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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-04-21   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   April 21, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  New ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, Pledges World-Class Service,   
       Openness, Inclusiveness   
    *  EchoLink VoIP Service Proving Valuable in Handling Ecuador Earthquake   
       Traffic   
    *  You Have an Appointment with the Doctor!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Amateur Radio Praised Following Participation in Washington   
       Interoperability Exercise   
    *  US ARDF Champions Now Looking Toward September World Championships in   
       Bulgaria   
    *  On-the-Air Activity to Highlight International Marconi Day on April 23   
    *  The "Other" Heard Island DXpedition -- VK0LD   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  This Week in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
      
   New ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, Pledges World-Class Service, Openness,   
   Inclusiveness   
      
   The ARRL's new Chief Executive Officer Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, got down to work   
   on his first day in office on April 18 by promising to make the League's   
   foundational business processes "rock solid" and bring them up to state of the   
   art, which members have a right to expect. Gallagher, who arrived at   
   Headquarters on February 29 as CEO-Elect, has now assumed the top leadership   
   post long held by David Sumner, K1ZZ, who officially retired on April 18. In   
   late January, all 15 ARRL Directors voted to elect Gallagher as CEO and   
   Secretary, and Gallagher said he plans to build upon Sumner's   
   legacy. During weeks of walking the halls and speaking with what he described   
   as "the 95 outstanding employees we have here at Headquarters," Gallagher said   
   he's seen a lot that's positive but acknowledged that some issues need   
   attention.   
      
   "My colleagues require the tools to do their jobs efficiently and   
   effectively," he said. "When they don't have them it makes it harder for them   
   to serve our members. We want to keep traffic moving. That will require   
   investment and hard work, but we're going to do it."   
      
   Gallagher said some resources would be redeployed into areas that need more   
   support, to improve or enhance the League's service.   
      
   The new CEO pointed to the recent example of more than 1000 issues of QST that   
   were lost in transit to members' mailboxes due to a train derailment. "Within   
   24 hours, we knew exactly which copies had been destroyed, and the Circulation   
   Department sent out replacement copies via First-Class Mail," he said. That's   
   the kind of world-class service we want to perpetuate."   
      
   QST readers soon will see Gallagher's personal stamp on the monthly editorial,   
   which he's renamed "Second Century." While it will be essentially the same   
   format as Sumner's "It Seems to Us" editorial, "the latter belongs to Dave,"   
   Gallagher said. "I don't think I could ever replace his erudition and his   
   scholarship, or match his plain speaking, and I'm not going to try."   
      
   Gallagher also has promised a spirit of openness and inclusiveness to bring   
   the enrichment of Amateur Radio to a wider community. "Greater transparency is   
   my guiding principle, as well as that of ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR,   
   and the goals included in the Strategic Plan approved by the ARRL Board of   
   Directors ," he added. Gallagher invited members to take their suggestions and   
   concerns directly to him.   
      
   Gallagher's assumption of the CEO post coincided with World Amateur Radio Day,   
   which marks the founding of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in   
   1925.   
      
      
   EchoLink VoIP Service Proving Valuable in Handling Ecuador Earthquake Traffic   
      
   What you see on the news is only the tip of the iceberg of what really   
   happened as a result of the devastating April 16 earthquake in Ecuador,   
   Michigan physician Rick Dorsch, NE8Z/HC1MD, told ARRL. Since the 7.8 magnitude   
   quake hit while most people were at home finishing dinner, "thousands of   
   people" remain buried in the rubble of collapsed buildings, he said, although   
   some have been found alive. Dorsch and his wife Maria, HC1MM, also a   
   physician, have been helping to handle health-and-welfare traffic via   
   EchoLink, which is connected to the Ecuadorean interlaced national 2 meter   
   repeater network.   
      
   "EchoLink is actually a fantastic Amateur Radio service," Dorsch told ARRL.   
   "It has become extremely useful for the hams there to reach out to the outside   
   world via 2 meters." (Other reports have indicated that some EchoLink nodes   
   have been shut down to save power.)   
      
   HF also is playing a role, and radio amateurs have been asked to give 7.060   
   MHz (LSB) a wide berth while the Cadena HC Net handles emergency traffic.   
   Dorsch said some problems have cropped up from DX pileups that have overlapped   
   the net's frequency.   
      
