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

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

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

September 28, 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

- Solar Eclipse QSO Party Seeks Amateurs and Radio Enthusiasts for
Global Experiment
- Students Wanted: Talk to an Astronaut via Amateur Radio in 2024!
- AMI Jamboree Scheduled for November
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

SOLAR ECLIPSE QSO PARTY SEEKS AMATEURS AND RADIO ENTHUSIASTS FOR

GLOBAL EXPERIMENT

ARRL is proud to partner with HamSCI to help promote participation in
the Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP). SEQPs are a series of global
experiments -- and you can be a part of them. Solar eclipses will pass
across the continental United States on October 14, 2023, and April 8,
2024. During these celestial events, you can join thousands of fellow
amateurs as part of the largest crowd-sourced event for ham radio
scientific exploration. The SEQP is part of the Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science and is for learning more about how the ionosphere
works.

All radio amateurs need to do is operate using any mode and any band
for all or part of the day, then upload their logs. Participation can
be from anywhere; you don't need to be near the path of the eclipse to contribute valuable data. You don't even have to be a licensed ham to participate in the experiment (only to transmit).

- For SEQP contest and rules, visit www.hamsci.org/contest-info <http://www.hamsci.org/contest-info>.
- For information on the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge using CW,
WSPR, and FST4W, go to www.hamsci.org/contest-info <http://www.hamsci.org/contest-info>.
- If you're an SWL or AM DXer, you might be interested in the Medium
Wave Recording Event. Go to www.hamsci.org/mw-recordings/ <http://www.hamsci.org/mw-recordings/> for more information.

Or just get on the air and help provide data to better understand the ionosphere.

The first SEQP is on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 1200 - 2200 UTC,
and participants may use any band or mode (except WARC bands).
Researchers will take the submitted logs and work to derive meaningful observations from the data.

ARRL members can find out more about the SEQP by reading "The Solar
Eclipse QSO Party: A Fun Way to Support Radio Science" in the
September/October 2023 issue of On the Air magazine. The On the Air
podcast will feature the article's author, Gary Mikitin, AF8A, talking
about the event. The episode will go live on October 12.

STUDENTS WANTED: TALK TO AN ASTRONAUT VIA AMATEUR RADIO IN 2024!

There's an opportunity for STEM education via amateur radio that will
put students in contact with astronauts. The Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking formal and
informal education institutions and organizations, individually or
working together, to host an amateur radio contact with a crew member
aboard the International Space Station (ISS). ARISS anticipates that
the contacts will be held between July 1 and December 31, 2024. Crew
scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates.

To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The
voice-only radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes long and allow
students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer
session. Students also have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science.

The deadline to submit a proposal is November 10, 2023. Proposal
information and more details, such as expectations, proposal
guidelines, and the proposal form, can be found at www.ariss.org <http://www.ariss.org/>. An ARISS proposal webinar session will be held
on October 5, 2023, at 7 PM ET. Visit https://ariss-proposal-webinar-fall-2023.eventbrite.com <https://ariss-proposal-webinar-fall-2023.eventbrite.com/> sign up.

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

Additional information is available at ARISS.org
<https://www.ariss.org/>.

AMI JAMBOREE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER

The 2023 Amplitude Modulation International (AMI) Jamboree <https://www.aminternational.club/ami-jamboree/> will be held over the Thanksgiving weekend, starting at dusk on November 24 and ending at
dawn on November 27.

AMI Executive Director John C. McGrath, N9AMI, said the jamboree is not
a contest but rather an AM-only operating event. "Everyone is welcome
to participate, and there is a certificate available for those who
contact 25 stations and submit a log," said McGrath. "Each class winner
will receive a certificate, and a short biography will be posted on the
AMI website. While the age of the equipment doesn't matter, there must
be an AM mode selection on the radio," he added.

The preferred AM bands for operation are:

- 160 meters: 1.885, 1.900, 1.945, 1.985

- 80 meters: 3.870 to 3.890

- 40 meters: 7.175, 7.290, 7.293, 7.295

- 20 meters: 14.286 and the upper end of 20 meters

According to the club's history, AMI was formed in 1993. The name was
taken from a west coast amateur radio club that was no longer in
operation. AMI is now dedicated to the enjoyment, promotion, and
preservation of AM. Club memberhips include numbered membership
certificates, an organization of 10 regions with directors, annual
operating events, local club support, and the monitoring of activities
that affect AM operations. While the FCC reduced the peak-envelope
power measurement for AM, they also issued a statement in support of
continuing the mode's important place in amateur radio.

More information is available on the AMI
<https://www.aminternational.club/> website.

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>.

