The ARRL Letter for November 1, 2018

[ARRL Web site]

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

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

November 1, 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

- New CEO Wants ARRL to Serve All Ages and Amateur Radio Interests
- Hamvention® to Host 2019 ARRL National Convention
- ARRL Executive Committee Updated on Regulatory, Governance Issues
- The Doctor Will See You Now!
- New Book Magic Band Antennas for Ham Radio is Now Shipping!
- The 13th Annual ARRL On-Line Auction Grosses More than $22,000
- Buzz for the New 2019 ARRL Handbook
- ARRL Says Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicles Petition is
Premature
- Yasme Foundation Announces Supporting Grant to ARISS and Excellence
Awards
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

Brief ARRL Website Outage Planned for Wednesday, November 7

Some services on the ARRL website will be interrupted briefly on
Wednesday, November 7, sometime between 1000 UTC and 1200 UTC. This
outage is to accommodate a hardware upgrade of the existing Rackspace
firewall, so most future firewall updates and patches can be performed
without interrupting website access. Affected systems are the main
website, including the ARRL Store and contesting-related pages. Logbook
of The World (LoTW), email, and all Headquarters will not be affected.
We apologize for any inconvenience.

==> NEW CEO WANTS ARRL TO SERVE ALL AGES AND AMATEUR RADIO INTERESTS

Newly elected ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, is still on the uphill
side of the learning curve as he acquaints himself with ARRL
Headquarters and the nearly 90 staffers who work there. The New Jersey
native arrived at HQ on October 15 and has spent much of his time since
meeting with department managers and others to get his bearings, with
an eye toward building consensus and aligning people, programs, and
services in the same direction.

New ARRL CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX (left), meets with ARRL Development
Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD. [Michelle Patnode, W3MVP, photo]

"I'm still trying to understand what is working and where the
challenges are," Michel said. "Once I understand where the challenges
are, I need to understand why. Before I make any changes in what we're
doing, I need to make sure the change is a step in the right direction
and for the right reasons, and not kind of a random process."

Michel would like to see ARRL focus on the future of Amateur Radio and
not become the redoubt of a particular generation of radio amateur or
interest group. He said, "Ham radio shouldn't abandon the old guardians
of the hobby, but at the same time, it needs to have new things that
appeal to people who have different interests and different passions."

Ham radio appears currently entrenched with opposition often expressed
to FT8 and other digital modes and protocols that bend Amateur Radio
traditions and conventions, Michel observed. However, as he sees it,
technology for the whole of Amateur Radio has been changing, and
detractors to advances have always been present. He'd like ARRL to
encourage more technological diversity without creating controversy.

"My kick is seeing the technology advance," the former IEEE president
and CEO said. "I want to see hams embrace the new technology -- as long
as we do that in a way that those who don't adopt the new technology
won't feel abandoned." In his view, the real reason behind the
continued enthusiasm for CW "is not the technology; it's the legacy."

At the same time, resources should reflect usage and interest, with
respect to the spectrum and with respect to how many pages QST devotes
to a particular interest area. "Everything should reflect the growth
and change, without abandoning the legacy interests."

Acknowledging the incessant push to get more young people into Amateur
Radio, Michel wants to explore ways "to morph some of the League's
processes and services and products into something that would appeal to
the newer generation of hams."

New CEO Howard Michel, WB2ITX, takes W1AW for a spin. [Michelle
Patnode, W3MVP, photo]

"Young people in general don't join organizations, but they join
causes," he said. "With that kind of attitude, how do we develop the
same kind of ability for people interested in Amateur Radio to
self-organize around causes? And if we can design the infrastructure
around that, maybe they'll see value in ARRL and become a new type of
member -- not one who necessarily comes to ham club meetings once a
month but finds the League can facilitate what they want to do."

Michel said he's always enjoyed tinkering with ham gear, building it,
modifying it, and repairing it, and then making it do something new or
different. He concedes that while he has not had an opportunity to do
much hamming as he's moved around with the military and for academic
and business pursuits, he'd like to become more active, and he is
presently exploring his options as an apartment dweller. As for FT8,
he'd like to try it, if for no other reason than the novelty.

Michel said he definitely wants to encourage partnerships with other
organizations with which ARRL might share some common ground, including
IEEE.

