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   If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-05-28   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   May 28, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  FCC Eliminating Vanity Call Sign Fee   
    *  Amateur Radio Volunteers Muster for "Unprecedented" Weather Event   
    *  Nepal Now Has a Second Repeater in Operation   
    *  China Set to Launch Several Amateur Radio Satellites This Summer   
    *  ARRL Recognizing "Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award" Winners with   
       Certificate   
    *  Got Grids? June VHF Contest is Just Ahead   
    *  QST Centennial Photo Contest Entry Window Open Until August 1   
    *  Fourteen US Schools/Groups on List to Host Ham Contacts with Space   
       Station   
    *  USNA APRS/PSK31 CubeSats Up and Running   
    *  Nick Lance, KC5KBO, SK -- Prepared Astronauts to Become Radio Amateurs   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  Getting It Right!   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   FCC Eliminating Vanity Call Sign Fee   
      
   The FCC is dropping the regulatory fee to apply for an Amateur Radio vanity   
   call sign. The change will not go into effect, however, until required   
   congressional notice has been given. This will take at least 90 days. As the   
   Commission explained in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Report and Order, and   
   Order (MD Docket 14-92 and others), released May 21, it's a matter of simple   
   economics.   
      
   "The Commission spends more resources on processing the regulatory fees and   
   issuing refunds than the amount of the regulatory fee payment," the FCC said.   
   "As our costs now exceed the regulatory fee, we are eliminating this   
   regulatory fee category." The current vanity call sign regulatory fee is   
   $21.40, the highest in several years. The FCC reported there were 11,500   
   "payment units" in FY 2014 and estimated that it would collect nearly $246,100.   
      
   In its 2014 Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) regarding the assessment and   
   collection of regulatory fees for FY 2014, the FCC had sought comment on   
   eliminating several smaller regulatory fee categories, such as those for   
   vanity call signs and GMRS. It concluded in the subsequent Report and Order   
   (R&O) last summer, however, that it did not have "adequate support to   
   determine whether the cost of recovery and burden on small entities outweighed   
   the collected revenue or whether eliminating the fee would adversely affect   
   the licensing process."   
      
   The FCC said it has since had an opportunity to obtain and analyze support   
   concerning the collection of the regulatory fees for Amateur Vanity and GMRS,   
   which the FCC said comprise, on average, more than 20,000 licenses that are   
   newly obtained or renewed, every 10 and 5 years, respectively.   
      
   "The Commission often receives multiple applications for the same vanity call   
   sign, but only one applicant can be issued that call sign," the FCC explained.   
   "In such cases, the Commission issues refunds for all the remaining   
   applicants. In addition to staff and computer time to process payments and   
   issue refunds, there is an additional expense to issue checks for the   
   applicants who cannot be refunded electronically."   
      
   The Commission said that after it provides the required congressional   
   notification, Amateur Radio vanity program applicants "will no longer be   
   financially burdened with such payments, and the Commission will no longer   
   incur these administrative costs that exceed the fee payments. The revenue   
   that the Commission would otherwise collect from these regulatory fee   
   categories will be proportionally assessed on other wireless fee categories."   
      
   The FCC said it would not issue refunds to licensees who paid the regulatory   
   fee prior to its elimination.   
      
   Amateur Radio Volunteers Muster for "Unprecedented" Weather Event   
      
   When extremely heavy rainfall hit Texas and Oklahoma over the Memorial Day   
   holiday weekend, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and SKYWARN volunteers   
   scrambled to assist local emergency operations centers and National Weather   
   Service (NWS) offices. Severe weather has continued into this week.   
      
   "This has probably been the most significant weather event to hit Texas," ARRL   
   South Texas Section Manager Lee Cooper, W5LHC, said. "We have had major   
   tropical storms and hurricane events, but the widespread combination of heavy   
   rains, tornadoes, and flooding all at same time and covering two-thirds of the   
   state is pretty much unprecedented for us."   
      
   Oklahoma Section Emergency Coordinator Mark Conklin, N7XYO, said communication   
   systems in his state have, for the most part, remained unaffected by the   
   flooding. "[There have been] no deployments or activations by any ARES-OK   
   groups," Conklin told ARRL. "All of the American Red Cross shelters are able   
   to communicate via cell phone or normal land lines."   
      
   Conklin said that ARES members in Leflore, Cherokee, Okmulgee, Tulsa, and   
   several other Oklahoma counties have been busy on SKYWARN nets. "Members that   
   also support local emergency management agencies have been busy passing   
   information about storm damage and area flooding," he added.   
      
