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

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

April 25, 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

- T-Minus 3 Three Weeks: 2024 ARRL National Convention at Hamvention®
- Colorado Students Contact the International Space Station
- Amateur Radio Contact in Space and on the Ground
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

T-MINUS 3 THREE WEEKS: 2024 ARRL NATIONAL CONVENTION AT HAMVENTION®

The 2024 ARRL National Convention is just 3 weeks away, on May 17 --
19, 2024. The event is being hosted by Dayton Hamvention in Xenia,
Ohio.

ARRL has a significant amount of technical content planned for the
convention program. (see the full rundown at www.arrl.org/expo <http://www.arrl.org/expo>). There are also presentations planned to
challenge and inspire attendees throughout each step of a radio
amateur's journey in the world of wireless communication technology.

Calling All Technicians

"Beyond Repeaters: See How Far Your Tech License Will Take You" will be
an exciting presentation from ARRL Digital RF Engineer John McAuliffe,
KD2ZWN, who will be at the convention representing the ARRL Laboratory.
Geared for Technician class hams, attendees will explore all that can
be done within Technician class privileges. (Hint: it's a lot!)

McAuliffe will lead an engaging discussion that will focus on three
main areas: UHF use and potential projects and activities that can be
enjoyed beyond 70 centimeters; 10-meter digital modes, satellite, and long-range communications; and HF CW privileges including a short guide
on how to build your own CW encoder/decoder.

Build Your Ham Community

Amateur radio clubs can be a driving force for getting people licensed
and keeping them engaged. In "Tips for Successful Radio Clubs", ARRL
Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY, will share some of the best practices that can be learned from high performing ARRL Affiliated
Clubs.

This forum will include a discussion of ideas and opportunities for
radio clubs that are seeking growth and greater member participation.
Topics will include recruitment, licensing, training, engagement, and leadership development.

These forums are part of the 2024 ARRL National Convention track. Plan
your must-see presentations using the ARRL Events app. Find the app in
your devices' app store or at this link <https://www.tripbuildermedia.com/apps/arrl>.

You can learn more about Hamvention and buy tickets at
www.hamvention.org <http://www.hamvention.org>.

COLORADO STUDENTS CONTACT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

In Colorado Springs, Colorado, students at the Thrive Home School
Academy <https://www.thrivehsa.org/> (THSA), along with students at
Stratton Meadows Elementary (SME), were able to have a space chat with
NASA astronaut and mission specialist Jeanette "Jo" Epps, KF5QNU, on
board the International Space Station (ISS) on April 22, 2024. At the
time of the contact Epps, a member of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission, was on
her 47th day of the 180-day mission.

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
<https://ariss-usa.org/> (ARISS) event was organized with equipment
provided by ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio <http://www.arrl.org/>® and NASA for science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics (STEM) education and outreach purposes. The Pikes Peak
Radio Amateur Association <https://ppraa.org/> (PPRAA) helped with
technical coordination and Harrison School District 2 provided a link
to livestream the event.

Students were able to ask questions ranging from

"Do things smell or taste differently in space?" to "What is your
favorite thing you have seen in space?"

THSA opened in 2009 and serves homeschooled students with a
1-day-per-week school day program that is highly interactive and
experiential and engages students in hands-on activities.

Amateur radio is used extensively in their classrooms to provide
hands-on STEM learning and prepare students for future careers.

ARRL prepares teachers to engage students with amateur radio through
the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology
<http://www.arrl.org/ti>. ARRL TI graduate Dara Gardner, KF0NIX, is a
teacher who helped organize this contact.

AMATEUR RADIO CONTACT IN SPACE AND ON THE GROUND

On April 22, 2024, students at Pleasant Knoll Middle School in Fort
Mill, South Carolina, enjoyed a full day of learning all about amateur
radio from the Earth to the stars. In all, nearly 2,000 students
learned how to operate VHF, UHF, and HF amateur radios in four sessions throughout the day, as well as listened, watched, and participated in a
contact with the International Space Station (ISS), coordinated by the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station <https://www.amsat.org/amateur-radio-on-the-iss/> (ARISS) program.

Nine volunteers from the York County Amateur Radio Society <https://www.ycars.org/> (YCARS)

Pleasant Knoll Middle School students and science teacher Allison
Killowitz during a "space chat" with astronaut Matthew Dominick,
KC0TOR, aboard the International Space Station. [Photo courtesy of
Section Manager of the ARRL South Carolina Section John P. Gendron,
NJ4Z.

helped coordinate the event and ARISS contact. Thirteen students,
along with eighth grade science teacher Allison Killowitz, asked
astronaut Matthew Dominick, KC0TOR, 23 questions during their 10-minute contact. Their questions ranged from how an astronaut uses the bathroom
on the ISS to what astronauts eat. Dominick is also a Navy test pilot,
and he's on the ISS as part of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission.

