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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-06-30   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   June 30, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
      
    *  West Virginia ARES Units on Alert for Possible Activation in Wake of   
       Flooding   
    *  FCC Transitions to New Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)   
    *  ARRL to Sponsor 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Initial ARRL Teachers Institute Session a Success   
    *  FCC's OET Clarifies Emissions Compliance Testing for RF LED Lighting   
       Devices   
    *  The 13 Colonies Special Event Gets Under Way on July 1   
    *  Canada Day Contest is Friday, July 1 (UTC)   
    *  VLF Transmissions, Amateur Radio Activity Set for Alexanderson Day on   
       July 3   
    *  "Scanning RF Seismograph" Monitors HF Propagation in Real Time   
    *  Yaesu Musen Signs on as Prime Sponsor of WRTC 2018   
    *  AMSAT Symposium 2016 Issues First Call for Papers   
    *  India Launches Amateur Radio Satellites   
    *  Yasme Foundation Announces Grants to Promote Youth Involvement in   
       Amateur Radio   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  This Week in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   ARRL Headquarters Will Be Closed on Monday, July 4: ARRL Headquarters will be   
   closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. The office will   
   reopen on Tuesday, July 5, at 8 AM ET. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable   
   holiday celebration!   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   West Virginia ARES Units on Alert for Possible Activation in Wake of Flooding   
      
   All Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) districts and counties in West   
   Virginia are on alert for possible activation in the aftermath of severe   
   flooding, which has claimed 23 lives, destroyed hundreds of homes, and damaged   
   countless others. More than 30,000 were without electrical power at one point,   
   but that number was less than 8000 by midweek. President Barack Obama has   
   declared a major disaster in the state.   
      
   "Currently there are no ARES/RACES activations in progress in West Virginia,"   
   Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Stephenson, WV8JS, told ARRL. "The flood   
   damage was extensive in many parts of the state; however, the wired telephone   
   and cell phone systems have remained mostly operational." As of June 29, 12   
   West Virginia counties remained under states of emergency. Although the   
   emergency in West Virginia is grave, Stephenson said a communication emergency   
   never developed. "It is amazing that the wired telephone and cell phone   
   systems have stood up against this severe flooding," he added.   
      
   The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a federal disaster   
   declaration for Pocahontas, Webster, Kanawha, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Fayette,   
   Clay, Roane, Summers, and Monroe counties.   
      
   West Virginia Gov Earl Ray Tomblin said the National Guard and local emergency   
   responders have been dealing with the effects of the flooding. FEMA officials   
   toured the most heavily affected areas last weekend.   
      
   Stephenson said that he and Kanawha County Emergency Coordinator Jason Means,   
   W8KTM, spent June 27 at West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) headquarters in   
   Charleston, helping to install an Amateur Radio station in the joint   
   operations center. He said the station will have HF and VHF capabilities. "The   
   WVNG has about 700 troops on the ground working and FEMA is in the state   
   assessing damage," he said. "West Virginia Section Manager Phil Groves, N8SFO,   
   has been distributing food and water in the Richwood, Nicholas County, area."   
      
   The flooding washed out the Greenbrier Classic PGA Tour event, which had been   
   scheduled for mid-July at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs. The   
   resort has been providing accommodations for some flood victims.   
      
      
      
      
   FCC Transitions to New Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)   
      
   The FCC transitioned to a new Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) with a   
   "hard launch" on Monday, June 20. The FCC said its legacy system no longer is   
   available, but all documents and files remain accessible in the new system,   
   and saved links (bookmarks or favorites) to documents and proceedings should   
   not need to be adjusted. The modernization project is expected to   
   significantly improve the resiliency and performance of ECFS, the FCC said.   
      
   "This system contains the entire history of docketed proceedings from 1992 to   
   the present," the FCC said. "New submissions will be added to the public   
   record. We will continue to refine this system in response to user feedback."   
      
   The ECFS has become the most popular way to gather public comments on Amateur   
   Radio-related proceedings. The FCC said the public can use the ECFS to   
   retrieve any document in the system, including selected pre-1992 documents   
   that have been scanned into the system. The system also lets users browse   
   popular proceedings.   
      