"We can't do everything ourselves. We have to find partnerships," he
said. Some IEEE operating units would be applicable to Amateur Radio,
and he's already heard from two unit heads that are both hams.

Michel also feels that radio amateurs need to extend their gaze beyond
the everyday nuts and bolts of Amateur Radio operating. "What we need
to do is protect the spectrum from competition, develop interest in the
various facets of Amateur Radio, and not try to pick fights 'in
house,'" he said. "Spectrum is the gold of the 21st century."

==> HAMVENTION® TO HOST 2019 ARRL NATIONAL CONVENTION

Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/>® will host the 2019 ARRL
National Convention from May 17 - 19 in Xenia, Ohio. Hamvention, the
largest annual Amateur Radio gathering in the US, and the ARRL National
Convention will share the joint theme of "Mentoring the Next
Generation" of Amateur Radio operators.

As host of the 2019 ARRL National Convention, Hamvention will feature
dozens of forums covering a variety of Amateur Radio topics in the
areas of technology, public service, on-air operating, training, and
learning. A track of presentations will be organized to build on the
mentorship theme, encouraging more individuals and radio clubs to lead
new and inexperienced radio amateurs to become more active, involved,
and engaged.

The National Convention will feature ARRL EXPO -- a large assembly of
exhibits, activities, and representatives for ARRL programs and
services. Details will be posted as these become available.

Hamvention 2019 will be the third held at the Greene County Fairgrounds
and Expo Center in Xenia since the event relocated from Dayton. <>In
2018, Hamvention recorded its third-largest attendance ever with
28,417. Sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association® (DARA
<http://w8bi.org/>), an ARRL-affiliated club, Hamvention is a
traditional meeting place for radio amateurs from all over, and the
event attracts many international attendees each spring.

The new Hamvention venue features multiple buildings of indoor vendor
exhibits, an outdoor flea market, and many food trucks and concession
stands, with free onsite parking and at nearby remote lots served by
free shuttles.

The Hamvention website <http://www.hamvention.org/> will include
details on how to obtain convention tickets as well as information
about forums, exhibits (including vendor and flea market
accommodations), travel, and preferred hotels with special rates.
Convention tickets are $22 in advance or $27 at the gate. Tickets cover
admission for all 3 days. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/hamvention-to-host-2019-arrl-national-convention>.

==> ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UPDATED ON REGULATORY, GOVERNANCE ISSUES

The ARRL Executive Committee (EC) met on October 20 in Bloomington,
Minnesota. During his opening comments, ARRL President Rick Roderick,
K5UR, who chaired the session, said his membership contacts have
indicated that strong support exists for the Entry-Level License
Enhancement petition to the FCC, as well as for the Volunteer Monitor
Program that would supplant the current Official Observers program.

General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, told the EC that the Amateur Radio
Parity Act remains alive in Congress as part of the House-passed
version of the Financial Services and General Government authorization
Act (FSGG <https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45295.pdf>). The measure is
now before a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences
between the versions passed by each house. Imlay indicated that
administrative implementation of the bill's provisions remains on the
table should the act not be included in the FSGG authorization bill.

Imlay said that ARRL is awaiting final approval from the FCC of a new
Memorandum of Understanding for the Amateur Auxiliary. Discussions are
under way with key players planning the rollout and implementation of
the Volunteer Monitor program.

The EC was also told that the FCC has yet to reply to ARRL's concerns
regarding a recent FCC Enforcement Advisory
<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.pdf> that
addressed the importation and use of non-certified radios, which have
been marketed to the general public. ARRL officials recently conferred
with FCC officials about the Advisory, expressing concerns about a
portion of the notice that called on radio amateurs possessing such
radios not to use them. ARRL officials believe there was no valid legal
basis for that assertion in the notice. The EC directed Imlay to
prepare a "white paper" explaining ARRL's position on the issue to
inform members in response to inquiries.

In another FCC matter, ARRL officials met with the chief and staff
members of the FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to urge more
rapid FCC resolution of a series of long-pending rulemaking proceedings
now before the Bureau. Most urgent are the long-delayed "symbol rate"
petition (WT Docket 16-239) and the ARRL's Entry-Level License
Enhancement petition. The FCC has not yet put the latter petition on
public notice for comment.

