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http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2017-02-23

The ARRL Letter

February 23, 2017
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME


 *  Orlando HamCation a Hit, Posts New Attendance Record
 *  HAARP Goes Classical During New Experimental Campaign
 *  The Doctor Will See You Now!
 *  MARS Refocuses Its Mission, Encrypts Data Nets
 *  Winter Cycle Section Manager Election Results Announced
 *  Homer V. Thompson, W4CWV, and Annette P. Thompson, W4LKM, Memorial
    Scholarship Endowed
 *  ARISS Opens Window for Proposals to Host Contacts with Space Station
    Crew
 *  In Brief...
 *  Getting It Right!
 *  The K7RA Solar Update
 *  Just Ahead in Radiosport
 *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions



Orlando HamCation a Hit, Posts New Attendance Record

When Orlando HamCation(R) hosted the ARRL Southeastern Division Convention on
February 10-12, it posted a new attendance record. As a result of its growing
popularity, the Orlando show may now be the third largest ham radio gathering
in the world -- behind the JARL Tokyo Ham Fair, with an estimated 37,000
attendees in 2016, and Hamvention(R), which attracts some 25,000 visitors each
May. This year, HamCation logged a record 19,000 attendees, up by 2,000 from
last year and moving it ahead of Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

This year, HamCation's sponsor, the ARRL-affiliated Orlando Amateur Radio Club
(OARC), announced the retirement of HamCation Chairman Peter Meijers, AI4KM,
who has headed up the show for 10 years. Michael Cauley, W4MCA, will succeed
him. Cauley has served for 7 years as HamCation's Tailgate Chairman, for 6
years as the IT Chairman, and for 1 year as Finance Chairman. OARC President
John Knott, N4JTK, said Meijers had wanted to retire after last year's show,
but he convinced Meijers to stay on for another year.

"I'm extremely sad to see Peter retire, but totally understand that after 9
shows he felt it was time for a little rest!" Knott said, adding that planning
for HamCation 2018 "starts now!"

Representing ARRL Headquarters at HamCation 2017 were CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF;
ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, and ARRL Contest Branch Manager
Bart Jahnke, W9JJ. They were joined by ARRL Southeastern Director Greg Sarratt,
W4OZK; Vice Director Joey Tiritilli, N4ZUW; Northern Florida Section Manager
Steve Szabo, WB4OMM; ARRL Honorary Vice President Frank Butler, W4RH, and a
handful of other ARRL Field Organization volunteers.

Szabo and Sarratt moderated the standing-room-only ARRL Forum, which Gallagher
and Inderbitzen attended, while Jahnke supported an ARRL Contesting Forum. Also
attending was ARES E-Letter Editor Rick Palm, K1CE, who described the forum as
"all positive" and focused on how to gain the attention and interest of younger
people.

"[O]ne comment that struck me came from a member of the Lakeland Amateur Radio
Club, who said that the club had faced declining attendance at club meetings
and membership until they eliminated the business portions of the meetings in
favor of more hands-on, show-and-tell demonstrations of equipment, modes and
antennas, which turned into big hits," Palm recounted.

The ARRL College Amateur Radio Initiative (CARI) enjoyed attention throughout
HamCation. Gallagher, wearing a "Penn" sweatshirt for his University of
Pennsylvania alma mater, welcomed attendees to a CARI Forum, moderated by Andy
Milluzzi, KK4LWR.

Volunteer Don Search, W3AZD, headed up DXCC card checking. Membership sign-ups
were brisk, Inderbitzen reported, "and we couldn't have kept up without the
additional help of volunteers Lindy Gallagher and Dr. Sherry Mahafza, KM4VSW."

Jahnke and Inderbitzen also attended the Florida Contest Group dinner, which
included a keynote presentation by elite contester Tim Duffy, K3LR.

"I'm extremely grateful for Peter Meijers' long and dedicated service to
Orlando HamCation," Inderbitzen said. "He's done an incredible job -- a true
and good leader in our Amateur Radio Service." Inderbitzen has posted a photo
album on ARRL's Facebook page.



