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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-09-17   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   September 17, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  ARES/RACES Volunteers Activate for California Wildfires   
    *  Orlando HamCation to Host 2016 ARRL National Convention   
    *  ARRL VEC Manager Elected as NCVEC Vice Chair   
    *  Amateur Radio Special Event Stations to Mark Pope's US Visit   
    *  Ham Radio Team Supports Road Race Using High-Speed Mesh Network   
    *  ARRL New England Division Convention Fields Remote Site Special Event   
       W1A   
    *  Three ISS Crew Members, Including Two Hams, Return Safely to Earth   
    *  IARU Monitoring System Reports Increased Russian Military Traffic on Ham   
       Bands   
    *  Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wireless Association Welcomes New,   
       High-Profile Tower   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
      
   ARES/RACES Volunteers Activate for California Wildfires   
      
   Radio amateurs responded to the ongoing wildfire emergency in California.   
   Earlier this month, ARES volunteers in Amador County supported communications   
   at a Red Cross shelter at the Jackson Rancheria Conference Center, which has   
   been housing evacuees from the Butte wildfire in Northern California.   
   ARES/Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) volunteers were called out late on   
   September 9. Amador County ARES Emergency Coordinator Daniel Edwards, KJ6WYW,   
   had communications set up at the shelter by midnight and began contacting   
   other ARES members and scheduling operators to work the shelter station 24   
   hours a day.   
      
   During the activation, members of Yolo County and Sacramento County ARES   
   spelled the Amador County operators at the shelter. "This gave the Amador   
   County members a break and for some time off to help their neighbors evacuate   
   their positions," Sacramento Valley Section District 3 EC Greg Kruckewitt,   
   KG6SJT, told ARRL.   
      
   Edwards said 20 operators took part in the activation, with two operators per   
   shift. The station at the shelter was active for 120 hours.   
      
   Bill Gustavson, K6BIL, who took part in the Amador County ARES response, said   
   that at one point, with cell phone, Internet, television, and landline down,   
   "my only source of information was ham radio. The radio was the only   
   outside link to the world." He also said he was amazed to learn how many   
   nonhams listen on scanners.   
      
   As some roads in the area reopened and evacuees were able to return home,   
   Amador County ARES was released from supporting Red Cross shelter   
   communication early on September 14. The Butte fire also extended into   
   Calaveras County, in the ARRL San Joaquin Valley Section.   
      
   "The heart of our county is burned," Calaveras Amateur Radio Society President   
   Ken Sanders, AE6LA, reported, with much of the area under mandatory or   
   advisory evacuation alerts. "We've had an informal net going since the   
   beginning on our 145.170 repeater," he said on September 14, adding that he   
   expected that activity to continue "for several days."   
      
   Raging southeast of Sacramento in the Stanislaus National Forest region, the   
   Butte Fire has consumed some 71,000 acres and was 49 percent contained as of   
   September 17. The fire has destroyed more than 250 homes, and damage   
   assessment continues.   
      
   Meanwhile, the 70,000+ acre Valley Fire west of Sacramento has destroyed   
   nearly 600 homes as well as many other structures. ARRL Sacramento Valley   
   Section Manager Ron Murdock, W6KJ, said Amateur Radio operators coordinated by   
   Charlie Porter, N6JOA, at the University of California-Davis have been   
   collecting veterinary supplies for evacuated domestic animals and livestock.   
   "These will be transported to Petaluma and other unspecified locations in   
   Sonoma County by members of the Class of 2017 Veterinary Sciences Department,"   
   he told ARRL.   
      
      
   Orlando HamCation to Host 2016 ARRL National Convention   
      
   Orlando HamCation(R) will host the 2016 ARRL National Convention in February.   
   The convention will mark the 70th anniversary of HamCation -- second only in   
   the US to Dayton Hamvention(R) in terms of attendance. Orlando HamCation is   
   sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club, an ARRL-affiliated radio club,   
   and is supported by volunteers from radio clubs throughout the region.   
   HamCation has regularly served as the host for the ARRL Southeastern Division   
   Convention, and in 2014 -- the ARRL's centennial -- it was designated as one   
   of the six regional centennial events.   
      