In other action, the Committee directed the Board's National Broadband
Plan Committee to continue monitoring potential threats to the 5.850 -
5.925 GHz, 10 GHz, and 24 GHz bands. Amateur allocations within the
so-called "mid-band" spectrum (3.7 - 7.125 GHz) are now under
consideration for fixed and mobile broadband allocation.

On the subject of the ARRL Policy on Board Governance and Conduct of
Members of the Board of Directors and Vice Directors, the EC considered
and extensively discussed two proposed restatements of that policy. The
EC adopted a motion to recommend a draft proposal prepared by the
committee appointed by the President to the full Board, with a draft
prepared by Imlay also presented as an alternative. The Board holds its
next regular meeting in January.

The EC also received a status report on the review of Ethics and
Elections Guidelines to be presented to the Board in January. The ad
hoc committee formed for the purpose will circulate its proposal 60
days in advance of the January Board meeting.

Minutes
<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/2018%20Board%20of%20Directors/ECMinutesOct2018FinalV2.pdf>

of the October 20 EC meeting have been posted.

==> THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW!

"Do you really need a tower?" is the topic of the current (October 25)
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>.

Just ahead: "External Speakers."

==> NEW BOOK MAGIC BAND ANTENNAS FOR HAM RADIO IS NOW SHIPPING!

Magic Band Antennas for Ham Radio
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Magic-Band-Antennas-for-Ham-Radio/> is
designed for radio amateurs who want to discover the mysteries of the
"magic band." Six meters is a band full of surprises. When you least
expect it, 6 meters can suddenly open for contacts over hundreds and
even thousands of miles. And while the HF bands may be suffering during
a solar minimum, 6 meters is unaffected and just as amazing as ever.

If you're looking for new pursuits in Amateur Radio, the world above 50
MHz is the territory you should explore. You'll quickly learn 6 meters
is exciting and fun!

Written by Bruce Walker, N3JO, ARRL Life Member, and volunteer VHF
Awards Manager, this book includes:

Insight into the unpredictable behavior of the 6-meter band.

6-meter operating and the quirks of 6-meter propagation.

Build your own 6-meter antennas - includes detailed designs for
everything from simple antennas to high-gain band busters.

Magic Band Antennas for Ham Radio
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/Magic-Band-Antennas-for-Ham-Radio/> is
available from the ARRL Store <http://www.arrl.org/shop> or your ARRL
Dealer <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-publication-dealers>. (ARRL Item no.
0987, ISBN: 978-1-62595-098-7, $22.95 retail, special ARRL Member Price
$19.95). Call 860-594-0355 or, toll-free in the US, 888-277-5289. It
will also be available as an e-book <http://a.co/dzVD8rw> for the
Amazon Kindle.

==> THE 13TH ANNUAL ARRL ON-LINE AUCTION GROSSES MORE THAN $22,000

The 13th Annual ARRL On-Line Auction October 19 - 26 took in more than
$22,000. In addition to hundreds of browsers, the auction saw 214
individual bidders vying for QST "Product Review" equipment, vintage
publications, one-of-a-kind finds, and the ever popular "mystery junque
boxes" from the ARRL Lab. Also receiving many bids were "Last Man
Standing" KA0XTT QSL cards autographed by Tim Allen. A total of 1,084
bids were recorded.

Proceeds from the yearly auction benefit ARRL education programs. These
include activities to license new hams, strengthen Amateur Radio
Emergency Service® (ARES®) training, offer continuing technical and
operating education, and create instructional materials. Always the
most popular auction items, QST "Product Review" equipment was in high
demand. The premier item turned out to be the Apache Labs ANAN-8000DLE
HF and 6-Meter SDR Transceiver, which drew a winning bid of $3,200. In
second place was the ICOM IC-R8600 Communications Receiver, which
brought in $2,100. The Yaesu FT-991A HF/VHF/UHF Transceiver drew a
final bid of $1,060.

"We would like to express our appreciation to the donors who provided
such a diverse mix of items, and we look forward to our 14th auction in
2019," said ARRL Advertising Sales Manager Janet Rocco, W1JLR.

