• ARRL Board of Directors Annual Meeting Set for January 16-17
• ARRL Centennial QSO Party Awards, W1AW/p QSL Cards in Process
• The ARRL January VHF Contest Offers a Break from Winter's Doldrums
• ARRL Library Goes Live!
• FCC Fines Pennsylvania Ham $11,500 for Causing Intentional Interference
• Yasme Foundation Announces Award Winners, Grant Recipients
• ARRL's "First Couple" Spotlighted in Article Highlighting SKYWARN's Role
• EP6T Iran DXpedition Team En Route
• CQ Magazine Combining January, February Issues, Closing CQ Plus Digital Supplement
• Shin'en 2 Designated as Fuji Oscar-82
• BSA Encouraging Early Start on JOTA 2015 Planning
• Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) Invites Scholarship Applications
• In Brief...
• The K7RA Solar Update
• Just Ahead in Radiosport
• Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions and Events

Two newly elected members will be at the table when the ARRL Board of Directors holds its annual meeting Friday and Saturday, January 16-17, in Windsor, Connecticut. Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, will participate for the first time as Atlantic Division Director. Formerly the Division's Vice Director, Abernethy was elected last fall to replace Bill Edgar, N3LLR, who did not run for another term as Director. Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, will take part in his first meeting as the Midwest Division Director, following his election last fall. The former Vice Director succeeded Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, who opted not to run for another term as Director.

Two new faces will be among the contingent of Vice Directors at this week's meeting: Bob Famiglio, K3RF, was elected last fall to succeed Abernethy as Atlantic Division Vice Director, and Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, was appointed recently to fill the Midwest Division Vice Director vacancy, created when Blocksome was elected as Director.

As one of its first orders of business, the Board will elect members of the ARRL Executive Committee as well as one-third of the ARRL Foundation Board of Directors membership. The Board also will receive reports from the officers and committees and will consider recommendations contained in the reports.

Certificates and plaques for stations that participated in the ARRL Centennial QSO Party are being processed. At this point, point totals are being calculated and confirmed. Participation exceeded expectations, with nearly 16,000 stations achieving at least 1000 points in the Centennial QSO Points Challenge. Approximately 2500 stations reached the Top Level of 15,000 points. W1AW portable operations completed nearly 3.5 million contacts during 2014, and W100AW logged some 70,000 contacts. Most Centennial QSO Party participants entered their contact information into the ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) program.

"The W1AW WAS certificate and plaque designs are complete, as is the design for the Centennial Points Challenge certificate," said ARRL Field Services and Radiosport Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "Once the web and software processes are ready to go, we will be able to start fulfilling awards." Patton said order forms will be available on the Centennial QSO Party web page for those who do not use LoTW or online ordering tools.

Deadline Extended

The ARRL has extended the deadline to submit Centennial QSO Party logs to LoTW to January 22, at 2359 UTC. The new deadline will have no effect on awards. Participants will be able to apply for Centennial awards indefinitely, once the process is under way. Accounts for US stations that changed call signs during 2014, will be automatically combined for Centennial award purposes, although any duplicate contacts (ie, stations worked with both the old and new call signs) will be removed. Stations outside the US that changed call signs during 2014 should notify ARRL.

Patton said that in late January, the entire database of 2014 logs submitted to LoTW will be rerun through the Centennial QSO Party software in order to pick up any late changes to the database and produce more accurate scores. "Most participants will see their points total climb a bit higher," he said.

Designs for QSL cards for W1AW portable operations are under consideration, and cards likely will go out via the QSL Bureau and directly to stations in a few months. US stations who prefer to receive W1AW QSLs via a QSL Bureau account may sign up via the web form. "You must have a current, funded account with your district QSL Bureau," Patton noted. Stations outside the US will receive cards via their bureaus as they normally do.

Patton said the number of QSLs from W1AW will be limited to one per each weekly operation and per each territorial operation (KH2, KH8, etc), with each card confirming about 10 contacts chosen from the W1AW logs. Printed cards will not be able to confirm counties or grid squares, but the LoTW system will do this.

