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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-05-21   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   May 21, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Dayton Hamvention 2015: Great Weekend, Friendly Crowd   
    *  Nepal Amateur Radio Earthquake Relief Response Again Suspended   
    *  Utah Section Manager Re-Elected, Two New SMs Coming Aboard in July   
    *  WX4NHC at National Hurricane Center to Conduct Annual Station Test on   
       May 30   
    *  Radio Amateur Sworn In as New NASA Deputy Administrator   
    *  Friedrichshafen's "Ham Radio" Marks 40 Years in June with Space Theme   
    *  Cape Verde 2 Meter Beacon Heard in Bonaire   
    *  CQ Names 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   ARRL Headquarters will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial   
   Day. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions that day.   
   ARRL Headquarters will reopen Tuesday, May 26, at 8 AM (EDT). We wish   
   everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Dayton Hamvention 2015: Great Weekend, Friendly Crowd   
      
   Another Dayton Hamvention® is in the log, and the sponsoring Dayton Amateur   
   Radio Association (DARA) already has begun counting down to the 2016 event   
   (May 20-22, 2016). While Hamvention traditionally provides an ideal occasion   
   for Amateur Radio manufacturers to introduce their latest offerings, new   
   gear was in somewhat shorter-than-usual supply at the 2015 event. On the   
   other hand, this may have shifted attention toward Hamvention's other   
   activities, such as the always-popular forums and, of course, the flea   
   market. There were scattered showers on all 3 days.   
      
   "Great weekend!" was how ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, summed things up. He   
   described visitors as "friendly" and said there was a lot of anticipation   
   for the geosynchronous satellite package that AMSAT plans to put into orbit   
   in 2017.   
      
   ARRL Publications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, described   
   Hamvention's opening day as "extremely crowded for a Friday." Traffic at   
   ARRL EXPO was brisk, and the ARRL Lab's spectral purity testing table saw   
   "steady traffic with long lines at times," he added. NASA Astronaut Mike   
   Fincke, KE5AIT, a special Hamvention guest, stopped by to tour ARRL EXPO and   
   to chat with ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and visitors.   
      
   To celebrate 100 years of QST, ARRL introduced a commemorative edition of   
   the first QST -- the December 1915 issue. The reprint was free for those   
   joining, renewing, or extending their ARRL membership at Hamvention. ARRL   
   Life Members could obtain a free copy. Those unable to attend Hamvention may   
   obtain copies directly from ARRL for $9.95 each.   
      
   On Saturday afternoon Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) President Don   
   Dubon, N6JRL, presented two $10,000 checks to President Craigie. One was a   
   gift to support the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. DARA has   
   sponsored past Teachers Institute sessions in Dayton, and a class will be   
   held there this summer as well, July 13-16. The second check was a donation   
   to the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Fund.   
      
   Something to look forward to in 2016: Hara Arena posted artist's depictions   
   of renovations to the Hara complex that are expected to be completed by next   
   year's show.   
      
   What's New?   
      
   New products touted at the 2015 Hamvention included the K3S transceiver from   
   Elecraft -- an upgrade of its very popular K3. Expected to ship by mid-June,   
   the K3S is the "second-generation, software defined superhet transceiver,"   
   the manufacturer said on its website. "We've upgraded nearly every   
   subsystem, improving performance and adding many new features," Elecraft   
   said.   
      
   New features include a quieter synthesizer, "unequaled" strong-signal   
   performance, and "exceptional" transmitter purity. There's also a second   
   preamp, a new LCD bezel, and a "soft-touch VFO A knob with improved grip."   
      
   FlexRadio debuted the Maestro control console for its FLEX-6000 series of   
   transceivers. Expected to become available later this year, the Maestro is   
   "an intuitive, plug-and-play control console" that lets the user operate any   
   FLEX-6000 transceiver without a PC. FlexRadio said   
   the unit combines a high-definition 8-inch touch display and is   
   "ergonomically designed."   
      
