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

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

February 22, 2024

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

- Amateur Radio Operators Needed for Help with Solar Eclipse Project
- Winter Season Section Manager Election Results
- Former Vice Director of the ARRL Hudson Division, Bill Hudzik, W2UDT,
Silent Key
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS NEEDED FOR HELP WITH SOLAR ECLIPSE PROJECT

The Case Amateur Radio Club, W8EDU <https://www.facebook.com/W8EDU/>,
the club station at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio,
is asking for amateur radio operators to help with a research project
centered around the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse.

W8EDU club member Adam Goodman, W7OKE, said the project centers around
studying the effects of the eclipse on propagation to better understand
the recombination time of the ionosphere.

"To do this, we are recruiting North American amateur stations
interested in recording the Canadian time standard station CHU
(Canada's WWV) for two weeks surrounding the eclipse," added Goodman.
"Anyone with a KiwiSDR <http://kiwisdr.com/> or a rig that can
interface with analysis/recording software such as Fldigi <https://sourceforge.net/projects/fldigi/> is encouraged to reach out
to us to participate."

W8EDU club member and project software manager Maris Usis, KE8TXG, said
that while the software is simple to use, there is some detailed work
involved. "We can help make it easier and there are good online
instructions as well," said Usis.

All of the participation details are on the club's website at https://w8edu.wordpress.com/chu-eclipse-data-collection/.

W8EDU club faculty advisor David Kazdan, AD8Y, said the research
project has received positive attention from the ARRL Collegiate
Amateur Radio Program <https://www.arrl.org/collegiate-amateur-radio> community, the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI <https://hamsci.org/>) community, and Case Western Reserve University's engineering deans. "It is already a truly international effort, and we
are collaborating with more than 20 stations across the continent, from collegiate and high school stations, to a representative from the Radio Amateurs of Canada, to a station in Mexico," said Kazdan.

The 2024 solar eclipse
<https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8> will over
Mexico, the United States, and Canada. ARRL is a partner with HamSCI to
help promote this opportunity for radio amateurs to participate in an
active science experiment, through the Solar Eclipse QSO Party.

WINTER SEASON SECTION MANAGER ELECTION RESULTS

On Tuesday, February 20, at ARRL Headquarters, ballots were counted for
two Section Manager elections that were conducted this winter.

ARRL members in Louisiana elected Houston Polson, N5YS, of Winnfield,
to become the next Section Manager of the ARRL Louisiana Section
starting on April 1, 2024. Polson received 200 votes, and incumbent
Section Manager Matt Anderson, KD5KNZ, received 169 votes.

Polson was first licensed in 1984, and he has been a member of the
Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club in Omaha, Nebraska, ever since. He is
also a Volunteer Examiner and an active member of the Central Louisiana
Amateur Radio Club.

Anderson, of Covington, has served as the Section Manager for the ARRL Louisiana Section since August 31, 2023, when he was appointed to
fulfill the remainder of the term after John Mark Robertson, K5JMR,
stepped down.

In the ARRL Pacific Section, Alan Maenchen, AD6E, was re-elected in a
close race by receiving 113 votes. Kevin Bogan, AH6QO, of Honolulu,
received 100 votes. Maenchen, of Wailuku, Hawaii, was appointed as
Section Manager of the Pacific Section on November 1, 2023, to fulfill
the term of office after Joe Speroni, AH0A, stepped down.

The ARRL Georgia Section has a new Section Manager as of January 1,
2024. Hank Blackwood, K4HYJ, of Dalton, Georgia, was the only nominee
to run for the re-solicited, 18-month new term of office that is to
begin on April 1.

David Benoist, AG4ZR, who continued serving as Section Manager of the
Georgia Section beyond the conclusion of his term on September 30,
2023, decided to step down at the end of 2023 to allow Blackwood to
officially begin his term of office early. Benoist, of Senoia, was
Section Manager from December 2021 through December 2023, and he
previously led the Georgia Section's field organization from November
2016 to September 2021.

