The ARRL Letter
September 9, 2021

* 20th Anniversary of 9/11
* Louisiana ARES Returning to Normal Status in Storm-Affected
Parishes
* ARRL Board of Directors Bestows Awards
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* GENESIS Satellites among Payloads Lost in Launch Failure
* August 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report
* California Club Assists Animal Rescue Group with Communication
Support
* Announcements
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, Awarded $481,260 NASA Research Grant
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

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20th Anniversary of 9/11

ARRL The national association for Amateur Radio^(R) honors the memories
of those who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, at
the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania,
including these radio amateurs:

Steven A. "Steve" Jacobson, N2SJ, 53, of New York City (WTC); William
V. "Bill" Steckman, WA2ACW, 56, of West Hempstead, New York (WTC);
Michael G. Jacobs, AA1GO, 54, an ARRL member from Danbury, Connecticut
(WTC); Lt. Robert D. "Bob" Cirri, Sr., KA2OTD, 39, an ARRL member from
Nutley, New Jersey and Port Authority police officer who was helping to
evacuate workers from the building when it collapsed; William R. "Bill"
Ruth, W3HRD, 57, of Mt. Airy, Maryland (Pentagon); Gerard J. "Rod"
Coppola, KA2KET, 46, of New York City (WTC); and Winston A. Grant,
KA2DRF, 59, of West Hempstead, New York (WTC). An assembly of articles,
stories, and messages from the November 2001 issue of QST magazine is
available at tinyurl.com/ARRL-QST-9-11.

Several special events will commemorate the attacks of September 11,
2001, and honor the victims.
* Saturday, September 11, 1200 - 2359 UTC, the Somerset County
Amateur Radio Club and Nittany Amateur Radio Club will activate
N3M. Frequencies: 14.293, 7.293, and 3.993 MHz. QSL c/o Nittany
Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 614, State College, PA 16801.
* Saturday, September 11, 1400 - 1900 UTC, the Harrisburg (PA) Radio
Amateurs Club (HRAC) will operate W3M. Frequencies: 7.265 and
14.265 MHz. For a certificate, visit www.w3uu.org/w3mqsl/.
* Saturday, September 11, 1200 - 2400 UTC, the Pentagon Amateur Radio
Club (PARC) will sponsor special event station K4P. Operation will
be in the General-class portions of 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters
on CW and RTTY. There will be a special QSL card available via
PARC, P.O. Box 2322, Arlington, VA 22202. For more information,
contact Gary Sessums, KC5QCN.
* Saturday, September 11, 1400 UTC - 2400 UTC, members of the Great
South Bay Amateur Radio Club (GSBARC), and the Northeast Wireless
Radio Club will activate special event call sign W2T.
* Through September 13, 1600 - 0200 UTC, members of the American
Legion Post 10 Amateur Radio Club, Albany, Oregon, will be active
as N7F. QSL with SASE to American Legion Post 10, 1215 Pacific
Blvd. SE, Albany, OR 97321. Email for more information.
* Through September 13, 0000 - 0003 UTC, the Wireless Association of
New York City, Staten Island, will activate WA2NYC. Frequencies:
28.450, 21.350, 14.340, and 7.238 MHz. D-STAR Reflector XLX020B
will be monitored at the top of the hour QSL to Wireless
Association of New York City, 233 Wolverine St., Staten Island, NY
10306. Email for more information.
* Through September 14, N3U will be on the air from Pennsylvania to
remember all victims of 9/11. QSL via W3PN. Operation will be
mostly on SSB and CW, with some digital activity.

Search the Special Events calendar on the ARRL website for more details
on these operations.

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Louisiana ARES Returning to Normal Status in Storm-Affected Parishes

Louisiana ARES Section Emergency Coordinator James Coleman, AI5B, said
this week that ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R))
teams in his Section "should now be on normal status, with the affected
parishes' status as appropriate for local conditions." Emergency
Coordinators in some hard-hit parishes have activated volunteers for
relief and recovery operations. More than 30 parishes were affected by
the storm, although cell telephone outages in the affected area now
stand at 3.7% as of September 8 and recovering rapidly. All 911 systems
were reported operational as of September 8.

The Louisiana ARES Emergency Net is now on standby. "If it becomes
necessary, the net will be active from 2 PM to 6 PM CDT on 7.255 MHz,
and from 6 PM to 10 PM CDT on 3.878 MHz," Coleman's report said. The
Louisiana Traffic Net is operating 7 days a week at 6 PM CDT on 3.910
MHz.

ARRL Headquarters shipped Ham Aid kits to Louisiana Region 3 for use
during recovery efforts. Region 3 District Emergency Coordinator (DEC)
Miriam Barrett, KG5BNH, and St. Mary Parish's Emergency Coordinator
Jacki Price, KA5LMZ, have coordinated their efforts to assist the
Council on Aging in Terrebonne Parish. The Ham Aid kits include
equipment for HF, VHF, and UHF, including handheld transceivers and
"base-station antennas.

The W5RAR VHF repeater (146.805 MHz) was in use over a four-parish area
-- La Fourche, St. Charles, St. John, and Terrebonne -- that suffered
significant wireless system damage as well as a 911 system outage in
St. John Parish. The St. Charles Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was
transmitting requests via the Livingston Wide Area Repeater Network
(LWARN) 440 MHz linked repeater system to WB5LHS.

A communications team in support of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief
established operations in a communications trailer at the Metairie
Baptist Church. The Jefferson Parish Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
with DEC Nick Frederick, W4NDF, and the City of Kenner EOC with Mary
Vernoy, WB5IOE, assisting maintained a VHF net. Kenner's fiber optic
cable that provided internet was cut by Entergy so it could access one
of its lines for repair. That left "two erratic cellphones and a VHF
net" as the only communications Kenner had with Jefferson Parish.
Vernoy had to climb onto the roof of the EOC to pick up the 2-meter
antenna that had been knocked down by the wind. She was cheered by the
arrival of the Baptist team from Florida.

Gordon Gibby, KX4Z, reported that Metairie was hard-hit, with power
outages and boil water notices, although the areas around hospitals
have had power restored. "Hams can be a big benefit by partnering with
organizations like Florida Baptist and work to meet their specific
communications needs," said Gibby, who has connections with the Florida
group that drove from Florida to help out. He said hams were embedded
within the volunteer organization.

A report from Tangipahoa Parish said that as weather conditions
deteriorated on August 29 -- the day Hurricane Ida made landfall --
local repeaters lost power and went on battery backup. Two repeaters
were lost when a tower collapsed. Formal weather nets were not
conducted to conserve power for emergency transmissions only. As of
September 6, both the WB5NET and W5TEO repeaters remained on battery
backup power and conserving power. Read an expanded version. -- Thanks
to Louisiana ARES Section Emergency Coordinator James Coleman, AI5B

ARRL Board of Directors Bestows Awards

The ARRL Board granted several awards at its July 2021 meeting.
* The ARRL Doug DeMaw, W1FB Technical Excellence Award went to Steve
Franke, K9AN; Bill Somerville, G4WJS, and Joe Taylor, K1JT, for
their July/August 2020 QEX article, "The FT4 and FT8 Communications
Protocols." The DeMaw award honors the author of an article or
article series judged to possess the highest degree of technical
merit in ARRL periodicals for the past year.
* John Levo, W8KIW, of Hillsboro, Ohio, was designated as the
recipient of the 2021 ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna
Award. This award honors a Public Information Officer who
successfully promotes all aspects of amateur radio that enhance the
understanding of amateur radio's contributions to education, public
safety, and recreation. The Board said Levo's efforts over time
have captured "the many avenues of opportunities of amateur radio
as a hobby, an education tool, and a service for public safety."
* The 2021 ARRL Technical Service Award 2021 award recipient is James
Baxter, K0UA, of Branson, Missouri. The Board said Baxter
"exemplifies the spirit of this award due to his diligent work
assisting hundreds of hams to get on the air, particularly with
FT8, and by spending countless hours on web sessions with them to
work out their configuration issues, show them best practices, and
to help track down RFI issues."
* The Board bestowed the 2021 ARRL Technical Innovation Award on
Steve Haynal, KF7O; Wojciech Kaczmarski, SP5WWP, and Roger Clark,
VK3KYY. Haynal was cited as the instrumental and driving force
behind the Hermes Lite 5 W HF SDR transceiver as a fully
open-source hardware and software project. Kaczmarski was
recognized for developing the open-source digital radio
communication protocol M17, leading to the development of
DROID-Star (an Android application) by Doug McLain, AD8DP. Clark
was cited for spearheading a successful effort to augment a
low-cost handheld radio for use by visually impaired operators,
significantly lowering the cost of entry for such amateurs.
* The 2021 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award went to David
Ritter, ND4MR. ARRL sponsors this award in conjunction with the
Lake County Indiana Amateur Radio Club in Brier's memory to
recognize superior amateur radio instruction and recruitment. An
ARRL Member for nearly 40 years, Ritter is an ARRL Registered
Instructor and a full-time faculty member at Wilkes Community
College in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, where he's been the
lead -- and sole -- Technician licensing course instructor since
2010.

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ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 21) features a
chat with Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, about the new edition of The ARRL
Handbook and how it can be useful to new hams.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 42) features a
conversation with ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, about the changes to
the FCC RF exposure rules.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

GENESIS Satellites among Payloads Lost in Launch Failure

The GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N ham radio satellites were among several
carrying amateur radio payloads lost following the failure of the
Firefly Alpha rocket during its first launch on September 2 from the
Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This was sad news for
AMSAT-EA (Spain), as GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N were the first satellites
they had built themselves.

According to the AMSAT-EA website, the GENESIS satellites were
destroyed after the Firefly Alpha vehicle presented an anomaly as it
hit a velocity of Mach 1 and reached Max Q, a point of maximum
aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle. The launch had been halted a few
seconds before takeoff, but the countdown was subsequently resumed.

GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N were to conduct a series of
telecommunications-related experiments, while a ground-station analysis
of the received signals would try to attain Doppler variations in order
to perform orbit determination and satellite identification from radio
amateur stations around the world. Read an expanded version.
August 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report

The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between ARRL
and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enhance compliance
in the Amateur Radio Service.
* Licensees in Pawcatuck, Connecticut; Wamego, Kansas; Valley
Cottage, New York; Long Valley, New Jersey; Columbia, South
Carolina, and Maryville, Tennessee, were sent visory Notices
concerning operation on frequencies that were set aside for Haiti
earthquake emergency communications by the International Amateur
Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Emergency Coordinator.

* Licensees in Prineville, Winston, Silver Lake, and Roseburg,
Oregon; Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Houston, Texas, were sent
visory Notices concerning failure to identify, as required by
Section 97.119(a) of the FCC Amateur Radio Service, pursuant to a
nationwide rule compliance review of operations on 3.819 MHz and
3.953 MHz.
* A former licensee in Seabrook, Texas, was sent an visory Notice
concerning operation with an expired license.
* An FT8 operator in Orion, Michigan, was sent to an visory Notice
reminding him of the 200 W power limit on 30 meters.
* A licensee in New Caney, Texas, was sent a final notice that his
case was being referred to the FCC for license revocation or
deletion of voice privileges from his license.
* A Good Operator commendation was sent to an operator in Roseville,
California, for Exemplary Amateur Procedure on May 21, 2021, during
the 40-meter California Rescue Communications Net.

The revised total for VM monitoring in July was 5,746 hours -- the
highest number of hours monitored since the inception of the VM
Program.

The IT staff at ARRL Headquarters completed work on an automated system
for Volunteer Monitors to report monthly monitoring hours and Incident
Reports. -- Thanks to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, Volunteer Monitor
Program ministrator

The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between ARRL
and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enhance compliance
in the Amateur Radio Service.

California Club Assists Animal Rescue Group with Communication Support

The El Dorado County Amateur Radio Club (EDCARC) has been providing
radio communication support for small and large animal rescue efforts
during the Caldor Fire. Members of the South County Large Animal Rescue
(SCLAR) group, El Dorado County Animal Services, and other volunteers
have been addressing the need. Many of the EDCARC volunteers are also
members of the Club's Neighborhood Radio Watch program.

Caldor Fire: Horses being fed by
Folsom Police [Jordan Heichman,
WC6J, photo]

As the California Caldor Fire destroyed the community of Grizzly Flats,
threatened Lake Tahoe, and caused evacuations in dozens of communities
throughout the county, thousands of area residents were forced to flee
their homes without having time to round up their pets and livestock.

"We desperately love our animal companions, whether big or small, and
being separated and unable to care for them in the midst of a disaster
is truly heart-wrenching," said Alan Thompson, W6WN, the club's Public
Information Officer. "Because of the mountainous terrain, many of our
neighborhoods already had little or no cell or internet communication,
and the fire only made things worse."

Thompson said the club quickly deployed its Mobile ARRL Amateur Radio
Emergency Services (ARES^(R)) Communications Center, maintained by Jay
Harmor, KE6GLA, which is in service as central net operations. Several
members stepped up, including Dale Dennis, KJ6HHY, from Yolo ARES, and
Tom Newman, NN6H, from Alameda County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES^(R)) and part of the Alameda County Sheriff's
Communications Team. They volunteered their time and radios to
accompany the animal rescue teams dispatched into impacted areas.

Joel Wiley, WB6GUY (left), and Cara
Kulas, Senior Humane Officer with
the Hayward Police Department, feed
goats. [Jason Heichman, WC6J, photo]

Teams of SCLAR members, Animal Services personnel, public employees,
and radio communications staff have been conducting daily animal rescue
missions and welfare checks throughout the impacted areas. Until
residents are permitted to return, these teams are providing food,
water, and care to abandoned animals.

Thompson said those seeking an animal evacuation or welfare check
should contact El Dorado County Animal Services -- western slope, (530)
621-5795 or the shelter at (530) 621-7631. In the South Tahoe area,
call (530) 573-7925.

SCLAR will respond as directed by El Dorado County Animal Services.
They cannot self-deploy or respond directly to phone calls for
assistance, Thompson said.

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Announcements
* ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, is the banquet speaker at the W9DXCC
Convention on September 10 - 11, hosted by the Northern Illinois DX
Association, at the Marriott in Naperville, Illinois. Presentation
topics will include the South Orkney Island VP8PJ DXpedition,
transceiver performance for contesting and DXing, solid-state
amplifiers, and an ARRL member forum.
* The ARRL-TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) will take
place as a virtual event, September 17 - 18. Tentative schedule.
Registration.
* Special event stations mark 200 years since all of Central America
gained independence from Spain; the region had been a single
country, the Federal Republic of Central America, split into five
entities -- Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and
El Salvador. Radio clubs from all five entities will field stations
containing 200 and the letter "I" in the suffix. Listen for YS200I,
TI200I, YN200I, TG200I, HP200I, and HQ200I. Some participants may
operate from their home stations. Operation will continue at least
through September on SSB, CW, and satellites.
* The venerable AO-7 satellite entered a period of full illumination
on September 9 that will last until April 11, 2022. While in full
illumination, the satellite's 24-hour timer will automatically
switch between Mode A (145 MHz up, 29 MHz down) and Mode B (432 MHz
up/145 MHz down). The Mode A transponder (145.850 - 145.950
MHz/29.400 - 29.500 MHz down) is non-inverting; the Mode B
transponder is inverting. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

Working the Pileup, presented by Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO / Tuesday,
October 5, 2021 @ 1:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO, Vice President of the Chicago Suburban
Radio Association and an ARRL Assistant Section Manager in Illinois,
will offer an enlightening discussion on working a pileup from both
sides of the contact. Whether your interest lies in ARRL Field Day,
contesting, special events, or rare DX, this is a must-see
presentation. Ron will discuss search-and-pounce and running
techniques, when to use them, and some tips on working them to your
advantage.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

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Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* In Your town: Summits on the Air / WRCBtv (Tennessee) September 1,
2021
* Emergency radio operators help bring in damage reports / WDAM7
(Mississippi) August 30, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

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Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, Awarded $481,260 NASA Research Grant

Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation HamSCI founder Nathaniel
Frissell, W2NAF -- an assistant professor in The University of
Scranton's Physics and Engineering Department -- has been awarded a
$481,260 grant through the NASA Space Weather Applications Operations
Phase II Research Program. Frissell will serve as principal
investigator for a research project entitled, "Enabling Space Weather
Research with Global Scale Amateur Radio Datasets." He'll collaborate
with Philip Erickson, W1PJE, of the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology Haystack Observatory and Bill Engelke, AB4EJ, at the
University of Alabama.

"This grant includes significant funding for participation of Scranton
undergraduate students in this research, as well as support for new
computation resources," Frissell said. He explained that the grant will
fund "the development of an empirical model for the prediction of
traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) in high-frequency radio
communications while investigating the geophysical drivers of these
disturbances." The grant will cover 2 years of work.

Frissell said that the predictive, empirical TID models will be
developed using data collected by the Reverse Beacon Network, WSPR, and
PSKReporter -- automated, global-scale radio communication observation
networks operated by the amateur radio community. Undergraduate
students will help the faculty researchers to create algorithms used
for the model development.

This new NASA award complements a 5-year National Science Foundation
grant of more than $616,000 that Frissell received in 2020. That
investigation aims to understand the source of TIDs observed in amateur
radio and other scientific datasets.

In 2019, Frissell received a $1.3 million National Science Foundation
grant to fund a 3-year initiative to measure modulations produced in
the Earth's upper atmosphere.

This is Frissell's second NASA grant. Read an expanded version.

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The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity increased
dramatically this week. Sunspot numbers peaked at 87 on September 8,
and on September 7, solar flux was 101.2.

Average daily sunspot numbers rose by 14, to 64.6, while average daily
solar flux increased from 88 to 92.9. New sunspots appeared on
September 2 and 3, and three new sunspot groups arrived on September 4.
Another new one appeared on September 8, and on that day the total
sunspot area was 1,000 micro-hemispheres.

Both the daily planetary and middle latitude A index reached a high of
14 on September 8. The averages were 7 and 7.7, down from 9.6 and 10.7
last week.

Predicted solar flux looks quite promising, at 100 on September 9 - 11;
98 on September 12; 95 on September 13 - 16; 85 on September 17 - 18;
88 on September 19 - 23; 90 on September 24 - 28; 88 on September 29 -
October 1; 86 on October 2; 90 on October 3 - 6; 92 and 90 on October 7
- 8, and 85 on October 9 - 15. Flux values may rise to 90 again after
October 20.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on September 9; 5 on September 10 -
20; 8 on September 21; 5 on September 22 - October 1; 8 on October 2 -
3, and 5 on October 4 - 17.

On Sunday September 5, Spaceweather.com reported, "The sudden profusion
of so many sunspots is a sign of strength for young Solar Cycle 25. The
solar cycle is actually running ahead of schedule. NOAA and NASA
predicted that it will peak in the year 2025. Outbreaks like this one
support the idea that solar max could come a year early."

On September 8, Spaceweather.com reported a shortwave blackout over the
Pacific Rim caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) on September 8 at
1736 UTC.

Sunspot numbers for September 2 - 8 were 33, 33, 68, 66, 80, 85, and
87, with a mean of 64.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 85.8, 83.8, 86.5,
93.3, 99.5, 101.2, and 100.4, with a mean of 92.9. Estimated planetary
A indices were 4, 6, 5, 6, 6, 8, and 14, with a mean of 7. Middle
latitude A index was 3, 6, 5, 8, 8, 10, and 14, with a mean of 7.7.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

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Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 11 -- Ohio State Parks on the Air (phone)
* September 11 -- FOC QSO Party (CW)
* September 11 - 12 -- WAE DX Contest (SSB)
* September 11 - 12 -- SARL Field Day Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* September 11 - 12 -- YB7-DX Contest (phone)
* September 11 - 12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* September 11 - 12 -- Alabama QSO Party (CW, phone)
* September 11 - 12 -- Russian Cup Digital Contest
* September 11 - 13 -- ARRL September VHF Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 12 -- North American Sprint, CW
* September 13 -- Four State QRP Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* September 15 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (CW)
* September 16 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
* September 16 -- BCC QSO Party (CW, phone)

For more information, visit the ARRL Contest Calendar.

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Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* September 10 - 11 -- ARRL Illinois Section Convention (2021 W9DXCC
Convention), Naperville, Illinois
* September 10 - 11 -- ARRL Arkansas State Convention, Queen
Wilhelmena Hamfest, Mena, Arkansas
* September 10 - 12 -- ARRL New England Division Convention
(Northeast HamXposition), Marlborough, Massachusetts
* September 12 -- ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention and
Hamfest, Mullica Hill, New Jersey
* September 25 -- ARRL Dakota Division Convention (RRRA Hamfest),
West Fargo, North Dakota
* September 25 -- ARRL Washington State Convention (Spokane Hamfest),
Spokane Valley, Washington
* October 2 -- ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention (Vette City
Hamfest), Bowling Green, Kentucky
* October 2 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention (Rock Hill
Hamfest), Rock Hill, South Carolina
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Florida State Convention (Melbourne Hamfest),
Melbourne, Florida
* October 8 - 9 --ARRL Louisiana State Convention (Slidell EOC
Hamfest), Slidell, Louisiana
* October 15 - 17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon),
San Ramon, California

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

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Amateur Radio News and Information

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* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
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The ARRL Letter
September 16, 2021

* Next SpaceX Commercial Crew to ISS Comprised of Radio Amateurs
* The 2021 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is Just Ahead
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* VoIP Weather Net Handles Reports for Hurricane Larry
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Latest Bouvet Island DXpedition
* Amateur Radio in the News
* ARRL Seeks New Treasurer
* AMSAT Shifts to Virtual Format for 2021 Symposium and Annual
Meeting
* ARISS Receives Recognition from NASA Mission Directorate
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Next SpaceX Commercial Crew to ISS Comprised of Radio Amateurs

Four radio amateurs will head to the International Space Station (ISS)
aboard a commercial flight, thanks to Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS). They are Raja Chari, KI5LIU; Tom
Marshburn, KE5HOC; Kayla Barron, KI5LAL, and Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH, a
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. The targeted launch date is no
sooner than October 31, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The
launch will mark the third SpaceX Crew

The SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts
(L-R) Matthias Maurer, KI5KFH;
Thomas Marshburn, KE5HOC; Raja
Chari, KI5LIU, and Kayla Barron,
KI5LAL, during pre-flight
training at SpaceX headquarters
in Hawthorne, California.

Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket launch combination as part of
NASA's Commercial Crew Program, which provides transportation to and
from the ISS. The crew is scheduled for a 6-month stay aboard the
orbiting laboratory, living and working as part of what's expected to
be a seven-member crew.

The launch will be the first spaceflight for Chari, Barron, and Maurer,
and the third for Marshburn.

NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 will be the third crew rotation mission to the ISS
with astronauts on a US rocket and spacecraft and the fourth flight
with astronauts, including the Demo-2 test flight in 2020, the Crew-1
mission in 2020 - 2021, and the ongoing Crew-2 flight as part of the
Expedition 65 crew.

Crew-3 astronauts plan to arrive at the station to overlap with NASA
Astronauts Shane Kimbrough, KE5HOD, and Megan McArthur; Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI, and ESA
Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG, who flew to the station as part of
the agency's SpaceX Crew-2 mission in April 2021.

Mission teams have a target launch date of no earlier than April 15,
2022, for the launch of the SpaceX Crew-4 mission. "NASA's Commercial
Crew Program is working with industry through a public-private
partnership to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective
transportation to and from the International Space Station, which will
allow for additional research time and will increase the opportunity
for discovery aboard humanity's testbed for exploration," NASA said.
"The space station remains the springboard to space exploration,
including future missions to the moon and Mars."

For launch coverage and more information about the mission, visit the
NASA website.
The 2021 ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is Just Ahead

The weekend of October 2 - 3 is designated for holding the annual ARRL
Simulated Emergency Test (SET), although local and Section-level
exercises may take place throughout the fall.

The SET is ARRL's primary national emergency exercise and is designed
to assess the skills and preparedness of Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES^A(R)) volunteers, as well as those affiliated with other
organizations involved in emergency and disaster response. It
encourages maximum participation by all radio amateurs, partner
organizations, and national, state, and local officials who typically
engage in emergency or disaster response.

In addition to ARES volunteers, those active in the National Traffic
System (NTS^�*�), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES),
National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN^A(R), Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT), and a variety of other allied groups and public
service-oriented radio amateurs are needed to fulfill important roles
in this nationwide exercise.

The SET offers volunteers an opportunity to test equipment, modes, and
skills under simulated emergency conditions and scenarios. Individuals
can use the time to update a go-kit for use during deployments and to
ensure their home station's operational capability in an emergency or
disaster.

To get involved, contact your local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net
Manager.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 21) features a
discussion with Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, about the new edition of The
ARRL Handbook and how it can be useful to new hams.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 42) features a
conversation with Ed Hare, W1RFI, about the changes to the FCC RF
exposure rules.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

VoIP Weather Net Handles Reports for Hurricane Larry

Amateur radio volunteers on the Voice over Internet Protocol Weather
Network (VoIPWX), joined linked systems in Newfoundland, Canada, to
collect ground-truth weather data for relay to the National Hurricane
Center (NHC) and Environment Canada, as Hurricane Larry hammered the
Canadian province on September 11. The Category 1 storm, with maximum
sustained winds of 85 MPH, was predicted to bring hurricane-force
winds, dangerous storm surge, heavy seas, and heavy rainfall.

Scores of reports, including damage to schools and homes, power
outages, and evacuations, were sent by a squad of hams that included
Aaron Abbott, VO1IV, and Gareth Rowberry, VE3GJR.

More than 40 personnel hours of operation by Canadian and US radio
amateurs were involved in providing the reports received on both
systems.

Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net,
said, "Through the exemplary efforts of VO1IV...and a number of amateur
radio operators across Newfoundland and one amateur operator in Ontario
who relayed a report from a non-amateur radio CANWARN Spotter [a
volunteer organization of ham radio operators reporting severe weather
to Environment Canada] in St. John's, Newfoundland, reports of damage
to trees, power lines, power outages (including roof damage to a school
and a home) were relayed from amateurs in the region."

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activated on September 10 on 20 and 40
meters.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

Working the Pileup, presented by Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO / Tuesday,
October 5, 2021 @ 1:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO, Vice President of the Chicago Suburban
Radio Association and an ARRL Assistant Section Manager in Illinois,
will offer an enlightening discussion on working a pileup from both
sides of the contact. Whether your interest lies in ARRL Field Day,
contesting, special events, or rare DX, this is a must-see
presentation. Ron will discuss search-and-pounce and running
techniques, when to use them, and some tips on working them to your
advantage.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.
ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Latest Bouvet Island DXpedition

ARRL has awarded a Colvin Grant of $5,000 to Amateur Radio DXpeditions
(ARD), the Norwegian nonprofit organization that is sponsoring the 3Y0J
DXpedition to Bouvet Island in fall 2022. Co-leaders for the effort are
Ken Opskar, LA7GIA; Rune O/ye, LA7THA, and Erwann Merrien, LB1QI. A
Colvin Grant in the same amount was returned after the Intrepid-DX
Group had to drop its plans for an early-2023 Bouvet DXpedition that
would have used the same call sign.

The multinational team plans to activate Bouvet in November 2022. A
dependency of Norway, Bouvet is a sub-Antarctic island in the South
Atlantic and the second-most-wanted DXCC entity, behind North Korea.
The last Bouvet activation was 3Y0E, during a scientific expedition
over the winter of 2007 - 2008.

Amateur radio DXpeditions would field a team of 12 operators for a
20-day stay on Bouvet, setting up at Cape Fie in the southeastern part
of the island, which the DXpedition organizers called "the only
feasible part where a DXpedition can safely set up camp on rocky
ground." The DXpedition has set a goal of 120,000 contacts during its
stay.

The Colvin Award is funded by an endowment established by the legendary
DX couple Lloyd Colvin, W6KG, and Iris Colvin, W6QL, both now deceased.
The Colvin Award is intended to support amateur radio projects that
promote international goodwill in the field of DX. Grantees must be
groups with a favorable DX track record and with experience directly
related to the proposed enterprise. The proposed project must have as a
goal a significant achievement in the field of DX. Preference is given
to multinational groups, all of whom are members of their own national
IARU member-societies.

In August, the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) donated
$100,000 to the 3Y0J DXpedition, set for late 2022. The NCDXF is now
the DXpedition's lead sponsor.

"We wish to recognize and thank the Northern California DX Foundation
as the lead sponsor for our 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet," the 3Y0J team
said. "Without the support of the NCDXF, operations to the world's
rarest entities would be difficult."

On September 11, the 3Y0J DXpedition announced a donation of �*�10,000
(approximately $11,815) from the German DX Foundation (GXDF).

The 3Y0J team said that with its overall budget of $650,000, this
DXpedition to Bouvet will be the most expensive ever.

Visit the 3Y0J DXpedition website or Facebook page for more information
or to donate.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* FREE WECA Tech (entry level) Ham Radio License Class! / The Patch,
White Plains, New York, September 15
* Richmond's radio geeks offering courses to tempt newcomers /
Richmond News, Ontario, Canada, September 14, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Seeks New Treasurer

After 10 years of distinguished service to ARRL as its volunteer
Treasurer, Frederick "Rick" Niswander, K7GM, has decided to step down
when his current term expires in January 2022. ARRL is seeking
qualified candidates from among its membership. The Board of Directors
elects the Treasurer and other officers at its annual meeting in
even-numbered years.

The Treasurer is a non-voting member of the Board of Directors and must
be a licensed radio amateur and a full member of the ARRL for 4
continuous years prior to nomination. The ARRL Bylaws define the role
of the Treasurer as follows:
* In consultation with and subject to the general supervision of the
ministration and Finance Committee, provides for the investment
and reinvestment of the surplus funds of the League in any bonds,
stocks, or other securities, as would be selected by a trustee with
the care of a prudent investor.
* Provides reports to and attends all regular meetings of the Board
of Directors.
* Serves as a member of the ministration and Finance Committee and,
if assigned, subcommittees of the Board or ministrative and
Finance Committee.

The position is unpaid; however, necessary expenses, including travel
to meetings, are reimbursable. For further information, see the full
position description.

A search committee has been established to recommend one or more
candidates for Treasurer to the Board. Qualified members are invited to
submit a statement of interest and qualifications via email to
TreasurerSearch@arrl.org. The deadline is November 12, 2021.
AMSAT Shifts to Virtual Format for 2021 Symposium and Annual Meeting

The AMSAT 39th Space Symposium and Annual Meeting, planned as an
in-person event, will now be a virtual event on October 30, due to the
lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an opportunity for
amateur-radio-in-space enthusiasts from around the world to learn more
about AMSAT's Strategic Plan, the GOLF program, the CubeSat Simulator,
and other exciting developments in the amateur satellite world.

AMSAT President Robert Bankston, KE4AL, said AMSAT members had voiced
concern over the continued COVID-19 pandemic and the risks associated
with long-distance travel, as well as attendance at large group
gatherings.

"In the interest of everyone's comfort and safety, we have made the
difficult decision to return to a virtual meeting platform," Bankston
said. "[W]e know that last year's virtual Symposium event was well
received and that we have the opportunity to repeat its success this
year."

Those who have already registered for the Symposium will automatically
receive refunds. dress questions regarding the Symposium to
info@amsat.com.

AMSAT will host its 2021 AMSAT Virtual Space Symposium and Annual
General Meeting via Zoom on Saturday, October 30, 1400 UTC - 2200 UTC.
It will be available to the general public on AMSAT's YouTube channel
at no cost. The event will be a combination of pre-recorded video
segments along with live question-and-answer sessions.

Final papers for the Symposium Proceedings must be submitted by October
18. Send these to Dan Schultz, N8FGV. Symposium presentations should
be limited to 15 minutes of pre-recorded video and be submitted by
October 18 to Paul Stoetzer, N8HM. AMSAT asks that presenters be
available to take questions via Zoom following their pre-recorded
presentations. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service

ARISS Receives Recognition from NASA Mission Directorate

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received
recognition from NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission
Directorate (HEOMD) for its accomplishments in promoting science,
technology, electronics, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives through
amateur radio. The HEOMD provides leadership and management of NASA
space operations, such as developing rockets and spacecraft, that will
contribute to human exploration in and beyond low-Earth orbit.

Astronauts Shannon Walker,
KD5DXB, and Soichi Noguchi,
KD5TVP, at NA1SS during an ISS
contact with Hisagi Junior
High School in Zushi, Japan.

"NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) networks enable NASA
to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers
-- even from 350 kilometers above Earth," said Kathryn Lueders, NASA
Associate ministrator for Human Exploration and Operations, in a
LinkedIn post. "In addition to connecting the science community on
Earth with the groundbreaking research studies and experiments aboard
the International Space Station, SCaN enables the space station to act
as a unique platform for global STEM outreach and education efforts.
For over 20 years, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) program, a nonprofit supported by SCaN, has connected
classrooms on Earth with astronauts aboard the space station, allowing
students to engage directly with astronauts in real time."

Working with an amateur radio club on the ground, the ham radio
stations on board the ISS enable students to ask the crew questions
about life in space and what it takes to become an astronaut. In
preparation for their ARISS contact, tudents explore a variety of STEM
activities through space exploration, radio communication, and wireless
technologies.