If the Polar Vortex has been getting you down, then the ARRL January VHF Contest might just be the antidote! The event gets under way at 1900 UTC on Saturday, January 24, and it wraps up at 0359 UTC on Monday, January 26. The object is for amateurs in the US and Canada (and possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different Maidenhead grid squares as possible using frequencies above 50 MHz. It's the US and Canada (and possessions) working each other and the rest of the world (think F2 propagation!).

"You do not need a huge VHF/UHF antenna farm to compete and have fun," said ARRL Contest Branch Manager Matt Wilhelm, W1MSW. He pointed out that even portable and rover operators have been quite successful. "January VHF/UHF propagation enhancements often just pop up," he added, with tropospheric and even extended aurora possible.

The well-equipped N2SLN/rover is operating from FN23 during the January 2014 VHF Contest.

Getting on the VHF/UHF bands is easy, and Technician licensees have access to all amateur bands above 50 MHz. Antennas for VHF and UHF frequencies are far smaller than their HF counterparts. Most modern transceivers have 6 meter capability, and sometimes even an HF dipole can be used to work some DX on 6. Contest contacts may be made using SSB, CW, and even FM simplex, but keep calling frequencies such as 146.52 MHz clear of contest activity.

The January VHF Contest offers Single Operator and Multioperator categories, and there is even a Single Operator, FM-only category, as well as a Single Operator, 3-Band (50 MHz, 144 MHz, and 440 MHz) category. For 2015 three new categories have been introduced: Single Operator Unlimited High Power, Single Operator Unlimited Low Power, and Single Operator Unlimited Portable.

All entries must be e-mailed or postmarked no later than 0359 UTC on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Submit Cabrillo-formatted logs via e-mail. Mail paper logs to ARRL January VHF Contest, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Contact the ARRL Contest Branch for more information.

After several months of planning, The ARRL Library is now live! The online Library is a free repository of educational presentations and oral histories. It is aimed at helping to preserve Amateur Radio's history and to educate clubs and individuals.

"This long-term project will be home to what I hope will eventually become one of the largest repositories of Amateur Radio-related papers and presentations, created by and for the Amateur Radio community," said ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X. "This is your opportunity to submit material for the betterment and education of all radio amateurs."

Kutzko said the Library will initially consist of three major areas. These will include PowerPoint presentations that may be used at club meetings, for outreach to the general public, or for other public presentations; PDFs of general educational material about Amateur Radio, and oral histories of radio amateurs describing their personal experiences with Amateur Radio.

Current content includes presentations on operating digital modes, HF basics, and impedance matching. While the available material is sparse right now, Kutzko invites all radio amateurs to submit material for consideration -- as long as it relates to Amateur Radio. The Public Relations Committee will vet all submissions, and once a submission is approved, it will be added to The ARRL Library.

ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X.

"We have lots of tutorials and information on how to create presentations on the site," Kutzko pointed out. "Presenting somebody else's PowerPoint slides is tough," he added, "so we're asking people who submit presentations to make use of PowerPoint's 'Notes' feature, which allows the author to provide more detailed information for the talking points found on each slide, visible only to the presenter. This will make it easier for the presenter to emphasize what the author intended to convey."

Answers to typical questions, as well as information on how to upload content and how to conduct an oral history interview, can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions area.

"Sharing expertise is one of the best things we can do for Amateur Radio," Kutzko said. "I hope you will consider submitting material for the Library and help give back to the entire community."

The FCC Enforcement Bureau has affirmed an $11,500 fine against Brian Crow, K3VR, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, for deliberately interfering with other Amateur Radio communications. The FCC had first proposed the fine last July in a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture (NAL), and it released a Forfeiture Order on January 13.

The FCC said it imposed the financial penalty because of Crow's "willful and repeated violation" of Section 333 of the Communications Act and of Sections 97.101(d) and 97.119(a) of the Amateur Service rules "by causing intentional interference to licensed radio operations and failing to transmit his assigned call sign."