   The fierce, torrential rainstorms were in stark contrast to the severe drought   
   the region had experienced in recent years. The floods they generated over the   
   weekend struck with what Texas Gov Greg Abbott called "tsunami-type power."   
   The extreme flooding stranded hundreds and has resulted in several deaths.   
   Abbott has declared a state of emergency in Texas and designated some three   
   dozen counties as disaster areas.   
      
   The NWS-Houston Office posted a rare "flash flood emergency" warning, as the   
   rainfall inundated highways, washing away or stranding countless vehicles. On   
   May 24, the NWS confirmed than an EF1 tornado had touched down briefly in   
   southwest Houston. At the peak of the rainfall on May 25, Houston was reported   
   to have received nearly 1 foot of rain in less than 24 hours, comparable to   
   the rainfall that might accompany a tropical storm or hurricane.   
      
   Earlier in the holiday weekend, nearly the entire state of Texas was under a   
   flash flood watch on May 23. In Wimberly, Texas, a woman called her sister to   
   report that her family's house was "floating down the river." The home's   
   occupants are listed as missing. According to media accounts, water levels in   
   Wimberly rose nearly 40 feet in a matter of hours. Read more.   
      
   Nepal Now Has a Second Repeater in Operation   
      
   A VHF repeater that had been held up in customs in Nepal during the response   
   to the April 25 magnitude 7.8 earthquake has been installed at Tribhuvan   
   University in Kathmandu. The new system will be put to use during the current   
   earthquake recovery effort and will be available for any future emergencies.   
   Initially disrupted by a magnitude 7.3 aftershock earlier this month, the   
   installation was completed on May 20. It is Nepal's first VHF repeater (145.81   
   in/145.21 out with 100 Hz tone). The country's only other repeater is a   
   dual-band (VHF/UHF) machine. Ojha said the repeater, installed by Sanjeeb   
   Panday, 9N1SP, and his students at Tribhuvan University, has been tested   
   successfully from multiple locations in Nepal's capital city.   
      
   "Even though they had to struggle through a challenging customs process, even   
   though they were interrupted in their efforts by the second massive quake,   
   they persevered and got the repeater functional during a time of a great   
   humanitarian crisis," Suresh Ojha, W6KTM, the Computer Association of   
   Nepal-USA (CAN-USA)/Radio Mala Disaster Preparedness Committee chairman told   
   ARRL. "The Nepali people now have two repeaters to service Kathmandu, both of   
   them donated by CAN-USA."   
      
   The first repeater was installed a couple of years ago at the National Society   
   for Earthquake Technology (NSET) headquarters in Kathmandu. That repeater has   
   been in regular use since the April 25 earthquake, Ojha said, "so the addition   
   of this new repeater will provide much needed additional capacity as recovery   
   efforts continue." Read more.   
      
   China Set to Launch Several Amateur Radio Satellites This Summer   
      
   CAMSAT has announced that the CAS-3 amateur satellite system is nearing   
   completion, and six Chinese amateur satellites will be launched in mid-July.   
      
   "All six satellites are equipped with substantially the same Amateur Radio   
   payloads, a U/V mode linear transponder, a CW telemetry beacon, and an AX.25   
   19.2k/9.6k baud GMSK telemetry downlink," the CAMSAT announcement said. CAMSAT   
   said that each Amateur Radio complement has the same technical c   
   aracteristics, but will operate on different 70 centimeter uplink and 2 meter   
   downlink frequencies.   
      
   CAMSAT said it has worked closely with DFH Satellite Co Ltd, a Chinese   
   government aerospace contractor, to complete the project. "All the satellites   
   are currently conducting final testing and inspection," CAMSAT added. Four of   
   the satellites are described as "microsatellites," while three are listed as   
   CubeSats.   
      
   CAMSAT said a Long March-6 rocket will carry the satellites into orbit. The   
   launch will take place at Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. CAS-3A will have   
   sun-synchronous orbits of about 450 km, while the other satellites have   
   sun-synchronous orbits of about 530 km.   
      
   "The launch will carry total of 20 satellites," CAMSAT said. "Three other   
   satellites named as CAS-3G, CAS-3H, and CAS-3I, involved in Amateur Radio from   
   other agencies of China, will share the same launch."   
      
   CAMSAT said it was assisting the Chinese government with frequency allocation   
   and coordination and would announce additional details.   
      
