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The ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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February 1, 2024

John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, Editor <news@arrl.org>

ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>ARRL Letter Archive
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> IN THIS ISSUE

- The First Amateur Radio Station on the Moon, JS1YMG, is Now
Transmitting
- ARRL Midwest Division Convention, Winterfest
- Heil Sound Donates Equipment to W1AW
- ARRL Foundation Accepting Grant Applications in February
- Winter Field Day a Success for Ohio Club
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

==> THE FIRST AMATEUR RADIO STATION ON THE MOON, JS1YMG, IS NOW
TRANSMITTING

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully landed their
Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) on January 19, 2024. Just
before touchdown, SLIM released two small lunar surface probes, LEV-1
and LEV-2.

LEV-2 collects data while moving on the lunar surface, and LEV-1
receives the data.

The JAXA Ham Radio Club (JHRC), JQ1ZVI, secured amateur radio license
JS1YMG for LEV-1, which has been transmitting Morse code on 437.41 MHz
since January 19. The probe uses a 1 W UHF antenna with circular
polarization and is transmitting "matters related to amateur business."

Radio amateurs have been busy analyzing JS1YMG's signal, with Daniel
Estévez's, EA4GPZ, blog
<https://destevez.net/2024/01/trying-to-decode-lev-1/> introducing the
method and extraction results for demodulating Morse code from the
signal, as well as extracting the code string.

It's unclear how long signals will be heard. JAXA has said that SLIM
was not designed to survive a lunar night, which lasts about 14 days,
and is due to return in a few days.

SLIM was launched on September 6, 2023, and landed on January 19, 2024,
with the mission of analyzing the composition of rocks to aid research
about the origin of the moon. SLIM's landing made Japan the fifth
country to achieve a soft touchdown on the moon. The landing was
achieved with exceptional precision -- within 180 feet of its targeted
touchdown location.

==> ARRL MIDWEST DIVISION CONVENTION, WINTERFEST

Newly licensed ham Charlie Hartley, KF0OOP, 18, is one of ARRL's newest
members. He's majoring in sound engineering at Webster University in
St. Louis, Missouri, and is an accomplished musician, playing both bass
guitar and the upright string bass. Ham radio, live sound, and music
run in his blood; he's the grandson of Bob Heil, K9EID.

Charlie had been secretly studying for his license. After passing his
test, he revealed his new Technician-class privileges and call sign to
his famous-ham grandpa as a birthday surprise. The pair joined many
others at the ARRL Midwest Division Convention/Winterfest, which is
organized and sponsored by the St. Louis and Suburban Radio Club.

ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director Dave Propper, K2DP, personally took
Charlie's membership application at the event. ARRL Director of
Emergency Management Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, was a keynote speaker for
the DX/ARRL Banquet at the event.

He said it was a good gathering to connect with hams in the
division. "Ham radio is alive and well in the heartland of America, and
it was encouraging to meet with so many members who were clearly
passionate about serving their community through amateur radio,"
Johnston said.

Several major manufacturers exhibited at the event, which was held at
the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Illinois, on January 27.
The hamfest hosted the 2024 ARRL Midwest Division Convention.

Find more about being an ARRL member at www.arrl.org/membership
<https://www.arrl.org/membership >

==> HEIL SOUND DONATES EQUIPMENT TO W1AW

The Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW
<https://www.arrl.org/w1aw>, at ARRL Headquarters in Newington,
Connecticut, has received a generous donation of equipment from the
Heil Ham Radio division <https://heilhamradio.com/> of Heil Sound
<https://heilsound.com/>.

The company's founder, Bob Heil, K9EID, is a pioneering audio engineer
and avid radio amateur. At his direction, the company donated four Heil
Pro Set Elite HC-6 headsets, three Heil Pro Set 3 stereo headphones,
two Heil FS-3 press-to-talk foot switches, one Heil iCM microphone, one
Heil PR 30 microphone, and various adapters. The equipment has been
placed into service at the station for use by visiting operators
<https://www.arrl.org/w1aw-operating-schedule>, and for the voice
bulletins <https://www.arrl.org/bulletins> transmitted each weekday
evening by W1AW.