The FCC said that Crow did not respond to the 2014 NAL and that, based on the information before the Commission, affirmed its proposed fine. On July 22, 2014, the FCC also issued a similarly worded NAL to Michael Guernsey, KZ8O (ex-ND8V), of Parchment, Michigan, proposing to fine him $22,000. In both cases, the FCC said the evidence indicated that the transmissions at issue were aimed at interfering with other radio amateurs with whom each licensee "had a long-standing and well-documented dispute" that had spilled out onto the air.

In both instances, the FCC said, it responded in March 2014 to "several complaints of intentional interference" on 14.313 MHz, and Commission agents used radio direction-finding techniques to pin down the transmission sources. According to the NAL issued to Crow, FCC agents monitored transmissions from his station for approximately 3 hours on March 14, 2014, and heard him transmit slow-scan television (SSTV) signals and "a pre-recorded voice transmission of another amateur station on the frequency."

"These transmissions prevented other amateur licensees from communicating over the frequency," both NALs said, adding that neither Guernsey or Crow transmitted their assigned call signs while the agents were listening.

The FCC agents visited Crow's residence and asked to inspect his station, which they confirmed was capable of operating on 14.313 MHz. Crow denied operating his station that morning, however, and claimed that he was not at home when the interfering transmissions occurred.

The Enforcement Bureau had warned both Guernsey and Crow in the past regarding interference to other Amateur Radio operators. In Crow's case, the FCC said the fact that he subsequently interfered with other amateur operators "demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the Commission's authority," warranting an upward adjustment of $3500 to his proposed base forfeiture. Guernsey's case is still pending.

The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced the recipients of several awards and monetary grants. The Foundation named four individuals to receive the Yasme Excellence Award for 2014 as well as eight specific grant recipients.

Honored as Yasme Excellence Award winners were:

• Kimo Chun, KH7U, for 20 years of behind-the-scenes support to DXpeditions to Pacific entities -- including logistics, organization, equipment, local contacts, and planning.

• Dick Flagg, AH6NM, for his years of working with the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program and its predecessor Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX), and for supporting NASA's Radio Jove project, both designed to introduce Amateur Radio to students and the general public.

• Florin Cristian Predescu, YO9CNU, and Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, for their work in organizing and promoting Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) and Amateur Radio youth activities.

The Yasme Excellence Award is presented to individuals who, through their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a significant contribution to Amateur Radio in technical, operating, or organizational achievement.

The Yasme Foundation also has designated several entities and one individual to receive monetary grants to further their contributions to and efforts on behalf of Amateur Radio. Grants included:

• $9500 to the California Historical Radio Society, to fund the Maxwell Library and Maxwell Archives Room in support of the efforts of Jim Maxwell, W6CF (SK), to maintain the history of Amateur Radio.

• $5000 to the Foundation for Amateur Radio scholarship program.

• $5000 to International Amateur Radio Union Region 1, to support Amateur Radio youth activities, as well as $2000 to IARU Region 1 for the support of the Egyptian Radio Amateur Society for Development (ERASD).

• $2000 to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for providing web-based services to the Amateur Radio community.

• $2000 to the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) in recognition of its support for the Yasme Foundation, other Amateur Radio groups, and international radiosport activities, and for providing webinars to the Amateur Radio community.

• $3000 to the ARRL Foundation in support of its scholarship program.

• $4000 to the ARRL Second Century Campaign to help support Amateur Radio over the next 100 years.

The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct scientific and educational projects related to Amateur Radio, including DXing and the introduction and promotion of Amateur Radio in developing countries. -- Thanks to Yasme Foundation President Ward Silver, N0AX

A January 9 article in Virginia's Roanoke Times newspaper featured the participation of ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and her husband Carter, N3AO, in the SKYWARN weather-spotting program. The Craigies, who live in the Southwest Virginia town of Blacksburg -- home to Virginia Tech -- have a home weather station and, when severe weather threatens, are able to supplement local National Weather Service (NWS) office meteorologists with "ground-level" weather observations.