"With tens of thousands of student participants each year, the ARISS
program plays an important role in inspiring the Artemis Generation and
encouraging students to pursue STEM careers," Lueders said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* On September 6, Paul Ewing, N6PSE, announced that Nigel Jolly,
K6NRJ, has sold the SV Braveheart to a new owner who will make her
available for amateur radio DXpeditions. The Braveheart's new home
port will be Ushuaia, Argentina, the "gateway to Antarctica." The
vessel is now in New Zealand.
* ARRL Headquarters will be closed from 11 AM until 3 PM ET (1500 -
1900 UTC) on Friday, September 17, for a staff appreciation picnic.
* North American QSO Party (NAQP) events in 2022 will add a
Single-Operator Assisted category. The 2022 rules are posted on the
NCJ website.
* WSJT-X revision 2.5.0-rc6 (release candidate 6) is now available on
the WSJT-X website. Microsoft Windows users may need to consult the
Release Notes to install OpenSSL, one of its dependencies.
* Seattle's Emergency Communication Hubs and The Seattle Auxiliary
Communications Service (ACS) radio amateurs will respond to
simulated earthquakes on two Saturdays in September. The "Double
Trouble" exercise will run 9 AM - 1 PM PT on September 18 and again
on September 25.
* K4MIA will be on the air to mark National POW/MIA Recognition Day
on September 17. Look for K4MIA (or K4MIA/5, K4MIA/7 and K4MIA/8)
on SSB, CW, FT8, and other digital modes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In Brief...

Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, of Batesville, Mississippi, has joined the staff
at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. He will serve as
manager of the Education and Learning Department (formerly the Lifelong
Learning Department). He had consulted for the department as an
instructional designer and was instrumental in the implementation of
ARRL's Learning Network webinars. Goodgame teaches middle school
computer science and is in his second year of teaching amateur radio to
students at his school. "I have been teaching ham radio in some form
for 20 years," he said. "Over the past 3 years, we have had close to 60
middle and high school students earn their licenses, and several have
upgraded." Goodgame's favorite ham radio activity is activating parks
in the Parks on the Air (POTA) program with his daughter Jherica,
KI5HTA. His wife, Cyndi, is K5CYN. Steve hosts the K5ATA Ham Radio
YouTube channel. He is a Volunteer Examiner and a volunteer
firefighter.

The Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) has announced the cancellation of
Tokyo Ham Fair 2021 October 2 - 3. "We were hopeful to have Ham Fair
2021 with possible preventative measures against COVID-19, but another
wave of infection came in this summer," said the announcement from Ken
Yamamoto, JA1CJP. "Considering the worse-than-expected COVID situation,
JARL reluctantly decided to cancel Ham Fair 2021. We hope that Tokyo
Ham Fair can come back in 2022 under safer conditions."

Radio station WBZ in Boston (1030 kHz) is celebrating its 100th
anniversary in 2021. It is the oldest broadcast station in New England
and one of the oldest stations in the US. The Billerica Amateur Radio
Society and the Hampden County Radio Association will commemorate the
anniversary with a special event, starting on September 17 at 1300 UTC
and wrapping up on September 20 at 0359 UTC. Look for W1W, W1B, W1Z,
and WB1Z on all bands, SSB, AM, CW, and digital modes. New England
operators interested in operating one of the special event stations
should contact Larry Krainson, W1AST.

RTTY Service Station K6KPH, operating from the Maritime Radio
Historical Society (MRHS), is officially back on the air. K6KPH also
transmits W1AW Qualifying Run texts and the W1AW Field Day Bulletin.
The station was off the air due to COVID-19 restrictions and antenna
damage. Repairs to the transmitter site in Bolinas, California, were
performed under a US National Park Service grant and support from the
MRHS. Years of damage from decaying poles, failing crossarms, and
falling trees necessitated the repairs, MRHS said. The next West Coast
Qualifying Run to be transmitted from K6KPH is scheduled for Saturday,
September 25, 2021, at 2100 UTC on 3581.5, 7047.5, 14047.5, 18097.5,
and 21067.5 kHz.

In cooperation with the Finnish Amateur Radio League (SRAL), the
Finland Museum of Technology in Helsinki hosted an exhibition of
equipment built by radio amateurs. The exhibit, "A Spark Started it --
100 years of Finnish radio amateur construction," ran through August.
SRAL co-designed the exhibit as part of its 100th anniversary
celebration. "At the Finnish Museum of Technology, we are particularly
excited about the exhibition, because experimenting with new forms of
cooperation is rewarding," the museum said. "As a national special
museum in the field of technology, we are able to provide a good
setting for the exhibition and a wide audience that might not otherwise
find its way to the topic." SRAL centenary special event station
OH100SRAL will be on the air through year's end.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot numbers started strong at 124
on this reporting week, September 9 - 15, but ended at 0. Average daily
sunspot numbers went from 64.6 to 58.3. Average daily solar flux
declined from 92.9 to 87.4.

Geomagnetic indicators remained moderate, with last week's average
daily planetary A index unchanged at 7, and average daily middle
latitude A index changed from 7.7 to 6.9.

Predicted solar flux is much lower than last week's report. Solar flux
is predicted at 75 on September 16 - 23; 76 on September 24 - 26; 78,
80, and 82 on September 27 - 29; 86 on September 30 - October 10; 82 on
October 11 - 12; 80 on October 13; 78 on October 14 - 17, and 76 on
October 18 - 23. Solar flux is expected to rise to 89 by the end of
October.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on September 16; 15 on September 17 -
18; 8 on September 19 - 20; 5 and 8 on September 21 - 22; 5 on
September 23 - October 3; 8 and 12 on October 4 - 5; 5 on October 6 -
17; 8 on October 18, and 5 on October 19 through the end of the month.

Marty, KB0QZ, in Tulsa called CQ on 28.040 at noon on September 12 on
an apparently dead band. LU4HK came back, and they exchanged 599
reports both ways over the 5,094-mile path. He continued to tune the
band and call CQ through the afternoon with nothing else heard.

There's a great solar image in this local California newspaper (page
down).

Sunspot numbers for September 9 - 15 were 124, 99, 93, 47, 32, 13, and
0, with a mean of 58.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 99.7, 96.3, 91.8,
87.7, 83.3, 78.1, and 75.2, with a mean of 87.4. Estimated planetary A
indices were 6, 9, 7, 6, 9, 6, and 6, with a mean of 7. Middle latitude
A index was 7, 9, 8, 6, 7, 5, and 6, with a mean of 6.9.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 16 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* September 16 -- BCC QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 17 -- AGB NEMIGA Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 -- QRP Afield (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 -- Wisconsin Parks on the Air (CW, phone)
* September 18 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* September 18 -19 -- All Collegiate QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 - 19 -- SARL VHF/UHF Digital Contest
* September 18 - 10 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 18 - 19 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW)
* September 18 - 19 -- Iowa QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 - 19 -- Texas QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 - 19 -- New Jersey QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* September 18 -19 -- All New Hampshire QSO Party (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 18 - 19 -- Washington State Salmon Run (CW, phone,
digital)
* September 19 -- North American Sprint, RTTY
* September 19 -- BARTG Sprint PSK63 Contest
* September 19 - 20 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* September 20 -- 144 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* September 22 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* September 23 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (digital)

For more information, visit the ARRL Contest Calendar.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* September 25 -- ARRL Dakota Division Convention (RRRA Hamfest),
West Fargo, North Dakota
* October 2 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention (Rock Hill
Hamfest), Rock Hill, South Carolina
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Florida State Convention (Melbourne Hamfest),
Melbourne, Florida
* October 8 - 9 --ARRL Louisiana State Convention (Slidell EOC
Hamfest), Slidell, Louisiana
* October 15 - 17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon),
San Ramon, California

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
September 23, 2021

* ARRL, RSGB Announce Joint Events to Celebrate Centenary of Ham
Radio Transatlantic Success
* Clear Frequencies Requested for Possible Nicaragua Earthquake
Traffic
* Radio Amateurs on Standby Following Volcanic Eruption in the
Canaries
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Registration Opens for US Amateur Radio Direction Finding
Championships
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Open-Source Amateur Satellite Work Not Subject to Export
ministration Regulation
* Amateur Radio in the News
* IARU Region 3 Considers Significant Expansion of HF Digital
Segments
* Announcements
* AWA Video: SSB was Slow to Catch On as a Ham Radio Mode
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL, RSGB Announce Joint Events to Celebrate Centenary of Ham Radio
Transatlantic Success

ARRL and the Radio Society of Great Britain will jointly sponsor events
to celebrate the achievement of transatlantic communications by radio
amateurs 100 years ago.

In December 1921, ARRL sent Paul F. Godley, 2ZE, as its representative
to listen for amateur signals from North America during the Second
Transatlantic Tests. Setting up his listening station in Ardrossan, on
the west coast of Scotland, Godley received the signals of more than 2
dozen US amateur radio stations, the first on December 12 (UTC) from
1BCG in Connecticut, operated by members of the Radio Club of America.
The message read: "Nr 1 NY ck 12 to Paul Godley, Ardrossan, Scotland.
Hearty Congratulations. (Signed) Burghard Inman Grinan Armstrong Amy
Cronkhite."

These successful transatlantic tests and the ones that followed spurred
technological advances and new global wireless distance records.
Several amateur radio operating events this year and next will
commemorate the centenary of these significant milestones that heralded
the dawn of two-way international amateur radio communication.

ARRL and RSGB will activate special event stations for 6 hours (0200 -
0800 UTC) on December 12 for the 160-meter Transatlantic Centenary QSO
Party. RSGB will activate GB2ZE from Scotland, with a team of stations
from the GMDX Group sharing operating duties. ARRL will activate W1AW.
The stations will operate only on CW. If transatlantic propagation
holds up, the stations may continue to operate beyond 0800 UTC.

Paul Godley, 2ZE

The GMDX Group of Scotland will award a quaich -- a traditional
Scottish drinking cup representing friendship -- to the first stations
in North America and the UK to complete contacts with both W1AW and
GB2ZE during the QSO party. A commemorative certificate will be
available for download.

RSGB and ARRL are also organizing an international amateur radio
marathon on the HF bands to commemorate transatlantic tests held
between 1921 and 1923. The Transatlantic Centenary Marathon will take
place in December 2022. The objective will be to mark these historic
events by encouraging all radio amateurs to get on the air. Event
details are pending.

ARRL and RSGB have assembled a list of stations and groups that are
also organizing events and activities to celebrate 100 years of amateur
radio transatlantic communication. For more information, visit
arrl.org/transatlantic and rsgb.org/transatlantic-tests. The sites also
include links to many previously published articles and presentations
covering the historic tests.

ditional events and commemorations include:
* Radio Club of America (RCA) Transatlantic QSO Party, 1200 UTC on
November 13 to 0400 UTC on November 14, 2021 (16 hours total). The
QSO party commemorates the contribution of members of the Radio
Club of America who constructed and operated the 1BCG transmitter
site in Greenwich, Connecticut, that sent the first message
received by Paul Godley, 2ZE, in Scotland.
* W1AW Commemorative Transatlantic QSL Card. Stations making contact
with the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, between December
11, 2021, and December 31, 2022, qualify to receive a commemorative
W1AW QSL card. US stations should QSL with a self-addressed,
stamped envelope; international stations should QSL via the Bureau.
* The 2021 ARRL 160-Meter Contest, 2200 UTC on December 3 - 1559 UTC
on December 5. This 42-hour, CW-only contest is most similar to the
original Transatlantic Tests of the early 1920s. Stations in the US
and Canada work each other as well as DXCC entities. RSGB is
planning to activate one of the original call signs used in the
Transatlantic Tests, with up to seven different prefixes from the
UK and Crown Dependencies. Look for G6XX (England); GD6XX (Isle of
Man); GI6XX (Northern Ireland); GJ6XX (Jersey); GM6XX (Scotland);
GU6XX (Guernsey), and GW6XX (Wales).
* Special Event GB1002ZE, December 1 - 26, 2021. The Crocodile Rock
Amateur Group (CRAG) based near Ardrossan, Scotland, will activate
the special event station GB1002ZE to commemorate the successful
reception of amateur transatlantic signals by Paul Godley, 2ZE, in
1921. The RSGB encourages stations in the UK and Crown Dependencies
to append the suffix "/2ZE" to their station's normal call sign
throughout the period, as authorized by UK regulator Ofcom.

Clear Frequencies Requested for Possible Nicaragua Earthquake Traffic

IARU Region 2 Emergency Coordinator Carlos Alberto Santamar�a Gonz�lez,
CO2JC, has requested that radio amateurs in Central America avoid 7098
and 7198 kHz in the wake of an earthquake at 0957 UTC Wednesday in
Nicaragua.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude 6.5 earthquake has
also affected Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The earthquake was followed by another 4.0 temblor and other
aftershocks of less intensity, as confirmed by Juan de la Cruz
Rodr�guez P�rez, YN1J, President and National Emergency Coordinator of
the Club de Radioexperimentadores de Nicaragua (CREN). CREN is the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member-society for Nicaragua.

The earthquake occurred offshore some 60 miles from Chinandega and
approximately 52 miles southwest of the resort town of Jiquilillo,
Nicaragua. The USGS said the quake occurred in the North Pacific at a
depth of approximately 20 miles.

According to the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies, the
event was related to the tectonic processes of the collision between
the Cocos and Caribbean tectonic plates.

Emergency communicator Juan de la Cruz, YN1J, requested the frequency
protection.

No tsunami warning has been issued, and there have been no immediate
reports of damage.

According to the USGS, "Little or no landsliding is expected, but some
landslides could have occurred in highly susceptible areas." And, "The
number of people living near areas that could have produced landslides
in this earthquake is low, but landslide damage or fatalities are still
possible in highly susceptible areas. This is not a direct estimate of
landslide fatalities or losses."

Radio Amateurs on Standby Following Volcanic Eruption in the Canaries

The Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palmas in Spain's Canary Islands erupted
for the first time in 50 years on Sunday, September 19, following an
increase in seismic activity over the previous 7 days. The lava flow
has triggered the evacuation of more than 6,000 people so far.
Authorities have deployed all the resources of the Canary Islands
Government, as well as military support from the mainland, to manage
the situation. In order to facilitate communication into and out of the
area, EMCOM-SPAIN has asked that the IARU Emergency Center of Activity
Frequencies be kept clear in case the situation worsens: 3.760 MHz;
7.110 MHz; 14.300 MHz, and 21.360 MHz. -- Thanks to IARU Region 1
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 21) features a
chat with Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, about the new edition of The ARRL
Handbook and how it can be useful to new hams.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 43) debuts on Thursday,
September 23. It is a chat with Glen Popiel, KW5GP, about his new ARRL
book More Arduino for Amateur Radio.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

Registration Opens for US Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships

Registration is now open for the 2021 US and IARU Region 2
Championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF), set for
October 13 - 17. Competition venues will be near Asheboro, North
Carolina. Postponed from 2020, these championships will be conducted in
accordance with CDC COVID-19 guidelines.

"The US ARDF Championships are an ideal opportunity to watch and learn
from the best radio-orienteers in the US," said ARRL ARDF
Co-coordinator Charles Scharlau, NZ0I. "Winners who qualify by
citizenship or residence may be selected for positions on ARDF Team US,
which will travel to Serbia for the 2022 ARDF World Championships."

Wednesday, October 13, will be a model event for equipment testing and
a competitor briefing. Thursday, October 14, will be devoted to the
Sprint championship, a short course with 12-second fox transmissions
instead of the usual 60 seconds.

Classic 2-meter and 80-meter competitions will take place on Friday and
Sunday. Between the days of classic competitions will be Foxoring, a
combination of radio direction-finding and classic orienteering, held
on Saturday morning. An outdoor pizza picnic will be held on Saturday
evening. Presentation of medals for foxoring, sprint, and Friday's
classic event take place at the picnic. Awards for Sunday's Classic
competition will be presented immediately after the competition.

Postponed in 2020, the 2021 ARDF USA
Championships will take place
October 13 - 17 in North Carolina.

Three optional practice days are planned for Sunday through Tuesday,
October 10 - 12, just prior to the championships. A practice event on
Sunday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, will provide the experience of a
full ARDF course in a friendly environment, with the clock as the only
opponent. The practices on Monday and Tuesday will be held in Durham,
North Carolina, and will offer informal sessions in which the
participants help with setting the transmitters in the woods.

Experienced radio orienteers and event organizers from the Backwoods
Orienteering Klub (BOK) will organize the 2021 US and IARU Region 2
Championships. An email reflector is available for questions and
answers with the organizers, as well as for coordinating transportation
and arranging equipment loans. -- Thanks to Joe Moell, K0OV Read an
expanded version.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

Working the Pileup, presented by Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO / Tuesday,
October 5, 2021 @ 1:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO, Vice President of the Chicago Suburban
Radio Association and an ARRL Assistant Section Manager in Illinois,
will offer an enlightening discussion on working a pileup from both
sides of the contact. Whether your interest lies in ARRL Field Day,
contesting, special events, or rare DX, this is a must-see
presentation. Ron will discuss search-and-pounce and running
techniques, when to use them, and some tips on working them to your
advantage.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

Open-Source Amateur Satellite Work Not Subject to Export ministration
Regulation

CEO Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, reports that Open Research Institute
(ORI) received an advisory opinion from the US Commerce Department
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on September 2, confirming that
public internet posts regarding open-source amateur satellite
communications work are not subject to the Export ministration
Regulation (EAR). ORI was founded in March 2018 by Bruce Perens, K6BP,
in order to provide a formal structure for open-source satellite work.
Prior work by ORI established that open-source amateur satellite
communications work was free of International Traffic in Arms
Regulations (ITAR).

"This is a significant regulatory success for open-source amateur
satellite work and open source in general," Thompson said. In a later
post on the ORI site, Thompson said ITAR and EAR have had a dramatic
effect on both commercial and amateur satellite work since the 1990s.
"The regulations are blamed for a significant decline in US market
share for satellite systems and halted highly successful international
amateur collaborations," she wrote.

ORI CEO Michelle
Thompson, W5NYV.

Open-source work that is published as it is created and is freely
available to the general public at no cost is not subject to ITAR or
EAR, Thompson said.

ORI's work was funded by ARDC, with legal assistance provided by
Thomsen and Burke LLP. All documents and links to presentations about
the work are available.

"Thank you to those who have supported and assisted ORI during the many
stages of this successful regulatory endeavor," Thompson said. "ORI
will build upon this work to advance the aims and purposes of
open-source amateur satellites."

Visit the ORI website's "Getting Started" page to get involved. Read an
expanded version.
Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* The Quietest Place in America / Green Bank, West Virginia from
LethbridgeNewsNow (Alberta, Canada) September 21, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

IARU Region 3 Considers Significant Expansion of HF Digital Segments

The IARU Region 3 (Asia) online conference hosted by Thailand's IARU
member-society RAST wraps up on September 23. One topic discussed was a
proposed HF band plan. Among the problems the planners seek to address
is the use of bandwidth as a defining transmission characteristic.
Following the revision of the tools used to describe HF amateur band
plans, a joint tri-region IARU committee developed a proposal for
revision of the data segments of the HF amateur band plans.

The changes proposed include a significant expansion of digital mode
segments. These revisions address several areas, including global HF
amateur band plan segment harmonization.

Other factors include:
* separation of "conversational" and time-synchronized digital
activity
* band plan segment expansions in support of time-synchronized
transmission mode capacity demands (mostly trading with now lesser
used RTTY subbands)
* more effective separation of voice and data modes on 40 meters
* relocation of the IARU Region 3 EmComm SSB frequency from 3600 to
3680 kHz
* relocation of the global 20-meter slow-scan TV (SSTV) frequency
from 14,230 kHz to 14,330 kHz
* relocation of Japan's domestic 40-meter FT8 frequency from 7041 to
7037 kHz (dial) to provide for a global narrowband conversational
modes (e.g., PSK) segment between 7040 and 7044 kHz in alignment
with existing Region 1 arrangements to replace the 7070 - 7074 kHz
segment in Region 2, and recognition of 7040 - 7060 plus 7065 -
7080 kHz as the new 40-meter data segment with voice operation,
reduced to secondary status between 7060 and 7070 kHz.

Documents are available from the Region 1 Conference website. Special
event station HS18IARU was on the air during the conference.
Announcements
* The International DX Association (INDEXA) will support the 3Y0J
DXpedition to Bouvet Island in November-December 2022 with a grant
of $15,000.
* PACIFICON 2021, which will host the ARRL Pacific Division
Convention, is set for October 15 -17, sponsored by Mount Diablo
Amateur Radio Club. The event will take place at the San Ramon
Marriott Hotel, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, California.
* The Arizona Association for Summits on the Air (SOTA) will host the
4th annual 10-Point s2s Madness event on Saturday, October 2, 1400
- 2359 UTC. In this event, multiple hams simultaneously operate
mountaintop portable on 10-point summits. Hams can participate as
activators or chasers; add your information to the Alerts section
on the SOTA website if you plan to activate. The same website will
display the spots on the day of the event, if you are a chaser. In
the past, 25 - 30 activators are on a 10-point summit at the same
time. For more information, contact Pete Scola, WA7JTM, or search
social media for the hashtag #TenPointMadness.
* The Central Arizona DX Association will have the call sign K7UGA on
the air October 4 - 8. K7UGA was the call sign of Arizona US
Senator Barry Goldwater, who was also the 1964 Republican Party
presidential candidate. K7UGA will be on all bands and modes. QSL
via K7BHM with an SASE.
* Lance Collister, W7GJ, will undertake a 6-meter DXpedition to the
Austral and Marquesas Islands. He'll spend October 15 - 24 as
FO/W7GJ on the Australs, and October 28 - November 7 as TX7MB on
the Marquesas. He is planning to use the Q65-60A for all 6-meter
moonbounce activity and FT8 for terrestrial contacts.
* Members of the Russian Robinson Club will celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty signing with special call signs
R60ANT, RA60ANT, RB60ANT, RC60ANT, RG60ANT, RJ60ANT, RK60ANT,
RL60ANT, RN60ANT, RT60ANT, RU60ANT, RZ60ANT, and RI60ANT, between
October 1 and December 31.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

AWA Video: SSB was Slow to Catch On as a Ham Radio Mode

Hams are often early adopters of new technology, such as FT8, but this
was not the case with single sideband (SSB) amplitude modulation. First
referenced in Major General George Squier's 1911 patent that had
nothing to do with RF applications, SSB didn't really catch on as a
popular ham radio phone mode until the 1960s.

Antique Wireless Association (AWA) museum curator Ed Gable, K2MP,
recounted "The History of Single Sideband" as part of the inaugural
"AWA Shares" program, presented on August 19. Gable described Squier as
an "early idea man" in the history of SSB at a time when hams had
hardly adopted AM in any form.

As Gable explained, John Renshaw Carson built on Squier's patents to
define the principles of SSB radio transmission theory, using a
balanced modulator and filters. AT&T went all in with SSB, basing its
first long-haul telephone system on the technology. Its SSB voice
service to Europe, which kicked off in 1923, lasted for more than 3
decades. A receiving site in Scotland took advantage of Beverage
antennas put in place for the ARRL transatlantic tests.

Gable credited Robert M. Moore, W6DEI, with introducing SSB to the ham
radio community, through an article in R9 Magazine in the early 1930s.
The technology remained more of a curiosity, however, in part because
of the Great Depression, cost, and technical difficulty. Besides, hams
of that era saw no real advantage to narrowband modes, since bands were
not that crowded.

The mood began to change after World War II, though. In 1948, Oswald
Villard, W6QIT, engineered the airing of SSB signals via Stanford
University's W6YX, re-introducing the mode to a burgeoning and more
technically savvy post-war ham community that included a lot of
veterans. A 1950 GE Ham News article by Don Norgaard, W2KUJ, described
plans for a 5 W, three-tube SSB transmitter he dubbed "The SSB Jr."

The Central Electronics Model 20A.

Expanding on this, Central Electronics' Wes Schum, W9DYV, built the
first SSB exciter, the 10A, in 1952, and it became the company's first
product, spawning a series of successor products that included a VFO
based on a modified BC-458 military surplus transmitter, an "SSB
slicer" for receiving, and even a linear. SSB equipment was neither
inexpensive nor accessible, however.

"Cheap and Easy S.S.B." by Anthony Vitale, W2EWL, which appeared in QST
in 1956, spoke to hams' attitudes, helping to advance the adoption of
SSB among radio amateurs. Byron Goodman, W1DX, addressed receiver
improvements with his QST article, "The Product Detector."

The Collins KWM-1 is considered the
first "true" transceiver, sharing
receive and transmit circuitry.

In the same decade, General Curtis LeMay, K3JUY/K4RFA, promoted the
advantages of SSB to the military, heralding a phase-out of AM as the
dominant voice technology. Many hams were not convinced of SSB's
advantages, deriding the signals as sounding like Donald Duck. option
didn't really take off until the Collins KWM-1 came along in 1957. It
was the first SSB transceiver to share receiver and transmitter
circuitry. Heathkit, Viking, and B&W produced SSB adapters for use with
current AM gear.

Other manufacturers including National and Swan came along to further
boost adoption of the mode, and it wasn't that many years before SSB
eclipsed AM as the predominant voice mode on the HF bands.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Last week, we reported a big increase
in solar activity with the daily sunspot number reaching 124, but by
the end of that week, all the sunspots had disappeared. The sun was
blank for several days, but then, sunspots returned on September 19.

Average daily sunspot numbers were 28.7 this week, below the 58.3
average reported a week earlier. Average daily solar flux was down by
nine points, from 87.4 to 78.4.

Geomagnetic indicators were higher, with the highest activity on
September 17, when the planetary A index was 24 due to a minor
geomagnetic storm triggered by a weak coronal mass ejection (CME).
Average daily planetary A index for the week increased from 7 to 9.1,
and average middle-latitude A index went from 6.9 to 8.4.

Predicted solar flux for the next month is 90 on September 23; 95 on
September 24 - 25; 98 and 95 on September 26 - 27; 90 on September 28 -
29; 84 on September 30 - October 5; 82 on October 6; 80 on October 7 -
8; 78 on October 9 - 11; 75 on October 12 - 20; 80 on October 21 - 22;
82 on October 23 - 25; 84 and 82 on October 26 - 27, and 84 on October
28 - November 1.

Predicted planetary A index is 12, 8, and 15 on September 23 - 25; 8 on
September 26 - 27; 12 on September 28; 10 on September 29 - 30; 5 on
October 1 - 3; 8 and 12 on October 4 - 5; 5 on October 6 - 9; 12 on
October 10; 5 on October 11 - 17; 8 on October 18 - 19; 10, 8, and 12
on October 20 - 22; 10 on October 23 - 24, and 5 on October 25 - 30.

The northern autumnal equinox occurred at 1920 UTC on September 22,
which means Earth is bathed in approximately equal amounts of solar
radiation over the Northern and Southern hemispheres, always a good
sign for HF propagation.

Here is a new forecast from Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW.

Sunspot numbers for September 16 through 22 were 0, 0, 11, 13, 51, 50,
and 76, with a mean of 28.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 73.2, 73.4,
73.7, 75, 80, 84.9, and 88.5, with a mean of 78.4. Estimated planetary
A indices were 3, 24, 11, 3, 3, 8, and 12, with a mean of 9.1. Middle
latitude A index was 3, 19, 14, 2, 4, 6, and 11, with a mean of 8.4.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 23 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (digital)
* September 25 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
* September 25 -- Masonic Lodges on the Air (phone)
* September 25 - 26 -- CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY
* September 25 - 26 -- Maine QSO Party (CW, phone)
* September 27 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series
* September 28 -- MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)
* September 29 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)

For more information, visit the ARRL Contest Calendar.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* September 25 -- ARRL Dakota Division Convention (RRRA Hamfest),
West Fargo, North Dakota
* October 2 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention (Rock Hill
Hamfest), Rock Hill, South Carolina
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Florida State Convention (Melbourne Hamfest),
Melbourne, Florida
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention (Slidell EOC
Hamfest), Slidell, Louisiana
* October 15 - 17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon),
San Ramon, California

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
September 30, 2021

* Deaf Pupils Set to Speak with ISS Crew Member in a World-First
Event
* Amateur Radio Volunteers Assist in Major US Cycling Event
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Past AMSAT President and Director, and Amateur Satellite Pioneer
Tom Clark, K3IO, SK
* Georgia Gets a New Section Manager; Re-Elected SMs Begin New Terms
on October 1
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* ARISS Seeks Hosts for Ham Radio Contacts with Space Station Crew
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Many Ham Radio Organizations Represented at 2021 ARRL New England
Division Convention
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
Deaf Pupils Set to Speak with ISS Crew Member in a World-First Event

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) will offer a
group of pupils at the Mary Hare School for deaf children in Berkshire,
England an opportunity to speak with an astronaut via amateur radio.
The contact is expected to take place sometime during October 10 - 17.
Mary Hare School, with Pippa Middleton as its Ambassador, is the
largest school for the deaf in the UK. The event will mark the first
time an ARISS contact has been arranged with a school for deaf youth.

"It is a very exciting event -- a world first for deaf pupils," said
Alex Ayling, a science teacher at the school. "I think it is very
important to our deaf pupils, as it shows whatever your challenges with
communication, there is no limit to what you can achieve. The sky is
not the limit."

Ciaran Morgan, M0XTD, ARISS operations lead for the UK, said that
technical aspects of the radio contact are being handled by the
ARISS-UK team. The Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society (NADARS)
will provide "the amateur radio experience" for the students, through
ham radio events and activities at the school. Lessons related to ARISS
include a crystal radio, electricity and circuits, forces, energy,
sound, electromagnetism, space and space exploration, the ISS, and
rocketry.

During September, the school has been conducting a competition,
inviting students to enter questions from one of five categories --
science in space, space technology, living in space, space
communication, and Earth from space. The school staff will pick the 10
best questions, and those students will be invited to ask their
questions. The astronaut's response will then be rendered as text for
the students.

At the school, an expected audience of 250 socially distanced
spectators will be able to see the radio contact firsthand. The
remaining students and audience members will be linked in via a web
feed.

Amateur radio equipment has been on board the ISS for more than 20
years, and most astronauts hold ham radio licenses. A live web feed
will be available.

Mary Hare School educates some 240 profoundly and severely deaf
children, aged 5 - 19, each year.

In the US, ARISS is sponsored by NASA, the ISS National Laboratory,
ARRL, and AMSAT. -- Thanks to UK News
Amateur Radio Volunteers Assist in Major US Cycling Event

Some 115 amateur radio volunteers from five states turned out on
September 11 to support communication for the longest single-day
US-sanctioned cycling event, LoToJa, now in its 39th year. Starting in
Logan, Utah, the 203-mile course ends in Jackson Hole, Wyoming --
taking cyclists through northeastern Utah, southeastern Idaho, and
western Wyoming in the process. The race attracts thousands of
applicants, and upward of 2,000 of them are selected to compete. Some
1,700 competed in this year's LoToJa. The event's cyclists and sponsors
have contributed more than $2 million for Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
Hams from multiple ARRL-affiliated clubs in Utah, including Golden
Spike, OARC, and UVARC, participate. The group does "neutral wheel"
support (which substitutes wheels and equipment in the event of a
failure) as well as first aid, as needed, and provides communications
from start to finish. The race deploys four command centers and
multiple repeaters.

"This year's race will have 600 course volunteers, which includes 150
ham radio operators [and helpers] from the Bridgerland Amateur Radio
Club. They provide uninterrupted communication throughout LoToJa's
mountainous and remote terrain," Race Director Brent Chambers told the
Cache Valley Daily.

"We take two portable repeaters to the top of mountains, and we deploy
multiple APRS digipeaters," explained Kevin Reeve, N7RXE, the
coordinator of amateur radio operators and communication systems for
LoToJa. "All ham vehicles run APRS, and we have APRS and a radio
operator with the race director and race official. Our goal is to help
the cyclists, support crews, and families have a safe and enjoyable
event."

Ted McArthur, AC7II, heads the communication infrastructure team for
the LoToJa hams. In all, nine repeaters and several simplex frequencies
are used throughout the event, and APRS plays an important role.

"With [an increased] number of mobile vehicles needed to meet a growing
event, Net Control stations were spending a lot of radio time asking
for position reports," McArthur said. "We needed the air time for real
traffic, like helping cyclists, emergencies, and other critical
traffic."

"LoToJa is such a great event for amateur radio operators to
participate in," said Tyler Griffiths, N7UWX. "It is the ARES [Amateur
Radio Emergency Service^(R)] radio operator's dream event. We know
where it starts, we know where it ends, but everything that happens in
between is different from year to year."

-------------------------------------------------------------------


ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 21) features a
discussion with Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, about the new edition of The
ARRL Handbook and how it can be useful to new hams.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 43) features a chat with
Glen Popiel, KW5GP, about his new ARRL book More Arduino for Amateur
Radio.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
Past AMSAT President and Director, and Amateur Satellite Pioneer Tom
Clark, K3IO, SK

AMSAT-NA Past President and ham radio satellite and digital pioneer Tom
Clark, K3IO (ex-W3IWI), of Columbia, Maryland, died on September 28
after a short illness and hospital stay. An ARRL Life Member and ARRL
Maxim Society and Diamond Club member, he was 82. Clark's
accomplishments are legendary, and he left a lasting footprint on the
worlds of amateur radio satellites and digital techniques.

"His longtime technical achievements, mentoring to others, and
technical leadership will be missed by his many peers and friends the
world over," said Bob McGwier, N4HY.

To honor Clark, AMSAT has rebranded its upcoming annual gathering as
The 2021 AMSAT Dr. Tom Clark, K3IO, Memorial Space Symposium and Annual
General. It will take place on October 30 via Zoom. (AMSAT members may
register to attend via AMSAT's Member Portal.) The event will be
livestreamed on AMSAT's YouTube channel.

A founding member of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR), Clark was a
cofounder of the TAPR/AMSAT DSP Project, which led to software-defined
radio. He was a leader in the development of the AX.25 packet radio
protocol. Clark served as AMSAT's second president, from 1980 until
1987. He also served on the AMSAT and TAPR Boards.

In concert with McGwier, Clark developed the first amateur DSP
hardware, including a number of modems. He developed the uplink
receivers and the spacecraft LAN architecture used on all the Microsats
(Oscars 16, 17, 18, 19, 26, 27, and 31). McGwier said it was Clark who
convinced him in 1985 that the future lay in DSP.

