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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-04-14   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   April 14, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Youth Rally Will Be a Highlight of ARRL's Hamvention 2016 Activities   
    *  ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee Calls for Comments on Proposed   
       UHF and Up Event   
    *  First-Ever D-STAR Satellite to Launch   
    *  Countdown to Jamboree on the Air Under Way, 2016 JOTA Patch Design   
       Introduced   
    *  "ARRL The Doctor is In" Podcast Guide Now Available   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology Application Deadline is   
       May 1   
    *  ARRL Rookie Roundup Returns with SSB Event on Sunday, April 17!   
    *  ARRL School Club Roundup Results Posted   
    *  World ARDF Championships Participation Expected to Break Record   
    *  Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Named as IARU Satellite Advisor   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  This Week in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
      
   Youth Rally Will Be a Highlight of ARRL's Hamvention 2016 Activities   
      
   The first-ever ARRL Youth Rally will be a feature of the League's menu of   
   activities at Hamvention(R) 2016. The event is set for Saturday, May 21, and   
   requires advance online registration. Hamvention takes place May 20-22, and   
   the centerpiece of ARRL Hamvention exhibits and activities is ARRL EXPO, a   
   huge exhibit area in one of the main exhibit halls in Hara Arena. The ARRL   
   Youth Rally is open to youth and young adults aged 11 to 26. Participants will   
   enjoy a full program of hands-on ham radio activities, discovery, sharing, and   
   fun!   
      
   "ARRL is especially excited to introduce a way for young hams and soon-to-be   
   hams to meet each other and experience some cool activities," said ARRL EXPO   
   Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "The model for the ARRL Youth Rally is based on   
   a full-day camp program, and our goal is to encourage young radio amateurs to   
   get active, get involved, and get on the air." Preliminary Youth Rally agenda   
   and registration instructions are on the ARRL website. The ARRL Youth Rally is   
   $20 for ages 11-17, and free for young adults ages 18-26. The fee covers the   
   cost of lunch, a T-shirt, and all Youth Rally materials.   
      
   Rally day begins with the annual Dayton Youth Forum -- open to all Hamvention   
   attendees -- moderated by well-known Amateur Radio educator Carole Perry,   
   WB2MGP. The forum includes presentations from young hams covering a variety of   
   Amateur Radio activities, topics, and technology. Following the forum, Youth   
   Rally registrants will enjoy lunch together, followed by a full afternoon of   
   activities and hands-on demonstrations. Youth Rally Leaders Tommy Gober,   
   N5DUX, and Jennifer Gober, KE5LNK, both education professionals, will guide   
   the program. (Tommy Gober also is an ARRL Education & Technology Program   
   Instructor.)   
      
   The official ARRL Exhibit & Activities Guide for Hamvention 2016 is available   
   now. ARRL has also announced its lineup of Dayton Hamvention(R) forums. A list   
   of all Hamvention forums is on the Hamvention website.   
      
      
   ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee Calls for Comments on Proposed UHF   
   and Up Event   
      
   The ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization (VCR) Committee has drafted rules for a   
   proposed new UHF and Up Contest and now is seeking input from the contesting   
   community. The invitation follows the Committee's review of "considerable   
   input from the amateur community."   
      
   "In proposing the new rules, the Committee sought to respond to some of the   
   most frequently received comments and to provide a 'test bed' for changes that   
   might be considered for other non-HF contests in the future," ARRL Central   
   Division Vice Director and VCR Chair Kermit Carlson, W9XA, explained. "At this   
   time, everything is a proposal -- open for comment, and definitely in flux."   
      
   Carlson said several common themes stood out among the comments and   
   suggestions the Committee has already received. These included:   
      
    *  Use distance-based scoring rather than a geographic multiplier system.   
    *  The August timing is too close to other VHF+ contests, and/or it's too   
       hot for roving.   
    *  More incentive is needed to invest time and effort in making higher-band   
       contacts.   
    *  Existing rover rules are too complicated and too restrictive.   
    *  Current VHF+ contests have too many entry categories.   
    *  Scoring potential varies widely from one geographic region to another.   
      
   The draft contest proposal uses distance scoring, with point multipliers for   
   contacts made on higher bands. To encourage roving, it simplifies rover rules   
   to include those who do not travel great distances, and mobile stations. It   
   includes just three entry categories and features regional, rather than   
   national, competition. It adds team competition for small groups of operators   
   who may not be part of a contest club.   
      
