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CX2SA > LETTER 15.03.24 14:00l 394 Lines 17773 Bytes #73 (0) @ ARRL
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===============
The ARRL Letter
===============
John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor March 14, 2024
- Amateur Radio Stands Ready to Support Eclipse Operations
- 2024 ARRL Field Day Theme: Be Radio Active
- Dayton Hamvention© 2024 Award Winners Announced
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
Amateur Radio Stands Ready to Support Eclipse Operations
--------------------------------------------------------
The upcoming April 8, 2024, solar eclipse has many excited about the
opportunity to witness the darkness of totality. Spectators from across the
country are traveling to the path of total darkness that will stretch from
South Texas to Northeastern Maine.
The second "diamond ring" phase of the 2017 Great American Eclipse, as seen
in Madras, Oregon. [Sierra Harrop, W5DX, photo]
Some states are anticipating more than a million travelers for the event. In
the impacted areas, schools will be letting students out early for the day,
and residents are being encouraged to avoid driving on the day of the event.
Emergency response organizations are adding staff for the event in many
areas. The eclipse is expected to directly impact parts of 14 states as it
moves across the country. The travel impact alone could be substantial.
In preparation for the event, many state emergency management organizations
have called on local hams to provide communication services via HF nets and
locally on VHF/UHF frequencies. There have been numerous planning meetings,
exercises, and preparations across the country. The ARRL Emergency
Management department has worked with ARRL Section Emergency Coordinators
and Section Managers in the directly affected areas to collect the
frequencies each Section plans to utilize, and to assist in any frequency
conflicts. Hams across multiple states and ARRL Sections have been
practicing their communications capabilities via Winlink, SSB, and CW. "It
is great to see Sections along the path working together to be prepared to
assist in any emergency, should it occur during the event," said ARRL
Director of Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV. "Heavy traffic is
the major concern, but [anything can happen] during such a large event," he
added.
Johnston went on to say, "There will be several on-air operating events on
the day of the eclipse, but please give some space for any emergency traffic
that may be taking place as well."
Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) is leading the Solar
Eclipse QSO Party which will allow radio amateurs to participate in
propagation research by operating during the eclipse and submitting their
logs. Much of that activity will be focused on the FT8 frequencies of the
non-World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) HF bands, but all modes
will be welcome during the event.
2024 ARRL Field Day Theme: Be Radio Active
------------------------------------------
The theme for 2024 ARRL Field Day is "Be Radio Active." The event will run
on June 22 - 23, and it will be one-part contest, one-part emergency
communications exercise, and one-part open house -- and a great time. The
theme encourages radio amateurs to take advantage of the peak of Solar Cycle
25, which we are nearing. Activity this year is likely to be extremely high
thanks to favorable solar conditions. The upper HF bands, such as 15 and 10
meters, should benefit most from the Cycle's peak.
There are resources available already for clubs and individuals to make
their Field Day plans. ARRL will publish more information and tools so that
hams can make the most of the event as it draws near. Amateurs interested in
learning more are invited to join the Field Day Facebook group to connect
with others who are planning for the big weekend.
Find links to all of the resources on the ARRL Field Day web page at
www.arrl.org/field-day.
Dayton Hamvention© 2024 Award Winners Announced
-----------------------------------------------
The recipients of the 2024 Hamvention Awards were announced on March 8, 2024.
Special Achievement Award: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT
Anthony Luscre, K8ZT. [Photo courtesy of Hamvention©]
Luscre is from near Akron, Ohio, and he was first licensed in 1981. He has
been a low-power operator, contester, and teacher throughout his amateur
radio career. He received his Amateur Extra-class license in 2000. Luscre is
active on HF and VHF/UHF, and he operates on CW, phone, and digital modes.
His low-power contacts now top 115,000. Between licensing classes, club
programs, webinars, hamfests, conferences, youth and school radio
demonstrations, and other in-person and online talks, Luscre has presented
more than 500 sessions since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has
presented multiple times for Contest University, the QSO Today Virtual Ham
Expo, and Dayton Hamvention©. He holds a weekly class, "The Joy of
Operating," for the Long Island CW Club. Anthony serves as the ARRL Ohio
Section Youth Coordinator and he is an officer in the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur
Radio Club.
