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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2015-12-17   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   December 17, 2015   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, to Keynote ARRL National Convention Banquet   
    *  Radio Amateurs of Canada Honors Past ARRL, IARU President Larry Price,   
       W4RA   
    *  Florida Ham Agrees to Penalty for Failure to Identify   
    *  New Section Manager Appointed in Alaska   
    *  Nominations Solicited for Six ARRL Awards   
    *  See How You Can Earn a $50 Credit for Supporting ARRL!   
    *  ARRL Rookie Roundup is Just Ahead   
    *  Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, to Host First ARISS Video Contact   
    *  Ohio Amateur Radio Club Donates to Help Needy Families   
    *  SAQ to Carry on Tradition of Christmas Eve VLF Transmissions   
    *  Fessenden Christmas Eve Commemorative Transmissions Set   
    *  UK Telecoms Regulator Revokes 500+ Ham Radio Licenses Not Revalidated by   
       Holders   
    *  Spanish Radio Amateur Dies in Afghan Violence   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
   This is the final edition of The ARRL Letter for 2015. There will be no   
   editions of The ARRL Letter or ARRL Audio News on December 24 or December 31.   
   Both will return on January 7, 2016. ARRL Headquarters will be closed on   
   December 25 and January 1, and there will be no W1AW bulletins or code   
   practice on those days. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season   
   and a happy new year!   
      
      
   ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, to Keynote ARRL National Convention Banquet   
      
   ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, will deliver the keynote   
   banquet address at the 2016 ARRL National Convention, held in conjunction with   
   Orlando HamCation(R). The banquet will take place on Saturday, February 13,   
   2016, at the historic Highland Manor in Apopka, Florida. Tickets are available   
   on the ARRL National Convention website.   
      
   Sumner will retire in May, and his address will be part retrospective, part a   
   look toward the future. He joined the Headquarters staff in 1968 for the   
   summer and became a part of the permanent staff in 1972. He was named   
   Secretary and General Manager of ARRL in 1982, with a change in title to   
   Executive Vice President in 1985, and named CEO in 2001.   
      
   He has traveled to more than 60 countries in connection with his ARRL and   
   International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) responsibilities, which included 17   
   years as IARU Secretary.   
      
   First licensed as KN1ZND in 1962 at age 13, Sumner has been active in most   
   phases of Amateur Radio operating. He is an avid CW contester and has served   
   on the judging committees of World Radiosport Team Championships in Slovenia   
   (2000), Finland (2002), Brazil (2006), Russia (2010), and New England (2014).   
   Sumner is the trustee of the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station W1AW and of   
   IARU club station NU1AW.   
      
   Orlando HamCation is hosting the 2016 ARRL National Convention February 12-14   
   at the Central Florida Fair and Expo Park in Orlando. The convention will mark   
   the 70th anniversary of HamCation, which attracted some 14,000 visitors in   
   2015. Sponsored by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club, an ARRL-affiliated radio   
   club, Orlando HamCation has regularly served as the host for the ARRL   
   Southeastern Division Convention   
      
   ARRL EXPO, the focus of the League's national convention, will feature an   
   array of ARRL exhibits and programs. The League also will sponsor several   
   presentations and forums. Visit the 2016 ARRL National Convention website for   
   additional details and information.   
      
      
   Radio Amateurs of Canada Honors Past ARRL, IARU President Larry Price, W4RA   
      
   Larry Price, W4RA, a President Emeritus of ARRL and of the International   
   Amateur Radio Union (IARU), has been appointed as the inaugural honorary   
   member of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. The appointment, announced   
   by the Hall of Fame Board of Trustees, followed his nomination by the Radio   
   Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Board of Directors. The RAC said the honor recognizes   
   Price's "many years of support of Radio Amateurs of Canada and Amateur Radio   
   in Canada."   
      
   In 2014, Price, who has been active in Amateur Radio leadership roles for more   
   than 30 years, was named Dayton Hamvention(R) Amateur of the Year. His other   
   past honors include the highest award of the Norwegian Radio Relay League,   
   Knight of the Order of the Golden Key, for his many years of service to the   
   IARU, ARRL, and Amateur Radio in general. RSGB also has honored Price with its   
   Calcutta Key, for promoting international goodwill. In 2006 the Quarter   
   Century Wireless Association (QCWA) elected Price to its Hall of Fame. He is   
   an ARRL Life Member and a member of the ARRL Maxim Society.   
      
