XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

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

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

February 2, 2023

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

- USA Radio Orienteering Championships Set for April 19 - 23, 2023
- ARRL Foundation Accepting Applications for Grants in February
- Leadership Changes in ARRL Atlantic Division
- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contacts two US
Schools
- World Radio Day Special Transmission
- ARRL Podcasts
- Amateur Radio in the News
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

USA RADIO ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR APRIL 19 - 23, 2023

Registration is now open for the 22nd USA Radio Orienteering
Championships.

The event will be held April 19 - 23, 2023, at Cooper Lake State Park
in Texas, and is hosted by the New Mexico Orienteers <https://www.nm-orienteers.org/>, Albuquerque, New Mexico, using maps
provided by North Texas Orienteering <http://ntoa.com/> Association.

The White Rock Lake Amateur Radio Club
<https://whiterockhams.wordpress.com/> will provide communications
support.

The name Radio Orienteering has been transitioning to this new name but
it is actually the same radio navigation sport known as Amateur Radio
Direction Finding (ARDF). The sport involves using special radio
receivers to find hidden transmitters in timed events.

USA ARDF Co-coordinator Gerald Boyd, WB8WFK, said the event is open to
everyone of all age groups, and three medals will be awarded for first,
second and third place in all groups. "We have events beginning with
the Sprint," said Boyd. "Participants will have 60 minutes to find
their transmitters. After that, three more events, the Fox -O, and two
Classics events, all lasting three hours." Results of the competitions
on April 20 - 23, 2023, will help determine the members of Team USA who
will compete in the ARDF World Championships scheduled for the fall of
2023 in Liberec, Czech Republic.

Charles E. Scharlau, NZ0I, USA ARDF Co-coordinator, said they are
hoping for a good turnout. "It is difficult to estimate attendance this
year. We can accommodate up to 100 persons," said Scharlau.
"Historically, we've had about 35 or fewer competitors in non-pandemic
years, but we are hearing rumors of many people who are eager to get
out and do things, so perhaps attendance will be up this year."

Scharlau said this year everyone participating in or attending the
event will need to pay a $5.00 parking fee at the park.

Detailed information about registration and the event site can be found
here <https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTzcIY3msL7hZoEYBDbu8Y_lYOJez8sww8UfSsmq2k8ueqqPZsl_H5V1EWwxrug-VqdQNhGTg9_sX9y/pub>.

More information about Radio Orienteering is available on the ARRL
website <https://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-direction-finding>.

ARRL FOUNDATION ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS IN FEBRUARY

The ARRL Foundation is now accepting applications for grants to amateur
radio organizations. The grants program awards limited funding to
organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and
initiatives, particularly those with a focus in educating, licensing,
and supporting amateur radio activities. Youth-based projects and
initiatives are especially encouraged. The ARRL Foundation grants
program accepts proposals on a cyclical model three times a year, in
February, June, and October. Proposals for the February grant period
are being accepted through February 28. Awardees will be notified
approximately 1 month after the closing of each cycle.

Additional information and a link to the grant application can be found
at www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-grants <http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-grants>.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN ARRL ATLANTIC DIVISION

The ARRL Atlantic Division
<https://www.arrl.org/divisions/view/atlantic> has new leadership. Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, who had served as an ARRL Director, representing the
Atlantic Division since 2015, stepped down on January 6, 2023.

Vice Director Robert "Bob" Famiglio, K3RF, of Media, Pennsylvania,
is the new Division Director. ARRL Section Manager for Maryland/DC
Marty Pittinger, KB3MXM, of Owings Mills, Maryland, has been appointed
Vice Director by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR.

Famiglio was initially Atlantic Division Vice Director from 2015 until
2017, appointed in 2019 to fill a vacancy, and then elected unopposed
for a term beginning in 2021. A practicing lawyer, he has served as an
ARRL Volunteer Council for decades. Famiglio is also an electrical
engineer and former broadcast station owner and engineer. He is an FAA-certificated pilot. He is a Life Member of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). He earned his amateur radio
license in 1967, and is an ARRL Life Member.

In an email to the Atlantic Division members in early January,
Abernethy said he still plans to be involved, stating, "After having
served for over 20 years in ARRL elected offices, it is my intention to
remain very active in support of ARRL, and I wish everyone all the best
as we head into the future of amateur radio and ARRL."

Pittinger was the Section Manager for Maryland/DC, one of seven ARRL
Sections that make up the Atlantic Division. He has an extensive
background in radio, served in the US Navy on submarines, and works for
a federal agency in his professional life.

