In the log this week
* Contest Spotlight: ARRL June VHF Contest
* MVARC Nets on the Air
* What's happening with DX?
* Solar Activity Update
* Upcoming Contests
* Interesting Online Radio Content
Contest Spotlight: ARRL June VHF Contest
This weekend brings the ARRL June VHF Contest from 1800 UTC on Saturday until 0259 UTC on Monday. Despite being called the "VHF" contest, participants can make contacts on some UHF bands as well, with QSOs being valid on 50, 144, 222, 432, and 902 MHz as well as 1.2 GHz. The objective of the contest is to get QSOs with as many 2 degree by 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible within the United States and Canada. The exchange is simply that Maidenhead grid square, so for me, that would be FM18. All legal modes are permitted.
There are several Single Operator categories (High and Low Power, Portable, 3-bands, and FM Only) as well as Rover categories (Classic, Limited, and Unlimited), and Multi-Operator categories (Limited and Unlimited). The rules have specific details for power and band operations for these different categories, so definitely check out the rules for details. We have had some openings on the 6 meter band lately, so this may be a great opportunity to get a lot of contacts if the magic band cooperates this weekend.
Full rules and contest information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/june-vhf. Good luck.
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. Stations on the air include Saipan Island (KH0N), Cyprus (ZC4RH), Bermuda (VP9/WA4PGM), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Saint Martin Island (FS/K9EL), Greenland (OX3LX), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Tokelau (ZK3ZK), Kuwait (9K2HN), Falkland Islands (VP8DPD), Marcus Island Minami Tori Shima Islands (JG8NQJ/JD1), 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 142 and the estimated sunspot number was 133 with 8 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has increased. Solar activity has been at low levels recently with the geomagnetic field being at unsettled levels and the Kp was at 5-6 last night. The solar wind reached 513 km/s on Thursday and polarity was mostly negative. G1 level storms were present. Today solar wind is expected to return to nominal conditions and tomorrow positive polarity coronal hole high speed streams are expected with a chance of the coronal mass ejections from June 8th to have a glancing blow at Earth. Geomagnetic storms at minor to moderate G1-G2 levels are expected today and tomorrow moderate to strong G2 to G3 storms are possible. Sunday these conditions are expected to lessen as the coronal hole and mass ejection effects are reduced. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 5%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are possible with a predicted probability of 40%. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 5% chance predicted. 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. While the storms may make things challenging this weekend, 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 YB ORARI DX Contest, the Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB), the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, the Portugal Day Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the REF DDFM 6m Contest, the GACW WWSA CW DX Contest, the ARRL June VHF Contest, 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
Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW gets us up to speed with solar weather this week -
Kevin W1DED talks to Sebastian KI2D about Ham2k Portable Logger -
Matt M0DQW takes a look at SDR++ Brown -
Colin MM0OPX reviews an inexpensive portable paddle -
Hayden VK7HH takes a look at his favorite radio finds on AliExpress -
Ara N6ARA and Mark KD7DTS do their first edition of the Sofas on the Air Podcast and talk about Ara making his SOTA Goat -
Kevin W1DED and the Contest Crew answer viewer questions -
Thomas K4SWL activates POTA pedestrian mobile -
Steve KM9G takes a look at the W0AEZ QRP Battery -
Walt K4OGO shows us Museum Ships on the Air and a day in the Norfolk and Portsmouth Harbor -
TJ K9KJ starts his build of the CFT1 -
Evan K2EJT gives us his thoughts on the good, bad, and ugly of the FTX-1 -
Mike K8MRD installs his FTX-1 for mobile -
Walt K4OGO takes a look at the Xiegu X6200 -
Steve KM9G encourages amateurs to ignore negativity and experiment -
George VK2AOE restores some classic straight keys -
Dugbo KD7DUG activates SOTA with a Cricket 20M kit, Elecraft KH1, and 2M Slim Jim -
Evan K2EJT activates POTA with the FTX-1 Optima -
That's it for this week.
Best 73,
Ed
N2EC
