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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-05-26   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
   May 26, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Hamvention(R) 2016 Youth Activities a Hit -- and HF Too!   
    *  ARRL "Strongly Supports" Petition to Drop 15 dB Restriction for Amateur   
       Amplifiers   
    *  Tell Us What You Think!   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Amateur Radio to Play Major Role in June Pacific Northwest Earthquake   
       Exercise   
    *  Annual Pre-Hurricane Season WX4NHC Station Test Set for Saturday, May 28   
    *  Search Continues for STMSat-1 Radio Signal   
    *  New ARRL Extra Class License Manual Available as Softcover,   
       Spiral-Bound, or E-Book   
    *  Four New Section Managers to Take Office this Summer   
    *  Educator, ARRL Field Organization Veteran, Author Pete Kemp, KZ1Z, SK   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  This Week in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   ARRL Headquarters is Closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30: ARRL Headquarters   
   will be closed Monday, May 30, in observance of Memorial Day. There will be no   
   W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions that day. ARRL Headquarters will   
   reopen Tuesday, May 31, at 8 AM (EDT). We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable   
   holiday weekend!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Hamvention(R) 2016 Youth Activities a Hit -- and HF Too!   
      
   Hamvention(R) 2016 had a lot to offer the next generation of radio amateurs.   
   ARRL's first Youth Rally on Saturday, May 21, attracted a full house of   
   attendees, and some Hamvention visitors observed that younger radio amateurs   
   and potential licensees seemed in greater profusion this year than in the   
   past. Guiding the day-long Youth Rally activities were ARRL volunteer educator   
   Tommy Gober, N5DUX, and his wife Jennifer, KE5LNK. Tommy Gober said the Youth   
   Rally fed off energy generated during the earlier Hamvention Youth Forum, led   
   for the 29th year by Carole Perry, WB2MGP, and featuring such young speakers   
   as 17-year-olds Maria Lysandrou, KD9BUS, and Kelsey Seymour, K3LSY, speaking   
   on a range of topics.   
      
   "ARRL Youth Rally participants heard from other hams [at the Youth Forum]   
   discussing how to get others involved and the various operating experiences   
   they've had," Tommy Gober said. Youth Rally participants ranged in age from 11   
   to 26. They also got to sample other ARRL EXPO offerings, including   
   opportunities to see Amateur Radio up close, and even to get directly involved   
   in operating.   
      
   "ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, shared the fun of   
   this year's ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) initiative," Tommy Gober   
   said. "Sean showed how even those with Technician licenses can activate a   
   national park with a dipole in a tree and a simple digital setup using a   
   tablet, sound card interface, and HF radio." He said members of the group were   
   able to make a 10 meter SSB contact when Youth Rally activities took to the   
   open air outside Hara Arena for a backpack radio demonstration.   
      
   Afterward, Youth Rally attendees headed back to ARRL EXPO, where Gerry Hull,   
   W1VE, headed up the "Discover the HF Experience" demonstration. There,   
   well-equipped remotely operated stations in the US and in Sweden provided   
   young operators with a chance to do some real radio.   
      
   "Several youth made their first Amateur Radio contacts from this experience,   
   while others enjoyed working HF -- many for the first time," Tommy Gober said.   
      
   Hull said that while the "Discover HF" demo was a huge hit, radio conditions   
   failed to cooperate with the venture over Hamvention weekend. "Despite that,   
   we had a lot of interest from both young and older hams," he said. Young   
   Amateur Extra op Eric Edstrom, KC9SRB, got on the air via SK3W in Sweden to   
   make his first HF contacts with stations in Asia, Europe, and the US. "We   
   certainly opened his eyes," Hull allowed.   
      
   Youth Rally attendees also worked on a hands-on electromagnetic buzzer   
   construction project to teach circuit basics, oscillation, and elementary   
   building techniques.   
      
   ARRL Contest Advisory Committee Chair George Wagner, K5KG, met with Youth   
   Rally participants during their lunch break to pitch participation in the   
   Youth in Amateur Radiosport Survey. "I spoke with them about the Youth Survey   
   and why it was important for them to take it," Wagner said. He and Glenn   
   Johnson, W0GJ, handed out promotional survey cards at Hamvention, some 300 in   
   all. "We are getting a good response to the survey," Wagner said. "Currently,   
   we have in excess of 800 responses. I am seeing some interesting trends." The   
   survey ends on August 31.   
      
