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

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

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

March 14, 2024

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

- Amateur Radio Stands Ready to Support Eclipse Operations
- 2024 ARRL Field Day Theme: Be Radio Active
- Dayton Hamvention® 2024 Award Winners Announced
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

AMATEUR RADIO STANDS READY TO SUPPORT ECLIPSE OPERATIONS

The upcoming April 8, 2024, solar eclipse has many excited about the opportunity to witness the darkness of totality. Spectators from across
the country are traveling to the path of total darkness that will
stretch from South Texas to Northeastern Maine.

Some states are anticipating more than a million travelers for the
event. In the impacted areas, schools will be letting students out
early for the day, and residents are being encouraged to avoid driving
on the day of the event. Emergency response organizations are adding
staff for the event in many areas. The eclipse is expected to directly
impact parts of 14 states as it moves across the country. The travel
impact alone could be substantial.

In preparation for the event, many state emergency management
organizations have called on local hams to provide communication
services via HF nets and locally on VHF/UHF frequencies. There have
been numerous planning meetings, exercises, and preparations across the country. The ARRL Emergency Management department
<https://www.arrl.org/ares> has worked with ARRL Section Emergency
Coordinators and Section Managers in the directly affected areas to
collect the frequencies each Section plans to utilize, and to assist in
any frequency conflicts. Hams across multiple states and ARRL Sections
have been practicing their communications capabilities via Winlink,
SSB, and CW. "It is great to see Sections along the path working
together to be prepared to assist in any emergency, should it occur
during the event," said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh
Johnston, KE5MHV. "Heavy traffic is the major concern, but [anything
can happen] during such a large event," he added.

Johnston went on to say, "There will be several on-air operating events
on the day of the eclipse, but please give some space for any emergency
traffic that may be taking place as well."

Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) is leading the Solar
Eclipse QSO Party <https://hamsci.org/eclipse> which will allow radio
amateurs to participate in propagation research by operating during the
eclipse and submitting their logs. Much of that activity will be
focused on the FT8 frequencies of the non-World Administrative Radio
Conference (WARC) HF bands, but all modes will be welcome during the
event.

2024 ARRL FIELD DAY THEME: BE RADIO ACTIVE

The theme for 2024 ARRL Field Day is "Be Radio Active." The event will
run on June 22 - 23, and it will be one-part contest, one-part
emergency communications exercise, and one-part open house -- and a
great time. The theme encourages radio amateurs to take advantage of
the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which we are nearing. Activity this year is
likely to be extremely high thanks to favorable solar conditions. The
upper HF bands, such as 15 and 10 meters, should benefit most from the
Cycle's peak.

There are resources available already for clubs and individuals to make
their Field Day plans. ARRL will publish more information and tools so
that hams can make the most of the event as it draws near. Amateurs
interested in learning more are invited to join the Field Day Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/groups/arrlfd/> group to connect with others
who are planning for the big weekend.

Find links to all of the resources on the ARRL Field Day web page at www.arrl.org/field-day <http://www.arrl.org/field-day>.

DAYTON HAMVENTION® 2024 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The recipients of the 2024 Hamvention Awards were announced on March 8,
2024.

Special Achievement Award: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

Luscre is from near Akron, Ohio, and he was first licensed in 1981.
He has been a low-power operator, contester, and teacher throughout his
amateur radio career. He received his Amateur Extra-class license in
2000. Luscre is active on HF and VHF/UHF, and he operates on CW, phone,
and digital modes. His low-power contacts now top 115,000. Between
licensing classes, club programs, webinars, hamfests, conferences,
youth and school radio demonstrations, and other in-person and online
talks, Luscre has presented more than 500 sessions since the beginning
of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has presented multiple times for Contest University, the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, and Dayton Hamvention®. He
holds a weekly class, "The Joy of Operating," for the Long Island CW
Club. Anthony serves as the ARRL Ohio Section Youth Coordinator and he
is an officer in the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club. <https://sites.google.com/cfarc.org/cfarc/home>

Technical Achievement Award: Ward Silver, N0AX

For the past 15 years, Silver has been the Lead Editor of The ARRL
Handbook and The ARRL Antenna Book, and he was a primary author of all
three ARRL license manuals and study guides from 2004 until his
retirement in 2023.

As an electrical engineer, he designed microprocessor-based products
and medical devices for 20 years before beginning a second career as a
teacher and writer. Licensed since 1972, he is a co-founder of the
World Radiosport Team Championships and was inducted into the CQ
Contest Hall of Fame in 2015, with numerous top scores and records. He
is President of the Yasme Foundation <https://www.yasme.org/>, and he
is also a board member of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation
(HamSCI <https://hamsci.org/>) collaborative research group. Silver's
primary interests in amateur radio include radiosport, antenna design,
and supporting his local emergency response team.

