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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-01-15   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
   January 15, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
     * ARRL Board of Directors Annual Meeting Set for January 16-17   
     * ARRL Centennial QSO Party Awards, W1AW/p QSL Cards in Process   
     * The ARRL January VHF Contest Offers a Break from Winter's Doldrums   
     * ARRL Library Goes Live!   
     * FCC Fines Pennsylvania Ham $11,500 for Causing Intentional Interference   
     * Yasme Foundation Announces Award Winners, Grant Recipients   
     * ARRL's "First Couple" Spotlighted in Article Highlighting SKYWARN's Role   
     * EP6T Iran DXpedition Team En Route   
     * CQ Magazine Combining January, February Issues, Closing CQ Plus Digital   
   Supplement   
     * Shin'en 2 Designated as Fuji Oscar-82   
     * BSA Encouraging Early Start on JOTA 2015 Planning   
     * Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) Invites Scholarship Applications   
     * In Brief...   
     * The K7RA Solar Update   
     * Just Ahead in Radiosport   
     * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   ARRL Board of Directors Annual Meeting Set for January 16-17   
      
   Two newly elected members will be at the table when the ARRL Board of   
   Directors holds its annual meeting Friday and Saturday, January 16-17, in   
   Windsor, Connecticut. Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, will participate for the first   
   time as Atlantic Division Director. Formerly the Division's Vice Director,   
   Abernethy was elected last fall to replace Bill Edgar, N3LLR, who did not run   
   for another term as Director. Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, will take part in his   
   first meeting as the Midwest Division Director, following his election last   
   fall. The former Vice Director succeeded Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, who opted not to   
   run for another term as Director.   
      
   Two new faces will be among the contingent of Vice Directors at this week's   
   meeting: Bob Famiglio, K3RF, was elected last fall to succeed Abernethy as   
   Atlantic Division Vice Director, and Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, was appointed   
   recently to fill the Midwest Division Vice Director vacancy, created when   
   Blocksome was elected as Director.   
      
   As one of its first orders of business, the Board will elect members of the   
   ARRL Executive Committee as well as one-third of the ARRL Foundation Board of   
   Directors membership. The Board also will receive reports from the officers   
   and committees and will consider recommendations contained in the reports.   
      
   ARRL Centennial QSO Party Awards, W1AW/p QSL Cards in Process   
      
   Certificates and plaques for stations that participated in the ARRL Centennial   
   QSO Party are being processed. At this point, point totals are being   
   calculated and confirmed. Participation exceeded expectations, with nearly   
   16,000 stations achieving at least 1000 points in the Centennial QSO Points   
   Challenge. Approximately 2500 stations reached the Top Level of 15,000 points.   
   W1AW portable operations completed nearly 3.5 million contacts during 2014,   
   and W100AW logged some 70,000 contacts. Most Centennial QSO Party participants   
   entered their contact information into the ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW)   
   program.   
      
   "The W1AW WAS certificate and plaque designs are complete, as is the design   
   for the Centennial Points Challenge certificate," said ARRL Field Services and   
   Radiosport Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "Once the web and software processes are   
   ready to go, we will be able to start fulfilling awards." Patton said order   
   forms will be available on the Centennial QSO Party web page for those who do   
   not use LoTW or online ordering tools.   
      
   Deadline Extended   
      
   The ARRL has extended the deadline to submit Centennial QSO Party logs to LoTW   
   to January 22, at 2359 UTC. The new deadline will have no effect on awards.   
   Participants will be able to apply for Centennial awards indefinitely, once   
   the process is under way. Accounts for US stations that changed call signs   
   during 2014, will be automatically combined for Centennial award purposes,   
   although any duplicate contacts (ie, stations worked with both the old and new   
   call signs) will be removed. Stations outside the US that changed call signs   
   during 2014 should notify ARRL.   
      
   Patton said that in late January, the entire database of 2014 logs submitted   
   to LoTW will be rerun through the Centennial QSO Party software in order to   
   pick up any late changes to the database and produce more accurate scores.   
   "Most participants will see their points total climb a bit higher," he said.   
      
   Designs for QSL cards for W1AW portable operations are under consideration,   
   and cards likely will go out via the QSL Bureau and directly to stations in a   
   few months. US stations who prefer to receive W1AW QSLs via a QSL Bureau   
   account may sign up via the web form. "You must have a current, funded account   
   with your district QSL Bureau," Patton noted. Stations outside the US will   
   receive cards via their bureaus as they normally do.   
      
