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

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

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

July 13, 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

- Commercial Interests Petition FCC for High Power Allocation on
Shortwave Spectrum
- Teachers Gather for STEM Training at ARRL
- 2023 YOTA Summer Camp is Ready to Go!
- Dual Contests Make for Busy HF Weekend
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS PETITION FCC FOR HIGH POWER ALLOCATION ON

SHORTWAVE SPECTRUM

The ad hoc group Shortwave Modernization Coalition petitioned the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow data communications on multiple bands within the HF 2 - 25 MHz range with up to 20 kW,
including on bands immediately adjacent to spectrums allocated to the
Amateur Radio Service. This group appears to represent high-speed stock
trading interests. The FCC has assigned the public notice as docket
number RM-11953. Comments are due by July 31, 2023, and comment replies
are due by August 15, 2023. While the petitioners exclude the amateur
bands, high-power operations on immediately adjacent bands are
proposed. ARRL is reviewing the petition.

A PDF of the petition is available at: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1 <https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1042840187330/1>.

TEACHERS GATHER FOR STEM TRAINING AT ARRL

A group of educators were at ARRL Headquarters in Newington,
Connecticut, the week of July 13, 2023, for the ARRL Teachers Institute
on Wireless Technology. The 13 teachers were from all over the country,
and they were in town to learn hands-on STEM activities through amateur
radio. "They liked foxhunting and satellite contacts the best," said
ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA.

ARRL holds five sessions each year, and each session is 5 days in
length. The Teachers Institute <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARRL_Teachers%20Institute%20Brochure_2.pdf>
is an expenses-paid professional development program filled with
lectures, hands-on activities, and demonstrations that are intended to
provide teachers with tools and strategies to introduce basic
electronics, radio science, satellite communications, amateur radio,
weather science, microcontrollers, and electronic sensors to their
students. "The whole idea is to inspire teachers to go back and inspire
their students to be excited about amateur radio," said Goodgame.

Support for the institute is provided by donations from amateurs like
you to the ARRL Education & Technology Fund <https://home.arrl.org/action/Donate/Education-Technology-Fund>.

2023 YOTA SUMMER CAMP IS READY TO GO!

The Youth on the Air (YOTA) Americas Camp, hosted by the Radio Amateurs
of Canada (RAC), is going to be filled with 6 days of activity.

Young amateur radio operators in North, Central, and South America will
operate special event station VE3YOTA from July 16 - 21, 2023, in
addition to contacting the International Space Station (ISS) and
activating a two-for-one Parks on the Air (POTA) location. The opening
and closing ceremonies, and the ISS contact, will be live streamed on
YouTube <https://www.youtube.com/@yotaregion2/streams> .

The special event station will operate from YOTA camps at Carleton
University and the Diefenbunker Cold War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada,

Activation of the VE3YOTA call sign begins on Sunday, July 16, and
concludes at 2 PM on Friday, July 21. Campers will operate the station
during their free time.

Dedicated HF station operating times are Monday, July 17, through
Wednesday, July 19, from 2300Z to 0230Z (7 PM to 10:30 PM EDT). The
dedicated satellite station operating time is Wednesday, July 19, from
1400Z to 1700Z (10 AM to 1 PM EDT).

Fifteen QRP stations will activate two-for-one POTA location Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site of Canada (VE-5095) and Rideau
Canal National Historic Site (VE-4882) on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
The activation will occur on Tuesday, July 18, from 1900Z to 2100Z (3
PM to 5 PM EDT) and Thursday, July 20, from 1300Z to 1600Z (9 AM to
12PM EDT, weather permitting).

The opening ceremony is Sunday, July 16, from 2100Z to 2315Z (5 PM to
7:15 PM EDT) and the keynote speaker will be RAC President Phil
McBride, VA3QR. The ISS contact is currently scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 18, at 1842Z (2:42 PM EDT). The closing ceremony is
Friday, July 21, from 1500Z to 1600Z (11 AM to 12PM EDT). The channel
will also feature daily videos spotlighting the previous day's
activities.