The following incumbent Section Managers were unopposed after the fall nomination deadline, and they will begin new, two-year terms of office
starting on April 1, 2024: John Fritze, K2QY (Eastern New York); Bob
Wilson, W3BIG (Eastern Pennsylvania); Marvin Hoffman, WA4NC (North
Carolina); Dave Kaltenborn, N8KBC (San Diego); Chris Stallkamp, KI0D
(South Dakota), and Jack Smith, KE4LWT (Virginia).

FORMER VICE DIRECTOR OF THE ARRL HUDSON DIVISION, BILL HUDZIK,

W2UDT, SILENT KEY

Former Vice Director of the ARRL Hudson Division and ARRL Maxim Society
Member William "Bill" Hudzik, W2UDT, has passed away at the age of 77.

Hudzik served as Vice Director from 2011 to 2022, and he had
previously been Section Manager of the ARRL Northern New Jersey
Section.

Hudzik was first licensed in 1961 as WV2UDT, and he was active in VHF contesting at the time.

He quickly gained a reputation as someone willing and able to help.
"He was probably one of the most capable people I have ever known. It
didn't matter what you were doing, he knew how to deal with it," said
ARRL Director of Operations Bob Naumann, W5OV. Naumann had known Hudzik
for 45 years. "Bill set a very high bar for how to treat people," he
said.

Hudzik served in the military and used his radio skills to help his
fellow servicepeople. He spent the holiday season of 1966 - 1967
running phone patches from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, as KR6SP.

Hudzik called himself a "contest junkie" and enjoyed operating in
contests from V26B in Antigua and Barbuda. He was part of several
high-scoring team activations from the station. He also operated from
St. Croix and wrote about the trip for ARRL (see Vacation, Contesting
and Friends - Perfect Together <https://www.arrl.org/news/vacation-contesting-and-friends-perfect-together>).


Hudzik served as Section Manager from 2001 to 2008. He was active in
government affairs to advance amateur radio in the Garden State. In
2011, he was appointed to serve as Vice Director of the ARRL Hudson
Division. He served in that capacity until an illness forced his
retirement in 2022.

ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, praised the impact Hudzik had on
amateur radio. "Bill served ARRL and its members for many years. It was
evident from the beginning that he was someone special. He was highly respected, friendly with all, and showed great insight and patience.
Bill left a legacy that will be remembered. It was a privilege to have
known him," he said.

ARRL Hudson Division Director Nomar Vizcarrondo, NP4H, says Hudzik's
guidance was invaluable to him as he started in the role. "I am deeply
saddened by Bill's passing. Shortly after he resigned as Vice Director
for the Division because of his health and I was appointed to continue
his term, Bill reached out and offered me his support and guidance. It
was a pleasure and honor to have known him. Board Members at ARRL along
with our Hudson Division family are saddened by his passing and
acknowledge the great human being and Amateur Radio Operator he was. He
will be truly missed. Godspeed W2UDT," wrote Vizcarrondo.

A celebration of life will be planned in the future.

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>.

"Free amateur radio instruction offered in Stillwater <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/free-amateur-radio-instruction-offered-in-stillwater/ar-BB1ii38f>"

/ Twin Cities Pioneer Press (Minnesota) February 15, 2024 -- The
Stillwater Amateur Radio Association is an ARRL Special Service Club.

"Amateur radio is still on the airwaves in Utica, across New York and
the U.S. <https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/amateur-radio-is-still-on-the-airwaves-in-utica-across-new-york-and-the-us/ar-BB1imUuE>"

/ Utica Observer-Dispatch (New York) February 16, 2024 -- The Utica
Amateur Radio Club.

"The Athens County Amateur Radio Association finds that young people
are still drawn to old-school communication <https://woub.org/2024/02/16/local-amateur-radio-association-draws-young-people/>"

/ WOUB (Ohio) February 16, 2024 --The Athens County Amateur Radio
Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"'A different world:' Ham radio points East Elementary students to STEM concepts <https://news.yahoo.com/different-world-ham-radio-points-232500322.html>"
/ The Herald Bulletin (Indiana) February 16, 2024 --The Madison County
Amateur Radio Club.

