather
conditions. Shin'en 2 will identify as JG6YIG, while ARTSAT2:DESPATCH
will use the call sign JQ1ZNN.
Shin'en2 carries a 0.1 W CW beacon on 437.505 MHz and telemetry on
437.385 MHz (0.8 W) using a mode similar to WSJT. It will also carry a
F1D digital store-and-forward transponder with an uplink of 145.942
MHz and a downlink at 435.270 MHz (0.4 W), but not the Amateur Radio
Mode J linear transponder announced earlier. The data format is posted
on the Kagoshima University website.
A linear SSB/CW transponder had been part of the initial design, but,
according to Hideo Kambayashi, JH3XCU, that had to be abandoned
because of regulatory issues. The digital transponder will offer
earthbound hams an opportunity to test the limits of their
communication capabilities, however. The project also is hoping to
gather listener reports.
The unusual ARTSAT:DESPATCH satellite during vibration testing.
ARTSAT2:DESPATCH carries a 7 W CW transmitter on 437.325 MHz. Onboard
will be the first sculpture ever to be carried into deep space. The
ARTSAT2: DESPATCH mission is seeking "exceptionally skilled ham
operators" as part of its "cooperative diversity communication"
experiment. This effort will attempt to intercept signals from the
spacecraft not only at the ground station in Tokyo, but at Amateur
Radio stations around the world, "in order to reconstruct the original
data from the spacecraft."
"Reception of such weak signals to reconstruct data from the
spacecraft will require the expertise of exceptionally skilled ham
operators," the satellite's developers explained.
The two spacecraft will have an elliptical orbit around the Sun and
travel to a deep space orbit between Venus and Mars. With an orbital
inclination of nearly zero, the spacecraft should stay in Earth's
equatorial plane. The distance from the Sun will be between
approximately 6.5 million and 12 million miles.
SpinSat Now in Orbit
The US Naval Research Laboratory SpinSat satellite was successfully
deployed from the International Space Station on November 28. SpinSat
arrived at the ISS on September 21 via the SpaceX Falcon 9 resupply
vehicle. For the next few days, SpinSat's orbit will approximate that
of the ISS. The ISS real-time tracker on the ISS Fan Club website can
show when the spacecraft are within range.
SpinSat just before deployment into orbit from the International Space
Station. [NASA image]
The 125-pound SpinSat, a 22- inch diameter sphere, carries a 2 W 9600
bps AX.25 packet radio store-and-forward system on 437.230 MHz. The
satellite's primary mission is to demonstrate a new micro-thruster
technology, from which SpinSat derives its name; its 12 electronically
controlled solid-propellant thrusters will be fired in pairs to spin
the spacecraft.
Equipped only with primary batteries and just 4.8 grams of fuel, the
satellite's working phase is expected to last up to 6 months. --
Thanks to AMSAT, AMSAT-UK, Southgate Amateur Radio News
IARU Wants Member Societies "Engaged" in Seeking Support for
5.275-5.450 MHz Amateur Allocation
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) President Tim Ellam,
VE6SH/G4HUA, in November called upon IARU member societies to seek the
support of their respective governments for an Amateur Radio secondary
allocation at 5.275-5.450 MHz, per Agenda Item 1.4 at World
Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15). Ellam told his colleagues
in a letter that obtaining the allocation is "one of the main goals at
WRC-15 for the Amateur Radio Service." WRC-15 will take place November
2-27 in Geneva, Switzerland.
IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA.
"The IARU officers and the Administrative Council have discussed this
issue and feel it is very important that we have our IARU
member-societies engaged in seeking support for Agenda Item 1.4 from
their respective administrations," Ellam wrote. "In order to achieve
success for [Agenda Item] 1.4, which will be a very difficult task for
the IARU team at WRC-15, we will need as much support from
administrations as possible."
Agenda Item 1.4 stemmed from Resolution 649 at World
Radiocommunication Conference 2012, which invited WRC-15 to consider,
based on International Telecommunication Union (ITU) studies, "the
possibility of making an allocation of spectrum, not necessarily
contiguous, to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis within the
band 5.250 to 5.450 MHz." As the WRC-12 resolution noted, more than 50
administrations have allowed various uses of frequencies in this band
to carry out propagation studies, permit communication during
emergencies and disasters, and verify that Amateur Radio can share
spectrum with incumbent services. The IARU is seeking consideration
for a secondary Amateur Service allocation at 5.275 to 5.450 MHz. Read
more.
Ad
Deadline Looms to Apply for ARISS Educational Ham Radio Contacts with
the ISS
Schools and educational institutions and organizations -- formal and
informal -- have until Monday, December 15 to submit proposals to host
an Amateur Radio contact with a member of the International Space
Station crew. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) program announced the opening of the application window
earlier this fall.
"ARISS provides an exciting outreach opportunity for the ham radio
community to connect with local schools," ARRL Educational Services
Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, said. "A scheduled ARISS contact is a
voice-only communication via Amateur Radio between the ISS crew and
classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts allow education audiences
to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to work and live in
space."
