• The ARRL Letter for January 27, 2022

    From ARRL Web site@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jan 27 17:34:19 2022
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.misc, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

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

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

    January 27, 2022

    Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME <ww1me@arrl.org>

    ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

    - Amateur Radio Digital Communications Grants Continue
    - ARRL Podcasts Schedule
    - Weak Signals Heard from Spanish Satellites EASAT-2 and HADES
    - Puerto Rico Section and Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter Sign New MOU
    - Announcements
    - Amateur Radio in the News
    - Next QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo set for Mid-March
    - ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    - QRP Operator Logs One Contact per Day for Nearly 30 Years
    - Getting It Right!
    - In Brief...
    - The K7RA Solar Update
    - Just Ahead in Radiosport
    - Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    AMATEUR RADIO DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS GRANTS CONTINUE

    Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC <https://www.ampr.org/>) has continued its largesse, funding a variety of projects through
    individual grants. Among the latest is a nearly $900,000 award that
    will permit the Internet Archive <https://archive.org/> to build the
    Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications (DLARC), "an
    online, open-access resource that preserves the vital resources --
    past, present, and future -- that document the history of amateur radio
    and communications," as the project proposal explained. Internet
    Archive is a nonprofit library of millions of free books, movies,
    pieces of software, pieces of music, websites, and more.

    "The DLARC will be both an education program building a unique and
    unparalleled collection of primary and secondary resources, but also an innovative technical project that will build a digital library that
    combines both digitized print materials and [original] digital
    content," Internet Archive said in its proposal.

    It will incorporate three distinct areas: a large-scale scanning
    program to digitize relevant print materials from institutions and
    individuals; a large-scale digital archiving initiative that seeks to
    curate, archive, and provide specialized access to such media as
    digital photos and audio-video presentations, as well as websites and web-published material, and a personal archiving campaign to ensure the preservation and future access of notable individuals and stakeholders
    involved in the founding and activities of ARDC and the broader
    community.

    The ARDC grant program stems from the proceeds of the July 2019 sale of
    some 4 million unused consecutive AMPRNet internet addresses. Using
    those funds, ARDC established a program of grants and scholarships in
    support of communications and networking research, with a strong
    emphasis on amateur radio.

    Another ARDC grant for nearly $34,000 will permit the Fauquier 4-H
    Ham Radio Club
    <https://fauquier.ext.vt.edu/programs/4h-clubs-list.html> in Virginia
    to purchase and equip a 4-H Youth Station and Outreach Trailer for the
    club's youth to use at regular meetings, public demonstrations, and
    special events.

    "A big thanks to Amateur Radio Digital Communications for awarding our
    new Ham Radio Club a grant to build a ham radio trailer," the club
    posted on its Facebook page. "Building out the trailer and using the
    modern amateur radio equipment will be a fun STEAM [science,
    technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics] project for our club
    members. Once it is all built out, you can plan to see the trailer out
    at some local events -- hopefully the Fauquier County Fair and the
    Manassas HamFest in mid-June."

    The Fauquier 4-H Ham Radio Club offers local youth ages 9 to 18
    opportunities to explore STEAM through amateur radio communications and electronics projects. "An amateur radio license is not required to
    join, but the club strives to inspire and help members who are
    interested in getting their license achieve that goal," the proposal
    said.

    A $318,000 grant to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE <https://www.swe.org/>), will fund 30 SWE global scholarships and
    "contribute to programs that will help women in engineering excel professionally and showcase their achievements." According to SWE,
    these programs include the High School Leadership Academy, a virtual, year-round program aimed at building self-confidence and resilience
    among high school students who are interested in pursuing engineering
    and technology degrees; the Community College Women of Color Pathways
    Research, a new year-long program to encourage undergraduate women
    studying at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to pursue STEM graduate degrees,
    and its Collegiate Leadership Institute, a program designed to equip
    collegiate SWE members with the skills, knowledge, and leadership
    abilities that will enable them to become leaders in engineering and technology.

    ARRL PODCASTS SCHEDULE

    The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 25) features a conversation with Michael Fluegemann, KE8AQW, about how to get started
    with CW.

    The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 52) features a
    chat with Sal DeFrancesco, K1RGO, about his 630-meter receiving loop
    antenna design that appears in the February issue of QST. Also, there
    is a brief discussion of the new YubiKey Bio password protection device

    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 <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> |
    Eclectic Tech <https://blubrry.com/eclectictech/>.

