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   Message 2,407 of 3,036   
   mark lewis to all   
   The ARRL Letter for December 15, 2016   
   16 Dec 16 04:12:56   
   
   If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:   
   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-12-15   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   December 15, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Amateur Radio Parity Act Bill Unable to Overcome Florida Senator's   
       Objections   
    *  IARU Continues Preparations for World Radiocommunication Conference 2019   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Commemorative Special Event Reenacts 1921 Amateur Radio Transatlantic   
       Reception   
    *  Support ARRL and Earn an Extra 5,000 Points   
    *  Radio Amateurs Assist in Wake of Indonesian Earthquake   
    *  ARISS Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Plans for Future of Amateur Radio in   
       Human Spaceflight   
    *  Middle School Students' "TubeSat" Set for ISS Deployment; Other Launches   
       Pending   
    *  Mexico Not Yet Extending Operating Permission to Non-Mexican Radio   
       Amateurs   
    *  Getting It Right!   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Parity Act Bill Unable to Overcome Florida Senator's Objections   
      
   The Amateur Radio Parity Act, H.R. 1301, suffered an unbefitting demise on   
   December 9 as the 114th Congress drew to a close. After passing the House of   
   Representatives on a unanimous vote earlier this fall, the bill stalled in the   
   Senate due to the intervention of only one member, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).   
   The measure would have directed the FCC to extend its rules relating to   
   reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications to private land-use   
   restrictions, such as covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) imposed   
   by homeowners associations.   
      
   "[During 2016] Nelson received thousands of e-mails, letters, and phone calls   
   from concerned constituents asking for his support of H.R. 1301. Numerous   
   meetings were held with his senior staff in an effort to move the legislation   
   forward," ARRL said in a news release. "Negotiations, which led to an   
   agreement with the Community Associations Institute (CAI), the national   
   association of homeowner's associations and publicly supported by CAI and   
   ARRL, were brushed aside by Sen. Nelson as irrelevant."   
      
   In a final meeting with Nelson's staff as the 114th Congress neared   
   adjournment, it became clear that no matter what was said or done, the Senator   
   would oppose the bill and refuse to allow it to move forward. Because the   
   measure had not been put on the floor schedule, the only way it could have   
   passed the Senate would have been through a process called "unanimous   
   consent." A Senate member may request unanimous consent on the floor to set   
   aside rules and expedite proceedings. If any single Senator objects, though,   
   the request is rejected.   
      
   The unhappy ending followed nearly 2 years of intense effort on the part of   
   ARRL and thousands of its members, who contacted their Congressional   
   representatives to urge their support of the measure on Capitol Hill. The   
   ARRL Board of Directors is expected to discuss the future of the initiative   
   at its January meeting.   
      
      
      
   IARU Continues Preparations for World Radiocommunication Conference 2019   
      
   Work already is under way by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) to   
   address agenda items of interest to Amateur Radio during the run-up to the   
   2019 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19). The International   
   Telecommunication Union (ITU) convenes WRCs every 3 or 4 years; the last WRC   
   was in 2015. The IARU's prime focus is spectrum privileges -- gaining or   
   retaining spectrum for the Amateur Radio services and spectrum protection --   
   making sure that amateur spectrum remains available for use and free from   
   serious man-made interference. The IARU works within international standards   
   organizations and with regional telecommunication organizations to accomplish   
   its goals.   
      
   In the past month, IARU representatives have attended the European Conference   
   of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) Electronic   
   Communications Committee (ECC), CEPT's policy-making body. IARU was also   
   present at ITU Working Parties under Study Group 5 (SG5), which studies   
   matters related to terrestrial radiocommunication services, including the   
   Amateur Service. Working Party 5A met November 7-17, preparing for WRC-19 with   
   a focus that includes the Amateur Radio Services. Among other things, the   
   panel:   
      
    *  Completed revisions to Recommendation ITU-R M.1732 dealing with   
       parameters to be used in sharing studies regarding the compatibility of   
       Amateur Service operations with other radio services, mainly in the   
       50-54 MHz band.   
    *  Continued work on sharing and compatibility studies required for WRC-19   
       Agenda Item 1.1, which addresses an Amateur Radio allocation at 50-54   
       MHz in ITU Region 1, in common with what already is available in Regions   
       2 and 3. Sharing studies consider criteria under which spectrum can be   
       shared among different radio services.   
    *  Addressed other WRC-19 agenda items that could impact the Amateur   
       Service.   
    *  Updated the WP5A web document, "Guide to the use of ITU-R texts relating   
       to the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services."   
      