For details about the camp, visit YouthOnTheAir
<https://youthontheair.org/>.

For additional information, contact YOTA Camp Director Neil Rapp,
WB9VPG, at director@youthontheair.org.

HANDBOOK 100: NOW AVAILABLE IN SOFTCOVER

The 100th edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications <https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2009938479>
is the most extensively revised and expanded edition in recent years.
Each chapter is filled with up-to-date knowledge representing radio
amateurs' wide and ever-expanding range of interests. There are
practical, hands-on projects for all skill levels, from simple
accessories and small power supplies to amplifiers and high-gain
antennas. The traditional softcover edition features the same
piano-finish black cover as the hardcover collector's edition <https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373106>
and six-volume paperback set. <https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373095>

DUAL CONTESTS MAKE FOR BUSY HF WEEKEND

The weekend of July 8 - 9, 2023, was a big one for HF contests. The
World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2022 coincided with the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship. <https://www.arrl.org/iaru-hf-world-championship>

WRTC 2022

Judging for WRTC 2022, held July 8 - 9, 2023, is complete. The event
was postponed for 1 year in 2022.

The WRTC 2022 competition winners are:

1° I44W (UW7LL / VE3DZ)
2° I43C (DJ5MW / DL1IAO)
3° I49D (9A7DX / 9A3LG)
Phone: I43L (YU5EEA / 9A3SMS)
CW: I47M (F8DBF / F1AKK)
Mults: I44W (UW7LL / VE3DZ)
Youth: I43O (YL3JA / UR5YKO)
Accuracy: I43C (DJ5MW / DL1IAO)

The WRTC judges analyzed each log to verify the contacts made during
the competition and cross-referenced them to the official records to
ensure accuracy. Once the log checking process was complete, the judges
posted the winners. All of the logs, the final score list, and a
YouTube video of the closing ceremony are available on the WRTC <https://www.wrtc2022.it/> website.

Information on the next WRTC Championship was announced on July 11,
2023. It will be hosted by the United Kingdom in 2026.

IARU HF World Championship

Early numbers of log submissions show enthusiastic participation for
this year's IARU HF World Championship. More than 5,000 logs were
submitted by the afternoon of July 13. Stations have 7 days after the
event to submit their logs, so there's still time for more submissions
to be received.

Volunteer operators from ARRL Headquarters staff participated in the
event as NU1AW, the IARU Headquarters station. They logged more than
1,000 contacts from the W1AW Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station during
the event.

As part of the yearlong W1AW portable operations, W1AW/KH6 served as
the ARRL Headquarters station on SSB from KH6YY in Oahu, Hawaii (https://kh6yy.net <https://kh6yy.net/>), and on CW from KH6LC in
Keaau, Hawaii (https://www.kh6lc.com <https://www.kh6lc.com/>).

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>.

"Poway ham radio operators host demonstrations during national Field
Day" <https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/pomerado-news/news/story/2023-07-04/poway-field-day>

/ San Diego Union Tribune (California), July 4, 2023 --The Poway
Amateur Radio Society.

"Tampa Amateur Radio Club prepares for this hurricane season" <https://www.cbsnews.com/tampa/news/tampa-amateur-radio-club-prepares-for-this-hurricane-season/>

/ WTOG-TV/CW-44 (Florida), July 10, 2023 -- The Tampa Amateur Radio
Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"CT ham radio enthusiasts use old-time skills to reach out to the
world" <https://www.chron.com/news/article/ham-radio-enthusiasts-use-old-time-skills-reach-18175845.php>

/ CHRON.com (Connecticut), July 11, 2023 -- The Wireless Operators of
Winsted and the CQ Radio Club are ARRL Affiliated Clubs.

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/>

When Messages Matter: Passing Traffic

Passing traffic is a ham radio activity that's nearly as old as ham
radio itself, and getting accurate messages to their destination in a
timely manner takes training and skill. In addition to participating in
nets, hams also have the opportunity to take on ARRL Field Organization positions that are responsible for traffic. In this episode, we talk to
Ethan Hansen, KC1OIP, who fulfills one such position, Official Relay
Station, in ARRL's National Traffic System. Listen in to learn about
what it takes to become an Official Relay Station, how the position
makes a difference in the community, and how it benefits your amateur
radio skills and experience.