   It's also possible to submit a filing via the ECFS, using Word, PDF, or Excel   
   files, and the system lets filers check the status of their submissions and to   
   see if a filing now is available online.   
      
      
      
      
   ARRL to Sponsor 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar   
      
   ARRL will sponsor a 2016 Atlantic Season Hurricane Webinar on Thursday, July   
   21, at 8 PM ET (0000 UTC on Friday, July 22, UTC). The approximately 90-minute   
   session will address the role of Amateur Radio during the 2016 Hurricane   
   Season. Anyone interested in hurricane preparedness and response is invited to   
   attend this online presentation.   
      
   Topics will include a meteorological overview of the upcoming season; Amateur   
   Radio station WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center: Who We Are and What We   
   Do; ARRL Media and Public Relations; the   
   Hurricane Watch Net (HWN); the VoIP Hurricane Net, and ARRL coordination and   
   interface.   
      
   The program will include presentations by representatives of the National   
   Hurricane Center and WX4NHC, the VoIP Hurricane Net, the HWN, the Canadian   
   Hurricane Centre, and the ARRL. Webinar registration is open to all, but   
   should be of particular interest to radio amateurs in hurricane-prone areas.   
   The webinar will conclude with a Q&A session.   
      
   For additional information, contact ARRL Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike   
   Corey, KI1U.   
      
      
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Are Linear Amplifiers Really Worthwhile?" That's the topic of the current   
   (June 30) 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: "HF Propagation" on July 14.   
      
      
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   On June 24, President Barack Obama designated the area around the Stonewall   
   Inn in Greenwich Village, New York City, as the 412th unit of the National   
   Park Service. The Stonewall National Monument is the first site of the   
   National Park Service dedicated to the struggle for civil rights of lesbian,   
   gay, bisexual, and transgender people. As it is now an official unit of NPS,   
   Stonewall National Monument qualifies for the ARRL National Parks on the Air   
   program, and has been designated as MN83 for NPOTA.   
      
   The new Stonewall National Monument encompasses nearly 8 acres of the   
   Greenwich Village neighborhood and includes Christopher Park and the historic   
   Stonewall Inn.   
      
   For June 30-July 6, 44 Activations are on tap, including First State National   
   Historical Park (HP12) in Delaware, and Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic   
   Site in Montana.   
      
   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).   
      
      
      
      
   Initial ARRL Teachers Institute Session a Success   
      
   The first ARRL Teachers Institute of 2016 wrapped up on June 10 in Highlands   
   Ranch, Colorado. The bonus, donor-sponsored introductory (TI-1) session was   
   hosted by the Douglas County STEM School and Academy for teachers along the   
   Denver Front Range. These educational opportunities are offered by the ARRL   
   Education & Technology Program (ETP).   
      
   "Because we had a surplus of very qualified applicants for our regular   
   sessions, we were able to fit a few of those applicants into this Colorado   
   session, along with nine local teachers," ARRL Education Services Manager   
   Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, explained. ETP Instructor Larry Kendall, K6NDL, taught   
   the Colorado class -- the first-ever 5-day TI session.   
      
   Already on the 2016 schedule are two introductory Teachers Institute sessions   
   and one advanced session. The Introduction to Wireless Technology course   
   (TI-1) wrapped up last week (June 20-24) at Parallax Inc in Rocklin,   
   California; a second is set for July 25-29 at ARRL Headquarters in   
   Connecticut. The advanced Remote Sensing and Data Gathering course (TI-2) will   
   be offered July 18-21 at the Dayton Amateur Radio Association in Dayton, Ohio.   
   The TI-1 course is a prerequisite to TI-2.   
      
   Kendall said the Colorado Teachers Institute was organized by Paul Veal, N0AH,   
   a former TI participant and STEM parent and supporter. His daughter Anna,   
   W0ANT, spoke to the TI attendees about her involvement in the school's   
   balloon-borne research projects. Complementing the Colorado educators were   
   teachers from Georgia, North Dakota, and Illinois.   
      
   Kendall said participants took advantage of the additional class time at the   
   Colorado session to discuss classroom implementation, demonstrations of   
   classroom activities, and to absorb the concepts covered during the week.   
      