   Patton said the number of QSLs from W1AW will be limited to one per each   
   weekly operation and per each territorial operation (KH2, KH8, etc), with each   
   card confirming about 10 contacts chosen from the W1AW logs. Printed cards   
   will not be able to confirm counties or grid squares, but the LoTW system will   
   do this.   
      
   The ARRL January VHF Contest Offers a Break from Winter's Doldrums   
      
   If the Polar Vortex has been getting you down, then the ARRL January VHF   
   Contest might just be the antidote! The event gets under way at 1900 UTC on   
   Saturday, January 24, and it wraps up at 0359 UTC on Monday, January 26. The   
   object is for amateurs in the US and Canada (and possessions) to work as many   
   amateur stations in as many different Maidenhead grid squares as possible   
   using frequencies above 50 MHz. It's the US and Canada (and possessions)   
   working each other and the rest of the world (think F2 propagation!).   
      
   "You do not need a huge VHF/UHF antenna farm to compete and have fun," said   
   ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW. He pointed out that even   
   portable and rover operators have been quite successful. "January VHF/UHF   
   propagation enhancements often just pop up," he added, with tropospheric and   
   even extended aurora possible.   
      
   Getting on the VHF/UHF bands is easy, and Technician licensees have access to   
   all amateur bands above 50 MHz. Antennas for VHF and UHF frequencies are far   
   smaller than their HF counterparts. Most modern transceivers have 6 meter   
   capability, and sometimes even an HF dipole can be used to work some DX on 6.   
   Contest contacts may be made using SSB, CW, and even FM simplex, but keep   
   calling frequencies such as 146.52 MHz clear of contest activity.   
      
   The January VHF Contest offers Single Operator and Multioperator categories,   
   and there is even a Single Operator, FM-only category, as well as a Single   
   Operator, 3-Band (50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 440 MHz) category. For 2015 three new   
   categories have been introduced: Single Operator Unlimited High Power, Single   
   Operator Unlimited Low Power, and Single Operator Unlimited Portable.   
      
   All entries must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than 0359 UTC on   
   Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Submit Cabrillo-formatted logs via e-mail. Mail   
   paper logs to ARRL January VHF Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.   
   Contact the ARRL Contest Branch for more information.   
      
   ARRL Library Goes Live!   
      
   After several months of planning, The ARRL Library is now live! The online   
   Library is a free repository of educational presentations and oral histories.   
   It is aimed at helping to preserve Amateur Radio's history and to educate   
   clubs and individuals.   
      
   "This long-term project will be home to what I hope will eventually become one   
   of the largest repositories of Amateur Radio-related papers and presentations,   
   created by and for the Amateur Radio community," said ARRL Media and Public   
   Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X. "This is your opportunity to submit   
   material for the betterment and education of all radio amateurs."   
      
   Kutzko said the Library will initially consist of three major areas. These   
   will include PowerPoint presentations that may be used at club meetings, for   
   outreach to the general public, or for other public presentations; PDFs of   
   general educational material about Amateur Radio, and oral histories of radio   
   amateurs describing their personal experiences with Amateur Radio.   
      
   Current content includes presentations on operating digital modes, HF basics,   
   and impedance matching. While the available material is sparse right now,   
   Kutzko invites all radio amateurs to submit material for consideration -- as   
   long as it relates to Amateur Radio. The Public Relations Committee will vet   
   all submissions, and once a submission is approved, it will be added to The   
   ARRL Library.   
      
   "We have lots of tutorials and information on how to create presentations on   
   the site," Kutzko pointed out. "Presenting somebody else's PowerPoint slides   
   is tough," he added, "so we're asking people who submit presentations to make   
   use of PowerPoint's 'Notes' feature, which allows the author to provide more   
   detailed information for the talking points found on each slide, visible only   
   to the presenter. This will make it easier for the presenter to emphasize what   
   the author intended to convey."   
      
   Answers to typical questions, as well as information on how to upload content   
   and how to conduct an oral history interview, can be found in the Frequently   
   Asked Questions area.   
      
   "Sharing expertise is one of the best things we can do for Amateur Radio,"   
   Kutzko said. "I hope you will consider submitting material for the Library and   
   help give back to the entire community."   
      