The article, by Robby Korth of the newspaper's New River Valley Bureau, noted that the Craigies are among some 2000 SKYWARN members -- many of them radio amateurs -- who work with the NWS to, as the article says, "verify and give information to issue warnings and also to stress the danger of weather events to the 40 counties covered by the Blacksburg office of the National Weather Service."

The article cited meteorologist Phil Hysell, who pointed out that weather spotters can provide local observations that indicate what's happening below the radar and in "areas where other tools cannot see."

"It's just one of the ways you can give back to society by just playing with a radio," the article quoted President Craigie. The article noted the ongoing need for weather spotters and tells how to become a SKYWARN spotter, pointing to an online course and test that individuals can take to become official weather spotters. A list of SKYWARN training classes in Virginia accompanied the article. Read more.

Members of the Rockall DX Group in Belgium are on their way to their Kish Island, Iran (IOTA AS-166), DXpedition site. The group plans to operate starting this weekend for about 10 days as EP6T. Iran is #33 on ClubLog's DXCC Most Wanted List. The DXpedition will operate on all bands, 160 through 10 meters, with an emphasis on the low bands. EP6T plans to remain active until January 26. Organizers say the DXpedition's theme will be "friendship and cultural tolerance."

"We have 30 fully packed suitcases filled with radio equipment and antennas. Radios will be carried as hand luggage," the team's latest media release said. "We expect arrival on Kish Island January 16 early morning. As soon as we have approval from the local police, we can start building antennas." EP6T is expected to be up and running in the early hours of January 17.

"[W]e want to ask people in Europe and Asia for your cooperation when we have propagation to North America, since this is the most difficult path on all bands," the release said. "Listen to the operators' instructions, and we will all be enjoying the pileups."

The EP6T team seeks signal reports via e-mail from North America on 10 meters and 160 meters. The EP6T log will be uploaded to Logbook of The World (LoTW), once the DXpedition has concluded.

CQ magazine has announced plans to publish a combined January/February 2015 issue and to cease publication of its CQ Plus digital supplement as of the March 2015 issue. Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, said that both moves are intended to help restore the magazine's normal schedule for its print edition and to strengthen its foundations moving forward as it enters its 8th decade of publication.

"These decisions were not made lightly," Ross added, "but in recognition of the realities of the publishing industry. It's a tough time to be in the magazine business, and we appreciate the patience and loyalty of both our readers and our advertisers."

CQ announced last February that it was incorporating content from the magazine's three sister publications -- Popular Communications, CQ VHF, and WorldRadio Online --into CQ Plus. At that time the publisher also phased out the print editions of Popular Communications and CQ VHF, and it said WorldRadio Online would no longer exist as a separate online publication.

CQ will continue to publish both print and digital editions, but the digital edition will no longer contain the 50-60 additional pages each month that constituted CQ Plus. Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, said he hopes to include some CQ Plus content within the pages of CQ, but added that ham radio will remain the magazine's primary focus. CQ marks its 70th publication anniversary with its January/February issue.

The magazine also announced that, "as a consequence of the changes," CQ Plus Editor Richard Fisher, KI6SN, will leave the CQ staff after serving for many years as a columnist for -- and then as editor of -- Popular Communications, WorldRadio Online, and CQ Plus. He was also CQ magazine's emergency communications editor.

Due to the combined January/February issue, CQ will extend by 1 month all print and digital edition subscriptions to CQ.

CQ also has named veteran DXer, DXpeditioner, and QSL manager Bob Schenck, N2OO, as its DX editor. He succeeds Wayne Mills, N7NG, who stepped down to pursue other ham-related interests, CQ said.

AMSAT has designated the Shin'en 2 spacecraft as Fuji OSCAR-82 (FO-82), in response to a request from Seiji Fukushima, JH6RTO. OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO, congratulated Fukushima and the Fuji OSCAR-82 team on behalf of AMSAT-NA and the Amateur Satellite community, and expressed the hope that the spacecraft would "fulfill all of its mission objectives."

