If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-06-09   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   June 9, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  ARRL, Community Associations Institute Find Common Ground on Parity Act   
       Language   
    *  Pacific Northwest Earthquake Exercise Reaching for Realistic Response   
       Scenario   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Shop Amazon Smile for Father's Day and Support ARRL   
    *  The 2016 ARRL June VHF Contest is Upon Us!   
    *  Colorado Creates Auxiliary Emergency Communications Unit   
    *  ARES Volunteers Take Part in Search for Missing Plane   
    *  Transatlantic VHF Digital Receiver Site Now Operational in Newfoundland   
    *  Bouvet Island Activation Planned for 2017-2018 Timeframe   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
      
   ARRL, Community Associations Institute Find Common Ground on Parity Act   
   Language   
      
   ARRL and the Community Associations Institute (CAI) -- the national   
   association of homeowners associations (HOAs) -- have reached consensus on   
   provisions of the Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301. ARRL and CAI have   
   worked intensively since February to reach agreement on substitute language   
   for the bill in an effort to move it through the US House Energy and Commerce   
   Committee and to overcome objections to the companion US Senate bill, S. 1685.   
   Along the way, the offices of U.S. Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Greg   
   Walden, W7EQI, (R-OR), and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) mediated and offered assistance.   
      
   ARRL Hudson Division Director and Legislative Affairs Committee Chairman Mike   
   Lisenco, N2YBB, called the agreement "a significant development in the   
   League's 30-year pursuit to secure the ability to erect Amateur Radio antennas   
   in deed restricted communities."   
      
   ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said the League was pleased to have   
   reached an agreement with CAI over new proposed language in this legislation   
   that both ARRL and CAI endorse and support. "We agree with CAI that the   
   substitute amendment is balanced, and we think that this bill's language is   
   more objective and offers perhaps more guidance to HOAs than would the PRB-1   
   'reasonable accommodation' test for municipal land use regulations," he said.   
      
   Imlay explained that ARRL did not have the final language for the substitute   
   amendment until late last week, and the amended bill has not been introduced   
   in the House as of yet. ARRL planned no announcement about the text of the   
   amended House bill until it was introduced. However, because the text became   
   available from the House Office of Legislative Counsel, and as CAI released   
   the text to its members, it was decided to release the amended text now.   
      
   "The bottom line," Imlay said, "is that if the bill is enacted, it would allow   
   every amateur living in a deed-restricted community -- for the first time in   
   the history of Amateur Radio in the US -- the ability to install an effective   
   outdoor antenna."   
      
   "That would benefit thousands of current and future hams living in   
   deed-restricted communities," Lisenco added.   
      
   Imlay explained that the substitute bill would guarantee that a radio amateur   
   living in a deed-restricted community -- including condominium or townhouse   
   communities -- could install and maintain an "effective outdoor antenna."   
   Achieving the agreement came without disrupting 30 years of zoning case law   
   that has interpreted the PRB-1 federal preemption and protected radio amateurs   
   from overregulation by zoning authorities. The bill incorporates the basic   
   tenets of PRB-1.   
      
   According to the substitute bill's language, the FCC would enact rules   
   prohibiting the application of deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio   
   communication on their face or as applied. Also prohibited would be deed   
   restrictions that do not permit an Amateur Radio operator living in a   
   deed-restricted community to install and maintain an effective outdoor antenna   
   on property under the licensee's exclusive use or control.   
      
   The substitute bill would prohibit deed restrictions that do not impose the   
   minimum practicable restriction on amateur communication to accomplish the   
   lawful purposes of a homeowners association (HOA) seeking to enforce the   
   restriction. Amateurs wishing to install an antenna in a deed-restricted   
   community would have to notify and obtain prior approval of the homeowners   
   association. HOAs would be able to preclude the installation of antennas in   
   common areas -- ie, property not under the licensee's exclusive use.   
      
   The substitute measure provides that HOAs could enact reasonable written rules   
   governing height, location, size, and aesthetic impact of outdoor antennas and   
   support structures, as well as installation requirements. Those rules could   
   not preclude amateur communication nor restrict the absolute entitlement of   
   each amateur living in a deed-restricted community to an effective outdoor   
   antenna, however. The amended measure reiterates the strong federal interest   
   in Amateur Radio communication in a licensee's residence.   
      
