swmopacket.org

Excitement mounted a few days ago when new Solar Cycle 24 sunspot 1013 emerged, but two days later it was fading away, similar to other recent sunspot appearances. The sunspot number for February 24-26 was 12, 14 and 12. Today’s number will likely be 0. Sunspot numbers for February 19-25 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 12 and 14 with a mean of 3.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 68.9, 69.2, 70.6, 70.3, 70.8, 71 and 70.7 with a mean of 70.2. The estimated planetary A indices were 1, 3, 3, 3, 5, 6 and 3 with a mean of 3.4. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 0, 3, 2, 3, 3, 6 and 2 with a mean of 2.7.

This week’s Surfin’ looks to the Mac OS X for a Software Defined Radio.

The inaugural Train the Trainers course — supported by a grant from the ARRL Foundation — made its first appearance on February 13-14 at HamCation in Orlando, Florida. Lead by ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, 12 participants — primarily from the ARRL Southeastern Division — completed the course. HamCation is the ARRL Southeastern Division’s convention.

On February 25, the Federal Communications Commission revoked the license of Lonnie L. Keeney, KB9RFO, of Greencastle Indiana. According to the FCC, Keeney’s 2002 conviction of child molestation, a Class C felony, renders him "lack[ing] the requisite character qualifications to be and remain a Commission licensee." Keeney has 30 days to appeal the revocation.

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) President Dave Goodwin, VE3AAQ/VO1AU, announced he was resigning his post, effective immediately, at the RAC Board of Directors teleconference meeting on February 24. At the same teleconference meeting, the RAC Board elected Bob Cooke, VE3BDB, as RAC President. Cooke will serve until December 31, 2009, the end of the current term.

The lack of good HF propagation didn’t seem to affect participation in the 2008 Sweepstakes or the 2009 RTTY Roundup contests. According to ARRL Contest Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, both contests were record-breaking events. "We have received 3298 logs for the November SSB and CW Sweeps combined in 2008," Kutzko said. "That is — at bare minimum — a 5 year high. The 2009 RTTY Roundup in January saw 1564 entries, also a 5 year high." Kutzko said he attributes some of the increase to the hoopla surrounding the 75th running of Sweepstakes: "The excitement over the new Triple Play Award was likely a large factor in the RTTY Roundup increase. Interest in contesting in general is on the rise."

Registration remains open through Sunday March 8, 2009 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, March 20, 2009: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2, Antenna Modeling, and Radio Frequency Propagation.

With the 2009 ARRL International DX CW Contest now history, the first full weekend in March brings the next round of competition: The 2009 ARRL DX Phone Contest. Like its CW predecessor, this event focuses on DX station working all US states and Canadian provinces, while US and Canadian amateurs try to work as many DX countries as possible over the 48 hour contest period.

The first monthly WSJT Sprint contest will be held this Saturday, February 28 between 4 AM and noon (local time).WSJT is a popular software suite created by Joe Taylor, K1JT. It is used to make digital contacts by reflecting signals off the ionized trails left by meteors (a technique known as meteor scatter). The same software can be used to make contacts by using the moon as a radio reflector (moonbounce). WSJT Sprint points are based on the distances worked. Participants are allowed to make random or assisted contacts (skeds viaPing Jockey). Enter as 6 meter only, 2 meter only or Combined class. Simultaneous 6/2 meter operation is permitted in the Combined class. Complete rules are availableonline; click on "Sprints" in the content bar on the left.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has updated the requirements needed to earn the Radio merit badge. The new requirements became effective with the publication of Boy Scout Requirements 2009. While no new content has been added to the program, the new merit badge pamphlet features lots of new information — including color pictures and updated charts and text — that reflects the changes in the Amateur Radio Service since the last pamphlet update in 2002. Approximately 4000 Radio merit badges are earned each year.

ARRL members in the North Texas Section have elected a new Section Manager. Jay Urish, W5GM, of Flower Mound, received 740 votes; his opponent, incumbent Section Manager Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, of Dallas, received 678 votes. Blackwell has served as Section Manager since 2005. In Arizona, members re-elected incumbent Tom Fagan, K7DF, of Tucson. Fagan, who has been Section Manger since 2005, received 1016 votes; Robert Spencer, KE8DM, of Yuma, received 205 votes. Ballots were counted and verified at ARRL Headquarters on Tuesday, February 24.

EMCOMMWEST 2009 — an ARRL specialty convention devoted entirely to emergency communications — will host this year’s Pacific Division Convention (Pacificon) at the Circus Circus Hotel Resort in Reno, Nevada May 1-3.

Amateur Radio proves essential to the first manned balloon flight across the Atlantic.

The March/April issue of QEX is coming soon, and it is full of theoretical and practical technical articles that you don’t want to miss.

First introduced in 2008, the ARRL’s Field Day Station Locator Service was a popular addition to the Field Day toolbox. This service — an interactive map that helps amateurs or those interested in Amateur Radio find a Field Day site near them — is free to clubs or individuals who will be operating public Field Day stations. Stations can also be listed by state or province. If your group would like to be a part of the Station Locator Service, it’s easy to get started — just go to the Field Day Station Locator Web site and follow the instructions. ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air operating event in Amateur Radio. On June 27-28, join tens of thousands of Amateur Radio operators as they gather for a public demonstration of our Service.