• The ARRL Letter for December 22, 2022

    From ARRL Web site@21:1/5 to All on Fri Dec 23 09:20:48 2022
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, rec.radio.info

    ********************************************
    The ARRL Letter

    Published by the American Radio Relay League ********************************************

    December 22, 2022

    John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <[email protected]>

    ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

    - Rep. Lesko Introduces Bill to Replace Symbol Rate Limit with
    Bandwidth Limit
    - Marines To Gain Radio Op Experience Via Amateur Radio
    - Ugly Sweater Activation in Massachusetts
    - More US Schools Selected for Ham Radio Contacts with the
    International Space Station in 2023
    - NASA "Decodes" Secret Messages Onboard the Orion Spacecraft
    - Amateur Radio Operators Invited to participate in Asteroid Bounce
    Experiment
    - Give the gift of fun, community, advocacy and much more!
    - Amateur Radio in the News
    - ARRL Podcasts
    - Announcements
    - In Brief...
    - The K7RA Solar Update
    - Just Ahead in Radiosport
    - Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

    HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ... FROM ARRL

    ARRL Headquarters will be closed on Monday, December 26, 2022, and
    Monday, January 2, 2023.

    There will be no W1AW bulletins or code practice transmissions on those
    days. ARRL HQ will reopen on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, and Tuesday,
    January 3, 2023, at 8 AM EST.

    The ARRL Letter <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter> and ARRL Audio News <https://www.arrl.org/arrl-audio-news> will be on hiatus, Thursday and
    Friday, December 29 - 30.

    REP. LESKO INTRODUCES BILL TO REPLACE SYMBOL RATE LIMIT WITH
    BANDWIDTH LIMIT

    Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced a bill in the U.S. House
    of Representatives (H.R. 9664) on December 21, 2022, to require that
    the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) replace the current HF
    digital symbol rate limit with a 2.8 kHz bandwidth limit.

    After being petitioned by ARRL The National Association for Amateur
    Radio� in 2013 (RM-11708) for the same relief, in 2016 the Commission
    issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (WT Docket No. 16-239) in which
    it agreed that the HF symbol rate limit was outmoded, served no
    purpose, and hampered experimentation. But the Commission questioned
    whether any bandwidth limit was needed in its place. Most amateurs,
    including the ARRL, objected to there being no signal bandwidth limit
    in the crowded HF bands given the possibility that unreasonably wide
    bandwidth digital protocols could be developed, and since 2016 there
    has been no further FCC action.

    In conjunction with introducing the legislation, Congresswoman Lesko
    stated that "With advances in our modern technology, increased amounts
    of data can be put on the spectrum, so there is less of a need for a
    regulatory limit on symbol rates. I am pleased to introduce this
    important piece of legislation to update the FCC's rules to support the critical role amateur radio operators play and better reflect the
    capabilities of our modern radio technology."

    ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, hailed introduction of the bill.
    Roderick stated that "the FCC's delay in removing this outdated
    restriction has been incomprehensible, given that the biggest effect of
    the delay is to require totally inefficient spectrum use on the
    already-crowded amateur HF bands. I hope that the Commission will act
    to remove this harmful limitation without waiting for the bill to be
    passed."

    ARRL Legislative Committee Chairman John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, added
    that "the symbol rate limit hampers experimentation and development of
    more efficient HF data protocols by U.S. amateurs. For all practical
    purposes the field has been ceded to amateurs outside the U.S., where
    there is no comparable limit. Removing the restriction not only will
    allow U.S. amateurs to use the most efficient data protocol suitable
    for their purpose, but it also will promote and incentivize U.S.
    amateurs to experiment with and develop even more efficient protocols."

    ARRL is the National Association for Amateur Radio�. Founded in 1914 as
    The American Radio Relay League, ARRL is a noncommercial organization
    of radio amateurs. ARRL numbers within its ranks the vast majority of
    active radio amateurs (or "hams") in the U.S., and has a proud history
    of achievement as the standard-bearer in promoting and protecting
    amateur radio. For more information about ARRL and amateur radio, visit www.arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/>.