   Dorsch pointed out that while most of the damage was in the HC4 areas of   
   Manab¡ and Esmeraldas provinces and the HC2 area of Guayas Province, what's   
   not seen from the outside is the heavy damage to surrounding small fishing   
   villages and colonial towns that were leveled. Fortunately the Portoviejo   
   Radio Club was undamaged, and members have been operating from there. Dorsch   
   said that electrical power is starting to return, and the cellular network is   
   still "iffy," but the Quito Radio Club is providing battery-powered cellphone   
   charging stations.   
      
   A lot of health-and-welfare traffic is headed not only between Ecuador and the   
   US but to Spain, Chile, and elsewhere, he reported. Dorsch said more bilingual   
   Spanish-English speakers are needed on the HC1BG-R EchoLink channel.   
      
   While power has been knocked out over much of the affected region, Dorsch   
   said, he's witnessing hams all over Ecuador operating from mobile stations,   
   portable stations, and, in some cases, from home. "All of the Ecuadorean radio   
   clubs have been on high alert and are helping in search-and-rescue efforts,"   
   he said. "Ham radio at its best!"   
      
   On a more positive note, Dorsch said that noted DXer Lilian "Mami" de Ayala,   
   HC4L, barely escaped death or serious injury when her home collapsed. The   
   85-year-old, who lives in Portoviejo, was in her radio room seconds before the   
   earthquake hit. "Her granddaughter had come over to visit, so Lilian went into   
   another part of the house," Dorsch said. Her radio room and home were   
   destroyed, and her next-door neighbor was among the casualties.   
      
   "She's still in shock and can't believe she's alive," Dorsch told ARRL. Local   
   hams have removed her personal effects and ham radio gear to a safe location.   
      
   For more than 40 years, de Ayala had been a regular check-in on the Cadena HC   
   Net on 40 meters. "It's ironic that the one person who lost all of her radio   
   equipment was the one who organized radio emergency services for so many   
   years," Dorsch said. Her tower and antennas survived, because they were   
   mounted on the roof of her son's home next door. -- Thanks also to Ram¢n   
   Santoyo, XE1KK, IARU Region 2 Vice President   
      
      
   You Have an Appointment with the Doctor!   
      
   A new episode of "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast is available now: Does CW   
   Really Get Through When Nothing Else Can?   
      
   Sponsored by DX Engineering, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an informative   
   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. You can also e-mail your questions to doctor@arrl.org, and they may   
   answer them in a future podcast.   
      
   Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone or iPad   
   podcast app (just search for ARRL The Doctor is In). You can also listen   
   online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration required, or browse the   
   site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android   
   devices.   
      
   If you've never listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's guide.   
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   National Parks Week is April 16-24, and NPOTA activity is through the roof!   
   Saturday, April 23, offers two events: International Marconi Day (IMD) and the   
   National Park Service's "Instameet" on the social media site Instagram. People   
   will be posting photos of themselves as they enjoy being in an NPS unit, using   
   the hash tag #FindYourParkInstameet. If you're an Amateur Radio operator and   
   on Instagram, April 23 will be a great day to get some visibility for NPOTA on   
   social media.   
      
   The ARRL is looking for high-quality photos and video of NPOTA activators in   
   the field for display at the Dayton Hamvention(R) NPOTA booth! Photos and   
   video should be high-resolution and tell a story that includes both ham radio   
   and details about the park unit. E-mail us, if you have material to share.   
   There will be 42 activations on the air April 21-27, including Tonto National   
   Monument (MN70) in Arizona, and Colonial National Historic Park (HP09) in   
   Virginia.   
      
   Details about these and other upcoming activations can be found on the NPOTA   
   Activations calendar.   
      
