• The ARRL Letter for December 30, 2021

    From ARRL Web site@21:1/5 to All on Thu Dec 30 18:04:33 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

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

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

    December 30, 2021

    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

    - IARU Region 2 Executive Committee Issues Upbeat Seasonal Message
    - Hurricane Watch Net Recorded 300 On-Air Hours in 2021
    - New Low-Power Limit for ARRL HF Contests Goes into Effect on January
    1, 2022
    - ARRL to Oppose Forest Service Administrative Fees for Amateur Radio Facilities
    - HamSCI Invites Abstracts for its 2022 Workshop
    - ARRL Learning Network Webinars
    - Intrepid-DX Group Announces Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest Winners
    - Amateur Radio in the News
    - 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island Updates its Progress
    - Announcements
    - Georgia Club Donates License Manuals to Local Schools
    - In Brief...
    - The K7RA Solar Update
    - Just Ahead in Radiosport
    - Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Friday, December 31, and there will
    be no W1AW bulletin or CW practice transmissions on that day. ARRL
    Headquarters will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022, at 8 AM EST (1300
    UTC). We extend our best wishes for the New Year!

    IARU REGION 2 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ISSUES UPBEAT SEASONAL MESSAGE

    International Amateur Radio Union (IARU <http://www.iaru.org/>) Region
    2 Secretary George Gorsline, VE3YV, has issued a year-end message on
    behalf of the Executive Committee.

    "A bright spot in an otherwise challenging year is that our shared
    passion of amateur radio is growing stronger," Gorsline wrote. "The
    increase in on-the-air activity has been noticeable, especially on the
    HF bands. Driven by reawakening solar activity and the rapid adoption
    of digital modes, such as FT8, the bands are active -- not just during
    evenings and weekends, but also during normal working hours, where more
    than a few of us have been known to be in video conference calls while
    making QSOs.

    Growth in activity and participation has not been limited to the HF
    bands. Use of VHF and UHF has also increased, not just for local nets,
    but especially interest in satellite operations."

    Gorsline said that the use of "virtual learning" has allowed many IARU member-societies and affiliated clubs to conduct licensing classes and
    exams. "Attracting new and younger amateurs is our future," said
    Gorsline. "For 2022, the challenge to all of us is to not only enjoy
    our hobby, but to also share it with someone new."

    Gorsline challenged members of the amateur community to "introduce
    someone to the many possibilities of amateur radio."

    HURRICANE WATCH NET RECORDED 300 ON-AIR HOURS IN 2021

    Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, says 2021 was
    the third most-active hurricane season on record in terms of named
    storms, and was the sixth consecutive above-normal season.

    "We've completed another hurricane season. The Atlantic basin was
    extremely busy again for 2021," Graves told HWN members. "For the year,
    we had 21 named storms, seven of which became hurricanes, and four of
    those became major hurricanes -- Category 3 or stronger." Graves noted
    that 2021 marked the first year on record that two consecutive
    hurricane seasons exhausted the list of 21 storm names.

    Tropical systems that made landfall caused estimated total damage of
    $70 billion, as of the end of November, making 2021 the fourth most
    costly hurricane season on record, behind 2012, 2005, and 2017.

    Graves recounted that several tropical systems made an impact on land
    this year. "In August, Tropical Storm Fred caused devastating flooding
    across parts of the Greater Antilles and the southeastern United
    States," he said. "Hurricane Grace made two landfalls in Mexico --
    first as a Category 1 hurricane just south of Tulum on the southeast
    Yucatán [Peninsula], and second as a Category 3 major hurricane in the
    Mexican state of Veracruz."

    "Hurricane Ida was a deadly and destructive hurricane that made
    landfall in Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane -- the most intense and

    destructive hurricane to affect the state since Hurricane Katrina,"
    Graves continued. He noted that Ida also caused catastrophic flooding
    across the US northeast.