   Price served as ARRL president from 1984 until 1992 and as IARU president from   
   1999 until 2009. Among other accomplishments, he has been credited with   
   protecting Amateur Radio frequency allocations; the adoption of ITU   
   Recommendation ITU-R M.1544 -- minimum qualifications of radio amateurs;   
   expansion of 40 meters in ITU Regions 1 and 3, and the allocation of new   
   Amateur Radio LF bands.   
      
   His formal induction into the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame will take   
   place in early 2016. Read more. -- Thanks to Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of   
   Fame Board Chair Ed Frazer, VE7EF   
      
      
   Florida Ham Agrees to Penalty for Failure to Identify   
      
   The FCC Enforcement Bureau has entered into a consent decree with a Florida   
   radio amateur to resolve an investigation into whether the licensee violated   
   Sections 97.113(b) and 97.119(a) of the FCC rules by transmitting one-way   
   communications and failing to identify. As part of the deal, Thomas J. Warren,   
   K3TW, of Lecanto, Florida, will pay a monetary penalty. The FCC issued an   
   Order incorporating the Consent Decree on December 9 in the case, which dates   
   back to June 2015.   
      
   "In response to complaints that an unidentified station was transmitting on an   
   Amateur Radio frequency at 14 MHz, FCC agents determined that the   
   transmissions were coming from Mr Warren's residence," the FCC said in its   
   December 9 Order. "To settle this matter, Mr Warren admits that he failed to   
   transmit his assigned call sign, violated the Commission's rules, will report   
   any noncompliance with rules governing the Amateur Radio Service, and will pay   
   a $3500 civil penalty."   
      
   The Consent Decree provided a few more details of the case. The FCC recounted   
   that, after tracking down the unidentified transmissions to Warren's   
   residence, Warren conceded that he had not identified at least some   
   transmissions that he'd made that day. "The agents issued an on-scene written   
   warning to Mr Warren regarding the violations," the FCC said in the Consent   
   Decree. "In his written response to the warning, Mr Warren acknowledged that   
   he may have failed to transmit his station identification as required on June   
   25, 2015."   
      
   According to the Consent Decree, Warren's transmissions "related to an ongoing   
   dispute with another Amateur Radio operator, whose intentional interference   
   had allegedly disrupted communications on the American Foreign Service Net   
   that operates weekly on 14.316 MHz."   
      
      
   New Section Manager Appointed in Alaska   
      
   Alaska will soon have a new ARRL Section Manager. Ray Hollenbeck, KL1IL, of   
   Wasilla, Alaska, has been appointed to succeed Jim Larsen, AL7FS, effective on   
   January 1. Hollenbeck's appointment will be in effect for the first half of   
   2016. He has served as an ARRL Emergency Coordinator for nearly 7 years.   
      
   ARRL Manager of Field Services and Radiosport Dave Patton, NN1N, made the   
   appointment in consultation with Northwestern Division Director Jim Pace,   
   K7CEX, and the outgoing SM. Larsen, of Anchorage, who will complete his fourth   
   term as Alaska SM at year's end, decided not to run for another term after   
   serving for the past 8 years.   
      
   When the call for nominations for the next term of Alaska Section Manager was   
   announced this past summer, no nominating petitions were submitted by the   
   early September deadline. In accordance with ARRL Field Organization Rules and   
   Regulations, the Section Manager's position is being resolicited (see the   
   January 2016 issue of QST, page 77).   
      
   A Section Manager elected through resolicitation will serve a term of 18   
   months -- in this case, starting on July 1, 2016. Details about the Section   
   Manager nominating process are available on the ARRL website.   
      
      
   Nominations Solicited for Six ARRL Awards   
      
   The ARRL is inviting nominations for awards that recognize educational and   
   technological pursuits in Amateur Radio. Nominations are also open for the   
   League's premier award to honor a young licensee.   
      
   *  The Hiram Percy Maxim Award recognizes a radio amateur and ARRL member   
   under age 21, whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most   
   exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio activities. Nominations   
   for this award need to be made through your ARRL Section Manager, who will   
   then forward the nomination to ARRL Headquarters by March 31, 2016.   
      
   *  The ARRL Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award honors an ARRL   
   volunteer Amateur Radio instructor or an ARRL professional classroom teacher   
   who uses creative instructional approaches and reflects the highest values of   
   the Amateur Radio community. The award highlights quality of and commitment to   
   licensing instruction. Nominations are due by March 15, 2016.   
      
