• The ARRL Letter for June 23, 2022

    From ARRL Web site@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jun 23 16:40:23 2022
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    ********************************************
    The ARRL Letter

    Published by the American Radio Relay League ********************************************

    June 23, 2022

    John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <news@arrl.org>

    ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

    - 2022 ARRL Field Day is This Weekend -- Are You Ready?
    - Special Field Day Announcement
    - More Amateur Radio Proclamations for Field Day 2022
    - New Treasurer John Sager, WJ7S, Says ARRL a Perfect Match
    - ARDC Grants Help Fund Elementary and College Projects
    - ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    - Amateur Radio in the News
    - Announcements
    - In Brief...
    - The K7RA Solar Update
    - Just Ahead in Radiosport
    - Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    2022 ARRL FIELD DAY IS THIS WEEKEND -- ARE YOU READY?

    One of the most anticipated amateur radio operating events of the year
    in the United States, Canada, and worldwide is this weekend. ARRL Field
    Day kicks off at 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 25, and concludes at 2059
    UTC on Sunday, June 26. Last year, almost 27,000 individuals
    participated in ARRL Field Day, logging over 1.4 million two-way radio
    contacts during the event.

    For 2022, there are some new rule changes in effect. Beginning this

    year, all stations, regardless of operating class, are limited to
    100 W PEP transmitter output. The rule waivers that were in effect for
    the past 2 years -- allowing Class D (home stations) to contact other
    Class D stations for points, and the publishing of a Club Aggregate
    Score -- have been made permanent. Additionally, for groups claiming
    media publicity bonus points, the rules now stipulate that you must
    obtain media coverage for your event, not simply attempt to do so. For
    complete Field Day rules see www.arrl.org/field-day <http://www.arrl.org/field-day>.

    Field Day is amateur radio's open house -- it's an opportunity to
    showcase what amateur radio is all about to the public. Some groups use
    Field Day as an exercise in emergency preparedness, others treat it as
    a competition, and for some, it's a social gathering. Field Day is
    entirely what you make of it.

    If you're a newly licensed ham and you would like to know where a group
    in your area is hosting a Field Day event, visit the ARRL Field Day
    Station Locator web page at www.arrl.org/field-day-locator <http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator>.

    How will you or your club participate in ARRL Field Day? You can let
    others know about your planned activity before, during, and after the
    event via social media on the ARRL Field Day Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/arrlfd <https://www.facebook.com/groups/arrlfd>.
    When sharing your activities or photos, please use the hashtag #ARRLfd.

    After the event, be sure to submit your Field Day entry to ARRL by
    using the web-based submission form at field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php <http://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php>. Participants are also
    encouraged to submit their Field Day stories and photos via the soapbox
    at field-day.arrl.org/fdsoapbox.php
    <http://field-day.arrl.org/fdsoapbox.php>. Entries are due 30 days
    after the conclusion of the event at 2059 UTC on Tuesday, July 26,
    2022.

    SPECIAL FIELD DAY ANNOUNCEMENT

    Join ARRL live from W1AW for 2022 ARRL Field Day! See all of the fun
    involved with Field Day or ask your questions about the event in the
    Live Chat and get them answered in real time. Watch at https://youtu.be/RN8mc3NVdwg starting on June 25, 2022, at 1:30 PM.

    MORE AMATEUR RADIO PROCLAMATIONS FOR FIELD DAY 2022

    As the activity and excitement increases in advance of Field Day 2022,
    more states are issuing proclamations honoring the event.

    Last week, governors of California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Louisiana,
    and Florida issued special proclamations for Amateur Radio Week and
    Field Day weekend.

    Just this week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a proclamation
    recognizing June 25 - 26 as Amateur Radio Operators' Appreciation days.
    In South Carolina, not only did Governor Henry McMaster issue a
    proclamation, but the general assembly also issued a resolution
    proclaiming:

    "The members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this
    resolution, proclaim June 21 to 26, 2022, as Amateur Radio Week and
    June 25 and 26, 2022, as American Radio Relay League Amateur Radio
    Field Day throughout the State and encourage all South Carolinians to
    recognize the many contributions of amateur radio operators, including emergency communications and other public service work, for the
    continued safety of the residents of the Palmetto State."

    Field Day is a great event to help amateur radio operators develop
    their skills, and it also increases public awareness of amateur radio's
    role in helping during emergency situations.