   FCC Fines Pennsylvania Ham $11,500 for Causing Intentional Interference   
      
   The FCC Enforcement Bureau has affirmed an $11,500 fine against Brian Crow,   
   K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, for deliberately interfering with   
   other Amateur Radio communications. The FCC had first proposed the fine last   
   July in a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL), and it released a   
   Forfeiture Order on January 13.   
      
   The FCC said it imposed the financial penalty because of Crow's "willful and   
   repeated violation" of Section 333 of the Communications Act and of Sections   
   97.101(d) and 97.119(a) of the Amateur Service rules "by causing intentional   
   interference to licensed radio operations and failing to transmit his assigned   
   call sign."   
      
   The FCC said that Crow did not respond to the 2014 NAL and that, based on the   
   information before the Commission, affirmed its proposed fine. On July 22,   
   2014, the FCC also issued a similarly worded NAL to Michael Guernsey, KZ8O   
   (ex-ND8V), of Parchment, Michigan, proposing to fine him $22,000. In both   
   cases, the FCC said the evidence indicated that the transmissions at issue   
   were aimed at interfering with other radio amateurs with whom each licensee   
   "had a long-standing and well-documented dispute" that had spilled out onto   
   the air.   
      
   In both instances, the FCC said, it responded in March 2014 to "several   
   complaints of intentional interference" on 14.313 MHz, and Commission agents   
   used radio direction-finding techniques to pin down the transmission sources.   
   According to the NAL issued to Crow, FCC agents monitored transmissions from   
   his station for approximately 3 hours on March 14, 2014, and heard him   
   transmit slow-scan television (SSTV) signals and "a pre-recorded voice   
   transmission of another amateur station on the frequency."   
      
   "These transmissions prevented other amateur licensees from communicating over   
   the frequency," both NALs said, adding that neither Guernsey or Crow   
   transmitted their assigned call signs while the agents were listening.   
      
   The FCC agents visited Crow's residence and asked to inspect his station,   
   which they confirmed was capable of operating on 14.313 MHz. Crow denied   
   operating his station that morning, however, and claimed that he was not at   
   home when the interfering transmissions occurred.   
      
   The Enforcement Bureau had warned both Guernsey and Crow in the past regarding   
   interference to other Amateur Radio operators. In Crow's case, the FCC said   
   the fact that he subsequently interfered with other amateur operators   
   "demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the Commission's authority,"   
   warranting an upward adjustment of $3500 to his proposed base forfeiture.   
   Guernsey's case is still pending.   
      
   Yasme Foundation Announces Award Winners, Grant Recipients   
      
   The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced the recipients of   
   several awards and monetary grants. The Foundation named four individuals to   
   receive the Yasme Excellence Award for 2014 as well as eight specific grant   
   recipients.   
      
   Honored as Yasme Excellence Award winners were:   
      
     * Kimo Chun, KH7U, for 20 years of behind-the-scenes support to DXpeditions   
   to Pacific entities -- including logistics, organization, equipment, local   
   contacts, and planning.   
      
     * Dick Flagg, AH6NM, for his years of working with the Amateur Radio on the   
   International Space Station (ARISS) program and its predecessor Shuttle   
   Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX), and for supporting NASA's Radio Jove   
   project, both designed to introduce Amateur Radio to students and the general   
   public.   
      
     * Florin Cristian Predescu, YO9CNU, and Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, for their work   
   in organizing and promoting Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) and Amateur Radio   
   youth activities.   
      
   The Yasme Excellence Award is presented to individuals who, through their own   
   service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a significant   
   contribution to Amateur Radio in technical, operating, or organizational   
   achievement.   
      
   The Yasme Foundation also has designated several entities and one individual   
   to receive monetary grants to further their contributions to and efforts on   
   behalf of Amateur Radio. Grants included:   
      
     * $9500 to the California Historical Radio Society, to fund the Maxwell   
   Library and Maxwell Archives Room in support of the efforts of Jim Maxwell,   
   W6CF (SK), to maintain the history of Amateur Radio.   
      
     * $5000 to the Foundation for Amateur Radio scholarship program.   
      
     * $5000 to International Amateur Radio Union Region 1, to support Amateur   
   Radio youth activities, as well as $2000 to IARU Region 1 for the support of   
   the Egyptian Radio Amateur Society for Development (ERASD).   
      
