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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-10-22   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   October 22, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Parity Act House Cosponsors Now in Triple Digits!   
    *  ARRL Executive Committee Presented with Draft Enforcement Improvement   
       Plan   
    *  FCC Seeking User Comments on New Beta Website   
    *  ARES/RACES Teams Expected to Join MARS in Coronal Mass Ejection Disaster   
       Exercise   
    *  Hudson Amateur Radio Council Donates Nearly $9000 to ARRL   
    *  Amateur Radio was Part of Typhoon Koppu Response in the Philippines   
    *  IARU Region 3 Conference Opens with a Gong   
    *  AO-85 Enthusiasm Prevails at AMSAT 2015 Space Symposium and Annual   
       Meeting   
    *  Florida Radio Amateurs Support Bicycle Festival   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
      
   Parity Act House Cosponsors Now in Triple Digits!   
      
   The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 bill in the US House (H.R. 1301) now has   
   106 cosponsors! ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, credited ARRL members "who   
   understand the importance of the legislation" with making it possible to reach   
   that milestone.   
      
   "They have signed letters at hamfests and conventions all over the country, at   
   booths staffed by Directors, Vice Directors, Section Managers, and other ARRL   
   officials," President Craigie said. Backing up those efforts have been recent   
   personal visits to Capitol Hill by ARRL Directors Dick Isely, W9GIG, and Mike   
   Lisenco, N2YBB, as well as by General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD.   
      
   The 100th cosponsor of H.R. 1301 was Rep Larry Bucshon [R-IN], who signed   
   aboard on October 16. Six more cosponsors added their names on October 20 and   
   21. They are Reps Steve Chabot, [R-OH], Mike Bost [R-IL], and Frank LoBiondo   
   [R-NJ]; Katherine Clark [D-MA]; Thomas MacArthur [R-NJ], and Sheila Jackson   
   Lee [D-TX].   
      
   The Amateur Radio Parity Act would direct the FCC to extend its Part 97   
   Amateur Radio Service rules relating to "reasonable accommodation" of Amateur   
   Service communications to include private land use restrictions. There are two   
   bills, one in the US House and one in the US Senate. US Rep Adam Kinzinger   
   (R-IL) introduced H.R. 1301 on March 4 with 12 original cosponsors from both   
   sides of the aisle. US Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced S. 1685 into the US   
   Senate on June 25, with Sen Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) as the original   
   cosponsor.   
      
   "We are not done by any means," President Craigie added. "Let's push the   
   numbers up and keep our representatives and senators aware of how much we care   
   about this issue."   
      
   She noted that Scouting's Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) over the October 17-18   
   weekend introduced thousands of youngsters to Amateur Radio. "Let's make sure   
   their interest can blossom, even if their parents have chosen to live in   
   communities that don't allow antennas at this time," President Craigie urged.   
   "These young people need what Amateur Radio has to offer, and Amateur Radio   
   certainly needs them. Please help them be the future."   
      
   The ARRL recently introduced a "Clarity on Parity" video, and not only has it   
   been made available on Capitol Hill, it would make an informative Amateur   
   Radio club meeting program. A "Clarity on Amateur Radio Parity" document   
   stresses many of the same points.   
      
   The ARRL Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 page provides more information and   
   explains how members can become involved.   
      
      
   ARRL Executive Committee Presented with Draft Enforcement Improvement Plan   
      
   At the ARRL Executive Committee (EC) meeting on October 3 in Bloomington,   
   Minnesota, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, presented a draft plan for   
   the improvement of timely and visible enforcement in the Amateur Radio   
   Service. The ARRL Board had requested the draft at its July meeting. While no   
   details of the draft plan were made public, Executive Committee members   
   discussed actions envisioned in both the short and long term and offered   
   comments that will be taken into account in the next revision of the draft   
   plan. Regulatory matters were just one topic area on the wide-ranging EC   
   agenda.   
      
   Imlay also reported on several ongoing FCC proceedings, on which no action has   
   occurred since the Board last met in July. He said there has been no   
   indication from the FCC as to when to expect a Notice of Proposed Rule Making   
   in response to the ARRL's petition (RM-11708) asking the Commission to replace   
   the existing symbol rate limit on HF data transmissions with a bandwidth limit.   
      
   ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, updated the EC on a report to the full Board by   
   Chief Technology Officer Brenan Price, N4QX, regarding prospects for a 5 MHz   
   allocation at next month's World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) in   
   Geneva. Four of the six regional telecommunications organizations (RTOs) have   
   offered affirmative proposals to the agenda item, while one has proposed no   
   change. Several major countries are refraining from supporting the affirmative   
   proposals from their RTOs, however, and it's impossible to predict what WRC-15   
   delegates will decide.   
      
   During its lunch break, President Kay Craigie, N3KN, presented the ARRL   
   President's Award to Patrick W. Tice, WA0TDA, who is retiring after a quarter   
   century as Handiham program coordinator. All attendees, along with Minnesota   
   Section Manager Skip Jackson, KS0J, expressed their congratulations and   
   appreciation to Pat and his wife, Susie. After the meeting resumed, President   
   Craigie and Sumner briefed the EC on ongoing discussions to ensure that   
   Handiham Program services will continue after Tice retires.   
      
   In other business, Sumner reviewed the future outlook for the ARRL Repeater   
   Directory and related products. A new agreement is in place with 54 of 60   
   repeater coordinating bodies that will result in an improved Repeater   
   Directory for 2016-17, Sumner said, but he told the EC that the long-term   
   viability of such printed directories is doubtful. These face competition from   
   web-based directories and smartphone apps that accept crowd-sourced data and   
   are growing in popularity. Sumner told the EC that significant investment   
   would be needed, if the quality of the Repeater Directory and related products   
   is to meet future market expectations as well as ARRL organizational   
   objectives.   
      
   The EC took note of the Programs & Services Committee (PSC) endorsement of a   
   VHF and Above Revitalization Committee recommendation to end the prohibition   
   to contest use of 146.52 MHz, the traditional 2 meter FM simplex "calling   
   channel." Advance notification of the rule change has been communicated to the   
   full Board, and the change will take effect in 2016, starting with the January   
   VHF Contest.   
      
   President Craigie, noting that the October 3 meeting would be her last as a   
   member of the Executive Committee, expressed her appreciation for the   
   diligence and cooperation of the committee members. President Craigie has   
   already indicated that she will not run again when her second term ends in   
   January.   
      
      
   FCC Seeking User Comments on New Beta Website   
      
   As part of an ongoing research and design project "to dramatically improve the   
   usability and functionality" of its website, the FCC has debuted a new   
   prototype website and wants to know what users think about it. The FCC's 2011   
   website re-design was not well received, and the Commission has continued to   
   maintain its previous, much older website design in tandem with the newer one.   
      
   "You spoke, we listened," FCC Chief Information Officer David Bray said in an   
   October 9 blog post. "[W]e built a new beta (ie test) version of FCC.gov based   
   on your input, and we need your feedback again. Building upon the foundation   
   of extensive user research done earlier this year -- and coupled with   
   additional input we will receive during this beta period -- the new FCC.gov   
   will be more useful and accessible to FCC stakeholders." Bray stressed that   
   "old content and features" remain available on the current FCC website "while   
   we perfect the new site. Bray explained that the new beta website is   
   Drupal-based and responsive, and the display will optimize based upon the   
   device being used to view the site.   
      
   "The beta website is also connected to our document databases, EDOCS and ECFS,   
   via application programming interfaces (APIs). The APIs allow real-time EDOCS   
   and ECFS updates to display in Headlines and Most Active Proceedings," Bray   
   said. "FCC applications will also be updated and increasingly cloud-based,   
   similar to our new Consumer Help Desk."   
      
   Bray said all content on the current FCC website has been migrated to the new   
   Drupal-based site. The FCC IT staff is now integrating that content into what   
   Bray called "new information architecture," which, he said, would offer   
   additional and improved ways of accessing and interacting with the website's   
   content.   
      
   He said that based on additional feedback the FCC receives during the beta   
   website's "extended" testing period, "we intend to complete the switch to the   
   new site fully later this fall."   
      
   Users can submit their comments and suggested bug fixes by using a web form or   
   e-mail.   
      
      
   ARES/RACES Teams Expected to Join MARS in Coronal Mass Ejection Disaster   
   Exercise   
      
   Preparations are nearly in place for the previously announced Military   
   Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) coronal mass ejection (CME) disaster   
   communication exercise, which will take place Saturday through Tuesday,   
   November 7-10. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil   
   Emergency Service (RACES) groups are expected to participate in the quarterly   
   contingency HF exercise in support of the US Department of Defense.   
      