    Every state section works hard to publicize Field Day and obtain
    government proclamations. We thank the following amateurs for their
    efforts toward securing these proclamations:

    Florida -- Scott Roberts, KK4ECR, and Arc Thames, W4CPD

    South Carolina -- Gordon Mooneyhan, W4EGM, and James F. "Jim" Boehner,
    N2ZZ

    Michigan -- Ralph Katz, AA8RK

    Ohio -- Thomas Sly, WB8LCD

    Louisiana -- John M. Robertson, K5JMR

    Massachusetts -- Hank McCarl, W4RIG

    California -- Robert Hanson, W6RH; Jeffrey Reinhardt, AA6JR, and Santa
    Barbara Section Manager John Kitchens, NS6X

    NEW TREASURER JOHN SAGER, WJ7S, SAYS ARRL A PERFECT MATCH

    ARRL's new Treasurer, John R. Sager, WJ7S, officially took office on
    May 1, 2022, and is already helping to plan the ARRL's financial
    future.

    Sager brings with him over 40 years of financial management experience.
    He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a Certified Cash Manager, and
    holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business

    Administration degrees from the University of Utah. He is also a
    licensed amateur radio operator.

    What led him to ARRL?

    "The ARRL is the best organization out there to advocate for ham radio interests, and the best we have to ensure the hobby has a future," said
    Sager. "I support all the ARRL does, such as advocacy to protect
    antenna rights, and everything they do to keep this privilege."

    Sager said that with the additions of CEO David Minster, NA2AA, and
    President Rick Roderick, K5UR, ARRL has turned a corner and he wanted
    to be a part of the effort.

    "I have two big passions: amateur radio and the financial markets," he
    said. "Though retiring after 40 years, I saw the notice that ARRL
    Treasurer Dr. Rick Niswander, K7GM, was retiring. I thought it was a
    perfect opportunity to give back to the hobby and combine two interests
    that are very dear to me."

    Sager got his start in amateur radio as a shortwave listener. His
    family moved to Holland when he was 10 years old, where he found an old
    Zenith Trans-Oceanic radio. With a little rehab, including soldering
    and tube replacement, he was able to listen to stations from all over
    the world, including the many pirate radio stations of the day. He
    learned Morse code and was able to listen to the "magic mode" (CW),
    which piqued his interest in amateur radio.

    After returning to the states, he enjoyed visiting the ham shack of a
    friend's father and experiencing the many different modes of
    communications.

    Sager earned his Technician- and General-class licenses in 2010, and
    his Amateur Extra-class license in 2011. Today, CW is still his
    favorite mode, and he is not sure if there is a microphone in his
    shack.

    One of his first priorities as Treasurer is working with a new
    investment management committee.

    "I believe in overseeing and monitoring the best investments, over a
    long period of time, to ensure ARRL survives and has the resources to
    pursue different ventures that come along in the future."

    Sager hopes a solid investment program will result in a more effective
    strategy of attracting donors, ensuring ARRL has a legacy going into
    the future. Sager hopes all the work will pay great dividends that can
    help every amateur radio operator.

    Like many other retired professionals, Sager believes the hobby of
    amateur radio opens many other doors and opportunities.

    ARDC GRANTS HELP FUND ELEMENTARY AND COLLEGE PROJECTS

    The California-based Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC)
    foundation has issued two grants aimed at helping elementary schoolers
    and college students learn and experiment with amateur radio.

    The first grant going to Science is Elementary (SiE) -- a 501(c)(3)
    non-profit organization -- will allow for the printing of "Jasmine and
    José Build a Radio," the next volume in the SiE series of books, which
    helps students solve problems using science. The grant also includes
    2,240 kits for students, an onsite field trip for fourth graders, and
    all materials to help with the experiments. It is targeted for
    7-year-old students and their families, including those with limited
    incomes, so that everyone can participate.

    The "Jasmine and José..." story will find the pair visiting a friend
    who is an amateur radio operator. Intrigued with what they see and
    hear, they set out to build a radio of their own.

    The kits will be distributed for free to students in Title 1 schools in
    the San Francisco Bay Area. The book, which is in English and Spanish,
    will be available for free as an online PDF. The field trips will allow students to work in teams using simple components to build a working
    radio.

    The ARDC says these lessons track the Next Generation of Science
    Standards (NGSS), setting expectations of what students should know and
    be able to accomplish.

    The second ARDC grant is to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. It
    will allow three recent graduates to complete their work, which will
    allow amateur radio operators to experiment in the 33-centimeter band.

    The project is known as the DAEMod-915 and is being developed by Peter
    Handler, W9PLH; Connor Dickey, KD9LSV, and Philip Pierce, AC9YC. Their
    work, using digital protocols, will allow amateur radio operators,
    developers, or other educational institutions to experiment and build
    hardware or software for their own unique applications.

    The 33-centimeter band is a 900 MHz section of the UHF band and is
    allocated on a secondary basis to amateur radio operators. Non-licensed
    users known as SIM (science, information, medical) can also use the
    band to develop applications and hardware for commercial uses.

    Once the DAEMod-915 project is complete all the data and software will
    be available at https://github.com/DAEMod-915.