HAARP Goes Classical During New Experimental Campaign

The just-concluded run of ionospheric investigations conducted from Alaska's
High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) observatory -- quite
likely the most powerful HF transmission facility in the world -- revived the
latent shortwave listener (SWL) lurking within most radio amateurs. Operating
under Part 5 Experimental license WI2XFX, HAARP this month even aired some
classical music as it conducted its first scientific research campaign since
being taken over 18 months ago from the military by the University of Alaska
Fairbanks (UAF) Geophysical Institute.

UAF Space Physics Group Assistant Research Professor Chris Fallen, KL3WX,
focused on two experiments -- one called "airglow" that literally aimed to
light up the ionosphere, and another to demonstrate the so-called "Luxembourg
effect," first noticed on a 1930s Radio Luxembourg broadcast. Public engagement
was part of his plan, and Fallen this week said the Twitter and e-mail feedback
from his transmissions had been "fantastic," and that his science campaign had
become "quite an event."

"Thank you for making a difference and advancing Amateur Radio as well," Doug
Howard, VE6CID, tweeted. Another Twitter follower enthused, "You're running the
coolest DX station in the world." Fallen said he also received "a lot of great
waterfalls," as well as video and audio recordings from hams and SWLs.

Fallen started and stopped each experiment block with DTMF tones, transmitted
in AM on or about 2.8 and 3.3 MHz, each channel fed with audio tones of
different frequencies or, in the case of music, as a separate stereo channel.
If the Luxembourg effect is present, skywave-signal listeners would hear both
channels combined on a single frequency; Fallen said the effect is easier to
detect with tones. In addition to tones, he transmitted "a 'dance track,' a
Pachelbel Canon arrangement, and a variation of 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat.'"
Jeff Dumps, KL4IU, composed some of the music, and he arranged and performed
all of it.

The CW "airglow" artificial aurora experiment followed the Luxembourg effect
transmissions. All week, Fallen despaired that the "ratty" ionosphere and cloud
cover were diminishing his hopes for success with the artificial aurora
experiments. But on the last night, he tweeted, "Seeing artificial airglow with
the spectrometer. Film at 11."

Fallen is now evaluating the results of his HAARP efforts. He said one listener
posted "a most excellent" YouTube clip. He was not specific; several have been
posted that document this week's experiments, including this one from Stephen
Oleson, VE6SLP. Laurence Howell, KL7L, in Wasilla, Alaska, posted an audio
file.

"The miracle of crowd sourcing!" Fallen said. "If only the Luxembourg effect
was more pronounced, but it is in the 3,300 kHz recording."

Fallen has been working under a $60,000 National Science Foundation grant.
"During campaigns, significant expenditures for fuel and personnel are
required," the grant abstract said. "Large start-up costs make HAARP
experiments largely inaccessible to individual researchers unless multiple
experiments and funding sources can be bundled together during a campaign of up
to 2-week duration." According to the abstract, public participation would
maximize "the broader impacts of the investigations."

Fallen posted additional information on his "Gakona HAARPoon 2017" blog.



The Doctor Will See You Now!

"HF Loop Antennas" is the topic of the just-released episode of the "ARRL The
Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!

Sponsored by DX Engineering, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an informative
discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet, or
smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!

Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor-in-Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and the
Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of technical
topics. You can also e-mail your questions to doctor@arrl.org, and the Doctor
may answer them in a future podcast.

Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone or iPad
podcast app (just search for "ARRL The Doctor is In"). You can also listen
online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration required, or browse the
site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android
devices.

If you've never listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's guide.
Just ahead on March 2: "CTCSS and DTMF."



MARS Refocuses Its Mission, Encrypts Data Nets

Today's Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) program has changed markedly
from what it was just a few years ago. So says US Army MARS Program Manager
Paul English, WD8DBY, who contends that MARS must adapt in order to remain
relevant and useful to its sponsor, the US Department of Defense (DOD).