    "Hurricane Larry peaked as a powerful Category 3 hurricane over the
    open Atlantic [Ocean] before making landfall in the Canadian province
    of Newfoundland and Labrador as a Category 1 hurricane. Later,
    Hurricane Nicholas moved erratically both on and offshore [on] the
    coasts of Texas and Louisiana," he said.

    In 2021, the HWN activated for five hurricanes -- Elsa, Grace, Henri,
    Ida, and Larry. Graves said the HWN racked up nearly 300 hours on the
    air, with 140 of those spent on Hurricane Ida alone. Read an expanded
    version <http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-recorded-300-on-air-hours-in-2021>.


    NEW LOW-POWER LIMIT FOR ARRL HF CONTESTS GOES INTO EFFECT ON
    JANUARY 1, 2022

    ARRL has set a new standard for what counts as low power for
    ARRL-sponsored HF contests. The new limit is 100 W, which is down from
    the 150 W limit that has been permitted in some events, including the
    ARRL November Sweepstakes.

    With the exception of ARRL Field Day, this change goes into effect on
    January 1, 2022, for all ARRL-sponsored HF contests, as well as the
    IARU HF World Championship
    <http://www.arrl.org/iaru-hf-world-championship>.

    This change has been implemented to standardize low-power categories
    within the contesting community. However, on a more practical level,
    the typical modern HF transceiver has a maximum power output of 100 W.

    For more information, contact <contests@arrl.org> the ARRL Contests
    program. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest Update

    ARRL Podcasts Schedule

    The latest episode of the On the Air podcast (Episode 24) features some
    tips about how to improve the effective range of your handheld
    transceiver.

    The latest edition of the Eclectic Tech podcast (Episode 50) -- the
    final edition for 2021 -- features a discussion with Nelson
    Sollenberger, KA2C, about the filter he designed that allows two nearby stations to operate on the same band during Field Day and contests.
    Also featured is a brief explanation of the so-called POST beeps that
    many computers make, and what they mean.

    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/>.

    ARRL TO OPPOSE FOREST SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR AMATEUR RADIO
    FACILITIES

    The US Forest Service is proposing to implement a statutorily required
    annual fee for new and existing communications use authorizations to
    cover the costs of administering its authorization program. ARRL plans
    to vigorously oppose the imposition of the proposed fees on amateur
    radio.

    The Forest Service proposal results from requirements set forth in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (aka "the Farm Bill").
    Specifically, section 8705(c)(3)(b) of the Farm Bill directs the Forest
    Service to issue regulations that require fees for issuing
    communications use authorizations based on the cost to the Agency for maintenance or other activities to be performed by the Agency "as a
    result of the location or modification of a communications facility."

    The Forest Service is responsible for managing Federal lands and
    authorizes the use and occupancy of National Forest System (NFS) lands
    for communications facilities that provide communications services for
    adjacent rural and urban communities. The Agency said in its proposal
    that it administers more than 3,700 special use authorizations on NFS
    lands for infrastructure that supports more than 10,000 wireless
    communications uses at 1,367 communications sites.

    According to the Forest Service Notice <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-12-22/pdf/2021-27681.pdf> published in the December 22, 2021 issue of the Federal Register,
    revenues from the proposed fee, "would provide the funds necessary to
    support a more modernized, efficient, and enhanced communications use
    program," and will "cover the costs of administering the Agency's communications use program." Costs, as laid out in section 8705(f)(4)
    of the Farm Bill, may include expenditures for such things as "on-site
    reviews of communications sites, developing communications site
    management plans, hiring and training personnel for the communications
    use program, conducting internal and external outreach for and national oversight of the communications use program, and obtaining or improving
    access to communications sites on NFS lands."

    ARRL encourages amateur radio licensees to file comments opposing the imposition of the proposed administrative fee on amateur radio users.
    Comments must be received in writing by no later than February 22,
    2022. Comments may be submitted online <http://www.regulations.gov/> at
    the Federal Rulemaking Portal or via USPS mail to Director, Lands &
    Realty Management Staff, 201 14th Street SW, Washington, DC 20250-1124,
    and must include the identifier "RIN 0596-AD44."