"Meet the Gaston County man who is the oldest living ham radio operator
in the U.S. <https://news.yahoo.com/meet-gaston-county-man-oldest-091652112.html>"
/ The Gaston Gazette (North Carolina) September 22, 2023 -- The Gaston
County Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Ham radio event set for Sept. 30 in South Point <https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/ham-radio-event-set-for-sept-30-in-south-point/article_6ca1204c-55fa-5d74-8c1d-ddee03a8a877.html>"

/ The Hearld - Dispatch (Ohio) September 22, 2023 -- The Southern Ohio
Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Amateur radio emergency test drill Sept. 30 <https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2021/09/28/simulated-emergency-test-saturday-local-ham-radio-operators/5882226001/>"

/ The Monroe News (Michigan) September 26, 2023 - The Monroe County
Amateur Radio Public Service Corps.

"Longmont Amateur Radio Club to celebrate Peak to Peak Byway
anniversary <https://www.timescall.com/2023/09/27/longmont-amateur-radio-club-to-celebrate-peak-to-peak-byway-anniversary/>"

/ Times - Call (Colorado) September 27, 2023 -- The Longmont Amateur
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Volunteer Amateur Radio Operators restore vital communication link in
Waushara County <https://www.wausharaargus.com/news-latest/volunteer-amateur-radio-operators-restore-vital-communication-link-waushara-county>"

/ Waushara Argus (Wisconsin) September 27, 2023 -- Waushara County
Amateur Radio Emergency Service®.

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

ARRL PODCASTS

On the Air
Sponsored by Icom <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>

The cover story of On the Air's September/October 2023 issue,
"Foxhunting Basics," doesn't have anything to do with chasing down a
woodland creature. Foxhunting is a radio direction-finding activity
that you can enjoy with a radio club or group, or even with just one
other friend -- and they don't even have to be a ham! Rob Zielfelder,
N1NUG, explains how to get started with a couple of handheld radios and
a directional antenna that you can make from inexpensive hardware store materials. One player hides somewhere with a radio, and sends
intermittent transmissions, while the other player tracks them with the
help of the radio's signal meter and a map. Listen to this month's
episode for more information on how to join the fun.

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/>.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Intrepid-DX Group has announced their 4th Annual Youth Dream Rig
Essay Contest. The Intrepid-DX Group <https://intrepid-dx.com/> is a
US-based nonprofit organization that promotes amateur radio activities
around the world. The Youth Dream Rig Essay Contest is designed to
gather the views and ideas of young people involved in amateur radio. Contestants must be USA or Canadian amateur radio license holders who
are 19 years old or younger; must reside in the US, US territories, or
Canada, and they must submit a two-page essay explaining what attracted
them to amateur radio. All entries must be a plain text document, PDF,
or Microsoft Word document and be either emailed to
intrepiddxgroup@gmail.com or mailed to The Intrepid-DX Group, 3052
Wetmore Dr., San Jose, California 95148, USA by November 30, 2023.
Those who have previously submitted an essay may compete in this year's contest, as long as all criteria are met. The contest winner will be
announced on the group's website and Facebook page on December 15,
2023. The winner must agree to provide a photo with their prize. For a
complete list of the rules and prizes, visit
https://intrepid-dx.com/news/.

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will jointly
conduct a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning
System <https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system>

(IPAWS). The test is being conducted to make sure that the Emergency
Alert System <https://www.fema.gov/emergency-alert-system>(EAS) and
Wireless Emergency Alerts <https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system/public/wireless-emergency-alerts>(WEAs)

are working properly. The test will begin at approximately 2:20 PM ET
and will be split into two sections. The first alert will test the
WEAs, and the second will test the EAS. Your cell-network based mobile
devices will alert at that time.

Save the date for the upcoming Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) October 20 -
23, 2023. Jamboree-on-the-Air
<http://www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota> provides the opportunity
for millions of Scouts around the world to meet on the air via Amateur
Radio.

IN BRIEF...

The ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) is scheduled for October 7 - 8,
2023. The SET is ARRL's annual national emergency exercise designed to
assess the skills and preparedness of Amateur Radio Emergency Service®
(ARES®) volunteers, as well as those affiliated with other
organizations involved in emergency and disaster responses. The SET is
open to all radio amateurs and partner organizations, in addition to
national, state, and local officials. To get involved, contact your
local ARRL Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager. SET guidelines and
report forms can be found at: ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET)
Guidelines+ <http://arrl.org/simulated-emergency-test>.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP039:

Solar activity was up this week, September 21 - 27, 2023. Eight new
sunspot groups appeared: two on September 21, two on September 22, two
on September 25, one on September 26, and one on September 27.

Solar disk image taken September 28, 2023. [Photo courtesy of NASA
SDO/HMI]

The average daily sunspot number jumped from 118.4 to 170.6, while
the average daily solar flux increased from 149.3 to 168.8.

The autumnal equinox was last weekend in the Northern Hemisphere, so
Earth is bathed in equal amounts of solar radiation in both
hemispheres.

The average daily planetary A index decreased from 20.4 to 17, while
middle latitude numbers changed from 18.1 to 13.7. Thursday had the
strongest geomagnetic activity, and Alaska's college A index was 68,
triggering a geomagnetic storm with aurora visible across the northern
tier of the United States. Activity peaked around 1200 - 1800 UTC, with
the planetary K index at 5.33.

