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********************************************
The ARRL Letter

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

August 18, 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

- International Space Station Upgrades Amateur Radio Operations
- HAARP to Host Open House at Alaska Facility
- ARRL Welcomes Director of Information Technology
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts Schedule
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UPGRADES AMATEUR RADIO OPERATIONS

ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, announced that simultaneous operations of the ARISS voice repeater and digital APRS
(Automatic Packet Reporting System) communications on the Space Station
are now a reality.

Current ARISS operations include voice repeater transmissions with
the JVC Kenwood TM-D710GA in the Columbus module and APRS operation
from an identical radio in the Zvezda module. Packet operations are on
145.825 MHz.

The Columbus module radio uses the call sign NA1SS and the new radio in
Zvezda uses RS0ISS. Aside from the call signs, the radios are
identical, and packet operations are the same as before. You can use
RS0ISS, ARISS, or APRSAT as the packet path. Both radios are expected
to be running full time, except during educational contacts, extra
vehicular activities (EVAs), and docking maneuvers. Final checkouts and equipment activation occurred on August 11.

ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said, "Simultaneous
operation of APRS and the voice repeater on ISS is transformative for
ARISS. It represents a key element of our ARISS 2.0 initiative,
providing interactive capabilities 24/7 that inspire, engage, and
educate youth and lifelong learners -- especially lifelong learning in
ham radio operations. Our heartfelt thanks to Sergey Samburov, RV3DR,
for making this crucial ARISS 2.0 initiative become a reality."

Rosalie White, K1STO, one of two US delegates to ARISS, said the ham
radio community will be very happy with the new radio operations from
the ISS. "Hams really love doing ARISS packet, cross-band repeater, and Slow-Scan Television (SSTV) operations. Besides the thousands who
download ARISS SSTV images downlinked from the ISS, we discovered that
in a year's time, hams did 80,000 ARISS packet messages," she said. "We
are not sure how many have been enjoying the ARISS cross band repeater,
but we know it is a lot. This simultaneous operation capability is
going to make many hams happy -- and we know that keeping hams on the
air is good for ARRL and good for amateur radio," White added.

Operational status and expected downtimes of the ISS radios can be
found at www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations <http://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations>.

ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies
and space agencies that support the ISS. In the US, sponsors are the
Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), ARRL <http://www.arrl.org>
The National Association for Amateur Radio®, and NASA's Space
Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program. The primary goal of ARISS
is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, arts,
and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled
contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and
students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators,
parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied
to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information,
see www.ariss.org <http://www.ariss.org/> and www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-on-the-international-space-station <http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-on-the-international-space-station>.

HAARP TO HOST OPEN HOUSE AT ALASKA FACILITY

The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, (HAARP <https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/>), will host an open house at the
facility in Gakona, Alaska, on August 27, 2022.

The event will offer an opportunity to learn how scientists study the
Earth's ionosphere and will provide a tour of the research facility.
Amateur radio operators who attend can learn about how the ionosphere
affects both long- and short-range communications.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) acquired HAARP's research
equipment from the United States Air Force in August 2015, and their Geophysical Institute operates HAARP under a cooperative research and development agreement.

In 2021, the National Science Foundation awarded the UAF Geophysical
Institute a 5 - year $9.3 million grant for a new research observatory
at HAARP. The Subauroral Geophysical Observatory for Space Physics and
Radio Science will explore Earth's upper atmosphere and geospace
environment. The facility attracts scientists from universities,
government, and the private sector.

UAF describes HAARP as "the world's most capable high-power,
high-frequency transmitter for study of the ionosphere." Built in three
phases, starting in the early 1990s and continuing through 2007, at a
cost of some $300 million, the 30-acre facility has 360 transmitters,
180 antennas, and five powerful generators.

The open house runs from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, August 27, and, will
feature a 90-minute self-guided, tour that will highlight the
following:

- HAARP's control room

- Science and history displays

- Power plant, with the five generators used during research

- Transmitters and the 33-acre antenna array

- Aircraft surveillance radar

- Ionosonde, a radar that checks the status of the ionosphere

- Riometer, which measures cosmic radio noise

- Optical equipment domes

More information about the HAARP open house is available on their
Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/events/425832119508529> page.

ARRL WELCOMES DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ARRL <http://www.arrl.org/> The National Association for Amateur Radio®
has announced the hiring of Steve Berry, N1EZ, into the new position of Director of Information Technology. He's from Bedford, New Hampshire,
and has been a radio amateur for 45 years.

Berry began his 35-year IT career in software development within a wide
range of environments, from firmware to Unix device drivers and
application development. While working for AT&T Bell Labs (now known as
Nokia Bell Labs) as a network consultant, he built his first consulting
firm focused on Unix networking and electronic publishing.

After the acquisition of that firm, he worked in senior-level
management positions within systems integration and consulting
organizations before founding Strafford Technology in 1995.

Strafford offered Business Intelligence consulting services and
eventually focused on delivering Enterprise Performance Management
solutions to Fortune 500 organizations based on Oracle/Hyperion
technology.

