In the log this week
* Markus Baseler DL6YYM Maker of BaMaTech CW Keys Silent Key
* FCC Batch Filing System Restored
* September Flight of the Bumblebees Event Issuing Bumblebee Numbers
* MVARC Nets on the Air
* What's happening with DX?
* Solar Activity Update
* Upcoming Contests
* Interesting Online Radio Content
Markus Baseler DL6YYM Maker of BaMaTech CW Keys Silent Key
Image Courtesy DL6YYM QRZ Profile
Markus Baseler DL6YYM, maker of highly regarded CW keys and accessories by BaMaTech in Germany has passed away according to an announcement on the https://www.bamatech.net/ web site. He produced the very popular TP-III portable CW keys along with several other products and was an avid portable radio operator. Earlier in the year he operated from the Rila Mountains in Bulgaria, and was scheduled to operate from Greenland before unexpected illness caused him to cancel that trip. The BaMaTech web site indicates that they are clearing out inventory and will be closing operations of their business. I have been a happy owner of a special edition TP-III paddle and enjoy taking it out into the field whenever I can. His products are beautiful, precisely machined, and highly reliable in the field. His contributions to our hobby will be greatly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
FCC Batch Filing System Restored
The ARRL reports that the Federal Communication Commission's Electronic Batch filing system was restored to normal operations on Friday, August 29, 2025. It is used by all Volunteer Examination Coordinator organizations to submit exam sessions, applications, and club license applications. Some issues still remain with payment email requests not being issued and license emails not being sent. The ARRL has details on how to deal with those issues at https://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-batch-filing-system-unavailable.
September Flight of the Bumblebees Event Issuing Bumblebee Numbers
The next edition of the Adventure Radio Society's Flight of the Bumblebees will be happening on Sunday, September 21, 2025. It is a fun QRP event where "Bumblebee" stations go out into the field to operate QRP and other QRP stations chase them in a 4 hour event. The Bumblebees are issued a number for the event to send in their exchanges, so if you are interested in going out in the field for the event, it is a good time to sign up for your own number. If you're going to play from home, no number is required. For details on the event and how to get a number, visit https://ars-qrp.com/FOBB/FOBB.html.
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 Lord Howe Island (VK2/SP9FIH), Benin (TY2AA), Tarawa Kiribati (T30TTT), Greenland (OX3LX), Annobon Island (3C0W), Palau (T88DF), Banaba Island (T33TTT), Tanzania (5H3DX), Rwanda (9X2AW), Colombia (HK3JCL), Mali (TZ4AM), Equatorial Guinea (3C3W), Palestine (E44OM), 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 172 and the estimated sunspot number was 128 with 10 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 to unsettled levels and the Kp index reached 3 yesterday. The solar wind peaked at 675 km/s. Solar activity is predicted to be at quiet to minor storm levels levels today and Saturday and at quiet to active levels Sunday. The chance of solar radiation storms at the S1 or greater level is low at 10% today and Saturday and 5% Sunday. R1 to R2 radio blackouts are likely in the near term with a predicted probability of 55% today and Saturday and 40% Sunday. R3 or greater blackouts are unlikely with a 10% chance predicted today and Saturday and 5% 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. HF conditions have been favorable overall. 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 All Asian DX Contest on Phone, the CWOps CW Open, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, the SARL VHF/UHF FM Contest, the SARL Field Day Contest, the Russian RTTY WW Contest, the IARU Region 1 Field Day on SSB, the RSGB SSB Field Day, the AGCW Straight Key Party, Ohio State Parks on the Air, the IARU Region 1 145 MHz Contest, the PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80m Sprint, the WAB 144 MHz Phone Contest, and the Tennessee QSO Party. 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
Mike K8MRD installs a "Smart" shunt on his battery setup -
Matt M0DQW takes a look at the Radtel RT-950 and likes what he sees -
Morten LB0FI looks at a compact power and SWR meter -
Hayden VK7HH takes a look at the IC-2730A Black Edition Full Duplex Mobile VHF/UHF rig -
Josh KI6NAZ tries the Radioddity HF-009 Antenna -
Bob WV1W encourages you to experiment and try new things in Amateur Radio -
Mike K8MRD does some Winlink in the woods -
Matt M0DQW gives a negative review of the Retevis A3 -
Dr. Tamitha Skov WX6SWW talks about recent solar conditions -
Steve KM9G talks about his new TOADs DI USB Digital Interface -
Nanofix looks at the Hakko Omnivise for soldering -
Ramon EA5IW climbs a mountain to attempt 2m CW as the sun rises -
Kevin W1DED talks to Dr. Nathaniel Frissell N2NAF of HamSci about citizen science and radio -
Ciprian YO6DXE tests his QRP Labs 50 W RF Amplifier -
Kevin KB9RLW reviews the F-NIRSI DPOS350P oscilloscope -
Steve KM9G shows the giant mat from Quirky QRP -
Mike K8MRD goes in the woods with his QRPLabs QMX for a SSB activation -
That's it for this week.
Best 73,
Ed
N2EC