   European manufacturer Elad introduced at Hamvention its SDR FDM-DUO   
   transceiver, which has been available since 2014. The manufacturer said on   
   its website that the FDM-DUO can be operated in a traditional manner or via   
   a PC. Its direct-conversion receiver covers 10 kHz to 54 MHz. The   
   transmitter runs about 5-8 W.   
      
   Other new products at Dayton this year included several accessories for   
   Elecraft radios from QRP Works; the Rowetel SM1000 digital voice unit, and   
   the MFJ-226 graphical antenna analyzer and compact MFJ-939I 200 W autotuner   
   from MFJ.   
      
   Forum News   
      
   On Saturday, Carole Perry, WB2MGP, moderated the Youth Forum, which featured   
   presentations from eight talented young radio amateurs, each of whom --   
   along with eight additional young hams selected during a prize drawing --   
   enjoyed an ARRL-hosted luncheon with   
   Astronaut Mike Fincke. "These 16 young hams are already contributing to the   
   second century of our Amateur Radio Service!" said ARRL Education Services   
   Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ.   
      
   Galen Wilson, KF5BET, whose daughters Abbi, KF5BEW, and Kendra, KF5FYS, were   
   among the forum presenters, expressed appreciation to Perry and to the   
   League "for the awesome support given to the forum, the presenters, and the   
   youth." Wilson said his family "was overwhelmed with the magnitude of   
   support" the youngsters received during their first Hamvention. "This was   
   truly an experience of a lifetime for my girls," he added.   
      
   At its forum, AMSAT announced that the launch of its Fox-1 CubeSat has been   
   delayed until late September. AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton,   
   N0JY, also said that AMSAT's planned geosynchronous satellite package would   
   offer uplinks on 5 GHz and downlinks on 10 GHz.   
      
   Buxton explained that the geosynchronous footprint will not be absolutely   
   fixed; some variation may require some up/down movement of the user's dish   
   at certain times. Even in the worst case, he told the AMSAT Forum, a user   
   with a fixed antenna would still be able to enjoy several hours of access   
   each day. The transponder for the new satellite will be software defined and   
   capable of supporting many different modes, including analog SSB. The   
   satellite's potential footprint could extend over the US from the   
   Mid-Pacific to Africa.   
      
   AMSAT has accepted the opportunity to be a "hosted payload" on a spacecraft   
   that Millennium Space Systems (MSS) of California is under contract to   
   design, launch, and operate for the US government.   
      
   At the Saturday ARRL Member Forum moderated by ARRL Great Lakes Division   
   Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK, President Craigie discussed "The Amateur   
   Radio Parity Act of 2015 -- H.R. 1301 -- and encouraged members to recruit   
   supporters among their congressional representatives. ARRL Regulatory   
   Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, also met with visitors to ARRL EXPO   
   to discuss the legislation.   
      
   ARRL Chief Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, talked about ARRL and   
   Amateur Radio's interests at the upcoming World Radiocommunication   
   Conference 2015 (WRC-15), which he will attend in November. High on the list   
   was the possibility of a contiguous 5 MHz secondary allocation somewhere   
   within the range 5250 kHz through 5450 kHz. He also discussed the issue of   
   vehicular radars in the 76-81 GHz range, the topic of a current FCC   
   proceeding.   
      
   Sumner shared news of recent FCC progress toward domestic implementation of   
   the new Amateur Radio MF and LF allocations at 135.7-137.8 kHz and 472-479   
   kHz and upgrading of the amateur allocation at 1900-2000 kHz from secondary   
   to primary. ARRL First Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, gave a rousing   
   presentation encouraging ARRL membership renewal. He also spoke of the need   
   to revitalize clubs.   
      
   Honors   
      
   Named as Hamvention Amateur of the Year was top-tier contester Tim Duffy,   
   K3LR, who is also ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Manager. Hamvention's   
   Special Achievement Award went to Tom Medlin, W5KUB, and the Technical   
   Excellence Award to the Rev George Dobbs, G3RJV. The Orlando Amateur Radio   
   Club (OARC) was Club of the Year.   
      