   "Community associations should fairly administer private land use regulations   
   in the interest of their communities, while nevertheless permitting the   
   installation and maintenance of effective outdoor Amateur Radio antennas," the   
   negotiated language states. "There exist antenna designs and installations   
   that can be consistent with the aesthetics and physical characteristics of   
   land and structures in community associations while accommodating   
   communications in the Amateur Radio services."   
      
   Lisenco cautioned that getting the Amateur Radio Parity Act signed into law   
   still remains a long process. "Much work needs to be done," Lisenco said.   
   "ARRL will still need to call upon the entire membership to contact their   
   elected officials, especially in the Senate, to ask for their affirmative vote   
   on this bill," he stressed.   
      
   More information on the Amateur Radio Parity Act, including a copy of the   
   complete substitute amendment agreed to by ARRL and CAI, is available on the   
   ARRL website.   
      
      
   Pacific Northwest Earthquake Exercise Reaching for Realistic Response Scenario   
      
   This is only a test... Amateur Radio is playing a major role in the largest   
   FEMA exercise of 2016, "Cascadia Rising," which got under way on June 7 and   
   continues until June 10. In the exercise scenario, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake   
   and consequent tsunami have struck the Pacific Northwest, and the exercise   
   began with a blackout of all conventional means of communication -- a natural   
   opening for Amateur Radio involvement. ARES/RACES organizations in Oregon and   
   Washington have been heavily involved, and ARRL Headquarters, including W1AW,   
   has been in the loop as well.   
      
   In the exercise scenario, all Oregon ARES teams have been activated, and an   
   emergency net convened on 20 meter SSB.   
      
   As part of the exercise, a Winlink HF e-mail from ARRL Oregon Section Manager   
   John Core, KX7YT, indicated that Seaside had been "severely damaged by a   
   tsunami wave" with "many missing persons." Among those unaccounted for were   
   ARRL staff, Directors and Vice Directors attending the Pacific Northwestern   
   Division Convention in Seaside (Sea-Pac -- the actual convention ended on June   
   5).   
      
   ARRL Emergency Response Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, called a meeting of the ARRL   
   HQ Emergency Response Team on June 7. Corey said ARRL Headquarters has been   
   taking part via Winlink and HF voice, adding that the exercise offers an   
   opportunity to exercise the ARRL Headquarters Emergency Response Team. "This   
   team is called up to support the ARRL Field Organization during a major   
   disaster, when support cannot be provided during normal business hours," he   
   explained.   
      
   According to FEMA, emergency operations centers (EOCs) and emergency   
   coordination centers (ECCs) at all levels of government and the private sector   
   are conducting simulated field response operations within their jurisdictions   
   and with neighboring communities, state EOCs, FEMA, and major military   
   commands. FEMA will activate the five discrete Amateur Radio channels on 60   
   meters for use during the interoperability exercise.   
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "All About Baluns" is the topic of the newest (June 2) 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.   
      
   Just ahead on June 16, the topic will be "Grounding."   
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   June is the beginning of sporadic-E season, which means the likelihood of good   
   domestic openings on 10 and 6 meters goes up for a couple of months. NPOTA   
   Activators and Chasers alike should not overlook the QSO possibilities to be   
   found on these bands.   
      
   Activators can take advantage of gain antennas for these bands, which are much   
   smaller than their 20 and 40 meter counterparts. In addition, access to 10 and   
   6 by Technician licensees means many contact opportunities with an entirely   
   new segment of Chasers. Stay alert for activity on these bands for the next   
   couple of months.   
      
   There are 40 activations on the NPOTA calendar June 9-15, including the rare   
   Niobrara Wild and Scenic River in Nebraska, and the Washita Battlefield   
   National Historic Site in Oklahoma.   
      
   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).   
      
      
   Shop Amazon Smile for Father's Day and Support ARRL   
      
   Father's Day is Sunday, June 19. Remember to shop smile.amazon.com, and Amazon   
   will make a contribution to the American Radio Relay League. This helps the   
   League to extend its reach in public service, advocacy, education, technology,   
   and membership. Make Dad's day.   
      
   Browse great Father's Day gift ideas now!   
      