In 2012, Berry and his team built the first Oracle Hyperion-managed
application hosting service on the Amazon Web Services platform.
Strafford was acquired by Apps Associates in 2020.

"I'm pleased to welcome Steve into this new role at ARRL Headquarters,"
said CEO David Minster, NA2AA. "The position and its responsibilities
are key to helping us achieve ARRL's ongoing digital transformation for
the benefit of our members."

As Director of Information Technology, Berry is responsible for the
overall strategic and operational IT functions, including continuous
evaluation and execution of processes, systems, applications, and infrastructure. Berry manages a team of professional IT contributors,
including a development team and project leaders. Together, they
fulfill a variety of technology services for the organization, such as corporate databases and systems, websites and web services, server
support, and coordinating outside suppliers of technology services and contracted resources.

"I feel truly honored to give back to ARRL and the hobby. Both have
done so much for me, especially with the many friends I have made over
the years and the ham mentors who gave me a start in my career," said
Berry.

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>.

"Amateur radio Hamfest set for Saturday <https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/Amateur-radio-Hamfest-set-for-Saturday-17365173.php>"

/ The Journal-Courier (Illinois), August 11, 2022. -- Sangamon Valley
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Everybody's talking: Maui ham radio operators join worldwide
communications exercise <https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2018/06/everybodys-talking-maui-ham-radio-operators-join-worldwide-communications-exercise/>"

/ The Maui News (Hawaii), August 15, 2022. -- The Maui Amateur Radio
Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"International Space Station: Girl, 8, chats to astronaut on amateur
radio <https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-62563215>." / BBC
(United Kingdom), August 17, 2022. -- Thanks to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), and the Hilderstone Radio Society,
G0HRS.

"State, county honor local amateur radio operators <ttps://www.wyshradio.com/2022/08/state-county-honor-local-amateur-radio-operators/>"

/ WYSH/WQLA Radio (Tennessee), August 17, 2022. -- Thanks to the
Tennessee Amateur Radio Emergency Service (TNARES).

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

ARRL PODCASTS SCHEDULE

The latest episode of the ARRL On the Air
<https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> podcast (Episode 32) addresses the
topic of scanning, with specific discussions about memory scanning,
CTCSS tone scanning, priority watch, and more.

The latest edition of the ARRL Eclectic Tech <https://blubrry.com/eclectictech/> podcast (Episode 66) features Steve
Ford, WB8IMY, discussing VARAC, a new conversational HF digital mode
that is gaining popularity, an innovative antenna design that will be
traveling on a NASA mission to Europa, and new research exploring the possibility of beaming electric power down to Earth from orbit.

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/>.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Trinidad & Tobago Amateur Radio Society (TTARS) will celebrate
Trinidad and Tobago's 60th Anniversary of Independence on August 26 -
September 2, 2022. A special event call sign, 9Y60TT, will operate
multimode, multiband, and multioperator. Modes will include HF single
side band (SSB), CW, Slow Scan TV (SSTV), FT8, JS8, FT4, JT65, 2-meter Earth-moon-Earth (EME), satellite, Automatic Packet Reporting System
(APRS) via the International Space Station (ISS), digital voice (DMR,
C4FM, D-STAR), EchoLink, and more. QSL is via Logbook of The World
(LoTW). For more details on the event, and to obtain a certificate,
visit TTARS <https://9y4.tt/>.

ARRL has introduced the third edition of Get On the Air with HF
Digital, by Steve Ford, WB8IMY. The book, written in an easy-to-
understand style, covers how to set up and operate your own HF digital
station. Ford includes details for making contacts using 11 different
digital modes, including the PACTOR system, the weak-signal WSJT-X
modes, VARA, and JS8Call. Join the millions of amateur radio operators worldwide studying propagation with WSPR, contesting with RTTY, and
ragchewing with JS8Call. Order your copy <https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003745875>
from ARRL and ARRL publication dealers.

IN BRIEF...

Rice University in Houston, Texas, is offering a new class, "Physics of
Ham Radio," beginning on August 22, 2022. The class is primarily aimed
at teachers, but Rice undergraduates and post-grads are also welcome.
Classes will meet in person, but virtual participation is possible by
request. The class teaches the basics of electromagnetic waves, simple
circuit and antenna theory, radio propagation, GPS theory and
operation, the ionosphere, the magnetosphere, and space weather. The
midterm is the Technician class Amateur Radio Service license exam. The
second half of the course covers GPS and space weather topics, along
with one general electrical circuit lab and safe solar eclipse
observation techniques. The class is taught by Professor Patricia
Reiff, W5TAR, and will use the fifth edition of The ARRL Ham Radio
License Manual <http://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373064>.
The cost of 3 hours of academic credit is $1,200 (discounted from
$8,900) or, for professional development hours only, $150. Some partial scholarships for the academic credit version are available thanks to
NASA's HEAT program <>. For detailed information, visit The Wiess
School of Natural Sciences <https://mst.rice.edu/PHYS501/>, and for
questions, contact Dr. Reiff <reiff@rice.edu>.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin:

At 2334 UTC on August 17, the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning.