W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, says the gear is going to be of
great use. "We are fortunate to host many visiting operators each year,
but all that use takes a toll on the gear," he said. "The generosity of
Heil Ham Radio to help us keep the equipment fresh is greatly
appreciated."

==> ARRL FOUNDATION ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS IN FEBRUARY

The ARRL Foundation is now accepting grant applications from amateur
radio organizations for eligible amateur radio-related projects and
initiatives, particularly those focused on educating, licensing, and
supporting amateur radio activities, to grow amateur radio's future,
youth-based projects and initiatives are especially encouraged.

The ARRL Foundation grants program accepts proposals on a cyclical
model three times a year: in February, June, and October. Proposals for
the June grant period are accepted through February 29. Awardees will
be notified approximately 1 month after the closing of each cycle.

The Foundation, which celebrated 50 years of service last year,
carefully manages a portfolio of endowments where donors have provided
specific goals for their gifts, and that portfolio is invested and
managed in a way that it can continue to support those goals for many
years to come.

Additional information and a link to the grant application can be found
at http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-grants
<https://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-grants>

==> WINTER FIELD DAY A SUCCESS FOR OHIO CLUB

The Delaware Amateur Radio Association (DELARA) <http://k8es.org/> in
Delaware, Ohio, was one of many clubs who participated in this year's
Winter Field Day (WFD).

Shelter house wrapped and ready for DELARA's WFD activities. [Photo
courtesy of Joe Papworth, K8MP]

This was the second year DELARA worked WFD. Club member Joe
Papworth, K8MP, and three event station captains -- Ed Brady, AE8Q; Guy
Merrill, KD8KWH, and Tom Foy, N4HAI -- provided support and helped set
up for the event.

"We had 16 participants this year and over 1,100 contacts," said
Papworth. "At least 200 more contacts than last year, and operators
were on most modes and bands."

DELARA members wrapped a shelter house at Delaware State Park with
plastic sheets to protect them from the winter weather, and the Elm
Valley Joint Fire District loaned them a generator to provide power for
the transceivers, as well as a few portable heaters. Three antennas and
stations were set up inside.

Guy Merrill, KD8KWH, makes contacts from inside the wrapped shelter
house for the DELARA Winter Field Day event. [Photo courtesy for Joe
Papworth, K8MP]

"WFD is a great experience and a chance to get on the air," added
Papworth. "We're planning on participating next year and looking
forward to [the] 2024 ARRL Field Day on June 22 - 23
<http://arrl.org/field-day>"

Winter Field Day (WFD) <https://winterfieldday.org/index.php>,
sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association, is open to participants
worldwide. It's held on the last full weekend in January and is a
communications exercise designed to help preparedness for disasters.

==> AMATEUR RADIO IN THE NEWS

ARRL Public Information Officers, Coordinators, and many other
member-volunteers help keep amateur radio and ARRL in the news
<http://www.arrl.org/media-hits>.

"Amateur radio club hosts annual field day
<https://dailytimes.com/news/local/amateur-radio-club-hosts-annual-field-day/article_2470e512-bcb2-11ee-bcc9-6faffbdd594c.html>"

/ The Kerrville Daily Times (Texas), January 26, 2024 -- Hill Country
Amateur Radio Club.

"Go 'off grid' with the Tehachapi Amateur Radio Association this
weekend
<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/go-off-grid-with-the-tehachapi-amateur-radio-association-this-weekend/ar-BB1hkrq0>"

/ KGET (California), January 27, 2024 -- The Tehachapi Amateur Radio
Association is an ARRL Affiliated Club.

"Ham radio 'Field Day' signals importance of emergency preparedness
<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ham-radio-field-day-signals-importance-of-emergency-preparedness/ar-BB1hmzvR>"

/ WTAP -TV (West Virigina), January 28, 2024 -- The Parkersburg Amateur
Radio Klub is an ARRL Affiliated Club.