    A copy of this press release is available from ARRL: www.arrl.org/news/rep-lesko-introduces-bill-to-replace-symbol-rate-limit-with-bandwidth-limit

    <http://www.arrl.org/news/rep-lesko-introduces-bill-to-replace-symbol-rate-limit-with-bandwidth-limit>


    MARINES TO GAIN RADIO OP EXPERIENCE VIA AMATEUR RADIO

    On Wednesday, December 7, 2022, 22 Communication Officers at the Marine
    Corps Communication-Electronics School (MCCES) in Twentynine Palms,
    California, became amateur radio operators. W6BA, the Morongo Basin
    Amateur Radio Club <http://www.w6ba.net/> (MARC) administered the exams
    and 21 candidates passed their Technician exam, and one passed their
    General exam. 14-year-old Kalynn Cossette, KN6WVD, was the youngest
    candidate who passed her Technician exam.

    Retired Marine Corps Warrant Officer 4 Robert Cloutier, WO4ROB, and
    MARC President says it was a great event and he is excited to see so
    many new amateur radio operators. So, what drove the officers to want
    amateur radio licenses? Cloutier pointed out that all of the candidates
    already have a background in radio administration but not operating
    experience.

    "Chief Warrant Officer (CWO3) Kalem Cossette, KK4KC, one of the
    training officers at MCCES, introduced amateur radio to the
    Communication Officers," said Cloutier. "Most of the students were
    curious on how to get their license, so CWO3 Cossette contacted the
    MARC to schedule an exam session."

    Cloutier said that all new license holders were offered a free club
    membership but many of them will be deployed to other locations around
    the world and will be able to join other amateur radio clubs. He said
    they hope to conduct exams every three months.

    The Morongo Basin Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

    UGLY SWEATER ACTIVATION IN MASSACHUSETTS

    The Western Massachusetts Chapter for Portable On The Air, POTA*413 <http://pota413.wixsite.com/pota413>, recently conducted their 9th
    Annual Ugly Sweater Activation.

    The event is held every year and known to the club members as
    USPOTA*413. The club welcomes this holiday, public-driven event that
    has the group activate a local state/national park (or SOTA summit,
    when possible), with several operators organized from several station
    setups.

    Hosting member Dan Vierno, K1VWQ, noted, "We normally like to have at
    least two stations running multi operations, like 20 and 40 meters, simultaneously. However, we have also been known to operate the event
    on 17, 10, 6, and 2 meters." Vierno added, "[Being] portable on the air
    [means] welcoming all avenues of operations that are conducted outside.
    Even though this year was along the beach of Hampton Ponds State Park,
    we have been known in the past to hold an Ugly Sweater Activation from
    a SOTA summit, such as W1/CR-013, Quabbin Hill."

    The POTA*413 club was established and began operating in 2012, while
    the annual Ugly Sweater Activation event was first launched in 2014 at
    the Mt. Tom State Reservation.

    The annual event has occurred outdoors every year, with the exception
    of 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when participants of USPOTA*413
    wore their ugly sweaters and chased parks and summits from home. Though
    it was not as much fun, they updated contacts and photos via social
    media.

    MORE US SCHOOLS SELECTED FOR HAM RADIO CONTACTS WITH THE
    INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IN 2023

    Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS <http://www.ariss.org/>) has announced a list of seven schools/host organizations selected to host scheduled amateur radio contacts with
    the astronaut crew on the International Space Station (ISS) from July
    to December 2023.

    Earlier this year, nine schools and organizations were selected for
    contacts that will take place from January to June 2023 with the ISS.

    The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in
    science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities
    that raise their awareness of space communications, radio
    communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and
    career possibilities. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts
    via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students.
    Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents,
    and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to
    space, space technologies, and amateur radio.

    ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling
    opportunities for these host organizations in the US between July -
    December 2023:

    OrganizationLocationA.L. Burruss Elementary SchoolMarietta, GAAugusta Preparatory Day SchoolAugusta, GABowman Middle SchoolBakersville,
    NCCamp William B. SnyderHaymarket, VACovenant Christian AcademyWest
    Peabody, MAOrangeburg Christian Academy Orangeburg, SCWebb Bridge
    Middle School Alpharetta, GAThe 16 schools and organizations selected
    for 2023 are now working to complete an acceptable plan that
    demonstrates their ability to execute a ham radio contact with the ISS.
    Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS Technical Mentors,
    the final selected schools/organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities
    offered by NASA.

