Tillbaka till svenska Fidonet
English   Information   Debug  
FILM   0/18
FNEWS_PUBLISH   4408
FN_SYSOP   41679
FN_SYSOP_OLD1   71952
FTP_FIDO   0/2
FTSC_PUBLIC   0/13599
FUNNY   0/4886
GENEALOGY.EUR   0/71
GET_INFO   105
GOLDED   0/408
HAM   15839/16070
HOLYSMOKE   0/6791
HOT_SITES   0/1
HTMLEDIT   0/71
HUB203   466
HUB_100   264
HUB_400   39
HUMOR   0/29
IC   0/2851
INTERNET   0/424
INTERUSER   0/3
IP_CONNECT   719
JAMNNTPD   0/233
JAMTLAND   0/47
KATTY_KORNER   0/41
LAN   0/16
LINUX-USER   0/19
LINUXHELP   0/1155
LINUX   0/22093
LINUX_BBS   0/957
mail   18.68
mail_fore_ok   249
MENSA   0/341
MODERATOR   0/102
MONTE   0/992
MOSCOW_OKLAHOMA   0/1245
MUFFIN   0/783
MUSIC   0/321
N203_STAT   926
N203_SYSCHAT   313
NET203   321
NET204   69
NET_DEV   0/10
NORD.ADMIN   0/101
NORD.CHAT   0/2572
NORD.FIDONET   189
NORD.HARDWARE   0/28
NORD.KULTUR   0/114
NORD.PROG   0/32
NORD.SOFTWARE   0/88
NORD.TEKNIK   0/58
NORD   0/453
OCCULT_CHAT   0/93
OS2BBS   0/787
OS2DOSBBS   0/580
OS2HW   0/42
OS2INET   0/37
OS2LAN   0/134
OS2PROG   0/36
OS2REXX   0/113
OS2USER-L   207
OS2   0/4786
OSDEBATE   0/18996
PASCAL   0/490
PERL   0/457
PHP   0/45
POINTS   0/405
POLITICS   0/29554
POL_INC   0/14731
PSION   103
R20_ADMIN   1121
R20_AMATORRADIO   0/2
R20_BEST_OF_FIDONET   13
R20_CHAT   0/893
R20_DEPP   0/3
R20_DEV   399
R20_ECHO2   1379
R20_ECHOPRES   0/35
R20_ESTAT   0/719
R20_FIDONETPROG...
...RAM.MYPOINT
  0/2
R20_FIDONETPROGRAM   0/22
R20_FIDONET   0/248
R20_FILEFIND   0/24
R20_FILEFOUND   0/22
R20_HIFI   0/3
R20_INFO2   3222
R20_INTERNET   0/12940
R20_INTRESSE   0/60
R20_INTR_KOM   0/99
R20_KANDIDAT.CHAT   42
R20_KANDIDAT   28
R20_KOM_DEV   112
R20_KONTROLL   0/13273
R20_KORSET   0/18
R20_LOKALTRAFIK   0/24
R20_MODERATOR   0/1852
R20_NC   76
R20_NET200   245
R20_NETWORK.OTH...
...ERNETS
  0/13
R20_OPERATIVSYS...
...TEM.LINUX
  0/44
R20_PROGRAMVAROR   0/1
R20_REC2NEC   534
R20_SFOSM   0/340
R20_SF   0/108
R20_SPRAK.ENGLISH   0/1
R20_SQUISH   107
R20_TEST   2
R20_WORST_OF_FIDONET   12
RAR   0/9
RA_MULTI   106
RA_UTIL   0/162
REGCON.EUR   0/2056
REGCON   0/13
SCIENCE   0/1206
SF   0/239
SHAREWARE_SUPPORT   0/5146
SHAREWRE   0/14
SIMPSONS   0/169
STATS_OLD1   0/2539.065
STATS_OLD2   0/2530
STATS_OLD3   0/2395.095
STATS_OLD4   0/1692.25
SURVIVOR   0/495
SYSOPS_CORNER   0/3
SYSOP   0/84
TAGLINES   0/112
TEAMOS2   0/4530
TECH   0/2617
TEST.444   0/105
TRAPDOOR   0/19
TREK   0/755
TUB   0/290
UFO   0/40
UNIX   0/1316
USA_EURLINK   0/102
USR_MODEMS   0/1
VATICAN   0/2740
VIETNAM_VETS   0/14
VIRUS   0/378
VIRUS_INFO   0/201
VISUAL_BASIC   0/473
WHITEHOUSE   0/5187
WIN2000   0/101
WIN32   0/30
WIN95   0/4288
WIN95_OLD1   0/70272
WINDOWS   0/1517
WWB_SYSOP   0/419
WWB_TECH   0/810
ZCC-PUBLIC   0/1
ZEC   4

