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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2017-01-26   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   January 26, 2017   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to US House Passage, Heads to US Senate   
    *  New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Praises House Action on H.R. 555, Other   
       Telecoms Bills   
    *  CEPT Meeting Makes Progress on WRC-19 Agenda Items Affecting Amateur   
       Radio   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  Time to Order ARRL November Sweepstakes Clean Sweep Mugs, Participation   
       Pins!   
    *  Second Annual Midwinter 630-Meter Activity Night Set for February 4-5   
    *  CIA Declassified Database Includes Information about Soviet-Era Amateur   
       Radio   
    *  US Naval Academy HFsat Coordinated for 15- Meter to 10-Meter Transponder   
    *  FEMA Region X Reports Another Successful HF Interoperability Exercise   
    *  Tickets Now Available for Dayton DX, Top Band, and Contest Dinners   
    *  New Mexico Radio Amateur Marks 80 Years as a Licensee   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Parity Act Speeds to US House Passage, Heads to US Senate   
      
   Just 10 days after being introduced in the 115th Congress, the 2017 Amateur   
   Radio Parity Act legislation, H.R. 555, passed the US House of Representatives   
   on unanimous consent under a suspension of House rules. The bill's language is   
   identical to that of the 2015 measure, H.R. 1301, which won House approval   
   late last summer after attracting 126 cosponsors, but failed to clear the US   
   Senate last fall as the 114th Congress wound down. The new bill, again   
   sponsored by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), was launched on January 13 with   
   initial cosponsorship by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Rep. Greg Walden, W7EQI   
   (R-OR), who chairs the influential House Committee on Energy and Commerce.   
      
   "The grassroots effort of Amateur Radio operators across this nation in   
   support of the Amateur Radio Parity Act has been remarkable, nothing like we   
   have ever seen before," ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, said. "To all   
   hams, keep going! Now is the time to charge forward with that same momentum to   
   the Senate. We can do it!" The bill arrives in the US Senate with ample time   
   in which to garner its approval through an education campaign.   
      
   "We're very encouraged by the speed with which this bill made it through the   
   House. It's amazing that this happened," said ARRL Hudson Division Director   
   Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, who has been at the forefront of the legislative   
   initiative. "With the help of ARRL members, we believe we can get this done,"   
   Lisenco continued. "We came within a hair's breadth last time, with [thousands   
   of] e-mails to members of both houses of Congress, as well as letters and   
   telephone calls. Member participation in this final push is critical."   
      
   H.R. 555 calls on the FCC to establish rules prohibiting the application of   
   deed restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio communications on their face or   
   as applied. Deed restrictions would have to impose the minimum practicable   
   restriction on Amateur Radio communications to accomplish the lawful purposes   
   of homeowners associations seeking to enforce the restriction.   
      
      
      
   New FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Praises House Action on H.R. 555, Other Telecoms   
   Bills   
      
   The FCC's new chairman, Ajit Pai, this week praised US House action on H.R.   
   555 and other telecommunications-related legislation that cleared the chamber   
   the previous day.   
      
   "I want to commend the US House of Representatives for passing a number of   
   important, bipartisan telecom bills yesterday," Pai said on Tuesday. "These   
   bills will help bring greater efficiency to the Commission, provide consumers   
   with greater protections, improve rural call completion, help Amateur Radio   
   operators, and take several steps to promote public safety," he continued,   
   adding, "I look forward to working with Congress on these and other important   
   issues as Chairman of the FCC."   
      
   President Donald Trump named the 44-year-old telecommunications attorney --   
   who has served on the Commission since 2012 and is its senior member -- to   
   succeed Chairman Tom Wheeler, who stepped down on Inauguration Day, January 20.   
      
   "I am deeply grateful to the President of the United States for designating me   
   the 34th Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission," Pai said in a   
   statement. "I look forward to working with the new administration, my   
   colleagues at the Commission, members of Congress, and the American public to   
   bring the benefits of the digital age to all Americans."   
      
   A Republican, Pai was nominated to the FCC by former President Barack Obama   
   and was confirmed unanimously by the US Senate in 2012. Pai has said the   
   Commission needs to eliminate "outdated and unnecessary regulations," as he   
   proposed in a December speech. "The regulatory underbrush at the FCC is   
   thick," he said. "We need to fire up the weed whacker and remove those rules   
   that are holding back investment, innovation, and job creation."   
      