   Bookmark ARRL's link and support Amateur Radio and the ARRL every time you   
   shop online.   
      
      
   The 2016 ARRL June VHF Contest is Upon Us!   
      
   One of the premier VHF/UHF events on the contest calendar is the ARRL June VHF   
   Contest, which gets under way at 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 11, and continues   
   until 0259 UTC on Monday, June 13.   
      
   The object for participants in the US and Canada (and their possessions) is to   
   work stations in as many different 2ø x 1øMaidenhead grid squares as possible,   
   using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US and Canada   
   (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its possessions)   
   and Canada. Stations in KH0-9, KL7, KP1-KP5, CY9, and CY0 count as W/VE   
   stations and may be worked by DX stations for contest credit.   
      
   Whether from a home station, mobile, or even portable (perhaps mountaintopping   
   or on the air at a nearby National Parks On The Air site), you won't need   
   large antennas or elaborate gear to operate in the June VHF Contest, and you   
   don't have to be a contesting "pro."   
      
   June also is a favorable month for band openings on the "Magic Band" -- 6   
   meters. Even DX contacts are possible on 6.   
      
   There are several classic entry categories, but for those new to VHF, these   
   categories might be a great place to get started in VHF contesting:   
      
    *  Single-Operator, Portable: For those who enjoy operating low power from   
       a portable power source and using portable antennas.   
    *  Rover: For mobile operators who enjoy traveling from one grid square to   
       another to hand out contacts.   
    *  Single-Operator, FM-only: A category for the 50, 144, 222, and 440 MHz   
       bands at a power of 100 W or less.   
      
   Even with a modest station, it's possible to work hundreds of miles on the VHF   
   bands during a good opening. For more information, contact the ARRL Contest   
   Branch.   
      
      
   Colorado Creates Auxiliary Emergency Communications Unit   
      
   A new Colorado law has created an Auxiliary Emergency Communications (AuxComm)   
   Unit within the state's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management   
   (DHSEM). The action implements recommendations contained in a 2012 FCC report   
   to Congress regarding the value of Amateur Radio in disasters and emergencies.   
   Colorado Gov John Hickenlooper signed the measure into law on June 6, after it   
   sailed through both houses of the Colorado General Assembly.   
      
   "This bill will make it possible for Colorado ARES to further enhance the   
   level of emergency communications services during times of need," ARRL   
   Colorado Section Manager Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, said.   
      
   Colorado's General Assembly determined that "a uniformly trained and   
   credentialed unit of communication volunteers available for disaster response"   
   would "materially assist emergency preparedness and disaster response efforts   
   across the state."   
      
   The new law was conceived by Colorado Section Emergency Coordinator and State   
   Government Liaison Robert Wareham, N0ESQ, an attorney, while he met with DHSEM   
   staff in 2012. That year and the next, Amateur Radio operators played key   
   roles in responding to multiple major disasters in Colorado, including   
   wildfires that destroyed several hundred homes and a 500-year-flood that   
   inundated much of north-central Colorado.   
      
   "The real-life laboratory of successive major disaster helped us quickly   
   realize the need for statewide response capabilities; which ideas worked, and   
   which ones didn't," said Wareham. "In essence, we had the perfect storm of   
   major disasters, FCC recommendations to Congress, and FEMA OEC sponsored   
   training to bring it all together into the current auxiliary communications   
   framework."   
      
   The new statute provides that Colorado ARES will enter into a Section-level   
   Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state's Office of Emergency   
   Management to recruit, train, credential, coordinate, and supervise members of   
   the Auxiliary Emergency Communications Unit.   
      
   "Too often, valuable Amateur Radio resources are diluted by having multiple   
   organizations in a single community competing with one another, such as having   
   separate ARES and RACES organizations in a single county," Wareham said.   
   "Under the Colorado model, all Colorado ARES members who meet the training and   
   background check requirements of the AuxComm Unit will be issued credentials   
   that will be recognized statewide." The AuxComm Unit will perform all RACES   
   functions for the state.   
      