 
4DOS   0/134
ABORTION   0/7
ALASKA_CHAT   0/506
ALLFIX_FILE   0/1313
ALLFIX_FILE_OLD1   0/7997
ALT_DOS   0/152
AMATEUR_RADIO   0/1039
AMIGASALE   0/14
AMIGA   0/331
AMIGA_INT   0/1
AMIGA_PROG   0/20
AMIGA_SYSOP   0/26
ANIME   0/15
ARGUS   0/924
ASCII_ART   0/340
ASIAN_LINK   0/651
ASTRONOMY   0/417
AUDIO   0/92
AUTOMOBILE_RACING   0/105
BABYLON5   0/17862
BAG   135
BATPOWER   0/361
BBBS.ENGLISH   0/382
BBSLAW   0/109
BBS_ADS   0/5290
BBS_INTERNET   0/507
BIBLE   0/3563
BINKD   0/1119
BINKLEY   0/215
BLUEWAVE   0/2173
CABLE_MODEMS   0/25
CBM   0/46
CDRECORD   0/66
CDROM   0/20
CLASSIC_COMPUTER   0/378
COMICS   0/15
CONSPRCY   0/899
COOKING   32959
COOKING_OLD1   0/24719
COOKING_OLD2   0/40862
COOKING_OLD3   0/37489
COOKING_OLD4   0/35496
COOKING_OLD5   9370
C_ECHO   0/189
C_PLUSPLUS   0/31
DIRTY_DOZEN   0/201
DOORGAMES   0/2061
DOS_INTERNET   0/196
duplikat   6002
ECHOLIST   0/18295
EC_SUPPORT   0/318
ELECTRONICS   0/359
ELEKTRONIK.GER   1534
ENET.LINGUISTIC   0/13
ENET.POLITICS   0/4
ENET.SOFT   0/11701
ENET.SYSOP   33904
ENET.TALKS   0/32
ENGLISH_TUTOR   0/2000
EVOLUTION   0/1335
FDECHO   0/217
FDN_ANNOUNCE   0/7068
FIDONEWS   24128
FIDONEWS_OLD1   0/49742
FIDONEWS_OLD2   0/35949
FIDONEWS_OLD3   0/30874
FIDONEWS_OLD4   0/37224
FIDO_SYSOP   12852
FIDO_UTIL   0/180
FILEFIND   0/209
FILEGATE   0/212
Möte HAM, 16070 texter
 lista första sista föregående nästa
Text 15752, 547 rader
Skriven 2021-03-12 09:05:02 av Sean Dennis (1:18/200.0)
Ärende: The Weekly ARRL Letter
==============================
   The ARRL Letter                                                         
   March 11, 2021                                                          
                                                                           
     * ARRL to Have Two Exhibits at this Weekend's QSO Today Virtual Ham    
       Expo                                                                 
     * Registration Now Open for HamSCI Workshop 2021                       
     * ARRL Podcasts Schedule                                               
     * News Conference Details ARISS Efforts to Return ISS Ham Station to   
       the Air                                                             
     * Plans Proceeding for Fall 2021 Willis Island DXpedition             
     * The 23-Centimeter Band in Region 1 Under Discussion Ahead of WRC-23 
     * ARRL Learning Network Webinars                                      
     * February 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report                      
     * Monster Dipole Can Deliver Monster Signal                           
     * Amateur Radio in the News                                           
     * Announcements                                                       
     * In Brief...                                                         
     * The K7RA Solar Update                                               
     * Just Ahead in Radiosport                                            
     * Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions              
   ARRL to Have Two Exhibits at this Weekend's QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo  
                                                                           
   The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo takes place this weekend, March 13 --    
   14, 2021. Thousands have already registered to participate.             
                                                                           
