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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-04-28   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   April 28, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Sign Up Now to Discover the HF Experience at Hamvention's ARRL EXPO!   
    *  ARRL, ARISS Representatives Attend 2016 USA Science and Engineering   
       Festival in DC   
    *  FCC Invites Comments on Petition to Eliminate 15 dB Gain Limit on   
       Amateur Amplifiers   
    *  Frustrated Funding, Breached Secrecy Foiled North Korea DXpedition,   
       Group Leader Says   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Communications Test Set for May 14   
    *  Now Shipping: High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio by Glen Popiel,   
       KW5GP   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  Severe Weather Prompts SKYWARN Activations in Oklahoma   
    *  Radio Amateurs Support Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay   
    *  Young Ham Wins First-Place Science Fair Trophy with Mag Loop Antenna   
       Entry   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  This Week in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events   
      
      
   Sign Up Now to Discover the HF Experience at Hamvention's ARRL EXPO!   
      
   A new feature of ARRL EXPO at Dayton Hamvention(R), May 20-22, 2016, will be   
   "Discover the HF Experience" -- an exhibit and initiative for new operators   
   and for those lacking experience with ham radio on HF. Comparable HF operating   
   positions will be available, along with mentoring on how to make an HF   
   contact. Anyone interested can book a 30-minute session, one to a guest, and   
   no license is required. Experienced operators will be on hand to help.   
      
   "Our priority is non-hams, new hams, or those who have not experienced HF   
   operation," said Gerry Hull, W1VE, who established the Discover the HF   
   Experience program with Cary Rubenfeld, VE4EA. Inaugural Discover sessions in   
   early April in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Framingham, Massachusetts, each   
   attracted about 50 attendees. "More were long-time hams who spent more time on   
   VHF than HF," Hull said. "Some had given up HF long ago and gone to VHF." Most   
   of the visitors at both locations, however, were hams who already operate HF,   
   but wanted a refresher.   
      
   The initial sessions combined hands-on operating with talks on various aspects   
   of Amateur Radio and of HF operating in particular. Hull said topics covered   
   in supplementary talks at the Massachusetts session included radios, antennas,   
   and where to find help and information. Due to time constraints, Dayton's   
   Discover will offer just the HF operation component, and the program has been   
   adjusted appropriately. Hull said a team "with great Elmers" will be at ARRL   
   EXPO for all 3 days of Hamvention.   
      
   Also for newcomers attending Hamvention, the League will sponsor the   
   first-ever ARRL Youth Rally on Saturday, May 21, open to youth and young   
   adults from 11 to 26. Register by May 1. The Youth Rally will feature a full   
   program of hands-on ham radio activities, discovery, sharing, and fun!   
      
   A Work in Progress   
      
   Recalling the Massachusetts Discover session, Hull said, "In working with the   
   'students' at the stations, it was readily apparent that a Technician license   
   does not prepare anyone for HF operation, so we learned to explain more."   
      
   Some operating techniques covered were pretty basic fare for HF veterans, but   
   essential for newcomers to that part of the Amateur Radio spectrum. These   
   included how to call CQ, how to respond to callers, and provide a signal   
   report. "They did not understand the QSO sequence and other aspects," Hull   
   said. "They were pretty green about HF -- more so than I had anticipated."   
   Hull allowed that many, if not most, newcomers study for their Technician   
   ticket by looking at the question pool and answers and probably not learning   
   very much about hands-on ham radio.   
      
   "Operating a station needs to be a mandatory step, not voluntary," Hull   
   stressed. "My goal, and that of everyone associated with this idea, is to get   
   people excited about HF."   
      
   Hull had approached ARRL EXPO Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, to propose   
   bringing "Discover the HF Experience" to ARRL EXPO. "The exhibit ties in well   
   with ARRL's recently adopted Strategic Plan and our goal to encourage members   
   to get involved, get active, and get on the air," Inderbitzen said.   
      
      
   ARRL, ARISS Representatives Attend 2016 USA Science and Engineering Festival   
   in DC   
      
   The ARRL and Amateur Radio were well represented April 15-17 at the 4th   
   Biennial 2016 USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, DC.   
   Scientists, engineers, educators, and students attended the premier science,   
   technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) event, where major academic   
   learning centers and research institutes joined forces with corporate partners   
   and government agencies to bring the excitement of leading-edge learning, fun,   
   and discovery to communities.   
      