   IARU will continue to be active in ITU and regional telecommunication   
   organizations as preparations go forward for WRC-19. In the coming weeks, IARU   
   plans to participate in CEPT's Conference Preparatory Group for WRC-19 and in   
   its Project Team meetings.   
      
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Antenna System Troubleshooting." 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.   
      
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   The ARRL National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program is on the verge of making   
   history. With less than 2 weeks to go until the program concludes on December   
   31, NPOTA Activators have made more than 995,000 contacts from National Park   
   Service units this year, and it appears certain that the count will top 1   
   million before year's end.   
      
   National Parks on the Air has proven to be one of the most successful and   
   popular on-air activities ARRL has ever created. Tens of thousands of radio   
   amateurs made at least one contact with an NPOTA Activator in 2016, and nearly   
   1,400 Activators went out and transmitted from a park. One million contacts   
   from portable operations -- many of them using under 100 W and simple wire   
   antennas -- is an amazing feat. Congratulations to every NPOTA Activator who   
   hit the trail this year and helped NPOTA to reach its goal!   
      
   But the fun isn't over yet! More than 30 NPOTA activations are scheduled   
   through the end of 2016, including Fort Scott National Historic Site in   
   Kansas, and the Amistad National Recreation Area in Texas. NPOTA Activators   
   have promised a burst of activity all across the country in the final week,   
   especially all day on Saturday, December 31. Work as many NPOTA stations as   
   you can!   
      
   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).   
      
      
      
   Commemorative Special Event Reenacts 1921 Amateur Radio Transatlantic Reception   
      
   Radio amateurs in the US and in Scotland have reenacted the first successful   
   transatlantic reception of a shortwave Amateur Radio signal nearly a century   
   earlier. Special event station N1BCG in Greenwich, Connecticut, and GB2ZE in   
   Ardrossan, Scotland, completed contacts on SSB and on CW during the December   
   11 event. ARRL, the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), and the Radio Club   
   of America (RCA) partnered to support the activity, organized by ARRL CEO Tom   
   Gallagher, NY2RF, and Clark Burgard, N1BCG, who loaned his history-rich call   
   sign for the occasion.   
      
   On December 11, 1921, in Ardrossan, Scotland, reception of a radio signal   
   transmitted from an RCA test station -- located in a small shack on the   
   Greenwich, Connecticut, property of Minton Cronkhite, 1BCG -- helped to usher   
   in the age of global communication. In Scotland, American Paul Godley, 2ZE,   
   clearly heard the signal using a receiver of his own design.   
      
   "These events are fun, because they're timely and cause us to focus on the   
   history and on the people who made history," Gallagher said. "We were very   
   pleased with the tenor of it and with the media coverage, and we were happy to   
   make the connection with GB2ZE, although we would have preferred to have made   
   it on 160 meters, where it would have been closer to the frequency used in   
   1921." The 1921 transatlantic test, on CW, was conducted on a wavelength of   
   230 to 235 meters (about 1.3 MHz). The ARRL transatlantic tests proved the   
   value of the shorter wavelengths, which had long been considered worthless for   
   long-distance communication.   
      
   Burgard spoke on 20-meter SSB with GB2ZE, operated by Jason O'Neill, GM7VSB,   
   in Ardrossan. A bit later, ARRL Field Services Manager Dave Patton, NN1N,   
   chatted with GB2ZE on CW. "After working GB2ZE on 20 meters, I was reminded of   
   how much of a challenge the RCA ops had using 200 meters," Patton said.   
   "Hearing signals in Europe from across the Atlantic had to be a tremendous   
   thrill for Godley and the others listening."   
      
   The first message sent by Burgard from Greenwich to Ardrossan on Sunday   
   morning repeated the original 1921 text. Patton retransmitted the message 30   
   minutes later on CW.   
      
   Describing the special event as "a rewarding experience," Patton said the   
   entire team worked together to build a Field Day-style station in wintry   
   weather. The complement of equipment included what he called "a few fully   
   armed vintage AM stations," as well as modern gear. Among the older pieces was   
   a 1950s-era transmitter owned by rocker Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, of the Eagles.   
      