"We started the TAPR/AMSAT DSP project, and it was announced in 1987,"
McGwier recounted. "We showed in our efforts that small stations with
small antennas could bounce signals off the moon, and using the power
of DSP, we could see the signals in our computer displays." This led to
the software-defined transponder (SDX) for satellite work, including
ARISSat and AMSAT's Phase 3E.

Clark received a doctorate in astro-geophysics from the University of
Colorado. He went on to serve as Chief of the Astronomy Branch at NASA
Marshall Space Flight Center and was a Senior Scientist at NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center, where he was principal investigator for the Very
Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) activity.

In 2005, he became the first non-Russian to be awarded the Special
Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences for his contributions to the
international VLBI network. He is a member of the 2001 class of CQ
Magazine's Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.

In 2016, ARRL awarded Clark with its President's Award, to recognize
his 60 years of advancing amateur radio technology. On that occasion,
McGwier said, "There would be no AMSAT to inspire all of this work
without Tom Clark. Tom...saved the organization and inspired all of us
to look to the future and aim for the stars," McGwier said.

Clark was a Fellow of the American Geophysical Society and the
International Association of Geodesy.

Georgia Gets a New Section Manager; Re-Elected SMs Begin New Terms on
October 1

Jim Millsap, K9APD, will become the ARRL Georgia Section Manager (SM)
on Friday, October 1. Millsap, of Acworth, was the only candidate who
applied by the June 4 nomination deadline. Millsap has been an ARRL
Emergency Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator. He also
served as the ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director from 2012 to
2014. Outgoing SM David Benoist, AG4ZR, of Senoia, decided not to run
for a new term after serving since November 2016.

These incumbent SMs faced no challengers in the summer election cycle
and will also begin new 2-year terms of office on October 1: Robert
Wareham, N0ESQ (Colorado); Diana Feinberg, AI6DF (Los Angeles), Carol
Milazzo, KP4MD (Sacramento Valley); Bill Hillendahl, KH6GJV (San
Francisco); Stuart Wolfe, KF5NIX (South Texas); Monte Simpson, W7FF
(Western Washington), and Dan Ringer, K8WV (West Virginia).

Eastern Washington Section Manager Jo Whitney, KA7LJQ, was also the
only nominee when the June 4 nomination deadline arrived. Whitney, of
Yakima, was initially scheduled to start her elected term of office on
October 1. However, she was appointed to start her term of office on
July 1 after outgoing SM Jack Tiley, AD7FO, stepped down before the
completion of his term.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

Working the Pileup, presented by Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO / Tuesday,
October 5, 2021 @ 1:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

Ron Delpiere-Smith, KD9IPO, Vice President of the Chicago Suburban
Radio Association and an ARRL Assistant Section Manager in Illinois,
will offer an enlightening discussion on working a pileup from both
sides of the contact. Whether your interest lies in ARRL Field Day,
contesting, special events, or rare DX, this is a must-see
presentation. Ron will discuss search-and-pounce and running
techniques, when to use them, and some tips on working them to your
advantage.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

ARISS Seeks Hosts for Ham Radio Contacts with Space Station Crew

Starting on October 1, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) will accept applications from US schools, museums, science
centers, and community youth organizations (individually or working
together) interested in hosting amateur radio contacts with crew
members on the International Space Station (ISS). Contacts will be
scheduled between July 1 and December 31, 2022. Crew scheduling and ISS
orbits will determine the exact contact dates. ARISS is looking for
organizations that will draw a sizeable number of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan.

The deadline to submit is November 24. Proposal information and more
details, including expectations, proposal guidelines, and a proposal
form are on the ARISS-US website. An ARISS introductory webinar session
will be held on October 7 at 8 PM ET (2400 UTC). Sign up for the
webinar via Eventbrite.

Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with
opportunities to learn about space technologies and communications
through amateur radio. Crew members aboard the ISS will participate in
scheduled amateur radio contacts. These contacts are approximately 10
minutes long and allow students to interact with the astronaut through
a question-and-answer session.

The program offers learning opportunities by connecting students to
orbiting astronauts through a partnership that includes ARRL, AMSAT,
and NASA, as well as other amateur radio organizations, and space
agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe. The program's goal is to
inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as amateur
radio.

"Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the
ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM
careers," ARISS said in their announcement regarding the contact
opportunities. ARISS says enthusiasm sparked by a school contact may
also lead to an interest in ham radio among students and to the
creation of ham radio clubs in schools. Some educators have even become
radio amateurs after experiencing a contact with an ISS crew member.

ARISS is celebrating 20 years of continuous amateur radio operations on
the ISS. Contact ARISS-US for additional information.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Simulated Emergency Test Saturday for local ham radio operators /
The Monroe News (Michigan) September 28, 2021
* Amateur radio group marks 80 years of community service during
disasters / Star vertiser (Pennsylvania) September 28, 2021
* Volunteer Radio Operators Are A Lifesaver During Emergencies In The
San Bernardino National Forest / LAist (California) September 22,
2021
* The Quietest Place in America (Greenbank, West Virginia) /
LethbridgeNewsNow (Alberta, Canada) September 21, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

Many Ham Radio Organizations Represented at 2021 ARRL New England
Division Convention

This year's Northeast HamXposition drew about 1,200 attendees to its
new location in Marlborough, Massachusetts, during September 10 - 12.
The event hosted the ARRL New England Division Convention, and was
formerly held about 15 miles away in Boxborough, Massachusetts. This
was the first year the convention was held at this location because the
event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Event proceeds
go to the New England FEMARA Scholarship fund, which helps students
attend a college or trade school of their choice. Scholarships are
administered by the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program.

HamXposition Chairman Bob DeMattia, K1IW, and his committee said they
were pleased with the turnout, given last year's cancellation and this
year's new venue. The event was held at the Best Western Royal Plaza
Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough. Although there were some
last-minute cancellations from a handful of exhibitors and presenters,
W1 QSL Bureau Co-Manager Eric Williams, KV1J, believed that there was
"remarkably good attendance," despite the concerns of COVID-19. The W1
QSL Bureau team included ARRL Director of Operations Bob Naumann, W5OV,
who checked DXCC and other ARRL award applications throughout the
convention.

Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society
(STARS) hosted a hands-on activity.
[Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, photo]

In addition to ARRL Vice President Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, and New
England Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, the 2021 ARRL
convention team included New England Division Vice Director Phil
Temples, K9HI; Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY; Senior Member
Services Representative Kim McNeill, KM1IPA; Director of Operations Bob
Naumann, W5OV, and Public Relations and Innovation Director Bob
Inderbitzen, NQ1R. Several Section Managers and other Field
Organization volunteers also supported the convention. Raisbeck and
Temples also served as the convention's Vice Chair and Program Chair,
respectively.

The Nashua Area Radio Society (NARS) of New Hampshire demonstrated a
variety of activities to encourage new licensees to become "radio
active." NARS was among several radio clubs and organizations that
staffed visitor booths at the event.

Members of the Women Radio Operators of New England (WRONE) hosted an
exhibit for the Young Ladies' Radio League (YLRL), represented by
District 1 YL Barbara Irby, KC1KGS, and Anne Manna, WB1ARU. These
organizations encourage and assist women entering the Amateur Radio
Service.

Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) of New England Sci-Tech in
Natick, Massachusetts, offered a hands-on exhibit and conducted a youth
panel. STARS is hosted by the STEM Education Center and Makerspace at
New England Sci-Tech.

ARRL members Mark Stenning, AA1AC
(left), of Newport, Rhode Island,
and Christopher Stenning, K1XHX, of
East Greenwich, Rhode Island, were
among those operating from special
event station W1A, organized for the
convention by members of the Yankee
Clipper Contest Club. [Bob
Inderbitzen, NQ1R, photo]

DXCC and Contest Dinner speaker rian Ciuperca, KO8SCA, recapped the
DXpedition and IARU Contest activities and activations from Market Reef
and �land Islands. On Saturday, the banquet speaker was Philip J.
Erickson, W1PJE, of Haystack Observatory, operated by Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT). Erickson discussed HamSCI's latest
ionospheric science investigations, supported in partnership with radio
amateurs and scientists from Haystack Observatory and other
institutions.

The ARRL leadership team hosted an ARRL Membership Forum on Saturday.
ARRL Washington Counsel Dave Siddall, K3ZJ, was among the attendees.

Inderbitzen's keynote address on Saturday morning included a tribute to
the September 11 attacks and a color guard supported by the local Boy
Scouts of America. He also attended the youth panel and met with many
young hams, parents, and their advisors throughout the event, including
Olin College of Engineering undergraduate Zachary Sherman, KC1NXK, who
exhibited for Olin Collegiate Amateur Radio Club, KC1LHR. -- Thanks to
Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, ARRL Public Relations and Innovation Director

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* WSJT-X 2.5.0 is now in general release and is available on the
WSJT-X website. New features are described in the WSJT-X User Guide
and in the Release Notes. If you will use the new Q65 mode, read
the Quick-Start Guide to Q65.
* Yasutaka Narusawa, JR2XEA, of the Komaki Amateur SATCOM Club has
announced that Z-Sat is set to launch on October 1. Radio amateurs
are asked to listen for the CW beacon on 145.875 MHz and forward
reports.
* The 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition team will implement a new feature
on its website where you can get the latest news, discuss
[IMG]topics with the team, get feedback and hints, interact with
operators, and more.
* WW0WWV from the WWV Amateur Radio Club is a special event call sign
to mark WWV's 102 years. WW0WWV will be on the airwaves September
30 - October 3.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In Brief...

The AO-92 and FalconSAT-3 satellites have been shut down. AO-92
(Fox-1D) had started to change its behavior after a number of weeks of
being powered on. In particular, the integrated housekeeping unit (IHU)
switched to safe mode. This was likely due to low voltage during
eclipse, which is when it should be drawing very little power if no one
uses it. Mark Hammond, N8MH, also reported that he was turning off
FalconSAT-3's transmitter, due to low voltage. -- Thanks to Burns
Fisher, WB1FJ, AMSAT Engineering Team, via AMSAT News Service

The IARU Region 1 Monitoring System finds Radio France International
splatter "untenable." The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1
Monitoring System (IARUMS) August newsletter reports that Radio France
International was active daily between 2100 and 2200 UTC on 7205 kHz.
The report says splattering appeared "massively" down to 7186 kHz,
which IARUMS called "an untenable condition." IARUMS said that the
"especially well-known intruders" included Voice of Broad Masses (VOBM)
on 7140 and 7180 kHz from Eritrea. "From time to time, China Radio
International was heard on 14,000 kHz (and intermodulation of 13,855
kHz and 13,710 kHz)." The usual players among the over-the-horizon
radar (OTH-R) systems also were active almost daily. Intruding signals
heard in IARU Region 1 may be causing problems elsewhere in the world.

Pocket calculator inventor and home computing pioneer Sir Clive
Sinclair died at his home on September 16 following a long illness. He
was 81. Sinclair may have been best known for popularizing the home
computer. Leaving school at 17, he worked for 4 years as a technical
journalist to fund Sinclair Radionics and created the Sinclair Spectrum
and the first computer, the Sinclair ZX-81. Many modern-day titans of
the games industry got their start on one of his ZX models. Back in the
day, the gamer's computer of choice was either the ZX Spectrum 48K or
its rival, the Commodore 64. Among his other inventions was a
coin-sized radio. Despite his computer background, Sinclair declined to
use the internet, email, or even computers.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity was up over the past
week, with the average daily sunspot number rising from 28.7 to 59.4,
and average daily solar flux up 11.4 points to 89.8.

The noon 10.7-centimeter solar flux was 101.6 on Wednesday, September
29, the highest value since December 3, 2020, when it was 102.9.

Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with average daily planetary A index
values declining from 9.1 to 7.3, and average middle latitude A index
from 8.4 to 6.3.

Predicted solar flux is 100, 105, 110, and 105 on September 30 -
October 3; 95, 90, and 85 on October 4 - 6; 74 on October 7 - 9; 78 on
October 10 - 12; 80 on October 13; 84, on October 14 - 15; 86 on
October 16 - 17; 88 on October 18 - 22; 86 on October 23 - 25; 84 on
October 26; 80 on October 27 - 29; 78 on October 30 - 31; 76 on
November 1, and 74 on November 2 - 5.

Predicted planetary A index is 12, 24 and 10 on September 30 - October
2; 5 on October 3 - 9; 12 on October 10; 5 on October 11 - 17; 10, 12,
10, and 8 on October 18 - 21; 5 on October 22 - 23; 18, 15, and 12 on
October 24 - 26; 5 on October 27 - 30; 8 on October 31; 12 on November
1, and 5 on November 2 - 5.

Sunspot numbers for September 23 - 29 were 75, 75, 38, 67, 30, 57, and
74, with a mean of 59.4. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 89.7, 88.4, 88.4,
86.3, 85.3, 88.9, and 101.6, with a mean of 89.8. Estimated planetary A
indices were 11, 8, 7, 3, 7, 10, and 5, with a mean of 7.3. Middle
latitude A index was 10, 6, 7, 2, 6, 9, and 4, with a mean of 6.3.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* September 29 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
* October 2 -- German Telegraphy Contest
* October 2 -- Oceania DX Contest (phone)
* October 2 -- Two-Meter Classic Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 2 - 3 -- California QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 2 - 3 -- TRC DX Contest (CW, phone)
* October 2 - 3 -- Russian WW Digital Contest
* October 2 - 3 -- International Hell Contest
* October 2 - 3 -- SKCC QSO Party (CW)
* October 3 -- RSGB DX Contest (CW, phone)
* October 3 -- UBA ON Contest (SSB)
* October 3 -- Peanut Power QRP Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 4 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (CW)

For more information, visit the ARRL Contest Calendar.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* October 2 -- ARRL South Carolina Section Convention (Rock Hill
Hamfest), Rock Hill, South Carolina
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Florida State Convention (Melbourne Hamfest),
Melbourne, Florida
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention (Slidell EOC
Hamfest), Slidell, Louisiana
* October 15 - 17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon),
San Ramon, California

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 7, 2021

* ARRL Continues Its Efforts to Preserve Amateur Radio Secondary Use
of the 3 GHz Band
* 16th Annual ARRL Online Auction Kicks Off on Friday, October 8
* ARDC Grant Provides ARESLAX with Sophisticated Noise Location
Capabilities
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The Premiere of NIGHT, the Movie
* Radio Amateurs Invited to Participate in the Antarctic Eclipse
Festival in December
* Amateur Radio in the News
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Announcements
* ARRL Seeks New Treasurer
* Microsoft Releases Windows Version 11
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Continues Its Efforts to Preserve Amateur Radio Secondary Use of
the 3 GHz Band

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, in a written statement on the newly
filed H.R.5378 before the US House Commerce Communications and
Technology Subcommittee on Wednesday, urged Congress to direct the FCC
to preserve amateur radio's secondary use of the 3-GHz band. President
Roderick's statement was the result of a quick, well-organized response
by ARRL to counter the continuing threat to amateur radio's secondary
use of the 3 GHz band.

Approximately 10 days ago, ARRL became aware of a provision in the $3.5
Billion Budget Reconciliation Bill that would have required that
approximately 200 MHz of the 3.1 - 3.45-GHz band be reallocated to the
use of 5G vendors. Moving swiftly, the ARRL Executive Committee
authorized ARRL's Washington Counsel to begin preparations to respond.
But, confronted with the probable delay of the Reconciliation Bill and
an uncertain future for the 3 GHz provisions, Subcommittee Chairman
Michael Doyle (D-PA-18) and Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-6)
introduced similar reallocation language on September 29 as H.R.5378
(117th Congress, 1st Session) and scheduled hearings on it and related
communications bills for October 6.

The Executive Committee and the Legislative vocacy Committee
immediately set efforts in motion in Washington to obtain support for
ARRL's position. Meetings were held on short notice to request support
with the offices of Subcommittee members including Representatives am
Kinzinger (R-IL-16) and Tim Walberg (R-MI-7), as well as with
Representatives John Larson (D-CT-1) and Joe Courtney (D-CT-2).

In addition, ARRL Atlantic Division Vice Director Bob Famiglio, K3RF,
and ARRL Washington Counsel David Siddall, K3ZJ, met with Chairman
Doyle's Chief of Staff on October 1, to explain why it's important that
amateur radio continue to be permitted to operate in the 3.3 - 3.45-GHz
band.

ARRL President Rick
Roderick, K5UR.

In his written statement to the Subcommittee in conjunction with the
hearing, President Roderick emphasized that permitting Amateur Radio to
continue to have use of the 3.3 - 3.45-GHz band on a strictly
secondary, non-interfering basis will provide full protection to
commercial licensees with exclusive licenses and further the public
interest in providing a means for continued technological innovation.

Despite vigorous opposition from ARRL and others, the FCC in 2020
ordered the "sunsetting" of the 3.3 - 3.5 GHz band in order to auction
the spectrum to commercial 5G providers. The Commission allowed amateur
operations to continue in the lower 150 megahertz of the band, 3.3 -
3.45 GHz, until it acts in a future rulemaking to address that
spectrum. Amateur operations were allowed to continue in the upper 50
megahertz, 3.45 - 3.5 GHz, only until 90 days after the auction
including that spectrum has closed. The auction began this week; it is
likely that operations will have to cease in February or March, 2022.

"A core standard of spectrum policy should be to maximize use of this
valuable but finite spectrum resource," President Roderick told the
panel. "The [FCC] in earlier proceedings adopted a variety of methods
to share and maximize use of the spectrum by radio amateurs and others,
but in its latest 3 GHz proceeding it did not do so, despite hundreds
of comments filed by radio amateurs."

President Roderick said that if the current policy continues, existing
spectrum at 3 GHz being addressed in H.R.5378 "will be cleared
indiscriminately," leaving "significant spectrum resources vacant into
the foreseeable future while radio amateur experimentation and
operation will be forced to cease for no reason except regulatory
myopia. It need not be so."

President Roderick pointed out that in earlier proceedings, the FCC
adopted methods to ensure unencumbered spectrum access by primary users
while accommodating secondary users on a non-interference basis. "These
methods work well and remain effective without complaint in other
frequency bands, and also should be applied to the 3 GHz band," he
said.

Primary commercial users "would rarely use all of their licensed
spectrum throughout their entire licensed service areas," President
Roderick said. In its recent 3 GHz proceeding, however, the FCC "went
beyond merely prohibiting amateur operations in areas and at times when
primary Commission licensees might use the spectrum," ruling instead
that all amateur operation in the subband being auctioned must
terminate within 90 days of the auction's close. President Roderick
told the FCC that it is not logical for the Commission to leave
spectrum unused before licensees start using it.

He said there is no technical basis for removing amateur secondary
operations from the 3 GHz band where radio amateurs "long have used the
bits and pieces of unused spectrum for technological innovation."

H.R.5378 is not yet law, and ARRL's efforts to preserve amateur radio
access to 3.3 - 3.45 on a secondary basis will continue. Read an
expanded version.
16th Annual ARRL Online Auction Kicks Off on Friday, October 8

Get ready to bid and support ARRL education programming when the 16th
Annual ARRL Online Auction begins on Friday, October 8, at 10 AM EDT
(1400 UTC). The auction continues through Thursday, October 14.
GigaParts is sponsoring this year's ARRL Online Auction. A preview of
the items that will be up for bid began on Tuesday, October 5. This
year's auction features ARRL Product Review and vintage equipment,
classic books, novelties, and the ever-popular ARRL Lab "Mystery"
boxes.

Visit the Auction website, register to bid, and check out details on
the items available, so you'll be ready to place a bid on your
favorites. Plus, keep an eye on the ARRL Facebook page for featured
products and auction highlights throughout the event.

Prospective bidders must register and create an account. Your arrl.org
user ID and password will not work on the auction site. Registration is
a one-time action. If you have previously registered for the ARRL
Online Auction, you can use the same username and password to sign into
this year's auction. (If you have forgotten your username or password,
click on the "Help" tab for assistance.)

It's not necessary to register to browse the items for sale on the
site, and you can register at any time during the auction.

[IMG]ARRL's Annual Online Auction is an important fundraiser and a
critical means of support for ARRL educational programming. Auction
proceeds ensure the continuation of programs that support the licensing
of new hams, as well as ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R))
training, and enhancements to technical and operating education for all
ARRL members and the greater amateur radio community.

If you don't want to bid but would still like to contribute to the ARRL
Education and Technology Fund, visit arrl.org/donate.

For more information about the ARRL Auction, contact Lisa Tardette,
KB1MOI.

ARDC Grant Provides ARESLAX with Sophisticated Noise Location
Capabilities

ARESLAX, an arm of the ARRL Los Angeles Section, has used a $23,600
grant from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) to purchase
equipment that will help Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^(R))
team members to locate and eliminate sources of radio frequency
interference (RFI) that could hinder their operations.

"ARESLAX is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting emergency
communication initiatives of the Los Angeles Section's ARES program,"
ARRL Los Angeles Section Manager Diana Feinberg, AI6DF, explained.
"Earthquakes and wildfires are the primary disaster threats this region
faces. Because these incidents occur without any advance warning,
disaster communication groups in the Los Angeles Section must maintain
a high degree of readiness."

Thanks to the grant, Feinberg said, last spring ARESLAX purchased a
Fluke ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager, which combines ultrasonic
detection with visual techniques to pinpoint an interference source,
such as power line noise, and produce photographic evidence. At the
same time, ARESLAX used its own funds to purchase a Radar Engineers 243
RFI Locator and spent the summer familiarizing itself with the
sophisticated equipment.

"By combining these two purchases with our preexisting equipment, ARRL
Los Angeles Section Technical Specialist Chris Parker, AF6PX, believes
the Los Angeles Section now has EMI/RFI locating capabilities exceeding
those of area utility companies and their contractors," Feinberg said.

This image from the Fluke ii910
pinpoints the source of power line
noise.

"For an increasing number of Los Angeles Section hams, EMI or RFI
issues have made the HF bands difficult or impossible to use for DXing,
contesting, emergency communication, or casual operating," Feinberg
said. She pointed out that the network of overhead power lines that
expanded with the county from 1940 through 2010 has now deteriorated,
resulting in arcing. "ditionally, our urban noise floor is rising
from the millions of electrical devices used by consumers and
businesses, including solar charging controllers and grow lights,"
Feinberg said.

RFI complaints can go unresolved for years, and tracking down
interference sources has been the focus of a corps of technical
volunteers. The new equipment makes that job far less time-consuming
and more successful, ARESLAX said. Read an expanded version.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 21) features a
discussion with Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, about the new edition of The
ARRL Handbook and how it can be useful to new hams.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 44) features Steve Allen,
KC1SA, and a discussion about the current electronics parts shortage
and what it may mean for amateurs.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

The Premiere of NIGHT, the Movie

During the Edmond (Oklahoma) Amateur Radio Society's ARRL Field Day
2021, Marcus Sutliff, N5ZY, spoke with visitors from John D'Aquino's
Young Actors Workshop (YAW) and learned of their plans to make a short
film in which amateur radio plays a role, and that they needed some
help. The filming was to take place in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and they
needed someone with film or video experience and someone who could
serve as a technical advisor. Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW -- a member of the
ARRL Public Relations Committee -- became involved in the project, and
in short order, he was able to assemble radios and props, consult on
the script, and get ready for a long day of filming.

Ham radio provides a tenuous link to
the outside world in the film
mystery. (Note Kevin O'Dell's,
N0IRW, QSL card at the upper left.)

The film's purpose is to give aspiring young actors a chance to hone
their craft in a real movie environment. Thanks to the Oklahoma Film
and Music Office, they were able to shoot three movie shorts in
Oklahoma. In the Camp Hollywood 2021 film NIGHT, the young actors
mature as the movie progresses.

The story begins on a day when the sun mysteriously has failed to rise.
One character mentions firing up grandpa's ham radio. His younger
brother reminds him that he once called ham radio "the dinosaur's
internet," but now it could be one source of help or information. The
actual internet is down, along with power, telephones, and apparently
satellites. All the adults are conveniently absent. The ending will
leave you hoping for NIGHT 2. The movie premiered recently and is now
available on YouTube as a 34-minute short.

O'Dell stars as the ham radio voice of Colonel. He and Sutliff appear
in the credits, so stay through the end.

O'Dell got a shout-out from ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager Mark Kleine,
N5HZR. "Thanks, Kevin, for putting a great light on amateur radio," he
said.
Radio Amateurs Invited to Participate in the Antarctic Eclipse Festival
in December

The HamSCI Antarctic Eclipse Festival in December is seeking amateur
radio participation. As the shadow of the moon passes across Antarctica
on December 4, it will generate traveling ionospheric disturbances that
will, in turn, affect radio propagation. The unusual geometry of this
year's eclipses will give researchers an opportunity to investigate
complicated ionospheric dynamics over the poles as the long daytime of
polar summer is briefly interrupted by the eclipse.

During this and other HamSCI eclipse festivals, hams and
citizen-scientists are asked to collect Doppler-shift data from
time-standard stations, such as WWV. All that's needed is an HF radio
connected to a computer. A GPS-disciplined oscillator is helpful for
collecting data, but it is not required. Data collection will run from
December 1 through December 10, and the results will be made available
for scientific analysis.

A QSL card image of the HamSCI
Antarctic Eclipse Festival. [Zo
Linker image]

All radio amateurs and shortwave listeners are invited to join in, even
those located far from the path of totality. In 2020, more than 100
individuals from 45 countries took part in eclipse festivals.The
instructions are available in multiple languages.

HamSCI is an initiative of ham radio operators and geospace scientists
dedicated to advancing scientific research and understanding through
amateur radio activities. Eclipse festivals are pilot campaigns for the
Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS), HamSCI's flagship project. The
PSWS team seeks to develop a global network of citizen-science
stations. Participants monitor the geospace environment to deepen
scientific understanding and enhance the radio art.

For more information on the Antarctic Eclipse Festival and how to
participate, visit the HamSCI website. -- Thanks to Kristina Collins,
KD8OXT

-------------------------------------------------------------------


Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Midland sisters earn amateur radio licenses / Midland Daily News
(Michigan), October 5, 2021

* Radio operators demonstrate how to communicate when disaster
strikes / WEEK, Peoria County, Illinois, October, 2, 2021
* It takes a village; OC100 gets ready to support runners once again
/ The Titusville Herald (Pennsylvania), September 30, 2021
* Fremont first responders get hazardous material training experience
/ Pioneer Amateur Radio Club's ARES^(R) group is part of an
integrated agencies effort that supports local training for
hazardous incident scenarios. Fremont Tribune (Nebraska), September
24, 2021
* Student scientists tracking satellite in space / WVLT (Tennessee),
September 17, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

Using the Raspberry Pi with Ham Radio / Presented by Jason Oleham,
KM4ACK, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 @ 1:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)

Computers have become an important part of amateur radio. The Raspberry
Pi is a low-cost yet powerful computer that can be used for many
amateur radio tasks. Jason Oleham, KM4ACK, an avid YouTube content
creator, discusses how to use the Pi, why he started using it, and why
he developed Build-a-Pi, a script that gets hams up and running
quickly.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

Announcements
* The Nashua (NH) Area Radio Society (NARS) in New Hampshire will
again offer its popular Ham Bootcamp online on Saturday, November
13. Bootcamp is free and includes demonstrations and tutorials
designed to help newly licensed Technician-, General-, and Amateur
Extra-class hams get on the air. It is also a great opportunity for
prospective radio amateurs to be introduced to a variety of ham
radio activities. Bootcamp is free and includes demonstrations and
tutorials introducing a variety of ham radio activities. Email for
registration instructions.
* The Grayson County (Texis) Amateur Radio Club, K5GCC, will be
commemorating the birthday of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower
with a special event activity, October 9 - 17, using 10 1 * 1 call
signs W5E, W5I, W5S, K5E, W5N, W5H, W5O, W5W, N5E, and W5R.
Activity will be on 80 - 2 meters, CW, SSB, digital, and FM.
* The Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS) RADIOGRAM was the
winner of the Joseph Phillips, K8QOE, Newsletter Award in the ARRL
Great Lakes Division. The editor is Tom Parkinson, KB8UUZ.
* The overall winner of the 2021 Fox Mike Hotel Portable Operations
Challenge (POC) on September 4 - 5 was Jack Haefner, NG2E, of
Herndon, Virginia. Running 1 W on 20 meters, Haefner's most distant
contact was with F4WBN in France. That was also the most efficient
contact at 6,340 kilometers per watt.

ARRL Seeks New Treasurer

After 10 years of distinguished service to ARRL as its volunteer
Treasurer, Frederick "Rick" Niswander, K7GM, has decided to step down
when his current term expires in January 2022. ARRL is seeking
qualified candidates from among its membership. The Board of Directors
elects the Treasurer and other officers at its annual meeting in
even-numbered years.

The Treasurer is a non-voting member of the Board of Directors and must
be a licensed radio amateur and a full member of the ARRL for 4
continuous years prior to nomination. The ARRL Bylaws define the role
of the Treasurer as follows:
* In consultation with and subject to the general supervision of the
ministration and Finance Committee, provides for the investment
and reinvestment of the surplus funds of the League in any bonds,
stocks, or other securities as would be selected by a trustee with
the care of a prudent investor.
* Provides reports to and attends all regular meetings of the Board
of Directors.
* Serves as a member of the ministration and Finance Committee and,
if assigned, subcommittees of the Board or ministrative and
Finance Committee.

The position is unpaid; however, necessary expenses including travel to
meetings are reimbursable. For further information see the full
position description.

A search committee has been established to recommend one or more
candidates for Treasurer to the Board. Qualified members are invited to
submit a statement of interest and qualifications via email to
TreasurerSearch@arrl.org. The deadline is November 12, 2021.
Microsoft Releases Windows Version 11

The official release date for the new Windows 11 operating system is
October 5, Microsoft has announced, but it will be a slow reveal. Radio
amateurs may be eager to learn if it will run the station software
they're running under Windows 7 or Windows 10, and if they'll need new
device drivers.

"We are not too concerned," said Tom Wagner, N1MM, of the widely
popular, free logging software that bears his call sign -- N1MM
Logger+. "One member of the team and one end user has tested with
Windows 11 and not reported issues. We will fix them if they arise."

The WSJT-X Development Group is similarly unconcerned. "A few WSJT-X
users have been running on the beta Windows 11 release without any
issues," said Bill Somerville, G4WJS. "This seems to be reasonable
evidence that there should be no serious problems."

Microsoft said that the free upgrade to Windows 11 has begun rolling
out to eligible Windows 10 PCs, and PCs that come pre-loaded with
Windows 11 will start to become available for purchase on October 5. A
prompt to upgrade to Windows 11 will come to newer devices first, with
all eligible devices to receive their updates by next summer, according
to Gear Patrol.

Windows 11 has higher technical requirements than Windows 10, which
will be deprecated in 2025. Microsoft no longer supports Windows 7 or
earlier iterations. Machines will need to have a 64-bit CPU, 4 GB of
RAM, 64 GB of storage, and have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version
1.2 or later enabled.

Aaron Woodman, General Manager of Windows Marketing at Microsoft, told
The Verge, "We expect all eligible devices to be offered the free
upgrade to Windows 11 by mid-2022."

Microsoft will continue to support Windows 10 until October 14, 2025.
Read an expanded version.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspots were visible every day this
week, but numbers were lower. Average daily sunspot numbers declined
from 58.4 to 30.7, and average daily solar flux was down 2.9 points to
86.9.

Geomagnetic activity was a little higher, with average daily planetary
A index going from 7.3 to 8.1, and average daily middle latitude A
index from 6.3 to 6.7.

Friday, October 1 was affected by a solar flare from sunspot group
AR2871, driving the planetary A index to 15. This had a greater effect
at higher latitudes, with Alaska's College A index hitting 30 and 31 on
Friday and Saturday. In the middle of the UTC day on Saturday, the
College K index hit 7 -- a high number.

Predicted solar flux is 82 on October 7 - 9; 80 on October 10 - 13; 75
on October 14 - 16; then 80, 85, 88, and 90 on October 17 - 20; 88 on
October 21 - 22; 85 on October 23 - 24; 90, 100, 95, and 90 on October
25 - 28; 88 on October 29 - November 5; 85 and 80 on November 6 - 7,
and 75 on November 8 - 12.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on October 7; 8 on October 8 - 10; 12
and 8 on October 11 - 12; 5 on October 13 - 17; 10, 12, 10, and 8 on
October 18 - 21; 5 on October 22 - 24; 10 on October 25; 5 on October
26 - 31; 8 on November 1 - 2; 5 on November 3; 8 on November 4 - 5, and
5 on November 6 - 13.