   "Amateur Radio volunteers from the ARRL Maryland-DC Section assisting at the   
   ARRL booth -- graciously funded by Lee Ciereszko, N4TCW -- were joined by ARRL   
   Headquarters staff, and Atlantic Division leadership," said Maryland-DC (MDC)   
   Section Manager Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM. "We had the pleasure of meeting   
   numerous visiting hams from across the country and around the world. It was a   
   privilege to share in this opportunity to network with many educators,   
   corporate executives, military, and local civic groups -- and to share with   
   them the multifaceted role that ARRL plays in STEM."   
      
   Pittinger said the spacious DC Convention Center was completely filled with   
   STEM-related organizations from across the US, many offering hands-on   
   demonstrations. Estimates put the number of visitors at more than 365,000, and   
   the ARRL MDC Section booth staff greeted approximately 4000 eager and   
   enthusiastic visitors during the 3-day event, Pittinger said. "We demonstrated   
   Lenz's Law with copper-pipe and neodymium magnets; MESH networks; Morse code,   
   and emergency communications," he recounted. "We also offered information   
   about the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, part of the   
   educational STEM outreach by the ARRL to schools through its Education &   
   Technology Program (ETP)." ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson,   
   K1DMJ, was on hand to talk about the Teachers Institute and answer questions.   
      
   Elsewhere at the Festival, Amateur Radio was also represented at the Amateur   
   Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) exhibit, located in the   
   Center for the Advancement of Science in Space's "Space Station Explorers"   
   display, part of NASA's presence. ARISS team members, including Johnson, and   
   Rosalie White, K1STO, of ARRL; ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO,   
   and AMSAT's ARISS representative Dave Taylor, W8AAS, were on hand to tell the   
   ARISS story. They also served as hosts for a Saturday afternoon ARISS contact   
   with ISS crew member Tim Peake, KG5BVI, and members of the Boys and Girls   
   Clubs of Greater Washington, DC. -- Thanks to MDC SM Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM   
      
      
   FCC Invites Comments on Petition to Eliminate 15 dB Gain Limit on Amateur   
   Amplifiers   
      
   The FCC has put on public notice and invited comments on a Petition for Rule   
   Making (RM-11767), filed on behalf of an amateur amplifier distributor, which   
   seeks to revise the Amateur Service rules regarding maximum permissible   
   amplifier gain. Expert Linears America LLC of Magnolia, Texas, which   
   distributes linears manufactured by SPE in Italy, wants the FCC to eliminate   
   the 15 dB gain limitation on amateur amplifiers that's spelled out in   
   ?97.317(a)(2). Expert asserts that there should be no gain limitation at all   
   on amplifiers sold or used in the Amateur Service.   
      
   "There is no technical or regulatory reason [that] an amplifier capable of   
   being driven to full legal output by even a fraction of a watt should not be   
   available to Amateur Radio operators in the United States," Expert said in its   
   Petition.   
      
   Expert maintains that the 15 dB gain limitation is an unneeded holdover from   
   the days when amplifiers were less efficient and the FCC was attempting to   
   rein in the use of Amateur Service amplifiers by Citizens Band operators.   
   While the FCC proposed in its 2004 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order in   
   WT Docket 04-140 to delete the requirement that amplifiers be designed to use   
   a minimum of 50 W of drive power and did so, it did not further discuss the 15   
   dB amplification limit in the subsequent Report and Order in the docket.   
      
   "Although no party advocated retention of the 15 dB limit, it remains in place   
   today," Expert pointed out in its filing. "In the intervening years,   
   advancements in Amateur Radio transmitter technology have led to the   
   availability of highly compact, sophisticated, low-power transmitters that   
   require more than 15 dB of amplification to achieve maximum legal power   
   output. Therefore, Expert seeks to remove the 15 dB limit from ?97.317 so that   
   Amateur Radio manufacturers and distributors will not be forced to needlessly   
   cripple their amplifiers for sale in the United States." Read more.   
      
