The ARRL Letter for September 13, 2018

[ARRL Web site]

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

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

September 13, 2018

Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <ww...@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

- ARRL Headquarters Emergency Response Team Activates for Florence
- IARU Administrative Council Meeting Focuses on WRC-19 Preparation
- The Doctor Will See You Now!
- US ARDF Team Tops its Own World Championships Medal Count in Korea
- Colorado Club Supports Make-A-Wish Foundation Trailblaze Challenge
- Ducie Island VP6D DXpedition, Other Pacific Operations on Target
- Two 40-Meter Broadcast Intruders Gone, IARU Region 1 Monitoring
System Reports
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

==> ARRL HEADQUARTERS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM ACTIVATES FOR FLORENCE

The ARRL Headquarters Emergency Response Team activated on September
12, as what the National Hurricane Center (NHC
<http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/>) is calling "dangerous Hurricane Florence"
continued to close in on the southeastern US coast, where it's
"expected to bring life-threatening storm surge and rainfall to
portions of the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic states."

"Watch out, America. Hurricane Florence is so enormous, we could only
capture her with a super wide-angle lens from the Space Station, 400
kilometers directly above the eye," Astronaut Alexander Gerst, KF5ONO,
tweeted. "Get prepared on the East Coast. This is a no-kidding
nightmare coming for you!"

ARRL shipped seven Ham Aid <http://www.arrl.org/ham-aid> kits to
South Carolina by way of Georgia on September 11 to assist with
emergency preparedness needs in advance of Hurricane Florence. These
kits are the same ones that ARRL volunteers took to Puerto Rico a year
ago to assist with disaster communications following Hurricane Maria.
ARRL is staging HF and VHF/UHF equipment in the Maryland/Virginia area
for deployment locally or farther down the coast.

"South Carolina ARES is fully activated," ARRL South Carolina Section
Emergency Coordinator Billy Irwin, K9OH, told ARRL, adding that he's
been coordinating regularly with the state Emergency Management
Division. "We have operators serving 12-hour shifts at the SC Emergency
Management Division and will move to 24-hour coverage on Thursday. Two
operators have been deployed to Berkeley County to assist with shelter
operations at the request of the Emergency Coordinator there." Irwin
said information about frequencies <http://www.ares-sc.org/> in use is
in the Tactical Guide on the South Carolina ARES website.

"We are literally modifying plans on the fly to meet the needs of the
mission," Irwin added. "Several ARRL Sections have offered assistance."

W1AW Suspending Bulletin and Code Practice on September 14

As part of the ongoing communication efforts with Hurricane Florence,
Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will suspend its regular
bulletin and code practice transmissions on Friday, September 14. The
station will resume its normal operating schedule on Monday, September
17. Radio amateurs are reminded to avoid the various Hurricane Watch
Net (HWN <http://www.hwn.org>) and SATERN <http://www.satern.org>
frequencies, as well as any state and regional emergency nets, to help
facilitate communications that may be necessary during the Hurricane
Florence response.

Hurricane Watch Net, WX4NHC

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN <http://www.hwn.org/>) has been closely
monitoring three systems -- Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storm Isaac,
and Hurricane Helene. The net activated on September 13, at 1300 UTC on
both its 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz frequencies and will remain active
around the clock, as needed.

"Hurricane Florence is drawing a lot of concern for its size and
strength, but more so for the potential flooding," Assistant HWN
Manager Stan Broadway, N8BHL, said.

WX4NHC <http://w4ehw.fiu.edu/> at the National Hurricane Center will
remain active through Friday, September 14, operating cooperatively
with the HWN as net stations funnel "ground-truth" reports to the
Center. WX4NHC will monitor the HWN and the VoIP Hurricane Net (VoIPWX
<http://voipwx.net/>) on EchoLink Conference WX-Talk, node 7203 or IRLP
9219.

As of 1800 UTC on September 13, the NHC said Florence was some 110
miles east-southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina, and about 270 miles
east of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of
105 MPH, moving to the northwest at 10 MPH.