ARISS is especially interested in arranging contact events that
attract large numbers of participants and that integrate the radio
contact into a well-developed educational plan. Schools and
educational organizations may apply individually or with other
institutions or organizations. ARISS anticipates that the ham radio
contacts between students and the space station will take place
between May 1 and December 31, 2015.
The ARRL website has more information about the program, including
details on expectations, audience, proposal guidelines and application
forms, and the dates and times of informational sessions. Contact
ARISS with any questions or for additional information.
Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, Now On Board ISS
The ISS again has an Amateur Radio licensee on board -- European Space
Agency Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF. She was
Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF, [NASA photo by Robert Markowitz]
part of a three-member ISS crew increment that launched in a Soyuz
spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on November 23,
safely docking with the ISS the next day. Cristoforetti, a former
fighter pilot, is Italy's first female space traveler. With her on the
Soyuz were Russian Cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and NASA Astronaut Terry
Virts. All three are part of the Station's Expedition 42/43 crew.
Welcoming the trio to the space station were ISS Commander Barry
Wilmore and Cosmonauts Yelena Serova and Alexander Samokutyaev.
Since Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO, and Reid Wiseman, KF5LKT, returned to
Earth on November 10, the ISS had been without any radio amateurs.
Cristoforetti will spend about 6 months in space. You can follow
Samantha Cristoforetti on Twitter.
A Century of Amateur Radio and the ARRL
By 1998, hams were communicating via the new OSCAR 27 satellite using
hand-held transceivers and whip antennas.
In early 1998, the FCC inaugurated its new Universal Licensing System
(ULS). The Commission also required ham radio applicants to use a new
Form 610, on which they had to certify that they had read and would
comply with the new RF safety rules. The ARRL continued efforts to
protect against any possible reallocation of Amateur Radio spectrum.
On September 1, 1998, the ARRL launched a members-only section of its
website, which provided many features of interest to amateurs. The
ARRL Letter, previously available only via the ARRL website, was
thereafter e-mailed directly to subscribing members. By April 27,
1999, some 50,000 members had signed up to access members-only
content.
In the late 1990s, the FCC launched a new era in Amateur Radio
enforcement. The persistent efforts of the ARRL and recent FCC
administrative and staff changes led to the revived enforcement. On
January 13, 1999 -- in an unusual move -- Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH,
special counsel in the FCC Enforcement Bureau, broke in on a 75 meter
contact that had degenerated into a nasty confrontation. He got the
participants settled down and then stayed on frequency to make a few
remarks about enforcement.
Palestine was added to the DXCC List, effective February 1, 1999.
Later that month a multinational group of DXers operated from Gaza as
E44DX, making more than 33,000 contacts and giving thousands a new
DXCC entity. -- Al Brogdon, W1AB
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, in Seattle, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers
rose substantially over the past week, from 97.4 in the previous 7
days to 152 for the most recent. Average daily solar flux rose from
168.9 to 172.1.
Predicted solar flux is currently 150 on December 4-6, 145 on December
7, 140 on December 8-11, 180 on December 12-14, 185 on December 15-19,
170 on December 20-23, 175 on December 24-27, 180 on December 28-30,
170 on December 31 through January 1, then 165, 160, 170, and 175 on
January 2-5, and 180 on January 6-10.
Predicted planetary A index is 6 on December 4-7, 5 on December 8-11,
then 15 and 20 on December 12-13, 10 on December 14-15, then 8, 10 and
12 on December 16-18, 10 on December 19-20, 8 on December 21, 5 on
December 22-27, then 15 and 12 on December 28-29, 8 on December 30-31,
and 5 on January 1-6.
This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is a preview of the
"Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an
archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.
In tomorrow's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from
readers. Send me your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
December 5-7 -- ARRL 160 Meter Contest (CW)
December 6 -- TARA RTTY Mêlée
December 6 -- AWA Bruce Kelly QSO Party (CW)
December 6-7 -- 50-1296 ARRL EME Contest
December 6-7 -- VU International DX Contest (SSB, CW)
December 6-7 -- Top Operators Activity Contest (CW)
December 7 -- Ten Meter RTTY Contest
December 7 -- Straight Key Weekend Sprintathon
December 7 -- SARL Digital Contest
December 7 -- Great Colorado Snowshoe Run (CW)
December 8 -- OK1WC Memorial Contest (SSB, CW)
December 9 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
December 10 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (CW)
December 12 -- NS Weekly Sprint (CW)
December 13 -- UBA Winter Contest (SSB, CW, digital)
December 13-14 -- 28 MHz SWL Contest
December 13-14 -- ARRL 10 Meter Contest (SSB, CW)
December 14 -- Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint (CW)
December 15 -- Run For the Bacon (CW)
See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events
December 12-13 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,
Florida
January 4 -- New York City/Long Island Section Convention, Bethpage,
New York
January 10 -- TECHFEST, Lawrenceville, Georgia
January 16-17 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
January 18-24 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona
January 23-24 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi
January 23-25 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico
February 7 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South
Carolina
February 7 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia
Find conventions and hamfests in your area.
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information
Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's
most popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each
month.
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
Subscribe to...
NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bi-monthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint and QSO Parties.
QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bi-monthly,
features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other
items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members...
Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter!
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