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 Bogotá Amateur Radio League will be on the air on July 22 - 24,
2023, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the
Colombian Radio Amateur League <https://lcra.org.co/> and to
commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo and
Colombia's National Navy Day. A special event station will run from
19:00Z on Saturday, July 22, to 23:59Z on Monday, July 24, 2023. All
amateur radio operators are invited. Information about the event,
including frequencies and operating modes, is available on ARRL's
Search for Spcical Events Stations web page.

Students from the Kopernik Observatory & Science Center's Return to the
Edge of Space STEM summer camp plan to launch a high-altitude weather
balloon on July 19, 2023. The launch is scheduled for approximately 10
AM EDT (1400 UTC). Onboard the weather balloon will be a 2-meter
Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) beacon, K2ZRO-9, and a slow
scan television (SSTV) transmitter operating on 145.600 MHz. The SSTV transmitter will send pictures throughout the flight. The balloon and
its payload are expected to reach more than 100,000 feet at their
maximum altitude. New England, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Ontario and
Quebec, Canada, should receive SSTV pictures. The entire flight should
last approximately 4 hours. The Kopernik Observatory & Science Center
asks that any images received be sent to k2zro@kopernik.org. For more information about the Kopernik Observatory & Science Center <https://www.kopernik.org/>, visit their website.

IN BRIEF...

On July 12, 2023 Bob Wertz, NF7E, was recognized by Flagstaff (Arizona) Business News for earning the ARRL DXCC Honor Roll. The final contact
was made with the 3Y0J Bouvet Island DXpedition off the coast of Norway
via Morse code. Wertz said making the contact was "very difficult"
because the distance was more than 9,000 miles. It ended his 47-year
quest to contact all 340 independent DXCC entities. Wertz has a long
history with amateur radio. He was first licensed in 1976 and comes
from a family of amateur radio operators. His father, brother, uncle,
nieces, nephews, and grandchildren are all licensed amateur radio
operators. On July 23, 2022, Wertz was honored by the Northern Arizona
DX Association as the Ham of the Year, and he is an ARRL member. You
can read the complete article about Wertz at the Flagstaff Business
News <https://www.flagstaffbusinessnews.com/communications-from-a-family-of-hams/> website.

ARRL has open positions for full-time employment in technical and
non-technical areas of the association. Among the qualifications for
each position is a desire for experienced radio amateurs, individuals
who will thrive in a collaborative results-driven environment, and to
those who have a commitment to advancing ARRL's mission. Read more
about the open positions <http://www.arrl.org/news/careers-for-hams-arrl-is-hiring> on ARRL
News.

ARRL is an equal opportunity employer.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP028:

We saw a rise in solar activity this reporting week, July 6 - 12, 2023.

Solar disk image taken July 13, 2023, courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI.

Referencing the previous 7 days, average daily sunspot numbers rose
from 126.1 to 181.9, while the average daily solar flux increased from
164.5 to 179.4.

Geomagnetic indicators did not change much. The average planetary A
index went from 7.3 to 8.6 and the average daily middle latitude A
index went from 8 to 8.1.

The most active day was July 7, when the University of Alaska's College
A index was 40! The middle latitude A index on that day was only 11.
The College A index was measured by a magnetometer in Fairbanks,
Alaska.

Predicted solar flux looks like it will be great over the next few
days, at 190 on July 13; 188 on July 14 - 15; 186 on July 16; 182 on
July 17 - 18; 180 on July 19; 170 on July 20 - 21; 160 on July 22 - 23;
155 on July 24 - 25; 160 on July 26 - 27; 165 on July 28 - 29; 170 on
July 30 - 31; 165 on August 1 - 4; 170 on August 5; 175 on August 6 -
7; 170 on August 8, and 165 on August 9 - 11.