   Bruce Godley Littlefield and his sister Janice Taylor are grandchildren of   
   Paul Godley, 2ZE, who was at the Ardrossan, Scotland, receiving station in   
   1921.   
      
   The antennas were simple dipoles.   
      
   With about a dozen operators active, the special event logged nearly 525   
   contacts, more than 100 of them on AM, through conditions that were only fair.   
      
   To highlight the historical nature of the occasion, Godley's grandchildren   
   Bruce Godley Littlefield and his sister, Janice Taylor, visited, and   
   Littlefield brought his grandfather's complete log books of the experiment, as   
   well as numerous photos and letters from ARRL.   
      
   "We enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect the Godley history with that of ARRL   
   and the Radio Club of America," Littlefield said afterward.   
      
      
      
   Support ARRL and Earn an Extra 5,000 Points   
      
   Apply for the ARRL Visa Signature(R) Card and, upon approval, enjoy a long   
   list of great everyday benefits. Plus now, as a special gift, you'll also earn   
   an additional 5,000 Bonus Points (subject to credit approval) on your account   
   after you make your first purchase.   
      
   Take advantage of these great everyday Signature Card benefits:   
      
    *  One reward point for every eligible net $1 spent in purchases   
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       travel, and more. (Transactions qualify for double points, based on how   
       merchants classify the transaction.)   
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   Radio Amateurs Assist in Wake of Indonesian Earthquake   
      
   Radio amateurs provided emergency communication support during the response to   
   a December 7 magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Indonesia's Aceh Province. The death   
   toll was reported at 100, with nearly 300 injured. The IARU Region 3 Disaster   
   Communications Committee's Dani Hidayat, YB2TJV, reported that it took 2 hours   
   for the ham radio group from the Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization   
   (ORARI), Aceh Region, to reach the earthquake zone.   
      
   A team led by Abdullah Ali, YB6AA, and Ismul Huda, YB6AG, and others supported   
   emergency communications in the field at Pidie Jaya. Zainal Abidin, YC6FZ, was   
   injured when his house collapsed, but his family was said to be safe; Huda   
   took Abidin to the Banda Aceh Hospital for treatment. YB2TJV reported that 40   
   meters and 2 meters were used for emergency traffic. The quake flattened   
   houses and buildings, caused infrastructure damage, and left large cracks in   
   roads in the worst-affected districts of Pidie Jaya and Pidie.   
      
   Search-and-rescue teams checked the rubble of hundreds of structures, and   
   displaced residents took shelter in a makeshift refugee camp. -- Thanks to Jim   
   Linton, VK3PC, chairman, IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee   
      
      
      
   ARISS Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Plans for Future of Amateur Radio in Human   
   Spaceflight   
      
   ARISS-International delegates celebrated 20 years of Amateur Radio on the   
   International Space Station (ARISS) when they met November 15-18 at the   
   International Space Center Conference Facility in Houston, Texas, to continue   
   planning for the years ahead. More than 50 delegates and guests from Russia,   
   Japan, Italy, Germany, the UK, and North America took part, and    
   eleconferencing let individuals unable to attend in person to join the   
   proceedings. An international group interested in installing and operating an   
   Amateur Radio station on the ISS first met in November 1996 at Johnson Space   
   Center, and ARISS was born as a result of that gathering.   
      
   "The international partners celebrated the dedication and contributions of   
   volunteers who have sustained it over the challenges of the past 20 years,"   
   said ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, who attended on   
   behalf of ARRL. "It was clear that the vision to make the excitement of space   
   exploration accessible to students and the challenge of participating in space   
   activities through Amateur Radio is still very much alive." Rosalie White,   
   K1STO, also represented ARRL at the gathering.   
      
   Hardware sessions discussed finalizing designs for the Kenwood TM-D710GA   
   dual-band radio and interoperable radio system, which includes a new power   
   supply. Participants also heard a review of educational outcomes. Ronny   
   Risinger, KC5EES, a government teacher at Language Arts and Sciences Academy   
   in Austin, Texas, discussed classroom integration of ham radio and student   
   outcomes. Delegates also saw a demonstration of a standardized HamTV ground   
   receiver constructed by Ciaran Morgan, M0XTD.   
      
