If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2013-12-19   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   December 19, 2013   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Regulatory: ARRL's "Symbol Rate" Petition Nears Top of FCC's "Most   
       Active Proceedings" List   
    *  Science: Solar Scientists Say Cycle 24 is the Weakest in More than a   
       Century   
    *  Events: Ham Radio Santa is On the Air at OF9X   
    *  On the Air: Get Ready -- The ARRL Centennial QSO Party Kicks Off January   
       1!   
    *  On the Air: Kids Day is January 5!   
    *  Radiosport: CW Rookie Roundup is Sunday, December 22!   
    *  Radiosport: WRTC-2014 Announces On-Site Referees   
    *  Ham Radio in Space: Two Ham-Astronauts to Repair Faulty Pump During   
       Multiple Spacewalks   
    *  DX: K9W Wake Atoll Commemorative DXpedition Tops 100,000 Contacts   
    *  Licensing: New Technician Class Question Pool Released   
    *  Public Service: Nevada Amateur Radio Club Pitches in to Help Neighbors   
       in Need   
    *  Public Service: New York District ARES Members Give Back for Santa   
    *  DX: T6TM Operation Approved for DXCC Credit   
    *  Events: Experimenter to Honor Early Wireless Pioneers with Longwave   
       Transmissions   
    *  Milestones: Voice of Russia -- Former "Radio Moscow" -- to End Shortwave   
       Broadcasts   
    *  Getting It Right!   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   Note: This will be the final edition of The ARRL Letter for 2013. ARRL   
   Headquarters will be closed Christmas Day, December 25, and New Year's Day,   
   January 1, 2014, and there will be no W1AW bulletins or code practice on those   
   days. The ARRL Letter will return January 9, 2014, and ARRL Audio News will   
   return January 10, 2014. We wish everyone a happy holiday season and all the   
   best for the new year 2014!   
      
   Regulatory: ARRL's "Symbol Rate" Petition Nears Top of FCC's "Most Active   
   Proceedings" List   
      
   As the Monday, December 23, deadline nears to comment on the ARRL's "Symbol   
   Rate" Petition for Rule Making (PRM), the petition has moved into second place   
   on the FCC's "Most Active Proceedings" page (it was in first place briefly).   
   Since the FCC put the ARRL Petition on public notice for comment as RM-11708,   
   it has attracted 685 comments (as of December 19) and counting. The petition   
   asks the FCC to delete the symbol rate limit in 97.307(f) of its Amateur   
   Service rules and to replace it with a maximum data emission bandwidth of 2.8   
   kHz on frequencies below 29.7 MHz. In a briefing memorandum released this   
   week, the League took steps to clarify just what it is -- and is not -- asking   
   the FCC to do. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said that while a   
   significant majority of commenters support the petition, some appear not to   
   understand the petition's intent. The League reiterated that its filing would   
   not "initiate any large scale plan to convert to regulation of emissions by   
   bandwidth," and would not affect any emissions other than data.   
      
   "The Petition proposes no changes that would affect in any way the existing   
   rules governing Morse telegraphy, phone, and image emissions," the ARRL   
   stressed in its talking points. "The state of the art in digital   
   communications now allows transmission protocols in which the symbol rate   
   exceeds the present limitations of 97.307(f) of the FCC rules, but the   
   necessary bandwidth of the protocol is within the bandwidth of a typical HF   
   single sideband channel (3 kHz)." The League contends that eliminating symbol   
   rate limitations for data emissions and substituting a maximum authorized   
   bandwidth "would permit the utilization of all HF data transmission protocols   
   presently legal in the Amateur Radio Service, as well as state-of-the-art   
   protocols that fall within the authorized bandwidth."   
      
   The briefing memo stresses that the petition would not   
      
    *  affect HF subbands where phone and image emissions are now permitted nor   
       affect HF CW operation.   
    *  permit digital voice transmissions in data and RTTY subbands nor add   
       rules affecting digital voice.   
    *  change restrictions on automatically controlled digital stations.   
    *  permit data emissions to use occupied bandwidths in excess of what is   
       now allowed.   
      
   Further, the petition does not call on the FCC to expand the frequencies on   
   which "unspecified digital codes" may be used. The original petition, as   
   filed, included an error that the ARRL corrected in an Erratum deleting the   
   erroneous reference to unspecified digital codes at HF. "It was never our   
   intention to permit unspecified digital codes at HF," the League said.   
      