   New ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, also joined the lunch to learn how ARRL can   
   better serve young people in Amateur Radio and offer opportunities that appeal   
   to them. During a presentation, newly minted Virginia Tech PhD (electrical   
   engineering) Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, shared his experiences of operating   
   from Antarctica and other remote locations and highlighted how Amateur Radio   
   served as a foundation for his career path.   
      
   "It was busy. Really busy," Gallagher said afterward of his first-ever   
   Hamvention experience, noting that he'd covered a lot of ground over the   
   weekend. "There were a lot of young people there, and we had a really good   
   Youth Rally."   
      
   Gallagher and new ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, greeted many Hamvention   
   visitors over the weekend. At the ARRL Member Forum, Gallagher stressed his   
   focus on improved ARRL Headquarters service.   
      
   The Dayton Amateur Radio Club (DARA) presented ARRL Development Manager Lauren   
   Clarke, KB1YDD, and President Roderick with $5000 to fund the ARRL Teachers   
   Institute, and $5000 for the DARA scholarship administered by the ARRL   
   Foundation. DARA also made a $10,000 payment toward its $100,000 Second   
   Century Campaign pledge.   
      
   At the Youth Forum, Yasme Foundation President Ward Silver, N0AX, presented   
   Carole Perry with the Yasme Excellence Award for her work with youth.   
      
      
   ARRL "Strongly Supports" Petition to Drop 15 dB Restriction for Amateur   
   Amplifiers   
      
   In comments filed on May 26, the ARRL said it "strongly supports" a petition   
   to the FCC seeking to eliminate an Amateur Service rule, spelled out in   
   ?97.317(a)(2), that amateur amplifiers not be able to boost the RF input   
   signal by more than 15 dB. The Petition for Rule Making (RM-11767), was   
   submitted in April on behalf of an amateur amplifier distributor, Expert   
   Linears America LLC of Magnolia, Texas.   
      
   "The Petition proposes relief that is in the nature of eliminating unnecessary   
   regulatory underbrush, and it continues an effort started by the Commission on   
   its own motion in 2004...to do precisely that," the ARRL said in its comments.   
   "The rule proposed to be eliminated is outdated; it constituted overregulation   
   when it was adopted long ago, and it now substantially limits the flexibility   
   of Amateur Radio operators to experiment with the current generation of   
   software-defined Amateur Radio equipment."   
      
   The 15 dB provision came into the rules during an era when the FCC initiated   
   various actions to rein in a major interference problem resulting from the use   
   of illegal 11 meter amplifiers during the Citizens Band radio boom of the   
   1970s. "In its effort to address that problem, the Commission enacted a series   
   of largely redundant and overlapping regulations that, in their overall   
   effect, unnecessarily (and inappropriately) penalized the wholly innocent   
   Amateur Radio operators," the League asserted. "There was created a plethora   
   of restrictions on manufacturers of external RF power amplifiers."   
      
   The ARRL noted that while the FCC eliminated some of the unnecessary   
   regulations in 2004, others remain, including the 15 dB gain restriction. The   
   rules adopted in 1978 also called for type acceptance (certification) of   
   manufactured RF power amplifiers operating below 144 MHz, including a 50 W   
   minimum drive power requirement and a ban on amplifiers capable of operation   
   between 24 and 35 MHz.   
      
   "Indeed, precisely the same rationale for elimination of the 50 W minimum   
   drive power rule in 2006 applies to the elimination of the 15 dB gain rule for   
   amateur amplifiers," the ARRL said in its comments. "There is no continued   
   justification for retaining the 15 dB gain limitation."   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Tell Us What You Think!   
      
   We'd like The ARRL Letter to be your first and favorite source of Amateur   
   Radio news. Please let us know how we're doing by completing a short online   
   survey. Thanks!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Hunting Down Interference" is the topic of the current (May 19) episode of   
   the "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!   
      
   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.   
      
   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   
      
   We had non-stop traffic at the National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) booth at   
   Dayton Hamvention(R). The operation at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National   
   Historical Park was a big hit as well. Many hams made their first activations,   
   and some NPOTA veterans had fun, too. The NPOTA Forum was packed.   
      
