In the log this week
* ARRL Field Day Next Weekend
* MVARC Nets on the Air
* What's happening with DX?
* Solar Activity Update
* Upcoming Contests
* Interesting Online Radio Content
ARRL Field Day Next Weekend
The biggest event in amateur radio will be happening next weekend on June 28-29th so save the date! The ARRL predicts over 31,000 amateurs will be setting up to test their skills and preparedness in this popular annual operating event. MVARC will be operating at a new location this year as a 5A station and we're excited to join in the fun. There will be more information on the event next week here on Amateur Radio News and Notes. Until then, more information can be found at https://www.arrl.org/field-day. We hope to see you out in the field and on the air. 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 Palau (T88PB, T88CL), Turkmenistan (EZ/DL7ZM), Saint Kitts Island (V47JA), Greenland (OX3LX), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Tokelau (ZK3ZK), Kuwait (9K2HN), Falkland Islands (VP8DPD), 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 137 and the estimated sunspot number was 120 with 6 numbered sunspot regions visible from Earth. Over the last week the SFI has stayed about the same. Solar activity reached high levels on Thursday and an X-class flare of X1.91 hit Earth causing a R3 radio blackout last night. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels and the Kp was at 4 yesterday going to 3 last night. The solar wind reached 692 km/s. NOAA forecasts that minor G1 storms are likely today with a peak Kp of 4 forecast. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10%. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are expected in the near term with a predicted probability of 70%. R3 or greater blackouts are possible with a 20% 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. 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 All Asian DX Contest on CW, the SMIRK Contest, the Pajajaran Bogor DX Contest, the SKCC QSO Party, the IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest, the LZ International 6-Meter Contest, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge, the West Virginia QSO Party, ARRL Kids Day, the Feld Hell Sprint, and the WAB 50 MHz Phone 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 catches us up on some big flares and recent solar conditions -
Mark KD7DTS takes us along to see the Queens of the Mountains activate SOTA -
Forrest KI7QCF shows us the FC-80 snap-on tuner for the Yaesu FTX-1 -
Thomas K4SWL has a relaxing lakeside POTA on CW -
Save it for Parts installs some Meshtastic gear on top of a silo -
Mike K8MRD takes a look at an operating mat from Quirky QRP -
Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Ailunce H1 DMR HT -
Steve KM9G looks at the Heltec MeshPocket Meshtastic Node and Phone Charger -
Matt M0DQW takes a look at the SkyRoof Satellite Tracking Software -
Josh KI6NAZ builds the loading coil designed by Adam K6ARK for his Elecraft KH1 -
Sebastian KI2D talks to Ara N6ARA about SOTA and Ham2k Portable Logger -
James N0WRL talks to Mark M0DXR about WRTC 2026 -
Steve KM9G installs 73 Linux on a small form factor PC -
Steve VE6WZ builds a 75 foot vertical antenna -
Kevin W1DED talks to Kay K6KJN about the Digital Library of Amateur Radio Communications (DLARC) -
Ed W4EMB sends a father's day message in Morse Code -
Kevin KB9RLW measures his QRPp rig's output with an oscilloscope -
Ramon EA5IW takes us up a mountain for some QRP fun -
Lidiette KQ3Q makes her first 6 meter QSO with a BNC binding post -
Becky N4BKY and Mike N4FFF announce their new automated QSL service -
James KE8PZN works the SO-50 satellite -
Kevan 2E0WMG has some trouble with a boost converter and his FX-4CR -
Alan W2AEW reviews the Ham Radio Duo Straight Key -
Tim K5OHY talks batteries for POTA -
IMSAI Guy uses an oscilloscope to look at coax delay and impedance -
That's it for this week.
Best 73,
Ed
N2EC