   Meanwhile, AMSAT News Service has reported via Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL, that   
   Beijing will be launching other satellites carrying Amateur Radio payloads in   
   July. According to AMSAT-UK, the CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2 satellites will be   
   combined into a binary star system for Amateur Radio communication and   
   education. "There will be a radio link between the two satellites when the   
   satellites are in suitable positions in their orbits, so that Amateur Radio   
   communication coverage can be extended," AMSAT-UK reported on its website.   
   Read more. -- Thanks to CAMSAT, AMSAT News Service, Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL, and   
   AMSAT-UK   
      
   ARRL Recognizing "Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award" Winners with   
   Certificate   
      
   The League now awards its "Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award"   
   certificate to recognize active Scouting leaders who make significant   
   contributions to providing Scouts with a memorable and valuable Amateur Radio   
   experience. Several of the awards already have been presented. Last year, the   
   Boy Scouts of America (BSA) included the ARRL award within its family of 19   
   Community Organization Award partners. Uniformed Scouters who have been   
   recognized for their service to Scouting youth in the community may wear the   
   BSA square knot insignia.   
      
   The Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award was officially established through   
   a resolution that the ARRL Board adopted at its 2013 Annual Meeting. It builds   
   on the long relationship between the BSA and ARRL that began with the   
   development of the Wireless Merit Badge in 1918 -- now the Radio Merit Badge.   
   This relationship was formally recognized through a 2011 Memorandum of   
   Understanding (view a video of the signing). The League's award recognizes   
   radio amateurs who, as registered Scouting leaders, make a significant   
   contribution to give Scouts a memorable experience with Amateur Radio.   
      
   Nominations for the Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award are made through   
   the appropriate ARRL Section Manager, and should be sent to Steve Ewald, WV1X,   
   at ARRL headquarters. Read more.   
      
   Got Grids? June VHF Contest is Just Ahead   
      
   Summer is nearly here, and that means it's time for the ARRL June VHF contest,   
   June 13-15! Participants in the US and Canada (and their possessions) work   
   stations in as many different 2 x 1° Maidenhead grid squares as possible,   
   using the bands above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US and Canada may only work   
   stations in the US and Canada (and their possessions). Stations in KH0-9, KL7,   
   KP1-KP5, CY9, and CY0 count as W/VE stations and may be worked by DX stations   
   for contest credit.   
      
   The June VHF Contest occurs at the start of the summer sporadic E season, and   
   intense openings on 6 meters and even 2 meters are possible. It's a whole new   
   world of propagation possibilities that also include tropospheric ducting,   
   aurora, and even meteor scatter and moonbounce. With many HF transceivers on   
   the market equipped for 6 meters and sometimes for other VHF/UHF bands,   
   getting on the air for this event is easier than ever.   
      
   For the 2014 ARRL June VHF Contest, Bruce Kripton, KG6IYN, set up this Single   
   Operator, three-band station on Los Pinos Mountain in grid DM12. He won 1st   
   place in the ARRL Southwest Division in his category. [Bruce Kripton, KG6IYN   
   photo]   
      
   Several entry categories are available, including portable -- for those who   
   enjoy operating low power from a portable power source and using portable   
   antennas, and rover -- for mobile operators who enjoy traveling from one grid   
   square to another to hand out contacts. There's even an FM-only category (50,   
   144, 222, and 446 MHz at power of 100 W or less).   
      
   In January 2015, the ARRL Board approved some rule modifications for General   
   Rules For ARRL Contests Above 50 MHz, and these changes become effective with   
   the 2015 June VHF contest. Assistance is now allowed for all entry categories.   
   This includes the use of assistance to announce your availability for contacts   
   (ie, self-spotting.) The new rules allowing assistance eliminate the need for   
   the Single Operator Unlimited categories, and these have been removed. A FAQ   
   on the June VHF web page may help answer your questions about the recent rule   
   changes.   
      
   The ARRL June VHF Contest begins at 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 13, and   
   continues through 0259 UTC on Monday, June 15. Read more.   
      
   QST Centennial Photo Contest Entry Window Open Until August 1   
      
   The window to submit photos for the QST Centennial Photo Contest closes on   
   August 1. The competition is part of the 100th anniversary of QST, the ARRL's   
   membership journal. The first issue of QST was published in December 1915.   
      
   Until August 1, 2015, ARRL members can submit photos for consideration as   
   possible 2015 QST covers. In addition to having their photos grace QST covers,   
   each winner will receive $250.   
      