   The event would be held in the spring, between the January and June VHF   
   contests.   
      
   Nothing is final yet -- not even the name of the contest, Carlson stressed.   
   The Committee would like to hear from veteran and prospective VHF+ contest   
   participants before it moves ahead with any additional changes. Submit   
   comments by e-mail by June 15.   
      
   The Committee also encourages more local outreach -- articles, announcements,   
   seminars, and mentoring -- to draw new participants into this and all   
   radiosporting activities. Expanding the pool of potential contacts will make   
   these contests more enjoyable for everyone, and Carlson said he hopes that   
   commenters will share their outreach ideas with the Committee too.   
      
      
   First-Ever D-STAR Satellite to Launch   
      
   The first-ever satellite to carry a D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for   
   Amateur Radio) Amateur Radio payload into space is expected to launch on April   
   22 from Guiana. The OUFTI-1 (Orbital Utility For Telecommunication   
   Innovations) CubeSat is one of three CubeSats developed by student teams under   
   the European Space Agency (ESA) Education Office "Fly Your Satellite!"   
   program, which is aimed at training the next generation of aerospace   
   professionals. The satellites arrived in South America on March 25, followed   
   by the student teams a few days later.   
      
   On March 30 the students pulled the "Remove Before Flight" pins and   
   successfully verified that their CubeSats were ready for launch before   
   replacing the access ports on the P-POD, which will secure the CubeSats prior   
   to and during launch and then will release them into orbit. The next time the   
   students will have contact with their respective CubeSats will be through   
   their spacecraft's communication link, after the CubeSats have been deployed   
   into orbit. Once thermal-optical tape has been applied to the P-POD to shield   
   the CubeSats from extreme thermal radiation during the launch phase, the P-POD   
   will be integrated with the Soyuz launch vehicle.   
      
   Constructed by students at the University of Liege in Belgium (ULg), OUFTI-1   
   will be the first satellite to carry an Amateur Radio D-STAR transponder.   
   Developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League, D-STAR enables the simultaneous   
   transmission of voice and digital data as well as call sign-based roaming via   
   the Internet.   
      
   "The OUFTI-1 D-STAR repeater will be available either as a direct   
   communication repeater between two users, and as an extension of the ULg   
   D-STAR repeater," explains the article "D-STAR digital amateur communications   
   in space with OUFTI-1 CubeSat" by Jonathan Pisane, ON7JPD; Amandine Denis,   
   ON4EYA, and Jacques Verly, ON9CWD, all of ULg. The CubeSat's frequencies are   
   145.950 MHz (FSK AX.25), and D-STAR down, with an uplink at 435.045 MHz.   
   OUFTI-1 will carry a CW beacon transmitting on 145.980 MHz.   
      
   The other two CubeSats are from Italy and Denmark. The CubeSat e-st@r-II from   
   the Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy, will demonstrate an attitude   
   control system using measurements of Earth's magnetic field. It will transmit   
   CW and 1.2 k AFSK on 437.485 MHz. AAUSAT4 from the University of Aalborg,   
   Denmark, will operate an automated ocean vessel identification system. It will   
   transmit on 437.425 MHz.   
      
      
   Countdown to Jamboree on the Air Under Way, 2016 JOTA Patch Design Introduced   
      
   The countdown to the 2016 Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) is under way, and the Boy   
   Scouts of America (BSA) are hoping for a more resounding turnout than last   
   year's for this fall's 59th JOTA. Radio Scouter Don Kunst, W3LNE, told ARRL   
   that the JOTA committee has expanded, along with efforts to get the word out   
   and raise awareness of JOTA through news and social media outlets. In   
   addition, he said, the JOTA organizers will be making it easier for   
   participants to register and to file their post-JOTA activity reports. JOTA   
   introduced its 2016 patch earlier this year.   
      
   "We've got a lot of things in the pipeline," Kunst said, adding that he's been   
   working closely with National JOTA Organizer Jim Wilson, K5ND, and with the   
   international Scouting organization during the run-up to the October 14-17   
   event. Kunst is looking forward to a more prominent presence for JOTA and   
   Radio Scouting at Dayton Hamvention(R), where he plans to also take part in a   
   couple of Amateur Radio-related webcasts. Kunst said the JOTA-Radio Scouting   
   booth will be a part of ARRL EXPO at Hamvention.   
      
