Whiskey Delta Five Mike

This week and next week, a number of radio amateurs from around the globe are attending the ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) in Geneva, in advance of World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) this fall.

Already, there has been a lot of activity from the International Radio Club, 4U1ITU, including a casual effort in the ARRL International DX Contest (CW) last weekend where, despit...

The winning article for the February 2019 QST Cover Plaque award is “Installing Coax Crimp Connectors” by Dino Papas, KLØS. The QST Cover Plaque Award -- given to the author or authors of the most popular article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll web page. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the March issue today.

No sunspots are visible since January 30. The lack of sunspot activity has persisted for over 3 weeks, as of February 21. This past week (February 14-20) the average daily solar flux was only marginally higher, rising just barely from 70.4 to 70.6. Geomagnetic indicators were lower, with average daily planetary A index declining from 8.1 to 4.9, and average daily mid-latitude A index (measured ...

Four new ARRL Section Managers have been declared elected in the just-concluded winter election cycle, and one incumbent Section Manager was re-elected to a new term. Section Manager election ballots were counted on February 19 at ARRL Headquarters. Four incumbent Section Managers ran without opposition during this election cycle. All terms start on April 1.

In Iowa, Lelia Garner, WA0UIG, of Rob...

The new ARES Plan adopted by the ARRL Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting in January represents an effort to provide ARES with a clearly defined mission, goals, and objectives; specific training requirements, and a system for consistent reporting and record-keeping. The Board’s Public Service Enhancement Working Group (PSEWG) spent more than 3 years crafting the ARES Plan which, ARRL offic...

The Belgian Dutch-language weekly The Sunday (de Zondag) recently reported incorrectly that just 153 Amateur Radio licensees existed in the country, dramatically proclaiming, “Amateur Radio permits have dropped drastically in 5 years,” and asking, “Where have the radio hobbyists gone?” The error was based on a misunderstood parliamentary exchange. The facts are that 153 new licenses were issued...

ARRL’s HF Dipole Antennas for Amateur Radio is a collection of 20 HF dipole antenna designs from the pages of QST between 2000 and 2017. It includes innovative antenna projects for single-band and multiband antennas, as well as antennas for portable applications.

Portable Antennas

• “An Easy-to-Make Three-Band Dipole for ARRL Field Day”

• “A Field-Portable Multi-Band Rotatable Dipole Antenna”

• “A Smal...

The second Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) in advance of World Radio Communication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) this fall got under way on February 18 at International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Headquarters in Geneva. Delegates from around the world are attending.

This CPM will prepare a consolidated report that will support of the work of WRC-19, based on contributions from various adminis...

Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) 2019 is under way until February 24, with special call signs on the air. The goal of the event is to promote interest in Antarctica, where many countries have established research facilities.

Some of the call signs to listen for are: Australia, VK2ANT; Austria, OE16AAW, OE88WAP, OE89ANT, and OE90AAW; Belgium, OR16ANT; France, TM16AAW, TM16WAP, and TM1ANT; Italy, II2...

The group that’s been activating Macau as XX9D for the past week or so reports its biggest challenge is not so much managing the pileups but hearing the pileups in the first place due to high noise levels. Nonetheless, the group has managed some 18,000 contacts on 160 through 6 meters, and the operators credit FT8 with making many of those possible.

“All team members are a little bit disappoint...

The FCC is reminding electronic device retailers that Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) procedures are now in effect and being enforced. In an FCC Enforcement Advisory released February 15, the FCC Enforcement Bureau (EB) pointed out that marketers of RF devices may be subject to new compliance requirements provided in the SDoC procedures.

“In general, a device subject to SDoC is one t...

Authorities and major internet providers in Russia intend to disconnect the country from the internet as part of a planned experiment purportedly aimed at enhancing national security, the Russian news agency RosBiznesKonsalting (RBK) has reported. The stated reason for the experiment is to gather insights and provide feedback and modifications to a proposed law introduced in the Russian Parliam...

Listen to the new episode of ARRL Audio News on your iOS or Android podcast app, or online at http://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/. Audio News is also retransmitted on a number of FM repeaters. Click here and then scroll down to see the list.

ARRL is accepting applications for the position of Radiosport and Field Services Manager at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut. This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary. The successful candidate would be responsible for managing the Radiosport and Field Services functions, including employee training, and program and services delivery to members and field voluntee...

Another week passed with no sunspots, and as of February 14 it has been over two weeks since any sunspots were observed, the last on January 30. February 7 through 13 saw average daily solar flux decline from 71.1 to 70.4, compared to the previous seven days. Geomagnetic indices were lower, with average daily planetary A index declining from 11.6 to 8.1, and average mid-latitude A index going f...

Erik Andersen, K9EU, of Naperville, Illinois, has assumed the role of manager for the Ninth District Incoming QSL Bureau. He is a long-time volunteer with the Bureau as well as a noted and accomplished DXer and contester. He succeeds John Meyers, K9QVB, who served as manager for 2 decades and will remain a sorter and letter dispatcher. The Ninth District Bureau handles more than 45,000 DX QSL c...