==> BUZZ FOR THE NEW 2019 ARRL HANDBOOK

The 2019 edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbook-2019/> started shipping earlier
this month. Already, the new edition is generating lots of interest
across the Amateur Radio community - including positive reviews for the
new format, which features The Handbook divided into a six-volume boxed
set. Reviews have been posted on two popular ham radio YouTube
channels. ARRL Life Member Alan Wolke, W2AEW, produces the w2aew
<https://youtu.be/RtpgfHs9174> channel, which focuses on radio
electronic tutorials including test and measurement. Wolke's channel
has over 94,600 subscribers. The Handbook was also reviewed by member
George Thomas, Jr., W5JDX, on Ham Nation
<https://youtu.be/ZdlixP96_-k>, as part of the show's "Smoke and
Solder" segment.

The Handbook Six-Volume Boxed Set
<http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbook-2019/>, ARRL Item No. 0895,
ISBN 978-1-62595-089-5, is $64.95 retail. The Handbook soft-cover
edition <http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Handbook-2019-Softcover/>, ARRL
Item No. 0888, ISBN 978-1-62595-088-8, is $49.95 retail. Order from the
ARRL Store <http://www.arrl.org/shop>, from your ARRL Dealer
<http://www.arrl.org/arrl-publication-dealers>, or call (860) 594-0355
or toll-free in the US, (888) 277-5289. The Handbook Kindle edition
comes in six separate volumes, automatically delivered to your Kindle,
for $9.99 per volume (Vol 1 <http://a.co/d/9bmRzKU>, Vol 2
<http://a.co/d/8BrX4SY>, Vol 3 <http://a.co/d/6FOolRX>, Vol 4
<http://a.co/d/aqfRydl>, Vol 5 <http://a.co/d/binlGvX>, Vol 6
<http://a.co/d/decnyTh>).

==> ARRL SAYS WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES PETITION IS
PREMATURE

ARRL is opposing a Petition for Rulemaking (RM-11815
<https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1090576720580/Wireless%20Charging%20Petition%20for%20RM.pdf>)

by several vehicle manufacturers that calls on the FCC to "adopt field
strength limits in Section 18.305 that will allow higher-power wireless
charging technologies operating in the 79 - 90 kHz range" to
accommodate what the petitioners call "next-generation" wireless power
transfer for electric vehicles (WPT-EV). Comments
<https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/102984871787/Comments%20re%20RM-11815%2C%20WPT-EV%202018%20FINAL%20FOR%20FILING.pdf>

filed on October 29 by ARRL contend that the petition is "woefully
incomplete and inadequate" in its analysis of consequent out-of-band
emissions from WPT-EV systems in the low- and medium-frequency ranges
using upward of 11 kW of power. Given the high power levels, ARRL said
harmonic emissions from WPT-EV systems could be appreciable, with the
AM Broadcast Band and Amateur Radio as potential interference victims.
"Interference potential from intentional radiators requires substantial
evaluation," ARRL asserted in its remarks.

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory test a wireless power
transfer charger on a fully electric vehicle. [US Department of Energy
photo]

The issue of WPT-EV is a World Radiocommunication Conference 2019
(WRC-19) agenda item, for which studies are still under way. The
Petition "quite obviously prejudges the outcome of WRC-19 Agenda Item
9.1.6," ARRL said, stressing that the Petition is simply premature at
this point.

"The Petition is typical [of those that] tout a new application of old
technology," ARRL commented. "So as to establish a sense of urgency,
the bulk of the Petition is dedicated to establishing a public interest
justification for making a rule change now, in order to accommodate the
technology."

The Petition seeks a specific field strength limit of 74.4 dBµA/meter
(at a distance of 10 meters), regardless of the charging system's
operating environment. That works out to about 2.07 V per meter (at 10
meters) or 126 dBµV -- 126 dB above 1 µV. The Petition presumes that
the optimum internationally harmonized frequency range for WPT-EV is
already known to be 79 - 90 kHz and that the optimum field strength to
minimize any impact on radiocommunication services has been
established, ARRL commented.

"The problem, however, is that there is nothing in the four corners of
the Petition that would justify those assumptions," ARRL told the FCC.
ARRL said the rollout of WPT-EV "has profound implications in terms of
its ubiquity in future years," and called on the Commission to deny the
petition without prejudice or dismiss it altogether.