   HamCation will take place February 12-14 at the Central Florida Fair and Expo   
   Park in Orlando. In 2015, the convention sponsored 28 forums covering topics   
   in Amateur Radio technology, public service, and education. ARRL Volunteer   
   Examiners will conduct morning and afternoon license examination sessions on   
   Saturday. Special event station K1AA will be set up and operating from the   
   fairgrounds, and licensed attendees are invited to participate.   
      
   The focus of the League's national convention will be ARRL EXPO, which will   
   feature an array of ARRL exhibits and programs. The League also will sponsor   
   several presentations and forums.   
      
   On Saturday evening, the 2016 ARRL National Convention Banquet will take place   
   at the nearby Highland Manor in Apopka, Florida. Banquet tickets, available   
   from ARRL, are $60, including transportation from the fairgrounds and some   
   nearby hotels.   
      
   The HamCation website explains how to obtain convention tickets and offers   
   more information about forums, exhibits, exam sessions, and local   
   accommodations -- some offering special convention rates. Convention tickets   
   are $13 in advance or $15 at the gate, offering admission for all 3 days.   
      
   The fairgrounds can accommodate recreational vehicles within walking distance   
   of the main exhibit buildings. A reservation form is available on the   
   HamCation website.   
      
      
   ARRL VEC Manager Elected as NCVEC Vice Chair   
      
   ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, has been   
   elected as the new vice chair of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner   
   Coordinators (NCVEC). This marks the first time an ARRL VEC representative   
   will serve in an NCVEC leadership position. She succeeds Michael Maston,   
   N6OPH, of the San Diego County Amateur Radio Council (SANDARC), who resigned   
   as vice chair and as a member of the Question Pool Committee (QPC). The NCVEC   
   called a special election teleconference on September 15 to pick a new vice   
   chair.   
      
   "I am honored to have been elected to this position by the NCVEC organization   
   and excited to serve the 14 VECs and FCC in this capacity," said Somma, who   
   also serves as NCVEC assistant custodian of the rules.   
      
   No one has been named yet to replace Maston on the QPC. Somma said the QPC   
   will not fill the position immediately, because it is in the middle of the   
   revision cycle for the Amateur Extra class question pool.   
      
   Larry Pollock, NB5X, of the W5YI VEC is the NCVEC chair, while Michael   
   Cimbala, WK3X, is secretary, and Willard Sitton, W4HZD, is its treasurer.   
   Officers serve 1 year terms, and Somma will serve for the remainder of   
   Maston's term. Officers are elected every July.   
      
   Assistant ARRL VEC Manager Perry Green, WY1O, is a member of the Question Pool   
   Committee.   
      
   The NCVEC is a private, not-for-profit voluntary association, with membership   
   comprised of the various FCC-certified VECs. The NCVEC functions to facilitate   
   the communication between the FCC and each VEC.   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Special Event Stations to Mark Pope's US Visit   
      
   When Pope Francis visits the US in late September, Amateur Radio special event   
   stations will take to the air to mark the occasion. The Pope is scheduled to   
   visit the US from September 22 until September 27. Six Papal Visit Amateur   
   Radio special event stations will be active while he is here.   
      
   The Pope will arrive on September 22 at Joint Base Andrews and first will   
   visit Washington, DC, then meet with President Barack Obama, and address a   
   joint session of the Congress. On September 25, he will attend a UN General   
   Assembly session and take part in a service at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum at   
   the World Trade Center. The following day, he will speak at Independence Hall   
   in Philadelphia, before concluding his visit with an outdoor mass in front of   
   the Philadelphia Museum of Art on September 27.   
      
   Call signs from the Washington, DC, area will be K3P and N4P; from New York   
   and New Jersey, K2P; from Southeastern Pennsylvania, W3FRC/WMF, and from   
   Philadelphia, W3P and WM3PEN. Four commemorative QSL cards and a certificate   
   to mark the historic event will be available.   
      