   ARRL has posted an album of Dayton Hamvention 2015 photos on its Facebook   
   page.   
      
   Nepal Amateur Radio Earthquake Relief Response Again Suspended   
      
   Amateur Radio emergency operations on 20 meters, resumed in the aftermath of   
   the second Nepal earthquake, have again been suspended, according to Jayu   
   Bhide, VU2JAU, the Amateur Radio Society of India National Coordinator for   
   Disaster Communication. Bhide said he discussed the situation on May 17 with   
   Satish Kharel, 9N1AA, and that the decision was based on the fact that all   
   systems in the affected region "are working normally." VU2JAU, 9N1AA, and   
   others have been among those active on 14.210 MHz since the initial   
   earthquake on April 25.   
      
   Kharel told IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications   
   Committee Chairman Jim Linton, VK3PC, this week that aftershocks continue.   
      
   "I hope there would not be any bigger than [magnitude 6] in the coming days.   
   Though the situation in the city area is reasonable, it is extremely bad in   
   villages. Some 90 percent of the rural houses are fully destroyed," he said,   
   adding that monsoon season starts in about 3 weeks.   
      
   Kharel said major roads to Kathmandu Valley have been shaken by tremors,   
   causing minor landslides at various points. "Geo experts are claiming once   
   rain begins, parts of these roads will swept [away], and Kathmandu could be   
   cut off for weeks," he added.   
      
   Amateur Radio relief activity in Nepal had begun winding down before a   
   magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook parts of the Himalayan nation on May 12,   
   collapsing buildings and killing dozens in a region that's still trying to   
   recover from the much stronger earthquake on April 25. The latest quake   
   revived the ham radio effort. Centered some 50 miles east-northeast of the   
   Nepalese capital of Kathmandu and near the border with Tibet, the temblor   
   was felt in India and Bangladesh. The US Geological Survey considers the May   
   12 tremor as an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on April 25.   
      
   The Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) has been continuing to   
   gather information and statistics on the earthquake tragedy in Nepal.   
   Sanjeeb Panday, 9N1SP, has been passing traffic to Tim McFadden, T6TM/   
   KB2RLB, a MARS operator in Afghanistan.   
      
   Among other information, Panday told McFadden that 8250 people died as a   
   result of the earthquakes and nearly 480,000 residences were destroyed.   
   Another 263,000 were damaged.   
      
   "Once Tim receives Nepal disaster traffic he has been preparing SPIREP and   
   COMSPOT reports as needed and then relaying them through MARS networks to   
   HQ, Army MARS, and me," said Daniel Wolff, KA7AGN, the MARS   
   EUCOM/CENTCOM/AFRICOM Regional Director. "He also has been posting the   
   information to the Nepal disaster APAN [All Partners Access Network]   
   website."   
      
   Ironically, the scenario for last year's MARS "Pacific Endeavour-14"   
   regional disaster response was a major earthquake in Nepal. Read more.   
      
   Utah Section Manager Re-Elected, Two New SMs Coming Aboard in July   
      
   One incumbent Section Manger overcame a challenge to win his bid for a new   
   term of office, while two SM candidates who ran unopposed will assume office   
   this summer. Ballots in the two-person race in the ARRL Utah Section were   
   counted on May 19 at ARRL Headquarters.   
      
   Incumbent Section Manager Mel Parkes, NM7P, received 342 votes, while Pat   
   Malan, N7PAT, of South Jordan, garnered 280 votes. Parkes, of Layton, has   
   served as the Utah Section Manager since 1999.   
      
   The Maryland/DC Section will have a new Section   
   Manager starting in July. Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM, of Owings Mills, was the   
   only nominee for the post, now held by Jim Cross, WI3N, who decided not to   
   run again after serving since January 2006. Pittinger is currently the   
   Affiliated Club Coordinator in Maryland/DC. He also serves as a Public   
   Information Officer, Official Relay Station, and Net Manager.   
      