"Amateur radio club starts up in Upshur County <https://www.wboy.com/news/upshur/amateur-radio-club-starts-up-in-upshur-county/>"

/ WBOY (West Virginia) February 21, 2024

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

ARRL PODCASTS

On the Air
Sponsored by Icom <http://www.icomamerica.com/en/>

The Joys of Being a General

The January/February 2024 issue of On the Air featured a story from
Brian McSpadden Gardener, KE8JVX, about "The First-Year Experiences of
a General-Class Ham," in which Brian detailed how he got his feet wet
as a General, and how he put together his first station for HF. Brian
joins this episode of the podcast to tell us a little more about his
first year as a General, as well as what he's done since then.

ARRL Audio News
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 and ARRL Audio News are available on blubrry,
iTunes, and Apple Podcasts -- On the Air
<https://blubrry.com/arrlontheair/> | ARRL Audio News <https://blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/>.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

American Legion Post 104 <https://tnpost104.org/al4us> in Sevierville, Tennessee, will celebrate the 105th anniversary of the American Legion
with a special event station on March 8 - 9, 2024. K4L will be active
from 1500Z - 0300Z on 7.250 and 14.250 MHz with operators from the
American Legion Amateur Radio Club <https://tnpost104.org/al4us/>,
AL4US, an ARRL Affiliated Club. Everyone who contacts the station can
request a digital certificate by providing a valid email address. On
Saturday there will be an American Legion Birthday Party at the post
from 11:00AM - 4:00 PM EST and the public is invited to attend. The
American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic
veterans organization. The Legion evolved into an organization with a
focus on service to veterans, service members, and communities.
Membership is now at nearly 2 million, and there are 12,000 American
Legion posts worldwide.

IN BRIEF...

For World Amateur Radio Day (WARD) on April 18, 2024, the International
Amateur Radio Union <https://www.iaru.org/> (IARU) has chosen the
theme, "A Century of Connections: Celebrating 100 years of Amateur
Radio Innovation, Community and Advocacy." WARD is the day when IARU Member-Societies show their capabilities to the public and enjoy global friendship with other amateurs worldwide. The IARU was founded in
Paris, France, in 1925, and it has worked to promote innovation in
amateur radio and to encourage the growth of the Service in communities throughout the world. The IARU will celebrate its centenary in 2025.

IARU has represented amateur services at international and regional
regulatory bodies <http://arrl.org/news/wrc-23-concludes-with-wins-for-amateur-radio-and-agenda-items-designated-for-the-next-two-events>

by relying on volunteers from many countries and communities. IARU has
been a sector-member of the International Telecommunications Union
(ITU) since 1932, and the work of their volunteers has successfully
continued since that date. ARRL <http://arrl.org/> is a member of IARU
Regions 3 and 2 because it represents the radio amateurs of Guam, the
Northern Marianas, and American Samoa, which are located in Region 3.
The administration of the IARU is performed by ARRL, which serves as
the International Secretariat.

THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE

Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP008:

The Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
<https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/> (ASWFC) issued the following geomagnetic disturbance warning at 0237 UTC on February 22, 2024:

This solar disk image was taken on February 22, 2024. [Photo courtesy
of NASA SDO/HMI]

A solar filament has erupted from the northwest solar quadrant and a component of the predominately westward associated coronal mass
ejection (CME) is expected to arrive at the Earth during the second
half of February 24. G1 conditions, with the chance of G2 periods are
possible during the second half of February 24 and first half of
February 25. Modeling shows the bulk of the CME missing the Earth.
Increased geomagnetic activity is expected due to coronal mass ejection
from February 24 - 25, 2024.

Sunspot numbers and solar flux values dropped over the past week, with
average daily sunspot numbers down from 134.6 to 84.4, and average
daily solar flux dropping from 190 to 164. Geomagnetic conditions were
very quiet. Only four new sunspot groups appeared: three on February 15
and one on February 18.

Spaceweather.com <https://spaceweather.com/> says all of their content
is written by humans, with no artificial intelligence (AI) at all. I
decided to ask an AI bot when Cycle 25 will peak. From Google's Gemini
AI bot <https://gemini.google.com/?hl=en>:

There are two main perspectives on when Solar Cycle 25 will reach its
maximum. Original prediction: an expert panel convened by [the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA), and the International Space
Environment Service (ISES)] in 2019 predicted a peak in July 2025 with
a maximum sunspot number of 115. This prediction assumed a similar
strength to the weak Solar Cycle 24.