    HAMSCI INVITES ABSTRACTS FOR ITS 2022 WORKSHOP

    HamSCI is soliciting abstracts for the 2022 HamSCI Workshop <https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022>. The submission deadline is February 1,
    2022. The workshop will be a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event from
    March 18 - 19, 2022, at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville,
    Alabama.

    "The primary objective of the HamSCI workshop is to bring together the
    amateur radio community and professional scientists," said HamSCI Lead Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF, an assistant professor within the Department
    of Physics and Electrical Engineering at The University of Scranton.
    "This year's theme is 'The Weather Connection,' with invited speakers
    Tamitha Skov, WX6SWW, and Jim Bacon, G3YLA."

    Skov and Bacon will present tutorials on the impacts of space and
    terrestrial weather on the ionosphere. Chen-Pang Yeang, an associate
    professor and director for the Special Project on Scientific
    Instruments at the University of Toronto, will deliver the keynote
    address, "Ham Radio and the Discovery of the Ionosphere."

    Frissell said that abstracts related to development of the Personal
    Space Weather Station, ionospheric science, atmospheric science, radio
    science, space weather, radio astronomy, and any science topic that can
    be appropriately related to amateur radio are invited. "We especially
    encourage submissions related to this year's meeting theme of The
    Weather Connection, but will also accept abstracts outside of this
    theme that are of interest to both the amateur radio and professional
    science communities."

    To submit an abstract, complete the form on the HamSCI Workshop page <https://hamsci.org/hamsci2022>. Workshop registration will open by mid-January. Read an expanded version <http://www.arrl.org/news/hamsci-invites-abstracts-for-its-2022-workshop>.

    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.

    Have an interesting topic you want to share? The ARRL Learning Network <http://www.arrl.org/arrl-learning-network> is a series of online
    webinars presented by member-volunteers for members. Presentations
    should be short -- 30 minutes plus an additional 15 minutes for Q&A.

    For more information, email ARRL Education and Learning <ead@arrl.org?subject=ARRL%20Learning%20Network%20inquiry>.

    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.

    INTREPID-DX GROUP ANNOUNCES YOUTH "DREAM RIG" ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS

    On December 1, Intrepid-DX Group <https://intrepid-dx.com/> President
    Paul Ewing, N6PSE, announced the prize recipients of the second annual
    Youth "Dream Rig" Essay Contest. Ewing said all essays received "were
    all unique in thought and very well articulated." Extra points were
    given for correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling, he said.

    "Most of the essays gave unique perspectives on how to reach out and
    connect with the youth of today. We will be sharing those ideas in
    subsequent postings," he said.

    The first-place winner and recipient of an Icom IC-7300 transceiver is
    Silas Davis, W3SED. Second-place winner Olivia Lee, KD2UYX, and
    third-place winner Isaac Schmidt, K6IAS, will each receive Yaesu FT-65R
    radios. "Having read your many essays this week, we can tell you that
    our youth are full of great ideas, and they are brimming with
    enthusiasm to keep our hobby alive well into the future," Ewing
    concluded.

    He thanked Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC
    <http://www.ampr.org/>) for supporting this year's prizes.

    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>.

    - Hoschar now a ham ...
    <https://www.forksforum.com/news/hoschar-now-a-ham> / Forks Forum,
    Forks, Washington (December 15, 2021)

    - "How Amateur Radio Fanatics Launched the World's First Private
    Communication Satellite <https://www.inverse.com/science/60-oscar-1-presaged-the-cubesat-era>"
    / Inverse (December 12, 2021)

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

    3Y0J DXPEDITION TO BOUVET ISLAND UPDATES ITS PROGRESS

    Two new team members of the upcoming 3Y0J Bouvet DXpedition team have
    come aboard to replace, in part, three operators who are unable to make
    the trip -- Sandro Nitoi, VE7NY; Laci Radócz, HA0NAR, and Dimtry
    Zhikharev, RA9USU. Joining the 3Y0J crew will be Cezar Trifu, VE3LYC,
    and Otis Vicens, NP4G. A third replacement has not yet been named.