      
   Frustrated Funding, Breached Secrecy Foiled North Korea DXpedition, Group   
   Leader Says   
      
   A co-leader of the recent VP8STI/VP8SGI Intrepid-DX Group DXpedition, this   
   week said "a surprising lack of support and lack of funding from some of the   
   world's paramount DX foundations" thwarted his group's plans to mount a   
   DXpedition to North Korea. In "The P5DX Story" posted on April 25, Paul Ewing,   
   N6PSE, said that years of negotiations had finally yielded a written   
   invitation from the Democratic Peoples Republic of North Korea (DPRK) -- the   
   most-needed DXCC entity -- to operate there.   
      
   "We had hoped to be the first large DXpedition with clear and unambiguous   
   proof that we were active within the country and with real evidence of   
   permission," Ewing said in announcing the DXpedition's cancellation.   
      
   The Intrepid-DX Group announced its "P5 Project" in 2013. With the recent   
   intervention of an unnamed "emissary," Ewing said, North Korea "agreed to a   
   10-day Amateur Radio activity with three radios and up to 20 team members."   
   Officials insisted on no advance publicity, and all involved were sworn to   
   secrecy.   
      
   "Our last major hurdle was that the DPRK was asking for a very large fee to be   
   paid for the permissions at various government levels and ministries to   
   operate from within the DPRK," Ewing recounted. The size of the requested fee,   
   Ewing said, prompted him to approach several large Amateur Radio foundations   
   for financial help. "All of our fees would be paid directly to a China-based   
   tour company, and no direct exchange would take place with the North Koreans,"   
   Ewing pointed out. But the group was rebuffed.   
      
   Ewing said he and co-leader David Collingham, K3LP, decided they had no other   
   choice but to "drain our own personal retirement savings to provide the bulk   
   of our funding." Money for various fees as well as equipment and air fare ran   
   into the thousands of dollars.   
      
   Then, word of the DXpedition plans leaked out, igniting an Amateur Radio media   
   firestorm. A week before the team's planned departure, Ewing learned that the   
   DPRK had denied him and Collingham permission to enter North Korea, leading to   
   his decision to cancel the entire enterprise. "I could not devote a sizable   
   chunk of my life savings for a project that I could no longer participate in,"   
   he explained. "The financial losses suffered by Intrepid-DX and all of our   
   team members are substantial."   
      
   "This could have been a DXpedition for the record books," Ewing concluded.   
   "But now we will never know."   
      
   In subsequent comments, Ewing said, "The DPRK stated that the visas were not   
   approved because the two Americans had talked to the media in violation of the   
   directive that there be no pre-event publicity. Of course, this was not true,   
   but the damage was done."   
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   This past weekend marked the end of National Parks Week. NPOTA Activators   
   helped bring visibility to the parks with one of the most active NPOTA   
   weekends yet. There are now nearly 295,000 QSOs in Logbook of the World for   
   National Parks on the Air -- an amazing total.   
      
   The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), an independent non-profit   
   organization, wrote a great story about National Parks on the Air for its   
   membership. Thanks to Jennifer Errick and Sam Chiron at NPCA for their   
   coverage!   
      
   ARRL is still accepting photos and video of NPOTA activations for display in   
   the NPOTA ARRL EXPO booth at Dayton Hamvention(R). E-mail with photos or   
   information about your video content, and we will be in touch. Video should be   
   HD, no more than 5 minutes long, have high production values, and tell the   
   story of both Amateur Radio and the NPS unit being activated. Deadline for   
   submissions is May 15.   
      
   There are 56 activations on the schedule for the week of April 28-May 4,   
   including the International Peace Garden (AA12) in North Dakota, and the Sand   
   Creek Massacre National Historic Site (NS64) in Colorado.   
      
   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). -- Thanks to Sean Kutzko, KX9X   
      
      
   Annual Armed Forces Day Cross-Band Communications Test Set for May 14   
      
   The Armed Forces Day Military/Amateur Radio Cross-Band Communications Test,   
   sponsored by the US Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard, will take place on   
   Saturday, May 14. The event gets under way at 1200 UTC, with activity   
   continuing throughout the day. Some military stations may not operate for the   
   entire period.   
      
   "New for Armed Forces Day this year, military stations and Amateur Radio   
   operators are authorized to directly communicate on the 60 meter   
   interoperability channels," US Army MARS Program Manager Paul English, WD8DBY,   
   pointed out.   
      
   This year marks the 66th Armed Forces Day (AFD), observed on May 21. The   
   Military/Amateur Radio Cross-Band Communications Test is held earlier, in   
   order to avoid conflicting with Dayton Hamvention(R).   
      