      
   ARES Volunteers Take Part in Search for Missing Plane   
      
   Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Kentucky recently joined   
   other volunteer organizations, law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency   
   managers in an effort to locate a missing single-engine private aircraft. ARES   
   teams and individual volunteers from Grayson, Hardin, and Davies counties and   
   elsewhere mustered on June 1 at the Owensboro Airport -- the plane's   
   destination -- to assist with communication. Kentucky State Police had put out   
   the call for information on the plane's whereabouts.   
      
   Members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) also took part in the search-and-rescue   
   mission, and the operation had support from the American Red Cross, which   
   provided meals and water for the responders. The plane was believed to have   
   gone down near Rough River State Park, not long after departing the Falls of   
   Rough airfield on a flight back to its home base of Owensboro.   
      
   "We were only called out 'for communications,' so we didn't know what would be   
   needed," Hardin County Assistant Emergency Coordinator Shelby Ennis, W8WN,   
   said afterward. "Therefore, both W8QAS [the emergency communications point of   
   contact for the incident] and I took a lot of gear. Most of it was needed."   
      
   Kentucky Region 2 Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator George Allen,   
   WA4YPQ, activated Hardin County ARES and requested help from Kentucky Section   
   Emergency Coordinator Cecil Dennis, K4TCD.   
      
   Firefighter Andrew Whobrey, KG4OOZ, also served at incident command (IC) for   
   communications relay and support on non-ham radio frequencies, and three radio   
   operators at the IC monitored the various radios and frequencies. Ennis said   
   four dual-band radios were pressed into service.   
      
   The crash site was spotted on the afternoon of June 1 in a remote area. A   
   ground team subsequently reached the site and removed the body of the pilot,   
   Dr Robert C. Dalzell Jr of Owensboro, a retired physician.   
      
   "The local emergency manager and the others [involved] were greatly   
   appreciative of our coming down and providing the communications for them,"   
   Ennis said. He noted that upward of 50 individuals, including a dozen or so   
   radio amateurs, were involved in the search effort.   
      
      
   Transatlantic VHF Digital Receiver Site Now Operational in Newfoundland   
      
   A transatlantic VHF digital receiver site has begun operation in Newfoundland.   
   Frank Davis, VO1HP, reports that antennas were erected and a VHF SDR activated   
   on May 19 to inaugurate the VO1FN "TransAtlantic VHF Digital Beacon Receiver   
   Site." The receiver site, in grid square GN37, is sponsored by the Society of   
   Newfoundland Radio Amateurs (SONRA), the Baccalieu Amateur Radio Klub   
   (VO1BRK), and the Upper Trinity Amateur Radio Club (UTARC). Davis made his   
   summer home and station in Freshwater, Conception Bay North, available for the   
   receive-only site; it offers an unobstructed view of the North Atlantic, and   
   he's open to suggestions as to how to take best advantage of the site's   
   capabilities.   
      
   "The point of this experiment is to provide a North American receiver online   
   24/7 that can be used by European beacon operators or well-equipped VHF   
   stations to test their transmissions," he told ARRL. "It is a receive-only   
   site, but if it is proven over time that signals can be heard and correlated   
   with propagation studies, then it might stimulate operators to equip their   
   stations to attempt a two-way QSO."   
      
   Attempts have been made from Newfoundland and Labrador to transmit an Amateur   
   Radio signal across the North Atlantic on 2 meters, with a two-way contact as   
   the ultimate goal. The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) offers its   
   Brendan Trophy to the operators of the Amateur Radio stations to establish the   
   first two-way communication on 2 meters between Europe and North or South   
   America. The most recent effort to snag the Brendan Trophy took place from   
   VC1T in Newfoundland in 2014. Interest stemming from that experiment led to   
   the VO1FN project.   
      
   "The receiver site is up and running using an SDR and SDR Console software,"   
   Davis told ARRL. He explained that users would first have to install SDR   
   Console V2.3, and he would open a free account permitting them to log in.   
      
   "We are willing to rotate the Yagi array in any direction for testing with   
   distant 144 MHz digital stations," Davis said.   
      
      
   Bouvet Island Activation Planned for 2017-2018 Timeframe   
      
   Three proven and experienced DXpedition leaders of a large team of operators   
   have announced plans to activate Bouvet Island (Bouvet?ya), the number 2   
   most-wanted DXCC entity, in late 2017 or early 2018. Ralph Fedor, K0IR, Bob   
   Allphin, K4UEE, and Erling Wiig, LA6VM, have been working on this project   
   since returning from Peter I (3Y0X) some 10 years ago.   
      
