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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-12-08   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   December 8, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Greg Walden, W7EQI, to Chair Powerful House Energy and Commerce   
       Committee   
    *  ARRL Transitioning to New Digital Publishing Platform   
    *  FCC Affirms Penalty for Unlicensed Amateur Operation, Making False   
       Distress Call   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Use of New Web Log Upload App Encouraged for ARRL 10 Meter Contest   
       Participants   
    *  Reminder : December 11 Special Event will Commemorate Transatlantic   
       Reception Anniversary   
    *  Emergency Communication Exercise Uses "Hamsphere(R) " to Introduce Youth   
       to Virtual Ham Radio   
    *  Contribute to ARRL through Your IRA   
    *  ARRL Foundation Board Approves Two New Scholarships for Young Radio   
       Amateurs   
    *  Elves at OF9X Bring the Spirit of Christmas to Ham Radio   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
      
   Greg Walden, W7EQI, to Chair Powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee   
      
   US Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), who has championed the Amateur Radio Parity   
   Act (H.R. 1301) as the chair of the Subcommittee on Communications and   
   Technology, will chair the US House Energy and Commerce Committee when the   
   115th Congress convenes in January. Energy and Commerce is considered one of   
   the most powerful congressional panels on Capitol Hill.   
      
   Walden defeated the more senior Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) and Rep. Joe Barton   
   (R-TX) to succeed Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), who is stepping down from the   
   chairmanship because of term limits. Members of the House GOP Steering   
   Committee elected Walden on December 1 in a closed-door meeting.   
      
   Walden, who represents Oregon's 2nd congressional district, gained favor   
   within the Republican Party after serving two terms as head of the National   
   Republican Congressional Committee. The nine-term Oregon lawmaker had   
   campaigned around the country with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) during the   
   run-up to the November election, and Walden's selection to head Energy and   
   Commerce over a more senior colleague is being considered recognition of his   
   role in the GOP's election successes.   
      
   During a Capitol Hill hearing last January, Walden, a cosponsor of H.R. 1301,   
   called the measure "a commonsense bill" and urged his colleagues to support   
   reporting the bill favorably to the full committee. In July, Walden had   
   recommended the amended version of the bill to his colleagues as "a good   
   balance." The Amateur Radio Parity Act bill has been awaiting action in the US   
   Senate.   
      
      
      
   ARRL Transitioning to New Digital Publishing Platform   
      
   ARRL is moving to a new digital publishing platform! The January 2017 digital   
   edition of QST will be the first produced using PageSuite. ARRL Publications   
   Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY, said the transition from the current Nxtbook   
   platform to PageSuite not only will improve members' reading experience, it   
   will be more convenient.   
      
   "PageSuite provides a sleek, modern design that runs on desktop browsers,   
   mobile browsers, and within apps for mobile devices," Ford said. "PageSuite   
   does not require Flash but uses HTML5 instead. This alleviates many security   
   concerns and makes the magazine more broadly compatible."   
      
   New QST issues, beginning with the January 2017 edition, will take up less   
   space on mobile devices, speeding up download time. Added features include   
   digital bookmarks to save a page and pick up right where you left off, and a   
   clipping tool to save or share important passages as JPEG files. Video files   
   will be hosted on YouTube in high resolution.   
      
   The new application is compatible with Android devices, iOS devices --   
   including iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads -- and will be newly available to   
   Kindle Fire. These apps will receive regular, quick updates in order to keep   
   the application running smoothly.   
      
   Ford said the link to the digital edition of the monthly journal will remain   
   in the same spot on the QST website, and members will continue to be notified   
   of its release via e-mail.   
      
   ARRL has compiled a "how-to" guide to help members navigate PageSuite, which   
   will be available on the QST web page on the day the January digital edition   
   is announced. The announcement concerning the availability of the January   
   issue of QST in the new desktop/laptop version, the how-to guide, and the new   
   digital QST apps, will be forthcoming.   
      
   Members can use the online digital QST feedback form to comment on the new   
   platform when it is available. To ease the transition, Nxtbook applications   
   will continue to function on iOS and Android devices until January 1.   
      