Four members of the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation <https://www.amsat.org/amateur-radio-on-the-iss/>, known as AMSAT,
volunteered to help with equipment. They provided the school with a communication trailer and van with 52-foot masts, equipped with
high-gain Yagi and vertical antennas, an elevation and azimuthal
rotator, and multiple computers and IC-9700 radios. ARRL South Carolina
Section Traffic Manager Dean French, N4AJK, helped coordinate and
produce a livestream of the event to YouTube channels for the ARRL
South Carolina Section, ARISS, YCARS, and YouTuber Steve McGrane, KM9G. Currently, there are 2,000 views between all four YouTube channels. The
event was also covered by two local television channels.

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.

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>.

"Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club site agreement ends, and an urgent
search for a new location is underway <https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2024/04/18/santa-barbara-amateur-radio-club-site-agreement-ends-and-an-urgent-search-for-a-new-location-is-underway/>"

/ KEYT-TV (California) April 18, 2024 -- The Santa Barbara Amateur
Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"South Carolina middle school makes contact with International Space
Station <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/south-carolina-middle-school-makes-contact-with-international-space-station/ar-AA1nt71D>"

/ WCNC -TV (North Carolina) April 23, 2024 -- The York County Amateur
Radio Society 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/>

Served Agencies: Who They Are and How We Serve Them

We often hear about served agencies when hams talk about disaster
response and emergency communications. ARRL Director of Emergency
Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, joins the podcast this month to
discuss exactly what and who served agencies are, and where the Amateur
Radio Service fits into their responses.

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

2024 ARRL Field Day gear is now shipping! ARRL Field Day <https://www.arrl.org/field-day> is June 22-23. Get ready for amateur
radio's largest on-air operating event with official 2024 ARRL Field
Day merchandise <http://www.arrl.org/shop/fieldday>, now available.
T-shirts, hats, mugs, pins, patches, and more are a great way to show
off your involvement in this annual event. This year's design features
the theme "Be Radio Active." The back of the t-shirt includes a
check-off list of ARRL and RAC Sections - a fun way to keep track of
your Field Day contacts.

Encourage club members, family, friends, and prospective hams to take
part using ARRL Field Day with recruitment posters <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2023/ARRL_FD23_Poster.pdf>
and "Get on the Air" (GOTA) pins <https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/115014>
for newcomers. Get your 2024 ARRL Field Day supplies from the ARRL
online store <http://www.arrl.org/shop/fieldday> or by calling
1-888-277-5289 toll-free in the US, Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 7
PM and Friday 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. Outside the US, call (860)
594-0200. The complete 2024 ARRL Field Day <http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2023/2023%20Field%20Day%20Packet%20v1.pdf>

packet is online. ARRL encourages participants to register their Field
Day operations using the Field Day Site Locator <http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator>.

The National Voice of America (VOA) Museum of Broadcasting <https://voamuseum.org/> in West Chester, Ohio, will be open with
special hours during Dayon Hamvention weekend from May 16 - 19, 2024.

The museum is about an hour away from the Greene County Fairgrounds
in Xenia. Museum Executive Director Jack Dominic said they will be open
May 16 and 17 from 1:00 - 9:00 PM, May 18 from 12:00 - 9:00 PM, and May
19 from 12:00 - 5:00 PM. Admission is $10. A map from the Hamvention to
the museum, as well as additional information is available here <https://voamuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/flyer-handout-2024.pdf>. The
West Chester Amateur Radio Association's <https://wc8voa.org/> (WCARA),
WC8VOA, ham shack is located in the museum building and includes
exhibits like a collection of R. L. Drake radios and the recently
restored WLWO (W8XAL) transmitter.

The Big Bear Mini Hamcation will take place on April 26 - 28, 2024, at
The Lodge at Big Bear Lake in Southern California. The event will focus
on emergency communications, overcoming mic fright, and getting outside
to play radio. Tech Talk breakout sessions will also be held for more
advanced ham radio operators. Gordon West, WB6NOA, author of the
Amateur Radio License Preparation books and related resources, will
present the opening remarks, and ARRL Orange Section Manager and
Section Emergency Coordinator Bob Turner, W6RHK, will welcome
attendees. The Young Ladies Radio League will hold a meet and greet,
and there will be opportunities for POTA and SOTA operations and a
chance to participate in an off-road event, called "I am Lost." Outside
of the lodge there will be a display of various antennas and a
demonstration of amateur television. Other anticipated sessions include
topics on how to operate during special events in order to prepare for emergency communications and support your community; a discussion of
portable and mobile antennas; a lesson on making DX contacts, and an introduction to contesting. For more information, visit Big Bear Mini
Hamcation - April 26 - 28, 2024 <https://bigbearminihamcation.com/>.