   JOTA is the largest Scouting event in the world. In a typical year more than 1   
   million Scouts participate from some 11,000 stations in 150+ countries. The   
   annual Radio Scouting event uses Amateur Radio to link Scouts around the   
   world. Held each year on the third full weekend in October, the worldwide   
   jamboree involves the cooperation of radio amateurs and clubs willing to make   
   a ham shack and control operator available for local Scouts to participate.   
      
   "It's actually pretty close," Kunst said in stressing the increasing urgency   
   of JOTA 2016 preparations. He told ARRL that he will be doing more "how-to"   
   articles regarding JOTA to help boost participation from last year and, he   
   said, "to help people feel more comfortable in promoting the event" locally.   
   "Obviously, at the national level, we can't run the event. All we can really   
   do is be a resource and a clearing house of information," Kunst said.   
      
   In 2015, the BSA reported that JOTA participation by Scouts was down for the   
   third straight year, dipping by 8 percent from 2014, although the number of   
   registered stations and station reports last fall remained about the same. The   
   BSA said 12,255 Scouts and visitors took part in JOTA 2015. Getting   
   participating stations to file post-JOTA activity reports was a problem in   
   2015, with only 60 percent of registered stations doing so. The 346 total   
   stations registered for JOTA 2015 represented a slight improvement from 2014,   
   however.   
      
   The Scouts have blamed the depressed statistics on persistent challenges from   
   propagation, other operating events, a lack of council involvement, and a   
   failure to get information to those needing it.   
      
      
   "ARRL The Doctor is In" Podcast Guide Now Available   
      
   ARRL has posted a new guide, "Find a 'Doctor' Near You" to help "ARRL The   
   Doctor is In" visitors to locate, download, and enjoy the popular podcast. The   
   inaugural episode on HF Verticals remains available. "ARRL The Doctor is In"   
   is sponsored by DX Engineering.   
      
   "ARRL The Doctor is In" is a lively discussion of all things technical. Listen   
   on your computer, tablet, or smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!   
   Every 2 weeks your host, QST Editor in Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and the   
   Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of technical   
   topics. E-mail your questions to doctor@arrl.org, and they may be answered in   
   a future podcast.   
      
   "Does CW Really Get Through When Nothing Else Can?" will be the topic of the   
   next "ARRL The Doctor is In" audio podcast, available on April 21.   
      
   Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes or on Stitcher (sign in or use   
   as a guest). You can also listen to the current episode on Blubrry.   
      
   Podcast episodes will be archived on the ARRL website.   
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   On Saturday, April 9, the first EME (moonbounce) contacts in the ARRL National   
   Parks on the Air event (NPOTA) were made from Lake Dardanelle State Park in   
   Arkansas, which counts for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The two   
   operators, Dennis Schaefer, W5RZ, and George Cotton, WB5JJJ, set up near the   
   lake and ran 50 W into a K1FO design 22 element Yagi on 432 MHz, using JT65B   
   digital mode. Power was supplied by eight sealed lead-acid batteries. They   
   worked four European stations -- DK3WG, OK1DFC, HB9Q, and DL7APV. "I've   
   planned this for a couple of months, so it was gratifying to see it work!"   
   said Schaefer.   
      
   National Parks Week is April 16-24, and World Amateur Radio Day is April 18.   
   Listen for NPOTA activity from 71 different activations during the week of   
   April 14-20, including Sequoia National Park (NP50) in California, and Russell   
   Cave National Monument (M64) in Alabama.   
      
   Details about these and other upcoming activations are on the NPOTA   
   Activations calendar.   
      
   Keep up with the latest NPOTA news on Facebook. Follow NPOTA on Twitter   
   (@ARRL_NPOTA).   
      
      
   ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology Application Deadline is May 1   
      
   Time is running short to apply for a spot in the ARRL Teachers Institute this   
   summer. Now in its 13th year, the Teachers Institute is an intensive expenses   
   paid professional development opportunity for educators who want to receive   
   training and resources to explore wireless technology in the classroom. The   
   deadline to apply is May 1.   
      