   Keep up with the latest NPOTA news on Facebook. Follow NPOTA on Twitter   
   (@ARRL_NPOTA).   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Praised Following Participation in Washington Interoperability   
   Exercise   
      
   Amateur Radio came in for high praise following its role in a March 30 to   
   April 3 Washington National Guard interoperability communication exercise,   
   sponsored by the US Northern Command. The so-called "Vital Connection-Cascadia   
   2016" exercise was aimed at improving interoperability among Department of   
   Defense entities, federal, state, and local first responders, and Amateur   
   Radio operators. Interoperability was tested on 5 MHz frequencies. The spring   
   drill was a run-up to June's "Cascadia Rising/Vigilant Guard/Ardent Sentry"   
   exercise. It included voice and data radio and satellite communication plus   
   video integration from airborne assets.   
      
   "The largest success of this exercise by far was the use of the 60 meter HF   
   interoperability bands to successfully pass voice and data traffic between   
   military and civilian entities," the After Action Report said. "There was   
   great integration among military units from Washington and other states, Army   
   and Air Force MARS, Washington State Guard, state and county EOCs, and the   
   ARES and RACES Amateur Radio communities."   
      
   Lt Col Lawrence Hager of the Washington Air National Guard also had kind words   
   for Amateur Radio. "I would like to thank everyone who participated in the   
   Vital Connection-Cascadia [communications exercise]," he said. "We had many   
   successes, such as HF radio interoperability between military, government, and   
   civilian sectors on the 60 meter (5 MHz) band." Hager is an Air Force officer   
   responsible to The Adjutant General (TAG) for communications in both the Army   
   Guard and Air Force Guard.   
      
   "It was truly a pleasure exercising with you folks," allowed State RACES   
   Officer Ed Leavitt, K7EFL, in a message to the Washington National Guard.   
   "Thanks for inviting us." Regarding the use of the 60 meter channels as a   
   conduit for outreach to civilian entities, Leavitt said, "While I am hesitant   
   to use phrases like 'This has never been done before,' I suspect that may   
   actually be the case."   
      
   ARRL Western Washington ARRL Section Manager Monte Simpson, K2MLS, who is also   
   Washington State RACES Officer, said the feedback he's received regarding   
   Amateur Radio participation has been positive. "The 60 meter band proved to be   
   excellent," he said. "While at the State EOC I had the occasion to hear a 60   
   meter conversation that was crystal clear with nearly no noise. The Mason   
   County Emergency Coordinator/RACES Officer reported that he had used Fldigi to   
   communicate with the National Guard. The Washington State Guard provided   
   soldiers who are Amateur Radio operators as the ham radio connection to the   
   National Guard."   
      
      
   US ARDF Champions Now Looking Toward September World Championships in Bulgaria   
      
   The results of the United States 16th national championships of Amateur Radio   
   Direction Finding (ARDF), held earlier this month in Central Texas, are now in   
   the record books. Stateside winners of these championships, as well as   
   medalists from the 2015 championships in Colorado, are being considered for   
   ARDF Team USA, which will travel to Albena, Bulgaria, for the 18th ARDF World   
   Championships in September.   
      
   "The categories for men between over age 40 and women over age 60 already have   
   a full slate of team candidates," ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, said,   
   adding that "uncontested openings" on Team USA exist for younger men and   
   women. A maximum of three competitors in each age/gender category may be on a   
   nation's team.   
      
   Moell said ARDF fans came to Texas from all over the US to see who was best at   
   finding radio transmitters hidden in the woods. An optional training day   
   kicked things off on April 6. The next day was devoted to foxoring, a   
   combination of radio direction finding and classic orienteering on 80 meters.   
   Friday, April 8, was the formal 80 meter sprint event. Classic 2 meter and 80   
   meter competitions took place Saturday and Sunday, respectively.   
      
   Category winners of gold medals were (in alphabetical order): Vadim Afonkin,   
   KB1RLI (M40 2 meters, 80 meters); Dick Arnett, WB4SUV (M70 2 meters); Natalia   
   Bondarenco (W35 sprint); Ruth Bromer, WB4QZG (W60 2 meters, sprint, foxor);   
   Bob Cooley, KF6VSE (M70 80 meters, sprint, foxor); Joseph Huberman, K5JGH (M60   
   2 meters, sprint, foxor); Lori Huberman (W21 2 meters, 80 meters, sprint,   
   foxor); Dale Hunt, WB6BYU (M60 80 meters); Illia Ivanko (M21 2 meters, 80   
   meters); Iurii Kolesnykov (M50 foxor); Karla Leach, KC7BLA (W60 80 meters);   
   Norbert Linke (M21 sprint, foxor); Nicolai Mejevoi (M50 2 meters, 80 meters,   
   sprint); Alla Mezhevaya (W35 2 meters, 80 meters, foxor); Patrick Sears, AK4JE   
   (M40 foxor); Evghenii Vorsin (M40 sprint), and Zhonghao Xu (M19 sprint).   
      