    ARISS is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies
    and the space agencies that support the ISS. In the US, participating organizations include ARRL <http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-on-the-international-space-station>
    The National Association for Amateur Radio�, and the Radio Amateur
    Satellite Corporation (AMSAT). Sponsors are NASA's Space Communications
    and Navigation program (SCaN), and the Center for the Advancement of
    Science in Space (CASIS).

    NASA "DECODES" SECRET MESSAGES ONBOARD THE ORION SPACECRAFT

    NASA has a long history of hiding secret messages in its spacecraft and
    that tradition continued with the launch of the Orion crew capsule in
    November on top of the Artemis I rocket.

    Five hidden messages were placed in the Orion capsule ranging from
    Morse Code to musical notes.

    On the right side of the capsule below a window and next to the pilot's
    seat were the letters "C, B, A, G, F" - five musical notes for the
    first words in Frank Sinatra's song, "Fly Me to the Moon."

    In the middle of the capsule, above the cockpit control console, was
    a Morse Code message that spelled out the name "Charlie" in remembrance
    of former Orion Deputy Program Manager Charlie Lundquist, who died in
    2020.

    Other messages included a picture image of a cardinal to the right of
    the pilot seat as a tribute to former Orion Program manager, Johnson
    Space Center director, and St. Louis Cardinals fan Mark Geyer, who died
    in 2021.

    The other two messages were on top of the pilot's seat including Binary
    code representing 18. This is in honor of NASA's history of travel to
    the moon with the Apollo Program and to celebrate a spacecraft's return
    to the Moon after Apollo 17 for the Artemis Generation. The final
    message was in front of the pilot's seat, the country codes of each
    country with the European Space Agency (ESA) that participated in
    developing and building the spacecraft's European Service Module.

    AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ASTEROID BOUNCE
    EXPERIMENT

    The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) will be
    conducting a research campaign/experiment on December 27, 2022, with transmissions between 1100 - 2300 UTC (0200 - 1400 AKST).

    This experiment will reflect HAARP transmissions off of Near-Earth
    Asteroid (NEA) 2010 XC15, and the echo will be received by the Owens
    Valley Radio Observatory Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) at the
    California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and by the University of
    New Mexico's Long Wavelength Array (UNM-LWA). The target asteroid will
    be roughly two lunar distances away from Earth at the time of
    transmission. Characterizing the interior structure and composition of
    NEAs is critical for advancing the understanding of solar system
    evolution and aiding in planetary defense.

    Actual transmit times are highly variable based on real-time
    ionospheric conditions and all information is subject to change.
    Currently, the Asteroid Bounce (2010 XC15) experiment will take place
    Dec. 27, 2022, from 1100 UTC to 2300 UTC; 9.6 MHz, LFM (linear FM), 0.5
    Hz WRF (waveform repetition frequency), 30 kHz bandwidth. Reports
    recording echo are encouraged; demodulated recordings in .wav or .mp3
    are recommended.

    For real-time ionospheric conditions in Gakona, please consult
    ionograms from the HAARP Diagnostic Suite at https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/diagnostic-suite.

    Amateur radio and radio astronomy enthusiasts are invited to listen to
    the transmissions/echoes and submit reception reports to the HAARP
    facility at [email protected] and request a QSL card by mailing a
    report to:

    HAARP
    P.O. Box 271
    Gakona AK 99586
    USA

    GIVE THE GIFT OF FUN, COMMUNITY, ADVOCACY AND MUCH MORE!

    Share the benefits of ARRL membership with a ham you know. By
    purchasing a gift membership this holiday season, you'll be helping a
    ham become more active and involved in amateur radio.

    They'll appreciate the many benefits that ARRL has to offer all year
    long - including exclusive access to ARRL periodicals, online tools and resources, and so much more!

    ARRL membership is the perfect gift for that special amateur radio
    operator on your list.

    To purchase a gift membership, please call 860-594-0200 and speak with
    a Member Services Representative (during business hours). Or reach out
    to ARRL Membership Manager, Yvette Vinci, KC1AIM via phone 860-594-0257
    or email [email protected]. Mention code X22 and we will send the gift
    recipient a beautiful W1AW season's greetings card.

    AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

    ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news <http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

    "Amateur radio donation impacts local food center during time of need <http://theportager.com/amateur-radio-donation-impacts-local-food-center-during-time-of-need/>"

    / The Portager (Ohio), December 12, 2022 -- The Portage County Amateur
    Radio Service (PCARS) is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

    "Radio club recognizes members for running nightly ham system <http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/radio-club-recognizes-members-for-running-nightly-ham-system/ar-AA15rLUW>"

    / Houston Herald (Missouri), December 19, 2022 -- The Ozark Mountain
    Amateur Radio Club is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

    "Goderich Air Cadets speak with astronaut aboard the International
    Space Station <https://www.goderichsignalstar.com/news/goderich-air-cadets-speak-with-astronaut-aboard-the-international-space-station>"

    / Goderich Signal-Star (Canada), December 19, 2022 - Thanks to the
    532nd Royal Air Cadet Squadron for their help in preparation for this
    event.

    Share <[email protected]> any amateur radio media hits you spot with
    us.

    ARRL PODCASTS

    In the latest episode of the ARRL On the Air <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> podcast, Ginger Wilder, KI5TJE,
    discusses her first time running an amateur radio net. Get ready to be
    the next Net Control operator for your local net.

    Listen to ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/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 is available on iTunes (iOS) and Stitcher
    (Android). The On the Air podcast and ARRL Audio News are also on
    blubrry -- On the Air <https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio
    News <https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS

    ARRL Straight Key Night (SKN) is January 1, 2023, from 0000 UTC through
    2359 UTC. In the US, SKN begins on New Year's Eve. Many hams look
    forward to SKN as one of the highlights of their operating year.
    Operators participate using Morse code (CW). All you need is your
    favorite straight key or bug. Many participants dust off vintage radios
    and keys and put them back into service each year, just for SKN. SKN is
    not a contest, so there's no need for quick exchanges. However, all
    hand keys, regardless of age, are welcome. The number of contacts you
    make is not important. The reward is meeting many new friends as you
    get together on the air. Send a list of stations contacted, SKN stories
    and photos, and your votes for Best Fist and Most Interesting QSO to [email protected] <[email protected]> by January 31, 2023. More information at www.arrl.org/straight-key-night <http://www.arrl.org/straight-key-night>.

    On January 1, 2023, an international year-long amateur radio contest to
    honor Guglielmo Marconi will begin, and is appropriately titled,
    "Marconi was here!" The main objective of the contest is to
    historically commemorate some of the most important and significant
    Italian cities where Marconi performed scientific experiments. Marconi conducted experiments in radio engineering, long-distance
    communications, radio direction finding, and many others. Overall, the experiments were crucial to the technical and scientific advancement
    and progress of wireless communications. Each month is dedicated to a
    specific Italian city connected to the story of Marconi and is paired
    to a different special call sign. The "MARCONI WAS HERE!" award is an international amateur radio award organized by A.R.I. Fidenza Radio
    Club <http://www.arifidenza.it/> in collaboration with A.R.I.
    Associazione Radioamatori Italiani <http://www.ari.it/> and the Marconi
    Museum. <https://www.museomarconi.it/welcome/> Further details about
    the special call signs, special certificates, and all of the rules are available on the official website www.arifidenza.it <http://www.arifidenza.it/>.

    The Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association (GCARA) 1936 Net <http://www.gcara.org/ontheair.html> will host its annual AM night on
    Thursday December 29th, 2022, on 1936 kHz. The activities get underway
    with pre-net check-ins beginning at 6:30 PM EST. The official net
    begins at 9:00 PM EST (0200 UTC) and typically lasts two hours. The net
    control station is Bill Donnermeyer Jr., NM4A, located in Union,
    Kentucky. The net typically attracts about 65 stations from across the
    United States during the course of the evening. All AM check-ins are
    welcome. This is a great opportunity to hear some classic AM rigs,
    heavy metal military and broadcast AM transmitters, and
    state-of-the-art software defined radio AM. Thanks to net manager
    Geoffrey "Geoff" Mendenhall, W8GNM, and other members of the GCARA, an
    ARRL Affiliated Club.

