| ARRL Urges Protecting the Amateur Radio 902-928 MHz Band |
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 on amateur radio operations in the band. ARRL® is preparing comments urging protection of existing and future amateur uses in this band and urges all amateurs to file their own comments describing their activities in this band and the expected effect of the proposed changes. Click here for a guide to filing comments. NextNav currently holds licenses in the 900-MHz band that authorize it to provide services limited to determining the location and status of mobile radio units. NextNav ties its request to provide high-power broadband, cellular and location services to the vulnerabilities of the current satellite-based GPS system and argues that implementation of its proposal would complement GPS by providing an alternative nationwide terrestrial location system in addition to cellular and broadband services. Under its proposal, NextNav would be designated the sole nationwide licensee for this spectrum in exchange for its more limited licenses. The new nationwide license would authorize NextNav to provide much higher-powered traditional broadband and 5G cellular services as well as the related location service occupying 15 of the total 26 megahertz available in the band. The reconfiguration proposed by NextNav would create a 5-megahertz-wide uplink subband at 902-907 MHz paired with a 10-megahertz downlink subband at 918-928 MHz. The 5-megahertz uplink subband would be limited to use by mobiles with a maximum of 3 watts ERP. On the 10-megahertz downlink subband, up to 2000 watts ERP would be permitted in rural areas and 1000 watts ERP in urban and suburban areas, radiating from tower structures that could reach 1000 or more feet above average terrain. These configurations reflect the FCC’s rules for standard cellular configurations that have been adopted to govern a number of other bands used for similar 5G and like services. Although uses by the Amateur Radio Service in this band are secondary to LMS, NextNav is proposing substantial technical and use changes that would completely alter the foundation upon which the current rules and spectrum sharing arrangements rely and undercut shared use of the band by amateurs as well as a variety of other users. In addition, NextNav proposes deletion of a specific interference provision in the Commission’s rules that was adopted to encourage and protect continued sharing with amateurs and other secondary users. NextNav, in its petition, argues without evidence that the changes that it proposes to the 902-928 MHz band “will not impede amateur operations.” In an 8-page description of NextNav’s proposal released by the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the FCC staff asks a series of questions that would clarify the proposal and help the Commission ascertain the likely effect of the proposed changes on existing users if the requested changes were adopted. Comment was specifically requested on the extent of amateur operations in the band, the potential impact of the proposed changes, any other spectrum options that may exist, and the costs for relocations if other options exist. ARRL is preparing comments urging protection of existing and future amateur uses in this band. ARRL urges all amateurs to study the proposal and file their own comments describing their activities in this band and the expected effect of the proposed changes. The filing deadline is September 5, 2024. Replies to comments are due by September 20, 2024. Click here for a guide to filing comments. |
 | |
Solar Cycle 25 Producing Record High Sunspot Numbers |
Solar Cycle 25 Impressing Propagation Experts By: Frank Donovan, W3LPL Editor’s note: This article was written earlier in the week. The latest measurements show even higher numbers. See K7RA Solar Report, below. 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 NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), Solar Cycle 25 likely reached its highest sunspot number yet of at least 299 on August 8th. www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/solar-cycle-25-likely-reached-highest-sunspot-number-over-20-years The World Data Center - Sunspot Index and Long-Term Solar Observations (SILSO) publishes near-real-time Estimated International Sunspot Number (EISN) reports based on its global network of reporting stations. Daily EISN reports during Solar Cycle 25 were consistently well below 200 until suddenly rising to 218 on July 14th and reaching 289 on July 18th, but then declining to 178 on July 22nd. While occasional brief daily EISN increases are not unusual during solar maximum, after only five days, the daily EISN suddenly rose to 212 on July 27th, reaching a Solar Cycle 25 record high 297 on August 8th and remaining mostly well above 200 through this writing on August 11th. Daily EISN reports are likely to remain well above 200 during most days through late September and possibly much longer. Since February 2002, worldwide 6-meter propagation has been mostly limited to sporadic occurrences of trans-equatorial propagation (TEP) near the equinox months and occasional sporadic-E propagation reaching many thousands of miles during June and July. Worldwide 6-meter F2 propagation may again occur -- perhaps very frequently -- starting in late October 2024 if daily EISN reports consistently remain well above 200. See www.sidc.be/SILSO/eisnplot. |
 | |
Amateur Radio Active as Hurricane Ernesto Headed for Bermuda |
As of 11:00 AM Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Ernesto had become a Category 1 hurricane. |
 | | A visible satellite image of Hurricane Ernesto [Image from NASA Earth Observatory] |
|
|
|
A hurricane warning has now been issued for Bermuda and dangerous rip currents are likely along U.S. East Coast beaches this weekend, August 17 - 18. Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Hurricane Watch Net Manager, reports the net’s activation plans: Friday August 16 - 20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC) until we lose propagation at night.
- 40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC). The net will remain active on this frequency overnight for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows operation all night, the net will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Monday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct its daily net.
Saturday August 17 - 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC).
- 40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC).