"Quite clearly, the petitioners have 'jumped the gun' by filing this
Petition now," ARRL concluded. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-says-manufacturers-wireless-power-transfer-for-electric-vehicles-petition-is-premature>.


==> YASME FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SUPPORTING GRANT TO ARISS AND EXCELLENCE
AWARDS

The Yasme Foundation <http://www.yasme.org> has announced "a
significant grant" to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS <http://www.ariss.org>) in support of ARISS's effort to upgrade
Amateur Radio equipment and systems on the space station. ARISS mounted
a fundraising campaign earlier this year to cover the costs of its
next-gen Interoperable Radio System, which will replace the aging and
intermittent ISS Amateur Radio gear now in space.

"Putting and keeping Amateur Radio in space is a significant expense
and needs the support of the entire amateur community," Yasme
Foundation President Ward Silver, N0AX, said in announcing the grant as
well as several excellence awards. Silver noted that
ARISS-International delegates learned recently that an ARISS plan is
under consideration by NASA's Deep Space Gateway (DSG
<https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nasa_exploration_upddate_29_aug_2018_tagged.pdf>)

program.

The Yasme Excellence Award is presented to individuals and groups who,
through their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have
made a significant contribution to Amateur Radio. The Foundation
announced these Excellence Award recipients:

- Brian Machesney, K1LI, and Michelle Guenard in recognition of their
extraordinary efforts on behalf of Commonwealth of Dominica communities
in the wake of the 2017 hurricane season.

- Fred Kleber, K9VV, in recognition of his leadership and technical
skills that support the Virgin Islands' emergency communication
capabilities. "Fred has been a key player long before hurricanes Irma
and Maria devastated the islands," Yasme Foundation said. Kleber serves
as ARRL US Virgin Islands Section Manager.

- Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT, for his extensive promotion of Amateur Radio
in developing counties. The Yasme Foundation Board said governments and
telecommunication administrators in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia,
Eritrea, and Myanmar "have benefited from Zorro's patient and skillful
efforts."

- Stu Phillips, K6TU, for contributions to Amateur Radio through his
Propagation and DX Strategy <http://www.k6tu.net> website. The
Foundation singled out Phillips' innovative tools, free for amateur
use.

- Randy Wright, W6CUA, in recognition of his long service as Yasme
Foundation Awards Manager.

The Yasme Excellence Award is in the form of a cash grant and an
individually-engraved crystal globe. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/yasme-foundation-announces-supporting-grant-to-ariss-and-excellence-awards>.


==> IN BRIEF...

Well-known contester and "antenna farmer" the Reverend Paul Bittner,
W0AIH, of Fall Creek, Wisconsin, has died. An October 31 tower
maintenance mishap claimed Bittner's life at his well-known antenna
farm <http://www.qth.com/w0aih>. The ARRL Life Member and Maxim Society
member was 84. The accident occurred as Bittner was getting ready for
this weekend's ARRL November Sweepstakes (CW). A member of the CQ
Contesting Hall of Fame, Bittner -- a retired Lutheran pastor -- was a
well-known and respected figure within the Amateur Radio community and
a prolific contester. News of his tragic death and accolades quickly
rippled out among those who knew him best. Read more
<http://www.arrl.org/news/well-known-contester-antenna-farmer-paul-bittner-w0aih-sk>.


ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, has been re-elected as IEEE
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Society
<https://www.emcs.org/standards.html> Vice President for Standards.
"Amateur Radio must be represented at the tables where these standards
are conceived and written," Hare said. "ARRL is uniquely positioned to
be able to fill that role in a way that is seen by industry as being a
good representation of Amateur Radio, but also of radio communication
in general. One side effect of technology that poses a real risk and
has an actual present-moment impact on Amateur Radio and other radio
services is noise that causes radio-frequency interference (RFI)." The
EMC Society Board of Directors met from October 26 - 28 in Saint Louis.
As IEEE EMC Society Vice President for Standards, Hare oversees and
leads the EMC standardization work of the EMC Society and a number of
oversight committees working on various aspects of standardization. "I
am honored to be part of this work," Hare said.