   Topics at the Introduction to Wireless Technology (TI-1) course include basic   
   electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming, and basic robotics.   
   The advanced Teachers Institute on Remote Sensing and Data Gathering (TI-2) is   
   available to those who have completed TI-1.   
      
   Visit the ARRL Teachers Institute web page for more details and to download an   
   application.   
      
   The article "ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology," in the March QST   
   offers a schedule and more information on the courses.   
      
   Read the article "Amateur Radio in the STEM Classroom," by Edith Lennon on   
   page 11 of the April issue of Tech Directions to learn what other ARRL   
   Teachers Institute participants have initiated in their classrooms.   
      
   Contact ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, with questions   
   or to request a brochure. Spaces are limited! Apply now!   
      
      
   ARRL Rookie Roundup Returns with SSB Event on Sunday, April 17!   
      
   The SSB edition of ARRL Rookie Roundup returns on Sunday, April 17, getting   
   under way at 1800 UTC and continuing through 2359 UTC. For the purposes of   
   this operating event, a "Rookie" is any radio amateur licensed within the   
   current calendar year or in the previous two calendar years, regardless of   
   license class. The goal of Rookie Roundup is to encourage recently licensed   
   operators in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate   
   on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating.   
      
   Rookie Roundup events take place three times a year: SSB in April, RTTY in   
   August, and CW in December. Experienced operators are encouraged to   
   participate and help new operators -- either on the air or in person. Old   
   Timers may want to consider making their stations available to rookies and   
   serving as contesting mentors.   
      
   Rookies call "CQ Rookie Roundup," while veteran ops call "CQ Rookies."   
   Exchange the call sign of the station you're working, your call sign, your   
   first name, the two-digit number of the year first licensed, and your state,   
   Canadian province, Mexican call area, or DX. Rookies exchange information with   
   as many other stations as possible on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.   
      
   Contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, for more information.   
      
      
   ARRL School Club Roundup Results Posted   
      
   The results are in for the February 2016 ARRL School Club Roundup. Turnout for   
   the winter event was very good, especially by college-level clubs. There's   
   also growing digital activity.   
      
   Topping the Elementary/Primary School field was the Dresden Elementary Amateur   
   Radio Station (DEARS) team at KD8NOM. The Ohio school racked up 102,828   
   points, mostly on SSB but with a handful of CW/digital contacts.   
      
   The Schofield Middle School Radio Club, operating N4SMS, had the top score in   
   the Middle/Intermediate/Junior High School category. The South Carolina school   
   ran up 428,808 points in an all-SSB effort that included contacts with 49   
   states.   
      
   In the Senior High School category, the Tiger Radio Club, KF5CRF, of the   
   Mangum, Oklahoma, Public Schools, took 1st place with 268,793 points.   
      
   Texas A&M University had the top score in the College/University category,   
   achieving 428,544 points from W5AC. The team had 1016 contacts, 50 of them on   
   CW or digital modes.   
      
   Besting the field in the Club/Multi-Op category (W/VE) was the Duluth   
   Children's Museum's N0DCM, with 34,572 points, mostly from phone contacts but   
   with 59 CW/digital QSOs as well.   
      
   Congratulations to all! See the complete results. -- Thanks to Ward Silver,   
   N0AX   
      
      
   World ARDF Championships Participation Expected to Break Record   
      
   According to a post on the IARU Region 1 website from Don Beattie, G3BJ, the   
   2016 World Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships are expected to   
   attract a record-breaking number of participants. The World ARDF Championships   
   will take place in the Black Sea resort of Albena, Bulgaria, on September 3-9.   
      
   The Championships are expected to be a huge event, and so far 374 participants   
   from 33 countries on four continents have declared their intentions to take   
   part in the events. The tally is expected to reach 400 participants from 39   
   countries, which would top the current record.   
      
   Details -- including those for some preliminary events -- are on the World   
   ARDF Championships website. -- Thanks to IARU Region 1   
      
      
   Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Named as IARU Satellite Advisor   
      
   The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has announced the appointment of   
   Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, as IARU Satellite Advisor, effective   
   immediately. Blondeel Timmerman succeeds Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, who   
   had served as IARU Satellite Advisor since 1994. Van de Groenendaal   
   established many of the Amateur Satellite frequency coordination procedures   
   and has been a critical contributor to the IARU coordination process.   
      