   Pai has said that he supports "the freedom to access lawful content, the   
   freedom to use applications, the freedom to attach personal devices to the   
   network, and the freedom to obtain service plan information."   
      
   In a January 24 speech, Pai addressed the "digital divide" in the US, "between   
   those who can use cutting-edge communications services and those who do not,"   
   he said. "I believe one of our core priorities going forward should be to   
   close that divide -- to do what's necessary to help the private sector build   
   networks, send signals, and distribute information to American consumers,   
   regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or anything else."   
      
   The son of immigrants from India, the Harvard Law graduate and respected   
   telecommunications attorney grew up in Parsons, Kansas.   
      
   The FCC now is down to three members, so President Trump will have the   
   opportunity to appoint two more. In addition to Pai are Democrat Mignon   
   Clyburn and Republican Michael O'Rielly. The Commission can have five members,   
   three of whom typically are from the majority political party. Before leaving   
   office, former President Barack Obama renominated now-former FCC Commissioner   
   Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, for a new term.   
      
      
      
   CEPT Meeting Makes Progress on WRC-19 Agenda Items Affecting Amateur Radio   
      
   Progress was made regarding World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19)   
   agenda items of interest to Amateur Radio when European Conference of Postal   
   and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) Conference Preparatory Group   
   Project Team D (PTD) held its second meeting January 10-12 in Helsinki,   
   Finland. According to International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1   
   President Don Beattie, G3BJ, experts discussed WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.1, which   
   proposes a 50-54 MHz allocation in Region 1 in order to create a global   
   6-meter band. Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, is the CEPT coordinator for this   
   agenda item.   
      
   A preliminary CEPT position was agreed upon for Agenda Item 1.1, which would   
   support a new 6-meter allocation in Region 1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East,   
   and Northern Asia) only if the spectrum needs for the Amateur Services are   
   justified and studies show that the incumbent land mobile, radiolocation, and   
   broadcasting services -- including their future deployment and services in   
   adjacent spectrum -- are protected. The 185-member PTD developed a working   
   document summarizing the sharing studies currently available for this agenda   
   item.   
      
   "IARU will continue to work on these studies with administrations and others   
   to establish the optimum future sharing scenarios," Beattie said.   
      
   Wireless Power Transmission/Transfer (WPT) was another item discussed, in   
   preparation for WRC-19 Agenda Item 9.1.6. Studies would assess suitable   
   harmonized frequency ranges to minimize the impact of WPT for electric   
   vehicles on radiocommunication services. Various organizations are in the   
   process of approving standards intended for global and regional harmonization   
   of WPT technologies for electric vehicles.   
      
   As the ITU explained in its August 2016 report, "Applications of wireless   
   power transmission via radio frequency beam," "WPT technology is considered as   
   one of [the] game-changing technologies. We will be able to become free from   
   lacking electric power when electric power will be supplied wirelessly."   
   Spectrum employed in WPT depends in part on its application; vehicle   
   applications typically use frequencies in the LF and MF range.   
      
   At PTD, an IARU Region 1 paper on high-power wireless transfer technologies   
   that argued for greater clarity in terminology and scope of studies to be   
   undertaken was broadly welcomed. That document is expected to result in a CEPT   
   contribution to ITU Working Party 1B, the committee charged with developing   
   WPT spectrum allocation and related issues. A WRC-15 resolution had called for   
   "urgent studies" in preparation for this agenda item.   
      
   CEPT is one of the Region 1 telecommunications organizations with which IARU   
   is actively participating, in advance of WRC-19. -- Thanks to IARU Region 1,   
   CEPT, ITU, and Jon Siverling, WB3ERA   
      
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Meteor Scatter" is the topic of the latest (January 26) 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.   
      
      
      
   Time to Order ARRL November Sweepstakes Clean Sweep Mugs, Participation Pins!   
      
   Anyone who managed to make a "Clean Sweep" by working all 83 ARRL/RAC sections   
   during the 2016 ARRL November Sweepstakes may commemorate their accomplishment   
   by purchasing a 2016 November Sweepstakes "Clean Sweep" mug. Awards are based   
   on claimed scores. Keepsake mugs are $15 each, including postage and handling.   
   In addition, participation pins are available to operators who completed at   
   least 100 Sweepstakes contacts. Pins include the year and mode and have become   
   a popular Sweepstakes tradition. Pins also are based on claimed scores, and   
   each is $8, including postage and handling. When you order, indicate CW or SSB.   
      