IN BRIEF...

Youth on the Air (YOTA) will be accepting in-person donations of
eclipse glasses. Recycled glasses will be sent home with Argentinian
campers attending the 2024 YOTA Summer Camp in the Americas, so that
amateur radio operators and youth can safely watch the Annular Solar
Eclipse <https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-october-2> in
October. Donations are only being accepted in person at the Dayton
Hamvention YOTA Booth #4304 from May 17 - 19 and at the YOTA Summer
Camp in the Americas in Halifax, Novia Scotia, Canada, from July 7 -
12. Applications for the 2024 Youth on the Air Camp will be accepted
until May 30. The camp will take place from July 7 - 12 at Mount Saint
Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. First-time
attendees are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information and to
apply, visit https://youthontheair.org/halifax2024.

The National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, will
activate WW1USA from Friday, May 24 until Monday, May 27, 2024. Amateur
radio operators are invited to participate in this special event and
contact stations around the world. Amateurs are also welcome to serve
as guest operators of WW1USA at any time and receive a special amateur
radio operator certificate. QSL with WW1USA will be available by mail
with a SASE or other postage provided, or via an eQSL. After the event, information will be provided regarding how to request a commemorative certificate. WW1USA operation dates often coincide with other events
held at the museum and memorial, highlighting lessons from the first
worldwide war. The station helps to raise awareness of the Great War
and how it continues to affect the world today. Learn more about the
National WW1 Museum and Memorial at WW1USA Amateur Radio Station (May
2024) | National WWI Museum and Memorial (theworldwar.org) . <https://www.theworldwar.org/events/ww1usa-amateur-radio-station-may-2024>

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP0017:

This solar disk image was taken on April 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of
NASA SDO/HMI]

After a big jump in solar activity, conditions continued to improve throughout the past week.

Twelve new sunspot groups emerged: two on April 18, three on April 19,
five on April 21, one on April 22, and one on April 24.

The average daily sunspot number jumped from 142.7 to 265.9, and the
average daily solar flux rose from 177.4 to 216.

The predicted solar flux over the next month shows values peaking at
215 during May 15 and 16, and again on May 19 and 20.

We see solar flux at 195, 185, 170, 160, and 140 on April 25 - 29; 135,
135, and 130 on April 30 through May 2; 160 on May 3 - 6; 165, 170,
180, 185, 190, 195, 200, and 210 on May 7 - 14; 215 on May 15 - 16; 212
on May 17 - 18; 215 on May 19 - 20, and 200 and 190 on May 21 - 22.

The predicted planetary A index is 20, 18, 15, 12, 10, and 8 on April
25 - 30; 10 on May 1 - 3; 5 on May 4; 8 on May 5 - 7; 5 on May 8 - 18,
and 10, 15, 10, and 12 on May 19 - 22.

Watch this new report from Space Weather Woman Dr. Tamitha Skov,
WX6SWW: https://youtu.be/MIB_OnxhpLk.

Sunspot numbers for April 18 - 24, 2024, were 247, 243, 240, 283, 283,
282, and 283, with a mean of 265.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 226.9,
213.4, 209.5, 217.1, 226.8, 219.1, and 199.1, with a mean of 216.
Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 41, 12, 19, 9, 8, and 4, with a
mean of 13.9. The middle latitude A index was 5, 21, 10, 14, 10, 9, and
4, with a mean of 10.4.

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

- April 25 -- RSGB 80m Club Championship (digital)

- April 27 - 28 -- 10-10 Int'l Spring Contest (digital)

- April 27 - 28 -- SP DX RTTY Contest (digital)

- April 27 - 28 -- UK/EI DX Contest (CW)

- April 27 - 28 -- Florida QSO Party (CW, phone)

- April 28 -- UA1DZ Memorial Cup (CW, phone)

- April 28 -- BARTG Sprint 75 (digital)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- 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

- May 31 - June 2 | SEA-PAC <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/sea-pac-arrl-northwestern-division-convention-2>,

hosting the ARRL Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, Oregon

- June 1 | Atlanta Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/atlanta-hamfest-arrl-georgia-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Georgia Section Convention, Marietta, Georgia

- June 9 | BreezeShooters Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/breezeshooters-hamfest-arrl-western-pennsylvania-section-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Western Pennsylvania Section Convention, Butler,
Pennsylvania

- June 15 | ARRL Maine State Convention & Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/arrl-maine-state-convention-hamfest>,
Augusta, Maine

- June 15 | Knoxville Hamfest and Electronics Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/knoxville-hamfest-and-electronics-convention-arrl-delta-division-convention>,

sponsoring the ARRL Delta Division Convention, Knoxville, Tennessee

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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Amateur Radio News and Information

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