ARRL

With sunspot numbers and solar flux at times both above 300, recent daily space weather has been exciting for radio amateurs who watch the sun. We like higher activity because it correlates with a dense ionosphere, bringing with it better conditions on higher frequencies.

This extreme activity also comes with greater geomagnetic disturbance, which cause higher absorption of HF signals. 

For exa...

Saturday, August 17, 2024 Midday Update:

This update is from the Hurricane Watch Net:

The Hurricane Watch Net has secured operations for Hurricane Ernesto. We were in continuous operation for 22 continuous hours.

From the reports we received, more than 26,000 residents are without power. Many areas are without internet service as well.

The eyewall is now north of the island and reported wind speeds...

By: Frank Donovan, W3LPL

Editor’s note: This article was written earlier in the week. The latest measurements show even higher numbers. See this week's K7RA Solar Report in The ARRL Letter for latest information. 

Record High Solar Cycle 25 Solar Maximum Sunspot Numbers Have Improved HF Propagation Since Mid-July and Possibly Bringing Worldwide 6 Meter F2 Propagation This Fall.

According to the NO...

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) accepted for public comment a Petition for Rulemaking filed by NextNav Inc., a licensee in the 900-MHz Location and Monitoring Service (LMS), to completely reconfigure the 902-928 MHz band and replace the LMS with high-powered 5G cellular and related location services.

The FCC Notice requested comment on the effects that NextNav’s proposals would have ...

"ASWFC GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING ISSUED AT 0211UT/09 AUGUST 2024 BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

"Recent CME activity is expected to increase geomagnetic activity from mid 09-Aug and on 10-Aug. Further CME activity on 08-Aug is now expected to also increase geomagnetic activity on 11-Aug.

"INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED DUE TO CORONAL MASS EJECTION FROM 09-12 ...

On August 1, 2024, Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, ARRL Education and Learning Manager, took a train trip to New York City to visit the Staten Island Technical High School. He was there to help administer amateur radio exams to 49 students and all passed their exams. Several upgraded their licenses from General to Extra class and two students went from unlicensed to Extra class in one sitting.

Their teac...

David Galletly, KM2O, has been appointed Vice Director of the ARRL Hudson Division. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, appointed Galletly to the remainder of the term ending in December, 2024, following the promotion of former Vice Director Ed Wilson, N2XDD, to Hudson Division Director.

Galletly has been active in amateur radio since 1998. An ARRL Life Member, he is a member and past President ...

Friday, August 8, 2024 Update:

Remants of Hurricane Debby continue to drench the East Coast. The storm originally made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend coastal area just after 11:00 PM on Sunday, August 4, as a Category 1, near Steinhatchee, Florida, just 9 miles southeast of where Category 3 Idalia made landfall on August 30, 2023.

The hurricane was downgraded the following day to a tropical storm...

Andrew “Andy” Milluzzi, Ph.D., KK4LWR, has been appointed Vice Director of the ARRL Southeastern Division. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, appointed Milluzzi to the remainder of the term ending in December 2025 following the recent death of former Vice Director Jeff Beals, WA4AW (SK).

Milluzzi works for Walt Disney Imagineering as a Senior Ride Control Systems Engineer. He earned his Ph.D. a...

Beginning on Friday, September 6, 2024, Maxim Memorial Station W1AW will begin using a new 17-meter frequency for its scheduled CW transmissions due to increased activity near the current bulletin frequency. In order to reduce the possibility of interference, W1AW will move to 18077.5 kHz.

Updated 8/7/2024 | Obituary link added to end of story.

Carter Craigie, N3AO, passed away on August 1, 2024, at age 86. Licensed since 1981, he was an ARRL Life Member and Maxim Society Member. He was married to past ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, for 49 years.

Carter’s public service communications included appointments as Eastern Pennsylvania Section Traffic Manager and ARES Emergency Coordi...

High solar activity continued this week, with average daily sunspot number changing from 208.1 to 208.9 and average daily solar flux from 193 to 207.3.  Average daily planetary A index shifted from 6 to 14, and average middle latitude A index from 7.3 to 13.1.

The Penticton observatory in British Columbia reported a solar flux of 400.7 at noon on July 30, which we threw out due to obvious overl...

As ARRL continues to empower teachers to bring amateur radio and radio technology into their classrooms through the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, many generous donors have stepped up to enable the work.

Parents can make all the difference in someone’s success. David Ginsberg, N3BKV, knows that well. His parents, Hy and Mimi Ginsberg, supported his passions, “Whether it was my m...

ARRL continues to develop the highly successful ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology. Much as is done with new equipment in the amateur radio hobby, a prototype is being tinkered with this week: TI3. The third phase of the program is centered around space. Teachers who have each been through the previous versions of the program are at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, to te...

Solar activity was a bit lower this week. Seven new sunspot groups appeared. The only day with no new sunspot groups was Sunday, July 21. The next day two new sunspot groups arose, and all other days each had one new group.

Average daily sunspot number was 208.1, down from 215.9, while average daily solar flux declined from 226 to 193.

Geomagnetic numbers remained quiet, with average planetary ...

by Sierra Harrop, W5DX

ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio® encourages all amateur stations to prepare for what the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has predicted will be a busy hurricane season. In addition to readying equipment to function during and after a storm’s impact, local Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®) nets are encouraged to participate in hurricane reporting and ...

Professor Theodore “Ted” S. Rappaport, Ph.D., N9NB, has been elected to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Vehicular Technology Society’s (VTS) Hall of Fame. The IEEE VTS Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose truly outstanding leadership and contributions have had a significant impact on the technologies represented by the fields of interest of the IEEE VTS. The VT...

The Vice Director of the ARRL Southeastern Division, Jeffrey J. “Jeff” Beals, WA4AW, has become a Silent Key. He died on July 20, 2024. Beals, who was born in 1951, devoted a lifetime of service to amateur radio, having served in many local clubs, the ARRL Field Organization, and on the ARRL Board of Directors. He was also elected Vice President of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA...

HamCon: Zion 2024, hosting the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention, the Young Ladies Radio League 85th Convention, and the RV Radio Network’s 2024 Western Rally, was a success. The inaugural event, held in St. George, Utah, was well attended and many reported the facility and events were first rate. 

ARRL National Instructor Gordon West, WB6NOA, was in the ARRL booth greeting visitors and ga...