    WEAK SIGNALS HEARD FROM SPANISH SATELLITES EASAT-2 AND HADES

    AMSAT-EA <https://www.amsat-ea.org/> (Spain) has said it appears that
    EASAT-2 and HADES are transmitting, and that weak signals have been
    heard, but apparently the satellites' antennas have not deployed.

    "We confirm the reception of both EASAT-2 and HADES, as well as the
    decoding of telemetry and the FM recorded voice beacon with the call
    sign AM5SAT of the first one. EASAT-2 appears to be working well,
    except for the deployment of the antennas -- something that apparently
    has not yet occurred and causes weak signals," said AMSAT-EA Mission
    Manager Felix Paez, EA4GQS. "However, the AMSAT-EA team confirms that,
    based on the reception of FSK, CW, the FM voice beacon, and the
    telemetry data that has been decoded, it can be said that the satellite
    is working perfectly. In the event of low battery or system
    malfunction, the onboard computer would not transmit CW messages or the
    voice beacon call sign, as it would be in [safe mode] with only fast
    and slow telemetry transmissions."

    At the request of AMSAT-EA, EASAT-2 has been designated as Spain-OSCAR
    114 (SO-114) and HADES as Spain-OSCAR 115 (SO-115).

    "These signals that confirm the operation of both satellites were
    received by Daniel Estévez, EA4GPZ, at 1807 UTC on Saturday, January
    15, using two antennas from the Allen Telescope Array." Doppler
    observations from the co-launched Delfi-PQ satellite and the amateur
    radio community have been used to identify the satellites' orbits or
    TLEs <https://github.com/AMSAT-EA/easat2-tle-lottery/blob/main/satnogs-2022-01-16-DELFI-PQ.tle>.


    AMSAT-EA reports that Estévez performed a preliminary analysis using
    just one polarization of one of the Allen Telescope Array satellite
    dishes. EASAT-2 was detected with a relatively strong signal, close to
    the Delfi-PQ signal, obtaining voice FM beacon transmissions and FSK,
    FSK-CW at 50 baud, AMSAT-EA said.

    "The CW beacon clearly shows the message VVV AM5SAT SOL Y PLAYA, which
    is one of several that both satellites emit, although the call sign
    AM5SAT confirms that it is EASAT-2," AMSAT-EA said. "In the recording
    made by EA4GPZ, there is also a faint trace confirmed to be from HADES
    and stronger packets probably from the IRIS-A satellite."

    AMSAT-EA reports that signals from HADES are weaker than those of
    EASAT-2, "most likely because the onboard computer has not yet managed
    to deploy the antennas either, although it will continue trying
    regularly," AMSAT-EA said. "The reason the signals are suspected to be
    weaker at HADES is that the antennas are more tightly folded than those
    of EASAT-2. In any case, this is great news, since the transmission
    pattern confirms the proper functioning of the satellite. In the
    observations, you can see the FSK tones with a deviation of about 5 kHz interspersed with the FM carrier corresponding to the voice beacon of
    the satellite, which has call sign AM6SAT. The AMSAT-EA team is working
    to try to decode the telemetry signals and obtain more detailed
    information on the state of the satellite."

    AMSAT is asking amateurs with "very high-gain antennas" to try to
    receive them -- especially HADES. "If we could decode telemetry, it
    would be very helpful for us." AMSAT-EA said. "Until antennas are
    deployed, it will be very difficult to use their repeaters or to
    receive any SSTV camera images from HADES, but we hope that this will
    happen sooner or later, at least because, even if the computer doesn't
    succeed applying heat to the resistor where the thread [retaining the
    antennas] is attached, with time, the thread should break due to the
    space environment conditions."

    PUERTO RICO SECTION AND RED CROSS PUERTO RICO CHAPTER SIGN NEW MOU

    The ARRL Puerto Rico Section and the American Red Cross Puerto Rico
    Chapter signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on January 13.
    The MOU calls on the ARRL Puerto Rico Section to offer any assistance
    and emergency communication support to the American Red Cross, should
    their communications systems fail or become disrupted. American Red
    Cross Regional Executive Lee Vanessa Feliciano; Puerto Rico Section
    Manager Rene Fonseca, NP3O, and Section Emergency Coordinator William Planas-Montes, NP3WP, signed for their respective organizations.

    Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 prompted renewal of the MOU.
    Following Hurricane Maria, the American Red Cross asked ARRL to provide
    amateur radio volunteers to assist on site for about 6 weeks.

    Among other provisions, the MOU calls on both organizations to
    encourage their units to engage in discussions with their field units
    to develop plans for local response or disaster relief operations. It
    also calls on each party to participate in community preparedness, as
    well as in ARRL Field Day, the ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET), and
    other emergency exercises.

    Also present for the signing, were Logistics Specialist Nory Bonilla
    and Regional Disaster Officer Joseph Guzmán from the Puerto Rico Red
    Cross. Puerto Rico Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator James Perez,
    KP4WA, and Section Traffic Manager Emmanuel Cruz, NP4D, represented
    ARRL. Perez arranged the signing ceremony.

    The MOU is for a 3-year term and is renewable. An initial MOU was
    signed in 2017, and a second one was signed in 2019. Since then, the
    amateur radio population has grown to more than 4,900, indicating an
    interest in maintaining communication in emergencies and disasters. --
    Thanks to Angel Santana, WP3GW <>

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    - Winter Field Day (WFDA <https://www.winterfieldday.com/>) takes place
    over the January 29 - 30 weekend. It runs for 24 hours, from Saturday
    at 1900 UTC to Sunday at 1900 UTC. The goal of the Winter Field Day
    association is to enhance operating skills and prepare participants for
    all environmental conditions found in the US and Canada.The RSGB
    reports that Ofcom-licensed radio amateurs may celebrate Queen
    Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee by adding the letter Q before the
    numeral in their call signs. For example G4WQG in England could
    identify as GQ4WQG throughout June. Stations throughout the UK can
    apply to Ofcom for a Notice of Variation.

    - The Boston Marathon is seeking amateur radio volunteers for its
    Patriots Day event in April. New volunteers can sign up online <http://register.hamradioboston.org/>. The site includes a step-by-step
    guide <https://hamradioboston.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/44002294773-2022-volunteer-registration-step-by-step-guide>

    on how to select amateur radio volunteer positions during the
    registration process. Email <contact@hamradioboston.org> with
    questions. -- The Boston Marathon Communications Committee

    - Nominations for the 2022 Amateur Radio Software Award
    <https://arsaward.com/> are being accepted until February 14, 2022. The
    Amateur Radio Software Award is an annual international award to
    recognize software projects that enhance amateur radio. The award aims
    to promote innovative, free, and open amateur radio software
    development. A nomination form is on the Award website.

    - The non-competitive St. Patrick's Award
    <https://www.stpatricksaward.com/> on-the-air event will take place
    March 16 -18. The St Patrick's Award encourages radio amateurs
    worldwide to join the celebration by "going green for St Patrick's
    day." Email <stpatrickaward@gmail.com> for additional information. --
    Thanks to Bobby Wadey, MI0RYL

    AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

    ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news <http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

    - "Radio to the rescue <https://www.gtgazette.com/2022/01/22/radio-club-aids-north-county-residents-when-all-else-fails/>"

    / Georgetown Gazette (California), January 20, 2022

    - "Tecumseh School Project Catches NASA's Attention <https://www.countywidenews.com/news/tecumseh-school-project-catches-nasas-attention>"

    / Countywide & Sun (Oklahoma), January 20, 2022

    - "Networks of service <https://www.legion.org/hamradio/254691/networks-service>" / The
    American Legion, January 20, 2022

    - "How the huge volcanic eruption in Tonga was picked up by amateur
    radio enthusiasts in Harborough -- over 10,000 miles away <https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/environment/how-the-huge-volcanic-eruption-in-tonga-was-picked-up-by-amateur-radio-enthusiasts-in-harborough-over-10000-miles-away-3532570>"

    / Harborough Mail (United Kingdom), January 18, 2022

    - "Inspiring Students through Volunteer Work <https://dsu.edu/news/2022/01/inspiring-students.html?fbclid=IwAR3GPk4lMA5VDwH56oxn5_DAoMJdz8P9VYKLsVIwRTKPz8oFaJLPd0T2mvM>"

    / Dakota State University (South Dakota), January 17, 2022

    Share <newsmedia@arrl.org> any amateur radio media hits you spot with
    us.