"Probably the most significant changes were the Navy's decision to 'sunset' the
Navy Marine Corps MARS program and our move to refocus Army and Air Force MARS
on providing contingency HF Radio communications support to the DOD and the
services," English said. "In order to focus our support on the Department of
Defense, MARS leadership had to rethink, essentially from the ground up, what
it means to be a MARS member." MARS relies on volunteers from within the
Amateur Radio ranks. Among other things, recruits receive specialized training
in military messaging formats and digital messaging protocols.

While the priority MARS mission is to provide contingency HF communication to
support the DOD and the military, MARS also supports communication for combat
commands providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, provides
contingency communication for Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA), and
provides "morale and welfare communications" in support of the DOD.

MARS still provides support for civil authorities, but it must follow DOD
procedures for how that support is provided, English explained. "MARS
leadership used to actively encourage our members to support civil
authorities," he said, "and that put us in direct competition with the Amateur
Radio community as well as with other federal agencies."

English said that in today's MARS program, the primary digital protocol is
software that emulates Military Standard (MilStd) 188-110A (M110A) serial
phase-shift keying, which is compatible with what is used by the military. MARS
members may still use Amateur Radio digital modes on working channels, but
M110A is the principal mode. There are no plans to transition to digital voice
modes.

This year, MARS introduced an online encryption program that allows all digital
radio traffic to be encrypted as it is being transmitted. MARS has also
expanded its use of automatic link establishment (ALE), although members are
not required to use it.

"Our bread and butter remains single-channel HF communication," English said.
"The majority of our members who do use ALE are using the MARS ALE software
program. Some of our members who support our national nets are moving to
hardware ALE radios."

The MARS program supports quarterly contingency communication exercises
supporting the DOD. These are based on "very bad day" scenarios, where
traditional forms of communication are no longer available. "Through these
exercises, the DOD -- via the MARS community -- reaches out to the Amateur
Radio community to provide situational awareness information at the
county/local level," English said.

That makes sense to MARS member Bill Sexton, N1IN, who was Army MARS public
affairs officer from 2001 until 2014. "At least in theory, the blanketing
omnipresence of hams across all 50 states offers a backup for blacked-out
regions in the event of a catastrophic attack or natural disaster," Sexton
allowed. "The challenge is mobilizing back-up operations in the total absence
of internet, telephone, cell phone, or texting resources."



Winter Cycle Section Manager Election Results Announced

Four candidates for Section Manager (SM), including one incumbent, outpolled
challengers to win 2-year terms beginning on April 1, while a second incumbent
was defeated in a run for a new term, and one candidate ran unopposed to
succeed an incumbent who did not run again. Ballots in contested races in the
winter election cycle were counted and verified on February 21 at ARRL
Headquarters.

In Arizona, Rick Paquette, W7RAP, of Tucson, topped the field in a three-way
race, receiving 638 votes to 375 for Steven Wood, W1SR, of Tucson, and 353 for
Virgil Silhanek, K7VZ, of Phoenix. Paquette has served as an Assistant Section
Manager and has been a volunteer instructor, mentor, and volunteer examiner for
many years. Robert Spencer, KE8DM, of Yuma, who has served as SM since 2013,
decided not to run for another term.

In North Texas, Jay Urish, W5GM, of McKinney will become the new Section
Manager after defeating Brent Boydston, KF5THB, of Henrietta 829 to 490. Urish
will be returning as SM, having served previously from 2009 to 2011. He will
succeed Nancy McCain, K5NLM, of Fort Worth, who has been North Texas SM for the
last 2 years and did not run for another term.

In Kentucky, Steve Morgan, W4NHO, of Owensboro, unseated incumbent SM Alan
Morgan, KY1O, of Paris, 323 to 146. Steve Morgan served previously as the
Kentucky SM from 1991 until 1997. Alan Morgan has served in the office since
2015. The two Morgans are unrelated.

In Iowa, incumbent Section Manager Bob McCaffrey, K0CY, of Boone overcame a
challenge to win a new term, polling 306 votes to 218 for Paul Cowley, KB7VML,
of Ames. This will mark McCaffrey's third term in office.