    "Their experience will be a great addition to the team," the DXpedition
    team said in a media release announcing the personnel changes and
    updating the DXpedition's planning process.

    Ken Opskar, LA7GIA; Rune 0ye, LA7THA, and Erwann Merrien, LB1QI, are
    sharing leadership duties for the 2023 DXpedition.

    The 3Y0J team has also been busy selecting the gear that they will need
    once they reach the subantarctic island. Arctic Lavvo of Norway will
    supply the team with its Venor Gamme tent. The tent, which stood up to
    winds of 40 meters per second (nearly 90 MPH) when it was tested in
    extreme conditions on Svalbard, will be improved further by adding
    extra guying levels and by strengthening the aluminum frame, the 3Y0J DXpedition team explained.

    Silcom of South Africa will supply custom masts for the Yagi antennas
    that are rated for the Bouvet environment. The aluminum mast will be
    used for the tribanders, while the smaller, galvanized steel mast will
    support dual-band Yagis.

    "We're taking preparation to the next level by procuring a [Zodiac
    Milpro inflatable boat]," the team continued. "The strategic decision
    to buy the [boat] will enable us to train [for] the critical beach
    landing in Norway.

    The DXpedition team said it's still $160,000 short of its funding goal.

    Follow the team's plans via its website <http://www.3y0j.no/> or the
    3Y0J Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/groups/3093983840726129>.
    View Bouvet Island from above in a short YouTube video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaMaR21075U>. Read an expanded version <http://www.arrl.org/news/3y0j-dxpedition-to-bouvet-island-updates-its-progress>.


    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    - <http://www.arrl.org/qst-reissue>ARRL's Commemorative 1915 QST
    download on Christmas Day encountered a delivery issue. ARRL members
    can now access the document <http://www.arrl.org/qst-reissue>. Send <members@arrl.org> questions or comments via email. QST marked its
    centenary in 2015, and the first edition was published in December
    1915.

    - Finland's IARU member-society SRAL has presented Iceland's
    member-society IRA with an engraved KBX-380 Morse paddle to commemorate
    the 75th anniversary of the IRA's founding.

    - NASA has announced its intent to purchase three more commercial crew
    missions from SpaceX -- in a sole-source award -- as a hedge against
    further delays in the certification of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner.
    Those missions will be in addition to the six post-certification
    missions SpaceX in 2014. "It's critical we begin to secure additional
    flights to the space station now so we are ready as these missions are
    needed to maintain a US presence on the station," said Kathy Lueders,
    Associate Administrator of NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate.

    - ARRL has been migrating to new rule sets that exist as a single
    document. As the rule sets are replaced, the older "General Rules,"
    "Rules for Contests below 30 MHz," and "Rules for Contests above 30
    MHz" documents will sunset. Complete rules are available as a PDF on
    individual contest pages. -- Thanks to ARRL Contest Program Manager
    Paul Bourque <n1sfe@arrl.org>, N1SFE

    - New Year's Day is also Kids Day <http://www.arrl.org/kids-day>.
    Introduce your child, or a relative's or friend's child, to amateur
    radio. If you hear kids on the air, have a friendly contact with them.
    Kids Day is designed to give young people on-the-air experience and
    hopefully foster their interest in getting a license of their own. It
    is also intended to give older hams a chance to share their stations
    and love for amateur radio with youngsters.

    - The US Department of Defense has issued an updated Military Auxiliary
    Radio System (MARS) instruction <https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/465002p.pdf>, DODI 4650.02, replacing MARS DODI 4650.02 issued in 2009. The document establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures
    for MARS. It further establishes MARS organization, membership, and
    functions. -- Thanks to Gary Sessums, KC5QCN

    GEORGIA CLUB DONATES LICENSE MANUALS TO LOCAL SCHOOLS

    The Dalton Amateur Radio Club (DARC <http://www.w4drc.com/>) in Dalton, Georgia, recently donated copies of the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual
    to several schools in its service area. The materials will be available
    in the schools' media centers.