      
      
   FCC Affirms Penalty for Unlicensed Amateur Operation, Making False Distress   
   Call   
      
   The FCC has affirmed a $23,000 penalty against Daniel Delise of Astoria, New   
   York, for operating without an Amateur Radio license on 147.96 MHz and for   
   transmitting a false officer-in-distress call on a New York City Police   
   Department (NYPD) radio channel. The FCC's December 5 Forfeiture Order follows   
   its August 31 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL), which   
   detailed a history of complaints and alleged illegal radio operation by Delise   
   dating to 2012.   
      
   "The penalty represents the full amount proposed in the Notice of Apparent   
   Liability for Forfeiture, and is based on the full base forfeiture amount as   
   well as an upward adjustment reflecting Mr. Delise's decision to continue his   
   misconduct after being warned that his actions violated the Communications Act   
   and the Commission's rules," the FCC Forfeiture Order said. The FCC said   
   Delise's response to the NAL offered "no reason to cancel, withdraw, or reduce   
   the proposed penalty."   
      
   Last summer, ARRL Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, credited the   
   intervention of New York Rep. Peter King with getting the case "off the back   
   burner and up to the front of the line." Lisenco and ARRL General Counsel   
   Chris Imlay, W3KD, met with the Republican congressman in January to discuss   
   ongoing interference issues in the Greater New York City/Long Island area.   
   King subsequently wrote FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to urge "timely and visible   
   enforcement."   
      
   The September 15 response to the NAL did not deny that Delise violated the   
   Communications Act and FCC rules but argued that the FCC should reduce or   
   cancel the fine because he is currently incarcerated and has no income or   
   assets. The FCC turned away that argument, saying that Delise did not provide   
   any documentation to substantiate his claim of inability to pay.   
      
   Last April, the FCC Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Unlicensed   
   Operation, after determining that Delise was transmitting on 147.96 MHz, a   
   repeater input. Not long after, the NYPD informed an FCC field agent that   
   police had taken Delise into custody for "sending out false radio   
   transmissions" over the NYPD radio system and for possessing radios capable of   
   operating on NYPD frequencies, in violation of state law.   
      
   Delise, who could have been fined more than $140,000, has 30 days to pay the   
   fine. He's now in prison as a result of the false police call and guilty pleas   
   to other charges.   
      
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Yagi Antennas" is the topic of the latest (December 1) 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.   
   Next time: "Antenna System Troubleshooting."   
      
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   With 3 weeks to go until the end of ARRL's National Parks on the Air (NPOTA)   
   program, Activators continue to operate from qualified NPS sites in record   
   numbers. The contact count stands at more than 953,100, an increase of nearly   
   40,000 since December 1.   
      
   There are NPOTA activations every day -- plenty of opportunities to work   
   stations, increase your NPOTA totals as a Chaser, and contribute to the goal   
   of #1MillionQSOs.   
      
   Thirty-eight activations are scheduled for the week of December 8-15,   
   including Saint Paul's Church National Historical Site in New York, and   
   Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Memorial in Washington, DC. 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).   
      
      
      
   Use of New Web Log Upload App Encouraged for ARRL 10 Meter Contest Participants   
      
   One of the more popular annual operating events -- the ARRL 10 Meter Contest   
   -- is this weekend, December 10-11, beginning at 0000 UTC on Saturday (Friday   
   evening in US time zones) and winding up 48 hours later at 2359 UTC on Sunday.   
   The object is simple: Exchange contact information with as many stations as   
   possible on 10 meters. The ARRL 10 Meter Contest is open to all radio   
   amateurs, because Technician licensees have access to the band. More contest   
   newbies are active in the 10 Meter Contest than in any other event, and it's a   
   good time to get acquainted with contesting techniques too.   
      
   Participants submitting logs for the ARRL 10 Meter Contest are urged to take   
   advantage of the new web upload app. This app makes it easy to submit a   
   Cabrillo-formatted log, plus it makes sure the log is properly formatted   
   before it's accepted. The article, "Online Log Upload for ARRL Contests," on   
   page 82 of the November issue of QST, explains how to use the app.   
      
   A wide range of entry categories is available for this event, and you can   
   operate CW, SSB, or both. Stations in the US and Canada send a signal report   
   and state or province. Alaska and Hawaii count as states; this is also one   
   contest where the District of Columbia (DC) also counts as a multiplier. DX   
   stations -- including KP2, KP4, etc. -- send a signal report and a sequential   
   serial number starting with 001. Stations in Mexico transmit a signal report   
   and state. Maritime mobile stations send a signal report and their ITU region   
   (R1, R2, or R3).   
      