   A new Section Manager also will be taking the reins in West Texas. Ron   
   Harden Jr, KB5HGM, of Baird, was the sole candidate for the office. He has   
   been serving as Affiliated Club Coordinator and as an Emergency Coordinator   
   in West Texas. Incumbent Bill Roberts, W5NPR, decided not to run for another   
   term after serving since 2011.   
      
   Five sitting Section Managers faced no opposition in the spring election   
   cycle and will begin new 2-year terms on July 1. They are Peter Stohrer,   
   K1PJS (New Hampshire); Richard Krohn, N2SMV (Northern New Jersey); John   
   Bigley, N7UR (Nevada); Bob Beaudet, W1YRC (Rhode Island), and Dan Pruitt,   
   AE6SX (San Joaquin Valley).   
      
   Two-year terms for all successful candidates begin on July 1.   
      
   WX4NHC at National Hurricane Center to Conduct Annual Station Test on May 30   
      
   Amateur Radio station WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami will   
   conduct its annual station test on May 30, 1400 until 2200 UTC. The purpose   
   of this event is to test Amateur Radio station equipment, antennas, and   
   computers in advance of the 2015 hurricane season, June 1 through November   
   30.   
      
   "This event is will be good practice for ham radio operators   
   worldwide, as well as for National Weather Service (NWS) staff to become   
   familiar with Amateur Radio communications that are available during times   
   of severe weather," said WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio   
   Ripoll, WD4R. WX4NHC also will conduct operator training.   
      
   WX4NHC will make brief contacts on various bands and modes, exchanging   
   signal reports and basic weather information, such as "sunny" or "rain,"   
   with any and all stations. WX4NHC will operate on HF, VHF, and UHF,   
   including APRS on 2 and 30 meters and WinLink (subject line must contain   
   "//WL2K").   
      
   "We will try to stay on the recognized Hurricane Watch Net frequency of   
   14.325 MHz most of the time and announce when we QSY," Ripoll said. "Due to   
   space and equipment limitations, we will have two to three operators per   
   shift," he added. "We cannot be everywhere and on every mode at the same   
   time." He suggested locating WX4NHC by using one of the spotting networks,   
   such as DX Summit.   
      
   WX4NHC also will be on the VoIP Hurricane Net (VoIP-WX) from 2100 until 2200   
   UTC and on IRLP node 9219 and EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203. The   
   station also will operate on VHF and UHF repeaters in South Florida.   
      
   QSL cards are available via WD4R with an SASE. Do not send cards directly to   
   the National Hurricane Center.   
      
   Radio Amateur Sworn In as New NASA Deputy Administrator   
      
   Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Dava Newman, KB1HIK,   
   has been sworn in as the deputy administrator of NASA. President Barack   
   Obama appointed Newman last October, and the US Senate confirmed her   
   appointment on April 27. The swearing-in took place on May 15 in her MIT   
   office in Cambridge. Newman is Apollo Professor of Astronautics and   
   Engineering Systems and the director of the Technology and Policy Program at   
   MIT. She started her official duties as NASA's new deputy administrator on   
   May 18 at the agency's headquarters in Washington, DC.   
      
   "I'm very excited to be at NASA," said Newman. "I'm looking forward to being   
   a part of the agency's work to expand humanity's reach into space, advance   
   our journey to Mars and strengthen America's leadership here at home."   
      
   NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, ex-KE4IQB, said he's long admired Newman.   
   "Her talents and skills as an educator and technological innovator will   
   bring a new energy to our NASA leadership team, and I'm ecstatic to have her   
   on board," he said.   
      
   Newman had been on the MIT faculty since 1993. Her research has included   
   modeling human performance in low and microgravity conditions, examining the   
   dynamics and control of astronaut motion, and the development of assisted   
   walking devices for the physically handicapped. Possibly her most prominent   
   project has been the development of the BioSuit, a skintight spacesuit that   
   would give astronauts unprecedented comfort and freedom in exploration of   
   planetary surfaces and extra-vehicular activity.   
      