"Periods of G1 conditions expected during August 19 - 20 due to the combination of coronal hole high -- speed wind stream and several
coronal mass ejections observed in the last few days. There is a chance
of isolated periods of G2 over August 19 - 20."

Local TV newscasts in Seattle noted the possibility of an aurora on
Thursday night, although observers would need to travel to dark areas
away from the city for any chance of successful viewing. In fact, they recommended using a camera pointed north using a long exposure time.

Last week, we noted increasing solar activity, and it continued.
Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 65.4 to 95.6, and average
daily solar flux increased from 111.9 to 123.7.

Predicted solar flux is 125 on August 18 - 19; 120 on August 20; 115 on
August 21 - 23; 110 and 95 on August 24 - 25; 94 on August 26 - 27; 96,
98, 100, 108, and 114 on August 28 - September 1; 116 on September 2 -
3; 112 on September 4; 108 on September 5 - 6; 115, 120, 124, and 126
on September 7 - 10; 124 on September 11 - 12; 122, 118, 112, 108, and
102 on September 13 - 17, and 100 on September 18 - 19.

Predicted planetary A index is 56 (!), 30, 18, and 8 on August 18 - 21;
5 on August 22 - 26; 12 on August 27; 8 on August 28 - 30; 5 on August
31 - September 2; 24, 28, 18, and 10 on September 3 - 6; 14, 8, 10, and
8 on September 7 - 10; 5, 5, 20, and 15 on September 11 - 14; 12, 12,
and 8 on September 15 - 17, and 5 on September 18 - 20.

Tamitha Skov says, "Don't worry, this is not a Carrington Event," in an 84-minute video titled, "Incoming Solar Storm Crush <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCypTeodMYo>."

Even Newsweek <https://www.newsweek.com/solar-flare-sunspot-ar3078-delta-magnetic-field-1734022>

is reporting it.

And of course, British Tabloids <https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-11116681/Cannibal-explosion-sun-hurling-Earth-trigger-radio-blackouts.html>


and NOAA <https://www.noaa.gov/media-advisory/noaa-forecasts-strong-geomagnetic-storm-after-several-eruptions-on-sun>.


Sunspot numbers for August 11 - 17, 2022, were 58, 97, 116, 104, 92,
119, and 83, with a mean of 95.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 114.8,
119.5, 124.2, 125.5, 130.6, 128.5, and 122.7, with a mean of 123.7.
Estimated planetary A indices were 16, 7, 10, 7, 6, 5, and 31, with a
mean of 11.7. Middle latitude A index was 12, 6, 10, 9, 6, 5, and 22,
with a mean of 10.

Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@arrl.net.

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

- August 19 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)

- August 20 - 21 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest (digital)

- August 20 - 21 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)

- August 20 - 20 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)

- August 20 - 21 -- North American QSO Party (SSB, phone)

- August 21 -- SARL HF Digital Contest (digital)

- August 21 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY (digital)

- August 21 - 22 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

- August 23 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest (phone)

- August 24 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)

- August 24 -- Phone Weekly Test (phone)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- 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

- September 2 - 4 | Shelby Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/shelby-hamfest-arrl-north-carolina-section-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL North Carolina Section Convention, Shelby, North
Carolina

- September 9 - 10 | Queen Wilhelmina Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/queen-wilhelmina-hamfest-arrl-arkansas-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Arkansas State Convention, Mena, Arkansas

- September 11 | ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-southern-new-jersey-section-convention-1>, Mullica Hill, New Jersey

- September 17 - 18 | QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/> (online event). ARRL is a QSO Today
partner.

- September 23 - 24 | HRO Superfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/hro-superfest-arrl-central-division-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Central Division Convention, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

- September 24 | Red River Radio Amateur Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/red-river-radio-amateur-hamfest-arrl-dakota-division-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Dakota Division Convention, West Fargo, North Dakota

- September 24 | Spokane Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/spokane-hamfest-arrl-washington-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley,
Washington

- October 1 | Wichita Area Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wichita-area-hamfest-arrl-kansas-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Kansas State Convention, Wichita, Kansas

- October 1 | Rock Hill Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/70th-annual-rock-hill-hamfest-arrl-south-carolina-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South
Carolina

- October 7- 8 | Melbourne Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/melbourne-hamfest-arrl-florida-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida

- October 7- 8 | Slidell EOC Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/slidell-eoc-hamfest-arrl-louisiana-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Louisiana State Convention, Slidell, Louisiana

- October 7- 9 | ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-rocky-mountain-division-convention>, Cheyenne, Wyoming

- October 9 | Nutmeg Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/nutmeg-hamfest-arrl-connecticut-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, North Haven, Connecticut

- October 14 - 16 | Pacificon <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacificon-arrl-pacifc-division-convention>, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California

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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