Weather has forced an early shutdown of the VP6D Ducie Island
DXpedition <http://vp6d.com/>. The team announced just after 1600 UTC
on October 31 that, "due to an expected worsening in landing
conditions," it would cease operations. The final contact count was
121,136. Most contacts -- 67,686 -- were on CW, with 28,736 on SSB, and
24,714 on digital modes. "It's been raining all night, with 20+ knot
winds," an October 31 news bulletin from the team said. "The ship is
about 300 meters off shore, the forecast indicates continuing 20+ knot
winds, 2 - 3 meter seas. We want to thank everyone for their support,
and hope we met your expectations."

==> THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Another week passed with no sunspots.
The average daily solar flux declined from 70.4 to 68.6. Geomagnetic
indicators were quiet, up only slightly over the previous 7 days. The
planetary A index rose from 3.3 to 4.4, and middle latitude A index
from 2.1 to 3.4.

Solar activity will probably bottom out in the next couple of years,
but where are we compared to the previous solar minimum? For October,
the average daily sunspot number was only 4.5. The average October
sunspot numbers for 2007 - 2018 were 1.3, 5.2, 7, 35, 116.9, 73.8,
127.2, 92.1, 59.6, 29.1, 12.9, and 4.5. So, it appears we are at about
the same level of activity today.

Predicted solar flux for the short term is 69 on November 1 - 7; 70 on
November 8 - 17; 69 on November 18 - 19; 68 on November 20 - December
2; 70 on December 3 - 14, and 69 on December 15.

The predicted planetary A index is 5 on November 1 - 2; 23, 20, 16, 12,
and 8 on November 3 - 7; 5, 12, 8, and 10 on November 8 - 11; 5 on
November 12 - 13; 12 on November 14; 5 on November 15 - 24; 8, 12, and
10 on November 25 - 27; 5 on November 28 - 29; 20 on November 30; 15 on
December 1 - 3; 8, 5, 12, 8, and 10 on December 4 - 8, and 5 on
December 9 - 15.

Sunspot numbers for October 25 - 31 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with
a mean of 0. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 69.4, 69.2, 69.3, 68.3, 68.8,
67.1, and 68.1, with a mean of 68.6. Estimated planetary A indices were
6, 6, 4, 4, 3, 4, and 4, with a mean of 4.4. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 5, 6, 3, 2, 1, 4, and 3, with a mean of 3.4.

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

==> JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

- November 3 -- IPARC Contest, CW

- November 3 - 4 -- Ukrainian DX Contest (CW, phone)

- November 3 - 5 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes CW
<http://www.arrl.org/sweepstakes>

- November 4 -- IPARC Contest, SSB

- November 4 -- EANET Sprint (CW, phone, digital)

- November 4 -- High Speed Club CW Contest

- November 6 -- ARS Spartan Sprint CW

- November 7 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)

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

- November 2 - 4 -- AMSAT Symposium
<https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symposium/>, Huntsville, Alabama

- 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 1 -- Arkansas DX Association Conference
<http://www.adxa.org/>, North Little Rock, Arkansas

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

- January 5 -- New York City - Long Island Section Convention
<http://hamradiouniversity.org/>, Brookville, New York

- January 12 -- Georgia ARES Convention <https://gaares.org/>, Forsyth,
Georgia

- January 18 - 19 -- Southern Florida Section Convention
<http://swflhamfest.info/>, Fort Myers, Florida

- January 18 - 19 -- North Texas Section Convention
<http://cowtownhamfest.com/>, Forest Hill, Texas

- January 20 - 26 -- Quartzfest Convention
<http://www.quartzfest.org/>, Quartzsite, Arizona

- January 25 - 26 -- Mississippi State Convention <http://msham.org/>,
Jackson, Mississippi

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

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

.

.

- Join or Renew Today! <http://www.arrl.org/join> ARRL membership
includes QST <http://www.arrl.org/qst>, Amateur Radio's most popular
and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.

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

Subscribe to...

- 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 <http://www.arrl.org/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
<http://www.arrl.org/myarrl-account-management#%21/edit-info-email_subscriptions>

to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency
communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly contest
newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!

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

The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 48 times each year. ARRL
members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member
Data Page as described at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.

Copyright (c) 2018 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/>