   An avid sailor, Newman has circumnavigated the globe. -- Thanks to MIT and   
   to NASA   
      
   Friedrichshafen's "Ham Radio" Marks 40 Years in June with Space Theme   
      
   "Ham Radio," Europe's largest Amateur Radio event, celebrates its 40th   
   anniversary this year. The annual gathering, known to most simply by its   
   location -- Friedrichshafen -- takes place June 26-28 on the shore of Lake   
   Constance in southwest Germany. The exhibition in 2014 attracted more than   
   17,000 visitors, including contingents from the ARRL and the International   
   Amateur Radio Union (IARU). The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC) is a Ham   
   Radio cosponsor, and its theme for this year's gathering is "Space stations,   
   satellites, reflections: Amateur Radio contact with space." The DARC   
   celebrates its 65th anniversary this year.   
      
   Representing the ARRL in Friedrichshafen will be League President Kay   
   Craigie, N3KN; CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ; Membership Manager Diane Petrilli,   
   KB1RNF, and Assistant Field Services and Radiosport Manager Norm Fusaro,   
   W3IZ. ARRL volunteer Hal Turley, W8HC, will assist with DXCC card checking.   
      
   Heading the IARU team will be President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA. He'll be   
   accompanied by IARU Vice President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, and Secretary Rod   
   Stafford, W6ROD.   
      
   Friedrichshafen will host a Contest University (CTU) session on Friday, June   
   26, for beginners and pros. The instructors include some of the world's   
   leading radiosport enthusiasts.   
      
   Some 200 Amateur Radio exhibitors from more than 30 countries, including the   
   US, are expected to attend the show to exhibit their wares and services.   
   Maker World -- a gathering for build-it-yourselfers, tinkerers, and   
   experimenters -- once again will take place at Friedrichshafen at the same   
   time as the Ham Radio exhibition.   
      
   Ham Radio 2015 will include a number of activities aimed at youth.   
      
   An Amateur Radio transmitter hunt, or fox hunt, will be back again this year   
   on Sunday morning. A ham youth camp will offer youngsters, teenagers, and   
   adults up to age 27 a chance to explore the exhibition and get to know other   
   young people interested in Amateur Radio. Last year's ham youth camp   
   attracted some 120 young people (the registration deadline is June 10). The   
   popular Ham Rally will take place on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27,   
   offering a varied program for young radio enthusiasts.   
      
   To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Ham Radio, the venue, Messe   
   Friedrichshafen, will present a retrospective featuring photographs, exhibit   
   items, and recollections from the event's past 4 decades. Contact Messe   
   Friedrichshafen to submit items or for more information.   
      
   Cape Verde 2 Meter Beacon Heard in Bonaire   
      
   As reported in "The K7RA Solar Update" and the W1AW Propagation Bulletin   
   (ARLP020/2015) for Friday, May 15, Dave Pedersen, PJ4VHF/N7BHC, on Bonaire   
   copied a 2 meter CW signal from the D4C/B beacon on 144.436 MHz at Cape   
   Verde via tropospheric ducting on May 6 (0100-0230 UTC). Bonaire is in the   
   Caribbean just north of Venezuela, while Cape Verde is off the coast of   
   Africa, west of Senegal -- a distance of nearly 3000 miles.   
      
   The D4C beacon runs 20 W and is about 750 meters above sea   
   level. Pederson was able to confirm the transmission with the beacon   
   operator, HB9DUR. He was using a Kenwood TS-2000 and two 13 element Yagis. A   
   recording has been posted. Click on "Download This File."   
      
   "I had parked my VHF array pointing west for minimum wind resistance,"   
   Pederson told ARRL Propagation Editor Tad Cook, K7RA. "Tuesday evening [May   
   5] I was doing some paperwork in the shack and rotated the beams back east   
   at 0100 UTC to prepare for listening all night. To my amazement, I started   
   copying CW while the beam was still 30° off the D4C bearing."   
      
   Visit the D4C Amateur Sports Team Facebook page for more information and   
   reception reports.   
      
   CQ Names 2015 Hall of Fame Inductees   
      
   CQ magazine has announced its 2015 Hall of Fame inductees.   
      