SATERN

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Network (SATERN
<http://www.satern.org/>) activated for Hurricane Florence from 1700
through 2100 UTC on Thursday, September 13, on 14.265 MHz, with a
backup frequency of 14.312 MHz. It will reactivate on Friday and
Saturday at about 1600 UTC until propagation no longer supports it or
the Net Manager closes the net for the day. A SATERN digital net will
open on 14.065 MHz on the same schedule. The SATERN Souther Territory
SSB Net will be open from 1300 UTC until 1700 UTC on 7.265 MHz on
September 13 - 15.

SATERN may extend its activation depending on reports of major damage,
especially to the communications infrastructure; continued significant
emergency, priority, or health-and-welfare traffic, as well as reports
of an increased need for auxiliary communication. The net's primary
mission will be the receipt and delivery of outbound health-and-welfare
messages from affected areas. The Salvation Army is beginning to stage
personnel and equipment in major deployments to North Carolina and
Virginia.

SHARES

The Department of Homeland Security's SHARES will maintain watch on its
Northeast Region (FEMA Regions 1, 2, and 3) and Southeast Region (FEMA
Region 4) nets starting at 2100 UTC on Thursday, September 13, and on
its National Net channels starting at 1200 UTC on Friday, September 14.

Tropical Storm Olivia

The ARRL Pacific Section has been preparing for activation to support a
response to Tropical Storm Olivia. SKYWARN volunteers in Hawaii are
supporting the National Weather Service for Olivia. ARRL deployed seven
Ham Aid HF kits to Hawaii for Hurricane Lane, and these will remain in
Hawaii through the remainder of the hurricane season. Amateur Radio
operators on Guam are active supporting response to the Super Typhoon
Mangkhut, which is expected to strike the Philippines.

AO-92 to Image Hurricane Florence

AMSAT-NA has announced plans for AO-92 (Fox-1D) to attempt to image
Hurricane Florence. AMSAT Vice-President of Operations, Drew
Glasbrenner, KO4MA, said this week that plans call for using the camera
on AO-92 to try imaging Hurricane Florence during North American east
coast passes on September 13 and 14.

AO-92 will not be in U/V FM voice transponder operation during these
passes, and ground stations should not attempt to access AO-92 during
this period.

The high-speed image data will be transmitted on a downlink frequency
of 145.880 MHz and can be captured, decoded, and uploaded to the Fox-1
data warehouse using FoxTelem version 1.06 software.

==> IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING FOCUSES ON WRC-19 PREPARATION

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU <http://www.iaru.org/>)
Administrative Council (AC) held its annual face-to-face meeting
September 8 - 9 in Seoul, Korea, immediately prior to the IARU Region 3
<http://www.iaru.org/region-3.html> Conference
<http://www.iarur3conf2018.org/>. The AC is responsible for the policy
and management of the IARU and consists of the three IARU international
officers and two representatives from each of the three IARU regional
organizations.

With International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World
Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) now little more than a year
away, the efforts of two dozen IARU volunteers to defend Amateur
Radio's frequency allocations against commercial pressures and to seek
worldwide harmonization of the 50 - 54 MHz band are reaching a critical
stage. Coordination of the IARU team is ongoing during the run-up to
the ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting in Geneva next February and
WRC-19 itself in October and November. High on the list of concerns is
what IARU called "the potential for crippling levels of interference to
radiocommunications from high-power wireless power transfer (WPT) for
electric vehicles."

Given these challenges, the AC reviewed its strategic plan to develop
support for amateur spectrum allocations and approved the action plan
for the rest of 2018 and 2019. Delegates reviewed and adopted the IARU
2019 - 2021 budget, which depends upon anticipated financial
contributions from the IARU International Secretariat and the three
regional organizations. The AC agreed to maintain its modest annual
financial support of the Beacon Project.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, reported consensus on nominating
incumbent President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, and Vice President Ole Garpestad,
LA2RR, for additional terms. These nominations will be submitted to the
IARU member-societies for ratification.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA.