   "We are making this announcement now, so that other DXpedition teams that may   
   be considering Bouvet as a DXpedition target can redirect their time and   
   effort elsewhere," the trio said in the announcement. The team has an   
   agreement with R/V Braveheart skipper Nigel Jolly, K6NRJ, to provide   
   transportation, a helicopter, pilot, and mechanic. A website is under   
   development.   
      
   The group's preliminary plan, submitted to the Norwegian Polar Institute, has   
   been accepted, and a permit will be issued to land on Slakhallet -- a huge   
   glacier that covers the volcanic island. A dependency of Norway, Bouvet is a   
   subantarctic island in the South Atlantic.   
      
   The last Bouvet activation was 3Y0E, which took place during a scientific   
   expedition over the winter of 2007-2008. Petrus Kritzinger, ZS6GCM, was the   
   DXpedition operator.   
      
   A Bouvet activation that occurred in January 2001 surprised the DX community.   
   Dr Chuck Brady, N4BQW (SK), a retired NASA astronaut, operated solo as 3Y0C   
   from Bouvet and got to talk about it at the Dayton DX Dinner a few months   
   later.   
      
   Other Bouvet DXpeditions in the 2016 timeframe had been planned and announced   
   but apparently never came together. -- Thanks to The Daily DX   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARRL Network Maintenance Set for Sunday, June 12: The ARRL IT Department will   
   conduct network maintenance on Sunday, June 12, to improve reliability and   
   security. The work will occur between 1100   
   UTC and 2300 UTC. During this period some or all systems may be temporarily   
   unavailable, including the website. Among services that will be affected are   
   the ARRL Store, the National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) page, Logbook of The   
   World (LoTW), the DXCC page, and the ARRL VEC page. E-mail also will be   
   offline, but all messages will be queued for later delivery. Telephone service   
   to ARRL Headquarters also may be affected. We apologize for any inconvenience.   
      
      
   Houston Area ARES Activates in Response to Flood Emergency: ARRL South Texas   
   Section Emergency Coordinator Frank Aguilar, N5SSH, reported on June 2 that   
   South Texas District 14 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) had activated   
   in response to continued flooding in the area. There had not been any   
   communications failures, but ARES briefly assisted with other co   
   munication-related "situational awareness issues." District 14 ARES activated   
   at the request of Harris County Homeland Security Office of Emergency   
   Management. "Heavy rainfall continues to fall across Harris County and   
   Southeast Texas," District 14 Emergency Coordinator Jeff Walter, KE5FGA, said   
   at the time. The Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency   
   Management moved to Level 3 -- Increased Readiness -- in response to the   
   potential flooding threat.   
      
      
   Past QST VHF-UHF Columnist, ARRL Staffer Bill Smith, W0WOI (ex-K0CER), SK:   
   Former ARRL Headquarters staffer Bill Smith, W0WOI (ex-K0CER, W1DVE, and   
   others), of Jefferson, Iowa, died on June 1. An   
   ARRL Life Member, he was 78 and had been a radio amateur and League member   
   since 1952. He served on the ARRL staff from 1967 to 1974 and was the editor   
   of QST's "World Above 50 Mc." column, succeeding Sam Harris, W1FZJ. In 1967,   
   Smith was among the founders (with W0CUC and W0ENC) of the organization that   
   became the Central States VHF Society. He was said to be looking forward to   
   the organization's 50th gathering later this year. Smith activated the Cayman   
   Islands for the first time ever on 6 meters as ZF1DT in 1968, and he led the   
   1970 KL7ABR DXpedition to Alaska 2 years later for the ARRL June VHF QSO   
   Party. He was on the DXCC Honor Roll and had nearly completed DXCC on 6   
   meters. He also enjoyed collecting vintage and rare QSL cards. On the   
   professional side, Smith had extensive experience in television news reporting   
   and documentary work.   
      