   All told, the ARRL talking points state, the proposal represents a balanced   
   approach. "ARRL attempted, in adopting the 2.8 kHz maximum bandwidth proposal   
   for data emissions at HF, to balance the two objectives of facilitating use of   
   new and future data emissions and protecting against usurpation of the band by   
   a few data stations," the briefing memorandum said. "Some bandwidth limit is   
   necessary if the outdated symbol rate limit is eliminated, as it should be."   
      
   Reply comments -- ie, comments on filed comments -- on the ARRL's petition are   
   due by January 7, 2014.   
      
   Science: Solar Scientists Say Cycle 24 is the Weakest in More than a Century   
      
   Four leading solar scientists on December 11 told journalists attending the   
   American Geophysical Union (AGU) fall conference in San Francisco that current   
   solar Cycle 24 has demonstrated extremely low sunspot activity and appears to   
   be the weakest cycle of the past 10 cycles -- more than 100 years. This   
   already has resulted in milder "space weather" and less-intense geomagnetic   
   storms and "energetic particle events," such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs),   
   NASA scientist Nat Gopalswamy said.   
      
   "The weak activity of Cycle 24 is thought to be due to the weak polar magnetic   
   field in Cycle 23," an AGU news release explained. "If this trend continues   
   for the next couple of cycles, the Sun may be heading for a global minimum."   
      
   The scientists drew no specific conclusions regarding the impact of the   
   extremely weak Cycle 24 on radio propagation. Stanford University's Leif   
   Svalgaard said this weak cycle had been predicted based on the behavior of the   
   Sun's polar magnetic fields, which translate into fewer sunspots. Svalgaard   
   believes that in a few years it will be possible to use polar field data to   
   determine the robustness of Cycle 25. The Sun's weak polar magnetic field   
   could lead to an increase in cosmic ray activity, which could affect manned   
   spaceflight.   
      
   In addition to Svalgaard and Gopalswamy, the other scientists were Martin   
   Mlynczak of NASA-Langley, and Joe Giacolone of the University of Arizona.   
      
   According to Spaceweather.com, since 2004 there have been 821 days without   
   sunspots, compared to 486 days for the "typical" solar minimum, but none of   
   these days fell within 2012 or 2013.   
      
   Events: Ham Radio Santa is On the Air at OF9X   
      
   Operating as OF9X ("Old Father 9 Xmas") from the Finnish Lapland, Santa Claus   
   is proving to be a popular on-the-air attraction again this year. One of   
   Santa's elves, Martti Laine, OH2BH, reported a first-night count of some 1000   
   contacts on December 18.   
      
   "The US Santa Path opening from 2000 UTC to 0300 UTC was covering the entire   
   USA," Laine said from the "Offices of Santa Claus" in Lapland.   
      
   Last year Santa established himself as an Amateur Radio figure with thousands   
   of followers, and more than 800 "Santa Awards" were issued around the world.   
   There's a new twist this year, though. Santa has become a Morse code pro and   
   is now active on CW as well as SSB.   
      
   The primary ham radio activity will take place this weekend before Christmas,   
   and, as Santa is busy, his elves will helm Santa Radio, OF9X, most of the   
   time. Santa should be on CW around 25 kHz up the lower band edge and on SSB at   
   approximately 14.225 kHz.   
      
   Making two contacts with Santa -- at least one from 2013 -- qualifies stations   
   for the 2013 Santa Cold Winter Award (contacts from 2012 may be applied).   
   Operators can track their two QSOs and send requests by e-mail. If you make   
   just one contact this season, operators may compensate by solving the   
   Christmas Puzzle by N0AX. Send details of your 2013 QSO along with the two   
   "mystery words" from the puzzle, and you will qualify.   
      
   If you need help with the puzzle, you may ask Santa for help. Contact OF9X and   
   mention the question line number (two lines maximum), and Santa will whisper   
   the needed word to you. On CW send "QSC NR" (Q-Santa-Claus). Santa Cold Winter   
   Awards are sent free of charge by e-mail.   
      