     * $2000 to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for providing web-based services to the   
   Amateur Radio community.   
      
     * $2000 to the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) in recognition   
   of its support for the Yasme Foundation, other Amateur Radio groups, and   
   international radiosport activities, and for providing webinars to the Amateur   
   Radio community.   
      
     * $3000 to the ARRL Foundation in support of its scholarship program.   
      
     * $4000 to the ARRL Second Century Campaign to help support Amateur Radio   
   over the next 100 years.   
      
   The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct   
   scientific and educational projects related to Amateur Radio, including DXing   
   and the introduction and promotion of Amateur Radio in developing countries.   
   -- Thanks to Yasme Foundation President Ward Silver, N0AX   
      
   ARRL's "First Couple" Spotlighted in Article Highlighting SKYWARN's Role   
      
   A January 9 article in Virginia's Roanoke Times newspaper featured the   
   participation of ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and her husband Carter,   
   N3AO, in the SKYWARN weather-spotting program. The Craigies, who live in the   
   Southwest Virginia town of Blacksburg -- home to Virginia Tech -- have a home   
   weather station and, when severe weather threatens, are able to supplement   
   local National Weather Service (NWS) office meteorologists with "ground-level"   
   weather observations.   
      
   The article, by Robby Korth of the newspaper's New River Valley Bureau, noted   
   that the Craigies are among some 2000 SKYWARN members -- many of them radio   
   amateurs -- who work with the NWS to, as the article says, "verify and give   
   information to issue warnings and also to stress the danger of weather events   
   to the 40 counties covered by the Blacksburg office of the National Weather   
   Service."   
      
   The article cited meteorologist Phil Hysell, who pointed out that weather   
   spotters can provide local observations that indicate what's happening below   
   the radar and in "areas where other tools cannot see."   
      
   "It's just one of the ways you can give back to society by just playing with a   
   radio," the article quoted President Craigie. The article noted the ongoing   
   need for weather spotters and tells how to become a SKYWARN spotter, pointing   
   to an online course and test that individuals can take to become official   
   weather spotters. A list of SKYWARN training classes in Virginia accompanied   
   the article. Read more.   
      
   EP6T Iran DXpedition Team En Route   
      
   Members of the Rockall DX Group in Belgium are on their way to their Kish   
   Island, Iran (IOTA AS-166), DXpedition site. The group plans to operate   
   starting this weekend for about 10 days as EP6T. Iran is #33 on ClubLog's DXCC   
   Most Wanted List. The DXpedition will operate on all bands, 160 through 10   
   meters, with an emphasis on the low bands. EP6T plans to remain active until   
   January 26. Organizers say the DXpedition's theme will be "friendship and   
   cultural tolerance."   
      
   "We have 30 fully packed suitcases filled with radio equipment and antennas.   
   Radios will be carried as hand luggage," the team's latest media release said.   
   "We expect arrival on Kish Island January 16 early morning. As soon as we have   
   approval from the local police, we can start building antennas." EP6T is   
   expected to be up and running in the early hours of January 17.   
      
   "[W]e want to ask people in Europe and Asia for your cooperation when we have   
   propagation to North America, since this is the most difficult path on all   
   bands," the release said. "Listen to the operators' instructions, and we will   
   all be enjoying the pileups."   
      
   The EP6T team seeks signal reports via e-mail from North America on 10 meters   
   and 160 meters. The EP6T log will be uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW),   
   once the DXpedition has concluded.   
      
   CQ Magazine Combining January, February Issues, Closing CQ Plus Digital   
   Supplement   
      
   CQ magazine has announced plans to publish a combined January/February 2015   
   issue and to cease publication of its CQ Plus digital supplement as of the   
   March 2015 issue. Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, said that both moves are   
   intended to help restore the magazine's normal schedule for its print edition   
   and to strengthen its foundations moving forward as it enters its 8th decade   
   of publication.   
      
   "These decisions were not made lightly," Ross added, "but in recognition of   
   the realities of the publishing industry. It's a tough time to be in the   
   magazine business, and we appreciate the patience and loyalty of both our   
   readers and our advertisers."   
      
   CQ announced last February that it was incorporating content from the   
   magazine's three sister publications -- Popular Communications, CQ VHF, and   
   WorldRadio Online --into CQ Plus. At that time the publisher also phased out   
   the print editions of Popular Communications and CQ VHF, and it said   
   WorldRadio Online would no longer exist as a separate online publication.   
      