Regarding solar flux predictions, the next predicted peak is at 168 on
October 20 - 23.

Predicted solar flux values are 160 and 158 on September 28 - 29; 155
on September 30 through October 1; 152 on October 2 - 3; 155 on October
4 - 6; 160 on October 7 - 8; 155 on October 9; 150 on October 10 - 11;
145 on October 12 - 14; 150, 155, 155, 160, and 165 on October 15 - 19;
168 on October 20 - 23; and 164, 160, 160, 168, and 150 on October 24 -
28.

Predicted planetary A index is 8 on September 28 - 29; 12 on September
30 through October 1; 8, 5, and 8 on October 2 - 4; 5 on October 5 -
21; 10 and 8 on October 22 - 23, and 5 on October 24 - 31.

Weekly commentary on the sun, the magnetosphere, and the Earth's
ionosphere on September 27, 2023, from OK1HH:

"During September, we saw nearly regular fluctuations in solar and
geomagnetic activity. M-class flares occurred nearly every day, some accompanied by plasma eruptions [of] coronal mass ejections (CMEs). On [September] 24 - 25, the fourth and strongest solar-origin proton cloud
(G3) of the month struck Earth.

With such a large number of disturbances, each lasting several days,
there was a significant decrease in [maximum usable frequency] (MUF)
and a general deterioration of shortwave propagation (September 3 - 5,
13 - 15, 18 - 20, and since [September] 25).

After these disturbances, due to the high solar activity, relatively
rapid improvements followed, the best of which was observed from
[September] 10 onward. It culminated in a positive phase of disturbance
during the daytime hours of UTC on [September] 12, with the highest MUF
values, and thus the best opening of the upper shortwave bands. This
also made the following deterioration, which started already on the
night of [September] 13, even more noticeable.

Given the number and duration of disturbances and despite several
improvements, overall propagation was below average. This pattern began
in August, and given the trend in solar activity, looks set to continue
for the time being."

Gregory Andracke, W2BEE, sent over these two articles about aurora
borealis:

https://nbcnews.to/3PUVH9q and https://bbc.in/3PQLhrj.

Check out his website, at

http://www.andracke.com/.

Sunspot numbers for September 21 - 27, 2023, were 159, 184, 198, 172,
164, 179, and 138, with a mean of 170.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was
168.1, 175.7, 173, 173.7, 170.2, 164.9, and 156, with a mean of 168.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 10, 8, 10, 21, 23, 32, and 15, with
a mean of 17. The middle latitude A index was 10, 7, 9, 17, 15, 26, and
12, with a mean of 13.7.

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

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

- Sept. 27 - October 3 -- North Carolina W1AW/4

- Sept. 27 - October 3 -- Connecticut W1AW/1

- Sept. 27 - October 3 -- Nevada W1AW/7

- October 4 - 10 -- New Mexico W1AW/5

- October 4 - 10 -- Alaska W1AW/KL7

- October 4 - 10 - Washington, DC W1AW/3

UPCOMING CONTESTS:

- September 28 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data (digital)
- September 30 - October 1 -- UK/EI DX Contest, SSB (phone)

- September 30 - October 1 -- AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party
(phone)

- October 1 -- UBA ON Contest, SSB (phone)

- October 1 -- Peanut Power QRP Sprint (CW, phone)

- October 2 -- RSGB 80m Autumn Series (CW)

- October 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

- October 4 -- 432 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- October 6 - 7 | Slidell EOC Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/slidell-eoc-hamfest-arrl-louisiana-state-convention-1>,

sponsoring the ARRL Louisiana State Convention, Slidell, Louisiana

- October 7 | Wichita Area and Kansas State Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wichita-area-and-kansas-state-hamfest-arrl-kansas-state-convention>,

sponsoring the ARRL Kansas State Convention, Wichita, Kansas

- October 7 | 71st Rock Hill Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/71st-rock-hill-hamfest-arrl-south-carolina-section-convention>,

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

- October 8 | Nutmeg Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/nutmeg-hamfest-arrl-connecticut-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Connecticut State Convention, North Haven, Connecticut

- October 13 - 14 | Melbourne Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/melbourne-hamfest-arrl-florida-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida

- October 14 | ARRL Minnesota State Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-minnesota-state-convention>,
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

- October 20 - 22 | Pacificon <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/pacificon-arrl-pacific-division-convention-1>, hosting the ARRL Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California

- November 4 - 5 | Stone Mountain Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/stone-mountain-hamfest-arrl-georgia-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia

- November 4 | Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference 2023 <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wisconsin-ares-races-conference-2023-arrl-wisconsin-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Wisconsin Section Convention, Wisconsin Rapids,
Wisconsin

- November 18 - 19 | Fort Wayne Hamfest and Computer Expo <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/wisconsin-ares-races-conference-2023-arrl-wisconsin-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Central Division Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

- December 8 - 9 | Tampa Bay Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/tampa-bay-hamfest-arrl-west-central-florida-section-convention-2>,

hosting the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,
Florida

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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