The VoIP Hurricane Net is not active yet but monitoring the situation. The hurricane is currently about 605 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (MPH) and moving north at 13 MPH. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. The forecast track shows the center of Ernesto is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on Saturday, August 17. Ernest has now moved out of Puerto Rico. The island suffered flash flooding, storm damage, and widespread power outages on Wednesday as Ernesto moved past. Half of all residents were without power, with flooding and damage especially pronounced in the eastern part of the island. Angel Luis Santana DÃaz, WP3GW, Public Information Coordinator for the ARRL Puerto Rico Section, reports that amateur radio operators there are on the KP4FRA repeater system reporting situations in different municipalities. Fred Kleber, K9VV / NNA2FK, Section Manager of the ARRL Virgin Islands Section, reports Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VIETMA) activated its emergency operations centers on Tuesday night. Power is out to all customers on all islands with lines down and trees blocking some roads. Kleber estimated that full power restoration may take 1 - 2 days. All U.S. Virgin Island (USVI) repeaters are operating except for one, and the British Virgin Islands BVI.73 repeater is on the air as well. The Starlink antenna, in use for the first time, survived 75 - 80 MPH wind gusts with service solid at 150+ Mb download speed, even through the clouds. More updates will be posted as the Ernesto moves north across Bermuda during the next 24 hours. |
 | |
Amateur Radio in the News |
“See, talk on ham radios at the fair” / Crossville Chronicle (Tennessee) August 8, 2024 -- The Cumberland Plateau Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club. |
On the Air Sponsored by Icom The podcast takes a field trip to W1AW, ARRL’s Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, to hear from W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, about all the ways to “Practice Code with W1AW,” from daily code practice sessions at a speed that suits you, to Qualifying Runs where you can earn certificates for submitting accurate copy. |
 | |
ARRL Audio News Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. ARRL Audio News is a summary of the week's top news stories in the world of amateur radio and ARRL, along with interviews and other features. The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry, iTunes, and Apple Podcasts. On the Air | ARRL Audio News Does Your Repeater Air ARRL Audio News? ARRL is seeking well-documented technical summaries from individuals or groups that air ARRL Audio News on their local repeaters. Send along your story or article, and any photos, to audionews@arrl.org. Your story may help another repeater join our large Audio News network. You’ll find a list and schedule for the ARRL Audio News Network at www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news. ARRL Audio News is published every Friday and includes a spoken summary of the week’s top news stories as reported by ARRL News Editor John Ross, KD8IDJ. It is available as a podcast hosted by Blubrry.com, and is also posted each week to the ARRL website as a downloadable audio file in the MP3 format. |
 | |
The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be conducting a research campaign beginning August 13 - 16 and continuing on August 18 - 20, 2024. Operating frequencies will vary, but all HAARP transmissions will be between 2.8 MHz and 10 MHz. Actual transmit days and times are highly variable based on real-time ionospheric and/or geomagnetic conditions. Amateur radio operators are invited to listen and send reception reports to uaf-gi-haarp@alaska.edu or to: HAARP, PO Box 271, Gakona, AK 99586. This campaign is being conducted in support of research proposals from the Polar Aeronomy and Radio Science (PARS) Summer School, with over 25 unique experiments taking place. The theme of this year’s program is “Illuminating Space.” The scientific goals of these experiments range from studies on the effects of ionospheric conditions on GPS satellite signals to the generation and propagation of extremely low frequency/very low frequency (ELF/VLF) waves. More information on PARS can be found at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/pars2024. |
Grace Papay, K8LG, of Holland, Michigan, has been selected as the 2024 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year (YHOTY). Papay 18, is a recent honors graduate of Holland Christian High School in her hometown, where she earned a varsity letter in the Unified Sports program. She earned her Technician license in March, 2021 and achieved her Extra Class license in March, 2022. She credited her father, Doug Papay, K8DP, and her grandfather, John Papay, K8YSE, a well-known operator in the ham radio satellite community, for drawing her into the hobby. “I got involved in amateur radio satellites,” she recalled. “I got on the air. And now it has turned into something from honoring my grandfather to a hobby I’m on every day and I love.” With support from her grandfather and father, she earned the DX Century Club (DXCC) certificate for contacts exclusively using satellites. She is an active member of the Holland Amateur Radio Club, the Grand Rapids Amateur Radio Association, the West Chester Amateur Radio Association, and the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Papay will be attending Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio this fall, and will study electrical engineering. She said amateur radio played a major role in her choice of a major. The YHOTY award will be presented to Papay during a ceremony at the Huntsville Hamfest on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 ,at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. |
CW operators and contesters from around the world are invited to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the weekly K1USN Slow Speed Contest (SST) by participating in a new event, the K1USN SST OPEN (SSO), which will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024, from 2000 - 2359Z. Moving forward, the SSO will be held annually on the second Friday in September. The goals for the new contest are: - Work as many stations as possible during the four hours on multiple HF bands (160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 meters)
- Exchange name and state/province (Non US - VE = DX)
- Score total points x CW speed multiplier x total state/province/DX multipliers
- Post log summary on www.3830scores.com but Do NOT mail logs to K1USN