   CQ will continue to publish both print and digital editions, but the digital   
   edition will no longer contain the 50-60 additional pages each month that   
   constituted CQ Plus. Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, said he hopes to include some   
   CQ Plus content within the pages of CQ, but added that ham radio will remain   
   the magazine's primary focus. CQ marks its 70th publication anniversary with   
   its January/February issue.   
      
   The magazine also announced that, "as a consequence of the changes," CQ Plus   
   Editor Richard Fisher, KI6SN, will leave the CQ staff after serving for many   
   years as a columnist for -- and then as editor of -- Popular Communications,   
   WorldRadio Online, and CQ Plus. He was also CQ magazine's emergency   
   communications editor.   
      
   Due to the combined January/February issue, CQ will extend by 1 month all   
   print and digital edition subscriptions to CQ.   
      
   CQ also has named veteran DXer, DXpeditioner, and QSL manager Bob Schenck,   
   N2OO, as its DX editor. He succeeds Wayne Mills, N7NG, who stepped down to   
   pursue other ham-related interests, CQ said.   
      
   Shin'en 2 Designated as Fuji Oscar-82   
      
   AMSAT has designated the Shin'en 2 spacecraft as Fuji OSCAR-82 (FO-82), in   
   response to a request from Seiji Fukushima, JH6RTO. OSCAR Number Administrator   
   Bill Tynan, W3XO, congratulated Fukushima and the Fuji OSCAR-82 team on behalf   
   of AMSAT-NA and the Amateur Satellite community, and expressed the hope that   
   the spacecraft would "fulfill all of its mission objectives."   
      
   Built by students at Kagoshima University Graduate School of Engineering in   
   Japan, the 17 kg satellite Shin'en 2 identifies as JG6YIG. 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 also will carry a F1D digital store-and-forward   
   transponder with an uplink of 145.95 MHz and a downlink at 435.27 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.   
      
   Shin'en2 will have an elliptical orbit around the Sun and travel to a deep   
   space orbit between Venus and Mars. Its inclination will be almost zero, which   
   means Shin'en 2 will stay in the Earth's equatorial plane. The distance from   
   the Sun will be between approximately 6.5 million and 12 million miles.   
      
   Shin'en 2 and ARTSAT2: DESPATCH were launched December 3 on the vehicle that   
   took the Hayabusa 2 asteroid sample-return mission into deep space. ARTSAT2,   
   which also carried an Amateur Radio payload, stopped transmitting recently   
   after its batteries depleted. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service, Kagoshima   
   University   
      
   BSA Encouraging Early Start on JOTA 2015 Planning   
      
   The word from Boy Scouts of America (BSA) National Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)   
   Organizer Jim Wilson, K5ND, is: "Start planning for JOTA 2015. It's never too   
   early." JOTA 2015 won't take place until October (Friday through Sunday,   
   October 16-18), but the Radio Scouting (K2BSA) website provides some planning   
   tips to help get a leg up on the process. The annual JOTA offers an   
   opportunity for Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides around the world to speak with   
   each other via Amateur Radio, and its success relies on the cooperation of   
   local radio amateurs and clubs.   
      
   Wilson's extra-early JOTA advisory appeared aimed at boosting JOTA involvement   
   in the wake of a somewhat disappointing 2014 report showing a continued   
   decline in participation. In 2013, JOTA participation was down by nearly 4700   
   over 2012, and it dropped a bit further in 2014, when 7208 Scouts and 5589   
   visitors took part in the annual on-the-air event.   
      
   "[W]e recognize that we need to do a better job promoting the event to Scout   
   Council staff and volunteers," Wilson conceded last fall, after the 2014   
   report was posted. Wilson attributed part of the decline in JOTA participation   
   to a failure of some stations to file after-event reports.   
      
   "Our survey of those that did not file a report revealed that a few didn't run   
   the event due to other issues," Wilson said in a JOTA e-newsletter last   
   weekend. "One was dodging a hurricane. Others said that time got away from   
   them, and they just didn't file it." According to the 2014 report, 354   
   stations registered to participate, but only 205 filed reports.   
      
   Wilson recommended that JOTA teams designate someone to record the data and   
   file the report after the event. He also steered JOTA planners to some program   
   suggestions for JOTA 2015.   
      
   Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) Invites Scholarship Applications   
      
   The non-profit Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) invites applications for the   
   Amateur Radio-related scholarships it administers. These academic awards are   
   sponsored by individuals and by Amateur Radio clubs across the US. The FAR   
   scholarship application process is open to Amateur Radio licensees worldwide.   
   For 2015 FAR is administering 67 scholarships worth an aggregate $125,500. The   
   list includes 36 Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) scholarships   
   worth a total of $77,000 for 2015 (these require a recommendation from a QCWA   
   member). Individual awards range from $500 to $5000. Applications are due by   
   March 30, 2015.   
      
   The preferred method to apply is by using the electronic form on the FAR   
   website. Visit the FAR Scholarship Information page or contact FAR, if you   
   have questions about the 2015 scholarship application process. Read more.   
   ______________________________________________________________________________   
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARRL President to Attend Puerto Rico State Convention, January 23-25: While a   
   good part of the US is experiencing frigid temperatures, snow, and ice, radio   
   amateurs in Puerto Rico will be warmly welcoming visitors to their third ARRL   
   Puerto Rico State Convention, January 23-25 at the Francisco "Pancho" Deida   
   Coliseum in Hatillo. ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will head an ARRL   
   contingent to Caribbean's largest ham radio convention. Others will include   
   Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, Vice Director Michael Lee,   
   AA6ML, and QST Columnist Ward Silver, N0AX. Contester and Western Pennsylvania   
   Section Manager Tim Duffy, K3LR, will conduct the first Contest University   
   (CTU), Caribbean Edition. KP4AW will be on the air during the event, which is   
   expected to attract upward of 1500 visitors. Admission is free. The event is   
   sponsored by the Caribbean Amateur Radio Group, the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio   
   League, and the Municipality of Hatillo. The ARRL Puerto Rico Section website   
   has more information.   
      
   New WAS Award Application Processing on Hold: ARRL is redesigning the basic   
   Worked All States (WAS) Award certificate and has put a hold on the processing   
   of new WAS applications received after about December 24, 2014. "We are making   
   the certificate the same size as a DXCC certificate (11 x 14), so we can   
   return to using stickers for endorsements in most cases," said ARRL Field   
   Services and Radiosport Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "The ever-popular WAS   
   program has grown in many ways here at Headquarters, and we need to reorganize   
   for more consistency." Patton said the Triple Play certificate and plaque will   
   not change. The Worked All States Award is earned by confirming contacts with   
   stations in all 50 US states. It was introduced in 1936.   
      
   CQ Soliciting Hall of Fame Nominations: CQ is seeking nominations for the   
   Contest and DX Halls of Fame. Nominations are made by contesting or DX clubs   
   or national organizations and must be submitted by March 1. Up to two   
   individuals may be inducted into each Hall of Fame each year. Direct   
   nominations via e-mail or via USPS to CQ (DX or Contest) Hall of Fame, c/o CQ   
   magazine, 25 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801 US. Specify the hall of fame   
   for which you are making the nomination.   
      
   Army MARS Public Affairs Officer Bill Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, Retires: Bill   
   Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, retired at the end of 2014 as the US Army Military   
   Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) public affairs officer, a volunteer position.   
   Now 86, Sexton, who splits his time between Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and   
   Sarasota, Florida, has been involved with MARS since the early 1990s, after   
   reading about the program in QST. He stepped into a PR role with the   
   organization following the death in 2001 of long-time Army MARS Public   
   Relations Officer Lori Matthew, N4ZCF. "Bill is credited with creating the   
   Public Affairs Program in Army MARS," Army MARS Headquarters at Ft Huachuca,   
   Arizona, said in announcing Sexton's retirement. "According to Bill, if you're   
   not telling your own story, someone else will. Bill has, through persistence,   
   prevailed in establishing doctrine for Army MARS public affairs activities."   
   Sexton plans to remain active in the Army MARS program. Army MARS is accepting   
   applications for the volunteer post. Read more.   
      