Technical Achievement Award: Ward Silver, N0AX
Ward Silver, N0AX [Photo courtesy of Hamvention©]
For the past 15 years, Silver has been the Lead Editor of The ARRL Handbook
and The ARRL Antenna Book, and he was a primary author of all three ARRL
license manuals and study guides from 2004 until his retirement in 2023.
As an electrical engineer, he designed microprocessor-based products and
medical devices for 20 years before beginning a second career as a teacher
and writer. Licensed since 1972, he is a co-founder of the World Radiosport
Team Championships and was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame in
2015, with numerous top scores and records. He is President of the Yasme
Foundation, and he is also a board member of the Ham Radio Science Citizen
Investigation (HamSCI) collaborative research group. Silver's primary
interests in amateur radio include radiosport, antenna design, and
supporting his local emergency response team.
Club of the Year Award: The Young Ladies' Radio League (YLRL)
The Young Ladies' Radio League, Inc. (YLRL), is proud to be celebrating its
85th anniversary this year. With members from all over the world, the
organization has been involved in everything from contests, to emergency
events, to helping new hams get licensed and on the air, as well as
everything in between.
The Young Ladies' Radio League at their Convention in Washington state in
2014. [Photo courtesy of Hamvention©]
Established in 1939, YLRL has been found at hamfests and conventions all
over the world. The club is proud to have had a booth at Hamvention© every
year since the 1950s and a YL Forum since the 1960s. "Women helping women in
amateur radio" is a mission statement for this organization, but there are
also contest and award opportunities for the OMs who support their YLs. YLRL
has the motto "QRV -- I am ready," as they are always ready to assist in the
radio community.
Amateur of The Year Award: Edward Engleman, KG8CX
Edward Engleman, KG8CX. [Photo courtesy of Hamvention©]
Engleman, KG8CX, is from Menominee, Michigan. He is the co-founder of the
Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team (YACHT). He was first licensed in
1991 and received his Amateur Extra-class license in 2000. He has been a
member of ARRL since 1991. Engleman serves his home club, the Marinette &
Menominee Amateur Radio Club, as a volunteer examiner. Engleman's 33-year
background as an elementary educator and principal was instrumental in
developing the talents he now uses in his work with young amateurs.
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio© and Hamvention© have
announced that Hamvention will host the 2024 ARRL National Convention on May
17, 18, and 19 at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. ARRL has an
exciting lineup of forums and presentations for the ARRL National
Convention. For information about the 2024 ARRL National Convention, go to
www.arrl.org/expo. For tickets to Hamvention and further information, head
to www.hamvention.org.
You can read more about the 2024 Hamvention award winners and the 2024 ARRL
National Convention at ARRL.org.
Amateur Radio in the News
-------------------------
ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.
"Ham Radio Club Revives Alternative Communication" / The Parthenon (West
Virginia) March 2, 2024 -- Thundering Herd Amateur Radio Club.
"Ham Radio Enthusiasts Dial In To 2024 Crossroads Hamfest & Radio Swap -
Search News (bing.com)" / WWMT (Michigan) March 10, 2024 -- The Southern
Michigan Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
"Peoria Radio Club hosts Storm Spotter Training" / WMBD (Illinois) March 12,
2024 -- The Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.
ARRL Podcasts
-------------
On the Air
Sponsored by Icom
Contribute to Science While You Operate
The Solar Eclipse QSO Party (or SEQP), is an on-air event coming up on April
8, the same day as the next total solar eclipse. The SEQP is a great
opportunity for hams to contribute data to studies of Earth's ionosphere,
the part of our atmosphere that makes radio communications possible, and all
you have to do is get on the air and operate as you normally would. The lead
organizer of Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI), Dr. Nathaniel
Frissell, W2NAF, joins us in this episode to explain how to get involved.
ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a
summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and
ARRL, along with interviews and other features.
The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry, iTunes,
and Apple Podcasts -- On the Air | ARRL Audio News.
Announcements
-------------
The 2024 Baker to Vegas (B2V) race is set to run on March 23 and 24. The B2V
race features 120 miles of pavement, 20 stages, and more than 10,000
runners. Family members and other guests are invited to support the runners,
and support staff will also be present for this annual event. The race is a
unique law enforcement footrace starting in Baker, California, and ending in
Las Vegas, Nevada. Law enforcement officers from around the globe compete in
B2V every spring for the chance to win the coveted cup trophy. Special event
station N6A will be on the air during the race on March 23 - 24, from 1600Z
to 0000Z on 7.225 and 14.225 MHz. For those who work the station, a QSL card
will be available by contacting Glenn Arrant, N6JAI, at 14723 Puma Trail in
Valley Center, California, 92082.
