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ARRL November Sweepstakes Phone is This Weekend |
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The weather may be turning cold, but the contests (and band conditions) are red hot. With the resounding success of ARRL November Sweepstakes CW just behind us, this weekend it’s time for the phone segment of the event.
The ARRL November Sweepstakes
phone weekend is November 16 – 18. The contest begins at 2100 UTC Saturday and runs through 0259 UTC Monday, giving competitive radio amateurs a good period of fun contesting.
The objective of ARRL November Sweepstakes is to support amateur self-training in radiocommunications, including improving amateur operating skills, conducting technical investigations, and intercommunicating with other amateurs.
“This contest really puts your skills as an operator to the test,” said ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE. “Stations in the United States and Canada will try to talk to as many other stations in those areas as possible, and to copy the exchanges correctly. It can get challenging many hours in,” he said.
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The challenge is what gets many stations excited about ’Sweeps. There is honor to earn and plaques to take home.
ARRL is pleased to award a November Sweepstakes plaque to the Overall and Division Leaders in each category, thanks to Icom America, who is the 2024 Principal Awards Sponsor of the plaques and certificates, and the clubs and individuals who also sponsor some of the plaques.
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YouTube Telethon to Raise Money for ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless |
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The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology
is growing next year, and a number of social media stars are coming together to help it happen. On Saturday, November 30, a live fundraiser telethon is set to take place on the Ham Radio Crash Course YouTube channel. Host Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, will be joined by several web-famous hams to talk radio and raise money. The proceeds benefit the ARRL Education and Technology Fund, which is what pays for the Teachers Institute (TI).
There is skin in the game.
“Several donors created a challenge with a $20,000 pledge. The Donor Challenge will be unlocked when others step up and give during this year’s telethon,” said ARRL Director of Development Kevin Beal, K8EAL. “It really shows the value hams place on inspiring and educating the next generation of radio amateurs.
They’re going to be the engineers that lead our world forward, and ham radio is a solid foundation for wireless technology,” said Beal.
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All the funding for the ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology comes from donations. In the last three years, 175 educators have graduated TI. There were 7 cohorts of the program in 2024, there are 16 planned for 2025, including taking the institute “on the road” to different cities around the country. The goal is to have 300 teachers in 2025, exceeding the combined total of the last three years.
ARRL Education and Learning Manager Steve Goodgame, K5ATA, will join Nass on the telethon. He’ll share success stories from the last several years, and answer questions about the program. “We’re seeing real success, and it’s great to have the opportunity to tell the stories that come out of enabling these educators,” he said.
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ARRL Delegates Attend IARU Region 3 Conference |
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The 19th International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 3 Conference
was held in Bangkok, Thailand, November 4 – 8, 2024. ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® is a Region 3-member society and IARU International Secretariat and was represented by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD.
While most of the United States is in IARU Region 2, ARRL is also a member society of Region 3, which includes portions of Asia and the Pacific, where ARRL represents the interests of radio amateurs in the US Pacific territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, as well as amateur radio interests for the US Minor Outlying Islands.
Sixteen IARU R3 Member Societies participated in the conference.
The agenda included a range of items of note to radio amateurs regionally and globally.
One of the major changes to take place at the conference was to revise the way the officers and the Executive Committee (EC) of the region are chosen.
In the past, the conference elected 6 directors, and the 6 directors chose a chairman to lead the Executive Committee for the three years between each triennial conference.
Under the newly adopted procedure, the conference elects a President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer along with 5 additional members of the Executive Committee.
The new procedure is much like the election process in Regions 1 and 2. The Secretary/Treasurer is a member of the EC but without the right to vote.
The newly elected officers of the region are President Wisnu Widjaja, YBØAZ; Vice President Mohammad Bin Bernawi, 9M2IR, and Secretary/Treasurer Ken Yamamoto, JA1CJP.
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ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, presenting his report at the IARU Region 3 Conference, held November 4 – 8, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. [IARU Secretary Joel Harrison, W5ZN, photo] | | |
The conference dealt with a number of routine matters, including reports from all of its coordinators and volunteers.
Notably, the conference harmonized the CW portion of the 40-meter band plan with the other regions by making 7000 - 7040 kHz CW only.
In Roderick’s report to the conference, he presented information about amateur radio advocacy accomplished by ARRL in recent years. Of note was the 2023 decision
by the FCC to amend the US Amateur Radio Service rules to replace the baud rate limit on the amateur HF bands with a 2.8-kHz bandwidth limit, consistent with ARRL’s request to permit greater flexibility in data communications.
The decision supports the vital role of radio amateurs, especially with respect to providing emergency response communications during natural disasters and other emergencies.
Roderick also highlighted the success ARRL has seen in growing participation in the ARRL International DX Contest and Logbook of The World®.
Roderick presented a recognition award plaque to the host member society, the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand.
The conference voted to meet next in Bali, Indonesia, in 2027 for the 20th Triennial Region 3 Conference.
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ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, presents a recognition award plaque to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand in appreciation for hosting the IARU Region 3 Conference 2024. [ARRL International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD, photo] | | | |
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The plaque presented by ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand in appreciation for hosting the IARU Region 3 Conference 2024. | | | |
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Amateur Radio in the News |
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“How amateur radio operators play a critical role in emergency communication” / KOAA Colorado November 8, 2024 -- Amateur Radio operators in Colorado Springs help during early winter storm.
“Deep Space Exploration Members Competing in Ham Radio Competition at Haswell Station” KIOWA County Independent (Colorado) November 12, 2024 -- The Deep Space Exploration Society.