   "A vision of Amateur Radio in space exploration beyond the ISS was also   
   discussed and action taken to develop a position statement about the program's   
   intention to be involved in future journeys into space," Johnson recounted.   
   "This position statement will be used as a basis for discussions with key   
   industry leaders involved in projects in development for the next journeys to   
   the Moon and to Mars."   
      
   Contributions to ARISS are welcome via the ARISS website (click on the "Donate   
   to the ARISS Annual Fund" button) or via the AMSAT website (click on the   
   "ARISS Donate" button). Read more. -- Thanks to ARISS via AMSAT News Service   
   for some information   
      
      
      
   Middle School Students' "TubeSat" Set for ISS Deployment; Other Launches   
   Pending   
      
   The cargo ship carrying the Tancredo-1 "TubeSat" -- so called because of its   
   cylindrical form factor -- launched on schedule from Japan on December 9.   
   Built by 10- to 14-year-old middle schoolers in Brazil, Tancredo-1 carries an   
   Amateur Radio payload. Tancredo-1 went into space inside the TuPOD TubeSat   
   deployer, which is expected to be ejected into space from the ISS on December   
   19 by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD). It will, in turn,   
   eject Tancredo-1 into orbit on December 21. Once in space, Tancredo-1 should   
   start transmitting telemetry.   
      
   Tancredo-1 is the first satellite of the UbatubaSat Project, a STEM initiative   
   at Tancredo Neves Public School in Ubatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The project is   
   supported by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research and the Brazilian   
   Space Agency. Tancredo-1 will initially have the same orbit as the ISS. The   
   UbatubaSat project team and AMSAT-BR has asked for reception reports.   
   Tancredo-1 will transmit on 437.200 MHz using 1,200 bps AFSK AX.25. Submit   
   reports via e-mail. According to information filed with the IARU Satellite   
   Coordinator, Tancredo-1 has an onboard voice recorder that will transmit a   
   message chosen through a competition among students from schools in Ubatuba.   
      
   The December 9 launch also carried Turkey's UBAKUSAT CubeSat. Equipped with a   
   145/435 MHz (V/U) SSB/CW Amateur Radio transponder and a CW beacon, UBAKUSAT   
   will be deployed from the ISS next year. The satellite is being developed by   
   Istanbul Technical University's Space Systems Design and Test Lab (SSDTL)   
   along with the Turkish Amateur Satellite Technologies Organization (TAMSAT)   
   and other entities, including the Ministry of Transportation, Communication   
   and Maritime, in collaboration with the Japanese government.   
      
   On December 26, the China Center for Aerospace Science and Technology's BY70-1   
   satellite is expected to launch from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center into a   
   530-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit. The 3-axis stabilized 2U CubeSat will   
   carry a Mode V/U FM transponder, with an uplink on 145.920 MHz, and a downlink   
   on 436.200 MHz   
      
   China's CAMSAT is reported to be working closely with a Beijing government   
   aerospace contractor to build two microsatellites with Amateur Radio linear   
   transponders -- CAS-4A and CAS-4B. Each spacecraft will carry a    
   0-centimeter/2-meter (U/V) 100 mW SSB/CW linear transponder, a 2-meter CW 50   
   mW telemetry beacon, and an AX.25 4.8 kbps GMSK 100 mW telemetry downlink. The   
   transponders will have the same technical characteristics, but will employ   
   different frequencies for their 70-centimeter uplinks and 2-meter downlinks.   
   Launch is anticipated in late March. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service, IARU   
      
      
      
   Mexico Not Yet Extending Operating Permission to Non-Mexican Radio Amateurs   
      
   Broad changes in Mexico's radiocommunication regulatory environment 2 years   
   ago continue to hinder Amateur Radio licensing there and still do not provide   
   reciprocal permission for non-Mexican radio amateurs to operate south of the   
   border. Mexico's International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member society, the   
   Federation of Mexican Radio Amateurs (FMRE), has been working with the new   
   regulator, the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) to craft more   
   Amateur Radio-friendly licensing procedures and regulations, and there has   
   been a little positive movement. The new regulatory regime considers the radio   
   spectrum as an exploitable resource, and all former Amateur Radio regulations   
   have been deemed null and void.   
      