    On December 1, DARC President Jack Thompson, N5UOV, met with media
    specialists Sarah Hicks of North Murray High School and Ryan Long of
    Murray County High School to present both schools with copies of the
    ARRL Ham Radio License Manual, which covers everything needed to obtain
    a Technician-class license including the full question pool for the
    exam.

    During a second presentation on December 3, Thompson and David
    Stanley, WI4L, met with Whitfield County Schools Media Specialist
    Ge-Anne Bolhuis, and Communications Specialist Kristina Horsley, to
    present 10 copies of the license manual, which will be placed in each
    middle school and high school in the county.

    The visits offered Thompson and Stanley a chance to answer questions
    about amateur radio. Thompson explained to Hicks that not only was ham
    radio an interesting hobby, it involves public service activities and
    could inspire students to become involved in emergency management or search-and-rescue activities.

    Bolhuis also asked about the uses of amateur radio. Stanley explained
    that ham radio is often the last line of communication in an emergency
    when all other means fail. Thompson explained how his activity as a
    radio amateur led to his 25+ years of volunteering as a reservist in
    emergency management and as a member of the search-and-rescue team of
    the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi.

    Representatives from all of the schools received information about the
    ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program
    <http://www.arrl.org/scholarship-program>. The Dalton Amateur Radio
    Club expressed its appreciation to Tom Smith, KI4IG, for making the
    initial contacts with the schools and to ARRL for providing the manuals
    at no cost.

    IN BRIEF...

    David Benoist, AG4ZR, has been appointed as ARRL Georgia Section
    Manager. In consultation with ARRL Southeastern Division Director
    Mickey Baker, N4MB, ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters, W8ZY,
    appointed Benoist, of Senoia, to fill the vacant post starting
    immediately. Benoist had previously served as Georgia Section Manager
    (SM) from 2016 to 2021. Benoist was the ARRL Georgia Section Emergency Coordinator from March 2014 to 2016. The former Georgia ARRL SM, Jim
    Millsap, K9APD, resigned for personal reasons, effective December 14,
    after serving since October 1.

    A new release of WSJT-X is available. The WSJT-X development group --
    Joe Taylor, K1JT; Steve Franke, K9AN; and new member Nico Palermo,
    IV3NWV -- have announced the release of WSJT-X 2.5.3. This new release
    includes a feature of special interest to users participating in the
    ARRL January VHF Contest (January 15 - 17). This new feature is an
    enhanced macro facility for text messages that is aimed at making it
    easier to ask another station to move to another band. This feature is described briefly in the updated WSJT-X User Guide <https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.5.2.html>. Installation packages for WSJT-X 2.5.3 are available on the WSJT-X
    website <https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main-2.5.2.html>.

    Special WRTC 2022 call signs will be active starting in January. The
    World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2022 Organizing Committee has announced that more than 100 Italian radio amateurs will be activating
    special WRTC call signs, one for each Italian call district, starting
    on January 1, 2022, and concluding on July 10, 2022. A first-time-ever
    award <http://www.wrtc2022.it/award> will be available promoting WRTC
    2022, which has been postponed until 2023. Look for these call signs to
    be active during some contests, concluding with the 2022 IARU HF World Championship <https://www.wrtc2022.it/en>. Each participant's contact
    totals and award-hunter scores will be displayed on a real-time
    leaderboard <http://www.wrtc2022.it/award>. Participants can download
    the award in digital format. -- Thanks to The ARRL Contest Update

    Former ARRL Tennessee Section Manager Keith Miller Sr., N9DGK, of
    Rockvale, Tennessee, died of COVID on December 22. An ARRL Life Member,
    he was 75. Miller served four terms as ARRL Tennessee Section Manager
    from 2012 until December 2019, when he decided not to run for another
    term. He was licensed in 1981 and was very active in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and emergency communication. Miller served as
    ARRL Emergency Coordinator from 2006 to 2013. Miller served as a member
    and officer of the Stones River Amateur Radio Club.