   The class got high marks from participants. "Although I teach some basics in   
   communications technology and modern manufacturing processes, I have struggled   
   to bring hands-on, practical applications to my students," said Lance Newman,   
   a high school teacher from Illinois. TI-1 was just what I needed!" He's   
   planning to get his Amateur Radio license.   
      
   Fifth grade teacher Chris Laster, KM4KPJ, of Georgia, said the TI-1 session   
   was "hands-down" the best one he'd ever attended. "I left with tons of ideas   
   to implement and a much deeper understanding of radio science and electronics   
   that will make me both a better ham and a better teacher," he said. "It was an   
   incredibly productive week!"   
      
   Donations to support the ARRL's efforts to promote Amateur Radio in schools   
   and to provide professional development to educators is welcome.   
      
      
      
      
   FCC's OET Clarifies Emissions Compliance Testing for RF LED Lighting Devices   
      
   The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) has clarified that all RF   
   LED lighting devices falling under Part 15 rules as "unintentional radiators"   
   must meet conducted and radiated emissions limits set forth in those rules.   
      
   "Operation of Part 15 unintentional radiators is subject to the condition that   
   no harmful interference is caused," the OET reminded, in a knowledge database   
   paper released on June 17. "Manufacturers and users should therefore note that   
   lighting devices are required to cease operation, if harmful interference   
   occurs."   
      
   The OET said radiated emissions measurements must be performed at least from   
   30 MHz to 1000 MHz to adequately demonstrate compliance with Part 15   
   (?15.109). Its guidance, the OET continued, applies to RF LED lighting devices   
   that, in the past, have been considered to operate on frequencies below 1.705   
   MHz. Previously, devices operating between 9 kHz and 1705 kHz had to be tested   
   only for radiated emissions up to 30 MHz, where no specified radiated   
   emissions limits exist, and were exempt from testing from 30 MHz to 1000 MHz.   
   The OET said it recognizes that routine radiated emissions measurements are   
   needed under Part 15, based on the highest frequency generated or used in the   
   device.   
      
   "[W]e have found that emissions from RF LED lighting devices are non-periodic,   
   broadband in nature, and are produced as a byproduct of the internal driver   
   circuitry within the RF LED lighting device," the OET "knowledge data base"   
   paper said. "These types of emissions have adequate energy and potential to   
   generate radiated emissions well above 30 MHz."   
      
   The ARRL Lab's Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG, said   
   he was pleased to see the FCC's OET clarify the test measurement requirements.   
   He said ARRL is generally hearing more RFI complaints stemming from RF LED   
   bulbs.   
      
   "Not only are the emissions limits higher for Part 15 LED bulbs -- as opposed   
   to Part 18 fluorescent and CFL bulbs -- they seem to be winning out in terms   
   of consumer popularity," Gruber said. "Higher limits and more bulbs probably   
   make for more complaints." Gruber said the Lab has seen LED lighting devices   
   causing problems in the 2 meter band. "Since conducted emissions limits do not   
   apply above 30 MHz, radiated emissions limits can be the first line of defense   
   against RFI at these higher frequencies."   
      
   Gruber pointed out that noise generated by street and traffic lighting can be   
   widespread. In such instances, he suggested that Part 15b limits for   
   residential areas should apply. "These limits are lower than Part 15a limits,   
   which are intended only for commercial and industrial environments," he   
   explained. "This is especially critical in cases where a pole transformer   
   connected to the lighting device also feeds a home or residence. The 240 V   
   split-phase secondary system can conduct RF into a residence through the   
   service entrance panel." He suggested that the lower limits may benefit mobile   
   users.   
      
      
      
      
   The 13 Colonies Special Event Gets Under Way on July 1   
      
   The eighth annual 13 Colonies Special Event takes place from 1300 UTC on July   
   1 until 0400 UTC on July 7. Stations working the special event station in at   
   least one of the original 13 states -- or all 15 participating stations --   
   will be eligible for a certificate. A Liberty Bell endorsement will be   
   attached for stations contacting sister special event station WM3PEN, in   
   Philadelphia, where independence was declared. Returning this year is a second   
   sister station, GB13COL in Durham, England.   
      