   ARRL, a QSO Today Expo Partner, will have two exhibits at the show. One 
   will offer opportunities to meet ARRL Lab engineers, who will answer    
   questions and share tips on an array of topics. ARRL CEO David Minster, 
   NA2AA, will deliver the Expo's keynote address at 2000 UTC on Saturday, 
   March 13.                                                               
                                                                           
   The Expo has a packed lineup of 87 speakers and workshops spread across 
   10 different virtual theaters. March 13 and 14 sessions start at 1600   
   UTC. Presentation topics will appeal to amateur radio newcomers and     
   veterans alike. Because it's impossible to watch all the live           
   presentations of interest, attendees can return to the platform any     
   time through April 12 to see any presentations.                         
                                                                           
   A full-day track on "Amateur Space Radio" will cover beginner to        
   advanced levels. The Expo's Youth Forum on Sunday morning will be       
   organized by Carole Perry, WB2MGP. vanced presentation topics will    
   include "Pipeline Type Radio Wave Propagation" and "Double Inverted HF  
   Delta Skeleton Slot Antenna." Less-experienced hams may want to watch   
   such presentations as "Getting Started in Remote HF Operating" and "An  
   Overview of Parks on the Air."                                          
                                                                           
   Other Expo features include:                                            
     * Live kit-building workshops.                                        
     * A tour through the virtual exhibit hall, which will be filled with  
       popular amateur radio manufacturers and suppliers.                  
     * Live demonstrations of the latest gear.                             
     * New video technology, to provide a better experience for attendees  
       to engage with exhibitors.                                          
     * Virtual lounges, where you can meet fellow hams via the latest      
       video technology.                                                   
     * A number of exhibitors conducting prize drawings.                   
                                                                           
   Those who want to explore the Virtual Ham Expo offerings in advance of  
   the show should check out the several podcasts starting at 0200 UTC on  
   Saturday (Friday, March 12, in US time zones) from the Podcasting       
   Pavilion, as well as a Techno Dance Party After Hours from the Amateur  
   Space Radio Auditorium.                                                 
                                                                           
   Visit the QSO Today Ham Expo website for more information about the     
   expo and tickets. There's still time to get early-bird discounted       
   tickets ($10); the price of admission increases to $12.50 on March 12.  
   Registration Now Open for HamSCI Workshop 2021                          
                                                                           
   Registration is now open for the 2021 HamSCI Workshop, Friday and       
   Saturday, March 19 - 20. The theme of this year's workshop is           
   midlatitude ionospheric science. The University of Scranton will serve  
   as host for the Zoom virtual event, sponsored by the National Science   
   Foundation (NSF). The program will include guest speakers, poster       
   presentations, and demonstrations.                                      
                                                                           
   The workshop will also serve as a team meeting for the HamSCI Personal  
   Space Weather Station project, funded by an NSF grant to University of  
   Scranton physics and electrical engineering professor Nathaniel         
   Frissell, W2NAF. The project seeks to harness the power of an amateur   
   radio network to better understand and measure the effects of weather   
   in the upper levels of Earth's atmosphere.                              
                                                                           
   The workshop's keynote address on the "History of Radio" will be given  
   by Elizabeth Bruton, curator of technology and engineering at the       
   Science Museum of London. She will discuss the history, science,        
   technology, and licensing of radio amateur communities from the early   
   1900s to the present, exploring how individuals and communities         
   contributed to "citizen science" long before the term entered popular   
   usage in the 1990s. Bruton has been a non-licensed member of Oxford and 
   District Amateur Radio Society since 2014 and has served as the         
   society's web manager since 2015.                                       
                                                                           
   J. Michael Ruohoniemi, a professor of electrical and computer           
   engineering at Virginia Tech and principal investigator of the Virginia 
   Tech SuperDARN Initiative, will review the physics of the midlatitude   
   ionosphere and discuss ways in which the amateur radio community can    
   contribute to advancing scientific understanding and technical          
   capabilities.                                                           
                                                                           
   Joe Dzekevich, K1YOW, will present "Amateur Radio Observations and The  
   Science of Midlatitude Sporadic E." Read an expanded version. --        
   University of Scranton news release                                     
   ARRL Podcasts Schedule                                                  
                                                                           
   The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 15) features a    
   conversation with propagation expert Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about    
   what to expect in the new solar cycle.                                  
                                                                           