   Saturday, June 4, is National Trails Day across the US, and Amateur Radio   
   operators in seven states will be transmitting from all along the North   
   Country National Scenic Trail for National Parks on the Air. Activator John   
   Forslin, KC8ULE, is organizing the event. A certificate will be available from   
   the North Country Trail Association for working an NPOTA Activator in all   
   seven states that comprise the North Country Trail. Visit the Light Up the   
   Trail website for complete information and to sign up as an Activator. NPOTA   
   Activators are encouraged to put all NPOTA-eligible trails on the air on June   
   4.   
      
   There are 58 activations scheduled for the week of May 26-June 1, including   
   the Jamestown National Historic Site in Virginia, and the Canyon de Chelly   
   National Monument in Arizona. 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 to Play Major Role in June Pacific Northwest Earthquake Exercise   
      
   "Cascadia Rising," the largest FEMA exercise of 2016, will get under way on   
   June 7, and Oregon and Washington ARES/RACES organizations both will be   
   heavily involved, with a significant investment in HF activity planned. The   
   scenario will be an earthquake and tsunami disaster involving the entire   
   Pacific Northwest, and the exercise will start with a blackout of all normal,   
   regular communication systems. Amateur Radio will provide emergency/disaster   
   alternate communication systems, and participants will include Maxim Memorial   
   Station W1AW at ARRL Headquarters. The plan calls for W1AW to be active and   
   monitoring, and possibly passing traffic, if necessary, W1AW Station Manager   
   Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, said. ARRL Emergency Response Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, said   
   Cascadia Rising will also involve the Emergency Response Team at ARRL   
   Headquarters.   
      
   "Along with participation via Winlink and HF voice, we will use it as an   
   opportunity to exercise the ARRL Headquarters Emergency Response Team," Corey   
   said. "This team is called up to support the   
   ARRL Field Organization during a major disaster, when support cannot be   
   provided during normal business hours. The last activation of the team was   
   during hurricane Irene in 2011."   
      
   According to FEMA, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction   
   Zone (CSZ), and the resulting tsunami would present the most complex disaster   
   scenario that emergency managers and public safety officials in the Pacific   
   Northwest could face; Cascadia Rising is an exercise to address that disaster.   
   The exercise will conclude on June 10.   
      
   According to FEMA, emergency operations centers (EOCs) and emergency   
   coordination centers (ECCs) at all levels of government and in the private   
   sector will activate to conduct simulated field response operations within   
   their jurisdictions and with neighboring communities, state EOCs, FEMA, and   
   major military commands. The military departments in Washington and Oregon   
   will activate.   
      
   "Conducting successful life-saving and life-sustaining response operations in   
   the aftermath of a Cascadia Subduction Zone disaster will hinge on the   
   effective coordination and integration of governments at all levels -- cities,   
   counties, state agencies, federal officials, the military, tribal nations --   
   as well as non-government organizations and the private sector," FEMA said.   
   "One of the primary goals of Cascadia Rising is to train and test this whole   
   community approach to complex disaster operations together as a joint team."   
   -- Thanks to John Core, KX7YT, Oregon ARES District 1 Emergency Coordinator   
   for some information   
      
      
   Annual Pre-Hurricane Season WX4NHC Station Test Set for Saturday, May 28   
      
   Now in its 36th year, WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami,   
   will conduct its annual Station Test on Saturday, May 28. The event, which   
   gets under way at 1300 UTC and wraps up at 2100 UTC, is conducted each year in   
   advance of hurricane season.   
      
   "The purpose of this event is to test Amateur Radio Station equipment,   
   antennas, and computers prior to this year's Hurricane Season, which starts   
   June 1 and runs through November 30," said WX4NHC Amateur Radio Assistant   
   Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R. "This event is good practice for ham radio   
   operators worldwide as well as National Weather Service (NWS) staff to become   
   familiar with Amateur Radio communication available during times of severe   
   weather." The station also takes advantage of the test to perform operator   
   training.   
      
   The annual Station Test is not a contest or simulated hurricane exercise.   
   WX4NHC will make brief contacts with participating stations to exchange signal   
   reports and basic weather data. For example, stations may report "sunny" or   
   "rain" or "cloudy" in describing the conditions at their locations.   
      