      
   Former Fanon-Courier Vice President of Engineering Mike Santana, WB6TEB, SK:   
   Former vice president of engineering for Fanon Courier Miguel Emilio "Mike"   
   Santana, WB6TEB, of Arcadia, California, died May 24. A native of Cuba,   
   Santana was 84 and had been an ARRL member. Santana was the designer of the   
   12-channel crystal-controlled Clegg FM-76 transceiver for 220 MHz, which was   
   licensed to Midland and Cobra. He also designed the President line of CB   
   radios, many of which were converted to 10 meter operation. He was an   
   associate member of the JPL Amateur Radio Club (ARC). Santana also was a   
   reserve police officer for more than 10 years and served as a radio consultant   
   for the city police and fire departments. -- Thanks to Mike Morris, WA6ILQ   
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: I thought it was too early in the decline of   
   this solar cycle to start seeing days with no sunspots (ie, when the sunspot   
   number is zero) but I was wrong.   
      
   There were no sunspots on June 3-6. The last time there were four or more   
   spot-less days was December 18-24, 2010 when there were no sunspots for an   
   entire week. Last year, we saw no spot-less days, 2014 had just one, and there   
   were none in 2012 or 2013.   
      
   The average daily sunspot number dropped from 33 to 7.7 this week, and the   
   average daily solar flux went from 87.4 to 80.7. Geomagnetic indicators were   
   up slightly, with the planetary A index going from 8.9 to 11.6, and the   
   mid-latitude A index from 9 to 9.4.   
      
   Predicted solar flux for the near term is 80, 82, 85, and 90 on June 9-12; 95   
   on June 13-16; 90 on June 17-20; 85 on June 21-24; 80 on June 25-28; 78 on   
   June 29-July 4; 82 on July 5-7; 85 on July 8-11, and 90 on July 12-17.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 5, 8, 12, 16, and 12 on June 9-13; 8, 6, 8, 15,   
   and 10 on June 14-18; 5 on June 19-22; 10, 12, and 8 on June 23-25; 10 on June   
   26-27; 5 on June 28-July 1; 25, 20; and 8 on July 2-4; 5 on July 5-8; 12 on   
   July 9-10, and 8 on July 11-12.   
      
   Sunspot numbers are somewhat subjective, based on a visual count of sunspot   
   groups, the number of sunspots in those groups, and the total area covered by   
   sunspots. Solar flux is an actual measure of one type of radiation reaching us   
   from the sun -- radio energy with a wavelength of 10.7 centimeters, or 2.8 GHz.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for June 2 through 8 were 27, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12, and 15, with a   
   mean of 7.7. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 85.2, 83.2, 80, 79.1, 78.5, 78.5,   
   and 80.1, with a mean of 87.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 4, 29,   
   26, 9, and 6, with a mean of 8.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 5,   
   5, 23, 21, 10, and 6 with a mean of 9.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  June 10 -- HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest (CW)   
    *  June 11 -- Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB)   
    *  June 11-12 -- DRCG WW RTTY Contest   
    *  June 11-12 -- VK Shires Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  June 11-12 -- Portugal Day Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  June 11-12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)   
    *  June 11-12 -- GACW WWSA CW DX Contest (CW)   
    *  June 11-12 -- REF DDFM 6 Meter Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  June 11-13 -- ARRL June VHF Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  June 15 -- NAQCC CW Sprint   
    *  June 15 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (CW)   
      
   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   
      
    *  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 15-17 -- Montana State Convention, East Glacier, Montana   
    *  July 22-23 -- Oklahoma Section Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma   
    *  July 29-31 -- Central States VHF Conference, Rochester, Minnesota   
    *  August 5-6 -- Texas State Convention, Austin, Texas   
    *  August 5-7 -- Pacific Northwest DX Convention, Portland, Oregon   
    *  August 12-14 -- New Mexico State Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico   
    *  August 19-21 -- West Virginia State Convention, Weston, West Virginia   
    *  August 20-21 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, Alabama   
    *  August 21 -- Kansas State Convention, Salina, Kansas   
    *  September 3-4 -- North Carolina State Convention, Shelby, North Carolina   
    *  September 9-11 -- New England Division Convention, Boxborough,   
       Massachusetts   
    *  September 10 -- Kentucky State Convention, Shepherdsville, Kentucky   
    *  September 10 -- Virginia Section Convention, Virginia Beach, Virginia   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... These napkins aren't just clean, they're sanitary!   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)