   The latest edition of Eclectic Tech (Episode 29) is a chat with         
   Kristina Collins, KD8OXT, about how amateurs have participated in       
   ionospheric research during recent solar eclipses.                      
                                                                           
   The On the Air and Eclectic Tech podcasts are sponsored by Icom. Both   
   podcasts are available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher (Android), as well  
   as on Blubrry -- On the Air | Eclectic Tech.                            
                                                                         
   News Conference Details ARISS Efforts to Return ISS Ham Station to the  
   Air                                                                     
                                                                           
   At a March 10 news conference, Amateur Radio on the International Space 
   Station (ARISS) reported that, so far, all efforts to determine what's  
   keeping the ham station in the ISS Columbus module off the air have     
   been unsuccessful. It appears that the radio equipment is working, but  
   no signal appears to be reaching the external ARISS antenna. The        
   station, typically operated as NA1SS, has not been usable since new RF  
   cables were installed during a January 27 spacewalk (EVA) to support    
   the commissioning of the Bartolomeo payload hosting platform installed  
   last spring. During the January EVA, the coax feed line installed 11    
   years ago was replaced with another built by the European Space Agency  
   (ESA) and Airbus. Responding to a question during the news conference,  
   ARISS International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, did not rule out a fault 
   in the radio equipment.                                                 
                                                                           
   "There is still that possibility that there might be a problem with the 
   radio," he said. Bauer listed three possible problem areas: The HMU-898 
   cable inside the cabin may have a break due to a previous tight turn, a 
   connector may be installed improperly, or an HMU-601 cable installation 
   or workmanship anomaly. During the January 27 EVA, the HMU-601 cable    
   was installed in series with the ARISS antenna cable.                   
                                                                           
   During a March 13 spacewalk (EVA), astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and 
   Victor Glover, KI5BKC, plan to return the ARISS antenna feed line       
   cabling to its configuration prior to the January 27 spacewalk.         
                                                                           
   The news conference covered details of the cable troubleshooting        
   already conducted. Bauer said the ARISS team has been working closely   
   with NASA and the ESA to identify what may have caused the "radio       
   anomaly" keeping the ISS Columbus module ham station off the air. He    
   thanked ARISS-Russia's Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, for allowing ARISS to    
   use the ham station in the service module to continue its contact       
   schedule.                                                               
                                                                           
   This past week, astronauts on the ISS performed troubleshooting tests   
   on all four new feed lines installed on the Columbus module. One cable  
   was earmarked for the ARISS station, while the other three are for      
   Bartolomeo. ARISS reported over the weekend, however, that it was       
   unable to establish communication using any of the feed line cables     
   connected to the ARISS radio system, which was tested in APRS mode.     
                                                                           
   The plan to return the ARISS cabling to its original configuration was  
   a "contingency task" for a March 5 spacewalk, but the astronauts ran    
   out of time.                                                            
                                                                           
   ARISS became aware of the station problem after a contact with a school 
   in Wyoming, between ON4ISS on Earth and Hopkins at NA1SS, had to abort  
   when no downlink signal was heard. For the time being, ARISS school and 
   group contacts with crew members have been conducted using the ham      
   station in the ISS service module.                                      
   Plans Proceeding for Fall 2021 Willis Island DXpedition                 
                                                                           
   The team from the Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia       
   (HARAOA) that's planning a November 3 - 13 DXpedition to Willis Island  
   (VK9HR) has expanded by one, and the DXpedition planning is on          
   schedule. A vessel to take the team to Willis Island has been chartered 
   to leave Australia on November 3, returning on November 13. Willis      
   ranks #38 on Club Log's DXCC Most Wanted List. The group announced      
   earlier that it had put off plans to include a stint from Mellish Reef, 
   last activated in 2017. The ham radio team will be just in time to      
   celebrate the centennial of the island's meteorological facility.       
                                                                           
   "With time away from jobs a consideration for the operators, Mellish is 
   being put off to 2022," said team leader John Chalkiarakis, VK3YP.      
                                                                           
   While the call sign VK9HR is expected to be renewed in August,          
   Chalkiarakis is trying to get VK9W. "VK9IR will be an additional call   
   sign to be allocated," he said. VK9IR and VK9HR were used for HARAOA's  
   2011 DXpedition to Lord Howe Island.                                    
                                                                           