Predicted planetary A index is 15 and 10 on July 13 - 14; 5 on July 15
through August 2; 10, 8, and 5 on August 3 - 5, then 8, 8, 5, 8, and 8
on August 6 - 10.

On July 12, spaceweather.com <https://www.spaceweather.com/> reported:

"A new hyperactive sunspot is producing M-class solar flares every few
hours. This is causing shortwave radio blackouts around all longitudes
of our planet. If current trends continue, an X-flare could be in the
offing."

See spaceweather.com <https://www.spaceweather.com/> for updates.

Thanks to reader David Moore for sending us the information on aurora
hype at https://bit.ly/44ovzsh.

Sunspot numbers for July 6 through 12, 2023, were 149, 147, 167, 183,
181, 227, and 219, with a mean of 181.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was
157.6, 161.4, 160.5, 179.2, 190.6, 213.5, and 193.3, with a mean of
179.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 18, 8, 4, 5, 8, and 6,
with a mean of 8.6. The middle latitude A index was 11, 16, 6, 4, 6, 8,
and 6, with a mean of 8.1.

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:

- July 12 - July 18 - Wisconsin W1AW/9

- July 12 - July 18 - Utah W1AW/7

- July 12 - July 18 - American Samoa W1AW/KH8

UPCOMING CONTESTS:

- July 13 -- EACW Meeting (CW)

- July 14 -- NCCC RTTY Sprint (digital)

- July 14 -- NCCC Sprint (CW)

- July 15 -- Russian Radio Team Championship (CW, phone)

- July 15 -- Trans-Tasman Low-Bands Challenge (CW, phone, digital)

- July 15 - 16 -- IARU Region 1 70 MHz Contest (CW, phone)

- July 15 - 16 -- North American QSO Party, RTTY (digital)

- July 15 - 16 -- CQ Worldwide VHF Contest (CW, phone, digital)

- July 16 -- RSGB Int'l Low Power Contest (CW )

- July 16 -- CQC Great Colorado Gold Rush (CW)

- July 16 - 17 Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

- July 17 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (FT4)

- July 19 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest (FT8)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- 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

- July 29 | CVARC 2023 Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/cvarc-2023-hamfest-arrl-pennsylvania-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Pennsylvania State Convention, Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania

- July 29 | ARRL West Virginia State Convention and Ham Fest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-west-virginia-state-convention-and-ham-fest-1>,

Sutton, West Virginia

- August 11 - 13 | 2023 ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/2023-arrl-rocky-mountain-division-convention>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

- August 19 - 20 | Huntsville Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/huntsville-hamfest-arrl-alabama-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Alabama State Convention, Huntsville, Alabama

- August 25 - 27 | Northeast HamXposition <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/northeast-hamxposition-arrl-new-england-division-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL New England Division Convention, Marlborough,
Massachusetts

- September 1 - 3 | Shelby Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/shelby-hamfest-arrl-north-carolina-section-convention-2>,

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

- September 10 | ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention and
Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-southern-new-jersey-section-convention-and-hamfest-1>,

Mullica Hill, New Jersey

- September 22 - 23 | HRO Superfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/hro-superfest-arrl-wisconsin-state-convention>, hosting the ARRL Wisconsin State Convention, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

- September 23 | Red River Radio Amateur's 2023 Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/red-river-radio-amateur-s-2023-hamfest-arrl-dakota-division-convention>,

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

- September 23 | Spokane HAMFEST <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/spokane-hamfest-arrl-washington-state-convention-1>,

sponsoring the ARRL Washington State Convention, Spokane Valley,
Washington

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

GETTING IT RIGHT...

In the July 6, 2023, issue of The ARRL Letter, we featured stories
about the June International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative
Council meeting and the IARU HF World Championship. In both stories, we neglected explain what IARU stands for, or what the IARU is.

IARU <http://www.arrl.org/iaru/> is the worldwide federation of
national amateur radio organizations. The IARU membership consists of
more than 160 member-societies in as many countries and separate
territories. ARRL is the United States member-organization and serves
as the secretariat for IARU.

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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Amateur Radio News and Information

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Subscribe to...

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statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and QSO parties.

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