   Ripoll said WX4NHC will be active with various modes on HF, VHF, and UHF, as   
   well as 2 meter and 30 meter APRS, and it will be available via Winlink   
   (subject line must contain "//WL2K"). "We will try to stay on the Hurricane   
   Watch Net frequency of 14.325 MHz most of the time," he said.   
      
   WX4NHC also plans to be on the VoIP Hurricane Net from 2000 until 2100 UTC   
   (IRLP node 9219; EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). In addition, the   
   station will be active on South Florida VHF and UHF repeaters.   
      
      
   Search Continues for STMSat-1 Radio Signal   
      
   Youngsters at St Thomas More Cathedral School in Virginia remain optimistic   
   that their STMSat-1 CubeSat, deployed on May 16 from the International Space   
   Station (ISS), will begin transmitting a signal. Helping in the search is the   
   Space Science Center at Morehead State University in Kentucky, which is using   
   its 21 meter dish to scan multiple frequencies for the spacecraft's signal.   
   STMSat-1 is supposed to transmit on 437.800 MHz FM and transmit slow-scan   
   television (SSTV) pictures back to Earth.   
      
   "Morehead University picked up something within our frequency range last   
   night," STMSat-1 Education Manager Emily Stocker said May 25 in response to an   
   ARRL inquiry. "It may have been us; it is possible it was MinXSS." The   
   University of Colorado's MinXSS deployed from the ISS at the same time as   
   STMSat-1. Stocker said they were trying to determine if Morehead State picked   
   up a beacon, which probably would suggest a MinXSS signal, or SSTV data, which   
   would likely confirm a signal from STMSat-1. In addition, JA0CAW posted a   
   tweet reporting a signal heard on 437.800 MHz at 1225 UTC on May 25.   
      
   The school thanked students at Morehead State for staying up all night   
   listening in the 437 MHz range. Their next step is to install SSTV software to   
   see if they can decode a signal.   
      
   The CubeSat was rebooted from the ground just after 0400 UTC on May 24. The   
   reboot was scheduled after the satellite had not been heard from for 7 days.   
   STMSat-1 was supposed to turn itself on once its batteries were fully charged   
   and its mechanized antennas deployed.   
      
   Pupils at the school built STMSat-1 during a 4-year-long project, and the   
   satellite was launched to the ISS last December. After being placed in orbit   
   (it is object 41476), the CubeSat initially continued roughly in the same   
   orbit as the ISS and of other satellites deployed on May 16, but it's been   
   moving away a little bit each day. The youngsters have been tracking its orbit.   
      
   The satellite is designed to transmit slow-scan television (SSTV) images   
   (Robot 72) of Earth on 437.800 MHz FM. Stocker advised all those interested to   
   follow the STMSat-1 Twitter feed, @STMSat11, to stay up to date.   
      
   The satellite is the first to be designed and built by grade schoolers, who   
   were supported by NASA technical advisors and local radio amateurs. NASA's   
   Technology Demonstration Office provided the school with a mobile "clean room"   
   for the construction, and a ground-station antenna. The agency has been   
   advising the school on tracking the satellite and finding its signal.   
      
      
   New ARRL Extra Class License Manual Available as Softcover, Spiral-Bound, or   
   E-Book   
      
   Achieve the highest level of Amateur Radio license. The new ARRL Extra Class   
   License Manual (11th edition) is available in softcover, spiral-bound, or   
   e-book versions. With the optional academic-style spiral-bound edition (ARRL   
   Item no. 0550, ISBN: 978-1-62595-055-0, $32.95), the manual lies flat, making   
   it more convenient for both students and instructors.   
      
   The exam question-and-answer key is built from the latest Amateur Extra class   
   question pool, which goes into effect on July 1, 2016. Expert instruction will   
   lead you through all of the knowledge you need to pass the 50-question exam --   
   rules, specific operating skills, and more advanced electronics theory. You   
   can use the Extra Class License Manual in conjunction with ARRL's Extra Q&A   
   (4th edition) and ARRL's online Exam Review for Ham Radio, so you won't have   
   any surprises on test day.   
      