In Arkansas, James Ferguson, N5LKE, of Searcy, will become the new Section
Manager when he succeeds incumbent SM Dale Temple, W5RXU, of North Little Rock,
on April 1. Temple, who is completing his third term, decided not to run for
re-election.

These incumbent Section Managers did not face opposition during the nomination
period and have been declared elected to new terms beginning on April 1:
Malcolm Keown, W5XX (Mississippi); George Forsyth, AA7GS (Montana); Carl
Gardenias, WU6D (Orange), and Jack Mitchell, N7MJ (Wyoming).

These incumbent Section Managers began new 2-year terms on January 1: Tom
Walsh, K1TW (Eastern Massachusetts); Cecil Higgins, AC0HA (Missouri); Matt
Anderson, KA0BOJ (Nebraska); Jim Mezey, W2KFV (New York City/Long Island); Tom
Dick, KF2GC (Northern New York); Marc Tarplee, N4UFP (South Carolina); Skip
Arey, N2EI (Southern New Jersey), and Darrell Davis, KT4WX (West Central
Florida).

In Western Pennsylvania, Joe Shupienis, W3BC, of Falls Creek, on January 1
succeeded Tim Duffy, K3LR, who decided not to run for a second term. Shupienis
had been the Affiliated Club Coordinator and a Public Information Officer.



Homer V. Thompson, W4CWV, and Annette P. Thompson, W4LKM, Memorial Scholarship
Endowed

A new scholarship has been endowed, honoring the memory of Homer V. Thompson,
W4CWV, and Annette P. Thompson, W4LKM, the ARRL Foundation has announced. The
scholarship will be funded through an initial $50,000 gift from an anonymous
donor.

The Thompsons, who married in 1939, were both from eastern Polk County,
Florida. Homer Thompson's family was among the pioneers of the citrus industry
in the Haines City area, while Annette Thompson's grandfather, Ephriam Baynard,
was a notable early real estate developer in Auburndale. A graduate of the
University of Florida, Homer Thompson saw service during World War II and the
Korean Conflict. Upon retiring from military service as a lieutenant colonel,
Thompson was awarded the Legion of Merit for his service with the Army Security
Agency. He was employed by the FCC for 30 years. The Thompsons also oversaw
citrus grove properties they owned jointly.

Both Thompsons were avid radio amateurs. They spent their retirement years in
Winter Haven, Florida. At the time Annette Thompson died in 2010, the couple
had been married for 70 years; Homer Thompson died in 2013.

Applicants for this scholarship must be US citizens and Amateur Radio
licensees, enrolled at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university, and
performing at a high academic level, pursuing a degree in an agriculture,
business, science, math, engineering, or technology-related field.

Preference will be given to Florida residents. If no qualified Florida
applicant is identified, the scholarship may be awarded to an applicant from
the ARRL Southeastern Division (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and US
Virgin Islands).

The scholarship award will be $1,500 annually, with the first scholarship
expected to be awarded in 2018. One scholarship will be awarded each year. The
ARRL Foundation shall determine award recipients.



ARISS Opens Window for Proposals to Host Contacts with Space Station Crew

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program is seeking
proposals from schools and formal or informal educational institutions and
organizations -- individually or working in concert -- to host Amateur Radio
contacts next year with ISS crew members. The window to submit a proposal is
open through April 15. ARISS anticipates that contacts will take place between
January 1 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the
exact contact dates. Proposal information and documents are on the ARRL
website.

To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS seeks proposals from
schools and organizations that can draw large numbers of participants and
integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Each FM-voice
contact lasts about 10 minutes -- the length of a typical overhead ISS pass
from horizon to horizon.

Scheduled ham radio contacts with ISS crew members allow students to interact
with an astronaut or cosmonaut through a question-and-answer format.
Participants and audiences alike can learn firsthand from the astronaut or
cosmonaut what it's like to live and work in space and to learn about space
research on the ISS. Students will be able to observe and learn about satellite
communication, wireless technology, and radio science.

Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling
activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to
accommodate changes in contact dates and times.