“Ham Radio: An unsung lifeline for Springfield in times of crisis” / Springfield Daily Citizen (Missouri) November 14, 2024 -- The Nixa Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.
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On the Air
Sponsored by ICOM
December YOTA Month is Coming
December is Youth on the Air Month, also known as YOTA Month, and there are plans to celebrate young operators all month long. Blake Pearson, KN4VKY, one of the Americas YOTA Month Participation Coordinators, joins the podcast to explain how young hams can apply to use one of the official YOTA Month call signs, and how you can take part in the YOTA Month operating events no matter what age you are.
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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
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On December 1, 1924, the very low frequency (VLF) transmitter with call sign "SAQ" at Grimeton Radio Station in Sweden, was put into commercial operation. Transmissions were sent across the Atlantic Ocean to the receiving station at Riverhead and the replying transmitter station at Rocky Point, both on Long Island, New York. On December 1, 2024, 100 years later, SAQ will be on the air to commemorate the event. The unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924, with the call sign SAQ, is scheduled for one transmission on VLF 17.2 kHz, CW, which will begin at 11:00 CET (10:00 UTC). Visitors are welcome to the transmitter hall at Grimeton to experience an SAQ transmission. Tickets can be purchased here. The transmission event can be seen live on the Grimenton YouTube channel.
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NCVEC Question Pool Committee Removes Two Pool Questions From Use
The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has removed one Extra Class pool question and one General Class pool question from use.
Both Extra pool question E2A13 and General pool question G8C01 have been deleted from use on examinations as the two questions each have more than one correct answer.
The deleted questions must be removed from examinations as soon as possible.
Updated question pool files, including the errata and new information, have been posted on the NCVEC Extra Class question pool web page at www.ncvec.org/index.php/2024-2028-extra-class-question-pool-release. The current Element 4 Extra question pool became effective on July 1, 2024, and it is valid through June 30, 2028.
Updated General Class question pool files, also including the errata and new information, have been posted on the NCVEC General Class question pool web page at www.ncvec.org/index.php/2023-2027-general-question-pool-release. The current Element 3 General question pool became effective on July 1, 2023, and it is valid through June 30, 2027.
The ARRL VEC
advises the community to regularly check the NCVEC website at www.ncvec.org
for updates to the question pools, which may include errata and withdrawn questions.
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This image was taken on November 14, 2024. [Photo courtesy of NASA SDO/HMI] | | |
For this Friday’s ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP046
Only five new sunspot groups emerged this week. The first was on November 7, next on November 9, two more on November 11, and another on November 13.
The average daily sunspot number declined from 193.4 to 141.6, while average daily solar flux went from 248.4 to 203.7.
Predicted solar flux is 150 on November 14; 145 on November 15 - 16; 155 on November 17 - 18; 145, 150, 200, 235, 240, 255 and 260 on November 19 - 25; 270 on November 26 - 27; 255 and 250 on November 28 - 29; 240 on November 30 and December 1; 230 on December 2 - 3; and 225 and 220 on December 4 - 5.
Estimated planetary A index is 12, 10, 8, and 12 on November 14 - 17; 8 on November 18 - 19; 5 on November 20 - 24; 10 on November 25 - 26; 8, 5, 5 and 10 on November 27 - 30; then 12, 9, 8 and 7 on December 1 - 4.
From Spaceweather.com, a possible explanation for solar cycle double peaks: http://hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/?p=2685
Sunspot numbers for November 7 through 13, 2024 were 164, 167, 176, 121, 138, 116, and 109, with a mean of 141.6. The 10.7 -centimeter flux was 239.2, 231, 220.9, 230.6, 182.2, 171.7, and 150.3, with a mean of 203.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 11, 32, 25, 10, 5, and 7, with a mean of 14.1. Middle latitude A Index was 7, 7, 24, 15, 7, 4, and 5, with a mean of 9.9.
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.
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ARRL is pleased to award a November Sweepstakes plaque to the Overall and Division Leaders in each category, thanks to Icom America, who is the 2024 Principal Awards Sponsor of the plaques and certificates, and the clubs and individuals who also sponsor some of the plaques.
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November 15 -- NCCC FT4 Sprint (digital)
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November 15 -- Weekly RTTY Test (digital)
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November 15 -- NCCC Sprint (CW)
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November 16 - 17 -- ARRL EME Contest (CW, phone, digital)
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November 16 - 17 -- LZ DX Contest (CW, phone)
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November 16 -- All Austrian 160-Meter Contest (CW)
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November 16 -- REF 160-Meter Contest (CW)
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November 16 - 17 -- South American Integration Contest (CW)
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November 16 -- 50 Feld Hell Sprint (digital)
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November 16 -- RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest (CW)
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November 16 - 18 -- ARRL November Sweepstakes SSB (phone)
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November 17 -- FISTS Sunday Sprint (CW)
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November 17 -- Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party (CW)
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November 17 - 18 -- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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November 18 -- RSGB FT4 Contest (digital)
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November 21 - 22 -- 14 Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest (CW)
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November 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)
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November 21 -- NTC QSO Party (CW)
Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar
for more events and information.
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Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions |
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December 13 - 14 | Tampa Bay Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City, Florida
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January 4 | Ham Radio University, sponsoring the ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention, Brookville, New York
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January 10 - 11 | 2025 Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest, sponsoring the ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers, Florida
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January 17 - 18 | Cowtown Hamfest 25, sponsoring the ARRL North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas
Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database to find events in your area.
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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
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ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information
Join ARRL or renew today!
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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.
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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.
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