In the log this week
* DXPedition Spotlight: ZS8W Prince Edward and Marion Island
* The ARRL and Over 200 Members File Comments to the FCC In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete memo
* MVARC Nets on the Air
* What's happening with DX?
* Solar Activity Update
* Upcoming Contests
* Interesting Online Radio Content
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DXPedition Spotlight: ZS8W Prince Edward and Marion Island
Image Courtesy ZS8W Web Site - https://www.lral.lv/zs8w/index.html
Veteran DXpeditioner Yuris YL2GM is en route to Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands near Antarctica. On his web site he reported Wednesday that he was on board the MV S.A. Agulhas II departing from Cape Town, South Africa. He will be operating April 21 through May 16, 2025 as he works as radio engineer for the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) as they prepare for the Winter season. Yuris plans to operate from 160m to 6m working split UP 1 for CW and UP 5 for SSB. Also for FT8 he indicates that once you receive a RR73, you're in the log, so there is no need to continue transmitting a 73.
Image Courtesy User:Geo Swan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Prince Edward Islands of which Marion Island is a part, are uninhabited sub-antarctic volcanic islands in the Southern Indian Ocean. The SANAP researchers are the only people on Marion Island where they have a meteorological and biological research station. The Prince Edward Islands are currently listed as #11 in Clublog's DXCC Most Wanted List, so this promises to be a great chance to get a rare one in your log. More information can be found at https://www.lral.lv/zs8w/index.html. Good luck.
The ARRL and Over 200 Members File Comments to the FCC In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete memo
The ARRL announced on April 14, 2025 that they had filed comments in response to the In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete memo from the FCC seeking comment on ways to reduce regulatory burden along with over 200 members. Their suggestions for eliminating or modifying regulations included deleting symbol (baud) rate and bandwidth limits on LF and VHF/UHF, giving Technicians additional licence privileges on HF, updating the 80/75 meter band subdivisions, deleting limitations on digital codes used over the air (as long as they are publicly decodable), allowing third-party messages to be passed consistent with the rules adopted at WRC-03, removing amplifier drive limitations that disallow use of more efficient amplifier technology, allowing for the removal of previous addresses from the ULS to allow for greater privacy for amateurs, changing how special call signs are used with respect to the responsible call, and finally to delete the rule providing for paper license replacements since those are no longer offered. The full press release from the ARRL can be found at https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-files-comments-responding-to-fcc-request-for-input. The public comment period continues until the 28th and the text of the memorandum can be found at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-25-219A1.pdf.
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 lot of DX on the air in the next week. Stations on the air will include Kiritimati Island (T32AZ), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Koror Island Palau (T88UW), Galapagos Islands (HD8G), Cambodia (XU7O), Marion Island (ZS8W), Gambia (C5R), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), Bermuda (VP9KF), British Virgin Islands (VP2VI), Majuro Atoll Marshall Islands (V73MT), 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 151 and the estimated sunspot number was 70. Over the last week the SFI has decreased. The last week brought elevated geomagnetic K index values with G4 level storms. This caused widespread issues throughout the bands this week. In the near term is looks like the K index values will be calming down with values dropping to 3 today and in the mid 2s tomorrow. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 1%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely with a predicted probability of 60%. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted. There is a reasonable chance of 6 meter propagation, so keep an eye on the band and spotting clusters to be ready for openings. HF conditions have been favorable overall. It remains a fantastic time for amateurs of all license classes 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 can look forward to the World Wide Holyland Contest, the ES Open HF Championship, the Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest, the Dutch PACCdigi Contest, QRP to the Field, the CQMM DX Contest, the Nebraska QSO Party, the Michigan QSO Party, the Ontario QSO Party, the Quebec QSO Party, the EA-QRP CW Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest. 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
Chuck KK6USY shows an antenna failure due to pushing more than rated power -
Tim G5TM is skeptical about the POTA Performer antenna -
Michael KB9VBR takes a look at the REZ Scout Antenna System -
Josh KI6NAZ goes over the best VHF/UHF antennas he has tested -
Mike K8MRD shows the newly released POTA33H Mast from Gigaparts -
Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW goes over solar conditions -
Ralph of Electronics for the Inquisitive Experimenter goes over complex conjugates and Smith Charts for Impedance Matching -
Sean W9FFF and Carlos K9OL talk about elmering -
Matt M0DQW looks at the new HackRF H4M Module Development Kit -
Kevin KB9RLW takes a look at the Tram-1411 Discone antenna -
Kevin W1DED talks to the Contest Crew about the Multi-Multi Titan Stations ND7K and K3LR for CQ WPX SSB -
Hayden VK7HH shows an inexpensive battery testing load -
Callum M0MCX shows a day out with portable amateur radio -
Mike K8MRD vlogs a hike in the woods to a POTA activation -
Kevan 2E0WMG tests a no-name AliExpress antenna in a salt marsh -
Sean W9FFF and Bruce K9WBT look at a CTR-2 Dial for Flex Radios -
Evan K2EJT talks speed and Farnsworth with CW -
Morten LB0FI uses a delta loop for POTA -
Matt M0DQW does part 2 of his build for a VHF to Microwave SDR Transceiver -
Mike M0MSN uses a QRM nulling device to help deal with local noise -
Callum M0MCX tries to salvage some old coax with water ingress -
Vince VE6LK has his first CW QSO on the zBitx -
Mike K8MRD takes a look at a power station -
Kurt ON7OFF takes a look at the new Micro PA100 Amplifier -
IMSAI Guy takes a look at the DSO-TC4 component tester and oscilloscope from Fnirsi -
Matt M0DQW takes a look at a vintage Yaesu FT-225RD -
Mike K8MRD takes a look at the REZ Scout as a 1/4 wave vertical antenna -
Chuck KK7USY tries out a cheap QRP Z-Match tuner -
Steve KM9G takes a look at an updated ATU-100 ATU -
That's it for this week.
Best 73,
Ed
N2EC