   "Merry Christmas to all Amateur Radio operators and their children and   
   grandchildren the world over," greeted Santa Claus, OF9X. "Enjoy your   
   Christmas and share the joy of being together. Always!" -- Thanks to Martti   
   Laine, OH2BH   
      
   On the Air: Get Ready -- The ARRL Centennial QSO Party Kicks Off January 1!   
      
   As part of the mix of events marking the League's 100th anniversary, the ARRL   
   Centennial QSO Party gets underway at 0001 UTC on January 1. This is a   
   year-long operating event, in which participants can accumulate points and win   
   awards, as well as work new stations and make new friends. During 2014 W1AW   
   will be on the air at least twice from every US state and from most US   
   territories, and it will be easy to work all states solely by contacting W1AW   
   portable operations. This will be the first ARRL-sponsored operating event for   
   which every member is worth at least one point. The event is open to all,   
   although only ARRL members and appointees, elected officials, HQ staff, and   
   W1AW are worth points. Working the ARRL's president, for example, earns 300   
   points!   
      
   To qualify for points, all contacts must be two-way (no cross-band or   
   cross-mode contacts), using CW, phone (FM, SSB, AM, digital voice), digital   
   (any digital mode, such as PSK31, RTTY) on 160, 80, 40, 30, 17, 15, 12, 10, 6,   
   2 and 1.25 meters, plus 70 centimeters and satellite. Stations exchange signal   
   report and ARRL abbreviation. Contacts do not have to be contest-style, and   
   providing ARRL organizational information is not required. A centennial   
   database will assign point values to all logs submitted electronically. Those   
   not submitting electronically, however, will need to obtain the QSO   
   information during the contact. Since this is not a contest, participants may   
   make contacts in any fashion they prefer.   
      
   The Centennial QSO Party is scored by totaling the values of all eligible   
   contacts. There are no multipliers or bonus points. Logs submitted via Logbook   
   of the World (LoTW) will be scored automatically.   
      
   For full information, visit the ARRL Centennial QSO Party webpage. Contact us   
   if you have questions. Read more.   
      
   On the Air: Kids Day is January 5!   
      
   The next Kids Day, sponsored by the ARRL and The Boring (Oregon) Amateur Radio   
   Club, will be Sunday, January 5, from 1800 to 2400 UTC. This is an excellent   
   opportunity to showcase Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio satellites to   
   youngsters and let them get some firsthand experience.   
      
   Share the excitement with your own children or grandkids or youngsters in the   
   neighborhood! For the youngsters, their positive ham radio experience may   
   foster an interest in getting licensed one day. For veteran radio amateurs,   
   it's a chance to share their love of Amateur Radio and their stations with the   
   next generation.   
      
   To attract attention call "CQ Kids Day." The suggested exchange is name, age,   
   location, and favorite color. There is no limit on operating time, and   
   stations may work each other more than once, if the operator has changed.   
      
   The suggested HF frequencies are 28.350 to 28.400 MHz, 24.960 to 24.980 MHz,   
   21.360 to 21.400 MHz, 18.140 to 18.145 MHz, 14.270 to 14.300 MHz, 7.270 to   
   7.290 MHz, and 3.740 to 3.940 MHz. Repeater contacts (with permission of the   
   repeater's sponsor) are okay too, and satellite contacts may provide a real   
   thrill. Be sure to observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX   
   contacts.   
      
   All participants are encouraged to post stories and photos to the Kids Day   
   Soapbox page and are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. You can   
   download the free certificate, customized with the youngsters' names, after   
   filling out the Kids Day Survey found on the same page as the certificate   
   generator. Alternatively, you can send a 9 x 12 SASE to Kids Day Certificate   
   Request, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. ARRL Kids Day is always the   
   first Sunday of January and the third Saturday of June.   
      
   Radiosport: CW Rookie Roundup is Sunday, December 22!   
      
   Dust off those keys and paddles! The CW Rookie Roundup -- the last Rookie   
   Roundup event for 2013 -- takes place Sunday, December 22, 1800 through 2359   
   UTC. This is an excellent opportunity for new operators -- for this event   
   defined has having been first licensed no longer than 3 years, regardless of   
   license class -- to get on the air and learn new skills.   
      