   *  The ARRL Microwave Development Award pays tribute to a radio amateur or   
   group of radio amateurs who contribute to the development of the Amateur Radio   
   microwave bands. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2016.   
      
   *  The ARRL Technical Service Award recognizes a licensed radio amateur or   
   group of radio amateurs who provide Amateur Radio technical assistance or   
   training to others. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2016.   
      
   *  The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted to a radio amateur or group   
   of radio amateurs who develop and apply new technical ideas or techniques in   
   Amateur Radio. The nomination deadline is March 31, 2016.   
      
   *  The Knight Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize   
   exceptionally notable contributions by a Section Manager to the health and   
   vitality of the ARRL. The nomination deadline is April 30, 2016.   
      
   The ARRL Board of Directors selects recipients for these awards. Winners are   
   typically announced following the Board's July meeting. More information about   
   these awards is on the ARRL website, or contact Sean Kutzko, KX9X, tel (860)   
   594-0328.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   See How You Can Earn a $50 Credit for Supporting ARRL!   
      
   There's never been a better time to sign up for the ARRL Visa Signature(R)   
   Card. Now, in addition to a long list of great everyday benefits, you'll   
   receive a $50 STATEMENT CREDIT+ when you spend just $200 on your card within   
   the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, a portion of every card purchase   
   will be contributed automatically to ARRL.   
      
   Don't wait. Special offer ends 12/31/15. Apply today!   
      
   We may change APRs, fees, and other account terms in the future based on your   
   experience with U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates as provided   
   under the Cardmember Agreement and applicable law.   
      
   +Subject to credit approval. Account must be open and in good standing (not   
   past due) to earn bonus points. Please wait 6-8 weeks for account to be   
   credited.   
      
   The creditor and issuer of the ARRL Card is U.S. Bank National Association,   
   pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.   
      
   (C)2015 U.S. Bank National Association   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   ARRL Rookie Roundup is Just Ahead   
      
   The 2015 CW Rookie Roundup is Sunday, December 20. Rookies can take up their   
   Morse keys (or keyboards) and "pound some brass" in pursuit of Rookies and   
   Non-rookies alike. Rookies -- anyone licensed for 3 years or less -- get on   
   the air and call "CQ RR," so other participants can find them. Grizzled CW   
   veterans call "CQ R" (CQ Rookies).   
      
   Veteran operators are encouraged to invite new hams to use their stations and   
   give CW a try, or to invite several newbies over and have a multi-op. This   
   also is great practice for Straight Key Night on New Year's Eve, so limber up   
   those sending skills and help to introduce the joys of CW to a new generation   
   of hams! This is also an excellent opportunity to take a crack at contesting,   
   during an event designed for newcomers.   
      
   Rookie entrants are encouraged to read "HF Contesting - Good Practices,   
   Interpretations and Suggestions."   
      
   To register teams or submit scores visit the ARRL Rookie Roundup Contests   
   page, hosted by Bruce Horn, WA7BNM. -- Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX   
      
      
   Astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, to Host First ARISS Video Contact   
      
   European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI, who just arrived on   
   board the International Space Station, will be the first ISS crew member to   
   use the HamTV digital Amateur Radio TV (DATV) system during an Amateur Radio   
   on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Peake, NASA astronaut Tim   
   Kopra, KE5UDN, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, launched in a   
   Soyuz spacecraft on December 15 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and arrived at the   
   ISS about 6 hours later. The UK ARISS team is assembling a mobile Earth   
   station, to be installed at the school on the day of the contact. The team   
   recently visited Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall to commission a dish to   
   receive the 2.4 GHz HamTV DATV transmissions from the ISS. The ARISS   
   activities have been designed to maximize the impact of Peake's "Principia   
   Mission" outreach by directly engaging students with communication   
   technologies and inspiring them to pursue careers in science, technology,   
   engineering, and math (STEM) fields.   
      
   "Both Tim's space mission and Amateur Radio have the power to inspire young   
   people and encourage them into STEM subjects," said Jeremy Curtis, Head of   
   Education at the UK Space Agency. "By bringing them together we can boost   
   their reach and give young people around the UK the chance to be involved in a   
   space mission and a hands-on project that will teach them new skills."   
      