   Stations will be on the air from each of the original 13 colonies: Connecticut   
   (K2D), Delaware (K2E), Georgia (K2G), Massachusetts (K2H), Maryland (K2F),   
   North Carolina (K2J), New Hampshire (K2K), New Jersey (K2I), New York (K2A),   
   Pennsylvania (K2M), Rhode Island (K2C), South Carolina (K2L), and Virginia   
   (K2B).   
      
      
      
      
   Canada Day Contest is Friday, July 1 (UTC)   
      
   Each year on July 1 -- the anniversary of Canada's Confederation -- Radio   
   Amateurs of Canada (RAC) sponsors the Canada Day Contest. Amateurs everywhere   
   are welcome to join Canada's birthday party on the air. The event gets under   
   way at 0000 UTC on Friday, July 1 (Thursday evening in US time zones), and   
   concludes at 2359 UTC. Available bands include 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, and   
   2 meters, on CW and phone. There are nine possible entry categories. You may   
   work any station once on each mode on each of the eight available bands.   
      
   Suggested frequencies: CW, 25 kHz up from the band edge; SSB, 1.850, 3.775,   
   7.075, 7.225, 14.175, 21.250, and 28.500 MHz. Check for CW activity on the   
   half-hour. Canadian stations sent signal report and province/territory. VE0s   
   and stations outside Canada send a signal report and serial number. Contacts   
   with stations in Canada or VE0s are worth 10 points. Contacts with stations   
   outside Canada are worth 2 points. Contacts with RAC official stations (with   
   RAC suffixes) are worth 20 points.   
      
      
      
      
   VLF Transmissions, Amateur Radio Activity Set for Alexanderson Day on July 3   
      
   VLF enthusiasts, take note: The SAQ Alexanderson alternator will be on the air   
   for "Alexanderson Day," Sunday, July 3, for a full-day event that includes   
   both VLF transmissions and Amateur Radio HF activity from SK6SAQ, the ham   
   station at the Grimeton heritage site in Sweden. The Alexanderson alternator   
   -- an electromechanical radio transmitter -- is named after the Swedish   
   engineer Ernst F.W. Alexanderson, who emigrated to the US in 1902 and spent   
   many years working at General Electric and RCA.   
      
   On Alexanderson Day, there will be two separate, but identical, 17.2 kHz   
   transmissions, at 0900 UTC and at 1200 UTC. The Alexanderson alternator will   
   be started 30 minutes before transmissions begin. The only functioning   
   Alexanderson alternator transmitter in the world is used on special occasions   
   throughout the year to transmit short CW messages on 17.2 kHz, and is easily   
   heard in Europe. The transmitter is preserved as a historical remnant of early   
   (1920s era) radio technology.   
      
   In addition, Amateur Radio station SK6SAQ will be active on 7035, 14,035, or   
   21,035 kHz for CW, and on 3755 kHz for SSB. Two stations will be on the air   
   most of the time.   
      
   Reception reports may be submitted via e-mail. QSLs for SK6SAQ are invited via   
   the bureau or direct. -- Thanks to Lars Kalland, SM6NM   
      
      
      
      
   "Scanning RF Seismograph" Monitors HF Propagation in Real Time   
      
   A "Scanning RF Seismograph," a real-time HF propagation-monitoring tool   
   developed by the MDSR Team and Alex Schwarz, VE7DXW, a member of the North   
   Shore Amateur Radio Club (NSARC), has been established in Western Canada. The   
   site is in Lynn Valley (CN89li), North Vancouver, British Columbia, at 500   
   feet ASL.   
      
   A Yaesu FT-950 transceiver connected to an omnidirectional multiband antenna   
   monitors JT-65 frequencies on six HF bands (for 8 seconds each, repeating the   
   scan every 52 seconds). Recorders monitor   
   the background noise of the band and display the result in six c   
   lor-differentiated (one color per band), long-duration graphs displaying a   
   total 6 hours of scans.   
      
   When signals are present on a band, its graph trace starts to resemble a   
   series of vertical bars. The small, irregular jiggling of the graph traces is   
   caused by changes in noise level, and by the reflection of noise off the D   
   Layer of the ionosphere. The web link is updated every 10 minutes.   
      
   For more information, contact Alex Schwarz, VE7DXW.   
      