   In this contest, multipliers count twice -- once on phone and once on CW -- so   
   there's an extra incentive to give both modes a try, even if you're a CW   
   beginner!   
      
   No matter how many -- or few -- contacts you make, submitting a log helps to   
   improve the quality of log checking, and you might even find yourself in line   
   for a certificate! If you're lucky, you could take a shot at one of the   
   contest records. Post contest comments and photos of you and your station to   
   the ARRL Soapbox page. Your story could be included in the ARRL 10 Meter   
   Contest results article in QST.   
      
      
      
   Reminder: December 11 Special Event will Commemorate Transatlantic Reception   
   Anniversary   
      
   An Amateur Radio special event on December 11 will commemorate the 95th   
   anniversary of the first transatlantic shortwave reception between Greenwich,   
   Connecticut, and Ardrossan, Scotland. ARRL, the Radio Society of Great Britain   
   (RSGB), and the Radio Club of America (RCA) are partnering in sponsoring the   
   activity. The Greenwich Historical Society will also participate.   
      
   On December 11, 1921, a radio signal transmitted from the location of 1BCG in   
   Connecticut, was heard in Scotland by Paul Godley, 2ZE, during the second ARRL   
   transatlantic tests. The special event will use N1BCG, the call sign of Clark   
   Burgard of Greenwich, a radio history buff who was instrumental in making   
   arrangements for the event.   
      
   The N1BCG special event, which will be set up at a school near the original   
   1BCG site, will begin on Sunday, December 11, at 1200 and conclude at 0300 UTC   
   on December 12. Operation will be on AM on 75 and 40 meters; CW and SSB on 40   
   meters, CW on 30 meters, and CW and SSB on 20 and 17 meters. Approximate   
   frequencies are 3.880 (AM), 7.290 (AM), 7.235 (SSB), 7.040 (CW), 10.112 (CW),   
   14.280 (SSB), 14.040 (CW), 18.125 (SSB), and 18.088 MHz CW.   
      
   The event will include an attempt at a two-way contact between N1BCG and GB2ZE   
   in Ardrossan.   
      
      
      
   Emergency Communication Exercise Uses "Hamsphere(R)" to Introduce Youth to   
   Virtual Ham Radio   
      
   Fifty students in Dominica were introduced to ham radio on November 23, in the   
   form of a simulated emergency drill conducted via the virtual Amateur Radio   
   platform HamSphere. W1AW at ARRL Headquarters monitored the exercise.   
   HamSphere is a virtual Amateur Radio transceiver, available for iOS and   
   Android devices. Under supervision, selected youth teams competed for speed   
   and accuracy in a hurricane emergency communication drill, dubbed "Haminica   
   2016," while becoming familiar with this virtual version of Amateur Radio.   
      
   Sponsoring the project was Dominica's National Telecommunication Regulatory   
   Commission (NTRC), and NTRC Executive Director Craig Nesty and Engineer George   
   James, J73GJ, were on hand for the exercise. ARRL Emergency Preparedness   
   Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, observed "Haminica 2016" at W1AW using the HamSphere   
   3.0 platform. Well-known DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH -- an enthusiastic HamSphere   
   supporter -- and Brian Machesney, K1LI/J75Y, organized "Haminica 2016" and   
   helped to conduct the Dominica exercise. While in Dominica, Laine celebrated   
   his 70th birthday on the air as J70BH.   
      
   The exercise scenario was a hurricane about to make landfall on the island.   
   Laine said that, at one point, the group conducting the exercise had to   
   evacuate the station on short notice.   
      
   Laine said the NRTC is producing a video about the training exercise, and the   
   event caught the attention of the national TV station, which reported the   
   story in prime time.   
      
      
      
   Contribute to ARRL through Your IRA   
      
   Time is running short to contribute to ARRL from your Individual Retirement   
   Account (IRA). The federal government has now made permanent the ability for   
   those age 70-1/2 or older to contribute up to $100,000 per year from an IRA   
   directly to qualifying charities without having first to declare the donation   
   as income. This means you can, for example, donate your annual required   
   minimum distribution (RMD) to ARRL without increasing your income for tax   
   purposes. Depending on your personal tax situation, donating directly from   
   your IRA to ARRL could have more tax advantages for you than a direct personal   
   donation. Most custodians need a week or two to complete the transaction, so   
   contact your IRA custodian as soon as possible!   
      