   The idea behind the Rookie Roundup events is to encourage newly-licensed   
   operators ("Rookies") in North America (including those living in territories   
   and possessions) to experience competitive Amateur Radio operating on HF.   
   Experienced operators are encouraged to participate and help the newcomers on   
   the air or in person.   
      
   Old Timers, look for newer ops and inspire and instill your love for the   
   "original digital mode" and consider hosting a ham radio newcomer or two at   
   your station. The more operators on the air, the more fun.   
      
   Review the rules before the event, and get familiar with logging and log   
   submission. We hope to hear you on the air!   
      
   The Rookie Roundup returns to SSB on April 20 and to RTTY next August 17. --   
   Mike DeChristopher, N1TA, ARRL Contest Branch Manager   
      
   Radiosport: WRTC-2014 Announces On-Site Referees   
      
   The organizers of World Radiosport Team Championship 2014 (WRTC-2014) have   
   announced the names of on-site referees for the July 12-13, 2014,   
   international Amateur Radio competition in New England. Referees will be   
   deployed to each of the 59 stations to monitor and verify compliance with the   
   WRTC rules and to make decisions regarding any rules questions the teams may   
   have. All top-level contesters in their own right, referees will listen to the   
   audio from both operators for the entire 24 hours of WRTC-2014. Dan Street,   
   K1TO, managed the referee application and verification process. Selecting from   
   among the 143 applications received involved several factors, including   
   geographical area, language skills, and single-operator, two-radio (SO2R)   
   ability.   
      
   "With so many well-qualified volunteers willing to serve as referees, it was   
   simply impossible to choose everyone we would have liked," said WRTC-2014   
   Chief Referee David Sumner, K1ZZ. "It is a great tribute to the past and   
   present WRTC organizers that the event is so strongly supported by active   
   contesters from around the globe. We know that everyone who volunteered will   
   help in any way they can to make WRTC-2014 another success."   
      
   World Radiosport Team Championship events are held every four years. The   
   competition consists of approximately 50 two-person teams of Amateur Radio   
   operators from around the world, going head to head in a test of operating   
   skill. Read more.   
      
   Ham Radio in Space: Two Ham-Astronauts to Repair Faulty Pump During Multiple   
   Spacewalks   
      
   Expedition 38 Astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and Rick Mastracchio, KC5ZTE,   
   will leave the confines of the International Space Station (ISS) December 21,   
   23, and 25 to repair a faulty cooling system pump. The malfunction has already   
   caused the postponement of one Amateur Radio on the International Space   
   Station (ARISS) school contact. NASA managers also are postponing until   
   January an upcoming cargo resupply mission to the ISS. NASA said that during   
   the multiple spacewalks -- or extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) as NASA calls   
   them -- Hopkins and Mastracchio will remove a pump module that has a failed   
   valve and replace it with a spare that's stowed on an external platform.   
      
   Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, who is involved with scheduling ARISS school contacts   
   said ARISS postponed one contact with a school in Italy that had been   
   scheduled for December 16. It's being rescheduled for January. It's unclear if   
   the ISS problem will affect additional ARISS school contacts. "We are working   
   towards getting everyone scheduled, but it is pretty crazy," Sufana told ARRL.   
   "The two contacts for next week have not been scheduled yet, and it will   
   probably be a near last-minute decision. We may just luck out and get   
   something between EVA days."   
      
   DX: K9W Wake Atoll Commemorative DXpedition Tops 100,000 Contacts   
      
   The K9W Wake Atoll DXpedition team reports that it logged slightly more than   
   100,000 contacts during its November DXpedition in the South Pacific.   
      
   "The Wake Atoll DXpedition team wants to thank the DX community for the   
   outstanding response to 'The Forgotten 98' Commemorative DXpedition," Team   
   Leader Lou Dietrich, N2TU, said on the DXpedition's behalf. "Also, we need to   
   express our gratitude to our hosts on Wake, the United States Air Force."   
   Because of issues stemming from the partial federal government shutdown the   
   DXpedition had to postpone its startup from October until November.   
      
   North American hams worked the lion's share of the contacts -- just over 35   
   percent, with Asia and Europe not far behind at 32 percent and 27 percent,   
   respectively. The rest of the world had a more difficult time putting K9W into   
   the log. Contacts with Oceania accounted for slightly more than 3 percent of   
   the total, with South America contacts comprising slightly less than 2   
   percent, and with Africa less than 1 percent. K9W logged 53,765 CW, 38,700   
   SSB, and 7,562 digital contacts. The K9W DXpedition was the recipient of a   
   Colvin Award grant. Contacts will be uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW).   
   Read more.   
      