Sunspot numbers for September 30 - October 6 were 46, 28, 25, 38, 29,
27, and 22, with a mean of 30.7. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 94.6,
90.5, 87, 86, 83.5, 81.7, and 84.8, with a mean of 86.9. Estimated
planetary A indices were 9, 15, 8, 6, 6, 5, and 8, with a mean of 8.1.
Middle latitude A index was 6, 13, 6, 6, 4, 6, and 6, with a mean of
6.7.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 8 - 9 -- YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 9 -- QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party (CW)
* October 9 -- Microwave Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* October 9 -10 -- Makrothen RTTY Contest
* October 9 - 10 -- Nevada QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 9 - 10 -- Oceania DX Contest (CW)
* October 9 - 10 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB)
* October 9 - 10 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* October 9 - 10 -- Arizona QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 9 - 10 -- Cosack's Honor VHF/UHF Contest (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 9 - 10 -- Pennsylvania QSO Party (CW, phone)
* October 9 - 10 -- South Dakota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 9 - 10 -- 160-Meter Great Pumpkin Sprint (digital)
* October 10 -- 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 10 -- UBA ON Contest (CW)
* October 11 -- 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* October 13 -- NAQCC CW Sprint
* October 13 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* October 13 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, Data (digital)

For more information, visit the ARRL Contest Calendar.
Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Florida State Convention (Melbourne Hamfest),
Melbourne, Florida
* October 8 - 9 -- ARRL Louisiana State Convention (Slidell EOC
Hamfest), Slidell, Louisiana
* October 15 - 17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon),
San Ramon, California
* November 6 - 7 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention (Stone Mountain
Hamfest), Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 13 -- ARRL Wisconsin State Convention (Wisconsin
ARES/RACES Conference) -- Online
* November 13 - 14 -- ARRL Central Division Convention (Fort Wayne
Hamfest & Computer Expo), Fort Wayne, Indiana

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 14, 2021

* Students at UK School for Deaf Youngsters Enjoy Space Chat
* Scouting's Jamboree-on-the-Air Takes Place this Weekend, October 15
- 17
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARDC Grant to Benefit High School Computer Science Students
* September 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report
* Amateur Radio in the News
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* New England Parks On The Air Event Set for Mid-October
* Announcements
* UN Day Transmission from Sweden's SAQ Set for October 24
* Author, QRP Enthusiast Rich Arland, K7SZ, SK
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
Students at UK School for Deaf Youngsters Enjoy Space Chat

Ten students at the Mary Hare School for deaf children in the UK took
part in what appears to have been a world-first event for Amateur Radio
on the International Space Station (ARISS). Facilitating the
late-morning direct contact with astronaut Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, at
NA1SS were ARISS-UK volunteers and members of the Newbury and District
Amateur Radio Society (NADARS).

Mary Hare School student Jacob asks
his question during the Mary Hare
School contact with astronaut Mark
Vande Hei, KG5GNP, on the ISS.

The ground station used the call sign GB4MHN. ARISS-UK volunteers
handled the technical aspects, while NADARS members provided students
with the "amateur radio experience" through events and activities.

Students asked their questions orally, and the astronaut's replies --
as well as questions and answers posed by the audience before the
contact began -- were displayed in closed caption format beneath a huge
video screen.

The Mary Hare School is an aural school for the deaf that teaches
students to develop lip-reading skills and to make use of technology.
Students range in age from 5 through 19 years old. An enthusiastic
audience of some 250 individuals was in the auditorium, where the
contact took place, while another 600 students at other locations in
the school observed the contact via a web feed.

Leading up to the contact, students at the school learned about radio-
and space-related topics that touched on physics, chemistry, and
biology. Student activities have included designing and flying model
rockets, making astronomical observations, and observing authentic
spacesuits.

Students wanted to know if the astronauts used sign language in space
in case something goes wrong, how the ISS would be evacuated in the
event of a fire, and whether mobile devices such as cell phones work in
space.

"You made my day!" Vande Hei said after all the questions had been
asked and the students had applauded.

Thanks to ARISS, Amateur radio equipment has been on board the ISS for
more than 20 years, and most astronauts hold ham radio licenses. ARRL
The National Association for Amateur Radio is an ARISS sponsor.

A livestream was available and has been archived.
Scouting's Jamboree-on-the-Air Takes Place this Weekend, October 15 -
17

Scouting's largest event in the world -- Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) --
takes place October 15 - 17. During JOTA, Scouts and hams around the
world, around the nation, and in your own community meet on the air via
amateur radio. All types of Scouts may participate, from Cub Scouts to
Boy Scouts and Venturers. The participating Scouts often gather at a
station made available by a volunteer, or at one set up just for JOTA.
Communication typically involves SSB or FM voice, but it's also
possible that other modes, such as video or digital, will be employed
-- or even repeater or satellite communication.

Scouts typically exchange such information as name, location, Scout
rank, and hobbies, and it's expected that many participating Scouts
will be amateur radio licensees. Contacts may take place across town,
across the country, or even around the world. The World Scout Bureau
reported that more than 1.5 million Scouts from some 160 countries took
part in JOTA/JOTI (Jamboree-on-the-Internet) in 2017. With no
restrictions on age or on the number of participants, and at little or
no expense, JOTA allows Scouts to meet and become acquainted with each
other by ham radio.

JOTA officially starts on Friday evening during the JOTA Jump Start and
continues through Sunday evening. Any amateur mode of operation may be
used such, as CW, SSB, PSK, SSTV, FM, and satellite. JOTA is not a
contest.

Two Scouts take part in JOTA 2019
from WN7BSA in Arizona.

To learn what JOTA activity is planned for a given area, contact the
local or regional Scout council, a local ham radio operator, or a local
amateur radio club. Your local club may be able to direct you to
planned JOTA activities. These can include ham stations set up at
camporees or other events. If no activities are planned, work with them
to get something set up or arrange to visit a local radio operator's
ham shack at a scheduled time to participate in JOTA.

If nothing is currently planned, you can work with the council or a
local unit (pack, troop, crew) to set up a JOTA station or arrange for
visits to your ham shack. You can also participate just by making
contacts with the many JOTA stations that will be on the air. A good
resource for finding a local Scout unit is the Be-A-Scout website.

Since the first JOTA in 1958, millions of Scouts have become acquainted
with each other through this event. Many JOTA contacts have resulted in
relationships between Scout troops and individual Scouts that have
lasted many years.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 22) features a
discussion with Chris Plumblee, W4WF, about contesting and what this
activity has to offer new amateurs.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 44) features Steve Allen,
KC1SA, and a discussion about the current electronics parts shortage
and what it may mean for amateurs.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

ARDC Grant to Benefit High School Computer Science Students

Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is helping computer science
students at California High School in San Ramon, California, to become
makers by providing a grant to purchase Raspberry Pi computers and
Arduino microcontrollers. Computer science AP teacher Sean Raser said
he believes that a hands-on approach is the most effective way for
students to learn and retain knowledge. The class would aim to
accomplish this through encouraging students to invent their own
systems using the Raspberry Pis and Arduinos. By combining these
devices with sensors, motors, other electronics, and computer code,
students would have the opportunity to learn complex technical concepts
first hand.

Raser's challenge has been acquiring enough hardware for all students
in his class. With limited resources, his program has been limited to a
small number of students, however.

A $9,950 ARDC grant hopes to change that by allowing Raser to give all
of his students the opportunity to participate. The funds will allow
him to provide students with Raspberry Pi and micro:bit computers,
Arduinos, and the other components.

Raser plans to transform part of his classroom into a makerspace that
is accessible to all students at California High School, located in San
Ramon.

"The results have been extraordinary. The students' creativity and
passion for learning truly thrive as a result of being able to bring
their own ideas to life," Raser said. One student, for example, is
using a

California High School in San Ramon,
California. [California High School
photo]

Raspberry Pi Zero and a variety of sensors to record flight data during
a model rocket launch. Another has built an automated attendance taker
using a Raspberry Pi and RFID sensors. Raser's hope is that these
experiences will nudge these students into careers as engineers and
scientists.

ARDC is a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and
internet technology. In 2019, ARDC announced the sale of some 4 million
consecutive unused AMPRNet internet addresses, with the proceeds to
establish a program of grants and scholarships in support of
communications and networking research with a strong emphasis on
amateur radio. ARDC, which manages AMPRNet, said it planned to provide
monetary grants to organizations, groups, projects, and scholarships
that have significant potential to advance the state of the art of
amateur radio and of digital communications.
September 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report

The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between the
ARRL and FCC to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service. This
is the VM Program report for September 2021.
* Technician-class operators in Mansfield, Ohio; Avon Park, Florida,
and Pulaski, Tennessee, received visory Notices after making
numerous FT8 contacts on 20 meters. Technician-class licensees do
not have operating privileges on 20 meters.
* A Volunteer Monitor in Mission Viejo, California, received a
Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard
Certificate of Appreciation for his efforts in locating a defective
transmitter on Marine Radio Channel 16 that was blocking emergency
communications on that channel.
* A former licensee in Durham, North Carolina, received an visory
Notice for operating under a call sign and license cancelled by the
FCC.
* An operator in White Pine, Tennessee, received an visory Notice
regarding operation on 7.137 MHz, a frequency not authorized under
his General-class license.
* Operators in Swannanoa, North Carolina, and New Albany, Indiana,
received Good Operator Notices for exemplary operation during 2021
and for regularly assisting other operators with transmitter
adjustments and amateur radio procedures.
* The VM Program made one recommendation to the FCC for case closure.

VM Program statistics for August showed 2,008 hours on HF frequencies
and 2,642 hours on VHF frequencies and above, for a total of 4,650
hours. -- Thanks to Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, ministrator,
Volunteer Monitor Program

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Amateur radio operators hear about their role in a major earthquake
/ West Kentucky Star, Kentucky, October 11, 2021
* Dialed In: Owensboro Amateur Radio Club going strong /
Messenger-Inquirer, Kentucky, October 11, 2021

* Hundreds take part in Burlingame's Drill. Residents joined by
police, fire and Ham radio operators / Patch, California, October
10, 2021
* Ham radio operators provide valuable community service in
emergencies / Palestine Herald-Press, Texas, September 9, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

Using the Raspberry Pi with Ham Radio / Presented by Jason Oleham,
KM4ACK, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 @ 1:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

Computers have become an important part of amateur radio. The Raspberry
Pi is a low-cost yet powerful computer that can be used for many
amateur radio tasks. Jason Oleham, KM4ACK, an avid YouTube content
creator, discusses how to use the Pi, why he started using it, and why
he developed Build-a-Pi, a script that gets hams up and running
quickly.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.
New England Parks On The Air Event Set for Mid-October

The inaugural Autumn New England Parks On The Air (NE POTA) event will
take place on Saturday, October 16, 0000 - 2359 UTC, the K1USN Radio
Club has announced. The goal is to have one group or individual
operator at as many Parks On The Air^(R) as possible. The K1USN Radio
Club hopes this will become an annual event. This is a recreational
radio event, not a contest, so no logs will be required to participate.
Summaries of activity are encouraged, however, and a post-event link
will be available.

"This began as a reaction to the widespread local interest in the Parks
On The Air (POTA) program here in New England. Last year, Ohio had a
successful Ohio-wide POTA weekend, and Wisconsin is now doing something
similar," said K1USN Radio Club President Pi Pugh, K1RV. "Autumn is a
special time in New England, and I figured the event might generate
some extra interest before winter. Perhaps this can become an annual
New England event or, better yet, an annual nationwide or worldwide
event."

ARRL New England Division Vice Director Phil Temples, K9HI, is hoping
the event will give the public a chance to learn a bit more about
amateur radio. He encouraged those who plan to participate to promote
the event with informational handouts.

Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), the largest Scouting event in the world,
also occurs during the weekend of October 15 - 17, and NE POTA
participants are encouraged to reach out to local Scouting groups.

A spreadsheet has been created to keep track of individuals and clubs
that register.

Contact Pugh for more information.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* [IMG]NEAR-Fest XXX begins at 9 AM EDT on Friday, October 15, as a
hybrid event. The live activity takes place at the Deerfield
Fairgrounds in New Hampshire. A Town Meeting will feature the
candidates for ARRL New England Division Director. NEAR-Fest
continues through Saturday, October 16. Thanks to Mike, W1RC, and
the New England Amateur Radio Festival, Inc.
* The government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands has
proposed to delegate the administration of amateur radio licenses
to the Falkland Island regulator and to issue amateur radio call
signs with the prefix VP0, rather than VP8, with an initial suffix
letter of either an S or G, as appropriate. VP0 is also the prefix
of the British Antarctic Territories.
* After more than 2 years of inactivity, Robert, 3B9FR, is again
active from Rodrigues Island, an ARRL DXCC entity. He is mainly a
CW operator but does occasionally get on SSB and FT8.
* France's youngest ham is 10-year-old Florian Barret, FR4UG, who
lives on Reunion Island.
* On October 16, 0800 - 1600 UTC, HV0A in Vatican City (#112 on Club
Log's Most-Wanted DXCC list) station will be active OSCAR 100 in CW
and SSB. This will mark the first activation of a Vatican station
on the OSCAR 100 satellite.
* ARRL Audio News^(c) is available free each Friday, providing a look
at the week's ham radio news happenings. Contact ARRL Audio News
with questions and comments. The webcast is available on the ARRL
website as well as on Blubrry and may be transmitted freely via
repeater at no cost.

UN Day Transmission from Sweden's SAQ Set for October 24

On United Nations Day, Sunday, October 24, the vintage and historical
Alexanderson alternator in Grimeton, Sweden, with call sign SAQ, is
scheduled to send out a message to the world on 17.2 kHz CW. The events
of the day will be livestreamed on YouTube starting at 14:25 UTC.
Transmitter startup and tuning will begin at 1430 UTC, with the message
transmission to follow at 1500 UTC.

An operator at SAQ with the
Alexanderson Alternator in the
background.

This year's message was drafted by Swedish human rights lawyer and
sustainability expert Parul Sharma.

SAQ will conduct some test transmissions on October 22, 1100 UTC - 1400
UTC and will be on air for short periods during this interval. Comments
are welcome to info@alexander.n.se.

For a guaranteed e-QSL, use the online report form, which will be open
October 24 - November 14.

Dating from the 1920s, the Alexanderson alternator -- essentially an ac
generator run at extremely high speed -- can put out 200 kW but
typically is operated at less than one-half that power level. Once used
to provide reliable transatlantic communication, it is now a museum
piece and only put on the air on special occasions.

The transmitter was developed by Swedish engineer and radio pioneer
Ernst Alexanderson, who was employed at General Electric in
Schenectady, New York, and was chief engineer at the Radio Corporation
of America.

Six 400+ foot towers with 150 foot crossarms support a multi-wire
antenna for SAQ. The actual signal radiates from a vertical wire, one
from each tower.

Amateur radio station SK6SAQ will be active on these frequencies: 3.535
MHz CW, 7.035 MHz CW, 14.035 MHz CW, 3.755 MHz SSB, and 7.140 MHz SSB.
QSL SK6SAQ via email to info@alexander.n.se, via the bureau, or direct
to Alexander - GVV, Radiostationen Grimeton 72 SE-432 98, Grimeton,
Sweden. Two stations will be on the air most of the time.

For a guaranteed e-QSL, use the online report form, which will be open
October 24 - November 14.
Author, QRP Enthusiast Rich Arland, K7SZ, SK

Richard H. "Rich" Arland, K7SZ, of Dacula, Georgia, died on October 7.
An ARRL member, he was 75. In addition to other books, Arland was the
author of Low-Power Communication and other ARRL publications, and he
was an avid QRP enthusiast and experimenter. Arland had been a radio
amateur since 1963. He volunteered in the ARRL Field Organization as a
Technical visor and as an Official Emergency Station since 1990.

From 2000 until 2003, Arland contributed the "QRP Power" column for
QST. He has written for several other radio publications, including CQ,
Popular Communications, WorldRadio, and Monitoring Times.

He entered amateur radio as a broadcast band and shortwave listener. A
US Air Force veteran, Arland worked for 20 years in Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania. He and his wife Patricia, KB3MCT, relocated to Georgia in
2008.

In addition to QRP, Arland had an abiding interest in vintage "boat
anchor" gear and had been restoring a Drake 2B and a Heathkit HR-10
receiver. He had planned to install a Hallicrafters SR-160 transceiver
and matching power supply/speaker as his primary HF SSB radio.

Arland was also a collector and restorer of military communications
radio equipment. His collection included a TRC-77A special ops HF radio
and four ARC-5 Command Set receivers, complete with dynamotors. He
procured an AN/GRC-109 CIA/Special Forces portable HF "spy radio" used
extensively in Vietnam for backup communications. He held an FCC
General Radiotelephone Operator's License (GROL).

Arland also enjoyed experimenting with antennas, building and using QRP
gear, SWLing, and CW operating.
In Brief...

The Intrepid-DX Group has extended the submission deadline for this
year's Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest to November 15, 2021. The winner
of the 2021 contest will be announced on December 1. Those who
submitted an essay last year are invited to submit again. The prize is
an Icom IC-7300 transceiver. Entry rules: (1) Write and submit a
two-page essay that answers the question, "How can amateur radio evolve
to remain relevant in the age of the internet? (2) Be a US amateur
radio licensee aged 19 or younger. (3) Promise to keep the radio for 1
year and to use it on the air. (4) Send your essay in text or MS Word
attachment by November 15, 2021 (no Google documents, please) (5)
Alternatively mail it to The Intrepid-DX Group, 3052 Wetmore Dr, San
Jose, CA 95148, USA, postmarked by November 15, 2021. All submissions
become the property of the Intrepid-DX Group and may be published.
Contact Paul Ewing, N6PSE, and visit The Intrepid-DX Group Facebook
page for more information.

OG2Y is the new Youth call sign for Finland. The IARU member-society
Finnish Radio Amateur Association (SRAL) has announced that OG2Y is the
new call sign for all youth activities there. OH2YOTA, the call sign by
which young radio amateurs in Finland are best associated, is only
available for events sponsored by the IARU Youth Working Group.
However, OG2Y may be used freely for any youth project. It will also be
available for amateur radio contests. The youth section of the SRAL
website has more details.

The Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) in Africa has become a
popular spot for DXpeditions. Three operations are planned for October
and one for November 2021. 3DA0RU, fielded by a Russian DXpedtion team,
will be active on October 22; 3DA0WW, by a team from Latvia, will be
active on October 12 - 26; Romeo Vega, 3W3RR, has announced he will be
active as 3DA0RR on October 14 - 16, and 3DA0LP, by Lionel DuPlessis,
ZS6DPL, will operate on a limited schedule as 3DA0LP on October 11 -
15. Eswatini is the 120th most-wanted DXCC entity, according to Club
Log. -- Thanks to OPDX

-------------------------------------------------------------------


The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Although we saw sunspots on every day
of the October 7 - 13 reporting week, solar activity declined a bit.
Average daily sunspot number went from 30.7 to 23.6, and average daily
solar flux from 86.9 to 85.6. Geomagnetic indicators were higher, with
the average daily planetary A index rising from 8.1 to 12.4, and the
average daily middle latitude A index from 6.7 to 10.3.

The sunspot numbers and middle latitude A index for October 13 are
preliminary, but should be resolved by October 15. The same is true for
the solar flux forecast, which is actually a day late, so we present
the numbers from Tuesday's forecast instead of Wednesday.

On Saturday, October 9, Spaceweather.com reported a strong
Earth-directed M1.6-class solar flare, with CME erupting at 0640 UTC
and causing an HF radio blackout over the Indian Ocean. This caused the
planetary A index on October 12 to hit 45 and Alaska's College A index
to read 60.

Predicted solar flux is 82 on October 14 - 15; 80 on October 16 - 20;
88 on October 21 - 22; 85 on October 23 - 24; 90, 100, 95, and 90 on
October 25 - 28; 88 on October 29 - 30; 85 on October 31 - November 5;
88 on November 6; 85 on November 7 - 13; 88 on November 14 - 15; 90 on
November 16, and 88 on November 17 - 18.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 and 8 on October 14 - 15; 5 on October
16 - 17; 12 on October 18; 8 on October 19 - 21; 5 on October 23 - 24;
10 on October 25; 5 on October 26 - November 1; 8 on November 2; 5 on
November 3 - 5; 10 on November 6 - 7; 8 on November 8 - 9; 5 on
November 10 - 12, and 10, 12, 12, 10, and 8 on November 13 - 17.

Sunspot numbers for October 7 - 13 were 13, 13, 14, 38, 35, 26, and 26,
with a mean of 23.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 85.7, 92.4, 81, 84.5,
88.5, 83.5, and 83.5, with a mean of 85.6. Estimated planetary A
indices were 5, 4, 5, 9, 13, 45, and 6, with a mean of 12.4. The middle
latitude A index was 3, 3, 4, 9, 15, 32, and 6, with a mean of 10.3.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 16 - 17 -- JARTS WW RTTY Contest
* October 16 - 17 -- 10-10 International Fall Contest (CW),
* October 16 - 17 -- New York QSO Party (CW phone, digital)
* October 16 - 17 -- Worked All Germany Contest (CW, phone)
* October 16 -- Feld Hell Sprint
* October 16 -- Argentina National 7 MHz Contest (phone)
* October 17 -- RSGB RoLo CW
* October 17 -- Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint (CW)
* October 17 -- UBA ON Contest, 2 Meters (CW, phone)
* October 17 - 18 -- Illinois QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
* October 17 - 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
* October 18 -- ARRL School Club Roundup (CW, phone)
* October 18 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series
* October 20 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening (CW)

For more information, visit the ARRL Contest Calendar.
Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* October 15 - 17 -- ARRL Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon),
San Ramon, California
* November 6 - 7 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention (Stone Mountain
Hamfest), Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 13 -- ARRL Wisconsin State Convention (Wisconsin
ARES/RACES Conference) -- Online
* November 13 - 14 -- ARRL Central Division Convention (Fort Wayne
Hamfest & Computer Expo), Fort Wayne, Indiana

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
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* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
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to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
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bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 21, 2021

* Enjoy Two Weekends of Fun During the ARRL November Sweepstakes
* ARDC Grants to Fund Amateur Radio Project Expansions
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Hams Support Chicago Marathon
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Golden Globe Sailing Race Entrants Banned from Using Amateur Radio
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
Enjoy Two Weekends of Fun During the ARRL November Sweepstakes

The ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) weekends loom large on the amateur
radio contest horizon. The CW weekend is November 6 - 8, while the
phone weekend is November 20 - 22. Both events begin on Saturday at
2100 UTC and conclude on Monday at 0259 UTC.

The SS offers operating categories for every preference. The goal for
many seasoned SS operators is to complete a "clean sweep" by contacting
all 84 ARRL and Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Sections. Canada's
Prince Edward Island province joined the list last year. Most SS
operators try to run up the contact and multiplier counts and stay in
the chair for the full 24 (out of 30) allowable hours.

The competition can be fierce, and the pileups can be huge. In 2020,
ARRL received 1,445 logs for the CW event and 2,046 for the phone
event.

Some Sections are harder to contact than others. Northern Territories
(NT) is always a challenge, but there's a slim chance that snagging NT
could be easier this year.

Gerry Hull, W1VE (also VE1RM), is hoping to operate as VY1AAA for both
weekends, using "J" Allen's, VY1JA, Yukon Territory station remotely
from the US. Now in his mid-70s, Allen essentially retired from ham
radio a few years ago due to health issues, but he's bounced back this
year with renewed enthusiasm and working to get a station and antennas
ready for Hull to operate. At this point, he's sorting through a
backyard scrap pile that includes tower sections he had up in the past.
He wants to get 80 - 100 feet assembled and clamped to a sturdy utility
pole. Hull says Allen is committed to the task.

The VY1JA tower boneyard. [Photo
courtesy of J Allen, VY1JA]

"VY1JA is now in re-construction," Allen says on his QRZ.com profile.
"There is only a small chance that it will be done and on the air for
SS CW this year. If so, signals may be weaker than in the past, with
only a 100 W Omni VII and wire antennas. Plans for building an amp
failed, and antenna work has taken far longer than expected."

Hull said if Allen does manage to erect the antenna support tower,
VY1AAA will have inverted V antennas for 20 and 40 meters, which Hull
considers "the money bands from Yukon on CW."

"So, hoping for good weather and good health for J, and then we might
have VY1AAA on for the masses for SS CW," he said. Hull said if the CW
weekend is successful, he'll consider also operating in the phone
event.

Other difficult Sections to contact include Delaware, Puerto Rico, the
US Virgin Islands, Pacific, and North Dakota. (Alaska, Hawaii and other
US territories in the ARRL Pacific Section, Puerto Rico, and the US
Virgin Islands count as W/VE stations, not as DX, for the SS.)

Contesters, especially the less experienced, often want to know how to
handle duplicate contacts (dupes). It's almost a given that this will
happen in SS. While some operators still set up a "hot key" to send
"WKD B4" on CW when encountering a dupe, current best practice is to
work the apparent dupe, log it, and move on. While dupes don't earn any
points, they also don't mean you'll incur a NIL (not-in-log) penalty if
the apparent dupe did not log the initial contact for one reason or
another.

The SS exchange is patterned on traffic-handling terminology. For both
the CW and phone events, stations exchange a sequential serial number
(no leading zeros are required), an operating category (precedence),
call sign, the last two digits of the year first licensed (check), and
ARRL/RAC Section.

Most areas of the US change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time
at 2 AM local time on November 7, by moving clocks back 1 hour. UTC is
not affected.

Logs are due within 7 days after the event is over. Certificates will
be awarded in the top operator CW and Phone scores in each category in
each ARRL/RAC Section and Division, and plaques will be awarded to the
Overall and Division winners. Icom America is the principal awards
sponsor.

An operating guide that relates some of the history and evolution of
these North American contests is available under "Operating Guidelines"
on the ARRL November Sweepstakes page.
ARDC Grants to Fund Amateur Radio Project Expansions

Two recent Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) grants will
benefit the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC), K6TZ, and Oregon
HamWAN.

A $35,550 grant will enable SBARC to construct an amateur radio station
at the new Chrisman California Islands Center (CCIC) in downtown
Carpinteria, California, at the invitation of the Santa Cruz Island
Foundation (SCIF). According to Levi Maaia, K6LCM, who is the K6TZ club
call sign trustee, the station is scheduled to open in 2022. SBARC
promotes education and training programs for anyone interested in ham
radio. It also encourages and sponsors experiments in electronics and
promotes the highest standards of practice and ethics in the conduct of
communications.

The station will be prominently located near the CCIC main entrance. An
interactive display will provide an overview of amateur radio
communications and the role that amateur radio has played in the
history of the islands.

When the station is not staffed, visitors can interact with it using a
custom touchscreen that controls an interactive presentation on amateur
radio and wireless technologies and their importance to mariners,
aviators, scientists, and explorers who visit the rugged islands off
the California coast. Webcams connected to the station via SBARC's
microwave data network will offer visitors a view of the island's
terrain in real time.

An ARRL-Affiliated club, SBARC already maintains open repeaters, data
systems, and a club station in Santa Barbara County under the K6TZ call
sign.

Oregon HamWAN has received an ARDC grant of $88,000 to expand its
digital communications network. The project aims to enhance amateur
radio digital and emergency communications capabilities between
Portland and Salem, Oregon.

The nonprofit plans to expand its digital communications network by
deploying 12 network backbone distribution sites between the two
cities. Eventually, the sites will connect to the Puget Sound Data
Ring, which currently extends from Seattle to Vancouver, Washington.
The network would allow emergency management personnel to communicate
in the event of a disaster, such as a major earthquake, that disrupts
telecommunications systems. In such cases, amateur radio operators will
be able to quickly set up network nodes where they are needed to
provide emergency communication via the Oregon HamWAN digital network.
"This will be a game changer for emergency communications in the
Portland area," said Herb Weiner, AA7HW, the Oregon HamWAN Project
Leader.

"Deciding to fund [the] Oregon HamWAN project was an easy decision,"
said ARDC Grants visory Committee Chair John Hays, K7VE. "It is a
well-organized and well-staffed project that uses multiple amateur
radio technologies, such as the 44Net IP address space, 5 GHz radios,
and proven software methodologies. It will provide a strong backbone
network in Oregon and help preserve our microwave bands."

ARDC is a California-based private foundation that supports innovative
amateur radio projects. The foundation makes grants for projects and
organizations that follow amateur radio's practice and tradition of
technical experimentation in both amateur radio and digital
communication science.

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 22) will feature
a discussion with Chris Plumblee, W4WF, about contesting and what this
activity has to offer new amateurs.

The latest episode of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 45) will
feature a discussion about the current status of amateur television
with Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, as well as a brief description of an unusual
"sound dampening screw."

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
Hams Support Chicago Marathon

A team of 135 radio amateurs from four states supported medical teams
volunteering for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 10.
The Chicago Marathon is the third largest marathon in the world. This
marked the 13th year that amateur radio volunteers have partnered with
the marathon medical team to help coordinate responses, arrange for
deployment of medical supplies, and provide situational awareness for
the organizers.

The largely flat marathon course has 20 aid stations on its 26.2-mile
course, each with a medical tent. Hams are deployed at each medical
tent to support communication for the medical teams.

There are two main communication nets: a medical net and a logistics
net, and nine repeaters support these nets. Most of the repeaters
belong to local clubs, but five temporary repeaters are also deployed.

In addition to passing urgent medical and health-and-welfare traffic,
ham radio volunteers also provide situational awareness for race
organizers, such as updating the number of individuals under care at
each medical tent. Hams at each medical tent are also responsible for
changing the event alert flag, which informs runners of course
conditions so they can adjust their pace. This year, the flags were
changed to red because of the humidity and an increased potential for
serious heat-related injuries.

Most communication is done via FM repeaters. If a runner develops a
problem, spotters alert a rapid-response medical team, each with a ham
volunteer to handle communication. In serious situations, hams can call
into the Forward Command post to dispatch medical assistance. Ten ham
volunteers in Forward Command serve as net controls, traffic handlers,
logging specialists, and expediters.

Ham radio volunteers at the Chicago
Marathon Med Team #4 Tent [Photo
courtesy of Rob Orr, K9RST]

The event provides plenty of personal challenges. Many ham volunteers
report to their duty stations very early in the morning to conduct roll
calls at 6 AM, and many remain on course until the event ends at around
4 PM. The hams and the medical teams must adjust to the weather as
well. Hams also serve the aid stations where race volunteers dispense
water and Gatorade. In the event of an emergency, hams shadow the aid
station captain to facilitate communication with Forward Command.

Even in an era of ubiquitous cell phones, ham radio remains able to
provide an independent resource that can back up all other
communication.

Read an expanded version in this week's edition of The ARES Letter. --
Thanks to Rob Orr, K9RST, via The ARES Letter

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

More webinars are coming soon. Check the website for updated
information.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.
Golden Globe Sailing Race Entrants Banned from Using Amateur Radio

The use of amateur radio by participants in the 2022 - 23 Golden Globe
Race (GGR) -- an around-the-world sailing competition -- has been
banned. Race organizers put the restriction in place because of
unlicensed use of amateur radio equipment in the 2018 - 19 event,
Yachting Monthly reported. In the 2018 - 19 race, Estonian skipper Uku
Randmaa, ES1UKU, was penalized after seeking weather routing (the best
route according to wind and weather conditions) via ham radio. While he
escaped disqualification, he did receive a 72-hour penalty. Randmaa
received weather routing information from Bob McLeod, VP8LP, who
advised Randmaa, "The more north you go, the quicker you get out of the
wind hole.

The race rules say, "Entrants are free to speak to media, family,
friends, and sponsors by radio at any time during the event, but must
not be given any form of weather routing." But in the next sentence,
the rules allow competitors to "communicate freely (by radio or by
hailing) with other competitors, or other mariners on vessels at sea,
requesting or giving any verbal information/advice whatsoever, even if
this is considered weather routing."

The GGR rules that were spelled out in the Notice of Race require at
least a 125 W marine MF/HF radio transceiver with a frequency range of
at least 1.6 to 29.9 MHz, "fitted in a 100% watertight enclosure (able
to be sealed in any storm) with permanently installed antenna and
[ground] and an emergency antenna when the regular antenna depends upon
the permanent Backstay."

The rules make clear that, "Any proven breach of International radio
telecommunication regulations, such as transmitting on illegal maritime
frequencies, may result in a time penalty. Ham Radio transmissions are
specifically banned."

According to Yachting Monthly, the change has caused concern within the
race community, "with some of the 2018 entrants highlighting
difficulties in picking up Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
(GMDSS) frequencies in the Southern Ocean due to the shrinking of the
broadcasting network as more mariners rely on satellite communication."

The approximately 30,000-mile GGR
solo circumnavigation starts and
ends in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France.
It has four rendezvous "gates" along
the way. [Maxine Heath image]

"This is a retro race with skippers restricted to using a sextant [a
navigation instrument used to measure altitudes of celestial bodies],
paper charts, and wind-up chronometers, just as Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
used in the first Sunday Times Golden Globe Race 50 years ago," Race
Chairman Don McIntyre has explained.

In the 2018 race, some GGR skippers who operated on ham radio
frequencies using bogus call signs were asked to stop operating.

GGR monitors all severe weather with winds over 40 knots and, if
appropriate, provides both forecasting and routing information to
assist entrants in sailing safely.

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Mary Hare pupils make contact with International Space Station in
world first for deaf children with Newbury Amateur Radio Society /
Newbury Weekly News, UK, October 13, 2021
* Dialed In: Owensboro Amateur Radio Club going strong /
Messenger-Inquirer, Kentucky, October 11, 2021
* Hundreds take part in Burlingame's Drill. Residents joined by
police, fire and Ham radio operators / Patch, California, October
10, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* ARRL's YouTube channel, ARRLHQ, has launched a series of amateur
radio Technician-class license courses. This series of videos
features Dave Casler, KE0OG, QST's "Ask Dave" columnist, who leads
viewers through The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual. These videos
supplement the manual and provide an overview of the sections
students will study, along with a few videos on how things work.
Share this excellent resource with those who are preparing to take
the Technician exam, and visit the ARRLHQ YouTube channel for more
great amateur radio videos.
* Radio Club Argentina celebrates its 100th anniversary on October
21. Special event station L21RCA has been active throughout the
year.
* The WRTC 2022 organizing committee has announced final
qualification standings for team leaders and teammates. The
organizers note that WRTC 2022 has been postponed until July 2023.
* The International DX Association (INDEXA) has a new mailing
address. It is 2309 Lincoln Ave., Saint Albans, WV 25177.
* A free General-class licensing course via Zoom will begin on
Thursday, October 28 and continue through Thursday, January 13 --
nine sessions in all, plus 3 weeks off for the holidays in November
and December. Rol Anders, K3RA, will be the instructor. Sessions
will start at 6:30 PM ET (2230 UTC on October 28; 2330 UTC
thereafter) and run for 3 hours. Classes are sponsored by the
National Electronics Museum. To sign up, email Anders.
* Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, reports that the NO-104 satellite has been
enabled for APRS-to-voice (A2V) mode. Information on how to use
this and other features of this satellite is on the PSAT2 website.
"PSAT2 voltage telemetry has failed, so we will turn the PSAT2 user
modes on as long as they work," Bruninga said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------


In Brief...