To help organizations prepare proposals, ARISS offers 1-hour online information
sessions, designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and
the proposal process, as well as provide an avenue for interested organizations
to ask questions. Attending an online Information Session is not required but
is strongly encouraged.

Information Sessions

Information sessions for the current application window will take place on
Monday, March 6, at 7 PM EST (0000 UTC on March 7) and Tuesday, March 16, at 4
PM EDT (2000 UTC). Contact ARISS to sign up and take part or for more
information.



In Brief...

Summits on the Air Activation the Hard Way: A radio amateur in the UK, Colin
Evans, M1BUU, attained Summits on the Air (SOTA) Mountain Goat status on
January 28 on the summit of Whernside, the highest peak in Yorkshire, but he
took an unusual approach by waiting until after he reached the summit to
construct his station equipment. He had taken along a 20-meter QRPme RockMite
kit, a homebrewed key kit, a vertical antenna kit, and a gas-powered soldering
iron. Conditions were not exactly ideal. Sheltering from wind, rain, and snow
in a small tent, Evans was able to constructed the RockMite, key, and antenna
in less than 4 hours. Better yet, his first contact with the 250 mW RockMite
was with N1EU near Albany, New York, more than 3,000 miles away. "There's a
good chance that if you work me, I'll be using a rig that I've built myself,"
Evans said on his QRZ.com profile. He typically operates QRP and has been
involved in the SOTA program since 2004.


The Yucaipa High School Amateur Radio Club is featured in the winter 2017
edition of Radio Waves.


Winter 2017 Edition of Radio Waves is Now Available. The winter 2017 issue of
Radio Waves -- news you can use for license instruction and radio science
education -- is now available. In this issue: How to Start a High School
Amateur Radio Club in Six Easy Steps; Rhode Island School ARISS Contact Takes
Off with the Public; Citizen Scientist Opportunities for Radio Amateurs, and
Science Lessons for Solar Week. Plus the Instructor Corner, Update on the
Instructor Reporting and Recognition Program, Licensing Updates, Education &
Technology Program News, and more. The current issue
and all past issues are available on the ARRL website.


Texas Club Distributes Copies of Ham Radio for Dummies to Schools, Libraries:
The Cedar Creek Amateur Radio Club in Athens, Texas, has purchased and
distributed copies of Ham Radio for Dummies by ARRL Contributing Editor Ward
Silver, N0AX, to area schools and libraries. The book now is in its second
edition. Financed in part with a grant from LDG Electronics, the club
determined to place a copy of the book in nearly every school and public
library in the tri-county area around Athens. Club member and former teacher
Glenn Hughes, KF5CTG, took on the task of distributing the copies, visiting
with librarians and school administrators as he made the rounds. The activity
caught the attention of The Athens Review, which published an article about it
on February 15.


Nebraska Sesquicentennial Celebration QSO Party Set: Radio amateurs in Nebraska
will celebrate the state's 150th anniversary during the Sesquicentennial
Anniversary Celebration Week QSO Party, February 25 through March 6, which
includes the actual anniversary date, March 1. Nebraska amateurs may operate
from their own stations or as part of Nebraska historical site activations,
appending "/NE150" to their call signs. Nebraska stations transmit name, signal
report, and Nebraska county (plus historical site, if appropriate).
Non-Nebraska stations transmit name, signal report, and state, Canadian
province, or DXCC entity. A special QSL card will be available with a
self-addressed, stamped envelope and QSL to the Nebraska station contacted.
Contact ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, or ARRL
Nebraska Section Manager Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ, for additional information. The
Nebraska Sesquicentennial Amateur Radio Commemorative QSO Party is an official
Nebraska Sesquicentennial event sanctioned by the Nebraska Sesquicentennial
Commission.



Getting It Right!

The article, "Oldest, Longest-Licensed US Ham, Educator Charles Hellman, W2RP,
SK," in the February 9 edition of The ARRL Letter contained an incorrect call
sign for Mr. Hellman's late brother. Robert Hellman was W2IIU. The February 16
"In Brief" item, "Field Day 2017 Packet is Now Available," inadvertently
omitted the link to the Field Day packet.