   Licensing: New Technician Class Question Pool Released   
      
   The NCVEC Question Pool Committee has released the new 2014-2018 Technician   
   Class, Element 2, question pool to the public. This pool will take effect on   
   July 1, 2014, and will remain valid until June 30, 2018. The current   
   Technician question pool, released in 2010, is valid until June 30, 2014. --   
   Maria Somma, AB1FM, ARRL/VEC Manager   
      
   Public Service: Nevada Amateur Radio Club Pitches in to Help Neighbors in Need   
      
   Members of the Sierra Nevada Amateur Radio Society (SNARS) -- an ARRL Special   
   Service Club -- recently teamed up with a Reno TV station to help raise some   
   $240,000 in donations and 180,000 pound of food items and toys to aid Nevada   
   families hard hit by the economic downturn. Reno not only suffered a recent   
   cold snap, but Nevada has seen the most home loan foreclosures and the   
   nation's highest unemployment rate over most of the past decade.   
      
   A SNARS member sorts food products for distribution to the needy.   
      
   On December 13, with most of Washoe County hunkered down from the cold, SNARS   
   members, organized and led by Jim Rosima, KD7DPW, took part in the 21st annual   
   "Share Your Christmas Drive-By Food Drive," sponsored by local CBS affiliate   
   KTNV. The event took place in three locations -- the Governor's Mansion in   
   Carson City, the Carson Valley Inn in Minden, and the Grand Sierra Resort in   
   Reno. KTNV broadcast live throughout the day.   
      
   The event is set up to let people remain in their cars and simply drive   
   through designated lanes to make their donations. SNARS members accepted   
   contributions, sorted and boxed food and toys, and provided traffic control.   
      
   Founded in 1968, SNARS serves the Amateur Radio communities of Northern Nevada   
   and Eastern California. Its members are active in public service, and the club   
   maintains an extensive network of voice and digital repeaters. -- Thanks to   
   the Nevada Amateur Radio Newswire   
      
   Public Service: New York District ARES Members Give Back for Santa   
      
   Seventeen members of the New York District Amateur Radio Emergency Servicer   
   (ARES) provided communication support for Operation Santa Claus, sponsored by   
   Community Mayors Inc. The event takes place each holiday season at JFK   
   Airport, Port Authority Hanger #19, which is transformed into an improvised   
   North Pole. During the invitation-only event, more than 5000 special   
   youngsters and caregivers from the Greater New York City area enjoy snacks and   
   receive toys. Then, pandemonium ensues as Santa Claus and Mrs Claus finally   
   arrive on a 727 towed into the hangar. Community Mayors, a 501(C)(3)   
   nonprofit, delivers "recreational therapy" for more than 50,000 children with   
   disabilities in the New York City area through the sponsorship of events and   
   activities.   
      
   Santa and Mrs Claus at Operation Santa Claus 2013 with members of NY   
      
   "Op Santa" attracts one of the largest turnouts of Amateur Radio operators at   
   a public service event. For ARES members, the annual celebration is a true   
   test of operator skill. Many volunteers at Operation Santa Claus are from   
   uniformed services, such as the New York City Fire Department, the Port   
   Authority Police of New York and New Jersey, the NYPD, the Secret Service,   
   FBI, TSA, and branches of Homeland Security. Each service has its own radio   
   frequencies and modes, so ARES acts as the communication glue between   
   volunteers and the Mayors. Before guests arrive, ARES operators are assigned   
   to shadow someone throughout the event as they go about their duties. Net   
   control operators coordinate ARES members' locations and traffic.   
   Transmissions must be crisp and seamless. Tactical call signs are employed.   
   OpSanta requires operators to think fast and on their feet, and the action is   
   relentless.   
      
   "In the midst of live stage presentations, marching bands, and excited   
   children calling out for Santa, radio headsets are essential," said ARES   
   volunteer David Korchin, KC2WNW. And occasionally, the unexpected arises.   
      