An artist's conception of the Shin'en 2 spacecraft. [Kagoshima University graphic]

Built by students at Kagoshima University Graduate School of Engineering in Japan, the 17 kg satellite Shin'en 2 identifies as JG6YIG. Shin'en2 carries a 0.1 W CW beacon on 437.505 MHz and telemetry on 437.385 MHz (0.8 W) using a mode similar to WSJT. It also will carry a F1D digital store-and-forward transponder with an uplink of 145.95 MHz and a downlink at 435.27 MHz (0.4 W), but not the Amateur Radio Mode J linear transponder announced earlier. The data format is posted on the Kagoshima University website.

Shin'en2 will have an elliptical orbit around the Sun and travel to a deep space orbit between Venus and Mars. Its inclination will be almost zero, which means Shin'en 2 will stay in Earth's equatorial plane, and the distance from Earth will be between approximately 6.5 million and 12 million miles.

Shin'en 2 and ARTSAT2: DESPATCH were launched December 3 on the vehicle that took the Hayabusa 2 asteroid sample-return mission into deep space. ARTSAT2, which also carried an Amateur Radio payload, stopped transmitting recently after its batteries depleted. -- Thanks to AMSAT News Service, Kagoshima University

The word from Boy Scouts of America (BSA) National Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) Organizer Jim Wilson, K5ND, is: "Start planning for JOTA 2015. It's never too early." JOTA 2015 won't take place until October (Friday through Sunday, October 16-18), but the Radio Scouting (K2BSA) website provides some planning tips to help get a leg up on the process. The annual JOTA offers an opportunity for Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides around the world to speak with each other via Amateur Radio, and its success relies on the cooperation of local radio amateurs and clubs.

JOTA 2013 at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. [Photo courtesy of BSA]

Wilson's extra-early JOTA advisory appeared aimed at boosting JOTA involvement in the wake of a somewhat disappointing 2014 report showing a continued decline in participation. In 2013, JOTA participation was down by nearly 4700 over 2012, and it dropped a bit further in 2014, when 7208 Scouts and 5589 visitors took part in the annual on-the-air event.

"[W]e recognize that we need to do a better job promoting the event to Scout Council staff and volunteers," Wilson conceded last fall, after the 2014 report was posted. Wilson attributed part of the decline in JOTA participation to a failure of some stations to file after-event reports.

"Our survey of those that did not file a report revealed that a few didn't run the event due to other issues," Wilson said in a JOTA e-newsletter last weekend. "One was dodging a hurricane. Others said that time got away from them, and they just didn't file it." According to the 2014 report, 354 stations registered to participate, but only 205 filed reports.

Wilson recommended that JOTA teams designate someone to record the data and file the report after the event. He also steered JOTA planners to some program suggestions for JOTA 2015.

The non-profit Foundation for Amateur Radio (FAR) invites applications for the Amateur Radio-related scholarships it administers. These academic awards are sponsored by individuals and by Amateur Radio clubs across the US. The FAR scholarship application process is open to Amateur Radio licensees worldwide. For 2015 FAR is administering 67 scholarships worth an aggregate $125,500. The list includes 36 Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) scholarships worth a total of $77,000 for 2015 (these require a recommendation from a QCWA member). Individual awards range from $500 to $5000. Applications are due by March 30, 2015.

The preferred method to apply is by using the electronic form on the FAR website. Visit the FAR Scholarship Information page or contact FAR, if you have questions about the 2015 scholarship application process. Read more.