   Team members for this fall's DXpedition will hail from Australia and    
   New Zealand. They're in the process of obtaining a permit from Parks    
   Australia, which is "required to 'camp' at these Australian Coral Sea   
   marine parks." Chalkiarakis said the most important document is the     
   landing permit, also from Parks Australia. No permit is required to     
   visit these coral sea islands for non-commercial purposes, but a permit 
   application is needed to set up a campsite and to stay overnight on the 
   island.                                                                 
                                                                           
   The now eight-operator team plans to use verticals on 160, 80, 40, and  
   30 meters, while VDAs (vertical dipole arrays) will be used on 20, 17,  
   15, 12, and 10 meters. Operation on 6 meters is under consideration.    
   Activity is expected on SSB, CW, and FT8 on 160 through 10 meters. The  
   equipment complement is expected to be Kenwood TS-590S and Icom IC-7300 
   transceivers with amplifiers on all.                                    
                                                                           
   A DXpedition website and logo are in the works. Home to a               
   meteorological station, Willis Island is in the Coral Sea, off the      
   northeast coast of Australia.                                           
                                                                           
   Chalkiarakis also said that he and some friends have been trying to     
   obtain a landing permit for Macquarie Island (VK0M), which is #12 on    
   Club Log's DXCC Most Wanted List, but he conceded that it's nearly      
   impossible to get permission from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife       
   Service because Macquarie is a protected nature reserve. -- Thanks to   
   The Daily DX                                                            
   The 23-Centimeter Band in Region 1 Under Discussion Ahead of WRC-23     
                                                                           
   In advance of World Radiocommunication Conference 23 (WRC-23), the      
   amateur radio allocation at 1240 - 1300 MHz (23 centimeters) remains in 
   the spotlight in International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 1   
   (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa). Chair of International Amateur   
   Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 Spectrum Affairs Barry Lewis, G4SJH,        
   reported that preparatory work continued during the February 15 - 19    
   meeting of ITU-R Working Party 4C. Also representing the IARU was Ole   
   Garpestad, LA2RR, with other IARU members present within national       
   delegations from Australia, Brazil, Canada, and the US. The             
   23-centimeter WRC agenda item has initiated technical studies focusing  
   on coexistence between the amateur services and the Galileo GPS (radio  
   navigation satellite service, or RNSS). The IARU took part in the       
   meeting, presenting key information on amateur activities in this       
   microwave band.                                                         
                                                                           
   "This information is vital to ensure the amateur services are           
   realistically represented in the studies as they move forward," Lewis   
   said. "It remains vital that national amateur communities present their 
   views on the importance of this band to their national regulators in a  
   consolidated and consistent manner." To assist, IARU Region 1 is        
   developing supporting material that member societies can refer to when  
   addressing the topic with national regulators.                          
                                                                           
   Work on this topic will continue throughout the year and beyond, both   
   in ITU-R and in the Regional Telecommunications Organizations (RTOs).   
   The Summary Meeting Report for the Working Party 4C meeting says, "The  
   only administration that can be considered supportive toward proper     
   treatment of the Amateur Services in this work is Germany." It          
   encouraged support from outside Europe. Working Party 4C will meet      
   again in July. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service and AMSAT-UK             
                                                                         
   ARRL Learning Network Webinars                                          
                                                                           
   Visit the ARRL Learning Network (a members-only benefit) to register,   
   check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded sessions.   
                                                                           
   The Art and Science of Operating Ultra-Portable -- Mike Molina, KN6EZE  
                                                                           
   Ultra-portable operation, or being able to carry your radio over        
   distances (e.g., in a backpack), is quickly growing in popularity.      
   Whether for SOTA, POTA, backcountry survival, or just spending time in  
   nature, learning how to operate ultra-portable is a fun and rewarding   
   experience. In this presentation, Mike, KN6EZE, will cover the basics   
   of ultra-portable operating for both the new and experienced ham radio  
   operator.                                                               
                                                                           
   Tuesday, April 6, 2021 @ 8 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday, April 7)         
                                                                           
   Finding and Fixing RFI  -- Paul Cianciolo, W1VLF                        
                                                                           
   RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) has been a problem for ham radio     
   operators and shortwave listeners since the radio hobby began.          
   Interference can come from both natural sources (QRN) and manmade       
   sources (QRM). Things have changed in the last 20 years with the advent 
   of widespread solar power, LED lightning, grow lights, digital          
   computing devices, and so on. Learn all about finding and fixing RFI in 
   today's world.                                                          
                                                                           