   Contest Rules   
      
    *  Images must be submitted by e-mail to upfront@arrl.org. Only one image   
       can be submitted per e-mail message. You can submit multiple images   
       during the contest period, but you can win only once.   
    *  Images must be in JPG or TIF format at high resolution (but not to   
       exceed 5 MB).   
    *  ZIP files and links to file-download sites will be rejected by the   
       Headquarters e-mail system.   
    *  Each e-mail should describe the scenes shown, including names and call   
       signs of any individuals shown.   
    *  Images must not include any text overlays, such as date or time stamps.   
    *  Each submission e-mail must include the name and call sign of the   
       photographer. Photographers must be ARRL members.   
    *  If a photo includes anyone under the age of 18, you must submit proof   
       (in writing, such as an e-mail) that the minor's parents have granted   
       permission for the image to be published.   
   *   Photographers retain all copyrights. However, by submitting the image   
       to the ARRL, the photographer grants the ARRL non-exclusive rights to   
       the use of the image for any lawful purpose in any media now existing   
       or yet to be invented. This applies to both winning and non-winning   
       images.   
      
   The QST Editorial Staff will select the winning images.   
      
   Fourteen US Schools/Groups on List to Host Ham Contacts with Space Station   
      
   Fourteen of the schools and organizations that submitted proposals to host   
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contacts are moving   
   into the final stage of the selection process. Schools or organizations   
   ultimately selected would host scheduled Amateur Radio contacts with an ISS   
   crew member during the first half of 2016.   
      
   "This is a significant step in ARISS's continuing effort to engage young   
   people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities and   
   raise their awareness of space exploration, space communications, and related   
   areas of study and career possibilities," said ARRL Education Services Manager   
   Debra Johnson, K1DMJ.   
      
   AMSAT and ARRL -- the ARISS US managing partners -- announced the   
   semifinalists on May 28. They now must complete acceptable equipment plans   
   that demonstrate their ability to execute the ham radio contacts. Once the   
   ARISS technical team approves an equipment plan, ARISS and NASA will work with   
   the school or organization to schedule a contact, based on the host's   
   availability and flexibility to take advantage of the available opportunities.   
      
   The schools and organizations are:   
      
    *  All Saints STEAM Academy, Middletown, Rhode Island   
    *  Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia   
    *  Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida   
    *  Christ the King School, Rutland, Vermont   
    *  Cradle of Aviation Museum and Education Center, Garden City, New York   
    *  Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School, Blackstone, Massachusetts   
    *  National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York   
    *  National Urban Alliance for Effective Education, Syosset, New York   
    *  North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, Grand Forks, North Dakota   
    *  Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia   
    *  STEM Trajectory Initiative with Albuquerque Public Schools, Albuquerque   
       New Mexico   
    *  Stephen F. Austin Elementary School, Jones Creek, Texas   
    *  University of Alabama in Huntsville Space Hardware Club, Huntsville,   
       Alabama   
    *  Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama   
      
   No school or organization in North Dakota, Rhode Island, or Vermont has ever   
   hosted an ARISS contact. Read more.   
      
   USNA APRS/PSK31 CubeSats Up and Running   
      
   The APRS/PSK31-equipped US Naval Academy satellites appear to be operating,   
   with one exception, following their May 20 launch. Included in the launch was   
   a pair of 1.5U CubeSats -- the PSAT APRS/PSK31 satellite and BRICsat, a   
   propulsion/PSK31 satellite -- as well as a 3U CubeSat, USS Langley (Unix Space   
   Server Langley), and The Planetary Society's LightSail-1.   
      
   PSAT, a USNA student project named in honor of USNA alum Bradford Parkinson,   
   of GPS fame, contains an APRS transponder for relaying remote telemetry,   
   sensor, and user data from remote users and Amateur Radio environmental   
   experiments or other data sources back to Amateur Radio experimenters via a   
   global network of Internet-linked ground stations.   
      
   Brno University transponders on PSAT and BRICsat support multi-user PSK31 text   
   messaging (28.120 MHz uplink/435.350 MHz FM downlink). The BRICsat and PSAT   
   PSK31 transponders operate on the same frequency, although one has PSK   
   telemetry on 315 Hz, the other on 375 Hz.   
      
   Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, said the PSAT telemetry on 145.825 MHz (1200 baud AX.25)   
   is working okay, and the APRS downlink page has been capturing PSAT telemetry.   
      