ARRL President to Attend Puerto Rico State Convention, January 23-25: While a good part of the US is experiencing frigid temperatures, snow, and ice, radio amateurs in Puerto Rico will be warmly welcoming visitors to their third ARRL Puerto Rico State Convention, January 23-25 at the Francisco "Pancho" Deida Coliseum in Hatillo. ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will head an ARRL contingent to Caribbean's largest ham radio convention. Others will include Southeastern Division Director Doug Rehman, K4AC, Vice Director Michael Lee, AA6ML, and QST Columnist Ward Silver, N0AX. Contester and Western Pennsylvania Section Manager Tim Duffy, K3LR, will conduct the first Contest University (CTU), Caribbean Edition. KP4AW will be on the air during the event, which is expected to attract upward of 1500 visitors. Admission is free. The event is sponsored by the Caribbean Amateur Radio Group, the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League, and the Municipality of Hatillo. The ARRL Puerto Rico Section website has more information.

New WAS Award Application Processing on Hold: ARRL is redesigning the basic Worked All States (WAS) Award certificate and has put a hold on the processing of new WAS applications received after about December 24, 2014. "We are making the certificate the same size as a DXCC certificate (11 × 14), so we can return to using stickers for endorsements in most cases," said ARRL Field Services and Radiosport Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. "The ever-popular WAS program has grown in many ways here at Headquarters, and we need to reorganize for more consistency." Patton said the Triple Play certificate and plaque will not change. The Worked All States Award is earned by confirming contacts with stations in all 50 US states. It was introduced in 1936.

CQ Soliciting Hall of Fame Nominations: CQ is seeking nominations for the Contest and DX Halls of Fame. Nominations are made by contesting or DX clubs or national organizations and must be submitted by March 1. Up to two individuals may be inducted into each Hall of Fame each year. Direct nominations via e-mail or via USPS to CQ (DX or Contest) Hall of Fame, c/o CQ magazine, 25 Newbridge Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801 US. Specify the hall of fame for which you are making the nomination.

Army MARS Public Affairs Officer Bill Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, Retires: Bill Sexton, N1IN/AAR1FP, retired at the end of 2014 as the US Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) public affairs officer, a volunteer position. Now 86, Sexton, who splits his time between Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Sarasota, Florida, has been involved with MARS since the early 1990s, after reading about the program in QST. He stepped into a PR role with the organization following the death in 2001 of long-time Army MARS Public Relations Officer Lori Matthew, N4ZCF. "Bill is credited with creating the Public Affairs Program in Army MARS," Army MARS Headquarters at Ft Huachuca, Arizona, said in announcing Sexton's retirement. "According to Bill, if you're not telling your own story, someone else will. Bill has, through persistence, prevailed in establishing doctrine for Army MARS public affairs activities." Sexton plans to remain active in the Army MARS program. Army MARS is accepting applications for the volunteer post. Read more.

New World Record Claimed on 10 GHz: Two microwave enthusiasts in Australia are claiming a new Amateur Radio distance record on 10 GHz. On January 5, during a tropo opening across the Great Australian Bight, VK6DZ and VK7MO exchanged reports over a 2732 km path, using JT4f mode as well as SSB. The distance surpasses by 36 km the previous World Record of 2696 km from Southern Portugal to Cape Verde Island. VK6DZ was portable at Torbay Hill, 24 km west of Albany, Western Australia. He was running 10 W to a 60 cm dish. VK7MO was portable Cape Portland in northeastern Tasmania, running 50 W to a 77 cm dish. Read more. -- Thanks to Rex Moncur, VK7MO

Tickets Now Available for 2015 Dayton Contest, Top Band Dinners: Reservations are now available for the 23rd annual Contest Dinner and the 26th annual Dayton Top Band Dinner. Both events will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton, in conjunction with Dayton Hamvention^® 2015. On Saturday, May 16, the Dayton Contest Dinner, sponsored by the North Coast Contesters, will feature ARRL President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, as the keynote speaker. The event begins with a social hour at 5:30 PM. Master of Ceremonies is CQ Contest Hall of Famer and World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) Chairman, John Dorr, K1AR. The 2015 CQ Contest Hall of Fame inductees will be announced. No tickets will be sold at the door. On Friday, May 15, the Top Band Dinner begins with a social hour at 6:15 PM. An informative program will follow. The Crowne Plaza is also home to the annual Contest SuperSuite and other contest-related activities. -- Thanks to Tim Duffy, K3LR; ARRL Contest Update

Cosmonaut Yelena Serova Operates RS0ISS for Russian ISS School Contacts: On board the International Space Station, Russian Cosmonaut Yelena Serova, using the call sign RS0ISS, spoke with students at schools in Ekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, Russia, on December 21. She used the Amateur Radio station in the Russian Service Module. More information, including video links, is on the AMSAT-UK website.