   Tuesday, April 20, 2021 @ 1 PM EDT (1700 UTC)                           
                                                                           
   The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.                
   February 2021 Volunteer Monitor Program Report                          
                                                                           
   The Volunteer Monitor (VM) Program is a joint initiative between ARRL   
   and the FCC to enhance compliance in the Amateur Radio Service.         
                                                                           
   To date, Volunteer Monitors during February reported 1,762 hours        
   monitoring the HF frequencies and 2,158 hours monitoring VHF            
   frequencies and above. The Volunteer Monitor Program ministrator      
   issued 10 visory Notices. An visory Notice is an attempt to resolve 
   rule violation issues informally before FCC intervention.               
     * Operators in Holdenville, Oklahoma; Luzerne, Michigan; Miami,       
       Florida, and Merrick, New York, received visories concerning      
       operation outside their license class.                              
     * Operators in Magalia, California; Jefferson, Georgia, and Redway,   
       California, received visories concerning interference to repeater 
       systems and HF net operations.                                      
     * An operator in Mansfield, Arkansas, received an visory regarding  
       failure to properly identify.                                       
     * An operator in Charlottesville, Virginia, received an visory      
       concerning improper bandwidth that resulted in interference.        
     * A desert racing association in Odessa, Texas, received a warning    
       about the use of amateur 2-meter frequencies for racing events.     
                                                                           
   The Volunteer Monitor Program ministrator had two meetings during     
   February with FCC Enforcement Bureau personnel. -- Thanks to Riley      
   Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, VM Program ministrator                          
   Monster Dipole Can Deliver Monster Signal                               
                                                                           
   A video shows how Gary Watson, ZL3SV, in Nelson, New Zealand, installed 
   an enormous all-band dipole with each leg extending 320 meters (about   
   1,050 feet). The antenna is multiple wavelengths on HF, and on 20       
   meters it has a gain of more than 16 dB, Watson says. It hears quite    
   well, too.                                                              
                                                                           
   A huge 12:1 balun resembling a utility pole power step-down transformer 
   converts the impedance from 50 ohms unbalanced to 600 ohms balanced.    
   The wire he uses for each leg is aluminum-wrapped, power-line cable     
   (10-millimeter cable with wrap), and he uses power-line fittings,       
   because they're designed to handle the wire. The line has a 60-ton      
   breaking strength.                                                      
                                                                           
   Watson said he made the 600 ohm ladder line himself and he uses the     
   antenna on all bands, typically running only 200 W. The coaxial feed    
   line goes to his house down a slope from the antenna via a conduit. His 
   home is entirely off the grid, powered by solar power. The noise level  
   is very low at his location, with power lines some distance away,       
   although his solar power system's inverter is nearby.                   
                                                                           
   Watson says he can copy stations with the "monster" antenna that remain 
   undetectable with a half-wave dipole.                                   
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
                                                                         
   Amateur Radio in the News                                               
                                                                           
   ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other          
   member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news.         
     * Portland Man Connects Kids to International Space Station From His  
       Home -- KGW8 ABC (Oregon), March 5, 2021                            
     * Radio Gaga -- The Star (Malaysia), March 6, 2021                    
     * Separted by Distance -- and a Pandemic -- Puget Sound's Amateur     
       Radio Enthusiasts are Connecting with Even Greater Frequency --     
       Seattle Times (Washington), March 3, 2021                           
     * Estes Park Elementary School Students Speak with Astronaut Aboard   
       ISS -- Yahoo News, February 28, 2021                                
                                                                           