    For additional information about ARDC, visit their website at ampr.org <https://www.ampr.org/>

    ARRL PODCASTS SCHEDULE

    The latest episode of the ARRL On the Air
    <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> podcast (Episode 30) features a
    discussion with ARRL Contest Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, about ARRL
    Field Day and off-the-grid operating.

    The latest edition (Episode 62) of the ARRL Eclectic Tech <https://blubrry.com/eclectictech/> podcast features an interview with
    David Kazdan, AD8Y, about the work he and the members of Case Amateur
    Radio Club, W8EDU, of Case Western Reserve University are doing to
    create new applications for Coherent CW.

    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 <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> |
    Eclectic Tech <https://blubrry.com/eclectictech/>.

    AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

    ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news <http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

    "Easton Amateur Radio Society holds annual Field Day <https://www.stardem.com/life/easton-amateur-radio-society-holds-annual-field-day-june-25-26/article_ba2c17cf-969e-511b-8ea3-445f134f8cc7.html>

    June 25-26 <https://www.stardem.com/life/easton-amateur-radio-society-holds-annual-field-day-june-25-26/article_ba2c17cf-969e-511b-8ea3-445f134f8cc7.html>"

    / The Star Democrat Easton, Maryland, June 23, 2022 --Easton ARS is an
    ARRL Affiliated Club

    "Amateur radio operators field day set for June 25-26 in Manistee <https://www.michigansthumb.com/news/article/Amateur-radio-operators-field-day-set-for-June-17255665.php>"

    / Huron Daily Tribune June 22, 2022 --The West Michigan Repeater
    Association

    "It's all about communication for the Iredell Amateur Radio Society <https://statesville.com/news/local/its-all-about-communication-for-the-iredell-amateur-radio-society/article_5b820fde-f1b8-11ec-81df-331b5b4ae379.html>"

    / Statesville Record & Landmark Statesville, NC, June 23, 2022 -The
    Iredell County Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club

    "Sussex County Amateur Radio Club to participate in national event <https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Sussex+County+Amateur+Radio+Club+To+Participate+In+National+Event&qpvt=Sussex+County+Amateur+Radio+Club+to+participate+in+national+event&FORM=EWRE>"

    / The Advertiser -- News South (New Jersey), June 13, 2022 -- Sussex
    County ARC is an ARRL Affiliated Club

    Share <newsmedia@arrl.org> any amateur radio media hits you spot with
    us.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    To celebrate the first three stages of the 2022Tour de France bicycle
    race in Denmark, there will be a special event station on the air from
    July 1 - 3.

    OZ22TDF will operate from 0800 - 1600 UTC using the 10 -12 -15 -17 - 20
    - 30 - 40- and 80-meter bands using CW, FT8 and SSB.

    D-STAR (Digital Smart Technologies for Amateur Radio) will also be
    available at, DCS994F.

    All contacts will be logged and e-QSL will be used.

    For more information visit, OZ22TDF QRZ.com
    <https://www.qrz.com/db/OZ22TDF>

    The Alexander Association in Sweden will celebrate Alexanderson Day on
    July 3, 2022.

    Grimeton, Sweden, is the site of the World Heritage Grimeton Radio
    Station which includes a 98-year-old 200kW Alexanderson alternator.

    Amateur radio station SK6SAQ will be in operation using the following frequencies:

    3.353 kHz (CW)

    7.035 kHz (CW)

    14.035 kHz (CW)

    3.775 kHz SSB

    7.140 kHz SSB

    QSL reports can be sent to SK6SAQ at info@alexander.n.se

    IN BRIEF...

    Large Radio Wave Data Collected by Amateur Radio Operators

    Dr. Nathaniel A. Frissell, PhD, W2NAF, recently published a research
    article titled, "First Observations of Large Scale Traveling
    Ionospheric Disturbances Using Automated Amateur Radio Receiving
    Networks." Dr. Frissell is an assistant professor at the University of Scranton's Physics and Electrical Engineering Department. Supported by
    a team of researchers from NASA and the Ham Radio Science Citizen
    Investigation (HamSCI), he was able to observe the large waves for the
    first time. Volunteers from the amateur radio community collected the
    data. The waves are larger than the state of Texas and travel through
    the Earth's atmosphere faster than jet-powered aircrafts. They affect
    all forms of communication, including amateur radio. You can read the
    original research paper here <https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL097879> or
    at the NASA Citizen Science Highlight website <https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/citizenscience/ham-radio-operators-tune-in-to-giant-waves-in-the-earths-ionosphere>.


    THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports:

    This past reporting week, June 16 - 22, 2022, recorded below, began
    with a bang when the daily sunspot number was 159. But the numbers
    declined every day, finally reaching 80 on June 22.

    One new sunspot group emerged on June 15, June 16,

    June 18, and one more on June 21.