   "This year two children became separated from their classes -- not fun in a   
   room with 4000 people. It was brought to the attention of the event organizers   
   via our net," Korchin said, adding that one or two youngster get separated   
   from their groups every year.   
      
   For the ARES members it's an exciting operational challenge, and the   
   gratification of volunteer work is immediate. "When you see the wondrous looks   
   on the faces of children as Santa Claus arrives and takes a few turns around   
   the hangar in his special toy train, all the hard work and preparation becomes   
   worthwhile," Korchin said. "Operation Santa Claus is one of the many ways   
   Amateur Radio really gets to give back for the privilege of our licenses and   
   access to frequencies -- and it's a great way to meet Santa." -- Thanks to   
   David Korchin, KC2WNW   
      
   DX: T6TM Operation Approved for DXCC Credit   
      
   The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved the current operation of T6TM -- Afghanistan   
   for DX Century Club credit. If a request for DXCC credit for this operation   
   has been rejected in a prior application, contact ARRL Awards Branch Manager   
   Bill Moore, NC1L, to be placed on the list for an update to your record.   
   Please note the submission date and/or reference number of your application in   
   order to expedite the search for any rejected contacts.   
      
   DXCC is Amateur Radio's premier award that hams can earn by confirming   
   on-the-air contacts with 100 DXCC "entities," most of which are countries in   
   the traditional sense. You can begin with the basic DXCC award and work your   
   way up to the DXCC Honor Roll. Learn more. -- ARRL Awards Branch Manager Bill   
   Moore, NC1L   
      
   Events: Experimenter to Honor Early Wireless Pioneers with Longwave   
   Transmissions   
      
   Reginald Aubrey Fessenden   
      
   As he has over the past several years, Brian Justin, WA1ZMS/4 -- as   
   experimental station WG2XFQ -- will transmit voice and music on 486 kHz on   
   Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and again on New Year's Eve and New Year's   
   Day. Transmissions will begin at 0001 UTC and end at 2359 UTC. Justin, who may   
   be better known for his microwave exploits on ham radio, will use an AM audio   
   loop modulating his vintage-style, homebrew transmitter to honor Reginald   
   Fessenden's Christmas Eve 1906 AM voice transmission.   
      
   WA1ZMS constructed his MOPA transmitter from 1920s-vintage components.   
      
   "While his original transmissions used a set of carbon microphones in the   
   antenna lead to modulate the signal," Justin explained, "WG2XFQ will be   
   utilizing true Heising modulation in honor of Raymond Heising, who developed   
   this early form of amplitude modulation during World War I.   
      
   Justin constructed his 5 W master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA)   
   transmitter using 1920s-vintage components. He said a modern 500 W FET linear   
   amplifier allows him to meet his WG2XFQ ERP limit of 20 W. An RF engineer,   
   Justin collects pre-1920 wireless gear and has a World War I Heising-modulated   
   aircraft transmitter he's planning to restore. Justin was an active   
   participant in the ARRL's WD2XSH 600 meter experimental project.   
      
   Milestones: Voice of Russia -- Former "Radio Moscow" -- to End Shortwave   
   Broadcasts   
      
   Voice of Russia (VOR), the former Radio Moscow during the USSR era, will cease   
   shortwave broadcasts as of January 1, 2014. From the 1950s through the 1980s,   
   the station, as Radio Moscow, was a virtual beacon for short-wave listeners   
   (SWLs), many of whom gravitated into Amateur Radio. Voice of Russia currently   
   broadcasts to 160 countries in 38 languages for an aggregate 151 hours per day   
   on short and medium waves, on FM, via satellite, and via the Internet. Earlier   
   this year shortwave transmissions were cut to 26 hours a day in all languages,   
   down from more than 50 hours a day in 2012.   
      
   VOR, which claims to be the first radio station to broadcast internationally,   
   will continue to broadcast online and via three medium-wave transmitters. In   
   2003 VOR was among the first major international radio broadcasters to launch   
   daily broadcasts to Europe in Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).   
      
   As a result of a decree signed earlier this month by Russian President   
   Vladimir Putin, the Voice of Russia radio company officially ceased to exist   
   on December 9 and merged with several other state-run news agencies as part of   
   Rossia Segodnya, a Russia-based international news service. Putin's decree   
   also abolished the State Fund of Television and Radio Programs, placing it   
   under control of All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.   
      