   The ARRL Extra Class License Manual is also available in traditional softcover   
   (ARRL Item no. 0451, ISBN: 978-1-62595-045-1, $29.95). ARRL Amateur Extra   
   class licensing guides are available from the ARRL Store or from a local ARRL   
   Dealer. Call ARRL Publication Sales, (860) 594-0355; toll-free in the US,   
   (888) 277-5289, to place an order.   
      
   ARRL has just released a digital edition of The ARRL Extra Class License   
   Manual in Kindle format from Amazon. The ARRL also offers Kindle editions of   
   The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, The ARRL General Class License Manual and   
   its question-and-answer study guides, ARRL's Tech Q&A, ARRL's General Q&A, and   
   ARRL's Extra Q&A.   
      
      
   Four New Section Managers to Take Office this Summer   
      
   New Section Managers will take over this summer in four ARRL sections --   
   Alabama, Indiana, Oregon, and Wisconsin. In Alabama, JVann Martin, W4JVM, of   
   Chelsea, received 550 votes to 211 for his opponent, Dennis Littleton, K4DL,   
   of West Blocton. That was the only contested race in the spring election   
   cycle. Ballots were counted on Tuesday, May 24, at ARRL Headquarters. Outgoing   
   Alabama SM David Drummond, W4MD, decided not to run for another term after   
   serving since January 2011.   
      
   Martin is currently ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Jefferson County. He's been   
   licensed for more than 20 years. Martin serves as the Director of Emergency   
   Management and Facilities at UAB Hospital. He is a founding member and   
   President of the Healthcare Community Amateur Radio Club. Martin will begin an   
   18-month term on July 1, rather than the nominal 2 years, because no   
   candidates were nominated by the September 4, 2015, deadline, and nominations   
   were resolicited.   
      
   In Indiana, Brent Walls, N9BA, of Indianapolis, will take over as the new SM   
   on July 1. He has been the Assistant SM under incumbent SM Joseph Lawrence,   
   K9RFZ, of Fort Wayne, who decided not to run for a new term after serving   
   since July 2014.   
      
   In Oregon, John Core, KX7YT, of Portland, will take the section reins from   
   Everett Curry, W6ABM, of Hillsboro, on July 1. Curry, Oregon's SM since   
   January 2014, decided not to run for another term. Core is currently a   
   District Emergency Coordinator and Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator.   
      
   In Wisconsin, Patrick Moretti, KA1RB, of Dousman, will become the new Section   
   Manager on July 1. He was the sole nominee for the post being vacated by Gary   
   Sorensen, W9ULK, of Oxford, who has been SM since July 2013. Moretti has been   
   serving as the Wisconsin Official Observer Coordinator, an Official Observer,   
   and a Technical Specialist.   
      
   Six incumbent Section Managers face no opposition in this election cycle and   
   have been elected for new terms starting on July 1: Ray Hollenbeck, KL1IL   
   (Alaska); Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN (Illinois); Bill Crowley, K1NIT (Maine); Steve   
   Szabo, WB4OMM (Northern Florida); Brandon Bianchi, NI6C (Santa Clara Valley),   
   and Paul Gayet, AA1SU, (Vermont).   
      
      
   Educator, ARRL Field Organization Veteran, Author Pete Kemp, KZ1Z, SK   
      
   Past Connecticut ARRL Section Communications Manager (SCM -- now SM) and   
   veteran Field Organization volunteer, and author Pete Kemp, KZ1Z, of Wesley   
   Chapel, Florida, died on May 17. He was 67. An ARRL Life Member, Kemp served   
   as Connecticut SCM for 6 years in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over the   
   years he also had filled several other ARRL Field Organization posts in   
   Connecticut and in West Central Florida, including Assistant SM (1992 to 2004   
   and 2008 to 2015), Public Information Coordinator, District Emergency   
   Coordinator, Emergency Coordinator, and Official Observer. For many years, he   
   was an Assistant Director for New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI.   
      
   "He was a superb teacher in the high school, a wonderful mentor, licensed over   
   700 hams, an active member of Candlewood Amateur Radio Association, and one   
   who really understood what it meant to actualize his potential," said ARRL   
   Connecticut SM Betsey Doane, K1EIC. "He was enthused about life and, really,   
   he was a gift to all of us."   
      