   During the contacts the ARISS team will provide information displays on the   
   ISS position and webcams showing both the local and Goonhilly dishes as they   
   track the ISS. The hosting schools will organize presentations and displays   
   before and after the contacts, and the ARISS team will offer a live webcast of   
   the day's events, including the actual contact with Peake. Read more. --   
   Thanks to AMSAT, ARISS, and RSGB   
      
      
   Ohio Amateur Radio Club Donates to Help Needy Families   
      
   The Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS) in Ohio recently donated   
   nearly $4000 to support the efforts of the Center of Hope in Ravenna. PCARS   
   President Rick Kruis, K8CAV, and Vice President Jim Wilson, AC8NT, presented   
   Mark Frisone, chief executive officer of Family & Community Services Inc   
   (F&CS), with a check for $3,851 to support the Center's efforts. An   
   ARRL-affiliated special service club, PCARS has more than 200 members. The   
   club sponsors licensing and upgrading classes as well as operating events and   
   project-building sessions each month.   
      
   "This is truly a clear example of the impact that the Center has on our   
   community," Frisone said in accepting the club's contribution. "It is generous   
   donations from area organizations that give us the resources to continue to   
   help those in need."   
      
   The Center of Hope is dedicated to enhancing the nutrition of low-income   
   people in Portage County where there are no local food pantries. The center   
   provides free hot meals 5 days a week for 75 to 100 individuals. Groceries are   
   also available monthly through the Christian Cupboard, free of charge,   
   dependent upon an individual's income.   
      
      
   SAQ to Carry on Tradition of Christmas Eve VLF Transmissions   
      
   Alexanderson alternator transmitter station SAQ at the World Heritage Grimeton   
   site in Sweden will continue a holiday tradition begun 10 years ago when it   
   takes to the airwaves on Christmas Eve, December 24. There will be a CW   
   transmission from the Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz from Grimeton   
   Radio/SAQ at 0800 UTC on December 24, with transmitter tune-up starting at   
   0730 UTC. Amateur Radio station SK6SAQ will not be active this year, because   
   the radio room is being refurbished. The Alexanderson Association website has   
   information on how to receive the VLF signal.   
      
   SAQ accepts listener reports via e-mail, direct mail to Alexander-Grimeton   
   Veteranradios Vaenner, Radiostationen Grimeton 72 SE-432 98 Grimeton, Sweden.   
   The radio station will be open to visitors.   
      
   The vintage SAQ Alexanderson alternator, dating from the 1920s, is essentially   
   an ac alternator run at extremely high speed. It can put out 200 kW, but   
   typically is operated at less than one-half that power level. Once providing   
   reliable transatlantic communication, it is now a museum piece and only put on   
   the air for special occasions. The transmitter was developed by Swedish   
   engineer and radio pioneer Ernst Alexanderson.   
      
   Six 400+ foot towers with 150 foot crossarms support a multi-wire antenna for   
   SAQ. The actual signal radiates from a vertical wire, one from each tower. --   
   Thanks to Lars Kalland, SM6NM   
      
      
   Fessenden Christmas Eve Commemorative Transmissions Set   
      
   Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, will again put his 600 meter Experimental Station WG2XFQ   
   on the air on for a Christmas Eve commemorative transmission. WG2XFQ will   
   transmit on 486 kHz from Forest, Virginia, to mark the 109th anniversary of   
   Reginald Fessenden's first audio transmission. Historic accounts say Fessenden   
   played the violin -- or a recording -- and read a brief Bible verse. It's been   
   reported that other radio experimenters and shipboard operators who heard   
   Fessenden's broadcast were astounded.   
      
   Justin will conduct a run-up to this year's event starting at around mid-day   
   Eastern Time on December 23. The "official" Christmas event will begin on   
   December 24 at 0001 UTC (the evening of December 23 in US time zones) and will   
   continue for at least 24 hours. Justin said he plans to repeat the   
   commemorative transmissions on New Year's Eve and on New Year's Day.   
      
   Fessenden's transmitter was an ac alternator, modulated by placing carbon   
   microphones in series with the antenna feed line. Justin's homebuilt station   
   is slightly more modern, based on a 1921 vacuum tube master oscillator power   
   amplifier (MOPA) design. Listener reports are appreciated and may be sent   
   directly to Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, at his QRZ.com address.   
      