   The IARU Satellite Advisor represents the IARU to the satellite community and   
   the various amateur satellite organizations and handles satellite frequency   
   coordination. In addition, the Satellite Advisor maintains a database of   
   coordination requests and letters, reports to the IARU Administrative Council   
   on issues related to satellites and satellite frequency coordination, and, if   
   requested, provides technical and operational advice to assist in representing   
   the Amateur Satellite service to the International Telecommunication Union   
   (ITU). A panel of volunteer satellite advisory members assist the Satellite   
   Advisor.   
      
   Licensed since 1980, Blondeel Timmerman served VERON as its HF Manager from   
   2000 until 2001 and as Vice President from 2001 until 2008. He was a member of   
   the IARU Region 1 Executive Committee from 2002 until 2008 and served as IARU   
   Region 1 President from 2008 until 2014. He has been European DX Foundation   
   (EUDXF) President since 2004, and is a member of the YASME Foundation Board of   
   Directors.   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   DXer, DXpeditioner Mike Goode, N9NS, SK: Well-known DXer and DXpeditioner   
   Michael C. "Mike" Goode, N9NS (ex-WN9RJI), of Carmel, Indiana, died on April   
   11. An ARRL Life Member, he was 68 and had been undergoing post-surgical   
   treatment for cancer. Goode had retired in 2015 as transmitter supervisor from   
   WFYI Public Media in Indianapolis after 40 years of service. Licensed in 1966,   
   DXing and DXpeditions were his primary Amateur Radio interests. He attended   
   Indiana University, majoring in geology and engineering. As a geologist and   
   mineralogist, he attended many gem shows across the country. He also enjoyed   
   hunting gems, rocks, and minerals and had visited volcano eruption sites to   
   collect geological samples. His DXpedition travels included stops as   
   N9NS/KH5K, E30GA, T31A, T33A, FO0CI, and FO0AAA (Clipperton), 3A/N9NS, KH8Q,   
   VP2MNS, K7K (Kure), and W1AW/KH8, to name a few. He served as se   
   retary/treasurer of the Hoosier DX and Contest Club and was a member of the   
   South West Ohio DX Association. Goode had 336/356 confirmed in the ARRL DXCC   
   Mixed standings. He also was a DXCC card checker. A service is set for April   
   16. -- Thanks to Brian Smith, W9IND, and The Daily DX   
      
      
   Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Speaker is Michelle Thompson, W5NYV: The 10th annual   
   joint AMSAT/TAPR Banquet held in conjunction with Dayton Hamvention(R) will be   
   on Friday, May 20, 6:30 PM, at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4572   
   Presidential Way, Kettering, Ohio. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased from   
   the AMSAT store until May 17. The keynote speaker will be AMSAT Ground   
   Terminal Team Leader Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, whose topic will be "It's Just   
   Software, Right?" The Ground Terminal project is a component of the so-called   
   "five and dime" (5 GHz and 10 GHz) Phase 4B geosynchronous satellite project.   
   Seating is limited. Pick up tickets at the AMSAT booth at Hamvention. For a   
   small sample of Michelle Thompson's wit and style, view this recent Phase 4B   
   video report on YouTube. -- AMSAT News Service   
      
      
   Iran DXpedition Set: If you missed out on the EP6T DXpedition last year,   
   another is expected on the air from Iran April 16-25. The EP2A operation,   
   headed by Yuris Petersons, YL2GM, initially was planned for last fall, but the   
   paperwork reportedly took longer than expected. Others on the team include   
   YL3CW, YL2KA, UT7UJ, US7UX, UT7UV, UX0LL, EP3MIR, and EP2LMA. EP2A plans to be   
   on all bands 160 to 6 meters (excepting 60 meters). EP2A will be running high   
   power and appears to be well equipped for antennas.   
      