The growth of Amateur Radio -- and especially how to attract young
people -- is a common concern of IARU member-societies. The AC will
endeavor to identify barriers to growth that the IARU can assist
member-societies in addressing and will encourage member-societies to
share successful growth strategies.

The IARU policy on QSL bureaus has been under review for several years
in light of escalating expenses and the problem of unwanted and
undeliverable QSL cards as an environmental concern. Possible policy
amendments are being developed for consideration.

Attending the meeting were IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Vice
President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR; and Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, along
with regional representatives Don Beattie, G3BJ; Hans Blondeel
Timmerman, PB2T; Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AM; Ramón Santoyo, XE1KK; Gopal
Madhavan, VU2GMN, and Peter Young, VK3MV. Observers included regional
executive committee members Jay Bellows, K0QB; Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP,
and Don Wallace, ZL2TLL.

President Roderick and Bellows are also on hand for the 17th
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU <http://www.iaru.org/>) Region
3 <http://www.iaru.org/region-3.html> Conference
<http://www.iarur3conf2018.org/>, hosted by the Korean Amateur Radio
League (KARL <https://www.karl.or.kr/eng/>), which continues until
September 14 in Seoul. ARRL is representing the interests of
FCC-licensed radio amateurs in Region 3 living in various Pacific
territories, including Guam and American Samoa.

At the IARU Region 3 Conference in Seoul, Korea, ARRL President Rick
Roderick, K5UR, presents IARU Region 3 Chairman Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN
(right), and Region 3 Secretary Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP (left), with a
plaque recognizing and congratulating IARU Region 3 on its 50th
anniversary. [Jay Bellows, K0QB, photo]

KARL reported that to promote the hobby, an entry-level license
(ELL) has been introduced as the fourth Amateur Radio license class in
Korea. Obtaining this license requires participating in 8 hours of
tutoring beginners in Amateur Radio. License holders will be allowed to
operate on VHF/UHF bands with up to 10 W output.

CRAC reported that China's Amateur Radio population is expanding
steadily, with slightly more than 130,100 licensees and an estimated
80,000 active station licenses. The Chinese Class C license, held by
only 626 individuals, is the highest license in China, permitting 1 kW
on HF and 25 W above 30 MHz.

The conference report "Amateur Radio for Kids" by Julie Gonzales,
VK3FOWL, and Joe Gonzales, VK3YSP, suggested that engaging youngsters
at an early age in radio and electronics should be about more than
recruiting or licensing.

Region 3 conference documents
<http://iaru-r3.org/the-17th-triennial-conference-of-the-iaru-region-3-documents/>

are available on the IARU Region 3 website.

==> THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW!

"Tools for the Amateur Station" is the topic of the new (September 13)
episode of the "ARRL The Doctor is In <http://www.arrl.org/doctor>"
podcast. Listen...and learn!

Sponsored by DX Engineering <http://www.dxengineering.com/>, "ARRL The
Doctor is In" is an informative discussion of all things technical.
Listen on your computer, tablet, or smartphone -- whenever and wherever
you like!

Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and
the Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of
technical topics. You can also email your questions to doc...@arrl.org,
and the Doctor may answer them in a future podcast.

Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/arrl-the-doctor-is-in/id1096749595?mt=2>,

or by using your iPhone or iPad podcast app (just search for "ARRL The
Doctor is In"). You can also listen online at Blubrry
<https://www.blubrry.com/arrl_the_doctor_is_in/>, or at Stitcher
<https://www.stitcher.com/> (free registration required, or browse the
site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or
Android devices. If you've never listened to a podcast before, download
our beginner's guide <http://www.arrl.org/doctor>.

==> US ARDF TEAM TOPS ITS OWN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MEDAL COUNT IN KOREA

Team USA took home 10 medals from the just-concluded 2018 Amateur Radio
Direction Finding (ARDF) World Championships <http://www.ardf2018.kr/>,
the highest medal count since the US team began participating in the
international event 20 years ago. The 19th World ARDF Championships
took place September 2 - 8 near the resort city of Sokcho, South Korea.
Hidden transmitters were scattered in forests encompassing 1,000 acres
or more. The US has been represented at every ARDF World Championships
event since 1988, with competitions taking place every 2 years.