In Brief...
-----------
The 50th anniversary of the Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club (GBARC) in
Annan, Ontario, Canada, continues into 2024. The club's first meeting was
October 18, 1973, and it was attended by 14 amateur radio operators, three
Citizens Band (CB) operators, and one former amateur operator. Today, there
are 30 club members. Activities and celebrations will continue with a
special event commemoration on March 23, 2024, using the call sign VC3GB.
The station will be active from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT on 80, 40, and 20
meters, on SSB and CW. There will be two stations operating for the event,
and 80 meters may not be available until after 5:00 PM EDT. For more
information and the history of the club, contact GBARC at Canada Post
G.B.A.R.C 142 Paradise Bay, Annan, Ontario N0H 1B0.
The K7RA Solar Update
---------------------
Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL
Propagation Bulletin, ARLP0011:
This solar disk image was taken on March 14, 2024. [Photo courtesy of NASA
SDO/HMI]
Six new sunspot groups appeared over the past reporting week of March 7 - 13.
One emerged on March 7, two more appeared on March 12, and three more
appeared on March 13.
Solar activity was down. The average daily sunspot number went from 106.7 to
82.3, and the solar flux went from 147.4 to 130.4.
Geomagnetic indicators were somewhat quieter, with the average daily
planetary A index dropping from 10 to 8.9, and the middle latitude A index
from 8 to 7.
The outlook for the next few weeks shows continued low numbers, with
predicted solar flux at 130 on March 14; 135 on March 15 - 17; 140, 145, and
150 on March 18 - 20; 135 on March 21 - 23; 132, 130, 132, and 138 on March
24 - 27; 140 on March 28 - 29; 142, 140, 135, 130, and 128 on March 30 -
April 3, and 125 on April 4 - 8.
Predicted planetary A index is 10, 12, 10, and 8 March 14 - 17; 5 on March
18 - 27; 10 and 8 on March 28 - 29; 5 on March 30 through April 2, and 12 on
April 3 - 5.
Read a NASA article about long-lasting radio bursts at https://bit.ly/48VrH3F.
Watch a solar storm forecast from Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, at
https://youtu.be/2nWLAYL01FA.
Sunspot numbers for March 7 through 13, 2024, were 99, 91, 99, 77, 56, 68,
and 86, with a mean of 82.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 136.6, 129, 134.5,
127, 126.7, 130.5, and 128.3, with a mean of 130.4. Estimated planetary A
indices were 12, 11, 13, 7, 4, 6, and 9, with a mean of 8.9. Middle latitude
A index was 8, 9, 11, 6, 4, 4, and 7, with a mean of 7.
Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@xxxx.xxx.
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.
A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News.
Just Ahead in Radiosport
------------------------
March 16 -- PODXS 070 Club St Patrick's Day Contest (digital)
March 16 - 18 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest (digital)
March 16 - 17 -- Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)
March 16 - 17 -- F9AA Cup SSB (phone)
March 16 - 17 -- Africa All Mode Int'l DX Contest (CW, phone, digital)
March 16 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)
March 16 - 17-- 2359 All Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
March 17 -- UBA Spring Contest SSB (phone)
March 17 - 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
March 18 -- Bucharest Digital Contest (FT4)
March 18 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (FT4)
March 21 - 22 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
March 20 - 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
March 21 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information.
Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions
-------------------------------------------------
March 16 | 49th Annual Stuart Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Southern Florida
Section Convention, Stuart, Florida
March 16 | St. Patrick's Day Hamfest, hosting the ARRL West Texas Section
Convention, Midland, Texas
April 6 | Raleigh Hamfest, hosting the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention,
Raleigh, North Carolina
April 12 - 13 | Green Country Hamfest 2024, hosting the ARRL Oklahoma State
Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma
April 20 | Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo, hosting the ARRL
Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
May 11 | ARRL Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
May 17 - 19 | Dayton Hamvention, hosting the ARRL National Convention,
Xenia, Ohio
Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area.
Have News for ARRL?
Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to news@xxxx.xxx.
-- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
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