   Lead organizers, hosts, and course planners for the event were Jennifer and   
   Kenneth Harker, W5JEN and WM5R, both veteran ARDF competitors and medalists.   
   Members of the Austin Orienteering Club assisted. The International Amateur   
   Radio Union (IARU) sets ARDF championship rules. Participants are divided into   
   11 age/gender categories.   
      
   Contact Moell for more information on ARDF and on attending or participating   
   in the World Championships this September in Bulgaria. Moell stressed that   
   ARDF participants do not need an Amateur Radio license. Visit Moell's Homing   
   In website for additional information on ARDF.   
      
      
   On-the-Air Activity to Highlight International Marconi Day on April 23   
      
   Around-the-world Amateur Radio activity will mark the 29th annual   
   International Marconi Day (IMD), a 24-hour event held annually to celebrate   
   the anniversary of wireless pioneer Guglielmo Marconi's birth on April 25,   
   1874. IMD is observed each year on a Saturday close to Marconi's birthday, and   
   this year it will be observed on Saturday, April 23, with many special event   
   stations on the air -- some operating from Marconi-related sites that count as   
   points toward the Marconi Award. Certificates are available for both   
   transmitting stations and shortwave listeners (SWLs).   
      
   The event is not a contest; it is an opportunity for amateurs around the world   
   to make point-to-point contact with historic Marconi sites on HF, and to earn   
   an award certificate for working or hearing a requisite number of Marconi   
   stations.   
      
   International Marconi Day special event station GB4IMD will operate from   
   Cornwall, helmed by members of the Cornish Amateur Radio Club, which organizes   
   the IMD event each year. IMD 2016 has been dedicated to Norman Pascoe, G4USB   
   (SK), one of the event's founders, who died in February. Cornwall was home to   
   some of Marconi's early work. GK3MPD will be on the air from the inventor's   
   Poldhu site.   
      
   The Kerry Amateur Radio Group in Ireland will be among those taking part as an   
   Award Station in this year's IMD activities. The station will be set up on the   
   site of the former Marconi Station at Ballybunnion by the "Expeditionary Radio   
   Team" of the radio club. Two HF stations are planned, and special event call   
   sign EI6YXQ will commemorate the original YXQ that the Marconi Station at   
   Ballybunnion used.   
      
   Radio amateurs in Norfolk, England, will once again be active from Caister   
   Lifeboat as part of the International Marconi Day celebrations. The Norfolk   
   Amateur Radio Club (NARC) will be on the air from special event station GB0CMS   
   from the Caister Lifeboat Visitor Centre to commemorate the village's original   
   Marconi wireless station, established in 1900. The station's initial purpose   
   was to communicate with ships in the North Sea and the Cross Sands lightship.   
      
   While it's not part of the official International Marconi Day activities, an   
   Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contact in   
   England will take place on April 23, and the Marconi observance prompted the   
   proposed initial question to ISS crew member Tim Peake, KG5BVI.    
   welve-year-old Benny plans to ask, "Today is International Marconi Day; how do   
   you think Marconi would feel about this radio communication?"   
      
   Other IMD sites with historical links to the inventor's work include Cape Cod,   
   Massachusetts (WA1WCC); Glace Bay, Nova Scotia (VE1IMD); Villa Griffone,   
   Bologna, Italy (IY4FGM); Signal Hill, St Johns, Newfoundland (VO1AA), and many   
   others.   
      
   A Facebook page is also available.   
      