Club of the Year Award: The Young Ladies' Radio League (YLRL)

The Young Ladies' Radio League <https://ylrl.net/>, Inc. (YLRL), is
proud to be celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. With members
from all over the world, the organization has been involved in
everything from contests, to emergency events, to helping new hams get
licensed and on the air, as well as everything in between.

Established in 1939, YLRL has been found at hamfests and conventions
all over the world. The club is proud to have had a booth at
Hamvention® every year since the 1950s and a YL Forum since the 1960s.
"Women helping women in amateur radio" is a mission statement for this organization, but there are also contest and award opportunities for
the OMs who support their YLs. YLRL has the motto "QRV -- I am ready,"
as they are always ready to assist in the radio community.

Amateur of The Year Award: Edward Engleman, KG8CX

Engleman, KG8CX, is from Menominee, Michigan. He is the co-founder
of the Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team <https://www.qsl.net/k0nnk/yacht/index.html> (YACHT). He was first
licensed in 1991 and received his Amateur Extra-class license in 2000.
He has been a member of ARRL since 1991. Engleman serves his home club,
the Marinette & Menominee Amateur Radio Club, as a volunteer examiner. Engleman's 33-year background as an elementary educator and principal
was instrumental in developing the talents he now uses in his work with
young amateurs.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® and Hamvention® have
announced that Hamvention will host the 2024 ARRL National Convention
on May 17, 18, and 19 at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio.
ARRL has an exciting lineup of forums and presentations for the ARRL
National Convention. For information about the 2024 ARRL National
Convention, go to www.arrl.org/expo <http://www.arrl.org/expo>. For
tickets to Hamvention and further information, head to
www.hamvention.org <http://www.hamvention.org/>.

You can read more about the 2024 Hamvention award winners and the 2024
ARRL National Convention at ARRL.org. <https://www.arrl.org/>

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>.

"Ham Radio Club Revives Alternative Communication <https://marshallparthenon.com/32938/campus-life/ham-radio-club-revives-alternative-communication/>"

/ The Parthenon (West Virginia) March 2, 2024 -- Thundering Herd
Amateur Radio Club.

"Ham Radio Enthusiasts Dial In To 2024 Crossroads Hamfest & Radio Swap
- Search News (bing.com) <https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Ham+Radio+Enthusiasts+Dial+In+To+2024+Crossroads+Hamfest+%26+Radio+Swap&qpvt=Ham+radio+enthusiasts+dial+in+to+2024+Crossroads+Hamfest+%26+Radio+Swap&FORM=EWRE>"

/ WWMT (Michigan) March 10, 2024 -- The Southern Michigan Amateur Radio
Society is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Peoria Radio Club hosts Storm Spotter Training <https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/peoria-radio-club-hosts-storm-spotter-training/>"

/ WMBD (Illinois) March 12, 2024 -- The Peoria Area Amateur Radio Club
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/>

Contribute to Science While You Operate

The Solar Eclipse QSO Party (or SEQP), is an on-air event coming up on
April 8, the same day as the next total solar eclipse. The SEQP is a
great opportunity for hams to contribute data to studies of Earth's
ionosphere, the part of our atmosphere that makes radio communications possible, and all you have to do is get on the air and operate as you
normally would. The lead organizer of Ham Radio Science Citizen
Investigation (HamSCI), Dr. Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, joins us in this
episode to explain how to get involved.

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 and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry,
iTunes, and Apple Podcasts -- On the Air
<https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio News <https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The 2024 Baker to Vegas <https://bakervegas.net/> (B2V) race is set to
run on March 23 and 24. The B2V race features 120 miles of pavement, 20
stages, and more than 10,000 runners. Family members and other guests
are invited to support the runners, and support staff will also be
present for this annual event. The race is a unique law enforcement
footrace starting in Baker, California, and ending in Las Vegas,
Nevada. Law enforcement officers from around the globe compete in B2V
every spring for the chance to win the coveted cup trophy. Special
event station N6A will be on the air during the race on March 23 - 24,
from 1600Z to 0000Z on 7.225 and 14.225 MHz. For those who work the
station, a QSL card will be available by contacting Glenn Arrant,
N6JAI, at 14723 Puma Trail in Valley Center, California, 92082.

IN BRIEF...

The 50th anniversary of the Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club (GBARC) in
Annan, Ontario, Canada, continues into 2024. The club's first meeting
was October 18, 1973, and it was attended by 14 amateur radio
operators, three Citizens Band (CB) operators, and one former amateur
operator. Today, there are 30 club members. Activities and celebrations
will continue with a special event commemoration on March 23, 2024,
using the call sign VC3GB. The station will be active from 12:00 PM to
8:00 PM EDT on 80, 40, and 20 meters, on SSB and CW. There will be two
stations operating for the event, and 80 meters may not be available
until after 5:00 PM EDT. For more information and the history of the
club, contact GBARC at Canada Post G.B.A.R.C 142 Paradise Bay, Annan,
Ontario N0H 1B0.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP0011:

This solar disk image was taken on March 14, 2024. [Photo courtesy of
NASA SDO/HMI]

Six new sunspot groups appeared over the past reporting week of
March 7 - 13.