On September 4, the first day of competition, the US won its first
medal of this year as Ruth Bromer, WB4QZG, captured individual 3rd
place in the W60 category in the 80-meter foxoring
<http://www.homingin.com/sprints.html#foxoring> competition. The next
day, the team's M50 competitors -- Vadim Afonkin, KB1RLI; Nicolai
Mejevoi, and Bill Wright, WB6CMD -- won bronze medals in the classic
2-meter team competition. That same day, the team of Ken Harker, WM5R
-- the Team USA Captain and the new International Amateur Radio Union
(IARU) Region 2 ARDF Coordinator -- and Joe Burkhead won bronze in the
M40 category on 80 meters. Team awards are based on the aggregate
scores of individual team members, who are not permitted to assist one
another on the courses.

Vadim Afonkin, KB1RLI, receives his gold medal at the 19th World ARDF
Championships in Korea.

Afonkin took an individual gold medal for his 1st-place finish on 80
meters in the M50 category. In the same event, the M50 category team of
Afonkin, Mejevoi, and Wright came away with bronze medals in the
80-meter team competition.

This marked the second time that ARDF Team USA had competed in Korea.
Before traveling to the competition, a weekend training camp
<http://www.homingin.com/joemoell/ardfinla.html> for Team USA members
and other ARDF enthusiasts took place August 10 - 12 at Mt. Pinos in
the Los Padres National Forest of California.

Complete results
<https://ardf.darc.de/contest/18090407/180904FO-erg.htm> of the 2018
ARDF World Championships are posted on the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
website. For more information on ARDF, visit the Homing In
<http://www.homingin.com/> website of US/ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe
Moell, K0OV. Follow ARDF Team USA
<https://www.facebook.com/ardfteamusa/> on Facebook.

==> COLORADO CLUB SUPPORTS MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION TRAILBLAZE CHALLENGE

The Park County Radio Club (PCRC <https://www.ab0pc.org/>) in Colorado
(AB0PC) provided communication assistance for the first Colorado
Make-A-Wish Trailblaze Challenge fundraiser hike on August 11. The hike
took place on Segments 2 and 3 of the Colorado Trail, totaling 23.7
miles.

The elevation at the start of the Challenge hike was 6,112 feet,
reaching 8,290 feet at the highest point for a total elevation gain of
2,178 feet from start to finish. The average grade along the trail is
about 5%, but it exceeds 18% at some spots. Due to the remote location,
terrain, and forest cover, cellular coverage is almost nonexistent.
Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers were equipped with FRS radios that
only provided short-range local communications.

PCRC members provided communication between the start, the five aid
stations, and the finish. The PCRC VHF repeater near Bailey, Colorado,
provided coverage along the entire trail. A net control station was
established to monitor all trail communications and, if necessary, to
contact local emergency services. Fortunately, the only medical needs
throughout the entire day were caring for a few blisters.

==> DUCIE ISLAND VP6D DXPEDITION, OTHER PACIFIC OPERATIONS ON TARGET

The VP6D Ducie Island DXpedition is set to get under way October 20 and
continue until November 3. According to Jacky Calvo, ZL3CW, the
equipment, already en route, has been loaded
<https://www.facebook.com/1470984209616170/videos/1825921777493661>
aboard the M/V Braveheart in New Zealand. The Braveheart sets sail for
Tahiti in late September, and the team of operators will catch up with
the gear in Tahiti to begin their voyage to Ducie Island.

Elsewhere, from September 29 until October 6, Martin Wennergren, A65DC,
and friends will operate from Christmas Island as VK9XT
<http://vk9xt.qsodirector.com/>. They plan to be on 160 through 10
meters, excluding 60 meters, kicking things off with the CQ World Wide
RTTY Contest for the first 48 hours, with SSB and CW on non-contest
bands, then CW, SSB, and RTTY on HF, using FT8 "only when no other
operation is happening or on bands that are opening or closing,"
they've said. VK9XT logs will go to LoTW and Club Log.