The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: On February 22 at 0124 UTC, Australian Space
Weather Services issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning: "The effect of a
high-speed solar wind stream from a recurrent coronal hole is expected to raise
geomagnetic activity to active levels from 22 to 24 February with the
possibility of minor storm periods on 23 and 24 February.

Spaceweather.com on February 22 reported that NOAA forecasters were estimating
a 60% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on February 23. It could be a good
time to watch for aurora.

Over the February 16-22 reporting week, the average daily sunspot number
increased from 17.6 to 19.1, compared to the previous 7 days, while average
solar flux increased from 75.1 to 78.5.

Geomagnetic indicators were slightly higher, with average planetary A index
increasing from 4.7 to 11.3, and average mid-latitude A index changing from 2.9
to 9.

Predicted solar flux is 84 on February 23-24; 83 on February 25; 82 on February
26-March 1; 78 on March 2; 73 on March 3-4; 72 on March 5-7; 73 and 74 on March
8-9; 75 on March 10-14; then 74, 75, 77 and 79 on March 15-18, 82 on March
19-24, then 80, 78 and 76 on March 25-27, 75 on March 28-29; 73 on March 30-31,
and 72 on April 1-3.

Predicted planetary A index is 18 and 12 on February 23-24; 8 on February
25-26; 16, 24, and 20 on February 27-March 1; 15 on March 2-5; 8 on March 6; 5
on March 7-14; 10, 20, 15, 10, and 12 on March 15-19; 10 on March 20-21; 12,
15, 20, and 18 on March 22-25; 8, 30, 25, and 20 on March 26-29.

Sunspot numbers for February 16-22 were 23, 14, 13, 23, 25, 19, and 17, with a
mean of 19.1. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 74, 74.6, 76.6, 78.1, 80.7, 82.5,
and 83.2, with a mean of 78.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 20, 16,
10, 10, 4, and 10, with a mean of 11.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were
7, 16, 11, 9, 8, 4, and 8, with a mean of 9.

Send me your reports or observations.

____________________________________________________________________________


Just Ahead in Radiosport

 *  February 24-26 -- CQ 160-Meter Contest (SSB)
 *  February 25-26 -- REF Contest (SSB)
 *  February 25-26 -- UBA DX Contest (CW)
 *  February 25-26 -- South Carolina QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
 *  February 25-26 -- North American QSO Party (RTTY)
 *  February 26 -- High-Speed Club CW Contest
 *  February 26 -- SARL Digital Contest
 *  February 26-27 -- North Carolina QSO Party (CW, phone, digital)
 *  March 1 -- UKEICC 80-Meter Contest (Phone)
 *  March 2 -- NRAU 10-Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth reporting on
Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update via your ARRL
member profile e-mail preferences.

____________________________________________________________________________


Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

 *  February 25 -- West Central Florida Section Technical Conference,
    Sarasota, Florida
 *  February 25 -- New Mexico Tech Fest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
 *  February 25 -- Vermont State Convention, South Burlington, Vermont
 *  March 3-4 -- Alabama Section Convention, Birmingham, Alabama
 *  March 4 -- Arkansas State Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
 *  March 10-11 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
 *  March 11 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
 *  March 18 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
 *  March 18 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference, Redmond, Washington
 *  March 24-25 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas
 *  March 31-April 1 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
 *  March 31-April 2 -- Nevada State Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
 *  April 7-8 -- OzarkCon QRP Conference, Branson, Missouri
 *  April 15 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
 *  Apr 21-23 -- International DX Convention, Visalia, California
 *  April 21-23 -- Idaho State Convention, Boise, Idaho
 *  April 22 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
 *  April 22 -- Aurora '17 Convention, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
 *  Apr 22-23 -- Communications Academy XIX, Seattle, Washington
 *  April 28-29 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference, Charlotte, North
    Carolina

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

____________________________________________________________________________


ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information.

 *  Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most
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Free of charge to ARRL members...

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)\/(ark

Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it
wrong...
... A nuclear war can ruin your whole day.
---