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The ARRL Letter

Published by the American Radio Relay League
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March 14, 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

- Amateur Radio Stands Ready to Support Eclipse Operations
- 2024 ARRL Field Day Theme: Be Radio Active
- Dayton Hamvention® 2024 Award Winners Announced
- Amateur Radio in the News
- ARRL Podcasts
- Announcements
- In Brief...
- The K7RA Solar Update
- Just Ahead in Radiosport
- Upcoming Section, State, and Division Conventions

==> AMATEUR RADIO STANDS READY TO SUPPORT ECLIPSE OPERATIONS

The upcoming April 8, 2024, solar eclipse has many excited about the
opportunity to witness the darkness of totality. Spectators from across
the country are traveling to the path of total darkness that will
stretch from South Texas to Northeastern Maine.

Some states are anticipating more than a million travelers for the
event. In the impacted areas, schools will be letting students out
early for the day, and residents are being encouraged to avoid driving
on the day of the event. Emergency response organizations are adding
staff for the event in many areas. The eclipse is expected to directly
impact parts of 14 states as it moves across the country. The travel
impact alone could be substantial.

In preparation for the event, many state emergency management
organizations have called on local hams to provide communication
services via HF nets and locally on VHF/UHF frequencies. There have
been numerous planning meetings, exercises, and preparations across the
country. The ARRL Emergency Management department
<https://www.arrl.org/ares> has worked with ARRL Section Emergency
Coordinators and Section Managers in the directly affected areas to
collect the frequencies each Section plans to utilize, and to assist in
any frequency conflicts. Hams across multiple states and ARRL Sections
have been practicing their communications capabilities via Winlink,
SSB, and CW. "It is great to see Sections along the path working
together to be prepared to assist in any emergency, should it occur
during the event," said ARRL Director of Emergency Management Josh
Johnston, KE5MHV. "Heavy traffic is the major concern, but [anything
can happen] during such a large event," he added.

Johnston went on to say, "There will be several on-air operating events
on the day of the eclipse, but please give some space for any emergency
traffic that may be taking place as well."

Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) is leading the Solar
Eclipse QSO Party <https://hamsci.org/eclipse> which will allow radio
amateurs to participate in propagation research by operating during the
eclipse and submitting their logs. Much of that activity will be
focused on the FT8 frequencies of the non-World Administrative Radio
Conference (WARC) HF bands, but all modes will be welcome during the
event.

==> 2024 ARRL FIELD DAY THEME: BE RADIO ACTIVE

The theme for 2024 ARRL Field Day is "Be Radio Active." The event will
run on June 22 - 23, and it will be one-part contest, one-part
emergency communications exercise, and one-part open house -- and a
great time. The theme encourages radio amateurs to take advantage of
the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which we are nearing. Activity this year is
likely to be extremely high thanks to favorable solar conditions. The
upper HF bands, such as 15 and 10 meters, should benefit most from the
Cycle's peak.

There are resources available already for clubs and individuals to make
their Field Day plans. ARRL will publish more information and tools so
that hams can make the most of the event as it draws near. Amateurs
interested in learning more are invited to join the Field Day Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/arrlfd/> group to connect with others
who are planning for the big weekend.

Find links to all of the resources on the ARRL Field Day web page at
www.arrl.org/field-day <http://www.arrl.org/field-day>.

==> DAYTON HAMVENTION® 2024 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The recipients of the 2024 Hamvention Awards were announced on March 8,
2024.

Special Achievement Award: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT

Luscre is from near Akron, Ohio, and he was first licensed in 1981.
He has been a low-power operator, contester, and teacher throughout his
amateur radio career. He received his Amateur Extra-class license in
2000. Luscre is active on HF and VHF/UHF, and he operates on CW, phone,
and digital modes. His low-power contacts now top 115,000. Between
licensing classes, club programs, webinars, hamfests, conferences,
youth and school radio demonstrations, and other in-person and online
talks, Luscre has presented more than 500 sessions since the beginning
of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has presented multiple times for Contest
University, the QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo, and Dayton Hamvention®. He
holds a weekly class, "The Joy of Operating," for the Long Island CW
Club. Anthony serves as the ARRL Ohio Section Youth Coordinator and he
is an officer in the Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Radio Club.
<https://sites.google.com/cfarc.org/cfarc/home>

Technical Achievement Award: Ward Silver, N0AX

For the past 15 years, Silver has been the Lead Editor of The ARRL
Handbook and The ARRL Antenna Book, and he was a primary author of all
three ARRL license manuals and study guides from 2004 until his
retirement in 2023.

As an electrical engineer, he designed microprocessor-based products
and medical devices for 20 years before beginning a second career as a
teacher and writer. Licensed since 1972, he is a co-founder of the
World Radiosport Team Championships and was inducted into the CQ
Contest Hall of Fame in 2015, with numerous top scores and records. He
is President of the Yasme Foundation <https://www.yasme.org/>, and he
is also a board member of the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation
(HamSCI <https://hamsci.org/>) collaborative research group. Silver's
primary interests in amateur radio include radiosport, antenna design,
and supporting his local emergency response team.

Club of the Year Award: The Young Ladies' Radio League (YLRL)

The Young Ladies' Radio League <https://ylrl.net/>, Inc. (YLRL), is
proud to be celebrating its 85th anniversary this year. With members
from all over the world, the organization has been involved in
everything from contests, to emergency events, to helping new hams get
licensed and on the air, as well as everything in between.

Established in 1939, YLRL has been found at hamfests and conventions
all over the world. The club is proud to have had a booth at
Hamvention® every year since the 1950s and a YL Forum since the 1960s.
"Women helping women in amateur radio" is a mission statement for this
organization, but there are also contest and award opportunities for
the OMs who support their YLs. YLRL has the motto "QRV -- I am ready,"
as they are always ready to assist in the radio community.

Amateur of The Year Award: Edward Engleman, KG8CX

Engleman, KG8CX, is from Menominee, Michigan. He is the co-founder
of the Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team
<https://www.qsl.net/k0nnk/yacht/index.html> (YACHT). He was first
licensed in 1991 and received his Amateur Extra-class license in 2000.
He has been a member of ARRL since 1991. Engleman serves his home club,
the Marinette & Menominee Amateur Radio Club, as a volunteer examiner.
Engleman's 33-year background as an elementary educator and principal
was instrumental in developing the talents he now uses in his work with
young amateurs.

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® and Hamvention® have
announced that Hamvention will host the 2024 ARRL National Convention
on May 17, 18, and 19 at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio.
ARRL has an exciting lineup of forums and presentations for the ARRL
National Convention. For information about the 2024 ARRL National
Convention, go to www.arrl.org/expo <http://www.arrl.org/expo>. For
tickets to Hamvention and further information, head to
www.hamvention.org <http://www.hamvention.org/>.

You can read more about the 2024 Hamvention award winners and the 2024
ARRL National Convention at ARRL.org. <https://www.arrl.org/>

==> 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>.

"Ham Radio Club Revives Alternative Communication
<https://marshallparthenon.com/32938/campus-life/ham-radio-club-revives-alternative-communication/>"

/ The Parthenon (West Virginia) March 2, 2024 -- Thundering Herd
Amateur Radio Club.

"Ham Radio Enthusiasts Dial In To 2024 Crossroads Hamfest & Radio Swap
- Search News (bing.com)
<https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Ham+Radio+Enthusiasts+Dial+In+To+2024+Crossroads+Hamfest+%26+Radio+Swap&qpvt=Ham+radio+enthusiasts+dial+in+to+2024+Crossroads+Hamfest+%26+Radio+Swap&FORM=EWRE>"