      
   The "Other" Heard Island DXpedition -- VK0LD   
      
   The recently ended Heard Island VK0EK DXpedition logged more than 75,000   
   contacts, but the brief, under-the-radar, contemporaneous VK0LD operation also   
   put a new one into a few more logs. VK0EK logistics team member Mike Coffey,   
   KJ4Z, operated as VK0LD from California, remotely controlling one of the VK0EK   
   Elecraft K3S operating positions. He used a K3/0-Mini and the free   
   RemoteHams.com RCForb client and remote server software to work 41 stations on   
   20 meters.   
      
   "More than a year before the Braveheart set sail, I knew I wanted to try to   
   operate a remote ham radio station from Heard Island during the VK0EK   
   DXpedition," Coffey said. "Co-organizers Bob Schmieder, KK6EK, and Rich   
   Holoch, KY6R, were enthusiastic and gave me the green light." From Tennessee,   
   Coffey, who was off the air from 2003 until 2014, is once again active from   
   California, and, he said on his QRZ.com profile, "eager to make up for lost   
   time."   
      
   Lacking the expertise to set up and configure the equipment and connection for   
   the remote operation, Coffey approached Elecraft, which supplied the K3S   
   transceivers for VK0EK. Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, and Brandon Hansen, KG6YPI,   
   introduced him to the Elecraft K3/0-Mini remote control panel -- basically a   
   K3 front panel sans radio -- combined with Hansen's RemoteHams.com software.   
   Leading up to the DXpedition he conducted tests from Elecraft to verify that   
   operation with a satellite connection and the Remote Hams RCForb client   
   software was possible.   
      
   On April 4, VK0LD transmitted its first CQ from Heard Island on 20 meter CW,   
   with Coffey at the helm from his home in Palo Alto. "Over the course of the   
   next 50 minutes, VK0LD logged 41 QSOs across Asia and then Europe as the band   
   began to open up," he recounted. Alan Cheshire, VK6CQ, is the licensee of   
   VK0LD.   
      
   On DX Summit, one Australian station declared VK0LD to be a pirate. "NOT a   
   pirate!" KY6R posted in response.   
      
   "Finally, control was handed back over to regular VK0EK operations," Coffey   
   said. "But for 50 minutes, I was having the amazing, incredible experience of   
   working a pileup from a Top 10 DXCC entity on the other side of the world."   
   Coffey said the K3/0 setup made it "almost like being there."   
      
   "I was sorry to stop," he said. "I would have happily worked the pileup for   
   hours." -- Thanks to Elecraft via Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   Islands on the Air (IOTA) Management Shifts to Not-For-Profit Company:   
   Following agreement with the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), management   
   of the Islands on the Air (IOTA) program has transitioned to "Islands on the   
   Air (IOTA) Ltd," a new not-for-profit company. This entity will assume full   
   responsibility for all aspects of the program. The company has been registered   
   in the names of its current directors -- Roger Balister, G3KMA, and Stan Lee,   
   G4XXI; a full board of directors will established. "It will take a little time   
   to carry through all aspects of the changed governance, but IOTA enthusiasts   
   should be assured that the new company is fully committed to completing the   
   paperless QSLing project that will allow electronic confirmation of contacts,"   
   Balister said. He added that no significant policy changes are anticipated.   
      
      
   Commemorative ARISS Slow-Scan TV Transmissions a Success: The recent   
   commemorative Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)   
   slow-scan television (SSTV) transmissions from April 11 to April 14 were   
   successful, with images received by many stations around the world. The SSTV   
   transmissions marked the 15th anniversary (in 2015) of continuous Amateur   
   Radio operations on the International Space Station. The first ISS crew   
   conducted its inaugural ham radio contact from NA1SS in November 2000, and the   
   first ARISS school/group contact took place the following month. Since then   
   more than 1000 ARISS school/group contacts have been completed. Images   
   received from the ISS have been posted on the gallery website. The SSTV   
   transmissions were in PD180 format. Additional "MAI-75 Experiment" SSTV   
   transmissions took place on April 14 and April 15. The commemorative SSTV   
   images showed a few of the radio amateurs who have served aboard the ISS.   
      