   Members of the Potomac Valley Radio Club, the Frankford Radio Club, the Great   
   South Bay Amateur Radio Club, and the Holmesburg Amateur Radio Club, plus   
   individual radio amateurs, will help to coordinate activity.   
      
   A Facebook group has been established for the event.   
      
      
   Ham Radio Team Supports Road Race Using High-Speed Mesh Network   
      
   Radio Amateurs in Utah have again made use of a broadband ham radio mesh   
   network to support a public event. Charles Gray, KE6QZU, headed a group of ham   
   radio volunteers that set up a high-speed broadband ham net mesh (BBHN MESH)   
   network in the rugged Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah to provide   
   communication along the final 30 miles of the of the September 11-12 Wasatch   
   100 Mile Mountain Endurance Race. Other hams covered the first 70 miles of the   
   race using more conventional technology, including FM voice and packet.   
      
   Using the BBHN MESH system, the hams helped race officials to keep track of   
   the racers and their progress along the extremely difficult course. BBHN MESH   
   uses ordinary Wi-Fi technology on Amateur Radio frequencies, which meant the   
   mesh network was able to cover a considerable amount of real estate, even in   
   the challenging mountainous environment. The race course encompassed more than   
   53,000 feet of elevation change, and it's not unusual for participants to drop   
   out before reaching the finish line.   
      
   For the hams, the terrain added a challenge to setting up the network; at some   
   points they had to maneuver over huge boulders, some the size of cars, on   
   their way to the summit of Clayton Peak, on the north side of the Brighton Ski   
   Resort. The radio amateurs had to work in teams to hoist their radio gear over   
   the rocks to reach the top. The mesh network included five sites, including   
   two unattended relay points. The group employed TeamTalk software for race   
   communication.   
      
   In addition to Gray, other participants included Brad Rupp, AC7BR; Steven   
   Baxter, K7SRB; Grant Gardner, KC7HOU; David Bauman, KF7MCF; Robert Jelf,   
   KG7OHV; Doug Thompson, W1DUG; Taylor Brinton, KE7BME, and Rich Allen, N7HRA.   
      
   Last March, some of the same hams successfully used a broadband 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi   
   network to help coordinate the Boy Scouts of America's "Scouting for Food"   
   project. -- Thanks to David T. Bauman, KF7MCF   
      
      
   ARRL New England Division Convention Fields Remote Site Special Event W1A   
      
   Special event station W1A at the ARRL New England Division Convention August   
   21-23 in Boxboro, Massachusetts, was "special" in more than one respect. For   
   starters, it did not have any antennas at the convention site. Instead, the   
   convention hotel served as the control point for "remote base" sites in   
   Vermont, Massachusetts, Manitoba, and even Poland. Dennis Egan, W1UE, and   
   Gerry Hull, W1VE, remote enthusiasts who oversaw the special event, said the   
   fully remote base operation was a first for the W1A special event. Egan, a   
   member of the convention organizing committee, convinced his colleagues to go   
   with the remote option.   
      
   "We managed slightly more than 1800 QSOs, despite rotten conditions," Hull   
   said. "We were using mainly K2LE/1 in Vermont, and K1TTT in Massachusetts --   
   both big contest stations." In the past, the New England Division Convention   
   W1A special event station has erected temporary antennas outside the hotel.   
      
   Hull also reported one "special QSO." ARRL officials spoke with a camper at   
   the Courage Kenny Handiham System's Camp Courage. Directed by Patrick Tice,   
   WA0TDA, Handihams is an organization for radio amateurs with disabilities. W1A   
   enjoyed a successful contact with W0EQO at the camp in Maple Lake, Minnesota.   
   ARRL COO Harold Kramer, WJ1B, extended greetings to the campers on behalf of   
   the League and those at the convention. Camp volunteer Matt Arthur, KA0PQW,   
   operated W0EQO. The Handiham Remote Base HF Stations offer the opportunity for   
   members to operate through a PC or Android device, if they live where they   
   can't have antennas.   
      