    Former ARRL Virgin Islands Section Manager Ron Hall, KP2N, of St.
    Augustine, Florida, has died. An ARRL Life Member, he was 85. Hall
    served as Section Manager from 1988 until 1996. He later served as an
    Assistant Section Manager in 2002 before relocating to Florida.
    Licensed in the 1950s, he once worked for Heathkit <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDLYpGDBrfI>. He was a member of the
    St. Petersburg Amateur Radio Club.

    THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Sunspot activity persisted over the
    reporting week, although numbers were a bit lower. Average daily
    sunspot number declined from 124.4 to 110.1. Average daily solar flux
    slipped just slightly from 125 to 124. Average daily planetary A index
    went from 9.1 to 6.4, and average middle latitude numbers changed from
    6.4 to 4.4.

    New sunspot groups appeared on December 25, 26, and 28.

    Predicted solar flux over the next month is expected to peak at 130 on
    January 18 - 19, and the numbers are 110, 108, and 105 on December 30 -
    January 1; 104 on January 2 - 3; 100 on January 4; 98 on January 5 - 6;
    then 92, 100, 105, and 110 on January 7 - 10; 115 on January 11 - 13;
    118 on January 14 - 15; 122 and 128 on January 16 - 17; 130 on January
    18 - 19; 128, 125, and 120 on January 20 - 22; 125 on January 23 - 24;
    122 on January 25; 120 on January 26 - 27; 115, 110, 100, and 95 on
    January 28 - 31; 90 on February 1 - 2, and 92 and 100 on February 3 -
    4.

    Predicted planetary A index is 10 and 8 on December 30 - 31, then 6,
    12, and 8 on January 1 - 3; 5 on January 4 - 10; 10 on January 11 - 12;
    5 on January 13 - 14; 8 and 12 on January 15 - 16; 8 on January 17 -
    18; 5 on January 19 - 22; 8, 10, 8, and 8 on January 23 - 26, and 5 on
    January 27 - February 6.

    Sunspot numbers for December 23 - 29 were 143, 145, 117, 95, 85, 107,
    and 79, with a mean of 110.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 129.8,
    126.2, 130.7, 125.4, 123.9, 120.5, and 111.4, with a mean of 124.
    Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 5, 7, 3, 10, 9, and 7, with a
    mean of 6.4. Middle latitude A index was 2, 3, 5, 2, 8, 6, and 5, with
    a mean of 4.4.

    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

    - December 31 -- Bogor Old and New Contest (Phone)

    - January 1 -- Straight Key Night
    <http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night>

    - January 1 -- ARRL Kids Day <http://www.arrl.org/kids-day> (Phone)

    - January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)

    - January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest

    - January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (CW)

    - January 1 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)

    - January 1 -- QRP ARCI New Years Sprint (CW)

    -

    - January 1 - 2 -- WW PMC Contest (CW, phone)

    - January 1 - 2 -- Original QRP Contest (CW, phone)

    - January 3 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW, maximum 20 WPM)

    - January 4 -- Worldwide Sideband Contest

    - January 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

    - January 5 -- RTTYops Weeksprint

    - January 5 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)

    - January 5 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW)

    - January 5 -- FT8 Activity Contest

    - January 5 -- CWops Mini-CWT Test (CW)

    - January 5 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)

    - January 6 - 7 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)

    UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

    - January 8 -- ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention <http://hamradiouniversity.org/> (Ham Radio University), Online
    - January 14 -15 -- ARRL North Texas Section Convention <http://cowtownhamfest.com/> (Cowtown Hamfest), Forest Hill, Texas
    - January 22 -- ARRL Midwest Division Convention
    <http://winterfest.slsrc.org/> (Winterfest), Collinsville, Illinois
    - 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

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