Assistant Section Manager and Affiliated Club Coordinator for
Maryland/DC, Christopher D. Van Winkle, AB3WG, has been appointed
Section Manager by ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY.

Famiglio and Pittinger will each serve the remainder of 3 year terms
ending December 31, 2023.

AMATEUR RADIO ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION CONTACTS TWO US

SCHOOLS

Astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) were busy the
last week of January making contacts with two schools using amateur
radio.

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
<https://www.ariss.org/> (ARISS) program arranged contacts with
Brentwood Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh, North Carolina, and
Norwich Free Academy (NFA) located in Norwich, Connecticut.

On January 26, 2023, nearly 400 students at Brentwood Magnet Elementary
School filled the gymnasium to listen to astronaut Koichi Wakata answer questions about his experience on the ISS. Wakata told students he
loves being in space but is looking forward to taking a shower when he
returns in March.

He also told the students that it's not scary in space and encouraged
them to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Then on January 30, 2023, astronaut Dr. Josh Cassada contacted students
at NFA. During his 10-minute contact, Cassada shared with students how
his career as a Navy Test Pilot helped him become an astronaut. "Do the
things you love," Cassada told the students. During the remainder of
the contact, Cassada talked about cargo vehicles making frequent trips
to resupply the ISS and how his daily routine is different every day,
including working weekends.

The NFA Amateur Radio and Engineering Club, W1HLO, members and advisors installed an amateur radio satellite ground station on the NFA campus
in 2023, thanks to an Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC)
grant, which helped make the contact with the ISS possible.

ARISS is a unique STEM educational program which inspires young people
to develop knowledge and skills through their participation in space
science and amateur radio. ARISS conducts 60 - 80 of these special
amateur radio contacts each year between students around the globe and
crew members with ham radio licenses aboard the ISS.

ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies
and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the US, participating organizations include from NASA's Space Communications and Navigation
program (SCaN), the ISS National Lab - Space Station Explorers, ARRL
The National Association for Amateur Radio
<http://www.arrl.org/ariss>®, and AMSAT.

WORLD RADIO DAY SPECIAL TRANSMISSION

In honor of World Radio Day, February 13, 2023, radio station SAQ in
Grimeton, Sweden, and amateur radio station SK6SAQ, are scheduled to be
on the air to send out a peace message to the world, using the unique
1924 200 kW Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz CW.

Test and tuning transmissions will begin approximately at 13:00 CET
(12:00 UTC) and SAQ will be on the air for 20 - 30 minutes. Startup and
tuning of the Alexanderson alternator will begin at 15:30 CET (14:30
UTC) and transmission of the peace message from SAQ will start at 16:00
CET (15:00 UTC).

SK6SAQ has picked a set of unique frequencies with a "connection" to
SAQ's transmission frequency on 17.2 kHz, and will be QRV between 10:00
CET (09:00 UTC) and 17:00 CET (16:00 UTC) on the following frequencies:

- 3517.2 kHz CW
- 7017.2 kHz CW
- 14017.2 kHz CW
- 3755 kHz SSB
- 7140 kHz SSB

QSL cards will be available and there will be live coverage on YouTube. <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-83S-l9JKD1iuhsXx3XQ3g>

For more information about the World Radio Day event and SAQ Grimeton
visit their website <https://alexander.n.se/>.

ARRL PODCASTS

On the Air
Sponsored by Icom <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>
The latest episode of the ARRL On the Air
<https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> podcast addresses the topic of
scanning, with specific discussions about memory scanning, CTCSS tone
scanning, priority watch, and more.

ARRL Audio News
Listen to ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/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 is available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher
(Android). The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are also on
blubrry -- On the Air <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio
News <https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.

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>.

"Rescued by ham radio <http://www.youtube.com/watch?vi'wKfqExDz4>" /
WMUR -TV / New Hampshire Chronicle (New Hampshire), January 31, 2023

"Contact! Raleigh students connect with International Space Station
astronauts <https://www.cbs17.com/news/contact-raleigh-students-connect-with-international-space-station-astronauts/>"

/ WNCN-TV (North Carolina), January 26, 2023. -- Brentwood Magnet
Elementary School of Engineering.

"Elementary school students in Raleigh use amateur radio to talk to International Space Station <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/elementary-school-students-in-raleigh-use-amateur-radio-to-talk-to-international-space-station/ar-AA16MATD>"

/ WTVD (North Carolina), January 26, 2023 -- Brentwood Magnet
Elementary School of Engineering.