   Share any amateur radio media hits you spot with us.                    
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   Announcements                                                           
     * ARRL Life Member Bob Leo, W7LR, of Bozeman, Montana, turned 100     
       years old on February 26. He has been a radio amateur for 88 years  
       and is well known as a DXer and DXpeditioner. He has detailed his   
       biography and ham radio exploits on his QRZ.com profile.            
     * Steve Johnston, WD8DAS, has purchased AF4K Crystals and plans to    
       reopen it soon. AF4K Crystals was a source for vintage and modern   
       radio crystals for nearly 2 decades. The company will fill a gap    
       for those seeking to buy quartz crystals for various projects.      
     * The dates have been posted for the four Stew Perry Top Band         
       Distance Challenge events on 160 meters. This year's main Stew in   
       December will occur 1 week earlier than usual -- on December 18 --  
       to avoid a conflict with Christmas. The schedule for this year is:  
       March 13 (this weekend), June 19, October 23, and December 18.      
     * "Tips on How to Be a Better Contester" was the topic of the HAM-CON 
       Vermont Ham Radio Convention presentation of Randy Thompson, K5ZD,  
       who has a long list of contesting bona fides. More HAM-CON videos   
       have been posted.                                                   
     * The preliminary results of the North American CW Sprint are         
       available. The full results article should be available online no   
       later than mid-March and will be excerpted in the May/June issue of 
       NCJ.                                                                
     * Results of the 2020 California QSO Party are now available. Many    
       new records were set and 57 plaques awarded. Visit the CQP website  
       for details and to download certificates.                           
                                                                           
   In Brief...                                                             
                                                                           
   Results Available for ARRL Contests The full results of the 2020 ARRL   
   November CW Sweepstakes have been published on the ARRL Contests web    
   page. The full results article, a searchable database of all scores,    
   line scores, certificates, and log-checking reports are available       
   there. Also available on the ARRL Contests web page: The full results   
   of the 2020 10 GHz and Up Distance Contest, and the raw scores for the  
   2021 ARRL International DX CW Contest. Raw scores are the scores before 
   any log-checking has been performed and are based on the contents of    
   the submitted logs before any adjudication has been done. Participants  
   should check the raw scores to ensure that their entries are submitted  
   in the correct category. Email with any questions.                      
                                                                           
   Ham Bootcamp Program to Be Offered in April The Nashua Area Radio       
   Society (NARS) will again offer its popular Ham Bootcamp program on     
   Saturday, April 24. Bootcamp is free and includes demonstrations and    
   tutorials designed to help newly licensed Technician-, General-, and    
   Amateur Extra-class hams get on the air. It is also a great opportunity 
   for prospective radio amateurs to learn what the hobby has to offer.    
   Bootcamp additions include "Learning Morse Code." Registration and more 
   information is on the Ham Bootcamp web page. -- Thanks to NARS          
   President Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC                                          
                                                                           
   Spring Red Cross Emergency Communications Drill Set The spring 2021 Red 
   Cross Nationwide Emergency Communications Winlink Drill will be held on 
   May 8, which is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2021. Details and  
   instructions are available. Sign up for email updates. Ahead of the May 
   nationwide exercise, the American Red Cross (ARC) Emergency             
   Communications training group will continue its Winlink Thursdays       
   training sessions on March 11 and April 8.                              
                                                                           
   Chattanooga-Area Hams Seek Community During Pandemic The Chattanooga    
   Times Free Press reports that in the wake of the deaths of two radio    
   amateurs, the Lone Ranger Wellness Net was established to check on      
   members each evening. The system of nightly radio checks gives affected 
   hams a way to signal if they need help. The net meets every evening at  
   7 PM local, 7 days a week. Jim Gifford, KM4MPF, a 44-year-old           
   Chattanooga businessman, said the Lone Ranger Net was established after 
   one elderly radio operator died of natural causes and another died at   
   his home due to an accident. In both cases, their deaths were not       
   immediately known to friends and family members, he told the newspaper. 
   "Now, if someone in the Lone Ranger Net fails to check in on any given  
   night, they get a text, a phone call, or even a knock on the door to    
   make sure all is okay," Gifford said.                                   
                                                                         
   The K7RA Solar Update                                                   
                                                                           
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Although solar activity remains low   
   lately, as a sunspot rotates to the west off the visible solar disc, a  
   new one will emerge in the east. Sunspot group 2807 will soon move over 
   the sun's western horizon, but on March 9 new sunspot group 2808 moved  
   over the eastern horizon.                                               
                                                                           
   Average daily sunspot numbers this week hardly changed, from 18.9 to    
   18.4. Average daily solar flux shifted from 76.7 to 78.9.               
                                                                           
   Solar wind has slackened, so average daily planetary A index went from  
   14.7 to 7.6, and the middle latitude numbers changed from 10.4 to 6.1.  
                                                                           