    NEXT QSO TODAY VIRTUAL HAM EXPO SET FOR MID-MARCH

    What's become a regular March event, the next QSO Today Virtual Ham
    Expo <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/> will be held live from March
    12-13, and then on demand for 30 days afterward. More than 60 speakers
    will deliver presentations on their subject areas. "There's content for everyone whether a newly licensed ham looking for next steps to using
    that license or a 30+ year experienced ham looking for new projects,"
    the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo organizers promise.

    Presentations will include "Core HF Communication Concepts:
    Fundamentals of Shortwave Propagation;" "Deep Dive of an FPGA DVB-S2 Implementation;" "Fun With the NanoVNA," and "Helically Wound Vertical
    for 160 Meters. The complete list of presentations is available from
    the Virtual Ham Expo home page <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/>.

    Virtual visitors may watch as many presentations as they want and
    return any time within 30 days to view speakers and presentations they
    may have miss as well as explore exhibitor offerings.

    This Virtual Ham Expo will debut new technology that, organizers say,
    will "further improve the live video interaction experience with
    exhibitors and fellow operators." ARRL The national association for
    Amateur Radio®, is a QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo Partner. Early bird
    tickets go on sale on February 1. Tickets are $10 through March 6.

    ARRL LEARNING NETWORK WEBINARS

    Visit the ARRL Learning Network
    <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-learning-network> (a members-only benefit) to register, check on upcoming webinars, and to view previously recorded
    sessions.

    More webinars are coming soon!

    ARRL members may register for upcoming presentations and view
    previously recorded Learning Network <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-learning-network> webinars. ARRL-affiliated
    radio clubs may also use the recordings as presentations for club
    meetings, mentoring new and current hams, and discussing amateur radio
    topics.

    The ARRL Learning Network schedule is subject to change.

    QRP OPERATOR LOGS ONE CONTACT PER DAY FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS

    From August 5, 1994, through December 20, 2021 -- a span of nearly
    10,000 days -- ARRL member John Shannon, K3WWP, of Kittanning,
    Pennsylvania, made at least one CW contact while running 5 W or less to
    simple wire antennas. That includes one that's in his attic.

    Over the course of said 10,000 days, Shannon made 72,190 contacts with
    20,098 unique stations. For at least 2,099 of his contacts, his signal
    traveled 1,000 or more miles per W, while another 24,098 were DX
    (non-W/VE) contacts made in 224 DXCC entities. He contacted all 50
    states "many times over" -- he made 3,819 contacts with stations in Pennsylvania and 63 contacts with stations in Wyoming.

    Shannon reports that the DX country he contacted most often was
    Germany, with 1,934 contacts. By continent, his contact totals ranged
    from 52,639 with stations in North America to 325 with stations in
    Oceania, plus 18 with stations in Antarctica. The number of contacts he
    made on each band used includes 19,279 on 40 meters; 15,459 on 20
    meters; 28 on 60 meters, and 39 on 6 meters.

    Within his first UTC hour of operation each day, Shannon logged nearly
    73% of his daily contacts.

    He also experienced a DX streak from March 1, 2013 through August 1,
    2018, which was a total of 1,980 days. During this time, he contacted
    at least one DX station per day.

    Shannon said that the greatest satisfaction he's derived from his
    operating streak is that other hams express that he inspired their
    interest in, and enjoyment of, CW and/or QRP operating. Shannon said
    that his greatest satisfaction derived from his lengthy operating
    streak was having other hams express that he inspired their interest in operating CW and/or QRP, and that they really enjoyed it.

    In the early 2000s, he wrote for the "QRP with John Shannon, K3WWP"
    column in The Key Note, the FISTS <http://www.fistsna.org/> CW Club's newsletter. Additionally, his article, "The Streak: 23 Years of Daily Contacts," was published in the August 2017 issue of QST.

    Shannon said his streak is not over. He intends to continue making
    daily contacts for 11,000 or 12,000 days. View his website for more
    information <http://www.k3wwp.com/>.

    GETTING IT RIGHT!