Revised prediction: in October 2023, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction
Center (SWPC) released a revised prediction based on observed activity.
This new prediction suggests a faster rise and higher peak, likely
between January and October 2024, with a sunspot number between 137 and
173. However, it's important to note that the timing could still fall
within the broad error range of November 2024 to March 2026.

So, the answer depends on which prediction you consider. Original
prediction: July 2025. Revised prediction: between January and October
2024 (more likely than July 2025). It's important to stay updated on
the latest information as scientists continue to monitor the sun's
activity. You can find more details and updates on the NOAA Space
Weather Prediction Center website at https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression <https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression%0d>.

Here is a revised outlook for the next few weeks:

Predicted solar flux is 170 and 175 on February 22 - 23; 180 on
February 24 - 28; 170, 160, and 165 on February 29 through March 2; 170
on March 3 - 9; 165 on March 10 - 16, and 162, 160, and 165 on March 17
-19.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on February 22 - 24; 8 on February 25,
and 5 on February 26 through the first week of April.

Sunspot numbers for February 15 through 21, 2024, were 151, 97, 100,
84, 64, 50, and 45, with a mean of 84.4. 10.7-centimeter flux was
178.3, 168.8, 169.9, 156.5, 152.1, 152.6, and 169.9, with a mean of
164. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 4, 6, 3, 6, and 4, with a
mean of 4.4. Middle latitude A index was 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 5, and 3, with
a mean of 3.3.

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

- February 23 - 25 -- CQ 160m Contest, SSB (phone)

- February 24 - 25 -- REF Contest, SSB (phone)

- February 24 - 25 -- UBA DX Contest (CW)

- February 24 - 25 -- South Carolina QSO Party (CW, phone)

- February 24 - 25 -- North American QSO Party
<https://ncjweb.com/naqp/>, RTTY (digital)

- February 24 - 25 -- NA Collegiate Championship, RTTY (digital)

- February 25 -- High Speed Club CW Contest (CW)

- February 25 - 26 -- North Carolina QSO Party (CW, phone)

- February 26 -- RSGB FT4 Contest FT4 (FT4)

- February 28 -- SKCC Sprint (CW)

- February 28 -- UKEICC 80m Contest (CW)

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

UPCOMING SECTION, STATE, AND DIVISION CONVENTIONS

- February 24 | Central Dakota Amateur Radio Club <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/central-dakota-amateur-radio-club-hamfest-arrl-north-dakota-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL North Dakota State Convention, Bismarck, North Dakota

- February 24 | HAM-CON <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/ham-con-arrl-vermont-state-convention-3>,
hosting the ARRL Vermont State Convention, Colchester, Vermont

- March 1 - 2 | Greater Houston HamFest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/greater-houston-hamfest-arrl-west-gulf-division-convention>,

hosting the ARRL West Gulf Division Convention, Rosenberg, Texas

- March 8 - 9 | Acadiana DX Association Hamfest & Swapmeet <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/acadiana-dx-association-hamfest-swapmeet-arrl-louisiana-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana

- March 16 | 49th Annual Stuart Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/49th-annual-stuart-hamfest-arrl-southern-florida-section-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Southern Florida Section Convention, Stuart, Florida

- March 16 | St. Patrick's Day Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/st-patrick-s-day-hamfest-arrl-west-texas-section-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas

- April 6 | Raleigh Hamfest <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/raleigh-hamfest-arrl-roanoke-division-convention-1>,

hosting the ARRL Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina

- April 12 - 13 | Green Country Hamfest 2024 <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/green-country-hamfest-2024-arrl-oklahoma-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Oklahoma State Convention, Claremore, Oklahoma

- April 20 | Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics Expo <http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/delmarva-amateur-radio-and-electronics-expo-arrl-delaware-state-convention>,

hosting the ARRL Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware

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
<[email protected]>

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