Stan Vatev, LZ1GC, is heading to Samoa and will be on the air by
September 28 as 5W0GC. He'll meet other operators for the YJ0GC
operation from Vanuatu, set to begin on October 15. Logs will be
uploaded to LoTW. HF operation will concentrate on 160 and 80 meters.
More details <http://www.c21gc.com/> are on the 5W0GC/YJ0GC website. --
Thanks to The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>

==> TWO 40-METER BROADCAST INTRUDERS GONE, IARU REGION 1 MONITORING
SYSTEM REPORTS

The IARU Region 1 Monitoring System (IARUMS
<http://www.iarums-r1.org/>) reports that two long-time broadcast
intruders on 40 meters are gone. IARUMS Coordinator Wolf Hadel, DK2OM,
said in the August IARUMS newsletter
<http://www.iarums-r1.org/iarums/news2018/news1808.pdf> that Radio
Hargeisa in the Republic of Somaliland on 7.120 MHz, and Radio Ethiopia
on 7.140 MHz, departed the band during the last week of August.

Screenshot of a Russian Navy System transmission on 7.182 MHz. [Wolf
Hadel, DK2OM, image]

"We did not miss them," he commented.

IARUMS did report increasing military traffic on 7 and 14 MHz,
"especially on digital modes from Russia and China." In addition, a
wideband over-the-horizon (OTH) radar in China has caused serious
problems on 20 meters, while an Iranian radar on 28.860 MHz "could be
heard under sporadic E conditions." German telecommunications
authorities have filed a formal complaint.

Hadel said a Russian Navy system believed to be in Moscow appeared on
7.182 MHz on F1A, a 200 Hz shift, identifying as RDL. German
telecommunications authorities were notified.

Hadel also reported "childish behaviour" by hams in western and eastern
Ukraine "insulting each other or playing music every day" on 7.055 MHz
(LSB). Reports of amateur band intruders can be submitted via the IARU
Region 1 Monitoring System Logger
<http://peditio.net/intruder/bluechat.cgi>.

==> IN BRIEF...

Global Learn Day on the Air is aiming to shrink the world one contact
at a time. Global Learn Day on the Air (GLDOTA
<http://bfranklin.edu/gldota/>) is an extension of Global Learn Day,
which celebrates learning and encourages everyone to recognize the
importance of education. GLDOTA will start at 0001 UTC on October 5 and
continue through 2359 UTC on October 8. Individual radio amateurs and
clubs are encouraged to exchange contacts with each other and to
include children in this learning activity. "Each contact during GLDOTA
is a celebration, reducing the distance between us as we shrink the
planet one contact at a time," the event announcement said. Suggested
frequencies are 3.803, 7.187, 14.287, and 21.387 MHz. Contacts via
satellite and with the International Space Station are also valid.
Submit <w6...@arrl.net> CSV or TSV logs in the format <My Call Sign>
<Contact Serial Number> <Date> <Time> <Band> <Mode> <Other Station's
Call Sign>. -- Thanks to Terry Redding, W6LMJ

The Amateur Radio Association of the Republic of San Marino (ARRSM
<http://www.arrsm.org>) has announced a special activity from the Three
Towers of San Marino, September 15 - 16 (24 hours). A group of towers
located on the three peaks of Monte Titano, they are depicted on both
the national flag and coat of arms. The event will take place in
conjunction with a civil protection exercise. The standard Three Towers
Award is issued to a station submitting proof of contact with all the
three towers on at least two bands; the honor roll award requires
confirmation of contacts with all three towers on three bands. Stations
will be active on 10, 15, 20, and 40 meters (modes not available). Call
signs will be T71A (Guaita), T71B (Cesta), and T71C (Montale). All
three towers have historic and architectural significance and are
UNESCO World Heritage sites. Request QSLs via T70A or via the bureau.
Submit award requests directly, including $15, to PO Box 77, 47890
Republic of San Marino (via Italy).