Stations may be worked once per band and there is a 50-point bonus for working K1USN once per band. From its inception in September 2020, the twice-weekly SST has encouraged CW newcomers to join with experienced ops in a relaxed contest at speeds less than 20 words per minute (WPM). Contest sponsors strongly urge all participants to operate at 12 WPM or less to provide new CW ops with a comfortable “on-ramp” to CW operating and contesting. The same speed rules will apply in the Slow Speed Open with the hope that every station that wishes to jump in will be welcome at a pace comfortable for them. A CW speed multiplier has been added to the score calculation as an incentive to go slow, (via the 3830scores.com submittal form). This speed multiplier is based on your fastest sending speed used during the contest. Certificates with score and claimed maximum operating speed (using the honor system) will be available to all entrants. For complete SSO information, including rules and FAQs, visit www.k1usn.com/SST.html |
 | | This image was taken on August 15, 2024. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI] |
|
|
|
For this Friday’s ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP033: 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 disturbances, which cause higher absorption of HF signals. For example, on August 12, the solar flux was 272.4 and the sunspot number was 245. Middle latitude A index was 51 and the planetary A index was 122, very high values indicating a G4 geomagnetic storm. Seven new sunspot groups appeared this week, two on August 8, four on August 11 and one on August 14. Average daily sunspot numbers rose from 222.3 to 255, while average daily solar flux increased from 255.3 to 284.9. Average daily planetary A index went from 15.7 to 28.6, and average daily middle latitude A index (measured at a single magnetometer in Virginia) rose from 13.4 to 17.9. The solar flux outlook for the next few weeks looks promising, with values peaking at 300 in the first week of September. Predicted values from the U.S. Air Force are 255, 260, 250 and 240 on August 15 – 18; 235 on August 19 – 20; then 230, 210, 200, and 210 on August 21 – 24; 220 on August 25 – 26; 235 on August 27 – 28; 245 on August 29 – 30; then 240, 245 and 270 on August 31 through September 2; 300 on September 3 – 5; 290 on September 6 - 7, 280 on September 8, and 270 on September 9 - 11. Predicted planetary A index is 8 on August 15 - 16, then 10, 30, 25 and 10 on August 17 - 20, followed by 5, 10 and 8 on August 21 - 23, and 5 on August 24 to September 17. Sunspot numbers for August 8 through 14, 2024 were 337, 382, 234, 194, 245, 199, and 194, with a mean of 255. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 336, 305.5, 291.1, 281.5, 272.4, 259.9, and 248.2, with a mean of 284.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 7, 7, 7, 28, 122, 17, and 12, with a mean of 28.6. Middle latitude A index was 11, 9, 8, 23, 51, 12, and 11, with a mean of 17.9. Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@arrl.net. 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 the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA. A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website. Share your reports and observations. A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News. |
- August 15 - 6 -- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
- August 15 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
- August 17 - 18 -- SARTG WW RTTY Contest (digital)
- August 17 - 18 -- Russian District Award Contest (CW, phone)
- August 17 - 19 -- ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest (CW, phone, digital)
- August 17 - 18 -- Keyman's Club of Japan Contest (CW)
- August 17 -- Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
- August 17 - 18 -- North American QSO Party (SSB, phone)
- August 17 - 18 -- CVA DX Contest (CW)
- August 18 -- FISTS Sunday Sprint CW
- August 18 -- NJQRP Skeeter Hunt (CW, phone)
- August 18 -- ARRL Rookie Roundup RTTY (digital)
- August 18 - 19 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar for more events and information. |
Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
- August 17 - 18 | Huntsville Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Huntsville, Alabama
- August 22 - 25 | Northeast HamXposition, sponsoring the ARRL New England Division Convention, Marlborough, Massachusetts
- August 30 - September 1 | Shelby Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL North Carolina State Convention, Shelby, North Carolina
- August 31 | Summer Symposium, sponsoring the ARRL Santa Barbara Section Convention, Camarillo, California
- September 8 | ARRL Southern New Jersey Section Convention, Mullica Hill, New Jersey
- September 20 - 22 | Duke City Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL New Mexico State Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- September 21 - 22 | Midwest Superfest, sponsoring the ARRL Illinois Section Convention, Chillicothe, Illinois
- September 28 | Red River Radio Amateurs Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL Dakota Division Convention, West Fargo, North Dakota
- October 5 | Wichita Area Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL Kansas State Convention, Wichita, Kansas
- October 5 | Northstar Radio Convention, sponsoring the ARRL Minnesota State Convention, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
- October 5 | Rock Hill Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL South Carolina Section Convention, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area. |
Have News for ARRL? Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to news@arrl.org. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor |
 | |
ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information Join ARRL or renew today! No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ. Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday. The ARRL Letter is available in an accessible format, posted weekly to the Blind-hams Groups.io email group. The group is dedicated to discussions about amateur radio as it concerns blind hams, plus related topics including ham radio use of adaptive technology. 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 Threads, X, and Instagram. |
|
The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 51 times each year. ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their profile at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out. Copyright © 2024 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. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Comments
Post a Comment