   FMRE's new president, Alfonso "Poncho" Tamez, XE2O, is spearheading the   
   society's negotiations with the IFT. At FMRE's National Convention in   
   September, IFT Commissioner Adriana Labardini announced to loud cheers that   
   her agency will get Amateur Radio licensing going again, after a 2-year delay.   
   FMRE has estimated that of the 3,500 existing Mexican Amateur Radio licenses   
   in place before the new law went into effect, more than 1,000 have expired and   
   their renewal was put on hold until the IFT works out procedural details. She   
   said the IFT expects to process more than 800 applications by year's end, with   
   another batch of more than 1,400 to follow. An initial license will cost about   
   $30 US. The status of Amateur Radio clubs has also been put in limbo by the   
   new regulatory regime.   
      
   A revised IFT draft of Amateur Radio licensing procedures included specific   
   provisions to grant Amateur Radio operating permission and to make licensing   
   requirements more consistent with the nature of the Amateur Radio service. But   
   significant gaps still exist. At this point, it is not even necessary to take   
   an examination to obtain an Amateur Radio license -- called a "concession" --   
   in Mexico.   
      
   While the IFT has not yet determined what to do about foreign radio amateurs   
   wishing to operate in Mexico, the agency has received 45 petitions to do so   
   and is considering how it can issue permits; a foreigner cannot obtain a   
   license under the new law, but may be given permission to operate as XE#/. Further, no regulations are in place regarding power output,   
   license classes, licensing zones, interference, and other regulatory aspects.   
      
      
      
   Getting It Right!   
      
   A photo caption in December 8 edition of The ARRL Letter incorrectly   
   identified the radio amateur holding the Worked All States certificate he   
   earned during the 2015 ARRL 10 Meter Contest. The op is Milt Withers, AD5XD,   
   of Richardson, Texas. Our apologies!   
      
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   ARRL Rookie Roundup CW is Sunday, December 18: The 2016 CW Rookie Roundup is   
   right around the corner on Sunday, December 18. Rookies can take up their   
   Morse keys (or keyboards) and "pound some brass" in pursuit of Rookies and   
   Non-rookies alike. Rookies -- anyone licensed for 3 years or less -- get on   
   the air and call "CQ RR," so other participants can find them. Grizzled CW   
   veterans call "CQ R" (CQ Rookies). Veteran operators are encouraged to invite   
   new hams to use their stations and give CW a try, or to invite several newbies   
   over and have a multiop. This is also great practice for Straight Key Night on   
   New Year's Eve, so limber up those sending skills and help to introduce the   
   joys of CW to a new generation of hams! This also an excellent opportunity to   
   try out contesting in an event designed for newcomers. Rookie entrants are   
   encouraged to read "HF Contesting - Good Practices, Interpretations, and   
   Suggestions." To register teams or submit scores, visit the ARRL Rookie   
   Roundup Contests web page.   
      
      
   Next Kids Day is Saturday, January 7: The first Saturday in January is Kids   
   Day -- the time to get youngsters on the air to share in the joy and fun that   
   Amateur Radio can provide. Kids Day gets under way on Saturday, January 7, at   
   1800 UTC and concludes at 2359 UTC. Sponsored by the Boring (Oregon) Amateur   
   Radio Club, this event has a simple exchange, suitable for younger operators:   
   First name, age, location, and favorite color. After that, the contact can be   
   as long or as short as each participant prefers. Kids Day is the perfect   
   opportunity to open your shack door and invite kids over to see what Amateur   
   Radio has to offer. Details are on the ARRL website.   
      