   The initial plan, Hull said, was to contact the camp via VE4EA, taking   
   advantage of daytime propagation between Minnesota and Manitoba. But there was   
   a terrestrial issue: "Cary's [VE4EA] remote uses DSL for Internet, and RF   
   kills the Internet connection on 160-40," Hull explained. "So, instead we used   
   K1TTT, with 4 element 40 meter Yagis at 180 and 60 feet and 1 kW. They were   
   S-5 on the K1TTT end over the remote."   
      
   Hull said W1A also logged some 50 contacts through VE4EA in suburban Winnipeg.   
   Plans to also use VY1JA's station in Yukon Territory to operate as VY1/W1A   
   fell through, because a solar flare had wiped out the bands in the Arctic   
   region. "There were only two signals on the band -- birdies in the receiver,"   
   Hull said.   
      
   W1A also was able to make a handful of contacts via 3Z9DX in Poland, using   
   RemoteHams, on 40 meters with 100 W and a 3 element Yagi.   
      
   Operators staffed two W1A operating positions, often with one on SSB, the   
   other on CW.   
      
   Primary operators were NB1N, WO1N, NF1A, AE5RF/BA4CW), K1BG, N2KW, KM3T,   
   AA4AK, W1QK, W1UE, K1QX, and W1VE.   
      
   Hull said a lot of younger operators got a chance at the mic. These included   
   KC1CWF, KC1CZQ, and KC1CWX.   
      
   "It was a lot of fun!" he concluded.   
      
      
   Three ISS Crew Members, Including Two Hams, Return Safely to Earth   
      
   Two radio amateurs -- European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andreas Mogensen,   
   KG5GCZ, Soyuz commander and Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka, RN3DT -- plus   
   Kazakh cosmonaut Aidyn Aimbetov, arrived back on Earth on September 12 from   
   the International Space Station (ISS). Mogensen, Aimbetov, and cosmonaut   
   Sergey Volkov, RU3DIS, had launched in a Soyuz transporter to the ISS on   
   September 2 from Baikonur cosmodrome. Aimbetov -- who had replaced "space   
   tourist" and British singer Sarah Brightman on the Soyuz flight -- and   
   Mogensen took part in the 10-day ESA mission to test new technologies and   
   conduct a series of scientific experiments. Mogensen is Denmark's first   
   astronaut, while Aimbetov is the first Kazakh cosmonaut.   
      
   The trio undocked from the orbiting complex on September 11 in the Soyuz   
   spacecraft that had been attached to the ISS, leaving the vessel they arrived   
   in for the station crew. The new Soyuz spacecraft will return NASA astronaut   
   Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko, RN3BF, at the end of their   
   one-year mission next March, along with Volkov.   
      
   The return wrapped up 168 days in space for Padalka, who had been on the ISS   
   since March and has logged a record 879 days in space on five flights -- more   
   than 2 months longer than cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, the previous   
   record holder.   
      
   The undocking of the returning Soyuz marked the formal start of ISS Expedition   
   45 under Kelly's command. In addition to Kelly, Kornienko, and Volkov, those   
   onboard the ISS include astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS; cosmonaut Oleg   
   Kononenko, RN3DX, and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, KG5BPH.   
      
   Three more radio amateurs are scheduled to head to the ISS in December. They   
   are cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP; UK astronaut Timothy Peake, KG5BVI,   
   and Timothy Kopra, KE5UDN.   
      