   "We are looking forward to this exercise and the opportunity to partner and   
   train with the larger Amateur Radio community," Army MARS Program Manager Paul   
   English, WD8DBY, told ARRL. The exercise   
   scenario will simulate a CME event and focus on actions that radio operators   
   should take prior to and following such an event, which could impact HF   
   propagation. English said leaders from Army and Air Force MARS will hold a   
   final exercise coordination teleconference on October 28 "to answer any final   
   questions about the exercise and make sure everyone is ready to train."   
      
   English said he's responded to some 90 inquiries from ARES and RACES groups as   
   well as from individuals who would like to involve their ARES teams, and he   
   expects about 50 ARES/RACES-affiliated organizations to participate. He said a   
   few additional active duty military units also hope to take part in the   
   exercise.   
      
   English said the November exercise would simulate a radio blackout as well as   
   infrastructure damage. "During the exercise, we will simulate the blackout   
   with a 3 hour pause, and then we will bring stations back on air and begin   
   handling requests for information," he told ARRL.   
      
   Training objectives for this exercise will include understanding what a CME is   
   and how much forecast lead time can be expected; the effects associated with a   
   CME, and what precautions radio operators take to protect their equipment,   
   prior to a severe CME. Following the simulated CME, operators will assess its   
   effects and report that information. This will involve "inter-operation with   
   Amateur Radio operators and groups to assist in assessment," English said.   
      
   ARES and RACES teams, as well as individual radio amateurs, wishing to   
   participate in this exercise may contact MARS and provide contact information.   
      
      
   Hudson Amateur Radio Council Donates Nearly $9000 to ARRL   
      
   At the recent meeting of the ARRL Executive Committee in Minneapolis, ARRL   
   Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, representing the Hudson Amateur   
   Radio Council (HARC), donated $8922.93 to the ARRL Legislative Issues Advocacy   
   Fund.   
      
   "HARC was formed over 50 years ago to help support expenses incurred by clubs   
   sponsoring Division conventions," Lisenco said. "Over the past 30 years,   
   conventions in the Hudson Division have become few and far between, due to the   
   costs associated with an event in the metropolitan New York area, as well as   
   finding clubs with the people to staff such an event. The last convention was   
   held in 2000."   
      
   Lisenco said Dave Popkin, W2CC, became the guardian of the HARC money that   
   remained after the last convention and was savvy enough to place it in a   
   certificate of deposit that yielded the substantial sum donated to the ARRL   
   Legislative Issues Advocacy Fund.   
      
   "The Division is indebted to Dave for his stewardship and grateful that he was   
   willing to see these monies go to an extremely worthy cause," Lisenco added.   
      
   Accepting the donation on behalf of the League were ARRL President Kay   
   Craigie, N3KN, and ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ.   
      
      
   Amateur Radio was Part of Typhoon Koppu Response in the Philippines   
      
   Amateur Radio in the Philippines was part of the comprehensive response to the   
   Category 4 Typhoon Koppu -- known locally as Typhoon Lando -- which hit the   
   islands over the past weekend with damaging winds and heavy rain. According to   
   the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the   
   National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) coordinated with the Philippine   
   Amateur Radio Association (PARA) to monitor conditions in affected regions   
   through their local Amateur Radio associations.   
      
   PARA stood by to monitor reports from Amateur Radio groups, and through the   
   PARA DU Net, went into emergency mode to monitor reports from the eastern   
   seaboard of the main island, Luzon, through its Ham Emergency Radio Operator   
   Network (HERO). Lando may have been the second most powerful storm to strike   
   the country this year.   
      
   The typhoon came ashore on northeastern Aurora province on October 19, leaving   
   at least a dozen dead, forcing tens of thousands from their homes, flooding   
   villages, and knocking out power and telecommunications. The storm later   
   weakened to a tropical storm.   
      
   The overall response also involved the fire service, Coast Guard, police,   
   army, the Red Cross, and other trained volunteers. -- Thanks to Jim Linton,   
   VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee   
      
      
   IARU Region 3 Conference Opens with a Gong   
      
   The 16th International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 triennial   
   conference opened in Bali, Indonesia, on October 12 with some pomp and   
   circumstance that included remarks from government officials and an   
   opportunity for IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, to help sound the gong   
   to bring the meeting to order.   
      
   Conference President Sutiyoso, YB0ST, welcomed the attendees on behalf of the   
   hosting Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization (ORARI). IARU Region 3 Chairman   
   Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, greeted delegates on behalf of the IARU Region 3   
   officers, while Ellam welcomed participants on behalf of the IARU officers and   
   the International Secretariat and thanked ORARI for hosting the meeting. Ellam   
   said the IARU team attending the World Radiocommunication Conference 2015   
   (WRC-15) in November would make its best effort for a possible Amateur Service   
   allocation near 5 MHz.   
      
   Representatives from 15 IARU member societies, including the ARRL, attended.   
   Three other societies were represented by proxy. In his welcoming remarks,   
   Indonesia's minister of communication and information technology recognized   
   the important role of Amateur Radio in disaster communication in his country   
   with many islands. Participants were uniformly impressed with the excellent   
   organization of the conference by ORARI, as well as with ORARI's close   
   government ties.   
      
   The conferees got down to business promptly, designating two working groups.   
   Working Group 1 (WG1) addressed such policy issues as education, training,   
   development of Amateur Radio, and international and regional conferences   
   involving radio administrations with special concentration on youth. ARRL   
   International Affairs Vice President Jay Bellows, K0QB, chaired WG1. Working   
   Group 2 (WG2) dealt with such operational and technical matters as emergency   
   communication, digital modes, a common APRS frequency, and Region 3 band   
   plans. Titon Dutono, YB3PET, chaired WG2, and ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ,   
   served as its secretary. In all, working group members discussed 37 papers and   
   submitted recommendations to the conference for adoption.   
      
   Among recommendations adopted was one to ask the IARU Administrative Council   
   to make available information on the use of the Amateur Satellite Service for   
   member societies, satellite groups, Amateur Satellite operators, and concerned   
   radio amateurs. This information would include, but not be limited to,   
   criteria for a satellite to be in the Amateur Satellite Service and the   
   procedure for IARU satellite frequency coordination. The conference also   
   adopted adjustments to the Region 3 band plans. Region 3 directors will   
   consider making the format similar to that used in Regions 1 and 2. Societies   
   were further asked to publicize digital mode developments and educate amateurs   
   not to interfere with Amateur Radio digital transmissions. Attention also was   
   called to newer digital modes, such as MFSK16, DominoEX, and FSQ, as possibly   
   better performers than PSK31.   
      
   The IARU Administrative Council (AC) met just prior to the Region 3   
   conference, and AC members also took part in the conference. In addition to   
   Ellam, others on hand from outside Region 3 included IARU Vice President Ole   
   Garpestad, LA2RR, and Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Region 1 President Don   
   Beattie, G3BJ, and Vice President Faisal Al-Ajmi, 9K2RR, and Region 2   
   President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AM, and Vice President Jose Molina, YS1MS.   
      
   Following seven nominations, six individuals, including four incumbents, were   
   elected to the IARU Region 3 Board. They were Rhee Joong Geun, HL1AQQ; Shizuo   
   Endo, JE1MUI; Peter Young, VK3MV; Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN; Wisnu Widjaja,   
   YB0AZ, and Don Wallace, ZL2TLL. Madhavan was re-elected as chairman. Katsumi   
   "Ken" Yamamoto, JA1CJP, was returned unopposed as Secretary. New terms will   
   begin on November 15.   
      
   Before concluding on October 16, the Region 3 Conference accepted an   
   invitation from the Korean Amateur Radio League (KARL) to host the 17th IARU   
   Region 3 Conference in Seoul in late 2018. The ARDF World Championships will   
   take place that same year in Korea.   
      
      
   AO-85 Enthusiasm Prevails at AMSAT 2015 Space Symposium and Annual Meeting   
      
   Excitement and enthusiasm over the recently launched Fox-1A CubeSat, now known   
   as AO-85, permeated the just-concluded AMSAT 2015 Space Symposium and Annual   
   Meeting. Nearly 120 attended the gathering October 16-18 in Dayton, Ohio.   
   AMSAT Vice President for Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, told his forum that   
   AO-85 is working well and that telemetry reports from users have been   
   extremely helpful. Buxton told his forum audience that the Fox team is mulling   
   what might be causing what he called "a perceived loss of sensitivity" on the   
   AO-85 70 centimeter receiver. "There's a lot of speculation," he allowed. He   
   also discussed the subsequent entries in the Fox CubeSat series. The AO-85   
   transponder is unavailable for general use until October 23 for further   
   commissioning.   
      
   AMSAT-NA Board Member Bob McGwier, N4HY, of Virginia Tech, outlined efforts to   
   orbit the Phase 3E (P3E) project announced earlier this year. Virginia Tech   
   approached the US Government last July to fly P3E in order to support   
   scientific payloads as well as to serve as an Amateur Radio satellite. As   
   McGwier explained, the project faces some daunting political and technical   
   challenges. He is working with AMSAT-DL to transfer the satellite -- which has   
   been in storage in Germany for years -- to his Virginia Tech team for   
   integration into a government project that would place the satellite into an   
   elliptical high-Earth orbit (HEO). Before the satellite becomes available for   
   Amateur Radio applications, though, it would be shifted into a new -- and   
   lower -- elliptical HEO orbit. If all goes smoothly, the project could reach   
   fruition in 2018.   
      
   AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, announced the appointment of Joe   
   Kornowski, KB6IGK, of Austin, Texas, as the new editor of The AMSAT Journal,   
   beginning with the November/December 2015 issue. He succeeds JoAnne Maenpaa,   
   K9JKM. Kornowski has served as an Assistant Editor since 2014.   
      
   Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, provided an update on Amateur Radio on the International   
   Space Station (ARISS). While the financial situation is not as bleak as it was   
   in 2014, Bauer indicated that ARISS needs to raise $90,000 annually to   
   maintain its current level of operation, and $214,000 to grow operations and   
   meet its desired goals.   
      
   At the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on October 15, prior to the 2015 AMSAT   
   Space Symposium, the Board approved the appointment of officers. Barry Baines,   
   WD4ASW, will continue as the president of AMSAT-NA. Other officer positions   
   also remained unchanged, with Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, as Vice President for   
   Operations; Jerry Buxton, N0JY, as Vice President for Engineering, and Frank   
   Bauer, KA3HDO, as Vice President for Human Spaceflight. Paul Stoetzer, N8HM,   
   will serve as secretary, while Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF, will be treasurer.   
   Martha Saragovitz will continue as AMSAT-NA manager.   
      
   The positions of Executive Vice President, Vice President for User Services,   
   and Vice President for Marketing remain open.   
      
      
   Florida Radio Amateurs Support Bicycle Festival   
      
   Lake County, Florida, ARES and the Lake Amateur Radio Association (LARA) this   
   month again supported radio communication for the Mount Dora Bicycle Festival   
   -- something they've been doing for almost 25 years. During the October 9-11   
   event, ham radio volunteers provided communication from each rest area as well   
   as from mobile radio units patrolling the various bicycle routes. The Mount   
   Dora Bicycle Festival is sponsored each year by the Mount Dora Chamber of   
   Commerce and attracts cyclists from all over the country.   
      
   "Despite a little early morning fog, good weather prevailed for the 3 day   
   event," said Ted Luebbers, K1AYZ. "Temperatures were moderate with some   
   humidity. For many of the riders this has become an event they look forward to   
   enjoying each year." Luebbers explained that the festival is not a competitive   
   race but a series of 12 separate bicycle tours of Florida's scenic Lake County   
   countryside. "Lake County is blessed with 1400 named lakes and is considered   
   to be Florida's Hill Country," Luebbers said.   
      
   "Some of these hills offer a unique challenge for even the most experienced   
   bicycle riders," he said. "The longest ride is 100 miles and the shortest is   
   12 miles. Riders choose which rides they want to take each day." This year's   
   festival attracted 1325 participants.   
      
   The radio-equipped mobile vehicles the hams provided transported 30 riders and   
   their bicycles back to the starting area over the 3 days, due to mechanical   
   breakdowns, medical issues, or fatigue. The most serious injury was a broken   
   collarbone. This year, 25 Amateur Radio volunteers took part. -- Thanks to Ted   
   Luebbers, K1AYZ   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   Look for 4U70UN this weekend! To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the   
   United Nations on October 24, the headquarters Amateur Radio club station   
   4U1UN will operate as 4U70UN over the October 24-25 weekend (between 1400 and   
   2130 UTC both days), and satellite operation will be included. The UN Amateur   
   Radio Club will set up at a ground-level garden area within the UN   
   Headquarters complex in New York City; operation will be limited to daylight   
   hours on as many bands and modes as possible. Regarding satellite operation,   
   4U70UN will face blockage from tall buildings to the west, so the best passes   
   will be to the east of grid FN30as and north and south overhead. 4U1UN is a   
   separate DXCC entity. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service; The Daily DX   
      