    Regarding the story "Two Radio Amateurs Appointed to the FCC
    Technological Advisory Council (TAC)" in the January 20 edition of The
    ARRL Letter: Andy Clegg, W4JE, was also appointed to the TAC to
    represent the Wireless Innovation Forum. Dale Hatfield, ex-W0IFO, was
    another TAC appointee.

    IN BRIEF...

    A February webinar will discuss amateur radio and AUXCOM support to the
    US Department of Defense. On Thursday, February 18, at 0100 (the
    evening of February 17 in North American time zones), the US Army
    Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) will host a Zoom call to
    discuss amateur radio and AUXCOM support to the US Department of
    Defense. During this presentation, the NETCOM representative will
    discuss the authorities for these operations; upcoming DOD exercise opportunities for 2022 where outreach to the amateur radio/AUXCOM
    community will be a primary training objective; use of the five
    60-meter channels, and the concept for the types of amateur/AUXCOM
    outreach. There will be an opportunity for Q&A throughout the
    presentation. Use this Zoom link <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83781154615?pwd=L0NOY0hEV0tBdmNDWVNNeWRaVXJ5dz09>
    to attend. This is meeting ID 837 8115 4615, and the pass code is
    670665. Dial in by location: (346) 248-7799 (Houston); (669) 900-6833
    (San Jose); (253) 215-8782 (Tacoma); (929) 205-6099 (New York); (301)
    715-8592 (Washington DC), and (312) 626-6799 (Chicago). One tap mobile: +13462487799,,83781154615#,,,,*670665# US (Houston); +16699006833,,83781154615#,,,,*670665# US (San Jose)

    The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) team of Centralia,
    Washington, activated following an early morning bombing on December
    19. Authorities say two men planted the bomb, which blew up the ATM at
    a local bank. The Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad and the FBI
    responded to assist the Centralia Police Department (CPD) in the
    investigation. The Centralia ARES team staged its communications van
    next to the scene. The 13 ARES team members who responded to a call for assistance were paired with CPD detectives to assist in the evidence
    search at the crime scene. ARES team members had been trained to
    perform evidence searches for the police department and were able to
    put those skills to work. Teams of three to five ARES members, led by a detective, gloved up and slowly searched an estimated 10,000 square
    feet around the bank, along nearby railroad tracks, and an adjoining
    field, retrieving as many potential pieces of evidence as they could
    find. The ARES team was released after about 1 hour. -- Thanks to Bob
    Willey, KD7OWN, <kd7own@comcast.net> Centralia, Washington, ARES
    Emergency Coordinator

    After an August storm damaged the satellite antenna that DP0GVN <https://www.qrz.com/lookup/dp0gvn> in Antarctica had been using for
    QO-100, AMSAT-DL has provided a new one. The new QO-100 SatCom ground
    station antenna arrived intact in Antarctica at Neumayer Station III in December, ensuring future operations by the 2022/2023 overwintering
    crew. "AMSAT-DL provided the appropriate radio equipment for DP0GVN at
    Neumayer Station III, covering all costs for setup and provision of the required radio equipment and antenna," said AMSAT-DL President Peter
    Guelzow, DB2OS. "While amateur radio operations mostly take place
    during free time, contacts with schools have also been arranged on a
    regular basis. Similar to ARISS <http://www.ariss.org> [Amateur Radio
    on the International Space Station], such contacts in Antarctica are
    also something very special for the students. This will certainly also
    arouse interest in scientific or technical professions and, last but
    not least, in amateur radio." DP0GVN is a permanent ham radio club
    station, which offers operation for residents as their
    responsibilities. Much of the activity is on the QO-100 satellite. The
    primary operator is Felix Riess, DP1POL/DL5XL, who will be in
    Antarctica until mid-February. His HF activities are largely on 30 or
    20-meter CW and sometimes FT8. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service and to
    The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>

    The CW-only Maritime Radio Day <file:///C:/Users/Rick/Documents/ARRL%20News/maritimeradio.pro/maritimeradioday/>

    2022 is set for 1200 UTC on April 14 until 2200 UTC on April 15. Bands
    will include 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 15, and 10 meters. Certificate and
    QSL. This will mark the 11th anniversary of the event, held to
    commemorate the many years of CW wireless service for seafarers. Former
    US Merchant Marine wireless operators, fisheries, and coastal stations
    may register and participate. Radio amateurs and shortwave listeners
    are welcome. Former maritime radio officers should register <https://mrd.sfk-bremen.com/> in advance by April 1. Operating
    frequencies will focus on 1824 kHz; 3520 kHz; 7020 kHz; 10,118 kHz;
    14,052 kHz; 21,052 kHz, and 28,052 kHz. The primary working frequency
    is 14,052 kHz. There is no power limit.

    THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: A new sunspot group appeared on
    January 20, another on January 24, two more on January 25, and one more
    on January 26. But, overall solar activity declined from the previous
    week, January 13 - 19. Average daily sunspot number declined from 94.4
    to 39.6, and average daily solar flux went from 112 to 97.6.

    Predicted solar flux is 105 on January 27 - February 4; 108 on February
    5 - 6; 110 on February 7 - 8; 108 on February 9 - 10; 106, 105, 103,
    101, 100, and 95 February 11 - 16; 92 on February 17 - 18; 90 on
    February 19 - 21; 88, 87, 92, and 94 on February 22 - 25; 96 on
    February 26 - 28; 98 and 100 on March 1 - 2, and 105 on March 3 - 4.

    Predicted planetary A index is 8, 5, 12, and 10 on January 27 - 30; 5
    on January 31 - February 3; 15 and 10 on February 4 - 5; 5 on February
    6 - 9; then 12, 15, and 12 on February 10 - 12; 5 on February 13 - 19;
    6 on February 20 - 23; 5, 12, and 10 on February 24 - 26; 5 on February
    27 - March 2, and 15 and 10 on March 3 - 4.

    Look for reports on 6-meter openings in Friday's bulletin.

    Sunspot numbers for January 20 - 26 were 60, 23, 22, 22, 26, 53, and
    71, with a mean of 39.6. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 99.3, 97.3, 95.2,
    93.5, 95.2, 100.9, and 101.8, with a mean of 97.6. Estimated planetary
    A indices were 5, 8, 10, 8, 4, 13, and 10, with a mean of 8.3. Middle
    latitude A index was 5, 5, 7, 7, 3, 10, and 8, with a mean of 6.4.

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit <http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals> the ARRL Technical
    Information Service, read
    <http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere> "What the Numbers
    Mean...," and check out <http://k9la.us/> the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA

    A propagation bulletin archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio <https://www.voacap.com/hf/> website.

    Share <k7ra@arrl.net> your reports and observations.

    JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

    - January 28 - 30 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest (CW)

    - January 29 - 30 -- REF Contest (CW)

    - January 29 - 30 -- UBA DX Contest (Phone)

    - January 29 - 30 -- Winter Field Day (CW, phone, digital)

    - February 2 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

    - February 2 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)

    - February 3 - 4 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW Maximum 13 WPM)

    - February 3 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)

    - February 3 -- SKCC Sprint Europe (CW)

    UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

    - January 28 - 29 -- ARRL Delta Division Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/jackson-ms-capital-city-hamfest-2022-arrl-delta-division-convention>

    (Capital City Hamfest 2022), Jackson, Mississippi.

    - February 10 - 13 -- 2022 ARRL National Convention
    <http://www.arrl.org/expo> at Orlando HamCation®, Orlando, Florida

    - February 18 - 19 -- ARRL Southwestern Division Convention <http://www.yumahamfest.org/> (Yuma Hamfest), Yuma, Arizona

    - March 12 - 13 -- QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo <https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/>. (ARRL is a QSO Today partner)

    - February 26 -- ARRL Vermont State Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ham-con-arrl-vermont-state-convention-1> (HAM-CON), Colchester, Vermont

    - March 19 -- ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/47th-annual-martin-county-hamfest-arrl-southern-florida-section-convention>

    (47th Annual Martin County Hamfest), Stuart, Florida

    - March 19 -- ARRL West Texas Section Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/66th-annual-st-patrick-s-day-hamest-arrl-west-texas-section-convention>

    (66th Annual St. Patrick's Day Hamfest), Midland, Texas

    - March 19 -- ARRL West Virginia Section Convention <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/charleston-area-hamfest-arrl-west-virginia-section>

    (Charleston Area Hamfest), Charleston, West Virginia

    - March 27 -- ARRL Virginia Section Convention <https://viennawireless.net/wp/events/winterfest/> (Winterfest),
    Annandale, Virginia

    Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests> to find events in your area.

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