      
   Brazil Eases Authorization for Radio Amateurs Attending the 2016 Summer   
   Olympics: IARU Region 2 News Editor Joaqu¡n Solana, XE1R, reports that radio   
   amateurs hoping to operate in Brazil during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio this   
   summer are in luck and will be able to be on air without bureaucracy. During   
   August and September any foreign radio amateur will be able to operate in   
   Brazil, whether or not a reciprocal agreement between the respective countries   
   exists. No IARP or CEPT license is necessary, and there are no fees. The   
   Brazilian Amateur Radio League LABRE has obtained permission from Brazilian   
   telecommunications regulator ANATEL to handle authorizations. Amateurs who   
   want to operate in Brazil should send LABRE these documents: Copy of a valid   
   passport (identification pages); copy of Amateur Radio license; list of cities   
   in which the radio amateur plans to operate and the respective dates, and an   
   e-mail address. Send scanned documents to LABRE via e-mail.   
      
      
   New AO-85 Distance Record Claimed: A new distance record of 5751 kilometers   
   (3565.6 miles) has been claimed for an AO-85 (Fox-1A) satellite contact.   
   Betrand Demarcq, FG8OJ, in Saint-Francois, Guadeloupe (FK96ig) worked Jose   
   Elias Diaz Rodriguez, EB1FVQ, in Vigo, Spain (IN52pe) at 19:15 UTC on April   
   14, 2016. A recording of the contact is available. AMSAT posts records on its   
   AMSAT Satellite Distance Records page. Send new claims to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM.   
   The AO-85 CubeSat was launched last October. It carries a U/V FM transponder.   
   -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service via Paul Stoetzer, N8HM   
      
      
   New Orleans Ham Radio & Computer Flea Market Cancelled: The New Orleans Ham   
   Radio & Computer Flea Market scheduled for May 7 has been cancelled, its   
   sponsor, the Crescent City Amateur Radio Group, has announced.   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Over the reporting week April 14-20, average   
   daily sunspot numbers rose from 32 to 40, while average daily solar flux   
   declined from 106.1 to 100.8.   
      
   Average daily planetary A index declined from 12.4 to 10.9, but average daily   
   mid-latitude A index rose slightly from 8.3 to 8.9.   
      
   We continue to see weak sunspot groups. There were new ones on April 13, April   
   16, and April 20.   
      
   The Wednesday, April 20, prediction has solar flux values at 85 on April   
   21-27; 95 on April 28-May 2, except 98 on April 30; 100 on May 3-5; 95 on May   
   6; 98 on May 7-12; 92 on May 13-14; 102 on May 15-16; 95 on May 17-18; 97 on   
   May 19-20, and 95 on May 21-26.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 5 on April 21-22; 12 on April 23-24; 10 on   
   April 25-26; then 8, 5, 20, 15, and 8 on April 27-May 1; 5 on May 2-3; 12 on   
   May 4; 5 on May 5-8; then 18, 25, 20, 8, and 5 on May 9-13; 12 on May 14-16; 8   
   on May 17; 5 on May 18-19; 10 and 12 on May 20-21, and 10 on May 22-23. The   
   planetary A index then rises to 20 on May 26 and slips back to 5 for 6 of the   
   7 days ending the 45-day forecast period.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for April 14 through 20 were 45, 69, 51, 35, 28, 28, and 24,   
   with a mean of 40. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 111.1, 112.4, 113.2, 102.1,   
   94.6, 89.1, and 83.2, with a mean of 100.8. Estimated planetary A indices were   
   23, 9, 12, 19, 5, 3, and 5, with a mean of 10.9. Estimated mid-latitude A   
   indices were 14, 9, 8, 17, 7, 3, and 4, with a mean of 8.9.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   This Week in Radiosport   
      
    *  April 25 -- Helvetia Contest   
    *  April 25-26 -- Ten-Ten Spring Digital Contest   
    *  April 25-26 -- QRP to The Field (CW)   
    *  April 25-26 -- Florida QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  April 26 -- BARTG 75 Sprint (Digital)   
    *  April 29 -- VHF Spring Sprints (CW, phone, digital)   
      
   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 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   
    *  July 8-9 -- Northern Florida Section Convention, Milton, Florida   
    *  July 8-9 -- Utah State Convention, Sandy, Utah   
    *  July 22-23 -- Oklahoma Section Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma   
    *  July 29-31 -- Central States VHF Conference, Rochester, Minnesota   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... Children and grandparents are natural allies   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)