      
   UK Telecoms Regulator Revokes 500+ Ham Radio Licenses Not Revalidated by   
   Holders   
      
   Ofcom, the UK telecommunications regulator, has revoked the first batch of   
   Amateur Radio licenses that had not been "revalidated" by their holders. Ham   
   licenses in the UK used to expire annually, but in 2006, Ofcom began issuing   
   lifetime licenses, which remain in effect until the agency takes specific   
   action to revoke them. Ofcom has canceled some Amateur Radio licenses in the   
   past, when the licensee has specifically requested, but revocation is a   
   different administrative process altogether. Ofcom announced earlier this fall   
   that it would begin revoking the licenses of those who had not revalidated   
   their ham tickets, as UK regulations require; 529 licenses were in the initial   
   batch.   
      
   Ofcom's revocation procedure for the first group of revocations took about 7   
   weeks, from the initial announcement to the revocations on December 4. A   
   formal appeal process is in place, but Ofcom reported that no one has taken   
   advantage of it so far.   
      
   Some estimates have suggested that the number of unvalidated Amateur Radio   
   licenses might number in the tens of thousands, but the actual figure won't be   
   known until Ofcom has completed its work on the project, which is said to be   
   time consuming and labor intensive. It could be some time before the backlog   
   is cleared. Read more.   
      
      
   Spanish Radio Amateur Dies in Afghan Violence   
      
   Isidro Gabino "Gabi" San Martin Hernandez, EB1BT, of Leon, Spain, died on   
   December 11 as the result of a 9-hour shootout in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was   
   48 and the father of four. San Martin was part of a police contingent guarding   
   the Spanish Embassy in Kabul when a car bomb, believed set by the Taliban,   
   exploded at the Embassy Guest House gate. The bombers then entered the   
   compound, and a gun battle erupted. At least seven members of the diplomatic   
   staff were killed, including San Martin and another police officer who died in   
   the residential block of the embassy.   
      
   Europa Press reported that San Martin, who volunteered to serve at the embassy   
   in Kabul, was stationed at the Police Intervention Unit of Oviedo, although on   
   Friday he was working as part of the embassy security team. The online 20   
   Minutos reported that San Martin left a safe location to look for one of his   
   colleagues and ran into gunfire.   
      
   According to an article posted in The Spain Report, the Afghan Interior   
   Ministry claimed that Afghan Police Special Forces killed all of the attackers   
   involved in the Friday night raid. Spanish authorities are still sorting out   
   the details of the bombing and the resulting deaths. -- Thanks to The Daily DX   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   Santa Claus Arctic Circle Team Active: The Santa Claus Arctic Circle Team will   
   be active as OH9SCL (Santa Claus Land) and OF9X (Old Father 9 Christmas) from   
   the Finnish Lappland above the Arctic Circle during December. OH9SCL and OF9X   
   have been on the air each holiday season for the past 30 years. Activity will   
   be mostly on the HF bands, on all modes. The activity is organized by the   
   Radio Club of the Arctic Circle, OH9AB, and the Radio Club of Pusula, OH9W,   
   and supported by Radio Arcala, OH8X. QSL via OH9AB. For more information and   
   updates, visit the OH9AB website or the Santa Claus Land Facebook page.   
      
      
   Kosovo Amateur Radio Association SHRAK Joins International Amateur Radio   
   Union: The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has announced that the   
   Kosovo Amateur Radio Association, (SHRAK) has been accepted into membership as   
   the result of a second vote by member societies. The action has no effect on   
   Kosovo's DXCC status. Kosovo was proposed for IARU membership in 2014, but the   
   proposal failed. Two affirmative votes arrived after the ballot deadline,   
   however, and IARU Region 1 requested the IARU International Secretariat to   
   conduct another vote, which did result in SHRAK's receiving the necessary   
   affirmative votes. With a history that dates back to the days of the former   
   Yugoslavia, SHRAK was reconstituted in 2012, when the government authorized   
   the establishment of an Amateur Radio Service, and SHRAK established a   
   training and licensing program. Vjollca Caka, Z61VB, is SHRAK's president.   
   Special event station Z60IARU is expected to be on the air for the closing   
   days of 2015 as part of the IARU's 90th anniversary commemoration.   
      
