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

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

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

May 11, 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

- Dayton Hamvention® 2023 Ready to Go
- National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station Annual Test
- Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club Receives Commendation
- Ohio's Rooster Net Has Good Company
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

<HTTPS://WWW.ARRL.ORG/DUES-SURVEY>REMINDER: COMPLETE THE ARRL DUES

SURVEY

ARRL is conducting an online survey to seek input from members on how
we will handle an increase in dues. The survey, which was launched on
May 1, will remain open until May 31. The results from the survey will
be tabulated and shared with members on the ARRL website in June.
Responses will ultimately help guide the future of ARRL. The survey is available to ARRL members, only. Members need to make sure they have
logged into the ARRL website to participate. For more information, and
to complete the survey, visit www.arrl.org/dues-survey <https://www.arrl.org/dues-survey>.

DAYTON HAMVENTION® 2023 READY TO GO

Tens of thousands of amateur radio operators and radio enthusiasts are preparing to head to Dayton Hamvention <https://hamvention.org/> 2023
in Xenia, Ohio. The event will host the 2023 ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-expo>.

Amateur radio's largest annual gathering opens for the 3-day event on
Friday, May 19, at 9 AM, at the Greene County Fair and Expo Center.
Organizers are reporting strong ticket sales, and commitments from
exhibitors and flea market sellers. ARRL is busy putting the finishing
touches on their large exhibit area in building 2, which revolves
around the yearlong theme, Year of the Volunteers.

ARRL is also sponsoring a series of eight forums this year, including:

- The ARRL Laboratory - Behind the Scenes! The inside scoop on what
happens in the lab - stories you won't read in QST.
Friday 9:15 AM - 10:20 AM in Room 3

- Protecting Amateur Radio. ARRL has a history of advocating for the
rights of radio amateurs, and this forum will include an update on
ARRL's current legislative activity.
Friday 1:15 PM - 2:25 PM in Room 3

- Amateur Radio and the Law. Liability insurance issues for your club,
how to read local zoning ordinances, and an update on HOA laws.
Friday 2:35 PM - 3:45 PM in Room 3

- Good Operators and Interference. An update on the ARRL Volunteer
Monitor Program and advice on how to help each other maintain high
standards on the air.
Friday 2:35 PM - 3:45 PM in Room 3

- ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) Forum. Learn about opportunities to volunteer and, train, and hear stories about best
practices.
Saturday 12 PM - 1:20 PM in Room 3

- ARRL Membership Forum. Hear from representatives on several key areas
of membership and how ARRL is working to advance amateur radio.
Saturday 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM in Room 3

- ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Forum. Learn how ARRL is growing our
community of participating students and ham radio clubs at colleges and universities.
Saturday 2:40 PM - 3:50 PM in Room 3

- Youth Outreach. Ways to attract and engage today's students to ham
radio.
Saturday 4 PM - 5 PM in Room 3

Read the complete Dayton Hamvention® 2023 - ARRL Forums News <https://www.arrl.org/news/dayton-hamvention-2023-arrl-forums> story
for a full list and descriptions of ARRL-sponsored forums at
Hamvention. The full slate of Hamvention forums is published at
hamvention.org <https://hamvention.org/>. Attendees may also find the information on the ARRL Events
<https://www.tripbuildermedia.com/apps/arrl> app.

For more information about Dayton Hamvention, including tickets,
parking, and the talk-in, visit hamvention.org
<https://hamvention.org/>.

Follow ARRL News and ARRL social media
<https://www.arrl.org/arrl-social-media> channels for coverage on
Dayton Hamvention.

NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AMATEUR RADIO STATION ANNUAL TEST

The amateur radio station of the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC <https://w4ehw.fiu.edu/> (NHC), located on the campus of Florida
International University in Miami, will conduct their on-the-air Annual Communications Test on Saturday, May 27, 2023, from 9 AM - 5 PM EDT
(1300z- 2100z).