Club Log's DXCC Most Wanted <https://clublog.org/mostwanted.php>
entities list has been updated as of August 28. The list includes 340
entities, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), or
North Korea, is the #1 most-wanted DXCC entity, as it has been for
quite a few years. The other top 10 most-wanted entities, listed in
descending order, are: 3Y/B Bouvet Island; FT5/W Crozet Island; BS7H
Scarborough Reef; CE0X San Felix Islands; BV9P Pratas Island; KH7K Kure
Island; KH3 Johnston Island; VK0M Macquarie Island, and FT5/X Kerguelen
Island.

Brazil radio amateurs are gaining three bands. Brazilian telecoms
regulator Anatel has released
<http://www.anatel.gov.br/legislacao/en/resolucoes/2018/1157-resolucao-697>
an updated frequency allocation schedule that will make a 60-meter band
available to Brazilian radio amateurs. The secondary allocation of
5,351.5 to 5,366.5 kHz with 25 W EIRP will be open for Class A
licensees in Brazil. Radio amateurs there also will gain access to the
new 2200- and 630-meter bands, at 1 W EIRP and 5 W EIRP, respectively.
Not only that, but Brazil's 160- and 80-meter primary amateur
allocations are being expanded to 1.8 - 2.0 MHz and 3.5 - 4.0 MHz,
respectively. The segments 1.85 - 2.0 MHz and 3.8 - 4.0 MHz will be
open only to Class A licensees. The new bands and allocations are
expected to become available on November 26. -- Thanks to Paul Gaskell,
G4MWO, editor of The 5 MHz Newsletter, via PY2XB, Anatel, and W8GEX

Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS <http://arlhs.com/>) founder
Jim Weidner, K2JXW, of Merchantville, New Jersey, died on September 1.
He was 77. A radio amateur since 1954, Weidner was a retired high
school and post-secondary English instructor, as well as an active
member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. He graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania and did graduate-level work at Rowan
University, Burlington College, and Princeton University. Weidner was
also the author and editor of several books and managed a small
academic press publishing scientific and medical textbooks.

==> THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity returned during the
September 6-12 reporting week, with spots on 4 non-consecutive days,
September 8 - 9 and 11 - 12. Average daily sunspot numbers increased to
7.6, compared to no spots over the previous 7 days.

Average daily solar flux increased from 67.8 to 68.6, and planetary A
index doubled from 6.3 to 12.6, while the mid-latitude A index went
from 5.9 to 10.

The September 12 forecast predicts solar flux at 70 on September 13 -
14; 68 on September 15 - 22; 67 on September 23 - 24; 68 on September
25 - October 6; 70 on October 7 - 9; 68 on October 10 - 19; 67 on
October 20 - 21, and 68 on October 22 - 27.

The same forecast over the same period supposes planetary A index at
12, 8, 5, 10, 8 and 5 on September 13-18; 8, 5, 5, 12, and 8 on
September 19 - 23; 5 on September 24 - 30; 8 and 10 on October 1 - 2; 5
on October 3 - 6; 12, 35, 15, 12, 12, 8, 5, 10, and 8 on October 7 -
15; 5 on October 16 - 18; 12 and 8 on October 19 - 20, and 5 on October
21 - 27.

As recently as September 9, the US Air Force predicted a rise of solar
flux to 75 on September 17 before dropping below 70, followed by flux
values of 70 on October 7 - 9.

Solar forecaster Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, wrote on September 11 to say,
"[W]e did reach G2-level storm conditions. In fact we remained at
G2-levels for over 6 hours. This meant emergency communication over the
Amateur Radio bands was non-existent. Luckily, it looks like the worst
is now over."

Sunspot numbers for September 6 - 12 were 0, 0, 16, 12, 0, 14, and 11,
with a mean of 7.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 67.4, 67.5, 68.7,
68.4, 69, 69.4, and 69.7, with a mean of 68.6. Estimated planetary A
indices were 6, 5, 5, 7, 21, 35, and 9, with a mean of 12.6. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 5, 5, 5, 6, 15, 24, and 10, with a mean of
10.