   New World Record Claimed on 10 GHz: Two microwave enthusiasts in Australia are   
   claiming a new Amateur Radio distance record on 10 GHz. On January 5, during a   
   tropo opening across the Great Australian Bight, VK6DZ and VK7MO exchanged   
   reports over a 2732 km path, using JT4f mode as well as SSB. The distance   
   surpasses by 36 km the previous World Record of 2696 km from Southern Portugal   
   to Cape Verde Island. VK6DZ was portable at Torbay Hill, 24 km west of Albany,   
   Western Australia. He was running 10 W to a 60 cm dish. VK7MO was portable   
   Cape Portland in northeastern Tasmania, running 50 W to a 77 cm dish. Read   
   more. -- Thanks to Rex Moncur, VK7MO   
      
   Tickets Now Available for 2015 Dayton Contest, Top Band Dinners: Reservations   
   are now available for the 23rd annual Contest Dinner and the 26th annual   
   Dayton Top Band Dinner. Both events will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel   
   in downtown Dayton, in conjunction with Dayton Hamventionr 2015. On Saturday,   
   May 16, the Dayton Contest Dinner, sponsored by the North Coast Contesters,   
   will feature ARRL President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, as the keynote speaker. The   
   event begins with a social hour at 5:30 PM. Master of Ceremonies is CQ Contest   
   Hall of Famer and World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) Chairman, John   
   Dorr, K1AR. The 2015 CQ Contest Hall of Fame inductees will be announced. No   
   tickets will be sold at the door. On Friday, May 15, the Top Band Dinner   
   begins with a social hour at 6:15 PM. An informative program will follow. The   
   Crowne Plaza is also home to the annual Contest SuperSuite and other   
   contest-related activities. -- Thanks to Tim Duffy, K3LR; ARRL Contest Update   
      
   Cosmonaut Yelena Serova Operates RS0ISS for Russian ISS School Contacts: On   
   board the International Space Station, Russian Cosmonaut Yelena Serova, using   
   the call sign RS0ISS, spoke with students at schools in Ekaterinburg and   
   Chelyabinsk, Russia, on December 21. She used the Amateur Radio station in the   
   Russian Service Module. More information, including video links, is on the   
   AMSAT-UK website.   
      
   Worked All Europe Contest Manager Joerg Puchstein, DL8WPX, SK: Worked All   
   Europe Contest Manager Joerg "Joe" Puchstein, DL8WPX, died December 16, at his   
   home in Zurich, Switzerland. He was 54. Puchstein was an active and   
   enthusiastic contester and DXpeditioner who organized such DXpeditions as   
   VK9LM from Lord Howe (1991, 1996, and 2014), and the S21XX, P29VXX, VK9CR,   
   VK9XY, ZL7DK, VK9DNX, VK9DWX, and VK9DLX DXpeditions. He also was a member of   
   the DR1A team. -- Thanks to The Daily DX   
   ______________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Sunspot numbers and solar flux rose again this week, while geomagnetic indices   
   were relatively quiet. Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 108.1 in   
   the first week of 2015 to 112.6 in the 7 days following. Average daily solar   
   flux rose from 144.7 to 151.3.   
      
   Predicted solar flux for the near term is 140 on January 15-16, 135 on January   
   17-18, 130 on January 19-20, then 125, 135, and 140 on January 21-23, 130 on   
   January 24-26, 135 on January 27-28, 140 on January 29-30, and, 145 on January   
   31 through February 7. Flux values then peak at 180 on February 11-12, and dip   
   down to 130 on February 20-22.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 15, 10, 8, and 12 on January 15-18, 8 on   
   January 19-21, then 15, 5, 10 and 18 on January 22-25, and 15, 8, 5, 10, and   
   12 on January 26-30 and 15 on January 31 through February 1.   
      
   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 Friday's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from readers.   
   Send me your reports and observations.   
   ______________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
     * January 16 -- NAQCC Special 160 Meter Sprint (CW)   
      
     * January 17 -- LZ Open Contest (CW)   
      
     * January 17 -- International United Teenager Contest (SSB, CW)   
      
     * January 17 -- Feld-Hell Low-Down Sprint   
      
     * January 17-18 -- North American QSO Party (SSB)   
      
     * January 17-18 -- YLISSB QSO Party (SSB)   
      
     * January 17-18 -- HA DX Contest (SSB, CW)   
      
     * January 18-19 -- Classic Exchange (CW)   
      
     * January 19 -- Run for the Bacon (CW)   
      
     * January 21 -- Locust QSO Party (CW)   
      
     * January 22 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (CW)   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.   
   ______________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
     * 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   
      
     * January 24 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia   
      
     * February 7 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South   
   Carolina   
      
     * February 7 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia