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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-11-05   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   November 5, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Amateur Radio Parity Act Continues to Gain Traction in US House   
    *  World Radiocommunication Conference 2015: The Deliberations Have Begun   
    *  ARRL 10th Anniversary On-Line Auction Attracts Nearly 300 Bidders   
    *  Applications for ARRL CEO Position are Due by November 15   
    *  Hawaii Launch of Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio Payloads Fails   
    *  Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Hopes to Motivate Youth in India   
       via Amateur Radio   
    *  January VP8 DXpedition to Incorporate "Youth and Community   
       Participation"   
    *  SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 5   
    *  Putting Contesting to Work for Your Public Service Team   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Parity Act Continues to Gain Traction in US House   
      
   It's full steam ahead for the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015, as the House   
   version of the bill, H.R. 1301, now has 112 cosponsors and counting. The House   
   bill and its identical US Senate measure, S. 1685, call on the FCC to amend   
   its regulations to extend the limited PRB-1 federal preemption regarding   
   Amateur Radio antennas to include private land-use restrictions such as deed   
   covenant, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). Homeowners associations would   
   need to apply the minimum practicable restriction to accommodate Amateur Radio   
   communication. ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, said the League is continuing   
   to receive and forward stacks of letters generated at hamfests and conventions   
   and destined for members of the US House and Senate.   
      
   "All members are encouraged to go ahead and write their own letters to be sent   
   via ARRL Headquarters," President Craigie said. "They don't have to wait for a   
   hamfest or convention. Get the letters done now, before the holidays take over   
   everyone's time and attention. Members' letters are absolutely essential to   
   the success of this legislation. Everything you can do to drum up letters from   
   your local area is an important part of the overall advocacy program. As I've   
   said before, this is a full-team effort, and every member's action makes a   
   difference."   
      
   ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, said the League has   
   delivered another 3000 member letters urging lawmakers to support the bills to   
   its team in Washington, bringing the total to nearly 14,000. "We have   
   delivered letters to all 100 members of the Senate and 430 of the 441 members   
   and non-voting delegates in the House," Henderson said. And those letters   
   matter.   
      
   "Our DC team walked into a congresswoman's office a couple of weeks ago with   
   our strong arguments and 30 letters from constituents," he said "She signed on   
   to the bill last week. They do care about what their constituents say is   
   important to them."   
      
   ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, said he and ARRL General   
   Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, visited about 40 lawmakers' offices on Capitol Hill   
   during 4 days in October, and he's very confident in how the grassroots   
   campaign is going. "The response we've been getting overall is very positive   
   across the board," Lisenco said. "We feel very good about it."   
      
   Henderson explained that the next stage would be to schedule the draft   
   legislation for "markup," during which various committee members will have an   
   opportunity to "fine tune" the bill into the form that will be actually   
   considered for a vote.   
      
   There is still only the original cosponsor on the US Senate bill, but   
   Henderson said the Senate operates a bit differently from the House with   
   respect to cosponsors. Lisenco said he anticipates at least one Senate member   
   to sign on to the bill soon. President Craigie stressed that it's important   
   for members to write their US Senators as well as their US Representatives, to   
   gain support from members of the upper chamber.   
      
   "Letters have been received by every Senator, but we would like to see offices   
   on that side of the Hill stacked high so high with letters that the workers   
   can scarcely find their desks," President Craigie said. She suggested a   
   "Senate letter-writing party" at the next club meeting.   
      
   Lisenco said that in addition to writing a letter, ARRL members should   
   consider e-mailing or even calling their US House and Senate lawmakers to urge   
   their support. If the Member of Congress already has signed on to the bill, he   
   said, members should contact their lawmakers to express their thanks.   
      
   Visit the Amateur Radio Parity Act page for more information and to learn how   
   you can help.   
      
      
   World Radiocommunication Conference 2015: The Deliberations Have Begun   
      
   The more than 3000 delegates and observers attending World Radiocommunication   
   Conference 2015 (WRC-15) have gathered in a huge hall at ITU Headquarters in   
   Geneva for the nearly month-long event. WRC-15 officially got under way on   
   November 2. It will close on November 27. Chairing the conference is Festus   
   Daudu of Nigeria, the first African elected to chair a WRC.   
      
   An Amateur Radio contact on November 3 between students at the ITU   
   Headquarters club station and two crew members of the International Space   
   Station helped to kick off WRC-15. ITU Amateur Radio club station 4U1ITU is   
   using the call sign 4U1WRC for the duration of the conference. Students from   
   Institut Florimont spoke with astronauts Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, and Kimiya   
   Yui, KG5BPH, who were using the Amateur Radio station in the ISS Columbus   
   module, OR4ISS.   
      
   Delegations at WRC-15 are considering several issues of importance to the   
   Amateur and Amateur Satellite services. International Amateur Radio Union   
   (IARU) President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA, and Vice President Ole Garpestad,   
   LA2RR, are heading the organization's 18-member team. The ITU has acknowledged   
   its close cooperation with the IARU, which was founded in Paris in 1925, and   
   it recognizes that IARU speaks for the Amateur Radio community. Other radio   
   amateurs are parts of national delegations or in observer roles. ARRL Chief   
   Technology Officer Brennan Price, N4QX, is part of the US delegation to WRC-15.   
      
   Of prime Amateur Radio interest is Agenda Item 1.4, which calls for allocating   
   an appropriate amount of spectrum to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis   
   within the band 5250-5450 kHz. The IARU has called the new band as "a high   
   priority for the Amateur Service" but is not overly confident of getting the   
   new secondary allocation. Ellam said the IARU team will put forth its best   
   effort toward gaining a possible allocation near 5 MHz and will follow other   
   developments that may impinge on the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services.   
      
   Deliberations on agenda item 1.4 are taking place in a sub-working group   
   chaired by Dale Hughes, VK1DSH, of Australia. While more administrations than   
   not have expressed support for some sort of allocation, the methods proposed   
   vary greatly, the opposition to any allocation is spirited, and a number of   
   uncommitted administrations could still sway the prevailing consensus.   
      
   Last week's Radiocommunication Assembly at ITU Headquarters approved a new   
   resolution calling on the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) to develop   
   appropriate educational materials on the regulatory aspects of small   
   satellites.   
      
   Some already are looking ahead to the next WRC in 2018 or 2019. IARU Region 1   
   is hoping for further worldwide harmonization of bands allocated to the   
   Amateur and Amateur Satellite services. These would include a 160 meter   
   allocation at 1800-2000 kHz to align with the Region 1 and 2 allocations, and   
   an allocation of 50-52 MHz to the Amateur and Amateur satellite services in   
   Regions 1 and 3. IARU Region 1 also wants to further harmonize the Amateur   
   Radio microwave sub-bands, especially 3400-3410 MHz in Region 1 with the   
   allocations in Regions 2 and 3. It is proposing a secondary allocation to the   
   Amateur and Amateur Satellite services.   
      
   The IARU will host a function on November 10 for all attending WRC-15. On   
   display will be an emergency communications mobile unit, which will be   
   available for viewing November 8-14, with IARU International Coordinator for   
   Emergency Communications, Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS, attending. The   
   trailer-mounted display will have equipment showing the voice, text and image   
   mode capabilities for emergency communications, plus a mobile antenna.   
   Emergency Radio Germany supplied the mobile unit for the exhibit.   
      
      
   ARRL 10th Anniversary On-Line Auction Attracts Nearly 300 Bidders   
      
   The 10th Annual ARRL On-Line Auction went off without a hitch October 22-27.   
   In addition to hundreds of browsers, the auction saw 284 individual bidders   
   vying for product review equipment, vintage books, one-of-a-kind finds, and   
   even "mystery junque boxes" from the ARRL Lab. ARRL Sales Manager Deb Jahnke,   
   K1DAJ, said 1383 bids were recorded.   
      
   "A number of items dramatically finished in overtime bidding," she said.   
   "After all was tallied, this year's auction grossed more than $41,000."   
      
   Proceeds from the yearly On-Line Auction benefit ARRL education programs.   
   These include activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio   
   Emergency Service training, offer continuing technical and operating   
   education, and create instructional materials.   
      
   Jahnke said the QST "Product Review" equipment, always the most popular items,   
   were in great demand. The premier item was a FlexRadio Systems Flex-6700   
   transceiver, which fetched a winning bid of $6953. In a distant second-place   
   was the Beko-Elektronik HLV-1100 70 centimeter amplifier, which brought $3900.   
   These were followed in order by an ACOM 600S 160-6 meter linear amplifier at   
   $2649; an Apache Labs ANAN-100D SDR HF/6 meter transceiver at $2500, and a   
   FlexRadio Systems Flex-6300 transceiver at $2310.   
      
   "But our vintage books category was not to be left behind," Jahnke said. "We   
   had a substantial number of titles from ARRL and also many contributed by   
   anonymous donors. Picking up the top-dollar bid in this category was a copy of   
   Henley's Workable Radio Receivers from 1924. It garnered $625. A copy of   
   Modern Radio Operation by J.O. Smith, published in 1922, brought $410.   
      
   "As always, we would like to express our appreciation to the donors who   
   provided such a diverse mix of items, and we look forward to our 11th auction   
   in 2016," Jahnke said.   
      
      
   Applications for ARRL CEO Position are Due by November 15   
      
   The League is accepting applications for the position of ARRL Chief Executive   
   Officer. The deadline to submit an application is November 15. The complete   
   position description is available on the ARRL website. The position is at ARRL   
   Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut.   
      
   The CEO ensures the day-to-day management of the League and its fiscal   
   operation. An undergraduate degree and 10 years of management and supervisory   
   experience are required. A candidate who is an active radio amateur is   
   preferred.   
      
   To apply submit a cover letter and resume via e-mail to Monique Levesque at   
   ARRL Headquarters.   
      
      
   Hawaii Launch of Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio Payloads Fails   
      
   The November 4 inaugural launch of an experimental US military vehicle   
   carrying several satellites with Amateur Radio payloads into orbit failed in   
   mid-flight shortly after taking off at 0345 UTC from Hawaii. The experimental   
   Super Strypi launch vehicle, carrying a collection of small satellites into   
   orbit as part of the ORS-4 mission for the Department of Defense, was fired   
   from a truss-mounted rail system from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, off   
   Barking Sands on Kauai. According to Spaceflightnow.com, the Super Strypi   
   rocket is designed for low-cost, quick-reaction satellite launches. Destroyed   
   in the demonstration flight were 13 small research spacecraft clustered on the   
   mission for NASA researchers and university students.   
      
   None of the satellites carried Amateur Radio transponders, but several were   
   equipped to transmit beacon signals and telemetry on 2 meter, 70 centimeter,   
   and 13 centimeter amateur frequencies. The satellites lost included Argus,   
   EDSN, HawaiiSat-1, ORS-Squared, PrintSat, STACEM, STU-1, and Supernova-Beta.   
   PrintSat carried a 3D printed structure and was designed to measure the   
   performance of the material over the course of its 3 year mission.   
      
   Spaceflightnow.com said the experimental launcher apparently lost control and   
   broke up downrange from the launch site. The November 4 maiden flight took   
   place following several delays. The test flight was one of two planned   
   demonstrations of the launcher.   
      
      
   Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Hopes to Motivate Youth in India via   
   Amateur Radio   
      
   The IEEE's Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) will take advantage   
   of its flagship conference, being held this year in India, to demonstrate   
   Amateur Radio and its role in disaster communication, and to motivate students   
   there to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical   
   (STEM) fields. The IEEE-sponsored International Microwave and RF Conference   
   (IMaRC) in Hyderabad, India, will focus on RF and offer considerable exposure   
   to  Amateur Radio. Hams at IMaRC also will mount a special event station   
   leading up to and continuing through the conference. MTT-S member Jim Rautio,   
   AJ3K, says the IEEE in general and the MTT Society in particular have taken an   
   active role in the Special Interest Group on Humanitarian Technology (SIGHT),   
   with an emphasis on Amateur Radio as a motivating tool. SIGHT aims to motivate   
   high school students, young engineers, and professionals to apply low-cost,   
   innovative microwave technology to address disaster readiness and humanitarian   
   need.   
      
   "Back when I was in college, getting a job was the big motivator," Rautio -- a   
   software entrepreneur (Sonnet Software) -- told ARRL. "That is still   
   important, but from what I have seen, other things, especially like doing good   
   for humanity, are now as big or even bigger motivators. And the side-effect is   
   that a strong STEM base is absolutely needed for any society to develop a   
   strong economy and a strong middle class."   
      
   Given the opportunity the December 10-12 conference provides, the MTT-S has   
   decided to concentrate on India for much of its efforts, Rautio said. "Most of   
   the conference is intended for RF and microwave professionals," he said, "but   
   a portion of the conference is dedicated to SIGHT."   
      
   SIGHT will sponsor a 2 hour Amateur Radio conference session, attended by area   
   university students, to promote interest in ham radio in general and in   
   disaster communication in particular. Chairing the session will be G.L. Rao,   
   VU2GL, of the Engineering Staff College of India. Rautio said he will work in   
   collaboration with some US colleagues to help "get the ball rolling."   
      
   "The National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) and Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI,   
   have taken the lead, and things are proceeding well." Prasad was the leader of   
   the 2004 Andamans Island DXpedition that quickly turned into a disaster   
   response after a disastrous Indian Ocean tsunami.   
      
   Special event station AU2MTT will be operating for 2 weeks in conjunction with   
   the conference. "The special event is intended to draw attention to ham radio,   
   STEM, and MTT, both from conference participants and any and all active hams   
   in India," Rautio said. Students also can take part in various competitions   
   during the conference.   
      
   MTT-S is a technical society comprised of more than 11,000 members worldwide.   
   Its core purpose is to foster the advancement and application of RF and   
   microwave theory and techniques.   
      
      
   January VP8 DXpedition to Incorporate "Youth and Community Participation"   
      
   When a team from The Intrepid DX Group embarks on its South Sandwich/South   
   Georgia VP8SGI/VP8STI DXpedition in January, it will incorporate a youth and   
   community participation aspect into the adventure, as it has done since the   
   1990s. During the South Sandwich/South Georgia Island DXpedition, the team's   
   honorary school will be one it's worked with since 2011 -- Dorothy Grant   
   Elementary School in Fontana, California. VP8SGI/VP8STI team co-leader Paul   
   Ewing, N6PSE, said the 4th grade class of Bev Matheson, WA6BK, has prepared a   
   school flag that will travel to the islands and back to the US.   
      
   "In addition, the students have prepared a small weather-tracking experiment   
   for the DXpedition to participate," Ewing said. "We hope to continue to ignite   
   the interest of these students in Amateur Radio."   
      
   Matheson, an elementary school teacher since 1997, was licensed in 2011,   
   inspired by her participation in the W3AO Field Day outing in Maryland earlier   
   that year. She has also attended an ARRL Teachers Institute session. Dorothy   
   Grant Elementary has an Amateur Radio club, K6DGE, with nearly 40 after-school   
   participants, and the students have been active working DX as well as domestic   
   contests. VP8 DXpedition co-leader David Collingham, K3LP, is the K6DGE club   
   license trustee and an alumnus of the school.   
      
   Ewing has said the team will depart the Falkland Islands on January 9,   
   arriving on South Georgia about 5 days later, where it will take part in a   
   safety and biodiversity briefing with government officials. The DXpeditioners   
   then will sail another 3 days to Southern Thule Island in the South Sandwich   
   Islands, arriving on January 17, weather and sea conditions permitting.   
      
   The team will spend 10 days on South Sandwich, operating as VP8STI before   
   sailing to South Georgia Island to start operations as VP8SGI about February 1.   
      
   "Our main priority is to make a great impact to the need for South Sandwich   
   contacts, and we will sacrifice our time at South Georgia to ensure that we   
   make that impact from South Sandwich," Ewing said.   
      
   South Sandwich Islands is No 3 on ClubLog's Most Wanted DXCC List; South   
   Georgia is No 8. -- Thanks to VP8 Team Co-Leader Paul Ewing, N6PSE   
      
      
   SKYWARN Recognition Day is Saturday, December 5   
      
   The 17th annual SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) on-the-air event is set for   
   Saturday, December 5, from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC. Cosponsored by ARRL and the   
   National Weather Service, SKYWARN Recognition Day pays tribute to Amateur   
   Radio operators for the vital public service they perform. Registration is now   
   open for stations planning to participate from a National Weather Service (NW)   
   Forecast Office; a list of NWS participating offices is on the NWS SKYWARN   
   Recognition Day web page. During the 24 hour event, Amateur Radio operators   
   set up at NWS offices contact other hams across the country. This event is   
   also aimed at strengthening the bond between Amateur Radio operators and local   
   NWS offices.   
      
   SKYWARN Recognition Day is not a contest. During SKYWARN Recognition Day   
   amateur stations exchange contact information with as many National Weather   
   Service-based stations as possible on SSB, FM, CW, RTTY, and AM on 80, 40, 20,   
   15, 10, 6, and 2 meter bands plus 70 centimeters. Repeater contacts are   
   permitted.   
      
   Stations exchange call signs, signal reports, location, and a one or two-word   
   description of the weather (eg, sunny, partly cloudy, windy, rainy).   
   Procedures are detailed on the NOAA SRD web page.   
      
   The volunteer SKYWARN program comprises nearly 290,000 trained severe weather   
   spotters -- many of them radio amateurs -- who identify severe storms and   
   provide NWS forecasters with reports of local weather conditions during severe   
   weather events.   
      
   To learn more, visit the SKYWARN Recognition Day website.   
      
      
   Putting Contesting to Work for Your Public Service Team   
      
   ARRL November Sweepstakes is just ahead, and the ARRL 10 Meter Contest isn't   
   far behind. All are ideal opportunities to gain or hone Amateur Radio   
   operating skills that can be put to use during an emergency response or a   
   public service event. In short, contesting isn't just for contesters anymore,   
   and you don't have to wait for Field Day to get -- or stay -- up to speed.   
      
   "Operating skill is not something that can be tested on a license exam or   
   learned from a book," said ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, an   
   active contester as well as a member of his local ARES team. "Emergency   
   managers know that practice -- lots of it -- is required for operators to be   
   sharp when they are really needed." Silver pointed to an article on the topic   
   by ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI, that appeared   
   recently on the Southern California Contest Club (SCCC) website.   
      
   "[C]ontesting helps prepare us for demanding communication tasks, such as   
   might be encountered during a major disaster," Woll said in his article. "You   
   don't have to be in it to win it; just take part, and have fun while you're   
   learning to enhance your and your station's performance."   
      
   Silver says that repetitive emergency drills are fine but can get old.   
   Contesting offers an enjoyable way to give your equipment a good shakedown and   
   build on-the-air knowhow. "Just as sports keep you physically fit,   
   'radiosport' -- or contesting -- can serve as a training ground while having   
   fun at the same time," he said. Silver points out that a huge, multi-tower   
   station isn't necessary to participate. Even a low dipole will let you work   
   lots of stations -- and in SS, all of the stations are in the US.   
      
   Sweepstakes (SS) was conceived as a traffic-handling event that uses   
   traffic-handling terms. Participants share their "precedence" (operating   
   category) and "check" (the last two digits of the operator's birth year) as   
   part of the exchange.   
      
   Local events are another option. "You can start simple with any of a number of   
   regional FM simplex contests that encourage the use of mobile and handheld FM   
   radios for an afternoon or evening," Silver suggests. "This is a great way to   
   learn about squelch management, copying weak signals, using phonetics, and the   
   effectiveness of good locations and antennas."   
      
   ARES and RACES groups can participate as teams, and a contest can be a   
   terrific opportunity to dust off that communications van or even to get some   
   practical experience in an emergency communications center (EOC).   
      
   "If you have enough interest, divide your group into two or three-person teams   
   that operate in shifts with an experienced operator to mentor," Silver said.   
   "Better yet, put the teams at different stations and let them go head-to-head   
   in a short challenge. No one says you have to operate the entire contest,   
   either. Pick times that work -- maybe about as long as your regular drills --   
   and get together afterward for a little socializing over pizza."   
      
   Silver said a contesting Elmer can help those new to contesting with scripts   
   that guide the newbies through a QSO as well as some instruction on how to   
   take best advantage of your equipment. Start each team of operators with a   
   period of listening. "Once your team gets up to speed," Silver said,   
   "emphasize the reasons why we have contests in the first place: To reinforce   
   accurate, effective operating practices. Place a special emphasis on copying   
   call signs and exchanges 100 percent correctly."   
      
   "The hours will fly by, and when it's over, you'll have some operators eager   
   to do it again," Silver said. "Regardless of how many contacts you make, when   
   interspersed with regular drills and exercises, contesting offers a great   
   change of pace while advancing everyone's abilities at little or no cost." --   
   Thanks to ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARRL Seeking Contest Branch Manager: The ARRL is accepting applications for   
   the position of Contest Branch Manager at League Headquarters in Newington,   
   Connecticut. This is a full-time position, and salary is commensurate with   
   experience. This individual is responsible for all aspects of the ARRL's   
   Contest program, including the receipt and processing of contest entries,   
   quality of results, awards fulfillment, public outreach, program development,   
   and volunteer coordination and management. Among primary duties, the Contest   
   Branch Manager ensures the accurate reporting of ARRL contest results while   
   meeting web and print publishing deadlines. The Contest Branch Manager will   
   oversee a team of approximately 20 volunteer log adjudicators, results   
   authors, and data entry assistants, inside and outside of ARRL Headquarters.   
   An undergraduate degree is preferred. The successful candidate will have at   
   least 5 years as an active Amateur Radio contester, and be highly proficient   
   in Microsoft Office applications. Full details are on the ARRL Employment   
   Opportunities page. Submit an application, resume, and cover letter via e-mail   
   to Monique Levesque at ARRL Headquarters.   
      
      
   It's "K" for Kernow Starting in 2016: UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has   
   announced that starting in 2016, radio amateurs in Cornwall will be able to   
   use the Regional Secondary Locator (RSL) of K (for   
   "Kernow," the Cornish word for Cornwall) to identify their location. This is   
   similar to the use of "M" by stations in Scotland, "W" by stations in Wales,   
   and "I" by stations in Northern Ireland. The prefixes GK, MK, and 2K during   
   2016 will indicate a station operating from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.   
   Representatives of Radio Amateurs in Cornwall approached Ofcom to request   
   temporary use of the K locator following recognition of the Cornish people   
   under the Framework Convention on National Minorities. Ofcom agreed to the   
   request and will permit hams having a main station address in Cornwall to   
   incorporate the letter K into their call sign prefix through 2016. It will be   
   available for all classes of Amateur Radio licensees, including stations   
   participating in contests. Licensees must apply for a Notice of Variation   
   (NoV) to use the K locator via the RSGB website starting in December.   
   Variations will all expire on December 31, 2016. The RSL may therefore not be   
   used beyond these dates.   
      
      
   FOC Presents Awards: The First Class CW Operators Club (FOC) presented its Al   
   Slater, G3FXB, Memorial Award on October 31 to Bob Allphin, K4UEE, as "a   
   superb practitioner of the art of Morse Code and an enormously influential and   
   proactive member of world-renowned Amateur Radio organizations," and for   
   "amazing feats leading major DXpeditions to many of the rarest and most   
   inhospitable locations on the Earth." A second Al Slater, G3FXB, Award went to   
   the CW Academy, citing its 600 graduates to date. The FOC's "Unsung Hero   
   Award" this year went to Puck Motley, W4PM, for administering the Windle   
   Memorial Award for many years. He received an engraved Begali paddle.   
      
      
   ARU Society VERON Expresses Concern over News of BPL Trials: The Dutch IARU   
   member society VERON has expressed concern to telecommunications regulators   
   over reports that energy network operator Enexis is planning to start trials   
   in Stadskanaal of powerline communcations technology (PLT or BPL) for fast   
   Internet access. "VERON is concerned about these tests, because of their   
   impact on radio communications," the IARU member society said, adding that the   
   power grid "is not suitable" for such applications. "The PLC adapter, in   
   combination with house wiring acting as an antenna, is a persistent jammer,"   
   VERON said. -- Thanks to Southgate ARC   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar activity increased over last week,   
   with the average daily sunspot number rising from 77.6 to 90.3, and average   
   daily solar flux from 110.9 to 118.3. A high speed solar wind caused aurora on   
   November 3-4 and the high planetary A index of 32 and 33 on those days.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 18, 12, and 8 on November 5-7; 18 on November   
   8-10; 8 on November 11-12; then 12, 20, 5, 8, and 12 on November 13-17; 5 on   
   November 18-21; 10, 5, 8, and 12 on November 22-25, and 10 on November 26-27.   
   Planetary A index then jumps to 50 and 40 on November 30 and December 1, when   
   the same region causing aurora the past few days rotates back into view.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 115 on November 5; 110 on November 6-9; 105 on   
   November 10; 100 on November 11-12; 105 and 110 on November 13-14; 115 on   
   November 15-16; then 120, 115, and 110 on November 17-19, and 105 on November   
   20-24. Flux values dip below 100 on November 27 through December 8, reaching a   
   low of 85 on November 30 through December 5.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for October 29 through November 4 were 101, 88, 73, 88, 94,   
   95, and 93, with a mean of 90.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 112.9, 112.1, 118.5,   
   124.3, 122, 124.2, and 113.8, with a mean of 118.3. Estimated planetary A   
   indices were 5, 9, 6, 11, 7, 32, and 33, with a mean of 14.7. Estimated   
   mid-latitude A indices were 4, 6, 6, 9, 5, 23, and 31, with a mean of 12.   
      
   In the Friday bulletin look for an updated forecast, reports from readers, a   
   look ahead to this weekend's ARRL November Sweepstakes CW, plus a look at our   
   moving averages of daily sunspot numbers.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  November 7 -- IPARC Contest (CW)   
    *  November 7-8 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)   
    *  November 7-8 -- Ukrainian DX Contest (CW)   
    *  November 7-9 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)   
    *  November 7-9 -- NA Collegiate ARC Championship (CW)   
    *  November 8 -- IPARC Contest (SSB)   
    *  November 8 -- EANET Sprint (CW, SSB, digital)   
    *  November 8 -- DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest   
    *  November 11 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint (SSB)   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    *  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   
    *  December 11-12 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,   
       Florida   
    *  January 9 -- TECHFEST, Lawrenceville, Georgia   
    *  January 10 -- New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Bethpage,   
       New York   
    *  January 15-16, Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida   
    *  January 15-16, North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas   
    *  January 17-23, Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona   
    *  January 29-30, Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi   
    *  January 29-31, Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)