   November 2 will mark the 15th anniversary of a permanent human presence on the   
   ISS. -- Thanks to NASA, European Space Agency   
      
      
   IARU Monitoring System Reports Increased Russian Military Traffic on Ham Bands   
      
   The September edition of the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System (IARUMS)   
   newsletter has reported that Russian Military traffic in the Amateur Radio 7   
   and 14 MHz bands increased during August. At least some of these intruders   
   were likely to be audible in other parts of the world. Monitors in Europe   
   reported a Russian over-the-horizon (OTH) radar in Gorodezh on 14.108 MHz,   
   causing strong interference daily and often exhibiting splatter. In addition   
   the Russian Navy was reported active frequently on 14.192.0 MHz using FM CW.   
   Other monitoring stations in Germany reported numerous Chinese OTH radars in   
   other bands, including on 75 meters.   
      
   Region 1 IARUMS Coordinator and veteran monitor Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, recently   
   told the Rusk County Amateur Radio Club in East Texas that some of the worst   
   offenders are OTH facilities in Russia and Iran. The signals can result in   
   broad swaths of noise in the 20 meter band, he said. During his VoIP talk,   
   Hadel pointed out that recruiting volunteer monitors with the "right   
   equipment" is difficult, and he encouraged club members to join the hunt for   
   ham band intruders.   
      
   According to Region 1 monitors, intruding signals said to be coming from   
   Spanish fishing vessels have now been reported on all amateur bands -- shared   
   and exclusive. A beacon, reported to be in Kazakhstan, has been transmitting   
   "V" on 7027.5 kHz continuously. Apparent North Korean diplomatic traffic from   
   the DPRK embassy in Moscow has been heard on 14.109.5 MHz.   
      
   Mario Taeubel, DG0JBJ, observed 31 OTH radars on 20 meters, 28 OTH radars on   
   15 meters, and 11 OTH radars on 10 meters during August. In addition, a   
   Chinese OTH radar has often appeared on 80 meters in IARU Region 3.   
      
   Monitors in Europe also have monitored transmissions between taxi drivers and   
   dispatchers on Amateur Radio frequencies, primarily on 10 meters.   
      
   The ARRL recently forwarded reports from IARU Region 2 and Hawaii to R2   
   Monitoring System Coordinator Jorge Del Valle, TG9ADV. These included   
   so-called drift net beacons on 10 meters (28.281 and 28.226 MHz), as well as   
   digital, radar, and phone intruders heard on 20 meters in Hawaii.   
      
   Authorized by the IARU Administrative Council, IARU Monitoring System   
   volunteers work under the guidance of the IARU International Monitoring System   
   Coordinator and regional coordinators. The IARU Monitoring System operations   
   are coordinated under the Monitoring System Committee.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Worcester Polytechnic Institute Wireless Association Welcomes New,   
   High-Profile Tower   
      
   The new fall semester at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester,   
   Massachusetts, heralded not only the resumption of classes but a new antenna   
   tower for the WPI Wireless Association (WPIWA), the home of W1YK. The new   
   tower replaced an older one atop the four-story Salisbury Labs building on the   
   campus, where the club's other antennas are located. The club station has long   
   been housed in a small penthouse on the building. The new tower sports a 2   
   element antenna to cover 40 and 10 meters.   
      
   WPIWA President Andrew Mahn, NS1A -- a member of the Class of 2017 who is   
   studying management information systems -- credited many people for helping   
   make the project possible, including the club's current and previous executive   
   boards, the WPI Student Government Association, and many WPI employees who   
   worked with club over the past several months to coordinate the new tower   
   installation. He singled out club alumnus Gregory Karp-Neufeld, W6GKN, as   
   essential to the project from the very beginning, and who contributed   
   countless hours to it throughout the summer from the West Coast.   
      
   The WPI Wireless Association traces its roots to the earliest days of Amateur   
   Radio. The group was first founded in October of 1909, by Oliver B. Jacobs and   
   a group of 40 others, inspired by a similar initiative at the Massachusetts   
   Institute of Technology.   
      