"Dr. Mark 'KF4MLT' Aulick memorialized at Amateur Radio Winter Field
Day" <https://griceconnect.com/2023/01/dr-mark-fk4mlt-aulick-memorialized-at-amateur-radio-winter-field-day/>

/ Grice Connect (Georgia), January 27, 2023. -- The Statesboro Amateur
Radio Society is an Affiliated ARRL Club.

"The Amateur Radio Emergency Services looks to recruit volunteers <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-amateur-radio-emergency-services-looks-to-recruit-volunteers/ar-AA16QNnX>"

/ WGXA -TV (Georgia), January 28, 2023. -- Macon-Bibb Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES®).

"Eastern Carolina amateur radio club puts emergency response skills to
the test <https://www.witn.com/2023/01/29/eastern-carolina-amateur-radio-club-puts-emergency-response-skills-test/>"

/ WITN -TV (North Carolina), January 29, 2023. -- The Onslow Amateur
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"The dits and dahs of Morse Code in the digital age <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/the-dits-and-dahs-of-morse-code-in-the-digital-age/ar-AA16TJys>"

/ WANE-TV (Indiana), January 30, 2023. -- The Fort Wayne Radio Club is
an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"People across North Central Florida learn to use ham radios for
communication <https://www.wcjb.com/2023/01/30/people-across-north-central-florida-learn-use-ham-radios-communication/>"

/ WCJB-TV (Florida) January 30, 2023. -- The Gainesville Amateur Radio
Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Connecticut students use ham radio to talk to astronaut at
International Space Station <file:///C:/Users/John/Documents/Connecticut%20students%20use%20ham%20radio%20to%20talk%20to%20astronaut%20at%20International%20Space%20Station>"

/ The Bulletin ( Connecticut), January 31, 2023. -- The Norwich Free
Academy Amateur Radio and Engineering Club, W1HLO, is a high school
club.

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Virginia QSO Party (VQP) and Virginia's Volunteers On the Air
(VOTA) Activation of W1AW/4 are set for the weekend of March 18 - 19,
2023. Virginia amateur radio operators will, at the same time,
celebrate the contributions of thousands of ARRL volunteers during
Virginia's activation of the Volunteers On the Air event by contacting
W1AW/4 during the VQP. In fact, W1AW/4 will be active from March 15 -
21, 2023. VQP planners are working to activate in some of the rare
counties to help increase the chances of earning a Worked all VA
Counties award. VQP Rules are at: https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2023_VQP/2023_VAQP_Rules.pdf.

ARRL VOTA rules are at: http://www.arrl.org/volunteers-on-the-air.

IN BRIEF...

Louis E. Frenzel Jr., W5LEF, passed away on January 9, 2023. He was 84
years old. Frenzel was a longtime amateur radio operator and freelance
writer. He retired in 2022 after 18 years as Technology Editor for
Electronic Design magazine. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Houston and a master's degree from the University of
Maryland. He taught college-level communications and electronics
classes in the Austin, Texas, area. His friend and colleague William G.
Wong, Senior Content Director of Electronic Design and manager of
Microwaves & RF, said Frenzel loved technology and loved to teach
people while always learning. "He was outgoing [and] always wanted to
educate and make complicated technology simple," said Wong. Frenzel's
latest, and fifth edition of his book, Principles of Electronic
Communication Systems, is considered a mainstay for college curricula. Throughout his career, Frenzel served as vice president for several
companies, including Heathkit, Longman Crown, and McGraw Hill. Frenzel
was active in amateur radio and held an Amateur Extra-class license.

Raymond "Ray" Paul Richard, W4RPR, of Ocala, Florida, passed away on
January 30, 2023.

Richard was 65 years old and is survived by his wife of 30-years,
Cynthia. He was a member of the Orlando Amateur Radio Club (OARC) where
he served as a past Membership Chairman. He was also the Advance Ticket Chairman for Orlando HamCation. "Serving his community through amateur
radio was a passion of Ray," said OARC President John Knott, N4JTK. "In
2019, Ray was awarded the KB4UT Wayne Nelson Amateur of the Year award
for his service and dedication to the Orlando Amateur Radio Club."
Richard was a member of the ARRL Maxim Society, a group of individuals recognized for their extraordinary generosity to the association.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

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

For this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin ARLP005:

Solar activity softened again this week, with average daily sunspot
numbers changing from 162 to 80.7, and solar flux from 198.9 to 139.5.

This is quite a dramatic shift from the excitement of a couple of weeks
ago. To review, average weekly sunspot numbers from the first bulletin
of 2023 went from 97 to 135.9, 173.4, and 162. Average weekly solar
flux went from 157.8 to 181.2, 221.8, and 198.9.