   Here's how it works: Contact the custodian of your IRA plan and instruct the   
   custodian to make a donation from your IRA directly to ARRL. Provide the plan   
   custodian with ARRL's federal tax ID number 06-6000004 and legal name and   
   address -- American Radio Relay League Inc., 225 Main St., Newington, CT   
   06111-1494.   
      
   It is important that the check from the custodian is made payable directly to   
   ARRL. ARRL appreciates contributions of any size from your IRA.   
      
   The custodian of your IRA then will send you an IRS Form 1099 showing that   
   you, as the owner of the IRA, did not receive the plan distribution for your   
   personal use. Most fund custodians will ask you to complete a direct donation   
   form and will mail the plan distribution check directly to ARRL.   
      
   For more information, contact the ARRL Development Office, (860) 594-0348. The   
   Development Office is happy to help.   
      
   ARRL strongly encourages individuals interested in supporting the League   
   through an IRA distribution to consult with their attorney, tax/financial   
   advisor, or accountant to determine the tax, or other, consequences of making   
   such a gift.   
      
   American Radio Relay League Inc. is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organization.   
      
      
      
   ARRL Foundation Board Approves Two New Scholarships for Young Radio Amateurs   
      
   The ARRL Foundation Board of Directors recently approved two new scholarships.   
      
      
   The Helen Laughlin AM Mode Memorial Scholarship   
      
   The Helen Laughlin AM Mode Memorial Scholarship -- a scholarship intended for   
   women Amateur Radio operators -- is funded through the generosity of the   
   Laughlin-Beers Foundation and is intended exclusively for educational use --   
   to provide assistance with the costs of tuition, room, board, books, and/or   
   other fees essential to the advanced education of the recipient.   
      
   Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited 4-year college or university, and   
   hold a General or higher Amateur Radio license. It is suggested that the   
   applicant have made a contact in AM mode, but this is not a requirement.   
      
   Preference is given to Texas residents, but if no qualified applicant is   
   identified, preference will be given to residents of Arkansas. If no qualified   
   applicant is identified there, preference will be given to applicants residing   
   in the ARRL West Gulf or Delta Divisions -- the states of Texas, Oklahoma,   
   Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. If no women qualify, then the   
   award will go to a qualifying male applicant.   
      
   The scholarship award will be $1,000 annually, with the first scholarship   
   granted in 2017.   
      
      
   The Atlanta Radio Club Scholarship   
      
   The Atlanta Radio Club Scholarship is funded through the generosity of the   
   Atlanta Radio Club, and is intended exclusively for educational use -- to   
   provide assistance with the costs of tuition, room, board, books, and/or other   
   fees essential to the advanced education of the recipient. Applicants must   
   reside in Georgia, be between 17 and 25 years old at the time of the award,   
   attend an accredited 4-year college or university, or graduate program, and   
   hold a Technician or higher Amateur Radio license.   
      
   The scholarship award will be $500 annually, with the first scholarship   
   awarded in 2017. One scholarship is to be awarded per year.   
      
   In the case of all ARRL Foundation-administered scholarships, the Foundation   
   shall determine the recipients of the award to be academically superior and   
   the best among the scholarship applicants. Applicants for both scholarships   
   must be US citizens.   
      
   The ARRL Foundation is currently accepting applications from eligible radio   
   amateurs for more than 80 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000, which will   
   be awarded in 2017. More information is on the ARRL Foundation web page.   
      
   Applications for the 2017 scholarship process must be received by 11:59 PM   
   Eastern Standard Time on January 31, 2017.   
      
      
      
   Elves at OF9X Bring the Spirit of Christmas to Ham Radio   
      
   As in past years, Santa Claus will be spreading the spirit of Christmas via   
   Amateur Radio, but this year the elves are taking over the show. Twelve elves   
   are operating OF9X ("Old-Father-Nine-Christmas") for the entire month of   
   December, each with a 3-letter identification. Radio amateurs can work OF9X on   
   all bands and modes, from 630 meters (where authorized) to 70 centimeters.   
   Each contact is worth 1 point for stations in Europe and 2 points for stations   
   outside Europe. The elves provide the multiplier -- up to 12 -- to determine   
   your final score. Only contacts made in 2016 are valid. Logs are available on   
   ClubLog, and the log will indicate which elf was worked, in case you miss the   
   ID.   
      