   Bruninga said BRICsat's telemetry has been heard, but has been cycling off,   
   due to low power. He said the BRICsat PSK31 downlink has been copied too, but   
   only barely. "BRICsat seems to have some kind of problem," he told ARRL. The   
   USS Langley spacecraft has not been heard yet, he said.   
      
   The LightSail-1 packet 9600 baud (FSK) AX.25 downlink is on 437.435 MHz. The   
   Planetary Society's Jason Davis is asking radio amateurs to e-mail him any   
   data they collect from LightSail, including any screenshots.   
      
   Bruninga has invited APRS radio amateurs to tune into the packet downlinks and   
   to upload IGate packets into the global APRS-IS system and also to try out the   
   "exciting, new full-duplex PSK31 way of multi-user communication." He notes   
   that the UHF downlink signal is only 300 mW, and a beam antenna would be   
   required to hear the signal. Bruninga advised that those transmitting to the   
   satellites use nothing more than a dipole or quarter-wave vertical, and no   
   more than 25 W output power. Read more.   
      
   Nick Lance, KC5KBO, SK -- Prepared Astronauts to Become Radio Amateurs   
      
   Nick Lance Jr, KC5KBO, of Houston, Texas, died May 24. He was 65. A retired   
   NASA engineer and an ARRL member, Lance was a veteran member of the Amateur   
   Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team, and one of his roles   
   was to prepare the astronauts to pass their Amateur Radio license exams. Lance   
   was named ARRL Professional Educator of the Year in 2003. ARISS International   
   Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, called Lance "a smart, caring, considerate, and   
   helpful person" who loved Amateur Radio. Bauer said he would miss Lance's   
   quick wit and sense of humor.   
      
   "As the primary Amateur Radio license trainer for the ISS astronauts, Nick   
   played an integral role in encouraging and training countless astronauts --   
   US, Canada, Japan, and Europe -- to pursue their Amateur Radio licenses and   
   become active on ARISS," said Bauer. "He inspired and trained dozens of NASA   
   aerospace education specialists -- who talk to schoolteachers nationwide -- to   
   get their ham tickets. He also taught a 'Hamster' course to middle schoolers,   
   inspiring them to pursue careers in technology through Amateur Radio and ARISS   
   activities."   
      
   Lance grew up in New Jersey and held mechanical engineering degrees from the   
   Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Houston. He began his   
   career as a co-op student at NASA's Johnson Space Center in 1968. He went on   
   to become part of the Apollo Program, which landed the first humans on the   
   moon, and was involved in all of the manned spaceflight programs since Apollo.   
   He retired in August 2009.   
      
   Although he became interested in Amateur Radio as a youngster, it wasn't until   
   his 8-year-old daughter Erica said she'd like to study for a ham radio license   
   that he got his ticket. Father and daughter passed their license exams   
   together in 1994, becoming KC5KBO and KC5KBP, respectively. A couple of years   
   later, his son Nick, now KC5SWM, earned his license at age 7; his wife Renee,   
   now KC5VMA, followed that same year.   
      
   Lance was a member of the JSC Amateur Radio Club and past president of the   
   Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club (CLARC). He also taught licensing classes to the   
   public and to intermediate school students, licensing about 30 or 40 students   
   per year. Read more.   
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARRL Insurance Plan Administrator Changes: The ARRL-sponsored equipment and   
   club liability insurance plans have a new administrator as of May 26. All   
   program administration, including policy application, issuance and claims   
   administration, is now being handled by Risk Strategies, a privately held,   
   national insurance brokerage. The ARRL programs will be administered from the   
   Risk Strategies office in Chicago, Illinois. This move was based on the   
   results of numerous comments from ARRL members relative to the former   
   administrator, Hays Affinity Group. Plan participants will retain their   
   current insurance policies, and the details of the coverage and the cost of   
   coverage will remain unchanged, as will the insurance company, Hanover   
   Insurance Company. All current participants in the programs will receive an   
   e-mail describing the changes and what, if anything, they need to do to access   
   their online information. The web address for the programs will be the same,   
   www.arrlinsurance.com, but the site will take on a new look with improved   
   functionality. The toll-free numbers to contact the new administrator also   
   remain unchanged. There will be a short delay in bringing up the new site once   
   the programs have been transferred, and we appreciate your patience while Risk   
   Strategies makes the programs operational.   
      