    On Christmas Eve, 1906, Canadian inventor, experimenter, and
    entrepreneur Reginald Fessenden claimed to have made his first voice --
    and music -- broadcast from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, although his
    account of the event over the years has been disputed. Nonetheless,
    Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, of Forest, Virginia, will make his annual program recreation on 486 kHz to commemorate Fessenden's accomplishments.
    Justin will broadcast for 24 hours beginning at 1800 UTC on December
    24, with a repeat transmission on New Year's Eve, beginning at 1800
    UTC, as Fessenden was reported to have done on both nights in 1906.
    Justin will transmit on 486 kHz, under authority of his FCC Part 5
    Experimental License WI2XLQ, using equipment substantially more modern
    than Fessenden's gear. Justin will use a home-brew setup to achieve
    Heising modulation similar to what was used in amplitude modulation
    (AM) transmissions during World War I. Justin explained that
    Fessenden's transmitter was a high-speed alternator, a predecessor to
    the Alexanderson Alternator still in use today at the historic Grimeton
    Radio Station in Sweden. Modulation then was achieved using a carbon microphone, but Justin will use a laptop computer for his audio
    broadcast. Justin said there is a cult-like following of amateur radio
    and shortwave listeners who tune in for the annual broadcast. Justin
    has been licensed since 1976 and is an ARRL Life Member.

    The Grimeton Christmas Eve message has been cancelled. The Alexander
    Grimeton Friendship Association <https://alexander.n.se/en/the-alexander-association/>, in southern
    Sweden, has announced the cancellation due to Covid-19. The radio
    station will be closed for visitors and SK6SAQ will not be QRV or on
    the air.

    IN BRIEF...

    The Intrepid DX Group has announced the winners of the 3rd annual Youth
    "Dream Rig" Essay Contest. Essays were received from young amateurs
    from all over the world and gave interesting perspectives on how to
    reach out and connect with the youth of today. First Place -- Maria
    Polyanska, VE3OMV, and receiving an Icom IC-7300 tranceiver. Second
    Place -- Ryan Kocourek, N7RSK, and receiving a Yaesu FT-65R VHF/UHF
    handheld. Third Place -- Toby Latino, AG5ZM, and receiving a Yaesu
    FT-65R. Intrepid DX Group President Paul S. Ewing, N6PSE, added,
    "Having read your many essays this week, we can tell you that our youth
    are full of great ideas, and they are brimming with enthusiasm to keep
    our hobby alive well into the future." Ewing also thanked Robert
    Chortek, AA6VB, for providing the funds for this year's prizes.

    THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

    Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin:

    I am writing this, my penultimate bulletin of 2022, about seven hours
    after the start of Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere on
    Wednesday December 21, 2022, at 2147 UTC. It is very cold in Seattle,
    about 17 degrees Fahrenheit on the longest night of the year.

    Solar activity was down a bit from the previous week, although it
    was one of those odd occasions when average daily sunspot numbers and
    solar flux changed in opposite directions.

    Average daily sunspot number declined from 136.9 to 124.1, while solar
    flux rose from 150 to 153.8.

    Geomagnetic indicators were a bit lower, with average planetary A index changing from 7.7 to 6.7, and middle latitude numbers from 6 to 5.1.

    Due to missing data, I had to fudge one of the numbers (the December 16
    middle latitude A index), which I pegged at 7 by eyeballing trends.

    Predicted solar flux appears to reach a short-term peak of 160 on
    January 4 - 7, 2023. Starting December 22, 2022, the forecast shows 140
    and 135 through December 23; 130 on December 24 - 25; 135 on December
    26 - 28; 130, 135, and 138 on December 29 - 31; 140, 150, and 155 on
    January 1 - 3, 2023; 160 on January 4 - 7; 158, 156, 154, 154, and 152
    on January 8 - 12; 150 on January 13 - 15; 145, 130, and 120 on January
    16 - 18; 118 on January 19 - 20; and 120, 125, and 127 on January 21 -
    23.

