In the log this week
* Ken Villone KU2US Founder of 13 Colonies Special Event Silent Key
* Update: FCC Licensing Systems Unavailable Due to Government Shutdown
* Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
* MVARC Nets on the Air
* What’s happening with DX?
* Solar Activity Update
* Upcoming Contests
* Interesting Online Radio Content
Ken Villone KU2US Founder of 13 Colonies Special Event Silent Key
Image Courtesy Legacy.com
Ken Villone KU2US, the founder of the very popular 13 Colonies Special Event, has passed away. Ken served in the United States Army from 1968-1973 and had a career as a real estate appraiser. The 13 Colonies special event has become an annual staple of the amateur radio calendar around Independence Day where operators chase stations from the 13 original colonies and from the UK and France. Each year it has grown dramatically and brought a lot of excitement to the community. Ken and his contributions to our hobby will be greatly missed. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. His obituary can be found at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/kenneth-villone-obituary?id=59654052.
Update: FCC Licensing Systems Remain Unavailable Due to Government Shutdown
The ARRL reports that the CORES registration system used by new applicants to get an FCC FRN, which is a requirement for those who wish to take the test and do not already have one, remains offline due to the government shutdown. In the interim the ARRL has established procedures to allow for tests with the ARRL VEC to be taken before having a FRN so the process can be completed when one is able to be obtained by the applicant. FCC systems went off-line around 1 PM Eastern time October 1st, so the FCC is not processing any amateur radio license applications during the shutdown. This includes individual, club, and exam session applications for new and upgrading licensees. Details and updates from the ARRL can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-licensing-update-during-us-government-shutdown
Reminder: ARRL Requests Amateurs Contact Representatives About Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act
Image Courtesy: United_States_Capitol_-west_front.jpg: Architect of the Capitol derivative work: O.J. - United_States_Capitol-_west_front.jpg, Public Domain, Link
The American Radio Relay League is asking American amateur radio operators to contact their representatives and senators in support of the “Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act”. The legislation seeks to give amateur radio operators rights equal to users of antennas for broadcast television, wireless internet, and flagpoles. The bills, H.R. 1094 in the House of Representatives and S.459 in the Senate seek to prevent overly restrictive homeowner’s association (HOA) regulations that prohibit the installation of antennas, even when placed inconspicuously. The ARRL asks that all amateur radio operators go to https://send-a-letter.org/hoa/ which will allow for a letter to be sent on your behalf to your Representative and Senators. More information can be found at
http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin?issue=2025-09-17
https://www.arrl.org/current-legislation
MVARC Nets on the Air
* 2 Meter FM Net: Tuesdays at 7 PM [146.655/- MHz (141.3 Hz PL Tone) ]
* 2 Meter Digital Net: Immediately Follows 2 Meter FM Net [146.655/- MHz C4FM]
* MVARC Slow Speed CW Roundtable: Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 AM [3.565 MHz CW]
* MVARC Cherry Tree Net: Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 AM [3.920 MHz LSB]
What’s Happening with DX
There will be a good amount of DX on the bands this week including Svalbard (JW7XK, JW6VM, JW9DL, JW5X), Manihiki Atoll North Cook Islands (E51MWA), Chatham Islands (ZL7IO), Vanuatu (YJ0CA), Niue (E6AD), Greenland (OX3LX), Guatemala (TG9BBV), Madagascar (5R8IC), Burkina Faso (XT2AW), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Kuwait (9K2HN), Solomon Islands (H44MS), and Antarctica (DP0GVN).
A calendar of DXpeditions can be found at https://dxnews.com/calendar/
Solar Activity Update
As we go to press the Solar Flux Index (SFI) was 122 and the estimated sunspot number was 87 with 4 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. Solar activity has been at moderate levels recently. The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels and the Kp index reached 4 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 1124 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be low with geomagnetic activity at quiet levels today, quiet to active levels on Saturday, and at unsettled to minor storm levels Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5% today through Saturday and at 1% on Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible in the near term with a predicted probability of 25% through Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted today through Sunday. There is a chance of 6 meter propagation so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for the next time the magic band does its thing. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs to get on the air and work the world.
Good sources of real-time solar information include https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/ and https://solarham.com/. A good overview of conditions can be found at https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/. To see D-layer absorption data and associated radio blackouts, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-region-absorption-predictions-d-rap. To see real-time Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) and Critical Frequency (foF2) information from radiosonde data, visit https://prop.kc2g.com/.
Upcoming Contests
On the contest calendar this weekend we will see the the ARRL EME Contest, the Makrothen RTTY Contest, the QRP ARCI Fall QSO Party, the Nevada QSO Party, the Arizona QSO Party, the Pennsylvania QSO Party, the South Dakota QSO Party, the Oceania DX Contest on CW, the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Scandinavian Activity Contest on SSB, the PODXS 070 Club 160 meter Great Pumpkin Sprint, the UBA ON Contest on CW, and the 4 States QRP Second Sunday Sprint. As always the K1USN SSTs, MSTs, and CWTs will also be on the air.
The full contest calendar with events and exchanges can be found at https://www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.php
Interesting Online Radio Content
Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW discusses recent solar conditions and her forecast -
Evan K2EJT discusses his favorite field keys -
Josh KI6NAZ tests the Comet Ground Independent mobile antennas -
Walt K4OGO answers some questions about great circle maps, salt water effects, and classic radios -
Sn0ren takes a look at the HackRF PortaRF -
Mike K8MRD tests using USB PD to get full output on a Yaesu FTX-1F -
Nanofix compares Kester solder with the Sainsmart brand -
Steve KM9G tests Chameleon coils -
Kevin KB9RLW tests out a delta loop on ground antenna -
Matt M0DQW builds a 10 meter Moxon antenna -
George VK2AOE goes portable in New Zealand -
Walt K4OGO talks about the HOA bill before congress and asks for your help -
Mike K8MRD activates in Arkansas -
Kevin W1DED talks about the upcoming CQ WW CW contest with Dan N6MJ -
That’s it for this week.
Best 73,
Ed
N2EC