   Order mugs and pins separately. In either case, if you submitted your log   
   electronically, accompany your check for payment with a paper copy of the   
   first page of your Cabrillo log, indicating how many mugs or pins you are   
   ordering. If you logged on paper, accompany your check for payment with a note   
   to the top of your summary sheet, indicating how many mugs or pins you are   
   ordering.   
      
   Send orders to "Clean Sweep Mugs" or "Sweepstakes Pins" (whichever applies) to   
   ARRL Contest Branch, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111.   
      
   Mugs and pins will be shipped after all entries have been processed and logs   
   verified (approximately April 2017). This helps ARRL to keep costs down and   
   avoid inventory issues. As a non-profit organization, we need to minimize   
   expenses.   
      
   Supplies are limited. Orders for mugs and pins must be received by January 31,   
   2017.   
      
      
      
   Second Annual Midwinter 630-Meter Activity Night Set for February 4-5   
      
   US and Canadian radio amateurs and Part 5 experimental stations will take part   
   in the second annual Midwinter 630-Meter Activity Night, which will begin on   
   February 4 at 0000 UTC and continue through February 5 at 2359 UTC. Radio   
   amateurs in the US will be able to make cross-band contacts with Canadian   
   participants.   
      
   "This event is being undertaken because of the continuing, worldwide interest   
   in 630-meter activities," said ARRL 630-Meter Experiment Coordinator Fritz   
   Raab, W1FR, in announcing the event. He said US radio amateurs are looking   
   forward to gaining access to the new 472-479 kHz band, while Canadians are   
   eager to learn more about the present level of amateur activity on their   
   newest ham band.   
      
   "This activity night will give interested radio amateurs in both countries an   
   opportunity to see firsthand what is happening, and cross-band activity with   
   Canadian amateurs will offer a chance for US hams to take part in the   
   activity," Raab said.   
      
   The event is open to both radio amateurs and listeners. Raab said it will   
   provide an opportunity for participants to test their MF receive capabilities.   
   Operation will be in various modes.   
      
   A number of US FCC Part 5 Experimental stations will also operate throughout   
   630 meters on CW, PSK31, JT9, and QRSS modes. Some stations will operate WSPR   
   and QRSS CW beacons. FCC Part 97 rules stipulate that US Amateur Radio   
   stations may not contact Experimental stations, however. Submit reception   
   reports via the ARRL Experiment website.   
      
      
      
   CIA Declassified Database Includes Information about Soviet-Era Amateur Radio   
      
   Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reports relating to Amateur Radio in the   
   former Soviet Union (including the Baltic States) and Warsaw Pact countries   
   are among documents declassified to a new searchable online database, the CIA   
   Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Electronic Reading Room. Documents cover   
   translations and assessments of Amateur Radio clubs; training; monitoring   
   Sputniks; technology and equipment; QSL cards, and ruminations on a plan to   
   monitor US ham radio transmissions for activities "of interest" to the   
   intelligence community. Searches on "Amateur Radio" or "ham radio" will yield   
   multiple documents, some heavily redacted.   
      
   For example, a 1949 memo largely dismissed the use of Amateur Radio in the   
   Soviet Bloc as an intelligence-gathering tool. "Except for possibilities in   
   the counter-espionage field, it is believed that exploitation of amateurs with   
   reference to the USSR and satellites could lead at best only to information   
   concerning the location of ham transmitters, an item of dubious intelligence   
   value," said the memo, which carried the subject line "Exploitation of Radio   
   Amateurs." Another memo from the same year showed that the USSR viewed the   
   growing "cadre" of radio amateurs as the next generation of engineers.   
      
   Documents covering a wide range of topics not necessarily related to Amateur   
   Radio also have been declassified, sanitized, and made available to the public   
   for the first time in this archive. Some of these documents were only   
   available previously in a closed system at the US National Archives. -- Thanks   
   to Southgate Amateur Radio News via Andy Thomas, G0SFJ   
      
      
      
   US Naval Academy HFsat Coordinated for 15- Meter to 10-Meter Transponder   
      
   The US Naval Academy has received IARU satellite frequency coordination for   
   HFsat, a 1.5 U CubeSat carrying a 15 to 10-meter inverting linear transponder   
   with a 30 kHz bandwidth (uplink 21.4 MHz, downlink 29.42 MHz). The Mode K   
   configuration is reminiscent of the old "RS" series of Russian satellites. The   
   CubeSat will also carry an APRS digipeater on 145.825 MHz. The US Naval   
   Academy's Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, said HFsat is designed to demonstrate the   
   viability of HF satellites as a back-up communication system, taking advantage   
   of HF radios found in a typical Amateur Radio installation or frequently used   
   to support disaster and emergency response communication.   
      