Worked All Europe Contest Manager Joerg Puchstein, DL8WPX, SK: Worked All Europe Contest Manager Joerg "Joe" Puchstein, DL8WPX, died December 16, at his home in Zurich, Switzerland. He was 54. Puchstein was an active and enthusiastic contester and DXpeditioner who organized such DXpeditions as VK9LM from Lord Howe (1991, 1996, and 2014), and the S21XX, P29VXX, VK9CR, VK9XY, ZL7DK, VK9DNX, VK9DWX, and VK9DLX DXpeditions. He also was a member of the DR1A team. -- Thanks to The Daily DX

Sunspot numbers and solar flux rose again this week, while geomagnetic indices were relatively quiet. Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 108.1 in the first week of 2015 to 112.6 in the 7 days following. Average daily solar flux rose from 144.7 to 151.3.

Predicted solar flux for the near term is 140 on January 15-16, 135 on January 17-18, 130 on January 19-20, then 125, 135, and 140 on January 21-23, 130 on January 24-26, 135 on January 27-28, 140 on January 29-30, and, 145 on January 31 through February 7. Flux values then peak at 180 on February 11-12, and dip down to 130 on February 20-22.

Predicted planetary A index is 15, 10, 8, and 12 on January 15-18, 8 on January 19-21, then 15, 5, 10 and 18 on January 22-25, and 15, 8, 5, 10, and 12 on January 26-30 and 15 on January 31 through February 1.

This weekly "Solar Update" in The ARRL Letter is a preview of the "Propagation Bulletin" issued each Friday. The latest bulletin and an archive of past propagation bulletins is on the ARRL website.

In Friday's bulletin look for an updated forecast and reports from readers. Send me your reports and observations.

• January 16 -- NAQCC Special 160 Meter Sprint (CW)

• January 17 -- LZ Open Contest (CW)

• January 17 -- International United Teenager Contest (SSB, CW)

• January 17 -- Feld-Hell Low-Down Sprint

• January 17-18 -- North American QSO Party (SSB)

• January 17-18 -- YLISSB QSO Party (SSB)

• January 17-18 -- HA DX Contest (SSB, CW)

• January 18-19 -- Classic Exchange (CW)

• January 19 -- Run for the Bacon (CW)

• January 21 -- Locust QSO Party (CW)

• January 22 -- NAQCC Monthly QRP Sprint (CW)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information.

• January 16-17 -- North Texas Section Convention, Forest Hill, Texas

• January 18-24 -- Quartzfest, Quartzsite, Arizona

• January 23-24 -- Mississippi State Convention, Jackson, Mississippi

• January 23-25 -- Puerto Rico State Convention, Hatillo, Puerto Rico

• January 24 -- Georgia ARES Convention, Forsyth, Georgia

• February 7 -- South Carolina State Convention, North Charleston, South Carolina

• February 7 -- Virginia State Convention, Richmond, Virginia

• February 13-15 -- Southeastern Division Convention, Orlando, Florida

• February 20-21 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona

• February 28 -- New Mexico Techfest Convention, Albuquerque, New Mexico

• February 28 -- Vermont State Convention, S Burlington, Vermont

• March 7 -- Santa Clara Valley Section Convention, Del Rey Oaks, California

• March 13-14 -- North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, North Carolina

• March 14 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas

• March 20-21 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana

• March 21 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference, Redmond, Washington

• March 21 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska

• March 21 -- Southern Florida Section Convention, Stuart, Florida

• March 28 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

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