The November issue of QST includes the article, "The Beverage Antenna,
100 Years Later," by Ward Silver, N0AX, and Frank Donovan, W3LPL. The
famous receiving antenna, designed and patented in 1921 by Harold
Beverage, 2BML, remains popular for the low bands as increasing sunspot
activity in Solar Cycle 25 leads to weaker signals on 160 and 80
meters. The article explains the Beverage antenna's noise-rejection
abilities, as well as how to build a basic Beverage antenna system. The
November issue also includes a special contesting insert, "Contest
Season 2021 - 2022," which is full of resources and hints to help you
have your best radiosport season yet.

The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced a grant to the
Seychelles Amateur Radio Association (SARA). The funds will go toward
establishing a facility for its recently formed (2018) amateur radio
club. The Yasme Foundation also announced that Steve Babcock, VE6WZ, of
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is the latest recipient of its Excellence
Award. This honor is presented to individuals and groups who, through
their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a
significant contribution to amateur radio. The Yasme Foundation cited
Babcock's contributions to the art of low-band antennas and remote
operating. Babcock has made countless hours of instructional videos,
which are available to the amateur community for free via his QRZ.com
profile. The Yasme Excellence Award is given in the form of a cash
grant and an individually engraved crystal globe.

The 2021 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will take place as a
Zoom webinar on October 24. It will run from 0945 until 1500 UTC.
AMSAT-UK membership is not required, but participants are asked to
register before October 24. The 2021 colloquium will also be
livestreamed via YouTube. Each presentation will be followed by a
5-minute Q&A session, and Zoom participants will be able to pose
questions to the speakers. The AMSAT-UK Annual General Meeting will
follow the colloquium and, after a short break, there will be an
informal evening discussion session on "all things satellite."

The new Youth category for the CQ World Wide DX Contest (CQ WW, phone)
will debut October 30 - 31. The category covers contesters age 25 years
old or younger and applies not only to the phone event but the CW
weekend, November 27 - 28. International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)
Region 2 (the Americas) is one of several organizations sponsoring
plaques for the top young scorers. In Region 2, plaques will be awarded
to the top Youth score in each CQ WW event in North America and South
America -- four in all. Youth plaques are sponsored by other entities
for participants from all continents in both events. Unlicensed
listeners can log all the stations they hear and compare with other
shortwave listener (SWL) logs. Certificates are available for everyone
submitting a contest log.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar activity declined last week,
and October 17 saw no sunspots at all. Most days this week had the
minimum non-zero sunspot number, which is 11, indicating a single
sunspot group containing a single sunspot.

The average daily sunspot number declined from 23.7 to 11.3, and
average daily solar flux dropped by 7 points from 85.6 to 78.6.

Geomagnetic indicators were quiet, with average planetary A index
declining from 12.4 to 8.4, and average middle latitude A index from
10.1 to 5.4.

Despite the lower activity, I did notice some 10- and 12-meter openings
here at my location in Seattle.

Predicted solar flux appears lower too, with values at 76 on October 21
- 22; 80 on October 23 - 25; 82 on October 26 - 28; 88 on October 29 -
30; 85 on October 31 - November 11; 80 on November 12 - 20; 85, 90, 95,
and 90 on November 21 - 24; 88 on November 25 - 26, and 85 through the
end of November.

Predicted planetary A index is 10 and 8 on October 21 - 22; 5 on
October 23 - November 1; 8 on November 2; 5 on November 3 - 5; 12, 10,
and 8 on November 6 - 8; 5 on November 9 - 13; 12 on November 14 - 15;
8 on November 16 - 18; 5 on November 19 - 20; 10 on November 21, and 5
on November 22 - 28.

Sunspot numbers for October 14 - 20 were 24, 11, 11, 0, 11, 11, and 11,
with a mean of 11.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 83.4, 84, 77.6, 77.4,
75.9, 76, and 75.9, with a mean of 78.6. Estimated planetary A indices
were 7, 6, 6, 10, 10, 14, and 6, with a mean of 8.4. Middle latitude A
index was 6, 4, 3, 5, 6, 9, and 5, with a mean of 5.4.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 23 - 24 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* October 23 - 24 -- UK/EI DX Contest, SSB
* October 23 - 24 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
* October 24 -- North American SSB Sprint
* October 24 - 26 -- UHF Telephone Pioneers QSO Party (CW, phone,
digital)
* October 24 - 27 -- Classic Exchange, CW
* October 27 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)
* October 27 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (CW)
* October 28 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, SSB

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

Some conventions and hamfests may have been canceled or postponed due
to the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on
the ARRL website.
* November 6 - 7 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention (Stone Mountain
Hamfest), Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 13 -- ARRL Wisconsin State Convention (Wisconsin
ARES/RACES Conference) -- Online
* November 13 - 14 -- ARRL Central Division Convention (Fort Wayne
Hamfest & Computer Expo), Fort Wayne, Indiana

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.
--- SendMsg/2

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* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
October 28, 2021

* ARRL Concurs with Two FCC WRC-23 visory Committee Draft Positions
* President Names Rosenworcel FCC Chair, Announces Planned
Nominations to FCC, NTIA
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program to Accept Applications Starting
on November 1
* US and Region 2 Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships
Results are In
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Confirms November 2022 Activation
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* Indian Radio Amateurs Help to Coordinate Disaster Relief in the
Wake of Flooding
* Well-Known Amateur Radio Contester and DXer Will Roberts, AA4NC, SK
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Getting It Right!
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Concurs with Two FCC WRC-23 visory Committee Draft Positions

ARRL has said it agrees with the draft positions of the FCC's World
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) visory Committee (WAC) on WRC-23
agenda items 1.13 and 9.1 (Topic A). ARRL is represented on the WAC and
participating in its work. The FCC International Bureau issued a call
for comments earlier this year.

With respect to agenda item 1.12, ARRL recommends that the US support
"studies and possible consideration of a new allocation to the Earth
Exploration-Satellite Service (Active) on a secondary basis within the
frequency range of 40 - 50 MHz" for spaceborne radar sounders.

"Our support for the draft recommendation is conditioned on explicitly
including in the recommendation the need to provide protection and not
impose constraints on incumbent services in adjacent frequency bands,"
ARRL said. "Our expectation is that such studies will identify the
capability and adequate means to protect the weak-signal operations of
the Amateur Radio Service on the adjacent 50 - 54 MHz band without
imposing any restraint on those operations, if the need to use this
spectrum for spaceborne radar sounders is confirmed."

In its remarks, ARRL noted Draft Preliminary Views on WRC-23,
WAC-23/034 (13.09.2021) appended to the FCC's Request for Comment that
use of 50 - 54 MHz by radio amateurs was recently studied and
documented in ITU-Radiocommunication Report M.2478-0, "Spectrum needs
for the amateur service in the frequency band 50 - 54 MHz in Region 1
and sharing with mobile, fixed, radiolocation, and broadcasting
services."

ARRL also expressed its support for the WAC's draft recommendation on
Agenda Item 9.1, Topic A, Space Weather Sensors. The agenda item calls
on the Conference to consider and approve the Report of the Director of
the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau reviewing the results of studies
relating to space weather sensors "with a view to describing
appropriate recognition and protection ... without placing additional
constraints on incumbent services."

The WAC draft recommendation is that the view of the US be "that
changes to the Radio Regulations are outside the scope of Agenda Item
9.1" and that the US express its support for "conducting the studies
called for in Resolution 657 (Rev. WRC-19)."

"Completion and consideration of these studies are essential to
achieving the desired objective of not placing any additional
constraints on incumbent services," ARRL said.

ARRL represents the interests of radio amateurs through its
participation on World Radiocommunications Conference and FCC advisory
committees.

Read an expanded version.
President Names Rosenworcel FCC Chair, Announces Planned Nominations to
FCC, NTIA

President Joe Biden this week designated FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica
Rosenworcel as Chair and announced that he intends to re-nominate her
and nominate another to fill the open seats on the Commission.
Rosenworcel, a Democrat, is the first woman to head the Commission. She
has served on the FCC since 2012.

FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel.

Prior to joining the FCC, Chairwoman Rosenworcel served as Senior
Communications Counsel for the US Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation. Before entering public service, she
practiced communications law. She is a graduate of New York University
School of Law.

The President also announced that he plans to appoint Democrat Gigi
Sohn to fill the other Democratic slot on the Commission. Sohn is a
Distinguished Fellow at the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law
and Policy and a Benton Senior Fellow and Public vocate. She served
from 2013 until 2016 as counsel to former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.
Sohn earned her law degree at the University of Pennsylvania Law
School.

Biden also announced his intention to nominate Alan Davidson as
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the National
Telecommunications and Information ministration (NTIA) within the US
Department of Commerce. Read an expanded version.
ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 22) features a
discussion with Chris Plumblee, W4WF, about contesting and what this
activity has to offer new amateurs.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 45) features a discussion
about the current status of amateur television with Jim Andrews,
KH6HTV, as well as a brief description of an unusual "sound dampening
screw."

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program to Accept Applications Starting on
November 1

The ARRL Foundation will start accepting applications for its 2022
scholarship program on November 1. The submission deadline is December
31. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $25,000 will be
awarded in 2022. The 2022 scholarship year totals an eligible amount of
over $800,000 to be awarded.

All applicants must be FCC-licensed radio amateurs (active non-US
radio amateurs are eligible for scholarships sponsored by ARDC), and
many scholarships have specific requirements, such as intended area of
study, or residence within a particular ARRL Division, Section, or
[IMG]state, and license class. Some scholarships also require
additional documentation, such as letters of recommendation.

The ARRL Foundation will be utilizing a new Scholarship Management
Platform for the 2022 ARRL Foundation Scholarships. Applicants no
longer choose specific scholarships but will be matched with all
scholarships for which they qualify. Transcripts and any additional
required documents must be submitted with the application, not emailed
separately as was done in the past. Applications without accompanying
transcripts and applicable required documentation will not be
considered.

The ARRL Foundation Scholarship Committee will review all applicants,
and scholarship recipients will be notified in May 2022 via USPS mail
and email. For more information, visit the ARRL Foundation Scholarship
Program.
US and Region 2 Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships Results
are In

The results are in for the 20th US ARDF Championships and 11th IARU
Region 2 Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF). Four days of
competitions were held October 14 - 17 in North Carolina. The results
will help determine the makeup of the US ARDF team at the 20th ARDF
World Championships, set for summer 2022 in Serbia. The US
Championships and the World Championships were rescheduled from 2020
after they had to be canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Visitors
from outside the US were unable to attend this year's competition due
to continued travel restrictions.

Competitors ranged in age from 14 to 74. Competitive events were held
in the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness Area just south of Asheboro, North
Carolina. Events began on October 14 with sprint events, a fast-paced
competition in which two sets of five transmitters operating on two
different 80-meter frequencies transmit nonconsecutive 12-second bursts
every minute. Two elite competitors completed the sprint course in just
over 15 minutes, a world-class time.

alia Schafrath-Craig
(W19) finishes her golden
performance in 2-meter
classic ARDF. [Imre
Polik, KX4SO, photo]

Two classic events were held on October 15. The longer courses for the
younger adult categories took place on 2 meters, and the shorter
courses for the older adult and youth categories took place on 80
meters.

Foxoring, a combination of radio direction finding and classic
orienteering on 80 meters, followed the next day. "Foxoring tests the
map-and-compass navigation skills of the participants," ARRL ARDF
Co-coordinator Gerald Boyd, WB8WFK, explained. Competitors try to hear
the weak signals of very-low-power transmitters until they arrive very
close to the marked locations and make a quick sprint to find its exact
location."

Classic ARDF competitors. [Imre
Polik, KX4SO, photo]

Competitions concluded on October 17 with a different map and two more
classic events, this time with the bands swapped for those on the
longer and shorter courses.

"Two standout youth competitors turned in impressive times on adult
courses in the womens' W19 category," Boyd said. Youths included alia
Schafrath-Craig (14 years old) of North Carolina who picked up classic
and foxoring golds, and Elizabeth (Lisa) Afonkin (15 years old) of
Massachusetts who won the sprint gold.

For more information on amateur radio direction finding, visit the ARRL
ARDF website. Read an expanded version.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

More webinars are coming soon!

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

ARRL members interested in presenting a webinar can complete the
online Speakers Form.

3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Confirms November 2022 Activation

The 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition team says that with its first deposit
on its contract to have the SS Marama provide transportation to Bouvet,
it has confirmed its plans to activate the second most-wanted DXCC
entity in November 2022.

"It is a huge task and undertaking to go to Bouvet, and we still
critically need additional upfront support to close the budget," said
the amateur radio DXpeditions team of co-leaders Ken Opskar, LA7GIA;
Rune O/ye, LA7THA, and Erwann Merrien, LB1QI. The DXpedition announced
that two more operators will join the adventure, taking the number to
13.

Dave Jorgensen, WD5COV, is an avid DXer and experienced DXpeditioner.
He is vice president of the Intrepid-DX Group, which had hoped to mount
a DXpedition to Bouvet before its plans broke down.

The second new team member, identified as Peter, is described as "an
experienced captain and expedition leader." He will oversee the Zodiac
landings and serve as a digital mode (FT#) operator.

"Our preparation for Bouvet includes planning, constructing, and
testing a system for landing Zodiacs safely, [and] this will be tested
in rough sea in Norway before and after Christmas," the 3Y0J team said
in its news release.

Bouvet Island. [Courtesy of the
Norwegian Polar Institute]

"We plan for safely landing the Zodiacs in different manners also with
some swell, unmanned, and with less risk for operators. And we prepare
for the event that Zodiacs are capsizing, and we still can retrieve the
equipment. We have done the first prelim sea trials of the Zodiac
equipment in Norway and will continue sea trials to further mature the
concept."

According to the announcement, the team plans to use a gasoline-engine
powered winch to lift equipment up a cliff to the operating site. This
will also be tested in Norway. "We plan to access the 25-foot cliff
with professionals means and, if needed, prepare for climbing and
bolting a short route to gain access."

Follow the DXpedition team's plans from its website and the 3Y0J
Facebook page. Read an expanded version.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Medford students take part in Great American Shake Out; learn to
use Emergency Radio / KTVL News 10 (Oregon), October 21, 2021

* Mary Hare pupils make contact with International Space Station in
world first for deaf children with Newbury Amateur Radio Society /
Newbury Weekly News, UK, October 13, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Announcements
* The San Francisco Radio Club has announced it will be running its
second club OTA Trifecta event this year on Angel Island in San
Francisco Bay on November 6. Special event station W6P will be on
the air. The OTA-Trifecta is single event that combines
simultaneous Parks on the Air (POTA), US Islands on the Air (US
Islands OTA), and Summits of the Air (SOTA) activations. Separate
stations will be on the air 1830 - 2130 UTC to represent the three
activities. All stations will be battery operated.
* Finnish radio operators OH2BH, OH2TA, OH5BM, and OH5LLR will join
the Amateur Radio Society of Kosovo (SHRAK) team at Z60A for the CQ
World Wide SSB Contest. They will activate two stations on all
bands.
* Arunava Dey, VU3XRY, has reported what he is calling the first-ever
Parks on the Air (POTA) activation from India. He and Abhrajit Das,
VU3YDA, operated from Kanchanjungha National Park (VU-0081), he
said.
* [IMG]ARRL Audio News^(c) is available free each Friday, providing a
look at the week's ham radio news happenings. Contact ARRL Audio
News with questions and comments. The webcast is available on the
ARRL website as well as on Blubrry and may be transmitted freely
via repeater at no cost.


Indian Radio Amateurs Help to Coordinate Disaster Relief in the Wake of
Flooding

The administration of the Thrissur District in Kerala, India, sought
the service of radio amateurs to support communications during disaster
relief operations in the wake of incessant rain and resultant flooding
that disrupted lives across central Kerala, The Economic Times has
reported. The hams have set up stations in the district to overcome the
possibility that conventional telecommunications may fail.

"Communication turns out to be a major challenge when natural
calamities strike," Sarachandran C. S., VU2SCV, told the Press Trust of
India news agency. "During heavy floods, there are chances that the
power supply will be down for days, which will affect the communication
systems, including the mobile phones." Sarachandran, a former merchant
navy officer, was one of 10 operators volunteering to help the Thrissur
administration to handle emergency communication.

CNN reports that at least 27 people were killed after heavy rain
triggered floods and landslides in southern India. According to their
report, torrential rain in mid-October caused rivers to swell and
flooded roads, leaving vehicles submerged in muddy water. Some houses
were "reduced to rubble," CNN said.

Ham radio volunteers have been recruited to assist during previous
natural disasters in India, including an August 2018 flood that ravaged
Kerala state. Sarachandran recounted that during the August 2018 event,
as the state flooded and power outages affected communication, the
district administration sought the assistance of radio amateurs.
Well-Known Amateur Radio Contester and DXer Will Roberts, AA4NC, SK

An experienced and successful member of the amateur radio contesting
and DX community lost his life on October 21 as the result of a small
plane crash. ARRL Life Member William "Will" Roberts, AA4NC, of Apex,
North Carolina, was piloting the plane, which went down not long after
take-off in a wooded area of Onslow County, North Carolina, near the
Holly Ridge/Topsail Island Airport, killing Roberts and another
passenger, identified as Willie Hobbs, Jr. Two children were
hospitalized with injuries. Roberts, 61, was the owner of the Mooney
M20J aircraft and held a commercial pilot's license.

A licensed radio amateur since 1976, Roberts became interested early on
in contesting and DXing and enjoyed being "on the DX end of the
pileup," as he said in his QRZ.com profile. Over the years, Roberts
operated from many locations, including some in South and Central
America and others in more exotic locales. He was a regular at the
Dayton Hamvention^(R). He is on the DXCC Honor Roll, had achieved
nine-band DXCC on HF, and VUCC on 6 meters. He also enjoyed RTTY. AA4NC
took part regularly in events like the ARRL 160-Meter Contest and ARRL
November Sweepstakes. He participated in the first World Radiosport
Team Championship (WRTC) event in 1990 in Seattle and served as a judge
at WRTC 2018 in Germany.

A member of the Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC), Roberts was the
trustee of W4MR, used occasionally in contests from his home contest
station.

Roberts was also a guitarist and vocalist who played solo acoustic
shows in the coastal Carolinas and belonged to the Flying Musicians
Association (FMA).

A graduate of North Carolina State University, Roberts was an
electrical engineer, specializing in telecommunications.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are
looking into the cause of the crash.
In Brief...

[IMG]Watch those Band Edges! With the CQ World Wide SSB Contest this
weekend, it's an appropriate time to remind phone contesters to pay
attention to band edges. If you're operating near the upper or lower
band margins (or near the limits of your operating privileges), be
aware that your signal's bandwidth may extend beyond the frequency
displayed on your radio. For example, if your radio reads 7.125 MHz on
lower sideband phone, your signal will extend outside of the US phone
band (and into the CW portion of the band). In the quick pace and
excitement of a contest, it's easy to lose track of upper and lower
band edges, as well as of your license privileges. It's always best to
review the amateur allocations before a contest and to keep a copy at
hand. If using spotting assistance, be aware that operators in other
countries often have frequency allocations that differ from those in
the US, and they may spot stations on frequencies that are off limits
for US amateurs. Always check that the frequencies of the spots you
click on are within your privileges. ARRL offers a handy, printable US
Amateur Radio Bands chart for quick reference. For additional HF
contesting tips, ARRL members can enjoy the special insert in the
November issue of QST magazine for the 2021-2022 Contest Season,
sponsored by Ham Radio Outlet.

[IMG]The WSJT-X development team has announced the general availability
release of WSJT-X version 2.5.1. This release mainly contains
improvements and repairs defects related to Q65 and JT65 when used with
nonstandard and compound call signs. Those planning to use Q65 or JT65
to make weak-signal contacts involving a nonstandard call sign should
upgrade to this version. Also included is a new feature for microwave
aircraft scatter, as well as repairs for bugs detected since the
general availability release of version 2.5.0. A complete listing of
changes is available in the Release Notes. Links to WSJT-X 2.5.1
installation packages for Windows, Linux, and Mac are available.

[IMG]The Russian-Ukrainian "radio war" on and around 7055 kHz continues
to be a major source of frustration. That was the word from the
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Monitoring System (IARUMS).
IARUMS Region 1 Coordinator Peter Jost, HB9CET, reports in the IARUMS
September newsletter that the on-the-air conflict "has been bothering
us to an unbearable extent for a very long time and is still
continuing." Earlier this year, IARUMS reported that the
Russian-Ukrainian radio war had escalated. "In June, they used more
frequencies than before, affecting our bands very hard." Jost
recounted. "It is a great annoyance and a big shame." Jost has pointed
out that the IARU Monitoring System has little opportunity to stop the
on-the-air conflict. "Only national authorities can hopefully do
something against international complaints," he said. "It is very
important and very helpful that many other [IARU] member-societies also
observe these frequencies and make complaints to their regulators." The
long-standing conflict has also affected 7050 and 7060 kHz.

[IMG]The federal government is accepting applications until November 10
for a telecommunications specialist. The position is at the FCC's
high-frequency direction finding (HFDF) facility in Columbia, Maryland.
This is a full-time position, and no travel is required. The individual
hired would perform watch duty and serve as a technical authority for
communication systems users in resolving radio interference complaints
and problems, among other responsibilities. This position requires US
citizenship, a security clearance, and education transcripts. Anyone
hired to fill this position would be required to be vaccinated against
COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination. A resum� is
considered an integral part of the process to determine if an applicant
meets the basic qualifications for the position and if the applicant is
among the best qualified. To learn more and to apply, visit the USAJobs
website.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity was up this week,
with the average daily sunspot number increasing by nearly five-fold
from 11.3 to 54.9. Average daily solar flux rose from 78.6 to 95.7. The
sunspot number peaked on Tuesday at 95, and daily solar flux peaked on
Wednesday at 110.9.

Geomagnetic indicators were quiet. Daily average of planetary A index
went from 8.4 to 4.4, and average daily middle latitude A index
declined from 5.4 to 3.6.

Predicted solar flux looks quite promising at 111 and 112 on October 28
- 29; 110 on October 30 - 31; 108 on November 1 - 3; 90 and 88 on
November 4 - 5; 86 on November 6 - 7; 85 on November 8 - 9; 83 on
November 10; 82 on November 11 - 15; 85 on November 16 - 20; 94 on
November 21; 95 on November 22 - 23; 96 on November 24; 95 on November
25 - 29, and 92, 90, 88, and 86 on November 30 - December 3.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 and 8 on October 28 - 29; 10 on
October 30 - 31; 5 on November 1 - 5; 12, 10, and 8 on November 6 - 8;
5 on November 9 - 14; 10 and 8 on November 15 - 16; 5 on November 17 -
22; 8 on November 23 - 24; 10 on November 25 - 26; 5 on November 27 -
28; 8 on November 29, and 5 on November 30 - December 2.

This weekend is the CQ World Wide SSB DX Contest. The CW weekend is
November 27 - 28. ARRL November CW Sweepstakes is next weekend,
November 6 - 8.

Sunspot numbers for October 21 through 27 were 11, 28, 32, 46, 81, 95,
and 91, with a mean of 54.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 81.9, 86.9,
86.8, 93.2, 100.6, 109.3, and 110.9, with a mean of 95.7. Estimated
planetary A indices were 7, 4, 3, 4, 5, 5, and 3, with a mean of 4.4.
Middle latitude A index was 9, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, and 2, with a mean of
3.6.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.
Getting It Right!

A news brief in The ARRL Letter for October 14, 2021, regarding
operations from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), should have mentioned
that operations by Romeo Vega, 3W3RR (aka Romeo Stepanenko), are
invalid for DXCC credit. The ARRL Awards Committee voted in 1996 to
disqualify him from participation in the DXCC program.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* October 30 - 31 -- CQ World Wide DX Contest (SSB)
* November 1 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, 20 WPM max)
* November 1 -- Silent Key Memorial Contest (CW)
* November 1 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series (digital)
* November 2 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
* November 2 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
* November 2 -- RTTYops Weeksprint
* November 3 -- Phone Weekly Test - Fray
* November 3 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW, two events)
* November 3 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* November 3 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (phone)
* November 4 - 5 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW, 13 WPM max)
* November 4 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW, two events)
* November 4 -- RTTYops Weeksprint
* November 4 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* November 4 -- EACW Meeting (CW)
* November 4 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)
* November 6 - 8 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
* November 6 - 7 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention (Stone Mountain
Hamfest), Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 13 -- ARRL Wisconsin State Convention (Wisconsin
ARES/RACES Conference) -- Online
* November 13 - 14 -- ARRL Central Division Convention (Fort Wayne
Hamfest & Computer Expo), Fort Wayne, Indiana
* December 10 - 11 -- ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention
(Tampa Bay Hamfest), Plant City, Florida

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your
area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.
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The ARRL Letter
November 4, 2021

* ARISS Receives Generous ARDC Grant for ARISS STEREO Education
Project
* Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN Respond to Major
Nor'easter
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The 2022 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now Available
* ARRL November Sweepstakes VY1AAA Operation is On for this Year
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Effort Continues in IARU Region 1 to dress Coexistence of Ham
Radio and Navigation Satellites
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* Crozet Islands DXpedition on the Far Horizon
* Job Openings at ARRL Headquarters
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARISS Receives Generous ARDC Grant for ARISS STEREO Education Project

Best known for arranging amateur radio contacts between students and
astronauts, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
has announced that it's received a generous grant to fund its "Student
and Teacher Education via Radio Experimentation and Operations"
(STEREO) project. The 5-year Amateur Radio Digital Communications
(ARDC) grant totaling nearly $1.3 million will fund three distinct
initiatives that will enable ARISS to sustain and improve science,
technology, electronics, arts, and technology (STEAM) educational
outcomes.

For Part 1 of the project, ARISS is developing a wireless electronics
technology kit called "SPARKI," or "Space Pioneers Amateur Radio Kit
Initiative," for use with middle and high school students. This ARDC
grant will take SPARKI from prototype to operational phase. ARISS would
then deploy these kits among a selected set of formal and informal
education organizations that are planning future ARISS radio contacts.

In Part 2 -- "Educate the Educator," ARISS will conduct educator
workshops for a selected set of educators to help them seamlessly
employ SPARKI in their education environment and allow ARISS to receive
their feedback and ideas. To be successful, ARISS must create awareness
of amateur radio, ARISS, and SPARKI among prospective formal and
informal educators.

ARISS-USA Executive
Director Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO.

For Part 3, over its 5-year lifetime, the grant will also support some
of the many costs involved with ARISS contact operations between
students and astronauts aboard the ISS.

ARISS-USA Executive Director Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said ARISS is
extremely excited about the new 5-year initiative. "It will be a STEAM
education game-changer and represents a key element of our ARISS 2.0
vision," Bauer said. "Most importantly, it brings wireless technologies
and amateur radio into our ARISS formal and informal classrooms. We
thank ARDC for their interest and support and look forward to working
with them on this incredible initiative."

ARDC's mission is to support, promote, and enhance digital
communication and broader communication science and technology, to
promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education,
development, open access, and innovation in information and
communication technology. ARDC grants target projects and organizations
that follow amateur radio's practice and tradition of technical
experimentation that has led to broad advances for the

A young student asks her question
of an astronaut on board the ISS.
[Photo courtesy of ARISS]

benefit of the public. These include mobile phone and wireless internet
technology. ARDC envisions a world where technology is available
through open-source hardware and software, and where anyone has the
ability to innovate upon it.

In the last 2 decades, more than 1,400 ARISS ham radio contacts have
connected more than a million students using amateur radio with
millions of others watching, listening, and learning. ARISS is
constantly pursuing opportunities to enhance and sustain its
educational capabilities and outcomes.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN Respond to Major Nor'easter

A major nor'easter struck eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island last
week, with ferocious winds stronger than those that Tropical Storm
Henri brought to the region in August.

Starting on the evening of October 26, eastern Massachusetts amateur
radio operators on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^A(R)) and
National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN^�*� storm spotter teams joined
forces to help emergency services provide a focused and effective
response as the powerful nor'easter caused widespread damage. Tree and
wire damage, trees falling on homes and cars, and a few cases of direct
structural damage to weakened structures were reported.

"We have handled several hundred reports of damage, and photos of
damage are streaming in from ARES and SKYWARN operators to support
damage assessment efforts and to keep the NWS in Norton apprised of the
severe weather conditions affecting the region," said Rob Macedo,
KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and
ARES-SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Boston/Norton.

The recent nor'easter generated
winds capable of downing large
trees. [Mike Leger, N1YLQ, photo]

ARES-SKYWARN operators relayed reports of hurricane-force wind gusts
reaching 94 MPH in Edgartown, Massachusetts, at Chappy Ferry Point; 84
MPH in Dennis, Massachusetts; 79 MPH in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and 78
MPH in Rockport, Massachusetts. Amateur operators with WX1BOX, the
amateur radio station at NWS Boston/Norton; Cape Cod ARES and SKYWARN,
and South Coast SKYWARN completed overnight operations, when the peak
winds occurred.

"The dedication of our volunteers to provide this critical information
in a major storm like this one to the NWS, media, and emergency
managers during such a grueling stretch is very critical to inform
people what is happening during such a significant storm when they wake
up in the morning, so they will hopefully make safe decisions to avoid
being out in a significant severe wind situation," Macedo said.

Cape Cod ARES was activated by the Barnstable County Regional Emergency
Planning Committee (BCREPC) to staff the Multi-Agency Coordination
Center (MACC) at the Barnstable County Emergency Operations Center
(EOC). Cape Cod ARES MACC support concluded on October 29 after a
round-the-clock effort.

According to the Cape Cod and Islands ARES District Emergency
Coordinator Frank O'Laughlin, WQ1O, "Damage assessments in the region
will give us a better sense of how long it will take to restore power
and in some cases communication service to the Cape [Cod] and Islands
area, and that will determine how long Cape Cod ARES will be needed,
and if additional support from Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be
needed."

Macedo called the nor'easter "one of our more extraordinary weather
systems within the last few years, and the most severe of several other
major SKYWARN/ARES activations in this past year." SKYWARN damage
reports and meteorological data are shared with state emergency
management, NGOs, and the media. Meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz of
Boston 25 News said, "Thanks for all the effort! Great work as always!"

As many as 500,000 customers lost power in the ARRL Eastern
Massachusetts Section, with hardest-hit areas in southeastern
Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, and the Cape Ann area north of
Boston, where near hurricane-force wind gusts pummeled the region for
several hours. Maximum winds were up to 65 MPH. Rhode Island reported
nearly 93,000 customers without power at the peak. These outages were
an order of magnitude greater than during Tropical Storm Henri in Rhode
Island, and about five orders of magnitude more severe than Henri in
Massachusetts.

Storm conditions wound down toward the evening of October 27, allowing
the process of more widespread power restoration to begin. All
operations secured and power was restored to most locations on October
30 and to all locations on October 31. -- Thanks to Rob Macedo, KD1CY.

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 22) features a
discussion with Chris Plumblee, W4WF, about contesting and what this
activity has to offer new amateurs.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 46) features a discussion
about Beverage antennas with Ward Silver, N0AX.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2022 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now Available

The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications for 2022 is a must-have for
every radio amateur's bookshelf. Whether you're an experienced ham or
new to the hobby, you'll find information you can use to advance your
amateur radio knowledge and skills. This current, comprehensive, and
complete reference is available in three formats -- traditional
softcover, a six-volume, shrink-wrapped book set (box not included),
and digital eBook.

The 2022 edition features new projects and tools, including 3D printing
techniques for ham radio construction, battery selection for portable
operation, analog-to-digital converter overload, solid-state amplifier
linearity, an update on Solar Cycle 25, and more.

The Handbook six-volume book set, ARRL Item No. 1519, ISBN
978-1-62595-151-9, is $59.95 retail. The Handbook softcover book, ARRL
Item No. 1502, ISBN 978-1-62595-150-2, is $49.95 retail.

More new books have also just been stocked in the ARRL Store, including
the second edition of Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur by
Ward Silver, N0AX. This new edition shows you how to make sure your
station follows current standards for lightning protection and RF
grounding. It details effective grounding and bonding techniques for
the home, portable or mobile station, as well as for towers and
antennas.

Also just out: More Arduino for Ham Radio by popular author and
experimenter Glen Popiel, KW5GP, introduces many of the new Arduino
boards and add-on modules, followed by an overview of the software,
tools, and techniques needed to bring projects to life. Practical
projects showcase a wide variety of applications and include how the
software sketches work.

Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur, ARRL Item No. 1496, ISBN
978-1-62595-149-6, is $25.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $22.95.

More Arduino for Ham Radio, ARRL Item No. 1472, ISBN 978-1-62595-147-2,
is $39.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $34.95.

Order from the ARRL Store, from your ARRL Dealer, or call (860)
594-0355 or toll-free in the US (888) 277-5289.

ARRL November Sweepstakes VY1AAA Operation is On for this Year

Gerry Hull, W1VE/VE1RM, reports that he is still hoping to be able to
operate remotely as VY1AAA from the Northern Territories (NT), a rare
multiplier in the ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) event. Hull said that
a family health emergency had kept J. "Jay" Allen, VY1JA, from working
on getting his station up and running again, but the situation has
brightened somewhat, and he is back at it. Hull has operated Allen's
station in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, remotely from the US to make
the multiplier available.