One emerged on March 7, two more appeared on March 12, and three more
appeared on March 13.

Solar activity was down. The average daily sunspot number went from
106.7 to 82.3, and the solar flux went from 147.4 to 130.4.

Geomagnetic indicators were somewhat quieter, with the average daily
planetary A index dropping from 10 to 8.9, and the middle latitude A
index from 8 to 7.

The outlook for the next few weeks shows continued low numbers, with
predicted solar flux at 130 on March 14; 135 on March 15 - 17; 140,
145, and 150 on March 18 - 20; 135 on March 21 - 23; 132, 130, 132, and
138 on March 24 - 27; 140 on March 28 - 29; 142, 140, 135, 130, and 128
on March 30 - April 3, and 125 on April 4 - 8.

Predicted planetary A index is 10, 12, 10, and 8 March 14 - 17; 5 on
March 18 - 27; 10 and 8 on March 28 - 29; 5 on March 30 through April
2, and 12 on April 3 - 5.

Read a NASA article about long-lasting radio bursts at
https://bit.ly/48VrH3F.

Watch a solar storm forecast from Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, at https://youtu.be/2nWLAYL01FA.

Sunspot numbers for March 7 through 13, 2024, were 99, 91, 99, 77, 56,
68, and 86, with a mean of 82.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 136.6,
129, 134.5, 127, 126.7, 130.5, and 128.3, with a mean of 130.4.
Estimated planetary A indices were 12, 11, 13, 7, 4, 6, and 9, with a
mean of 8.9. Middle latitude A index was 8, 9, 11, 6, 4, 4, and 7, with
a mean of 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

- March 16 -- PODXS 070 Club St Patrick's Day Contest (digital)

- March 16 - 18 -- BARTG HF RTTY Contest (digital)

- March 16 - 17 -- Russian DX Contest (CW, phone)

- March 16 - 17 -- F9AA Cup SSB (phone)

- March 16 - 17 -- Africa All Mode Int'l DX Contest (CW, phone,
digital)

- March 16 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)

- March 16 - 17-- 2359 All Virginia QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

- March 17 -- UBA Spring Contest SSB (phone)

- March 17 - 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

- March 18 -- Bucharest Digital Contest (FT4)

- March 18 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (FT4)

- March 21 - 22 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

- March 20 - 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

- March 21 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- March 16 | 49th Annual Stuart Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/49th-annual-stuart-hamfest-arrl-southern-florida-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Stuart, Florida

- March 16 | St. Patrick's Day Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/st-patrick-s-day-hamfest-arrl-west-texas-section-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas

- April 6 | Raleigh Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/raleigh-hamfest-arrl-roanoke-division-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina

- April 12 - 13 | Green Country Hamfest 2024 <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/green-country-hamfest-2024-arrl-oklahoma-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma

- April 20 | Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delmarva-amateur-radio-and-electronics-expo-arrl-delaware-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware

- May 11 | ARRL Nebraska State Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-nebraska-state-convention-3>,
Lincoln, Nebraska

- May 17 - 19 | Dayton Hamvention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/dayton-hamvention-arrl-national-convention>, hosting the ARRL National Convention, Xenia, Ohio

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>

ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for
Amateur Radio News and Information

- Join ARRL or Renew Today! <https://www.arrl.org/join> No other
organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio.
Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help
you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to
digital editions of all four ARRL magazines
<https://www.arrl.org/magazines>: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

- Listen to ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news>,
available every Friday.

- The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly
to the Blind-hams Groups.io <https://groups.io/g/blind-hams> email
group. The group is dedicated to discussions about amateur radio as it
concerns blind hams, plus related topics including ham radio use of
adaptive technology.

- NCJ -- National Contest Journal <http://www.ncjweb.com/>. Published bimonthly, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints,
statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and QSO parties.

- QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters
<http://www.arrl.org/qex>. Published bimonthly, features technical
articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest
to radio amateurs and communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...

- Subscribe <https://home.arrl.org/action/My-Account/Opt-In-Out> to the
ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news),
the ARRL Contest Update (biweekly contest newsletter), Division and
Section news alerts, and much more!

- Find ARRL on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/ARRL.org/>! Follow us
on Threads <https://www.threads.net/arrlhq>, X
<https://twitter.com/arrl>, and Instagram
<https://www.instagram.com/arrlhq>

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 51 times each year. ARRL
members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member
Data Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out <https://home.arrl.org/action/My-Account/Opt-In-Out>.

Copyright (c) 2024 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated.
Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is
permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution.
All other purposes require written permission.

<http://www.arrl.org/>

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)