   [CQ.JPG] The CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame honors individuals, licensed or   
   not, who have made significant contributions to Amateur Radio, to their   
   professions, or "to some other aspect of life on our planet," CQ said.   
      
   CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame   
      
    *  Tim Allen, KK6OTD -- Actor and star of the ABC comedy "Last Man   
       Standing," on which he portrays a ham, Mike Baxter, KA0XTT.   
    *  Charles Apgar, ex-2MN (SK) -- Uncovered German spy transmissions from   
       Telefunken shore station WSL in New York during World War I, before the   
       US became involved in the hostilities.   
    *  Dr Dan Benishek, KB8TOW -- Member of Congress from Michigan, medical   
       doctor, and advocate for veterans.   
    *  Olof Lundberg, G0CKV -- Leader of the communications satellite industry   
       for a quarter-century.   
    *  Bre Pettis, W2BRE -- 3D printing pioneer and founder of MakerBot.   
    *  Alvino Rey, W6UK (SK) -- A leading musician of the swing era, Rey   
       combined his love for music with his love of radio to transform the   
       music world.   
    *  Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD -- Co-inventor of the CubeSat design model.   
    *  Greg Walden, W7EQI -- Member of Congress from Oregon and chairman of the   
       House Communications and Technology Subcommittee.   
    *  Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, YD2JKW -- President of Indonesia.   
      
   The CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame honor those amateurs who not only excel   
   in personal performance in these major areas of Amateur Radio but who also   
   give back to the hobby in outstanding ways.   
      
   CQ DX Hall of Fame   
      
    *  Yasuo "Zorro" Miyazawa, JH1AJT -- A DXer, DXpeditioner, educator, and   
       philanthropist, Zorro Miyazawa is the founder and CEO of the Seisa   
       Group, which operates schools in several countries, and is founder/CEO   
       of the Foundation for Global Children.   
    *  Michael Wells, G7VJR -- Founder of ClubLog, an online DXpedition   
       log-hosting tool that has changed the face of DXpedition operating.   
      
   CQ Contest Hall of Fame   
      
    *  Doug Grant, K1DG -- President of the 2014 World Radiosport Team   
       Championship (WRTC) Board and a world-class contester, Grant has shared   
       his knowledge and skills with others. He has competed in five WRTC   
       events, medaling three times.   
    *  Ward Silver, N0AX -- A contester for more than 4 decades, he helped to   
       found the WRTC competitions in 1990 and is president of the Yasme   
       Foundation.   
      
   Formal inductions to the CQ Contest and DX Halls of Fame took place at   
   Dayton Hamvention.   
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARRL VHF/UHF Contests Now Allow Self-Spotting: Beginning   
   with the ARRL June VHF Contest, June 13-15, participants will be allowed to   
   spot themselves on spotting networks. These changes were made to encourage   
   greater participation and band utilization. For more information on these   
   rule changes, see General Rules for ARRL Contests Above 50 MHz   
   (specifically, item 1.16). Self-spotting announcements "shall be limited to   
   call sign, location, band or frequency, mode, and -- if applicable --   
   transmitting sequence and listening direction to coordinate antenna peaking   
   prior to initiation of the contact and to explain contest rules, such as the   
   exchange required."   
      
   Parachute Mobileers to Operate on 10 and 2 Meters:   
   On May 31, ham skydivers Mark Meltzer, AF6IM, and Michael Gregg, KF6WRW,   
   will be making 10 and 2 meter contacts while "under canopy," starting at   
   12,000 feet. Jumper-carried APRS with GPS, heart rate, and blood oxygen data   
   will be used. Special Parachute Mobile "Mission 20" QSL cards will be issued   
   for ham contacts and listener reports. Jumps will commence in Byron,   
   California, at around 11 AM Pacific Time and continue until sunset, weather   
   permitting.   
      