Allen had dismantled his station and antennas last year, but recently
decided to make the station usable again. He reported that work is
being done to repair a vertical antenna and expand its radial set to
include 20 and 80 meters. Allen told Hull that he would go over the
station computer setup to make sure that AnyDesk can operate the
station remotely from the VY1JA computer. Allen is also working on
primary and secondary wire antennas for the two SS events. Hull told
Allen that as far as he was concerned, 80 meters is a lower priority
for SS and that 40 and 20 are the "meat and potatoes" bands.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

Getting Started with AllStar / Presented by Jason Johnston, KC5HWB, of
Ham Radio 2.0, Thursday, November 11, 2021 @ 1830 UTC

AllStar is an internet-based connection network for linking repeaters
and nodes. It can be used by home operators or with large-area
repeaters. This presentation will cover the basics of AllStar, how to
get started with it, and how you can begin using it.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

Effort Continues in IARU Region 1 to dress Coexistence of Ham Radio
and Navigation Satellites

The issue of coexistence between amateur radio and satellite navigation
systems on 23 centimeters continues as a discussion topic in advance of
World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). The issue primarily
involves interference potential to one satellite frequency in the
European Union's Galileo GPS system.

Agenda item 9.1b at WRC-23 calls for "Review of the Amateur Service and
the Amateur-Satellite Service allocations in the frequency band 1.240 -
1.300 MHz to determine if additional measures are required to ensure
protection of the radionavigation-satellite (space-to-Earth) service
operating in the same band in accordance with Resolution 774
(WRCA�A*A*19)."

In late October, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was
involved in preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b. These
discussions are occurring in ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C).

"The working party is considering simulations provided by two
administrations [countries] to estimate the interfered area that might
exist around a 23-centimeter band amateur service transmitter," IARU
said in a news release. "A number of amateur station configurations are
under consideration...based on characteristics developed and
contributed by the IARU. Both narrowband and wideband emissions are
considered."

Various representative station and antenna configurations are being
modeled.

IARU representatives contributed to a discussion to ensure that the
station parameters are more representative than those proposed in the
original contribution papers. The studies were revised based on these
negotiations during the meeting and are reflected in the draft working
document. The interim results show interference distances of up to
several kilometers, depending on antenna and power level. This work
will continue into the next WP4C meeting.

Other measurement campaigns are investigating the effect of offsetting
the transmission frequency of various amateur signals with respect to
the center frequency of the RNSS satellite navigation signal and the
impact of the RNSS receiver bandwidth.

The IARU is working to ensure the Amateur Services are realistically
represented in the studies as they move forward. A summary report from
the WP4C meeting is available on the IARU website. -- Thanks to the
IARU

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Estes Park 6th Graders Talk to Students in England via Ham Radio /
Estes Park Trail Gazette (Colorado), November 2, 2021

* Medford students take part in Great American Shake Out; learn to
use Emergency Radio / KTVL News 10 (Oregon), October 21, 2021
* Mary Hare pupils make contact with International Space Station in
world first for deaf children with Newbury Amateur Radio Society /
Newbury Weekly News, UK, October 13, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

Announcements
* The RSGB reports the /2ZE suffix has been authorized to mark 100
years since wireless pioneers on both sides of the Atlantic,
including Paul Godley, 2ZE, from the US, succeeded in copying a
signal transmitted across the Atlantic and received in Scotland --
the "first successful reception of a personal message across the
Atlantic by amateur radio" -- on December 12, 1921. ARRL dispatched
Godley as part of the "Second Transatlantic Tests."
* VX3INSULIN will be on the air from Kingston, Ontario, during
December to mark 100 years since a team at the University of
Toronto discovered insulin in 1921. Operation will be mostly on FT8
and FT4. QSL to VE3NOO.
* An overview, "The Enigma of Japanese Call Sign System," by JG1VGX
and revised by Ryota "Roy" Motobayashi, JJ1WTL, is available. For
example, sequential call signs are based on the station address
(the transmitter location) only, not mailing address or license
class. Japan does not issue vanity call signs. Special event call
signs are available to organizations but not to individuals, and
the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issues such
call signs. The same goes for special prefix call signs. Read the
disclaimer at the end of the website.
* The London BBC Radio Group has been granted a year-long special
event call sign, GB100BBC, to commemorate the centenary of the BBC
in 2022. Operations will be carried out by individual members or
groups from home stations or BBC premises.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Crozet Islands DXpedition on the Far Horizon

A radio amateur in France is planning a DXpedition to the Crozet
Islands (FT5/W) for mid-December 2022 to mid-March 2023 with the call
sign FT5WQ. Thierry Mazel, F6CUK, spent months getting permission to
operate from the third most-wanted DXCC entity. TAAF, the agency that
administers the French remote islands, is allowing a one-person
operation. The Crozet Islands archipelago is divided into east and
west. They once were the destination of seal hunters from the US and
elsewhere. The last ham radio activity from Crozet was in 2009 by
Florentin Bard, F4DYW, also as FT5WQ. The solo DXpedition is
anticipated to cost as much as $58,000.

The Twitter account is @Crozet2022, and a website is expected to be
online soon. When it's up and running, it will include details of how
donated funds will be used, and Thierry pledges that all contributions
will be refunded if the operation does not take place.

Crozet Islands, a subantarctic archipelago of small islands in the
southern Indian Ocean, form one of the five administrative districts of
the French Southern and Antarctic Territories. It consists of several
small uninhabited islands of volcanic origin. The islands cover an area
of some 195 square miles. The islands are now a national conservation
area. Radio amateurs are not the only ones hoping to visit.

According to a description Thierry posted on the website of the IARU
member society REF, "[T]he climate is particularly difficult, the
islands of Crozet are strongly committed to the protection of nature
(fauna and flora), and the prefect's offices are faced with a
significant solicitation of visitor requests."

"Many obstacles had to be overcome," Thierry said.

While people are scarce, the islands boast a broad array of wildlife,
including penguins, elephant seals, and giant albatross. In common with
other subantarctic islands, the inadvertent or intentional introduction
of alien species has proved a problem. Rats and mice arrived
accidentally, cats were brought in to control them, and rabbits were
introduced as food.

Mazel will release further details as they are available. -- Some
information from Discover France
Job Openings at ARRL Headquarters

ARRL is hiring for the following positions at its Headquarters in
Newington, Connecticut. Qualified candidates are invited to email their
cover letter and resume to ARRL Human Resources. Visit the ARRL
Employment Opportunities page for more information.
* Lab Engineer EMC/RFI Specialist
* ministrative Assistant
* Director of Information Technology
* Marketing Communications Associate
* Public Relations & Outreach Manager
* Social Media Strategist

To apply to any of these positions, submit your resume and cover letter
by mail, email, or fax to ARRL Human Resources, 225 Main St.,
Newington, CT 06111. Fax: 860-594-0298. ARRL is an equal opportunity
employer.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot numbers and the solar flux
index were both declining by the end of our October 28 - November 3
reporting week, but weekly averages for both numbers were higher than
reported last week. The average daily sunspot number increased from
54.9 to 67.6, while average daily solar flux jumped from 95.7 to 102.

Coronal mass ejection (CME) activity through the week drove geomagnetic
numbers much higher. Average daily planetary A indexincreased from 4.4
to 12, and average daily middle latitude A index went from 3.6 to 9.

Spaceweather.com reported that a CME struck Earth at 2000 UTC on
November 3, and that this would spark a strong geomagnetic storm.

I received several reports this week that "10 meters is back!"

According to a prediction issued by NOAA at 2127 UTC on November 3,
predicted solar flux is 90 on November 4 - 5; 85 on November 6 - 7; 80
on November 8 - 11; 88 on November 12 - 14; 89 on November 15; 92 on
November 16 - 19; 93 on November 20; 95 on November 21 - 27, then
jumping to 103, 102, 100 and 98 on November 28 -December 1; 96 on
December 2 - 4; 92 and 90 on December 5 - 6, and 88 on December 7 - 11.

Predicted planetary A index is 35, 22, 15, 10, and 8 on November 4 - 8;
5 on November 9 - 14; 10 and 8 on November 15 - 16; 5 on November 17 -
29; 8 on November 30 - December 1; 5 on December 2; 12, 10, and 8 on
December 3 - 5, and 5 on December 6 - 11.

Sunspot numbers for October 28 - November 3 were 96, 82, 76, 83, 53,
42, and 41, with a mean of 67.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 111.7,
108.4, 107.2, 102.7, 97.7, 97, and 89, with a mean of 102. Estimated
planetary A indices were 3, 3, 10, 20, 10, 17, and 21, with a mean of
12. Middle latitude A index was 3, 2, 8, 16, 8, 12, and 14, with a mean
of 9.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* November 5 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint
* November 5 -- NCCC Sprint (CW)
* November 5 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, 20 WPM maximum)
* November 6 -- IPARC Contest, CW
* November 6 - 7 -- Ukrainian DX Contest (CW, phone)
* November 6 -- Two-Meter Classic Sprint (CW, phone)
* November 6 - 8 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
* November 7 -- IPARC Contest, SSB
* November 7 -- EANET Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* November 7 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
* November 10 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* November 10 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, SSB

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
* November 6 - 7 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention (Stone Mountain
Hamfest), Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 13 -- ARRL Wisconsin State Convention (Wisconsin
ARES/RACES Conference) -- Online
* November 13 - 14 -- ARRL Central Division Convention (Fort Wayne
Hamfest and Computer Expo), Fort Wayne, Indiana
* December 10 - 11 -- ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention
(Tampa Bay Hamfest), Plant City, Florida

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your
area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


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--- Squish/386 v1.11
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The ARRL Letter
November 4, 2021

* ARISS Receives Generous ARDC Grant for ARISS STEREO Education
Project
* Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN Respond to Major
Nor'easter
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* The 2022 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now Available
* ARRL November Sweepstakes VY1AAA Operation is On for this Year
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Effort Continues in IARU Region 1 to dress Coexistence of Ham
Radio and Navigation Satellites
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* Crozet Islands DXpedition on the Far Horizon
* Job Openings at ARRL Headquarters
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARISS Receives Generous ARDC Grant for ARISS STEREO Education Project

Best known for arranging amateur radio contacts between students and
astronauts, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
has announced that it's received a generous grant to fund its "Student
and Teacher Education via Radio Experimentation and Operations"
(STEREO) project. The 5-year Amateur Radio Digital Communications
(ARDC) grant totaling nearly $1.3 million will fund three distinct
initiatives that will enable ARISS to sustain and improve science,
technology, electronics, arts, and technology (STEAM) educational
outcomes.

For Part 1 of the project, ARISS is developing a wireless electronics
technology kit called "SPARKI," or "Space Pioneers Amateur Radio Kit
Initiative," for use with middle and high school students. This ARDC
grant will take SPARKI from prototype to operational phase. ARISS would
then deploy these kits among a selected set of formal and informal
education organizations that are planning future ARISS radio contacts.

In Part 2 -- "Educate the Educator," ARISS will conduct educator
workshops for a selected set of educators to help them seamlessly
employ SPARKI in their education environment and allow ARISS to receive
their feedback and ideas. To be successful, ARISS must create awareness
of amateur radio, ARISS, and SPARKI among prospective formal and
informal educators.

ARISS-USA Executive
Director Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO.

For Part 3, over its 5-year lifetime, the grant will also support some
of the many costs involved with ARISS contact operations between
students and astronauts aboard the ISS.

ARISS-USA Executive Director Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said ARISS is
extremely excited about the new 5-year initiative. "It will be a STEAM
education game-changer and represents a key element of our ARISS 2.0
vision," Bauer said. "Most importantly, it brings wireless technologies
and amateur radio into our ARISS formal and informal classrooms. We
thank ARDC for their interest and support and look forward to working
with them on this incredible initiative."

ARDC's mission is to support, promote, and enhance digital
communication and broader communication science and technology, to
promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education,
development, open access, and innovation in information and
communication technology. ARDC grants target projects and organizations
that follow amateur radio's practice and tradition of technical
experimentation that has led to broad advances for the

A young student asks her question
of an astronaut on board the ISS.
[Photo courtesy of ARISS]

benefit of the public. These include mobile phone and wireless internet
technology. ARDC envisions a world where technology is available
through open-source hardware and software, and where anyone has the
ability to innovate upon it.

In the last 2 decades, more than 1,400 ARISS ham radio contacts have
connected more than a million students using amateur radio with
millions of others watching, listening, and learning. ARISS is
constantly pursuing opportunities to enhance and sustain its
educational capabilities and outcomes.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service and SKYWARN Respond to Major Nor'easter

A major nor'easter struck eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island last
week, with ferocious winds stronger than those that Tropical Storm
Henri brought to the region in August.

Starting on the evening of October 26, eastern Massachusetts amateur
radio operators on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES^A(R)) and
National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN^�*� storm spotter teams joined
forces to help emergency services provide a focused and effective
response as the powerful nor'easter caused widespread damage. Tree and
wire damage, trees falling on homes and cars, and a few cases of direct
structural damage to weakened structures were reported.

"We have handled several hundred reports of damage, and photos of
damage are streaming in from ARES and SKYWARN operators to support
damage assessment efforts and to keep the NWS in Norton apprised of the
severe weather conditions affecting the region," said Rob Macedo,
KD1CY, Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator and
ARES-SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Boston/Norton.

The recent nor'easter generated
winds capable of downing large
trees. [Mike Leger, N1YLQ, photo]

ARES-SKYWARN operators relayed reports of hurricane-force wind gusts
reaching 94 MPH in Edgartown, Massachusetts, at Chappy Ferry Point; 84
MPH in Dennis, Massachusetts; 79 MPH in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and 78
MPH in Rockport, Massachusetts. Amateur operators with WX1BOX, the
amateur radio station at NWS Boston/Norton; Cape Cod ARES and SKYWARN,
and South Coast SKYWARN completed overnight operations, when the peak
winds occurred.

"The dedication of our volunteers to provide this critical information
in a major storm like this one to the NWS, media, and emergency
managers during such a grueling stretch is very critical to inform
people what is happening during such a significant storm when they wake
up in the morning, so they will hopefully make safe decisions to avoid
being out in a significant severe wind situation," Macedo said.

Cape Cod ARES was activated by the Barnstable County Regional Emergency
Planning Committee (BCREPC) to staff the Multi-Agency Coordination
Center (MACC) at the Barnstable County Emergency Operations Center
(EOC). Cape Cod ARES MACC support concluded on October 29 after a
round-the-clock effort.

According to the Cape Cod and Islands ARES District Emergency
Coordinator Frank O'Laughlin, WQ1O, "Damage assessments in the region
will give us a better sense of how long it will take to restore power
and in some cases communication service to the Cape [Cod] and Islands
area, and that will determine how long Cape Cod ARES will be needed,
and if additional support from Eastern Massachusetts ARES will be
needed."

Macedo called the nor'easter "one of our more extraordinary weather
systems within the last few years, and the most severe of several other
major SKYWARN/ARES activations in this past year." SKYWARN damage
reports and meteorological data are shared with state emergency
management, NGOs, and the media. Meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz of
Boston 25 News said, "Thanks for all the effort! Great work as always!"

As many as 500,000 customers lost power in the ARRL Eastern
Massachusetts Section, with hardest-hit areas in southeastern
Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, and the Cape Ann area north of
Boston, where near hurricane-force wind gusts pummeled the region for
several hours. Maximum winds were up to 65 MPH. Rhode Island reported
nearly 93,000 customers without power at the peak. These outages were
an order of magnitude greater than during Tropical Storm Henri in Rhode
Island, and about five orders of magnitude more severe than Henri in
Massachusetts.

Storm conditions wound down toward the evening of October 27, allowing
the process of more widespread power restoration to begin. All
operations secured and power was restored to most locations on October
30 and to all locations on October 31. -- Thanks to Rob Macedo, KD1CY.

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 22) features a
discussion with Chris Plumblee, W4WF, about contesting and what this
activity has to offer new amateurs.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 46) features a discussion
about Beverage antennas with Ward Silver, N0AX.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2022 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications is Now Available

The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications for 2022 is a must-have for
every radio amateur's bookshelf. Whether you're an experienced ham or
new to the hobby, you'll find information you can use to advance your
amateur radio knowledge and skills. This current, comprehensive, and
complete reference is available in three formats -- traditional
softcover, a six-volume, shrink-wrapped book set (box not included),
and digital eBook.

The 2022 edition features new projects and tools, including 3D printing
techniques for ham radio construction, battery selection for portable
operation, analog-to-digital converter overload, solid-state amplifier
linearity, an update on Solar Cycle 25, and more.

The Handbook six-volume book set, ARRL Item No. 1519, ISBN
978-1-62595-151-9, is $59.95 retail. The Handbook softcover book, ARRL
Item No. 1502, ISBN 978-1-62595-150-2, is $49.95 retail.

More new books have also just been stocked in the ARRL Store, including
the second edition of Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur by
Ward Silver, N0AX. This new edition shows you how to make sure your
station follows current standards for lightning protection and RF
grounding. It details effective grounding and bonding techniques for
the home, portable or mobile station, as well as for towers and
antennas.

Also just out: More Arduino for Ham Radio by popular author and
experimenter Glen Popiel, KW5GP, introduces many of the new Arduino
boards and add-on modules, followed by an overview of the software,
tools, and techniques needed to bring projects to life. Practical
projects showcase a wide variety of applications and include how the
software sketches work.

Grounding and Bonding for the Radio Amateur, ARRL Item No. 1496, ISBN
978-1-62595-149-6, is $25.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $22.95.

More Arduino for Ham Radio, ARRL Item No. 1472, ISBN 978-1-62595-147-2,
is $39.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price $34.95.

Order from the ARRL Store, from your ARRL Dealer, or call (860)
594-0355 or toll-free in the US (888) 277-5289.

ARRL November Sweepstakes VY1AAA Operation is On for this Year

Gerry Hull, W1VE/VE1RM, reports that he is still hoping to be able to
operate remotely as VY1AAA from the Northern Territories (NT), a rare
multiplier in the ARRL November Sweepstakes (SS) event. Hull said that
a family health emergency had kept J. "Jay" Allen, VY1JA, from working
on getting his station up and running again, but the situation has
brightened somewhat, and he is back at it. Hull has operated Allen's
station in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, remotely from the US to make
the multiplier available.

Allen had dismantled his station and antennas last year, but recently
decided to make the station usable again. He reported that work is
being done to repair a vertical antenna and expand its radial set to
include 20 and 80 meters. Allen told Hull that he would go over the
station computer setup to make sure that AnyDesk can operate the
station remotely from the VY1JA computer. Allen is also working on
primary and secondary wire antennas for the two SS events. Hull told
Allen that as far as he was concerned, 80 meters is a lower priority
for SS and that 40 and 20 are the "meat and potatoes" bands.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

Getting Started with AllStar / Presented by Jason Johnston, KC5HWB, of
Ham Radio 2.0, Thursday, November 11, 2021 @ 1830 UTC

AllStar is an internet-based connection network for linking repeaters
and nodes. It can be used by home operators or with large-area
repeaters. This presentation will cover the basics of AllStar, how to
get started with it, and how you can begin using it.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

Effort Continues in IARU Region 1 to dress Coexistence of Ham Radio
and Navigation Satellites

The issue of coexistence between amateur radio and satellite navigation
systems on 23 centimeters continues as a discussion topic in advance of
World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23). The issue primarily
involves interference potential to one satellite frequency in the
European Union's Galileo GPS system.

Agenda item 9.1b at WRC-23 calls for "Review of the Amateur Service and
the Amateur-Satellite Service allocations in the frequency band 1.240 -
1.300 MHz to determine if additional measures are required to ensure
protection of the radionavigation-satellite (space-to-Earth) service
operating in the same band in accordance with Resolution 774
(WRCA�A*A*19)."

In late October, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was
involved in preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b. These
discussions are occurring in ITU-R Working Party 4C (WP4C).

"The working party is considering simulations provided by two
administrations [countries] to estimate the interfered area that might
exist around a 23-centimeter band amateur service transmitter," IARU
said in a news release. "A number of amateur station configurations are
under consideration...based on characteristics developed and
contributed by the IARU. Both narrowband and wideband emissions are
considered."

Various representative station and antenna configurations are being
modeled.

IARU representatives contributed to a discussion to ensure that the
station parameters are more representative than those proposed in the
original contribution papers. The studies were revised based on these
negotiations during the meeting and are reflected in the draft working
document. The interim results show interference distances of up to
several kilometers, depending on antenna and power level. This work
will continue into the next WP4C meeting.

Other measurement campaigns are investigating the effect of offsetting
the transmission frequency of various amateur signals with respect to
the center frequency of the RNSS satellite navigation signal and the
impact of the RNSS receiver bandwidth.

The IARU is working to ensure the Amateur Services are realistically
represented in the studies as they move forward. A summary report from
the WP4C meeting is available on the IARU website. -- Thanks to the
IARU

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Estes Park 6th Graders Talk to Students in England via Ham Radio /
Estes Park Trail Gazette (Colorado), November 2, 2021

* Medford students take part in Great American Shake Out; learn to
use Emergency Radio / KTVL News 10 (Oregon), October 21, 2021
* Mary Hare pupils make contact with International Space Station in
world first for deaf children with Newbury Amateur Radio Society /
Newbury Weekly News, UK, October 13, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

Announcements
* The RSGB reports the /2ZE suffix has been authorized to mark 100
years since wireless pioneers on both sides of the Atlantic,
including Paul Godley, 2ZE, from the US, succeeded in copying a
signal transmitted across the Atlantic and received in Scotland --
the "first successful reception of a personal message across the
Atlantic by amateur radio" -- on December 12, 1921. ARRL dispatched
Godley as part of the "Second Transatlantic Tests."
* VX3INSULIN will be on the air from Kingston, Ontario, during
December to mark 100 years since a team at the University of
Toronto discovered insulin in 1921. Operation will be mostly on FT8
and FT4. QSL to VE3NOO.
* An overview, "The Enigma of Japanese Call Sign System," by JG1VGX
and revised by Ryota "Roy" Motobayashi, JJ1WTL, is available. For
example, sequential call signs are based on the station address
(the transmitter location) only, not mailing address or license
class. Japan does not issue vanity call signs. Special event call
signs are available to organizations but not to individuals, and
the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issues such
call signs. The same goes for special prefix call signs. Read the
disclaimer at the end of the website.
* The London BBC Radio Group has been granted a year-long special
event call sign, GB100BBC, to commemorate the centenary of the BBC
in 2022. Operations will be carried out by individual members or
groups from home stations or BBC premises.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Crozet Islands DXpedition on the Far Horizon

A radio amateur in France is planning a DXpedition to the Crozet
Islands (FT5/W) for mid-December 2022 to mid-March 2023. To correct
earlier accounts, the DXpedition has not announced its call sign, which
will not be made public in advance. Thierry Mazel, F6CUK, spent months
getting permission to operate from the third most-wanted DXCC entity.
TAAF, the agency that administers the French remote islands, is
allowing a one-person operation. The Crozet Islands archipelago is
divided into east and west. They once were the destination of seal
hunters from the US and elsewhere. The last ham radio activity from
Crozet was in

2009 by Florentin Bard, F4DYW, also as FT5WQ. The solo DXpedition is
anticipated to cost as much as $58,000.

The Twitter account is @Crozet2022, and a website is expected to be
online soon. When it's up and running, it will include details of how
donated funds will be used, and Thierry pledges that all contributions
will be refunded if the operation does not take place.

Crozet Islands, a subantarctic archipelago of small islands in the
southern Indian Ocean, form one of the five administrative districts of
the French Southern and Antarctic Territories. It consists of several
small uninhabited islands of volcanic origin. The islands cover an area
of some 195 square miles. The islands are now a national conservation
area. Radio amateurs are not the only ones hoping to visit.

According to a description Thierry posted on the website of the IARU
member society REF, "[T]he climate is particularly difficult, the
islands of Crozet are strongly committed to the protection of nature
(fauna and flora), and the prefect's offices are faced with a
significant solicitation of visitor requests."

"Many obstacles had to be overcome," Thierry said.

While people are scarce, the islands boast a broad array of wildlife,
including penguins, elephant seals, and giant albatross. In common with
other subantarctic islands, the inadvertent or intentional introduction
of alien species has proved a problem. Rats and mice arrived
accidentally, cats were brought in to control them, and rabbits were
introduced as food.

Mazel will release further details as they are available. -- Some
information from Discover France
Job Openings at ARRL Headquarters

ARRL is hiring for the following positions at its Headquarters in
Newington, Connecticut. Qualified candidates are invited to email their
cover letter and resume to ARRL Human Resources. Visit the ARRL
Employment Opportunities page for more information.
* Lab Engineer EMC/RFI Specialist
* ministrative Assistant
* Director of Information Technology
* Marketing Communications Associate
* Public Relations & Outreach Manager
* Social Media Strategist

To apply to any of these positions, submit your resume and cover letter
by mail, email, or fax to ARRL Human Resources, 225 Main St.,
Newington, CT 06111. Fax: 860-594-0298. ARRL is an equal opportunity
employer.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot numbers and the solar flux
index were both declining by the end of our October 28 - November 3
reporting week, but weekly averages for both numbers were higher than
reported last week. The average daily sunspot number increased from
54.9 to 67.6, while average daily solar flux jumped from 95.7 to 102.

Coronal mass ejection (CME) activity through the week drove geomagnetic
numbers much higher. Average daily planetary A indexincreased from 4.4
to 12, and average daily middle latitude A index went from 3.6 to 9.

Spaceweather.com reported that a CME struck Earth at 2000 UTC on
November 3, and that this would spark a strong geomagnetic storm.

I received several reports this week that "10 meters is back!"

According to a prediction issued by NOAA at 2127 UTC on November 3,
predicted solar flux is 90 on November 4 - 5; 85 on November 6 - 7; 80
on November 8 - 11; 88 on November 12 - 14; 89 on November 15; 92 on
November 16 - 19; 93 on November 20; 95 on November 21 - 27, then
jumping to 103, 102, 100 and 98 on November 28 -December 1; 96 on
December 2 - 4; 92 and 90 on December 5 - 6, and 88 on December 7 - 11.

Predicted planetary A index is 35, 22, 15, 10, and 8 on November 4 - 8;
5 on November 9 - 14; 10 and 8 on November 15 - 16; 5 on November 17 -
29; 8 on November 30 - December 1; 5 on December 2; 12, 10, and 8 on
December 3 - 5, and 5 on December 6 - 11.

Sunspot numbers for October 28 - November 3 were 96, 82, 76, 83, 53,
42, and 41, with a mean of 67.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 111.7,
108.4, 107.2, 102.7, 97.7, 97, and 89, with a mean of 102. Estimated
planetary A indices were 3, 3, 10, 20, 10, 17, and 21, with a mean of
12. Middle latitude A index was 3, 2, 8, 16, 8, 12, and 14, with a mean
of 9.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* November 5 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint
* November 5 -- NCCC Sprint (CW)
* November 5 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, 20 WPM maximum)
* November 6 -- IPARC Contest, CW
* November 6 - 7 -- Ukrainian DX Contest (CW, phone)
* November 6 -- Two-Meter Classic Sprint (CW, phone)
* November 6 - 8 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW)
* November 7 -- IPARC Contest, SSB
* November 7 -- EANET Sprint (CW, phone, digital)
* November 7 -- High Speed Club CW Contest
* November 10 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
* November 10 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, SSB

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
* November 6 - 7 -- ARRL Georgia State Convention (Stone Mountain
Hamfest), Lawrenceville, Georgia
* November 13 -- ARRL Wisconsin State Convention (Wisconsin
ARES/RACES Conference) -- Online
* November 13 - 14 -- ARRL Central Division Convention (Fort Wayne
Hamfest and Computer Expo), Fort Wayne, Indiana
* December 10 - 11 -- ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention
(Tampa Bay Hamfest), Plant City, Florida

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your
area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.


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The ARRL Letter
November 18, 2021

* Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando
* Russia's Destruction of an Orbiting Satellite Raises Space Debris
Concerns
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Ham Radio Volunteers Support Communication for Tour de Lincoln
Bicycle Event
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* AREx Says Artemis 2 Proposal Process was Instructive
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday,
November 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The ARRL Letter will not be
published on Thursday, November 25, and ARRL Audio News will not be
produced on Friday, November 26. There will be no W1AW bulletin and
code practice transmissions on either day. ARRL Headquarters will
reopen on Monday, November 29 at 8 AM EST. ARRL wishes you a safe and
enjoyable holiday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando

ARRL and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) will host the 2022 ARRL
National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) on February 10 - 13,
2022, in Orlando, Florida. The convention theme, "reDiscover Radio,"
highlights radio amateurs' commitment to developing knowledge and
skills in radio technology and radio communication. Convention
co-organizer and ARRL Director of Public Relations and

Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, promises the ARRL National Convention
at Orlando HamCation will be one of the best in-person conventions that
ARRL has ever assembled.

"There will be expert presenters, community-building opportunities, and
plenty of social time to celebrate being together with our friends from
across the ham radio community," Inderbitzen said. "And who doesn't
love Florida in February?"

The convention will kick off on Thursday, February 10, with a series of
morning and afternoon Training Tracks and a National Convention
Luncheon at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld.
Registration is now open for Thursday's program, and an early-bird
registration rate of $75 is in effect through December 15.

The National Convention Training Tracks are workshops providing an
in-depth learning experience in one of the four track topics. Attendees
will select a Training Track when completing their online National
Convention registration.
* Training Track #1: Contest University. This marks the first time
that Contest University^(c) (CTU) is coming to Orlando. Registrants
will learn from some of the top amateur radio contesters in the
world. CTU will appeal to new and veteran contesters alike who are
looking to hone their skills. Presenters cover general contest
operations, contesting skills, and many resources and tools to get
more out of contesting. The Track Leaders are Tim Duffy, K3LR, and
Teri Grizer, K8MNJ. Presenters include ARRL US Virgin Islands
Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV/NP2X; Chris Blake, NX4N; Luis
Romero, W4LT; Claudio Veroli, I4VEQ, and Max Fountain, KJ4EUT, who
will offer a youth perspective on contesting.
* Training Track #2: Emergency Communications Academy. Guest speakers
from amateur radio emergency communications training will present
an overview of amateur radio responses during disasters, message
traffic handling, Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)),
Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM), Winlink, emergency antennas,
and emergency power. Participants will learn the skills and roles
needed to be an effective volunteer. The Track Leader is Rick Palm,
K1CE. Presenters include Gordon Gibby, KX4Z; Mike Walters, W8ZY;
Curt Bartholomew, N3GQ; Matthew Curtin, KD8TTE; Helen Straughn,
WC4FSU; Leland Gallup, AA3YB; Earl McDow, K4ZSW, and others.
* Training Track #3: Hands-On Handbook. Generations of radio
amateurs have turned to The ARRL Handbook to be inspired to be
radio-active in new ways! This series of presentations will take a
deeper dive into a handful of topics covered in the Handbook,
encouraging you to explore a variety of amateur radio activities.
Topics (subject to change) include portable operating, remote
station control, amateur satellite communications, and HF digital
modes..
* Training Track #4: Technology Academy. Track Leader Kristen
McIntyre, K6WX, will be joined by technical experts in the amateur
radio community, including ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. Topics
(subject to change) include antennas, radios, standing wave ratio
(SWR), grounds, and "hints and hacks" to keep our stations humming
along at maximum efficiency.

Registration includes the National Convention Luncheon, featuring a
keynote address by ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the celebration continues at HamCation on Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday (February 11 - 13) at Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo
Park in Orlando -- an 87-acre lakefront fairground. Tickets for
HamCation are sold separately and are now available for purchase.

OARC President John Knott, N4JTK, notes that the 2022 convention marks
the 75th anniversary of HamCation, one of the largest annual gatherings
of radio amateurs in the US. "We want our diamond anniversary show to
be an exciting, five-star event," said Knott. "We look forward to
seeing you in Orlando in February."

For further details, visit the 2022 ARRL National Convention website at

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The ARRL Letter
November 18, 2021

* Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando
* Russia's Destruction of an Orbiting Satellite Raises Space Debris
Concerns
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Ham Radio Volunteers Support Communication for Tour de Lincoln
Bicycle Event
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Announcements
* AREx Says Artemis 2 Proposal Process was Instructive
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Thursday, November 25, and Friday,
November 26, for the Thanksgiving holiday. The ARRL Letter will not be
published on Thursday, November 25, and ARRL Audio News will not be
produced on Friday, November 26. There will be no W1AW bulletin and
code practice transmissions on either day. ARRL Headquarters will
reopen on Monday, November 29 at 8 AM EST. ARRL wishes you a safe and
enjoyable holiday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Registration Opens for the 2022 ARRL National Convention in Orlando

ARRL and the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) will host the 2022 ARRL
National Convention and Orlando HamCation^(R) on February 10 - 13,
2022, in Orlando, Florida. The convention theme, "reDiscover Radio,"
highlights radio amateurs' commitment to developing knowledge and
skills in radio technology and radio communication. Convention
co-organizer and ARRL Director of Public Relations and

Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, promises the ARRL National Convention
at Orlando HamCation will be one of the best in-person conventions that
ARRL has ever assembled.

"There will be expert presenters, community-building opportunities, and
plenty of social time to celebrate being together with our friends from
across the ham radio community," Inderbitzen said. "And who doesn't
love Florida in February?"

The convention will kick off on Thursday, February 10, with a series of
morning and afternoon Training Tracks and a National Convention
Luncheon at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld.
Registration is now open for Thursday's program, and an early-bird
registration rate of $75 is in effect through December 15.