This is the NHC's 43rd year of public service. NHC Amateur Radio
Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R/WX4NHC, reports that the
purpose of this event is to test amateur radio equipment and antennas
at the NHC as well as operators' home equipment, antennas, and
computers prior to this year's hurricane season. The 2023 hurricane
season begins June 1 and runs through November 30.

This event is good practice for amateur radio operators worldwide to
practice amateur radio communications during times of severe weather.

Ripoll said WX4NHC will be on HF, VHF, UHF, 2- and 30-meter APRS, and
Winlink, To contact the NHC's amateur radio station send an email to wx4nhc@winlink.org. The subject of the email must contain //WL2K.

The Hurricane Watch Net will try to stay on 14.325 MHz for most of the
time, as well as 7.268 MHz depending on propagation. They may also
change frequencies due to potential QRM.

You may be able to find WX4NHC on HF by using one of the DX spotting
networks, such as the DX Summit website at http://www.dxsummit.fi.

The VoIP Hurricane Net will also be active from 4 PM - 5 PM EDT
(2000-2100z), RLP node 9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203.
Visit their website <https://voipwx.net/> for more information.

WX4NHC will also make a few contacts on local VHF and UHF repeaters, as
well as the Florida Statewide Amateur Radio Network (SARnet) system to
test station equipment.

QSL cards are available via WD4R <http://www.wd4r.com/> with a
self-addressed stamped envelope. More information about the NHC is
available at their website.

VIRGINIA BEACH AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RECEIVES COMMENDATION

The Virginia General Assembly recently issued a resolution commending
the Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club, W4UG (VBARC).

House Joint Resolution 681 was carried in the Virginia General Assembly
by Virginia Beach Delegate Karen S. Greenhalgh. The resolution was
co-patroned in the Virginia Senate by the 8th District Senator Bill
DeSteph and the 14th District Senator John Cosgrove.

The commendation honored the VBARC for their many community
contributions, stating, "the VBARC, an American Radio Relay League
Special Service Club, has greatly served the Virginia Beach community
for many years by volunteering its time and equipment for emergency and
public services, and by providing exceptional aid to both local amateur
radio enthusiasts and the community at large through training classes, technical projects, and other activities."

The complete resolution can be read here:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?231+ful+HJ681ER

Five members of the VBARC were invited to the House Gallery of the
Virginia General Assembly by Delegate Greenhalgh, where the resolution
was read on the House Floor before the Virginia House of Delegates.

Delegate Greenhalgh presented the framed resolution to the VBARC at
their April 2023 meeting. It was accepted by VBARC Club President Doug
Duggan, N4IRK.

OHIO'S ROOSTER NET HAS GOOD COMPANY

Last week's Ohio Rooster Net story <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2023-05-04#toc05> in the May 4,
2023, issue of The ARRL Letter brought in two immediate responses
regarding some of the longest-running nets.

First, Larry Wheeler, W9QR, reminded us that the Indiana Section Level
Traffic Net, formally the Indiana Phone Net, has been active every day
with a morning and evening session on the 80-meter band since January
19, 1947.

The ITN started out as an AM net that switched to SSB in the 1960s. The sessions now begin at 0830 AM EST on 3912 kHz and on 3910 kHz for the
evening sessions at 2030 PM EST. A typical session may have five to ten
pieces of formal traffic, after which a roll call of about 50 stations
is called.

Wheeler said all of this is accomplished in about 18 minutes, and then
the net is closed. Operators who hear the net for the first time are
amazed at its efficiency. Before the days of long-distance telephone
service, it was commonplace for the net to handle more than 1,000
messages each month.

Then, Harold Lines, W7DPS, checked in to alert us that on the evening
of December 20, 1948, the Oregon Emergency Net
<http://w7oen.net/>(OEN) held its very first official session. "By my calculations, that makes 27,163 daily sessions, including the one we
just held tonight. Session number 28,000 should happen on August 18,
2025," said Lines.