   Shift from Navy-Marine Corps MARS Under Way: It's   
   been reported that some 60 US Navy-Marine Corps Military Auxiliary Radio   
   System (MARS) members had transitioned to the US Army MARS program within a   
   week of the announcement earlier this month that the US Department of   
   Defense was phasing out US Navy-Marine Corps MARS and moving its operational   
   mission to other MARS service branches by the end of September. MARS   
   volunteers are Amateur Radio operators who provide auxiliary or emergency   
   communications to local, national, and international emergency and safety   
   organizations, as an adjunct to normal communications. Army MARS   
   Headquarters has been processing most applications in 1 day via e-mail.   
   State directors first approve the digital membership form and forward it to   
   US Army MARS Headquarters in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, which assigns the call   
   sign and e-mails the license directly to the applicant. One new member was   
   able to join his first Army MARS net on the same day he filed for transfer.   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot numbers drifted below 100 over the   
   May 14-20 reporting period, and so the average daily sunspot number declined   
   from 146.9 over the previous 7 days to 92.1. Average daily solar flux   
   dropped from 156.3 to 123.3.   
      
   You can see the decline in solar flux in   
   addition to the decline in predicted numbers by downloading the NOAA/USAF   
   spreadsheet, which shows the daily readings and the shifting 45-day   
   predictions. The spreadsheet indicates that the predicted solar flux is 105   
   on May 21, 100 on May 22-23, 95 on May 24-28, 105 on May 29-30, 110 on May   
   31, 115 on June 1, 120 on June 2-3,, 125 on June 4, 130 on June 5-6, 120 on   
   June 7-12, 110, 115, 105, and 95 on June 13-16, 90 on June 17-19, 95 on June   
   20, and 105 on June 21-26. This value peaks again at 130 on July 2. ARRL   
   Field Day is June 27-28, 2015, when the predicted solar flux is 110 and 115.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 8 on May 21, 5 on May 22-28, 8 on May 29-30,   
   5 on May 31 through June 1, 15 and 10 on June 2-3, 5 on June 4-6, 12 on June   
   7, 25 on June 8-9, 12 on June 10, 5 on June 11-12, then 8, 15, and 12 on   
   June 13-15, and 5 on June 16-24. This spreadsheet shows predicted values and   
   more going out 45 days.   
      
   In Friday's bulletin look for reports from readers and an updated forecast.   
   Send me your reports and observations!   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  May 23-24 -- EPC WW PSK Contest   
    *  May 23-24 -- Baltic Contest (SSB, CW)   
    *  May 30-31 -- CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW)   
    *  May 31 -- QRP ARCI Hoot Owl Sprint (CW)   
    *  June 13-15 -- ARRL June VHF Contest   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    *  June 5-7 -- Northwestern Division Convention (SeaPac), Seaside, Oregon   
    *  June 6 -- Georgia State Convention, Marietta, Georgia   
    *  June 12-13 -- West Gulf Division Convention (Ham-Com), Irving, Texas   
    *  June 13 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee   
    *  July 4 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Harrisburg,   
       Pennsylvania   
    *  July 10-11 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Milton, Florida   
    *  July 13-16 -- Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club Convention, The Villages,   
       Florida   
    *  July 17-19 -- Montana State Convention, East Glacier, Montana   
    *  July 23-26 -- Central States VHF Society Conference, Westminster,   
       Colorado   
    *  July 24-25 -- Oklahoma Section Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma   
    *  July 31-August 2 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Bryce Canyon,   
       Utah   
    *  August 1 -- Great Lakes Division Convention, Columbus, Ohio   
    *  August 7-8 -- South Texas Section Convention, Austin, Texas   
    *  August 7-9 -- New Mexico State Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico   
    *  August 7-9 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention, Everett, Washington   
    *  August 15-16 -- Alabama State Convention, Huntsville, Alabama   
    *  August 16 -- Kansas State Convention, Salina, Kansas   
    *  August 21-23 -- New England Division Convention, Boxborough,   
       Massachusetts   
    *  August 22 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West Virginia   
    *  August 30 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, New Kensington,   
       Pennsylvania   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
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