   More photos are on the club's Facebook page.   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   Ned Stearns, AA7A, Now Maintaining World Above 50 MHz Standings: Ned Stearns,   
   AA7A, now is maintaining The World Above 50 MHz Standings on the ARRL website.   
   Stearns has chased DX on all bands, operated as part of DXpeditions all over   
   the world, and run moonbounce from home and abroad. He is active on all bands   
   from 160 meters through 23 centimeters. The World Above 50 MHz Standings page   
   is a listing of station operator-reported information detailing the number of   
   grids, states and DXCC entities worked on 50 MHz and above. This information   
   is reported by the station operator and does not reflect data confirmed by the   
   ARRL Awards Branch. The ARRL will verify the veracity of exceptional claims.   
   Numbers reported should reflect confirmed contacts. Report information to   
   standings@arrl.org. Visit The World Above 50 MHz Standings webpage.   
      
      
   AMSAT Announces 2015 Board of Directors Election Results: AMSAT has announced   
   the results of its 2015 Board of Directors election. Barry Baines, WD4ASW;   
   Jerry Buxton, N0JY; Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and Bob McGwier, N4HY, will serve   
   2 year terms on the AMSAT-NA Board. The First Alternate is Mark Hammond, N8MH,   
   and the Second Alternate is Bruce Paige, KK5DO. Both will serve 1 year terms.   
   -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service   
      
      
   Early Registration for ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference Ends   
   September 19: Early conference registration closes on September 19 for those   
   planning to attend the 34th annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference   
   (DCC). The 2015 DCC will take place October 9-11 near Chicago. The DCC   
   provides an international forum for radio amateurs to meet, publish their   
   work, and present new ideas and techniques. Presenters and attendees will have   
   the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and software   
   advances, theories, experimental results, and practical applications.   
      
      
   HF Parachute Mobile Jumps Set: HF Parachute Mobile Mission 21 is set for   
   Sunday, September 20, over Byron, California. Operators will start jumping at   
   9:30 AM local, with subsequent jumps approximately every hour after that, up   
   to 3 or 4 jumps. Regular updates will be made on the W6CX Mount Diablo   
   repeater (147.060 MHz). Contacts will be made on 146.430 MHz FM simplex and on   
   28.425 MHz, in the Novice/Technician portion of the band. Operation on 20 and   
   40 meters also is possible. Live streaming video will be available. Mission 22   
   will take place during Pacificon, October 16-18. -- Thanks to Mark Meltzer,   
   AF6IM   
      
      
   Fox-1C and Fox-1D FM Transponder CubeSats to Share a Ride: In response to a   
   breaking opportunity, AMSAT and Spaceflight, Inc have arranged for two of the   
   Fox series of CubeSats -- Fox-1D and Fox-1C -- to share a ride into space.   
   Fox-1D will accompany Fox-1C on the maiden flight of the SHERPA system on a   
   SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle. Fox-1D is identical to Fox-1C, but operates on   
   different frequencies and carries the University of Iowa HERCI (High-Energy   
   Radiation CubeSat Instrument) radiation-mapping experiment as a hosted   
   payload. Once in orbit, Fox-1D will provide additional selectable U/V or L/V   
   repeater capabilities and will be able to downlink Earth images from the   
   Virginia Tech camera experiment. Launch is currently planned for the first   
   quarter of 2016. AMSAT has said its Fox-1A and Fox-1B CubeSats will go aloft   
   as part of the NASA Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program,   
   which offers free launches to educational entities and encourages science   
   missions. Fox-1A is scheduled to launch this fall. For more information on the   
   Fox satellites, see "Fox-1, the New Era of Amateur Radio Satellites," by Dave   
   Jordan, AA4KN, in the July 2015 QST.   
      
      
   VI0ANZAC Faced Poor Weather and Propagation: Despite adverse Antarctic winter   
   weather, the VI0ANZAC special event made it on the air over the August 29-30   
   weekend. Poor propagation hampered the operation, but 56 contacts made it into   
   the log. The operation was part of the WIA commemoration of the 100th   
   anniversary of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landing at   
   Gallipoli, Turkey. An earlier plan to activate VI0ANZAC had to be postponed   
   because of a storm. Operator Doug McVeigh, VK0DMV, sheltered in the antenna   
   shack with a 50 W transceiver. Because of the wind, he had to first obtain   
   official permission before venturing outdoors, and he ended up spending the   
   night there, because winds were at 80 knots. "Lots and lots of noise," McVeigh   
   said, "but there were some very clear signals from mainly Queensland (VK4),   
   which was a good break from the noise in the background." He expressed thanks   
   to all who contacted him and apologized for having to leave early on Sunday to   
   take advantage of a break in the weather. A special QSL card will be available   
   for this event. -- Thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar activity is perking up this week.   
   Average daily solar flux rose from 85.3 last week to 97.3 for the reporting   
   week, September 10-16. Over the same 2 weeks, average daily sunspot numbers   
   rose from 37.3 to 66.9.   
      
   The latest forecast from USAF/NOAA shows solar flux at 110 on September 17-19;   
   105 on September 20-22; 100 on September 23; 90 on September 24-26; then 85,   
   80, and 85 on September 27-29; 90, 95, and 90 on September 30-October 2; 85 on   
   October 3-6; 90 and 95 on October 7-8; 100 on October 9-10; 105 on October   
   11-12; 100 and 95 on October 13-14, and 90 on October 15-23.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 8 on September 17-19; 12 on September 20; 10 on   
   September 21; 8 on September 22-23; then 15 and 10 on September 24-25; 5 on   
   September 26-29; 8 and 18 on September 30-October 1; then 25, 20, and 12 on   
   October 2-3; 25, 20, 18, and 12 on October 4-7; 18, 15, 10, 12, 20, and 12 on   
   October 8-13, and 8 on October 14-15.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  September 17 -- NAQCC CW Sprint   
    *  September 18 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint Ladder   
    *  September 18 -- AGB NEMIGA Contest (CW, SSB, Digital)   
    *  September 19 -- QRP Afield (CW)   
    *  September 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  September 19-20 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (all modes)   
    *  September 19-20 -- SARL VHF/UHF Analog/Digital Contest   
    *  September 19-20 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest CW   
    *  September 19-20 -- South Carolina QSO Party (CW, SSB, Digital)   
    *  September 19-20 -- Washington State Salmon Run (CW, SSB, Digital)   
    *  September 20 -- North American Sprint (RTTY)   
    *  September 20 -- BARTG Sprint 75 (Digital)   
    *  September 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  September 21 -- 144 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, Phone, Digital)   
    *  September 23 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)   
    *  September 23 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test   
    *  September 23 -- UKEICC 80 Meter Contest (CW)   
    *  September 24 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint (CW)   
    *  September 25 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint Ladder   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    *  September 19 -- San Joaquin Valley Section Convention, Fresno,   
       California   
    *  September 25-26 -- W4DXCC/SEDCO Convention, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee   
    *  September 26 -- Iowa State Convention, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa   
    *  September 26 -- North Dakota State Convention, West Fargo, North Dakota   
    *  September 26 -- Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley, Washington   
    *  October 2-4 -- Mid-Atlantic States VHF Conference, Bensalem,   
       Pennsylvania   
    *  October 3 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware   
    *  October 9-10 -- Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida   
    *  October 9-11 -- ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference, Arlington   
       Heights, Illinois   
    *  October 10-11 -- Pacific Northwest VHF Conference, Issaquah, Washington   
    *  October 16-18 -- Microwave Update Convention, San Diego, California   
    *  October 16-18 -- Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon), San Ramon,   
       California   
    *  October 17 -- Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference, Wisconsin Rapids,   
       Wisconsin   
    *  October 18 -- Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut   
    *  October 23-24 -- Arizona State Convention, Kingman, Arizona   
    *  October 23-24 -- Oklahoma State Convention, Ardmore, Oklahoma   
    *  November 7 -- Fall TechFest, Lakewood, Colorado   
    *  November 7-8 -- Georgia Section Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia   
    *  November 14 -- HamJam Convention, Alpharetta, Georgia   
    *  November 14-15 -- Indiana State Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   ... Everything on land is within walking distance.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)