The OEN got its start in May 1948, when a combination of melting snow
and heavy rains caused unprecedented flooding in the Pacific Northwest.
Along with damage throughout the area, the community of Vanport, in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area was completely destroyed. The
incident left about 18,000 people homeless. As a result of the massive
amount of health and welfare traffic generated by the flooding, Oregon
amateurs decided to form an "organized statewide amateur emergency communications network," according to the OEN's history provided on
their website.

Chief Rooster Roy Hook, W8REH, congratulated the OEN in advance for its
75th anniversary coming up in December 2023, and thanked both clubs for
their accomplishments. Hook concluded that, "celebrating traditions is
key to longevity."

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 Operators Help Communications During Emergencies <https://theorindanews.com/2023/04/28/amateur-radio-operators-help-communications-during-emergencies/>"

/ The Orinda News (California), April 28, 2023 -- The Lamorinda Area
Radio Interest Group (LARIG) is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Mohawk Amateur Radio Club to transmit worldwide for worthy fundraising
cause <https://news.yahoo.com/mohawk-amateur-radio-club-transmit-090333011.html>"
/ The Gardner News (Massachusetts), May 2, 2023 --The Mohawk Amateur
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"The history behind the Amateur Radio Museum <https://news.yahoo.com/history-behind-amateur-radio-museum-093517792.html>"
/ The Daily Jeffersonian (Ohio), May 4, 2023 - The Cambridge Amateur
Radio Association is an ARRL Affiliated club.

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/>

With this year's ARRL June VHF Contest fast approaching on the weekend
of June 10, seasoned VHF operator Bob Witte, K0NR, joins the podcast to
talk about how to prepare yourself and your station to join in the fun
of this beginner-friendly event.

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

Dr. Nathaniel A. Frissell, W2NAF, has been announced as the guest
speaker at the 2023 Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR)/AMSAT
Hamvention® Banquet. He will talk about the upcoming solar eclipses and
the exciting ways amateur radio is contributing to the scientific
research around these events. Dr. Frissell is a Space Physicist and
Electrical Engineer at the University of Scranton's Physics and
Engineering Department. In 2021, he was awarded a $481,260 grant
through NASA's Space Weather Applications Operations Phase II Research
Program. The 14th annual TAPR/AMSAT Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 18:30 EDT. For additional information, visit the AMSAT <https://www.amsat.org/>
website.

A special thanks to AMSAT and TAPR for information.

The David Kalter Memorial Youth Adventure 2023 trip to Curacao has been cancelled. The Dayton Amateur Radio Association <https://w8bi.org/>
(DARA) Board, parent organization of the David Kalter Memorial Youth
Adventure, regrets to announce there was not enough time to put a
successful plan together and allow participants to obtain passports in
a timely manner. Please watch out for further updates on activities
soon.

IN BRIEF...

Puerto Rico 's Amateurs Celebrated Dia del Radioaficionado on Tuesday,
May 9. "Radio Amateur Day" was marked by a proclamation from Governor
Pedro Pierluisi and Secretary of State Omar Marrero. It recognizes the voluntary help amateurs have offered in times of emergency like
Hurricanes Irma and María and the 2020 earthquake. Celebrations
included a special 2-meter net from the Federación de Radio Aficionados
de Puerto Rico (FRA), an ARRL Affiliated Club. May is National Radio
Month on the island. Radio amateurs in Puerto Rico are affectionately
known as "kapecuatros", the phonetic spelling (in Spanish) of the KP4
prefix.

The 2023 National Hurricane Conference was held April 4 - 5 in New
Orleans, just before the start of the hurricane season in June. The
event was a forum for education and professional training in hurricane
and disaster preparedness. More than 1,500 people attended from around
the country. The conference covered all major aspects of hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery. As part of the conference, there
was an Amateur Radio Communications Workshop. ARRL Director of
Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, and Rob Macedo, KD1CY,
Director of Operations, VoIP Hurricane Net and ARRL ARES Eastern
Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator were featured as speakers.
Watch the updated NHC Conference Amateur Radio Workshop presentations
at https://youtu.be/iTpRE0PriJU.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP019:

For this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin ARLP019:

There was a modest increase in solar activity this reporting week,
May 4 - 10.