   "HFsat will be gravity gradient-stabilized by its full-sized 10-meter   
   half-wave HF dipole with tip masses," Bruninga explained on the HFsat web   
   page. "HFsat will continue the long tradition of small amateur satellites   
   designed by aerospace students at the US Naval Academy."   
      
   A standardized CubeSat VHF communication card based on the popular Byonics   
   MTT4B all-in-one APRS Tiny-Track4 module for telemetry, command, and control   
   is under development at the Academy. Students are working with Bill Ress,   
   N6GHZ, on the HF transponder card. HFsat's control operator will be Todd   
   Bruner, WB1HAI.   
      
   Bruninga sees a future for Amateur Radio satellites operating on the HF bands.   
   "HFsat will operate under the ITU rules of the Amateur Satellite Service since   
   not only does that service currently have allocations for satellite relay on   
   HF, but it is also the only service with nearly a century of knowledgeable   
   operators' experience with the HF bands under all conditions," Bruninga wrote   
   on the HFsat web page. "Should the system prove viable, and should other   
   services desire to use the transponder technology, then the lengthy process to   
   obtain federal HF [satellite communication] allocations could be considered."   
      
      
      
   FEMA Region X Reports Another Successful HF Interoperability Exercise   
      
   Participation appears to be growing in the monthly Federal Emergency   
   Management Agency (FEMA) Region X HF interoperability exercises, which take   
   place on 60 meters (center channels 5,332 and 5,348 kHz) on the third   
   Wednesday of each month. Check-ins include state, tribal, federal, and Amateur   
   Radio stations, to test HF interoperability in an emergency or disaster   
   response. FEMA Region X is made up of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington,   
   but all stations are welcome.   
      
   Laura Goudreau, KG7BQR, Regional Emergency Communications Coordinator for FEMA   
   Region X, said the January 18 exercise attracted 56 check-ins, 47 of them   
   Amateur Radio stations. Also checking in were six Army and two Air Force MARS   
   stations, three SHARES stations, and one FEMA station.   
      
   "The propagation that day allowed stations to participate from as far north as   
   Houston, British Columbia, as far east as Billings, Montana, and as far south   
   as Cupertino, California," Goudreau said. "During the exercise, voice and data   
   (both BPSK31 and MT63-2KL) were successfully tested."   
      
   The January numbers are up from 48 total check-ins, including 42 radio   
   amateurs, in December. The interoperability net between federal stations and   
   Amateur Radio licensees has been coordinated and authorized by the NTIA and   
   the FCC. The next FEMA Region X HF Interoperability Exercise will take place   
   on February 15, 1730-1845 UTC.   
      
   Goudreau said it's not yet clear if other FEMA regions will also conduct   
   interoperability exercises. "I know there is some discussion, but not sure how   
   far it has or will go," she told ARRL. "I am hoping it grows to other regions   
   in the future, and I'm marketing it with others in FEMA to show how successful   
   it is."   
      
      
      
   Tickets Now Available for Dayton DX, Top Band, and Contest Dinners   
      
   Tickets are now available to the 2017 DX Dinner, Top Band Dinner, and Contest   
   Dinner, held in conjunction with Hamvention(R) in May.   
      
   The 32nd annual DX Dinner, sponsored by the SouthWest Ohio DX Association   
   (SWODXA), will be held on Friday, May 19, at the Dayton Marriott, 1414 South   
   Patterson Boulevard, Dayton, starting with a   
   social hour at 5:30 PM and dinner at 7 PM. The DXpedition of the Year(R) will   
   be announced. Tickets for the DX Dinner are available via the SWODXA website   
   (click on the "Purchase Tickets Today!" banner in the upper right-hand corner).   
      
   Tickets are also now available for the 28th annual Dayton Top Band Dinner,   
   which takes place on Friday, May 19, at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Dayton,   
   starting with a social hour at 6:15 PM and dinner at 7 PM.   
      