      
   60 Meter News from Europe and Elsewhere: The 60 Meter DX Group reports that   
   Swedish Post and Telecom is issuing temporary (6-month) "experimental"   
   licenses for access to 5,351.5-5,366.5 kHz, replacing four channels, 5,310,   
   5,320, 5,380, and 5,390 kHz. There is a fee. The WRC-15 recommendations   
   regarding 5 MHz have not yet been implemented, but that may happen by January   
   2018, when the next national band plan is released. In the interim, apparently   
   anyone, even non-hams, can apply for an experimental license. Sweden's   
   experimental band permits 15 W EIRP. In Denmark, radio amateurs now have "VFO   
   access" to 5,250-5,450 kHz, all modes, at a maximum power of 1 kW at the   
   antenna feed point. In Finland, radio amateurs gained access on December 9 to   
   5,351.5 to 5,366.5 kHz, with 15 W EIRP. Previously only club stations could   
   obtain special permission to use seven 5-MHz channels with a maximum power of   
   50 W on USB. Valid special club licenses will continue in effect until the end   
   of the license term. Switzerland's USKA has announced that 5,351.5 to 5,366.5   
   kHz will become available on January 1, 2017, with 15 W EIRP. From Dominica,   
   Walter Aebi, HB9WTA, is active until February 2017 as J79WTA. Luxembourg,   
   Latvia, Belarus, and Andorra recently announced Amateur Radio access -- or   
   revisions to amateur access -- to 60 meters. -- Thanks to The Daily DX and the   
   5 MHz Newsletter   
      
      
   Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure Offering Complete Ham Station to Essay Contest   
   Winner: The Dave Kalter Youth DX Adventure (YDXA) has announced an exciting   
   essay competition for young radio amateurs. Due to the generosity of the 2016   
   raffle winner Paul Ewing, N6PSE, and the co-founders of the YDXA, the winner   
   of the essay contest will receive a complete Amateur Radio station. The prize   
   includes an Alinco SR8T HF, a 12 V, 30 A power supply (Jetstream or   
   equivalent), vertical antenna (Jetstream JTV680 or equivalent), and 100 feet   
   of coax feed line fitted with PL-259 connectors. Eligibility is limited to   
   Technician class or higher US licensees 12 to 18 years old, residing in the 48   
   contiguous US states. Entrants are to submit an essay of up to 500 words   
   describing their involvement in, personal future plans for, and importance of   
   Amateur Radio. All entries must be postmarked (or system dated, in the case of   
   e-mail entries) by December 23, 2016. The winner will be announced no later   
   than January 31, 2017. Entrants should adhere to all contest rules.   
      
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Average daily solar indices over the past   
   week were lower than the previous 7 days, with the average daily sunspot   
   number declining from 40.9 to 13, and the average daily solar flux dropping by   
   10 points from 82.2 to 72.2.   
      
   Geomagnetic indicators were higher, with the average daily planetary A index   
   rising from 4.9 to 13.3, and the mid-latitude A index from 3.4 to 9.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 70 on December 15-17; 75 on December 18-20; 80 and 86   
   on December 21-22; 88 on December 23-27; 86 on December 28-29; 88 on December   
   30-January 1; 86 on January 2-3; 84 and 82 on January 4-5; 80 on January 6-7;   
   73 on January 8-9; 75 on January 10-14; 82 on January 15-16; 86 on January   
   17-18; 88 on January 19-23, and 86 on January 24-25.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 15-16; 8 on December 17-18; 15 on   
   December 19-20; 25, 30, 12, 10, and 8 on December 21-25; 5 on December   
   26-January 1; 8, 10, 20, and 22 on January 2-5; 16 on January 6-7; 8 on   
   January 8; 5 on January 9-12; 8 on January 13-14; 12, 16, 22, and 30 on   
   January 15-18; 12, 10, and 8 on January 19-21, and 5 for the remainder of the   
   45-day forecast.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for December 8 through 14 were 14, 12, 0, 13, 13, 14, and 25,   
   with a mean of 13. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 74.8, 72.9, 72.2, 71.4, 70.8,   
   71.2, and 72.4, with a mean of 72.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 23,   
   25, 16, 15, 6, 4, and 4, with a mean of 13.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices   
   were 14, 18, 11, 11, 5, 2, and 2, with a mean of 9.   
      
   Send me your reports or observations, especially from the ARRL 10 Meter   
   Contest.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  December 16 -- AGB-Party Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 16-17 -- Russian 160-Meter Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 17 -- Feld Hell Sprint   
    *  December 17 -- OK DX RTTY Contest   
    *  December 17 -- RAC Winter Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  December 17-18 -- Croatian CW Contest   
    *  December 17-18 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)   
    *  December 18 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup (CW)   
    *  December 19 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)   
    *  December 22 -- NAQCC CW Sprint   
      
   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   
      
    *  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   
    *  February 25 -- 2017 New Mexico Tech Fest, Albuquerque, New Mexico   
      
   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...   
   ... Dragons theoretically subsist on virgins, but a pie floater will do   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)   

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