   The annual exercise is an opportunity to test two-way communication between   
   amateur and military communicators. It features traditional mili   
   ary-to-amateur cross-band SSB and CW communication and offers an opportunity   
   for radio amateurs to utilize modern military communication modes such as   
   MIL-STD serial PSK and automatic link establishment (ALE). These tests   
   challenge Amateur Radio operators and shortwave listeners (SWLs) to   
   demonstrate individual technical skills and to receive recognition from   
   military radio stations. The complete announcement -- subject to change -- is   
   available on the US Army MARS website.   
      
   Participating military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies   
   and listen for Amateur Radio stations on selected amateur frequencies, which   
   the military station operator will announce.   
      
      
   Now Shipping: High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio by Glen Popiel, KW5GP   
      
   High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio by Glen Popiel, KW5GP, now is   
   available from ARRL. The possible uses for these high-speed data networks in   
   the Amateur Radio community are endless. Virtually any service that works on   
   the regular Internet can be adapted to an Amateur Radio high-speed multimedia   
   (HSMM) network, including video conferencing, instant messaging, voice over   
   Internet protocol (VoIP), network sensors and cameras, remote station control,   
   and many other services. With the capability to send real-time video and data   
   files, the public service and disaster support aspects of Amateur Radio are   
   expanded tremendously.   
      
   "The area of high-speed microwave networking and multimedia allows Amateur   
   Radio to take a giant leap forward in new methods of digital communication,"   
   Popiel said. "Through a blending of cutting-edge radio and computer   
   technologies, a completely new frontier has been opened for hams to develop   
   and utilize entirely new wireless networking technologies. The potential uses   
   are endless, providing a powerful platform ideally suited for portable   
   high-speed data networks, as well as tremendously enhancing the emergency   
   communications aspect of Amateur Radio."   
      
   This book introduces HSMM networking, explains the basics of how it works, and   
   describes the various technologies in use today. Later chapters explain in   
   detail how to deploy your own HSMM network, along with various applications to   
   put it to work. Well-illustrated step-by-step instructions will guide you   
   through the process of installing and configuring software needed to get your   
   HSMM network up and running.   
      
   High Speed Multimedia for Amateur Radio is available from the ARRL Store or   
   your ARRL Dealer (ARRL item 0529), ISBN: 978-62595-052-9, $27.95 retail,   
   special ARRL Member Price $24.95. Contact ARRL Publication Sales or call   
   860-594-0355 (toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289). It is also available as an   
   e-book for the Amazon Kindle.   
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Does CW Really Get Through When Nothing Else Can?" is the topic of the   
   current episode of the "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen and find out!   
      
   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 the Doctor   
   may answer them in a future podcast. The topic for the May 5 podcast will be   
   "Open Wire Line."   
      
   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.   
      
      
   Severe Weather Prompts SKYWARN Activations in Oklahoma   
      
   Radio amateurs across Oklahoma reported in on April 26 after SKYWARN nets   
   activated in response to severe weather traversing the Sooner State, Oklahoma   
   Section Manager Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, said. Thunderstorms, accompanied in some   
   places by hail, raked the state.   
      
   "Folks like Wade Norris, K5WPN; Dale Town, N5VX; Stephen Ellis, KG5ICZ, and   
   Paula Cain, KD5JOC, plus WX5TUL at the Tulsa National Weather Service (NWS)   
   Office, gathered reports meeting SKYWARN criteria," Colston said following the   
   marathon session of storms.   
      
   The storms and radio nets began in the afternoon of April 26 and continued   
   into the early hours of April 27. The Amateur Radio volunteers' reports were   
   added to those gathered from emergency managers, public safety agencies, and   
   the public. The NWS uses the information gathered via SKYWARN in developing   
   its forecasts, watches, and warnings. Colston said that at least one net   
   operated for 7 hours.   
      
      
   Radio Amateurs Support Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay   
      
   Hundreds of Amateur Radio operators, most from California, Nevada, and   
   Arizona, turned out March 19-20 to support communication for the 2016 Baker to   
   Vegas Challenge Cup Relay (B2V). This year marked the 32nd anniversary of the   
   event, sometimes called "The world's longest police foot pursuit." The relay   
   event covers some 120 miles of remote territory, from the Mojave Desert near   
   Baker, California -- the gateway to Death Valley -- to Las Vegas, Nevada.   
      