   The 25th annual Contest Dinner will take place on Saturday, May 20, at the   
   Crowne Plaza -- home of the Contest Super Suite. The dinner event begins with   
   a social hour at 5:30 PM, with dinner to follow at 6:30 PM. The event is   
   sponsored by the North Coast Contesters. Contest Dinner tickets are available   
   online.   
      
      
      
   New Mexico Radio Amateur Marks 80 Years as a Licensee   
      
   "Made it! 80 years a ham." That's how ARRL member Paul Elliott, W5DM, of   
   Hobbs, New Mexico, recently posted his milestone on the Top Band reflector.   
   Growing up during the Great Depression in Kingsville, Texas, Elliott got his   
   ham ticket at age 14 as W5GGV. Now 94, Elliott eventually worked his way to   
   the top rung -- Amateur Extra -- back in the day when that license offered no   
   additional privileges, just prestige. It did later allow him to apply for a   
   two-letter suffix call sign, though, and he became W5DM.   
      
   His first rig was homebrewed from Atwater Kent radio parts, with a wire to a   
   tree for an antenna, but he remembers making his own galena crystal for a   
   crystal set and experimenting with a Model T spark coil. He continued building   
   his own transmitters and receivers for a couple of decades, operating CW until   
   SSB came along. Elliott succeeded in working all states on 160 meters from a   
   120 x 120 foot electrically noisy city lot with "a long but low semi-inverted   
   L," as he described it. He now has 189 DXCC entities confirmed on Top Band.   
      
   A Texas native and World War II veteran, Elliott is a graduate of the US Naval   
   Academy and served in the Pacific. After the war, he farmed cotton and maize   
   on 200 South Texas acres, before going back to school to earn a doctorate in   
   physics from Texas A&M. "I'm basically a peasant with a lot of education," he   
   quipped during a telephone chat with ARRL. Elliott spent more than 20 years in   
   academia as a professor of physics at his alma mater.   
      
   "Basically, all I'm doing today is chasing the occasional DX," Elliott told   
   ARRL. He said he has a transceiver and a couple of wire antennas that he makes   
   work on all bands. Elliott has 325 DXCC entities confirmed on all bands --   
   plus a lot of memories from an earlier era of Amateur Radio.   
      
   "Age, not surprisingly, has taken its toll," Elliott said on the Top Band   
   reflector, noting that his CW speed was now down to 20-25 WPM because of   
   waning dexterity. "Thanks to all who have had the knowledge and the kindness   
   to help me over the years."   
      
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
   QRP ARCI Four Days in May Event Registration Open: Registration is open for   
   Four Days in May (FDIM), the QRP Amateur Radio Club International (QRP ARCI)   
   annual convention held in conjunction with   
   Hamvention. The hosting Holiday Inn in Fairborn, Ohio, has sold out, but other   
   accommodations are available in the vicinity. The event features a day of   
   seminars (including a free kit), Buildathon, vendors' night, evening lecture,   
   pizza night, QRP club night, homebrew competitions, games, music, raffles,   
   door prizes, QRP Hall of Fame induction, and a banquet. Program details are   
   available and being updated on the QRP ARCI website. Contact FDIM for more   
   information.   
      
      
   Sweden's SAQ Alexanderson Alternator Station Reports "Successful" Christmas   
   Transmission: The old Alexanderson alternator SAQ at World Heritage Grimeton   
   Radio Station in Sweden was heard by more than 400 listeners on December 24,   
   2016, setting a new record. SAQ traditionally broadcasts at Christmas with the   
   1920s-era electro-mechanical transmitter that operates on 17.2 kHz. SAQ has   
   released a report that summarizes the success and a map that shows the   
   locations of those who heard SAQ. The vast majority of reports came from   
   listeners -- many of them radio amateurs -- in Europe, but several hams in the   
   US and Canada were among those able to hear the 17.2 kHz transmission.   
   "Excellent reception," reported LF enthusiast Joe Craig, VO1NA, in   
   Newfoundland. "I look forward to visiting SAQ someday." Dave Riley, AA1A, at   
   historic Brant Rock in Massachusetts reported "very good" copy, with the SAQ   
   signal at 10 dB above the noise. SAQ was even heard in Alaska, by Laurence   
   Howell, KL7L, in Wasilla, who gave SAQ a 449 signal report.   
      