      
   Two New Iraqi Hams...and a Persistent Pirate: Iraq has two new hams -- Salam,   
   YI1SAL, and Wahhab, YI3WHR. YI1SAL has been active on 20 and 40 meters SSB,   
   apparently using dipoles. YI3WHR has been active on 20 meter SSB. Both   
   operators are likely not yet used to pileups. In the meantime, the YI1IRQ club   
   station call sign continues to be bootlegged, reportedly by someone calling   
   himself Hassan. For years now "Hassan" has been using multiple unauthorized   
   call signs, including, but not limited to YI1HR, YI1H, YI1HRP, and YI1HI. More   
   recently, he has also pirated YI1BGD, YI1IRQ, and YI1DZ, all legitimate call   
   signs. The real YI1DZ has been out of the country for quite a while now.   
   Elsewhere, someone has been pirating the call sign EP3FS. This bogus station   
   has been reported since early March on SSB on 40, 20, and 15 meters. -- Thanks   
   to The Daily DX   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: There was an upward bump in recent solar   
   activity, with average daily sunspot number for the April 7-13 period at 32   
   (compared to 19.1 for the previous 7 days) and average daily solar flux rising   
   23 points to 106.1.   
      
   The average daily planetary A index rose 3 points to 12.4, and the average   
   daily mid-latitude A index went from 7.6 to 8.3.   
      
   For the near term, predicted solar flux is 105 on April 14-16; 100 on April   
   17-19; 90 on April 20-21; 100 on April 22-23; 95 on April 24-29; 90 on April   
   30-May 3; then 95, 100, 105, and 110 on May 4-7; 112 on May 8-13, and 115 on   
   May 14-17. Solar flux then drops below 100 on May 21 and beyond.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 30, 12, 8, 5, 8, and 12 on April 14-19; 8 on   
   April 20-21; 5 and 12 on April 22-23; 10 on April 24-25; 8 on April 26; 5 on   
   April 27-28; then 20, 15, and 8 on April 29-May 1; 5 on May 2-3; 12 and 8 on   
   May 4-5; 5 on May 6-7; 8 on May 8-9, then 18, 30, and 10 on May 10-12; 5 on   
   May 13-16, and 8 on May 17-18.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for April 7 through 13 were 26, 27, 29, 26, 41, 34, and 41,   
   with a mean of 32. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 92.3, 98.3, 105.5, 110.6,   
   116.6, 111.3, and 108.2, with a mean of 106.1. Estimated planetary A indices   
   were 17, 9, 3, 7, 6, 19, and 26, with a mean of 12.4. Estimated mid-latitude A   
   indices were 10, 6, 3, 6, 5, 12, and 16, with a mean of 8.3.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   This Week in Radiosport   
      
    *  April 15-16 -- Holyland DX Contest (CW, SSB, digital)   
    *  April 16 -- TARA Skirmish Digital Prefix Test   
    *  April 16 -- ES Open HF Championship (CW, SSB)   
    *  April 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  April 16-17 -- Worked All Provinces of China (CW, SSB)   
    *  April 16-17 -- CQ Manchester Mineira DX Test (CW)   
    *  April 16-17 -- Nebraska QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  April 16-17 -- Michigan QSO Party (CW, phone)   
    *  April 16-17 -- EA-QRP CW Contest   
    *  April 16-17 -- Ontario QSO Party (CW, phone)   
    *  April 16-17 -- North Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  April 16-17 -- YU DX Contest (CW)   
    *  April 17 -- WAB 3.5/7/14 MHz Data Modes   
    *  April 17 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (SSB)   
    *  April 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  April 19 -- 222 MHz Spring Sprint (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  April 21 -- RSGB 80 Meter Data Club Championship   
      
   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   
      
    *  April 15-17 -- International DX Convention, Visalia, California   
    *  April 15-17 -- VHF Super Conference, Sterling, Virginia   
    *  April 16 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware   
    *  April 22-24 -- Idaho State Convention, Boise, Idaho   
    *  April 23 -- Aurora '16 Conference, White Bear Lake, Minnesota   
    *  April 23 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska   
    *  April 29-May 1 -- Nevada State Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada   
    *  May 7 -- South Carolina Section Convention, Spartanburg, South Carolina   
    *  May 13-15 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Keystone, Colorado   
    *  May 14 -- Iowa State Convention, Boone, Iowa   
    *  May 20-22 -- Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, Ohio   
    *  June 3-5 -- Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon   
    *  June 4 -- Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia   
    *  June 5 -- Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect,   
       Pennsylvania   
    *  June 10-11 -- West Gulf Division Convention, Irving, Texas   
    *  June 18 -- Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... Left over turkey induced bulimia.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)