      
   CW Skimmer Developer Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, Receives RAC Radio Amateur of   
   the Year Plaque Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) honored CW Skimmer developer   
   Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, as its 2014 Radio Amateur of the Year, and he   
   received the plaque on October 31 at the annual York Region Hamfest near   
   Toronto. Presenting Shovkoplyas with the plaque was the new RAC Ontario South   
   Director Phil Mcbride, VA3QR. The plaque cites Schovkoplyas for "outstanding   
   and consistent contribution to the welfare of Amateur Radio." A contesting   
   tool, CW Skimmer interprets call signs sent in CW over a wide receiver   
   bandwidth and identifies waterfall traces by call sign. The extracted call   
   signs then are exported as DX spots. He's also developed other free software   
   packages for Amateur Radio, including the propagation tool Ham Cap.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar activity increased over the past week,   
   compared to the previous 7 days. The average daily sunspot number for December   
   10-16 was 74.3, up from 48 over December 3-9. Average daily solar flux   
   increased from 102.2 to 118.6.   
      
   Geomagnetic indices were also higher, with the planetary A index going from   
   9.9 to 15.6, and the mid-latitude A index from 6.6 to 11.3.   
      
   The latest prediction from USAF/NOAA forecasters shows daily solar flux at 125   
   on December 17-19; 120 on December 20-21; 115 on December 22-24; 110, 105, and   
   98 on December 25-27; 95 on December 28-29; 98 on December 30-31; 100 on   
   January 1-2; 105 on January 3; 110 on January 4-6; 115 on January 7-9; peaking   
   at 130 on January 11-13, then dropping back below 100 after January 22.   
      
   The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 17-26; 18, 15, and 10 on   
   December 27-29; 5 on December 30-31; 15, 20, 18, and 10 on January 1-4; 8, 20,   
   18, and 12 on January 5-8, and 10, 8, 18, and 25 on January 9-12. The   
   planetary A index then quiets down to 5 on January 16-22.   
      
   HF radio conditions look promising over the next 10 days, with low geomagnetic   
   activity and sustained sunspot activity and solar flux.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for December 10 through 16 were 86, 77, 89, 74, 81, 64, and   
   49, with a mean of 48. The10.7 centimeter flux was 108.5, 113.7, 116.7, 122.5,   
   124, 118.9, and 126.2, with a mean of 102.2. Estimated planetary A indices   
   were 23, 20, 12, 8, 22, 17, and 7, with a mean of 9.9. Estimated mid-latitude   
   A indices were 18, 14, 8, 6, 15, 13, and 5, with a mean of 6.6.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  December 18 -- Russian 160 Meter Contest (CW)   
    *  December 18 -- AGB-Party Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  December 19 -- Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  December 19 -- OK DX RTTY Contest   
    *  December 19 -- 144 RAC Winter Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 19-20 -- Croatian CW Contest (CW)   
    *  December 20 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (CW)   
    *  December 21 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  December 23 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)   
    *  December 26 -- DARC Christmas Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 26-27 -- World Wide Iron Ham Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  December 27 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)   
    *  December 27 -- RAEM Contest (CW)   
    *  January 1 -- ARRL Straight Key Night   
    *  January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest   
    *  January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (CW)   
    *  January 1 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)   
    *  January 1 -- QRP ARCI New Years Sprint (CW)   
    *  January 2 -- PODXS 070 Club PSK Fest   
    *  January 2-3 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  January 2-3 -- Original QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  January 2-3 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup   
    *  January 2-3 -- EUCW 160 Meter Contest (CW)   
    *  January 3 -- Kids Day (phone)   
    *  January 5 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)   
    *  January 6 -- UKEICC 80 Meter Contest (phone)   
      
   See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth reporting on   
   Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update via your ARRL   
   member profile e-mail preferences.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
    *  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   
    *  February 6 -- South Carolina State Convention, N. Charleston, South   
       Carolina   
    *  February 12-14 -- ARRL National Convention, Orlando, Florida   
    *  February 19-20 -- Southwestern Division Convention, Yuma, Arizona   
    *  February 27 -- WCF Section Technical Conference, Tampa, Florida   
    *  February 27 -- New Mexico TechFest, Albuquerque, New Mexico   
    *  February 27 -- Vermont State Convention, S. Burlington, Vermont   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   "So let me ask you a question about this brave new world of yours. When you've   
   killed all the bad guys, and when it's all perfect, and just and fair, and   
   when you have finally got it exactly the way you want it, what are you going   
   to do with the people like you? The trouble makers. How are you going to   
   protect your glorious revolution from the next one?" - The twelfth Doctor   
      
   ... Everyone wants to change the world, no one wants to change himself.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)