      
   UK Regulator Ofcom No Longer Listing Unassigned Amateur Radio Call Signs: UK   
   Telecommunications regulator Ofcom no longer issues lists of unassigned -- or   
   unallocated -- UK Amateur Radio call signs. This practice ended last fall.   
   Replying to an inquiry, Ofcom's Julia Snape explained, "We do not hold a list   
   of call signs that are available. Due to a system change, the assignment of   
   call signs is now done using an algorithm rather than 'grabbing' from a list."   
   A call sign database dated September 20, 2016, can be downloaded as an Excel   
   spreadsheet.   
      
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The average daily sunspot number rose from   
   22.6 to 52.7 -- up from no sunspots 2 weeks ago. Solar flux increased from   
   77.1 to 83.9 for the January 19-25 reporting week. The first sunspot group of   
   Cycle 25 has appeared, in addition to this recent uptick. Carl Luetzelschwab,   
   K9LA, will have an excellent article about this in the next issue of the   
   Northwest Indiana DX Club newsletter, available in early February.   
      
   Predicted solar flux is 85 on January 26-29; 82 on January 30-February 2; 75   
   on February 3-7; 76 on February 8; 77 on February 9-12; 78, 79, and 81 on   
   February 13-15; 83 on February 16-18; 85, 83, and 82 on February 19-21; 80 on   
   February 22-24; 78 on February 25; 77 on February 26-27; 76 on February   
   29-March 1; 75 on March 2-6, and 76 on March 7.   
      
   The predicted planetary A index is 5, 12, 15, and 8 on January 26-29; 12 on   
   January 30-31; 8 on February 1-2; 20, 16, 12, 10, and 8 on February 3-7; 5 on   
   February 8-13; 15 on February 14; 10 on February 15-16; 8 on February 17-19,   
   and 5 on February 20-22.   
      
   F.K. Janda, OK1HH, sent us this geomagnetic activity forecast for January   
   27-February 22: Quiet on January 27, February 1, 11-12, 14, 22; mostly quiet   
   on January 30, February 9-10, 20-21; quiet to unsettled on January 31,   
   February 13, 19; quiet to active on January 28-29, February 3-5, 15, 17, and   
   active to disturbed on February 2, 6-7, (8, 16, 18).   
      
   Amplifications of the solar wind from coronal holes are expected on January   
   26, (31), February (1-5), 9, (15). Parentheses indicate a lower probability of   
   activity enhancement.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for January 19-25 were 26, 61, 67, 61, 53, 55, and 46, with a   
   mean of 52.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 79.5, 83.2, 86.1, 86.8, 84.1, 82.3,   
   and 85.1, with a mean of 83.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 11, 11,   
   9, 5, 3, and 6, with a mean of 8. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 10, 9,   
   9, 8, 2, 3, and 4, with a mean of 6.4.   
      
   Send me your reports or observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  January 27-29 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest (CW)   
    *  January 28 -- Montana QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)   
    *  January 28-29 -- REF Contest (CW)   
    *  January 28-29 -- BARTG RTTY Sprint   
    *  January 28-29 -- UBA DX Contest (SSB)   
    *  January 28-29 -- Winter Field Day (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   
      
    *  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 -- New Mexico Tech Fest, Albuquerque, New Mexico   
    *  February 25 -- Vermont State Convention, South Burlington, Vermont   
    *  March 3-4 -- Alabama Section Convention, Birmingham, Alabama   
    *  March 4 -- Arkansas State Convention, Russellville, Arkansas   
    *  March 10-11 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana   
    *  March 11 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska   
    *  March 18 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas   
    *  March 18 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2017, Redmond, Washington   
    *  March 24-25 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas   
    *  March 31-April 1 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine   
    *  March 31-April 2 -- Nevada State Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada   
    *  April 7-8 -- OzarkCon QRP Conference, Branson, Missouri   
    *  April 15 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina   
    *  Apr 21-23 -- International DX Convention, Visalia, California   
    *  April 21-23 -- Idaho State Convention, Boise, Idaho   
    *  April 22 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware   
    *  April 22 -- Aurora '17 Convention, White Bear Lake, Minnesota   
    *  Apr 22-23 -- Communications Academy XIX, Seattle, Washington   
    *  April 28-29 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference, Charlotte, North   
       Carolinia   
      
   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...   
   ... Life is like Jazz, it should be improvised.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)