   A ham for 47 years, Kemp was the author of The Teacher's Guide to Amateur   
   Radio Instruction, published by ARRL in 2014. He also authored numerous   
   articles and was a co-author of ARRL's popular series of Emergency   
   Communications courses, and of the Public Service Communications Manual.   
      
   Kemp was named Herb S. Brier Volunteer Instructor of the Year and Professional   
   Teacher of the Year -- the only person to receive both ARRL honors.   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   Hamvention 2016 Post-Show "Satisfaction Survey" Under Way: Was Hamvention(R)   
   2016 a hit? The sponsoring Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) and the   
   various committees responsible for making Hamvention happen want to know.   
   Hamvention has posted a post-show "Satisfaction Survey" to solicit comments   
   and observations from those who attended this year's big show. "Comments and   
   observations are important in the continual effort to make improvements," DARA   
   said. As an incentive, three survey respondents will be selected to receive   
   two tickets to the 2017 Hamvention. The survey provides the opportunity for   
   respondents to describe their Hamvention experiences in their own words,   
   telling what they enjoyed and/or what could be improved. The current survey   
   will remain active for at least 90 days, and the ticket drawing will take   
   place on August 22. DARA has sponsored Hamvention since 1952. It is the   
   world's largest Amateur Radio gathering. The next Hamvention is scheduled for   
   May 19-21, 2017.   
      
      
   DX Engineering Announces New Acquisitions: DX Engineering has acquired   
   exclusive rights to Clifton Laboratories' ham radio product line. Clifton   
   Laboratories manufactured preamplifiers and filters, which DX Engineering will   
   now produce. DX Engineering said that part numbers and design specifications   
   will remain the same. The company will manufacture more than a dozen Amateur   
   Radio products and will offer parts and tech support for owners of Clifton   
   Laboratories legacy products. DX Engineering also has just purchased TW   
   Antennas, the maker of the TransWorld Antenna and related components. The   
   TransWorld Antenna is popular with hams who enjoy portable operation, because   
   it's small and easily transported. DX Engineering is tooling up to begin   
   production of Clifton   
   Laboratories' products and of the TransWorld Antenna and accessories by   
   mid-summer.   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar indices pulled back this week. The   
   average sunspot number was 25.3 for May 19-25, down by 38.8 points from the   
   previous week. The average daily solar flux over the same period was 97, down   
   by 3.4 points from the previous week. Planetary A index average was 7.1, down   
   by 2.8 points, and average daily mid-latitude A index was 7, down by 3.9. This   
   overall decline in solar activity should continue at least for the next 4   
   years. Compared to past cycles, this one is considerably weaker.   
      
   The latest forecast from NOAA/USAF shows solar flux at 95, 90, and 85 on May   
   26-28; 90 on May 29-30; 85, 95, 90, and 95 on May 31-June 3; 90 on June 4-7;   
   95 on June 8; 100 on June 9-10; 95 on June   
   11-12; 90 on June 13-16; 85 on June 17-20; 90 on June 21-25 (except 85 on June   
   23), and 95 on June 26-30.   
      
   The latest prediction for planetary A index is 12, 14, 8, 12, 16, and 8 on May   
   26-31; 5, 12, 15, 35, 30, and 15 on June 1-6; 5 on June 7-10; 12 on June   
   11-13; 8 on June 14-15; 5, 15, 12, and 10 on June 16-19; 5 on June 20-21; 12,   
   10, 8, 5, 15, 12, and 8 on June 22-28; 15 on June 29-30; 35, 30, and 15 on   
   July 1-3, and 5 on July 4-7.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for May 19 through 25 were 38, 43, 17, 15, 13, 24, and 27,   
   with a mean of 25.3. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 98.8, 99.5, 97.8, 97.4,   
   97.4, 94.3, and 93.6, with a mean of 97. Estimated planetary A indices were 8,   
   6, 15, 7, 5, 6, and 3, with a mean of 7.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices   
   were 8, 6, 16, 5, 4, 6, and 4 with a mean of 7.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   This Week in Radiosport   
      
    *  May 28-29 -- CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW)   
    *  May 28 -- Portuguese Navy Day Contest (Digital)   
    *  May 29 -- SARL Digital Contest   
    *  June 2 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... If you are going to try cross country skiing start with a small country.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)