   Hurricane Watch Net Sets On-Air Anniversary Celebration: The Hurricane Watch   
   Net (HWN) will hold a 2-day, on-air special event on June 13-14 to celebrate   
   its 50th anniversary. HWN members will be   
   using the call sign WX5HWN, operating on 14.325 MHz but with stations active   
   on or near 7.268 MHz as well. "Our net control stations located around the   
   continental US, eastern Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Honduras will all   
   use WX5HWN as we pass the virtual baton from member to member," explained HWN   
   Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV. This will mark HWN's first on-air activity using   
   WX5HWN. Electronic certificates are available by request (by June 30) for   
   valid contacts. Visit the HWN website for more information. -- Thanks to HWN   
   Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV   
      
   Updated Amateur Radio Emergency Service Manual Now Online The latest edition   
   (March 2015) of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) Manual now is   
   online. This edition includes various Incident Command System (ICS) forms for   
   ARES use, clarifies the role of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service   
   (RACES), contains an improved chapter on ARES training, and includes all   
   current ARRL memoranda of understanding/agreement. ARES consists of Amateur   
   Radio licensees who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and   
   equipment for communication duty in the public service, when disaster strikes.   
   Every licensed amateur, regardless of ARRL membership, is eligible to apply   
   for ARES membership.   
      
   Hams Invited to Test APRS on Duchifat-1 CubeSat: The Herzliya Science Center   
   is inviting stations with the ability to send compressed APRS packets to take   
   part in testing the Duchifat-1 CubeSat, launched almost 1 year ago by high   
   school students in Israel. The satellite will collect packets worldwide and   
   downlink them from time to time over the Herzliya Science Center's ground   
   station. Participants must register in advance to have their packets   
   identified on the map. Received packets will be displayed on a map on the   
   Science Center's website, and QSL cards will be sent via the bureau. The   
   uplink is 435.220 MHz, the downlink is 145.980 MHz. The satellite's call sign   
   is 4X4HSL.   
      
   Getting It Right!   
      
   FlexRadio's Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR, with the Maestro.   
      
   Our apologies to FlexRadio for including the incorrect manufacturer in the   
   caption of a photo of FlexRadio's new Maestro console, which appeared in the   
   May 21 edition of The ARRL Letter.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: This week the average daily sunspot number   
   dropped 36 points to 56.1, and average daily solar flux was down 25.7 points   
   to 97.6. Geomagnetic numbers indicated more stability than during the previous   
   week (May 14-20), with the average daily planetary A index declining from 10   
   to 4.4, and the mid-latitude A index down from 9.7 to 5.   
      
   The latest forecast from NOAA/USAF has solar flux at 95 for May 28-29; 100,   
   120, and 130 for May 30-June 1; 140 for June 2-3; 125 for June 4-5; 120 on   
   June 6; 115 for June 7-10; 110 and 105 for June 11-12; 100 for June 13-14; 95   
   on June 15; 90 for June 16-17; 95 for June 18-20; 100 for June 21-23, and 95,   
   90, 105, and 110 for June 24-27. Flux values then peak at only 125 for July   
   1-2.   
      
   The planetary A index is predicted at 8, 12, and 8 for May 28-30, then 5 for   
   May 31-June 6; 10, 25, and 20 for June 7-9; 12, 8, and 5 for June 10-12; then   
   8, 15, and 12 for June 13-15, and 5 for June 16-23.   
      
   In Friday's bulletin look for reports from readers and an updated forecast.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  May 30-31 -- CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW)   
    *  May 31 -- QRP ARCI Hoot Owl Sprint (CW)   
    *  June 1 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (Digital)   
    *  June 2 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)   
    *  June 3-4 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  June 4 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest (CW, SSB, Digital)   
    *  June 5 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint   
    *  June 5 -- NCCC Sprint Ladder (CW)   
    *  June 6 -- Wake-Up! QRP Sprint (CW)   
    *  June 6-7 -- 10-10 Int'l Open Season PSK Contest   
    *  June 6-7 -- DigiFest   
    *  June 6-7 -- VK Shires Contest (CW, SSB)   
    *  June 6-7 -- SEANET Contest (CW)   
    *  June 6-7 -- UKSMG Summer Contest   
    *  June 6-7 -- RSGB National Field Day (CW)   
    *  June 6-7 -- IARU Region 1 Field Day (CW)   
    *  June 6-7 -- Alabama QSO Party   
    *  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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   )\/(ark   
      
   ... The McDonald's/plastic cheese mentality is a national cancer.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)