The National Convention Training Tracks are workshops providing an
in-depth learning experience in one of the four track topics. Attendees
will select a Training Track when completing their online National
Convention registration.
* Training Track #1: Contest University. This marks the first time
that Contest University^(c) (CTU) is coming to Orlando. Registrants
will learn from some of the top amateur radio contesters in the
world. CTU will appeal to new and veteran contesters alike who are
looking to hone their skills. Presenters cover general contest
operations, contesting skills, and many resources and tools to get
more out of contesting. The Track Leaders are Tim Duffy, K3LR, and
Teri Grizer, K8MNJ. Presenters include ARRL US Virgin Islands
Section Manager Fred Kleber, K9VV/NP2X; Chris Blake, NX4N; Luis
Romero, W4LT; Claudio Veroli, I4VEQ, and Max Fountain, KJ4EUT, who
will offer a youth perspective on contesting.
* Training Track #2: Emergency Communications Academy. Guest speakers
from amateur radio emergency communications training will present
an overview of amateur radio responses during disasters, message
traffic handling, Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)),
Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM), Winlink, emergency antennas,
and emergency power. Participants will learn the skills and roles
needed to be an effective volunteer. The Track Leader is Rick Palm,
K1CE. Presenters include Gordon Gibby, KX4Z; Mike Walters, W8ZY;
Curt Bartholomew, N3GQ; Matthew Curtin, KD8TTE; Helen Straughn,
WC4FSU; Leland Gallup, AA3YB; Earl McDow, K4ZSW, and others.
* Training Track #3: Hands-On Handbook. Generations of radio
amateurs have turned to The ARRL Handbook to be inspired to be
radio-active in new ways! This series of presentations will take a
deeper dive into a handful of topics covered in the Handbook,
encouraging you to explore a variety of amateur radio activities.
Topics (subject to change) include portable operating, remote
station control, amateur satellite communications, and HF digital
modes..
* Training Track #4: Technology Academy. Track Leader Kristen
McIntyre, K6WX, will be joined by technical experts in the amateur
radio community, including ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. Topics
(subject to change) include antennas, radios, standing wave ratio
(SWR), grounds, and "hints and hacks" to keep our stations humming
along at maximum efficiency.

Registration includes the National Convention Luncheon, featuring a
keynote address by ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the celebration continues at HamCation on Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday (February 11 - 13) at Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo
Park in Orlando -- an 87-acre lakefront fairground. Tickets for
HamCation are sold separately and are now available for purchase.

OARC President John Knott, N4JTK, notes that the 2022 convention marks
the 75th anniversary of HamCation, one of the largest annual gatherings
of radio amateurs in the US. "We want our diamond anniversary show to
be an exciting, five-star event," said Knott. "We look forward to
seeing you in Orlando in February."

For further details, visit the 2022 ARRL National Convention website at
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The ARRL Letter
December 2, 2021

* Two 160-Meter Events in December Give Nod to 1921 Transatlantic
Tests
* Dayton Hamvention Expects to be Live Event in 2022
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Fall ARRL Section Manager Election Results
* YOTA Month Continues to Expand into the Americas
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* IARU Reports Another Over-the-Horizon Radar System is Under
Construction in India
* ARDC Grants Will Expand Emergency Capabilities in Haiti and the US
Virgin Islands
* Announcements
* Amateur Radio in the News
* ARRL Author, QST Technical Editor Joel Hallas, W1ZR, SK
* Past ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Director Claude Maer, W0IC, SK
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
Two 160-Meter Events in December Give Nod to 1921 Transatlantic Tests

In December, there will be two opportunities for 160-meter operators to
fill the airwaves with activity and to test skills and stations on that
band. The events take place a century after the transatlantic tests of
the 1920s, which ushered in the dawn of international amateur radio
communication.

This famous cover of the
January 1922 issue of QST
trumpets the success of the
Second Transatlantic Test and
lists the stations that Paul
Godley, 2ZE, copied (or
received) in Scotland.

The annual ARRL 160-Meter Contest begins at 2200 UTC on Friday,
December 3, and ends at 1559 UTC on Sunday, December 5. This 42-hour
CW-only contest is most similar to the original transatlantic tests.
This contest typically attracts a good crowd and presents a challenge
to operator skill and station performance.

The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) is planning to activate
special call signs to commemorate the centenary of the tests. Stations
from the UK and Crown Dependencies will use up to seven different call
signs, each having a "6XX" suffix: G6XX, England; GD6XX, Isle of Man;
GI6XX, Northern Ireland; GJ6XX, Jersey; GM6XX, Scotland; GU6XX,
Guernsey, and GW6XX, Wales. In addition, listen for UK stations
appending the suffix "/2ZE" to the station's call sign. Use of this
commemorative suffix has been authorized for use December 1 - 26 by
Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator.

On December 12 -- and not to be confused with the ARRL 160-Meter
Contest -- ARRL and the RSGB will jointly sponsoring the 160-Meter
Transatlantic Centenary QSO Party. This 6-hour event will run from 0200
to 0800 UTC. The event coincides with the 100th anniversary of the
successful Second Transatlantic Tests. Participating stations will
operate only on CW, trying to contact the two official call sign
activations, W1AW and GB2ZE. The stations may listen for callers 1 kHz
above their transmitting frequency, to shift the pileup from their
transmit frequency. They may also periodically ask for DX callers only.
The exchange is call sign and signal report.

The cover of the December
2021 issue of QST
commemorates the centenary
of the Transatlantic
Tests, which contributed
to the rise of
international amateur
radio communications in
the 1920s.

During the QSO Party, ARRL will activate W1AW from Newington,
Connecticut. RSGB will activate GB2ZE with help from a team of
stations, including members of the GMDX Group of Scotland sharing the
operating duties. GB2ZE commemorates the call sign of Paul Godley, 2ZE,
who was sent by ARRL to the UK to lead the second Transatlantic Test in
December 1921.

W1AW will be active for all 6 hours. Stations operating as GB2ZE will
follow this schedule:
* 0200 UTC, from the commemorative station at Ardrossan, Scotland
* 0300 UTC, from GM3YTS
* 0400 UTC, from GM0GAV
* 0500 UTC, from MM0ZBH
* 0600 UTC, from MM0GPZ
* 0700 UTC, from GM4ZUK until 0800 UTC, or until the band closes at
sunrise.

The GMDX Group will award a quaich -- a traditional Scottish drinking
cup representing friendship -- to the first stations in North America
and the UK to complete contacts with both W1AW and GB2ZE during the QSO
Party. A commemorative certificate will be available for download.
Participants will not have to submit logs. The official logs from W1AW
and GB2ZE will be used to determine the winners and for certificates.
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The ARRL Letter
December 9, 2021



* Senator Blumenthal Supports Amateur Radio at Senate Confirmation
Hearing
* Senate Confirms FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for a New Term
* ARRL Executive Committee Meets
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARDC Grant Will Expand RMHAM's 5 GHz Microwave Network in the
Rockies
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* November 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Replica Transmitter will be On the Air to Mark Transatlantic Test
Success
* Announcements
* ARRL Seeks News Editor
* World's Smallest Moon Lander from Japan will Put Ham Radio
Transmitter on the Moon
* WSJT-X Development Group Partner Bill Somerville, G4WJS, SK
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
Senator Blumenthal Supports Amateur Radio at Senate Confirmation
Hearing

Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT) received an affirmative reply from FCC
Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel when he asked her to commit to providing
his office "an update on the steps that the FCC is taking to support
amateur radio operators." The Senator posed the written

US Senator Richard
Blumenthal

question as part of Rosenworcel's renomination hearing conducted by the
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

Blumenthal noted specifically that "Radio amateurs voluntarily provide
an array of public services, especially emergency and disaster-related
support communications when infrastructure has been destroyed by a
hurricane or similar disaster. Their contributions in this area are
regularly recognized by local and state authorities."

"ARRL is grateful to Senator Blumenthal for his support and recognition
of radio amateurs," said ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR. Blumenthal
has previously co-sponsored legislation supporting amateur radio, and
his staff was recently briefed by ARRL on pending amateur radio matters
at the FCC. Roderick added, "We need the partnership of the FCC and
Congress to ensure our rules and spectrum continue to support the march
of technological innovation in our vibrant Amateur Radio Service."

Multiple proceedings to update or change the FCC's Amateur Radio
Service Part 97 rules to account for changes in technology and
operating practices have been languishing at the FCC, some going back
five or more years. ARRL is hopeful that these will be addressed soon.
Senate Confirms FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for a New Term

On December 7, the US Senate confirmed FCC Chairwoman Jessica
Rosenworcel for a new term on the Commission with a vote of 68 - 31.
President Joe Biden appointed Rosenworcel as Chair of the FCC in late
October. For now, the FCC will continue with two Democrats and two
Republicans led by Chairwoman Rosenworcel.

The chairwoman said in a statement after the Senate confirmed her
nomination, "People across the country count on the FCC to support the
connections they need for work, learning, healthcare, and access to the
information we require to make decisions about our lives, our
communities, and our country. I look forward to working with the
ministration, my colleagues on the Commission and FCC staff, members
of Congress, and the public to make the promise of modern
communications a reality for everyone, everywhere."

The nomination of a fifth commissioner remains pending before the
Senate. Last week, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee conducted a hearing on President Biden's nominee, Gigi Sohn,
for the remaining Democratic seat. Committee and full Senate votes on
her nomination have not yet been scheduled. -- Thanks to ARRL Public
Relations and Innovation Projects Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
ARRL Executive Committee Meets

The ARRL Executive Committee met on October 25 in virtual session, with
President Rick Roderick, K5UR, presiding.

In his report, CEO David Minster, NA2AA, noted that the revised ARRL
Articles of Incorporation approved during the July 2021 Board meeting
had been filed with the State of Connecticut. He also discussed the
delayed timing of the delivery of the December issue of QST. He advised
that Members should expect to receive their December issue about a week
late. Minster also said ARRL is expecting an increase in the price it
pays for paper, effective in February 2022. He said it's not yet clear
whether the impact of the increase in paper costs would be short- or
long-term.

CEO Minster reported he had met with ARRL Field Services Manager Mike
Walters, W8ZY, on October 22 at Bradley International Airport near
Hartford, Connecticut, to observe ARRL participation in an emergency
management exercise that concluded on October 23. Walters, on behalf of
ARRL, participated in all 3 days of the exercise.

ARRL FCC Counsel David Siddall, K3ZJ, discussed recent efforts at the
FCC and on Capitol Hill advocating FCC action on long-pending
proceedings that address Amateur Radio concerns. Siddall also addressed
new legislation pending before Congress that would set deadlines for
the allocation of additional spectrum below 3.45 GHz to commercial 5G
providers. He described ARRL's efforts to obtain support for allowing
continued sharing below 3.45 GHz on a non-interference basis.

FCC Counsel Siddall noted an FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PS
Docket 21-346) looking into ways of improving communications resiliency
and recovery during hurricanes and other disasters. He said ARRL had
submitted reports to FCC staff during and immediately following
Hurricane Ida.

Siddall further noted the progress of the ARRL RF Safety Committee in
addressing and clarifying issues concerning amateur compliance with FCC
RF exposure rules and appropriate updates to the related FCC bulletin.
He concluded that the work of the Committee, under the leadership of
Greg Lapin, N9GL, will benefit every amateur in the future to more
readily assess RF exposure compliance and to make any adjustments
needed.

West Gulf Division Director, EC member, and Chairman of the Legislative
vocacy Committee, John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, updated the EC on the
status of a resolution introduced in Congress by US Representative
Debbie Lesko of Arizona to declare April 18, 2022 as National Amateur
Radio Operators Day.

Director Stratton also advised the EC that the Legal Structure Review
Committee was reviewing the Articles of Association, By-Laws, and
Standing Orders with an eye toward recommending any needed changes at
the January 2022 Board meeting.

The Executive Committee meets again on December 13.

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features tips
about how to improve the effective range of your handheld transceiver.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 48) of the Eclectic Tech
podcast features a conversation about the technical aspects of the 1921
Transatlantic Tests with Clark Burgard, N1BCG. We also chat about
on-air activities surrounding the upcoming anniversary.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARDC Grant Will Expand RMHAM's 5 GHz Microwave Network in the Rockies

A grant of $374,233 from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) to
Rocky Mountain Ham Radio (RMHAM) will go toward expanding a multistate
5 GHz microwave network and help to outfit communications trailers.

The microwave network enables partnering amateur radio clubs and groups
to access, enable, or expand their repeater and other FCC Part
97-appropriate applications. The network provides 50 - 100+ Mbps of
bandwidth and is managed and monitored by a dedicated network
operations team.

In Colorado, RMHAM will be able to grow its microwave network by 23 new
microwave sites and 20 new point-to-point spans to expand IP
connectivity and future repeater coverage across the western slope of
Colorado and along the I-70 and I-76 corridors in eastern Colorado.

In New Mexico, RMHAM will grow its microwave network by 16 sites and 15
new point-to-point spans to expand IP connectivity and

future repeater coverage south from Albuquerque to El Paso, Texas;
along US Route 550 to Durango, Colorado, and across the Rio Grande
Valley to Alamogordo, New Mexico. The club will also expand RMHAM
digital repeater coverage (DMR or D-STAR, depending on coverage gaps)
across New Mexico through the addition of seven repeaters co-located at
their proposed new microwave sites.

As a result of the grant, RMHAM will also be able to upgrade its
Colorado communications trailer, which offers both RF and IP
connectivity, and to outfit a new trailer for service in New Mexico.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

Have an interesting topic you want to share? The ARRL Learning Network
is a series of online webinars presented by member-volunteers for
members. Presentations should be short -- 30 minutes plus an additional
15-minutes for Q&A.

Submission topics should be of interest to a broad audience of hams,
particularly those either new to amateur radio or experienced hams
looking to learn about a new way to get involved!

Selected presenters will be contacted and invited to schedule their
webinar from a list of upcoming available date/time slots. An ARRL
staff member will help coordinate the details with you, so you'll be
ready for your presentation day. For more information, email ARRL
Education and Learning.

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

November 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report

This is the November 2021 report of Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program
activity. The VM program is a joint initiative between ARRL and the FCC
to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service.
* Operators in Ardmore, Tennessee; Lithonia, Georgia; Coconut Creek
and Miramar, Florida, and East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, were
issued visory Notices regarding excessive bandwidth, contrary to
FCC rules. The operators were transmitting on SSB with bandwidths
of 8 to 9 kHz.
* visory Notices were issued to operators in Northridge (Los
Angeles) and Hemet, California, for interference to repeaters. Both
operators had been requested by the repeater trustees to cease
using the repeaters. The visory Notice issued to the Northridge
operator cited broadcasting and failure to identify, and it
informed them that the FCC was requested not to grant their
upcoming renewal application unless the case was resolved.
* An visory Notice was issued to an operator in Powell, Wyoming,
for transmitting overdriven FT8 signals that resulted in spurious
emissions. The operator has since corrected the problem.
* General-class operators in Bartonville, Illinois, and St. Clair,
Michigan, were issued visory Notices for operation in the Amateur
Extra-class portion of 40 meters. A Technician-class licensee in
Windber, Pennsylvania, was issued an visory Notice for operating
in the General-class portion of 75 meters.
* One case was referred to the FCC for enforcement action and review
of a license renewal application. The FCC referred two cases to the
VM Program.

Totals for VM monitoring during October were 2,939 hours on HF
frequencies, and 3,282 hours on VHF frequencies and above, for a total
of 6,221 hours. That is the highest number of hours monitoring since
the inception of the VM Program. -- Thanks to Volunteer Monitor Program
ministrator Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* "Making Contact with the Past: Operating Radios on USS North
Carolina" SpectrumNews1, North Carolina (December 7, 2021)

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Replica Transmitter will be On the Air to Mark Transatlantic Test
Success

A replica 1BCG transmitter will operate as W2AN/1BCG on �1.820 MHz on
CW, from The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut.

The 1BCG replica transmitter with
room for additional 204-A tubes for
more power.

"We're using type 204-A tubes," said Mark Erdle, AE2EA, of the Antique
Wireless Association. "The original transmitter used type 204 tubes.
The primary difference is that the 204-A tubes had a thoriated filament
that reduced the filament current. Transmissions from W2AN/1BCG will be
one way, just like the original transatlantic tests in 1921. An SWL
certificate is available by emailing a copy of the transmitted message.

Transmissions start on December 11 at 2300 UTC continuing every 15
minutes until December 12 at 0400 UTC.

In a separate event on December 12 at 0252 UTC, The Radio Club of
America's W2RCA will make a one-way transmission on 1825 kHz at 12 WPM
CW, from Connecticut. RCA members constructed the original transmitter
and "shack" used in Connecticut for the successful transatlantic
transmissions. In addition to the original 1921 message, a new message
will be transmitted that looks ahead to the next 100 years. Those who
copy the message qualify for a certificate. -- Thanks to Mark Erdle,
AE2EA, Antique Wireless Association, and to the Radio Club of America

ARRL and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) have assembled a
list of stations and groups that are organizing events and activities
to celebrate 100 years of amateur radio transatlantic communication.
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The ARRL Letter
December 16, 2021

* SKYWARN Spotters and Nets Track Deadly Storms
* ARRL and RSGB Announce Winners of Transatlantic Centenary Cups
* New Directors in Two ARRL Divisions will Take Their Seats in
January
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Past ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, SK
* ARRL Rookie Roundup CW Event is December 19
* Ham Radio University Going Virtual Again
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Interim SM Appointment Made in Virginia; Georgia SM Post Becomes
Vacant
* Sweden's SAQ VLF Alexanderson Alternator Station Schedules
Christmas Eve Transmission
* Observations of Over-the-Horizon Radar Interference in Ham Bands
Top All Others
* Announcements
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Spain, Norway Seek Ways to Attract a Younger Generation of Hams
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

.

.

[IMG]

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation^(R) is February 10 -

--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
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Sean Dennis wrote to All <=-

The ARRL Letter

I don't know what happened here...

-- Sean

... When prosperity comes, do not use all of it. - Confucius
___ MultiMail/FreeBSD v0.52
--- Maximus/2 3.01
* Origin: Outpost BBS (1:18/200)

Sean,

I don't know what happened here...

Looks like someone spilled invisible ink on it (hi hi).

I got their Club Letter yesterday in my email box.

Daryl, WX4QZ

... Some people have more problems than an arithmetic book.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.14-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)

The ARRL Letter
December 16, 2021

* SKYWARN Spotters and Nets Track Deadly Storms
* ARRL and RSGB Announce Winners of Transatlantic Centenary Cups
* New Directors in Two ARRL Divisions will Take Their Seats in
January
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Past ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, SK
* ARRL Rookie Roundup CW Event is December 19
* Ham Radio University Going Virtual Again
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Interim SM Appointment Made in Virginia; Georgia SM Post Becomes
Vacant
* Sweden's SAQ VLF Alexanderson Alternator Station Schedules
Christmas Eve Transmission
* Observations of Over-the-Horizon Radar Interference in Ham Bands
Top All Others
* Announcements
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Spain, Norway Seek Ways to Attract a Younger Generation of Hams
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

.

.

[IMG]

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation^(R) is February 10 -
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The ARRL Letter
December 30, 2021

* IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Issues Upbeat Seasonal Message
* Hurricane Watch Net Recorded 300 On-Air Hours in 2021
* New Low-Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests Goes into Effect on
January 1, 2022
* ARRL to Oppose Forest Service ministrative Fees for Amateur Radio
Facilities
* HamSCI Invites Abstracts for its 2022 Workshop
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Intrepid-DX Group Announces Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest Winners
* Amateur Radio in the News
* 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Updates its Progress
* Announcements
* Georgia Club Donates License Manuals to Local Schools
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Friday, December 31, and there will
be no W1AW bulletin or CW practice transmissions on that day. ARRL
Headquarters will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022, at 8 AM EST (1300
UTC). We extend our best wishes for the New Year!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Issues Upbeat Seasonal Message

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 2 Secretary George
Gorsline, VE3YV, has issued a year-end message on behalf of the
Executive Committee.

"A bright spot in an otherwise challenging year is that our shared
passion of amateur radio is growing stronger," Gorsline wrote. "The
increase in on-the-air activity has been noticeable, especially on the
HF bands. Driven by reawakening solar activity and the rapid adoption
of digital modes, such as FT8, the bands are active -- not just during
evenings and weekends, but also during normal working hours, where more
than a few of us have been known to be in video conference calls while
making QSOs.

George Gorsline,
VE3YV [RAC
photo]

Growth in activity and participation has not been limited to the HF
bands. Use of VHF and UHF has also increased, not just for local nets,
but especially interest in satellite operations."

Gorsline said that the use of "virtual learning" has allowed many IARU
member-societies and affiliated clubs to conduct licensing classes and
exams. "Attracting new and younger amateurs is our future," said
Gorsline. "For 2022, the challenge to all of us is to not only enjoy
our hobby, but to also share it with someone new."

Gorsline challenged members of the amateur community to "introduce
someone to the many possibilities of amateur radio."
Hurricane Watch Net Recorded 300 On-Air Hours in 2021

Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, says 2021 was
the third most-active hurricane season on record in terms of named
storms, and was the sixth consecutive above-normal season.

"We've completed another hurricane season. The Atlantic basin was
extremely busy again for 2021," Graves told HWN members. "For the year,
we had 21 named storms, seven of which became hurricanes, and four of
those became major hurricanes -- Category 3 or stronger." Graves noted
that 2021 marked the first year on record that two consecutive
hurricane seasons exhausted the list of 21 storm names.

Tropical systems that made landfall caused estimated total damage of
$70 billion, as of the end of November, making 2021 the fourth most
costly hurricane season on record, behind 2012, 2005, and 2017.

Graves recounted that several tropical systems made an impact on land
this year. "In August, Tropical Storm Fred caused devastating flooding
across parts of the Greater Antilles and the southeastern United
States," he said. "Hurricane Grace made two landfalls in Mexico --
first as a Category 1 hurricane just south of Tulum on the southeast
Yucat�n [Peninsula], and second as a Category 3 major hurricane in the
Mexican state of Veracruz."

"Hurricane Ida was a deadly and destructive hurricane that made
landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane -- the most intense and

HWN Manager Bobby
Graves, KB5HAV.

destructive hurricane to affect the state since Hurricane Katrina,"
Graves continued. He noted that Ida also caused catastrophic flooding
across the US northeast.

"Hurricane Larry peaked as a powerful Category 3 hurricane over the
open Atlantic [Ocean] before making landfall in the Canadian province
of Newfoundland and Labrador as a Category 1 hurricane. Later,
Hurricane Nicholas moved erratically both on and offshore [on] the
coasts of Texas and Louisiana," he said.

In 2021, the HWN activated for five hurricanes -- Elsa, Grace, Henri,
Ida, and Larry. Graves said the HWN racked up nearly 300 hours on the
air, with 140 of those spent on Hurricane Ida alone. Read an expanded
version.
New Low-Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests Goes into Effect on January 1,
2022

ARRL has set a new standard for what counts as low power for
ARRL-sponsored HF contests. The new limit is 100 W, which is down from
the 150 W limit that has been permitted in some events, including the
ARRL November Sweepstakes.

With the exception of ARRL Field Day, this change goes into effect on
January 1, 2022, for all ARRL-sponsored HF contests, as well as the
IARU HF World Championship.

This change has been implemented to standardize low-power categories
within the contesting community. However, on a more practical level,
the typical modern HF transceiver has a maximum power output of 100 W.

For more information, contact the ARRL Contests program. -- Thanks to
The ARRL Contest Update

ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features some
tips about how to improve the effective range of your handheld
transceiver.

The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 50) -- the
final edition for 2021 -- features a discussion with Nelson
Sollenberger, KA2C, about the filter he designed that allows two nearby
stations to operate on the same band during Field Day and contests.
Also featured is a brief explanation of the so-called POST beeps that
many computers make, and what they mean.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.

ARRL to Oppose Forest Service ministrative Fees for Amateur Radio
Facilities

The US Forest Service is proposing to implement a statutorily required
annual fee for new and existing communications use authorizations to
cover the costs of administering its authorization program. ARRL plans
to vigorously oppose the imposition of the proposed fees on amateur
radio.

The Forest Service proposal results from requirements set forth in the
Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka "the Farm Bill").
Specifically, section 8705(c)(3)(b) of the Farm Bill directs the Forest
Service to issue regulations that require fees for issuing
communications use authorizations based on the cost to the Agency for
maintenance or other activities to be performed by the Agency "as a
result of the location or modification of a communications facility."

The Forest Service is responsible for managing Federal lands and
authorizes the use and occupancy of National Forest System (NFS) lands
for communications facilities that provide communications services for
adjacent rural and urban communities. The Agency said in its proposal
that it administers more than 3,700 special use authorizations on NFS
lands for infrastructure that supports more than 10,000 wireless
communications uses at 1,367 communications sites.

According to the Forest Service Notice published in the December 22,
2021 issue of the Federal Register, revenues from the proposed fee,
"would provide the funds necessary to support a more modernized,
efficient, and enhanced communications use program," and will "cover
the costs of administering the Agency's communications use program."
Costs, as laid out in section 8705(f)(4) of the Farm Bill, may include
expenditures for such things as "on-site reviews of communications
sites, developing communications site management plans, hiring and
training personnel for the communications use program, conducting
internal and external outreach for and national oversight of the
communications use program, and obtaining or improving access to
communications sites on NFS lands."

ARRL encourages amateur radio licensees to file comments opposing the
imposition of the proposed administrative fee on amateur radio users.
Comments must be received in writing by no later than February 22,
2022. Comments may be submitted online at the Federal Rulemaking Portal
or via USPS mail to Director, Lands & Realty Management Staff, 201 14th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20250-1124, and must include the identifier
"RIN 0596-AD44."
HamSCI Invites Abstracts for its 2022 Workshop

HamSCI is soliciting abstracts for the 2022 HamSCI Workshop. The
submission deadline is February 1, 2022. The workshop will be a hybrid
(in-person and virtual) event from March 18 - 19, 2022, at the US Space
and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

"The primary objective of the HamSCI workshop is to bring together the
amateur radio community and professional scientists," said HamSCI Lead
Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an assistant professor within the Department
of Physics and Electrical Engineering at The University of Scranton.
"This year's theme is 'The Weather Connection,' with invited speakers
Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, and Jim Bacon, G3YLA."

Skov and Bacon will present tutorials on the impacts of space and
terrestrial weather on the ionosphere. Chen-Pang Yeang, an associate
professor and director for the Special Project on Scientific
Instruments at the University of Toronto, will deliver the keynote
address, "Ham Radio and the Discovery of the Ionosphere."

Frissell said that abstracts related to development of the Personal
Space Weather Station, ionospheric science, atmospheric science, radio
science, space weather, radio astronomy, and any science topic that can
be appropriately related to amateur radio are invited. "We especially
encourage submissions related to this year's meeting theme of The
Weather Connection, but will also accept abstracts outside of this
theme that are of interest to both the amateur radio and professional
science communities."

To submit an abstract, complete the form on the HamSCI Workshop page.
Workshop registration will open by mid-January. Read an expanded
version.
ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

Have an interesting topic you want to share? The ARRL Learning Network
is a series of online webinars presented by member-volunteers for
members. Presentations should be short -- 30 minutes plus an additional
15 minutes for Q&A.

For more information, email ARRL Education and Learning.

More webinars are coming soon!

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

Intrepid-DX Group Announces Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest Winners

On December 1, Intrepid-DX Group President Paul Ewing, N6PSE, announced
the prize recipients of the second annual Youth "Dream Rig" Essay
Contest. Ewing said all essays received "were all unique in thought and
very well articulated." Extra points were given for correct grammar,
punctuation, and spelling, he said.

"Most of the essays gave unique perspectives on how to reach out and
connect with the youth of today. We will be sharing those ideas in
subsequent postings," he said.

The first-place winner and recipient of an Icom IC-7300 transceiver is
Silas Davis, W3SED. Second-place winner Olivia Lee, KD2UYX, and
third-place winner Isaac Schmidt, K6IAS, will each receive Yaesu FT-65R
radios. "Having read your many essays this week, we can tell you that
our youth are full of great ideas, and they are brimming with
enthusiasm to keep our hobby alive well into the future," Ewing
concluded.

He thanked Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) for supporting
this year's prizes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Hoschar now a ham ... / Forks Forum, Forks, Washington (December
15, 2021)
* "How Amateur Radio Fanatics Launched the World's First Private
Communication Satellite" / Inverse (December 12, 2021)

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Updates its Progress

Two new team members of the upcoming 3Y0J Bouvet DXpedition team have
come aboard to replace, in part, three operators who are unable to make
the trip -- Sandro Nitoi, VE7NY; Laci Rad�cz, HA0NAR, and Dimtry
Zhikharev, RA9USU. Joining the 3Y0J crew will be Cezar Trifu, VE3LYC,
and Otis Vicens, NP4G. A third replacement has not yet been named.

"Their experience will be a great addition to the team," the DXpedition
team said in a media release announcing the personnel changes and
updating the DXpedition's planning process.

Ken Opskar, LA7GIA; Rune O/ye, LA7THA, and Erwann Merrien, LB1QI, are
sharing leadership duties for the 2023 DXpedition.

The 3Y0J team has also been busy selecting the gear that they will need
once they reach the subantarctic island. Arctic Lavvo of Norway will
supply the team with its Venor Gamme tent. The tent, which stood up to
winds of 40 meters per second (nearly 90 MPH) when it was tested in
extreme conditions on Svalbard, will be improved further by adding
extra guying levels and by strengthening the aluminum frame, the 3Y0J
DXpedition team explained.

Silcom of South Africa will supply custom masts for the Yagi antennas
that are rated for the Bouvet environment. The aluminum mast will be
used for the tribanders, while the smaller, galvanized steel mast will
support dual-band Yagis.

"We're taking preparation to the next level by procuring a [Zodiac
Milpro inflatable boat]," the team continued. "The strategic decision
to buy the [boat] will enable us to train [for] the critical beach
landing in Norway.

The DXpedition team said it's still $160,000 short of its funding goal.

Follow the team's plans via its website or the 3Y0J Facebook page. View
Bouvet Island from above in a short YouTube video. Read an expanded
version.

Announcements
* [IMG]ARRL's Commemorative 1915 QST download on Christmas Day
encountered a delivery issue. ARRL members can now access the
document. Send questions or comments via email. QST marked its
centenary in 2015, and the first edition was published in December
1915.
* Finland's IARU member-society SRAL has presented Iceland's
member-society IRA with an engraved KBX-380 Morse paddle to
commemorate the 75th anniversary of the IRA's founding.
* NASA has announced its intent to purchase three more commercial
crew missions from SpaceX -- in a sole-source award -- as a hedge
against further delays in the certification of Boeing's CST-100
Starliner. Those missions will be in addition to the six
post-certification missions SpaceX in 2014. "It's critical we begin
to secure additional flights to the space station now so we are
ready as these missions are needed to maintain a US presence on the
station," said Kathy Lueders, Associate ministrator of NASA's
Space Operations Mission Directorate.
* ARRL has been migrating to new rule sets that exist as a single
document. As the rule sets are replaced, the older "General Rules,"
"Rules for Contests below 30 MHz," and "Rules for Contests above 30
MHz" documents will sunset. Complete rules are available as a PDF
on individual contest pages. -- Thanks to ARRL Contest Program
Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE
* New Year's Day is also Kids Day. Introduce your child, or a
relative's or friend's child, to amateur radio. If you hear kids on
the air, have a friendly contact with them. Kids Day is designed to
give young people on-the-air experience and hopefully foster their
interest in getting a license of their own. It is also intended to
give older hams a chance to share their stations and love for
amateur radio with youngsters.
* The US Department of Defense has issued an updated Military
Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) instruction, DODI 4650.02, replacing
MARS DODI 4650.02 issued in 2009. The document establishes policy,
assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for MARS. It
further establishes MARS organization, membership, and functions.
-- Thanks to Gary Sessums, KC5QCN

Georgia Club Donates License Manuals to Local Schools

The Dalton Amateur Radio Club (DARC) in Dalton, Georgia, recently
donated copies of the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual to several schools
in its service area. The materials will be available in the schools'
media centers.

On December 1, DARC President Jack Thompson, N5UOV, met with media
specialists Sarah Hicks of North Murray High School and Ryan Long of
Murray County High School to present both schools with copies of the
ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, which covers everything needed to obtain
a Technician-class license including the full question pool for the
exam.

Jack Thompson, N5UOV, and Sarah
Hicks at North Murray High School.

During a second presentation on December 3, Thompson and David Stanley,
WI4L, met with Whitfield County Schools Media Specialist Ge-Anne
Bolhuis, and Communications Specialist Kristina Horsley, to present 10
copies of the license manual, which will be placed in each middle
school and high school in the county.

The visits offered Thompson and Stanley a chance to answer questions
about amateur radio. Thompson explained to Hicks that not only was ham
radio an interesting hobby, it involves public service activities and
could inspire students to become involved in emergency management or
search-and-rescue activities.

Bolhuis also asked about the uses of amateur radio. Stanley explained
that ham radio is often the last line of communication in an emergency
when all other means fail. Thompson explained how his activity as a
radio amateur led to his 25+ years of volunteering as a reservist in
emergency management and as a member of the search-and-rescue team of
the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi.

Representatives from all of the schools received information about the
ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program. The Dalton Amateur Radio Club
expressed its appreciation to Tom Smith, KI4IG, for making the initial
contacts with the schools and to ARRL for providing the manuals at no
cost.
In Brief...

David Benoist, AG4ZR, has been appointed as ARRL Georgia Section
Manager. In consultation with ARRL Southeastern Division Director
Mickey Baker, N4MB, ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY,
appointed Benoist, of Senoia, to fill the vacant post starting
immediately. Benoist had previously served as Georgia Section Manager
(SM) from 2016 to 2021. Benoist was the ARRL Georgia Section Emergency
Coordinator from March 2014 to 2016. The former Georgia ARRL SM, Jim
Millsap, K9APD, resigned for personal reasons, effective December 14,
after serving since October 1.

A new release of WSJT-X is available. The WSJT-X development group --
Joe Taylor, K1JT; Steve Franke, K9AN; and new member Nico Palermo,
IV3NWV -- have announced the release of WSJT-X 2.5.3. This new release
includes a feature of special interest to users participating in the
ARRL January VHF Contest (January 15 - 17). This new feature is an
enhanced macro facility for text messages that is aimed at making it
easier to ask another station to move to another band. This feature is
described briefly in the updated WSJT-X User Guide. Installation
packages for WSJT-X 2.5.3 are available on the WSJT-X website.