      
   SAQ Alexanderson Alternator VLF Transmission set for UN Day, October 24: The   
   SAQ Alexanderson Alternator VLF transmitter at the World Heritage Grimeton   
   site in Sweden will be on the air to mark United Nations Day, October 24, at   
   1000 UTC. The UN this year celebrates its 70th anniversary. SAQ will begin   
   tuning at about 0930 UTC. SAQ is not requesting reception reports and will not   
   verify any. Amateur Radio station SK6SAQ will be on the air on October 24 on   
   several frequencies and modes: 7035 kHz and 14,035 kHz on CW; 7080 kHz on SSB,   
   and 7050 kHz on PSK31. QSL SK6SAQ via SK6DK or the bureau. -- Thanks to Lars   
   Kalland, SM6NM   
      
      
   JOTA Stations Urged to File their 2015 Reports: National JOTA Organizer Jim   
   Wilson, K5ND, is calling on all stations that participated in the 2015   
   Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) to submit their reports. "I hope that all y'all had   
   a great JOTA weekend," Wilson said, noting that he visited the National   
   Scouting Museum and K2BSA/5. "From my own station I also heard lots of   
   stations on 20 and 40 meters along with a few on 17 and 15 meters. I worked a   
   couple on SSB and PSK," he added. Individual station report information will   
   be compiled into the US JOTA report and filed with the World Organization of   
   the Scouting Movement for incorporation into its report. "If you don't have   
   exact numbers for some of the information, you can use your best judgment to   
   provide an estimate," Wilson said. After submitting your report, you'll   
   receive a confirmation via e-mail along with a link to download the JOTA 2015   
   Certificate. Wilson said photos and stories are welcome but not required.   
      
      
   Ofcom Poised to Cancel Unrenewed Amateur Licenses: UK telecommunications   
   regulator Ofcom has announced that it's set to start cancelling Amateur Radio   
   licenses, possibly numbering into the thousands, that have not been   
   "revalidated" by the holder. The effort appears to be, in part, an effort to   
   clear dead wood from the agency's databases. Amateur Radio licenses in the UK   
   must be revalidated every 5 years, but until Ofcom goes through the process of   
   revoking the license, such a license remains valid. The first batch to be   
   revoked will comprise Amateur Radio licenses that had been due for   
   revalidation between September 2012 and January 2013. -- Thanks to Southgate   
   Amateur Radio Club; Ofcom   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers over the past   
   week were up by 38.1 points to 75, and average daily solar flux rose by 30.7   
   points to 118.2. Geomagnetic conditions were quiet over the week, with average   
   planetary A index declining from 25.1 to 11, and mid-latitude A index dropping   
   from 17.6 to 9.1.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 130 on October 22-24; 125 on October 25; 120 on   
   October 26-27; 115 on October 28-29; 90 on October 30; 85 on October   
   31-November 1; 80 on November 2-6; then 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, and   
   120 on November 7-14; 125 on November 15-17; 120 on November 18-20, and 115 on   
   November 21-22. Flux values then drop to 80 on November 28 through December 3.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 10 on October 22; 5 on October 23-27; 8 on   
   October 28-29; 10 on October 30; 5 on October 31-November 2; 50 on November 3;   
   40 on November 4; 25 on November 5; 12 on November 6-7; then 20, 25, 20, and   
   10 on November 8-11, and 8 on November 12-13. The A index then drops to 5 on   
   November 19-24, then bounces back to 50 on November 30.   
      
   Those Ap index values of 50 on November 3 and again on November 30 seem to be   
   echoes of the October 7-8 period, when planetary A index was 77 and 56. The   
   high values are each spaced one whole solar rotation (27-28 days) from each   
   other.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for October 15 through 21 were 49, 68, 83, 81, 94, 77, and 73,   
   with a mean of 75. The 10.7 cm flux was 106.8, 109.1, 116.6, 119.5, 123.7,   
   122.8, and 129, with a mean of 118.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 10,   
   8, 11, 22, 5, 9, and 12, with a mean of 11. Estimated mid-latitude A indices   
   were 9, 8, 9, 15, 3, 8, and 12, with a mean of 9.1.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
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