Share <k7...@arrl.net> your reports and observations.

==> JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

- September 15 -- QRP Afield (CW, phone, digital)

- September 15 -- Wisconsin Parks on the Air (Phone)

- September 15 -- Feld Hell Sprint

- September 15-16 -- Collegiate QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
<http://www.gatorradio.org/collegiate.html>

- September 15-16 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
<http://www.arrl.org/10-ghz-up>

- September 15-16 -- SARL VHF/UHF Digital Contest

- September 15-16 -- Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW

- September 15-16 -- All Africa International DX Contest (CW, phone,
digital)

- September 15-16 -- Iowa QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

- September 15-16 -- New Jersey QSO Party (CW, phone)

- September 15-16 -- New Hampshire QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)

- September 15-16 -- Washington State Salmon Run (CW, phone, digital)

- September 16 -- North American Sprint, RTTY <http://ncjweb.com>

- September 16 -- BARTG Sprint 75 (Digital)

- September 17 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

- September 17 -- 144 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone, digital)

- September 19 -- RSGB 80-Meter Autumn Series, CW

- September 20 -- NAQCC CW Sprint

See the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar>
for more information. For in-depth reporting on Amateur Radio
contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/contest-update-issues> via your ARRL member
profile email preferences.

==> UPCOMING ARRL SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- September 14-16 -- W9DXCC Convention <http://w9dxcc.com/>,
Schaumburg, Illinois

- September 15 -- Wyoming State Convention
<http://www.wyominghamcon.org/>, Rock Springs, Wyoming

- September 16 -- Southern New Jersey Section Convention
<http://w2mmd.org/>, Mullica Hill, New Jersey

- September 21-22 -- W4DXCC/SEDCO Convention <http://www.w4dxcc.com/>,
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

- September 21-23 -- Rocky Mountain Division Convention
<http://dukecityhamfest.org/>, Albuquerque, New Mexico

-

September 22 -- Washington State Convention
<http://www.n7cfo.com/amradio/hf/hf.htm>, Spokane Valley, Washington

- September 28-29 -- Wisconsin State Convention <http://hamradio.com/>,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

- September 28-30 -- Mid-Atlantic States VHF Conference
<http://packratvhf.com/>, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

- September 29 -- North Dakota State Convention <http://www.rrra.org/>,
West Fargo, North Dakota

- October 7 -- Iowa Section Convention
<http://www.muscatinearc.org/se-ia-hamfest>, West Liberty, Iowa

- October 11-14 -- Microwave Update Convention
<http://www.microwaveupdate.org/>, Fairborn, Ohio

- October 12-13 -- Pacific Northwest VHF Conference
<http://pnwvhfs.org/>, Seaside, Oregon

-

October 13 -- Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference
<http://wi-aresraces.org/>, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

- October 19-20 -- New Mexico State Convention
<http://socorroara.org/hamfest.html>, Socorro, New Mexico

- October 19-21 -- Pacific Division Convention
<http://www.pacificon.org/>, San Ramon, California

- October 20 -- Tennessee State Convention <http://www.w4am.net/>, East
Ridge, Tennessee

- October 21 -- Connecticut State Convention
<http://nutmeghamfest.com/>, Meriden, Connecticut

- November 3-4 -- Georgia Section Convention
<http://stonemountainhamfest.com/>, Lawrenceville, Georgia

- November 10 -- Alabama Section Convention
<http://www.w4ap.org/Events/Hamfest.htm>, Montgomery, Alabama

- November 10 -- HamJam 2018 Convention <http://hamjam.info/>,
Alpharetta, Georgia

- November 17-18 -- Central Division Convention
<http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com/>, Fort Wayne, Indiana

- December 7-8 -- West Central Florida Section Convention
<http://fgcarc.org/>, Plant City, Florida

Find conventions and hamfests in your area
<http://www.arrl.org/hamfests>

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