   Predicted solar flux for the next 30 days is 79 on March 11 - 13; 78 on 
   March 14 - 18; 76, 75, 76, 78, and 81 on March 19 - 23; 80 on March 24  
   - 25; 78 and 76 on March 26 - 27; 75 on March 28 - April 1; 78 on April 
   2 - 3, and 70, 74, 76, 72, 71, and 72 on April 4 - 9. After April 18,   
   solar flux may rise again above 80.                                     
                                                                           
   Predicted planetary A index is 5 on March 11 - 12; 10, 20, and 10 on    
   March 13 - 15; 5 on March 16 - 18; 20 on March 19 - 20; 18, 12, and 8   
   on March 21 - 23; 5 on March 24 - 27; 25, 20, 20, and 10 on March 28 -  
   31; 5, 15, and 8 on April 1 - 3; 5 on April 4 - 7, and 18 and 12 on     
   April 8 - 9. An active region may rotate into a geo-effective position  
   on April 15 - 16 and another around April 24 - 25.                      
                                                                           
   Aurora season has returned in Colorado.                                 
                                                                           
   Sunspot numbers for March 4 - 10, 2021 were 32, 14, 23, 14, 12, 23, and 
   11, with a mean of 18.9. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 81.4, 73.2, 77,   
   77.5, 79.9, 83.7, and 79.4, with a mean of 76.7. Estimated planetary A  
   indices were 11, 5, 16, 10, 6, 3, and 2, with a mean of 14.7. Middle    
   latitude A index was 11, 5, 11, 7, 5, 2, and 2, with a mean of 10.4.    
                                                                           
   A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL         
   website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the   
   ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean...,"    
   and check out K9LA's Propagation Page.                                  
                                                                           
   A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable           
   propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.      
                                                                           
   Share your reports and observations.                                    
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   Just Ahead in Radiosport                                                
     * March 13 -- YB DX RTTY Contest                                      
     * March 13 - 14 -- SARL VHF/UHF Analogue Contest (CW, phone)          
     * March 13 - 14 -- RSGB Commonwealth Contest (CW)                     
     * March 13 - 14 -- F9AA Cup, SSB                                      
     * March 14 - 14 -- South America 10-Meter Contest (CW, phone)         
     * March 13 - 14 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)                      
     * March 13 - 14 -- AGCW QRP Contest (CW)                              
     * March 13 - 14 -- Oklahoma QSO Party (CW, phone)                     
     * March 13 - 14 -- Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)                  
     * March 13 - 14 -- EA PSK63 Contest                                   
     * March 13 - 14 -- Tesla Memorial HF CW Contest                       
     * March 13 - 14 -- QCWA QSO Party (CW, phone)                         
     * March 13 - 14 -- Idaho QSO Party (CW, phone)                        
     * March 13 - 14 -- North American Sprint, RTTY                        
     * March 14 - 17 -- Classic Exchange, Phone                            
     * March 14 - 15 -- Wisconsin QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)           
     * March 15 -- 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint (CW, phone)           
     * March 15 -- Bucharest Digital Contest                               
     * March 15 -- RSGB FT4 Contest Series                                 
     * March 16 - 21 -- CLARA Chatter Party (CW, phone)                    
     * March 18 -- NAQCC CW Sprint                                         
     * March 18 -- BCC QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)                      
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions                  
                                                                           
   Many conventions and hamfests have been canceled or postponed due to    
   the coronavirus pandemic. Check the calendar of canceled events on the  
   ARRL website.                                                           
     * March 13 - 14 -- QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo                         
                                                                           
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.                             
                                                                           
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                           
   ARRL  --  Your One-Stop Resource for                                    
   Amateur Radio News and Information.                                     
                                                                           
   .                                                                       
                                                                           
   .                                                                       
     * Join or Renew Today! Eligible US-based members can elect to receive 
       QST or On the Air magazine in print when they join ARRL or when     
       they renew their membership. All members can access digital         
       editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ. 
                                                                           
     * Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.                  
                                                                           
   Subscribe to...                                                         
     * NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features      
       articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA  
       Sprint, and QSO parties.                                            
     * QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. 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 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! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!          
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           
   The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 50 times each year. ARRL members
   and registered guests may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing
   their profile.                                                          
                                                                           
   Copyright (c) 2021 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.                                    
                                                                           

--- SendMsg/2

--- Squish/386 v1.11
 * Origin: Outpost BBS * bbs.outpostbbs.net:10123 (1:18/200)