      
      
      
   Yaesu Musen Signs on as Prime Sponsor of WRTC 2018   
      
   Yaesu Musen has announced that it will support World Radiosport Team   
   Championship 2018 (WRTC 2018) in Germany as the event's prime sponsor. Yaesu   
   Director Masao Mori, JA1COW, and WRTC 2018 President Christian Janssen,   
   DL1MGB, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 25 at Ham Radio 2016 in   
   Friedrichshafen, Germany. Yaesu, which marks its 60th anniversary this year,   
   will donate all rotators for the WRTC stations' antennas.   
      
   "Yaesu is happy to get into such close contact with the WRTC 2018 on the   
   occasion of the 60th anniversary," Mori said. "We are looking forward to   
   providing our long-standing experience in the cooperation with the great   
   events of Amateur Radio."   
      
   Janssen called Yaesu's support "a great step forward" toward meeting WRTC   
   2018's sponsorship targets. Also signing the agreement were Martti Laine,   
   OH2BH, and Volkmar Junge, DF2SS. Laine, one of the organizers of WRTC 2002 in   
   Finland, contributed his support to the negotiations. WRTC 2018 organizers   
   expressed their gratitude to Yaesu for "its most generous support as a token   
   of worldwide cooperation in Amateur Radio" and to Laine and Junge "for their   
   consulting and support."   
      
   WRTC 2018 will take place in mid-July in the Jessen/Wittenberg area near   
   Berlin.   
      
      
      
      
   AMSAT Symposium 2016 Issues First Call for Papers   
      
   AMSAT has issued its first call for papers for the 2016 AMSAT-NA Annual   
   Meeting and Space Symposium, November 10-14. Proposals for papers, symposium   
   presentations, and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest   
   to the Amateur Satellite community. AMSAT requests a tentative paper or   
   presentation title as soon as possible, but no later than September 15. Final   
   versions are due by October 15 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Send   
   abstracts and papers to Dan Schultz, N8FGV.   
      
   The 2016 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting will be held aboard the   
   cruise ship Carnival Liberty, departing from the port of Galveston, Texas, on   
   November 10 and returning to port on November 14. The cruise includes 2 full   
   days at sea and 1 day in port at Cozumel, Mexico.   
      
   Symposium presentations and meetings will be conducted during the days at sea,   
   to allow time during the stop in Cozumel. The AMSAT Board of Directors meeting   
   will take place in Galveston prior to the Symposium. -- Thanks to AMSAT News   
   Service   
      
      
      
      
   India Launches Amateur Radio Satellites   
      
   The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched   
   several satellites carrying Amateur Radio payloads. Satellites put into orbit   
   include Swayam-1, a 1U CubeSat that carries a digital store-and-forward   
   messaging system for use by the Amateur Radio community.   
      
   "We are eagerly waiting for your reception report of the CW beacon at 437.025   
   MHz. You can also get the decoded beacon data by entering 'beacon' in Swayam   
   beacon signal decoder available on our website," said Rupesh Lad,   
   VU2LRD/VU2COE of the College of Engineering Pune CSAT team.   
      
   Swayam is in a low-Earth polar orbit. It operates on 437.025 MHz with a power   
   output of 1 W. Other satellites on the launch that carried Amateur Radio   
   payloads include BEESAT-4 (435.950-4800 bps GMSK, CW); BIROS (437.525-4800 bps   
   GMSK; Max Valier (145.860 MHz down, 145.960 MHz CW beacon), and Sathyabamasat   
   (145.980-2400 bps BPSK).   
      
      
      
      
   Yasme Foundation Announces Grants to Promote Youth Involvement in Amateur Radio   
      
   The Yasme Foundation has announced three grants in furtherance of its goal of   
   encouraging youth participation in Amateur Radio and in operating activities.   
   The Yasme Foundation encourages amateurs to support activities that promote   
   Amateur Radio and result in new licensees around the world. The Yasme   
   Foundation grants will make it possible for some young radio amateurs, who   
   otherwise might be unable to do so, to attend the sixth Youngsters on the Air   
   (YOTA) conference this July in Austria. More than 100 young hams from all   
   three IARU regions will gather to participate in a series of   
   programs and workshops about Amateur Radio, and to get acquainted with one   
   another.   
      
