News
Propagation Forecast Bulletin #39 de K7RA:
by AB7RG 2023-09-29Solar activity was up for this reporting week, September 21-27. Eight new sunspot groups appeared, two on September 21, two more on September 22, two more on September 25, another on September 26 and another on September 27. The average daily sunspot number jumped from 118.4 to 170.6, while average daily solar flux went from 149.3 to 168.8. The Autumnal Equinox was last weekend in the Northern Hemisphere, so our Earth is bathed in equal amounts of solar radiation in both hemispheres.
Delaware Valley Radio Association Parks on the Air at Bowman's Tower:
by AB7RG 2023-09-29On Saturday, September 30, members of the Delaware Valley Radio Association will operate POTA -- "Parks On The Air" radio stations from Bowman's Hill Tower at Washington Crossing State Park in Pennsylvania. The event is open to the public. Amateur radio operators, known by the nickname "hams," frequently look for opportunities to set up portable stations using battery and solar power. It's fun and it's good training for disasters, when power and communication infrastructure is damaged or destroyed and hams take over to keep information flowing. Parks on the Air (POTA) is one such opportunity.
Students Wanted: Talk to an Astronaut via Amateur Radio In 2024!
by AB7RG 2023-09-28There's an opportunity for STEM education via amateur radio that will put students in contact with astronauts. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an amateur radio contact with a crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS). ARISS anticipates that the contacts will be held between July 1 and December 31, 2024. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates.
Amateur Radio Operators Restore Vital Communication Link in Waushara County
by AB7RG 2023-09-29In a remarkable display of community spirit and technical expertise, volunteer amateur radio operators from across the region converged on Waushara County to revive a critical lifeline of communication. The mission: to restore a radio repeater that plays a pivotal role in emergency communication for amateur radio operators. Known as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), these amateur radio operators volunteer their time and equipment to provide essential communication assistance during emergencies and support public service events. The heart of their communication network, the VHF radio repeater, had lain dormant for years following a lightning strike that caused severe damage.
DX News -- ARRL DX Bulletin #39:
by AB7RG 2023-09-28This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by The Daily DX, 425 DX News, DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web sites. Thanks to all.
Solar Eclipse QSO Party Seeks Radio Enthusiasts for Global Experiment:
by AB7RG 2023-09-28ARRL is proud to partner with HamSCI to help promote participation in the Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP). SEQPs are a series of global experiments -- and you can be a part of them. Solar eclipses will pass across the continental United States on October 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024. During these celestial events, you can join thousands of fellow amateurs as part of the largest crowd-sourced event for ham radio scientific exploration. The SEQP is part of the Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science and is for learning more about how the ionosphere works.
AMI Jamboree Scheduled for November:
by AB7RG 2023-09-28The 2023 Amplitude Modulation International (AMI) Jamboree will be held over the Thanksgiving weekend, starting at dusk on November 24 and ending at dawn on November 27. AMI Executive Director John C. McGrath, N9AMI, said the jamboree is not a contest but rather an AM-only operating event. "Everyone is welcome to participate, and there is a certificate available for those who contact 25 stations and submit a log," said McGrath. "Each class winner will receive a certificate, and a short biography will be posted on the AMI website. While the age of the equipment doesn't matter, there must be an AM mode selection on the radio," he added.