    Predicted planetary A index is 12, 8, 5, 14, and 10 on December 22 -
    26; 8, 5, 12, 10, and 12 on December 27 - 31; 8, 5, and 18 on January 1
    - 3, 2023; 10 on January 4 - 5; 8, 10, and 6 on January 6 - 8; 5 on
    January 9 - 14; 12, 10, and 20 on January 15 - 17; 12, 8, 5, and 18 on
    January 18 - 21; and 20 on January 22 - 24.

    In Friday's bulletin look for a 6-meter report from Jon Jones, N0JK,
    the columnist of "The World Above 50 MHz" in QST magazine, and any
    other interesting observations you and others may send my way.

    Sunspot numbers for December 15 through 21, 2022 were 140, 108, 139,
    128, 132, 119, and 103, with a mean of 124.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux
    was 165.9, 163.1, 154.6, 155, 6, 152.4, 146.4, and 138.7, with a mean
    of 153.8. Estimated planetary A indexes were 5, 9, 3, 4, 11, 6, and 9,
    with a mean of 6.7. Middle latitude A index was 4, 7, 2, 2, 9, 5, and
    7, with a mean of 5.1.

    Send your tips, questions, or comments to [email protected].

    A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL
    website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit <http://arrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals> the ARRL Technical
    Information Service, read
    <http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere> "What the Numbers
    Mean..." and check out <http://k9la.us/> the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

    A propagation bulletin archive <http://arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-propagation> is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio <https://www.voacap.com/hf/> website.

    Share <[email protected]> your reports and observations.

    A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News
    <http://www.arrl.org/news>.

    JUST AHEAD IN RADIOSPORT

    - December 21 -- NAQCC CW Sprint (CW)

    - December 21 -- VHF-UHF FT8 (digital)

    - December 26 -- DARC Christmas Contest (CW, phone)

    - December 28 -- Sprint (CW)

    - December 30 -- YOTA Contest (CW, phone)

    - December 31 -- Bogor Old and New Contest (phone)

    - January 1 -- AGB New Year Snowball Contest (CW, phone, digital)

    - January 1 -- SARTG New Year RTTY Contest (digital)

    - January 1 -- AGCW Happy New Year Contest (CW)

    - January 1 -- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest (CW)

    - January 2 -- K1USN Slow Speed Test (CW)

    - January 3 -- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest (phone)

    - January 3 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)

    - January 4 -- QRP Fox Hunt (CW)

    - January 4 -- CWops Test (CWT) (CW)

    - January 4 -- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest (digital)

    - January 4 -- CWops Contest (CW)

    - January 4 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (phone)

    Visit the ARRL Contest Calendar <http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar>
    for more events and information.

    UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

    - January 7 | Ham Radio University <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/online-ham-radio-university-arrl-new-york-city-long-island-section-convention-1>,

    hosting the ARRL New York City-Long Island Section Convention, an
    online event

    - January 20 - 21 | Southwest Florida Regional Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/southwest-florida-regional-hamfest-arrl-southern-florida-section-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Fort Myers,
    Florida

    - January 20 - 21 |Cowtown Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/cowtown-hamfest-arrl-north-texas-section-convention-2>,

    hosting the ARRL North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas

    - January 27 - 28 | Capital City Hamfest 2023 <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/jackson-ms-capital-city-hamfest-2023-arrl-mississippi-state-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi

    - January 28 | Winterfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/winterfest-arrl-midwest-division-convention-2>, hosting the ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Collinsville, Illinois

    - February 10 - 12 | Orlando HamCation <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/orlando-hamcation-arrl-southeastern-division-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida

    - February 25 | HAM-CON <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ham-con-arrl-vermont-state-convention-2>,
    hosting the ARRL Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont

    - March 3 - 4 | BirmingHamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/birminghamfest-arrl-alabama-section-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Alabama Section Convention, Trussville, Alabama

    - March 3 - 4 | Greater Houston HamFest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/greater-houston-hamfest-arrl-texas-state-convention>,

    hosting the ARRL Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas

    Search the ARRL Hamfest and Convention Database
    <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests> to find events in your area.

    HAVE NEWS FOR ARRL?

    Submissions for the ARRL Letter and ARRL News can be sent to
    [email protected]. -- John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, ARRL News Editor

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