   Getting It Right!   
      
   The ARRL Letter for December 12, 2013, reported an incorrect deadline to file   
   comments on the ARRL's "Symbol Rate" Petition for Rule Making (PRM), put on   
   public notice for comment as RM-11708. Comments are due by Monday, December 23.   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, in Seattle, Washington, reports: Geomagnetic conditions were   
   more stable than expected last weekend. That was good news for participants in   
   the ARRL 10 Meter Contest. The planetary A index on Friday through Sunday was   
   3, 16 and 7, respectively, and the mid-latitude A index was just 3, 10 and 5   
   on those days.   
      
   For the reporting week, Thursday through Wednesday, average daily sunspot   
   numbers rose from 122.1 to 134.4, while average solar flux dropped slightly --   
   from 162.4 to 159.7 -- compared to the previous reporting period, December   
   5-11.   
      
   The latest prediction from the USAF and NOAA has solar flux at 160 on December   
   19-20; 155 on December 21; 150 on December 22-23; 155, 150, and 155 on   
   December 24-26; 160 on December 27-28; 165 on December 29-31; 170 on January   
   1-2; 175 on January 3-6; 170 on January 7, and 165 on January 8-10. Solar flux   
   is expected to decline to a low of 135 on January 18-19, then rise to 175 at   
   the end of January.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 19-25; 12, 10, and 8 on December   
   26-28; 5 on December 29 through January 2; 10 and 20 on January 3-4; 5 on   
   January 5-9; 15 and 7 on January 10-11, then 5 after that, until a more active   
   period toward the end of January.   
      
   This Friday's bulletin will have an updated forecast and reports from readers.   
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    * Dec 20-Jan 1 -- Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party   
    * Dec 20 -- QRP Fox Hunt (80 meters)   
    * Dec 20 -- NCCC Sprint   
    * Dec 20 -- Russian 160 Meter Contest   
    * Dec 21 -- Feld-Hell Rudolph Hell Sprint   
    * Dec 21-22 -- OK DX RTTY Contest   
    * Dec 21-22 -- Croatian CW Contest   
    * Dec 22 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup, CW   
    * Dec 26 -- SKCC Straight Key Sprint   
    * Dec 26 -- DARC XMAS Contest (SSB+CW)   
    * Dec 28 -- RAC Winter Contest (SSB+CW)   
    * Dec 28-29 -- Iron Ham Contest (all modes)   
    * Dec 28-29 -- Stew Perry Top Band Distance Challenge, CW   
    * Dec 29 -- RAEM Contest, CW   
    * Jan 1 -- ARRL Straight Key Night   
    * Jan 4-5 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup   
    * Jan 5 -- Kids Day   
    * Jan 18-20 -- ARRL January VHF Contest   
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    * January 5 -- NYC/LI Section Convention, Bethpage, New York   
    * January 17-18 -- North Texas Section Convention, Fort Worth, Texas   
    * January 19-26 - Quartzfest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona   
    * January 24-25 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi   
    * January 25 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia   
    * January 25-26 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico   
    * January 31-February 1 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Miami,   
      Florida   
    * February 1 -- Virginia State Convention (Frostfest), Richmond, Virginia   
    * February 7-9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention (Orlando HamCationr   
      -- Regional ARRL Centennial Event), Orlando, Florida   
    * February 14-15 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona   
    * February 22 -- Vermont State Convention, South Burlington, Vermont   
    * March 1-2 Alabama Section Convention (BirmingHAMfest 2014), Birmingham,   
      Alabama   
    * March 7-8 North Carolina Section Convention (Charlotte Hamfest),   
      Concord, North Carolina   
    * March 7-8 West Gulf Division Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma   
    * March 14-15 -- Delta Division Convention, Rayne, Louisiana   
    * March 15 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska   
    * March 15 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas   
    * March 22 -- South Texas Section Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest),   
      Rosenberg, Texas   
    * March 22-23 Communications Academy, Seattle, Washington   
      
   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 us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members may   
   subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page as   
   described at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.   
      
   Copyright (c) 2013 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
   www.arrl.org   
      
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   Not only is the Universe stranger than we think, it is stranger than we can   
   think. - Werner Heisenberg   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)