Special WRTC 2022 call signs will be active starting in January. The
World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2022 Organizing Committee has
announced that more than 100 Italian radio amateurs will be activating
special WRTC call signs, one for each Italian call district, starting
on January 1, 2022, and concluding on July 10, 2022. A first-time-ever
award will be available promoting WRTC 2022, which has been postponed
until 2023. Look for these call signs to be active during some
contests, concluding with the 2022 IARU HF World Championship. Each
participant's contact totals and award-hunter scores will be displayed
on a real-time leaderboard. Participants can download the award in
digital format. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest Update

Former ARRL Tennessee Section Manager Keith Miller Sr., N9DGK, of
Rockvale, Tennessee, died of COVID on December 22. An ARRL Life Member,
he was 75. Miller served four terms as ARRL Tennessee Section Manager
from 2012 until December 2019, when he decided not to run for another
term. He was licensed in 1981 and was very active in the Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) and emergency communication. Miller served as
ARRL Emergency Coordinator from 2006 to 2013. Miller served as a member
and officer of the Stones River Amateur Radio Club.

Former ARRL Virgin Islands Section Manager Ron Hall, KP2N, of St.
Augustine, Florida, has died. An ARRL Life Member, he was 85. Hall
served as Section Manager from 1988 until 1996. He later served as an
Assistant Section Manager in 2002 before relocating to Florida.
Licensed in the 1950s, he once worked for Heathkit. He was a member of
the St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club.

The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity persisted over the
reporting week, although numbers were a bit lower. Average daily
sunspot number declined from 124.4 to 110.1. Average daily solar flux
slipped just slightly from 125 to 124. Average daily planetary A index
went from 9.1 to 6.4, and average middle latitude numbers changed from
6.4 to 4.4.

New sunspot groups appeared on December 25, 26, and 28.

Predicted solar flux over the next month is expected to peak at 130 on
January 18 - 19, and the numbers are 110, 108, and 105 on December 30 -
January 1; 104 on January 2 - 3; 100 on January 4; 98 on January 5 - 6;
then 92, 100, 105, and 110 on January 7 - 10; 115 on January 11 - 13;
118 on January 14 - 15; 122 and 128 on January 16 - 17; 130 on January
18 - 19; 128, 125, and 120 on January 20 - 22; 125 on January 23 - 24;
122 on January 25; 120 on January 26 - 27; 115, 110, 100, and 95 on
January 28 - 31; 90 on February 1 - 2, and 92 and 100 on February 3 -
4.

Predicted planetary A index is 10 and 8 on December 30 - 31, then 6,
12, and 8 on January 1 - 3; 5 on January 4 - 10; 10 on January 11 - 12;
5 on January 13 - 14; 8 and 12 on January 15 - 16; 8 on January 17 -
18; 5 on January 19 - 22; 8, 10, 8, and 8 on January 23 - 26, and 5 on
January 27 - February 6.

Sunspot numbers for December 23 - 29 were 143, 145, 117, 95, 85, 107,
and 79, with a mean of 110.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 129.8,
126.2, 130.7, 125.4, 123.9, 120.5, and 111.4, with a mean of 124.
Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 5, 7, 3, 10, 9, and 7, with a
mean of 6.4. Middle latitude A index was 2, 3, 5, 2, 8, 6, and 5, with
a mean of 4.4.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* December 31 -- Bogor Old and New Contest (Phone)
* January 1 -- Straight Key Night
* January 1 -- ARRL Kids Day (Phone)
* January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)
* January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest
* January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (CW)
* January 1 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
* January 1 -- QRP ARCI New Years Sprint (CW)
* * January 1 - 2 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)
* January 1 - 2 -- Original QRP Contest (CW, phone)
* January 3 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, maximum 20 WPM)
* January 4 -- Worldwide Sideband Contest
* January 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)
* January 5 -- RTTYops Weeksprint
* January 5 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)
* January 5 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW)
* January 5 -- FT8 Activity Contest
* January 5 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW)
* January 5 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
* January 6 - 7 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
* January 8 -- ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention
(Ham Radio University), Online
* January 14 -15 -- ARRL North Texas Section Convention (Cowtown
Hamfest), Forest Hill, Texas
* January 22 -- ARRL Midwest Division Convention (Winterfest),
Collinsville, Illinois
* January 28 - 29 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention (Capital
City Hamfest 2022), Jackson, Mississippi.
* February 10 - 13 -- 2022 ARRL National Convention at
Orlando HamCation^(R), Orlando, Florida
* February 18 - 19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
(Yuma Hamfest), Yuma, Arizona
* February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention (HAM-CON), Colchester,
Vermont

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events
in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
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bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
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* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2021 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.
--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
* Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)

The ARRL Letter
January 6, 2022

* ARRL Surveying Field Day Participants
* ARRL Foundation Grants First-Year Funding for ARISS *STAR* Keith
Pugh Initiative
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* ARRL Welcomes New Director of Emergency Management
* Youth on the Air Camp to Return in June
* CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) is Designated Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113)
* ARRL Learning Network Webinars
* Amateur Radio in the News
* The Volunteer Monitor Program Report for December 2021
* Announcements
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARRL Surveying Field Day Participants

The ARRL Programs and Services Committee is seeking input from stations
and groups that participated in ARRL Field Day 2020 and 2021 and has
posted a survey. The committee said the survey results may help shape
the development of Field Day rules for 2022 and beyond. The survey has
already been sent via email to some 13,000 Field Day participants, more
than 2,400 Affiliated Clubs, and to the CQ-Contest and VHF-Contesting
Reflectors.

"Specifically, as we look toward 2022 Field Day, health and
social-distancing concerns may continue in June 2022 during the ongoing
world pandemic," said ARRL Radiosport Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. "For
2023 and beyond, the assumption is made that the pandemic will be over,
and COVID-related restrictions will be relaxed."

Jahnke said the Programs and Services Committee invites participants'
insights, in advance of its January meeting, regarding what they
consider appropriate for operating ARRL Field Day 2022 during the
ongoing pandemic. The committee hopes to learn if participants prefer
to continue Field Day under the pandemic accommodations afforded in
2020 and 2021, which included limiting home stations to the Low Power
multiplier (150 W PEP), and whether stations in some classes or all
other classes should be limited to 150 W PEP as well. Field Day
stations operating at high power became the topic of some discussion in
the wake of Field Day 2021, when some stations were reported to be
running the legal limit on FT8 on crowded bands.

The committee is also interested in views on the 150 W versus 100 W
change in the Field Day Low Power category definition, which is being
implemented across all contest platforms.

During 2020 and 2021, ARRL permitted a couple of basic accommodations
in the Field Day rules during the COVID outbreak.

Participants who could not or did not want to be in a group were
allowed to operate from their home stations and contribute their
individual scores to their club's Field Day aggregate score. Members'
scores were combined to achieve an overall final club score, which then
appeared in the ARRL Field Day results summary in QST and on the ARRL
website.

In addition, Class D (Home, commercial power) stations were allowed to
contact other Class D stations for point credit.

In 2021, Class D and Class E (Home, emergency power) stations were
limited to a maximum transmitter output power of 150 W PEP (Low Power).
The idea here was to minimize the advantage of well-established home
stations with superior antenna systems and running up to the legal
1,500 W PEP limit.

Field Day participants may use this survey link or copy this URL into a
web browser:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2022--ARRL-FIELD-DAY-SURVEY.

The survey will close on January 17, 2022. Direct any questions to the
ARRL Contest Department.
ARRL Foundation Grants First-Year Funding for ARISS *STAR* Keith Pugh
Initiative

A $47,533 ARRL Foundation grant will fund the initial phase of the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS�**USA) *STAR*
Keith Pugh Memoriam Project. *STAR*, which stands for Space
Telerobotics using Amateur Radio, honors the memory of Keith Pugh,
W5IU, a highly respected member of the ARISS team who died in 2019.
ARISS arranges live question-and-answer sessions via ham radio between
International Space Station (ISS) crew members and students. A
long-time and enthusiastic supporter of ARISS, Pugh was a star ARISS
technical mentor, assisting schools with ARISS contacts, encouraging
interest in ARISS among educators, and visiting schools to teach
students about wireless radio technology. One goal of ARISS is to
engage students in science, technology, engineering, arts, and
mathematics (STEAM) subjects.

The ARISS *STAR* Project is a new educational initiative that will
enable US junior and senior high school groups to remotely control
robots via ham radio through digital APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting
System) commands. Year 1 will focus on systems development and initial
validation of ARISS *STAR*, and year 2 will focus on evaluation and
final validation.

Systems development and evaluation will be led by university staff and
students who will undertake hands-on wireless and telerobotics lesson
development, learn about amateur radio, and support *STAR* engineering
hardware and software development.

Next, youth teams will be selected to experiment and critique *STAR*
telerobotics scenarios in closed courses. In the process, ARISS will
encourage students to prepare for and earn an FCC amateur radio
license, enabling them to use ham radio to learn and practice concepts
in radio technology and radio communication.

ARISS-USA Executive Director Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, praised the ARRL
Foundation for its generosity. "ARISS team member Keith Pugh, W5IU,
poured his energy into inspiring, engaging, and educating youth in
space and in amateur radio endeavors," Bauer said. "What better way to
honor Keith than through the ARISS *STAR* initiative. We thank the ARRL
Foundation for its vision to move this initiative forward. Maybe
someday one of our ARISS *STAR* students will use their telerobotics
skills to control scientific rovers on the moon or Mars!"

Over the past 2 decades, more than 1,400 ARISS contacts have connected
more than 1 million youth with the ISS using amateur radio, with
millions more watching and learning.

The overarching goals for *STAR* are to improve and sustain ARISS STEAM
educational outcomes. Robotics is gaining popularity among youth and
adults alike, and telerobotics adds a wireless accent to robotic
control. This will expand ARISS's educational dimension to attract the
attention of more groups, students, and educators -- outreach that
promises to attract new audiences.

The ARRL Foundation was established in 1973, to advance the art,
science, and social benefits of the Amateur Radio Service by awarding
financial grants and scholarships to individuals and organizations that
support their charitable, educational, and scientific efforts.

ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies
and space agencies that support the ISS. US sponsors include ARRL, the
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the ISS National
Lab�**Space Station Explorers, and NASA's Space Communications and
Navigation program (SCaN). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote
exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and
mathematics topics. For more information, visit www.ariss-usa.org and
www.ariss.org.


ARRL Podcasts Schedule

The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features tips
on how to improve the effective range of your handheld transceiver.

The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 50) of the Eclectic Tech
podcast -- the final edition for 2021 -- features a discussion with
Nelson Sollenberger, KA2C, about the filter he designed that allows two
nearby stations to operate on the same band during ARRL Field Day and
contests. The episode also offers a brief explanation of the so-called
POST beeps that many computers make, and what they mean.

The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both
podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android) as well
as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.
ARRL Welcomes New Director of Emergency Management

ARRL has announced the hiring of Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, into the role
of Director of Emergency Management. Johnston is from Ozone, Arkansas,
and comes to ARRL with 16 years of experience as the Director of
Johnson County (Arkansas) Department of Emergency Management. He holds
an Extra-class amateur radio license and is an ARES^(R) Emergency
Coordinator, Volunteer Examiner, and ARRL-registered Instructor.
Johnston is also certified in FEMA NIMS and is a Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) AUXCOMM Communications Unit
Leader. He holds a bachelor's degree in emergency administration and
management from Arkansas Tech University.

"I am happy to welcome Josh to the ARRL staff and to add his talent and
knowledge to our team," said ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA. "His
contribution will help ARRL continue to support our dedicated
volunteers of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R), improve
opportunities for training, and advance our relationships throughout
the EmComm community."

With extensive experience in inter-agency cooperation and planning,
Johnston is well versed in the different aspects of emergency
management and leading both professional and volunteer operators. He
has experience in communications planning and execution in the field
and at the local and state level. As an Arkansas Master Certified
Emergency Manager and past Board Member of Arkansas Emergency
Management Association, where he served as president for 2 years,
Johnston has experience working with government and agency
representatives as well as boots on the ground in the field.

Johnston will be based at ARRL's headquarters in Newington,
Connecticut, working with staff and member-volunteers, and coordinating
with the ARRL Board's new Emergency Communications and Field Services
Committee (EC-FSC).

Youth on the Air Camp to Return in June

After a successful pilot camp program in 2021, the next Youth on the
Air for the Americas camp has been set for June 12 - 17, 2022. The camp
will return to the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in
West Chester Township, Ohio.

The application period will open online February 11. Eligible
participants are amateur radio operators between ages 15 and 25. A
total of 30 campers will be accepted. Some of the 30 spots will be
reserved for campers who reside outside of the US but do reside in the
Americas. Priority will be given to first-time attendees. Returning
attendees will serve as camp leaders.

"We know that changes in the COVID-19 pandemic status between now and
June will have an impact on hosting the camp," said Youth on the Air
camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG. "Should we not be able to host the
camp or need to reschedule, we will let everyone know with as much
notice as possible.

Beginning in 2022, the camp will alternate as much as possible each
year between June and July. Rapp says the camp planning working group
acknowledges that avoiding all scheduling conflicts is not possible,
but hopes that alternating months will provide some diversity with
school schedules, extracurricular activities, and major ham radio
events.

Beginning in 2023, the location of the camp will rotate to various
locations within the Americas. A system will be announced in which IARU
member-societies and clubs will bid to serve as host of the region-wide
camp.

For details about the camp and/or to sign up for updates by email,
visit the YouthOnTheAir camp website. Contact Rapp for more
information.
CAMSAT XW-3 (CAS-9) is Designated Hope-OSCAR-113 (HO-113)

At the request of the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT), AMSAT
Vice President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, has announced the
designation of the new Chinese XW-3 (CAS-9) satellite as Hope-OSCAR-113
(HO-113). Developed by CAMSAT, in cooperation with the Chinese
government's aerospace and education departments, XW-3 was launched on
December 26 at 0311 UTC on a CZ-4C Y39 vehicle from China's Taiyuan
Satellite Launch Center. CAMSAT completed the design and manufacture of
the amateur radio payload and manages the satellite's in-orbit
operation. Alan Kung, BA1DU, of CAMSAT announced the successful launch,
and reports of telemetry and contacts soon followed. XW-3 has a linear
transponder and a camera that can take photos of Earth.

The CW beacon frequency is 435.575 MHz at 22 WPM. GMSK telemetry is at
435.725 MHz. The amateur radio inverting V/U 100 mW linear transponder
uplink is 145.870 MHz, and the downlink is 435.180 MHz. The transponder
passband is 30 kHz.

Kung said, "A space camera carried on the satellite has undergone
preliminary engineering tests, and the download function of compressed
photos will be opened to amateur radio enthusiasts in the future."

On January 3, CAMSAT announced the release of the XW-3 (CAS-9) Amateur
Radio Satellite User's Manual, version 1.1 2022-1-3. The latest version
adds information on the satellite's test mode telemetry data format.
The satellite's test mode is used for in-orbit engineering monitoring,
diagnosis, and maintenance and is only used when the satellite passes
over China. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service and Alan Kung, BA1DU

ARRL Learning Network Webinars

Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,
check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.

More webinars are coming soon!

ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
previously recorded Learning Network webinars. ARRL-affiliated radio
clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club meetings,
mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio topics.

The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Amateur Radio in the News

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
* Pandemic Project: Trailer renovation allows for extended emergency
radio assistance The Spokesman-Review (Washington) December 30,
2021
* Amateur Radio Club bands together during pandemic
OrilliaMatters.com (Ontario) December 26, 2021

Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.

The Volunteer Monitor Program Report for December 2021

The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between ARRL
and the FCC to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service. This is
the December 2021 activity report of the VM Program.
* Operators in Center Hill and Coconut Creek, Florida, were issued
notices for excessive signal bandwidth on 40 and 75 meters, in
violation of Section 97.307(a) of FCC rules. General-class
operators in Hudson, Florida; Winterville, Georgia; Provo, Utah,
and Bloomfield Hills, Jackson, and Howell, Michigan, received
notices for out-of-band SSB operation on frequencies not permitted
by their General-class licenses, in violation of Section 97.301 of
FCC rules.
* Technician-class operators in Baltimore, Maryland; Divernon,
Illinois; Moore, Oklahoma; Bradenton, Florida, and Roseville and
Rancho Cordova, California, received notices for FT8 operation on
unauthorized 20- and 40-meter frequencies, in violation of Section
97.301 of FCC rules.
* Commendations for exemplary amateur radio operation were issued to
licensees in these cities: Dahlonega, Georgia (for managing medical
and technical issues during the Six Gap Century bicycle race in
October); Riverside, California (for operation during the October
Earthquake Situational Emergency Test); Swansea, South Carolina
(for operation on the SC HF ARES Net); Springfield, Indiana (for
assistance to new operators in message handling); Mims, Florida
(for exceptional efforts in correcting wideband issues), and
Raymond, Mississippi (for exemplary operation during ARRL Field
Day, statewide HF and VHF nets, and assistance to new operators).

The totals for VM monitoring in November were 1,901 hours on HF
frequencies and 2,784 hours on VHF frequencies and above, for a total
of 4,685 hours.

There was one referral from the FCC for enforcement assistance. --
Thanks to VM Program ministrator Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH

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Announcements

[IMG]Tom Roscoe, K8CX, has updated his treasury of sound clips with 314
new ones from 2021, including DX sound clips. Tom now has a grand total
of 3,211 sound clips dating from the 1960s to the present. He's always
looking for good on-air recordings.

N3FJP Amateur Contact Log 7.0.3 and all N3FJP software now includes an
easily selectable, fully customizable "Dark Theme" option. "Being able
to quickly transition to Dark Theme during night time operating sure
helps give our eyes a rest, reduces fatigue, and helps keep us in the
chair longer," says developer Scott Davis, N3FJP. Colors may be
modified as well.

The agenda for the ARRL Board of Directors Annual Meeting, January 21 -
22, 2022 has been posted.

The Danish DX Group celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022. For that
occasion, special event station OZ50DDXG will be on the air, and radio
amateurs can apply for an anniversary award by working the station.
More information is in the OZ50DDXG QRZ.com profile.

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In Brief...

A new Technician Question Pool will become effective on July 1. The
National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question
Pool Committee (QPC) has released the 2022 - 2026 Technician Class FCC
Element 2 NCVEC Question Pool Syllabus & Question Pool into the public
domain. It's available as a Word document or PDF. The three graphics
required for the new Technician question pool are available within the
documents, or separately as PDF or JPG files. The new pool incorporates
some significant changes compared to the 2018 - 2022 pool. Its 257
questions were modified slightly to improve wording or to replace
distractors; 51 new questions were generated, and 62 questions were
eliminated. This resulted in a reduction of 11 questions, bringing the
total number of questions in the pool from 423 to 412. The difficulty
level of the questions is now more balanced, and the techniques and
practices addressed have been updated. The new 2022 - 2026 question
pool is effective July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2026, and must be used for
Technician-class license exams administered on or after July 1, 2022.
-- Thanks to NCVEC Question Pool Committee

The WSJT development group has released a "bug-fix" update of WSJT-X --
version 2.5.4. The primary fix repairs a defect that caused occasional
crashes when contacting stations with non-standard call signs. It also
allows MAP65's "best-fit Delta Phi (Dphi)" solution to be displayed to
the user. The WSJT development group has welcomed new members Chet
Fennell, KG4IYS, and Dr. Uwe Risse, DG2YCB. "Each brings important
skills and experience[s] to the project, after the loss of Bill
Somerville, G4WJS," said Joe Taylor, K1JT, on behalf of the group. "The
newly constituted group has been working to redefine standard operating
procedures for new releases." Installation packages for WSJT-X are
available for Windows and Linux. An installation package for macOS will
be added soon.

Radio Amateurs of Canada has a new President. The Radio Amateurs of
Canada (RAC) Board has elected Phil A. McBride, VA3QR/VA3KPJ, as the
new RAC President, effective January 1. He succeeds Glenn MacDonell,
VE3XRA, who served the maximum three consecutive 2-year terms as
President. McBride is the former RAC Ontario South Director. Former
Ontario North and East Director Allan Boyd, VE3AJB, is the new Vice
President, and former Member Services Officer and previous Atlantic
Director Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, is the new Regulatory Affairs Officer.
They succeed Doug Mercer, VO1DM, and Richard Ferch, VE3KI, who served
as Vice President and Regulatory Affairs Officer, respectively.

A Barbados ham is among the world's oldest, if not the oldest. Winston
A. "Woody" Richardson, 8P6CC (ex-VP6WR), has turned 107 years old,
placing him among the world's oldest radio amateurs. Jim Neiger, N6TJ,
told The Daily DX that Richardson hosted his 1980 - 82 operations (as
8P6J) from his home during the CQ World Wide DX Contest (CW). The Woody
Richardson Communications Room at the Amateur Radio Society of Barbados
is named for him. Richardson visited the Amateur Radio of Barbados
headquarters in 2020.

Comments are invited on a new Pacific Remote Islands Marine National
Monument Management Plan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
ministration (NOAA) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have
invited comments regarding a new Monument Management Plan for the
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument (KH1, KH3, KH5, and
KH9). The monument encompasses approximately 495,200 square miles in
the central Pacific Ocean. It includes seven islands and atolls: Baker,
Howland, and Jarvis islands; Johnston, Wake, and Palmyra atolls, as
well as the Kingman Reef. Don Greenbaum, N1DG, serves as the appointed
Citizen-at-Large Representative for the NOAA/USFWS Community Group,
providing input on drafting the new management plan. This notice is the
culmination of 2 years of drafting that plan, with input from NOAA,
USFWS, and the Community Group participants.
The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity was quite a bit
lower this week, but new sunspot groups emerged on December 31, January
1, January 4, and January 5. Average daily sunspot number dropped from
110.1 to 36.4, while average daily solar flux went from 124 to 91.4.

Geomagnetic activity was still fairly quiet, even with a number of
flares and CMEs, with average daily planetary A index changing from 6.4
to 7.7, and average middle latitude A index from 4.4 to 6.

Predicted solar flux over the next month shows 10.7-centimeter flux
values peaking at 120 on January 16 - 24 and again at 120 in mid -
February. The daily predicted values are 84 and 88 on January 6 - 7; 92
on January 8 - 12; 115 on January 13 - 15; 120 on January 16 - 24; 110
on January 25; 100 on January 26 - 27; 95 and 90 on January 28 - 29; 88
on January 30 - 31; 85 on February 1 - 5; 90, 95, and 100 on February 6
- 8, and 115 on February 9 - 11.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on January 6 - 8; 12, 14, and 8 on
January 9 - 11; 5 on January 12 - 14; 8 and 12 on January 15 - 16; back
to 8 on January 17 - 18; 5 on January 19 - 22; 10 on January 23; 8 on
January 24 - 26; 5 and 10 on January 27 - 28; 8 on January 29 - 30; 5
on January 31 - February 6; 10 on February 7 - 8, and 5 on February 9 -
10.

Sunspot numbers for December 30 - January 5 were 77, 53, 52, 25, 12,
12, and 24, with a mean of 36.4. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 102.4,
101.5, 93.9, 89, 84, 85.5, and 83.7, with a mean of 91.4. Estimated
planetary A indices were 8, 4, 11, 10, 12, 6, and 3, with a mean of
7.7. Middle latitude A index was 7, 2, 9, 7, 9, 5, and 3, with a mean
of 6.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the
ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"
and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable
propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just Ahead in Radiosport
* January 7 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)
* January 7 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, 20 WPM maximum)
* January 8 -- PODXS 070 Club PSKFest
* January 8 -- YB DX Contest (Phone)
* January 8 -- Old New Year Contest (CW, phone)
* January 8 -- RSGB AFS Contest (CW)
* January 8 - 9 -- ARRL RTTY Roundup
* January 8 - 9 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
* January 8 - 9 -- EUCW 160-Meter Contest (CW)
* January 9 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest, SSB
* January 9 -- DARC 10-Meter Contest (CW, phone)
* January 9 -- NRAU-Baltic Contest (CW)
* January 10 -- 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)
* January 12 -- 432 VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
* January 8 -- ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention
(Ham Radio University), Online
* January 14 -15 -- ARRL North Texas Section Convention (Cowtown
Hamfest), Forest Hill, Texas
* January 22 -- ARRL Midwest Division Convention (Winterfest),
Collinsville, Illinois
* January 28 - 29 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention (Capital
City Hamfest 2022), Jackson, Mississippi.
* February 10 - 13 -- 2022 ARRL National Convention at
Orlando HamCation^(R), Orlando, Florida
* February 18 - 19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
(Yuma Hamfest), Yuma, Arizona
* February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention (HAM-CON), Colchester,
Vermont
* March 19 -- ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention (47^th Annual
Martin County Hamfest), Stuart, Florida
* March 19 -- ARRL West Texas Section Convention (66^th Annual St.
Patrick's Day Hamfest), Midland, Texas
* March 19 -- ARRL West Virginia Section Convention (Charleston Area
Hamfest), Charleston, West Virginia
* March 27 -- ARRL Virginia Section Convention (Winterfest),
Annandale, Virginia

Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events
in your area.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information
* Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive
QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when
they renew their membership. All members can access digital
editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.
* Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.
* The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to
discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus
related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology.

Subscribe to...
* NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features
articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA
Sprint, and QSO parties.
* QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published
bimonthly, features technical articles, construction projects,
columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and
communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...
* Subscribe to the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts and much more!
* Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
their profile.

Copyright (c) 2022 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
purposes require written permission.
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The ARRL Letter
January 13, 2022

* ARRL Foundation to Create Club Grants Program
* ARISS Highlighted among NASA's Best Space Station Science Pictures
of 2021
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* Growing Number of Operators Completing WAS on 222 MHz
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Dick Fyjlstra, PA0DFN, is 2022 Carole Perry Educator of the Year
* Eight US Schools and Organizations Could Host Ham Radio Contacts
with Space Station Crew
* Announcements
* China is Expanding its South China Sea Antenna Farms
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

[IMG]

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The ARRL National Convention & Orlando HamCation^(R) is February 10 -

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The ARRL Letter
January 20, 2022

* ARES Activates as Wind-Driven Year-End Fire Destroys 1,000 Colorado
Homes
* Extended ARRL Team Will Support February's ARRL National Convention
in Orlando
* ARRL Podcasts Schedule
* National Science Foundation Awards Nearly $50,000 for HamSCI
Workshop
* Announcements
* FCC Seeks Attorney-visor for its Mobility Division
* Launch of a Wooden Satellite Still Pending
* Amateur Radio in the News
* Two Radio Amateurs Appointed to the FCC Technological visory
Council (TAC)
* Getting It Right!
* In Brief...
* The K7RA Solar Update
* Just Ahead in Radiosport
* Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
ARES Activates as Wind-Driven Year-End Fire Destroys 1,000 Colorado
Homes

Members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R) (ARES^(R)) in
Colorado, volunteering for the Boulder County (Colorado) Amateur Radio
Emergency Services (BCARES), turned out on December 30, 2021 as the
devastating Marshall Fire roared through Superior and (portions of)
Louisville, Colorado. Intense winds whipped a grass fire south of
Boulder near Marshall into a massive firestorm that became too large
and fierce for firefighters to battle.

"The only battle was evacuation, as the towns of Louisville and
Superior and [the] northern suburbs of Denver lay in the fire's
wind-driven path," said Amateur TV (ATV) enthusiast and equipment
dealer Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, of Boulder. Andrews said the only thing
limiting the fire's spread was the fact that the winds diminished by
that evening.

"By that time, hundreds of homes had burned down," Andrews said, whose
own house was among them. "This was not a typical forest fire, but an
urban firestorm." Thousands of people were evacuated.

BCARES Board of Directors Chairman and Region 1, District 3 Emergency
Coordinator Allen Bishop, K0ARK, said that a request from the Boulder
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to activate the emergency
operations center (EOC) is what initiated the ARES activation. "At that
time, staffing was initiated with the activation of the BCARES Radio
Network, with three BCARES members assigned to the EOC," Bishop said.
The BCARES Net was promptly activated.

ARES volunteers supported communication at evacuation sites and
established emergency communication as commercial power failures and
preventive shutdowns by utilities caused a loss of commercial
communication. "Within about 8 hours," Bishop said, "battery back-up
systems for cell phones and landlines failed, and 911 services went
down."

"To facilitate a restoration of these emergency services, BCARES
activated the Mountain Emergency Radio Network (MERN)," Bishop said.
Established in 2010, MERN consists of repeaters installed at fire
stations in Gold Hill and Allenspark, at community centers in Nederland
and Raymond, and the privately owned Airlink Repeater. "These repeaters
provided the emergency communication links that facilitated the
restoration of 911 communications back to the dispatch center for the
duration of the power outages," Bishop explained. The Allenspark
Neighbors Emergency Network (ANEN) and Airlink (Alternate Access Radio
Network) participated.

Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, shared this
photo of what remained of his home.
[Jim Andrews, KH6HTV, photo]

According to Bishop, as the Marshall Fire expanded, evacuation center
support was requested at three locations to provide on-site situation
reports using Winlink. Bishop said BCARES members and mutual-aid ARES
operators from neighboring Districts established local communication
with the BCARES EOC radio position from designated field locations.
BCARES was activated for 2 days. One person died as a result of the
fire.

As Andrews reported, Boulder County announced on New Year's Day that
nearly 1,000 homes were lost. In addition to his own home, the fire
destroyed his daughter's home next door, as well as the homes of all
his close neighbors. "We had no official warning of the coming
firestorm," Andrews said. "My only warning was from our daughter who
saw it happening." Andrews added, "KH6HTV VIDEO, as a supplier of ATV
gear, will be out of operation for a very long time to come." Andrews
edits the monthly Boulder Amateur Television Club TV Repeater's
REPEATER newsletter.
Extended ARRL Team Will Support February's ARRL National Convention in
Orlando

An extended ARRL team of member-volunteers, program representatives,
and presenters will advance the convention theme inviting attendees to
"reDiscover Radio" at Orlando HamCation, host of the 2022 ARRL National
Convention February 10 - 13. A wide-ranging roster of workshops,
exhibits, and activities will educate and entertain radio amateurs
committed to developing knowledge and skills in radio technology and
radio communication.

The convention will be held in two parts. On Thursday, February 10, an
all-day ARRL National Convention Program will be held at the DoubleTree
by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld. vance registration is required
and includes a series of day-long ARRL Training Tracks and a National
Convention luncheon with a keynote address by ARRL CEO David Minster,
NA2AA. The Training Tracks comprise four workshops led by experienced
presenters: Contest University (CTU), Emergency Communications Academy,
Hands-On Handbook, and Technology Academy. Registration can be
completed online.

DX Engineering is the Official Sponsor of the 2022 ARRL National
Convention Program.

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 11 - 13, HamCation will take
place at the Central Florida Fairgrounds and Expo Park in Orlando -- an
87-acre lakefront fairgrounds. The convention marks the 75th
anniversary of HamCation -- one of the largest annual gatherings of
radio amateurs in the US. HamCation tickets can be purchased online
until January 31 and at the gate during the event.

The centerpiece of ARRL's participation will be a large exhibit area in
the East and West Hall. Nearly a dozen ARRL program areas will be
represented, including Radiosport and DXCC Card Checking, Radio Clubs,
the Amateur Radio Emergency Service^(R), Development, and the ARRL
Foundation.

A suite of exhibits organized by the ARRL Education and Learning
Department will include an introduction to the new ARRL Learning
Center. ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, will
introduce this new member benefit that includes online courses, videos,
and other amateur radio instruction and training. At another booth,
ARRL Education and Technology Program Instructor Tommy Gober, N5DUX,
will cover the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology.

Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, of the popular
"Ham Radio Crash Course" is one of
the YouTube content creators who
will present at the Convention.

ARRL has invited several ham radio content creators from popular
YouTube channels to meet and interact with attendees in the exhibit
area. Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, of the popular "Ham Radio Crash Course"
YouTube channel, will moderate. He is the 2020 winner of the ARRL Bill
Leonard Award for outstanding published media that advances amateur
radio. Visitors will have a chance to meet ARRL authors and editors.

ARRL Laboratory engineers and volunteers will offer free testing of
visitors' handheld radios. This service will determine the spectral
purity of the output signal from the radios.

Members and other attendees can meet ARRL elected officials and Field
Organization volunteers at the Southeastern Division booth to catch up
on events and to explore opportunities to get involved through their
ARRL Sections and radio clubs.

The exhibit area will also include the ARRL store and membership area,
where visitors may join, renew, or extend ARRL and Diamond Club
memberships and purchase publications, apparel, and 2022 Field Day
products. New ARRL Membership Manager Matt Caruso will be eager to meet
and greet members.

ARRL will sponsor three forums at HamCation:
* An ARRL Emergency Communications Panel will be held at 3:15 PM
Eastern on Friday. The panel will be moderated by ARRL Director of
Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, and will include
panelists from the ARRL Southeastern Division Field Organization.
* On Saturday at 2 PM Eastern, ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio visors
Andy Milluzzi, KK4LWR, and Tony Milluzzi, KD8RTT, will lead a
Collegiate Amateur Radio Forum. The ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio
Initiative is a regular networking source among active campus radio
clubs and their student members.
* An ARRL Membership Forum will be held on Saturday at 3:15 PM,
moderated by Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB.
This forum offers an opportunity to hear from ARRL representatives
on key areas of member interest and amateur radio advocacy and to
learn how ARRL supports dozens of ways to get involved and active
on the air. Panelists will include President Rick Roderick, K5UR,
and CEO David Minster, NA2AA.

The exhibit area will also include the ARRL store and membership area,
where visitors may join, renew, or extend ARRL and Diamond Club
memberships and purchase publications, apparel, and 2022 Field Day
products.

The Orlando Amateur Radio Club sponsors Orlando HamCation. Further

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