    The average daily sunspot number over the week was 124.6, up
    substantially from 74.3 the previous 7 days.

    The average daily solar flux rose from 123.9 to 140.5.

    The average daily planetary A index rose from 9.7 to 11.4, and the
    middle latitude numbers increased one point to 11.9

    It was great to see the sun covered with spots on Spaceweather.com <https://spaceweather.com/> You can use the "archives" search function
    to see solar images on the left side of the page for any date in the
    past. I particularly appreciated the image of June 17 -- covered in
    sunspots!

    ARRL Field Day is this weekend. What is the outlook?

    The latest from the US Air Force (USAF) at the USAF 557th Weather Wing
    shows predicted solar flux at 120, 115, and 105 on June 24, 26, and
    planetary A index of 12, 15, and 8. Field Day is June 25 - 26, but it
    is useful to see the prediction for Friday.

    Newsweek reported a recent sunspot:

    bit.ly/3xNdZiB <http://bit.ly/3xNdZiB>

    ARRL Field Day:

    http://www.arrl.org/field-day

    The latest (Wednesday night) forecast from USAF shows solar flux at
    125, 120, and 115 on June 23 -- 25, 105 on June 26 -- 27, 100 on June 2
    -July 2, 105, 110, 115, 120, and 125 on July 3 - 7, 130 on July 8 - 9,
    135 on July 10, 140 on July 11 - 16, then 138, 134, 125, and 121 on
    July 17 - 20, then 114, 118, and 105 on July 21 - 23, and 100 on July
    24 - 29.

    The planetary A index prediction is 8, 12, 15, and 8 on June 23 - 26, 5
    on June 27 - July 7, then 8, 8, 12, and 8 on July 8 - 11, 5 on July 12
    - 13, 12 on July 14 - 16, 10 on July 17, 5 on July 18 - 19, then 12,
    18, 12, and 10 on July 20 - 23, and 5 on July 24 - August 3.

    Sunspot numbers for June 16 - 22, 2022, were 159, 152, 145, 120, 112,
    104, and 80, with a mean of 124.6. 10.7 centimeter flux was 146.7,
    148.9, 140.2, 143.6, 136.5,

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit <http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals> the ARRL Technical
    Information Service, read
    <http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere> "What the Numbers
    Mean...," and check out <http://k9la.us/> the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

    A propagation bulletin archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio <https://www.voacap.com/hf/> website.

    Share <k7ra@arrl.net> your reports and observations.

    A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News
    <http://www.arrl.org/news>.

    JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

    - June 23 - RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (SSB, phone)

    - June 25 - Pajajaran Bogor DX Contest (phone)

    - June 25 - UFT QRP Contest (CW)

    - June 25 - 26 -- Ukrainian DX DIGI Contest (RTTY)

    - June 25 - 26 -- His Majesty King of Spain Contest (SSB, phone)

    - June 25 - 26 -- ARRL Field Day (CW, phone, digital)

    - June 27 - OK1WC Memorial (MWC),(CW)

    - June 27 - RSGB FT4 Contest (FT4)

    Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar>
    for more events and information.

    UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

    - June 24 - 26 | HAM RADIO <https://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.com/>,
    the International Amateur Radio Exhibition, Friedrichshafen, Germany

    - July 2 | Firecracker Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/firecracker-hamfest-arrl-pennsylvania-state-convention-1>,

    hosting the ARRL Pennsylvania State Convention, Harrisburg,
    Pennsylvania

    - July 15 -17 | Glacier Waterton Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/glacier-waterton-hamfest-arrl-montana-state-convention-1>,

    hosting the ARRL Montana State Convention, Essex, Montana
    - July 22 - 23 | Ham Holiday 2022 <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ham-holiday-2022-arrl-oklahoma-section-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    - July 30 - 31 | ARRL West Virginia State Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-west-virginia-state-convention-and-ham-fest>,

    Sutton, West Virginia

    - August 6 - 7 | Cedar Valley ARC Techfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/cedar-valley-arc-techfest-arrl-iowa-state-convention-1>,

    hosting the ARRL Iowa State Convention, Central City, Iowa

    - August 13 | Tidewater Hamfest and Swap Meet <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tidewater-hamfest-and-swap-meet-arrl-virginia-state-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Virginia State Convention, Portsmouth, Virginia

    - August 20 - 21 | Huntsville Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/huntsville-hamfest-arrl-southeastern-division-convention-1>,

    hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, Alabama

    - August 26 - 28 | Northeast HamXposition <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northeast-hamxposition-arrl-new-england-and-hudson-division-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL New England and Hudson Division Conventions,
    Marlborough, Massachusetts

    Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests> to find events in your area.

    HAVE NEWS FOR ARRL?

    Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
    news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor
    <news@arrl.org>

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