   Certified reindeer driver and Laplander Pertti "Pete" Koivula, OH2BEE/OH9U, is   
   giving Santa a face and voice this year. Koivula is a well-known Finnish actor.   
      
   The elves on the air and their 3-letter IDs are Arto, OH2KW (ART); Arttu,   
   OH2FB (ATU); Jyri, OH2KM (JYR); Martti, OH2BH (MAR); Niko, OH2GEK (NIK);   
   Pauli, OH5BQ (PAU); Pekka, OH2TA (PEK); Pertti, OH2BEE (PER); Raimo, OH2BCI   
   (RAI); Tom, OH6VDA (TOM); Pertti, OH2PM (SIM), and Erik, OH2LAK (LAK).   
      
   Three awards are available: SKC Award (Santa is King of Christmas) -- at least   
   50 points; WMC Award (Warm and Memorable Christmas) -- at least 35 points, and   
   RNS Award (Remember those Red Nose Elves) -- at least 20 points.   
      
   E-mail your log and your point calculation by January 5, 2017. Full-color   
   award certificates will be sent via return mail. Include the name to be   
   printed on the award and your e-mail address.   
      
   High-scoring operators and their children on each continent will be offered an   
   opportunity to speak with Santa during Christmas week. Details will be   
   available on the OF9X QRZ.com profile page.   
      
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   China Plans Lunar-Orbiting Amateur Radio Satellites: China's Harbin Institute   
   of Technology is developing a pair of lunar-orbiting satellites -- DSLWP-A1   
   and A2. According to Mingchuan Wei, BG2BHC, DSLWP is "a lunar formation-flying   
   mission for low-frequency radio astronomy, Amateur Radio, and education,"   
   consisting of two microsatellites. Launch is planned in June 2018, to place   
   the pair into a 200 x 9,000 kilometer (approximately 124 x 5,580 mile) lunar   
   orbit. The Amateur Radio payload on DSLWP-A1 will provide telecommand uplink   
   and telemetry and a digital image downlink. Open telecommand is also designed   
   to allow radio amateurs to send commands to take and download images. The   
   satellites are 50 x 50 x 40 centimeters, with a mass of about 45 kilograms and   
   are three-axis stabilized, with two linear polarization antennas. The team has   
   proposed downlinks for DSLWP-A1 on 435.425 MHz and 436.425 MHz, and downlinks   
   for DSLWP-A2 on 435.400 MHz and 436.400 MHz, using GMSK with concatenated   
   codes or JT65B. Harbin Institute of Technology also developed the Lilac series   
   of CubeSats.   
      
      
   Radio Australia Shortwave Broadcasts to End on January 31: Another prominent   
   shortwave broadcaster is going dark, "The SWLing Post" blog reports. Radio   
   Australia has announced that it will cease its shortwave transmissions on   
   January 31. The station, popular with SWLs, broadcasts in the 31-, 25-, 19-,   
   and 16-meter bands. "The move is in line with the national broadcaster's   
   commitment to dispense with outdated technology and to expand its digital   
   content offerings, including DAB+ digital radio, online and mobile services,   
   together with FM services for international audiences," the Australian   
   Broadcast Corporation (ABC) said in a news release. The ABC said it would put   
   the money saved from ending shortwave broadcasting into other program   
   distribution technology.   
      
      
   Ofcom Declines to Act in Nightmare Neighbour Ham Radio Episode: UK   
   telecommunications regulator Ofcom has declined to act on formal complaints   
   about an October 27 episode of the Channel 5 television program Nightmare   
   Neighbour Next Door. That episode focused on 75-year-old Armando Martins,   
   M0PAM, of Kent, whose neighbors had made unsubstantiated claims that RF   
   radiating from his 30-foot vertical antenna was detrimental to their health.   
   The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) weighed in following the airing of   
   the show. Radio amateurs across the UK also complained that the program   
   episode was replete with false claims and pointed out that Ofcom had never   
   found any problems with Martins' station. A radio amateur for more than 60   
   years, Martins was first licensed as CR6IL in Portuguese West Africa (Angola).   
   Complainants contended that the show was "materially misleading," and thus a   
   breach of the Ofcom Broadcast Code.   
      