   "Gatherings such as YOTA exemplify the ability of amateurs to work together   
   across national borders and ethnicities in the best 'ham spirit' of   
   friendship," the Yasme Foundation announcement said.   
      
   A Yasme grant will enable two young radio amateurs from Kosovo to attend the   
   YOTA conference -- the first time these young people will travel outside their   
   home country.   
      
   Two young operators from the Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society (EARS) also will   
   attend the YOTA conference, thanks to a Yasme Foundation grant.   
      
   Three young US radio amateurs will also attend the YOTA meeting as invited   
   members of IARU Region 2, with the assistance of a Yasme grant and a similar   
   grant from the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF). The boards of both   
   foundations expressed the hope that they will return with ideas for extending   
   the successes of YOTA to young North American amateurs.   
      
      
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: We've just experienced a solid week with   
   zero sunspots. The average daily sunspot number was down 33.6 points to zero   
   over the reporting period (June 23-29) compared to 33.6 on the previous 7   
   days. Average daily solar flux during the same 2 weeks dropped from 83.8 to   
   75.6, the average daily planetary A index increased from 7 to 9, and the   
   mid-latitude A index rose from 6.9 to 9.1.   
      
   Earlier in this month we saw 4 days with a blank sun, June 3-6. There were no   
   sunspots throughout Field Day weekend. Even so, conditions were good for Field   
   Day; there were no sunspots but no massive solar eruptions or geomagnetic   
   storms either.   
      
   The last time we saw a blank sun was on July 17, 2014 -- for just 1 day. Prior   
   to that, 2 days in 2011 -- January 27 and on August 14 -- were spot-less.   
   Going back farther, 2010 saw 51 days with a blank sun, with the longest period   
   lasting 13 days.   
      
   These recent periods of no sunspot activity were a surprise to me, even though   
   we are in a declining half of the solar cycle. I didn't expect that extended   
   periods of no sunspot activity would begin so early following the peak of   
   Solar Cycle 24.   
      
   The latest prediction has solar flux at 75 on June 30; 80 on July 1-7; 82 on   
   July 8-10; 80 on July 11; 82 on July 12-13; 80 on July 14-17; 78 on July   
   18-23; 77 on July 24, and 80 on July 25-31. Following this, the prediction   
   shows solar flux rising by 2 points for the first week of August.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 15, 10, 30, 25, and 10 on June 30-July 4; 5 on   
   July 5-6; 8, 10, 10, and 8 on July 7-10; 20, 12, and 5 on July 11-13; 8 on   
   July 14-15; 5 on July 16-18; 15, 12, and 10 on July 19-21, and 5 on July 22-26.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for June 23 through 29 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a   
   mean of 0. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 77.5, 75.7, 77.1, 76.6, 75.4, 73.1,   
   and 73.6, with a mean of 75.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 12, 12, 7,   
   11, 10, 7, and 4, with a mean of 9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 10,   
   10, 7, 11, 16, 6, and 4 with a mean of 9.1.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   This Week in Radiosport   
      
    *  July 1 -- RAC Canada Day Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  July 2 -- FISTS Summer Slow Speed Sprint (CW)   
    *  July 2-3 -- Venezuelan Independence Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  July 2-3 -- DL-DX RTTY Contest   
    *  July 2-3 -- Marconi Memorial HF Contest (CW)   
    *  July 2-3 -- Original QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  July 2-3 -- PODXS ?7? 40 Meter Firecracker Sprint (digital)   
    *  July 3 -- DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest   
    *  July 4 -- 10-10 International Spirit of 76 QSO Party (CW, phone,   
       digital)   
    *  July 4 -- RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (CW)   
    *  July 5 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)   
    *  July 7 -- 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   
      
    *  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   
    *  September 16-17 -- W9DXCC Convention, Schaumburg, Illinois   
    *  September 16-18 -- ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference, St   
       Petersburg, Florida   
    *  September 17-18 -- Illinois State Convention, Peoria, Illinois   
    *  September 24 -- North Dakota State Convention, West Fargo, North Dakota   
    *  September 24 -- Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley, Washington   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
      
   ... There is no gravity.  The earth sucks.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)