Average daily sunspot numbers nudged up from 114 to 119.3, and average
daily solar flux went up from 151.5 to 167.1.

Average daily planetary A index changed from 13.6 to 15.1, and average
middle latitude A index remained the same at 11.9.

Predicted solar flux is 170, 168, 166, 162, and 160 on May 11 - 15; 162
on May 16 - 17; 155 on May 18 - 21; 150 on May 22; 145 on May 23 - 25,
then 140 and 145 on May 26 - 27; 155 on May 29 - 30; 160 on May 31
through June 1; 155 on June 2 - 3; 160 on June 4 - 7, then 165, 160,
and 150 on June 8 - 10.

Predicted planetary A index is 46, 30, 12, and 8 on May 11 - 14; 5 on
May 15 - 22, then 12 and 20 on May 23 - 24; 15 on May 25 - 26; 10 on
May 27 - 28; 8 on May 29; 5 on May 30 through June 1, then 16, 12, 16,
and 12 on June 2 - 5; 8 on June 6 - 8, and 5 on June 9 - 13.

Read about possible geomagnetic stormy space weather at:

https://www.space.com/sun-reverse-sunspot-auroras-supercharge.

Sunspot numbers for May 4 through 10, 2023, were 139, 90, 99, 99, 103,
151, and 154, with a mean of 119.3. 10.7-centimeter flux was 162,
161.9, 151.8, 157.2, 171.9, 194.7, and 170.1, with a mean of 167.1.
Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 5, 30, 9, 16, 14, and 26, with a
mean of 15.1. Middle latitude A index was 7, 4, 21, 8, 13, 11, and 19,
with a mean of 11.9.

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

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:

- May 10 - May 17 -- Montana W1AW/7

- May 10 - May 17 -- Minnesota W1AW/0

- May 10 - May 17 -- Connecticut W1AW/1

- May 24 - May 30 -- New York W1AW/2

- May 24 - May 30 -- Colorado W1AW/0

UPCOMING CONTESTS:

- May 10 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)

- May 11 -- EACW Meeting (CW)

- May 13 - 14 -- CQ-M International DX Contest (CW, phone)

- May 13 - 14 -- VOLTA WW RTTY Contest (digital)

- May 13 - 14 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)

- May 13 - 14 -- Canadian Prairies QSO Party (CW, phone)

- May 13 - 14 -- 50 MHz Spring Sprint (All)

- May 15 - 4 -- States QRP Group 2nd Sun Sprint (CW)

- May 17 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)

- May 17 -- RSGB 80m Club Champ, Data (digital)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- May 13 | ARRL Nebraska State Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-nebraska-state-convention-2>,
Lincoln, Nebraska

- May 19 - 21 | Dayton Hamvention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-arrl-great-lakes-division-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention, Xenia, Ohio

- June 2 - 4 | SEA-PAC <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/sea-pac-arrl-northwestern-division-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon

- June 3 | Atlanta Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/atlanta-hamfest-arrl-georgia-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia

- June 4 | BreezeShooters Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/breezeshooters-hamfest-arrl-western-pennsylvania-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Prospect, Pennsylvania

- June 17 | Knoxville Hamfest and Electronics Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/knoxville-hamfest-and-electronics-convention-arrl-tennessee-state-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee

- June 23 - 25 | HAM RADIO <http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen.com/>, Friedrichshafen, Germany

- July 8 | SVARC Summer Hamfest Minot <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/svarc-summer-hamfest-minot-arrl-north-dakota-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL North Dakota Section Convention, Minot, North Dakota

- July 15 | SEARC Tailgate Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/searc-tailgate-hamfest-arrl-south-dakota-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL South Dakota Section Convention, Sioux Falls, South
Dakota

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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