   "This event allows the Southwestern US amateur community to showcase its   
   abilities to the country's law enforcement community," ARRL Los Angeles   
   Section Manager David Greenhut, N6HD, said.   
      
   As in past years, Joy Matlack, KD6FJV, served as Communication Director,   
   assisted by Margie Hoffman, KG6TBR, organizing the Amateur Radio communication   
   support. This effort involves nearly a year of planning and preparation. The   
   2016 event hosted 264 law enforcement teams.   
      
   Amateur Radio volunteers provided needed race staffing and filled potential   
   emergency communication gaps in remote portions of the course. Los Angeles   
   ARES (ARESLAX) teams were among the volunteering groups. -- Thanks to Los   
   Angeles Section Manager David Greenhut, N6HD   
      
      
   Young Ham Wins First-Place Science Fair Trophy with Mag Loop Antenna Entry   
      
   A 10-year-old ARRL member from Snoqualmie, Washington, took first place in his   
   grade and division for a magnetic loop antenna project he entered into the   
   Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF). Dragan Tuip, KG7OQT,   
   was among the more than 700 presenters at the fair, held April 1-2 in   
   Bremerton. A 5th grade student at Yellow Wood Academy in Mercer Island, his   
   project, "Modular HF Mag Loop Antenna," stemmed from his desire for a compact   
   antenna to use in his room with his HF transceiver -- a flea market bargain.   
   According to his dad, Martin Tuip, KG7HAX, Dragan built the antenna himself   
   and successfully tested it by making JT65 contacts with Japan and Georgia. The   
   59th annual WSSEF marked Dragan's science fair debut.   
      
   "When they called my name during the award ceremony, I was stunned! I was   
   amazed!" he told ARRL. "I learned that not everything is always the best, and   
   some things still have room for improvement. I had several people already ask   
   me if they could buy the antenna." Licensed at age 8, Dragan wants to earn   
   DXCC before he turns 11. He eventually hopes to market the antenna.   
      
   The magnetic loop design he entered into the science fair consists of a   
   10-foot circumference loop of LMR-400 coaxial cable with a 2-foot   
   circumference loop of solid copper and a variable capacitor for tuning housed   
   in a central enclosure. According to Dragan, the antenna is usable on 40, 30,   
   20, 17, and 15 meters with a low SWR. The antenna can handle up to about 10 W   
   for 100 percent duty cycle modes, and up to 15 W PEP for SSB.   
      
   The need for an indoor antenna arose after his mom let it be known that she   
   didn't want any new holes drilled in the house nor any more visible antennas.   
   Dragan had seen some mag loop-style antennas in articles his dad had been   
   reading and asked if something like that might fit in his room.   
      
   "I told him that that size would work, and off he went to scavenge the house   
   for parts to build a prototype," Martin Tuip said. "We had to order a   
   capacitor for the prototype, and he built further upon that." Dragan did all   
   the calculations for the wire lengths involved, he said.   
      
   "He ran propagation tests using WSPR with my G5RV as reference, and the mag   
   loop was about 80 percent as effective at a fraction of the size," Martin Tuip   
   said.   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   Three ESA "Fly Your Satellite!" Program CubeSats Now in Orbit and   
   Transmitting: Three student-built CubeSats -- including the first to carry a   
   D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) Amateur Radio payload   
   into space -- now are successfully in orbit following an April 25 launch from   
   Guiana. Signals from all three have been received on Earth. OUFTI-1 (Orbital   
   Utility For Telecommunication Innovations), constructed by students at the   
   University of Liege in Belgium (ULg), carries the D-STAR payload. The other   
   two CubeSats -- e-st@r-II and AAUSAT4 -- are from Italy and Denmark,   
   respectively. The three CubeSats were 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   
   first three radio amateurs to send a recorded signal from OUFTI-1, AAUSAT4, or   
   e-st@r-II will receive a prize from ESA's Education Office. Visit the ESA   
   website for details.   
      