      
   ISS Packet Digipeater is Now on 70 Centimeters: The Amateur Radio on the   
   International Space Station (ARISS) packet digipeater aboard the ISS now is   
   active on 437.550 MHz. The UHF frequency means users will have to make   
   adjustments for Doppler on both uplink and downlink. The change to 70   
   centimeters comes in the wake of a problem that has sidelined the Ericsson VHF   
   transceiver, so the UHF model has been put into service. The digipeater   
   operates just as it did when it was on its former 145.825 MHz frequency. AMSAT   
   suggests that users program a group of five memory pairs to permit an   
   operating range that will compensate for Doppler, with transmit frequencies   
   from 437.560 to 437.540 MHz, and receive frequencies from 437.540 to 437.560   
   MHz, in 5 kHz increments (i.e., the transceiver would be in simplex for   
   437.555 MHz). More information is available from the AMSAT website. Scheduled   
   ARISS contacts and APRS operations will also utilize the Ericsson UHF   
   transceiver in the Columbia module. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service   
      
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The average daily sunspot number for   
   December 1-7 was 40.9, up 10 points from the previous 7 days. Solar flux has   
   hardly changed, moving from 82.6 to 82.2. The average daily planetary A index   
   dropped from 13.6 to 4.9, and the average mid-latitude A index dipped from   
   10.3 to 3.4.   
      
   The latest prediction from NOAA and the US Air Force shows solar flux at 75 on   
   December 8-10; 70 on December 11-13; 75 on December 14-15; 78 on December   
   16-18; 82 on December 19-20; 86 on December   
   21-27; 84 on December 28-31; 82 on January 1; 80 on January 2-3; 78 on January   
   4-8; 80 on January 9, and 82 on January 10-15.   
      
   Their latest projection for Planetary A Index is 20 on December 8-9; 18, 12,   
   and 8 on December 10-12; 5 on December 13-17; 8, 12, 16, and 22 on December   
   18-21; 30, 12, 10, and 8 on December 22-25; 5 on December 26-31; 8, 5, 12, and   
   15 on January 1-4; 20, 18, and 12 on January 5-7, and 5 on January 8-13.   
      
   A summary of the 3-month moving average of observed daily sunspot numbers,   
   from January through November 2016: 55.4, 53.5, 49, 45.3, 43.1, 35.4, 33,   
   33.5, 40, 39, and 29.6. Monthly average daily sunspot numbers for November   
   were 22.4. This is down from 50.4, 37.4, and 29.1 for August through October.   
   The downward trend in activity is obvious and undeniable.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for December 1 through 7 were 49, 59, 62, 37, 37, 24, and 18,   
   with a mean of 40.9. 10.7 cm flux was 84.5, 84.4, 84.7, 82.4, 82.7, 79.8, and   
   77.2, with a mean of 82.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 4, 3, 2, 4,   
   7, and 11, with a mean of 4.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 2, 1,   
   1, 2, 6, and 9, with a mean of 3.4.   
      
   Send me your reports or observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  December 10-11 -- ARRL 10 Meter Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 10-11 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)   
    *  December 10-11 -- International Naval Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 10-18 -- AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party (CW)   
    *  December 11-14 -- CQC Great Colorado Snowshoe Run (CW)   
    *  December 14 -- NAQCC CW Sprint   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
    *  December 9-10 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,   
       Florida   
    *  January 8 -- New York City/Long Island Section Convention, Bethpage, New   
       York   
    *  January 14 -- TechFest 2017 Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia   
    *  January 20-21 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas   
    *  January 21 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia   
    *  January 22-28 -- QuartzFest Convention, Quartzsite, Arizona   
    *  January 27-28 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi   
    *  January 27-29 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico   
    *  February 3-4 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Ft. Lauderdale,   
       Florida   
    *  February 4 - South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South   
       Carolina   
    *  February 4 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia   
    *  February 10-12 -- Southeastern Division Convention (HamCation), Orlando,   
       Florida   
    *  February 17-18 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona   
    *  February 18 -- Arkansas Section Convention, Hoxie, Arkansas   
    *  February 25 -- West Central Florida Section Technical Conference,   
       Sarasota, Florida   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
   Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it   
   wrong...   
   ... We don't want any adventures here, thank you. - Bilbo Baggins   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)