This variability is expected. Soon, perhaps in the next solar rotation, activity will rise again. The graphs we see of smoothed sunspot numbers
are smooth because the numbers are averaged over a whole year.

Geomagnetic numbers barely changed at all, with planetary A index
changing only from 8.1 to 7.9. The middle latitude numbers did not
change at all, 5.9 last week and 5.9 this week.

Predicted solar flux is 135 on February 2; 140 on February 3 - 5; 145
on February 6; 150 on February 7 - 9; 155 on February 10 - 13; 150 on
February 14 - 16; 145 on February 17; 140 on February 18 - 19; 135 on
February 20; 130 on February 21 - 23; 125 on February 24 - 25; 140 on
February 26 - 27; 135 on February 28 - March 4, and 140 and 145 on
March 5 - 6.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on February 2 - 5; 8 on February 6 -
9; 12, 5, 8, and 8 on February 10 - 13; 5 on February 14 - 17; 8, 7, 5,
and 5 on February 18 - 21; 10 on February 22 - 24; 5 on February 25 -
27; 15, 10, and 8 on February 28 to March 2, and 5 on March 3 - 5.

In Friday's bulletin, we will feature auroral propagation and unusual propagation from North America to Scandinavia on 10 meters.

Sunspot numbers for January 26 through February 1, 2023, were 104, 84,
76, 80, 67, 65, and 89, with a mean of 80.7. The 10.7 -centimeter flux
was 150.6, 144.9, 137.6, 137, 135.9, 137, and 133.5, with a mean of
139.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 9, 10, 5, 5, 9, and 6,
with a mean of 7.9. Middle latitude A index was 9, 6, 8, 5, 4, 6, and
3, with a mean of 5.9.

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

Year-long -- ARRL Volunteers On the Air <https://vota.arrl.org/>
(VOTA). See also the State Activations Schedule for weekly W1AW
Portable Operations <https://vota.arrl.org/w1awPortable.php> including
these:

- February 1 - 7 -- South Carolina, W1AW/4

- February 1 - 7 -- South Dakota, W1AW/0

- February 8 - 14 -- Hawaii, W1AW/KH6

- February 8 - 14 -- Georgia, W1AW/4

UPCOMING CONTESTS

- February 4 - 5 -- Vermont QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

- February 4 - 5 -- 10-10 International Winter Contest, SSB (phone)

- February 4 -- EurAsia HF Championship (CW, phone)

- February 4 - 5 -- F9AA Cup, CW (CW)

- February 4 - 5 -- Mexico RTTY International Contest (digital)

- February 4 -- Minnesota QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

- February 4 -- FYBO Winter QRP Sprint (CW, phone, digital)

- February 4 -- AGCW Straight Key Party (CW)

- February 4 - 5 -- British Columbia QSO Party (CW, phone)

- February 4 - 5 -- European Union DX Contest (CW, phone)

- February 4 - 5 -- North American Sprint, CW (CW)

- February 6 -- OK1WC Memorial (MWC) (CW)

- February 6 -- RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship, SSB (phone)

- February 7 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

- February 8 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- February 10 - 12 | Orlando HamCation <https://www.hamcation.com/>,
hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida

- February 17 - 18 | LCARC Winter-Fest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/lcarc-winter-fest-arrl-arkansas-state-convention>,

ARRL Arkansas State Convention, Hoxie, Arkansas

- February 25 | HAM-CON <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ham-con-arrl-vermont-state-convention-2>,
hosting the ARRL Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont

- March 3 - 4 | BirmingHamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/birminghamfest-arrl-alabama-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Alabama Section Convention, Trussville, Alabama

- March 3 - 4 | Greater Houston HamFest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/greater-houston-hamfest-arrl-texas-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas

- March 18 | MARC St. Patricks Day Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/marc-st-patricks-day-hamfest-arrl-west-texas-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL West Texas Section, Midland, Texas

- March 18 | Charleston Area Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/charleston-area-hamfest-arrl-west-virginia-section-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL West Virginia Section Convention, Charleston, West
Virginia

- March 24 - 25 | ARRL Maine State Convention and Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-maine-state-convention-and-hamfest>­, Lewiston, Maine

- March 25 - 26 | QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo
<https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/> (online)

- April 7 - 8 | Green Country Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/green-country-hamfest-arrl-oklahoma-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Oklahoma Section Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma

- April 8 | Raleigh Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/raleigh-hamfest-arrl-north-carolina-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, North
Carolina

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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