      
   TAPR Dayton Hamvention Digital Forum to Include SatNOGS, HamWAN, SDR Talks:   
   TAPR has announced the presentations for its Dayton Hamvention(R) Digital   
   Forum, moderated by Scotty Cowling, WA2DFI, on Friday, May 20, at 9:15 AM.   
   Among the presentions will be "SatNOGS -- a network of open source satellite   
   ground stations," by Corey Shields, KB9JHU. The SatNOGS Project focuses on Low   
   Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Shields will introduce SatNOGS as a way to   
   increase the amount of CubeSat data that are collected and reported. Bryan   
   Fields, W9CR, will present "HamWAN High-Speed IP Radio Network," an Amateur   
   Radio high-speed IP backbone concept that uses the same techniques enabling   
   the Internet. "SDR Disrupt" will be the topic of Chris Testa, KD2BMH, who will   
   review the landscape and advancements in SDR technologies over the past year.   
   Latest developments in digital voice will also be discussed. "Spectrum   
   Monitoring with Software Defined Radio," by Mike Ossmann, AD0NR, will follow.   
   More information about TAPR activities at Dayton is on the TAPR website.   
      
      
   Collegiate Ham Radio Dinner Set for Dayton Hamvention Weekend: The Collegiate   
   Ham Radio Dinner will be held on Friday, May 20, the first day of Dayton   
   Hamvention(R), at Little York Tavern and Pizza, 4120 Little York Road,   
   Vandalia, Ohio. It gets under way at 6:30 PM. Magda Moses, KM4EGE, is   
   organizing the event on behalf of the Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Association   
   (VTARA). The Collegiate Ham Radio Dinner is a get-together of current and past   
   collegiate ham radio operators, and anyone who shares an interest in college   
   ham radio clubs and activities. High school students exploring college choices   
   are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Moses, (571) 355-8582.   
   RSVPs, either by e-mail or at our Facebook event page, are appreciated, but   
   not required.   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Over the reporting week of April 21-27,   
   average daily sunspot numbers rose from 40 to 43.3, and average daily solar   
   flux declined from 100.8 to 81.9. This is compared to the previous seven days.   
   The average planetary A index dropped from 10.9 to 9.4, and the average   
   mid-latitude A index rose from 8.9 to 11.6.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 95 on April 28; 93 on April 29-May 1; 92 on May 2; 90   
   on May 3-4; 95 on May 5-10; 100 on May 11; 95 on May 12-15; 82 on May 16-24;   
   80 on May 25; 82 on May 26-29, and 95 on   
   May 30-June 6.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 6, 14, 26, and 18 on April 28-May 1; 8, 6, and   
   8 on May 2-4; 5 on May 5-8; 18, 25, and 20 on May 9-11; 8, 5, and 12 on May   
   12-14; 5 on May 15-18; 12, 15, and 12 on May 19-21; 8 on May 22-23; 5 on May   
   24-25; then 10, 18, and 12 on May 26-28; 5 on May 29-30; 12 on May 31, and 5   
   on June 1-4.   
      
   Spaceweather.com reports Earth will cross a fold in the heliospheric current   
   sheet on April 29 or 30. "This is called a 'solar sector boundary crossing,'   
   and it could trigger geomagnetic activity around Earth's poles,"   
   Spaceweather.com reported. "NOAA forecasters estimate a 60 percent chance of   
   G1-class geomagnetic storms on April 29."   
      
   Sunspot numbers for April 21 through 27 were 35, 22, 11, 46, 38, 65, and 86,   
   with a mean of 40. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 76.8, 76.6, 78.7, 81.8, 81.9,   
   85.2, and 92.6, with a mean of 100.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 5,   
   13, 12, 11, 8, 7, and 10, with a mean of 10.9. Estimated mid-latitude A   
   indices were 23, 13, 11, 11, 6, 6, and 11, with a mean of 8.9.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   This Week in Radiosport   
      
    *  April 30-May 1 -- Russian WW MultiMode Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  April 30-May 1 -- Florida QSO Party (CW, phone)   
    *  May 1 -- AGCW QRP/QRP Party (CW)   
    *  May 2 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (SSB)   
    *  May 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)   
    *  May 4-5 -- MIE 33 Contest (CW, SSB)   
    *  May 5 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest (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 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   
    *  June 24-26 -- Ham Radio 2016, Friedrichshafen, Germany   
    *  July 2 -- Eastern Pennsylvania Section Convention, Harrisburg,   
       Pennsylvania   
    *  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   
      
   ... He is a well known composer few people have ever heard of.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)